punctuation

commaqueen @ 2007-11-12T12:49:00

2007-11-12T18:50:32Z

OMG. If you have five minutes or less of your time, will you please do this for me??? I would love you all to pieces.

This is so cool. I adored the Golden Compass when I was a kid--now I get to see what my own would be like? Freaking sweet. If you guys have the time, please take the short quiz that'll rate and change my daemon (who knows, maybe what I think it should be is different than what it really is)---and if you do, you can get your own afterwards (and I'd be happy to rate yours, too!!)

EDIT:If you can/will screen cap your results and post them, that would be even more awesome and I would love you forever and ever. And ever.

EDIT 2: It seems some people are having issues with the animation. If you click on the slider, you can drag it on the scale. However, then you have to click the brown wedge in the corner which is the next button ~~however poorly defined~~. I'm so sorry everbody!! I should have mentioned it before.

commaqueen @ 2007-09-12T17:37:00

2007-09-12T22:41:07Z

Dear Sensei,
When you say "kanji" I don't assume that you mean you intend to do a review with not only this chapter's kanji but random kanji from last year. I was completely unprepared for that. And if you'd said that was what you intended to do, that would have dramatically changed the way I studied for that exam.

Man

commaqueen @ 2007-08-23T14:10:00

2007-08-23T19:34:46Z

Figured I should post some kind of update. I don't think I've updated since I moved in to campus.

Neely's not so bad. Our room smells a little funny--not sure why. I tried airing it out the other day, but between eating smelly-ish foods in here and using smelly art supplies, it's hard to tell if it's worked. I also had a maintenance person in to fix the hot water, which now works great. Olivia still hasn't moved in--in fact, I still haven't been able to get a hold of her--but unless I hear otherwise, I assume she's moving in sometime this weekend. Basically, I just need to be prepared for her to show up any time between Friday and Sunday. I think Saturday or Sunday is the most likely.

I've been working on redoing that marker version of Axel the last couple days. I'm extremely happy I went ahead and decided to give it another shot. The flesh colors are just plain better, I've gotten better at not letting things look streaky, and I've discovered that I can use my liquid frisket (which I've discovered smells incredibly foul) works extremely well to preserve whit places and is easy to rub off and doesn't damage the paper. So I really do believe that it's going to help make the gloves/robes look much better. I may even figure out a way for it to help me with his hair.

I went ahead and ordered some more art supplies online. >>;; I decided I'd prefer to make sure that I don't run out of colorless blender and ordered the 200cc of the stuff. Basically, I won't run out for... ever. xDD And I went ahead and ordered some replacement nibs, tweezers, and booster fillers. If I get a job this semester, I may also gradually, randomly, order more markers too... but we'll just have to see how that goes. Unfortunately, shipping is so damn expensive that it's nearly not worth it.

Been hanging out with Amanda and the whole gang. It's good to see everyone again. But it's also made me realize that after this year, I'm going to have a whole lot less friends around. Nearly half the people I know are graduating--or in Evan's case, just leaving to go to college elsewhere. The thought of having to make new friends my senior year is depressing. Especially when you consider I will probably be around for four and a half or five years.

I'm trying to be good about how and when I spend money. It's hard, though. Especially now that I don't have a meal plan. I have no idea how long money will last--I'm going to do my best to stick to using aggiebucks as much as physically possible, and then to keep track of what I spend on my debit card. (And while i'm think of it, I need to verify with mom how much was put on there.)

I'm going to do my best to get a job while I'm here; I would like something part-time on campus. I know it wouldn't pay much, but it would be better than nothing. Even 70 a week beats that. My other option is to go donate plasma--there's a place really close to where Eric and Amanda live, and they pay something like 15-35 for each donation. Even if I just did so once or twice a month, it would be a little pocket change-money that would be helpful. Guess I'll need to check how much I need to weigh to do so.

That's it for now, I think. ♥ Daj and Jess... lemme know when you get those packages I sent you guys. :D And whether or not you have any troubles with the cds. :O

html testing

2007-07-15T04:19:07Z

LA STESSA COSA

Rules :: Family Summary :: Family Structure :: City History :: Taken / Reserved Characters :: FAQ :: Apply ::

In the country of Margherita, lying directly in the center, is the city of Fiori. Their motto? "The People Prosper, The City Prospers." They live by it. Most have died for it.

And indeed, the city has prospered. It's blossomed, much like the flower of its name, into one of the most alive towns in all of the country... even though its history is bloody. Struggles. War. Criminal activity.

Many people believe that those who live in Fiori are destined for great things, and they immigrate to the town in droves, hoping to pinch a penny for themselves.

What they don't know is that once they enter Fiori, they'll never be able to leave. Nor will they ever know the meaning of "security" ever again. Not while they are in control. Not while the families bicker to themselves, attempting a balance of power. Not while the crime syndicate rules.

la_stessa_cosa is a panfandom Alternate Universe role-play loosely based off of the history of organized crime. Anything that happens here is not based off of actual events/places/etc.

This role play takes place in the city of Fiori, where five families secretly fight against one another to rule at the top. Those five families are: the Rosso, with their don Axel leading; the Viola, headed by Marluxia; the Bianco, with Rufus Shinra at the top; the Giallo, fronted by the manic Larxene; and the Nero, with "The Bloody Valentine" keeping watch.

This RP opened as of July 7th, 2007. Many positions and tons of characters are currently open. We hope to see you soon!

X-posted on other communities and personal journals. We apologize for any F-list flooding that may occur.

mortality and its reminders

2007-06-30T03:42:04Z

I don't think I'll be getting on AIM tonight. One of the family dogs died today, unexpectedly. Speedy was only six or so years old, and while he was not my dog, he was my cousin's, and he was still like family to me. I lived at my aunt's for a year and a half, during which time Speedy was a big part of my life. So I'm shaken up about this, and it certainly doesn't help that his death has so greatly shaken up my cousin's family so much.

I guess the worst thing about it is that it was so unexpected. Just last night he cuddled up with his mommy on her bed. And I saw him not even a month ago, and he was just as happy and healthy as he'd ever been. I feel bad, because there were several times I should have seen him and could have but didn't, because I was wearing my work clothes and didn't want to get drool on them. That sounds weird and super cold, but Speedy's an American Bulldog, and there is no slobber quite like a bulldog's. In retrospect, I really regret not seeing him.

Or maybe the worst part is not knowing just what happened. Or not getting to send him off, when he got buried--I had to go in to work. They buried him in their backyard shortly after I left, and although I pet him goodbye, it's suddenly--even as I type this--sinking in that I will never get to play fetch with him again, or play the I've-Got-Your-Paw game with him anymore, or see him go wild when they bring out the Christmas frog. He wasn't my dog, and if I'm feeling this way, then I can only flinch to think about how my cousin and her daughter must feel.

Regardless, I really hope that y'all will take this little post to heart and go take the time to play with your pets, because once they're gone, you can't get them back. I know it sounds cheesy, but Speedy was still in his prime, and seeing him go like this is really reminding that life is something that we take for granted. So, hell, don't just visit with your pets--take the time to let everyone important to you know that you care. Because there's no reset button in life.

just a june update

2007-06-21T22:51:28Z

So, you know you've been scarred by your experiences with a computer company when you're still having nightmares about broken/gimp computers over a month later. xDD;; It's sort of sad. And Dell wants me to participate in a customer satisfaction survey.... XDDD

Work at Academy is going good, I think. I had my first closing shift yesterday, and it went over pretty well. And last Sunday, I set the ad, which wasn't too bad. I have today and tomorrow off, and then I work Saturday 1-10, so it'll be my first time closing on the weekend... which could be interesting. Oh, and hey! The machine's finally started recognizing me, so I don't need overrides anymore. :D I enjoy working the later hours, better, in a way--it's nice to not have to be up at the crack of dawn, and it's nice to be with the younger employees. Red is a little... opinionated/obsessive with jeans, and the others I just don't know very well.

In other news, hoping to see 1408 tomorrow with Rachel. And Sunday at 8 we're supposed to be having Veronica's party. Come to think of it, though, I don't have a gift for her yet. Dx And I'm not sure what she's into anymore. o.o;; crapadoodle.

I've been drawing alot lately, which is nice. Not writing, though, which is what I really need to be doing. Dx If there was a crayon called 'Slacker' that would be the color to scribble in my lines. *sigh* There's just not enough time/energy in a day to do everything I want and need to. The one good thing about it is that I think I've finally run across a better way for me to go about my art. I certainly feel like I'm enjoying the finishing look more. Hopefully I'll have something to share soon. :D

I can't believe it's already June 21st. July 4th is coming up pretty quickly. Which sucks, sorta, since I know I'll be working the holiday weekend, and it's going to be a zoo. Here's hoping for rain, perhaps flooding, to keep the customers at bay. In a way, it's not a really big deal, because we never do a whole lot, but I was sorta hoping to do fireworks this year, and I'm sure my family will be grilling something. Hafta get mom to save me some grilled veggies... and steak... or shrimp... depending on what they fix. The couple of plus sides to it, though, is that 1) my brother's birthday is fast approaching (3rd of July) and so I'll get to give him my present, and 2) my birthday's July 19th ♥ so hopefully I'll either get some moolas or dvds or books or something. xDD;; Probably won't be that much in the way of gifts since a couple of people are unemployed right now, but I'm really just looking forward to the food. xDD I should request my birthday off, come to think of it, and then the day of Grandma's birthday party/family reunion.

i live xDD

2007-06-12T10:55:37Z

Just thought I'd let people know that it looks like I've got a job. I go in Wednesday morning for paper work and training. :D Let the ~~cash~~ good times roll.

In other, less important news, I've managed to stay up the entire night playing Okami. Responsible, I am not. ._.; And still, some of my most burning questions remain unanswered.
If you have this game/intend to play it and haven't beaten it yet (and if you own it and haven't beaten it... why on earth not? it's such an easy game, no insult intended to anyone who might be struggling) SPOILERS BELOW.

Such as, how and why someone could just not notice the hordes of evil creatures in a technologically impossible space-ark?

Or, why is it that only Ammy and the constellation/brush gods are animals--all the other celestial beings have humanoid forms; does Ammy have some humanoid form we are not privy to?

Is Clover hoping for a sequel, or was that 'stormier seas' bit just bullshit coming from a really weird guy?

And while we're on that topic, I still don't know if Waka is gay or just really, cosmically weird (possibly caused by his upbringing in space--to hit everyone over the head with the pun, 'spacey')?

Just what the heck were the weird (though still blatantly cool) things coming off of Ammy's back?

How can Ammy's other reincarnation simply go back and forth through time at will? I had to go through hell getting through that stupid forest (I swear, I would not be surprised to find out Satan himself decided to build a cottage house out there, he'd be right at home!)

Also, that forest. Urrrgh!!! Dx I think that was quite possibly one of the single hardest moments of the game!! That, and the battle with Ninetails.

...Having said all that, I think it's time I caught a little rest before I wake up in three hours. To those of you who might feel miffed or worried since I didn't get on AIM yesterday/last night, I'm sorry.

RPG spammeroo! ((JOIN US!!))

2007-05-30T02:40:20Z

never_evermore

the tale //

Once upon a time...
In a world called Never Evermore... A land of fairytales, myths and folklores, a capital of magic, pixies and faeries, mysteries and frog princes, as well as lone maidens trapped in towers above. Where wolves may roam and bears may live in cottages, those of questionable intent, and impressively arguably nature may reside, it is far from a place of happy endings. And while not entirely unpleasant, darkness does linger as shadows do crawl, but the occupants of the fair Never Evermore remain oblivious to this hidden essence.

However, the citizens of Never Evermore have come to notice considerable changes within their friends and neighbors, alarmed by their adjustments. No longer are they the people they once knew but strangers replaced within the night, bearing foreign appearances and alien personalities, absent to the common agenda each is expected to execute; it was this danger of chaos that the K I N G and Sir Humpty established the Institute of Never Evermore, prepared to isolate those of this crooked society with treatment to return them into what they once were. And Sir Humpty established the Institute of Never Evermore, prepared to isolate those of this crooked society with treatment to return them into what they once were.

Despite such a separate monarchy, and the face of a King whom no one has ever known, all resides well within Never Evermore, they trapped in their world of tall-tales and to know nothing but...

For in a world composed entirely of darkness, how are they to miss the light?

links //

« Rules | Reserve | Characters | Application »

Kay, guys, this is just me speaking, but.... I think we need more girls. Seriously. We're outnumbered by kajillion to one. I play half of the girls (Haruhi of Ouran and Rikku of FF10) if that gives you any kind of idea. Please, please, join. ♥

Friends Only

2007-04-08T02:46:29Z

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

This journal is friends only.
Please comment to be added.
(Current friends need not worry.)
Please request if you wish to be removed.

♥

Meme thing

2007-03-20T05:36:54Z

Stolen from an Autumn ♥

Comment, and I will reply with an anime/video game picture that reminds me of you. (Or, at least I'll TRY to.) Post the same in your journal.

oh yeah... human for sale edited, and more proof that wiki really does know all

2007-03-11T00:10:57Z

Took an IQ test at Tickle.com and DAMN it makes a HUGE difference in how you score on Human For Sale. If you've taken this test and didn't fill in your IQ, you really ought to consider doing so. (You'll have to use a different email address, but the results are interesting, so it might be worth your time.)

Oh yeah, Autumn--they DO sorta recognize our ~~superiority~~ uniqueness. They just don't give us any moolah for it. Cheapscates... Check it out:

Did you know?
Approximately 8 to 15% of the adult population is left-handed.

Studies indicate that left-handedness is more common in males than females.

Left-handedness, in comparison to the general population, also appears to occur more frequently in identical twins, and several groups of neurologically disordered individuals.

Statistically, the identical twin of a left-handed person has a 76% chance of being left-handed, identifying the cause(s) as partly genetic and partly environmental.

It is also noted that many bisexuals and homosexuals are left-handed more than their heterosexual counterparts.

Also people of South Asian, Eastern European, Southeast Asian descent are more left-handed than any other ethnic groups in the world, while people of Western European, Northern European, and African descent are less left-handed.
-Source: Wikipedia.org

Ambidexterity
Although ambidexterity is rare at birth, it can be learned. The key in learning is to start paying attention to minor tasks and performing them with one's opposite hand daily. While difficult at first, minor tasks like brushing teeth, opening doors, and eating will become steadily easier if a person keeps at it. Learning to write or throw with both hands is far harder, but with patience and practice, it is feasible for anybody to become proficient with both hands.
Source - Wikipedia.com
Left or Right Handed: Left Value: $0

How did we calculate your results?
Not much of a difference here. Left-handed people were awarded a slight amount more than right-handed people.

Left-handedness and intelligence
A common belief suggests that left-handed people are more intelligent or creative than right-handed people. While there is an unresolved debate within the scientific community on how to operationalize both intelligence and creativity, some studies have demonstrated a small positive correlation between left-handedness and creativity/intelligence.

In his book Right Hand, Left Hand: The Origins of Asymmetry in Brains, Bodies, Atoms and Cultures, Chris McManus of University College London, argues that the proportion of left-handers is rising and left-handed people as a group have historically produced an above-average quota of high achievers. He says that left-handers' brains are structured differently in a way that widens their range of abilities, and the genes that determine left-handedness also govern development of the language centers of the brain.
Source - Wikipedia.com

... dood. They totally just made me feel special. 8D I'm white, female, straight, not a twin, of western/european-melting pot decent and left-handed. dooood.

...hmm. I think it's time to go and take some aleve. 8D teh headache and chills are coming back. *waddles off for real this time*

If I seem a little bit irritable, it's probably because I have a uterus.

2007-03-04T23:29:14Z

Been watching House all day and slowly working my way through homework. I've got most of my Japanese finished... I just need to do the last part of the kanji page. I've gotten my 'Self-Evalution' written and my first Workshop paper read, as well as a peer review turned in online. But I still have to write an entire paper for that class--what kind of teacher asks you to write an entire paper in less than a week on top of all the other shit they give you--as well as another workshop paper to read (that I won't even get till tomorrow) and short story to read. This doesn't even touch my Hist of Engl homework, which includes the notes I need to type up for Wednesday's and Friday's classes AND the book I have to start reading. Jeez. Where do all my hours go?

I'm really sick of not having a working scanner. I need to find the fucking software for it. Pardon my language, folks. I'm just mad that my brother has managed to lose yet another cd for me. I still blame the first disc of FF7 disappearing on him... *grumble* But seriously. I doodled this awesome little doodle on the side of my workshop paper, and I'll probably never get to use it because no one can find the fucking software. Bullshit. Just bull shit. Not to mention never get to beat FF7 now that my first disc AND my data cards have disappeared. Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.

Talked to mom for a short while today. Thinking about talking to dad and my brother as well. Matthew hates getting on the phone, though. I don't blame him, but... he can handle it for two minutes, right? Right.

..Gah. So much homework. So little drive. I just want to play with my new art journal. Dx Life needs to go leave me alone now kthx.

PS: That may just be the best subject line I've ever come up with. :O

too tired for coherence

2007-03-04T09:30:55Z

I worked hard today. Went and painted gnomes, took pictures of said process, came back and worked hard on japanese hmwk, and then got my creative-dumping grounds journal open.

My dumping-grounds for here on out! Hopefully this will make this particular journal a little bit more regular in purpose. And maybe it'll encourage me to share more of the crap I make and then horde on my hard-drive. Especially since I've pretty much stopped using DA.

Ugh. I'd talk more, but like... I'm just SO tired from today. Worn out, plus head ache. If you're interested, I would love it if you'd go friend_add my journal. 8D

commaqueen @ 2007-03-02T18:59:00

2007-03-03T01:02:11Z

VIZ has apparently acquired the liscence for Houshin Engi. I have literally been waiting for this for YEARS. I'm beyond happy.

Wowza (quickie+meme)

2007-03-01T20:03:17Z

Got a review for Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow that made me feel just... very warm and special inside. ;O; Sometimes, unexpectedly good things happen. I'm doing my best to be thankful. ♥

Got a lot to do today because I did like... zero work yesterday. ._.;; xD Two days worth of history notes to type up, Linguistics photo to print off... Uhm.... All of that creative writing shit to do--wtf so we don't have class for like a week, still EFFING ridiculous!--and various stuffs.

I think I'm going to start preparing myself to launch a journal for my creative junk. It just... sounds like a really good idea. Hopefully, if I spam teh friends, they'll friend_add it. :3 Will you guys?? *luffle and hopeful*

And I was tagged by Apollymi! Memeness!:
Rule: Post the explanation of where your user name came from. Then tag TEN users whose explanations you would like to hear. If you are tagged, post your explanation to your page.
Explanation: I have an overwhelming fondness for commas, and the tendency to overuse them... and try to make other people overuse them, too. xDD But. I like my commas anyway! ~~Although I must admit that semicolons are even cooler.~~ So I'm teh CommaQueen.
I have an older nick name, Tenshi no Nozomi that I made up as pseudonym for working on fanfiction.net with the help of my handy-dandy japanese-english dictionary. I still go by it, and I'm still occasionally called No-chan by some of my older friends. :D
Tagging: destati19, silver_sweet, cloudaj, cygnea, ghostbiscuit, rancidolive, rehdfawx, waywardlancer, xpltvdltd, dantes_muse

commaqueen @ 2007-02-27T16:00:00

2007-02-27T22:07:29Z

I'm thinking about making a journal for my creative stuff seperate from this regular account. I think I've talked about doing this before. It would just be nice to have a place to put stuff like that, especially stuff in progress. And it would give me an opportunity to use more icons. It's just a matter of having the time and energy to set one up, I suppose. Because I make quite a few graphicy things that never get posted anywhere, but I don't think I'm necessarily good enough to go posting them around. Plus, it would be a good place to post creative writing pieces I want to share. Maybe. xD

commaqueen @ 2007-02-27T12:34:00

2007-02-27T18:34:46Z

WHOOT. I got my homework done last night. :D Thanks for all your support guys. ♥

commaqueen @ 2007-02-27T00:25:00

2007-02-27T06:27:04Z

Crap. Crap crap crap. I need to crank out this paper. I don't care if it's a piece of crap, I just need to get it done. D: Revisions will make it better where it's lacking, and it doesn't have to perfect, I just... need to get it down to turn it in with the rest; the maddie paper and the valentines revision will make up for where it lacks. Please... God... just let me get this thing out.

Just a quick post and a ficlet

2007-01-28T12:43:51Z

Kay. It's super late--or early, however you wanna look at it--and I'm pretty tired. I said I'd get this up, though. So hopefully twinnie'll have Carly come look here.

I'm posting what is my very first foray into KH(/KH2) fanfiction... as well as my first attempt at writing anything in which the main relationship was shounen ai. (The fic I wrote for 30_Houshin featured a side/mentioned shounen-ai/yaoi bit, but it wasn't much, and never appeared on-stage.) Carly and Julie are responsible for it--as well as probably all of the folks back on Atra Viscus, in part for simply deluging me in more KH/FF fandom than I've been exposed to in some time, but mostly for the support they've given me. (I was very surprised, but it seemed like it was well received to the people I showed it to on AIM.)

I think the most obvious errors have already been weeded out of this, but this is still just a rough draft--if something looks weird to you, please speak up. I'm going to try to go over it for an editing/rewrite session next weekend, maybe sooner if I have time (not likely). It's still unnamed, though. I'm thinking something like "Yesterday Today and Tomorrow" but that's kind of long. So if anyone has any suggestions... I'd be stoked to hear em. Anyways. On to the little ficlet.

Title: ???
Pairings: Sora+Riku (onesided?), Tidus+Kairi
Warnings: very mild shounen-ai
Rating: PG
Summary: .... not thought up yet, sorrry

Sora slurped at his slush hesitantly; Kairi had recommended it, but he wasn’t sure if it was really going to be good or not. He hated oranges. He let out a small noise of surprise, though, when the liquid-ice mix hit his tongue. It was fruity, sweet and tangy, some kind of mix that was surprisingly delicious.

“Wow, Kairi! That really is good,” Sora admitted, taking another taste. Yup, very good.

“I told you so,” she replied, not unkindly. Selphie came and sat down next to Kairi on the other side of the booth with the fruit drink she’d ordered. Kairi was having whatever he was having, and although Selphie agreed that it was good, she preferred watermelon.

“I still can’t believe they built a place like this here,” Selphie said conversationally. Sora had to admit, too, that the sleek little café didn’t really seem to suit Destiny Islands. And yet it was already immensely popular, and it seemed like literally all of the students came here to hang out after school.

“Well, you can never really guess exactly what’ll happen,” Kairi said, almost philosophically, twirling a strand of her red hair between her forefinger and thumb. That was the truth on more than one level, and Sora had to laugh a little around his straw. Their eyes met, and Sora knew they were thinking much the same thing.

It was their big secret, of course—the way the planets had fallen apart, the way it had been saved, where they’d been for that year. It was strange, though. Life had resumed at Destiny Islands like nothing had ever happened. People went about their daily lives, not asking questions about the strange events that had occurred only three years ago. It was just as well, since they couldn’t explain.

“Earth to Sora, come in, Sora,” Selphie said, interrupting his thoughts. Sora jerked, almost guiltily. “A munny for your thoughts?”

Sora just laughed and shook his head. Selphie pouted, but didn’t press it. Maybe the reason no one asked questions was because they felt the weight of the secret on them, too. Sora felt it when he contemplated telling others. So maybe there was some magic tangled up in his life even now.

“So, what did you think of today’s History exam?” Selphie asked Kairi, and off they went talking about the mundane. Sora sipped at his drink some more, wondering just what this taste he couldn’t name was.

“Hey, Kairi,” Sora said. “Do you know what the ingredients for this are?”

Selphie gave Sora a funny look. “Wait. Wait, wait, wait. You didn’t tell him what’s in that, Kairi?” the bubbly girl asked her friend. They exchanged some kind of look, and then Selphie was holding back snickers behind her mouth.

“Hey, hey,” Sora said, alarmed. “There better not be anything gross in this,” Sora warned, putting down his drink and eyeing the goldenrod, semi-frozen mix in the transparent.

Kairi was laughing too, now. “Easy, Sora. Take a chill pill. I would never do anything like that to you. Besides, I don’t know anyone in the back who’d risk their job to put a worm in it,” she teased him. “It’s not a big deal, really. I know there’s lemon, and some orange, and bananas, some sugar and honey, but the reason Selphie’s laughing is because the last ingredient is”—

A hand reached from nowhere behind him and grabbed his cup. Sora whipped his head around, and it was none other than Riku. Of course Riku would be the only one who would steal his drink. Blasé, as though he’d been invited to it, Riku took a good drink from the cup, until there was less than a third left.

Sora scowled at Riku, who apparently didn’t notice or care. “Hey, that was mine, you know. I paid for it.” Mostly, though, Sora wasn’t mad. If anything, it was good to see Riku acting this way. For a long time after they’d returned Riku had been changed—perhaps humbled, certainly subdued—by what he’d experienced. The first time Riku had teased Sora for being short after an entire year of caution, Sora nearly cried with relief.

Riku didn’t so much as bat an eyelash. “I was thirsty,” he replied with a shrug. And then that cocky smile of his transformed his handsome face. “Of course, if you have to be a girl about it, then… I humbly apologize, my dear lady,” Riku said, replacing the cup on the table.

Sora’s scowl deepened; again Riku shrugged nonchalantly before taking a seat beside him. “Hey, it’s not my fault that you spend too much time around girls.” Riku stretched an arm across the back of the seat and slouched characteristically. “What’s the matter with you two?”

The sound of more giggles—stifled, half-hysterical—turned Sora’s attention back to Selphie and Kairi. Both girls were staring at the two of them, with some mixture of shock and disbelief. And Selphie, well, from the way she was straining to keep from laughing, it looked like she was going to explode.

“What? What is it now?” Sora asked, wary. He liked Kairi, but… girls were so weird. They always started giggling when they knew something you didn’t. Like they enjoyed being in on the secret, the power of knowing.

Selphie and Kairi exchanged glances—and some secret knowledge passed between them—before Selphie exploded into another fit of giggles that left her breathless and sagged against the table. Kairi’s look of shock slowly transformed into something sly and confident; the grin that spread across her face was purely devious.

‘Uh-oh,’ Sora thought to himself. That was the look Kairi got when she’d heard something spectacularly gossip-worthy. “Well. Like I was trying to tell you… the final ingredient in that drink is Paopu fruit. Apparently, with enough sugar and honey, it actually tastes really good anyway. But… well… you know what they say about two people who share a Paopu fruit.” Kairi grinned at Sora suggestively.

The first thought that exploded into his mind like a firework was ‘She planned all of this.’ Kairi had known for over a year now—closer to a year and a half—that Sora had the most terrible fixation on Riku. It was why they’d chosen to break up, though they’d never told another soul. But she’d been trying to get Sora to confess, to fix him up with Riku ever since. Was this just her latest attempt? ‘She planned all of this, somehow, and I’m… going to kill her.’

The next went something like 'Oh-my-god, I shared a Paopu fruit with Riku. What if he doesn’t like me? What if he likes girls? What if he doesn’t like me? What if he thinks that story’s crap? What if he doesn’t like me?'

“Pssh,” Riku said, waving one of his hands at the girls, like they’d just suggested the moon really was made of cheese, and that a space exploration there would leave them with enough cheese to last a life time. “Don’t tell me you girls actually still believe that story, do you?”

Selphie’s giggles were finally dying down. “Oh, I dunno. My aunt shared one with her childhood sweetheart, and they got married and have two kids now.”

“Man, that’s such bull, ya know?” Wakka came up from out of nowhere. If Sora hadn’t been having a meltdown before, he was now. Wakka and Tidus were both surveying the rest of them. “I’ll prove it, ya?” He said, before grabbing Kairi’s drink.

“H-hey!” Kairi gasped, trying to rescue her cup, but it was out of her reach. Luckily for her, Tidus was both closer and quicker.

“Don’t go drinking my girlfriend’s Paopu-drink-thing,” Tidus said scornfully. He then eyed it and added with an impish grin. “If anyone’s going to share it with her, it’s gonna be me,” he declared, and took a giant swallow.

The girls both erupted into squeals. Kairi looked shocked and a little embarrassed, but there was a glow in her eyes that said at the same time she was pleased. Probably, regardless of the Paopu’s possible magic, they would end up engaged at some point.

“Are you going to drink the rest of that, Sora?” Riku asked, gesturing at Sora’s fruit-slush. Sora looked at his drink, and just as quickly looked back at Riku. Probably he looked about as startled as he felt, because Riku added with raised brows, “Don’t tell me you believe that old housewives’ tale, too.”

Sora hesitated. They were all looking at him, waiting. His face was starting to go red from embarrassment. Finally he picked up his drink, and took another few sips from it.

Conversation turned to school, to exams, to graduation, which was coming up soon. And then his friends started to drift away, one by one. Wakka to play his beloved blitzball by the beach, Tidus and Kairi went to go hang out privately—which probably meant to make out—and Selphie went too because she was the kind who got bored easily. Which left him and Riku in the café, alone, and not really talking.

Sora glanced at Riku a couple times, trying not to get caught looking. He wondered if any of the others aside from Kairi knew. Probably Selphie did; girls seemed to get some kind of kick out of the thought of guys liking each other. Why, Sora didn’t really understand; it was just another one of those things that made girls weird.

“So have you heard anything from Donald or Goofy lately?” Riku asked, like he was talking about the weather. He was drinking what was left of Selphie’s drink; apparently he didn’t worry about germs.

“No, not recently,” he replied, a little sad. Not seeing them anymore made him lonely. They’d become good friends, and their prolonged absence in his life left him feeling only slightly less lonely than when he had been without Riku and Kairi. “Not since we left on the ship last time.”

Riku nodded, thoughtfully, quiet. Even now, Riku was changed from his experience. He still bragged and laughed and teased and mocked, but it mostly seemed like a show he put on for others’ benefits. It worried Sora; whether or not they were ever more-than-just-friends, he wanted his friend to just be himself.

“Uhm, Riku,” Sora started, fumbling for words, for his thoughts, which ran away from him. He’d started, but now he wasn’t sure what he should say. ‘I love you,’ maybe? Or, ‘You don’t have to hide from me?’ Or, ‘I’d like to share a Paopu fruit with you for real some day.’

“Yeah?” Riku asked, looking at him, meeting his eyes. Sora loved Riku’s eyes; they were the color of the ocean in certain spots, when the sun shined just right and the sand beneath was just the right distance below, and the water was clean from seaweed. If he’d been having problems think before, though, he was truly lost now. His palms were sweating in his lap, and he had to fight the insane urge to wipe them off.

“Uhm,” Sora croaked, coming up with nothing. His mind was screaming at him to abort the mission, he was in too deep, he was failing, floundering, a dying beached whale. “N-Nothing,” he stuttered, “nevermind.” If Kairi were here, she’d be so disappointed. She’d probably just tell Riku for him, or lecture Sora when Riku was gone about how they weren’t getting any younger and he should stop wasting time and just say how he felt.

Riku cocked his head to the side and furrowed his eyebrows, staring at Sora like he was trying to peer inside his brain. Sora hoped that Riku wouldn’t pursue it; sometimes he got strangely persistent. In the end, Riku just snorted and shook his head. “You’re such a weirdo, Sora, even now.”

Sora just waited for his heartbeat to go back to normal. So he’d panicked. It was okay. They were back to normal, back to the old routine. He hadn’t confessed, but he hadn’t screwed up.

Riku finished up the last of Selphie’s fruit punch and then reached back over and took Sora’s drink, which he’d sort of forgotten about. He proceeded to finish off the last of it. “You really don’t believe the story about Paopu fruits, do you?” Sora asked, genuinely curious.

It was unusual—he wouldn’t say that the people on the island were superstitious in particular, but most people tended to believe that sharing a Paopu fruit with someone you loved was a big deal. Parents always asked if their kids had shared the fruits with their boyfriends and girlfriend when things got serious, and it was traditional for a couple to share one on the night of their honeymoon.

Riku looked at Sora, but his expression was completely blank. “Do you?” he asked, and Sora knew it was a loaded question. They’d both seen magic, knew the consequences of the real stuff. Sora wasn’t sure if the Paopu really possessed that kind of power or not, though, so he didn’t really say anything.

Riku softly snorted. “Weirdo,” he said again, but Sora knew that was how Riku showed affection. His friend got up, stretched, and threw away the trash their friends had left behind. “C’mon,” he said, already heading for the door. “If we hurry, we can probably still catch Wakka down at the beach.”

Sora hesitated. Life was normal. It was an average day, and he hadn’t changed it; he and Riku would play blitzball with Wakka and maybe Tidus and when they went home and went to bed tonight Riku still wouldn’t know how Sora felt. But they were still friends, and they were still close, and so it wasn’t all so bad.

His heart was content with it, with knowing that day in and day out, he’d see Riku and Kairi and they’d laugh, and sometimes Donald and Goofy would come and they’d go on adventures and fight what was left of the heartless and nobodies together. And someday, maybe near or far off in the future, Sora would tell Riku how he felt. He could feel it in his heart, like a promise to himself, and knew it to be true. And then maybe they’d get to share a Paopu fruit together, whether or not the stories were true.

“Sure,” he agreed, and followed his friend out into the sunshine.

In other news.... working on this strange drabble-fic idea that twinnie inspired me to for 30_houshin. It started off just RikuxUsagi, but I really want it to be RikuxSoraxUsagi (as in all three, not a triangle). I haven't quite figured out the mechnanics as to how that'll work out, but I know quite a bit of the actual plot-ish stuff, and when there's a will there's a way. So it'll work out.

And... now I need to go update 30_H now before I pass out for about three hours.

commaqueen @ 2007-01-25T11:24:00

2007-01-25T17:36:48Z

Stayed up till 4 am this morning working on homework. I'd already gotten most of it done, but I had to knock out creative writing... which meant writing three short response papers and a 2 page short story for class today. (The short story specifically had to be written from the eyes of a child, utilize description, and be about someone else. If anyone's interested, I can share it with you all, but I don't necessarily think that it's anything special.)

The only thing I need to do now is finish up the last four questions on my Japanese homework and read like nuts for History of England before I get behind in our text book (caught up 1066 yesterday).

In other news, I've discovered that the road to productivity can be found (for me) by listening to music that is entirely instrumental. I uploaded all of my KH ost music to my computer, and have been scouring places for free classical and instrumental music. I also have another cd or so that I can just rotate. If anyone has anything they can share with me, I'd appreciate it. Otherwise, whenever I go to target next, I'm gonna have to hit up lifescapes. XDDDD Ahahahahaaa....

I really want to write some fanfic stuff right now. Maybe it's the constant exercise with my creativity for creative writing, but... it's really starting to get to me. And since I've been deluged with KH/KH2 lately--I'm enjoying RP alot so far--that's of course what I want to cross with. [Oh, yeah, I'm totally talking crossovers here... no giving them up for me!] RikuxUsagi just sounds fun. Or SoraxUsagi. Or RikuxUsagixSora. xD As in... sharing is caring, not triangle.

Oh... and I shared with Repliku the genuis that is Stephen Lynch yesterday. I think I've made another convert. ♥ [as though stephen lynch was some kind of cultist, and not a comedian. xDD]

Homework List

2007-01-18T22:54:29Z

♥ Read two short stories for Creative Writing
♥ Two hours of writing for Creative Writing
♥ Find/buy folder for Creative Writing
♥ Read the article on Adult's Day for Japanese; answer questions
♥ Finish worksheet from class for Japanese
♥ Make flashcards for Japanese verbs (regular/english)
♥ Make flashcards for Japanese verbs (regular/-te form)
♥ Take online vocab lesson quizes for Japanese (lessons 1-6)

...Christ. >.< I don't like playing the catch-up game. Good thing some of these aren't due yet.

commaqueen @ 2007-01-17T12:20:00

2007-01-17T18:26:18Z

So I would have, should have started class today. Only it was cancelled again. I'm sort of starting to go stir crazy. There's not a whole lot to do around here. @.@

Got accepted to Redup! <3 Hooray. First RP... ever. O.o I kind of wish that I'd created a journal for Lulu, but it probably would have been a waste of time. I am thinking about changing the color of this one, though. Just cuz I haven't made a major change in ages. And because the bordome I'm experiencing is probably becoming dangerous.

Ho hum. This wouldn't be too bad, cept it's too cold to want to do anything, and too icy to go anywhere. So I'll just stay here, where it's warm... doing absolutely nothing.

All Julie's Faults

2007-01-16T23:41:08Z

Each player of this game starts off with 10 weird things/habits/little known facts about yourself. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 10 weird habits/things/little known facts as well as state this rule clearly. At the end you need to choose 10 people to be tagged and list their names. No tagbacks.

1. I hate it when people touch my things without my permission... specially artwork. I consider art to be like a journal, in that it's private and personal and deeply important to every individual unless so stated otherwise.
2. I don't know how to flirt. In fact, I don't even recognize it when people flirt with me.
3. When I was in the fifth grade, I went through a stage where I had the foulest mouth on the playground. I still have a foul mouth, but I relished using swear words back then and used them often enough that I got in trouble on several occasions.
4. I don't like wearing dresses or fancy clothes or makeup, but I enjoy looking at em.
5. I think diamonds are overrated; if I ever get married, I don't want a diamond ring.
6. When I was a really little kid, we used to have a watermelon patch... the soap when we washed the car used to wash into them, and I was always scared the soap would somehow poison me.
7. When I get stressed out/upset about something, I cannot shut up about it, and even if I do, you'd better believe I'll be thinking about it all day till I go to sleep.
8. The last time I had the flu as a kid, it turned into pneumonia which was complicated by my asthma, so I had to be hospitalized.
9. I hate cheese, coffee, and gum.
10. In 8th grade, 9th grade, and 10th grade (after I moved to Illinois) my only friends were those who lived over a 1000 miles away or I knew from the net. (Which probably explains my social ineptness.)

Anyone who hasn't been tagged can do this.

In other news, I'm pretty sure my re-application for Redup is almost ready. :D Yeah! Now I just need someone to pre-read it for me. T.T Why do people have to be busy when I'm free...?

commaqueen @ 2007-01-16T11:04:00

2007-01-16T17:10:56Z

I'm sure that on Sunday I was wishing I didn't have to go back to school. So perhaps that is why things like this have happened to me. But maybe that sort of thought is too self-absorbed--who am I to suggest that the weather would rearrange itself to suit my wishes? But whatever.

School got cancelled today, which seemed fun till I realized just how little food I have. And until I felt just how cold it's gotten. Which is fucking cold, in case anyone needed to guess. It feels like it's 19 degrees outside, according to weather.com. Which as far as I'm concerned is the real temperature, since that's all I'm concerned with. Oh, and it's started sleeting.

That's right, folks. Sleeting. In Texas.

And it's looking like it's just going to keep getting worse. We have an advisory from about 5PM tonight till 9AM the next morning that says there's a 70% chance we'll get sleet. (But, hey, there's a 100% chance we're getting it right now according from my prediction from the window; someone's gotten started a little early!) So probably, school--and all related functioning aspects, including those in charge of distributing food to paying customers--will probably be closed.

I'm going to go out in less than thirty minutes with as much clothes on my body as I can fit to try and find someplace open that I can take food from. Because all I have is four cans of soup that aren't going to go very far. Better to go out while the getting's still good... and all that.

I'd laugh, but...

2007-01-11T21:27:26Z

The irony of it all. I have less than a week till school starts--more like four days--and suddenly I am now inspired to write and paint. This makes me feel a bit crazed. Although, if my productivity has come back, that's a sign that I'm back to normal and ready for more stress and work and whatever school can throw at me. Peachy.

Been feeling a bit under the weather the last couple days. Sinuses went haywire, and suddenly I've got headaches that just won't quit and I can't breathe... etc. I started taking motrin last night for the pain, which helped me to sleep considerably better. Still woke up around 4 AM, though, for whatever reason. I hope that's not going to become a habit.

I'm hoping that my dvds from rightstuf'll come in today. They arrived in Dallas on the 9th, so any time now. Any time. The wait is killing me, though. If the mail comes and the dvds don't, I imagine I'll just play my video game again today. I was going to go fight another mark last night, but I was just too tired. So today, a hunting I shall go.

And if the muses keep bugging like this, I imagine I'll be writing, too.

PS: I hear word through the grapevine that there's going to be an Ouran dating game. I am beyond excited and envious and filled with want. I would kill for that game to get released here. It's going to be coming out on PS2.... I want it sooo bad. But unless they release it again