Raiha

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]My resolution is to work out 6 days a week and to take Sunday for a personal day off in which I do no homework and nothing work related. This couldn't possibly go wrong could it? Oh yes and I'm also REALLY not sober right now thanks to vodka and cranberry juice as well as vodka and pineapple juice. Sweet.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[RIGHT][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/maceyellen-chronicle.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c135/Minneymin/jackavatar.jpg[/IMG][/RIGHT] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"][i]Macey left dinner while it was still continuing, seeing Vincent in the hall from a distance, but ducking out of sight before he noticed. It wasn't that she was afraid of him. It was simply that tonight wasn't a night she wanted to spend talking to him. Instead she made tracks for her bedroom. Eva had already bathed and gone to bed in her own chambers. Tonight wasn't a night she needed to spend speaking with someone who would ask her the painful questions. Her sister's servant was hovering near the door, and Macey gave her a slow smile.[/i] "Go about your business, I'll take care of myself tonight." [i]With a sigh and a turn, Macey leaned against her mirror, while pulling off her dinner clothes. Her charge was already being taken care of, having sent her personal servant to deal with him instead. Tonight would be hers. She bathed with care, pinning up her hair in several thick braids, and drying herself of. No servants to wait on her tonight, they were all taking care of Gadget anyway. Macey pulled on a simple linen sleeping gown, fastening the silk collar carefully against the curve of her neck. She opened her door, looked into the hallway, and saw Jack himself walking down the hall in her direction. Odd that. He didn't belong here. Macey contemplating shrieking and throwing him on top of her, then she contemplated just throwing him on top of her. Either option worked, both with favorable results for her. She let a false smile play about her lips, then she toyed with one of her pale lace handkerchiefs. Jack was within snatching distance, but instead of bodily grabbing him, she reached out a slender hand instead, to touch his arm.[/i] "Visit with me awhile Jack." "Visit? You say that, but I can't help but think you don't mean it." "Make your own meaning out of what I say if it works for you." [i]He gave her a look, as if he couldn't believe what she was saying. Macey smiled up at him, and it was in fact a long way up. Then she rose up on her tiptoes, and with one final thought of: "Damn the consequences," She kissed him on the lips, shoving her body against his, so hard that they nearly fell into the corridor, until he caught her around the waist and slammed the door shut behind them. Macey felt awkwardly with one hand behind her back for the lock and threw the deadbolt with some difficulty, before throwing her arms around his neck.[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[i][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Desbreko drew, as did Petie, and Charles himself pulled out a ball and musket rifle. Alex looked prepared to open his mouth, when Allamorph snuck up behind him with a blue plastic bag, and dragged him off kicking and screaming. Rick Hunter screamed something incoherent, most likely about legal action, when Gavin joined the group of men standing up around the table, looking relatively threatening. Meanwhile the women continued to sit gracefully, looking as ornamental as any hothouse orchid. Of course, every one of them had begun to surreptitiously slip hands into sleeves, or under the tables. Rick Hunter threw a knife in Charles?s general direction, only to have Indifference reach up casually and catch it in her bare hands.[/i] ?Too soon. Baby...? [i]She crushed it in her palm as if it were made of paper. Charles struck back, his bullet grazing the interloper across the shoulder. He clutched the wound which for some reason was gushing copious amounts of blood.[/i] ?You?ll never take me down! Not while I still draw breath! I own you all!? ?...does that even make any sense?? [i]Revelation looked up from the book she was reading. I tilted my head and read the title: ?Character Assassinations.? I shrugged and raised a quizzical eyebrow. Petie slammed one foot down and assumed a stance, sending lines of force towards Rick Hunter, throwing him towards the door. It opened just before he struck it, and he ragdollized outwards, landing ungracefully in the courtyard. Premonition and DigitalBoy closed the door behind him and sat down in front of it. Heaven?s Cloud naturally took the break in the flow of conversation to raise his glass in a toast.[/i] ?To Victory!? ?To Victory!? [i]Everyone echoed his toast like good sheep, and that was the end of that. Civility returned, and I returned to my chopsticks. Miraculously, in the scuffle, no actual harm had been done to the food, for which I was truly grateful. Sunfall turned to me and made some comment about my clothing, while I complimented her on her hairstyle. Charles took the opportunity to make a speech, while James nodded in the background sagely, his hands folded in his lap.[/i] ?Alas, how the foolish have fallen. At this time I would like to say with great dignity and pontification the magnitude of the pride I hold for each and every one of you. And furthermore-? [i]Someone in the background yawned audibly and Charles frowned at the disruption. I yawned as well, unfortunately unable to resist the urge. My husband patted my arm reassuringly, and I ate mechanically, while Charles droned on, pointedly ignoring the distraction as usual. I tried to pay attention to my credit, but he?d gone so far away from the typical that linguistic surreality had ensued.[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]?So glad you?ll be joining us for this mission boys. You both look so well.? ?We?ve been well ma?am. Your husband?s had us treated better than we?ve ever been before.? ?It was wonderful to learn and train with everyone here. And we?re going to help you, and then come back to Earth with you.? [i]It felt like the ending of some noir film from 1970, and I shook my head to clear it. Refusing to look closer at the omens I?d already seen, I turned and found my husband watching me. He took my hand and led me towards one of the windows by the exit hatch. We were already landing. We were going to our children. I could barely sit still, with the knowing. No greeting party, and Iki?s shield was still going as strong as I?d ever felt it. ...I was afraid, and at the same time, I could hardly wait to sink my teeth into my children?s tormentors. The jerk of the landing gear nearly shook me off my feet, so I braced myself, and then the hatch came down. Eriju slunk off the ship in a flicker of tail and mane, and Iki followed. Sikal and Neil left right after, with Vicky, Andrew, and Mattheus joining and spreading out in a different direction. Connor walked behind me and my husband, arm in arm, down the causeway. I smiled, feeling my pulse quicken under the strain. I could hardly wait. Eventually, we all looped back together. The complex we?d strayed into was large, stark, quiet, sterile. It felt like a hospital put together by millions of architects with obsessive compulsive disorder. The hallways were empty. Every room had a small window, but I didn?t look inside. I reached out with my thoughts and didn?t find my children nearby. Perhaps down another hall. Eriju swooped down on me from the ceiling to whisper in my ear.[/i] ?I found our kits. They?re in a room like this one. We?ll wait to open the doors until you find yours.? ?Good then. Get going.? [i]She swirled away, using a technique to move I could only describe as shadow hopping. It was on the fourth floor of the building that I first caught the whiff of my flesh and blood. My husband didn?t move, he couldn?t smell them yet. I lowered my gaze and watched for movement, sending out my thoughts slowly, until I knew I?d found them at last. My babies. [/i] ?Iki...I found them. Are you ready?? [i]His thoughts came to me on a rise and a surge of hope mingled with hatred. And I threw open the door leading to my children and swooped down on my baby girl as Gavin snatched up our son. Alarms went off, explosions in the corridor, and I took my chances. Bundling up my child and pressing her underneath my jacket I went for the window. Throwing out a hand I screamed a howl of incoherent words and it exploded outwards under the pressure.[/i] ?Everybody! Fly!? [i]Connor?s voice was so loud it set off the children crying, howling, screaming, raising their voices so loud and shrill that I nearly lost my head. Floating above the complex, I watched as the others made their breaks. Swooping underneath the wing of the nearby ship, I flung myself through the doors, and tucked my body into a roll as I landed on the tarmac. Gavin landed beside me, with the others close behind. Andrew slammed up the gear and took off, with the sounds of explosions rattling my ears. My baby clung to me desperately and I held her up to look her in the eyes. Huge, empty, staring. Just like mine.[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]I'd like to start a movement. "Set the Lady's hair On Fire." S.L.H.O.F. for short. It's another way to show displeasure with the woman who the real children of Leonheart detest. But seriously, I'll post tonight sometime. Tension between Jack and Macey should be interesting.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[i][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]After a good soak in the hot springs, with the obligatory scrub, rinse, and shower, we women were being grandly helped back into many layers of silk and brocade. I spread my arms and watched my reflection as someone expertly tied my obi while another replaced some of my hairpins. Over my right shoulder, Indifference let them button up her sleeves, while on my left Revelation let her dresser redo her already magnificent hair. Big dinner tonight. And while the women normally segregated themselves from the men, it was really difficult to find someone who would enforce the rules. Besides, nobody wanted to have their head removed from their shoulders. ...Scientifically. The banquet hall was set up, the tea and snacks prepared, and the guests were already arriving. Allamorph and Ozymandius Jones greeting guests like they were born to do it. This time, DigitalBoy had set himself up next to Premonition, and his other groupies by the door, taking our sandals and laying them away in boxes for later. Indifference nudged me and Vicky snorted into her sleeves while Athena gestured with her fan.[/i] “Ah yes, on their way to being rich and famous.” “Well it’s better being on their way to carrying the bags of the rich and famous.” [i]Ikillion leaned over in an expensive looking silk dress shirt and waved a hand with an utterly unconcerned air. Us women fell about laughing and clutching each other for support, and had to be escorted to our seats by all too willing men. Gavin led me to his side, and Sunfall let Rachmaninoff set her down on a silk cushion. I knelt easily enough and let the men serve us. Shy led a toast and everyone echoed it with general good cheer.[/i] “To health, wealth, loyalty!” “Grace, faith, royalty!” “To duty!” “To beauty!” “To goats!” [i]Everyone turned to look at Vicky, standing there with a slightly sheepish, no pun intended, look on her face. I stood as well and raised my glass.[/i] “To goats!” [i]There was riotous laughter, but the cry was echoed and that was the end of it. Heaven’s Cloud sat down last and launched into a long and undoubtedly boring speech about Ob politics, with Charles joining in and Shy putting in an occasional word, while the women turned to each other and conversed about mundane things. Like trees, and flowers, and swords, and breasts. I was about to pick up my chopsticks and try out the braised pork when the doors burst open once more and Alex himself burst in, with Rick Hunter behind him, while Dagger leapt to her feet, drawing the weapon for which she was named.[/i] “Who dares to interrupt our proceedings? Wait, no. I don’t care. There are penalties for this sort of thing!” “...is it a hefty fine?” “The penalty is death!” [i]James himself had stood and slammed his fist into the table, rattling the teacups.[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Actually part one was just supposed to be the party,...but whatever. Too late now! ....that and I'm too lazy to repost. Oh well! Someone can change it if they REALLY do mind. That and Desbreko's just going to be himself. Bigwig of OB. Much like the others in the posts. Moderators will have their power after all, and since this party is for Ob's rich and famous... Tee he... [center]~~~~~~~~~~~~[/center] [i]The hot springs provided at the resort were perfect. A little path led down from the banquet area and split into two paths. The men went down the right path while the women minced down the left, with some getting confused along the way. I know for a fact that DigitalBoy was making a break for the girl?s side when Athena caught him and put him in an anvil weighted suitcase before kicking him off a cliff. Poor bastard. Minutes later, we women had been shed of our heavy robes and were putting on light cotton shifts. Underneath? What was underneath you want to know? Nothing. Some of the younger girls had already gone to their own private baths, but the other women...the eligible women that is all went to the main bath. Indifference, Revelation, Vicky, Sunfall, Jamie, myself, and a few of the other gorgeous women of the boards walked down the well groomed path to the rock lined pool. I stepped into the bath, dipping in an experimental toe and finding the 103 degree water quite perfect. I sank in, letting the water rise up to my chest. One of the thoroughly boring and unobtrusive servants massaged my back with a husk of dried winter melon, and I shivered appreciatively. Holding a thin yellow towel to my shoulders, I took a sip from one of the many floating trays and watched as Indifference stood beneath one of the warm waterfalls, her hair in her eyes. Revelation turned and was about to reach for a tuft of hibiscus flowers when she noticed that one of the more daring men of the boards, this time Ikillion, had actually succeeded climbing the walls of the partition between the men and women?s sections in an attempt to get an eyeful. I guess in the scheme of things he DID in fact get an eyeful. And that eyeful was a flash of Revelation?s breasts before she swung the flat of her bokuto across his face and knocked him back onto his own side amidst much masculine laughter. The next attempt naturally happened seconds later, only this time it was Ken, dodging a spray of delicate looking throwing stars that clipped off several inches of his hair. Meanwhile, Desbreko himself lounged in one of his own private tubs, one of his fangirls giving him a manicure while a fanboy massaged his shoulders, and a third still washed his hair. James himself was having his feet massaged by a young boy who would?ve been slobbering over his feet if given half a chance. But even so, Sandy and Shy toasted each other in the main tub, while Rachmaninoff played the cello, while simultaneously soaking his feet. I have no idea how it worked, but I?m not going to question it. After all, I was busy keeping Neil, Ken, and Nersdy on their side of the wall. Every five seconds a head would appear, and Revelation, or Jamie, or I would have to respond with a burst of violence of some form or another.[/i] ?You know, you were right about the dick waving competition...but it?s too bad he doesn?t have anything to wave.? [i]Indifference chuckled and toasted me with a cup of jasmine tea while I absentmindedly hurled another throwing knife over the wall to clip Neil?s ear.[/i] ?Ouch, that was a low blow honey. ...then again...it?s not like it?d hurt if there was nothing to kick.? [i]Just then, the man himself reappeared, only instead of taking his case directly to James in his private area, he?d strayed into the single women?s area instead. I hissed venomously and reached for the throwing spear that I?d placed against the wall, when he blundered uselessly into the wall, brandishing a cutlass.[/i] ?Avast ye scurvy dogs!? [i]Revelation and I exchanged confused glances. Was he cracked or just- oh never you mind. The wall came crashing down in what was a sure sign of shoddy workmanship, and several Ob males found themselves staring at several mostly naked Ob females. There was a shriek, a gasp of horror, and then Petie himself showed up with a towel around his waist and his weapon in his right hand. He was swiftly joined by Ikillion wielding a demon quelling staff and flanked by Blayze, holding a double sided taichi sword.[/i] ?Try to peek in on our ladies will you?!? [i]A hefty sweep of Ikillion?s weapon, and then another forced Rick Hunter against a wall, and he tripped and fell into one of the secluded pools inhabited by the less single women of OB. Athena and Sunfall jerked themselves up, towels at hand, and for a second, all that could be heard was the shriek of,[/i] ?PERVERT!? [i]A huge explosion of water hurled him up into the air, where he was promptly picked off by one of Desbreko?s death vultures and followed by several of Ken?s fluffy owls. I sighed the sigh of she who has seen it all and reclined once more, listening to the sound of howls, shrieks, and general mayhem.[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"][i]The setting was perfect. James lounged at the head of the very long table, Shy and Desbreko next to him. The others looked pleased with where they were at. Revelation sat to my left, and Indifference to my right. Across the table from me sat Aryanna and her mother, with Rach and Sunfall in attendance. Charles and Gavin were seated nearby, while two bodyguards sat by the door, guarding the party against intrusion. Other such luminaries of the Otakuboards were there as well. It was after all, a party of the privileged. Looking further down I could see Petie clinking his glass against Ken. The sake flowed freely, but then again we were all in feudal Japan. Don?t ask me to explain, but it?s one of those things that tends to happen when you get a lot of crazies all together in one room. Reality tends to give way. Most of the time that is. Every one of us appeared to have brought some form of weaponry. On some it was more obvious than others. A magnificently worked katana leaned against James?s side of the table, and Charles had his own blades with him. I knew for a fact most of the women present had weapons of some kind or another stashed in either their hair or the sleeves of their kimonos, but what the hell. Never let the presence of a veritable armory stop you from having a good time. I was just pouring Indifference another cup of tea when the doors burst open, and the guards leapt out of the way. Rick Hunter stepped in, his Western style suit massively out of place among the soft silks of kimonos and braided tatami mats. [/i] ?What is the meaning of this?! This...celebration! This indulgence!? [i]James turned a jaundiced eye upon the newcomer that had so rudely forced his way in. With a slight yawn, he turned away and waved a dismissive hand. Shy looked in his direction as well.[/i] ?We?re celebrating someone?s birthday. Kindly take yourself elsewhere. You weren?t on the guest list.? ?Never! I am Rick Hunter! I will never leave! I will never be irrelevant! Not when there?s umbrage to be taken! Redress to be sought!? [i]I turned to Indifference, raising my sleeve over my mouth to hide my whisper.[/i] ?It?s like he?s in a massive dick waving competition. With himself.? [i]She and I both snickered behind our sleeves, a flutter of indigo, red, and silver. Petie laughed in our direction and drew a wakizashi. Desbreko also stood, brushing several of his less important, but very cute fangirls to one side. He picked up a pair of knives and gave Rick Hunter a look. But both had to wait. I?d rose to my feet, and after all, ladies first.[/i] ?You seek redress when there are none here who have harmed you. You try far too hard. One of these days you?re going to hurt yourself and have nobody to blame but your own ego.? [i]I reached into my obi and pulled out two throwing knives. One followed the other, pinning him to the wall at the shoulders. The guards took the cue and dragged him off, kicking and screaming. I knelt once more, and gave his retreating figure a scornful glance. Revelation giggled and poured my cup full of sake. I raised it with my right hand, drawing back my sleeve with my left and others around me mimicked the gesture. Our cups clinked with one another, and everyone cheered.[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[quote name='Rick Hunter']In using my images such as the AE Boards logo, without my consent you violate the copyright of Anime Explosion. You did not seek permission from the owner to use that image, the owner is naturally myself. Furthermore, your article borderlines on the grounds of defamation of character, and in a court of law you would be held liable for whoever the publisher of the article is. So I think it would be in the best interest of both parties involved in this to resolve this issue. Failure to comply to a quick resolution with this, will force me to take the next step. Which would result in me seeking legal aid, and possibily taking legal action.[/QUOTE] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]While your posturing and manly chest beating is cute...and definitive proof of that old adage..."The more things change the more they stay the same.." I'm afraid your threats of legal action are going to be quite a pain in the bum to bring to fruition. I suppose if we asked you politely you'd just get snippy and say no to us using your image as well. Of course on the other hand, Charles didn't ask me for permission before slapping one of my images on my article, which wasn't exactly nice to me either. But who cares right? It's was funny, and true, but you know what they say. But seriously, I think your accusations of defamation of character will prove to be a real lame time. See, you have to [b]prove[/b] malice in a court of law. And proving that the authors of the articles in question were in fact loathing you with every word they wrote is going to be a bit of an issue. Good luck though. I'm sure courts have nothing better to do.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]?Soon my sweet, we?ll be there. Iki and Eriju will be scouting, and Connor?s going to protect us as much as he can with his foresight. You can find the babies once we?re there and Neil and I will protect you. Andrew and Vicky will do the brute squad work as much as is needed, but we?re hoping to do this quietly.? ?I suppose we?re not going after Morrigan.? ?Our primary goal is to get our children out first, and then make our run. Once we?re out we can set up a defensible position and wait for her to catch up with us so we can fight her on our terms and not hers.? ?I wish I could say that was a great plan, but it?s not like we have other options at this point.? ?That?s the spirit honey. I?m sorry this has been taking so long, but Connor?s led us on a bit of a roundabout so we don?t attract much attention.? [i]I shrugged my shoulders, just happy to hear his voice in the flesh, and not in my dreams. I clung to him quietly, as if he were my security blanket, and I was a fractious babe. He stroked my hair, which had grown even longer during the time I?d slept and smoothed it away from my face. We?d all grown so pale on the journey. I knew my eyes looked sunken into my head, so I closed them instead and reached out for my husband?s mind with mine. I put my hands in his, and listened to his heartbeat. It was faster than mine, stronger, deeper...and it consoled me. He put his face in my hair and kissed my neck, and I fell asleep in an instant. The next morning was just about what I?d expected. Everyone was putting on armor. Eriju was sharpening her nails. All twenty of them. She twitched her tail quite often, her ears perked, as if she was waiting for a sneak attack from anywhere, and her eyes glowed with the fever of excitement. Neil and Vicky had taken over the twins training entirely, and both were being trained to wear the usual Saiya-jin armor. Andrew kept the ship on its course, as Connor kept on springing back and forth between the ship and the base where we?d be infiltrating. Gavin and Iki finished wrapping up plans, and I turned to stare into the mirror. Pale, empty, I looked completely devoid of life. But then again, I?d spent the better part of six months suppressing my magic, energy, everything. I slipped on my jacket, kept my feet bare, and tied back my hair loosely. Eriju popped up behind me.[/i] ?Ready? I?m so excited! Killing, rending, maiming...? ?Down girl. That?s my job.? [i]I caught her up and swing her around lightly, which was remarkably easy. She let go of me and landed on the ceiling, claws sinking in to hold her weight. Once there, she swirled around and landed on the floor several dozen feet beneath her. I laughed and we skipped down the hall, already feeling better. Feverish with anticipation, dancing on the steps. I leaned forward slightly as I walked, and bumped into the twins. Both looked taller, healthier, far more sane, and stronger. Mattheus recalled Vicky in his form, slender but containing a wellspring of energy. Sikal looked more like Neil, muscular, all that strength barely held back by force of will. Both bowed, having taken etiquette courses from Iki in their spare time. I smiled and proffered my hand.[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]So it occurs to me that I accidentally titled this thread 'The Demon Butcher' when it should've been 'The Demon Barber.' I don't suppose someone could fix it could they? I tried, and OB said SCREW YOU RAIHA! HAHAHAHAHA! But seriously. I'd be singing "My Friends" right now if I hadn't completely lost my voice. Unfortunately, lacking the straight razor's for such a song, I have to hold up my pink Venus razors instead.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]?Kind of yeah. But we also discovered that Morrigan has a rudimentary hive mind set up to control her minions... ...so she knew when we iced her ships.? ?And I?ll assume we?re only still alive because of Connor or something?? Oh lord no. We?re alive because Iki and Connor threw up shields to make us disappear off the radar. Essentially we?re invisible.? [i]I probed with my mind automatically, and felt a stinging sensation, as Iki?s mental shield slapped down my thoughts. I shivered with surprise at the strength. It had left me feeling like I?d just grabbed a chunk of dry ice with my face. Apparently the shield blocked outward thoughts and inward ones too. Maybe that?s why everyone was going loopy. Thoughts need space to move forward, otherwise they just circle endlessly and stagnate and make everyone insane. Maybe that?s why Vicky and Mattheus were mediating. Anti-thinking is a good method. But hey, I had been out of the galactic coffin for five seconds, and I was already wishing I was back in it. Maybe that was my brain?s response. Unfortunately for me, there would be no returning into space coma. For shockingly enough, we were already too close to turn back, and putting me into the sleep would be pointless. I idly glanced over at a calendar and realized that we?d all been stuck on this flying death trap for six months. My children were being dealt incalculable damage while I was still so far away from them. A moan escaped my lips, and I struggled to contain my feelings, knowing full well that if I succumbed to my feelings, I?d tear the ship apart. Instead I reached for the nearest bulkhead and sank eight claws into them, sliding them down slowly...oh so slowly. Eriju yowled at the sound and jerked my hands back from the walls. She put her paws over my hands, flexing and rippling with sinew and muscle.[/i] ?No! Let go please?? ?How much longer until we?re there?? [i]I spoke through gritted teeth, and slowly retracted my nails from the metal. Eriju pushed me back gently into the middle of the corridor. I sat down slowly and she plopped down right in my lap, curling her tail around my hips to prevent me from standing up again right away.[/i] ?Not long. Perhaps a day and one more night. It depends. But Connor and the others have a plan. Which...I guess saves us from having to think.? ?I don?t even care, so long as it comes off and I get back my children.? [i]Eriju?s tail twitched thoughtfully, and I remembered at that point that she too had kits taken by Morrigan. I thought back on the lore that I?d picked up over the months, either from my father or from other interstellar travelers. Morrigan tried to take twins after she?d killed off the family. But sometimes she failed and sometimes things didn?t go as planned. I assume she took our babies as revenge but perhaps it was also to get her hands on Siyannan blood, since she?d been up till now, incapable of it. Eriju and Iki had escaped with their skins intact and nearly been driven to their deaths, but I didn?t understand it. Ferals were everywhere in the galaxy. Why pick theirs? I turned to ask Eriju why, but she?d already loped off towards more exciting people, now that she had made sure I wasn?t going to keep shredding the walls. Sighing, I trailed towards the bedroom that was Gavin?s and sat down on the narrow bed. My hands plucked at the covers and I leaned towards the pillow, crushing it to my chest as I curled up to sleep in the natural way. I looked up out of the corner of my eye and saw stars in the window, vaulting and careening around me. Then I curled up tighter and felt my husband?s hands on my shoulders. He sat down next to me and pulled me to his lap. I exchanged the pillow for him and put my head on his chest. [/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[quote name='Shinmaru'] Lastly, Sacha Baron Cohen as an Italian = much hilarity. So, yeah, good stuff. Everyone here should definitely see it.[/QUOTE] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]I didn't realize it was him until the ending credits. And then I felt a perverse desire to hide in the back of the theatre until it showed again so I could see him with my Borat eyes. Everyone here should definitely see it, unless they're part of the 9% of the population that faints at the sight of blood. But seriously. Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece isn't completely butchered by Tim Burton. Rather, the madness is enhanced, especially by the driving string arrangements and brass selections. I was surprised actually at how deep and wonderful the cinematography was. When Mrs. Lovitt and Toby have their duet, I was charmed by the flickering of the light across her face. And possibly one of the best things about the movie was the deadpan expression Sweeney Todd manages to keep on his face, at least during the times when he's not [spoiler]beating Borat to death with an iron tea kettle full of hot water.[/spoiler][/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Hmmm, Rach you DO realize you just listed two children's movies. But that's okay. Let he who hath not seen Ice Age 2: The Meltdown on opening night cast the first stone. .......shut up. Don't look at me like that. I don't know you! The whole time you watch the movie, Tim Burton's madness oozes out of every orifice. Just everywhere, you see the insanity leaking out. One of the best quotes of the movie involves Mrs. Lovitt, Sweeney and a corpse. He's just sung one of the most moving and horrifyingly wonderful songs of the movie. [quote]"That's all very well and good, but what are we going to do about him?"[/quote] It's even up on youtube right now! Hurry before it's taken off. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SctSvIu3JLQ&feature=related[/url][/FONT][/COLOR]

[quote name='Allamorph'][FONT=Arial]Usually I can't stand musicals ? the one exception being The Sound of Music, for what reason I'm not entirely certain. See, I just can't deal with the constant eruptions of song and choreographed dancing and general WTFery that goes on in them. I'm kind of excited about Sweeney Todd, though. First, it's looking a bit darker than most musicals I've seen, and seeing how much I enjoy Poe and Hitchcock and V for Vendetta, I though I might check it out. Second, Johnny Depp is doing a musical.[/FONT][/QUOTE] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Let me put it this way. There is Choreography I suppose. When the mad barber of Fleet Street dances with Mrs. Lovitt, the mad baker of Fleet Street...with rolling pin and cleaver. And the transitions between spoken word and song are virtually seamless. Be excited. Because this is without a doubt one of the darkest musicals on the face of the PLANET. [quote]"It is also something close to a masterpiece, a work of extreme ? I am tempted to say evil ? genius. ? A. O. Scott, The New York Times" [/quote][/FONT][/COLOR]

[IMG]http://images.broadwayworld.com/upload/23004/tn-500_stonesheet.jpg[/IMG] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]So Ikillion and Rachmaninoff hadn't heard about this movie. Therefore I can only assume that none of YOU have heard of this movie either. But since I take pity on you all, I'll sum up the movie in under sixteen words. Musical Johnny Depp Mad Barber Slit Throat Bad Times Friend Bake Victims Into Pies Fun Times. In other words? If you haven't seen it yet you should feel very bad and possibly go home and slit your throat with a straight razor. That way you'll be experiencing Sweeney Todd the way God intended.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[quote name='Panda']Being the great guy he is and seeing that I was just about ready to throw the stupid DVD player across the room, he went out and got me a new one! Woo Hoo! Perhaps next year I will complain about my car so he'll buy me a new one... I can dream can't I?![/QUOTE] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]But are you going to be ready to throw your car across the room? That's the BIG question...[/FONT][/COLOR]

[i][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]A wave of hysteric laughter wiped away the vision and I found myself waking naturally in the dimmed light of the sleep chamber. Vicky and Mattheus both were sitting cross-legged on air, floating above the railings. Both were locked in what I could only assume was meditation, so I quietly snuck out of the relative quiet and into the hallways. I was just starting for the main bridge, to find Neil or Andrew or some other form of pleasant distraction from a mild headache, when I heard the screeching of Eriju in what I could only figure was happiness. She jumped me from behind, a whirl of fur, mane, and giggles, knocking me forward, but twisting so I landed on her instead. The girl licked my neck in happiness, biting my nose, and pawing me all over to ensure that I was alive and not a weird illusion. I was pretty sure she was flicking her tail around my face too, but I was too confused to figure it out further.[/i] ?Raihaaaaaa! You?re awake!? ?....ummmm. Yeah, I think I am. And if I wasn?t before, I definitely am now. Why are you using me as a fluffy pillow?? ?I missed you. It was boring just prowling around the ship. Andrew?s so wrapped up in what he?s doing that it?s hard to get more than five words out of him. And Connor, Iki, and your husband are so busy with their plotting and stuff it?s almost pointless to try and bug them. Sikal and Neil will be announcing their engagement any day now, and Vicky and Mattheus spend all their time practicing to be priests.? [i]It was after that interesting pronouncement that Neil and Sikal burst through nearby doors and raced down the corridor, both topless and covered in sweat and carrying weighted packs on their shoulders. Both appeared to be in fine health, but the part where they were not in fact wearing shirts was new. After that memorable sight, Connor drifted through what I thought was a solid wall and waved a hello to me. I managed to wave back, wondering just how much bonding I?d missed while I was out. And by bonding I mean- Oh shut up. Don?t look at me like that. Gavin also managed to make an appearance and gave me a peck on the cheek after patting my behind and calling me ?snookyhuns.? Iki also showed up, if only to give Eriju a pat on the cheek and then follow after Gavin while waving to me with his...tail? Definitively lost, I sat down again, only to discover that Eriju was now curling around me in a most disconcerting fashion, purring to beat the band. And that was the point where I decided everyone on the ship was going mad. Or maybe I just going insane. Further research revealed nothing outside of the typical: ?It?s not me, it?s you,? style response. It was about at that point that I decided caring about it further would be stupid. That and it?s not like I had the technology to figure out what was wrong. Everyone?s mentality seemed relatively unchanged. Except for where the twins seemed to be developing their own distinct personalities for a change. And Eriju?s initial hatred of me had been replaced with an undying animal devotion. I guess that?s what happens when you get your ass saved by one Siyannan Saiya-jin half breed. Ala moi. .....did I just have a thought in French? Dear god perhaps I was loosing it too. Eriju poked her head over my shoulder quizzically.[/i] ?Why long face? Is something wrong?? ?Well everyone on the ship seems to be fine, but everyone?s striking me as odd.? ?Separation anxiety. You stay in comas for too long. But I guess it?s up to me to tell you. We?re very close to Morrigan?s lair. While you were out we hijacked several enemy ships and disguised the exterior of ours to match.? ?So now we?re flying towards almost certain death, only in a much less pretty ship.? [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Okay, now that the presents are actually opened, I didn't get what I REALLY wanted, which is to say a blender...but that's totally okay. [LIST] [*]Cranberry Stollen, which is mostly just a fruit cake, but more like a fruit bread. [*]A White Polo Shirt, which is lackluster, but I intend to do horrible things to it with a knife and some beet juice. The better to make it cooler. [*]100 Dollars Gift Card, good at the Arco Gas Station. [*]Magnetic strips to go on the shopping list to go on my fridge, and now that I find myself doing all my own shipping....it's usefull! [*]A purple box...thing? Nobody knows what it's used for and we passed it around the table going: It's a hat! It's a pencil holder! It's for magnets! It's for paper clips! ....oh yeah, go me. [*]Shawl, Wrap, Jacket, from my Chinese grandmother. For some reason she thinks I'm always cold, so she gave me shawls so old and awesome that they are no longer called 'out of style' but 'Vintage.' [*]Twenty dollars in cash in the obligatory red envelope. Muahahahaha! Vegas here I come! [/LIST] [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]I'm twiddling my thumbs, because we never open presents until every guest has arrived and we've eaten the obligatory huge breakfast. It's an exercise in patience for my 7 and 9 year old siblings. But I CAN tell you right now that I know my parents are going to sign over the ownership of my 1997 black Honda Civic HX Manual Drive....thing. I mean that's super, and I'll get the pink slip and be able to now sell/trade/etc. But I don't really want it. I REALLY don't want it. Mostly because of the responsibility. If I ever get a ticket, it'll be sent to my house and not my parent's house for starters... Although I only got one once and it was when I was visiting home so my dad thought it was his. Or something like that. But anyway I do know that my parents gave me barrettes for my hair in my stocking and my dad burned me several CDs of new music from my favorite bands. Nothing bigger than the car though. And before you get excited or start calling me an ungrateful, it's only worth roughly $1500.00 USD, depending on how I decide to use it. And it's the A/C is kaputt.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]So my friend finally got his computer to accept playing Portal. But this brings up a new problem. He gets motion sickness while playing it. My first impression was to call him a weakling and hit him with the hopes that this would inspire him to be less of a weakling, but I don't think it'd work. So, this begs the question. What should I do? How does one fix motion sickness when playing Portal?[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]So I was going to post something along the lines of "Wow, don't you ever try to tell me that I'm mean spirited and hate all homeless people" when it came to me. I am mean spirited. I tend to view almost all homeless people as a blight on society. Since it's appearing to be a theme, what to do with people too drunk to drive? Punching in the face is good, but usually that hurts your hand. Especially if you've got smaller hands like me. So I tend to use good old steel toed boots. Just kidding. I hear they're calling that assault and battery now. But I do I have friends who get drunk on a regular basis and end up drawing on the friends who passed out. Granted I tend to not hang out with them much, and when I do, I usually pass around a hat that people are required to toss their car keys into. It cuts down on upsetting phonecalls the next day. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Yeaaaaah, no. This doesn't happen. Not in the Lounge. Aside from being totally pointless and unoriginal as well as ridiculous and lame........I'd quit while you're ahead. And by ahead I mean haven't even started yet.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]?Does anyone object to my purification of his body with fire?? [i]Gavin un-crosssed his arms for a moment and regarded the remains of one of our friends. The brand on his face standing out sharp and red in the glare of the sun.[/i] ?It?s just an empty shell anyway. He?ll be glad to know we didn?t stand on ceremony.? ?Technically this conversation is the ceremony. May [b]Eiyagameya[/b] give the poor bastard peace in the Death world.? [i]Eriju?s voice, laced with irony, seemed to fade into nothingness, lost in the vast prairie that had become William?s final resting place. My only regret, was that he wouldn?t live to see me holding my children once more. I snapped my wrist in his direction, uttering one word of power, and watched a torrent of fire rush down from the sky to engulf the body. I turned away, letting the fire burn itself out, utterly unconcerned with the prospect of a fire. The others, lost in thoughts I didn?t bother discerning, eventually turned away from the ashes of William, scattering in the breeze. Andrew kicked open the hatch to the ship and the rest of us climbed in. The twins blended in with our group better than I had feared. Neil was teaching Sikal basic ki control if only to pass the time. Mattheus was studying under Vicky, learning methods to control his body as well as his mind. Gavin spent his time cloistered in a relatively sealed room with Iki and Connor, all three of them charting a path through the territories that Morrigan controlled. Of course that?s what they told us they were doing. For all I knew they were having clandestine gay orgies. Eriju had taken to following me around the ship, which I didn?t understand, but didn?t question either. I knew that as soon as we had broken through enough space, I?d be sent right back to sleep, but I might as well make the most of things. Eventually, Vicky remembered that when I eventually lost my temper, I?d send us all into a horrible fiery death. And there I was in the galactic coffin as I?d started calling it. It was cold this time. That was news. I was feeling cold and wet and miserable and empty. My father appeared, but his voice appeared to come through me as if through a long tunnel. The distance was finally overwhelming the magic that we were accessing. At least it explained something. Neither of us were relying on pocket dimensions or alternate voids to talk to one another.[/i] ?William?s died. We found twins Morrigan had corrupted. I saved the pair of them, but in the process, our friend was killed.? ?I?ll pass the word to his family. At least he died his own death, and not a death meant for another.? ?Is Earth quiet? We?ve passed through so many wild riotous planets, it?ll be a relief to go somewhere slower paced.? ?Earth is very quiet. Your mother and Neil?s have both expanded their power to control the entire solar system. They?ve developed a rather elaborate method of defense.? ?This defense you speak of wouldn?t happen to involve a lot of fire and magic and possibly hideous nightmarish death to all of God?s creatures would it?? [i]There was a silence so awkward and uncomfortable that I felt an unreasonable desire to laugh, until my father responded in a hurt tone.[/i] ?That?s crazy talk!? [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Well after playing spin the bottle with a very large bottle of grape vodka- No, actually I was once Setsuna, which as we all know is the real name of Sailor Pluto, but that was in like 2000 when I was a moron. And then I was Raiha, but then OB upgraded out of the stone age and into the bronze age. And so I made James change my screen name to Neuvoxraiha before screen name changes were easy and in someone else's hands. But when I originally asked him to change it I said please in Spanish, so for about ten minutes my name was: "Neuvoxraihaporfavor." Needless to say, James came very close to death that day.[/FONT][/COLOR]