Dagger

I understand your trepidation, duorocks17, but that's not a valid argument. While writers and animators may slave away for hours simply to produce one episode of an anime, live-action films demand just as much commitment, dedication and labor. I mentioned Lord of the Rings in an earlier post, and I feel that the analogy also applies to your comments about actors who don't even know what anime is. Several members of LotR's principle cast have never read Tolkien's trilogy, but I think we can all agree that they portrayed their characters satisfactorily. Since WETA is working on the upcoming Eva film, you don't need to worry about sub-par special effects (as seen in the live-action Sailor Moon). Try to keep an open mind, and give this movie a chance. ~Dagger~

Well, as you know, several new shows are coming to Cartoon Network. There will obviously be some schedule changes, including Adult Swim's return to Saturday nights, but at this point I'm not sure what current series are going to be taken off and/or moved around. Anyway, when I said "in general," I was referring to all the anime (including several highly anticipated shows) which are coming out on DVD in April. This includes Gravitation, Azumanga Daioh, Texhnolyze, Marmalade Boy, and Tokyo Godfathers, in addition to numerous other series. The third volume of Last Exile and the second of Tenchi Muyo! GXP will also be released. ~Dagger~

[i]"Yet each man kills the thing he loves, By each let this be heard, Some do it with a bitter look, Some with a flattering word, The coward does it with a kiss, The brave man with a sword! Some kill their love when they are young, And some when they are old; Some strangle with the hands of lust, Some with the hands of gold: The kindest use a knife, because The dead so soon grow cold. Some love too little, some too long, Some sell, and others buy; Some do the deed with many tears, And some without a sigh: For each man kills the thing he loves, Yet each man does not die."[/i]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by G/S/B Master [/i] [b]Usually, the psot that got them banned is deleted. As I've been looking through posts (Zeh's, Taylor Hewitt ect.). And Chibichou, don't act like a mod. Report the post and leave it alone. [/B][/QUOTE] Oh, the irony. But in any event, I think you're right. I can't remember ever seeing a member become banned after his or her very first post--I would be quite surprised to discover that this person had not been given another chance. In the past few months alone, several incredibly obnoxious (and now banned) members received multiple opportunities to redeem themselves...... ....and unfortunately didn't. ~Dagger~

She self-consciously reached up to touch her hair, tucking a loose strand or two behind her ears. "Oh.... thanks," Maia said quietly. It was too dark to tell whether or not he'd made her blush, but she stared studiously out to sea, her eyes fixed on the sunrise just as firmly as they'd been fixed on him before. "You must be giving up a lot," the girl added abruptly, glancing across the lonely deck. "I mean, I can probably make a living no matter where I go. It's not the same with other people." Frowning, Luthian leaned back against the railing. An angry red-gold glow had begun to seep over the horizon, and he racked his mind for rhymes regarding red skies and sailors' warnings. Yet wherever he'd heard such proverbs, they were now lost amidst a swamp of other memories. "If we don't try to change things, who will?" "I guess that's right," Maia answered. She raised a hand, trying to see land even with dawn's dimmest light. "Maybe I'm the one who doesn't want to be here." "That's--" he began, perturbed, but the redhead cut him off. "I know. We--the three of us--we're going to stop the curse together." She turned towards him, smiling ruefully. "Anyway, I'm glad you chose to come." -------------------------------------------------------- Maia was enormously happy to have felt her nausea melt away, and behaved accordingly. Grinning, she jogged across the docks, waving a merry farewell to every ship she passed. They'd reached the shore quite quickly, disembarking well before the sun sank down to evening. Shrai'i, who seemed to have some familiarity with this port, guided the three of them to various stores for weapons, food and water. At one point the redhead disappeared for several hours, returning only when she'd acquired enough gold to see them through the next few weeks. Luthian shook his head as he listened to her heavy pockets jangle. "Do we really need all that?" "No," Maia admitted. "But I like to be prepared." "Ma'Uriith is several days away," Shrai'i informed him. Despite all of the distractions that surrounded them--noisy crowds, incompetent pickpockets (who Maia loved to catch directly in the act), and a swarm of over-enthusiastic vendors--her silvery voice remained calm and clear. "Shall we leave now, or stay here for the night?"

Helena passed through the airport without removing her headphones, instead lowering the volume just enough to hear nearby conversation. Chopin still played softly in the background, soothing her nerves as she steeled herself to meet the crew. On the plane she'd worn flats and a pair of slim drawstring pants, but Helena always felt more confident in gender-specific clothing. She slipped into the cleanest public bathroom she could find, taking some time to smooth her cornsilk-colored hair. When she had changed into a knee-length skirt and sharply pointed slingbacks, Helena hailed a taxi, carrying her bags herself rather than letting the driver handle them. Strikingly attractive in white clothing and high heels, Helena radiated unavailability. Perhaps it was the distance in her eyes. As the cab drove towards her destination, she stared silently at the busy streets outside, mentally reviewing what she'd been told about her future colleages. She had learned more about them than they knew of themselves, but it was now time to let that go and pretend that she knew nothing. Though outwardly calm, Helena was thrumming with excitement. She loved her job. After she arrived, Helena zeroed in on one of the building's many attendants, smiling warmly as she spoke. "Could you direct me to the meeting, please?" He discreetly glanced her over. "That way, ma'am. It's in the cafeteria." She picked up her luggage, inclining her head to indicate her thanks, and walked calmly down the hallway, her shoes clicking rhythmically against the polished floor.

The title of this thread pretty much explains it all. Which show would you like to see (or finish watching), and why? You're also welcome to comment upon other people's choices. Anyway, here are two selections from my current wish list. [b]1. Please Teacher[/b] I recently bought all four Fruits Basket DVDs, and watching them made me realize that anime still has a [i]lot[/i] to offer in terms of romantic comedy. Before seeing Fruits Basket, I had been under the impression that most series in the genre were shallow, filled with fanservice, and generally unamusing. While I have nothing against fanservice (which is part of the reason that I'd like to buy Please Teacher), I prefer for my anime to possess some substance. From what I've read, it sounds as though Please Teacher has it all--gorgeous atwork, relatively realistic characters and an addictive storyline. After flipping through the first volume of the Please Teacher manga, I'm almost certain that the TV show will turn out to be fantastic. Besides, Mizuho is one of the most attractive anime females I've ever seen. ^_~ [b]2. Angelic Layer[/b] I tend to enjoy tournament-style fighting shows (such as Yu Yu Hakusho). One of my Pretear DVDs came with an Angelic Layer preview; because I'd heard that the series was beautifully animated, I jumped at the chance to watch this trailer. Angelic Layer looks like a sweet, light-hearted show--which just happens to feature some amazing hand-to-hand combat. Although I usually gravitate towards darker, more complicated anime, I try to keep an open mind, and the concept behind Angelic Layer really appeals to me. ~Dagger~

It has not been very long since I thought I was in love. Such an arbitrary term-- who's to know its origin, or would dare infuse two words with what it means? No, I let this fade as love should not. Sonnets speak of beating hearts and other rushing things. Jesus painted love in glowing colors; perhaps he was just a verbal Thomas Kinkeade-- but my stock in him sank down too long ago and now lies dormant. Try resurrecting [i]that.[/i]

ANN is an abbreviation for the website known as the Anime News Network. It's both quite popular and generally reliable. I'm sorry that I can't provide you with a link, but I don't know whether I'm allowed to even [i]mention[/i] other sites, so.... let's move on, shall we? Does anybody know when Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex will air on Cartoon Network? I assume that it's coming in April (along with Wolf's Rain and Gundam SEED, if I remember correctly). However, I could easily be wrong. Either way, it looks as though April is shaping up to be a fantastic month, both for Adult Swim and anime in general. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by JazzLady22 [/i] [B]I got a Fruits Basket DVD at a Christmas party with my friends, and they were all episodes I hadn't seen yet, so I was detirmined to watch them.[/B][/QUOTE] Heh, I also marathoned the last Fruits Basket DVD. For some reason, I assumed that I'd be able to exercise some self-control, and began watching it around 12:30 (right after .hack//SIGN finished airing on CN). Fortunately, it was a Saturday night, so I didn't have to worry about waking up for school the next day. Much as I love 6- and 7-episode DVDs, they tend to consume large chunks of one's time. [quote][i]Originally posted by Wasabi[/i] [b][size=1]But if I bought anime DVDs, I would watch the whole thing in a row in one day, and then I'd watch it again all in a row the next day. I just like to watch everything in a row, it's just my natural habit.[/size][/b][/quote] I often do the exact same thing. While marathoning sometimes causes the individual episodes to blur together, I find that re-watching everything helps me sort out all of the new events/characters/plot twists/etc. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by JazzLady22 [/i] [B]Poor Hijikata-san. I've watched it quite a few times, it just cracks me up.[/b][/quote] Haha, my favorite part may be when Hijikata walks menacingly towards Shinpachi and Sanosuke, [spoiler]gnawing on a cucumber rather than on his usual Gandalfian pipe. He then proceeds to say something like, "That's not good. When you're lucky enough to get vegetables, you have to take care of them. Am I wrong!? You want to hear it? You want to hear my poem after EATING A CUCUMBER??"[/spoiler] Only he could make those lines sound even mildly threatening. [quote][b]Ryouma is a scream as well. His random English, his insane mannerisms... the way he and Tatsu interract is just hysterical.[/b][/quote] I completely agree. It's hilarious how Ryouma leaps [spoiler][i]naked[/i] from an upper-story window, swathed in steam from an apparently lengthy bath. He of course ignores his condition in favor of glomping "Dragon Boy." I also love Tatsu's expression as they start to sprint away, and he wonders, "Why am [i]I[/i] running?"[/spoiler] [quote][b]On the shounen-ai content: I'm getting some MAJOR vibes between Okita and Hijikata! In episode 17 especially, when Hijikata said that [spoiler]Okita had been in his (Hijikata's) room until very late. *Evil grin* What was going on in there, Toshi? And later on when he was so concerned about Okita... I could have melted.[/spoiler] What a cute couple![/b][/quote] Yes, I've become a huge Okita/Toshi shipper. I was hoping you'd enjoy hearing that line! ^_^ I find it interesting that (at least in later episodes) the show's focus starts shifting from Tetsu to the senior members of the Shinsengumi--mainly Okita and Hijikata. The preview for episode 18 makes me suspect that Ayu-nee and her brother will also be given larger roles. [quote][b]I just finished 17, and I'm still a tad confused. I still think Okita [spoiler]had some kind of connection with his "twin," because when they had their little confrontation, Okita looked visibly nervous. And that evil lipstick guy was never really explained either![/spoiler][/b][/quote] Maro (the evil lipstick guy) may have some kind of greater importance, but I'm not entirely sure. It could be that his purpose was largely to introduce [spoiler]Okita's evil twin.[/spoiler] If Maro's story doesn't get any more closure than what we saw in episode 17, then.... well, there's always the manga. ^_~ [quote][b]And since I've heard that there are 24 episodes, I'm still wondering where the climax will lead. Perhaps something to do with the opening scene in episode 1?[/b][/quote] I'd say that's a pretty safe bet. [quote][b]As for Hotaru: If she whimpers, "Okita-sama" one more time, I swear I will run her through myself. With her little "oh-help-me-save-me!" attitude, she's rather hard to like. Although I must admit, it was kind of cute when she drew the picture of the two of them, but even so, if she gets together with him, I may have to commit seppuku... x_x[/quote][/b] Hotaru definitely has her endearing moments (especially towards the end of 17, [spoiler]when she inadvertently frees Okita, Saitou and Hijikata),[/spoiler] but I still can't help seeing her as a threat, so to speak. Hopefully her attachment to Okita will be played for laughs--in my opinion, she's a bit young for him anyway. I enjoyed watching the [spoiler]geisha[/spoiler] episodes, mainly because they showed [spoiler]Saya and Tetsu reaching out to Suzu and forming a tentative sort of friendship with him. As all of them have rather tragic pasts, I feel that they are particularly well-suited to become friends.[/spoiler] ~Dagger~

I apologize for going off-topic, but I felt that TGM's post required some kind of response. [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by TheGodlyME [/i] [B]JeeZ!!! buy the imports!! I have the whole series done the right way...fansubbed...I frown on you all. [/B][/QUOTE] First of all, fansubs are [i]supposed[/i] to be free. If you buy them, you're ripping off both yourself and the companies which produce legitimate releases. Secondly, any respectable fansub group will stop distributing a particular series once it has been licensed. As long as people continue purchasing bootlegs (which often contain both an anime's sub and dub tracks), domestic DVD prices will continue to soar. Haven't you heard numerous fans complaining about $30 DVDs? Prominent Bittorrent sites, such as AnimeSuki, make a point of linking only to unlicensed fansubs. This is a healthy practice; it helps companies gauge the size of a show's foreign fan-base, and doesn't cut into anybody's profits. Buying or downloading fansubs after the show in question has been licensed is undeniably illegal, and only ends up hurting those who are willing to pay more for the real thing.[/off-topic] For some reason, I find myself strangely drawn to Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi. Its artwork looks attractive (from what I've seen of the DVD covers), but I'm afraid that it'll end up being too much like FLCL. While I like Furi Kuri's symbolism and daring characterization, I don't really appreciate its humor. ~Dagger~

Yes, I've heard that the ending of X is less than satisfactory, which initially made me hesitate to start collecting it. But after a while my curiousity overcame me, and I decided to form my own opinion regarding X-TV's last episode. Even though I really, really don't want to spoil the surprise (as I did with Cowboy Bebop, for example), I have a strange suspicion that I'll end up reading something that I shouldn't. Anime reviews can be dangerous things. ;P Without giving too much away, do you think you could compare the last battle of the television series to the movie's final action sequence? While I thought that the entire film was pretty disappointing, the climactic conflict between Kamui and Fuma was what truly made me despise it. I have never seen such an [spoiler]unexciting decapitation[/spoiler] in all my years of watching anime. ~Dagger~

I watched her reach to grasp the glass of milk with shaking hands, and wondered if it hurt to wrap those claws around the cup. The woman wanted me to warm it up; I pressed the buttons twice. She was not satisfied, and said so in her normal broken words-- the languages must blur within her mind, one hard to tongue, the other faint with time. Tendons thinned by age and veins like rivers on a map, all coruscating blue. I hate the taste of lukewarm milk. I hate the thought of growing old and then drinking my fill.

1. This banner is a little too small for my tastes, but I love it nonetheless. The thick, blurred border gives it a unique look and feel, especially seeing how as most people just use borders composed of one or two pixel lines. I particularly love how you blended the two screenshots, making the final image seem very soft and dreamlike. The Witch Hunter Robin logo is well placed, but the banner would be better off without it. 2. Meh, the stock image you used here just doesn't appeal to me. Try brightening it up a bit and adding a border (no, I don't think it would look overly closed in). 3. Almost perfect. If you could soften the banner's corners, so that they don't seem quite as sharp (at least in contrast to the rest of it), I'd like this one even more. The show's logo fits better here than it does in either of your other two banners. As for your current avatar, the two pixel border makes its appear somewhat divorced from the various banners that accompany it. I'd prefer a stronger blurred border, similar to what you used in #1 and #3. The stock, however, is very pretty. ~Dagger~

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Stephanie Ayler [/i] [B]X is pretty cool. All the graphics and settings of this anime is completely amazing. I only saw the movie. Trufully, I cried all the way torwards the ending. It was really depressing, but so dramatizing at the same time. I'd give X the Drama Award for best movie. Also, the voice actors were amazing; they brought the characters alive when I first saw the movie. I couldn't even feel my seat.:eek: [/B][/QUOTE] If you were that impressed with X: The Movie, you should definitely try to watch X-TV. I [i]hated[/i] the film, since I'd expected to be more than expensive eye candy, but I suppose that's a more matter of personal taste than anything else. The television series improves upon every aspect of the movie other than its animation, and even the show's action sequences outclass those found in most anime available on the market today. I really love X-TV's soundtrack. Its classical background music adds emotion and excitement to every scene. Because of this, it's one of the few series in which I don't mind hearing the same main themes being played over and over again throughout the course of the show. ~Dagger~

Alright, babe, here's the deal. You can kill whomever your heart desires, but you've just entered my territory, and now you'll have to play by different rules. Bear in mind that there is a rather powerful vampire currently relaxing inside my character's mansion. Also, you're clanless, so it's going to be somewhat difficult to form alliances. If you cause Ciel to appear weak, I will not hesitate to deliver a [i]gigantic[/i] smackdown. If, on the other hand, you refrain from de-limbing her friends, she'll probably invite you in for a quick drink and perhaps a semi-friendly spar. Which option sounds more advantageous? I'll leave that for you to decide. [center]---------------------------------------------------------------[/center] Though Ciel's eyes had grown cold, her voice still held a certain playful lilt. "How disappointing. You can't even distinguish between day and night?" She continued before Granecourt could respond, watching his scarlet-spattered hands with an expression that spoke only of simple avarice. "In any event, I'm busy. Please try not to interrupt." After a moment the woman stooped, letting her fingers trail across the bloodstained soil. [i]Uthegiliel,[/i] she called softly, aware that Renier would soon come out to see what had transpired. [i]Shall I kill him?[/i] [i]Do as you wish,[/i] came his labored response. [i]The vampire was supposed to be a gift.[/i] Ciel smiled. [i]How very considerate.[/i] The Drow's severed arm had begun to creep towards his gushing shoulder. Nudged on by her power, it clawed its way across the rocky ground, nails digging deep into the dirt. Meanwhile, Mazukien staggered slowly to his feet. He could feel his bones snapping swiftly into place, fresh blood coursing through his aching veins-- --"Don't move," Ciel said coolly, reaching out to grab Granecourt by the chin. Still smiling sweetly, she twisted his head round till he was forced to meet her steady glare. "Didn't I say that I was busy?" Uthegiliel's stray limb had now reached his body, clamping greedily onto his open flesh as cartilage and sinew re-connected. He rose, unwilling to let Arciela's magic extend further--she made a loyal ally, but would not enjoy relinquishing control. Even the best of necromancers sometimes confused their friends for Dolls, empty corpses to be played with as they pleased. ?Never underestimate a sorceror,? Ciel told Vincent. Her nails sank into the vampire?s skin, leaving tiny spots of blood to bead along his pallid jaw. ?Never underestimate the strength of marionettes. I have my Dolls; Ominihe has his golems. Uthegiliel, I leave this in your hands.?

Well, I usually try to buy a new DVD (which can cost anywhere from $18 to $30) every other week; whether or not this actually happens depends on how much money I've managed to gather in the interim. The biggest single purchase I've ever made was $90 for the Descendants of Darkness box set--not too bad a price, considering that many series sell for over $150. I generally avoid bootlegs, regardless of their quality. Those $30 box sets are quite tempting, of course, but my conscience remains unsatisfied until I plunk down large sums of money in order to purchase an anime's official release. When I'm running low on cash, I head to Netflix or Blockbuster; renting has the added bonus of preventing me from blindly buying a potentially mediocre show. It only costs about $10 to rent two DVDs. That's eight to ten episodes--enough to carry me through at least a weekend or two. ~Dagger~

The plane was stuffy but far from packed, and so Helena had slipped discreetly to an empty row. As the hours passed, she either ignored the stewardesses, or else chose to meet their inquiries with whatever colorful French phrase best suited her current mood. Their shrill, solicitous voices had begun to grate against Helena's nerves. Closing her eyes, she slipped on a sleek little pair of headphones and leaned back to luxuriate in Chopin. Well, this CD contained more than just Chopin--it was Chopin done right, his material played with the delicacy and emotional richness of which it had been all too often robbed. "Excuse me--" Did these women [i]ever[/i] get the message? Helena turned, staring at the stewardess's heavy make-up with a mixture of curiousity and revulsion. She herself rarely wore cosmetics; she'd had perfect skin even during her teenage years, and hated the cloying smell of lipstick. "No, thank you," she said sharply, hoping that using English would make her intentions clear. The stewardess smiled, unfazed. "Just tell me if you need anything."

Alright, I finally worked my way through the first five episodes. If all goes well, I'll be able to finish the series sometime next weekend. I know Crispin Freeman from Revolutionary Girl Utena and Shamanic Princess, but I didn't realize that he's also in Big O. Which character does he play? I did consider watching NTHT's dub just to hear his portrayal of a fairly young--albeit rather nasty--male (as opposed to someone like Touga, Kagetsu or Alucard). Certain aspects of this show remind me very much of Castle in the Sky. Shu's personality is comparable to Pazu's, and both boys encounter a mysterious pendant-wearing girl who later turns out to possess unimaginable powers. While I don't mind these kinds of similarities, it's interesting to analyze how the two productions differ. NTHT takes place in a fantastical setting, but parts of it are brutally realistic. It's definitely not an easy show to marathon. I also love NTHT's ending theme, as well as the images which accompany it. They look astonishingly realistic. And though the OP isn't quite what I would have expected, I enjoy listening to it nonetheless. ~Dagger~

Humming gently as she moved, Ciel let her robes slide from her shoulders to pile softly on the floor. Beneath the ceremonial costume, she wore a deep green ensemble which bared far more than it concealed, and clung miraculously to gravity-defying curves. She had sent Mira to wait on Renier in the drawing room below; now it was merely a matter of readying the arena. She loved combat nearly as much as she loved necromancy, and so her estate housed a state-of-the-art building intended solely for duels. Enchanted by several of Ciel's sorcery-using friends, it sent its occupants into an alternate dimension, allowing them to spar freely without fear of wreaking havoc in the real world. Though her favorite place to fight was in the Vas'Naurnae's territory, she sensed that it might be unwise to take the High Ambassador of the Cal'Sakmeht into such a place. [center]**********************[/center] The little girl gazed solemnly at Renier, her hands clasped demurely behind her back. "Would you like something to drink?" she inquired. A empty goblet sat on the table between them. He recoiled inwardly at the sight of her heavily scarred lips, but shook his head without betraying his mental revulsion. Who was this child? She looked no more than nine or ten. "I'll pass," the Ambassador told her. "All the same, it was good of you to offer." She continued watching him with that blank, steady stare, and then walked over to a cabinet, rummaging through its contents until she found a tiny knife. Her face still devoid of all emotion, she sliced the blade lengthwise down her wrist and extended her hand so that the blood spilt neatly into the crystal chalice. Not a single drop splashed upon the polished table below. Renier froze, momentarily transfixed. "I cannot die," the girl said calmly. "Are you sure you don't want to drink?" [center]**********************[/center] Somewhere in the distance, a bell had begun to ring. Raising an eyebrow at the unexpected intrusion, Ciel made her way to the front gate. [i]Please be sure to keep the Ambassador entertained,[/i] she told Mira. [i]As you wish,[/i] came the girl's reply. She had such a sweet, lilting voice. Perhaps Ciel would teach her how to sing, how to weave magic through the air with the simplest of melodies. At this thought the necromancer stopped, her eyes widening as she caught sight of her visitors and their cargo. "Uthegiliel?" the woman asked, obviously delighted. "It's been a long time."

Your picture of Aerith is [i]so[/i] beautiful; though it bears all the hallmarks of your unique artistic style, she's still instantly recognizable. I just love the expression on her face. She comes across as being very sweet, happy and optimistic--all qualities which made me adore the original character. So I'd say that you did an excellent job of capturing this lovely lady's personality, not to mention her beauty. ^_^ That particular hairstyle can be difficult to draw, but I really like your take on it. ~Dagger~

Five hundred meters can feel like forever, at least when every breath must be your last. Pulling on the weight of the machine, bending its metal bones to your desire and never letting go. Even bloody hands are nothing to us. Raw-scraped skin will not deter you from your purpose. Afterwards we call it a subtle form of masochism, all this stubbornness and panting, heaving pain. Afterwards we cover the machine and let victory vibrate through its spinning wheel.

Sachiel followed Zech into the parlor, pausing as he caught sight of Diadem and a fair-haired, unfamiliar woman. He raised an eyebrow and tugged idly at the back of Zech's robes. "Well, she's new." The sorcerer came to an abrupt stop, stumbling briefly as Sachiel continued pulling him off-balance. "Stop that," he growled, head whipping around to glare at his candidate. Sachiel simply stepped back and offered Zech a disgustingly innocent smile. "Pardon me, Lady," Zech told the woman, regaining his composure even as he swatted irritably at Sachiel's hand. "And you as well, Diadem. This man is my candidate, the black mage Sachiel Asmodeus." Sachiel swept an elegant bow. "Charmed, I'm sure," he murmered, grinning at Diadem's expression of disbelief. Zech only sighed, eyeing him in way that clearly said, [i]behave yourself.[/i] The woman turned, surveying them skeptically, and crossed her arms. If Diadem didn't plan on introducing her, then she would have to take care of the formalities herself. "I'm Iara Iolanthe," she said coolly. Still smiling, Sachiel glanced up to meet her gaze. "Wonderful. I hate working alone," he replied, absent-mindedly toying with Zech's sleeve. The sorcerer rolled his eyes and yanked his clothing from Sachiel's grasp. "Do you [i]ever[/i] plan on doing as you're told?"

OOC: Just doing my own thing, I guess. >_> She flipped backwards, her body soaring across the vast arena. The android followed, its lifeless eyes tracking Eris's every move with a machine's emotion-free precision. A second later, Eris felt herself slam into the wall; it shattered at her back, leaving an ugly crater. Determined not to use her powers, she twisted her body within the android's grip, aiming a powerful kick at its seemingly human chest. It staggered back, its perfect balance thrown off by the blow, and Eris whirled around to attack it from behind. She crouched low as the robot turned, then extended into a near-handstand to let her feet strike it in the face. With a lonely-sounding creak, the android tumbled to the ground. "Damn cheap models." [i]But if you break free, and you travel far enough, you can skip to another's universe.[/i] Scowling, she seized an energy knife and flicked its switch to "on." It began humming in her hands, its blade vibrating too rapidly for human eyes to see. As Gi'Uen's words echoed in her mind, Eris swung her weapon towards the fallen android. It sliced smoothly through the robot's neck, piercing past artificial skin and intricately twisted wires to sever its gleaming spinal cord. [i]But if you break free...[/i] "Screw it all," she muttered softly. "Let it go, Eris."