Neko

Remember Legend of Dragoon? Those Rainbow Bird things that showed up near the end of the game. They take no damage, and unlike the other "invincible" enemies in the game, they don't hit you once or twice and run off. They just bash your face in until you manage to run, which can be difficult. Other pretty bad fights include: Cubia from the .hack series (Even though my character was way high level and had impressive physical and magic power). The fights are just so drawn out, and my secondary party members can be incredibly stupid sometimes. Fallen from DMC3. They just bug me because they sink into and through all obstacles, and sometimes it can just take way longer than it seems possible to break their shields. And the last fight with Viola in Zone of the Enders 2, hard mode. That one where you can't do anything but grab? Where you lose if you kill her? For me she'd always start damaging herself. The only way to get her out of that mode is by hitting her. If you choose to play as Naked Jehuty (which I love to do so I can be all like 'MUAHAHAHAHA I ownzors youzzz!!!111!1one!!1), hitting her even once is pretty much 'Good Game'.

Oh, dear...too many students for one poor teacher to focus on... ---------- [COLOR=DarkSlateGray][SIZE=1][FONT=Tahoma][I]Timestamp: Alucard's Quarters, 3:40 AM, early-morning cycle.[/I] The girl stepped quietly into Alucard?s dark, silent room. The door closed behind her on its own. This would probably creep out a first-year, but Soir had been in trouble with Alucard enough times to know not to be put off by such trivial gestures. [B]?I have a question for you, teacher!?[/B] she called. A thick black fog crept across the ground, swirling around the room. It gathered itself at the chair behind Alucard?s desk, where it thickened, taking shape into Alucard himself. [B]?Yes, Ms. Demisoki??[/B] he said lightly, an unreadable smile on his otherwise indifferent face. [b]?Is there something that I can assist you with??[/b] Alucard felt it was best to allow a student to tell their problems on their own, even though he had a decent guess at what the problem was. However, when it came to troublemakers like this Soir girl, who had a reputation for ?borrowing? things without permission, he usually would cut right to the chase, and Soir knew that. As such, it was about twenty seconds of obscure silence while the two stared at each other, both expecting the other to say something. Twenty seconds is usually about enough to put Alucard off his mood. [B]?It?s about that pretty little pendant you?ve got around your neck, isn?t it??[/B] He asked, absolute seriousness in his voice. [B]?Ms. Demisoki, have you been falling back into your?[I]habits[/I] again??[/B] [B]?I didn?t steal this!?[/B] Soir protested. [B]?Someone [I]gave[/I] it to me!?[/B] She held up the gem as if in attempt to further prove her innocence. Alucard lifter an eyebrow. [B]?Oh??[/B] He laughed. [B]?Then I really don?t see what the problem is.?[/B] [B]?The problem,?[/B] Soir growled fitfully, [B]?is that I can?t get it off.?[/B] [B]?Ah,?[/B] Alucard trailed off. He stood up, stretching his almost bizarrely tall body. He had, after all, just gotten to sleep a few minutes ago. He walked lightly over and crouched down until he was at eye level with Soir. [B]?Well, then, let?s have a look.?[/B] He could definitely feel there was something, some kind of spell in this pendant. He gently took two sides of the chain about the girl?s neck, and began to lift the pendant. [B]?Tell me if you feel anything.?[/B] The pendant was about a quarter of the way up her head when the girl stifled a scream. Alucard didn?t budge an inch, but continued to slowly, ever so slowly draw the chain upwards. Soir?s screams broke through her lips. It sounded like she was in some serious pain. Alucard frowned, lifting the pendant still higher. The girl shook with pain. It became so violent that Alucard finally shook his head, and set the pendant back upon her chest, shaking his head. If he had taken the gem any further off, the girl could?ve died. [B]?Who gave this to you, Ms. Demisoki??[/B] he asked. Soir seemed to hesitate for a moment. [B]?You can tell me, Ms. Demisoki, I only wish to help.?[/B] [B]?A b-?he calls himself ?Hunter???[/B] she said. Alucard?s frown turned into a most distinctly evil grin. [B]?Oh, [I]him[/I] again,?[/B] he laughed. [B]?A student can get [I]expelled[/I] for giving another something so dangerous. I?ll have to talk with Mr. ?Hunter? about this, among other habits he seems to be developing.?[/B] Alucard thought for a moment on the matter. On the outside, he was cool, collected, and perhaps a bit contemplative. In reality, though, Alucard was slightly worried. Why would that runt be doing something like this to another student? Was he up to something? Or did he just have a really good handle on how to irritate the [I]hell[/I] out of him? [B]?It would appear that a spell has been placed on that pendant of yours, Ms. Demisoki.?[/B] Alucard sighed, sitting comfortably behind his desk. [B]?I will look into the matter personally. Perhaps I could arrange for you and Mr. ?Hunter? to have a little?discussion with me tomorrow night??[/B] He waited for Soir?s respose, but at that moment he heard a distinctly loud growl. Soir?s face turned slightly reddish. Alucard smiled lightly, waving it off. [B]?Would you like something to eat, Ms. Demisoki??[/B] He asked politely, knowing how dreadfully bust the cafeteria always was. [B]?I could arrange to have something brought up, if you?d like. I don?t imagine human blood is something you would be terribly interested in."[/B][/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

I love Hellsing, it's full of style, both visually and musically. I mean, come on, when I first got it, I was expecting something like dark, horror type stuff, but - wait, what's this?! It sounds almost...like...oh, god. No. Bluesy-jazz? WTF? It took some getting used to, but I think after a while, the musical score just kinda grabs you. The only problems with Hellsing is that it left off with too many questions unanswered. Questions that you feel would obviously be answered, like 'So who the Hell is this Alucard guy, anyways?' (This is actually discussed a lot, many are of the opinion that from various pieces of evidence Alucard is [spoiler]Vlad the Impaler or one of his descendants[/spoiler]) to things that are simply never explained, like where the Hell Incognito came from, who his master is, etc. Of course Seras doesn't get a lot of backgroud story, considering the sizeable ammount of screentime she (and her rack...okay, sorry) got. There's the ever present internal conflict about being a vampire, which is covered more extensively than in the manga, but her overall character just seems kinda toned down to me. My favorite character would have to be Alucard [spoiler]as he was in Integra's memory in episode 10[/spoiler]. He just seems cooler without his coat on, I'm sorry. He seems 'too overpowered' of a character? No, no. He's just freakin' Alucard, that's all. He has a right to be overpowered. Hellsing and Chobits (some combination, huh?) have to probably be my two favorite animes to date.

[COLOR=DarkSlateGray][SIZE=1][FONT=Tahoma]Alucard walked calmly around in the dining hall with a serene, but distinctly irritated look on his face. The foul smell over hundreds of vampires hording on blood, the overwhelming stench of lycans tearing into animal flesh, little more than animals themselves. The horrible scent of boiled flesh, and the almost-as-unbearable smell of the undead feasting there. The strange, otherworldly smell of the mana discharge, feeding the ghosts gathered there. The so-called cafeteria was little more than a slaughterhouse. Alucard?s unnatural sense of smell, unfortunately, picked up every detail. It was no wonder he preferred to feed in private, never coming here. Already, Alucard had broken up countless fights over meaningless morsels, usually with excessive force. Fighting over the entrees here was ridiculous, nevermind the fact that it was against school rules. There was enough here to feed a large army for years on end. [I]Some[/I] students, however, didn?t seem to fully [I]appreciate[/I] this, and not all of them were new here, either. Amidst the chaos of the lounge, though, a lycan was absentmindedly playing a guitar to an unknown, but strangely melodious tune, ignorant of the pandemonium around him. Alucard gently tapped the boy on the shoulder, and motioned him out of the cafeteria. Away from the mindless clamor, where he could hear himself think, Alucard walked with a rather irritated-looking Hunter down the long hallway. For a little while, he didn?t speak, just silently walked down the corridor. [B]?You are quite the source for irritation, [I]boy[/I],?[/B] Alucard said suddenly, not changing his line of sight from straight in front of him. Hunter looked up at him, annoyed. [B]?[I]Already[/I] a detention for illegally fighting on school grounds during the first week of term?and then you decide not to attend your first class??[/B] Alucard looked down, his red eyes glaring at the boy from under his silvery hair. [B]?I?ve barely known you for two hours, and already I don?t like you.?[/B] Hunter growled. [B]?What are you, the physiology teacher, or something??[/B] When Alucard smiled coldly, Hunter turned his head away with a sneer. [B]?I had more [I]important[/I] things to do.?[/B] [B]?[I]Oh[/I]??[/B] Alucard asked, raising an eloquent eyebrow. [B]?And I suppose having a special little meeting with one of our other students qualifies as ?[I]more important[/I]? than class??[/B] When Hunter began to protest, Alucard held up his hand. [B]?Do not bother to deny it. I can smell a female lycan on you. You reek of it. I [I]do[/I] hope you didn?t do anything that might be?in [I]violation[/I] of school code.?[/B] [B]?Okay, man, nothing [I]happened[/I], alright?! I just wanted to show her my?I just wanted to show her something,?[/B] Hunter growled. [B]?I see,?[/B] Alucard said coldly with a slight smile. [B]?Well, Mr. ?Hunter?, you can meet with other students after school hours, if you?d like, so long as you keep it [I]clean[/I]. But if you skip out class one more time, you?ll find yourself with another detention to serve.?[/B] [B]?So what If I don?t show up??[/B] Hunter shot back with a sneer. Alucard?s eerie smile widened. [B]?You [I]will[/I] show up, Mr. ?Hunter?. I will see to that [I]personally[/I]. Even if I have to drag you out of your bed while you sleep, you [I]will[/I] show up.?[/B] Alucard suddenly opened a large door, and they were at the cafeteria again. Alucard had walked Hunter in a loop through the corridors. As Hunter stormed in a fitful mood into the cafeteria, Alucard?s voice trailed him. [B]?I enjoyed your guitar, by the way. I?ll see you for your detention tomorrow, Mr. ?Hunter?.?[/B] Back in his room, Alucard drew the thick black curtains over the window, as dawn began to break. [B]?So he?s already found himself a girl??[/B] he laughed quietly to himself, picking out an old, dusty book from the shelves. [B]?How wonderfully [I]juvenile[/I].?[/B] Off in the corner, the clock ticked away in monotonous rhythm. Tonight began the mark of the second class session. Hopefully, the students would be a bit more tasteful about whose classes they decided to skip.[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

Just a couple noteworthy songs you might wanna look into: -Saffron's Curse -Hallowed be Thy Name -Tearing the Veil from Grace -Mr. Crowley (original by Ozzy Ozzbourne) -Devil Woman I recently purchased their Album Lavecraft and Witch Hearts. A lot of the songs seem slightly...off-beat. Certainly 'Nymphetamine' was a one-time style for them. Dani really does about 99.8% of the 'singing', the woman's more of a cameo of sorts. Doesn't stop them from being up there with Iced Earth and Children of Bodom on my 'favorite three bands' list.

[COLOR=DarkSlateGray][SIZE=1][FONT=Tahoma][I]Timestamp: Room 267, [U]Lunarian Physiology[/U], 12:16 AM, early-morning cycle.[/I] Alucard settled into his chair behind the large desk. He waited for a moment as Kain found his seat, moving it back so that he could rest his feet up against another chair. Alucard said nothing, but continued staring at Kain in the back of the room. Nothing happened for about thirty seconds. [B]?Alright, [I]alright[/I]!?[/B] Kain growled, putting his feet down. Alucard nodded in thanks, not so much thankful, but more [I]impatient[/I]. [B]?Well, then, class, as I have previously stated, this is Lunarian Physiology. In this class, I will teach you exactly what you are and are not capable of doing. This does [I]not[/I]??[/B] he added, hoping to perhaps catch some of these imbeciles? attention, [B]??include picking a fight with [I]Damien Ahriman[/I] on the first day of term.?[/B] The students shifted uncomfortably at the name; Damien?s reputation preceded him. [B]?For example??[/B] Alucard reached down into his desk carefully. He withdrew a small, metallic object, making sure not to touch it with his bare hands. There was a screeching sound as several students subconsciously backed away from him. He grinned, and lightly tossed the object to Wynn Helson, where it fell lightly onto her desk. [B]?A?a [B]spoon[/B]??[/B] she asked, holding the silverware up. [B]?Yes, Wynn, a spoon. Used to aid in the consumption of foods. Would you be so kind as to give it to one of our students, please??[/B] Ms. Helson nodded and handed the object to the student next to her. The boy fell over backwards, knocking the table over as he jumped back. His sudden reaction made Wynn drop the spoon with a loud clatter onto the floor. She looked up at Alucard, confused. [B]?A [I]silver[/I] spoon,?[/B] he supplied. [B]?This may already be painfully obvious to several of you, but lycans are deathly allergic to the substance. To [I]any[/I] lycan, no matter how powerful, direct contact with silver equals [I]death[/I].?[/B] Alucard pointed his finger at the spoon, and it flew back to his desk. He pointed at his chest. [B]?This is something I have in common with them, though admittedly to a slightly lesser degree. I hope the point, however, is clear. We may have many special?abilities that others lack. However, with those powers come weaknesses. Lycans have to be mortally terrified of mere household items such as these.?[/B] He carefully put the silver spoon back into the drawer. Josh raised his hand. [B]?Yes, Mr. Ichimaru??[/B] Alucard asked, allowing the students to take a few notes on the lesson thus far. [B]?If you are allergic to silver like us lycans, than-?[/B] [B]?Than why do I wear this [I]necklace[/I]???[/B] Alucard interrupted as he held up the silver crucifix about his neck. [B]?As young students, I do not believe you would be able to comprehend my reasons. I am, however, glad you asked, Mr. Ichimaru.?[/B] Josh nodded, lowering his hand. [B]?Now, then. Can anyone tell me a weakness of a vampire???[/B] Alucard continued. Several students began to answer at once, all most likely vampires. Alucard held up his hand, and the class was silenced. [B]?I?ll tell you what vampires fear.?[/B] Alucard closed his eyes. [B]?Vampires cannot touch any object that has been ?blessed?, nor can they cross any threshold which has been similarly purified. Vampires are [I]NOT[/I], contrary to popular belief, vulnerable to sunlight, nor ?holy? symbols, except for a few rare exceptions. A few have even survived being run through the heart with a stake. They are, however, particularly susceptible to ?holy water?, and this is the favored method of execution to the humans.?[/B] Alucard sat back for a moment, his crimson eyes closing again. [B]?You won?t be [I]needing[/I] those,?[/B] he muttered after a few seconds of listening to the students scribble down their notes. [B]?Nor will you be needing [I]those[/I],?[/B] he added as a student reached for her textbook. All of the Physiology books promptly erupted in flame, gone within a few seconds. [B]?Sir,?[/B] one student protested, [B]?aren?t we supposed to be learning from the courses outlined in those books??[/B] Alucard shrugged. [B]?According to the headmaster here, you [I]should[/I] be learning from the book?s curriculum. However??[/B] He opened his eyes and gazed at the students, and not a very comforting gaze, either. [B]??I do not believe that you will learn a [I]damned thing[/I] from those pages of paper. The only proper way to teach you is through [I]direct experience[/I]. Follow the book?s way of teaching??[/B] he laughed eerily, [B]??and you?ll all end up [I]dead[/I]. Maybe even within these walls.?[/B] The silence that followed this speech made it clear that he had made his point; this was not going to be an ordinary class. There were still several things to be taught, though, so with the blink of those crimson red eyes, Alucard was suddenly standing behind Wynn?s desk. [B]?Moving on,?[/B] he announced airily, [B]?even those that do not possess a true body have weaknesses. In the world we live in now, there is [I]no such thing[/I] as immortality. There is always [I]something[/I]??[/B] Alucard?s hand began to glow pitch-black, if such a statement makes sense. He reached down and gently, but firmly, grasped Wynn by her shoulder. [B]?For example??[/B] he continued, lifting Wynn, who seemed like she might be either shocked or terrified or some combination of the two, out of her chair. [B]?Ms. Helson here is a ghost. An incorporeal being, a spirit, call her what you will. She has no physical body, and therefore normally physical influences cannot touch her. Can anyone explain, then, [I]how[/I] it is that I am holding her like this??[/B] Examining some of the students? equally shocked faces, he added, [B]?I can assure you she is in no way suspending [I]herself[/I] in the air.?[/B] [B]?You?re using magic,?[/B] Josh suddenly stated, quite plainly. Alucard turned his head with a broad smile. [B]?That is indeed correct, Mr. Ichimaru. I see you?ve acquired some of your relatives? brains. Ghosts are especially prone to magic. They are in no way immortal, as many people seem to believe.?[/B] Alucard gently set Wynn back into her seat, as she rubbed the shoulder he?d lifted her up by painfully. [B]?Thank you for being my assistant in my demonstration, Ms. Helson,?[/B] he said with a cold smile. He returned to his desk, relaxing for a moment before continuing the lesson. The night was still young, and he still had much to teach them.[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

And now, I begin my first real lesson of the year. From this point on, I will be beginning my posts with time stamps to ensure fluency of storyline. I would encourage others to do the same to some degree, to help prevent confusion. :catgirl: ---------- [COLOR=DarkSlateGray][SIZE=1][FONT=Tahoma][I]Timestamp: Room 267, [U]Lunarian Physiology[/U], 12:00 AM, midnight.[/I] Alucard waved nonchalantly, and the door silently creaked closed, clicking as it locked into place. The classroom was about half-full of students. The rest either were not used to coming to class at midnight, or got lost in the labyrinthine corridors of the school, or didn?t care enough to come, it mattered not to him. The fact was that they were gone, and they would not be entering this class room without either knocking first or breaking down the door. [B]?It would appear??[/B] Alucard growled slowly, just so that everyone in the room could hear him, [B]??that there are some people in this academy who think that they?re perhaps too ?cool? to attend class. Let me see?Derreck Feldman??[/B] a boy raised his hand high. Alucard nodded. [B]?Sean Taylor, William Marcus?Mr. ?I.C. Weiner?, that was very funny, thank you??[/B] the offending student jumped in surprise as his desk exploded. [B]?Lauren Cain, Ms. Akilina Nadezhda?no? Very well, I?ll deal with her later?Warren James??[/B] Alucard continued, drawing a thin red line through the names of each student that wasn?t present, until the attendance was taken. [B]?Very well, then,?[/B] Alucard announced, settling back behind his desk. [B]?Who can tell me what class this is?? Anyone???[/B] By the hesitant expressions on the students? faces, they were either uncomfortable with speaking out, or were afraid that the name of the class was indeed what it was supposed to be. One girl raised a shaky hand. [B]?Yes, Ms. Helson??[/B] [B]?This is?Lunarian physiology?Mr. Alucard.?[/B] Alucard smiled. [B]?Very good, Ms. Helson. I am glad that you, at least, seem capable of basic speech.?[/B] There was a general stir from the students. Alucard had once been told by a student that he ??kinda gave kids a bad ?vibe?? That was perfectly alright with him, his job wasn?t to make nice with these young Lunarians. He was here, in this class, to teach them how to survive in a world that would never accept them for what they were. [B]?This is Lunarian physiology. While some of you may be wondering what the point of this class is, believing that it may be similar to Lunarian [I]Anatomy[/I], it is, in fact, entirely different.?[/B] Alucard crossed his hands, resting his head on them as he leaned forward. [B]?[I]Anatomy[/I] is the class to learn what your bodies are like. Here is where you learn how to use them. [I]Anatomy[/I] will teach you the structure of a vampire?s jawbone??[/B] he continued, procuring a short metal rod. He placed it in his mouth sideways, before clamping down on it. The bar bent, then snapped, as though a mere piece of straw. He picked the pieces up and threw them into the wall, where they buried themselves a foot into the wall, two small, perfectly round holes. [B]??[I]I[/I] will show you what that jawbone is [I]capable[/I] of.?[/B] [B]?Now then, before we begin, let?s see a show of hands. Who among us is a lycan? Come now, I do not care what kind. Werecreatures are werecreatures first, all other things second.?[/B] About half of the class raised their hand. [B]?Ah, many this year, I see.?[/B] Alucard made a note in his large encyclopedia-sized, leather-bound black book. [B]?Vampires??[/B] Another few held up their hands. Alucard?s quill scratched across the aged paper. [B]?Ghouls? Golems? Banshees? Magically animated undead??[/B] The few remaining students raised their hands. That left but one person. [B]?And what about you, Ms. Helson?? [/B] The young girl fidgeted around in her seat. [B]?What sort of creature are you??[/B] [B]?I?m?I?m a ghost??[/B] she mumbled. Alucard smiled. [B]?That would make you a magically animated creature, Ms. Helson. Now, -?[/B] [B]?But?but I wasn?t brought back by magic??[/B] the girl interrupted. This caught Alucard?s attention. [B]?[I]Oh[/I]? That [I]is[/I] interesting. Tell me, Ms. Helson?how [I]did[/I] you die, then??[/B] The girl was silent. By the expression on her face, the thought of it seemed to pain her somewhat. [B]?I see??[/B] Alucard trailed off. [B]?Well, then. Students, we are all the children of the night.?[/B] [B]?As Lunarians, we draw our power from the darkness. Your powers are many and varied, but you are not aware of how to utilize them.?[/B] Alucard took a moment to write another note down in his book before closing it again. [B]?However, if you pay attention, behave, and don?t [I]waste your time writing love notes to other students, Ms. Merrin[/I], I think by the end of the term, you may just make it in the harsh world we live in.?[/B] He leaned forward, a wide smile across his face. [B]?Are there any questions???[/B][/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR] ---------- Anyone may be attending this class, as may anyone who hasn't gotten in a class yet, though they will, of course, be scolded appropriately for their tardiness. The only person that's here for certain is Wynn, who, by the way, is currently on my 'good' side right now.

[SIZE=1]Well sounds like you're in a pretty tight fix, right now, doesn't it? Some people will be all like, 'don't run away, that's just plain [B]stupid[/B], dumbass!' But really, I guess it ends up being your choice, in the end. I can't really give you any good tips for successfully running away, but there are some tricks to the deal that might be useful to keep in mind. 1. Got any good friends that live nearby? My best friend crashed at my place after running away from his dad's for a little while. If you don't have a good friend or another reliable place to stay, forget about it. Life on the streets, even for a few days, sucks hardcore. Plan this sort of thing out with your friend ahead of time. 2. Of course, leave at night. This'll give you about a five hour headstart or so. 3. If your dad and them really hate you and you hate them that much, there's always the possibility that they might just let you go. You win. 4. But, if they do come to get you, your best bet is probably to come back quietly, and without a fuss. If they're so interested in finding you, they'll have cops, and cops have guns and beatsticks. 5. If you get taken back home, the effect of your running away might just have an affect on the way your stepdad look at you, see what you've been putting up with. In a way, you win. 6. Of course, in the worst-case scenario, you get the **** kicked out of you for being an 'ungrateful brat', but then you can file for domestic abuse or somethin', which'll eventually get you relocated. Again, you win. That's just my take on it. If you wanna take the easiest possible way out, I recommend just waiting it out for another few years until you've got a job and/or a car, and haul your *** outta there. Hope that kinda helped. Holy ****, did I just give someone detailed instructions on how to make a runaway?! I can't believe I just did that. :animenose [/SIZE]

Well, that certainly didn't take long...I hope this is to your [I]liking[/I], Talon. ---------- [COLOR=DarkSlateGray][SIZE=1][FONT=Tahoma]Alucard shook his head slowly, watching the two young troublemakers fight it out. He knew it was his duty as an instructor to stop them, but it had been a full three years since anyone had picked a fight with the ?Ironclaw? and held their own for more than ten seconds. This new stranger was an intriguing boy, if admittedly a warmonger. However? ?There was no place for warmongers in this school. Alucard stepped slowly from the shadows, quietly clearing his throat. Even this simple gesture caused the fighting to cease immediately. [B]?Well, [I]well[/I],?[/B] he growled, stopping right next to the new lycan student. [B]?This school encourages a good fight every once in a while, but the rules state clearly that it is forbidden in the first week of term. [I]You[/I], of all people, should know that, Damien. What have I told you about harassing new students??[/B] [B]?Piss off, Alucard,?[/B] Damien spat. Alucard waved his hand nonchalantly, and Damien flew down the hallway, crashing into the wall. [B]?It?s Zamiel, for the likes of you,?[/B] he muttered in contempt. [B] ?And you??[/B] he turned to the new student. [B]?You need to learn when to pick a fight, and with whom to do battle with. In your present condition you are no match for [I]him[/I].?[/B] Alucard made a gesture toward where Damien had crashed, though Damien had now begrudgingly stormed off. [B]?He is the single most powerful student here. Compared to him you are but an untrained [I]pup[/I]. You?re lucky to be in one piece still.?[/B] [B]?Shut up, man, I can take him,?[/B] the student retorted. Alucard?s eye sparked for a moment. This one was sure of himself, that much was certain. And, if what Merlin had told him about the opening of the door, this egotistical little menace could be surprisingly strong. A [I]test[/I], perhaps, was in order. [B]?Could you, now? Well, then??[/B] Alucard stepped away from the boy slowly, arms spread wide open, almost as if inviting him. [B]?Show me, insolent little [I]whelp[/I].?[/B] The boy shouted down this insult, and ran with unnatural speed at Alucard. At the last possible second, as the boy?s fist shot forward with force that could have probably shattered every bone in Alucard?s face, the tall vampire disappeared, reappearing behind the boy. [B]?You think you can [I]beat[/I] me, fighting like that?!?[/B] Alucard growled, teleporting again as the boy took another futile swipe. [B]?You fight like a wild dog,?[/B] he continued. The boy began wildly thrashing at him, and each time, his fists fell on empty air. Alucard spoke between blows. [B]?No plan?no coordination?no variation?no strategy?no intelligence??[/B] finally, Alucard simply grabbed the boy?s hand as he swung, and thus the battle was ended. [B]?In short, a [I]poor[/I] excuse for a lycan. Even at [I]your[/I] age.?[/B] [B]?[I]Shut the fuck up[/I]!?[/B] the boy shouted, using his surprising strength to tear his fist out of Alucard?s grasp. Caught off guard, Alucard didn?t quite have enough time to think before the boy?s fist struck across his head, sending him flying backward. [I]Persistent little punk[/I], he thought as he got up, wiping the blood from his lip. The boy ran at him again. In that moment, Alucard made his decision. There was no point in continuing the battle now. He raised his arm, and the boy found himself suspended ten feet in the air. [B]?What the [I]Hell[/I]?!?[/B] he shouted, thrashing about. [B]?You cheated, you [I]bastard[/I]!?[/B] Alucard shook his head bitterly as he got to his feet. [B]?I used what skills I had, boy. You used what skills you had. I am simply stronger, more experienced. That is how this game works. Tell, me, what is your name, boy??[/B] [B]?Whadda [I]you[/I] care?!?[/B] the boy retorted with a sneer, arrogant even now in his helpless position. [B]?As an [I]instructor[/I] in this academy, I expect to be answered wholly and truthfully when I ask a question.?[/B] The mention of the word [I]instructor[/I] seemed to shut the brat?s mouth for a moment. Finally, he calmed down. [B]?My name?s?[I]Hunter[/I],?[/B] the boy growled begrudgingly. Alucard smirked, able to recognize a self-styled battletag when he heard one. [B]?well, then, Mr. ?Hunter?. [I]Detention[/I]. To be served on Friday, in my room. Last door on the right, in the teacher's wing. Until then, I bid you good [I]night[/I].?[/B] At the word ?night, Alucard flicked a finger, and ?Hunter? was thrown against the wall head-first, hard. That would keep him down for a little while. Back up in his room, Alucard smiled to himself as he read from an old text titled ?[U]of Lycans, an Encyclopedia of the Lycan Races[/U]'. [B]??Hunter?, eh? [I]Interesting[/I]??[/B][/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR] ---------- Detention, on the first night? Yes, naturally. I already told you, children, I have [I]no[/I] tolerance for misbehavior! :flaming:

Talon, if there?s a problem with this post, please notify me by PM. I?m testing out my environment, seeing what I?ve got to work with. And I promise I won?t talk so much in all of my future posts. ---------- [COLOR=DarkSlateGray][SIZE=1][FONT=Tahoma]Alucard smiled as he slowly drained the packet of medical blood that had been laying on the table in his room when he entered. Off in one corner of the room, a large grandfather clock ticked away the meaningless hours never changing once in its monotonous rhythm. Tick tock, tick tock. The rest of the walls were entirely covered in shelves upon shelves of books. Old, ageless, priceless texts. If one didn't know better, one might think him a librarian. Ah, what a profoundly magnificent life there was to be had in these school walls! Away from all the troubles of the world, Alucard felt he was entirely too lucky to be here. The headmaster had taken him in so long ago?no less than four-hundred years, now. In the short fifty years that he had attended as a student, he had grown so attached to the building that he would rather die than part with it. That was why he was now sitting in the large, mahogany chair in the center of the room. That was why he now lived here, enrolled as a teacher of sorts. He waved his hand as he continued to drink, and the curtains parted, seemingly by magic. The pale, pearly light from the nearly full moon brightly illuminated in the room, reflecting in his eyes. Just then, there was a knock at the door. [B]?Come in,?[/B] Alucard beckoned, waving his hand. The door opened and swung back on its own, revealing a slight, aged man standing behind the doorway, his eyes glinting behind his crescent-spectacles. Alucard smiled heartily and motioned for the old mage to come inside. [B]?Merlin! I was wondering whether they would be sending you to fetch me again this year!?[/B] he laughed, revealing his fangs in a wide grin. [B]?Ah, yes, Alucard,?[/B] Merlin replied back giving a hearty smile of his own behind that bizarrely long beard. [B]?I?ve just come to inform you that the new students are beginning to arrive. It?s almost time to begin the curriculum.?[/B] [B]?New blood, eh??[/B] Merlin gave a shrewd smile. [B]?Just don?t go too far this time. The headmaster was slightly troubled last year when-?[/B] [B]?It won?t be a problem,?[/B] Alucard laughed. He stood up, his head reaching a height that seemed almost impossible for a man of his build, wiry and thin. The new students were making a great clamor, as usual. Perhaps it was the excitement of finally being in a place where they fit in, away from the human world. Perhaps it was the thrill of being surrounded by other inhumans. Or perhaps it was merely because they were beginning their orientation class at midnight, one could never tell. Suffice it to say that, for one reason or another, they were making a great clamor. When the door opened, though, the room fell silent. Alucard stepped silently out from behind the doorway, eying this year?s new students. The heavy impact of his boots on the floor echoed throughout the room as he reached the desk facing the students and sat eloquently in the chair. [B]?Welcome, new students, to Dr. Frankenstein?s Academy for the Unusually Gifted. My name is Alucard, but you may call my [I]Zamiel[/I]. Now, to begin, I?ll be taking atten-?[/B] Alucard stopped mid-sentence as his acutely sharp ear heard a young man whisper in the back of the room. [B]?[I]This[/I] kid is our teacher?! What?s [I]that[/I] all about?!?[/B] Alucard sighed, standing up. He pointed towards the back of the room. The chair upon which the man was sitting suddenly slowly lifted off the ground, and raised up about ten feet off the floor. [B]?Hey, what is this?!?[/B] the man shouted. A few other students laughed. The chair promptly up-ended itself, and the man fell with a loud thud to the floor. This met with much laughter as he staggered back up, cursing under his breath. Alucard cleared his throat. [B]?As Lunarians, as inhumans, we all walk this earth for various amounts of time,?[/B] he said flatly, almost somberly. [B]?Looks can be deceiving. Although I do not appear a day older than twenty, I am willing to bet that not a single one of you in this class is more than half my age.?[/B] This seemed to catch the group?s attention. Good. Alucard would be able to continue on with their undivided attention. [B]?You are here in this school to learn about yourselves, learn about what you are, or have become,?[/B] Alucard continued, settling back into his chair. [B]?Vampires, Lycanthropes, even Ghosts, Specters, and Ghouls roam these halls, all students here. You will be taught by many instructors on a wide variety of subjects ranging from basic Lunarian anatomy to combat and self-defense, as well as many academic courses that humans would deem ?normal?. There may be times where you may have to fight with another student. Such things are normal here.?[/B] There was a generally uncomfortable stir in some of the audience. [B]?My job here as a combat instructor, among other things, is to teach you what your bodies are and are not capable of. I do not doubt that you all have your own unique powers. My job here is to show you how to use them. There will be no rule-breaking in this school around me, or I can assure you you?ll not like the consequences. I expect nothing short of perfection in my students, and failure is not tolerated.?[/B] He bent forward, resting his head on his hands, peering out at the class from under his long silver hair. [B]?How you behave within these walls will determine whether you are on my ?good side??or if you will have the misfortune of being on my ?bad side?. The choice is yours.?[/B] Alucard?s mouth parted into a sharp, toothy smile. [B]?Are there any questions???[/B][/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR] ---------- So, Alucard?s a total stiff, and he isn?t afraid of busting up your ass if you don?t behave. It is up to you whether you attended this class tonight, I didn?t explicitly specify anyone.

[COLOR=Gray][SIZE=1][FONT=Tahoma]This could be interesting. There seem to be an abundance of vampires in this story already, but hopefully one more won't hurt. I also would like to apply for a job at the academy as a teacher, if that's okay, Talon...wouldn't wanna overstep my authority on making a sign-up. Here goes! [B]Name:[/B] Alucard (Named as a joke by his parents. It's 'Dracula', spelled backwards, after the most powerful legendary vampire of all time. Doesn't wish to reveal his last name, as he is ashamed of his family name.) [B]BattleTag:[/B] Zamiel (after the Demon God in a German play.) [B]Age:[/B] 502 (appears about in his late teens or early twenties.) [B]Subtype:[/B] Vampire. [B]Strengths:[/B] Can turn into mist (has once turned into a large group of bats when he was sleeping, apparently during a nightmare. The actual cause is unknown, and Alucard has tried many times without success to repeat the feat), Unusually high aptitude for using various psychic-related abilities (including, but not limited to, telekinesis, telepathy, limited teleportation, and limited levitation), above average physical strength, enhanced senses ranging from vision to hearing ability. [B]Weaknesses:[/B] Aside from the normal reactions to holy water, white oaks, etc, etc, Alucard has several additional weaknesses that have marked him as something of an outsider among vampires. For one, Contact with UV rays (generally from the Sun) causes a violent reaction in his skin, and therefore prevents him from being active outside during the daylight hours. While most vampires are at least capable of consuming 'normal' food, Alucard's digestive system simply cannot handle them for some reason. Therefore, his only source of nourishment is human blood. He generally drinks exactly one-and-a-half pints a day, in one sitting, a quantity he expects to have delivered to him at supper, in his room. If this expectation is not met, he will leave school grounds for the night and find what he needs some way or another. Alucard sometimes hates himself because he is violently allergic to silver, much like lycanthopes, a particular infuriating weakness because of a traumatic event in his past. As if to spite this, he always wears a silver necklace bearing a Lanchester cross 'round his neck, which doesn't bother him so long as it doesn't touch his skin. [B]Powers:[/B] During the New Moon, Alucard sometimes gains the ability to completely disengage his body and become something akin to a moving shadow which can take on whatever form he pleases. It is a powerful ability, but not one without its own drawbacks. After coming out of this powerful form, Alucard is physically and mentally drained, and becomes unable to use any of his other natural abilities for some time. Nevertheless, it is because of this power that Alucard is especially agreeable on starting a fight during the New Moon Nights. [B]Personality:[/B] Proud, but not egotistical, Alucard is very much a vampire as seen through human stereotypes. He is always calm and collected, and despises an unfair fight. He adores rules, and always strives to abide them, a quality which has aided him in becoming a student teacher at the prestigious academy. He always sees to it that anyone who breaks the laws that everyone must abide is punished swiftly and, if need be, harshly. Alucard is perhaps slightly unique in his views on humans. While several think of them as vastly inferior to the Lunarians, he believes that all beings can be equal, if they see that they are all basically the same on a fundamental level. This goal of all-encompasing equality is what Alucard strives for, hoping to one day see a world where all creatures can live at peace with each-other. [B]Description:[/B] Alucard has almost chalk-white skin, and his glaring red eyes seem to pierce through his abundance of silvery-white hair, which falls just short of his waist. For one whose body has only aged about nineteen years, he is unnaturally tall, and extremely thin. His wiry frame is concealed entirely in an extremely tightly-wrapped black leather suit that almost seems as though it might once have been a straight-jacket. The only part of his body that can actually be seen is his face; the 'straight-jacket' reaches all the way up his neck. It is assumed that he wears this all the time so he can better conceal himself from the damaging effects of the Sun. [B]History:[/B] Alucard was born into a proud and wealthy family of vampires, the first pure-blood bloodsucker in fifteen generations. His family was very, how do you say...protective of their vampiric lineage, and therefore any non-purebred vampire born into the family was immediately dismissed from the family's mansion, usually just left to die out on the streets. He was raised in such fashion as the king of England himself would envy. His parents doted on him, spoiled him. Anything he ever wanted, he was immediately given. By the time he was of age fourteen, his strength, both physical and psychic, far surpassed not only his father, but his great-grandfather as well, who had previously been the most gifted of all the vampires in the family, which was not a claim to be taken lightly. It seemed like Alucard would be the most honored successor to the family headship. Certainly he would be a far greater head than great-great-great, a hundred times great grandfather, who though a highly respectable man in his own right, had grown terribly weak and soft over the long, long years. But all that changed on his seventeenth birthday. On that day, Alucard somehow came into contact with a silvered blade, a family heirloom, a relic from the bitter feud between his family and a lycan clan many, many years ago. He fell into a deep comatose state which he only just barely managed to survive, awakening again three months later. There could be no mistaking that the reaction had been caused by the touch of the silver blade. The entire house was thrown into disarray. Suddenly, the entire family, who had always loved him dearly, turned against him, calling him a filthy defect. The grudge was kept at a peaceful level until one night, unable to stand it anymore, Alucard's older brother attempted to kill him in his sleep. The attempt only failed because through some miracle, Alucard's body dissolved into a flock of frantic bats, though he had only achieved mist form before. When Alucard's body reassembled itself, he was fully awake and shocked that the family's pride had corrupted their hearts so. the moon was missing tonight, a New Moon cycle. Without even realizing, Alucard disengaged his body, becoming a shadow in the form of a writhing mass of death, and without even commanding himself to do so, he attacked. He attacked his brother, his mother, his father, the entire house, unable to control his own powers. On that night, Alucard was no longer the youngest member of his family. He was the [I]only[/I] one. Of course, the events of that night traumatized him. He spent the next fifty years in hiding, trying to discover what he really was. He caught wind of a school for non-humans, a haven where he might feel more at home. A place where he might learn just how inhuman he really was. He remains at the academy still, though he has long since passed all courses available there. He thinks of himself as a permanent resident of the school, and his remarkable grades, reputation for abiding the rules, and strange talents have even earned him a staff position there. He is a sort of teacher, so to speak, who teaches new students for the first few years of their enrollment. A practicioner of teaching through direct example, Alucard's methods are unorthodox, and, at times, even questionable, but highly effective, in helping the new students understand what they are capable of, but also teaching them that no matter how gifted they were, two things remained constant: never overestimate or abuse your own power, and always abide by a certain code of conduct, always reserve that central sense of self-pride.[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

Ph34r with great ph34r the almighty power of angsty, emo-characters! Arise, minions, for my time has come! ... ...Okay, just pretend I didn't just do that. Please? The two blades fell to the floor from her limp hands with a dull clang as Kia realized the obvious truth. She had known that this would happen since the battle with Fidchell, but she had always continued, always helped the others, vainly hoping against it. A tear slid down her deathly pale cheek, dropping onto the ground the sound echoing, multiplying into a ripple that echoed throughout the entire area. It is time, Kia. They're coming. "No!" Kia shouted miserably. "I can't do this to them! They're my friends!" Friends? You have no friends. That band of misfits are only humans, Kia. You are Eternal. "Shut up!" Kia squealed, clasping her hands to her ears. A screeching buzz filled her ears, static screams. When she opened her eyes, they were blank white. She looked down at her hands, and they were beginning to turn slightly purple. She looked up, and suddenly, for one moment, Mia was there, staring at her. Then she was gone. "What...what's happening to me...?" You know what's happening, Kia. You're being granted a wonderful chance. Kia didn't say anything, could barely move as her data was modified, her character being altered into a new body that wasn't her own. It wouldn't be to long now. She was almost done. She could suddenly feel a small group of people appearing behind her, one-by-one. She turned slowly around and wiped a tear away as she saw Kayla's and Sakura's shocked faces, followed by everyone else. It would break her heart to have to fight them. She only hoped that, when the time came, Kite would be able to bring himself to Drain her. This was not going to be the time for human emotions. "I'm so...sorry...everyone..." she cried, hoping they would remember her as the little girl she had been, not the monster she had become. And with that, she lost her last shred of humanity, finally becoming what she had once fought so hard against. She leapt back about thirty feet, flipping through the air. When it landed, Macha was ready to kill. Phase 6: Macha, the temptress, Kia, the Betrayal *Whew* Ah, it's finally time to play. I hope this turns into a nice-sized battle. I think there's plenty of room for emotional conflict here, if you know what I mean. EDIT: Wow, I just realized how short my posts are getting. I'll get back to work on making things nice-n-long next time. Bai-bai!

OMG! I was really, really worried this had died! Well, I hope we can get this kicking again. Oh, and by the way, I totally spaced out on the actual field phase 6 is, so I made one up. If there's a problem, I can always change it. Three cheers for the edit button! And five cheers for getting this thing going again! Wai! Kia sighed, shivering slightly. The cracking buzz of the corrupted field, the eerie ringing burning into her ears. So...this is it... she thought, My last fight. I guess now that I'm here, it's safe to tell the others where I am... To: Sora, Kayla, Sakura From: Kia Subject: Phase 6 I found phase six, come to Ω-Endless-Eternal-Love Song. With a sigh, Kia took a step towards the dungeon. It was still way off, but for some reason, she could tell where it was. She was calm, unusually calm. After this, there would be no more fighting, no more pain, for her. She could live out the rest of her long, long life in peace. And she would never offer to help another group of kids again. But before that, she had to survive one last fight. Macha, the temptress. Macha seduces with the sweet trap, the sweet snare of conciliation. Kia shuddered, and thought of turning back. It wasn't worth the risk. Why should she care whether or not the others all fell into comas? It made no difference to her, she could still talk with their characters, the only part of them she knew. But would they ever forgive her for turning her back on them? No. This was something Kia could not back down from anymore. The others have probably gotten my message by now, she thought, I should hurry. Kia raced down one last hill, entering the dungeon where Macha was waiting. She ran, unhindered, for a few rooms, before running into her first portal. She gripped her tiny daggers firmly, ready for battle. Anything but a dragon. Something small, please... The portal activated, but as it dissolved, it left nothing behind. Not even a treasure chest. Very freaky. The game never did that; the portals always left at least something. Shaken, Kia ran further down, until she reached the purple flames. With one last breath, she was ready. If she waited for the others, they would force her to stay behind, for sure. Certainly, Helba would have told them that Kia was specifically instructed to stay back. There's no going back now... Kia took a step forward, and vanished into the flames. She opened her eyes, and glanced around, her entire body tense like a bow ready to snap. But there was nothing there, not even a buzz. Dead silence. "What in the world..." she wondered aloud. She stood straight up, wondering if Helba had in fact given her the wrong area, or if Macha had moved. Hello, Kia. I've been waiting for you. "Who the hell is there?!" Kia shouted, snapping back to attention. You know who I am, Kia. It's been...a while. Kia's eyes widened. It couldn't be...there was no way. But as she stood and thought about it, the more and more sense it made. The razor-sharp daggers slipped out of her limp fingers as she stared blankly at nothing. Welcome home, Kia. I have officially maneuvered Kia to where she needs to be. I would ask that, given the circumstances, I can start the fight with Macha, once everyone has arrived.

[COLOR=Purple][SIZE=1][FONT=Tahoma]Anime-based? Or just anime-ish? I can't think of any terribly great anime-based games (and it annoys the hell outta me when my friend starts going on and on...and on...about DBZ: budokai 2 & 3). Maybe I just have really limited knowledge in the field of anime-based games. On the other hand, I'd like to say that some of the best games I've ever played are all anime in look, feel, and presentation. [U]La Pucelle[/U], [U]Phantom Brave[/U], [U]Makai Kingdom[/U]...and of course the best game of all time, [U]Disgaea[/U]. Strangely enough, all of these are Strategy RPGs. Is there some kind of connection there? Or am I just freakin' out? Anyways, yeah. Anime-based games aren't really doing too hot. But I have Disgaea to make me feel better, so it's okay. :catgirl: [/FONT] [/SIZE] [/COLOR]

Day 1, 7:23 PM, the Dining Hall Mieruru stared down at the bagged, bloody...things placed in front of her. She felt sick to her stomach. She pushed her plate away, not even vaguely aware of anything being nearly shouted between the others. The food she had already just eaten sat coldly in her stomach. She stared at the bags, and their deformed contents. And she shuddered. The Master looked down at her with an interested glint in his eye. He smiled coldly. "So, little Mieruru. Do you like James' present?" He thought for a moment while she choked on his words. "I actually think it's a very...considerate gift." Mieruru's face whipped around up to look at the Master, stark horror in her eyes. No way he would do this. It was...inhumane! Way, way beyond the line! But from such a kind, gentle old man...? No. Mieruru refused to believe that this man, who had treated her with such kindness, was capable of such horrible things as to order another human to do that. Mieruru forced herself to stand up, sending the chair crashing backwards. She was trembling, tears beginning to form at the edge of her eyes. She stormed out of the dining hall, blindly running down the hallways until she found her way to the Master's room, mostly by luck. A haunting laugh seemed to follow her, the laugh of a cold-blooded mind. She opened the door to the Master's room, and threw herself under the covers of the bed, shaking. The Master would never make anyone do that... Some time later, she heard the sound of the door opening. She squealed as she felt five wet thuds against the covers she was crying under. And she heard a voice. "You left in such a rush, little one, that you forgot your gifts..." [FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed]--The 'sometime later' can be whenever, Kairi. Have your fun.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

Day 1, 2:00 PM, the Front Door "So, little Mieruru," the Master said casually as Mieruru followed him back up the stairwell to the front door, "Did you enjoy the show?" They stepped through the door, and once again began winding their way through the impossibly complicated maze of hallways. Mieruru looked up with a smile. "Yes, Master, it was a lot of fun!" She replied exhuberantly, "I think miss...erm..Riana? Yeah, that's it. I think miss Riana put on a really good show." The little kitty tail swished back and forth. Probably 'cause she was walking too fast. She slowed down a little. "Yes, miss Riana did do a remarkable job, considering what little time she had to prepare herself..." the Master laughed quietly to himself. A horrible shriek suddenly pierced the relative silence of the hallway, stopping Mieruru cold in her tracks. Her eyes darted around, up, down, everywhere, fear-stricken. She turned, wide-eyed, to the Master. "Wha-what was th-that?" the Master turned, a somewhat vacant expression across his face. "Hmmm...? Ah, that. Well. It's nothing, little Mieruru. Don't worry yourself over it. I'm sure it was just one of our other guests...probably just had a little accident..." As the Master turned to resume his casual walk, Mieruru could've almost sworn she saw a self-satisfied smirk coming across the Master's face, but it was so brief a change, it could've been just a trick of the lights. Finally, they arrived at the Master's room again. The Master stretched slightly before shaking to relax his muscles. A thought suddenly occurred to Mieruru. "Ummm...Mr. Master? Sir?" the Master turned to face her with a soft smile. "Yes, little Mieruru?" he said softly, before turning back to smooth out the comforter on one section of the bed. "I...never thanked you for your gift." Mieruru indicated the kitty ears and tail she was still wearing. The Master turned his head to face her. "Oh, those?" he laughed lightly, "I had hoped you would like them." "Oh, they're wonderful! But, I was wondering how-" "You have to understand, Mieruru. You seemed like the kind of girl who loves little kitties. I could tell when I first saw you." Mieruru tried to hide her surprise. The Master was clever indeed if he could 'read' peoples' personalities so easily. The Master walked towards the oversized bathroom, cracking his neck softly. "I...really like them. Thank you..." Mieruru said quietly, bowing slightly. The Master looked back at her for a moment, an uncomfortable smile crossing his face. "I'm glad you like them, Mieruru. I'm sure you've become quite...attached to them." With a surpressed laugh, he closed the in front of him. Mieruru heard his voice through the door. "I'm getting ready for dinner, Mieruru. You can do the same if you wish." Mieruru nodded to nobody in particular, and grabbed the elegant but small dress that was suddenly waiting for her on the bed, not even questioning where it had come from. [FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed]---Sorry I was away for so long. My computer got 'owned' for a week, and the School now has the [I]Boards[/I] on it's block list. :catgirl: [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

Day 1, 9:00 AM, the Master's Bedroom Mieruru woke to a light touch on her back, wresting her from peaceful slumber. She couldn't really see clearly yet, the last of the black sleep still fading in front of her. Everything was all blurry. She'd had a dream last night...a horrible dream about her family. Another nudge, gentle, but more persistent this time, helped her wake as she rubbed her eyes drowsily. "Good morning, little Mieruru," a familiar voice hovered over her, "I hope you slept well...it's time to go." The Master. It was the Master's voice. Mieruru shook her head, still lost in that drifting world between dream and reality. She turned over and sat up slowly. The veil of darkness fell from her eyes as she regained full consciousness. She smiled a warm, Hi-I'm-awake-now smile, looking up at her new caretaker. And the sheets fell away. There was something distinctly wrong about the way that felt. Mieruru looked down. Hmmm... "EEK!" Mieruru screeched, practically flying out of the bed. It may seem somewhat childish, but what girl wouldn't jump, even as...undeveloped as she was, upon discovering that she had been sitting upright for the better part of thirty seconds, in clear view of the host of the house, wearing nothing more than her birthday suit? Mieruru's movements were difficult to track, she was flying around so fast, frantically trying to find the clothes she had discarded the night before. A servant girl somehow managed to force a set of clothing into her hands, whereas she promptly jumped behind a curtain, and re-clothed herself in the grand total of six-and-a-half second's time. The Master chuckled lightly, apparently amused by this series of events, and made sure to turn away like a gentleman as Mieruru dressed. For, though she had admittedly chosen a rather large curtain to jump behind, the curtain in question was, nonetheless, rather transparent. Oh, well. Having had her first ordeal of the day before a minute's worth of being awake, Mieruru emerged from behind the curtains, somewhat flustered, but still undeniably cheerful, with a look on her face that implied that a small comet could fall through the roof at any moment and hit her head, and she wouldn't mind in the least. She laughed a somewhat hollow laugh, out of breath. "I'm...er...sorry about...that...sir...I guess I...kinda dosed off.." "Not a problem, little Mieruru," the Master smirked, "I just wanted to invite you to watch a little...competition. Tell me, do you like...puppies?" The little kitty ears Mieruru was wearing perked up slightly. "I'd love to!" Mieruru said happily. The Master smiled before turning to head out the door. Mieruru tagged along behind him, through the labyrinth-like hallways, until she quite unexpectedly found herself outside, in the courtyard, where all the makings of a festival were beginning to erect themselves. The Master pointed out a stand, and Mieruru nodded, seating herself alongside the other contestants, whom had arrived just shortly before her. The Master seated himself in a chair not too far. The show was about to begin... [FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed]Oh, and that part about the kitty ears she had gotten as a gift last night 'perking up'...well, suffice it to say I think that [I]might[/I] be important later on. Happy posting! :catgirl: [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

Day 0, 8:32 PM, above the piano room "I warn you...there will be things that may be disturbing and horrifying...will you be able to obey..." The Master said ominously, looking down at Mieruru with a piercing gaze. Mieruru tilted her head to one side, a confused look on her face. What could the Master possibly ask of her that would be so 'bad'? Her thought was interrupted as the Master's voice resumed it's old, kindly tone. "...But don't worry bout that tonight, little Mieruru," the Master continued, resuming his slow walk down the hall with Mieruru tagging along behind like a loyal puppy. Eventually, they arrived back at the door marked as the Master of Games' room. The Master made a vague gesture inside, and Mieruru walked in. "You may stay here for now, Mieruru," the Master said, indicating a massive bed. Mieruru crawled up onto the bed and pulled herself up into a sitting position, with her legs folded across each-other. The Master smiled. "I'll be back. I'm going to check on the other guests for a little while." "But, I thought you wanted me to-" Mieruru began to say, before a wavering finger from the Master hushed her. His smile deepened. "It's alright, you have my permission," he said simply before walking out the door, closing it gently after him. A servant girl promptly stepped out from a corner, which Mieruru previously hadn't noticed. She was holding something. "A gift from the Master," she said, holding out the gift - a pair of little costume-like cat-ears, and a matching tail. Mieruru took the gifts with a thank-you, putting them on. Now she could at least pretend to be one of those catgirls she had seen on cool cartoons, like she'd always wanted to be. She turned to the servant girl, grinning from ear to ear. "How do I look?" she asked rather childishly. The girl smiled. "Very cute, miss." Ah, the world was good. Mieruru jumped backwards onto the bed, which sent her bouncing back up a bit. She felt suddenly very tired, which was to be expected as she hadn't gotten any sleep in roughly forty-eight hours. She undressed, crawled drowsily under the covers of the Master's bed, and passed out completely, never mind the fact that it was practically bright as noon still in the room. [FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed]Okay, couple quick notes. I haven't moved onto day 1 quite yet, 'cause I wanted to get day 0 wrapped up first. Oh, and by the way, though I [I]did[/I] say Mieruru got 'undressed', she is actually still wearing her 'gift'. On a final note, if anyone calls me perverted or something just because Mieruru's asleep in the Master's bed, I will find the online equivalent of a shotgun, and 'introduce' them to it. It's not like [I]that[/I]. :catgirl: Kairi, if anything's wrong, I'll be happy to change it. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

6:23 PM, The Dining Hall Mieruru couldn't wait to see what her envelope held. Instructions to some contest? Where to find a certain something? This seemed an awful lot like some kind of reality TV show, with the 'contestants', rules, and of course a huge prize for the winner. Mieruru opened the envelope right as the servant placed it in front of her. She gazed at the message before unfolding it. Her eyes quickly darted from one side of the paper to the other before widening suddenly. What a simple order! But she supposed she would have to get to it right away. The instruction, while simple enough, demanded urgency. She slid her chair away from the table and bowed politely to the other contestants. "I...must be going now. Have fun, everybody~!" she said happily. If anyone thought this was odd behavior, they promptly kept their laughter suppressed to a quiet snicker, which Mieruru, in turn, promptly ignored. She walked - well, skipped is actually more the word - towards the door the Master of Games had just gone through as one of the other men excused himself and walked off. She pushed through the door, taking in the general splendor-ness of the place, before calling a servant-boy over. Servant-boy probably wasn't the best term, as the man was easily three times her height, but she didn't know a better way to consider it, as just 'servant' seemed rude and unpersonal. She had to get up on her tiptoes, and the man had to kind of kneel down to here what she wanted to ask him. After a moment, he nodded. "Yes, of course, miss, I know where it is," he said with a slight laugh - all the servants here seemed very cheerful to her - before turning abruptly around and walking down the hallway. Mieruru followed him through what seemed like and endless labyrinth of gorgeous hallways. I wonder what it's like...she thought to herself, pondering what it must be like to have the entire mansion memorized. She had lost track of the way back to the dining hall some time ago, and this was still just the first floor! The servant-boy seemed to read her thoughts and smiled. "We're almost there, miss, it's not too much further." Mieruru nodded her head. And indeed it was a mere three minutes later (though to her it seemed more like ten-ish) that the man abruptly stopped. Mieruru was so used to moving forwards that she actually did bump into him. bump. Mieruru smiled sheepishly up at the man from the floor. The impact of the man's leg - not to mention the surprise of bumping into it - had sent her to the ground. He bent down and helped her up, before nodding over to a simple wooden door, no different from any of the others except in one regard. Mieruru stared at the intricate design of the letters engraved onto the door. the Master of Games. She turned back to the man who had led her here, but...but he was gone! Gone, just like that. The hallway stretched off almost as far as her eye could see in both directions, but the man was nowhere to be found. She shrugged and took a deep breath before knocking on the door, her instruction in hand. "Mr. Master of Games, sir! I'm here about this card!" [FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed]---And yes, I'm aware that 'splendor-ness' and 'ten-ish' aren't real words. Doesn't make it any less funny![/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

5:54 PM, Mieruru's room Mieruru had barely noticed the time, lounging in her fantasy room, contemplating how she could make it perfect. She simply stared at the blank walls, the empty room, imagining the possibilities. Her room was a blank canvas, ready for her to paint in her own vision of perfection. She could begin with an outdoor-ish wallpaper. She was reminded of a cartoon once, in which one of the characters' rooms had all the look and feel of an outdoor park. She could just see the night sky, dotted with little stars. The trees, either fake or simply part of the wallpaper. Maybe even a little plant under the clock... The clock. Mieruru shrieked in horror. She had exactly forty-three seconds to get to the dining room before Six! In the blink of an eye, Mieruru was out of there. As in Out. Of. There. She frantically flew down the hallway, unsure which direction to go. She had been stupid enough not to ask for directions when the servant-boy had been with her. Mieruru was a moving blur, racing up and down the hallways, this way and that, until she stopped. Dead in her tracks. She remembered that there was some 'angelic wing' that she was supposed to never, ever go into. She looked around, frightened. But she didn't see anything there, so she shrugged, and turned back. Lucky thing for her, too, as she had stopped four inches in front of the Angelic Wing, though she didn't know. Mieruru quite literally burst through the door to the dining room, took a wild glance around, and jumped into her seat at precisely 6:02 and 48 seconds. The others, who had already arrived, looked at her strangely, and she stared down into her lap shamefully. I guess...I guess I should've taken the time to explore the mansion after all...she thought. She looked up, and her heart sank. The Master of Games was already there. And he was looking at her. Right. At. Her. As if being two minutes late was like some kind of mortal sin. He seemed to notice her looking at him, and the expression on his face softened into a kindly smile. "I see our youngest guest is somewhat less than punctual," he said in the most casual voice, drawing a polite laughter from the other contestants. How embarrasing...Mieruru thought to herself. "Ah, well, it's no matter," the Master continued. Mieruru could've sworn she'd seen him holding some slips of paper or something, but he quickly tucked whatever it is he might've been holding into an inside pocket in the very stylish suit he was wearing. Dinner continued as normal for a while. After everyone (including Mieruru) had eaten their fill, the Master of games stood up quietly. A simple gesture, but from such a strange and enigmatic man, even the simplest of gestures could have infinite meaning. He cleared his throat before speaking. "Now, everyone. Welcome, my friends. I have called you to this hall to make a few...announcements. So, to the business at hand..." [FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed]---Heh, I made myself a little late so I wouldn't make the Master enter the room for a third time. :catgirl: [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

Mieruru's first impression of the man that had just come through the door was that of some minor god. He seemed old and kind, but still powerful, and the dignified look on his face commanded the greatest respect. Even in the way he dressed, all in black with red lining, and the glimpse of white underneath - his entire being commanded power in his mere presence. Perhaps that was part of the reason Mieruru had jumped up the stairwell so hurriedly to get a better look at him. She was, and she didn't doubt that anyone would, drawn to him. Perhaps even moreso than her eagerness to enter the Heavenly Mansion. The master left his instructions before turning back through the doorway, beckoning them to enter as he turned around, before being lost behind the door as it closed with a dull thud. Everyone, including Mieruru, was a bit stunned, wondering exactly what to do first. Mieruru decided not to wait for the others to figure out what to do. She took a deep breath, pushed open the doorway, and crossed the threshold into the mansion. Mieruru gasped, taken aback by the splendor of the mansion. It seemed an anfinite palace, brightly illuminated from chandeliers hanging elegantly over the entryway. She was briefly reminded of the second rule on the invitation: You must stay in the light. It didn't seem like this would be a difficult task; it seemed almost brighter in here than it was outside. She suddenly became aware of a man in a suit standing silently behind her. he asked politely, bowing respectfully to her (something she thought must look kinda funny, a man bowing to a girl most likely less than a quarter his age). she replied, remembering one should always respect their elders. Then it suddenly occurred to her that he was obviously was here to help her find her room. The man smiled warmly. He led her down the first hall to the left, and indicated a door with her name inscribed on it. In Japanese. Mieruru hadn't really noticed until now, but the man that had led her here had also spoken in Japanese. This Master of Games guy was good... She carefully opened the door, peeping through the tiny crack she had made. What she saw inside made her gasp. She closed the door, her heart racing. She rubbed her eyes once, and peered through the door again, and suddenly let out a squeal of delight. It hadn't been some illusion her hopes had tricked up! The room she was looking into was really her room. It was wonderful! There was a four-poster bed in the middle that was much bigger than any bed she'd ever seen, much less slept in, and the rest of the room, though amazingly huge (Mieruru figured you could probably fit two master bedrooms inside it - a bit naive, but accurate, nonetheless), was completely empty. the man said in a regretful tone, the man stopped suddenly as he realised Mieruru was bouncing up and down on the bed, giggling, and there was an extremely thin chance she was listening. She did hear him, though, and stopped jumping. By way of cannonball. Bounce, bounce, bounce...thud. she asked, with the grin of an extremely satisfied four-year old on her face. The man chuckled warmly. he laughed airily, before casually pointing out a clock ticking silently away on the far wall, Mieruru said heartily, and with a smile and a wave, the man was gone through the door. [FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed]Hehehe, I've barely seen the place, and I already like it. :catgirl: [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkSlateGray]There is [U]no way[/U] I don't have enough Kingdom Hearts stuff on my computer to whip something up for you, so I'll try my hand at it as well. [B]EDIT:[/B] Here's my first shot at the banner. I cut the image in half with Riku's dark keyblade. Why don't [I]we[/I] get to use that thing?![/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

I have decided that, since I am not the most fluent in Japanese yet, and am to lazy to use a translation site, I will simply put anything being said in Japanese in little "< " ">" thingies. Just a note. Oh, and this post begins when there were only three 'contestants' present. Mieruru looked curiously at the other people that had been arriving one-by-one. They all seemed to be from different countries from all around the world, though she didn't know which language any of them spoke. Well, except for the man that was singing somewhat absurdly to himself in perfectly good English. And so the three waited for the Master of Games. Already, Mieruru was getting confused. The Master's e-mail had said nothing of anybody else coming to the island as well. Another woman arrived, for a total of four people, including Mieruru. and still, no sign of the Master. She was getting very anxious to meet the head of this heavenly estate, but there seemed to be no sign of an end to the people that came, as another young man arrived, escorted by some men in black suits - you know, the typical CIA-type getup. Mieruru yawned and sat down. She was beginning to grow bored of standing, and the ground was fairly comfortable, anyways. Actually, she was instinctively trying to make herself scarce from the others, not wanting any interaction with them, at least for now. six years on the streets can do that to you. Another man arrived, and, like all the others except the singing man, stood in expectant silence, waiting for the Master to arrive. "Konnichiwa, nehon-jin desuka?" Mieruru whipped around in surprise, accidentally hitting the woman who had knelt down next to her. Mieruru gasped, her eyes wide. She began to apologize to the woman at a rate of about a hundred miles a minute in rapid-fire-Japanese. The woman smiled reassuringly, and Mieruru quieted down. she said in perfectly fluent Japanese, she added with a thoughtful smile, Mieruru managed a small laugh at that, and decided she was a bit more comfortable talking with someone that knew her language, as opposed to the others. she asked. the woman laughed. Mieruru replied with a slight bow.

Mieruru waited outside the door to the internet café for a full six hours, contemplating happily her good fortune. And for good reason; after living out on the streets for the better part of six years, who wouldn't accept a gracious invitation to a beautiful mansion in a far away land? And on top of that, there was some sort of 'game' to be played. How exciting! By the time the café closed, it was almost pitch-black outside. Mieruru watched the door patiently, waiting for the last person to leave. She had kept very close watch over everyone that had come and gone since she had gotten kicked out earlier that day. Finally, the last person left. In the blackness of the night, nobody would notice a little girl silently slipping through the closing door as someone left the building. Mieruru checked, double-checked, and double-double-checked her surroundings, then did the whole thing again. When she was convinced that there was absolutely no possibility of anyone seeing her, even from outside, she pushed a button, and a computer buzzed to life, the moniter flaring up for a moment before displaying the desktop. Mieruru smiled, clicking on the internet icon and accessing her e-mail. To: the Master of Games From: mieruru-rin Subject: the Contest Dear Mr. Master of Games, Thank you for this wonderful offer! I would be honored to come to your mansion and play your game. I'm not sure why you picked me to come, or even really how you know about me, but...It sounds like a wonderful time - even without the prize, which I must admit I don't know what I'd do with. The rules you supplied in your e-mail seem a bit strange, but I'm sure it'll be explained when I get there. Once again, I'd like to thank you for this offer. P.S: Your escort can find me on a bench at Hayatsou and 16th in Tokyo. I'm sorry to say that I'm somewhat...lacking in a proper house at the moment. Mieruru clicked the 'Send' button, waited for the message to be sent, and silently turned off the computer. By the time she made her way out of the internet café - luckily, nobody ever locked the doors from the inside - the smile that had slowly been creeping across her face couldn't be contained anymore, and she let out a rather inordinately loud giggle as she walked toward the bench she said the escort could find her at. At roughly three o'clock that morning, Mieruru smiled once again as a sleek black limo pulled up to the curb right in front of her. the tinted window slid silently down, revealing two men seated in lavish leather chairs. The man sitting in the passenger seat looked briefly down at a slip of paper. "Are you...Mieruru Merrin?" the man asked politely in Japanese, reading her name off the paper. Mieruru smiled and gave a polite bow. "Yup, that's me!" she answered happily, practically shaking with the excitement. "Please get in, make yourself comfortable," the man said politely, and the back door opened on it's own. Mieruru nodded with yet another polite smile, and hopped into the limo. They slowly, silently made their way towards the airport with the lights off, as if they didn't want to be seen. Understandable, considering what they were doing, where they were going. The airport was comepletely uneventful and inconspicuous. There was already a small, private plane waiting for them, and the flight was totally perfect in every way - except there were no peanuts. When they arrived at the mansion at around eight o'clock (according to the time zone the mansion was located in), however, was a totally different experience. Mieruru's eyes brightened in wonder. How could such a beautiful place exist in the world? Compared to the cramped, city-style atmosphere of Tokyo, this place was like heaven! And she hadn't even gotten to the front gate yet. The two men that formed her escort led her to a wide clearing that seemed almost like a courtyard. On of them looked down and spoke softly to her. "You may wait here. The Master will be arriving shortly." Mieruru nodded, still in a sort of trance, and waited happily, if admittedly a bit nervously, for the master of this heavenly place to arrive.

Name: Mieruru Merrin Age: 14 Sex: Female Location: Japan Appearance: attachment. (No, she doesn't really have a tail, sadly, and yes, she usually wears at least a bit more than this.) Personality: Mieruru is a shy, drawn back girl that acts more like she's eight than fourteen. She frightens very, very easily, and is usually something of a crybaby. She's very intelligent for never having gone to school, but she doesn't really like to demonstrate this too often. She is immediately both frightened and fascinated by anyone and everyone she sees, and tries very often to connect with anyone she isn't terribly scared of. Of course, this usually ends miserably, because she's rather childish. Bio: Mieruru's personality is the result of being literally hated by her parents. They hated her so much, actually, that they threw her out of the house at age six. Since then, she's basically survived by wandering around the city, occasionally finding a generous person who will provide her with a place to stay. This sort of arrangement usually lasts for only about a day or two, afterwhich the person in question will usually get annoyed at how overly-affectionate she is. Her life isn't actually all that bad, despite how it sounds; she gets by well enough, and she usually spends her free time at the internet café. She started up an e-mail account when she was ten, mostly on a whim and because it was free. She never got any mail, though she checked it every day, at least twice a day. Finally, one day it seemed her rather idiotic pacience paid off, and she was kicked out of the internet café from the ruckus she made at actually getting a letter from someone. She remembered what it said, though. A contest. A trip to a beautiful mansion. And anything to her heart's desire. And a fabulous sum of money, though she really didn't care about that. All she had to do was reply with a smile, 'yes'. So she snuck into the internet café that very night and sent her reply happily. She also left the name of the street she could be found on, explaining briefly that she was 'in the market for a house at the moment'. And she waited right there on the bench at Hayatsou and 16th, never even once thinking about resting up for the trip, such was her excitement. Greatest Desire: To have someone to look up to that loves her. (Actually, more of a fantasy than a desire, she wishes she could know what it was like to be part cat, like on those cartoons) Greatest Fear: Dark, lonely places. Heh, I like the idea behind this. I tried to make a character that's kinda like me, but who'll be more fun to play as. Hope my sign-up's good! :catgirl: