Horendithas

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"][quote name='chibi-master']Do I HAVE to become a full-fledged adult?:confused:[/quote]Yes. Do you have to get anal over things that don't require a fuss? No. =P[/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"]Unfortunately, I'm allergic to a lot of greenery, including pine trees. At the same time, something about flocking a tree makes the point moot. So I can tolerate a flocked tree but not a regular green one. Right now Nathan and I have a little flocked one, but we're thinking of picking up a fake green one, eventually. I do have special ornaments that I've collected over the years, but I honestly don't know what box they're in at the moment so it's mainly decorated with what he has. [/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"]People are silly. They enjoy all of the benefits of being a citizen but have a cow if a visual reminder of it messes with their 'personal view' of aesthetics of all things. Considering the circumstances, the people who complained are morons. [/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"]Nice try on the yaoi content Nerdsy. However, that's Akira Okada from the series Kaguya Hime. So the one wearing a shirt is actually a woman. =P [/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"][quote name='chibi-master']Indi, I was refferring to Overlord GAVIN giving me the yaoi, not you, silly.[/quote]Silly little chibi. Gavin doesn't give you things, least of all yaoi which he has vowed to destroy. [/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"][quote name='chibi-master']But...couldn't he just give the yaoi to me? I have a shrine in my closet just waiting for more.:animesmil[/quote]I'm a she and no, you can't have it. :p[/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"][quote name='Korey][FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"][SIZE="1"][COLOR="Navy"]That's Indi. Note the purple collar.[/COLOR][/SIZE'][/FONT][/quote]If that's me, you forgot the caption. If you look here: [URL="http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/funny-pictures-cat-does-not-want-you-to-read-book.jpg"][U]click meh[/U][/URL] you'll see the true intent behind why I would ever sit on that blasted book. =P[/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"]Nathan and I will be on a cruise for Christmas. I'm looking forward to it. After such a crazy busy schedule this year, it will be a nice break for both of us. [/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"]Well she [I]was[/I] running around town with a cat on her shoulder like a complete ninny until Karl verbally whacked her upside the head for that. Still, considering that she's the only one to work with humans on a regular basis, makes sense that they'd find her first. Also, surprise post since I couldn't sleep so I went ahead and wrote it up. =P[/COLOR][/FONT]

[center][color=#4b0082][size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]Ignorance [/b][/font][/size][/color][/center] [color=#4b0082][size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Adrian was still feeling irritated as he exited the massive gate and came down to land next to the portal personnel. Not only had he and Alex missed quite a few of those target nodes Nathan had set up, but once they had swept the city the blue Shinigami was nowhere to be found. It wasn't like him to vanish in the middle of a training session, but lately it seemed like [i]everyone[/i] was giving him the run around, Gavrie, Karl, and now Nathan. He worked to suppress his irritation as Astera answered all of the questions in regards to their visit back home. It took a while but by the time they finally got to the information center, he had gotten it under control. In many ways the building reminded him of the libraries that humans would build. Only instead of rows and rows of books or computers, it was filled with monitors that were access points for pulling up the information that had been recorded over the millennia. There was a soft background murmur from the bustle of others who were either making use of one of the many terminals or talking together in groups over various subjects. Adrian had forgotten that it wasn't unusual for those who considered themselves scholars to spend quite a bit of time studying the records. He hunted until he found some terminals that were closer to one of the open sections in the wall that overlooked part of the city. He smiled as he sat down. This was where the bond between him and Astera would come in handy. Both of them could search and read at the same time, covering things more efficiently. Before he had been trained they wouldn't have done so, it would have been too distracting. But Gavrie and Karl were through when it came to training, leaving nothing that could teach them to survive better out. Including how to work together. So with that in mind, they decided who would read what sections on the Jian clan and got started. In no time they found the information that Phaidra and Sarvel must have been talking about. The bit on how the clan had been wiped out. But that didn't necessarily mean that every single member had been dealt with. Though he imagined that they would have hunted to make sure no one had been missed. They spent several hours checking any and every cross reference that they could find. But nothing indicated that any trace of the clan was ever found. When the information started veering too far away from stuff on the Jian clan, they moved back to that and started checking other entries. [b][i]-This is like looking for a needle in a haystack.- [/i][/b]Adrian frowned.[b][i] -A very large one.-[/i][/b] [b][i]-I know. I just found an entry on how they were using other races to further their studies of magic, but it's not giving any details.- [/i][/b]Astera looked up from the terminal she was at briefly. [b][i]-Since Karl was saying if we read the history, we'd know why he knew more, I think it's safe to assume that werecats were one of the races the vampires used in their magical experiments.-[/i][/b] [b][i]-Agreed.- [/i][/b]Adrian replied. [b][i]-Perhaps what we've been seeing is standard MO for the Jian clan and he recognizes it. I just wish he'd give us more than vague indications that we're idiots to think otherwise.-[/i][/b] They searched for something that would explain more, but found nothing else on the subject. It had been close to six hours and even with the two of them working together they had more questions than answers. At this rate, they would have to come back another time so they could keep searching the records. The next entry was about something called black blades. Adrian wondered if it was referring to the blades that Vampires used that were capable of actually killing them, the ones that they couldn't phase through. [b][i]-I wonder how they learned to make those.-[/i][/b] He mused as they started reading. It had to have been quite the shock when they first encountered them back during the war. At least he assumed they were from the war. Adrian hadn't recalled what it was that could kill a Shinigami until after he dealt with some vampires first hand, but he had known it was possible. For some odd reason, Adrian was not surprised to learn that the Jian were responsible for the black steel. According to the records their clan was one of the most prominent and active in the war against the Shinigami. That would have required them to have some form of edge in battle since most races were completely incapable of even seeing a Reaper let alone harming them. He was a little surprised by how detailed the section on it was since the one in regards to studying magic had been nothing more than a summary. Adrian continued reading and then stopped, stunned by what he had just read. [b][i]-Adrian-[/i][/b] Astera started to say and stopped, equally as shocked as her partner. [b][i]-I.. How..-[/i][/b] Adrian was at a loss for words. A cold feeling came over him and it felt like the world was shaking. It took him a moment to realize that the one shaking was himself. [b][i]-Gods..-[/i][/b] He finally managed, still quaking. [b][i]-Why didn't they tell us?- [/i][/b]Adrian grimaced as a wave of nausea made him shiver in revulsion. [b][i]-Did they think we already knew?-[/i][/b] He leaned forward, pressing his hands to his temples as his mind reeled in confusion. No, they knew what was in the required learning for those who went to the other side. There was no mention of what the black blades were made from, just as there was no mention that vampires still existed. Adrian was certain he would have remembered someone telling him that the black steel was made from the very essence of a Reaper. Something like that would be unforgettable. [b][i]-We have to tell the others.-[/i][/b] Astera finally said. [b][i]-They need to know.-[/i][/b] Adrian looked at the monitor again before reaching over and shutting it off in a fit of irritation. They were out of time. If they didn't leave soon, they would be late. Though now he wondered just what else no one had bothered to tell them.[/font][/size][/color]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"][B]^[/B] [IMG]http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/7343/yarlyo.jpg[/IMG][/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"]Ah yes, the ever so fun 'time of the month' deal. I don't really have much of one even when it is that time. Something to do with being on the petite side, etc. Plus, since I use birth control, not only does it level you out a bit, that makes the time frame for having one even shorter. It even makes most of the usual pain and other unpleasant side effects quite a bit less too. Oh and it's easy to cheat so you can make sure it's not at an inconvenient time. As in I got married last Saturday and we're going on our honeymoon later this month. So I simply delayed a week taking it so that week wouldn't happen during either event. =P[/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"][QUOTE=taperson][SIZE="1"][COLOR="RoyalBlue"]I have a crush on an OB'er. O_O jk that's not true.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/QUOTE]I have the same problem, only it's more than a crush at this point. We're married. And that's not a joke. [/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"][QUOTE=Ace][FONT="Comic Sans MS"]Wal-Mart parking lots scare me, but they're worth it. Completely related, I now own [B]Treasure Planet[/B] on DVD. Gavin, you can keep running your evil conspiracy all you want if it means I have access to this kind of win.[/FONT][/QUOTE]You're one of his slaves. You get no say in whether or not he continues being evil. =P And time to finish packing for my trip tomorrow. Should be fun! [/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"]For all you know chibi, she's just doing that in an attempt to force you to lend it to her. =P[/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"][quote name='pax et agape']Eggnog with alcohol has always been one of those things that I thought "this would be really good if they just took the booze out of it." Strawberry daiquiris are another thing in that category.[/quote]Non-alcoholic strawberry daiquiris are the only way to go. The booze just ruins it. =P[/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"]I have my instructions as it were and I'll try to get something up in the next week. However, as a fair warning, my schedule after that for a good solid five weeks will be busier than hell. Allamorph and Kei are aware of the details on that. So I think I can post next week and possibly the first or second week of December but beyond that I'll be out of action until almost New Years. [/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"]I wouldn't worry too much about a thread closure stararnold. We don't require much and it's a simple matter to trim out posts that are nothing more than lists. As for the topic, I don't really have much of a list since my idea of a 'Hot-Looking Female' in anime isn't so much about looks as it is about how competent they are. Take Balalaika from Black Lagoon. She's got that scar on her face, marring her looks. But that's just me, if a good looking character isn't well written and played in a show, no matter how 'hot' they might be considered, I have no interest in watching the show.[/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"][quote name='chibi-master']what do you have planned for Thanksgiving? [/quote]I'm getting married that weekend. [/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"]It's no surprise that the info was passed on. Strict patient doctor confidentiality for the most part does not apply to a minor. When you turn 18 chibi, the rights are transferred from your parents to you. As a licensed social worker I can also tell you the clause that most places are required to follow, our place included: Minor/Guardianship: Parents or legal guardians of non-emancipated minor clients have the right to access client records. There are very few exceptions and those tend to include involving the safety of the patient and it's not often that we'll exercise that right either. So best advice would be to have patience and hope they calm down. Whatever you do, don't get angry and start fights if you can avoid it. Treating your parents with respect by not fighting and using diplomacy like Nerdsy was talking about is the best way to handle it. If they are inclined to settle back down and at least tolerate it (this is if they won't accept it btw) then that approach will get that kind of result the quickest. Also, if you can, work with your school counselor. Even though your parents will know what's going on, having someone to talk to can help.[/COLOR][/FONT]

[center][color=#4b0082][size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]In The Shadows[/b][/font][/size][/color][/center] [color=#4b0082][size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Karl didnâ??t care for Luciaâ??s taste in furniture or rather in this case, lack of taste. The stuff at Gavrieâ??s place though simple, still at least matched to some extent. Her lab, as it were, was a disordered and visually jarring place. It had one saving grace, the outside deck. The simple table and chairs out there were equally mismatched as the rest of her apartment, though. However, the view of the lake and the small island further out was actually rather nice-looking. When Lucia and Ruby were working in her lab or off doing assignments, he would change back to his smaller form and sprawl out on the sun warmed deck. Unless she ventured off rather far, he stayed out of her personal space when they werenâ??t training. He knew perfectly well that when Lucia requested assistance from Nathan, she had no clue what she was getting into. There was a lot more to training than warm up exercises, doing drills and working on sparring and techniques. Karl had done enough teaching over the millennia that it wasnâ??t too hard for him to get a grasp on what each student needed. In this case it was an invasion of personal time and space no matter how much Lucia thought she wanted it. Just seeing how irritable she got after falling asleep a few times was more than enough to tell him that his instincts in that respect were dead on. She had her way of doing things and anything that got in the way annoyed her, a lot. Karl didnâ??t mind though. He liked working with people who werenâ??t burdened by understanding what the Mark on his face meant. It was much harder to establish a teacher student relationship with someone who knew. He understood why, since as far as he knew, he was the only one to survive with his sanity and will intact. It didnâ??t make it any less annoying though. It was almost time for the next session and he lazily changed back to human form. Lucia was already waiting with a resigned expression on her face when he ghosted into her place. There was something he needed to talk with her about first. It was better to discuss it now so she could use the training to work off the irritation it was bound to cause. â??[b]Before we head out, thereâ??s something I need to talk to you about.[/b]â? He resisted the urge to smirk at her guarded expression. â??[b]You know itâ??s a given that the vampires are looking for your group, yes?[/b]â? She nodded cautiously. â??[b]So why are you needlessly drawing attention to yourself by passing Ruby off as a cat whenever you interact with the humans?[/b]â? Lucia frowned. â??[b]I hide the fact that she has wings.[/b]â? â??[b]Let me put it to you another way. How many humans have you seen with pet cats that stay on their shoulder and never misbehave?[/b]â? He folded his arms and raised his eyebrows. â??[b]Iâ?¦ None.[/b]â? She finally admitted. Karl allowed a hint of a smile through. â??[b]Vampires are aware that Shinigami have familiars and can see them even if humans cannot, yes?[/b]â? â??[b]Of course. But I would know if any vampires were around.[/b]â? She protested. â??[b]Can you stop the humans from telling them that a woman with long blue hair always came to work with a cat perched on her shoulder?[/b]â? He challenged. Luciaâ??s mouth dropped open. â??[b]There is no reason [i]whatsoever[/i] for you to insist on having her visible when you work for the humans.[/b]â? He admonished her. â??[b]Ruby can be with you at all times by staying invisible to human eyes, so all youâ??re doing is leaving a trail of people who would remember seeing you here in this city.[/b]â? â??[b]Youâ??re needlessly endangering everyone,[/b]â? He continued harshly. â??[b]Just as you use their Internet and other means to track the vampireâ??s movements, they will do the same to find clues to where your group is located.[/b]â? Luciaâ??s mouth snapped shut and she stared at him for a long moment, looking chagrined. â??[b]I hadnâ??t thought of that.[/b]â? She finally admitted. â??[b]I wonâ??t do it anymore.[/b]â? â??[b]Good. Now, letâ??s get going. We have a lot to cover today.[/b]â? He took off immediately with Lucia and Ruby close behind. It didnâ??t take them long to get to the location he had chosen for the training. Karl was not surprised to see that Isen was conveniently in the area again. She wasnâ??t close to their actual location, but she wasnâ??t hiding the fact that she was watching them, either. She had been doing that since he started training Lucia. It wasnâ??t the first time he had been watched. Other than Gavrie and perhaps a few others, people simply didnâ??t believe that he really was free. There wasnâ??t much he could do about it. He knew that those who were Marked had been used by the vampires to help destroy or subvert the clans they came from. He had never met another werecat or any free creature that hadnâ??t been subverted and turned into tools by the vampires. Those that remained, when the war had finally died down, had to be hunted down and destroyed. If not for Gavrie, he too would have been destroyed. Karl sighed inwardly and then put it out of mind as he started working with Lucia.[/font][/size][/color]

[FONT="Arial"][color="Indigo"][quote name='Allamorph][FONT=Calibri']Your purple isn't deep enough.[/FONT][/quote]O Rly? Remind me to show you what my idea of real purple is, beyond the Indigo I use here. =P Also, why the hell did I wake up? I have class in the morning. XP[/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"][QUOTE=Allamorph][FONT=Arial]Heck yes. Good man. Although if we're talking about color then I'd much prefer one in deep purple. Mmm.[/FONT][/QUOTE]Basement cat wants deep purple?

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"][quote name='Allamorph][FONT=Calibri]Yes.[/FONT][/QUOTE]Right, then in the city I would say. Something along the lines of what Beth suggested. In schools or some other out of the way location.[QUOTE=Allamorph][FONT=Calibri]Attacked? No. But they [I]will[/I'] be subdued; Bugsy doesn't take chances, and he does take prisoners.[/FONT][/quote]That's what I was trying to get at. That they wouldn't just blatantly attack them. Naturally it makes sense that he make sure they aren't a threat. He would be foolish to do otherwise. [/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT="Arial"][COLOR="Indigo"][quote name='Korey][FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"][SIZE="1"][COLOR="Navy"]Uhm, but the city happens to be, y'know....surrounded. How do you evacuate civilians when your town is surrounded? Even east where Mt. Mortar is, that's where the League would be.[/COLOR][/SIZE'][/FONT][/quote]The real question is do they actually have enough people there to completely surround the place that tightly. Moving a force that large and getting there without being detected until nearly the last moment, would mean that there is likely to be holes in just how surrounded they really are. Since I don't see the other side as the type to just cut them down, I would imagine seeing women and children moving out, would be ignored. Well ignored in that other than to report it, they wouldn't move to stop it. Unlike seeing those who are obviously trainers and such. That would trigger a different response. These guys are taking over, but unless I'm reading it wrong, they're not dumb enough to interfere with civilians getting out of the way.[QUOTE=Ace][FONT="Comic Sans MS"]I smell potential defending the innocent angst. Which I'm totally fine with, so long as it's done right.[/FONT][/QUOTE]Unless the League is unbelievably stupid, I don't see them doing anything to civilians who stay out of the fight. My impression, based on conversations with Kei and Allamorph, is that those who are not a threat or not truly involved, will not be attacked. So I don't see any defend the innocent angst coming up. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, oh ceiling or basement kitteh. =P[/COLOR][/FONT]