Gavin

[SIZE="1"]Thanks for getting the new image done so quickly Josh. I should have a post up either later tonight or early tomorrow.[/SIZE]

[quote name='Solo Tremaine'][COLOR=#503F86]Methinks this chapter is a little overshadowed by the irritation that has come before. You can't have action and/or major plot revelations in every weekly edition. Frankly I'm glad to see the series' title character actually [i]doing something[/i].[/COLOR][/QUOTE] [SIZE="1"]A fair point, although the fact that Naruto's training page-time is going to be split yet again with another fight for Sasuke does lead one to wonder if we could possible get a break from Sharingan-shenanigans for even a few chapters. As for getting action and major plot revelations every week, I don't think anyone is asking for that, what most of us simply want is to be able to come back here and say that yes, the latest chapter actually had decent plot to it and was most importantly worth reading. It doesn't have to be earth-shattering, just well written, hell I'd even take a couple of crap chapters every once in a while if the overall stuff was good. Bleach, for instance as it's the other manga I read regularly does not seem to suffer from this same problem, at least, not nearly as often.[/SIZE]

[quote name='Solo Tremaine'][COLOR=#503f86]Or you could, you know, wait for the official, licensed episodes to be released like I've resigned myself to doing because I don't like illegal downloads or watching anime on the computer, especially via streaming sites. Or buy the Japanese DVDs if you're incredibly desperate. The manga comes out often enough for me to get the canon story fix.[/COLOR][/QUOTE] [SIZE="1"]I suppose I could Hugo, but if I was to wait for the episodes to be released on the basis watching them fan-subbed is unlicensed/illegal, I might as well stop reading fan-translations of the manga as well for the same reason. Besides, this goes beyond the scope of what the OP was asking, I simply gave an opinion on the current seasons of Bleach and Naruto, Dattebayo's biggest series based on their threat to stop fan-subbing.[/SIZE]

[INDENT][SIZE="1"]Marseilles really was a beautiful place to spent a few days at this time of year, regardless of the fact he was only back in his birthplace by on the Order?s?orders. That would never sound right, no matter how many times he heard, or said it. The fact that he didn?t have to wait until the middle of the night to call to his parents, as most of the other Redeemers who stayed with them had had to, was certainly a blessing. It also meant that he could wear normal clothing for a change, instead of the Franciscan habit he?d usually have to dress in, which was also certainly welcome. Sebastien had been given no specific intel yet on the Hunted he was dealing with. Marseilles was thankfully one of those cities which never had major problems with Hunted like say, Paris, who?s vampires required a permanent, sizeable presence of Redeemers. There were plenty of other Hunters at work in the capital as well, often leading to contention, and once or twice outright clashes. Sebastien had spent a month or so in Paris only the previous Christmas and found it a pleasant reprieve from working abroad. As much as he enjoyed trips to places like America or Asia, being back on thoroughly French soil had no competition. A handful of key-strokes had logged him onto the Hunter-Net, most Redeemers were members of the online community there, even if it was only in a limited fashion. Others tended to view their Order as at best an ally who?s sermon you had to sit through before the actual work got done, and at worst, a crowd of pacifistic lunatics who?s babbling left them suitable only for bait. In his own experience, Sebastien probably fell somewhere closer to the former rather than the latter, but then he tried his best to avoid working with Avengers, and God-help him Waywards whenever possible. His mobile-phone, which had sat motionless and silent on the beside locker a moment before now warbled with the familiar tone of La Marseillaise. He?d glanced at the caller and allowed a genuine smile to cross his lips before pushing the accept button. ?[b]Done already ? I guess my Arturo was right in calling you a ?fast woman?.[/b]? He received a bubbly laugh in response, the chatter of her own highly accented French to what he assumed was a nearby market vendor. ?[b]Oh, and else did dear Brother Arturo tell you about me Sebastian ?[/b]? ?[b]Aside from the fact he wished he?d been twenty years younger ?[/b]? She chuckled again, the very idea that the taciturn and stoical Arturo would even think that way about any woman, let alone her was certainly worth a laugh. ?[b]Well, it?s a shame I prefer younger men then isn?t it ? Particularly cute little French teenagers who blushed whenever I smiled at them.[/b]? Giving an overly melodramatic sigh was perhaps his best option after that, despite the eight-year age difference between the pair, Sebastien somehow managed to be the voice of maturity in the relationship. But then the fact that Michelle had seemed to somehow avoid aging physically passed her early thirties when she was closer to her mid forties should perhaps have been an indicator. ?[b]You win, now come on back here with breakfast, I?m starving and the bed?s getting cold.[/b]? With a final laugh she ended the call, leaving Sebastien to once again peruse the new information on Hunter-Net. Salvage458?s videos were one of the few things Sebastien was loath to admit he watched with a certain morbid fascination. Although Redeemers first intention was always to save a Hunted where possible, knowing where to slice or shoot in the event things went pear-shaped never hurt. He?d been so engrossed with the vid, that the pitched sound of a new message had actually caused Sebastien to shudder in shock slightly. Picking up the phone once more, he thumbed through the menus. There were only a handful of words, but it was enough to spoil his mood. ?[I]Vampire nest, unknown strength. Reinforcements will arrive later today.[/I]?[/SIZE][/INDENT]

[quote name='Indi'][COLOR="Indigo"]My advice for you... Ignore this one. Government aid is there for a reason and letting your kid suffer just because someone [I]might[/I] find it annoying is pretty stupid. There are a lot of good programs out there that are meant to benefit the kid and not you. So don't let that mentality scare you away from getting aid if you really need it.[/COLOR][/QUOTE] [SIZE="1"]Completely agree, the idea that you should pass up aid that would help you ensure your child is fed, clothed and kept safe on the grounds of what someone else would think of you would be laughable except for the implications. Personally knowing a few people who've been in the teen pregnancy situation, I would also advise you to finish high-school and certainly get through college. Your opportunities to provide for the child through employment by having a college degree of some kind will be drastically better than without. If one of the sets of grandparents would be willing to care for the child while you're both at college, and I'm sure they would, then so much the better.[/SIZE]

[SIZE="1"]Alright, so we've established that Fukusaku is indeed that Toad version of Yoda, which means when Naruto goes to lift the giant rock by himself, you know, after doing the whole dying thing, we're going to get the "Do or do not, there is not try" speech. God this was a waste of a chapter.[/SIZE]

[SIZE="1"]In answer to the OP's question about other fan-groups who sub Naruto Shippuden, I'm afraid I don't know of any off the top of my head, although I imagine someone will fill the void Dattebayo leaves if they choose to do so, though this threat has been out there quite a while at this point so I'm not wholly convinced either. Personally with Bleach and Naruto in filler-hell at the moment, DB could stop subbing and it wouldn't bother me one bit, plus for those of us who can't use torrents for various reasons, streaming sites are the only way we can watch the eps.[/SIZE]

[SIZE="1"]Wind doesn't affect it, and he's got "dude" in his name. [CENTER][IMG]http://www.pokemonfans.de/Images/geodude.gif[/IMG][/SIZE][/CENTER]

[SIZE="1"]One of my neighbours is composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, although I've only ever seen him once or twice since he moved into our area seven or so years ago. My mother's seen him a lot more though as apparently he goes the local restaurant for lunch with friends of his sometimes, David Frost has been with him a couple of times apparently. He only lives in Ireland for relatively short periods a year last time I heard. I met Peter Mayhew at a Star Wars convention in Dublin back after Episode I was released, he seemed a really cool and laid-back guy. It's just a shame he was the only one from the movies there, Liam Neeson could have at least made an appearance, given he is actually Irish, oh well, c'est la vie. On both my visits to Rome I've seen the Pope when he gives mass, I saw Pope John Paul II the first time and Pope Benedict last year so that was pretty interesting.[/SIZE]

[INDENT][SIZE="1"][b]Name:[/b] Brother Sebastien Morrel. [b]Hunter-Net Name:[/b] TheWord234. [b]Age:[/b] 34. [b]Hair:[/b] Dark brown, although his head is closely shaven. [b]Eyes:[/b] Hazel. [b]Height:[/b] 1.85 metres. [6’½”] [b]Weight:[/b] 83 kilograms. [182lbs.] [b]Creed:[/b] Redeemer. [b]Weapons:[/b] [list][*][size=1][font=verdana][I]Words[/I]: Redeemers exist to save the souls of the Hunted, walking the middle ground between warrior and priest. For a Redeemer battle is to be chosen as the final alternative, after all other attempts to save a Hunted by their own volition has failed. For a Redeemer, their voice is their first and most-favoured weapon, carefully chosen words to show the Hunted how wrong their existence on Earth is. Quotes from the sacred scripture are often included, as these are said to make Hunted more susceptible to an oration. [/size][/font] [*][size=1][font=verdana][I]Trench Knives[/I]: Sadly for the Redeemers, their words do not always, or perhaps even often reach the hearts of those they would seek to save. To survive such encounters, Redeemers train themselves to become adepts of close-quarters-combat. In Sebastien‘s case, he prefers the use of a pair of silver-edged trench-knives, as can be seen [url=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4190%2BzQNaIL._SS500_.jpg]here[/url][/size][/font] [*][size=1][font=verdana][I]Flashlight[/I]: Combined with the Edge “Blaze“, this might as well be a portable sun.[/size][/font] [*][size=1][font=verdana][i]Beretta 92[/i]: The only modern aspect of Sebastien‘s arsenal, chosen more so out of the need to add range. Uses silver and tracer rounds for maximum effectiveness against Hunted. [/size][/font][/list] [b]Edges:[/b] [list][*][size=1][font=verdana][I]Becalm[/I]: Closes his eyes and whispers “Peace.“[/size][/font] [*][size=1][font=verdana][I]Insinuate[/I]: Points at target and states simply “I see your sins.”[/size][/font] [*][size=1][font=verdana][I]Confront[/I]: An outstretched open hand facing the target with the words “I forbid it.”[/size][/font] [*][size=1][font=verdana][I]Radiate[/I]: Places his hand over his heart saying “Shine”. [/size][/font] [*][size=1][font=verdana][I]Blaze[/I]: Clasps hands together as if in prayer and yells “He is the light !!” Tracer rounds used only after this.[/size][/font] [*][size=1][font=verdana][I]Respire[/I]: Extends hand towards target followed by simply “To me.”[/size][/font] [*][size=1][font=verdana][I]Cleanse[/I]: Runs hand over the area where the poison was introduced with the words “It harms me not.”[/size][/font][/list] [b]Appearance:[/b] [url=http://fc04.deviantart.com/fs17/f/2007/187/0/7/Softer__Softest_by_petitescargot.jpg]Sebastien[/url] Gifted with a decent build and height, training and constant exposure to the Hunted have since developed Sebastien into a highly athletic and physically capable individual. Despite this, Sebastien has an almost preternatural aura of calm and good-will about him, and is most often seen with a benevolent and contented smile upon his face. As a member, albeit in name only, of the Franciscans, Sebastien wears the habit of a monk for his everyday life. When actually engaged in activities as a Redeemer, Sebastien dons a black habit, although the interior of the garment is rather different to his regular Franciscan robe. Heavy duty materials capable of resisting the wear-and-tear expected in their line of work, although by no means welcome are used to ensure survival, while the habit itself is used as much for symbolism as well as identification for other Redeemers or Hunters. [b]Biography:[/b] Redeemers are an oddity among Hunters for many reasons, the most obvious being their self-ascribed mission to save the Hunted where possible as opposed to smiting them as is the case with their Hunter brethren. The other major difference is that all Redeemers belong, whether by blood or allegiance to a single “Order” under the protection and sanctification of the Vatican, although their existence is known to only a handful of members within the Church’s echelons. Sebastien himself is aligned by blood to the group, both his parents were members, although neither were Imbued as is the case with the majority of the Order’s members. Born in Marseilles, France, Sebastien quickly adapted to the double-life he was expected to lead, simultaneously being educated in the manner of “both worlds” as he came to refer to them by. As a child he was fascinated by the Redeemers, one of whom would occasionally stay with the Morrel family while working in Marseilles, as was the custom among the Order. At seventeen, roughly a fortnight after completing his Baccalaureat exams, Sebastien was sent to Rome to be tested as to his suitability to be a Redeemer, in other words, when put into direct contact with the Hunted, would he be Imbued. Accompanying him were two veteran Redeemers, an American referred to as Sister Michelle and an Italian, Brother Arturo to ensure he survive his trial. Though somewhat shaken by the encounter with real Hunted for the first time, his successful entrance into the Order’s ranks as a apprentice Redeemer was certainly more than he had expected prior to being tested. His next four years were composed of a myriad of training regimens from the Order’s doctrines, to multi-lingual fluency, close-combat and of course, drawing on the power of his Edges. It was a brutal time, particularly hunting in groups with other apprentices and fully-trained Redeemers, but without the training, he would certainly have died long before now. Completing him training, and being inducted fully into the Order at the age of twenty-one, Sebastien Morrel became to the outside world, Brother Sebastien Morrel, an unremarkable Franciscan monk as cover for his genuine identity and work for the Church. As with all Redeemers, Sebastien has since been dispatched to different locations all over the world where his skills are needed. Once a year however he does return to Marseille to see his parents. [b]Imbuing:[/b] [quote][SIZE="1"][CENTER][B]Journal of Sebastien Morrel 28/6/1991[/B][/CENTER] It is a strange feeling to join their ranks, a mixture of childlike elation and very adult fear as to what is now expected of me. Perhaps if one of my parents, or our close friends had been a Redeemer, or if I had, at one time taken the opportunity to discuss it with one of the Redeemers who had visited our home before now I would feel better, I would understand more, but they were not, and I did not, so I must simply accept what comes next. My “guardians” as they referred to themselves were introduced to me shortly before we left the safety of the monastery on the outskirts of the city. Sister Michelle is likely in her mid-twenties, yet by all accounts she held herself with a dignity to rival Brother Arturo, despite the quieter man’s two decades of experience beyond hers. She was very beautiful, and I found myself unable to linger on her face long before I feel my cheeks redden. She certainly realised this, and laughed, calling me a “cute kid” in that strange American accent of hers. Brother Arturo simply nodded to her before resting a hand on my shoulder, I took it as meaning we were ready to leave. Michelle explained during the car journey that we were dealing with a ghost which had taken up residence in an elderly man living by himself within a large apartment block. Ghost are the typical fare for potentials like myself, as well as apprentices due to the relatively low danger they pose to us compared to other Hunted, as well as the fact they are generally the ones our words have the greatest level of effectiveness on. The man’s neighbours had evidently never paid much heed to him, a widower by reputation who did not enjoy the company of others save friends who would visit him a few times a year. The strange groaning and racket which had lately been the hallmark of his abode had drawn our attention, after which we had gently dissuaded other Hunters from interfering. Arturo in the first words I heard him speak, told me that other Hunters consider us fools for our approach and that they believe it is only the Vatican’s influence which “perpetuates” Redeemers as a group. He seemed somewhat bitter, although I do not know why. We arrived a little after eleven o’clock that night, apparently the owner was a lay-member of the Order like my parents, as he was the one to let us in and explain that there had been no change to the situation. We made out way up to the sixth floor and entered using the key provided to us. Arturo quickly performed some kind of enchantment I did not recognise, although my limited grasp of Latin was enough to understand it as a silencing ward, to prevent neighbouring apartments from being disturbed. The gentleman himself sat in an armchair which may have rivalled him in age, his eyes were closed, but he bore the distinct expression that he was aware of our pressure. His lips slowly curved and for the first time, I heard a Hunted speak. “[b]…Redeemers. Why have you come ?[/b]” Michelle gave me a gentle shove from behind toward the creature. I looked back at her with a sense of panic and a pleading expression. They expected me to deal with the ghost alone ? I cleared my throat and allowed my feet to bridge some of the distance between us, until it’s eyes opened to meet mine, human eyes replaced by a simple ethereal shimmering. “[b]A boy ?[/b]” It seemed somewhat surprised by my presence. “[b]You are not a Redeemer…Ah, I see.[/b]” The last statement is laced with comprehension, it’s gaze flickers between my guardians before returning to survey me. “[b]My name is Sebastien Morrel monsieur, may I ask yours ?[/b]” My voice shakes a little more than I would like it to. “[b]My name ? It has been so long…I think…I think it was Luca Rossi.[/b]” The old man’s hand rises to grip the end of his chin, as though lost in thought. It is an entirely strange gesture to me, as though Signor Rossi is a living breathing man in front of me, as opposed to a spectre possessing someone else. “[B]Signor Rossi, forgive me, but why are you here ?[/b]” His concentration broken, Luca returns his attention to me. “[b]…Why am I here ? Simple young one, I lived here in this building many, many years ago. I had a wife, and children. I watched them grow and leave to have families of their own, I grew old here and watched my wife pass away in front of my eyes before some years later taking my own final breaths. After that, I wished to leave…wished to join my wife in the here-after, but could not. My spirit was bound here for reasons I do not understand, and thus I have continued here for decades, nearly a century, in this form. I finally possessed this poor signor in the hope of drawing attention to my plight.[/b]” I looked back to see Sister Michelle mutter a quiet prayer as Brother Arturo stare impassively at me. It was a pitiable situation. If a ghost does not realise why it is trapped, it will slowly go mad and become dangerous to all around it, for Rossi to survive an entire century sane was a testament to his will. “[b]You have no idea why you cannot leave here Signor ?[/b]” “[b]I…I…[/b]” The hand which had propped up his chin moved to his eyes, quietly he sobbed as I watched with muted pity. Finally between gasps of breath he manages to speak. “[b]I killed her…my beloved Caterina…I killed her…She was so sick in the end…So pained…I…I slipped a poison into her food to end it… I could not bear to watch her suffer any more…I held her until the life passed from her body and wept…I killed her…I am beyond redemption…Murderer…[/b]” Unconsciously I walk forward and rest my hand on the crown of the old man‘s bowed head as he continues to cry, it is a truly pitiable situation, trapped by his own grief, consumed by fear that his love has forever shut the gates of Heaven to him. So human. Now once again I speak without realization, the words tumble forth from some previously unknown corner of my mind. My sensations also change, like waking from a deep slumber. “[b]Rest now Signor Rossi…Your sins were forgiven long ago, you wife and family await you. Be at peace.[/b]” He looks up at me with an expression of mixed awe and gratitude, slowly the eyes I have been watching dim, until finally only a pair of tired, unfocused brown eyes remain, just before they close, Luca squeezes my hand and whispers. “[b]Thank you, and may God be with you always Redeemer.[/b]”[/SIZE][/quote][/SIZE][/INDENT]

[quote name='Sandy']Haha, if you think that those three characters in the trailer are the only playable ones, I think you're way lost. Of course they won't reveal the entire cast this early in the process![/QUOTE] [SIZE="1"]Fair enough, as I said I've not really been following the series as much as I used to. I have to say though in response to most people hating Tidus, I never really minded him as a character, sure he was sort of annoying, but compared to Vaan from XII, it's not even a competition.[/SIZE]

[SIZE="1"]Well after the debacle that was Final Fantasy XII, XIII is really going to have to impress me in order to restore my faith that Final Fantasy isn't simply a series being milked by Square-Enix for the sake they know the brand will sell even a average game. That said, the faster-paced looking combat and general look of the game seem to be an improvement on XII. The plot however is somewhat unimpressive, dare I say, even a little unoriginal and the idea of having only a trio of characters for an RPG seems a little limited, even if I've never liked every character in my party in FF so far. Given it's still really only early days yet, I'll be keeping my eye on this.[/SIZE]

[SIZE="1"]I doubt anyone could eat this woman's cooking and live. [CENTER][IMG]http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa103/robertpardo89/1126913498orihime01fh1.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE][/CENTER]

[SIZE="1"][INDENT]Disconnected. That’s perhaps the best word to describe how I feel at the moment. Unlike everyone else, I bear no grudge to the doctor, despite his poor choice of opening remarks. The conditions here are familiar to me, vaguely identical to our own medical facilities back on the frontlines. In the hell of blood and saline, they all find ways of coping with the constant death, on a scale the makes the average O-City citizen pray they stay just that, an average citizen. I don’t envy him, wouldn’t trade places with him for damn near anything on God’s green, so I cut him slack in my books, if D’Ann and Kenso don’t want to though, that’s their business. I owe my life to medics like this guy more times than I’d like to count. The cop though gets no such reprieve, I don’t like the fucker. It’s a plain, uninhibited emotion and I let him know it with the stare I give him. I’ve never liked cops, maybe it’s because the ratio of good to bad is so screwed up in O-City. Good rookies get paired with a corrupt old bastard partner, and slowly they start to see the world differently, “protect and serve” starts being just “serve” and the one being served are the cops off the backs of regular people. It’s going to get to the point where black, white and a shield are going to be the colours and symbols of O-City’s biggest gang. I know this guy’s dirty, one look at him is enough to know it. It’s all in the way he holds himself, a swagger in his step, the way his shoulders are held, and the look in his eyes that doesn’t suggest he’s barely getting by like most people and missing nights sleep because of it. He’s just a regular badge, but the Rolex on his left wrist is definitely outside the price range he should be able to consider, it’s a new enough model too that I know it’s no present, at least not from anyone living and slaving in the O. I’m tempted to just whip out my pistol now and lodge a bullet right in the back of his brain, do O-City a favour taking out it’s walking, talking trash. Cop-killer, I start to wonder when it’s going to be considered a civil accolade rather than a crime. Kenso. I’m still not 100% on the guy, probably because I see him as a rival. He treats D sort of the same way I used to back when I was around, but not with the same familiarity. He’s not been with her, but hopes to one day. He cares for her like I do. Fuck it, I should like him, I should be willing to trust him with my back, but I just can’t. The wound in my chest where my heart and hope used to be is still too raw to start trusting new faces, ain’t nothing personal about it Kenso, I just have to be alone for a while to figure out where I stand. Three months and things will start making sense again, I’ll be back to being “LT, sir, Lieutenant, Gavin” whatever people have got comfortable calling me. I know who I am there, I know where I belong, I know what’s expected out of me. O-City looks exactly the same as it did when I left five years ago, but it’s changed so much that I hardly recognise it, or maybe it’s just that I hardly recognise myself. I ran. No point in not admitting it. I thought, at the time, I was making the right decision. I had my girl, but I had no way of providing for her, I had plans, but no way of carrying them out. Warwick was the first one with the idea, and by that I mean it was his dumb-ass was the first one to actually believe that shit spouted by the recruiters when they catch kids like us walking through malls. Meat for the grinder, and it’s a big fucking grinder that needs plenty of fucking meat. He wouldn’t shut up after it, kept talking about the pay being better than anything any of us could earn in the city, how they’d pay for college afterwards, how we wouldn’t be serving for the rest of our lives, just a few years to get on our feet. I don’t remember exactly when I started coming around to the idea, might’ve been when I started looking at getting a place of our own for D, Mike and I, playing happy family. I walked down to the recruiting office and spent the better part of an hour talking away my fears to a staff sergeant there, he seemed like a hell of a nice guy and I guess I started to trust what he was telling me. After maybe two months, most of us had made the decision to join up. The look D’Ann gave me when I told her… it was as if I was abandoning her. But I had nothing to give her to make a life together, so I saw this as an opportunity. Only it wasn’t really. Warwick was killed his first week on duty. Roadside bomb shredded his vehicle, his mother got a flag and a letter telling her how saddened the army was for her and how gallant a soldier her son was. Craig died a little under six months later, sniper bullet turned his head into a collection of shattered bone and minced tissue, Connor’s number got called that Christmas, passing out toys to the kids in the city as a good-will gesture, suicide bomber took out him and the half dozen children with him. That was the shatter-point for most of us, when we realised any target was fair game to the enemy, when we realised “abandon all hope” was still the sign above the door we’d walked through. More blood and tears flowed in the four years that followed, units, platoons and companies became our families as much as anyone back home. I stopped writing back home because I couldn’t see anything positive to write home about “Dear D’Ann, today I dug through the rubble to a destroyed building and pulled out a kid in pieces younger than Mike, her mother cried in my arms and begged me to save them. It’s hell here, and you’re the heaven that keeps me sane, the hope guarded in my heart. All my love - Gavin.” And now I find out I’m supposed to be KIA, the whole smell of the idea is rotten, I’ll need to do some investigating, call to see some families to see if my hunch holds water… if it does…I don’t want to even consider what it means if it does. I throw a nod to the cop and step outside the door, he follows me. I lean in and pass a handful of words to him. A few vague threats if he causes so much as one iota of trouble for D after this, and how I’ll get Kenso to find out every little detail on the guy so I can pay him a visit to keep my promise. Then I turn around and walk out of the hospital without so much as a goodbye to D or Kenso. I need a place to crash of my own, better start looking tonight. [/INDENT][/SIZE]

[quote name='Raiha'][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Sam and Frodo insertion literally made me laugh out loud.[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [SIZE="1"]Definitely my favourite lines as well, particularly the last "I watch you sleep" from Sam, it was just so completely random and obsessive. Needless to say Gav, I'll keep reading, laughing and looking forward to the next chapter.[/SIZE]

[INDENT][SIZE="1"]Ugh, I am really not happy with this. [b]Name:[/b] Valen [b]Race:[/b] Human [b]Gender:[/b] Male [b]Brief character history:[/b] There’s nothing which could be described as of warrant or of interest about Valen’s origins. He’s human and had a human mother and human father who loved him very much, like most parents love their children. He grew up in the capital, like tens of thousands of other human children, was educated to the best of his own ability and when the time came, decided to join the City Guard at eighteen in order to find employment. Valen was not born a racist, nor did he become a racist over any one particular incident which he was exposed to during his service with the City Guard. Rather, it was a gradual process, born from seeing the differences in justice and opportunity between the Human and Hylian populations of the city. He would watch, muted in court, as human criminals were given harsher sentences than their Hylian counterparts for similar crimes, or in rare cases when the “Zeldas” as he began to refer to them, were acquitted altogether. It was a clearly biased system, and given the Hylians were the undisputed power in Hyrule, it was clearly a system he could not outwardly change. And so, if Valen could not change the system from without, he would be forced to change it from within, where he and other humans held some power. As a guardsman, Valen had distinguished himself as a capable, efficient and thoroughly by-the-book officer, earning several promotions over a relatively short time-span until he was posted as guard-captain of an entire sector of the capital at thirty-two. Now with genuine authority, he began to act, quietly gathering a cabal of human officers around him with similar views on the “Hylian situation”. Valen’s human guardsmen were encouraged to take all necessary steps to ensure conviction of Hylian offenders, including beating confessions out of suspects and planting evidence where necessary. Valen himself acted as a shield for his officers, covering up their actions from his superiors. Care had to be taken of course, officers too inclined towards prejudice and violence were silenced one way or another, what he and his followers were doing was too important to jeopardise based on petty savagery. In his own mind, Valen only ever saw himself as a necessary evil, the human counterweight to the Hylian courts, the hand of human justice. Now aged forty, and with the so-called “Gerudo invasion” on the horizon, Valen has begun to take an interest in their minority population of the city, quietly detaining members marked by his followers as representing a potential threat for interview and potential internment. To date he has yet to uncover a Gerudo operative, Valen knows they are there however, and he will find them. [b]A drawn/painted image of your character:[/b] [img]http://fc08.deviantart.com/fs27/f/2008/099/0/d/Templar___white_by_ani_r.jpg[/img] [/SIZE][/INDENT]

[SIZE="1"]Well, not to parrot but the irony of Korey's death certainly made for an enjoyable read.[/SIZE]

[quote name='Raiha'][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="times new roman"]only to have Gavin kiss my forehead as if to say, "Less thought, more me."[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [SIZE="1"]You know, that sounds exactly like something I would say ma chere, being all inconsiderate to you thinking about important things aside from me. Oh well, the crosses you bear with our super-family. All joking aside, it's great to see you posting in this again after two months, hopefully you'll keep it up, if only to see where the story leads. No critiques at this point, as I see nothing to critique, you know what you're doing after all.[/SIZE]

[SIZE="1"]So the fan-theories that Hawk/Snake/Team Emo-Vengers would become the replacements for the killed members of Akatsuki turned out to be right... Epic fail, truly epic fail. I doubt that Sasuke's eyes have surpassed Itachi's at this point, Kakashi's possibly given his Mangekyou is rather new but in the latest chapter it looked like all he used was a Tsukiyomi. Of course we must also remember that Sasuke's eyes can't ever surpass Itachi's, no matter how much he trains them, given that they practically are Itachi's eyes, or at least, his techniques. Meh, one of the things that annoys me about this fight between Hawk and the Hachibi Jinchuuriki is that this guy has had his powers for a lot longer than Naruto, at least by age appearance so if it's a decisive win for Hawkatsuki, well Naruto better get his toad training done but quick. That said, with his chakra capacity and bunshin training method, hopefully Naruto will get that power-jump he deserves.[/SIZE]

[SIZE="1"]Personally I think giving Ichigo two Espada as nemeses was a bit much for the plot, although the two do represent vastly different challenges to Ichigo. Grimmjow being someone he needed to beat to prove his own strength in combat, while Ulquiorra is the one who represents Ichigo's ability to protect those close to him, obviously then the 4th Espada being the more important to beat from Ichigo's point of view. That said, I am curious about how Ichigo is going to beat Ulquiorra, I mean though he won against Grimmjow, it was a fairly close battle for the most part. All I imagine Ichigo has going into this fight is again motivation to protect Orihime and probably a better control over his Vizard powers, neither of which suggest a massive power-boost. Of course, he's not had the glowy reiatsu eyes in a while, maybe they'll make a reappearance in this fight.[/SIZE]

[SIZE="1"][B]Monkey - I swear if she starts humming "Wind Beneath My Wings" I'll kill her.[/B][/SIZE]

[SIZE="1"][B]Mass Effect[/B] PC version, helplessly addicted, forty hours already clocked, third game started. Possibly the greatest RPG I've ever played. Buy now, Saren commands it.[/SIZE]

[SIZE="1"][b]"Cheeeese !!"[/b][/SIZE]

[SIZE="1"]Anyone else think this week's chapter was a bit, I don't know, lame ? I mean, yeah got the whole teamwork, don't give up on each other vibe when they you know, broke into Hueco Mundo and fought their way towards Orihime, didn't exactly feel they needed to spent an entire chapter re-establishing that. On the plus side, Renji finally earned back some dignity in killing most of the Exequias in two or three swings, which was nice. That and of course it looks like we're getting into the final showdown between Ichigo and Ulquiorra. I'm debating whether it would be better to cover both sets of fights individually or interspersed with one another, personally I'm thinking the latter for realism and the former for sake of story continuity, heh. Meh, on with the next chapter.[/SIZE]

[SIZE="1"]Did someone say shell ? [CENTER][IMG]http://zeitgeistglee.250free.com/Leonardo.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] Before anyone says anything, technically there were two anime OVAs of the Turtles, plus Leonardo is so much more awesome than Blastoise.[/SIZE]