Charles

Axle cupped his hand over her crotch, and whispered into her ear. His gruff stubble rubbed violently against her smooth cheeks, leaving behind red streaks that slowly dissolved as her blood settled. "Mmm, Sex," he questioned, "Do you really think that's what I want from you? In one decisive motion, he forced her legs apart and bore a toothy grin. Her thighs were muscular. He rubbed his own body against hers. She opened her mouth and moaned, despite her efforts to withold all fleshly pleasure. His tongue immediately invaded her mouth. Jaudiar's rigid body arched up. She wasn't attracted to this scum, but she found her own tongue rubbing against his in a slow rhythm, groaning under his weight. Axle was no longer pinning her down. Jaudiar's arms searched frantically up and down his body, searching his muscular physique. Suddenly, she saw a bright flash of light, her ears rang. Axle backhanded her. Her pink eyes turned red with rage. "Sex? Sex," he said, now laughing, "why pursue what I can obtain so easily?" Jaudiar's red hair spilled beneath her head like a pillow. Her face contorted in unbridled rage. She sprang up like a mountain cat and kicked Axle in his chest. Hard. He felt as if he would swallow his own tongue. Then again, and again before bringing her mighty staff down. Once again, he gripped it, wrestling for control before yanking it and her in contact with his body. Axle pinned his new interest against a tree, and kissed her neck. It tasted like roses. Jaudiar tasted the blue blood on her lips. She told herself that she didn't like it, but couldn't bring herself to summon the effort to break free. "How would you like to be partners," Axle teased, "after we're both rich, we can finish this."

His tongue had explored the inner crevices of her mouth, probing, rubbing against her own. Axle felt her melt in his arms and moan. When they finally broke their passionate embrace, untangling their limbs, they panted heavily. Everything was spinning, fuzzy. His head felt like a balloon without a string, floating into the clouds. Axle fell to one knee. The woman had enchanted him, he cussed underneath his breath. He shouldn't have been so careless. "Who sent you," Jaudiar demanded. Her voice quivered with malice. Now she was being careless, didn't notice him pricking his finger with the syringe. His target was closer still, and she moved in all the right places. "My patience is wearing thin," she warned, shoving him down with her foot, providing him with his chance. He jerked her down by the leg, and she fell as if by a gunshot. Axle mounted her, holding her arms down. Their noses touched. Jaudiar flailed her legs wildly, but the effort was futile. She could smell his distinctive odor, as he licked the side of her face. "They're paying me peanuts for your head. You do know that," he teased. "But, I have an offer you can't refuse."

Langston Hughes once wrote ?What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore and then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over, like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?? Dreams never explode, they linger and corrode--like a forgotten piece of molded bread. They?re like a friendship gone dead. We still vaguely recognize old dreams, deriving from them fond memories that keep us warm during chilly nights, keep us afloat when the tides of life become too choppy. But, as time goes by, we call upon them less frequently. Eventually, dreams, our former best friends, become faceless passersby?s on a road called life. Days of unattended stubble stealthily hide thin lines that sprawl across a forgotten man's hallow cheeks. Spider web wrinkles peek cautiously from the corners of his gray eyes. George Alvalle, 48, is the father of two children, Lucy, 14, and Phillip, 6. He last saw his son two years ago and never intends to see either of his children again. ?It?s better that way,? he says, ?I can?t have them, so why try? They won?t miss me, and I won?t miss them.? Alvalle doesn?t know how to be a father, because he can?t take care of himself. His life was reduced to a perpetual state of pleading and imploring as a street beggar nearly a decade ago. ?Help me out papa,? Alvalle asks gripping a crumbling Styrofoam cup in his outstretched palm. His voice carries the optimism of a child in a candy store--enthusiastic, but uncertain. Sitting on the cold November pavement, amongst ash, glass and garbage, his curly gray hair is matted and entangled. He?s invisible underneath the morning vapor. The man walks along briskly, never looking Alvalle?s way. What was visible, was isolated, not the image of a man, but of a jigsaw piece in life that refused to fit. Alvalle, born at Flower Hospital in New York, moved to Camden at the age of six; he once dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but never learned to read or write due to mental retardation. ?That was my dream, being a lawyer?I wanted to be Perry Mason,? said Alvalle. Now, like his dreams, he?s tucked away in a dark crevice, living underneath the streets of Philadelphia in a subway that he describes as extremely dangerous, gloomy tunnels and frightened darkness stalked by drawn faces. ?It?s a hard life papa,? said Alvalle. The clothing sheathing his back, derived from a homeless shelter, is brushed with layers of filth, yellow, brown and tan, in the vein of oiled rags. They are a lot like their owner, once new, now weathered by the tides of time, like a dilapidated ruin. Alvalle?s shoes are worn thin with age, the soles smooth, the toes tattered. At his side, rests a petite ?Victoria?s Secret? bag given to him by a nearby vendor. Nestled within, are the remaining remnants of his possessions: a hat, ripped gloves, and a shirt. They?re his only companions--mere garbage to most, invaluable on a street corner with no heat, no safe retreat. After all, Alvalle?s dreams don?t keep him warm anymore, they don?t stop the wind from cutting through him like a crescent blade. ?My mother?s dead, my father?s dead. I?m all alone,? said Alvalle. He echoed the words, staring into bustling streets, ?That?s the truth, I?m all alone.? The turning point in his life was when his mother died. Alvalle had never been alone before. He leaned on the wrong shoulders, shoulders that became crutches. Alcohol and coke further damaged the future of a man whose limited [second grade] education had already cut him off at the knees. ?Can you spare a smoke,? he asks a stranger, who mocks him with a false Latino accent. Minutes later, Arvalle finally acquires a cigarette from a passing woman. ?Thanks my lady,? he says, exhaling a thin stream of blue smoke. The pungent odor of tobacco and filth mingle with one another. People looking down on Arvalle don?t bother him because he has grown accustomed to such treatment. It becomes a fact of life when he spends his time looking up to everyone. Arvalle wishes that he had stayed in school, when he returns to his labyrinth dwelling at night, hearing the wails of fellow lost souls. Hunched over, his knees buried into his chest, he still manages to dream. Fleeting images of a better life, one with his children in a safe home, permeate his unsound existence of beggary. ?It?s most frustrating, when you can?t rely on yourself to put clothes on your own back and food in your mouth,? he said. So, it is with time that Arvalle will fade away, like his own dreams or dry up like a raisin in the sun. One must wonder, if his final words will be similar to that of the crucified: Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani (My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me)?

While it's true that I've been against post counts since I can remember, I don't feel that member rank should simply be deleted from the boards. If post counts are removed, it should be at a time when a feasible replacement is available. I'm not attached to member rank, nor am I a teenager, but I think that resetting them is silly. Why go through all that effort, when it's so easy just to ignore them? I rarely ever look at anyone's post number. Usually, it is newbies themselves who mention their rank within their own posts. Simply put, rank is good for the boards because it can be motivational to an extent and give members something to work for. Posting a lot isn't a great determinant in member status, and can instigate spamming, but I think at this stage in the boards cycle, poor posting is picked up on quickly enough that such behavior isn't really a problem. So, this is an entirely different situation than a former forum that allowed that particular behavior. Post counts aren't really doing any harm; they're easy to ignore. So, until a quality replacement system that judges rank on factors like moderated posts and join date becomes available, I don't see much of a need to do away with them.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by mollyblue [/i] [B]i have an 8 yr old daughter[/B][/QUOTE] As if. Anyway, it's the thought that counts with gifts. A lot of people get into contests, trying to outdo one another with expensive presents. I find it more helpful to know who you're shopping for and please them with what's behind the gift. I simply try to pay attention to others' interests. When you know someone well enough, it's not too difficult to pick up on the little things about them and find things that suit their interests. When they find that you've found something that they've hinted towards, they'll be happy to know that you pay attention to them, and the meaning behind the gift will be much greater than anything a price tag carries. So, I can't specify exactly what I get people for Christmas. It depends on their varying interests year to year.

The first mimicked Zelda very well in terms of basics, while introducing the nice town building concept. Having said that, I wish that the dungeon designs weren't randomly generated. Although they're supposed to create the illusion of nearly infinite lasting appeal, I feel that the weak designs ruined the game for me. The aesthetics were dull, and didn't inspire me to continue. I hope that the sequal allows more freedom to explore a fuller map, and provides vastly improved dungeons. The cel shading or Zelda elements won't save this one. Zelda's cel shading will be superior, and it releases next year as well. Who wants diet Zelda when you can have the real deal, anyway?

Shinobi received a lot of initial hype, but the final product isn't really anything extraordinary. That is, while it's a good game, it doesn't stack up favorably against some of the more impressive titles in terms of execution. I'm surprised how many updates there are being released right now for all three systems, with ToeJam and Earl, Contra, Metroid, and Rygar leading the pack. Of that list, Shinobi carries over very well, only taking a distant second to Metroid Prime. Shinobi would have probably benefited from more stealth or adventure elements, though. Pure combat was fine in the 16 bit era, but mixing up that theme with trademark ninja elements, might have spruced up the overall package. I mean, slashing down hordes of enemies for the sake of continuing is fun thanks to the acrobatics involved, but one must not ignore the simplicity of the engine. A rental would suffice in my opinion.

Axle grinned like a shark, toothy and full of malice. His leather coat hung at his sides, rippling in the wind like a ghoul's rags. A healthy dose of cologne attempted to smother the bitter odor of nicotine pervading his clothing and skin. His body was lean like a coyote--he was ready to pounce. The two cut through the air like a bitter December chill, wrapping around one another like ribbons, deflecting the others' attacks making nary a sound. Grunting, panting, smiling, both appeared still again. It was a beautiful night to die, a night where the dogs wouldn't hesitate to defile the losers' corpse, ripping the tender meat from their bones. Gingerly sliding a cigarette from his coat pocket, Axle chuckled faintly. The cancer stick hung lazily from his mouth. "Looks like you're not as fast as you thought my lady," he said rumbling with a small jolt of laughter. He struck a match, but paused as he raised it. A small trail of blood trickled just below his eye, a thin crimson river running warm. Axle grinned his shark-like grin as it ran into a corner of his mouth. It was sweet because it was his own. The sun was beginning to set, bathing the combatants in a blanket of orange and pink. Axle stared at the woman's chest heaving up and down, glistening with sweat. She caught his stare, sensed his distraction and rushed forward, her feet barely touching the ground as she flew through the air. She brought her blood sword down--but it stopped mid swing. Jaudiar opened her eyes widely--Axle held the blade, now a staff once again, in his hands. Before she could react he jerked her towards him roughly and licked the blue blood from her hands. It tasted sweet too. Immediately, she repelled him, seething with anger. Axle's shark-like grin disappeared in favor of a boyish grin, as he tossed the staff to her. :Edit: Axle noticed Raiye spying nearby and tossed a small dagger in between the indruder' eyes, killing them instantly. A shooting star then landed on the intruder's corpse.:edit:

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Semjaza Azazel [/i] [B]as well as a good story told from the perspective of three different characters.[/B][/QUOTE] Actually, you get to see it from a few more perspectives later on. :) The basic storyline involves conflict between the Grasslands, Zexen Federation and the Harmonian army. The three starting characters represent the Karaya Clan (a Grassland territory), the Zexens, and a mercenary group. It's incredibly deep and rewarding seeing the story play out in three different ways and filling in the story holes with different characters. In a nutshell, there was a war fifty years in the past, where a Grassland hero known as The Flame Champion helped lead the Grasslands to a stalemate in the war with Harmonia. The result was a fifty year treaty. When you start, you hear rumors about the Flame Champion and eventually attempt to seek him out, even though by the laws of nature, he should be very old or dead. I've basically revealed a very basic outline of the story. Throw in death, romance and drama typical of the Suikdoen series, and you've got a script that rivals or surpasses Final Fantasy X's.

Well, I consider 2-D fighters and 3-D fighters completely different genres. It's hard to say whether or not it directly stacks up against them, simply because it plays on entirely different plane. It certainly has more characters than 3-D fighters, but the move list pales in comparison to something like Virtua Fighter 4. However, it's faster and easier to pick up and play. As SephirothNIN said, the game isn't in the same vein as Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Capcom versus SNK has a more methodical pacing to it, and features more strategic elements. You can't just mash buttons and pull off a 76 hit combo. I feel that Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is the superior game though. The character selection is more diverse and relaxed. Plus, there is a wealth of secrets to unlock. The major disappointment though, is that the low resolution sprites look pixelated against the 3-D backgrounds. Well, and the backgrounds are fairly boring as well.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by TheDarkOtaku [/i] [B]I thought Metal Gear is far superior. The game is mediocre. I would've like to have seen a little bit more of a lighter atmosphere, instead of it being very dark. I don't think darkness goes well in spy games, but that's just my opinion. :) [/B][/QUOTE] I don't know about all that. Metal Gear Solid 2 reminded me of an interactive movie. Instead of tactical espionage action, I felt that the game delivered emotional soap opera distraction. If anything, I love creeping in and out of Splinter Cell's shadows. It truly demonstrates what infiltration should be in a game. Unlike Metal Gear, you don't get away with tripping alarms and being sloppy. The enemies seem to think and react too. The only problem I really have with the game, is that for some reason or another, it seems a little PCish. But, I won't deny that this is the most atmospheric game on the Xbox.

I just bought the game yesterday. Suffice to say, it blows away Metal Gear Solid 2 as a video game. When playing, you'll get missions briefs every now and then when an important event occurs, but they will be in the top left-hand corner of the screen and won't interrupt your progress. Be forewarned though, this game is significantly more difficult than Metal Gear Solid 2 and relies even more heavily on stealth. Action not only takes a back seat, but is heavily discouraged. There is very little ammo and medical packs, so it's vital to stick to the shadows and creep up on enemies. At least the game provides a number of save points throughout the level. I used them on a few occasions. I was really impressed with the number of actions at my disposal though. It's possible to pick up objects such as cans and bottles and throw them to distract enemies, do a split between two close walls, interrogate people, hug the walls, crouch and creep, hang from ledges, slide down poles, climb fences, and pick locks. Plus, it's actually important to hide enemies, because if their bodies are discovered, alarms are set off. For some missions, triggering even one alarm means game over. The graphics were amazing as well. The cloth and lighting effects are of particular note. Most people know exactly what to expect, but I'm very pleased that the lighting effects aren't just for show, and they are prominently featured throughout the game. I definitely recommend this for any game starved Xboxers.

I agree that Suikoden III is the top choice if you're a fan of role-playing games. Even for those of you who are a bit wary of the genre should give the game a try, because it's one of the finest purchases you can make for the Playstation 2. I know that sounds like a poor commercial, but there are huge branching points that make the game worth playing again, and as with the other Suikoden games, the large assortment of characters are a tremendous asset to the game. This time, however, you actually need to utilize more of them. If I had to choose between this and Final Fantasy X, I would choose this game because there is more game for your dollar. You could also think about getting Kingdom Hearts if you already haven't. It's not the best role-playing game out there, but it's probably the best action rpg on the PS2. It's not very long though, and some of the world designs are kind of uninspired. The production values are through the roof, however, and most of the Disney characters animate and sound like their cartoon counterparts. Very impressive. Plus, the game has a wealth of secrets. As far as fighters go, I wouldn't recommend Tekken 4. It's worth a rental at best. If you have Tekken Tag, there's no need to invest in Tekken 4. Instead, you might want to check out Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. I know it's out for GameCube, so it should be out for PS2. If not, it'll release in plenty of time for Christmas. The reviews seem pretty positive right now. If you don't have Virtua Fighter 4, it might be worth picking up, if you want a 3-D fighter. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is one of my favorite 2-D fighters for the sheer amount of game you get. It contains every character from the versus series and a few extras, such as Jill Valentine from Resident Evil. If you don't have it for DreamCast, don't hesitate to get it. You'll never regret that one.

It was like a church. The same dedicated following attended almost ritually, clasping their hands and muttering incantations to a melodic rhythm. They were sweaty, gritty, naughty. Throngs of followers pushed towards the stage, countless piercing dotting their bodies, tattoos hiding their flesh like camouflage. Axle North stood poised on stage, his eyelids partly lowered, his ears covered with headphones, his body sheathed in tight-fitting leather. He was barely visible. What was visible was guarded and hostile, his upper lip frozen in a mean double curl, a natural snarl. He and his band, God North, fascinated them to no end. They held the appeal of a walking hard-on, but there was something more hidden deep underneath their vulgar exterior--they held the ability to turn self-effacement into a weapon. Axle wasn't Christ, he didn't preach. He waved to the band and ignored the legions' desperate pleas for an encore. Bathed in a thin layer of sweat, he peeled off his clothing, shedding it like a snake would its skin. He was a nasty-faced genius punk, but he never asked for anything. Gingerly he lit a cigarette, inhaled the pungent poison, and watched the blue smoke rise about him, lingering, clinging to his smelly body. The building was still shaking--they were still there, pleading, crying, kicking, screaming. He wouldn't accommodate them--he had bigger fish on his plate. As he expected, Roxanne was waiting for him, in his office. "Babe, look, I told you last time, I don't want you in here," he said seizing her arm angrily. She purred like a kitten and licked his face. Wrapping one leg around his waist, she removed the cigarette from his mouth, put it in her own, and whispered thickly, "I've been bad Axel. Teach me a lesson." He stared at her the same way he would an enemy. In effect, women were his enemies. They always betrayed him. He pushed her to the ground and said, "There's only three orders I take from women. Faster, faster, harder, harder and don't stop, don't stop. Out with ya." She just laughed, wasn't really there. He could tell she was stoned--Roxanne had become a liability. The boys would take care of her, would make it look clean. Maybe her family could enjoy an open casket viewing--if she had a family. For now, he was more occupied with the envelope resting on his desk. Inside, the words jumped out like they were encrypted on a tombstone: [b]Target: Jaudiar Sevenstar Possesses formidable magic prowess. Skilled in martial arts. Dispose of with necessary precautions.[/b]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Sephiroth [/i] [B]Fool! I am Mr Satan's number 1 fan! [/B][/QUOTE] Since we go way back, I'll make pretend I didn't see this. Just remember, I'm the one who took over your Fight Club. ~_^ Boogeta--Um, I'm pretty sure that the Mr. Satan character is heterosexual. Although, I guess it could be argued that he and Mr. Buu had somewhat of an intimate relationship. What of it though? lol.

Maybe all these people who lost large numbers of posts, simply posted in Classic Gaming a lot. ^^;;

I don't really need to tell everyone where I stand on this. Almost everyone has seen my rants about that forum. It had more spam than the discount lane at Save A Lot. It wasn't a good forum. No, it was a naughty little place. Now, we can march side by side with newbies and free our brothers and sisters from the captivity of segregation. Can I get an Amen?! I said, can I get an Amen? Amen!

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by boogeta [/i] [B]Hercule is a b***h I hate him especialy when he says that the Z fighters are using mirrors when they are fighting cell [/B][/QUOTE] :A jagged grin covers Crazy White Boy's face, as he stares down into boogeta's widening eyes. boogeta is young, he had so much to live for. He never expected it to end this way--never expected to be fastened to a platform, bound by leather straps. The boy in white assured him that it wouldn't be painful, even as he pressed the large red button on the remote, even when the huge missile, reading "Satan #1" slowly pointed in his direction. The laser beam moving ever so slowly upwards towards boogeta's crotch posed a problem as well. But, as promised, he didn't feel much pain after the great blast: [size=4][b]BOOM![/B][/size] :Rubs hands together, wipes dust off.: Now that [I]that[/I] little bit of business is out of the way, the fact still stands that Baba is not an earthling. She is more supernatural than mortal. Plus, she was barely on Earth with Buu. Mr. Satan is the one who dodged all his attacks, and even got in a few shots of his own. He lasted longer with Fat Buu than most of the Z fighters and when Super Buu cleansed the world of humanity, who survived the attack? Mister Satan, that's who. [I]Now, does anyone else have anything bad to say about Mr. Satan?[/I]

Currently, the game is only available for Xbox. However, it should be available for the Playstation 2 early next year. The situation is similar to Splinter Cell. The Xbox receives the game first, closely followed by other consoles. Although, Substance won't release on the GameCube to my knowledge.

Let's not get off track now, people, or I'm going to do some post deleting. On topic, my favorite video game hero is probably Sonic the Hedgehog. He is the first platforming mascot to really challenge Mario, and actually earn a place beside Nintendo's plumber. He even had his own cartoon, just like Mario. In fact, he had two different cartoon series and a really poor anime movie. I'm still hoping that we see a collaboration between the Mario and Sonic franchises one day...

I'm very excited to hear that the game is as open ended as Super Metriod. It's very ironic to learn that Metroid Fusion will probably be more linear than Metroid Prime. Unlike Super Metroid, Fusion is more on mission based tracks. Since there's a navigational computer telling you where to go, unlocking new areas for you, it's just not as fun as Super Metriod. It's still a great game by any standards though. Metroid Prime on the other hand, sounds awesome. I mean, this quote that was put up says it all: [b][quote]It didn't take long before I got the feeling of Super Metroid all over again. As we tried to navigate the 3D worlds we found there was access to much more than you might expect. We managed to push our way into Magmoor Caverns -- a very hot place -- and without the Varia Suit our energy began to deplete. This was all at the beginning of the game, and it felt just like old times to have to hightail it back to a cooler area and make the mental note that we could return at a later time. There were many corners of the huge world that desired to be explored, and as we did just that we found that the to-do list became exceedingly large; ice patches blocked access to energy tanks, platforms were too high to reach, and ball passages were littered everywhere. [/b][/quote] I was initially concerned that the platforming and famliar Metroid elements either wouldn't make it, or would be toned down significantly. But, the platforming aspects are supposedly handled very well. The first person view mode, if anything should create a greater feeling of tension when it comes to exploring desolate corridors and such.

I would actually consider getting involved with magazines, but they're [I]so[/I] far away, lol. I look at articles and reviews and know that I could write them, but most magazines are located across the country in California. Oh well. :whoops:

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Semjaza Azazel [/i] [B]I'm still wary of this game though... The last just wasn't that fun for me. [/B][/QUOTE] I know what you mean. The last game seemed to take a back-seat to the Metal Gear Solid 2 demo packaged with it. The control interface was friendly and the button combinations needed to perform Jehuty's arsenal of attacks were fairly simplistic. So, to that degree, I liked the game. It didn't get overly complicated like Carnage Heart. That was a blessing. The dialogue was very irritating though, and some of the missions seemed pretty empty. Plus, it was just too short for my tastes. If the sequel doesn't do anything to remedy those flaws, I won't be buying it. That is, unless there's a Metal Gear Solid 3 playable demo inside.

Heh, I bet that the same people who did this, were the same ones who drew on walls with crayons as children and weren't chastised ^^;; But, um, yeah, graffiti for all intents and purposes can be a good thing. There are some really down trodden neighborhoods with collapsing housing and burnt-out factories. Instead of doing drugs in these crubling structures, unfortunate youth in the area pick up a can and pour their feelings out in the form of art. When people do these things on public places or cars, they're simply being vandals. These individuals are the ones that put up crude imagery and profanity. In a way, they do it for attention, but rarely would they ever sign their own name and suffer the consequences. Blech. Tastless, really. So, yeah, of course it's wrong when they use graffiti to vandalize and humiliate people. But, they'll probably get caught. Principal Skinner even caught Bart Simpson a few times...

I don't feel that it's really tailored to an idiotic crowd. Every online forum is bound to attract its fair share of jerks, but the boards seem to attract a larger share of quality members as opposed to morons. Things can get fairly crazy, but I've seen almost everyone say something interesting at one time or another. I pretty much value the diverse subject matter that the boards allow. It doesn't just cater to anime fans. The only anime that I watch is DragonBallZ, which is very dated, and I'm still able to enjoy myself. The membership is pretty tight too. It's easy to make friends, and there isn't a lot of flaming. That's very important to me. A rude attitude immediately turns me off. Even during the most heated debates and whatnot, people remain pretty civil. The history of the boards is very rich too. Everyone and their mother probably have cool memories, such as Version 2, or a cool thread or a role-playing game that they took part in. I'm not really much into online forums, so there has to be [I]something[/I] unique about this place, lol.