#its following the story arc with added spice in between

[eureka-its-zico]

Chaos in Their Bones

Ongoing Series

Synopsis: All your life you’d listened to your friend, Usopp spin wild tales about pirates and adventure. Pirates weren’t a thing that came often to Syrup Village, but one straw hat pirate and his crew changed all that the day they arrived. Now, you aren’t so sure if your sleepy little village was always pirate-free or if no one had been paying attention. 

Pairing: Roronoa Zoro x Reader

Genre: friends to lovers, frienemies to lovers, slow burn (I hope y’all like aching) eventual smut

Words: 5k+

A/N: I told myself I wasn’t going to do this, so naturally I did it anyway. This is the first chapter in a planned series with a reader insert following the events of the OPLA universe. I sincerely hope that this is a story you all love as this is my first initial time writing for one of my beloved anime. But let’s be real, after seeing Mackenyu play Zoro (my fav) I knew I was going to be whipped from the start. The reader will go by “Doc” in this story at times, and later a nickname by Zoro himself.  As always, I hope you enjoy this. Much love, Jenn. Also, thank you @thegreatesttttttttt for indulging me.

Next

The ringing of the bell thundered through the sky above. An upcoming warning of four words that would echo through the street's moments later. 

“The pirates are coming!”

You could practically hear the rest of the town groan with a sigh. Their annoyance stunk up the streets as Usopp sounded the imaginary alarm as he usually did every day around this time. Maybe it was because you considered Usopp a friend that his tall tales and wild imagination didn’t bother you. 

Instead, a sly smile tilted your lips as you continued to grind the seeds deep into the mortar. Mr. Edison’s gruff voice from outside your window reminded Usopp for the millionth time that he needed to stop as he sprinted past. 

“What is that boy going on about?” Naan huffed.

You sent a quick glance behind your shoulder at the older woman who was currently folding the recently washed linens. All of them are used with a purpose to either staunch bloody wounds or for the simple purpose of relieving colds. Naan’s linens, like her home, were used for a multitude of healing services, with the only payment she accepted was that of the kindness of others around her. 

“You already know, Naan,” you replied, your smile evident in your words. “It’s the usual afternoon reminder to stay on your toes.”

A deep chuckle came from behind you followed by the soft cough that came after. 

“These toes can’t do very much standing. So, maybe tell your friend to give me a day of rest soon.”

“Usopp has done this every day for seven years. I don’t think anything anyone will ever say will make him stop.”

Even if you could get Usopp to stop, you wouldn’t be the one to make him. You weren’t sure how many people in town knew who his father was - or that he’d been a pirate. A father by suggestion, Usopp’s wild imagination could only recall small things from the stories his mother had been willing to share, and from those stories, even greater ones grew.

While everyone else may have found Usopp’s stories as an ever-present headache you knew they held a deeper meaning. They were the only thing he knew of a man he never got to know. 

The sound of chair legs creaking across the floor cut you out of your thoughts. Just in time from the looks of the seed putty you’d created. A heavy thud on the boards informed you Naan grabbed her cane and the heavier shuffling of her feet that she was heading in your direction. 

“What are you so intently making over here, child?”

Settling down the pestle, you reached over your workstation to grab a pot. You were going to need to fetch some water to bring everything to a bowl before you strained it into a jar. 

“Water. I need to go get some water,” you murmured as you brought the pot down in front of you.

“Am I talking to myself?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Naan. Did you say something?”

This time you did dare to look at her. Her deep-set wrinkles set impossibly deeper as she regarded your work from over your shoulder. 

“Oh, I only asked what you were making that was stinking up my kitchen.”

Your eyes flew open wide as you took a deep breath in. You were sure the only thing you’d put in that maybe - maybe - smelled was the slippery elm, but you hadn’t even steeped it in the water yet. Naan must have read your panic before it began to stitch your brow together. Your eyes still helplessly peeled to the job in front of you instead of the chuckling woman behind you. 

“It’s fine, child. I’m just teasing you.”

All your panic rushed out in a huff of air as your body finally turned to greet her. Your eyes instantly took in the very tired look of hers. 

“You should get some rest, Naan.”

The two of you knew you meant well. You would never try and make Naan feel older than she already felt, except you didn’t give a damn about her feelings when you could easily spot the sweat on her upper lip. The way her body leaned more into the cane that supported her. She batted your concern away with a swat of her free hand. As if it would be enough to make whatever fear that gripped at your heart magically disappear.  

“Don’t patronize me. I’m fine.”

“You are not fine. You're wheezing with every breath now-“

“I said I’m fine. Leave me alone and start worrying about whatever it is you’re making.”

“Well,  if you would stop interrupting me, maybe I could finish it!”

The irritation in your voice wasn’t hard to miss. Naan heard it too no doubt with the way her brow cocked as if begging you to repeat it. 

The silence stretched uncomfortably between you. Naan wouldn’t even look at you - probably too scared to see your eyes pleading, full of worry for her to just go lay down. 

Why must you always be so stubborn? 

The question sat on your tongue and made your words form like molasses. You weren’t a child anymore. So, it begged the question of why you were still afraid to speak to her like an adult. It didn’t matter if what you said hurt her old feelings. Not when the thought of her not being around made your chest begin to spread wide like an aching chasm. 

“You never did say what you were making.”

You pressed your tongue against your cheek while you debated if it would be worth it to try and argue with her. Of course, you were always the first one to relent and push it under the metaphorical rug.

“It’s a gift for Miss Kaya. Usopp told me her cough hadn’t changed and asked if I would make something for her.”

“Hmm,” Naan hummed in thought. “That boy is strange, but he is kind.”

“Not as strange as Kaya having an unknown illness the last few years and never seeking any aid from the town's doctor,” you grumbled. 

Naan’s hand lightly clasped your shoulder in comfort - comfort you didn’t want to accept. Not only were thoughts of Naan being sick plaguing every ounce of free space in your brain but now so was Kaya. You’d only met her once when you were younger with Usopp and after her parents died that odd butler, Klahadore, kept her under strict observation. 

In all the years you’d been with Naan, learning everything she could teach about healing, you’d found it odd that the staff never came to ask for help. You couldn’t recall a time when Sham or Buchi ever came down requesting any tonics or medicines from Naan, or for her to come with them to examine Kaya in the first place. 

I wasn’t aware they were waitstaff and doctors. 

You knew these thoughts would only dampen your mood until it turned completely sour. You just couldn’t stop the runaway train that was your thoughts from slipping back into questioning everything with the universe never giving you any new answers. 

“How many times have I told you, child, we can’t make people get help. They have to seek it themselves and that- that is when the real healing begins.”

You were already bitter and that bitterness responded to Naan’s words in the form of an eye roll. One you were lucky the older woman didn’t see. 

“It’s just not right.” 

“Right or not, it’s not our place to go butting in.”

She stood behind you for a few more minutes waiting for a reply you didn’t give. You were done talking. Done trying to get her to understand that she was sick too and that all those years of molding words and actions to help others were what drove you to help her. To help Kaya. Only Usopp seemed to notice that something in her grand home wasn’t right. 

Frustration drew tight across your chest causing your hands to seek support against the counter. For a split second, you imagined yourself splitting open and becoming two separate people. One being the doctor Naan trained you to be and the other something less controlled. Someone who was tired of listening but never being heard. 

You listened as Naan began to retreat back to her table where the rest of the linens waited to be folded. You listened as another terrible cough violently shook itself free from her lungs as you focused on your work. 

If you couldn’t help Naan you were just going to settle for helping Miss Kaya. Once you finished making Usopp’s requested medicine you were going to be sure he delivered it to her. 

It was time a doctor paid a visit. 

————

The shipyard. 

Of course, Usopp was going to be here. Why you hadn't thought to come here first felt like a mystery all on its own. 

In all the years you’d known him, Usopp’s routine hardly ever changed. He usually performed his usual pirate ritual just before he started his day in the shipyard. He was hired to care for and clean all of the ships housed within, however, and upon no real surprise to you, Usopp cleaned and polished the Going Merry daily. 

So, it didn’t surprise you to find him already on the ship. What did surprise you were the three people standing with him steps away from the Going Merry, herself. 

You didn’t feel alarmed in any way. Usopp was good with people - he enjoyed talking to anyone willing to listen. The man with the straw hat, who was grinning wildly in the direction of Usopp and then to his friends, seemed happy to listen. He was giving Usopp his full attention and whatever your friend was saying was exactly what Straw Hat wanted to hear. 

The other two people beside him, however, didn’t seem to share in the excitement. Sure, the pretty woman with the orange hair was giving all the perfect signaling queues of a smile and nod to make it believable that she was interested in anything Usopp had to say. Did she probably care about whatever was being said? Probably not, but at least she didn’t look as sour as the moss-hair-colored guy- 

Holy shit

Your feet stopped working. Your knees seemed to refuse to bend, to make any movement forward for the last few feet to close the distance to the group. For what reason? There had to be a perfectly good reason- 

Nope. Thoughts gone. Head empty. 

That was the best way to describe what was currently happening as your eyes stayed glued to the three-sword-wielding swordsman standing next to the woman. 

Three swords? You wondered. Where does the other one go?

Maybe you would ask him if you ever summed up the courage to do just that. If you could just get your legs to function again. 

In all the time you’d lived on Shell Island you were more than positive you’d never seen someone that looked close to him. Especially someone carrying around three swords or standing with so much purpose. Even as your eyes took him in you could tell he was pretending to be relaxed, but after years of mending bodies, you noticed the tightness between his shoulder blades. The ease he tried to display with a hand resting on the hilt of the sword wasn’t actually resting. Even relaxed, this man was ready to unsheathe those blades and use them at a moment's notice. 

While the idea made you consider him a great swordsman, your heart also ached at the thought of feeling trapped and weary of others' intentions. 

Your thoughts would’ve continued to run wild as you embarrassingly gawked at this stranger and his friends. All of that was ruined, however, when Usopp caught a glimpse of you between orange and green hair. 

“Doc!”

Usopp’s excitement translated to a crazy arm wave and immediately caused all three of his newfound friends to face you. God, this meant you had to get your legs working. You had to physically move closer. You could do that. No problem. 

Taking in a deep breath, you allowed a genuine smile to raise your lips in welcome. Luckily, your feet didn’t betray you as you moved the last few feet. You made a mental note as you got closer that the straw hat was meeting your smile with his own, while the other two regarded you with lackluster enthusiasm. 

Great. They were the grumpy types of people. 

“There you are Usopp,” you began cheerfully. “I’ve been looking all over for you.” 

“You know, Usopp?” Asked straw hat. 

You felt your brow crease in question as your smile wilted at the corners. 

“I would hope so. We’ve known each other since we’ve lived here.”

“Impressive,” mumbled the woman. 

Okay, maybe she wasn’t as friendly as you originally thought, but she was still definitely friendlier than moss hair. Who currently felt like he was drilling holes into your chest. 

“Ugh, Doc I was just going to take these guys to visit, Kaya,” Usopp interjected. 

He was still smiling - always smiling. His eyes darted to the three new faces before landing back at you. 

“Why would you take them to see, Kaya?”

“She owns the shipyard and we-“Straw hat interjected, “Are in need of a ship. That beautiful ship behind us, to be exact.” 

You glanced behind him to the Going Merry. Kaya’s family ship. 

You shot Usopp a questioning glance that you weren’t surprised to see him ignore. He was up to something there was no doubting that. The issue was you weren’t sure what angle he was trying to play. 

“Good luck with that.” 

You did mean it. You didn’t think he was going to get it no matter how good-natured he seemed. That was still a family memory you weren’t sure Kaya would be willing to part with. 

“Thanks!”

“Doc, before I take them over there do you by chance have what I asked for?”

You patted your satchel for good measure before you replied, “That’s why I was looking for you. I have it right here.” 

Usopp took a step towards you, his hand outstretched in waiting for you to deposit the bottle. When you didn’t comply with his request he shot you a look of worry. 

“You do have it right?”

“Yes, Usopp I told you I did. I just want to come with you to check on her myself.”

A look of worry dimmed the mirth in his eyes for one second. If you didn’t know what to look for you would have missed it entirely. You knew he’d been asking you for months to sneak in with him to visit Kaya. His own suspicions began to outweigh the doubt that plagued his heart with every heavy decision that needed to be made. 

Deep down, Usopp knew if you were finally going to answer his request of sneaking in with him, it must be serious. A concept Usopp himself purposely tried to run from often. 

“Wait, you’re a doctor? That is so cool!” 

You needed to learn Straw Hat’s name because he was growing on you fast. 

“I’m no-“

“She’s actually one of the best doctors in the whole East Blue,” Usopp beamed. “She’s cured this small village of at least two possible plague outbreaks twice already.” 

You were willing to bet your eyes were the size of saucers. There was no way any of them would believe that kind of nonsense. There was absolutely no way- 

“Wow, now that is really impressive! Sounds just like somebody who should be a part of my crew-“

“No!”

“We are not a crew!”

The absolute verbal whiplash you just experienced left your head reeling to pick up on every conversation. Straw Hat was practically turning into pure sunshine in front of you, while the other two were glaring like you’d sprouted three heads. 

Geez, what a tough crowd. 

“Ok, wait what?”

“It’s nothing he doesn’t mean anything by it,” the woman replied, a tight smile thinning out her lips. 

“We don’t need someone pretending to play medicine woman to join us.” 

Your eyes narrowed in on the now green-haired monster. He met your cold glance with his own. Whoever - whatever - he experienced in his life meant he didn’t find you the least bit threatening. He regarded you like an annoyance and you found yourself wondering why the universe made all the grumpy ones the most attractive. 

If his lips pouted any harder he was going to have to rent a kissing booth. 

“For your information, I’m not a pretend doctor.”

Whatever he was going to reply with was cut off by Straw hat who quickly pointed at himself. “I’m Luffy, and these are my companions Nami and Zoro.” 

“It’s nice to meet you, Luffy,” you beamed letting them know your name in response. “But most people just refer to me as Doc because of Usopp.” 

Nami clapped her hands together to bring you both back to the matter at hand. Kaya’s medicine. Their boat. 

“Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, can we get going? We really should stop by and pay her a visit.” 

“Oh yeah! Come on guys, I can show you the fastest way there.” 

Usopp tossed down his rag and skipped backward to the crate where his own satchel sat. 

“Great! If you guys will kindly follow me this way I can show you something really awesome.” 

You wanted to smack some sense into him. Usopp always wanted to be liked - for people to spend time with him and enjoy it. Besides Kaya and you who humored him with his opulent imagination and ability to spin fables like cotton candy. These people, Luffy excluded, did not deserve his endearing desire for friendship. They were both giving off major chip on their shoulder vibes and you vowed to become an even bigger pain in the ass if they were unnecessarily rude to him. 

They didn’t wait to know if you were joining them or even behind them. They all moved forward to follow Usopp, who was spit-firing a conversation at Luffy who easily seemed to match it with his own charisma. Nami and Zoro trudged behind them both and you brought up the rear. 

You’d hoped at some point Luffy or Usopp would drag you into the conversation. Anything that would keep your wandering eyes from constantly burrowing holes between Zoro’s sculpted shoulders. If you didn’t locate some form of self-control soon, you were positive your brain would be sent spinning into a tangent about how martial arts training with weapons was a godsend. So, looking at your feet for the next few miles would have to suffice. 

It was strange how the world between poverty and the rich was such an overwhelming force. The farther you ventured out past the town and into the privacy of the landscape that kept Kaya’s family home hidden, it was a wonder that anyone would know it was there. 

There were endless strawberry fields that farmers planted on one side and potatoes on the other. Dozens of workers tended to their growth with their hard work and sweat until a wall of bamboo cut off any view. All you could see was an endless path swallowed in bamboo branches making the path more foreboding than you thought necessary. 

When you finally came in through the front gates, their iron and mortar was a welcomed sight. The one thing that wasn’t was that stupid Well you’d grown to hate ever since you almost fell in looking over the side as a child. 

“I’ve never seen a house this big before.” 

Luffy’s admission sent your eyes up from your feet to the large garden entrance. And that damned well that sat like a mockery in the middle of the walkway to the front. 

“It’s impressive, right? Kaya’s given me an open invitation to stop by anytime I want.” 

Your eyes darted over to Usopp who was practically skipping with excitement as he and Luffy made their way over to the well. You wanted him to look at you, but you knew he wouldn’t. If he did, Usopp would only find you looking at him - full of questions - with a look calling him a liar. You would never want him to feel bad. It was never your intention, however, it was going to be more embarrassing if you all got caught and thrown out on your ass than just being honest. 

“Wow. That’s pretty awesome,” Luffy breathed. His face was full of wonder as he continued to take in the large space. “All of this is just for one person?”

“Well…she lives here with a few other staff.”

“Yeah. A bunch of asshole staff,” you grumbled under your breath.

By the way, Luffy and Usopp were hanging over the side of the well - ick - neither of them had heard you. Unfortunately, your fellow rear buddies did. 

“You don’t seem to be a fan of the staff?” Nami ventured. 

You eyed her carefully. She came off friendly enough, but she wasn’t giving anything else away. The small smile on her lips wasn’t reaching her eyes. Instead, they were calculating and waiting for you to give her any information you were willing or unwilling to give. 

Nami was incredibly smart and equally dangerous because of it. 

“They do a lot of suspicious things,” you replied slowly, unsure of how much sharing was too much. 

“I’m sure butlers don’t come harboring life-threatening secrets,” Zoro countered.

His hand shoved in a pocket while the other still rested on the sword. He regarded you the way adults do children making up fairytales. The way the townspeople looked at Usopp like a silly child always crying wolf. They both thought you were being silly, and you wish you could say their disregard didn’t make your chest cave in just a bit, but you never were a good liar. 

“No, maybe butlers don’t,” you countered, “but people do.”

When neither of them showed signs of continuing on with the conversation you started forward following Usopp and Luffy. You didn’t care about whatever conversation Zoro or Nami were having behind you. They could’ve been discussing robbing the place blind for all you could care about. 

You were worried more about the people than the objects inside. 

“If you have an invitation, why are we going through the back way?”

Just tell them, Usopp. 

“Oh, well I never go through the front entrance. This is more of a VIP entrance.”

“This guy is full of shit.”

“Yeah, but if he gets us inside who cares.” 

Why was Luffy the only member of this merry band of misfits who weren’t incredibly grumpy? 

“Usopp,” you called out to him in a warning. 

He gave you a glance over his shoulder before he made his way over the giant lily pads without a reply. 

Little shit, you thought as you realized he was very much choosing to ignore your existence. Did you blame him? Not really. You couldn’t remember the last time anyone had humored him this long and you were debating on if you should be the one to crush his newfound hopes and dreams. 

Fortunately for you, you weren’t going to have to be the bad guy in that scenario. One already seemed to exist. 

Just as Usopp reached the second lily pad, you knew something was wrong. The hiccup of an, “Oh,” that came out of him registering as panic. He was already turning back to stop Luffy from coming closer, almost begging him to go to another entrance - an extra special one - when he was interrupted by a knife plunging into the lily pad between his feet. 

A very sharp knife. One you knew could’ve easily severed flesh or nicked an artery. Your blood boiled as you pushed past Luffy, your eyes darting wildly as Buchi stalked towards Usopp who stuttered past a greeting. 

“What the hell are you doing here, Usopp?” He snapped as his hands lurched in to grasp the leather of Usopp’s top. “You know you aren’t welcome here.” 

“I know nothing of the sort. I came to give Kaya an extra-special gift.”

You practically glided past the last lily pad when a sharp hiss cut the air. You didn’t necessarily need to look to see if it was Sham. You knew it was. She stood just off the first step from where they’d been disemboweling the hog, mop at the ready, and her teeth bared directly at you.

“He’s brought the doctor,” she hissed. 

Buchi finally seemed to register your presence from behind Usopp and bared his own teeth in warning. 

“You are definitely not welcome here.”

“A rather odd thing to say to a healer when your mistress seems to be suffering a mysterious illness.”

“An illness we are more than capable of handling.”

“I find that highly doubtful.”

With his hands still holding onto Usopp, Buchi leaned forward to growl - literally growl - in your face like a rabid dog. You wanted to poke him in the eye and were incredibly tempted to do so when a soft voice cut through the tension. 

“Usopp! What a wonderful surprise!”

Everyone’s attention shifted as Kaya made her entrance on the arm of Klahadore. You took a step back and away from the two just so Usopp could twist himself free and walk towards the waiting mistress of the estate. 

“I wouldn’t miss today of all days. Happy birthday, Kaya.”

“You remembered.”

My god, she was practically swooning and Usopp was eating it up. 

“I could never forget.” 

This feels awkward. 

They acted like they didn’t have a captive audience watching them look at each other like two lovestruck teenagers. 

It wasn’t hard to notice how Kaya beamed at him or how that attention brought happiness to Usopp. For as long as you can remember, even as children, Usopp always liked her. Sure, he would play it off as if they were just friends. There was no way she could see him that way, but when Kaya’s parents passed away three years ago what was between them seemed to change. Their feelings became something saturated in an understanding of loss. Usopp knew what Kaya needed because it was something he himself had never truly received. 

So, did it bother you that she actually hadn’t greeted you yet? Not really. What did bother you, however, was the way Klahadore’s eyes slithered over to you. It made you feel like you were going to be sick.

“Usopp. Did you bring the doctor with you?”

Please, let me crawl into a hole and die. 

There was something off about Klahadore. It wasn’t just because he made your skin want to completely crawl off your body. It was the way he sounded every alarm bell in your brain. The way your heart speeds up triggering the fight or flight response that was ingrained in your body's defense system. The way he continued to look at you as if you were a bug that needed to be squashed, only drove the feeling home. 

“Oh, yeah. Kaya, I had Doc make you something for your cough. I figured it might be worth a try.” 

God, he looked so happy. He was completely oblivious to how Klahadore seemed ready to smite you both where you stood. 

You closed your eyes, taking in a deep breath. Maybe when you opened them he wouldn’t be staring daggers into your face. 

Nope. No such luck. 

“Oh, that is so incredibly sweet,” Kaya beamed. 

Klahadore slowly set his hand out in front of him. The cold obsidian of his eyes never left your face as he spoke. “Please hand over whatever tonic you’ve acquired for Miss Kaya.”

You weren’t aware your hand was already in the satchel. Your fingers wrapped protectively tight against the cool glass of the bottle as you continued to stare at one another. 

“Hand it over. Please.”

“No-“

Usopp’s hand on your shoulder stopped you cold. Your teeth ground tightly to stop your next words. You didn’t want to hand that asshole anything. Not when Kaya looked so damn pale. 

Something is wrong. 

The thought wormed its way into your brain until it gnawed at all other thoughts until it consumed every available spot. It was all you could think as your eyes continued to look over her frail frame. 

Naan taught you that as a doctor, and as a healer, it was your job to fight for your patients. To always do what you could and what was best for their care. Was giving the medicine you made for Kaya to Klahadore best for her care. 

No. No, it sure as shit didn’t feel like it. 

Maybe that was why it felt like such a betrayal to take the medicine from your bag and drop it inside his gloved hand. You watched as his disgusting white fingers wrapped around the gray bottle and brought it up to rest closely to his chest. 

“Now, Usopp we’ve had this discussion about coming here unannounced - and this time with a doctor.”

“Nonsense, Klahadore,” Kaya interjected. “They are my friends. What a sweet gesture it was, Doc to try and make me something. Usopp, did you come to tell me more stories about your adventures?”

“I can do you one better. I brought some of my crew.”

With a sweep of his arm, Usopp introduced Luffy, Nami, and Zoro who registered this gesture with sheer disbelief. Well, disbelief would be putting it mildly. 

“Is he talking about us?” 

Luffy sounded as confused as you felt. 

“I’m sorry, but we do not have any room for any extra guests tonight, I’m afraid.” 

“Oh please, Klahadore couldn’t they at least stay for dinner? It is my birthday.”

You hated how Kaya had to beg to have company that wasn’t her staff. You could vaguely remember the butler who was in charge before Klahadore had arrived. Mr. Thorburr had been an absolute delight and genuinely seemed to care about Kaya and her family’s wellbeing. If he was still in charge, you were positive he would’ve believed in letting Kaya outside to enjoy the garden or have friends stop by, even unannounced, to visit. 

One day he was just gone and slowly the only staff that was left were these three assholes. It all felt awfully convenient or maybe you were just being petty because you disliked them.

The way Klahadore looked at her made your stomach turn. 

“Anything for you, Miss Kaya.”

You wondered if he choked a little over each word as they traveled up his throat.

“Great!” Luffy shouted. “When do we eat?”

“You don’t. Not dressed like that. You will change and bathe before dinner. No exceptions.”

Everyone was willing to accept the invitation. The premise of a bath seemed enough to make Nami practically skip forward to be led inside by Sham. Your feet, however, refused to move. Usopp, Luffy, and Nami practically took the small stairs up to the patio in one giant leap. Your earlier dread from the day was back and something dark borrowed its way into your chest. 

Something is wrong. 

You were about to turn tail and run when you noticed Zoro stop at the edge of the stairs. His body turned slightly to eye Klahadore one last time before he turned to follow after his crew. It was small and barely lasted a second, but it was enough. 

Zoro noticed something wasn’t right either and maybe, just maybe, he’d be the one to believe you. All you had to do was join him inside the house to talk to him. No biggie. 

Taking in a deep breath you finally moved to follow behind Kaya and Klahadore. Your eyes intently following a particular green-haired swordsman and wondering how you were going to get him alone. 

The showers seemed like a great place to start.

_______________________

As always, thank you for reading. Reblogs and comments are always welcome.

[justplainwhump]

Character Intro / Masterpost

Danielle 'Dany' Hammond

Rich and confident daughter to a crime-lord-slash-businessman, designated heir to his business. Odd mix of ambitious and hedonistic. Semi professional tennis player, college student majoring in psychology, skilled negotiatior, surprisingly good at handling herself. Confident and determined. Afraid of knives. Aromantic. Freckles.

Currently ongoing story lines are Just A Fling and the BBU!AU Making Angel (both linked further below).

* marks the pieces that have been added since Aug 24.

---

Just A Fling* (Peyton / Geoff / Dany)

Dany is 29, successful manager in her father's company, but a casual affair with Peyton Montgomery pulls her deep into the dangerous toxic friendship between Peyton and serial killer Geoff Cortlandt.

Tropes: consensual affair, noncon drugging, intimate whumper, dubcon, a lot of aftermath and coping, toxic relationship dynamics.

Collaboration with @wildfaewhump.

[Just A Fling Masterlist] *

---

Princess (Ridley / Dany / B):

After her father is betrayed by those closest to him, 20 year old Dany is sold off as a prize and falls into the hands of mean man Ridley Lordin, who keeps her captive in his apartment alongside his WRU guard dog B (both characters belonging to @hackles-up ) and makes it his pet project to break her.

Tropes: intimate whumper, co-captives, pet whump [even though Dany isn't a WRU pet; but B is], lots of noncon/dubcon, forced relationship. Each post is tagged individually as well.

Before Ridley

[Run, Dany] with Frankie 

First Steps with Ridley

[Housekeeping] at Ridley's house

[Shower] at Ridley's house

[Hate] (torture and noncon) at Ridley's house, with Leo

[Lesson (prompt fill : collapse)] with Ridley and B

[Waiting] [Office Day (part 1)] (noncon elements; part 2 currently in planning) with Ridley

[Safe.]

Interlude at the casino

[Bodyguard] (cw noncon) [+ aftermath] with Frankie

Things are getting serious

[Almost (prompt fill: strangle)] with Ridley and B <- very very good, shouldn't miss this one

[Lights Out] written by moose

[Night Terrors (short prompt fill)] with Ridley

[Gift] with Ridley

[Slap (short prompt fill)] with Ridley

Escalation

[Alone together] with B, comfort and consensual spice between people that can't really give consent

[Game of Trust] with Ridley and B [continuation from Ridley/B PoV by moose ] &lt;;- this is easily the best post of the series but I'm afraid it works best if you're familiar with some context

[Not Fair] Ridley and B, written by moose

[Clinic]

[Plushie] prompt fill, with Ridley and B

[Dressing Room] with Felicity

[Smile. | Wedding ch. 1] with Leo and Ridley

[Break Room | Wedding interlude]

[Placeholder for more of the wedding]

[Celebration] with Ridley

[The Christmas Party arc] with Ridley (noncon) <- pure smut, explicit in the last part but even if you're only here for the noncon, it should really be read together

[Boring] with Ridley

Finale

[Lost] with Ridley and B

[Hold On] with Ridley and B

[Rebellion] with B

After Ridley (”The Ridley-Dies-Arc”)

[Turning Point] with B

[Not without B] with B

[Amends] with Frankie, Frankie PoV

[Passports] very short snippet, with Frankie

[Bad News] Lydia without Dany

[Ben] with Frankie and B

After Ridley (The Fighting Ring Arc; also has its own masterlist)

[Spotted] with B

[Words]

* [Food]

[Big Night]

* [Bull]

After Ridley (maybe canon)

[Blackmail]

Snippets (Canon)

There are several "intoxicated Dany" pieces in replies to asks, like this one [What would you do?]; all are tagged #drunk dany

---

Shattered Diamonds

Dany is in her late 20s, career criminal in her father's company, married to Lorenzo, who enjoys his life as her spoiled trophy husband. But Dany's business follows her home, and Lorenzo gets taken hostage as leverage. The kidnappers are willing to break Danielle down entirely - and her pretty husband turns out to be the perfect tool to that end.

Tropes: forced to watch, mafia whump, abduction, whumpee x caretaker, noncon (m/m and m/f).

Collaboration with @ocean-blue-whump, extremely angsty short miniseries.

[Shattered Diamonds Masterlist]

[Lorenzo cooking] written by blue, standalone, fluff

[Bahamas] collab with blue, fluff and smut; Backstory

---

Pet!Dany AU

Dany says no to a powerful rich man, but he knows how to get what he wants: Dany as his pet 'Angel', unable to say no ever again.

This turned into a huge, fully independent AU that focuses both on facility whump, but also Angels later recovery.

Developed with @angst-after-dark

*[Making an Angel Masterlist]

---

Other / Abandoned AUs and drabbles

The Romeo and Juliet AU (in which Dany is free, raises in her ranks of her father's organisation and starts a doomed affair with another crime boss, with @painful-pooch)

[Juliet at his door] (trauma aftermath)

[Juliet in his bed] (trauma aftermath, a little nsfw)

[Empty]

[Knees] (Dany as a [step]mother)

Kidnapping Arc (abandoned)

[In the Woods]

Selene/Dany AU (abandoned, collab with @whump-ventures)

[First Meeting] written by Khal

[First Kiss]

[jennycalendar]

okay i watched that scene at the end of the dark age in full and it is making me wanna bash my head against a wall a little holy shit because the intended implications WITHIN the episode become something SO different when taking into account the entirety of jenny’s trajectory in the narrative! like, there’s what the writers were clearly trying to convey WHEN the episode was written, and there’s what the episode DOES convey about jenny as a part of her story. 

because within the context of the episode, the end leaves things between giles and jenny very resolutely Finished. giles comments that “i don’t think she’ll ever really forgive me,” and there’s nothing in jenny’s mannerisms that disabuse the viewers of that notion: she physically recoils from his touch and from any promise of future intimacy between the two of them. the takeaway is very clearly intended to be that jenny wants nothing to do with giles Ever Again -- that this is a horrible and heartbreaking tragedy for both parties where no one is to blame, and that jenny and giles’s paths have diverged irrevocably. it’s an excellent moment and it stands on its own very well.

but the thing is, jenny does get back together with giles after like TWO WEEKS! which of course can be chalked up to how the writers literally never thought about her beyond “what can we make her do that will add some spice to giles’s storyline,” but it’s also like ... that just does not mesh with the attempted depiction of a traumatized woman who needs her space. the first scene in ted, sure, where she’s very awkwardly making it clear that she cares about him but that she’s still pretty fucked up about eyghon, but EVERYTHING following it DOES NOT CLOCK if we’re supposed to read jenny as pulling away from giles because she needs her space to heal. like, jenny is a woman of intense and stubborn convictions, and she was absolutely in the right to tell giles to leave her alone! if she was genuinely serious about not wanting to be around him, she would NEVER have followed up with him at the cemetery.

so then because of that, there’s this really insane implication in the dark age that CLEARLY isn’t intended to be there! because if jenny’s pulling away from giles entirely after an intensely traumatic event but is somehow also still very very devoted to making things right with him -- enough to put her own recovery on hold when she feels that she’s injured him -- then she is full-on SERIOUS about a relationship that up until that point had been portrayed as very casually flirty on her part. that’s a discombobulating realization to have, and one that completely explains the dissonance between the dark age and ted, ESPECIALLY if her full background is accounted for -- this was supposed to be a very non-serious distraction, and now it’s serious, and in a moment of intense trauma and fear she turned IMMEDIATELY and INSTINCTIVELY towards him for comfort. 

in the latter half of the season, jenny is depicted as a very guarded and secretive person who genuinely tried to neatly separate her familial obligations and the connection she’d forged with giles. it would make SO MUCH SENSE for that person to pull immediately away from a genuine connection with someone, especially if it’s someone she was dating as a superficial attempt to distract herself from the mundane isolation of her own supernatural responsibilities! but in the episode itself, it’s very very clearly presented as “jenny’s traumatized and doesn’t want anything to do with giles anymore,” because the narrative just literally cannot conceptualize the idea of jenny having interiority and depth until passion (and then at that point it’s really just to make giles’s story more tragic). and that dissonance between jenny as she exists episode-to-episode and jenny as she exists within the narrative and with her backstory in mind makes me fully and completely insane.

it’s just like .... often i DON’T watch early jenny episodes with her backstory in mind, because it’s very very clear that there was no intentional work done there to create the character she eventually becomes. and i feel like that’s really the sane way TO consume any kind of fiction -- looking at the character as they’re presented in the moment, because a good piece of fiction is writing a character with a pre-planned arc from the beginning -- which in turn means that it’s very very easy to miss weirdness like this, because if you’re watching the dark age and you’re not staring at jenny you really only pick up on what the episode is saying about her. but the retconned backstory and the fact that she is there with an agenda adds this insane layer to literally every interaction she has with giles! she’s presented as this very casual and breezy computer science teacher who’s dating giles mostly for the lolz and because she thinks he’s hot, and the dark age implies that when faced with the reality of what he has to deal with on a daily basis, she cannot handle it and opts out.

thing is, though, her backstory is that she is someone who has been working since angel’s arrival in sunnydale to carry out a mission of vengeance for her family, and that she believes angel to be capable of change. that’s not someone who can just “opt out” of the more serious supernatural aspects of giles’s life -- that’s someone who understands shit like eyghon INTIMATELY and might actually easily empathize with the concept of your past hanging around like a shadow. that’s someone who looks at giles and has the capacity to UNDERSTAND what it is like to be a cog in the machine. her sympathy for him and her attraction to him is presented in the narrative as somewhat casual and superficial, especially in the early seasons -- but if her backstory is allowed to be a part of their early-season relationship, it becomes this story about a woman who is constantly holding her truest self at a distance, because she is afraid. 

but the early seasons don’t HAVE that context, so they’re intentionally telling a story about a cute little relationship that giles is having with a techno-witchy lady -- something that is an escape from his fucked up supernatural responsibilities and is just refreshingly normal. something that is heartbreaking in the dark age, because this normal thing that he’s had is finally and inevitably crumbling to bits. and that is so drastically different from what jenny becomes when this added context comes to light.

[kneipho]

Submitted by: @mantrabay​​

–

Rush Amid The Rapids.

Rush Amid The Rapids.

“Must I always be posting transactions?” I said to myself, Landon Croaker, accountant, adjusting my backpack as I rambled up a ragged winding woodland path.

A granite strewn gulag odyssey lay ahead.

There was the usual green stew of ornate plants.

Ancient Fir Clubmoss which grows into a chalice- like shape.

The St Patrick’s cabbage, with thick leather zig zag veins.

Hapless Fraochan and Whortleberry shrub’s pendant fruit so symmetrical.

I brought my notebook with me.

Closet novelist or bard one day?

Canopy of lattice branch springboards abound.

Shrieks

from stunned squirrels leaping in the arc of a trapeze with blue jay alarm signal.

Rustle of rabbits under slender stalks.

Puffball cloud and brown-dust spore floaters.

A wastrel I was within the wilds.

I was getting close to where my friends, a husband and wife team lived and ran a fringe publishing company.

They resided in a cherry wood log cabin with tongue and groove cladding and a pine timbered roof lantern peering down a mountain side.

Like a watchtower the mountain sat in sinister observance.

A fallow deer suddenly appeared.

It looked furtively with startled eyes as if it knew something I didn’t.

Within minutes it vanished.

Flies swarmed about, the spooky whistleblowers on this solitary hiker’s grazed cheeks.

My clothes were wringing wet from the sweltering heat.

The curious urban spirit drove me on.

Chambered cairns, those passage tunnels from the past that act as stone markers for the venturer were rife.

Platform mounds whose ribboned cracks and gouges play host to strongly rooted Chasmophytes.

There was a lurking presence as the cabin became visible.

“Hello, there. Fancy seeing you here.

Welcome back.”

Chelsea, in a croaking baby twang.

“Oh …you frightened me.” Landon said.

I nearly toppled.

Chelsea dashed towards me.

“A bit worried there, Landon.

What a surprise!

We like surprising people too.”

I paused and replied.

“It’s the unexpected that adds spice to this life business and others!”

Landon sardonically.

“You sound tired.”

Chelsea replied.

“We’ll change that. We’ll change everything about your life now you’re here.”

The ramifications of that would soon unfold.

“The last time I was here we talked about having children.

Any decision yet?

You could always adopt.”

I continued.

“Don’t have to.

Got my husband and he’s got me.” She said.

“We’re both kids at heart.”

Her sad voice trailing off.

“This location seems ideal but there’s schooling and everything.”

Chelsea hesitantly.

“Nothing that couldn’t be resolved.”

Landon in reply.

Croaker sensed Chelsea’s unease and didn’t continue.

“Hey, what’s this?” Croaker cried as two apples landed at his feet.

“Yahoo. You two.”

Chesney, Chelsea’s husband shouted.

“It’s been so long.

Doesn’t time fly?”

Chesney again.

While walking it dawned on Landon how dewy-eyed and child-like this couple were.

.

Entering the cabin seemed like something from a storybook.

Cartoon mosaics attached to fool’s gold borders, zip purse smashed purple bead inserts, and shredded comic strips.

“There are shrouds of deep mystery here.”

Croaker thought.

“Hey Snap.

What’s accountancy like these days?”

Chesney’s smug question.

“Nothing really changes.

Investment investment hazards and the like.

It’s a world I drifted into.

How about your company in paradise.”

Croaker sarcastically.

“Publishing is odd.

You almost become the stories submitted.”

Chesney observed.

“Birth and regrowth are gaining interest.

Am I boring you?” Chesney enquired.

“Well, it beats accountancy.”

Landon tactfully.

A salad of roasted lemon, fennel fronds and pomegranate was served with

guacamole dip based on chunky avocado.

After our meal we washed up

Chelsea’s phantom figure scurried outside with Olympic speed.

It was so redolent of the suddenness about.

A rapt cocoon descended around Chesney and Landon’s interaction.

Landon quizzed Chesney about the urban country rift.

Tranquil timberlands have their own stressors.

“See those creatures slumped awkwardly on fragile twigs?

They sense pending doom.”

Chesney observed.

“Can you really escape hectic city life?”

A querulous tone from Chesney.

“Maybe these divisions are fictional.”

Landon archly.

“Thud. What’s that?”

Chesney shaking.

Chelsea entered.

“Oh dear .. let’s say a homing pigeon.

They’re a strange breed.”

She said smugly.

“Very strange indeed.”

Chesney out loud.

Chelsea and Chesney exchange strained silent glances.

A circus of the wilds continued outside as species vied with species in an ego fanfare.

Chirping robin red breasts,

wing scraping crickets in high chorus.

Vulcan steam curtain as backdrop.

Horseshoe Bats that weave rainbow shafts.

Daddy long legs with their cancan dances on sodden patches.

“Excuse me …..ring a bell?” Chesney diverting Landon’s attention with a broken fragment.

Landon bought this autumn crocus crystal vase on a previous sojourn.

It slipped from his hands in a butter fingers incident.

Croaker uttered the words “my lasting gift” as it fell.

Cackles erupted but frustration for Landon.

“A hilarious keepsake after a fashion.”

Chelsea opined.

“Really?”

Said Landon embarrassed by this anecdote.

The hours passed and they were both tired.

Landon saw Chesney remove a letter from a ring pull drawer.

“Just an old bill. Must shred it.” He said.

“Why would Chesney explain that?

His face reddened.

Curious.” Landon thought.

Shuffling to bed Landon did notice

pink salmon eiderdowns, pillows with children sleeping under moonlit skies, and Milky Way throw blankets.

The night passed uneventfully.

There were some noises in the kitchen as morning approached.

Having woken sluggishly Croaker walked into the dinning area.

A sense of foreboding filled the room.

Landon grappled awkwardly with claustrophobia.

It was disrupted by the chatter of the chestnut -sided warbler.

An oak hook tip moth added charm with its zoom and flutter acrobatics.

“I’ve the creepiest feeling.”

Croaker reasoned.

“BUZZZ ……..Buzzzzz ……Boing.”

My old cell-phone’s text tone.

My boss. Wonder what he wants?”

Landon to himself.

“Dear Landon,

When you return I would like to speak to you about your future with this company.

I can’t go into further details

as it involves a lot of interested parties.

A wide -ranging discussion is in order,

Regards,

Tom Wright

Managing Director.”

Landon’s worst fears now confirmed.

“I’m confused.

Just how pressing is this or …. what is this in front of me?”

A letter from Chesney and Chelsea.

“Hi Landon,

We had to leave quickly.

Help yourself to whatever largesse there is.

Don’t know how long we’ll be.

You can hang around of course or leave.

Don’t break anything!!

Ha ha,

Ches and Chels.”

Incredible! Between the text and the letter who wouldn’t be alarmed?

Landon limped outside to an ear splitting din and a mist laden detritus that merged into pockets of streams steeplechasing each other.

A slimy frog vaulted and cast a damp viscous oil spray in Croaker’s direction.

Something ….a shadow.

“This has been the most peculiar visit I’ve ever had.

Intrigue seems encoded in it.”

Croaker’s anxiety growing.

A tap on the shoulder followed by a crystal shard at his feet.

“The vase remember?

Don’t be so serious ……..we’ve something to discuss with you.”

Chesney said pointedly.

“An Agatha Christie mystery novel has nothing on this.”

Landon fretted.

“We’ve been reflecting, Chelsea and I.

Your presence is an extraordinary coincidence.”

Chesney quizzically.

“We’d like to offer you a job as our accountant.”

Chelsea suggested.

Croaker now shivering.

“You know by now we love to jumpstart even our closest friends.

This post is tailor made for you.”

Chelsea once more.

“Your boss will understand.”

Croaker’s head was now in a spin.

“You like writing don’t you?

There’s plenty of stories here.”

Chelsea opined.

“All this trouble to offer me a job?” Croaker queried.

“We don’t do things by halves.”

Chelsea with Chesney nodding.

A carousel of thoughts flashed through Landon’s mind at this juncture.

He walked in a trance struggling with everything.

“What was in Chelsea’s sports bag I wonder?” Thought Croaker.

“Let’s go for a swim, Landon.

I’ve got swim trunks for us all.”

Chelsea tossed a nylon mesh swim trunks at Landon as everyone changed.

Something slipped out of Chesney’s pocket without him noticing.

It was that letter Chesney removed previously and read as follows.

“Dear Chesney and Chelsea,

As your doctor I regret you won’t be able to have children. It’s with a heavy heart I share this with you.

There are many reasons for this…”

The rest of the letter was creased and illegible.

It was subsequently swept to the river’s edge underneath a Crested Iris by a slight breeze.

Meanwhile, we were all breast stroking energetically while taking the occasional breather.

“You can make up your mind, Landon, at the end of this swim whenever that is and wherever it is taking us.”

Chelsea giggled as she circulated in the eddying stream.

We all started off again as we followed each other’s course.

“Awh, the child within!” Cried Chelsea.

As Landon pondered his fate the mountain looked down imperiously upon us all as the stray deer suddenly reappeared from nowhere.

Maybe that deer did know something after all!

Photograph and short story mantrabay copyright protected.

Many thanks for reading this and other submissions.

[mantrabay]

Rush Amid The Rapids.

“Must I always be posting transactions?” I said to myself, Landon Croaker, accountant, adjusting my backpack as I rambled up a ragged winding woodland path.

A granite strewn gulag odyssey lay ahead.

There was the usual green stew of ornate plants.

Ancient Fir Clubmoss which grows into a chalice- like shape.

The St Patrick’s cabbage, with thick leather zig zag veins.

Hapless Fraochan and Whortleberry shrub’s pendant fruit so symmetrical.

I brought my notebook with me.

Closet novelist or bard one day?

Canopy of lattice branch springboards abound.

Shrieks

from stunned squirrels leaping in the arc of a trapeze with blue jay alarm signal.

Rustle of rabbits under slender stalks.

Puffball cloud and brown-dust spore floaters.

A wastrel I was within the wilds.

I was getting close to where my friends, a husband and wife team lived and ran a fringe publishing company.

They resided in a cherry wood log cabin with tongue and groove cladding and a pine timbered roof lantern peering down a mountain side.

Like a watchtower the mountain sat in sinister observance.

A fallow deer suddenly appeared.

It looked furtively with startled eyes as if it knew something I didn’t.

Within minutes it vanished.

Flies swarmed about, the spooky whistleblowers on this solitary hiker’s grazed cheeks.

My clothes were wringing wet from the sweltering heat.

The curious urban spirit drove me on.

Chambered cairns, those passage tunnels from the past that act as stone markers for the venturer were rife.

Platform mounds whose ribboned cracks and gouges play host to strongly rooted Chasmophytes.

There was a lurking presence as the cabin became visible.

“Hello, there. Fancy seeing you here.

Welcome back.”

Chelsea, in a croaking baby twang.

“Oh …you frightened me.” Landon said.

I nearly toppled.

Chelsea dashed towards me.

“A bit worried there, Landon.

What a surprise!

We like surprising people too.”

I paused and replied.

“It's the unexpected that adds spice to this life business and others!”

Landon sardonically.

“You sound tired.”

Chelsea replied.

“We’ll change that. We’ll change everything about your life now you’re here.”

The ramifications of that would soon unfold.

“The last time I was here we talked about having children.

Any decision yet?

You could always adopt.”

I continued.

“Don’t have to.

Got my husband and he’s got me.” She said.

“We’re both kids at heart.”

Her sad voice trailing off.

“This location seems ideal but there’s schooling and everything.”

Chelsea hesitantly.

“Nothing that couldn’t be resolved.”

Landon in reply.

Croaker sensed Chelsea’s unease and didn’t continue.

“Hey, what’s this?” Croaker cried as two apples landed at his feet.

“Yahoo. You two.”

Chesney, Chelsea’s husband shouted.

“It’s been so long.

Doesn't time fly?”

Chesney again.

While walking it dawned on Landon how dewy-eyed and child-like this couple were.

.

Entering the cabin seemed like something from a storybook.

Cartoon mosaics attached to fool’s gold borders, zip purse smashed purple bead inserts, and shredded comic strips.

“There are shrouds of deep mystery here.”

Croaker thought.

“Hey Snap.

What’s accountancy like these days?”

Chesney’s smug question.

“Nothing really changes.

Investment investment hazards and the like.

It’s a world I drifted into.

How about your company in paradise.”

Croaker sarcastically.

“Publishing is odd.

You almost become the stories submitted.”

Chesney observed.

“Birth and regrowth are gaining interest.

Am I boring you?” Chesney enquired.

“Well, it beats accountancy.”

Landon tactfully.

A salad of roasted lemon, fennel fronds and pomegranate was served with

guacamole dip based on chunky avocado.

After our meal we washed up

Chelsea’s phantom figure scurried outside with Olympic speed.

It was so redolent of the suddenness about.

A rapt cocoon descended around Chesney and Landon's interaction.

Landon quizzed Chesney about the urban country rift.

Tranquil timberlands have their own stressors.

“See those creatures slumped awkwardly on fragile twigs?

They sense pending doom.”

Chesney observed.

“Can you really escape hectic city life?”

A querulous tone from Chesney.

“Maybe these divisions are fictional.”

Landon archly.

“Thud. What’s that?”

Chesney shaking.

Chelsea entered.

“Oh dear .. let’s say a homing pigeon.

They’re a strange breed.”

She said smugly.

“Very strange indeed.”

Chesney out loud.

Chelsea and Chesney exchange strained silent glances.

A circus of the wilds continued outside as species vied with species in an ego fanfare.

Chirping robin red breasts,

wing scraping crickets in high chorus.

Vulcan steam curtain as backdrop.

Horseshoe Bats that weave rainbow shafts.

Daddy long legs with their cancan dances on sodden patches.

“Excuse me …..ring a bell?” Chesney diverting Landon’s attention with a broken fragment.

Landon bought this autumn crocus crystal vase on a previous sojourn.

It slipped from his hands in a butter fingers incident.

Croaker uttered the words “my lasting gift” as it fell.

Cackles erupted but frustration for Landon.

“A hilarious keepsake after a fashion.”

Chelsea opined.

“Really?”

Said Landon embarrassed by this anecdote.

The hours passed and they were both tired.

Landon saw Chesney remove a letter from a ring pull drawer.

“Just an old bill. Must shred it.” He said.

“Why would Chesney explain that?

His face reddened.

Curious.” Landon thought.

Shuffling to bed Landon did notice

pink salmon eiderdowns, pillows with children sleeping under moonlit skies, and Milky Way throw blankets.

The night passed uneventfully.

There were some noises in the kitchen as morning approached.

Having woken sluggishly Croaker walked into the dinning area.

A sense of foreboding filled the room.

Landon grappled awkwardly with claustrophobia.

It was disrupted by the chatter of the chestnut -sided warbler.

An oak hook tip moth added charm with its zoom and flutter acrobatics.

“I’ve the creepiest feeling.”

Croaker reasoned.

“BUZZZ ……..Buzzzzz ……Boing.”

My old cell-phone’s text tone.

My boss. Wonder what he wants?”

Landon to himself.

“Dear Landon,

When you return I would like to speak to you about your future with this company.

I can’t go into further details

as it involves a lot of interested parties.

A wide -ranging discussion is in order,

Regards,

Tom Wright

Managing Director.”

Landon’s worst fears now confirmed.

“I’m confused.

Just how pressing is this or …. what is this in front of me?”

A letter from Chesney and Chelsea.

“Hi Landon,

We had to leave quickly.

Help yourself to whatever largesse there is.

Don’t know how long we’ll be.

You can hang around of course or leave.

Don’t break anything!!

Ha ha,

Ches and Chels.”

Incredible! Between the text and the letter who wouldn’t be alarmed?

Landon limped outside to an ear splitting din and a mist laden detritus that merged into pockets of streams steeplechasing each other.

A slimy frog vaulted and cast a damp viscous oil spray in Croaker’s direction.

Something ….a shadow.

“This has been the most peculiar visit I’ve ever had.

Intrigue seems encoded in it.”

Croaker’s anxiety growing.

A tap on the shoulder followed by a crystal shard at his feet.

“The vase remember?

Don’t be so serious ……..we’ve something to discuss with you.”

Chesney said pointedly.

“An Agatha Christie mystery novel has nothing on this.”

Landon fretted.

“We’ve been reflecting, Chelsea and I.

Your presence is an extraordinary coincidence.”

Chesney quizzically.

“We’d like to offer you a job as our accountant.”

Chelsea suggested.

Croaker now shivering.

“You know by now we love to jumpstart even our closest friends.

This post is tailor made for you.”

Chelsea once more.

“Your boss will understand.”

Croaker’s head was now in a spin.

“You like writing don’t you?

There’s plenty of stories here.”

Chelsea opined.

“All this trouble to offer me a job?” Croaker queried.

“We don’t do things by halves.”

Chelsea with Chesney nodding.

A carousel of thoughts flashed through Landon’s mind at this juncture.

He walked in a trance struggling with everything.

“What was in Chelsea’s sports bag I wonder?” Thought Croaker.

“Let’s go for a swim, Landon.

I’ve got swim trunks for us all.”

Chelsea tossed a nylon mesh swim trunks at Landon as everyone changed.

Something slipped out of Chesney's pocket without him noticing.

It was that letter Chesney removed previously and read as follows.

“Dear Chesney and Chelsea,

As your doctor I regret you won’t be able to have children. It’s with a heavy heart I share this with you.

There are many reasons for this…”

The rest of the letter was creased and illegible.

It was subsequently swept to the river’s edge underneath a Crested Iris by a slight breeze.

Meanwhile, we were all breast stroking energetically while taking the occasional breather.

“You can make up your mind, Landon, at the end of this swim whenever that is and wherever it is taking us.”

Chelsea giggled as she circulated in the eddying stream.

We all started off again as we followed each other’s course.

“Awh, the child within!” Cried Chelsea.

As Landon pondered his fate the mountain looked down imperiously upon us all as the stray deer suddenly reappeared from nowhere.

Maybe that deer did know something after all!

Photograph and literary piece by mantrabay copyright protected

[peonypearls-muddled-musings]

Kingdoms in PDatSK

Upon the fall of the Shifters and the Rise of Humanity, the leaders of the factions that led the war were granted territorial boundaries. Upon being given knowledge of the old societies from the Underground, they mirrored the borders of old, although not perfectly. There are markers to symbolize old borders, but they don’t reflect the new ones. It’s been over one hundred thousand years since the Fall of Humanity, and the successors of current kingdoms do their best to pay homage to their ancient cultures, while continuing to move forward.

Olthandrynn’s borders rest on what was once Denmark and is home to King Dargon and Queen Gwinletta, and their children, Dagney, Bensith, and Miske. Olthandrynn’s previous king, Floryndus, was well-respected, and Olthandrynn brimmed with power and money with their business of weapons creation and trading. However, when Floryndus died, and had no heir, he named Dargon, a shapeshifter, his successor, which caused a mass exodus from Olthandrynn, and many traders ceased their contracts. When Queen Gwinletta signed Aubrelle over to her neighboring kingdoms, many of her people were welcomed into Olthandrynn with open arms. A blending of customs occurred, and Olthandrynn’s specialty switched from weapons to gemcutting after a trove of untouched gems was discovered. Olthandrynn still struggles keeping pace with many of the other, still-flourishing kingdoms, and many buildings require near-constant upkeep; but the kingdom is slowly expanding as trust towards Dargon slowly warms up. 

****

Aubrelle was one of the kingdoms that rests within the boundaries of former France. Is was once the home of Queen Gwinletta, and her late parents King Ephraim and Queen Oshealle. Upon their murder while they were traveling, Ephraim’s mother, Lennidere, retook the throne, despite her age.

Aubrelle was once a gem of a kingdom, surrounding a fishing lake with two other kingdoms. They were allies and friends, and Gwin was known to the other royals as part of their family. However, when Lennidere resumed the throne, her age was getting the best of her, and she slowly stopped all contact with these kingdoms, while forcing Gwinletta to stay in the shadows. The relationship crumbled. When Aubrelle was seized by the Usurpers, and Lennidere was killed, Gwinletta resumed the throne, and tried her best to help Aubrelle back to its former glory; but the damage had been done. She sold the kingdom to her neighbors. Her marriage with Rinwey was imminent, and she left her former home forever. Expansions from the two kingdoms that purchased it have slowly taken root, but there are still old, abandoned buildings.

****

Gelleshire rests in what was once Wales. It is a haven of technology and progress, boasting gleaming buildings and skyscrapers, and large, ever-changing holo-screens, that display news, advertisements, weather, etc. It’s king, Rinwey, is one of a long line of intelligent royals, taking after his mother. Rinwey is proud and callous, but softens in the presence of his wife, Pellnique and their four children, Crown prince Colme, Olerqus, Vuniper, and Hadleinn. Rinwey was one of the first to cut ties with Olthandrynn upon Dargon being named king, as Rinwey is vocal about his disdain of shapeshifters, especially after one murdered his father, whose kingdom was one of six that guarded the Gates of Hell. This severed much money and technological progress for Olthandrynn, and he only sees what this has done in photos, as he hasn’t set foot there in twenty years.

Gelleshire is a popular destination for travel. Between being close to the sea, and all of the technological and natural comforts, it’s a kingdom brimming with life and light, despite the often gloomy weather.

****

Briggadene, the birthplace of Queen Pellnique, rests on the entirety of the island that was Iceland. It is ruled by Queen Tennelly, Pellnique’s oldest sister. Briggadene was spared the threat of the Usurper War, and thus didn’t need to stop in its tracks for war or repairs, so the citizens there can have a naivete about them, including the royal family. The towns and villages have had chances many others haven’t had to progress without fear of destruction; and after obtaining Rinwey as an in-law, they enjoy his technological advances as well. It’s another popular place to go on holiday, and many royals have been seen taking in the calm of Briggadene’s safety.

****

Karntherin is the kingdom that rests on what was once Greece. The beautiful villages along the sea have been recreated since the Rekindling of Humanity; twice. Once after Karntherin was christened, and then after a volcano ravaged the kingdom some fifty years ago. The entirety of Karntherin’s people were evacuated, as king Luranndt stayed as long as he could, helping his then-expecting daughter, Princess Yveles, and her husband, Prince Unoch, to safety. Luranndt was the first to return, and months later, his daughter and son-in-law returned, and Luranndt’s grandson, Prince Grennt, was born 3 days later. The heir of Karntherin was born in a meager medical tent, and it was that same day that Luranndt’s men discovered a bounty of obsidian; enough to sell to afford the repairs. Luranndt and Unoch saved some behind, and made Grennt’s future crown with the gemstones, symbolizing a new beginning. Now, King Grennt wears the crown with pride, leading his kingdom with a patient, warm hand, now raising his own son, Prince Branndt, who will follow Grennt’s footprints and is learning a Trade vocation.

Karntherin is one of the closest allies with Olthandrynn, as Grennt and Dargon met during the Usurper War and became fast friends after sharing strategies in the tents. Kartherin supports and endorses Olthandrynn as much as it can, and trades obsidian for jewelry and medical supplies, and Olthandrynn exports it’s jewelry and metals that were once used for weapons. Grennt is also the Second-Father (a type of godfather) to Dargon and Gwinletta’s children, and he was the first to be in the know about Dargon’s experimental pregnancies.

****

Sutherndall is a kingdom with it’s home is in the mountains of former Spain, and is home to a mountain of a king himself, Undrell. Despite his intimidating appearance, Undrell is soft-spoken and often deep in thought. He is fair and true, if not a little on the wary side at all times. These qualities have made him an excellent Officiator, a vocation that allows him to be a mediator between kingdoms during times of difficult contractual agreements, or to simply oversee trades and treaties.

Sutherndall is a beautiful landscape, filled with diverse plantlife, thanks to queen Hestia, whose vocation of botany is not ignored as she is one of the few that ensures the salvation of old seeds and plants kept hidden by the Underground during the Shapeshifter’s reign. The countryside is lined with handsome clay cottages, and their vineyards and quaint food and shopping districts are a driving force in tourism. The heir to Sutherndall, Princess Saithwenn, has an art vocation of crownmaking, and her works have been gaining attention. Many of their jewels are supplied by Olthandrynn, but they must keep it a secret in order to secure a sale; something Dargon is aware of and supports; even though it seems Undrell has distanced himself from Olthandrynn in order to ensure his daughter’s success. However, Undrell never fails to send aid towards his old friend, and is often present for important events; he simply asks not to be photographed; and Dargon respects his wishes.

****

Takev is a kingdom in the former borders of Morocco, and is the home of King Bardeth, his wife Desta, and their sons, crown prince Coloye and his younger brother Mig’Hail. Bardeth is a tender-hearted, hard-working king with a vocation in medicine. A broad, tall man with immense patience and precise hands, he became an ally of Dargon after marrying Desta, who was King Grennt’s first wife, and the mother of Prince Branndt. Desta maintained friendship with fellow mother Gwinletta, and introduced Bardeth to the Olthandynn crew, and a friendship sparked. Bardeth is surprisingly close with Grennt as well, and is a caring stepfather for Branndt. Bardeth, Grennt and Dargon often share war stories, and parenting advice for one another. 

Takev imports medicine to its allies, as well as the spices that made the country famous before the Shifters’ Reign. They also benefit from the trade of Olthandrynn’s gemstones and metal, and Karntherin’s obsidian, which Takev uses to make surgical instruments.

****

Kivne is the birthplace of Queen Desta, and resides in the former borders of Egypt. It is ruled by her older sister, Queen Anniva. Kivne suffered much loss in the ways of its national treasures and history during the Shifters’ Reign; as the monuments of Sphinxes, obelisks, and the pyramids were reduced to rubble, either by neglect over time, or direct desecration by the Shifters, who sought out to destroy humanity’s hold on earth. When The Underground provided the first ruler of Kivne with Egypt’s history, the damage was extensive and heartbreaking, and as news of Kivne’s losses reached other kingdoms, aid came in to help rebuild a series of new monuments, dedicated in memory to the humans who had suffered and died at the hands of the Shifters. A large pyramid holds those from their faction of the Underground that died in the Hundred Year War. A new, large sphinx rests on the arcs at all of the kingdom gates, keeping watch over her country, and many others are seen on important buildings Sphinxes are also often chiseled into doorframes of homes. There is a dedication sanctuary in the kingdom that continues to grow; it consists of twenty obelisks so far, with the names of those in the pyramid, and names found in the Underground of the Egyptians who first fought the Shifters. As more names come into light of those who were forced to serve and be host to Shifter’s, more names are added to the obelisks. 

****

Kluyagal is one of many kingdoms that rests in the borders of former California; and it is one of six guarding the Gates of Hell (which was once known as Death Valley). Kluyagal is ruled by Queen Thanoelle, daughter of the late King Malchus, who was the father of King Rinwey of Gelleshire. Kluyagal is, therefore, one of the first kingdoms to benefit from technological advances from Gelleshire. It was a treaty between Kluyagal and Gelleshire that led to Rinwey’s birth, as Malchus, a widowed king, sought knowledge from then Queen Ullawren to secure the Gates to Hell. Upon their meetings, they grew closer, and after Malchus returned to Kluyagal, he received a letter from Ullawren announcing her pregnancy. Rinwey would be born just one month before Thanoelle’s marriage at age 18. Thanoelle herself is married to King Drunuer, formerly of the kingdom of Liethe (situated on the border of former Colorado and Wyoming), and they have three daughters, and a gaggle of grandchildren. Despite this, Thanoelle is of excellent health at 68, and still oversees the Gates.

Thanoelle is known for her militaristic ways of running her section of Hell. As the queen of Kluyagal, she is humorous, albeit stern; but as a woman with a boot on the throat of Shifters, she is relentless and savage; all in the name of her murdered father. She has watched with boiling blood as her neighbors have allowed societies to form in their sections of Hell. They do not enforce codices to imprison the groups of Shifter vagrants that still roam earth, continuing to reproduce like cockroaches. She has often threatened war on her neighbors for slacking off. Thanoelle receives imprisoned Shifters often from her brother and his allies, and she maintains a monthly purge to make sure their numbers don’t grow too high, or they don’t become too comfortable. She destroys anything resembling a business, a garden, a way to grow, and keeps them shuddering in their meager slums. She has caught many trying to dig under the wall that separates the kingdom’s boundaries, hoping to escape to one of the less-governed sections, and they’re immediately executed. She keeps all of her Shifters microchipped to deter them from escaping, lest they risk their family’s well-being.

In the middle of Hell is a large building, which houses the meteor that first brought the Shifters. Inside of the building are meeting rooms, laboratories, and offices; and at the top of it is a radar that sends out frequencies that keeps Shifters from using their powers - these radars are seen in many kingdoms; mostly in concentrated towns and villages. Many kingdoms turned theirs off to conserve power during the Usurper War. Others turned theirs off to save money in trying times. Some never turned theirs back on as they don’t see the Shifters as a threat anymore - Olthandrynn’s has been disabled, but remains standing. Karntherin and Takev have completely dismantled their radars out of respect for Dargon. The kingdoms that keep theirs disabled have been known to be the first to reach out to Dargon as of late. However, for safety reasons, when Dargon is expecting and using his shapeshifting to carry, Gwinletta often travels solo; unless they’re given proof of a disabled radar before traveling.

[creedatelier]

Rush Amid The Rapids.

“Must I always be posting transactions?” I said to myself, Landon Croaker, accountant, adjusting my backpack as I rambled up a ragged winding woodland path.

A granite strewn gulag odyssey lay ahead.

There was the usual green stew of ornate plants.

Ancient Fir Clubmoss which grows into a chalice- like shape.

The St Patrick’s cabbage, with thick leather zig zag veins.

Hapless Fraochan and Whortleberry shrub’s pendant fruit so symmetrical.

I brought my notebook with me.

Closet novelist or bard one day?

Canopy of lattice branch springboards abound.

Shrieks

from stunned squirrels leaping in the arc of a trapeze with blue jay alarm signal.

Rustle of rabbits under slender stalks.

Puffball cloud and brown-dust spore floaters.

A wastrel I was within the wilds.

I was getting close to where my friends, a husband and wife team lived and ran a fringe publishing company.

They resided in a cherry wood log cabin with tongue and groove cladding and a pine timbered roof lantern peering down a mountain side.

Like a watchtower the mountain sat in sinister observance.

A fallow deer suddenly appeared.

It looked furtively with startled eyes as if it knew something I didn’t.

Within minutes it vanished.

Flies swarmed about, the spooky whistleblowers on this solitary hiker’s grazed cheeks.

My clothes were wringing wet from the sweltering heat.

The curious urban spirit drove me on.

Chambered cairns, those passage tunnels from the past that act as stone markers for the venturer were rife.

Platform mounds whose ribboned cracks and gouges play host to strongly rooted Chasmophytes.

There was a lurking presence as the cabin became visible.

“Hello, there. Fancy seeing you here.

Welcome back.”

Chelsea, in a croaking baby twang.

“Oh …you frightened me.” Landon said.

I nearly toppled.

Chelsea dashed towards me.

“A bit worried there, Landon.

What a surprise!

We like surprising people too.”

I paused and replied.

“It's the unexpected that adds spice to this life business and others!”

Landon sardonically.

“You sound tired.”

Chelsea replied.

“We’ll change that. We’ll change everything about your life now you’re here.”

The ramifications of that would soon unfold.

“The last time I was here we talked about having children.

Any decision yet?

You could always adopt.”

I continued.

“Don’t have to.

Got my husband and he’s got me.” She said.

“We’re both kids at heart.”

Her sad voice trailing off.

“This location seems ideal but there’s schooling and everything.”

Chelsea hesitantly.

“Nothing that couldn’t be resolved.”

Landon in reply.

Croaker sensed Chelsea’s unease and didn’t continue.

“Hey, what’s this?” Croaker cried as two apples landed at his feet.

“Yahoo. You two.”

Chesney, Chelsea’s husband shouted.

“It’s been so long.

Doesn't time fly?”

Chesney again.

While walking it dawned on Landon how dewy-eyed and child-like this couple were.

.

Entering the cabin seemed like something from a storybook.

Cartoon mosaics attached to fool’s gold borders, zip purse smashed purple bead inserts, and shredded comic strips.

“There are shrouds of deep mystery here.”

Croaker thought.

“Hey Snap.

What’s accountancy like these days?”

Chesney’s smug question.

“Nothing really changes.

Investment investment hazards and the like.

It’s a world I drifted into.

How about your company in paradise.”

Croaker sarcastically.

“Publishing is odd.

You almost become the stories submitted.”

Chesney observed.

“Birth and regrowth are gaining interest.

Am I boring you?” Chesney enquired.

“Well, it beats accountancy.”

Landon tactfully.

A salad of roasted lemon, fennel fronds and pomegranate was served with

guacamole dip based on chunky avocado.

After our meal we washed up

Chelsea’s phantom figure scurried outside with Olympic speed.

It was so redolent of the suddenness about.

A rapt cocoon descended around Chesney and Landon's interaction.

Landon quizzed Chesney about the urban country rift.

Tranquil timberlands have their own stressors.

“See those creatures slumped awkwardly on fragile twigs?

They sense pending doom.”

Chesney observed.

“Can you really escape hectic city life?”

A querulous tone from Chesney.

“Maybe these divisions are fictional.”

Landon archly.

“Thud. What’s that?”

Chesney shaking.

Chelsea entered.

“Oh dear .. let’s say a homing pigeon.

They’re a strange breed.”

She said smugly.

“Very strange indeed.”

Chesney out loud.

Chelsea and Chesney exchange strained silent glances.

A circus of the wilds continued outside as species vied with species in an ego fanfare.

Chirping robin red breasts,

wing scraping crickets in high chorus.

Vulcan steam curtain as backdrop.

Horseshoe Bats that weave rainbow shafts.

Daddy long legs with their cancan dances on sodden patches.

“Excuse me …..ring a bell?” Chesney diverting Landon’s attention with a broken fragment.

Landon bought this autumn crocus crystal vase on a previous sojourn.

It slipped from his hands in a butter fingers incident.

Croaker uttered the words “my lasting gift” as it fell.

Cackles erupted but frustration for Landon.

“A hilarious keepsake after a fashion.”

Chelsea opined.

“Really?”

Said Landon embarrassed by this anecdote.

The hours passed and they were both tired.

Landon saw Chesney remove a letter from a ring pull drawer.

“Just an old bill. Must shred it.” He said.

“Why would Chesney explain that?

His face reddened.

Curious.” Landon thought.

Shuffling to bed Landon did notice

pink salmon eiderdowns, pillows with children sleeping under moonlit skies, and Milky Way throw blankets.

The night passed uneventfully.

There were some noises in the kitchen as morning approached.

Having woken sluggishly Croaker walked into the dinning area.

A sense of foreboding filled the room.

Landon grappled awkwardly with claustrophobia.

It was disrupted by the chatter of the chestnut -sided warbler.

An oak hook tip moth added charm with its zoom and flutter acrobatics.

“I’ve the creepiest feeling.”

Croaker reasoned.

“BUZZZ ……..Buzzzzz ……Boing.”

My old cell-phone’s text tone.

My boss. Wonder what he wants?”

Landon to himself.

“Dear Landon,

When you return I would like to speak to you about your future with this company.

I can’t go into further details

as it involves a lot of interested parties.

A wide -ranging discussion is in order,

Regards,

Tom Wright

Managing Director.”

Landon’s worst fears now confirmed.

“I’m confused.

Just how pressing is this or …. what is this in front of me?”

A letter from Chesney and Chelsea.

“Hi Landon,

We had to leave quickly.

Help yourself to whatever largesse there is.

Don’t know how long we’ll be.

You can hang around of course or leave.

Don’t break anything!!

Ha ha,

Ches and Chels.”

Incredible! Between the text and the letter who wouldn’t be alarmed?

Landon limped outside to an ear splitting din and a mist laden detritus that merged into pockets of streams steeplechasing each other.

A slimy frog vaulted and cast a damp viscous oil spray in Croaker’s direction.

Something ….a shadow.

“This has been the most peculiar visit I’ve ever had.

Intrigue seems encoded in it.”

Croaker’s anxiety growing.

A tap on the shoulder followed by a crystal shard at his feet.

“The vase remember?

Don’t be so serious ……..we’ve something to discuss with you.”

Chesney said pointedly.

“An Agatha Christie mystery novel has nothing on this.”

Landon fretted.

“We’ve been reflecting, Chelsea and I.

Your presence is an extraordinary coincidence.”

Chesney quizzically.

“We’d like to offer you a job as our accountant.”

Chelsea suggested.

Croaker now shivering.

“You know by now we love to jumpstart even our closest friends.

This post is tailor made for you.”

Chelsea once more.

“Your boss will understand.”

Croaker’s head was now in a spin.

“You like writing don’t you?

There’s plenty of stories here.”

Chelsea opined.

“All this trouble to offer me a job?” Croaker queried.

“We don’t do things by halves.”

Chelsea with Chesney nodding.

A carousel of thoughts flashed through Landon’s mind at this juncture.

He walked in a trance struggling with everything.

“What was in Chelsea’s sports bag I wonder?” Thought Croaker.

“Let’s go for a swim, Landon.

I’ve got swim trunks for us all.”

Chelsea tossed a nylon mesh swim trunks at Landon as everyone changed.

Something slipped out of Chesney's pocket without him noticing.

It was that letter Chesney removed previously and read as follows.

“Dear Chesney and Chelsea,

As your doctor I regret you won’t be able to have children. It’s with a heavy heart I share this with you.

There are many reasons for this…”

The rest of the letter was creased and illegible.

It was subsequently swept to the river’s edge underneath a Crested Iris by a slight breeze.

Meanwhile, we were all breast stroking energetically while taking the occasional breather.

“You can make up your mind, Landon, at the end of this swim whenever that is and wherever it is taking us.”

Chelsea giggled as she circulated in the eddying stream.

We all started off again as we followed each other’s course.

“Awh, the child within!” Cried Chelsea.

As Landon pondered his fate the mountain looked down imperiously upon us all as the stray deer suddenly reappeared from nowhere.

Maybe that deer did know something after all!

Photograph and prose poem Copyright Protected.

#creedatelier #blog@creedatelier

[peterstanslizzie]

Re-watching Lizzie Mcguire: Episode 1.28 (Lizzie and Kate’s Excellent Adventure)

I wish we got to see more of this unexpected friendship

- We find out that Lizzie has the flu and had to miss a day of school. Gordo and Miranda greets Lizzie in her room with a stack full of books for her homework. It’s middle school, not college; That’s too many books.

I feel like I’ve seen this pic everywhere

- Lizzie asks her friends about what she’d miss in Mrs. Stebel’s Social Studies class and they give each other a strange look. Their teacher instructed the class to work in pairs to do a book report on a country and its native dish. Since Lizzie was absent, Gordo and Miranda naturally paired up, leaving Lizzie out of the picture.

- Well, it turns out that Lizzie is paired with her frenemy Kate Sanders, who was also absent from school. And as you can guess, Lizzie did not take to this news too well:

Let it all out girl...just let it all out

We get it; Lizzie and Kate don’t like each other. What’s new?

- The next morning, Lizzie is dreading going back to school since she’s forced to work with Kate and even considers calling in sick for an extra day. Her mom, Jo already knows about the whole Kate Sanders situation because Kate’s mom called in last night. Did Kate’s mom ever appeared on the show? I can’t recall. 

- Anyways, Jo insists that Lizzie should suck it up and deal with Kate being her project partner. On top of that, Matt’s adding fuel to the already raging fire by throwing his two-cents into the discussion. I’m now back to being annoyed with him after somewhat liking him last episode. 

- In school, Lizzie is complaining about the country that was assigned to her, Latvia and how the signature over there is jellied meat, which is called Aspic (after doing a quick Google search). 

- Kate and her crew walk up to Lizzie and Kate establishes some ground rules with Lizzie i.e. spending as little time together as possible, not being seen in public and not making jellied meat. Lizzie accepts her conditions and they also agree to meet at Lizzie’s house after school. 

It all seems like it’s going to work out but Lizzie still needs to let some steam out

Kate and Lizzie Working Together

- That evening after school, Lizzie is on the phone with Miranda, who’s with Gordo to work on their project on Mexico. 

Well, it’s mostly Gordo doing the ground work. Miranda’s more focused on jumping...

- The doorbell of Lizzie’s house rings and it’s probably Kate outside. Lizzie is still mad at Miranda for not covering for her. What does she want for Miranda to do exactly? If Kate’s the only other person absent in class, it makes sense for the two absent students to get paired. And if Lizzie and Miranda pair up, Gordo wouldn’t have anyone but Kate to partner with. 

- Kate’s in the kitchen talking to Jo and they’re awkwardly trying to make small talk. As soon as Lizzie steps into the kitchen, Jo quickly scurries on out of there because it seems like she doesn’t like Kate either lol. 

This stare-down between the two of them is even more awkward

- But things take a turn when they both agree that their friends are lousy for not picking them as their partner for the project. And it’s so cute how they laughed at the same time. As time went on, they seem to be getting along well due to being on the same page when it comes to Latvian food. 

Do y’all see this interaction? It’s so rare; It’s like watching a dog walk on its hind legs (I had to include a Mean Girls reference)

- Even Jo notices them getting along like old times. But as soon as Kate realises this, she quickly excuses herself and they say bye to each other awkwardly. I wish they could go back to being good friends because I don’t like the idea that popular kids can’t be friends with the non-popular kids. I mean, I don’t think they even got to that place after the Lizzie Mcguire Movie. 

A Broken Friendship

- The next morning, Miranda and Gordo ask Lizzie how things went with Kate to which she tells them it was alright. Not only that, she tells them that she and Kate are going to work together after school at the Digital Bean even though one of Kate’s earlier demands is that they are not to be seen in public together.

- At the Digital Bean, Lizzie and Kate are researching on what their dish should be and they decide to make Alexandertorte, which is a pastry dessert that has raspberry jam inside. 

Nice contrast

- Gordo and Miranda followed by Claire and her other crew members then stop by to throw shade at Kate and Lizzie respectively. But Claire was way worse than Lizzie’s friends; She even bragged about being able to work with Ethan over Kate. 

- They then start prepping in Lizzie’s kitchen to make their torte dish. Things start a little rocky at first but when they start talking about old memories from the time they were best friends, they begin to open up to each other again. Basically, they were talking about Kate’s 9th Birthday party and how Kate really loved a Baby Spice shirt that was given to her by Lizzie and she couldn’t wait to try it on. It’s kinda sad that they used to be that close. 

- All of a sudden, Matt runs into the kitchen with his blindfolds on and bumps into Kate who was carrying an egg carton; This, of course causes the eggs to drop to the ground. But it’s all okay because luckily, it was only a few eggs. 

The Queens of Falling

- This is when it gets kind of juicy; They finally talk about the reason why they’re suddenly not friends anymore. Before this, we were told that it’s because Kate developed really quickly and got a bra, which made her popular. I guess that’s still true but it’s also because she went away to camp and there, she had made new friends, whom might or might not have influenced her to treat her old friends badly. 

I got so many feels from this moment. Like I’ve said before, I just love the way they smile at each other; It’s so endearing. 

Possibilities

Look at them, working together as one and everything

- Next, we see them giving their report on Latvia in front of the class and they did a great job. After completing their presentation, their friends come over to throw unnecessary shade again and basically act as if Lizzie and Kate did not get along fine when they clearly did. 

- I think this is the moment where I really questioned ‘What Would Happen’ if the writers had decided to change the outcome of this episode since Lizzie and Kate went back to hating on each other just to please their friends. I actually envisioned the other alternative to be Lizzie and Kate standing up to their friends and basically letting them know the truth, which is they are actually back to being friends. But that’s not the case with what happened in this episode but still, I think the other possibility I mentioned could be a really powerful moment for this show. 

BUT we did get this moment, which tells the audience that Kate and Lizzie actually like each other deep down inside. It’s just that with the way middle school and its social groups are set up, it doesn’t allow them to publicly be friends. Well, who cares? But unfortunately, that’s just how school is; It’s full of petty drama.

B-Plot: Matt’s Psychic Y’all *Rolls Eyes

- In Matt’s school (we finally see him in school after spending so many episodes away from the place), he and his friend, Oscar are having lunch together and Matt is able to predict that their substitute Math teacher has on big red clown shoes before they even saw her. Matt concludes that he is psychic. And here I go, going back to not caring about Matt’s storyline again lol. 

- They set up a ‘Psychic Readings’ booth in the backyard and Matt gives predictions to three different kids, which seem vague and ludicrous at first but it turns out that all his predictions came true:

The predictions are as follows: Buying an expensive gift, getting a haircut and going on a long trip

- Similar to majority of Matt’s storylines, his one-off interests, which in this case is his psychic ability starts getting out of hand as he now thinks he is able to predict every single event, regardless of how insignificant it may be. Jo doesn’t buy it for one second but his dad sure does as he asks him to predict the next day’s lottery numbers. 

- Matt even predicted that Jo was going to send him to his room and later on, she would try to convince Sam that he’s not psychic. That was actually kind of cool but I guess it’s because he knows his parents very well. 

- Jo is very adamant on proving to both Matt and Sam that Matt isn’t really psychic and administers a test to help with that. And look, Matt answers the question correctly! If Jo is going out of her way to do all of that, I have to think that she low-key thinks that Matt is psychic, no? 

- Anyways, his antics finally end once he randomly realises he cannot read other people’s minds anymore. Oh well, too bad...goodbye.

Overall Thoughts

- This is easily one of my favourite episodes of the entire series. We finally get to see something fresh and new that we’ve never seen before on this show and that is Lizzie and Kate getting along as friends. 

- In Kate’s earliest appearance on this show, she was introduced as the mean, popular girl who was actually Lizzie’s best friend in elementary school up until she became popular. Since then, their old friendship wasn’t really touched upon at all till now. I love how they gave us a deep insight into their past memories as childhood friends and how she, Lizzie and Miranda were really close with one another back then. 

- This episode alone really makes me hope that Ashlie Brillault (the actress who plays Kate) will consider coming back to guest star in the Lizzie Mcguire revival series next year but I highly doubt it since she’s now an attorney. But honestly, I’d be okay if they mention to us that Lizzie and Kate are still friends in adulthood; That would make me pretty satisfied with Kate’s overall story arc. 

[chikyuji]

Trinity Seven Season 2 Release Date And Renewal Status

The post Trinity Seven Season 2 Release Date And Renewal Status appeared first on Chikyuji Animes.

Trinity Seven season 1 gained a lot of popularity. But despite being so popular, this series never got a season 2. Fans of the series have been desperately waiting for the release of Trinity Seven season 2, but we have not yet received an official announcement. However, there is still a huge chance that this series will make a comeback in the coming years.

If you are one of the many die-hard fans of the Trinity Seven series, then you are at the right place. Today, I will give you all the information you need regarding Trinity 7 season 2, but before we get started, let us take a look back at what this series is all about. (Check: 6 Facts You Probably Already Know About Trinity Seven)

Trinity Seven is an action-comedy anime with some ecchi thrown in to spice it up. This series is delightful for people of all ages. The comedic aspect of this series is golden, and in my opinion, it is the strong suit of this anime. The plot of this series is unique, and it has been executed in a very beautiful manner.

The characters in this series feel alive! The characters are all very well-designed and have well-built personalities. None of the characters in this series are unlikable! The ecchi in this show is also handled quite masterfully. The ecchi is only used to strengthen the comedic aspect of Trinity 7, and it is not the main focus of this anime.

Now, let us take a look at the plot of this anime!

Trinity Seven Season 1 Plot:

Trinity Seven is a manga written by Kenji Saitō and drawn by Akinari Nao. Pic credit: Seven Arcs Pictures

In this anime, we follow the story of Arata Kasuga. One day, the Sun suddenly stops shining, causing the “Breakdown Phenomenon”. This phenomenon causes the destruction of Arata’s town and the disappearance of the people inhabiting it. All, however, is not yet lost! By utilizing the magical grimoire given to him by a friend, Arata’s world gets artificially reconstructed. In order to investigate the phenomenon, Lilith Asami appears before Arata and Arata are given two choices: hand over the book, or die. However, Arata chooses a completely different option and ends up enrolling in the top-secret magic school Royal Biblia Academy. Six other magical users await him there. All these magic users form the Trinity Seven. With the ambition to save Hijiri and the help of his newfound friends, Arata stops at nothing to prevent the destruction of his beloved hometown and to bring his best friend back.

Trinity Seven Anime:

Trinity Seven anime has been very beautifully constructed. Despite being produced by a not so well-known studio, this anime has very good animation and art. The transitions between scenes and the sound effects have been added in quite masterfully. The best thing about this anime is the voice acting! The voice actors have all done a marvelous job and they portray the voices of each character in the most realistic manner. Being as entertaining as it is, Trinity 7 is an absolute must-watch.

Starting Trinity Seven. 12 episodes, two films . And 21 volumes to the manga to enjoy in the future . Strictly touching base for the ecchi and praying the story is good lmao. Been enjoying to much Slice of life and wholesome anime’s recently pic.twitter.com/Mfpn6TUQ4w

— PandaDaOtaku (@PandaDaOtaku) December 30, 2019

Trinity Seven Manga:

The Trinity Seven Manga is the original source material for the anime, and it is just as good. Trinity Seven Manga has a very beautiful art and narrative structure. The manga gives us an even better ecchi experience! The manga started publishing all the way back in 2010 and is still ongoing, hence, it is way ahead in the story. If you are dying to know what happens next in the story, then the manga is a must-read.

Trinity Seven Movie:

Trinity Seven Movie 2: Heavens Library to Crimson Lord is released on 29th March 2019. Pic credit: Seven Arcs Pictures

The Trinity Seven series has already received 2 movie adaptions (“Trinity Seven Movie 1: Eternity Library to Alchemic Girl”, “Trinity Seven Movie 2: Heavens Library to Crimson Lord”) which tell us a lot about how popular this series is. Both the movies did fairly well as they were watched and enjoyed by fans all over the world. Sadly, the movies are not sequels to the original story but of course, they have been adapted from the original manga and are a very good addition. As I said at the start of this article, Trinity Seven Season 2 has not been announced yet.

Trinity Seven Season 2 Release Date:

As of now, Seven Arcs Pictures is yet to officially announced the actual release date of Trinity Seven Season 2. However, there is still a huge chance that it will happen! The latest movie of the series got released quite recently in 2019, and it was quite well-received. Considering the fact that this series has managed to stay relevant over such a long period of time, we can easily guess that the second season is on its way as well. According to our sources, the second season will get an official announcement in the year of 2020, and then later get released in 2021.

The post Trinity Seven Season 2 Release Date And Renewal Status appeared first on Chikyuji Animes.

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[elfpen]

I’ve started making playlists for Reprise! Here is the mostly complete one for the first arc. I may add more later to fill in some of the narrative gaps. Playmoss is an awesome platform, but regrettably I cannot add track names and commentary. So, I’ve done that here. 

The tracks are picked to reflect specific chapters or moments in the story. I’ve copied and pasted some of the moments I was thinking of while picking out each song, though of course in some cases the song works for the entire chapter or a much longer segment than I wanted to paste here. My own titles for the songs (and song info) as well as excerpts are under the cut! 

Spoilers for Reprise, if that wasn’t obvious.

1. Pillars of Truth - (Sayuri’s Theme by John Williams)

There is no death, there is the Force. 

Long ago, there had been a cache of academics at the temple that had believed that this doctrinal platitude was not merely one line of the Jedi Code, but was, in essence, the Code itself. Over the course of his life, Obi-Wan had heard a litany of arguments both for and against the idea, pandering nuance like law in essays that no one read. As erudite a student as he had been, he'd never taken a side. Whether the saying was one part of the code or was the code itself had always seemed like a semantic nothing to him. It was truth, one of the pillars of solid truth that a Jedi could dig his fingers into when he started to fall; it, like the whole code, was a tether to the life-giving Force, and that was what mattered. It was supposed to matter.

2. Basement Level 459 - (Early Morning Fog by Jacob Shea & Jasha Klebe)

It was beautiful down here, in its own way. Dark, yes, and cold in places. Devoid of life and furniture alike. But the Force was thick here, so thick she could taste it. Its flavor was rich and delicately seasoned, generations of Jedi wisdom pressing up against her like a smoldering hearthfire, the embers of light that kept the surface dwellers alive far above. It was a shame that they only used these levels for utilities, now. Electric generators, antigrav backup systems, repulsor regulators, and maintenance units were just some of the commodities that found a home here down below. Ever since she'd aged out of the initiate program at age thirteen, it had been Tala's duty to care for them. It was a lonely, tedious job. But with the Force so strong here, she savored the atmosphere like fine wine.  [...]  Deep in the bowels of the temple, Tala could sense an aftershock. Something… someone. She was no longer alone down here.

3. Meditation - (Dreaming of the Crash by Hans Zimmer)

Obi-Wan obediently followed his master into meditation, desperate for the solace of the Force. They could not wade slowly into the deep; they fell, hard and flailing. The light swirled around them, offering little answers, asking for patience and open minds. Tossed within the waves, Obi-Wan could feel the stirrings of visions not his own, shadows of things he had never seen. Unfamiliar cliffs on Ilum. The 'saber and its blue heart. It would be his starting point, he felt, the beginning of his inquest. It would take time. Days. Weeks. Months. Years. They would not understand. He would not understand. It was going to hurt. Despair, despair, the shadows said. He was prepared to defend: There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.

Something in the light smiled and rewarded his diligence: You will learn. Your master will learn. Ben will learn. You will all will learn, and live, and the balance will be restored. Take heart. It is a new beginning.

It sounded so grandiose, and so massive - too massive for him to comprehend. Already, it was slipping from his grasp. In his mind's eye, he found himself standing perched on a high mountain face above the clouds. He had no idea how he'd gotten there, and could not see the trail from which he must've emerged. He knew that his destination was somewhere in the distance, in the valley beyond this icy cliff face. Directly below him was a path only wide enough for one boot. His stomach jumped in fear, frozen earth numbing his hands where he clutched at the slope. But the path was even and clear. If he just put one foot in front of the other, carefully, just one at a time…

4. Unprecedented - (Time by Hans Zimmer)

"Master Kenobi," The Korun master said, voice unwavering and assured. "You realize that this makes you the very first recorded time traveller of the Jedi Order."

Ben took a deep breath, absorbing the notion. He was also the very first Jedi to die and live to tell about it, as far as he knew. He'd also been the first Jedi to defeat a Sith in a thousand years, and the first Jedi to train the Chosen One, and the first one to fail at doing so properly. He exhaled. The Force did seem to like picking on him in that respect.

"Yes, I suppose you're right, Master Windu," he said, unaware that the whole council could hear the age in his voice. He glanced at Obi-Wan. "Though I cannot comprehend why the Force has granted me this."

"Patience, forbearance paves the path of clarity," Yoda supplied with a small green smile. Ben's expression softened. The Grandmaster looked around at the council members. Outside, the bright pastels of sunrise were beginning to encroach over the dark. "Secret, this matter will stay. Kept safe among the council. For what purpose Master Kenobi appears, we know not. Tell no one. Wait on the Force, we must. Meditate on this, all of us will." It was a promise as well as an order. "May the Force be with you, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

5. The Padawans - (Peace Prize by Thomas Newman)

"You've been holding out on us, Kenobi," Garen Muln hissed, elbowing his way into a spot at the table. Padawans Bant Eerin and Reeft glanced between the accused and the new arrival.

"What?" Asked Obi-Wan through a full mouth.

Garen ducked his head, glancing over his shoulder at the busy refractory. "You never told me you had a kriffing uncle in the Order!"

"What?" Reeft burst, belching as he did so.

Obi-Wan swallowed his food and his suppressed panic with it. "Um… yeah," He said, very awkwardly, leaning back from the table.

"Wait, you do?" Bant asked.

"You son of gundark!" Garen was smiling manically.

"Uncle as in related uncle?"

"What is he like?"

"I've never heard about another Kenobi…"

[...]

"I see. Thank you." Ben nodded at his younger self. "A good day to you all." He turned to leave, and paused momentarily to smirk at their Dressellian member, who'd already begun stuffing his face again. "A word of advice, Padawan Reeft," He smiled impishly beneath his mustache, "It does tend to help if one chews before swallowing." He stepped away before the poor boy could stop choking on his embarrassment. Garun Muln, compassionate friend that he was, roared with laughter. "Obi-Wan's been telling him that for years!" he called after the retreating master.

Obi-Wan fought back a smile. "Still am, apparently," he muttered to himself.

"How did he know my name?" Reeft wondered aloud, once he'd stopped choking. Garen was still laughing too hard for them to hear.

6. Aged Sapir - (Chai by Thomas Newman)

"I do not dislike you, Master Ben."

"You dislike what I am, then. You dislike how I have upset things."

Qui-Gon hesitated, and then let out his breath. Well, it was only true. "And do you blame me?"

"Not in the slightest. Truthfully, I would be insulted if you were any less protective of your apprentice," Ben smiled. "I know that my presence has caused confusion in your bond with Obi-Wan, and I apologize for it. I wish it were not so. However…" Ben paused, allowing himself to be vulnerable as the only extant version of his master glared at him over a cup of his favorite tea. "I am without friends here, Qui-Gon," it felt like begging. "And whether you know it or not, you know me better than any other person alive – even Obi-Wan."

"I have no idea what kind of man you are," Qui-Gon said, voice haunted by thoughts of old apprentices, of the way Ben had spoken of the Sith mere weeks before.

"You know exactly the kind of man I am,"Ben replied, a small smile hiding behind his beard. "From whom do you think I learned how to spoil this many pathetic lifeforms?" he gestured to the resident greenery. "I am hardly a botanist."

Qui-Gon glanced around the room at the plants, at the incense burner in the corner. They were not things that his apprentice had ever cherished – in fact, Obi-Wan habitually moaned about his master's collection of plants, arguing that they received better treatment than he did. And it was Qui-Gon, not Obi-Wan, who so often raised the blinds on their windows when they meditated, who lit incense on cold nights to spice the air.

7. Lazing - (Temple Gardens by Jacob Shea and Jasha Klebe)

"Hmm," was all Yoda said. He propped his cane up under his chin and surveyed their surroundings; wind chimes, ancient trees, exotic gardens, shining marble. Beyond the protective transparisteel roof, blurred lines of speeders inched across the skies like metal ants. "Different you are than the Kenobi I know. Many years of growth, maturity you have; bemoan old joints you should not. Wisdom I sense in you. Much more valuable than gross matter this is."

The compliment was humbling; Ben had never thought he'd hear it. The glow of praise faltered somewhat when the green master chortled in that mischievous way of his and added, "Unorthodox wisdom. Qui-Gon's wisdom, hmm?" He poked Ben's shoulder with his stick. "Ruin you, my grandpadawan finally did."

Ben smiled, but it was bittersweet. He said, "Not quite as such. Qui-Gon's wisdom isn't the sort to take root right away. It has to ferment for a time – a long time." Twenty some odd years, in fact. "The Living Force is like fine wine," Ben waxed nostalgic. Yoda nodded sagely.

"And those who imbibe, drunk on it may become." 

8. A Word I Wouldn’t Know - (Nemo Egg (Main Title) by Thomas Newman)

"He never talks about it," he grumbled, and frowned more deeply, eyes shining with a hurt he didn't understand. "Why doesn't he talk about it? Why can't just… say it?"

"Say what?" Ben asked patiently, drawing out the poison that had festered for far too long in his childhood.

"Say…" Obi-Wan wrestled with his tongue. "Say something. Anything about her. Recognize that she's gone, and that it matters." Obi-Wan knew he was acting like a crecheling who couldn't control his emotions, but he didn't care. Ben waited while emotions tumbled out into the open air where they could be seen for what they were. "We have tea, and he says nothing, and we're on leave, and he says nothing, and I see Bant every day, and I can't say anything, because we don't talk about it, and I can't talk about it with him, and I try to release it into the Force, but every day, I just…" He heaved in a shaky breath, determined to not cry. "She's gone.And it shouldn't affect me, not like it does him, but it… she… she was…" He struggled with that tormenting, elusive concept, a word that he'd never known.

"Mother," Ben said, voice weeping with nostalgia. "The word you're looking for is 'mother'."

Obi-Wan absorbed this quietly, heart cracking like glass.

9. Mission to Herdessa - (Black Fairy (No Choir) by James Dooley)

"Now, just listen a moment," Ben placated, a steady hand out to stay their protests. "We are very quickly running out of options. We have three senators who refuse to see reason. We have days or hours before the systems on those ships shut down completely and send a whole fleet burning to the planet surface." He looked into their faces to see if they would contest any of these facts; they did not. He continued. "The fleet's immanent disaster is Thane's checkmate, and it is one we cannot escape through rhetoric. But if we ensure that the disaster happens on our terms, her trump card becomes our advantage."

"You're saying that we should intentionally crash the refugees' ships to pressure Thane and the rest to sign the bill?" Alara asked dubiously.

"Put in crude and simple terms…" Ben said, nodding, "Yes."

10. Plan Gone Wrong - (Langurs of Jodhpur by Jacob Shea and Jasha Klebe)

There were now two ships plummeting toward Herdessa. The first, the Zalada, was now flanked by a dozen large tug ships which upheld its bulk in the sky and hauled it behind an escort to the landing platform.

The second was the Juclima, almost as large as the flagship, and screaming toward the ground, trailing black smoke. The emergency teams were occupied with the Zalada, and only one or two ships attached to its docks, none of them successfully stalling it's descent.

"Sweet Force," Ben said as soon as he saw. Bail gaped at the sight.

"I thought you only sabotaged the Zalada," The senator said.

"I did. I misjudged which ship would fail first. I..." This is all my fault. But there was not time for that. "We need to stop it. We need to stop it right now."

11. The Wager - (The Plight of Infinity by Jeff Broadbent)

The baby continued to cry for several uncountable seconds, but Ben did not hear it. His mind had gone blank, heart stilled in time, hands frozen on his cards. Shmi. It felt as though his whole being had been sucked through a vortex and pulled into some alternate reality, where he floated inside a globe, onto which interior was projected holo video of a thousand moments at once, each one awash in his mistakes, his fears, his hopes. All of them spoke a single word at him in a cacophony of emotion, in voices loud and soft, loving and hateful: "Anakin."

The crying stopped, and Ben was back in his own body, sucking in used smoke and playing sabaac with Gardulla Besadii. He sat up straight and met her gaze. "I want to raise the stakes." He made sure he had her attention. "I win, the girl and her child as well come with me."

Gardulla looked unimpressed. «In exchange for?»

"Triple payment."

She laughed. Notwithstanding that she'd just sworn to strike down Shmi and her child, the huttese ego was a formidable thing to conquer. «I will bet you for a box of scraps and your life, Jedi. No credits will buy my property from me.»

"Quadruple payment."

«Do not insult me again, Republic scum. It is your turn.»

"Twenty-two thousand slaves," Ben burst.

Gardulla's head rose in surprise. «What did you say?»

12. Anakin - (Let My Soul Fade by Jonas B. Ingebretsen)

Sweet Force, he was so small. Anakin wobbled his head in protest to Ben's stiff posture and the Jedi fumbled to gently rearrange him in his too-big arms. Ben had held infants before, plenty of times. But now he was carrying the fate of the galaxy in the crook of his elbow and he felt as though he'd break him. He had once before.

Shmi breathed calmly and evenly from the other end of the room, leaving Ben and Anakin to make acquaintance in solitude. Alone with his very, very young brother of yesteryear, Ben couldn't dam the tears that stirred at his eyes. "There now," he smiled shakily down at the infant, "that was very rude of you, Anakin. What have I told you about frivolous uses of the Force?"

Anakin, compelled by the space-time continuum and the law of conservation of matter, could not recall any of Obi-Wan's lectures. In place of articulating this excuse, he pulled at the edge of Ben's tabards and spat bubbles. Ben burst into either laughter or tears - the two phenomena felt so astonishingly similar, sometimes. His cheeks were wet, at any rate. "Yes, that's right," the master said, laughing. But the laughing became silent sobs. Anakin remained unaffected, staring up at the weeping man in non-recognition. This made Ben cry harder. "Anakin," He choked, and covered his mouth with a sleeve to stifle his emotion.

Tenderly, he clutched Anakin upright to his chest and leaned a cheek against the infant's crown. Tears unchecked, Ben began rocking back and forth to the waves of grief he thought he'd conquered years ago. "I'm sorry," he crooned to the small Chosen One and the world he'd left too broken to continue on, "I'm so sorry."

13. Force Be With You - (A Father’s Love by James Dooley) 

Shmi's shoulders slumped. She looked fit to cry. She did not. "I… Thank you, Ben." She felt as though she was repeating herself too much to be properly understood, so she pocketed the credits and threw her free arm around his neck.

The gesture took Ben aback, but he smiled and returned the hug gently, careful of Anakin's small body between them. He heard Shmi sniffle against his hood, shaking with repressed emotion. "There now," he comforted, wrapping both arms around the girl. "You're free. That is the best reward I or anyone could ask for." She drew back and wiped at her eyes.

"I've… I've never been free, you know," she laughed, nigh hysterical with delight and relief. She held Anakin to her chest. "But now my son will be free, too."

"Yes," Ben smiled, a bittersweet feeling. He looked down at Anakin and saw everything he'd been sent back for - but perhaps not for the reasons he wanted most. "Shmi," He said, and after a second of hesitation, took up both of her hands in his own. "Shmi, your son is very special," he told her. How to communicate the weight of his words? "Unprecedented." She looked down at the infant now, slumbering face framed by her hands and those of a Jedi Master. She looked back up at Ben with different tears in her eyes.

"You want to take him away, after all?"

"No," Ben shook his head to dispel her fears. "No, Anakin will stay with you. He will be a great man one day, a great son to you. But… know that he could make a great Jedi – the greatest, I'm certain."

14. Retired War General  - (Blade of Blood by Tom Player)

And suddenly, right there in the corner of the dojo, the besalisk and the comparatively miniscule human began dueling each other. Pong drew his sabers first, or so the onlookers would recount to Vokara Che, but Kenobi rose to match the assualt with relish.

Ben was in his element, dancing under blades and around parries like the old dangerous days. Pong obviously hadn't expected much of a fight, so when Ben refused to be squashed and dashed in and out of the deadly jar'kai torrent like a specialist the besalisk's jowls began to puff in anger. Ben was oblivious. He no longer saw green and blue, but red, in staffs and in double, in the hands of a human, a zabrak, a traitor bound for Umbara. Krell let out a loud kaia, bringing both oversized sabers down in an overhead slash onto Kenobi's defense. Krell always had favored a full-frontal assault. To the last man, or so that horrible report had read. Ben snarled and threw the besalisk off of him with a force-shove. The two circled each other like wild akk dogs, each daring the other to strike.

A considerable crowd had gathered, awed padawans and increasingly worried masters. Someone sent for Master Drallig to intervene when Krell dared his opponent to raise the power setting on his saber and Kenobi agreed.

Krell would never back down. Kenobi couldn't. This was his life's kata: the struggle, the fight, seeing darkness pressing in on all sides, daring his spirit to endure it. It too was a prison, a dark reflection of the Temple's stifling calm, but he understood war better than peace.

15. Meeting with Vokara - (Worn to Tissue by Thomas Newman)

She took her notes with a shaky hand and fiddled again with her stylus. She was going to ask another question, Ben realized. He began to open his mouth, an escape route on his tongue, when she asked: "How many?"

Just before Ben could invoke the rights of their agreement, his ears relayed the contents of her question to his brain. His mouth paused as the rest of him tried to answer the query internally. He could not answer – not even for himself.

His eyebrows twitched. His frown went through several stages: first surprise, then confusion, then a final, sad realization. "You know," He said, looking at the wall like a man lost on a barren moon. He was speaking to Ben Kenobi as much as he was to Vokara. "I've never tried to count them all at once."

16. Aola - (Meeting the Girl by Jonas B. Ingebretsen)

He approached the front desk expecting to find Jocasta Nu, the Temple archivist. Instead, he found a small twi'lek curled up in Jocasta's seat, feet swinging, nose buried in a holo picture book.

"Hello there, little one," He said. The girl jumped in surprise, sitting up straight and blushing indigo behind a facefull of blue freckles. Embarrassed, she pulled up a sagging tabard, which looked as though it'd been fitted for her to grow into. Ben smiled at her, and she blushed harder. Looking uncertain, she brushed her still-playing holobook to the side as if to make it disappear. Projected above the pages, a rancor bit into a holographic gundark with gusto.

[...]

"You haven't met your grandpadawan, have you?" he realized. Qui-Gon turned toward him, suddenly aghast at the notion of a grandpadawan. Ben's smile grew wider.

"You're going to love her."

"Will I?"

"She wants to master jar'kai ataru." Ben turned to watch Qui-Gon's face with a deadpan expression. "She's eleven."

[...]

"Master, master, look at this!" Aola charged forward with a holobook glowing triumphantly with what Feemor could already tell was going to be a gory depiction of nature's horrifying food chain.

"Oh no," He said quietly to himself, an utterance completely neglected by his apprentice, who thrust the book out for his consideration. "It can swallow a gundark whole!"

"Goodness," Feemor commented mildly, taking the proffered book with a longsuffering expression. He didn't notice how Qui-Gon was disguising a smile and watching Aola with a new, special breed of interest.

"And look how cute the babies are," she pointed.

"Good heavens, are those teeth?"

"Yeah!"

[...]

Aola giggled. "That's the same as what Obi-Wan said!" She took the stylus and bit her tongue in concentration to draw a fanged, spiked, hissing creature – which of course she drew smiling. "You sound like him sometimes."

"I suppose I must," Ben said after a moment. "We are family, after all."

"Yeah, but not just alike. His voice is all weird, not like yours," the artist said, leaning back to inspect her work.

"How do you mean?"

"Sometimes he sounds like this," Aola explained, affecting a tone-deaf yodel reminiscent of Obi-Wan's cracking puberty voice. Ben guffawed.

"Yes," He said through the laughter, "yes, I suppose he does."

[...]

The apartment lights were dimmed to half-strength. The living room was covered in datapads and holobooks, some still open and projecting rotating system maps like ethereal blue mobiles. In the middle of the floor, back propped up against the edge of the sofa was Obi-Wan Kenobi, fast asleep. In his lap, head resting on his chest, was Aola. She hugged a holobook to her chest.

17. Work to Do - (Call to Adventure by Jonas B. Ingebretsen)

A grin creased Yoda's face. He reached out a claw to pat his great-grandpadawan's head. "A wise man you have become. Now. Get up you will. Comm Senator Organa, I must."

Ben's sagely airs disappeared in a puff of surprise. "Bail? Right now?" Yoda grunted as he let himself down from his chair.

"Tried to contact you many times the senator has, requested your help specifically he has. Annoyed that you are not allowed communications while under censure he is, keeps trying anyway. Promising young man. Stubborn." He glanced up at Ben with a parental kind of exasperation. "Familiar it is, annoying. Ready for him to stop pestering me I am."

"Will I go back onto the field then?" Ben asked, eyebrows high. "Will the Council let me work with Senator Organa right away?"

Yoda chuckled mischievously. "So ready you are to join the world of politics," he hummed, eyes light. "So eager, hmm? Good this is. Obi-Wan," Yoda fixed Ben with a deep stare, a stare that had seen hundreds of generations of Jedi come and go. He smiled. "Much work to do, you have."

[...]

"I'd like to meet this senator," Qui-Gon said.

"I'll have to introduce you one day." A pause. They were nearing the end of the conversation, they all felt it. "I do not know when I will next see either of you." It made him feel far more nervous than he would have expected.

"We will see each other between missions. It is the way of things."

"Of course." Of course the would. The prospect of living the life of an active Jedi and having the assurance of seeing Qui-Gon – alive, healthy, present, was a gift he'd never imagined. "Well. Until then, Master, Obi-Wan."

"May the Force be with you, padawan."

Ben smiled at how natural it sounded, even with Obi-Wan there. "And also with you – both of you. Until we see each other again."

They clicked off their comms and Ben turned away, picking up the files that Bail had sent him hours ago. The lists were long and wordy, packed with talk of senate meetings, committees, bills, and coalitions. Some of them he recognized. Others he did not. They were all, in their own ways, extremely important. He waited only on approval from the council. Eventually, he decided to go to bed. He'd need his rest.

Tomorrow, the real work began.

[aion-rsa]

Wynonna Earp Season 4, Episode 6 Review: Holy War Part Two

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This Wynonna Earp review contains spoilers.

Wynonna Earp Season 4, Episode 6

You can love a narrative choice that a show makes without loving what it means for a specific character. If I knew Wynonna Earp in real life, I, like Doc Holliday, would be seriously afraid for her following her choice to shoot Sheriff Holt in the back, after he agreed to try to work towards ending the long-running feud between the Earps and the Clantons. But, as a fan and reviewer of this show, I love this choice that the Wynonna Earp writing team made. It implies a kind of ambition in this series’ Season 4 storytelling that is all-too-rare in genre TV, and I hope this show finds the narrative time to devote to it. Let’s talk about this bittersweet, amazing, accidental midseason finale…

Doc’s storyline last season was one of the weakest part of an otherwise pretty great Season 3. It wasn’t always clear what his motivations were and the TV show never really justified the decision to turn him vamp. While I’m still worry that turning Doc into a creature of the night was one twist too many for a character who already has a history of delicious knots to untie, his arc in Season 4 has been a good one, especially in the last few episodes as he begins to seriously question if his loyalty to Wyatt Earp, most often proven through killing at Wyatt’s side and in his stead, was worth the pain that it has caused himself and others. Actually, he’s not really wondering at this point. He’s coming to the realization that it was not, just as Wynonna is coming to the assumption that shooting first and asking questions later is the only way to ensure the safety of her family.

These are two characters who obviously love one another, but who can never quite get the timing right. To see them head in different directions again, ones that will presumably keep them from being together in any honest, healthy way for the near future, is both heartbreaking and excellent storytelling. This division works because it is led by their characterization, not by an arbitrary plot mechanic. Do I believe that having the Clantons back in town, a family whom Doc chose to kill for Wyatt all those years ago, adding fire to a war that would continue on for more than a century-long war, has Doc rethinking his past choices? Absolutely. Do I also believe that Wynonna, in the wake of finding out that the Clanton family tried to buy her baby, and after years of fighting to keep her family safe, would shoot Sheriff Holt in the back rather than trust that anything would change, after a lifetime of learning the lesson that bloodshed and betrayal is the norm? Of course.

I understand both of their choices, even as a grieve for Wynonna as she takes a step down a path that will surely lead to more pain, for herself and for others (because the two are always inextricably intertwined, even if our culture of toxic individualism would have us believe otherwise). As we see in the final scene, it already has. Wynonna is crying for the rift in her relationship with Doc, sure. She’s crying because Waverly is so happy, and that’s all she wants for her baby sister. She’s crying because she’s tired, because how could she not be? But you better believe that she is also crying for herself. Because she just shot a (human) man in the back, as he was walking away from her. Because she just chose fear over hope. And that’s a very lonely place to be.

This agonizing middle for Wynonna hits extra hard because it is juxtaposed with a #happymiddle for Waverly and Nicole. After months of being separated and weeks (how much time has passed since the time jump?) of Nicole being terrified that Waverly would reject her after finding out what she had done, these two finally got the timing right in a way that Doc and Wynonna are nowhere close to doing. Waverly kills Margo “Mam” Clanton and it will no doubt stay with her in some traumatizing ways, but it was a very different situation. To save Nicole, a good person and the love of Waverly’s life, Waverly has to kill Margo, a woman who more or less murdered her own, teenage son, has no qualms with letting Nicole die, and has made it her life’s purpose to make the Earps and anyone who loves them suffer. To say that killing someone would ever be an easy choice for Waverly Earp would be oversimplifying the situation, but I don’t think for a minute that Waverly regrets her decision. Not in the way Wynonna seems to.

Earlier in this episode, Wynonna tells Rosita that sometimes the hero has to kill, and, in the context of supernatural TV, I don’t think she’s wrong. Too many shows that have violence as part of their narrative formula, from superhero television to other kinds of high-stakes genre storytelling, pretend that death isn’t often a natural consequence of violence. They pretend that a character presented as a hero, someone like Oliver Queen or Bruce Wayne, could have the kind of god-like control that would allow them to enact violence against those who “deserve it,” but always be able to stop short of death, and that this distinction absolves them of all accountability. This is often done as a way to draw a simplistic line between the “good guys” and the “bad guys,” so that stories that use violence don’t have to dive into a more earnest exploration of the hero’s violent methods and the harm they cause to both themself and others in their doling out of “justice.”

Violence is such an accepted, uninterrogated part of so much of American culture, we often accept its unexamined inclusion in so much of our mainstream storytelling as our status quo. (And, while I know this is a different situation, seeing a character shoot another character in the back as they are walking away has a particularly loaded meaning in American culture right now.) I’m eager to see Wynonna Earp walk a different, more difficult yet more rewarding path when it returns, and to dive into a more complex exploration of what it means for a character like Wynonna, ostensibly our hero, to kill someone outside of the justification of self defense. What a bold storytelling choice. What a way to head into our midseason hiatus.

Additional thoughts.

Peacemaker’s back, baby! (Now I feel conflicted about this, though. I missed Peacemaker and I want Wynonna to have a sense of purpose, but I don’t want her to think that killing is all that she’s good for, you know? Maybe Peacemaker could transfigure into something else besides a weapon and reveal Wynonna’s new purpose as a… something.)

Real talk? I don’t think what Nicole did was so bad, especially as she didn’t ever seem actually willing to hand Doc over to the Clantons.

Last episode, Nicole’s situation was all Ron Weasley in Chamber of Secrets. This week, it’s all Olivia in Fringe.

The Ghost!Nicole/frog shenanigans first part of this episode was fun, but didn’t totally work tonally for me. The episode started out by taking Waverly’s distress over Nicole’s (temporary) death seriously, and then tried to transition into a “goofy shenanigans” vibe. It stressed me out that Jeremy and co. didn’t seem to go through the plan in a little more detail before they, you know, drowned Nicole, and felt out of character for this crew. (Nedley was perfect, though. Never change, Randy.)

That being said, Nicole was a straight-up ethereal ghost. And I loved getting to see Waverly be the hero in this episode, though I hope we see some processing of the fact that she killed Margo in coming episodes.

At first, I was worried that Wynonna Earp was going down the “mean girls” path with Rosita. (I never should have doubted you, show.) While the episode plays with the idea that society wants to pit Rosita and Wynonna against each other in a petty “catfight,” the story eventually subverts that trope, having these two complex women band together to take on Mother Medea, a very scary demon nun. I don’t believe that these two would be friends after what Rosita did, but I also don’t think that Rosita is without complexity or that Wynonna’s soft spot for “scorned women” wouldn’t work in Rosita’s favor in this case. I’m glad the show landed somewhere in the complicated middle, as if so often the case in real life and so rarely the case in mainstream storytelling (written by men).

I hope we get to check back in with Rosita and the nuns in future episodes. As much as their current situation is better than their previous deals, I wouldn’t exactly call it a happy ending to be stuck in this nunnery for all time.

I’m not sure if this show knows what to do with Jeremy as a character. He really did ghost Nicole, and I hope the show delves into that a bit more.

“2 Becomes 1” is a highly underrated Spice Girls song. Yes, I am listening to it right now. Yes, I still know all the words. Yes, I am always here for this show’s subtle agenda to celebrate pop music that is loved by teen girls and therefore derided by “mainstream” culture. Yes, Nedley is the best and canonically loves Pretty Little Liars and Spice Girls. Yes, that demonstrates how at home he feels in his various identities. Yes, this kind of representation is important too.

As painful as it is to see Wynonna make her choice, it is so heartwarming to see Doc choose himself and the healthy path in a way we haven’t seen him do before. Especially because it puts him in a better position to support Wynonna moving forward, should she ask for his help. It has been Doc’s instinct to put his relationship with the Earps before his own sense of morality, and that hasn’t helped anyone really.

It seems redundant at this point to talk about how talented this cast is, but special kudos to Melanie Scrofano and Tim Rozon in that final scene, having to balance the sorrow they were feeling for themselves and one another and the joy they were feeling at seeing Nicole and Waverly so happy and at being part of this family.

See you all on the other side of the hiatus, Earpers. It’s sunnier there.

The post Wynonna Earp Season 4, Episode 6 Review: Holy War Part Two appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[thehallofgame]

Review: Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age

Release: 2017

My Rating: 9/10

              Funnily enough, while I wasn’t pleased when Sqaure Enix chose to remaster the Final Fantasy X series, I was overjoyed when they announced the same for the previously Japan-exclusive rerelease of Final Fantasy XII. This version, the Final Fantasy XII: International Zodiac Jobs System has always been at the top of my most wanted port/remaster list for a long time.

              The thing about JRPS ‘International Editions’ is that they’re a bit of a misnomer, and the international tittle in fact referred to a second version of a game that had originally released first in Japan and then worldwide in stages, usually receiving numerous fixes and updates along the way. Finally, an International Version would be re-released back in Japan featuring all the updates featured in the foreign versions as well as, usually, new dungeons and/or challenge bosses. The International version of Final Fantasy XII actually received a massive gameplay overhaul along with new content. The biggest change was the total replacement of the original open character growth system with the new, vastly more structured Zodiac Job system. The HD Zodiac Age remaster added even more tweaks and a lot of polish yet the core feel of the game is still the same.

              The original Final Fantasy XII received less acclaim than its predecessors upon its release. While it’s still looked upon fondly, and often loved, players don’t show the rabid devotion they often do to the other entries in the series. Instead of the traditional fight of good against evil featured in most Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy XII tackled a complex political narrative about a small country, Dalmasca, occupied by a much larger empire and their fight to regain their independence. That situation is complicated greatly by a brewing globe-spanning war and the fact the only remaining heir to the throne has been presumed dead since the end of the invasion two years prior. The game follows this heir, Princess Ashe, through a journey to discover what the best way to help her people and prevent a catastrophic war is. Thus the plot focuses much more on navigating political hurdles, and a magical arms race that’s clearly analogous to nuclear proliferation, than on interpersonal relationships between the characters.

              It was a jarring transition from the previous games, but, with hindsight not necessarily a bad one. It’s been said that Final Fantasy XII might have been before its time, and with the current popularity of politics heavy shows like Game of Thrones and House of Cards it’s hard to argue with that assessment. Yet, that said, the original game always felt like it slighted the core party of characters in favor of the larger narrative. Whilst four of the six party members have a lot of interest and depth: Ashe - crown princess in hiding, Basch – Knight of Kingdom that no longer exists and framed treansoneer, Balthier – Sky pirate with a shady past and suspiciously encyclopedic knowledge of politics, and Fran – outcast from a wood-elf analogue species who’s thrown her lot in with Balthier…. The other two characters: Vaan and Penelo are war orphans, street kids and awkward audience surrogate characters who bring nothing to the table story-wise and have significantly less reason to be involved in the events of Final Fantasy XII than their costars.

              Each of the main four characters have one or more big narrative arcs and moment throughout the game, as well as evolving relationships with one another that are tantalizing but rarely get explored to a satisfying degree. The Zodiac Age update introduced little tweaks, a few new lines of dialogue from a previously silent character, cut lines here and there (notably Ashe seems to gasp in surprise much less often) and suddenly the story flows a little more naturally. It’s an excellent touch and something I’m delighted to see. It also plays in well with the updated audio. Not only did the soundtrack get re-recorded with a full orchestra to great impact, but the voice acting got cleaned up some too. There wasn’t too much they could do with the old audio and some of the voices still sound a bit fuzzy but the cleaning they did managed helped a lot with the coherence of some stronger fantasy accents. Amusingly the lip-sync with the English dialogue is now worse than ever but that’s easily overlooked by most.

              Facial animation aside, the updated visuals are stunning. Final Fantasy XII’s environments were always exquisite and intricately detailed in the dreamy watercolor style of the late Playstation 2 era. In HD the true extent of this can actually be seen (not in the least part because the camera is now able to tilt up and down, not just rotate around the player character). Buildings and crumbling ruins have gloriously detailed and ornate floors, walls and ceilings. Enormous natural panoramas frame out-door maps with gorgeously rendered stormy skies and mountains in the distance. HD visuals make it much easier to see the line between the three dimensional world map and the sky boxes they abut, but with equally detailed and gorgeous enemies and set pieces to focus on it’s easy to let the odd visual inconsistency go.

              The character models have also been subtly updated. They look almost exactly like the originals except with crisper lines, smoother corners and better shading and shadows. Also, Vaan’s abs (which famously looked terrible) were also updated and look less bad, but still a little awkward and unnatural, which as a long time fan feels to me as it should be.

              It was, however, gameplay that received the most editing. The odd traps wherein opening certain treasure chests would result in losing the ability to gain the most powerful weapon in the game have been removed to much relief. Instead, the original legendary weapons and some new ones are now easier to get at though the chances for them to appear are still usually in the fractions of a percentile point. There are now more chests in the game total, and most of the highest level magics can only be found in specific chests rather than purchased. Likewise, stores and the bazaar system have been tweaked so they have different items than in the original. The bazaar system is a sort of minigame that spices up the usual cycle of selling loot and buying new equipment. By selling certain types of loot the player unlocks bazaar goods which are basically blind boxes with vague descriptions that usually contain items and equipment at sizable discounts. The changes ultimately reward exploring the more obscure reaches of the game. Long time players might welcome this but it could frustrate newcomers who don’t necessarily want to have to go on several sidequests to reach the chest containing the highest level black magic spell.

              Combat received minor adjustments, mostly to flow and pacing options in the customization menu. The culmination of turn based and real-time combat the final fantasy series had been tweaking for years Final Fantasy XII’s encounters were all done in real time and in the dungeons themselves, instead of random encounters. Actions are selected and then performed after a charge bar runs downs. The length of this charge time depends on the action being taken and can be effected by unlockable character skills, attributes and equipment. Battle pace can be adjusted in the menu, but most players preferred it turned all the way to max, and many still felt the pace too slow. To that end there are now options to use the right shoulder button to toggle game speed up to two or even four times normal speed. This is great for grinding, even if the four times speed can be a little dizzying and can involve a lot of crashing into walls because of how fast the characters are scurrying about. Battle can also be toggled to pause or not pause when the player opens the combat menu. This give a lot of flexibility to tailor play styles, especially when combined with the gambit system.

              The gambits, which can also be toggled on and off during combat, are a set of instructions for how the party should act that can be fiddled with as much or as little as the player wants. The game starts with a small selection of basic actions available to the player but soon a plethora of gambits can be purchased for a nominal fee and integrated as the characters gain new abilities and the player gets a feel for the game. The Zodiac Age adds several new gambits, some very specific, but doesn’t alleviate some of the core problems of the system. The most glaring is there’s no good way to differentiate circumstances. Setting a character to cast buffing magic means they’ll cast it constantly, and there’s no way to specify for them to only do it in difficult battles or until their MP starts running low. Likewise there’s no way to specify only do something once and stop if it doesn’t work. The system does work well for basic combat, providing automatic healing and switching to magic for flying enemies but fiddly encounters still have to be micro managed.

              Gambit slots are limited, but more, more than the player could need, can be purchased from the License Board. Characters gain license points, as well as experience points, for felling enemies. While leveling up increases character stats it is the license system that really allows customization and progression. Each character now selects one of twelve license boards (classes) with a unique set of abilities and they are then locked into that board. This is what the titular Zodiac Jobs System is. The player will then spend points there to purchase new abilities and the ranks to equip better armaments, and with each skill purchased more are revealed. In the early game much consideration might be needed, depending on play style, on which classes and abilities to select as, in the Zodiac system, it’s easy to end up with no healers or mages. These boards will later also host the ability to obtain summons, special magic and eventually the ability to add a second class/board to every character.

              The actions that can be taken in combat are fairly standard. All classes have at least one type of weapon they can use, though these are divided into ranged and melee and some mid to late game enemies are considered flying and can only be hit with ranged weapons or magic. There are also a wide variety of magics to use which are subdivided into several different sub-types: white, black, green, time and arcane magics. The player can also use items at will or hold a trigger button to disengage combat and flee with the party, though the enemies may be willing to chase the party up to the edge and out of the map before giving up. But, before doing that, Final Fantasy is the only game in the series that lets the player swap out a fallen party member with a healthy one from the pool of three inactive characters and continue fighting.

Another unique touch for FFXII is that there is also a fourth option on the core battle menu called Myst. Myst is a magic energy that exists in the world and that can be used to summon powerful entities into battle once they’ve been slain and recruited, or to use powerful magics. Each character can learn up to three unique, tiered myst spells. With each tier they will gain a new bar of Myst energy that they can expend to summon or use mysts. The summons, called Espers, take the place of the rest of the party when and join the fight battle. They posses powerful attacks and magic and can be very useful in controlling crowds. The myst magics are more focused and casting one gives the ability to chain the rest of the party’s mist abilities. Once one of the spells is started a timer appears and if the player can select another party members spell then that character will go next. The challenge comes when the party’s Myst bars are depleted and the player has to hope they can cycle to a randomly occurring myst charge and that they will then have time to select that and the resulting attack. If enough of the spells are chained a final capstone attack will deal massive damage to every enemy on the map.

              The original version of this game had deep and involved combat that rewarded experimentation and customization. The Zodiac Age seems to have softened its difficulty curve noticeably and there isn’t much in the campaign that will slow the player’s path. Luckily the Zodiac Age still contains myriad side quests and a very successful challenge-hunt mode where the player can accept quests to slay special, extremely difficult monsters. The hunt quests are all fun, interesting and feature one of kind monsters. The hardest of these are epic battles only for the most dedicated fans. If that wasn’t enough the Zodiac age also introduced an after end-game boss rush mode, completing which unlocks even harder difficulties to play the base game on.

              The final change of note is the ability to toggle an overlay of the current dungeon or city map onto the main screen. The transparent map is surprisingly subtle considering it is always easy to see and often covers the entire screen, yet it’s easy to tune out until its’ needed. This proves a great help in labyrinthe dungeons where the small mini-map that remains permanently in the top right of the screen doesn’t provide enough help. The catch 22 here of course is the maps that are meant to be confusing and disable the mini-map are no longer an issue. It’s a minor gripe, but a symptom of the unfortunate trend of the Zodiac Age being easier than the original iteration of Final Fantasy XII.

              Even with the new map overlay to help the dungeons still feel big, well designed and complex. While the game isn’t open world it is composed of many unique areas that have secrets and hidden paths to explore. The way the maps are cut up between smallish areas is a pretty apparent signifier of the game’s age but the brief loading screens provided an opportunity to integrate an unobtrusive auto-save feature so that the player no longer has to rely on the old fashioned save-stations scattered around the maps. Some of these stations, in addition to healing the party completely, also function as teleporters that can send the party to any other map they’ve visited provided they have a Teleport Stone. This is, of course, if the party doesn’t want to walk, book passage on an airship between cities or hire a chocobo (giant flightless bird) to ride across maps. Unlike certain sequels, that shall remain pointedly unnamed, in Final Fantasy XII the player is free to explore the world, find new dungeons and complete side-quests whenever they choose or not at all which is awesome for balancing pacing and player freedom.

              All this tweaking and fiddling, and at the time amazingly long five year development period, paid off in a beautiful and immersive world that feels alive and full of secrets. While some annoying hiccups still remain the changes the Zodiac Age made work well to make the game feel more complete and finished. Final Fantasy XII was probably the last truly good outing for the series and feels more relevant now than it did ten years ago. With its’ unique feel and its departure from ubiquitous final fantasy tropes the Zodiac Age probably makes an ideal jumping in point for people who want to explore this long-running franchise.

[mantrabay]

Rush Amid The Rapids 2

“Must I always be posting transactions?” I said to myself, Landon Croaker, accountant, adjusting my backpack as I rambled up a ragged winding woodland path.

A granite strewn gulag odyssey lay ahead.

There was the usual green stew of ornate plants.

Ancient Fir Clubmoss which grows into a chalice- like shape.

The St Patrick’s cabbage, with thick leather zig zag veins.

Hapless Fraochan and Whortleberry shrub’s pendant fruit so symmetrical.

I brought my notebook with me.

Closet novelist or bard one day?

Canopy of lattice branch springboards abound.

Shrieks

from stunned squirrels leaping in the arc of a trapeze with blue jay alarm signal.

Rustle of rabbits under slender stalks.

Puffball cloud and brown-dust spore floaters.

A wastrel I was within the wilds.

I was getting close to where my friends, a husband and wife team lived and ran a fringe publishing company.

They resided in a cherry wood log cabin with tongue and groove cladding and a pine timbered roof lantern peering down a mountain side.

Like a watchtower the mountain sat in sinister observance.

A fallow deer suddenly appeared.

It looked furtively with startled eyes as if it knew something I didn’t.

Within minutes it vanished.

Flies swarmed about, the spooky whistleblowers on this solitary hiker’s grazed cheeks.

My clothes were wringing wet from the sweltering heat.

The curious urban spirit drove me on.

Chambered cairns, those passage tunnels from the past that act as stone markers for the venturer were rife.

Platform mounds whose ribboned cracks and gouges play host to strongly rooted Chasmophytes.

There was a lurking presence as the cabin became visible.

“Hello, there. Fancy seeing you here.

Welcome back.”

Chelsea, in a croaking baby twang.

“Oh …you frightened me.” Landon said.

I nearly toppled.

Chelsea dashed towards me.

“A bit worried there, Landon.

What a surprise!

We like surprising people too.”

I paused and replied.

“It's the unexpected that adds spice to this life business and others!”

Landon sardonically.

“You sound tired.”

Chelsea replied.

“We’ll change that. We’ll change everything about your life now you’re here.”

The ramifications of that would soon unfold.

“The last time I was here we talked about having children.

Any decision yet?

You could always adopt.”

I continued.

“Don’t have to.

Got my husband and he’s got me.” She said.

“We’re both kids at heart.”

Her sad voice trailing off.

“This location seems ideal but there’s schooling and everything.”

Chelsea hesitantly.

“Nothing that couldn’t be resolved.”

Landon in reply.

Croaker sensed Chelsea’s unease and didn’t continue.

“Hey, what’s this?” Croaker cried as two apples landed at his feet.

“Yahoo. You two.”

Chesney, Chelsea’s husband shouted.

“It’s been so long.

Doesn't time fly?”

Chesney again.

While walking it dawned on Landon how dewy-eyed and child-like this couple were.

.

Entering the cabin seemed like something from a storybook.

Cartoon mosaics attached to fool’s gold borders, zip purse smashed purple bead inserts, and shredded comic strips.

“There are shrouds of deep mystery here.”

Croaker thought.

“Hey Snap.

What’s accountancy like these days?”

Chesney’s smug question.

“Nothing really changes.

Investment investment hazards and the like.

It’s a world I drifted into.

How about your company in paradise.”

Croaker sarcastically.

“Publishing is odd.

You almost become the stories submitted.”

Chesney observed.

“Birth and regrowth are gaining interest.

Am I boring you?” Chesney enquired.

“Well, it beats accountancy.”

Landon tactfully.

A salad of roasted lemon, fennel fronds and pomegranate was served with

guacamole dip based on chunky avocado.

After our meal we washed up

Chelsea’s phantom figure scurried outside with Olympic speed.

It was so redolent of the suddenness about.

A rapt cocoon descended around Chesney and Landon's interaction.

Landon quizzed Chesney about the urban country rift.

Tranquil timberlands have their own stressors.

“See those creatures slumped awkwardly on fragile twigs?

They sense pending doom.”

Chesney observed.

“Can you really escape hectic city life?”

A querulous tone from Chesney.

“Maybe these divisions are fictional.”

Landon archly.

“Thud. What’s that?”

Chesney shaking.

Chelsea entered.

“Oh dear .. let’s say a homing pigeon.

They’re a strange breed.”

She said smugly.

“Very strange indeed.”

Chesney out loud.

Chelsea and Chesney exchange strained silent glances.

A circus of the wilds continued outside as species vied with species in an ego fanfare.

Chirping robin red breasts,

wing scraping crickets in high chorus.

Vulcan steam curtain as backdrop.

Horseshoe Bats that weave rainbow shafts.

Daddy long legs with their cancan dances on sodden patches.

“Excuse me …..ring a bell?” Chesney diverting Landon’s attention with a broken fragment.

Landon bought this autumn crocus crystal vase on a previous sojourn.

It slipped from his hands in a butter fingers incident.

Croaker uttered the words “my lasting gift” as it fell.

Cackles erupted but frustration for Landon.

“A hilarious keepsake after a fashion.”

Chelsea opined.

“Really?”

Said Landon embarrassed by this anecdote.

The hours passed and they were both tired.

Landon saw Chesney remove a letter from a ring pull drawer.

“Just an old bill. Must shred it.” He said.

“Why would Chesney explain that?

His face reddened.

Curious.” Landon thought.

Shuffling to bed Landon did notice

pink salmon eiderdowns, pillows with children sleeping under moonlit skies, and Milky Way throw blankets.

The night passed uneventfully.

There were some noises in the kitchen as morning approached.

Having woken sluggishly Croaker walked into the dinning area.

A sense of foreboding filled the room.

Landon grappled awkwardly with claustrophobia.

It was disrupted by the chatter of the chestnut -sided warbler.

An oak hook tip moth added charm with its zoom and flutter acrobatics.

“I’ve the creepiest feeling.”

Croaker reasoned.

“BUZZZ ……..Buzzzzz ……Boing.”

My old cell-phone’s text tone.

My boss. Wonder what he wants?”

Landon to himself.

“Dear Landon,

When you return I would like to speak to you about your future with this company.

I can’t go into further details

as it involves a lot of interested parties.

A wide -ranging discussion is in order,

Regards,

Tom Wright

Managing Director.”

Landon’s worst fears now confirmed.

“I’m confused.

Just how pressing is this or …. what is this in front of me?”

A letter from Chesney and Chelsea.

“Hi Landon,

We had to leave quickly.

Help yourself to whatever largesse there is.

Don’t know how long we’ll be.

You can hang around of course or leave.

Don’t break anything!!

Ha ha,

Ches and Chels.”

Incredible! Between the text and the letter who wouldn’t be alarmed?

Landon limped outside to an ear splitting din and a mist laden detritus that merged into pockets of streams steeplechasing each other.

A slimy frog vaulted and cast a damp viscous oil spray in Croaker’s direction.

Something ….a shadow.

“This has been the most peculiar visit I’ve ever had.

Intrigue seems encoded in it.”

Croaker’s anxiety growing.

A tap on the shoulder followed by a crystal shard at his feet.

“The vase remember?

Don’t be so serious ……..we’ve something to discuss with you.”

Chesney said pointedly.

“An Agatha Christie mystery novel has nothing on this.”

Landon fretted.

“We’ve been reflecting, Chelsea and I.

Your presence is an extraordinary coincidence.”

Chesney quizzically.

“We’d like to offer you a job as our accountant.”

Chelsea suggested.

Croaker now shivering.

“You know by now we love to jumpstart even our closest friends.

This post is tailor made for you.”

Chelsea once more.

“Your boss will understand.”

Croaker’s head was now in a spin.

“You like writing don’t you?

There’s plenty of stories here.”

Chelsea opined.

“All this trouble to offer me a job?” Croaker queried.

“We don’t do things by halves.”

Chelsea with Chesney nodding.

A carousel of thoughts flashed through Landon’s mind at this juncture.

He walked in a trance struggling with everything.

“What was in Chelsea’s sports bag I wonder?” Thought Croaker.

“Let’s go for a swim, Landon.

I’ve got swim trunks for us all.”

Chelsea tossed a nylon mesh swim trunks at Landon as everyone changed.

Something slipped out of Chesney's pocket without him noticing.

It was that letter Chesney removed previously and read as follows.

“Dear Chesney and Chelsea,

As your doctor I regret you won’t be able to have children. It’s with a heavy heart I share this with you.

There are many reasons for this…”

The rest of the letter was creased and illegible.

It was subsequently swept to the river’s edge underneath a Crested Iris by a slight breeze.

Meanwhile, we were all breast stroking energetically while taking the occasional breather.

“You can make up your mind, Landon, at the end of this swim whenever that is and wherever it is taking us.”

Chelsea giggled as she circulated in the eddying stream.

We all started off again as we followed each other’s course.

“Awh, the child within!” Cried Chelsea.

As Landon pondered his fate the mountain looked down imperiously upon us all as the stray deer suddenly reappeared from nowhere.

Maybe that deer did know something after all!

Photograph and short story by mantrabay copyright protected.

[recentanimenews]

An Introduction to the "SAIYUKI" Anime

An Introduction to the SAIYUKI Anime... As Told By a Fan Who Read the Manga Almost a Decade Ago

By Dee Hogan

After being off the air for nearly 13 years, Saiyuki has at last returned to grace our televisions with attractive men beating the crap out of each other while waxing poetic about their dark-and-stormy pasts. But with Saiyuki's previous anime seasons scarce and its manga volumes even scarcer, you might be hesitant to check out the new series.

  Well, fear not! I, an ardent Saiyuki fan who read the manga as it was coming out almost 10 years ago, am here to provide you with the story exactly as I remember it. Which is to say: Very vaguely! Now you, too, can enjoy Saiyuki Reload Blast as if you were right there with the rest of the fandom, reading the manga in the mid '00s, selling the volumes to help pay for grad school, and now racking your brain to piece together the semi-existent plot of that gloriously feelsy action series you still love so very, very much.

  Come along with me on this journey, won't you? This journey...TO THE MAX!

Caution: Loving irreverence, questionable accuracy, and spoilers for the Saiyuki and Saiyuki Reload manga below. Content warning for mentions of child abuse.

  But First, a History Lesson!

Saiyuki began as a manga created by Kazuya Minekura. Well, I guess technically it began as the Chinese novel Journey to the West. Saiyuki is based on that classic epic, in the same way that Taco Bell is based on Mexican food.

Journey to the West is a Buddhist-inspired comic adventure story that follows a monk, a monkey king, a half-pig man, and an exiled immortal as they travel to India to retrieve sacred sutras. It's a complete story that has been translated in its entirety into English, unlike the Saiyuki manga, which is neither complete nor fully translated. Tokyopop imploded (along with half the U.S. anime industry) in the late '00s, leaving us one volume short from finishing Saiyuki Reload, and we've seen neither hide nor hair of the manga since. I am still salty about this.

  Pictured: Saiyuki sexily locked out of the U.S.

  The anime adaptations have fared somewhat better, at least: the three TV series (Gensomaden Saiyuki, Saiyuki ReLoad, and Saiyuki ReLoad Gunlock) were all released in the U.S., as was the film (Saiyuki Requiem) and the most recent OVA series (Saiyuki Gaiden). I only caught about 15 episodes of the anime, but my memory is that it's a reasonably faithful adaptation, albeit one that tones down the R-rated elements and adds a bunch of filler stories. Depending on where you live, you can stream both the original TV series and the Gaiden OVAs, but the two ReLoad sequels are confined to dusty DVD shelves for the time being.

  And if all these title variants are confusing you, then congratulations! You're well on your way to being a Saiyuki fan, because they're confusing to me, too. Saiyuki is to manga as Kingdom Hearts is to video games. The series has been running off and on for twenty whopping years, and it's splintered in a  bunch of directions along the way. For now, all you really need to know is that the central story goes Saiyuki, then Reload, then Reload Blast. Everything else is prequels and side stories.

  As for what that central story is all about, well...

    The Story!

Saiyuki takes place in Shangri-La, a fantasy world created by plucking Chinese fiction and history fruits from across the centuries, tossing them in a blender, and adding a splash of good old-fashioned manga tropes for spice. Humans and youkai share the land, six-shooters are as common as swords, and the main characters ride around in a jeep that's actually a dragon. (Or is it a dragon that's actually a jeep?)

  Things are going great until a youkai sorceress hooks up with a mad scientist and they start brainwashing youkai into murdering the faces off every human they can get their hands on. Then the local humans start panicking and murdering the faces off every youkai they can get their hands on, whether they've been brainwashed or not, and pretty soon everyone in Shangri-La is starting to feel pretty Shangri-Low.

To keep the peace, the local Bodhisattvas decide to send their Top Man, Double-Oh Sanzo, out West to find the culprits and tell them to knock it off. Our priest is joined on his quest by three companions: Goku, Gojyo, and Hakkai, each with their own uniquely upsetting backstory and particular set of skills. They're also all youkai (or at least youkai-adjacent), but they've been equipped with handy-dandy power limiters to keep them from going berserk like the others.

  Together our quartet travel across the lands, getting into scrapes, fighting off the minions their mysterious antagonists send after them, and frequently threatening to kill each other as they journey ever Westward, hoping to one day reach their foes and stop their nefarious scheme.

    And I'd tell you all about that nefarious scheme, but I have straight-up forgotten it. The Big Bads' oh-so-sympathetic underlings are prominent in the original Saiyuki series, but then they have to take an extended spa vacation, so most of Reload is one long semi-self-contained arc about cowboys and necromancers. It's GREAT, mind you, but all the tension and shootouts and good good angst have shoved what's-her-name and scientist-face and their plan to do something-or-other straight out of my head.

  Honestly? It doesn't matter. Saiyuki is about the journey, not the destination. More to the point, it's about the people you get to hang out with along the way.

  And speaking of...

    The Characters!

  There are a lot of compelling supporting characters (mostly antagonists) who drift in and out of the Saiyuniverse, particularly Kougaiji and his merry band of Youkai In Need of Hugs. But the story is carried by its four protagonists—most of whom you're also going to want to hug, and two of whom may try to kill you if you do—so you're gonna want to get to know them.

    A chain-smoking, booze-slinging, trigger-happy, permanently irritated Buddhist priest, he's the current holder of the Sanzo title and the wielder of some very powerful sutras, though he's usually content to keep those stored away and just shoot people in their dumb faces instead (all faces are dumb to Sanzo, I'm pretty sure). He met his trio of party members through various traumatic adventures and brought them together, offering them a chance to start over. Despite his grouchy exterior, deep down he's a good guy.

  ...Deeper than that. No, further. Little further. There it is! See? Good guy.

  Sanzo's history is told in fits and starts, which is to say I can't keep it straight anymore. I feel pretty confident saying he had a rough childhood, because this is Saiyuki we're talking about. And I know he witnessed his master's murder and it messed him up right proper. I have a working theory that Mr. Mad Scientist (Jianyi! That's his name!) is involved, because he used to be a Sanzo priest himself and sure seems to know a lot about our Sanzo, but take that with a grain of salt. Sure would make for some good drama though, yeah?

    Goku's the youngest-looking of the gang and often acts like it. Don't let that fool you, though: He's actually a powerful monkey king who was imprisoned on a mountain for hundreds of years. His memory's as patchy as mine, so all he really remembers is being lonely and then Sanzo freeing him and then him not being lonely anymore. See, happy things do happen in this story!

  Like another Son Goku you may know (who's also based on the monkey king in Journey to the West, by the by), this one fights with a staff and loves to eat. He's generally cheerful and friendly, but if you take off his diadem, he gets real angry, and not just because that diadem brings his whole outfit together, you uncultured boor. Mostly it's because the diadem is his power limiter, and removing it makes him hulk out somethin' fierce.

  I know this is the part where I'm supposed to say “you won't like him when he's angry,” but berserker Goku leads to some of the best fights and dramatic beats of the series. I like him when he's angry a lot more than I should.

    Half-youkai, half-human, Gojyo is the child of a “forbidden” affair between the two species. A literal redheaded stepchild, he was abused by his youkai stepmom and shunned by society at large. He had an older brother he loved (not like that, you pervs) who stepped in to defend him, to the point where he was eventually forced to kill his own mother to protect his brother. The two eventually meet again and it's... it's real sad, y'all. Gojyo's backstory is real sad.

  Nowadays he's a foul-mouthed gambler who likes to pick fights with Sanzo and quarrel with Goku, but he's maybe the most loyal member of the team and (despite being the least powerful) doesn't hesitate to step up to defend others. An asshole with a heart of gold, more or less. He fights with a sickle-flail that doesn't make sense but looks real cool, and he's technically a womanizer, but don't let that stop you from 'shipping him with one of his teammates. Gojyo is Extremely Shippable, you see.

    There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who think Hakkai is the best character in Saiyuki, and those who are wrong. Since the rest of the team has zero chill, Hakkai has an excess of chill to balance them out. Perpetually smiling and perpetually The Saddest, he's the team peacemaker and magic user, the owner-driver of the Dragon-Jeep, and a secret badass. Hakkai has removed his power limiters exactly twice, and exactly twice he has ruined his opponents. Other fun facts include: Can and will drink you under a table. Technically died once to save his friends. (Don't worry, he got better.)

  His backstory is basically one big D: emoji. Born a human, he had an older sister he loved (yes, exactly like that, you pervs) who was kidnapped by the resident evil youkai noble. Hakkai slaughtered ONE THOUSAND MUTHAFUGGIN YOUKAI on his way to rescue her, but she died anyway because Kazuya Minekura is a cruel, cruel manga-ka. Also, it turns out that when you slaughter ONE THOUSAND MUTHAFUGGIN YOUKAI, you, uh...turn into a muthafuggin youkai yourself. Womp womp.

  Hakkai wasn't doing so hot after all that. In a fit of guilt and despair, he even ripped out his own eye to appease a vengeful youkai (he eventually replaced it with a fake one, and got a rad monocle to match). He was ready to rip out the other eye, too, but Team Sanzo showed up in time to slap his hand away and offer him a new life and a second chance. They're his FAMILY now and he loves them VERY MUCH and they all need to PROTECT each other and—

  Er. Ah-hem.

  So. Uh. Yeah. I used to scour eBay looking for a UFO doll of this guy because that's how badly I needed to give him a hug. Hakkai is Best Boy. It is known.

    Okay, But What's it About?

  Kicking ass and having feelings and looking damn fine while doing it.

  And if that's not enough for you, then here's a bit more: The title of the manga (最遊記) is a play on the Japanese title for Journey to the West (西遊記). They're both read as Saiyuki, but the manga replaces the kanji for “west” with the kanji for “most” or “extreme.”  With one simple character, our journey to the West has turned into a journey... TO THE MAX!

  And, honestly, that's what Saiyuki is about. Big expansive world, big bombastic fights, big heart-on-sleeve emotions, big tragic histories, big meandering narrative. Everything is cranked up to 11. The series first ran in a shounen magazine (targeted at boys) before later finding a home in a josei one (targeted at adult women), which I think speaks to the way it dances between all those extremes: From rip-roaring action-adventure to character (melo)drama and on over to broad or black comedy before bouncing right back to one of its other modes again.

    Is it over-the-top, unfocused, and unapologetically packed with shipteases and emotional fanservice? Oh, yeah. One hundred percent. But, all teasing aside, I love it. I used to devour new volumes in one sitting, cheer out loud during the fights, bite my nails when my boys were in danger, giggle at their down-time bickering, and lap up all those theatrical, quasi-philosophical monologues.

  I love it in a way that's hard to put into words because it's so intricately tied to being a stressed-out high school/college kid in the mid-to-late '00s, but I think it comes down the series' overall tone and message. Because, despite its many moments of levity (particularly in the early going), as bullets fly and youkai rampage, the story always comes back to a bunch of sad-yet-defiant survivors trying to make it in a world that seems fundamentally, maybe even permanently broken.

  It's devastatingly grim at times, but even at its most dismal, it always manages to offer a kind of skeptical hope instead of just pessimistic tragedy porn. “Everything is terrible, but I'm not gonna give up,” in essence. Or maybe more to the point: “Everything is terrible, but I have people who support me, so I can get through it.” And there are times even now when that message has been a comfort to me, melodramatics or no.

  Saiyuki is too gleefully ridiculous, both in terms of world-building and staging, for me to take it too seriously or champion it as A Great Classic That Everyone Should Try. Frankly, if you read “a jeep that's actually a dragon” and didn't at least crack a smile, you probably should have walked away right there.

  Even so, with its raging battles, skewed sense of humor, smokin' hot anti-heroes, and willingness to dive head-first into sensationalized but nevertheless sincere explorations of trauma, depression, community, and identity, it scratches a particular itch and does so very effectively. Saiyukiis intense and bombastic, as overloaded with bullets as it is with feelings. It's stylish, heartfelt, top-tier trash, and I can't wait to roll around in it all over again. Lock and reload, gang. It's gonna be a blast.

  About the author, Dee Hogan

Dee is a nerd of all trades and a master of one. She has bachelor’s degrees in English and East Asian studies and an MFA in Creative Writing. To pay the bills, she works as a technical writer. To not pay the bills, she devours novels and comics, watches far too much anime, and cheers very loudly for the Kansas Jayhawks. You can hang out with her at The Josei Next Door, a friendly neighborhood anime blog for long-time fans and newbies alike, as well as on Tumblr and Twitter.

  SAIYUKI RELOAD BLAST is available for viewing now on Crunchyroll!

By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com

[mantrabay]

Rush Amid The Rapids.

“Must I always be posting transactions?” I said to myself, Landon Croaker, accountant, adjusting my backpack as I rambled up a ragged winding woodland path.

A granite strewn gulag odyssey lay ahead.

There was the usual green stew of ornate plants.

Ancient Fir Clubmoss which grows into a chalice- like shape.

The St Patrick’s cabbage, with thick leather zig zag veins.

Hapless Fraochan and Whortleberry shrub’s pendant fruit so symmetrical.

I brought my notebook with me.

Closet novelist or bard one day?

Canopy of lattice branch springboards abound.

Shrieks

from stunned squirrels leaping in the arc of a trapeze with blue jay alarm signal.

Rustle of rabbits under slender stalks.

Puffball cloud and brown-dust spore floaters.

A wastrel I was within the wilds.

I was getting close to where my friends, a husband and wife team lived and ran a fringe publishing company.

They resided in a cherry wood log cabin with tongue and groove cladding and a pine timbered roof lantern peering down a mountain side.

Like a watchtower the mountain sat in sinister observance.

A fallow deer suddenly appeared.

It looked furtively with startled eyes as if it knew something I didn’t.

Within minutes it vanished.

Flies swarmed about, the spooky whistleblowers on this solitary hiker’s grazed cheeks.

My clothes were wringing wet from the sweltering heat.

The curious urban spirit drove me on.

Chambered cairns, those passage tunnels from the past that act as stone markers for the venturer were rife.

Platform mounds whose ribboned cracks and gouges play host to strongly rooted Chasmophytes.

There was a lurking presence as the cabin became visible.

“Hello, there. Fancy seeing you here.

Welcome back.”

Chelsea, in a croaking baby twang.

“Oh …you frightened me.” Landon said.

I nearly toppled.

Chelsea dashed towards me.

“A bit worried there, Landon.

What a surprise!

We like surprising people too.”

I paused and replied.

“It's the unexpected that adds spice to this life business and others!”

Landon sardonically.

“You sound tired.”

Chelsea replied.

“We’ll change that. We’ll change everything about your life now you’re here.”

The ramifications of that would soon unfold.

“The last time I was here we talked about having children.

Any decision yet?

You could always adopt.”

I continued.

“Don’t have to.

Got my husband and he’s got me.” She said.

“We’re both kids at heart.”

Her sad voice trailing off.

“This location seems ideal but there’s schooling and everything.”

Chelsea hesitantly.

“Nothing that couldn’t be resolved.”

Landon in reply.

Croaker sensed Chelsea’s unease and didn’t continue.

“Hey, what’s this?” Croaker cried as two apples landed at his feet.

“Yahoo. You two.”

Chesney, Chelsea’s husband shouted.

“It’s been so long.

Doesn't time fly?”

Chesney again.

While walking it dawned on Landon how dewy-eyed and child-like this couple were.

.

Entering the cabin seemed like something from a storybook.

Cartoon mosaics attached to fool’s gold borders, zip purse smashed purple bead inserts, and shredded comic strips.

“There are shrouds of deep mystery here.”

Croaker thought.

“Hey Snap.

What’s accountancy like these days?”

Chesney’s smug question.

“Nothing really changes.

Investment investment hazards and the like.

It’s a world I drifted into.

How about your company in paradise.”

Croaker sarcastically.

“Publishing is odd.

You almost become the stories submitted.”

Chesney observed.

“Birth and regrowth are gaining interest.

Am I boring you?” Chesney enquired.

“Well, it beats accountancy.”

Landon tactfully.

A salad of roasted lemon, fennel fronds and pomegranate was served with

guacamole dip based on chunky avocado.

After our meal we washed up

Chelsea’s phantom figure scurried outside with Olympic speed.

It was so redolent of the suddenness about.

A rapt cocoon descended around Chesney and Landon's interaction.

Landon quizzed Chesney about the urban country rift.

Tranquil timberlands have their own stressors.

“See those creatures slumped awkwardly on fragile twigs?

They sense pending doom.”

Chesney observed.

“Can you really escape hectic city life?”

A querulous tone from Chesney.

“Maybe these divisions are fictional.”

Landon archly.

“Thud. What’s that?”

Chesney shaking.

Chelsea entered.

“Oh dear .. let’s say a homing pigeon.

They’re a strange breed.”

She said smugly.

“Very strange indeed.”

Chesney out loud.

Chelsea and Chesney exchange strained silent glances.

A circus of the wilds continued outside as species vied with species in an ego fanfare.

Chirping robin red breasts,

wing scraping crickets in high chorus.

Vulcan steam curtain as backdrop.

Horseshoe Bats that weave rainbow shafts.

Daddy long legs with their cancan dances on sodden patches.

“Excuse me …..ring a bell?” Chesney diverting Landon’s attention with a broken fragment.

Landon bought this autumn crocus crystal vase on a previous sojourn.

It slipped from his hands in a butter fingers incident.

Croaker uttered the words “my lasting gift” as it fell.

Cackles erupted but frustration for Landon.

“A hilarious keepsake after a fashion.”

Chelsea opined.

“Really?”

Said Landon embarrassed by this anecdote.

The hours passed and they were both tired.

Landon saw Chesney remove a letter from a ring pull drawer.

“Just an old bill. Must shred it.” He said.

“Why would Chesney explain that?

His face reddened.

Curious.” Landon thought.

Shuffling to bed Landon did notice

pink salmon eiderdowns, pillows with children sleeping under moonlit skies, and Milky Way throw blankets.

The night passed uneventfully.

There were some noises in the kitchen as morning approached.

Having woken sluggishly Croaker walked into the dinning area.

A sense of foreboding filled the room.

Landon grappled awkwardly with claustrophobia.

It was disrupted by the chatter of the chestnut -sided warbler.

An oak hook tip moth added charm with its zoom and flutter acrobatics.

“I’ve the creepiest feeling.”

Croaker reasoned.

“BUZZZ ……..Buzzzzz ……Boing.”

My old cell-phone’s text tone.

My boss. Wonder what he wants?”

Landon to himself.

“Dear Landon,

When you return I would like to speak to you about your future with this company.

I can’t go into further details

as it involves a lot of interested parties.

A wide -ranging discussion is in order,

Regards,

Tom Wright

Managing Director.”

Landon’s worst fears now confirmed.

“I’m confused.

Just how pressing is this or …. what is this in front of me?”

A letter from Chesney and Chelsea.

“Hi Landon,

We had to leave quickly.

Help yourself to whatever largesse there is.

Don’t know how long we’ll be.

You can hang around of course or leave.

Don’t break anything!!

Ha ha,

Ches and Chels.”

Incredible! Between the text and the letter who wouldn’t be alarmed?

Landon limped outside to an ear splitting din and a mist laden detritus that merged into pockets of streams steeplechasing each other.

A slimy frog vaulted and cast a damp viscous oil spray in Croaker’s direction.

Something ….a shadow.

“This has been the most peculiar visit I’ve ever had.

Intrigue seems encoded in it.”

Croaker’s anxiety growing.

A tap on the shoulder followed by a crystal shard at his feet.

“The vase remember?

Don’t be so serious ……..we’ve something to discuss with you.”

Chesney said pointedly.

“An Agatha Christie mystery novel has nothing on this.”

Landon fretted.

“We’ve been reflecting, Chelsea and I.

Your presence is an extraordinary coincidence.”

Chesney quizzically.

��We’d like to offer you a job as our accountant.”

Chelsea suggested.

Croaker now shivering.

“You know by now we love to jumpstart even our closest friends.

This post is tailor made for you.”

Chelsea once more.

“Your boss will understand.”

Croaker’s head was now in a spin.

“You like writing don’t you?

There’s plenty of stories here.”

Chelsea opined.

“All this trouble to offer me a job?” Croaker queried.

“We don’t do things by halves.”

Chelsea with Chesney nodding.

A carousel of thoughts flashed through Landon’s mind at this juncture.

He walked in a trance struggling with everything.

“What was in Chelsea’s sports bag I wonder?” Thought Croaker.

“Let’s go for a swim, Landon.

I’ve got swim trunks for us all.”

Chelsea tossed a nylon mesh swim trunks at Landon as everyone changed.

Something slipped out of Chesney's pocket without him noticing.

It was that letter Chesney removed previously and read as follows.

“Dear Chesney and Chelsea,

As your doctor I regret you won’t be able to have children. It’s with a heavy heart I share this with you.

There are many reasons for this…”

The rest of the letter was creased and illegible.

It was subsequently swept to the river’s edge underneath a Crested Iris by a slight breeze.

Meanwhile, we were all breast stroking energetically while taking the occasional breather.

“You can make up your mind, Landon, at the end of this swim whenever that is and wherever it is taking us.”

Chelsea giggled as she circulated in the eddying stream.

We all started off again as we followed each other’s course.

“Awh, the child within!” Cried Chelsea.

As Landon pondered his fate the mountain looked down imperiously upon us all as the stray deer suddenly reappeared from nowhere.

Maybe that deer did know something after all!

Photograph and short story by mantrabay copyright protected