Stark

I should vote. But I won't. I essentially don't have a religion--it's something I foreswore in 9th grade when I really got interested in other philosophies/relogions and had the church youth leader lecture me about it. He said that It was against my religion to read Siddhartha. Funny. He was a Methodist. The above statement isn't entirely true, either. I've always been interested in other schools of thought, since I was 13 and found my Mom's copy of Tao de Ching. It was...enlightening. I never before realized that there were whole religions based on finding that stillness deep inside of ourselves, and to live simply and to have respect for all life. After this, I discovered a book of quotes from Zen Buddhism, and It made sense to me! Imagine, a 13 year old understanding the phrase "I'm not young enough to know everything." So...I don't really practice Buddhism, but I borrow from their ideas of non-attachment and stillness heavily. Besides, Christianity never sat well with me; the whole idea of the sanctity of Jesus' sacrifice just didn't make sense. And no, I don't need a lecture. I don't find death to be sacred at all. When I die, I die. I don't know what happens to the soul... the whole immortality of the soul doesn't sit right either. I like to think of my self as a perpetual student; I don't think I'll ever know enough to saitiate my need. But what I learn isn't from school or church--it's from the various media I use. In FFVII, the entire Life Stream bit made sense. Perhaps we do all become a part of the collective after we die. In Saiyuki, the recurring phrase 'Muichi Motsu' makes sense. It's a doctrine I try to live by, and always have. I just never knew the words for it before. I read before that we get the very idea of liberation from the star Sirius, and that there are several religions based off of this single star. Ra, eat your heart out. 'Equivilant Exchange' makes sense to me. It's all give and take in this world. What doesn't make sense is worshiping an omnipotent being who hasn't contacted anyone in over a thousand years. I don't believe in blind, unquestioning faith. Hm...there was something I read in a book once. "For all Gods are one God, and all the Goddesses are one Goddess, but there is only one initiator. And to each man his own truth, and the God within." Why look elsewhere for God, when we can find God within ourselves? I just think of something I read in my quote book, something along the terms of 'One moment of meditation is one moment of being the Buddah." To me, that makes sense. I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I only seek the truth. My truth. Also, forgive me if I sounded like I was preaching. :animeswea

There are several I can list, but I'll only say one: Char Aznable. Why? Because he not only was an excellent pilot and character in the original Mobile Suit Gundam, but, what other character do you know of who has spawned as many clones as he has? The Gundam universe(s) is littered with those who can trace their lineage back to Char, including Zechs Merquis and Rau Le Creuset. There is always that mysterious masked man who seems to have his own agenda. He formed a very necessary character archetype that every Gundam has. Even if he wasn't a Newtype, he certainly had the potential. Beyond his skills, he also treated those around him with a certain respect. And, in spite of his high ranking, he still managed to convey that he was a youth throughout the tale. There aren't many characters I can say this about, but , if I were to see him IRL, I wouldn't treat him any differently than I treat the rest of my peers. Not many characters come across that was. At least, not by what I've found.

[QUOTE=Delta][COLOR=#656448][SIZE=1]You should go grab a copy of Minekura's [COLOR=#4F91E7]Executive Committee[/COLOR]. (Beautiful) Tokito and (Lovely) Kubota act all frisky every chance they get! There are more implied BL scenes in the first few chapters alone than what you can find in the first volumes of Wild Adapter. [/SIZE][/COLOR][/QUOTE] Already found some scanlations on this one, but thanks for the heads up anyway! :catgirl: Yep, Kubo-Chan and Toki-Boy are exceptionally cute in this one. As a Minekura fan, don't think I haven't found her other works--it's sort of hard not to if you've been to NITRO. [quote name='Duoikari'] I can't believe i meet another person who like wild adapter, isn't it so cool! , i mean it like there yaoi in it but they don't make it so obivous that it in your face all the time. i haven't read all of it yet, i just up to chapter 6 i think.[/quote] Yay! *claps* Another person! Don't worry--I can't find all of it either. From what I've read, only three volumes have been translated. I may be wrong, though--you may be able to download them. I just don't want to screw up my parent's computer, so I haven't tried it yet. Wow. I've found three people who have read this, and I got one other reading it so far. This is getting INTERESTING.... :catgirl:

This is way off of the current conversation here, but if anyone else was irritated by the fact that CN abruptly took YYH off, I have great news! YYH is back, right where they left off, at 5:30 AM EST Saturday mornings. I know, it's very inconvenient, but I happened to be up at the time getting ready for work when I saw that it was on. I figured it would be nice to let the other YYH fans know. :animeswea I didn't know where to put this info, so I put it in the main YYH thread. Forgive me if I put this in the wrong place.

Ah...Serenity. It's been in theater's for a few weeks now, and I've sinned for not having seen it. I'm a fairly recent addition to the Firefly fandom--I only started watching it when the Sci-Fi channel started showing it a few months back. Or course I loved it! It is a welcom breath of fresh air on the Sci-Fi channel, which has only played relatively old or crappy stuff since FarScape. I read an excellent review by Orson Scott Card about how he saw Serenity. But I have to apologize for not having the URL on hand (I lost it! :animecry: ) In summary, he said that he would love his story 'Ender's Game' to be like Serenity if he ever gave the rights for it to become a movie. Having read 'Ender's Game', I think that's high praise. He also said that if Ender's Game, as a movie, can't be done as good as Serenity, that he would just see Serenity over again. I will get out to see it before it leaves theaters, or I will have really committed a sin that I can never repent for!

People don't like anime because it's just that--an animated show. For that very reason anime put itself down for many people, because cartoons have a certain stigma about being too imature for adults to watch and therefore it's classified as kids' stuff. It's because of this stigma that many people won't take a chance with anime, for the sheer nature of the way it's made. Sometimes people just don't want to open their eyes and see how...unusual it can be.

I like Yaoi. I've been a yaoi fan for years. But, my type of yaoi isn't the type most people picture. For instance, I like it when men look like men, not as what Sage said about Gravitation and Shuuichi. I still enjoy it...but... Okay, I like titles like Fake, and just about anything by CLAMP--including their outright yaoi titles like Tokyo Babylon and Legal Drug. I also love the Toya/Yuki and Clow/ Yue pairings from Card Captor Sakura, and I'm currently loving Fai/Kuro-Tan from Tsubasa. As much as I love yaoi from Gundam Wing--that was what started me on it--my favorite isn't from this one. My favorite is by Kazuya Minekura--the creator of Saiyuki. No...it's not Sanzo/Goku or Gojyo/Hakkai (I have arguments against the pairing of the latter), but from a title of her's that hasn't been released by in America yet. (I DO like Kou/Dokugaku, but that's beside the point...) It's called Wild Adapter, and the pairing is pretty obvious once you read it. It's funny, but it has it's moodier moments too. The only way I can describe it is that these two characters have a complex like that of Sanzo and Goku. The only catch to this one is that only volumes 1-3 are translated, and I can't find info if there's anymore. Want a place to find the translations? PM me. I'm always willing to help a fellow yaoi fan.

Having only seen a few episodes from this anime, I must say that I have high expectations for it. It's hilarious (always a plus), has mecha (another plus), and it has a good animatioin style. What I mean by that last comment is that there are a lot of moments where you just want to go 'awww' and go all gushy, while other moments where the characters are moving at break neck speed and there's such an intensity to it that the viewer has to do a 180. Also, Freud would have a field day with the whole [Spoiler] combining mecha bit. [/Spoiler] In terms of his philosophy, the idea could be construed to be another form of, forgive the euphimism, [Spoiler] combination.[/Spoiler] If you get what I mean, great! If you don't, you'll learn when you grow up. I think. :animeswea I can't wait to see how this one turns out.

Teryk hadn't been expecting anyone at three o'clock that afternoon. There were no appointments on the calendar, and he would have remembered if he had set up a luinch date with a coworker. Besides, it was too muggy out to leave the air conditioned confines of his apartment. He knew he needed to go grocery shopping, but the humidity caused by Tropical Storm Antony made him put off the task. Instead, he was grading papers. The students in his English 3 and 4 classes had taken a test yesterday on the books they were reading--The Fountainhead and The Scarlet Letter, respectively--and he preferred getting the grading done early before they all got lost in the vortex that was his office. Sunday was his only day to do that; Nadine High School was in session all year. The only compensation for the students was a long winter vacation and various week long breaks scattered throughout the year. One would be coming up within the next couple of weeks, and he knew the students would start to pester him before long. So, when the knock came at three that afternoon, Teryk jumped. It was hot and sticky out, and he wasn't expecting anyone. Of course he wouldn't have gotten dressed like he usually did! All he had done all day was shower, throw on a pair of ancient jeans, eat throw some clothing into the washer, and grade the tests. He scrambled around the room, and grabbed a ragged t-shirt he reserved for outside work only. He didn't like it much, but it was better than nothing. He pulled the shirt on as he hurried to the door. "Coming," He called as he brushed wayward locks of hair out of his face, shook his head, and gave up on it. He smiled pleasantly as he opened the door, acting as if nothing was wrong at all that day. Sure, he looked like he just got out of bed, but for all the person outside the door knew he probably did. "Ah, hello Harper." He said and stepped outside to join her. Natalie Harper, a spunky fifteen year old, smiled in return . She may have been eleven years his junior, but she was the sort of young woman who could easily be mistaken for an adult. She was tall too, tall enough to meet his eyes when they stood across from each other. But, it was as if God knew that most men were intimidated by tall girls, and he had blessed her with a lovely figure. "Hello, Mr. Collabel." "I wasn't expecting anyone," He confessed, looking sheepish. It was enough to diffuse the almost ridgid air that Natalie had then, and her smile went from merely a formality to something genuine. "Anyway," Teryk continued, "How may I help you?" "I was wondering if you could help me with something..." A light blush colored her cheeks. "You see, I kind of...lost...my book." "Ah..." As an English 2 student, Natalie was reading Shakespeare's "The Tempest" in class, as part of a group assignment. All in all, they were supposed to pick out a favorite scene, alter the dialogue so that it would fit with the current era, and perform it in front of the class. Such an assignment would be difficult without a book. "Do you know when you lost it?" "No. It was either yesterday or Friday...I don't know!" She looked on the verge of tears, and her green eyes were staring at some unknown spot on his front door. "I didn't tell you yesterday because I thought I would find it in my locker, or maybe Chelsea's locker. I guess I didn't, though." Her gaze shifted to the floor, her fists clenched at her sides and her face red. "Natalie." Teryk rarely used his studen't given names, and that very fact caused Natalie to look up. "Mr. Collabel?" "It's not the end of the world that you lost your book. The worst thing that can happen would be you having to pay the library for the lost item. Besides, are you sure that you looked in every possible place?" "Yes. I looked everywhere! My bedroom, my desk, the kitchen table, my dog's bed, my little brother's room..." She shook her head, holding her hands up in a gesture of futility, 'I don't know where else it could be!" "It's all right, Natalie." Teryk placed his finger under her chin and gently pushed her face up. "I'll make you a deal," He said. "If your book doesn't turn up by Tuesday, I'll let you borrow my copy. Okay?" "Are you sure?" She eyed him warily. He nodded. "Yes, I am sure." A bright smile returned to her face, and her eyes no longer looked so worried. "Thank you so much, Mr. Collabel!" She backed away, in preparation to leave, "I'll see you tomorrow!" She said as means of goodbye. "Wait!" Teryk called, wondering if it was right to say what he was going to. Natalie stopped, and glanced back at him with a curious look. "I wouldn't expect school to be in session tomorrow," He explained, leaning against his door. "Why's that?" "Well," Teryk chose his next words carefully. "There isn't official word yet, but I've read on my e-mail that the administration is considering cancelling school for the next couple of days." He smiled gently. "It's Antony, you know. It's been a long time since a storm hit Asgard. At least, that's what I hear." Natalie nodded. "I understand." She continued on her way, "In that case, I'll see you in a couple of days, Mr. Collabel!" She called, then burst into a light jog as she (presumably) went back to her house. Teryk smiled as he watched her go, and silently congradulated himself on a catastrophe averted. But the stickiness of the air had caught up to him, and he hurridly went back inside. Even as he rejoiced in the air conditioning, he knew that there were still more tests to grade. He pondered the fact for a moment, then decided to find something in the kitchen that wasn't plastic or paper so he could eat.

(OOC: Sorry it took me so long! I wasn't home at all yesterday--had no time to get online. Again, sorry. But, I do have it ready.) Name: Khiana Lee Age: 21 Gender: Female Gang: Rogues Appearance: Khiana is a slender, willow like young woman with a strange air of innocence around her. Any stranger she meets would be surprised to see that she takes part in some particularly violent activities. She stands about 5?6?, and has long black hair that curls wildly. As a result, she has to tie it back in a ponytail when she?s working. Chip Name: Dart Animal Chip: Fox Mech Name: Caster Class: Blazer Right Arm: Machine Gun Right Shoulder: Beam Saber Right Leg: Missile Launcher (Works with L. Leg) Chest: Energy Shield (Limited time frame?no more than five minutes) Left Arm: Retractable blade for close combat Left Shoulder: Automatic Energy Pistol Left Leg: Missile Launcher (Works with R. Leg) Special: Light Screen?A burst of light that temporarily blinds and disorients the opponent.

Hm... Escaflowne; A Girl on Gaia-- Yes, this is the movie. It's an elegant combination of fantasy and high technology, with a cast of lovable characters and an excellent story. Also, you're not going to see anything like this one for a while. I saw the series when I was a kid, and I was astounded. Beautiful animation, music that fits the mood perfectly, and an ending that makes a person feel strangely satisfied. The movie is the same. Then again, only you know your friend. It's ultimately your call what to show them.

[B]Name[/B]: Teryk Lee Collabel [B]Age[/B]: 26 [B]Gender[/B]: Male [B]City of Residence[/B]: Nadine; Aesir's District [B]Loyalty[/B]: Nadine's City Council [B]Job[/B]: Teacher of English at the High School level [B]Abilities[/B]: Teryk is surprisingly talented with his hands in spite of his profession, a testament to the way he lived when he was a youth. He has some skills that are better suited for thieves than school teachers, but he doesn?t flaunt them. Along with the lock picking and palming, he possesses a strange knack for hand to hand combat. Also, his acting skills are quite impressive. [B]Weapon of Choice[/B]: He?s a teacher; he doesn?t carry a weapon with him everywhere he goes. But, if there?s a need for him to fight, he prefers to use a pistol he acquired before he entered Nadine, or the set of twin daggers that slide easily into his boots. [B]Appearance[/B]: Teryk is a tall, slim man whose looks still betray his youthfulness. At his age, it isn?t de rigueur to look like a 19 year old anymore. He?s pale of complexion, with russet hair that tends to obscure his features unless he ties it into a ponytail. The ponytail fits nicely with the look he tries to cultivate, and the piercing on his left ear does a good job of accenting his style. The clothing he wears is rarely anything flashy, but it seems to blend in with any situation. As such, he doesn?t have a wardrobe that is split between his job and his everyday life. Unfortunately, he has two scores against him in appearance; his baby face, and his incessantly sleepy eyes. [B]Personality[/B]: He?s normally an easy going, if somewhat apathetic, guy. Rarely angered, he seems almost unshakably calm and composed. That calmness carries over into his profession, making him be a tough, but kind teacher. But his students tend to take advantage of his appearance in the beginning of the school year, misjudging him to be an inept and half-witted teacher. But it soon becomes clear that he?s a very bright and perceptive individual; his students can?t get away with passing notes around in class, even if they can catch him with the classic ?erasure balanced on top of the door? trick. [B]Biography[/B]: Teryk has no family that he knows of?he is an orphan from the streets of Arcadia, one who lived off of the food he stole and managed to survive with his bare hands. Such a life, though it had its merits, was tough, and it didn?t allow Teryk the very thing he craved more than love; an education. As it was, when he made the poor decision of stealing from a church (how was he supposed to know it was a church? He couldn?t even read!) he got more than he bargained for. He was caught in the act, but was offered a bed in the church instead of a cell in the local jail. At first he didn?t know how to react. Most people just shout ?Stop! Theif!?, but the nun smiled, told him not to take all of the money, and offered him dinner. It was unusual, but he accepted the nun?s offer. He stayed with Sister Karin Collabel, and she taught him everything she knew. In exchange, he helped her with her duties, and promised that he would one day be more than just another thief. Then it came. He was offered a spot at a school. Not a huge, prestigious one, but a school no less. He took it, and became a teacher with his knowledge. When he heard of the need for teachers in Nadine, he eagerly accepted. It was a chance to make good on his promise to Sister Karin, and he couldn?t refuse. As it is, he may be just a teacher, but he remembers his experiences. He likes to think that maybe his thieving skills can be used for the good of Nadine, especially with all of the rumors he?s been hearing lately.

Interesting idea, this one. I always did like stories with Mecha, but it can be tricky finding a Mecha RP that isn't wholly military based. I like the idea. You can count me in. Of course, I'm not that familiar with the game that everyone seems to be talking about--Armored Core, right? But, that shouldn't be too big of a problem. I'd like to be a Rogue, if possible. And thank's for PMing me about this.

I concur with that last point. IMHO, a religious theory such as ID does belong in a social science class because it is just another way of thinking. Religion, Judeochristianity in particular, has a major issue about unquestioning faith in its followers. Such an issue doesn't welcome a very inquisitive academic class like science too well. Evolution should be kept inthe science room, ID in a more philosophical class. I'm not against it being taught; quite the contrary, I'm all for it. Being allowed to choose what you believe in seems right to me, and I don't condone people trying to force their ideals down other people's throats. Thus, a happy medium should be figured out some how, not just one or the other. Both can be taught on the public school level, only in different classrooms. It should be availiable for those who have an inquisitive mind, and I actually regret not taking any philosophy classes so far in my high school career. Then again, this is coming from the one who was lectured to by the church youth leader about reading books like Siddhartha and other pseudo-philosophical texts. I'm not saying I know anything. I'm still looking for the answers. Maybe other people are too, and there should be better resources for them to find those answers. If it means teaching a religious theory in a public school, so be it. Just, it should be kept in the right context, and it should be kept as unbiased as possible.

[I] "There's something we need to talk about." Sirius had spoken in a hushed voice over the phone. "Well, what is it?" Lyra questioned, apparently wanting to get their conversation over with as quickly as possible. Not that Sirius blamed her--making so many calls betweel Central and HQ in such a short time was bound to look suspicious. With that in mind, Sirius had chosen his next words carefully: "Remember when we met? I thought you were sent by Ishbala." He smiled fondly. "I remember," Was all Lyra said, though he knew that she also remembered her reaction to that comment. A confused look, followed by the phrase "Are you nuts?!" "Good. Then let me say this; I'm concerned that my actions that lead to our meeting are going to catch up. It's best that I leave before people begin to realize..." "I understand. And, it'll be good to have someone else around for a little while." With that said, Lyra hung up.[/I] Sirius was glad to be away from the oppressive air that hung over Central, and back in familiar territory. But Sirius' little epiphany still hung on his mind. He knew that the Military had a file on him, about his actions from years ago. He also knew that the file carried a photo. The photo was fuzzy, but a keen eye would be able to recognize him. For that reason he knew he had to leave. With all the hunting around through their files, his was bound to come up for sure. He did not want to be around to see the consequences. So, he had called Lyra after he got permisson from Hughes, and warned her that he would be coming. She hadn't seemed too upset about it either. But it was at then that he finally felt justified for growing his hair out. Not only was it a good disguise, but the girls always wanted to play with it! Even if long hair did have its advantages, it could be an irritation as well. At the moment it was beyond his control, whipping around his face in the wind created by the departing train and obscuring his view. If he was to find Lyra, his hair would be a problem. But the familiar red hair was nowhere to be seen. Sirius dropped his bag onto the deck and shook his head. "Don't tell me that I came here for nothing!" "About time you got your head out of the clouds." Sirius looked around, and saw a slim brunette tossing his bag over her shoulder. "Um...miss? I'm afraid you have the wrong bag," He said, being as polite as possible to the stranger. "Or, maybe the wrong person?" The form fitting dress she was wearing was very distracting, but he swore he knew that expression from somewhere... "Idiot! Who do you think it is?" She took off her glasses, and Sirius felt his cheeks grow warm as the blood rushed to them.

I'd say [B] Escaflowne[/B], at least, the movie anyway. It's really the only anime I know in which the main character is really clinnically depressed. But, in spite of all this, there is still an endearing note to this flick. [B] Cowboy Bebop[/B], while hilarious in some episodes, has rather depressing undertones. However, the source of the bitterness doesn't really show up in the series, but in the barely seen past of the characters. But keep in mind that the entire series isn't devoted toward pining over grievances that happened in the past--as I said, it can be out right hilarious. Just watch, pay attention, and you'll see what I mean. Love. Betrayal. Death. These all have their moments in these two anime, but both are enjoyable for the most part.

Name: Rosslyn "Ross" Langdon Age: 19 Gender: Female Appearance: Ross is a slender young woman with reddish brown locks, clipped short, and sharp honey brown eyes. Her sense of style matches her personality--simple and functional, yet with a bit of an edge. Unfortunately, she is easily mistaken for a male, because her hair is extremely short and she is rather angular in form. But make no mistake, she is a woman,even if she doesn't initially deny a person mistaking her gender (I'll find a picture if I can). Weapons: Ross mainly uses anything that can be thrown. That includes knives, darts...chopsticks...what ever she can get her hands on. She also favors explosives of any sort. Materia: Cure Lightining She prefers not using Materia too often. Personality: Ross is typically the sort who will do anything for a decent pay...a hand for hire, so to speak. In accordance with her looks, Ross is anything but a feminine female, and when in crisis reacts with what seems to be brutal honesty. She'll say what ever is on her mind, and never regrets any of her actions. However, she does have a softer side--mostly in the form of a little mechanical bird that she'd dubbed 'Chii", and any food that's sweet or unusual. Biography: Ross isn't one to mope over grivances that happened in her past. She prefers to live the present, because that is the only time she feels is hers. When asked about her previous life, the days before she decided to cut her hair and sell her services, she will only say that "It is a case of love and of death, repeating over and over again." Over the course of her career, if it can be called that, she heard rumors about a man called Kadaj, a proported savior who knew the cure to the disease that had suddenly crashed upon the population. And Ross, being the skeptical sort, thought it all was a load of crap. But when she saw a close companion kill themself because they couldn't stand the symptoms, she felt the stirrings of a desire for salvation. After all, if life can be so easily taken away, then why bother living? Always one to believe in herself, the realization of her own mortality shook her. Now she has questions, and has resolved to find the answers she needs. (I hope this is okay! If it needs fixed, tell me.)

I personally like the backstory and the characters that can be made from it. I like to read too, and I'm trying to write as well. For me, RPing is a little like writing a story; it needs a good set up, but it needs good characters too. It's sort of like a test flight on new characters for me, and it also helps me get to know the characters a little better too. It's a bit like getting inside the mind of the role you took in the RP, and also a bit like acting too. Though I freeze on stage, RPing opens a new medium on which to practice. You won't get any disgusted looks, unless you happen to be a poor writer, and it can really help a lot in the writing process.

The first anime I ever saw was when I was a kid--Sailor Moon. I admit, though, I was never a huge fan. After that, I'm ashamed to admit, I was swept up by the Pokemon fad, but I was the last of my friends to get into it and the first to get out. The first anime that I knew was an anime was Gundam Wing, and this left a massive affect on me. Since GW I've had a constantly recurring Gundam obsession, and that ties in any anime that I find with big Mecha. That includes, Zoids, Big O, other Gundam series', Escaflowne (Though, arguably, the Dragon Armor is an organic entity, not a mech), Full Metal Panic!, and, from what I can tell, Vandread. To make matters worse, I stumbled upon a novelization of the original Mobile Suit Gundam--the one with Amuro Ray--and I'm ecstatic. I'm currently reading it, and I'm loving it. Hm. Maybe I should change my title to 'Mech Addict'.

I concur on the point SayianPrincess made earlier; the art style and story structure are far more in depth and eloquent that anything made here in the States. Besides, anime doesn't necessarily have the same stigma that American Animation has. It's not just kid's stuff. In fact, there are several series that I would never show my little brother at this point--they're far too mature/bloody/psychologically deep that he'd never get passed that. I admit, I did get into anime when it was fast becoming a craze, but I like to think that I've surpassed the blindly obsessed otaku stage. I now don't look for merely pretty graphics or character designs. I look at the characters and stories themselves. As an aspiring writer, I like anime because you can find characters from about every archtype in it. In my mind, it's a far more diverse genre than any live action show you see on TV. Sitcoms and the like. And the plot is complex, though as a writer I find myself nodding at several favored series in the process of my writing. I also admit that it stifles my originality a bit. :animeswea

It was torture, not being able to do anything but sit around, waiting for news from the front line. And sitting around was never Sirius' style. Even in Ishbal he could never just sit. He was always out there blowing up the opposition, not waiting for the attack to come to him. In his opinion, it was foolish and out right stupid, that whole waiting business. He sighed. [I] I hope Lyra got my message...[/I] The text on the book laid out before him blurred, and the words suddenly seemed like a meaningless garble as he found himself nodding off. But a smile formed on his lips as he remembered that rare laugh of Lyra's. It wasn't forced, either. It was the real thing. For a moment she looked genuinely happy, but he forgot the reason why. Suddenly he found his head flattened against the book, and a happy voice was chriping in his ear. A voice that was eerily familiar... "Sir?" He managed to say, looking up at the bespectacled eyes on the one he was 'Serving' under. Maes Hughes let up on the pressure, and smiled. "You know you shouldn't be sleeping on the job." "But-!" "No 'buts ' about it. You know that you don't get anything done if your asleep." "But I-" "Did you find out anything useful?" Hughes gestured to the book, a log of all past uprisings by rebel factions. "Sir!" Sirius cried, just wanting to be heard by the eccentric Colonel. "Actually, I don't see how this is very useful in the current situation..." He glanced away, back to the text. If there was one flaw on his part in taking this assignment, it was the fact that he couldn't read half of the language that was commonly used among military personelle. Hughes remained silent for a moment, then shook his head."Travert," It was the pseudonym Sirius had chosen to go under, "You do realize that fledgling organizations always borrow off of previous tactics, don't you?" "Yes, I do realize that." Sirius nodded. "But, if all previous plans failed, then why would they borrow them?" "Hm. Good point..." "Sir?" Sirius ventured warily, for he never knew how Hughes would react. "I have a small request..." "What? You mean that you want to go to my daughter's birthday party?" Sirius raised his hand as if to say ' I'm innocent'. "Yes, maybe that too, but..." He glanced away again, at the book. "I'd like to go to the town of Manitaw, if I may." Hughes seemed to study him for a moment. "And, how do you expect to get through the whole fray? I heard that a scuffle has started, and you're not the most..." He gestured to Sirius' right side, at the sleeve that was tied in a knot for more mobility. "...capable?" "I can take care of myself," Sirius huffed. "But I'm not going there to fight." "Then why?" Sirius felt a faint blush form on his cheeks, and bowed his head to hide the fact. "There's someone in that town that I'm worried about..." "Girl Problems?" Sirius looked up, only to see that he was nose to nose with the Colonel. He jumped, knocking over the chair and dragging the book down to the floor with him. Hughes laughed. "Permission granted. Just dont get into trouble, okay?" Sirius looked up through his thick bangs, only to see Hughes beaming. He smiled back, and scrambled to a standing position. "Thank you!"

I have a mini list of favored bishies, all of which have a soft place in hy heart. [B]Touya Kinomoto and Yukito Tsukishiro (CCS)[/B]: My first bishies ever. Considering that I've been a CLAMP fan for years, I love how they brought these two back in Tsubasa. [B]Jin(Samurai Champloo)[/B]: I respect this bishi--it must be the quietness that surrounds him, it's a little comforting for me. [B]Keele Zeibel (Tales of Eternia)[/B]: From an obscure anime and videogame called Tales of Eternia. I first discovered it in middle school and out right fell in love with a picture of this nerdy mage. But didn't get my PS2 until my freshman year. It took me a while to find a copy, and there was only one in the entirety of EB games! No way I'm selling this game. Still, Keele is roughly the kind of person I wanted to be for years. He's the very reason why I pushed myself in high school and now in the college classes I'm taking. Otherwise, I'd be an average student who probably woudn't have made it in life. [B]Fai D. Flowright (Tsubasa)[/B]: Gotta love the silliness about him. And his incessant teasing of poor Kuro-Tan! [B]Ni Jianyi (Saiyuki)[/B]i: This mad scientist scares me a little, but I can't help but find myself drawn to him as well. Hm. It must be the bunnies. [B]Alphonse Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist)[/B]: I feel for the little guy, he has to put up with a lot of crap from everyone. Besides that, he seems so childish at times, yet he is arguably one of the most intelligent characters in the series. And, it's a little frightening, but I can find several parallels between him and Scar... :animeswea [B]Nicholas D Wolfwood (Trigun)[/B]: Is he even a bishi? I don't know, but I respect him a lot, both for his wit and his will. He's one funny guy, but he knows how to elicit a few tears on the viewer's part. and, finally [B]Rain Jewlitt (Immortal Rain)[/B]: I can't help but feel for this guy; he's a spaz like I can be IRL, and yet he carries with him this profound saddness. There are times when I just want to hug the guy, and let him know that everything is all right.

I think that messenger bags are unisex--I've seen guys with them around school. Then again, these are the wanna be goth/punk guys we're talking about... Forgive me if I smashed any toes with that comment. :animeswea Then again, what style of messenger bag do you want, materiel wise? I've seen these gorgeous ones in Sun Coast with an asian type design on them, but I think they're more girly. Or, perhaps you want one with a big picture on Inu Yasha on it? Then again, that was seen on a wanna be goth/punk who is apparently a frighteningly obsessive otaku. Sca-ree. Myself, I have a very generic messenger bag--it's a standard issue green one, with a keychain of a chibi Ed Elric on it. I guess that means I'm no better than the obsessive otaku, even if I don't drool over anime characters anymore. As for your other question...well. There's nothing on my list, except that I know a few guys that look better in a dress than I do. :animecry: That sort of thing should be outlawed!

Name: Keele Napier Age: 18 Nationality: American Appearance: Keele is a slender young man of about 5'6", with long dark hair that he keeps pulled into a ponytail and blue eyes that are normally obscured by tinted glasses . His sense of style is casual, yet classy--he reminds some people of an art student, albeit a rather pale, effeminant one. Personality: Keele is a bit on the introverted side, yet isn't afraid to speak his mind when he sees fit. Occasionally his tone takes on a bitter note, and his eyes take on a sharp edge, but he always remains polite and carries himself with a quiet grace Biography: As the son of a prominent UN official, Keele has seen many places in his life, and lived abroad until he was in middle school. As a result, he is well adjusted around people who are many years his elder, but he isn't quite comfortable with his peers. To make matters worse, he was diagnosed with Meniere's Disease when he was thirteen--a rare phenomenon, but not unheard of. Because of the sporadic fits of vertigo that plagued him, he remained uncertain of how to approach people. He hated appearing to be the sickly, frail sort. He had been leaving a favored haunt, a local cafe, when it happened. Powers: Telepathy and Energy Manipulation

(Looks Interesting...) Name: Aubrey Hughes Gender: Male Age: 26 Appearance: Aubrey has the looks of a man in his chosen profession; a cook at a local cafe. He may not be the most noticeable individual out there, which is just as well because he's not trying to attract the attention of anyone in particular. Being flashy just isn't in his nature, and he doesn't approve of all the peacocks he sees coming into the cafe. As a cook, he keeps his dirty blond hair clipped short so that it doesn't get into the food, but it has grown shaggy as of late, forcing him to tie it into a small tail. His eyes are a clear gray, but he has been told that, under the right conditions, they seem blue. He's also tall, an impressive 6'4", and he finds it amusing when his younger cousins make comments on how tall he is. His sense of fashion reflects how he is as a person; casual blue jeans and worn out sneakers, with the occasional dress shirt thrown in for good measure. He rarely dresses up for any occasion, but looks decent when he does bother to get into a three-piece suit. Personality: Aubrey is a calm person who spends a lot of his free time reading. However, he is definently the sort who would easily get into a fist fight with a punk if it became necessary. He is not adverse to teaching anyone a lesson either--he has been known to invite Jehova's Witnesses into his apartment for a cup of coffee, and then lecture them about going around trying to convert people. "Not everyone believes in God, you know. You may be trying to convince a Buddhist to join your church." However, his emotional reaction seems flat at times--it's like he feels nothing for the person across the hall who recently lost her cat. But he isn't a jerk about it, merely the tell-me-none-of-your-problems-and-i'll-tell-you-none-of-mine sort. Writing Sample: Aubrey never thought he would see them in that particular apartment building. They were there, no less, and he laughed inaudibly at the sight of them knocking at Kari?s door. He knew that she was out?probably at the grocery store getting more ingredients for another one her culinary fiascos?but he decided to let them fumble around a bit. After a moment, he stepped out of his apartment, a filled bag from the kitchen garbage can acting as the perfect excuse. He caught them just as they were about to leave. ?I didn?t think I?d see the day,? He said airily, half to himself, but knew that the strangers had heard. ?What do you mean?? The one, a middle aged woman, asked. She seemed a little confused. Perhaps she thought there was some breaking news?some sort of tragedy in Europe involving fires and buses filled with tiny school children? Aubrey smiled. ?I never thought I?d see a couple of Witnesses in this particular building.? ?Oh!? The other one piped, a younger woman probably in her late twenties. ?We?re not from this building?we live in the one across the street. ?I see.? He set the bag down outside of his door and leaned against the wall, making himself comfortable. It had been a fantasy of his for years, cornering a couple of Jehovah?s Witnesses and boxing them in so that they couldn?t escape. Inside he felt a thrill. It looked like today was going to be his lucky day. ?Jehovah, right?? He questioned. The younger one nodded eagerly, her eyes bright as a child?s. That very gleam was all too familiar to Aubrey; it was just like that annoying high school student that popped into the café in the afternoon and stayed till closing, drinking mocha after mocha until she was vibrating. ?You do realize that those very same letters could be pronounced ?Yahweh?.? At their blank look, he feigned horror, "You don?t!? Dear God in heaven, Ladies, but where did you go to school??