Question Charging Buffalo, Hidden Dragon

It took a moment to realize the scene with Maggie was four days before she wigged out before the combat final she wouldn't participate in.

So, hopefully Ms Stone learned something about expunging Mythos taint so Kayda doesn't have to heal herself, again.

My only disappointment with Danny is we already have Miyet.

Planning summer was a great scene. They don't all need to end in tragedy.

It was nice to see Guan Yu again.

More healing of Skybolt and another meeting of the support group. Again, good scenes that didn't result in tragedy.

jmhyp wrote: It took a moment to realize the scene with Maggie was four days before she wigged out before the combat final she wouldn't participate in.

Yeah, same here.

My only disappointment with Danny is we already have Miyet.

Except we don't really have Miyet, considering she never made it past her first story. I do think that it could be hilarious to watch the two of them meet, though.

Planning summer was a great scene. They don't all need to end in tragedy.

What, you think their summer plans are going to actually go as planned?

My only problem is I think they're pushing Kayda too hard, there is the chance she's going to burn out in the normal sense of the word.
However other than that this was great. Her answer to where she went wrong after sparring with Two Knives, and saying "getting up in the morning" was fantastic.
I liked that Molly is coming off as a bit of a warrior, and her first instinct was to burn the crazy attacker. There is something to respect about a person who understands that fire solves most problems.
Chou and Molly I thought were really well done.
Danny's reaction to his manifestation was perfect and I like his spirit.
Carson's reaction to Chou's sponsor had me smiling pretty much the entire time.
And Skybolt is being healed more and more.
All in all, this was top notch.

Charging Buffalo, Hidden Dragon Part 1 comments
Comments typed up while reading story.

Interesting song lyrics to start off the story, Elrod. Actually made me look up it up on YouTube. Just the description of that weapon of Chou's makes me want to keep my distance, not only dangerous but diffinately adds to intimdation factor. Yikes! Too close there, why does it seem like Chou has live weapons while Kayda is stuck with training ones? A weapon designed for attack, defense, and disarming! Takes a lot of training to even wield it with some skill, I bet, more to wield it with the level of skill that Chou is showing.

And designed for tripping in skilled hands, definately don't want to face someone trainined in wielding one of those. Plus the reach it gives her, if it wasn't for the fact it probably takes months or years normally to learn how to wield it it would be the perfect melee weapon. Guessing based on that blow that the pointed end of Chou's weapon is blunted after all, otherwise that would have caused a serious injury.

Chou treats it like a real fight, hiting harder than sparing calls for, nothing. Kayda counters by throwing her knife and hurts Chou in turn, now Mr. Two Knives calls the match a draw. I know they are trying to prepare Kayda for the threats she has to face, the trouble that has already come at her, but pushing her harder and treating her sparing partners like they can't take as much as her is going to make her angry and bitter with her teachers if it keeps up.

And he should treat her sparing partners as her equals and analyze their performances just as much, doesn't he see how treating her this way will ultimately backfire. He may be he teacher, but when he agreed to take on the others he should treat them the same way. Great, Molly should realize you don't laugh at a friend when they make a mistake. That is a good way to lose a friend.

Chiding her further in front of her friends and classmates, doesn't he remember what being in high school was like. After all she has been through she has come out stronger, that doesn't mean she can't be hurt by picking at every little mistake or chiding her for trying to be polite. I wouldn't be surprised if he keeps pushing her if she gets to point of wanting to replace him before things improve.

Good, Molly noticed they were going too far for just sparring as well. Maybe they will ease up in the future now. Figures, Chinese god of war pushing Chou to face as many opponents as possible with different weapons and fighting styles. Wants her ready to face anything, even if it never comes up again. Kayda, noooo! Don't mention something you don't want Wakan Tanka to know, she can hear you. At least joking around about their mentors lightened the mood, but if they were listening in this spells trouble for Chou and Kayda.

And now we see how Chou and Kayda got teamed up for the combat finals. Gunny and Ito scheming to make the matches work, those guys are sadistic, but I guess they have to be to prepare the students for the real world. And I can't believe how Kayda was able to keep Poe's secret from Molly without going more than smiling and giggling a little. Especially after the line about other gay girls on campus Molly gave her.

Dang, Molly is definately not the shy girl we first met anymore. To make her girlfriend blush like that, at least Jade wasn't around or she would have gone into a giggle fit at Molly asking that. Nice way to turn it around on Molly, if you don't want those kind of questions asked of you don't ask them yourself.

Kayda, you say you suck at this, when the truth is you could take many students on campus if they didn't have their powers. Chou just has more training plus the initial knowledge/skill implant. And yet even being told she is just supposed to learn doens't help, before her transformation into Kayda she hated to lose. And she still hates to lose, training and expecting her to learn but not win is going to keep her frustrated.

Chou to the rescue with a solution on training, but as Kayda said, it is more training. If the rate and amount of training Kayda receives keeps increasing, by the time she graduates from Whateley she will be the best trained student in combat arts ever alongside Chou. And Kayda needs to be put up against a less trained and experienced student so she can see how much she has improved. Facing the best all the time doesn't show you how well you have improved since you started.

And everyone wants to feel special and unique, at least at one point in their life. Molly a natural at standing archery, never would have thought it. Or was she cheating using her magic like Kayda suspects? Homemade jelly, beware sharing it or everyone will want it. Wonder if any other students have homemade food stuff they are keeping secret. Hehehe, those two are too competitive for their own good.

Nice to hear that Danny is going well and hasn't lost all his friends. And now we get to see the start of his manifestation, poor boy. I'm almost sorry I made the suggestion of him showing up at Whateley and one of the Three Little Witches getting a crush on him which started everyone else coming up with further torments for the poor boy. Almost but not quite, despite what was said in his thoughts some anti-mutant elements will probably rise up and mess with the Franks family again. Especially when she shows up for summer vacation.

Wakan Tanka directed the spirit to Danny, she is going to get chewed out by Kayda unless she gives a really good reason for why she did so. Don't tell him he is just like his sister, poor boy fainted because he thinks the spirit is going to turn him into a girl now. And now they think it was just his imagination, this is going to make it much harder on him when he realizes the truth.

Yikes, trying to train the Three Little Witches something which requires patiences and discipline, Ito has his work cut out for him. Even with Tansy backing him up. Ito is a lot more insightful than even I thought he was, knowing what Tansy is doing with Lanie. Never underestimate Ito, his fighting skills or what he knows, he probably is one of the main sources of info for Mrs. Carson besides Ms. Hartford.

Kayda needs to get in touch with her feelings more if she can't realize she is angry while sparing, it practically radiated from her along with frustration in the sparring scene earlier. And she finally says what I felt was obvious from the start, training doesn't feel worth it if you don't feel like you are getting better. And a teacher should know you have to also praise them for what they do right, instead of focusing only on what they did wrong. Especially with a young student, who needs positive reinforcement.

He really has forgotten what it was like being a teenager, sulking and pouting over mistakes may not help you learn but to a teen it helps them take some of the sting out of the mistakes. And he finally has a point I agree with, no fighting style ever made is perfect, each has its strengths and weaknesses, adapting and using different fighting styles to fit changing combat situations makes more sense.

Ack, double-teamed by Mr. Two Knives and Tatanka on following advice, she can't catch a break. Darn it, Kayda, stop beating yourself up already! She needs to face someone who has had equal amount of training to see how much she has improved. When Chou's tutor and a skilled and experienced healer gives you praise and the whole magic department of Whateley is talking about what you did, take the praise and compliment. Even if you had help, they couldn't have done without you. Beaten up so much by events out of her control, she puts down her own accomplishments.

Kayda may have been sarcastic but not too far off the point, she does have a lot of training in addition to classes, when does she have time for fun. And Mr. Two Knives finally realizes his fighting styles can't help with giving Kayda and Chou balance. Nice to see Chou's teacher again, hope we see more of her in the future.

Just how bad could spending time with Alicia's extended family really be? Wait, I don't think I want to know the answer. If kin says its bad, it's bad. And never try to lie to your friends about things involving someone you love, they can see through them. Finally some more lightheartedness, things were getting too heavy for a while there. And down we go, poor Alicia, know how that feels.

Nice crack about the grandma and aunt having first crack on setting her up. Addy picking up Alicia's accent, nooooo! I like it on Alicia, it fits. But on Addy...*shudders*, I think it might drive Ayla away if she started sounding like Alicia. Or more likely a mix of her original accent and Alicia's accent.

Boy, it takes a lot to set up trips like this. Twinkletoes is trying to weasel out of going to see Mage Astra, wonder if he is afraid of rejection or has another reason to avoid her. And with how excited they are getting for summer vacation, you know there are going to be a few stories involving it, as it will be anything but boring.

Nice to hear more about how Sky is being helped and how far along she is getting the piercings removed. From 42 to 16+ piercings is a lot of progress and nice to hear her self image has improved a lot as well. And dang, Cav is being stubborn still about seeking the amount of help from others he needs. At least he is opening up to Dr. Bellows, that is a sign of progress at least.

Dang! Just out of the blue stating she should show Skybolt what she showed Cav to keep her trust. Sometimes Wakan Tanka is completely unpredictible. And I think anyone except for the totally calous would be pale and in shock after being shown what happened to Kayda. 3 down there, Hekate and the Don are twisted. I can understand why she wants those out next, that is the biggest threat to her emotional health right now.

When Nikki is pleased with your magical progress, you know you have made true progress. Guessing it is more about controlling the well too keep more of the essence she takes in instead of it leaking into the environment instead of her Wiz trait somehow increasing in level. And Kayda has a point, several of the Whateley teachers have a habit of pointing out mistake without also pointing out what you did right. At least Gunny tries to do that.

Respect for the patient, I swear, Dr. Tenent wishes Kayda to be trained as a doctor at some point and time. Kayda showing a lot of maturity, and Dr. Tenent goes out and says what everyone knows, students have sex, but need to keep up appearances. And anyone with talent who has shown to be stubborn and willing to break the rules to help others will always be under a microscope at Whateley. Something else mixed in with the Mythos magic possibly, at least from what is being described.

Ms. Stone knows something to help with fatigue, like the tea Chou makes. Why that tea hasn't spread out around the school with interest from students and staff like Kayda is beyond me. I would think something to help with fatigue would be wanted by everyone who isn't a high level Exemplar or Regen.

A libido spell, should have known Hekate would do something that cruel; probably thought it wasn't a big deal after everything else she did to Skybolt. At least with Kayda, Dr. Bellows, and all their friends helping them out, Cav and Skybolt can recover and live happily together. Now if only justice would happen to the Don and Hekate. And finally the message gets through to Kayda that she is learning.

If Wakan Tanka didn't wish to take chances with which spirit Danny got, why did she send this silly spirit instead of someone else. Danny is definately going to want to talk to Wakan Tanka first chance he gets. And Wihinape just had to suggest turning him into a girl would simplify things, she is more out of touch with humans than any other named spirit we have met so far. Or she has a wicked sense of humor and was messing with him. Hoping it is the latter.

Now she can't even have some time to enjoy herself and ride her horse for fun without more potential training showing up. Guan Yu thinks the ways of the Chinese people are best, he is stubborn and ancient, set in his ways. Kayda is young and stubborn, willing to do anything to prove the likes of him wrong. She showed incredible skill and yet he still chids her for missing with one arrow, she counters that Chou can't do that and betting her can't either. This won't end well if Guan Yu loses his temper, typical of what I recall from the old stories.

Guan Yu is arrogant to the point of blindness to seeing the flaws of his arguements. A larger force isn't always better, especially when most of them are untrained or green soldiers. Trying to one-up each other in cultural superiority either teaches both sides something or ends badly. Mr. Two Knives has skills to pick up the use of a new weapon so quickly, even with its similarities to another weapon he has wielded before.

Thank you, Mr. Two Knives, for turning down Guan Yu without upsetting him. And Mrs. Carson, if you recall parents day 2006 that is reason enough to fear the war god sparring on campus or getting angry. And Kayda, several have tried but no one so far can duplicate Jade's +10 Big Sad Puppy-Dog Eyes. If anyone did, we would be in trouble. One of her and those eyes is bad enough.

Guan Yu+ Mr. Two Knives plotting together for their students training= pity the kids. Hunter and hunted, but ghostwalking doesn't work on Choe and Destiny's Wave. Hope Kayda has been training in regular stealth skills as well. Guan Yu likes stories of warriors, guess it goes with the war god deal. And no wonder Chou is such a hard opponent, in addition to training her ki skills are a match for the spirits in some ways, at least at Kayda's current level of development.

Kayda, when you are getting too predictable do the unexpected, something they would never expect you to do. Using the squirrel spirits connection to find Chou, guess difficult opponents eventually force you to think in new ways and use new tactics. Leaping through the air would disrupt local air pressure even if just a little, enough for strong ki senses to detect. I would have used the masking from the spirits and Chou's distraction to sneak in low and slow, striking at Chou's legs to get her off-balance and then "finish" her.

She lost but at least she learned something new from the experience. Before tearing into her about losing her temper, at least tell her what she did good this time, like using the spirits to mask herself and spying using the squirrels through the spirits. Both of them against Mr. Two Knives, I know he is trying to teach them and using tough love and hard lessons but this is going to be brutal.

Never switch to a ranged weapon when a foe is within less than 15 yards, hitting as they charge is hard as they can gauge where you are aiming more easily. Especially a trained warrior. Kayda walked right into Mrs. Carson trap by saying she hasn't taken team tactics and doesn't know how to fight with a team. They planned this, plus if they looked at her regular classes and her special classes and how much time they all take up, they might realize why she snarks whenever they add on a new one.

Seesh, she just recovered from the worst ordeal of her life and they are already tearing her down again. We know she needs to be prepared for the threats coming after her, but they could take her feelings into consideration. And a match against Guan Yu, I doubt anyone except Counterpoint or Chaka would enjoy that, maybe Kodiak. And more tag-teaming Chou and Kayda by their mentors, along with poor Mrs. Carson worrying about them wrecking the sims now. When it rains, it pours.

Kayda is being messed with, now she is messing with Mrs. Carson in turn. There is a lot of face-palming in this 1st part of the story. Great, when Guan Yu approves it isn't exactally a good thing. At least not for their students. And now both are going to be taught how to be leaders in battle and full out war, guess it will be needed when the Bastard launches his plan. And with all her free time taken up, how will she develop her Gadgeteer-5 skills.

Now to confront Danny's manifestation, and dad is freaking out over the news of the spirit being female. He doesn't want his only remaining son to become his daughter as well, would still love his child but still doesn't want it to happen. Wihinape is freaking the poor boy out, Wakan Tanka should have ordered her not to change him, she is too playful a spirit like I would expect any cat-based spirit to be. His parents support is just making him more worried, if they approve of it Wihinape has even more incentive to change him. Poor kid, reacting like a cat and his eyes changing more, Wihinape has no experience dealing with humans.

Lifeline won't listen to reason when it comes to Grizzly, but at least there was some hope of getting through to her by reminding her about her friendship with Lanie. Until Ms. Hartford and Tansy's scheme ruined all chances of reconciliation, which makes this scene even more heartbreaking.

More tough training, and an ambush. I thought Magic Mikey had the copper spike, is he a speedster as well or can he use a spell to simulate speedster abilities? Yikes, someone who injures Choe that easily and the Tao once again doesn't intervein, this seems like something that could disrupt the balance if any of them die. Darn, forgot that demon-influenced people could have enhanced abilities and speed.

Molly shows her skills as a summoner and archer have improved, holding well in a fight for their lives. Thankfully she thought to include a paralyze spell in the arrow she hit him with, the fight is over for now but they need medical help and quick. Wondering about Part 2 now, will Magic Mikey, who I'm sure is the attacker, be taken in by security and the tainted spike by Circe until Kayda is recovered enough to remove the taint? Or will he escape to cause further trouble? And will their teachers give them a break and let them heal or come into Doyle and critic their fight while they're in bed?

Very interesting story, I wasn't expecting Danny to have manifested so soon. Kayda seems to be everyone's punching bag.

Yay another attempt to kill Kayda. I hope Ignarli is OK.

The hunter/hunted scene made me smile. I have a half written scene where Ito, Wilson, and Bardue are planning the Spring Combat finals which is a similar scenario, the chase. The Crash subjects had to run down a member of the Hooligans.

Arcanist Lupus wrote:

jmhyp wrote: My only disappointment with Danny is we already have Miyet.

Except we don't really have Miyet, considering she never made it past her first story. I do think that it could be hilarious to watch the two of them meet, though.

See the little smiley. I was merely comparing Danny to an existing character. Miyet is somewhat different since she wanted "to be strong". Danny wants nothing to do with being anything like his sister.

Dreamer wrote: Wihinape is freaking the poor boy out, Wakan Tanka should have ordered her not to change him, she is too playful a spirit like I would expect any cat-based spirit to be.

My take on that is that Wihinape is actually better at dealing with people than you give her credit for, but she is enjoying playing with Danny too much. We shall see if Danny becomes Danni, but it wouldn't surprise me if Wihinape is just doing this because he whimpers so amusingly.

Well, its already been mentioned, but the good news is they found the last spike. Now they just have to keep it.

I thiknk they would prefer finding the spike without having to do sugery.

Isodecan wrote:

Dreamer wrote: Wihinape is freaking the poor boy out, Wakan Tanka should have ordered her not to change him, she is too playful a spirit like I would expect any cat-based spirit to be.

My take on that is that Wihinape is actually better at dealing with people than you give her credit for, but she is enjoying playing with Danny too much. We shall see if Danny becomes Danni, but it wouldn't surprise me if Wihinape is just doing this because he whimpers so amusingly.

Well, its already been mentioned, but the good news is they found the last spike. Now they just have to keep it.

She's a CAT spirit! Of COURSE she's toying with him.

For now .....

elrodw wrote:

Isodecan wrote:

Dreamer wrote: Wihinape is freaking the poor boy out, Wakan Tanka should have ordered her not to change him, she is too playful a spirit like I would expect any cat-based spirit to be.

My take on that is that Wihinape is actually better at dealing with people than you give her credit for, but she is enjoying playing with Danny too much. We shall see if Danny becomes Danni, but it wouldn't surprise me if Wihinape is just doing this because he whimpers so amusingly.

Well, its already been mentioned, but the good news is they found the last spike. Now they just have to keep it.

She's a CAT spirit! Of COURSE she's toying with him.

For now .....

At least now he knows how the mouse feels.

Finding the spike because it has been stuck into your shoulder and thigh isn't a good way to find it.

Valentine wrote: Finding the spike because it has been stuck into your shoulder and thigh isn't a good way to find it.

Well, it wasn't as if she was actively looking for it now, how did she expect to find it?

Phoenix Spiritus wrote:

Valentine wrote: Finding the spike because it has been stuck into your shoulder and thigh isn't a good way to find it.

Well, it wasn't as if she was actively looking for it now, how did she expect to find it?

We don't know that, do we? I haven't written every minute of every day. She WAS looking for it, but the mess of stuff at Whateley made it hard to find. It didn't stick out like a flashlight in a dark room as Wakan Tanka hoped.

And a lot of her essence was going towards healing Skybolt. Between her healing and her training workload, Kayda didn't have the time or energy for a full search.

Cougars don't roar; they yowl. Felis concolor is the largest true cat. Naturalists sometimes describe them as "your typical housecat multiplied by ten." The can indeed fully purr.

I've occasionally been tempted to write a piece of fanfiction where Lisa Dawnwind - my werecougar/healer/priestess - is called into help Kayda with her healing magic and Loophole with her shapechanging. Problem is, she's *very* non-traditional.

OTOH, Lisa's first instructor in magic was a black bear spirit...

Charging Buffalo, Hidden Dragon 'Review'

Reviewing as I read so part that I interpret may occur latter and my analysis may not coordinate as I see it. These are fresh thoughts as I do a first read through. Took longer than I wanted as RL interrupts things.

No time/date/location given.

In the first act we find where both Chou and Kayda are both sparring, more like battle really, between each other. Given the choices of weapons Chou with her yanyuedao and Kayda with Tomahawks and knife both opponents appear to be comfortable with each weapon yet each appear to be 'training' weapons from the outcome, or more specifically Chou's as its stated it has a blunted edge. In summary here it appears both girls were going full out against each other by the very vivid description our illustrious writer Elrod has provided us. Even with him using Kayda's POV it's apparent that there seems to be a 'warriors' spirt encased in each of the girls as both side soon escalated to one of not giving any quarter in their dual. If not for the intervention Mr. Two Knives I'm sure the sparring would have gotten out of hand as both fighters 'lost' themselves in the battle considering it was a sparring event and not a rivalry one.

At least once ended both remembered their place accepting his decision, although from Kayda's perspective grudgingly. It also appears the Mr. Two Knives is more harsh on Kayda. Is this due to her being a Native Indian on her part whereas Chou is not? Will Chou have a harsher critique from her own trainers later?

When told to 'hit the showers' it seemed other than Mr. Two Knives needed to also keep the girls separated if not just a meeting but for Kayda to collect her thoughts as she was still wound up from the training. We are privy to Kayda's current treatment of her being 'outed' when Chou and Molly are walking hand in hand to the showers. It's also Molly who points out how the girls were escalating their training. Perhaps a bit of A+ on their part in not wanting to lose. It appeared both had the same thoughts on where each trainer is 'pushing' them. At this point we don't know for whatever reason. Perhaps the trainers are very demanding else it seems they take a sadistic pleasure in having students beat each other up only to stop before each other ends up killing each other. Where's the joy in that if one or both are dead as with wanting them to 'excel' in all combats no matter what is thrown at them.

For a school that is saying they are only preparing students for the outside world it appears from a lot of stories that they are training 'soldiers' for war and not high school students. Of course this does not seem to apply across the spectrum from what other stories have had happen.

At the end it appears once settled the girls have a mutual respect for each other as they talk.

May 22 Holbrook Arena

We are privy to a conversation between Gunny Bardue and Ito Sensei. There seems to be something going on behind the scenes. As I'm not fully immersed in the Whateley happenings my best guess is there is something afoot that only the Admin as with selected personnel are privy to. Could this also include what is happening in the works with Ms. Hartford and a mysterious person only heard on the phone? Or is there something more sinister coming up? Both appeared to be worried about matchup not liking the selection handed to them and as I stated I'm none too familiar with crashes, final combats as with how they are structured. (thanks hackers).

May 22, Holbrook and Laird

Confirmed Kayda is 'concerned' about the outing but is taking it in stride it seems although the raping has left it scars. Things do get personal between Kayda, Chou and Molly. Confirms she's seeing yet isn't wanting to give details. This is of course the catch 22 of any relationship. You either confirm or deny yet the answer is still given.

May 23 Holbrook Arena

Once more we are at the arena and it appears the fight is over and now into review time. Once more Kayda is displeased with her performance. What is she, super warrior or something? Will she not let down some of her guard to be human or is she trying to be Superwoman? She's basically a novice at fighting and is demanding a lot of herself at such an early time of her life. She come to sparring matches fighting those that have trained much longer and berates herself because she 'can't' best one that’s been training for a few more years than her.

Even her mentor is chiding her for placing to much expectation of herself. Yes its humiliating to be defeated. Learn girl, patience my little padawan. Is this desire to win at all costs due to her being raped thus causing her to lose focus? Once more Mr. Two Knives points out the obvious. Kayda is still 'learning' her weapons. Thinks about them while Chau does so from lots of practice and now we find her taking more lessons in having the weapon be part of the body without thought. I wonder if they have the timepiece from Hogwarts. She's going to need it else she'll have about 2 hours of sleep from her schedule.

With the introduction of 'special' katas weapons Kayda seemed please, yet frustrated at losing more of her free time. She seemed to like the idea of become more fluid with her weapons. Definitely the warrior side of her and given what we know what she can do with Tomahawks I personally don't want to be the one who's on the receiving end like a certain a.n.t. *shivers*

There seems to be a bit of friendly archery that it seems both Chou and Kayda enjoy yet both cannot best Molly. Soon Kayda's going to owe her mother work time to pay back for all the jars of jam she's losing. Either that or her mother's going to have to open a small store to sell her product with all the interest others are taking into it. At least she'd make money to cover the shipping.

Hopefully the rivalry between Chou and Kayda stays cordial else these two would be a terror if they really went at it. It always there's competition between the two without trying hard, even when going horseback riding.

May 23 Franks Family Farm.

A shift to Kayda's brother Danny. Non POV. Uh oh somethings happening to him as he feels faint.
Either he's delusional or he's getting the taste of his first avatar and as it happens 'female'. We hear the panic as Danny begins to understand what's happening to him. After running home we find Mom is in kinda denial as Danny tells of hearing voices. Well at least she didn't call a doctor and I don't mean a physician type. Thanks Mom, it's all in his head. Literally.

May 23 Laird Hall

Now on to Tansy. What a change we are given from days of yore. She seems enthusiastic about her training much to the detriment of her sparrers. Yet she seems very assertive even with the presence of Ito Sensei who chides her for dismissing them as he is the teacher. She of course lets it roll off of her and we hear her confess to her poor choice of friends, much to his surprise. Oh how little it seems many knew of this girl. When pressed it appears she had entrapped herself given asked concerning Nelly only to be followed by the ex-Alphas. It seems she's still talking to them, yet saying it’s a complicated situation, nervous over it. Is he aware of Tansy's motives? From the way he questioned her he appears to suspect something yet leave it to her, praising her yet tell her of her failure to have applied herself earlier in school. Now for a bit of a question. Who is 'they' when Tansy took her leave? From my understanding it was only between the two and may have just been a slip of the typing. We are given a privy thought on what Ito is thinking, knowing she is up to something.

May 23 Crystal Hall

Back to Kayda and Mr. Two Knives. Alone. For shame Kayda, think of Cornflower. JK. It seems Kayda was breaking protocol given their meeting. Well it seems faculty each better than students. Well except for Ayla it seems.

Ah now we come to the 'why' of the meeting. Her anger and what appears to be an A type attitude on loosing. We learn here that Kayda is losing focus and as anyone know, teens tend not to take criticism easily. She needs to remember who she is else she should be. We hear him harsh at first, perhaps seeing that he's being too harsh and softens up some. He reminds her that she must use all of the spirts that were teaching her in the spirit world and not to rely on just one style, else she could lose. It’s a harsh lesson, hopefully one she will remember and not be so hard on herself. Ah 16 when we knew everything till we reached 17 and we found we knew more.

It seems she's taken off guard in that her own instructor is learning different forms of fighting. Of course her bison doesn't help her esteem as he tells of her faults also. Poor Kayda, getting it from a sprit also. Yet both are saying what she needs to hear. Harsh reality girl. How many parents do that to their own kids?

Just as she's complaining of the unfairness we are introduced to a third member, Chou's trainer. Don't these people age? Aaannnd we get turned away from the fighting to healing. Skybolt more specifically and is quite impressed. Of course Kayda downplays it only to have Ms Stone question why. And just like the suspicions of any teen she wonders why Ms Stone is there. And once more it comes down to more learning. More specifically Chinese methods. Not complaining just pointing out. Well there goes either a meal or sleep. But it seems there is a method, she needs to learn balance. And she's going to learn it with Chou. Ah private lessons. Out of the gutter guys, this is serious. She needs to learn more of the pack and not the badger so it would seem and in the process Chou gets to learn a bit of healing herself.

May 23 Melville Cottage

We are given a bit of a reprieve as we learn Kayda's friend Alice and a now invited Addy is planning a get together. One groans while the other is happy. And Kayda dreams heavily on her girlfriend. Ah the playful banter between girls and well girls. Nothing like raging hormones to get a girl started on their own girlfriends. Well it seems Kayda made a mistake when she mentioned Addy dating it turned on Alicia. The problems of one losing the status of being a beauty only to find herself losing out to a group of exemplars who radiate beauty. Alicia quickly squashed any type of hook up. Ah I missed it 'till reading through and the plan is to marry up at some time for 2 weeks before whirl winning their way to France. It's during the summer vacation. With a few calls we hear the convenience of how Kayda's girlfriend will join her in France as a type of chaperone. Hmm interesting there. Once schedules are hashed out all are excited in what they are sure will be a fun filled time. Hopefully nothing like needing to be at required ceremonies and all will not disturb Kayda's summertime fest.

May 23 Dream World

In the dream world we are privy to seeing Sky and Cav who had suffered dearly at the hands of The Don. Whereas Sky is coming along it appears Cav is having a bit of difficulty still opening up to Cody. Understandable given that most males will not 'willingly' discuss such horrific events. Of course I point it to pride and how we view ourselves. Even with the therapy it seems he's moving slower than Sky and given how the dream world allows us to view how we perceive ourselves it's easy to see. The road is easy for some while others need more time. Of course Sky sees something in Kayda that makes doesn't sit well with her and now Kayda it seems must share the secret she had shared with Cav. Even with acceptance of what happened we see Kayda still has problems with it which also is still understandable. I personally don't think she'll ever be comfortable in showing it to others no matter how many times. Rape is never a pleasant thing.

As far as healing goes all three have a ways to go in my opinion. And we see Sky had a more personal request, one that I'm sure a few girls would feel uncomfortable with in both having inserted and for Sky removed.

May 23 Doyle Medical Complex

Okay this part was in of itself painful. Not just in relation to the character but also in the aftermath that was thankfully skimmed over procedure wise. Given what had been done to Sky and with Kayda suspecting something afterwards it was apparent that more had been done than just the insertion of studs. A more horrific deed had been performed on Sky that really irked me. The emotional toll that had been placed on her as with how she hoped to be normal. But in truth I find that she'd never know what would have been normal for her thanks to those that had done the libido spell. Haunted wondering when there might be no desire when she wanted to engage whereas she might feel as if there she was reverting back to another time when she finds herself overwhelmed with desire.

As for the procedure itself Kayda had her doubts, not in her ability but in her being watched, afraid that Ms. Stone would comment while she executed what needed to be done. Thankfully Ms. Stone didn't say anything, holding back and for once offering praise to a battered ego that had received no earlier. This I'm sure was much welcomed relief for Kayda as with know she had done good in helping Sky in offering her comfort once asked about being promiscuous.

As for Sky herself I have to say she did an admirable job of holding herself together given that Ms. Stone entered in wanting to observe without asking first on what was going to happen. Willing to forgo her modesty in the nature of magic. I'm not faulting Ms. Stone, only that I find it a bit of a misjudgment on her part and that it just shows how much more drawn out as a character she is versus a one dimensional individual.

May 23 Franks Family Farm

Okay bat to 3rd person. Danny has a conversation with what appears to be a sultry vixen. And rightfully so he's scared. Unlike most he's not looking forward to being changed like his brother now sister. The only thing I could find as I'm not much into the lore of Native Indians is that an Igmu Taka is part Wolf, Tiger and Dolphin. Other than that I'm at a loss into what Danny's spirit is at this point. We learn that Wakan Tanka is looking after him and had his spirt to inhibit Kayda's brother and it sounds as if she jumped the gun in her announcement. If she's as sultry as she sound, but playful in nature I fear for Danny at this point. Anyone say Ranma ½? Just don't douse him with water after he passed out fearing the worse. I'm sure he didn't want to talk to his sister about personal hygiene.

May 24 Holbrook Arena

Once more we encounter Kayda who is riding bareback for relaxation. Spying two adults she makes the mistake of riding over to investigate. And with the introduction of Mrs. Carson and Chou's mentor Guan Yu a war god. As the two converse Kayda is irked by him in that he chides her for riding bareback and that she would be more effective in a saddle. This of course enrages Kayda's sprite and we are treated to a show of marksmanship with the bow and Kayda shooting 5 out of 6 targets proud of both her heritage and skill. This of course leads us into a history telling on Kayda's part as the two bystanders listen in. I am not one to forego a good telling of one's history and this is no exception. Eventually Guan Yu is impressed as with Mrs. Carson fearing an approved dual between both Guan Yu and Mr. Two Knives. Apparently Guan Yu is known for destruction and Mrs. Carson is not looking forward in having the two battle. On another note it should be noted that once again Kayda's need for rest is interrupted with both Mrs. Carson and Mr. Two Knives engaging Kayda in another sparring match with Chou. We are shown a side of Kayda that is proud of her heritage as she regales him with Brave Woman and her counting coup, whereas Guan Yu had countered how his culture battled tens of thousands. Mr. Two Knives is proud, it seems, how Kayda doesn't back down. Yet perhaps she, herself should know when she is being pushed and learn to take her own stand or perhaps work on her puppy dog eyes, alas I fear that ability goes away when one enters her upper teens, thus girls begin to rely on their beauty and wit to accomplish said tasks.

Now we enter a round of fox and hound with Kayda supposedly being the hound. Of course this is not really the case just my slight interpretation of events as Kayda becomes both the Hunter and possibly the hunted. And I'm sure that Chou is not willing to play just the hunted as Kayda is at a disadvantage when it comes to her seeking out her prey. Chou and her masking ability of her ki. And I'm right in that Chou has taken the initiative to take out the hound by getting the first strike. This of course starts Kayda to become angry, with herself, for not being able to rely on her earth and sky spirits. Wish I had something like that at the time when the wife called to do some house work.

It seems Kayda is learning of her own predictability, perhaps too late for now? It seems Kayda has a come up with a nutter idea. Squirrels to use and hide her from Chou's ki sensing ability. And it seemed to have worked as with Kayda pulling in the earth and sky spirits to hide her as well. As she did this I wonder if any squirrels were harmed in the making of this scene.

That ki is pretty formidable it seems if it picks up ones sound of movement. We now have to formidable foes attacking each other. No surprise here it seems, let's move on. I should back course as Kayda is not as fluid with her weapons mastery as Chou is as she receives some well-deserved hits as Chou counter attacks Kayda's move. With Kayda sore Chou isn't worse for wear. That was up until Kayda finally hits Chou and it seems to have been harder than intended, but then Kayda does have some sores she needs to nurse as she ghost walks from harms way. At this point we are given to where we hear the outcome. Kayda's clock was cleaned as well as the hound having its pelt removed for day wear. It seems Kayda's spirit is taking another thrashing at this point. Just how low will it go? Molly's heaping praise I'm sure didn't help matters and I wonder if she knows what she's doing? With added salt to injury Kayda endures what she knew would be coming. A critical critique that blisters her own worthiness even further and not just by her own teacher but by Chou's as well. I've counted six feet deep and still digging down. And to top matters further both Chou and Kayda are now required to fight Mr. Two Knives. I'm wondering about Mr. Two Knives sanity at this point and what the school is all about.

If I was to compare what happened I would say Custard had his revenge as Kayda took a full frontal assult from her teacher, followed by Chou receiving as much attention.

And now it breaks. The assult with Kayda's low demeanor takes its toll and we are shown where Kayda gets snarky with her teacher all within hearing range of Mrs. Carson. At this point there is no mention of Chou's mentor. Must have needed a coffee or tea break I suppose. Looking for some bear in the woods to maim as this was probably quite boring to him. And as such actions for not being properly trained to work as a pair Kayda and it seems Chou are place in doing dual training. Chou for having it but not using it and Kayda for not having it and not using it. As the critique continues it seems Guan Yu returned after maiming that defenseless grizzly that was sleeping in the woods and offered his own thoughts even though we are not privileged to them as with more of what Mrs. Carson had to say.

But of course the humiliation is not completed yet. It is now Guan Yu's turn and it seemed to be for 'fun'. Hmm 2 sadists in the mists of two learning students. One broken down by two one student and teacher. I wonder if Mrs. Carson is going to join in on the fun. From the battle it seemed that Kayda was a fifth wheel to be used. Or just thrown to the wolves as they say. Not good and as expected the result was not pleasant.

Ah a pleasant surprise. Mrs. Carson it seems has a headache and had to forsake any chance at ganging up on her two students. Pity, I wonder what the outcome would be. It also seemed her headache was going to last a day or two from when Mr. Two Knives suggested that both Kayda and Chou have more practice in area 99 and it seemed Guan Yu was so enthralled with the idea he wanted to join the fray, I mean fun. Poor Mrs. Carson, the rubbing of her temples and the groans from her students didn't seem to help.

Ah it seems Kayda has finally snapped. With the suggestion of her joining the grunts its seems she is planning on having a rondevu of sorts with Loophole as with Cody also. It seems Mrs. Carson was taken back by the exchange between Guan Yu and Mr. Two Knives as she gave a warning glace to Kayda.

Ah two guys becoming bro mates, bonding over the sadistic ways they both are now able to torture their intrepid students with the aid of simulators, students and whatnot galore at the expense of Mrs. Carson's school. Of course negotiations are in order as Guan Yu insists that Chau be made a general to lead such a faction. At the conclusion it was noted that Mrs. Carson was in full agreement once she managed to catch her breath from hearing such an endeavor. I'm sure she was looking into how to increase the facilities budget as the number of A.N.T.'s were sure to need to both be increase as well as upgraded for fits of rage, humiliation and the sadistic nature of Gunny as he too I'm sure love to join the fray of indignation of both girls.

It is as this point I wish to make note that something seems afoot as to why two warriors are being made to take a shitload of classes that does not appear to offer them any forms of use, except for Chou. It seems this was an elaborate setup to force Kayda into more 'military' style classes that she didn't want. Is Mrs. Carson, Mr. Two Knives and Guan Yu part of an larger group that knows something in the future is in the making? Does this include both 'The Bastard' as well as Kayda's? Moreso is the Academy up to something in that certain faculty members are looking towards training certain teams as well as making leaders? A lot of questions when you look through all the stories.

May 24 Franks Family Farm

Ah the Franks family. Things are coming to a sort of forgone conclusion now and it seems papa isn't quite happy about not being told. First we are told that Danny had a change of outlook with his eyes as with dad not liking that the missus failed to mention that a certain son thought he was hearing things and talking to himself. Ah it comes to light Danny's gonna be a cougar. Does that mean he's going for the younger girls? Hmm. And it didn't take daddy long to guess when he hear 'she'.

It seems our cougar is a playful spirit in how she's teasing, or is she, in how Danny's gonna manifest. It seems Danny's spirit is allowing Danny to have a circuit breaker moment in that he's wailing like a girl as she never promised him she wouldn't change him and he doesn't want to be one but she's not really caring. Hmm remind me not to go for the cougars. Not even moms comfort is quelling Danny's inhibitions and I do dare think I hear the sounds of soft purring as he mews his own sad sentiments of losing Danny Jr. (Did I really dare go there?). Ah dad. June comforting Danny in its not bad being a girl as dad tries to stop June from giving Danny a cardia arrest. Ward where's the cleaver and get the beaver ready.

With mom softly running her fingers through Danny's hair he can't help but purr at the moment. Ah where's the catnip? Thanks mom can you not pull my tail. And the spirt wins him over with just the brush of his hair. Again, thanks mom. At this point I can't tell if he's a whinny kid or having an girl moment. Perhaps both.

24 May Near Schuster Hall

Ah it seems Kayda is going to miss out on hunting. Real hunting, but not for baur. She knows her limits now it seems and she has to beg out as well as quell a rumor about her and Chou. News travels fast in them thar schools and unfortunately its always the wrong rumors that travel the fastest. She admits to a bit of rivalry with Chou who also has a commanding sprit. I'm sure more rumors are running rampant with the way three teen girls are seen clashing with an older man. But it seems it's about Chou and Molly that others are thinking about.

At this point I failed to note that Kayda had sought out Maggie (Lifeline) and the hatred she has towards Elaine(Loophole). It seems Kayda's magic was working on Maggie who left her standing there with tears, but I wonder if she could back down now given the oath she had sworn. Perhaps Kayda's talk will do some good, but also perhaps the inadvertent damage done by Tansy won't let her back down even with the news that Elaine still considers her a friend no matter what.

25 May between Laird Hall and Schuster

Okay I'm forgoing the blow by blow fight that ensured once Kayda and Chou were beginning to talk about tactics. It seems that our illustrious villain had made an attack on the trio of girls. With a flurry of speed our attacker is I'm sure not the real culprit but a pawn being used by someone else given that he had wild uncaring eyes. Eyes that is that I'm sure will show that the boy (whoever he is) will not provide any useful information of who made him attack them. From Kayda's POV she doesn't recognize him and with as many students present neither will Chou and Molly. The one thing that is being recovered is the spike that is being used to inflict sufferable pain against them. It seems its Molly who comes to the rescue as both Kayda and Chou are seriously injured and most likely the prime targets. Whoever this speedster is will have to wait as this concludes the story with Kayda passing out.

Overall:

Overall the story was quite enjoyable given the high task that has been placed upon many of the newest writers to help bring this up to par with Whateleys past and from this story it hold true as it appears the mantel of some events are being placed upon not just his or others writings but their characters as well. I applaud both him and E.E. for composing an intriguing story.

This story has many things going for it. We get how Chou and Kayda are being pushed in such a short time in what ends up being the paring of two competitive individuals. This also falls in place with what Cody is planning with his own group. Much is afoot and we as the readers will have to intrepid all of this through the various other stories that is coming our way. Summer vacation is coming upon them and with that the end of the first year of Whateley for many.

We are not just given some harsh times with Kayda and Chou we are also given to Elrod's playful nature as he brings Kayda's brother into the fold over the summer. How far he will play into the schools members is yet to be told and as many of us speculate with the rolling of dice, the reading of tea leaves and the pulling out of our hair we as the readers will be mesmerized by those stories. Many have started to pick apart the clues left for us and make our wages. The one thing I want to do is savor the moments and let others speculate about whats to come. Not that I won't join the fray at times but until I get my bearings I'll leave that to others.

Once again a good job to both writers. Personally I don't know if I'll do so many full reviews. Not sure if I'm good at it.

Ibi

Stickmaker wrote: Cougars don't roar; they yowl. Felis concolor is the largest true cat. Naturalists sometimes describe them as "your typical housecat multiplied by ten." The can indeed fully purr.

I've occasionally been tempted to write a piece of fanfiction where Lisa Dawnwind - my werecougar/healer/priestess - is called into help Kayda with her healing magic and Loophole with her shapechanging. Problem is, she's *very* non-traditional.

OTOH, Lisa's first instructor in magic was a black bear spirit...

So I'm not a cat specialist. Still, most people get it.

If a werecougar comes up to 'help' Kayda, she might just reply, "Hang on - you're going to LOVE my brother Danny!"

Stickmaker wrote: Cougars don't roar; they yowl.

I yowl to when I'm in pain. And poor Danny is going to do the same.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised to find out that Danny is even whinier than Kayda. Wihinape sounds fun though. It's great seeing Ms. Stone again.

Valentine wrote: Finding the spike because it has been stuck into your shoulder and thigh isn't a good way to find it.

Eh. I'd say this is one of the better ways to find it. Could have been so much worse. Nobody even died this time, probably.

Kettlekorn wrote: I guess I shouldn't be surprised to find out that Danny is even whinier than Kayda. Wihinape sounds fun though. It's great seeing Ms. Stone again.

Valentine wrote: Finding the spike because it has been stuck into your shoulder and thigh isn't a good way to find it.

Eh. I'd say this is one of the better ways to find it. Could have been so much worse. Nobody even died this time, probably.

Except poor Igniarli.

I was figuring he just got dispelled, but this is a magic spike tainted by the mythos, so I guess it could be a lot more serious than that. With how rapidly he disappeared though, I'm still thinking he's more wounded/corrupted than dead.

Kettlekorn wrote: I was figuring he just got dispelled, but this is a magic spike tainted by the mythos, so I guess it could be a lot more serious than that. With how rapidly he disappeared though, I'm still thinking he's more wounded/corrupted than dead.

From Molly's perspective it doesn't sound like that:

An unearthly scream erupted from the salamander, caught mid-leap and impaled by the mythos-tainted spike, and as Molly watched in utter horror, the summoned creature convulsed and dissipated into nothingness. Recognizing the new danger of a summoner, the boy - eyes wild - turned on her, his copper spike hefted like a knife.

That sounds more like destroyed.

Valentine wrote:

Kettlekorn wrote: I was figuring he just got dispelled, but this is a magic spike tainted by the mythos, so I guess it could be a lot more serious than that. With how rapidly he disappeared though, I'm still thinking he's more wounded/corrupted than dead.

From Molly's perspective it doesn't sound like that:

An unearthly scream erupted from the salamander, caught mid-leap and impaled by the mythos-tainted spike, and as Molly watched in utter horror, the summoned creature convulsed and dissipated into nothingness. Recognizing the new danger of a summoner, the boy - eyes wild - turned on her, his copper spike hefted like a knife.

That sounds more like destroyed.

"It was only a flesh wound..."

elrodw wrote:

Valentine wrote:

Kettlekorn wrote: I was figuring he just got dispelled, but this is a magic spike tainted by the mythos, so I guess it could be a lot more serious than that. With how rapidly he disappeared though, I'm still thinking he's more wounded/corrupted than dead.

From Molly's perspective it doesn't sound like that:

An unearthly scream erupted from the salamander, caught mid-leap and impaled by the mythos-tainted spike, and as Molly watched in utter horror, the summoned creature convulsed and dissipated into nothingness. Recognizing the new danger of a summoner, the boy - eyes wild - turned on her, his copper spike hefted like a knife.

That sounds more like destroyed.

"It was only a flesh wound..."

"It was only an all of the flesh wound..."

Valentine wrote:

Kettlekorn wrote: I was figuring he just got dispelled, but this is a magic spike tainted by the mythos, so I guess it could be a lot more serious than that. With how rapidly he disappeared though, I'm still thinking he's more wounded/corrupted than dead.

From Molly's perspective it doesn't sound like that:

An unearthly scream erupted from the salamander, caught mid-leap and impaled by the mythos-tainted spike, and as Molly watched in utter horror, the summoned creature convulsed and dissipated into nothingness. Recognizing the new danger of a summoner, the boy - eyes wild - turned on her, his copper spike hefted like a knife.

That sounds more like destroyed.

Ignarli is wounded but not destroyed. The tainted spike drove him back to his normal realm. Given time to heal, Molly will be able to summon him again.

elrodw wrote:

Valentine wrote:

Kettlekorn wrote: I was figuring he just got dispelled, but this is a magic spike tainted by the mythos, so I guess it could be a lot more serious than that. With how rapidly he disappeared though, I'm still thinking he's more wounded/corrupted than dead.

From Molly's perspective it doesn't sound like that:

An unearthly scream erupted from the salamander, caught mid-leap and impaled by the mythos-tainted spike, and as Molly watched in utter horror, the summoned creature convulsed and dissipated into nothingness. Recognizing the new danger of a summoner, the boy - eyes wild - turned on her, his copper spike hefted like a knife.

That sounds more like destroyed.

Ignarli is wounded but not destroyed. The tainted spike drove him back to his normal realm. Given time to heal, Molly will be able to summon him again.

You could have left that for either later in the story or a later story.

Valentine wrote:

elrodw wrote:

Valentine wrote:

Kettlekorn wrote: I was figuring he just got dispelled, but this is a magic spike tainted by the mythos, so I guess it could be a lot more serious than that. With how rapidly he disappeared though, I'm still thinking he's more wounded/corrupted than dead.

From Molly's perspective it doesn't sound like that:

An unearthly scream erupted from the salamander, caught mid-leap and impaled by the mythos-tainted spike, and as Molly watched in utter horror, the summoned creature convulsed and dissipated into nothingness. Recognizing the new danger of a summoner, the boy - eyes wild - turned on her, his copper spike hefted like a knife.

That sounds more like destroyed.

Ignarli is wounded but not destroyed. The tainted spike drove him back to his normal realm. Given time to heal, Molly will be able to summon him again.

You could have left that for either later in the story or a later story.

But inquiring spirits want to know. It's not just about the humans you know.

Ib12us wrote:

Valentine wrote:

elrodw wrote:

Valentine wrote: That sounds more like destroyed.

Ignarli is wounded but not destroyed. The tainted spike drove him back to his normal realm. Given time to heal, Molly will be able to summon him again.

You could have left that for either later in the story or a later story.

But inquiring spirits want to know. It's not just about the humans you know.

And Ignarli really wants to know if he's dead or not. Being in limbo is really hard on a guy like him

elrodw wrote:

Ib12us wrote:

Valentine wrote:

elrodw wrote:

Valentine wrote: That sounds more like destroyed.

Ignarli is wounded but not destroyed. The tainted spike drove him back to his normal realm. Given time to heal, Molly will be able to summon him again.

You could have left that for either later in the story or a later story.

But inquiring spirits want to know. It's not just about the humans you know.

And Ignarli really wants to know if he's dead or not. Being in limbo is really hard on a guy like him

Of course he's not dead, he's sunning himself on the beach in Acapulco...

Listening to Elvis singing live.

Domoviye wrote: Listening to Elvis singing live.

Nope Elvis is teaching music to the students at Whateley. Who do you think "Mr. King" is anyway?

What do you think he does on his days off?

Now for the big question - what is going to happen now? Should we do pastry bets here, too?

I'm going to place my bet on the long odds - that they'll be rescued by security, who for once will have actually shown up in time to do something useful.

Astrodragon wrote:

elrodw wrote:

Ib12us wrote:

Valentine wrote:

elrodw wrote:

Valentine wrote: That sounds more like destroyed.

Ignarli is wounded but not destroyed. The tainted spike drove him back to his normal realm. Given time to heal, Molly will be able to summon him again.

You could have left that for either later in the story or a later story.

But inquiring spirits want to know. It's not just about the humans you know.

And Ignarli really wants to know if he's dead or not. Being in limbo is really hard on a guy like him

Of course he's not dead, he's sunning himself on the beach in Acapulco...

Actually he's in Tahiti. It's a magical place.

bergy wrote: Actually he's in Tahiti. It's a magical place.

Well played, bergy. I approve this message.

elrodw wrote: Now for the big question - what is going to happen now?

Well, obviously Kayda is going to recover from her tainted injury enough to finish up her healing. But surprise: she's too late to save Chou. Having already had two student deaths this term, Administration decides to cover this one up by having one of the ANTS pose as Chou around campus for the rest of the semester. Meanwhile, Molly takes over as Handmaiden. She also blames Kayda for Chou's death, becoming her new un-friendly rival. After the combat finals, Molly, Dorjee, and Maggie become close; over the long term their little group becomes the natural opposition to the Tansy-Lanie-Kayda triad.

elrodw wrote: Now for the big question - what is going to happen now? Should we do pastry bets here, too?

It's obvious. Kayda dies, and Danni takes over as Kayda, Chou is also dead, but Molly picks up the sword and is transformed into Chou,

OOOhhh, that's very interesting! I hadn't thought of THAT variation on my theme

Oh, god. What have you done?

Righteo, time for my thoughts.

Kayda is being pushed hard in her training - but given how often she's been attacked on campus - and by agents of entities which hardly anyone else on campus can deal with, there's an urgency which isn't needed for almost anyone else. Besides which, the training is probably only a couple of hours per day between the end of classes and dinnertime - and it's likely that even with all her other commitments, she still has the evenings free.

As for Danny and Wihinape, she's likely just toying with him for the moment. Given she's acquainted with Wakan Tanka, if she did intend significant physical changes (whether gender flipping or anything significantly different from the human norm), she'd probably wait until he was in a safer environment than his home town - either with the Sioux Falls League or at Whateley himself. We're in May at the moment, there's only a couple of months of the school year left, I reckon he'll be in September 2007's intake, so a year below Kayda and co, but in the same year as Mischief, Stacy (Silver Ghost), any surviving Loose Cannons, possibly Madcap (keep her out of trouble!) and whoever else is planned for Generation 1.2 (with 1.1 being the mid-year intakes through the first half of 2007 e.g. Froggy, CC, Vamp).

As for the latest attack, I think all three will survive - albeit with the Magic Department pumping essence into her to help her healing, as well as brewing her healing tea (perhaps with the assistance of Mindbird and/or the TLW - notably, this time, she won't suffer an extreme negative reaction to it!) - as once she's mobile she'll need to work on Chou. As for the assailant, they're almost certainly not Mike himself but someone recruited through a chain of people - and likely to be heading to ARC with Mythos-induced insanity. No doubt there conveniently won't be any security camera or sensor footage of how the spike got from wherever it was stored to the footpath where the attack took place.

On the bright side, Kayda and Chou have probably got a few days' break from training - on the other hand, getting attacked by a Mythos tainted copper spike generally isn't the recommended route to doing so...

Pretty nice update! Good to see that Kayda should get more optimistic soon! The teasing feels really, really off, though... Given that the change could be really traumatizing... But, that's being noted, which is good!

'Insane' Ramblings aren't actually insane... Agh! The Dramatic Irony/Tension!

Huh. Expected the Danny Sub-Arc to finish, or at least get further by the end of this, but there's still more parts, and this is the Kayda show, not the Danny show. Not gonna have a rehash of that Sara argument or whatever...

Oh! Bad Powers Good People! Or something like that... Cool!

So Jade's the Noodle Incident for these set of Finals? Or will Toni do as well as last time?

On a more Your Mileage May Vary note...



Is it me, or does this feel like the... Barnum effect... or something? Making her think one thing, rather than allowing her to come to her own conclusion? Which might be Kayda cluing onto Wakan Tanka being less altruistic than she seems. And forcibly recruiting Danny into the War against The Bastard... But again, that's just me guess, and I'm biased by my personal icky feelings regarding manipulation that has long-term, likely negative, consequences.

Haven't finished the Part yet, but felt like saying something, and this seemed too long for an on-page comment...

The teasing of Danny went a little far, but I can see it happening.
The only real problem I had was with Tansy and Greasy. Her walking into Twain that easily seemed off considering how she made some of the kids lives hell there. And manipulating Greasy that much didn't seem to smart considering how there were other people there.
However the rest was golden. Showing how regeneration isn't a cure all and could cause problems was good. getting rebar through the spine and heart is actually worse than getting a neck snapped.
Letting us see that Sara's Pack is not taking her loss well, is a good touch.
And showing that Kayda is getting positive reinforcement but just isn't noticing was a good reminder that she's an unreliable narrator.
So not perfect but still a very nice read.

Charging Buffalo, Hidden Dragon Part 2 comments
Comments typed up while reading story.

Finally another threat to Kayda and friends is taken care of, hope he is coherent enough to tell them who his boss was. If they haven't started going crazy yet from touching the spike, should be able to help them. And two officers down for now until cleared by both magic and psychic departments. And almost any hope of Mikey giving them info is lost, I wouldn't have anyone but Fubar go into his mind at this point.

Crud, Dan Bearclaws told Magic Mikey about Kayda's biggest secret. This isn't good, who else might have learned it from MM before he went mad. Even though I didn't like what MM did, being driven insane like this is a fate worse than death. And now the person he was trying to drive from the school might be his only hope of regaining his sanity, if she can clean out the Class X contamination from him like she did for the two scouts.

Nice to see Poise and Tansy getting along, Tansy must have changed more than even has been noted in pervious story entries made me believe. And I'm a bit shocked she would have given leadership of the group to Fey, I would have thought it would go to a current sophomore instead. Guess Fey has learned a lot about modelling, despite the resent setback. Nice to see how others have noticed the change in Fey since losing Aunghadhail.

I hope Tansy's thoughts aren't foreshadowing for her getting a spirit only to lose it later. Ouch, Fey needs a swift kick in the rear to realize she is just self-sabotaging herself. I sympathize with her and not wanting the Solicitor to take most of her money, but she is letting it take over every part of her life. From rightious outrage to humbled in less then 5 seconds flat. And having to deal with Fey and get her to realize what she is doing to herself and those she cares about by mopping around is going to be task worthy of Hercules.

Poise does something simple and heartfelt to show she knows Tansy is changing for the better. And the Don just has to show up and ruin the moment. Don's encounter with HM has destroyed him, the TLW could probably scare him with their shadows now. About time Tansy stop up to the little troll king. Uh oh, Don has unleashed the wrath of a sleeping dragon, he would do best to run and quickly.

And I was off, that wasn't a sleeping dragon, that was a goddess whose fury has been fully unleashed. Her PSI rating, even with his mental shields down, is probably too low. Poise definately doesn't understand that Tansy used her telepathy on him, otherwise she would be more concerned.

Ouch, Kayda and the others did a lot better in a fight for their lives than they realize, that Class X taint is nasty as we've seen before. And the Tao doesn't care if its agent lives or dies, just does the job it gives them. And that fight happened so fast, although I'm surprised a rumor hasn't started around the school already with details missing or left out.

Carson knows her students better than they know themselves many times, even if you think you aren't making progress doesn't mean you aren't. And finally Kayda gets to hear from others, including Chou, that she is getting positive reinforcement and only listening to the criticism. Been waiting for that to happen since she first started her intensive training schedule. She is treated like a TA in the martial arts class, didn't see that coming.

Look like Marty Feldman, bwahahaha. That visual right there, laugh riot. Good to see Kayda in a better mood now. The hard part is keeping her in one. *starts to hear Mission Impossible music* That long fight spelled out in a few short sentences. And now we see the difference between removing the Mythos magic and the taint of an enemy of her people, worlds of difference in time and difficultly.

Kayda thinking ahead about the mental health of her patient, she is shaping up to be a great shaman and doctor. Cav has a long road ahead of him, but least he is on the road to recovery. Still, here's to hoping the Don and Hekate slip up and get their just desserts sooner rather than later. And finally! Kayda can start getting to use her Gadgeteer abilities and we can see what she can do. A fusion of Asian and Native American healing techniques, they might put modern medicine out of business! If they can train enough people in it.

In police and security business, it must suck to find the culprit of a murder only for them to be insane. At least they know Apathy's killer isn't on the loose anymore. Overprotective girlfriend who is out of touch with her boyfriend, great. Took bringing out the big guns to get her to talk, poor girl is just a bystander and victim of HM's scheme in all this.

Asking her to heal the guy who just tried to kill her and her friends, I doubt anyone without the patience and forgiving nature of a saint would feel up to that. When even the person you tried to kill pitys you, it is definately a fate worse than death.

Paradise come true, too bad it is only a dream. Wish I could have dreams that nice. And broken by news from home, fear of her little brother becoming a girl as well, Wakan Tanka better have a good explaination. Great, at least she has experience expanding a hallow with Lanie. Kayda, no using dream-space to torment your brother, even if your parents weren't there Wakan Tanka and Tatanka would get on your case. She is going to teasing Danny, but she is going to get dragged along for some of his torment and adventures as well, so it more than balances.

She may have gotten the Don tickets home but not in the class and style he is expecting, based on that wicked grin. Tansy has definately turned around, trying to help out Prue and even build up her self-confidence a little. Setting her and Greasy up, hope it works out. Hope all those silly theories about Greasy staying with Peeper because he is attracted to him aren't true now.

Poor kid, now someone who works with his crush knows about it. Hope it doesn't slip out on accident or another telepath messes with Wish List. And every time he finds a girl cute, Igmu Taka is going to mess with him. Great, his own personal annoying, sultry big sister in his head. Poor kid, he is going to be a mess if Igmu Taka doesn't ease up on the teasing around his crush.

Leather boot day, is that an actual tradition at Whateley or are they messing with her? Concern for the little brother, will he become a new member of the changeling crew or be placed in Poe "just in case". Only Elrod's muse knows and ain't talking. And you went with the idea of Jade wanting him for Wondercute, hehehe. Not at Whateley yet and already he is attracting attention. 5:30 am for training with Toni, ack! Poor girl gets a break from one direction and another hit comes in.

If only Dan Bearclaw and that shaman had realized the threats coming after Kayda and that Whateley is the best place for her, none of this would have happened. Poor kid manipulated and destroyed, all to serve the ambitions of some adults who think they can control such things. Even if Kayda can heal him, will his mind ever fully recover?

Poor kid has PTSD involving Tansy, has he been seeing a councilor? Dang, Tansy can unlock that kind of confidence and ability in someone with her telepathy, definately rated too low for her PSI rating. Crude, she is manipulating him and his memories, dangerous territory, Tansy. I wonder if the confidence she unlocked in Greasy is temporary, more long-lasting, or possibly even permanent. Which it is would definately go towards more accurately gauging her PSI rating for the strength of her telepathy.

Anyone who gets in the way of Debra and Kayda marrying when she comes of age will have the wrath of a ton of mutants and even some Chinese gods come down upon them. Not to mention the tongue lashing Kayda's mother would give them. I can understand how Kayda feels about wanting to feel special and having the attention taken away by a sibling. Youngest of three and I got the least amount of attention growing up. Yet I also have the sometimes to me annoying attitude of helping others before myself. So I can relate to what she is going through.

Perfectly understandable reaction to seeing a cougar, although they should remember they are in dream-space. Wihinape is more than a tease, doing that in front of the poor boy's parents. But wait, I thought her name was Igmu Taka? Eyeing up any male and even female she can see, good grief. Dad gave her a nice nickname, with how she is acting. At least she had good reasons for having her put into Danny, imagine something like Ugh children but in spirit form getting into an avatar. *shudders*

She needs to be told about clothes, boundries and she likes physical contact a bit too much. If she makes Danny act on those, he will get in trouble at Whateley, repeatedly. Double-teaming the poor boy like that, I knew Wakan Tanka would join in lecturing her over that.

Never agree to do something with Toni if he don't really want to, she will make you every time. Ugh, Toni is an extreme morning person, I should have known. Toni with weapons at normal speed, of course it looks like something Addy could do. She is scary with weapons. That was only part 1 of one kata that Toni came up with! Poor Kayda is going to be dead on her feet by the time she is through with her. When Toni graduates, if she ever took over the class from Ito if he retired, the students would be begging Ito to return.

Weapons may have different designs, but some have great similarities. Wonder what other weapons are similar enough to Asian weapons for Toni to design routines for that quickly. Kayda, never ignore pain which could be the first sign of something more serious.

A picnic at the lake, nothing can go wrong there. *sees sarcasm detector burnout* Laurie taking Adrian home for the summer, her parents are going to be keeping a close eye on them. Evvie and Naomi spending the summer together, hope we get a story out of their possible adventures. And a picnic happened at Whateley in a story with Kayda without something bad happening, not even mention of ants. Kidding, she can get through a picnic without trouble.

Grrrrr, stop being so stubborn, Kayda! With everything that has happened to you, ignoring pain from a wound just because you think the taint is gone and it is healed is going to blow up on you later. I can't tell if Toni is just teasing her with the kata names or being serious, have mercy on Kayda if she is being serious.

Toni left Kayda allow, with a potentially dangerous injury and who knows might be lurking about. After the most resent attack I would think she would be on escourt duty again for a while. And Kayda, Toni hasn't had any sugar today, you would know it if she did. I can't tell if Toni has been a bad influence on Rip or if Rip would have done stuff like this even without Toni's influence. At this school it difficult if not impossible to keep your feelings secret. Kayda, even some of the gay boys in Poe entertain thoughts of Fey from time to time.

Having your birthday forgot, ouch. Ros is in need of psychological help if she is getting that depressed, when you start feeling like that other dark thoughts can slip right in and start to take hold. I speak from personal experience.

Hehehe, they don't know what the combat finals are yet. Are they in for a shock. Guilt, not something easily let go off, even when the party you feel you wronged states you have nothing to feel guilty for. A way of punishing yourself for what you feel are your own shortcomings; Kayda has enough of that and needs to lighten up on herself. Wonder how long it will take for that lesson to be learned by her.

Dang, they took into account what Lanie did and made a new rule about it. Now she can brag she is the reason they had to make that rule, hehehe. Kayda getting out of a combat final would be like the Olympians all declaring they have given up on retaking their old power and position, something nearly impossible that would blow everyone's mind once they heard it. Hippy had to work with Belphegor for her combat final, no wonder she got hurt.

Ouch, I knew that none of Sara's Pack would be doing well, but just ouch. Good lord, I know they are just ANTs, but still. We need to get Sara back and soon, if she is this bad now, imagine another month or more of Sara missing. And now we see how badly the situation is and why Hippy needed healing, that is just brutal. The details of everything they had to do to save her life, woah. Seems having the unpurified spike around was needed. Never saw that coming.

Ayla and Tissy against the sim, will we get to read that one or is it a noodle incident? And we had better get to read Generator's combat final after all that teasing by the characters about how funny it is or I will be upset.

One thing I thought of after I finished reading the story and posted my comments. Based on the description of Reg-Level 6 from the Wiki and the only other example of it we have seen who has taken what would be a life-threatening injury, which was Sara, the view of what that level of Regen is able to accomplish might be skewed a bit. For one thing, Sara is a shapeshifter and her true form seems to be tentacles with no true vital organs, so something which could kill Hippy wouldn't faze Sara. Plus the fact that Hippy is human mutant, while Sara is only part human at best due to her heritage. Just something I thought of after remembering the older stories and how Sara healed as a fellow Regen-6.

First of all, I want to say that this was the perfect and needed addition to the story (and should show up every so often)



The rest of the story...

Magic Mikey might be insane, but his memory is still working pretty good.

Tansy is still a bitch, and I wonder exactly what Poise is thinking putting her in charge.

Kayda and Chou's healing seemed too easy, it's almost as if Kayda is getting blasé about purifying Class X taint. (I know she still seems to have a problem.)

Danny has a catgirl spirit, hilarity ensues...

Did I mention that Tansy is still a bitch?

Why was Anna eating with the Ghostwalkers?

Tansy is a clumsy bitch.



I'm guessing that either Chou or Toni has/will mention Kayda's pain to someone. They both have the sort of understanding/personality/knowledge to report it or try to fix it.

A picnic, what fun...


All that work to save Hippy, and all they needed to do was call Generator...

The mention of Jet brings up a question, what exactly is her status, as a being, at Whateley, Bueller?

Not another noodle incident, and knowing Generator at some point there were probably noodles involved... how about a hint who she was paired with? Bloodwolf? Timeless? Vincent?

Dreamer wrote: One thing I thought of after I finished reading the story and posted my comments. Based on the description of Reg-Level 6 from the Wiki and the only other example of it we have seen who has taken what would be a life-threatening injury, which was Sara, the view of what that level of Regen is able to accomplish might be skewed a bit. For one thing, Sara is a shapeshifter and her true form seems to be tentacles with no true vital organs, so something which could kill Hippy wouldn't faze Sara. Plus the fact that Hippy is human mutant, while Sara is only part human at best due to her heritage. Just something I thought of after remembering the older stories and how Sara healed as a fellow Regen-6.

Actually Generator took a nearly identical wound in Christmas Elves, of course she cheated to survive. That experience would have made her the perfect person to get to help Hippy, but no one but Team Kimba knows how she did it.

Sister huh.

Fractal changed universes in order to find one where she could be the right age to date Greasy, why torment her by giving him a gf?

Tansy committed 2 criminal acts there, one with sebastino and one with Greasy. She used her psychic abilities on them. ( ok, she 'helped' Greasy, but it was still a criminal act. )

Kayda's healing or cleansing of the class x taint isn't as complete as she thinks huh.


bigclosetr.us/topshelf/title-page/4233/fractal Quadhouse's fanfic starring Fractal.


I know, fanfic not canon, Fractal doesn't count. but I had to bug ya.

Dreamer wrote: Ayla and Tissy against the sim, will we get to read that one or is it a noodle incident? And we had better get to read Generator's combat final after all that teasing by the characters about how funny it is or I will be upset.

We might get Ayla and Tissy's story, but it's really Diane's story to tell, so unless she comes back, I doubt we'll get the full story.

Generator's won't be told. They did the same thing with Chaka's Combat Final last semester - it's a deliberate noodle incident, and we'll never get more than bits and pieces of it.

Arcanist Lupus wrote:

Dreamer wrote: Ayla and Tissy against the sim, will we get to read that one or is it a noodle incident? And we had better get to read Generator's combat final after all that teasing by the characters about how funny it is or I will be upset.

We might get Ayla and Tissy's story, but it's really Diane's story to tell, so unless she comes back, I doubt we'll get the full story.

Generator's won't be told. They did the same thing with Chaka's Combat Final last semester - it's a deliberate noodle incident, and we'll never get more than bits and pieces of it.

I do NOT like doing "Noodle incidents". That having been said, I can't control everything that is written.

What I CAN do is tell you that the story I'm working on focuses on events around combat finals, and it includes contributions from Kristin, Bek, EE, Morpheus, and others, in addition to the ones I'm writing. What CAN I tell you?

Ayla and Tissy - you WILL see that.
As to others, you'll have to wait and see. There are some surprises - hopefully pleasant.

Pleasant for us, or pleasant for the characters?

Domoviye wrote: Pleasant for us, or pleasant for the characters?

Roger Zelazny was once asked if he would ever end a book with a happy ending to which he infamously replied, "I'll be happy."

elrodw wrote:

Arcanist Lupus wrote:

Dreamer wrote: Ayla and Tissy against the sim, will we get to read that one or is it a noodle incident? And we had better get to read Generator's combat final after all that teasing by the characters about how funny it is or I will be upset.

We might get Ayla and Tissy's story, but it's really Diane's story to tell, so unless she comes back, I doubt we'll get the full story.

Generator's won't be told. They did the same thing with Chaka's Combat Final last semester - it's a deliberate noodle incident, and we'll never get more than bits and pieces of it.

I do NOT like doing "Noodle incidents". That having been said, I can't control everything that is written.

What I CAN do is tell you that the story I'm working on focuses on events around combat finals, and it includes contributions from Kristin, Bek, EE, Morpheus, and others, in addition to the ones I'm writing. What CAN I tell you?

Ayla and Tissy - you WILL see that.
As to others, you'll have to wait and see. There are some surprises - hopefully pleasant.

Yay! So definite Ayla and Tissy, and hope to see the Generator final. Thanks, Elrod.

Boy, this is a little ... depressing. So little commentary on CBHD part 2. Well, hopefully things will pick up in CBHD part 3. Maybe. Or in O&E when I get around to that story.

It's depressing, but it's Christmas so you can't expect as many comments as usual.
Sorry.

elrodw wrote: Boy, this is a little ... depressing. So little commentary on CBHD part 2. Well, hopefully things will pick up in CBHD part 3. Maybe. Or in O&E when I get around to that story.

I'm still working on it give me time. *sigh*

Does anyone have a count of Dreams last one? Nevermind.

Deciding how I want to right the left review. Serious or playful or just go full out Tinkernator?

Ah decisions decisions.

Ib12us wrote:

elrodw wrote: Boy, this is a little ... depressing. So little commentary on CBHD part 2. Well, hopefully things will pick up in CBHD part 3. Maybe. Or in O&E when I get around to that story.

I'm still working on it give me time. *sigh*

Does anyone have a count of Dreams last one? Nevermind.

Deciding how I want to right the left review. Serious or playful or just go full out Tinkernator?

Ah decisions decisions.

Tinkernator???
Do we really want to know?

Domoviye wrote:

Ib12us wrote:

elrodw wrote: Boy, this is a little ... depressing. So little commentary on CBHD part 2. Well, hopefully things will pick up in CBHD part 3. Maybe. Or in O&E when I get around to that story.

I'm still working on it give me time. *sigh*

Does anyone have a count of Dreams last one? Nevermind.

Deciding how I want to right the left review. Serious or playful or just go full out Tinkernator?

Ah decisions decisions.

Tinkernator???
Do we really want to know?

Well its like this. Think of the last fight she was in where she was on a caffeine high. We would know parts of the beginning, nothing in the middle once she drank it, and how it ended by sleeping it off.

Part 2 is kind of a lull after the cliffhanger of Part 1. We really haven't learned anything since we didn't actually hear anything M2's girl (Amy? the name escapes me) "confessed" to the Chief off camera. There's no much to say that won't be explored (hopefully) in Part 3. What is Kayda feeling in her shoulder? What is Danny's fate? Etc. Nothing really changed in Danny's story except that more people now know he's acquired a female spirit.

Part 2 is very important as if provides the downtime people are always moaning about not being there. But downtime is also not something that needs discussing. It also doesn't help that you name dropped a few events we'd like to see but didn't show them. Ayla v. Tissy and Jade in the finals, for example.

I'll make my usual title reference. Is CBHD just a play on words for the movie of similar name or is there a Hidden Dragon in the narrative?

jmhyp wrote: I'll make my usual title reference. Is CBHD just a play on words for the movie of similar name or is there a Hidden Dragon in the narrative?

I'm pretty sure that it's meant to reference the rivalry between Kayda and Chou.

Arcanist Lupus wrote:

jmhyp wrote: I'll make my usual title reference. Is CBHD just a play on words for the movie of similar name or is there a Hidden Dragon in the narrative?

I'm pretty sure that it's meant to reference the rivalry between Kayda and Chou.

I'm sure its both a ref to both the movie Hidden Dragon, Couching Tiger as with the relation to Kayda's Bison and Chous Training

Maybe Kayda and Chou's combat final features Iron Dragon. Or maybe Thuban is up to no good. And what is Dragonrider up to lately?

Lots of things it could be.

The "Charging Buffalo" refers to Tatanka going on a shopping spree and maxing out Kayda's credit card, of course. Perhaps that segment ends in a china shop.

I enjoyed part 2, probably more than part 1. It strikes me that Kayda is starting to grow up and accept her responsibilities which is good as I'm not a great angst-fan.

Tansy is another one that is growing up as well which is cool I like the character but she really needs to throttle back a bit and be more subtle. I'd agree that her psi abilities would appear to be a little more powerful than her rating and I wouldn't be surprised to find out that given her recent mental healing that she doesn't realise that she's had a boost. After all we can't put it all down to Tansy being cute. What I am looking forward to is seeing how Tansy is going to deal with Fey. After all now Tansy is back in the Alphas because she earned it which is hugely significant. If she can find a way of burying the hatchet ( no tomahawk jokes intended) and actually helping Fey without using a Psychic Ram it could be an interesting part of her ongoing development...

Sure - part 1 of the first Gen 2 story comes out and my ongoing saga of combat finals and Kayda is yesterday's dirty socks. Maybe I'll have to rewrite part 3 to do something really unexpected to try to get some attention back on my poor Kayda

elrodw wrote: Sure - part 1 of the first Gen 2 story comes out and my ongoing saga of combat finals and Kayda is yesterday's dirty socks. Maybe I'll have to rewrite part 3 to do something really unexpected to try to get some attention back on my poor Kayda

Well, we don't know enough to even speculate on the combat finals?

And I think we're all speculated out on the Kayda front? Unless we start Wild Mass Guessing instead of the Calm Mass Guessing that we've been doing up 'til now?

elrodw wrote: Sure - part 1 of the first Gen 2 story comes out and my ongoing saga of combat finals and Kayda is yesterday's dirty socks. Maybe I'll have to rewrite part 3 to do something really unexpected to try to get some attention back on my poor Kayda

Well... it IS last week's news. So to speak...

elrodw wrote: Sure - part 1 of the first Gen 2 story comes out and my ongoing saga of combat finals and Kayda is yesterday's dirty socks. Maybe I'll have to rewrite part 3 to do something really unexpected to try to get some attention back on my poor Kayda

If Kayda is wearing yesterday's dirty socks, she should probably change them. Remember "Cleanliness is next to Godliness."

Kayda and Chou vs. The Spaghetti House.

Well, I was busy last week and didn't really have the time to do this justice. I felt it was a nice resolution of the Magic Mikey bit, and at least all of the claws are accounted for (if not purified properly yet, which could end up being a problem). It does look like HM will get away without his actions being revealed, but this is HM we are talking about, so that was expected.

Tansy is trying to be better, but she still has a lot of old habits of manipulation, and a tendency to use her powers in ways that she knows are illegal. At least this time it wasn't for an end which only profited her.

It might be interesting to see the Ayla/Tisiphone combat final from Tissy's point of view. I get the impression of Generator's Spring Combat Final being one of those over the top events like Chaka's Fall combat final that can't fully be put in words. Still, I'd never tell an author not to try.

Valentine wrote:

elrodw wrote: Sure - part 1 of the first Gen 2 story comes out and my ongoing saga of combat finals and Kayda is yesterday's dirty socks. Maybe I'll have to rewrite part 3 to do something really unexpected to try to get some attention back on my poor Kayda

If Kayda is wearing yesterday's dirty socks, she should probably change them. Remember "Cleanliness is next to Godliness."

Kayda and Chou vs. The Spaghetti House.

Only in a Very heavily abridged dictionary!

John.

One thought that's been dancing through my head is that Kayda might find herself squaring off with M2 in the combat finals for her scheduled final. If he is still unavailable, Wind Runner would be a logical possibility, but their iciness has thawed some since the hearing.

Why do I think M2 might be out and about? Security worked overtime trying to get to the bottom of the Heyoka incident - why would the M2 situation be any different? Admittedly, they don't have the pressure of an over-zealous MCO/ADA team trying for a quick indictment, but I get the feeling they like to keep the proverbial house fairly clean (Look at the simulator tampering incident as an example).

I wonder if Chief Dan Bear Claws might not be receiving a call from Lady Astarte. While this call would ostentatiously be to gather evidence for an insanity defense for M2, it would also send a clear message to him that Whateley knows what he was up to.

On a technical note, I noticed a couple minor typos (re)reading the story (one was 'cat-woman's race and not', should be face, rather than race, and I couldn't re-locate the other).

cprime wrote: One thought that's been dancing through my head is that Kayda might find herself squaring off with M2 in the combat finals for her scheduled final. If he is still unavailable, Wind Runner would be a logical possibility, but their iciness has thawed some since the hearing.

Isn't Galatea Debutante , Kayda's Crash? And a Crash counts as a Combat Final?

Malady wrote:

cprime wrote: One thought that's been dancing through my head is that Kayda might find herself squaring off with M2 in the combat finals for her scheduled final. If he is still unavailable, Wind Runner would be a logical possibility, but their iciness has thawed some since the hearing.

Isn't Galatea Debutante , Kayda's Crash? And a Crash counts as a Combat Final?

Note - in Galatea Debutante it's noted that Kayda was injured in her combat final (with booing - and Tansy wondering if Chou had done a late hit because she hadn't seen) and then Kayda does a second final to help her cuwe ki, Lanie. At the end, Bardue tells her that because she did an extra combat final, she gets bonu points.

So in CBHD, we will see Kayda's FIRST combat final, and then a Kayda POV of Lanie's. And a bunch of other stuff.

Isodecan wrote: It might be interesting to see the Ayla/Tisiphone combat final from Tissy's point of view.

I've got a slice of cherry cheesecake on Tisiphone coming-out on top...

cprime wrote: One thought that's been dancing through my head is that Kayda might find herself squaring off with M2 in the combat finals for her scheduled final. If he is still unavailable, Wind Runner would be a logical possibility, but their iciness has thawed some since the hearing.

Why do I think M2 might be out and about? Security worked overtime trying to get to the bottom of the Heyoka incident - why would the M2 situation be any different? Admittedly, they don't have the pressure of an over-zealous MCO/ADA team trying for a quick indictment, but I get the feeling they like to keep the proverbial house fairly clean (Look at the simulator tampering incident as an example).

I'm thinking from what was said in story, and their past punishments, that Magic Mike's not gonna be anywhere near the campus after they've done what they can to heal him.

DanZilla wrote:

Isodecan wrote: It might be interesting to see the Ayla/Tisiphone combat final from Tissy's point of view.

I've got a slice of cherry cheesecake on Tisiphone coming-out on top...

Tissy only comes out on top with Nitro.

In keeping with the spirit of the new year (and all that other bah! Humbug! holiday stuff), I will confirm for people today that...

(drumroll please .....)

Generator's combat final is NOT a noodle incident. It WILL be shown in full splendor and glory. I have read the draft the contributor wrote, and if anything, it exceeds my expectations.

to put it another way in case you missed it the first time -
"This just in, Chet - we have late-breaking news that Generator's combat final WILL be shown in full detail. Back to you in the studios ..."

Personally I feel not allowing Jade to use noodles unfairly limits her combat options...

What about Italian food in general? I can picture some nasty things occurring with pizza.

I was thinking of potatoes and how they mashed everything together, then poured gravy to top it off.

Domoviye wrote: What about Italian food in general? I can picture some nasty things occurring with pizza.

All scenes containing pasta in this production were overseen by the Society for Italian Cuisine in America. While several diets were wrecked and four shirts or blouses were stained beyond cleaning; no noodles were harmed in making this combat final.

ROFLMAO

I LOVE the "standby".

I knew Tansy would get sebastino the tourist class, the number of flight changes and standby was a surprise, but soooo worth it. I had to stop reading for 15 minutes until I stopped laughing.

Though I think they should have airbrushed a lamp coming out of his ass in the pic of him licking Tansy's boot.

Shavings left behind. Of course, that's why she's still injured.

Is this the end of this story? It seems to be.

I loved Kayda's reactions to Chou little "harem". Dorjee and Molly really shined in that scene.

What did Dan have to say to Mr. and Mrs. Franks? What does he do when he finds them as hard to bend as their daughter?

Nice.
You've wrapped up a bunch of the plotlines, which will help keep things a bit smoother in the summer and when she gets back to Whateley. Seeing Chou's harem was nice, and nicely done.
And the scene with Donny boy was fun.
Can't wait to see what's going on with Shamans.

jmhyp wrote: Shavings left behind. Of course, that's why she's still injured.

Is this the end of this story? It seems to be.

I loved Kayda's reactions to Chou little "harem". Dorjee and Molly really shined in that scene.

What did Dan have to say to Mr. and Mrs. Franks? What does he do when he finds them as hard to bend as their daughter?

This is the end of this story.
Yes. Demon taint is quite powerful stuff.
We shall find out in Kayda's summer story what Chief Dan said to Kayda's parents. Some surprises are in store.

Charging Buffalo, Hidden Dragon Part 3 comments
Comments typed up while reading story.

Poor Kayda, stories of the Fall combat finals who hadn't seen them would make anyone nervous. Now that is a great costume for Kayda, nice description and enough detail without going overboard. And every girl on campus is jealous of Chou's bag of holding, I know I want one. Someone forgot to tell Kayda that the combat finals aren't always as straight forward as they appear to the audiance, nor does the final grade depend on winning. Otherwise she wouldn't be so nervous.

Gunny and Ito, you sadistic little weasels! Not even telling them they are required to work together as part of the final, that is just setting them up to fail. At least they go into this as friends, despite what the instructors seem to be trying to do.

Except for the lack of hard-light holograms, the Whateley arena seems more advanced than the Danger Room for realism. In a new place or environment [big city compared to small town], it is easy to not realize what would be unusual compared to your own experiences. Man, the arena can mess with your sense of reality big time. At least she has learned how to look for details, most people would look over those and brush them off.

The cliches work because they are cliches, most people would think they are being silly or paranoid to believe an old cliche was true in real life. Chou needs to be taught better urban stealth, just walking out in the opening like that is asking to draw attention. Plus spook the kidnapper. Drunk with a bottle in an alley, another cliche and obvious goon in this scenario. Kayda has learned her lessons well, situational awareness and gauging a situation for the best course of action. Most students need a whole semester in survival at least to learn those lessons.

Yay, Kayda! Using her common sense and wisdom to figure out the real lesson of the combat final without being told it. Glad to see Chou realized it was their best bet as well, it is stacked against only one person being able to finish it successfully. Ouch, even with shared intel they are in trouble, they need to listen to each other more and work out a plan together instead of rushing it. I know they are on a counter for when the hostage will be killed no matter what, but rushing in with a plan not fully thought out is worse.

Two former boys turned girls, each trying to prove themselves and overly competitive. How could a hastely made plan go wrong? Let's watch. So far, so good, sentries in the back down with no trouble. Then she goes in without checking for any kind of alarms or wards protecting the back entrance, even after they were told the guy is a low level Wiz and regen. At least she didn't freeze up and took advantage of the big guy's surprise, could have gone south fast. Betting that breaking the ward alerted the kidnaper though, great.

Glad to see Chou realizes the problem with Kayda wishing to rush in, nice work with taking out 3 of the 4 goons. Calling a sword like Destiny's Wave a pig-sticker, probably trying to get Chou angry and thus sloppy. Take a lot more than that after what she put up with from Sharisha in the past.

Caught and attacked, plus the creep is escaping. And the hostage is a little girl! Gunny and Ito know how to mess with your head and heart at the same time. Kayda, you have no idea if Chou's part of the plan went off without a hitch, don't start getting cocky. Good, she has the girl, now she just has to get them out alive and to the police station. With apparently 3 mutant foes, easier said than done. Ouch, hitting her previously injured knee, starting to see why she was in such bad shape after this ended.

Great, we have a smart leader here, hope Chou can keep them distracted for a little while at least. The gorilla-goon is causing as much trouble for his boss as he is for Kayda, guess you get what you pay for. And all this shows how no plan survives contact with the enemy, having Chou take the kid instead of Kayda. Sometimes I forget how scary and brutal Kayda can be when she unleashes everything she has. Win the scenario but get hurt because the ANT can't stop in mid-air, ouch. Now we know where the worst hit came from, just brutal.

Kayda is badly injured, possibly worse than it appears, and some idiots in the audience are booing and catcalling. Where's a giant rolled up newspaper, I want to smack them all upside the head. At least that turned around quickly when she stood up. I keep wincing every time I read her reacting to the pain. And she has one of the best roommates.

Both banged up and hurting, so of course Gunny shows up to critique their combat final run. Dang, I can actually see both Gunny and Ito's points in all this. Just like the students, I hate to admit when they are right, even if it is a valueable lesson. And this time we get to hear the parts where they praise them for what they did right, nice change from previous Kayda stories. Shows she is learning and growing.

This scene is more painful to read the second time around, especially with knowing more details and what was said. Tansy, this incident makes we want to sock her one for how she hurt Lanie by making a tense situation worse. Dang, so the words aren't needed for the blood oath to be completed. If only they had taken her athame away once she started argueing with the staff...

Lanie's pain is palpable, I wish I could reach out and hug her as well if only to take away some of the pain. If Kayda payed attention to Tansy, she might have figured out her part in all this. D'oh! Kayda misread that and Tansy's feelings all wrong, at least in part. Plus Lanie called your her soul sister and would never abandon her best friend, Kayda still has serious self-esteem issues if she believes that could happen even for a moment.

At least Kayda realizes how close she came to revealing her secret to Tansy. If it weren't for the fact that Gunny is married with a wife, I would think that he and Ito are like a married couple, with Ito being the more level-headed of the two.

Glad the audiance aren't the only ones who realized what is going on with Lanie, now if she could just talk to Lanie about this and get her to see Dr. Bellows or another councilor. Gah! You described the smell very well, I found myself starting to gagging. Kayda, they know you are going into the situations fatigued and injured, they don't mind working more and you shouldn't guilt trip yourself over it. If she channels her hurt into anger for too long, it will hurt her and those around her.

I hope this unease at Tansy remains with Kayda, we need someone who might see through her manipulations before Tansy has them all trusting her. Always good to think of improvements to your existing arsenal. If Kayda ever gets ahold of tomahawks that are enchanted or made of a super-hard stone, she would be one of the most dangerous students on campus. And she just keeps improving, especially with the intense training she is undergoing.

The ANTs are programmed a little too well to imitate the kind of threats the foes would make. Some females would have brutalized him even without being rape victims, I know I would have. Although seeing that I think Gunny and Ito are going to be training her even harder on self-control in a combat situation when they can. That Princess Leia line still gets me to chuckle.

Nice reading the same scenes again, refreshed my memory. Ewouch! Torn shoulder, she is going to be getting nothing but rest for a day or two at least after this. Still a heart-pounding, action-packed read the 2nd time through Kayda's eyes. In the aftermath we see how badly they were beat up, when an Exemplar 4 is crying out in pain from the wounds being treated.

Next fight where she is allowed to or it is life and death, she needs to bring out Tatanka. And Gunny forgets that they made her personal life their business by not postponing Lanie's combat final after she was just involved in a highly emotional event with her now ex-friend. You don't send someone who is that upset or emotional into a situation like that, you give them time to deal with it and calm down. He is training them to survive but sometimes I think he forgets they are teenagers and not soldiers.

I seriously wish to yell at Kayda "Stop being so stubborn and accept the medic's help already!" With Tansy, considering how she used to be and in part is still acting due to Ms. Hartford's influence, it is good to be paranoid about her trying to take Lanie away from you, Kayda. It could be the only thing which helps to counter their plot to induct Lanie as a member of the Syndicate and teamed up with Tansy and Kayda. Shoot, Tansy is making all the right moves to earn Kayda's trust.

And the source of her troubles is found, figures a small piece of the spike somehow ended up inside her. Wait, does that mean surgery to remove it? Poor Kayda. Digging in her shoulder without the benefit of anesthesia, eyouch! Wait a minute, her Wiki entry doesn't mention regen and the stories mention she heals faster but not what her Regen is rated at. Okay, just the description of what regen does to foreign bodies and what it could have done to Hippy, no wonder even a Regen 6 can be killed.

And we get to the part where she needs to help Magic Mikey. Great, she removed the taint from those poor boy's minds but still it wasn't enough. To heal Magic Mikey or not, this is her greatest test by far. Darn it, you made me cry along with Kayda at her hearing the good news about the boys. At least her talk with Amber helped.

At least you can see it from their side and understand why they feel the way they do, unlike some people. Remote-controlled girl-scout cookies...bwahahahaha! Hearing it from friends is easier than from your teachers. And more people learn of the troubles between Lanie and Maggie.

Everyone who has dealt with Gunny knows he loves using nasty scenarios to get the students to think beyond what they have been taught and learn. In his own brutal, sadistic way. Finally! She is listening to Mrs. Carson and focusing on the positive. And the idiots who spread or believe rumors will be embarassed when the truth comes out.

Yikes! Kid lost his spirit and went catatonic, no wonder she is relutant to try it on Danny. Poor kid will just have to take the changes as they come and realize he has family and friends to lean on, like Kayda did. With Mr. Two Knives skills I can see why they want him back. And I already can tell that poor Jimmy isn't going to survive, but which one is hunting him. The Shaman hunter or spawn of the serpent demon-god. A skilled shaman to have such magic and read the spirits so quickly. And he never had a chance against Kigatilik, I wonder if Kayda and Mr. Lodgeman can take him down.

With all that has happened lately, Kayda is on edge even in her own dream space. She needs a lot of that tea, stat. When she sensed a 3rd person, at first I thought it would be Mr. Lodgeman, never expected Mrs. Carson. She just keeps surprising with new or previous unrevealed skills. Wyatt better keep his lips sealed about that tale or else Kayda will get some help to prank him.

I know somewhat how Kayda feels, being told to forgive someone when you feel they have wronged you too greatly. But Mrs. Carson does give her a good reason for doing it that would be purely self-interest, to prevent the pranks and harassment from returning through another agent. Ganging up on her about her schedule for the fall like that, she is never going to have a moment's rest at this rate.

Gray Skies, they will trace it to you and when they do, Mrs. Carson will bring the full wrath of everyone connected to Whateley against you for endangering one of the students and in the process the school itself. Gray Skies goofed, leaving Dan Bear Claws thinking about what he would do to him. Now his former pawn is going to rat him out to Kayda's parents, who in turn will tell Mrs. Carson who was behind it all. That is if he survives long enough, with one of Unh's spawn heading his way.

Held back because of grade, Mrs. Carson is cunning but did she forget about the 10 bonus credits that Kayda has. That could screw up her plan completely. Dang, that is a bit of rules lawyering by Kayda worthy of Lanie herself. You know, Conjure and Stiletto wouldn't have reacted as badly as they did to her suggestion if there wasn't a little bit of truth to what Kayda said. And please tell me we are going to get a story out of Lanie's road-trip home with her car.

Shorter than the other purification scenes so far, but more intense due to the emotional toll it took on Kayda. At least she can still joke around after it with Lanie. Poor Amber, she has been a victim of HM and now her boyfriend like this, someone better get her to see a councilor soon.

And now the people at HPARC are caught up with the fact that Kigatilik is loose. If only they knew what the readers did, more tragedies could be averted.

Did something happen between Sky and Cav again, I wonder. Oh crap, she's snapped, the conditioning from that year still is there and she needs a lot of help. The more Sky speaks and the pain in her words, the more I want to see Hekate tormented in the worse ways. Not to mention the Don and everyone else who used her and Cav during that year. Her body has begun to heal and it has helped her mentally and emotionally, but I didn't realize how far she had to go for recovery until now.

Kayda is very wise at times for someone her age, even without Wakan Tanka guiding her. A shaman is a healer, not only of the body, but of the mind and spirit as well. And Kayda is already proving herself to be an excellent one. And Kayda, you aren't the only one who wishes to see Hekate punished for all her evil deeds.

Hopefully this meeting is about information that MM was able to give and how they are going to deal with it. Being put in the spotlight like that and wishing you could just disappear, I still feel that sometimes to this day. And for the sake of the poor girl's stress level, next time lead with the reason why she was brought in. It is harder to forgive than to hold onto hate, it takes a strong person to forgive and Kayda has proven herself to be time and again. Blackmailed due to favors owed, playing politics with the lives of children, too bad he covered his tracks so MM doesn't know who he worked for. But at least now the healing can begin.

Gray Skies is in trouble, he will be lucky is Mrs. Carson figures out his involvement and has him arrested before Uhn's spawn gets to him now. Otherwise he dies and Uhncegila gets a lot more powerful and a threat to the world himself. Unless the orb is prevented from being brought to him in the end.

The Don really doesn't get how far he has fallen, nor what will happen if he tries any of his schemes on his own. Ranting they will all pay, he sounds like a bad movie villain that no one takes seriously. I knew Tansy would mess with him with the planes tickets but that is just too funny, just what the Don deserved.

Based on Fey and Tennyo missing being juniors as well by one or two core classes, it seems Mrs. Carson rigged it so they would have to be here for 4 years. Ack! Another girl to mess with Danny with, he is going to be tortured by all the attention and embarassment, while all the guys around him are going to be jealous and wish to pound him for having all the girls around him. At least Kayda realizes that with her life, the odds of a summer with fun and calm and no adventure are slim.

Well, that was a long one? Nice though.



Typos (Do they go in the thread or in the comments?):

Forgot to mention last night, pretty much any scene with Sky is just depressing. Seeing how she's been beaten and degraded so badly through mind control is my absolute greatest fear, and even though the emotional trauma is being healed, it's a huge tearjerker for me.
And the scene where Sky thinks she has to offer sex as a gift makes me want to destroy Don and Hekate.
(Yes, I know I put my characters through similar things. I said it was depressing, not that it was bad.)

Domoviye wrote: Forgot to mention last night, pretty much any scene with Sky is just depressing. Seeing how she's been beaten and degraded so badly through mind control is my absolute greatest fear, and even though the emotional trauma is being healed, it's a huge tearjerker for me.
And the scene where Sky thinks she has to offer sex as a gift makes me want to destroy Don and Hekate.
(Yes, I know I put my characters through similar things. I said it was depressing, not that it was bad.)

I feel the same about Sky and Cav - but the subject is so important to me that I HAD to show it for the ugly, brutal horror that it was, and since I couldn't write that directly, showing the after-effects and how the rape survivor's group and Kayda are helping her deal with it is the approach I took. The upside is that it's showing Sky's improvement. I knew going in that this particular scene was going to hit people hard. EE told me so when he saw the draft.

elrodw wrote:

Domoviye wrote: Forgot to mention last night, pretty much any scene with Sky is just depressing. Seeing how she's been beaten and degraded so badly through mind control is my absolute greatest fear, and even though the emotional trauma is being healed, it's a huge tearjerker for me.
And the scene where Sky thinks she has to offer sex as a gift makes me want to destroy Don and Hekate.
(Yes, I know I put my characters through similar things. I said it was depressing, not that it was bad.)

I feel the same about Sky and Cav - but the subject is so important to me that I HAD to show it for the ugly, brutal horror that it was, and since I couldn't write that directly, showing the after-effects and how the rape survivor's group and Kayda are helping her deal with it is the approach I took. The upside is that it's showing Sky's improvement. I knew going in that this particular scene was going to hit people hard. EE told me so when he saw the draft.

Is it just me, or does Kayda seem too educated in Psychology? Or did she absorb all that from Dr. Bellows or something?

Malady wrote:
Is it just me, or does Kayda seem too educated in Psychology? Or did she absorb all that from Dr. Bellows or something?

I'd say she just took what has helped her and is using it on other people.
I've seen it before on other less sensitive areas, and I've done it myself.

elrodw wrote:

Domoviye wrote: Forgot to mention last night, pretty much any scene with Sky is just depressing. Seeing how she's been beaten and degraded so badly through mind control is my absolute greatest fear, and even though the emotional trauma is being healed, it's a huge tearjerker for me.
And the scene where Sky thinks she has to offer sex as a gift makes me want to destroy Don and Hekate.
(Yes, I know I put my characters through similar things. I said it was depressing, not that it was bad.)

I feel the same about Sky and Cav - but the subject is so important to me that I HAD to show it for the ugly, brutal horror that it was, and since I couldn't write that directly, showing the after-effects and how the rape survivor's group and Kayda are helping her deal with it is the approach I took. The upside is that it's showing Sky's improvement. I knew going in that this particular scene was going to hit people hard. EE told me so when he saw the draft.

Well I'm glad it's being addressed like it is. Not in a "Oh I had some counseling I'm all better now," or a "I was raped, I'm insane and can never get better way," which is way too common in a lot of media.
Congrats on at least in my opinion hitting it just right.

Domoviye wrote:

Malady wrote:
Is it just me, or does Kayda seem too educated in Psychology? Or did she absorb all that from Dr. Bellows or something?

I'd say she just took what has helped her and is using it on other people.
I've seen it before on other less sensitive areas, and I've done it myself.

And so you have the answer. Kayda is getting counseling from Dr. Bellows, Wakan Tanka, Tatanka, and Wyatt, plus a ton of advice and guidance counseling (unexpected and sometimes unwanted) from Mrs. Carson. She finally wised up and is paying attention enough to be able to use in her own shaman role.

elrodw wrote:

Domoviye wrote:

Malady wrote:
Is it just me, or does Kayda seem too educated in Psychology? Or did she absorb all that from Dr. Bellows or something?

I'd say she just took what has helped her and is using it on other people.
I've seen it before on other less sensitive areas, and I've done it myself.

And so you have the answer. Kayda is getting counseling from Dr. Bellows, Wakan Tanka, Tatanka, and Wyatt, plus a ton of advice and guidance counseling (unexpected and sometimes unwanted) from Mrs. Carson. She finally wised up and is paying attention enough to be able to use in her own shaman role.

Don't forget, Kodiak ( the spirit ), Grizzly, Lanie, and all the other spirits Kayda comes in contact with. They all show her something that helps both with her own healing and in healing others.

Well, at least we now know Tansy uses the same travel agent the kids used for New York...

Round-trip standby coach class tickets requiring six plane changes each way to Venezuela; $638
Assorted "alternate lifestyle" magazines with an 8 x 11 glossy photo print from an iPhone; $137
Ultimate humiliation of the Campus Ass Hole; Priceless.

E. E. Nalley wrote: Round-trip standby coach class tickets requiring six plane changes each way to Venezuela; $638
Assorted "alternate lifestyle" magazines with an 8 x 11 glossy photo print from an iPhone; $137
Ultimate humiliation of the Campus Ass Hole; Priceless.

Someone video taping his reaction to be posted online; Unimaginable.

Ib12us wrote: Someone video taping his reaction to be posted online; Unimaginable.

Seriously? That's not the word I would have used. "Inevitable' would be more like it.

Phoenix Spiritus wrote:

Ib12us wrote: Someone video taping his reaction to be posted online; Unimaginable.

Seriously? That's not the word I would have used. "Inevitable' would be more like it.

Unimaginable, Inevitable. They both work. And for 20 dollars more you can see the video clip.

Two minor points about Dreamer's very long and detailed review:

1. Gunny Bardue is not married. He is dating Mrs. Cantrell.
2. The reason Kayda is not listed as regen in the Wiki is because, AFAIK, she isn't one. She might have a smidgen of regen as consequence of being an Ex-2 (but not enough to be equivalent to a Regen-1; the rule of thumb is that an Ex gives regeneration equivalent to a Reg two levels below the Ex rating). Her healing and self-healing (aka regen) is a magic application, not a mutant power.

If I remember, Kayla requires the use of essence to make a potion to heal herself as she has done on several other people.

On two occasions, Wakan Tanka healed Kayda directly with serious magick, but it's risky because too much of that will cut her off from Kayda. (Explained in another story). So no, Kayda isn't a regen naturally, but has some powerful magick to effect the same thing.

Thanks, Sir Lee and Elrod, for clearing that up. And for helping me with my memory, mixed up another character who is married with Gunny.

Dreamer wrote: Mixed up another character who is married with Gunny.

Yeah he was pretty pissed about that. Now drop and give him a thousand.

There was a line when Kayda with with Chou, Molly, and Dorjee

"I could not understand, however, any of them being interested in guys - like Toni with Scott, Megs with Steve, or Chou with Dorjee. It was just ... weird. Then again, they hadn't had my experiences, so maybe it was more natural for them. I felt a shiver - I didn't want to ever feel normal about something like that."

For some reason I have a feeling that at some point even with all that has happened You're going to through a Monkey-Wrench in here eventually... (Past behavior predicts future behavior) at least in some people stories...

Well, it DID happen to Chou... she didn't have any traumatic experience with males, but she was quite dead set into staying a lesbian and then... Dorjee happened and confused the HELL out of her.
So, even with traumatic experiences, soul-bond to Cornflower etc., it is still possible that her own body might "betray" her in that way and she finds herself attracted to a male.

Very good, I think you got most of the long term issues on campus, other than the ones set for the next school year.

The combat final was interesting, I think part of Chou's acceptance of Kayda's plan is that she got used to others doing the planning while on TK.

She forgave Mike, but probably won't see him for awhile, he will likely spend some time at ARC getting treatment.



I hope some of those airports have real jerks running the MCO checkpoints.

I wonder which of the Combat Finals we will see, or at least get results of.

The Three Muskateers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Which is which, and will D'Artagnan, or will he switch in each location. Danny in South Dakota, Charge's sister in France, and ??? in Louisiana.

Especially with 'lust auras' and 'love me' glamours and all sorts of psychic stuff around. Eventually one of them is gonna whammy Kayda.

Don't forget the possibilities of Absinthe and Ribbon.

First up, I read Part 2 when it came out but didn't comment as at the time I was staying at mum's and restricted to using my Smartphone for internet access - reading stories is OK on a 5" screen, logging into websites / writing lengthy comments is considerably more difficult. My initial thoughts on reading that were that your muse had been attacked by the Spirit of Generosity, with a surprising number of positive things happening in amongst the usual character torture.

As for Part 3, lavish applications of pleading from numerous sources finally resulted in Kayda overriding her gut instincts and healing Mike - whereupon all the rest in the Conference learn that Dan Bear Claws was involved - it'll be interesting to see what he says in his call with the Franks family. We've learned that Kayda's healing was being interrupted courtesy of a small sliver of spike still embedded in her - and that's now sorted.

It looks as though Danny will be heading towards a gender flip, albeit probably over a period of several months (although how long it takes could impact upon which Cottage he ends up in at Whateley - if he's become noticeably more feminine by the end of August, he'd end up in Poe, but if not, placement would be trickier).

Meanwhile, as things are getting resolved on the Whateley front, there are still the distant rumblings of Unhcegila and second son (the latter searching for Grey Skies) plus Kigatilik (snacking on Shamans as it traverses Canada - its latest casualty being Jimmy Red Lake, from Billy Two Knives' community). While there are several different legends in Lakota lore concerning the demise of Unhcegila, I can't find any 'net references relating to the demise of Kigatilik. Given its preferred delicacy, Kayda would definitely not be the best choice for battling it, and it might be a tall order for the combined forces of The Nations group.

In fact, over the summer it might be prudent for the entire Franks family to join Kayda and friends on their excursions to Louisiana and France given the demons do have speed limits and wouldn't be able to travel such distances...

It wasn't stated explicitly, but I assume M2 doesn't remember what he did with Sara. (Someone must have asked him.) That makes it easier to get her off the bus in the future, of course, Mike remembers, ARC calls Carson, one retrieved piece of paper sent back to ARC so she can be safely removed from the circle and not eat the first six people she sees out of hunger. (Sent to ARC of course because she works there. )

jmhyp wrote: It wasn't stated explicitly, but I assume M2 doesn't remember what he did with Sara. (Someone must have asked him.) That makes it easier to get her off the bus in the future, of course, Mike remembers, ARC calls Carson, one retrieved piece of paper sent back to ARC so she can be safely removed from the circle and not eat the first six people she sees out of hunger. (Sent to ARC of course because she works there. )

M2 wasn't the one who summoned Sara. That was Speakeasy (Darren), who fled to avoid being arrested for Heyoka's murder.

jmhyp wrote: It wasn't stated explicitly, but I assume M2 doesn't remember what he did with Sara. (Someone must have asked him.) That makes it easier to get her off the bus in the future, of course, Mike remembers, ARC calls Carson, one retrieved piece of paper sent back to ARC so she can be safely removed from the circle and not eat the first six people she sees out of hunger. (Sent to ARC of course because she works there. )

MM isn't behind the disappearance of Sara, that is two other idiots who used her in their plot to frame Kayda for the murder of Heyoka.
Edit: Ninja'd by Elrod.

M2 had nothing to do with Sara.
That was another plot to remove Kayda, permanently right from the start.

Edit: Curses Ninja'd twice. Curses being called away to deal with monsters under the bed.

One question that I have concerning these combat finals is: what were the students told in advance?
These scenarios seem to be "you are on a mission", so restricting everyone to "what they always carry" does NOT seem to be appropriate.

amratner wrote: One question that I have concerning these combat finals is: what were the students told in advance?
These scenarios seem to be "you are on a mission", so restricting everyone to "what they always carry" does NOT seem to be appropriate.

Then again, look at the Kimbas in the Boston Brawl, or Jadis and company in her NYC adventures - they only had what they were carrying normally; it's reasonable that they were 'drafted' to help with a situation. Planned mission like Eagle Claw, yeah, they'd have proper equipment, but that's a crash. Normal situations? Normal gear.

The point isn't to deny them the gear, the point it to make the gear "what they normally carry around with them"

The old "be prepared, cause it ain't paranoid if we are really out to get you"

If you're gonna want it in the final, find a way to make sure you have it with you all the time.

Of course, being kids the 'normally carried' bit is stretched as far as it will go.

However a test where they have basically NO equipment would actually be useful for them; I wonder if any of these would be done? As in, 'empty out your pockets, you've been caught by surprise', just to see how they cope? Perhaps as one of the junior/senior finals?

Nah, the senior trials are "strip naked we're tying to the burning stake, BTW your SI is unconscious at at the bottom of the lake, you have three minutes to save them."

Astrodragon wrote: Of course, being kids the 'normally carried' bit is stretched as far as it will go.

However a test where they have basically NO equipment would actually be useful for them; I wonder if any of these would be done? As in, 'empty out your pockets, you've been caught by surprise', just to see how they cope? Perhaps as one of the junior/senior finals?

But if they are caught by surprise, they would have what is in their pockets. That is the whole point. Check out Peepers Combat Final from the fall.

So only the "crash" scenarios were missions where they would have been sent on a "special ops" mission? Because all the cases I recall being shown were special ops, rescue one of the hostages in Tehran, etc.

While the current crop of finals appear to be special ops type missions, the students don't know what they're being faced with (or who they'll be working with) until they enter the briefing room. They're given chance to change first, but once they've been told their scenario, the only time they have for planning and preparation is the walk from the briefing room to the arena floor. Since they don't know in advance when they'll be called, whatever they think they might need they'll be lugging around with them all week - so for most students it will be what they routinely carry around with them. It's probably quite likely that many start carrying around additional equipment in the weeks preceeding the Combat Finals so they can justify it as what they usually carry - and I wouldn't be surprised if the devisors capable of producing bags / pockets of holding hike their prices around that time to manage the likely increase in demand...

But that assumes they are carrying that stuff around. The G1 finals make it pretty clear pretty much everyone is bending that rule

And bending it is probably allowed because they realize that most students won't be facing a situation like that in real life. Sure they may have to escape an angry mob or killer, but going into hostage situations, doing something more than just escaping, is outsdie the bounds of what most will do.
So bending is fine, it still teaches them to be prepared. Breaking it badly like Peeper did is not ok.

Astrodragon wrote: But that assumes they are carrying that stuff around. The G1 finals make it pretty clear pretty much everyone is bending that rule

While there is some bending of the rules, outright breaking them results in an F for a grade.

Just thought: Kristin's (somehow) managed to pen the insanity that is Jade's Combat Final (probably for release at some point in the next month or two), I wonder if Jade's "better half" (as she once described Jinn) will also have one written?

As for who she'd be partnered with, if you wanted to be really sadistic: Bloodwolf (since Tansy's already been booked for two - the unexpected one with Kayda and Lainie, plus the Venus Inc one - as she was on the Survival track, she wouldn't normally have had a solo).

Actually we don't know what they can ask for, no one has asked. For all we know, you can at the end of the briefing say, "We'd like radio headsets so we (two random students who never talk to one another) can communicate discreetly. We'd also like some kind of radiation detector (assuming the mission has a radiation component for example)." And Bardue turns to Ito who nods, and they opens a locker behind them and hands them the reasonably mission equipment since it is a "planned" MISSION.

jmhyp wrote: Actually we don't know what they can ask for, no one has asked. For all we know, you can at the end of the briefing say, "We'd like radio headsets so we (two random students who never talk to one another) can communicate discreetly. We'd also like some kind of radiation detector (assuming the mission has a radiation component for example)." And Bardue turns to Ito who nods, and they opens a locker behind them and hands them the reasonably mission equipment since it is a "planned" MISSION.

... It's so sad that we might never see this happen, as it needs people who aren't intimidated by Ito and Bardue, and able to focus enough even when working with someone they don't know...

... Do you think Chaka's got the right stuff for you scenario? If not? Who, if anyone, do you think would do it? Ayla might be out, as he's working with that Firebitch... Sorry, forgot her name... Wait... She's lightened up, so he might be able to think enough for your scenario...

Otherwise, perhaps Jadis?

Aquerna, she's just likely to be flustered enough to blurt it out unthinkingly as she tries to work her way mentally through the problem.

Malady wrote:

jmhyp wrote: Actually we don't know what they can ask for, no one has asked. For all we know, you can at the end of the briefing say, "We'd like radio headsets so we (two random students who never talk to one another) can communicate discreetly. We'd also like some kind of radiation detector (assuming the mission has a radiation component for example)." And Bardue turns to Ito who nods, and they opens a locker behind them and hands them the reasonably mission equipment since it is a "planned" MISSION.

... It's so sad that we might never see this happen, as it needs people who aren't intimidated by Ito and Bardue, and able to focus enough even when working with someone they don't know...

... Do you think Chaka's got the right stuff for you scenario? If not? Who, if anyone, do you think would do it? Ayla might be out, as he's working with that Firebitch... Sorry, forgot her name... Wait... She's lightened up, so he might be able to think enough for your scenario...

Otherwise, perhaps Jadis?

Um, did you notice that when Kayda went into the crash with Lanie and Tansy, she basically TOLD Gunny and Ito that she was taking her bow? That wasn't her normal equipment. Granted it's not quite going as far as what you were saying, but it's as defiant as we've seen.

elrodw wrote: Um, did you notice that when Kayda went into the crash with Lanie and Tansy, she basically TOLD Gunny and Ito that she was taking her bow? That wasn't her normal equipment. Granted it's not quite going as far as what you were saying, but it's as defiant as we've seen.

No? ... I think I wasn't paying as much attention as I should have since it was a Perspective Flip, sorry...



Although, now I want to know how Bardue would have ended his sentence...

Also, we see Ito being nice! Yay!

I would not say he was being nice but was being more factual. He understands the students who are being tested in that as they watch whats happening on the screen or scene before them as they wait their turn the students pick up on what's happening. It may take a few others to get the gist of what's happening but they put 2 + 2 together and figure out how the tests going to proceed.

This also happens to Gunny who, I'm going to assume, hates to have his surprises let out of the bag. Each student knows Gunny enough to expect the unexpected or some other form of retaliation in each given scenario. Kayda's the newbie of the bunch as the others have gone through this before, but she learns quickly having just finished her own testing. It galls Gunny in that he can't just risk throwing something out of the blue because its been preprogrammed in the test and he cannot change the test on the sake of a whim else it skewers the results.

Ok, since I don't have time to slog through all these pages, forgive me if something's been repeated. Anyways...

When Wakan Tanka goes on about how 'what was I supposed to do, leave him without protection?' when talking about Danny to his parents, WHY did nobody point out that she could have given him a tougher MALE spirit?!? Like a bear (yeah I know we have enough of those, but it would be interesting to see THREE grizzlies on campus!), or a wolf (I've got Bad Wolf on the brain...), or even an eagle or hawk or osprey (I'd really like to see a main character with wings)!

And WHY isn't Kayda freaking out more about her brother going girl, especially after her experiences? Someone in the story comments mentioned it being basically rape to change Danny after he specifically tells the spirit and even cries over the possibility, not to change him into a girl, and I agree.

Also, if they switched out Danny's spirit for another one, would that cause the same psychological problems, since he only had the cougar spirit for a short time?

And I'm surprised Chou can be tainted at all by a demon, given what the Tao is.

1. Because the gender of the spirit does not necessarily determine to the final gender of the host. Wakan Tanka chose a strong, trustworthy spirit.

2. Kayda does not really think Danny is going girl, she is just messing with his head. As is Wihinape, by the way. She did promise Danny that he could remain male.

That and the fact "Danny" was basically hijack from Elrod's control by the community and he's nicely playing along with what we asked him to do, see http://whateleyacademy.net/index.php/forum/speculation-101-story-arcs/71-a-touch-of-mischief/881 and http://whateleyacademy.net/index.php/forum/speculation-102-characters/97-danny-franks-kayda-s-brother

Phoenix Spiritus wrote: whateleyacademy.net/index.php/forum/spec...ouch-of-mischief/881

FTFY

Sir Lee wrote: 1. Because the gender of the spirit does not necessarily determine to the final gender of the host. Wakan Tanka chose a strong, trustworthy spirit.

2. Kayda does not really think Danny is going girl, she is just messing with his head. As is Wihinape, by the way. She did promise Danny that he could remain male.

Actually didn't Wihinape promise to try to avoid it if possible? There's countless factors that may make that impossible, and the whole reason why Wakan Tanka chose her is to protect Danny, that task HAS to supersede ANY promises that may interfere.

Spirits love playing weasel words in contracts, but anything that they have specifically designated I will do X I will never do Y, breaking those bonds is a big deal with a spirit very few but the most powerful will risk it. Because of the Contract of Solomon becoming an oath breaker opens a spirit up to a number of very nasty repercussions.

So, since we're gonna talk about Danny here instead of his thread... Every change Wihinape causes that makes Danny more like her, expands Danny's Hallow.

So, what does Danny look like now? Apparently, he purrs and has cat eyes. What other transformations could help Wihinape fit in? Perhaps some fur? Cat ears... Tail... Claws...

... Could Wihinape split herself across multiple bodies so she has more room to stretch out? Like merging with Miyet or Cyberkitty or something? Hmm... Don't think that's actually possible...

... Might there be issues for Wihinape not totally being comfortable in the Hallow? ... Inadvertent Possession? Burnout? Power Incontinence? Something else?

mhalpern wrote:

Sir Lee wrote: 1. Because the gender of the spirit does not necessarily determine to the final gender of the host. Wakan Tanka chose a strong, trustworthy spirit.

2. Kayda does not really think Danny is going girl, she is just messing with his head. As is Wihinape, by the way. She did promise Danny that he could remain male.

Actually didn't Wihinape promise to try to avoid it if possible? There's countless factors that may make that impossible, and the whole reason why Wakan Tanka chose her is to protect Danny, that task HAS to supersede ANY promises that may interfere.

There are a lot of plans already in the works for Danny, and I have a consultant on how to prank him that is even more devious than I! Turning him female? We'll have to see, but a lot of people are becoming convinced that he WILL turn into a girl. And that's going to be torture enough even if he doesn't change. And Wihinape's promise had more holes in it than Swiss cheese.

From CBHD Part 1:
Like a girl? Of course I do! I'm Wihinape, the spirit of Igmu Taka! I've always been a girl!

Danny felt an icy shiver run up and down his spine several times, and panic clutched at his throat. "You're not going to ... to turn me into a girl, are you?" He started shaking, and then sobbing. "I don't wanna be a girl!"

Now why would I go and do a thing like that? the sultry voice murmured. But when she continued talking, she sounded quite contemplative. But now that you mention it, that might actually simplify things a lot.

From CBHD part 2:
"But what if she ... changes him?" Dad asked, also astonished at Wakan Tanka's logic.

"I said I wouldn't," Wihinape replied angrily. "Probably not." She purred as Danny found himself absently running his fingers through her hair. "Not much. Maybe not." She stretched luxuriously, a most feline move for the woman that was ultra-sexy in her nudity. "I might have to, though - it is pretty tight in his hallow!"

If those are her promises, Danny is in deep doo-doo

See what I mean about weasel words?

elrodw wrote:

mhalpern wrote:

Sir Lee wrote: 1. Because the gender of the spirit does not necessarily determine to the final gender of the host. Wakan Tanka chose a strong, trustworthy spirit.

2. Kayda does not really think Danny is going girl, she is just messing with his head. As is Wihinape, by the way. She did promise Danny that he could remain male.

Actually didn't Wihinape promise to try to avoid it if possible? There's countless factors that may make that impossible, and the whole reason why Wakan Tanka chose her is to protect Danny, that task HAS to supersede ANY promises that may interfere.

There are a lot of plans already in the works for Danny, and I have a consultant on how to prank him that is even more devious than I!

I don't know if I should be frightened or excited.... Or just ensure I have a large supply of popcorn... I'll just stick with option 3.
And who am I kidding, I've always like to see how far writers are willing to go with their characters and see what they put them through....

In that case, be afraid. Be very afraid. My consultant has a wickedly-devious sense of humor about torturing Danny.

Aw, what the hell - I'm listening to Phoenix_Spiritus about what to do to Danny.

Poor kid

elrodw wrote: In that case, be afraid. Be very afraid. My consultant has a wickedly-devious sense of humor about torturing Danny.

Aw, what the hell - I'm listening to Phoenix_Spiritus about what to do to Danny.

Poor kid

We need a popcorn emoticon, still as an avatar, Danny DOES have an advantage on the changeling side of things, besides, the group that Kayda's going to France with will undoubtedly get the chance to meet him, and I believe that they can give non-familial support and perspective about what qualifies as "the end of the world" so I doubt he will be without respite. But hey often the forecast is more frightening than the storm itself, as you have time to worry and to be afraid.

Danny really needs to hear and understand the "serenity prayer" despite its common use, and religious format (though I suppose that makes it more approachable to the masses) the ideology it outlines is a great life tool. It would help him to stop moping, moping never gets you anywhere.

Malady wrote: So, since we're gonna talk about Danny here instead of his thread... Every change Wihinape causes that makes Danny more like her, expands Danny's Hallow.

The way I understand it is that it's not expanding the Hallow so much as making it fit her shape better... Think of it like putting a peg into a hole. Where the pegs (spirits) are sort-of flexible and the holes (avatars) are inflexible.

When the peg and the hole are of the same or similar shape, or the hole is bigger, then there's no issue. But if there's a conflict a spirit only has so much flexibility before it causes damage to the material the hole is made of if there's a difference in shapes. If you end-up with a square peg and a round hole it becomes easier to fit if the holes sides are given sides and corners to fit better.

The problems happen when that Avatar is changed too much. the greater the modification, to the shape of the Hallow, the more will show externally. Spirits can re-shape the hallow but not push it larger. this is sort of the opposite of Kayda's spell which can push it larger but doesn't affect the shape. the reason I mention this is that in both cases they can't add more material to the Hallow so there are drawbacks to each method. Either a better fitting hallow that will show the effects of the re-shaping externally or a larger hallow with no external differences but weaker walls because the material was stretched.

DanZilla wrote: Snip

Kayda's spell which can push it larger but doesn't affect the shape. the reason I mention this is that in both cases they can't add more material to the Hallow so there are drawbacks to each method. Either a better fitting hallow that will show the effects of the re-shaping externally or a larger hallow with no external differences but weaker walls because the material was stretched.

Mmm... Makes sense. We do know that the Hallow can expand, without magic, via meditation and stuff, right?

... Can Kayda make her Hallow Expansion Spell expand either less, or more slowly, so it's safer?

... Or did the HES that she used on Loophole make the end size be Spirit-based, forcing expansion and stopping only when Grizzly could fit? ... Or is that me applying a magical consistent framework-y thing onto Whateley Magic, which doesn't work like that?

And that spell needed or was eased by the help of the Grove and the Tree Spirits.

elrodw wrote: In that case, be afraid. Be very afraid. My consultant has a wickedly-devious sense of humor about torturing Danny.

Aw, what the hell - I'm listening to Phoenix_Spiritus about what to do to Danny.

Poor kid

I want it stated for the record that I'm a force for good for Danny! I've firmly reigned in Elrod's excesses twice now! I've lessened the trauma and angst of Danny and made his life a better place! I have!

Now it might be true that I may have suggested a few story plots to Elrod, and there was that regrettable incident with his muse, but I maintain she was already drunk when I met her and I only agreed with what she was already going to do!

OK, OK, that's not the only time I met her, maybe I've done so a time or two more. Alright, alright, maybe three or four, or more. It can't be more then eight? I'm sure. No more then eight times. Positive.

Look, she drinks like a fish and I have to admit it's all a bit blurry, surely you're not going to hold things I can't even remember saying against me!

Right?

Right?!?

Come on! I've been looking out for Danny's best interests! I have! I promise!

mhalpern wrote: Danny really needs to hear and understand the "serenity prayer" despite its common use, and religious format (though I suppose that makes it more approachable to the masses) the ideology it outlines is a great life tool. It would help him to stop moping, moping never gets you anywhere.

*double checks that piece I sent to Elrod*

Wow, so that's where I stole that line form ... wonder if I can expand it and steal, *ahem* 'borrow', the whole lot?

Phoenix Spiritus wrote:

mhalpern wrote: Danny really needs to hear and understand the "serenity prayer" despite its common use, and religious format (though I suppose that makes it more approachable to the masses) the ideology it outlines is a great life tool. It would help him to stop moping, moping never gets you anywhere.

*double checks that piece I sent to Elrod*

Wow, so that's where I stole that line form ... wonder if I can expand it and steal, *ahem* 'borrow', the whole lot?

I had to look it up, it's spread so thoroughly that most people don't know what it's from

mhalpern wrote:

Phoenix Spiritus wrote:

mhalpern wrote: Danny really needs to hear and understand the "serenity prayer" despite its common use, and religious format (though I suppose that makes it more approachable to the masses) the ideology it outlines is a great life tool. It would help him to stop moping, moping never gets you anywhere.

*double checks that piece I sent to Elrod*

Wow, so that's where I stole that line form ... wonder if I can expand it and steal, *ahem* 'borrow', the whole lot?

I had to look it up, it's spread so thoroughly that most people don't know what it's from

Sorry, that was a joke of mine. I'm of Irish Catholic stock, as I remember the prayer goes:

"God give me the courage to change the things I can change, the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Phoenix Spiritus wrote:

elrodw wrote: In that case, be afraid. Be very afraid. My consultant has a wickedly-devious sense of humor about torturing Danny.

Aw, what the hell - I'm listening to Phoenix_Spiritus about what to do to Danny.

Poor kid

I want it stated for the record that I'm a force for good for Danny! I've firmly reigned in Elrod's excesses twice now! I've lessened the trauma and angst of Danny and made his life a better place! I have!

Now it might be true that I may have suggested a few story plots to Elrod, and there was that regrettable incident with his muse, but I maintain she was already drunk when I met her and I only agreed with what she was already going to do!

OK, OK, that's not the only time I met her, maybe I've done so a time or two more. Alright, alright, maybe three or four, or more. It can't be more then eight? I'm sure. No more then eight times. Positive.

Look, she drinks like a fish and I have to admit it's all a bit blurry, surely you're not going to hold things I can't even remember saying against me!

Right?

Right?!?

Come on! I've been looking out for Danny's best interests! I have! I promise!

Relax. If I was 21 I'd come up with some bizarre drinking game and invite you and Elrod's muse to play....

Sir Lee wrote: 1. Because the gender of the spirit does not necessarily determine to the final gender of the host. Wakan Tanka chose a strong, trustworthy spirit.

2. Kayda does not really think Danny is going girl, she is just messing with his head. As is Wihinape, by the way. She did promise Danny that he could remain male.

1. Really? There are no MALE strong and trustworthy spirits that don't have a penchant for being sexy creature beings?!?

2. Kayda of all people should know better. Not only because of her trauma going from boy to girl, even without the rape, mind, but mostly that. Due to the Carson Talk after the binding of Grizzly to Loophole, she knows that spirits are sneaky buggers, and if there isn't an explicit promise not to change him, there's no guarantee of anything!

Though honestly, if he goes girl, I think that's taking things too far.

1. Walkie Talkie probably has ulterior motives. (Probably owed Igloo Taco a favor and figures this is a good way to get that over with, but maybe Igloo Taco has particular talents compared to the other options that she wants to be able to make use of later.)

2. Many siblings are simply horrible, horrible creatures while young (most of us grow out of it eventually). Also, Kayda's been trying to be less of an asshole at Whateley lately, so some of that suppressed assholery may be spilling out when dealing with Danny.

I did link the discussion right? I mean, it is there?

It basically went "Wondercute needs a guy" -> "wouldn't it be funny if they didn't want to be in Wondercute?" -> "Oh Danny will be at Whateley next year!" -> "what can we do to Danny to make Wondercute recruitnap Danny?" -> let's all go steal Danny from Elrod!

I'm sure I linked all that?

So now poor Elrod has the chore of trying to ret-con that mess into something vaguely sane and rational, <snerk>

Phoenix Spiritus wrote: I did link the discussion right? I mean, it is there?

It basically went "Wondercute needs a guy" -> "wouldn't it be funny if they didn't want to be in Wondercute?" -> "Oh Danny will be at Whateley next year!" -> "what can we do to Danny to make Wondercute recruitnap Danny?" -> let's all go steal Danny from Elrod!

I'm sure I linked all that?

So now poor Elrod has the chore of trying to ret-con that mess into something vaguely sane and rational, <snerk>

You used "sane and rational" in a sentence with Elrod!

Valentine wrote:

Phoenix Spiritus wrote: I did link the discussion right? I mean, it is there?

It basically went "Wondercute needs a guy" -> "wouldn't it be funny if they didn't want to be in Wondercute?" -> "Oh Danny will be at Whateley next year!" -> "what can we do to Danny to make Wondercute recruitnap Danny?" -> let's all go steal Danny from Elrod!

I'm sure I linked all that?

So now poor Elrod has the chore of trying to ret-con that mess into something vaguely sane and rational, <snerk>

You used "sane and rational" in a sentence with Elrod!

Hey! I resemble that remark!
If you want to blame anyone for insanity that happens to Danny, blame Phoenix. He's been stuffing my head so full of devious and amusing and wicked ideas that some of them (a lot, in fact) are going to bleed into what I do with Danny. So it's NOT MY FAULT!

elrodw wrote:

Valentine wrote:

Phoenix Spiritus wrote: I did link the discussion right? I mean, it is there?

It basically went "Wondercute needs a guy" -> "wouldn't it be funny if they didn't want to be in Wondercute?" -> "Oh Danny will be at Whateley next year!" -> "what can we do to Danny to make Wondercute recruitnap Danny?" -> let's all go steal Danny from Elrod!

I'm sure I linked all that?

So now poor Elrod has the chore of trying to ret-con that mess into something vaguely sane and rational, <snerk>

You used "sane and rational" in a sentence with Elrod!

Hey! I resemble that remark!
If you want to blame anyone for insanity that happens to Danny, blame Phoenix. He's been stuffing my head so full of devious and amusing and wicked ideas that some of them (a lot, in fact) are going to bleed into what I do with Danny. So it's NOT MY FAULT!

As hard as it is to wait, I want to see the full extent of what you two can come up with for Danny's trial by fire now.