With The Best of Intentions

[Naruto] Z Rank

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:05:44 GMT

Title: Z Rank
Author: Fairady
Characters: Tsunade
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the story line. I'm behind in both anyway.
Warnings: Humor.
Notes: Just more random thoughts that made me smile. I'd really love to see the results of this mission though. Why? Because I'm evil.

~

Z rank missions were a fairly common practice between villages that were allied. Officially it was excused as a way to facilitate cooperative relations between the villages, and as a not so shady way of inflating revenue. Unofficially it was a way to keep the higher ranked shinobi on their toes, and to give the village that came out on top bragging rights.

Looking at the request from Suna, Tsunade had to admit that her village was getting owned in that area. Not through any lack of ideas on her part. No, it was simply that Sabaku no Gaara was a goldmine for Z missions. One that any village would be hard pressed to match.

"Shizune," Tsunade paused thoughtfully as she mulled over her choices. Gai would be a good one given his enthusiasm. However....

Tsunade smiled at her assistant, a broad teeth baring grin that made Shizune shiver. "Give this to that Hatake brat."

Gai would've scarred the poor boy for life, which would give her village the advantage. Hatake on the other hand would scar the boy for life and set him up so that he could terrorize his village in an entirely different way. Double points and a bonus for her!

Really, Suna should've known better than to request a sex-ed tutor from Konoha of all places.

~

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:42:59 GMT

*sniffs* Oh, internets I missed you! I have limited access for part of a week and I'm downloading shit like crazy. I'll try to keep the spamming of the journal down to a reasonable level though.

Part of a meme from a while back. Yes, I'm just that bored sometimes. ...Alright, alright! I'm that bored all the time.

5/9 or 5/10? (Kankurou/Quistis or Kankurou/Cid)

Well, considering I already wrote a couple drabbles for the first..... I do have to say that I want to see the bitch fight that a Kankurou/Cid fic would be. So, both!

~

"I said, drink your goddamn tea!"

"And I said it tastes like shit!"

"Stupid fucking brat! Don't you know it's fucking impolite to throw a man's hospitality back in his face!?"

"Oh yeah? It's also fucking impolite to poison a guest, shitty old man!"

"Old!? Watch your goddamn mouth brat, I'm not some old geezer!"

"Could've fooled me! How much gray you got on your head anyway?"

"Go fuck yourself, kid! Or have your balls not dropped far enough to do that?"

"Fuck you, old man!"

"You're too young to be a decent fuck kid! Come back in a few decades and maybe I'll consider it!"

"I'm a great lay, grandpa! And I wouldn't be talking about decades if I were you. You probably only got a few more days before you can't get it up anymore!"

"That's it you little shit! You're going down!"

"Not on you, I ain't!"

"YAAARGGGHHH!"

"Fuck!"

*cue various curses and suspicious thumps*

~

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:24:13 GMT

I hate multi-chaptered fics. I'm a one-shot wonder and fierce drabbler, the multi's just kill me. Especially since I've made a promise to myself not to ever post anything until it's complete. Heh, I'm an utter slacker.

Unfortunately I have to post this here just so I can store it. I'm slowly working my way around the complete lack of internet here in the Land of Big Booms. And by 'internet' I mean a somewhat fast connection, not monitored by TPTB, doesn't have a keyboard that's sticky, and is in a corner where PEOPLE won't feel compelled to stand over your shoulder and just watch what you're doing. Or sit next to you and try to hit on you.

Needless to say 'internet' has been very hard for me to find here. I'm adapting though. So eventually I might feel brave enough to go out and seek the porn I've been missing so dearly lately. Maybe.

Anyway. First chapter of a fic that may or may not ever be eventually finished. Please ignore it now.

Title: 2x4 Cupids
Author: Fairady
Rating: R
Characters: Jounouchi, Bakura, Mokuba, Yami
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't make money. If I did, well, I'd be very rich now wouldn't I?
Warnings: Crack! Yaoi. Don't like? Don't read.
Notes: Damn, Bakura is too hard to write! And why the hell do I always plan these big, huge epics? The only one who suffers is me, and you.

~

"Watch where you're going!"

"Ow! Why the hell did you stop for then? I can barely see anything in here!"

"Idiot," Even in the room's darkness Bakura's scowl was clearly visible as he picked himself up from the floor. "Keep your voice down or we'll be caught."

"Yeah, yeah," Jounouchi lowered his voice as he eased the recently opened window down again. Now that his eyes were adjusting to the darkness inside he could see that his white-haired partner in crime wasn't paying the least bit of attention to him as he intently listened at the room's only door. "If ya hadn't hit me, I would've been quieter."

"At least you haven't woken anyone up," The thief silently pushed the door open and quickly scanned the hall. Apparently reassured by what he didn't see he turned back to the blond. "Let’s get this over with. The sooner I'm done, the sooner I can get away from that," Bakura waved vaguely at the bag Jounouchi carried, "-thing."

The blond grimaced, "For once I'm in complete agreement with you."

Without another word the two slipped into the hall and crept towards their goal, keeping alert for any sign of a person or guard. They were already courting death, or worse, for breaking into the highly guarded estate. Neither one wanted to be caught, especially not with the package they had in their possession.

It wasn't exactly something you wanted to have to explain. Which made Jounouchi wonder why the hell Yami had insisted on giving it to Kaiba, but what did he know? Maybe the CEO would consider a box of myrrh, a few gold necklaces, and a Blue-Eyes plushie a good opening gift for courtship.

~

"Oh, I'm sorry, you're serious," Jounouchi gasped as he desperately tried to choke down on his laughter. The furious glare Yami sent him as he clutched a heavy looking broom helped him immensely. "Uh, sorry?"

Yami scowled as he went back to sweeping the game shop, "As I was saying, I need your help with this Jounouchi. I did not think you would have this much trouble understanding this. I-"

"I'm not even going to ask," About anything, Jounouchi hastily interjected as he slumped onto the counter.

He really didn't want to know, he was having enough trouble coping with the fact that the Pharaoh had all but confessed his undying love for Kaiba Seto as it was. He didn't need to be thinking on the whys or hows of it. Hanging with Yugi for as long as he had, Jounouchi had gained a fine appreciation for the art of not asking too many questions you probably didn't want to hear the answers to.

"So what'd you need me to do?"

Yami's scowl faded at his friend's acquiescence, "Not much really, I need you to deliver some gifts."

"Huh?" Jounouchi blinked. "Don't you think maybe you should get someone else to do it then? I doubt Kaiba'd take it seriously if I were the one doing the delivering."

"That's why you won't be giving them to him directly," Yami chuckled, "I want to remain nameless for a while."

"Oh. How're you going to do that then?" Jounouchi asked.

~

"Which way?"

Jounouchi looked down at the sticky note he held and squinted. "Uh, I think...left?" He tilted his head, "Or maybe that's right."

"What?" Bakura rounded on him with a glare. "Having trouble reading?"

Jounouchi scowled and shoved the paper at the other. "You look at it and tell me what you see. Only half of it's readable, the rest is Egyptian!"

The thief tilted the paper towards a nearby window, "-the hell?"

"What?"

"The Pharaoh’s love poems are almost as atrocious as his penmanship," Bakura grinned delightedly. "I can do better than this."

Jounouchi gaped and his voice rose, "Love poe-"

"What are you doing here?"

Jounouchi jumped and tried to dart down the hall at the unexpected voice. Bakura was faster though and grabbed the blond's jacket, flinging the teen behind him as he took off at a dead run. Jounouchi yelped as he landed on his back in front of a sleepy looking Mokuba.

The younger Kaiba scowled cutely, "'m trying to sleep and you two are keeping me up."

"Uh, sorry?" Jounouchi smiled sheepishly as he sat back up once his heart got unstuck from his throat.

"Where's your brother's room," Bakura demanded as he reappeared ignoring Jounouchi's glare.

"Why do you want to know?" Mokuba asked suspiciously.

"Can't tell you much kiddo. We're acting on request to deliver a few gifts," Jounouchi smiled reassuringly at the kid who didn't look like he was buying it. "Come on Mokuba, you know me. If I were going to do anything to Kaiba I'd make damn sure he knew it was me. Sneaking isn't really my thing."

"Yeah, I guess so," Mokuba blinked and yawned loudly. "Third door down there."

"Thanks, um, don't tell your brother?"

"Whatever, 'night," Mokuba turned and shuffled back into his room.

"Night," Jounouchi said to the door. It never failed to amaze him how a bastard like Kaiba could have such a cute younger brother. Though now that he thought about it.... "We're gonna have to bribe him just to make sure he won't tell."

"Let the Pharaoh do it," Bakura tested the handle of the indicated door. "This is his courtship, he can take care of all the expenses for it."

"Yeah," Jounouchi peered into the room behind the door. It was hard to see much of the details but the room was either Kaiba's or every guest room in the place had a giant wood framed bed carved to resemble a Blue-Eyes Dragon. "So, how the hell did you get roped into doing this anyway?"

~

Jounouchi blinked, sure he'd heard wrong. "What?"

Yami patiently repeated himself. For the fourth time. "Bakura will be going with you."

"Ok," Jounouchi nodded slowly, those were the words Yami had been saying for the past ten minutes. They hadn't changed with repetition or time so that had to mean he really was saying them. Which made no damn sense. "Why!?"

"Because he has more experience with breaking into places and not getting caught than you do," Yami finished his meticulous wrapping of the gifts. "The security system at the Kaiba's estate will present no trouble to him."

"Wait a minute," Jounouchi leaned over his very deluded friend's shoulder. "We'll assume that you can get Bakura to do this. What I want to know is, why do you need me when he can easily do this himself?"

"I need you because I don't trust the thief. He might alter my gifts or steal something. I need you to make sure nothing happens."

Made sense. Horrible and frightening sense. "So, who's going to stop something happening to me? We are talking about Bakura here. The psychotic one, right?"

"Oh, don't worry about that," Yami assured with a wicked looking smirk. "Nothing will happen to you, I've made sure of it."

~

Bakura scowled, "There are things you are better off not knowing. Now drop the damn things off and let us leave this place."

"Uh-huh," Deciding not to push his luck Jounouchi took the package to the bed kicking a few clothes out of his way. Kaiba had a surprisingly messy room for being such a tightass. "Doesn't he have maids or something to clean up after him?"

"We don't have much more time before the cameras start recording again," Bakura impatiently reminded from the door.

"Yeah, yeah," Jounouchi quickly dropped the package onto the bed and left the room. The two made quicker progress out of the mansion than in and were soon climbing the fence. "Well, that's over with. Let’s go tell Yami."

"You report to the Pharaoh," Bakura snorted as he walked away. "I have better things to do."

"Geeze," Jounouchi muttered before jogging away, wondering a bit about actually being alive at the end of the night.

~

"I see," Yami leaned back against the counter with a thoughtful look on his face. "I will have to speak with Mokuba then."

"Probably should've done that before we started this," Jounouchi said not bothering to stifle a jaw cracking yawn. The counter was hard linoleum, but felt nice and cool against his face. He wondered if he could get away with falling asleep right there. Then he'd have to eat breakfast there in the morning and Grandpa made the best pancakes he'd ever tasted. "Kid likes his chocolate, but won't turn down anything sugary."

"I'll keep that in mind," Yami chuckled and gripped Jounouchi's shoulder. Squeezing slightly he said, "I apologize for keeping you up. You've done a lot to help me in this Jounouchi, and I am truly thankful for it."

"Hey," Jounouchi scratched his nose awkwardly, covering the redness he could feel burning his face at the compliment. "Don't go thanking me for that! It's just what friends do for their other friends."

"True," Yami let go of his friend and gestured up the stairs. "You should stay here tonight. It is already late and you have to be up early for school."

"Yes, pancakes!" Jounouchi didn't need to be told twice! All in all, it hadn't been that bad of a night.

~

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:27:48 GMT

And this, is just a test to see if that email posting thing is actually working. I doubt it is, but hope springs eternal.

[Kingdom Hearts] All Over Again

Thu, 01 May 2008 14:58:27 GMT

Last one for today, I promise.

Title: All Over Again
Author: Fairady
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Auron, Tidus
Warnings: None.
Disclaimer: Do not own. Mouse and Square do. They are very mean crack pushers aren't they?
Notes: Written for an interest drabble challenge, this one was for Auron. I thought it'd be interesting to try getting into the guy's head from KH2. And yes, the age is intentional.

~

He couldn't even find it in himself to be surprised when he opened his eyes upon the living world again. He's died three times now and each time has been denied the final peace of the Farplane. Auron is beginning to forget why he even wants to go there anymore. The names and faces of the people waiting there for him have become indistinct over time.

At least he wasn't in the Underworld again. The sea stretched out before him and the sound of the waves reminded him of Besaid.

A startled cry broke his reverie and Auron spun swiftly bringing up his sword. He searched for the threat, but the only thing he could see was the crumpled form of a boy at the base of a tree. The child didn't stir as Auron approached. A few fronds fluttered down as he knelt next to check the child for injuries.

He gets as far as noting the kid is still alive before his face actually registers in Auron's mind. It feels like a double fisted punch to the stomach to see a twelve year old Tidus. And there is no doubt in Auron's mind that this boy is Tidus. There was little he couldn’t recognize about the boy he'd raised after his first death.

Once again there seems to be a reason for him not passing on, and for the first time in a while Auron finds himself not minding it one bit.

~

[Weiss Kreuz/Hellraiser] Dealing With the Damned

Thu, 01 May 2008 14:55:11 GMT

Title: Dealing With the Damned
Author: Fairady
Characters: Farfarello, Pinhead
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I neither own nor make money off of the characters or concepts of Weiss Kreuz or Hellraiser.
Warnings: Dark, but what'd you expect given a drabble about Farfarello and Pinhead?
Notes: It makes sense to me at least. Farfarello'd probably be the only person who would use the puzzlebox willingly even knowing the true consequences of it.

~

The great bell had sounded so pretty that he'd stopped when he first heard its faint tolling. It reminded Farfarello of the churches from his homeland. They had used similar bells, though none that were as somber as this. No, none of them could produce the same sharp thrill of dread that this one caused.

So entranced by the bell, it wasn't until the sound began to fade that he remembered the puzzle box and his purpose.

Turning the next section of the box brought the bell back, but he didn't pause to listen again. He had a goal to reach and getting sidetracked would not due. With all of his attention on the box it was easy to solve. The last section rose up and twisted back down with an audible click that silenced the bell. It was a click that Farfarello heard only in his head, a door opening on a different plane of existence.

Only after that door opened did he realize the room around him had changed. That he was no longer alone.

Farfarello stood to great them. The Cenobites were as glorious as he'd imagined. They stood haloed in an unholy light that came from nowhere and lit up every imperfection in the room.

"What is it that you desire?" The Cenobite in front spoke. Pins anchored a map of pain to his face, and his darkened eyes stared right through Farfarello. The other Cenobites drifted around them, keeping to the background.

Farfarello offered the box, offered his own soul or what little there was left of it, "I want the truth."

The Cenobite regarded the offering silently. One bloodstained hand slowly lifted up and hovered over the box. The look in those black eyes was understanding, and then briefly pitying. The box was pushed back. "We have nothing to show you that you do not already know."

"Then I will stay here, and continue to seek," Farfarello tilted his head to the corner of the room. The man was bound fast and watched with terrified eyes, but he had been careful not to harm him. "His soul will be sufficient?"

The Cenobite studied the man carefully. No doubt seeing everything that had made Schuldig suggest the man as a fitting tribute. So many dark desires, so much denial. It tempted even Farfarello, and he wasn't usually one for mind games.

"He will do for the moment," the inky eyes turned back to Farfarello, "but you must come to us when you are finished looking."

"I will," he spoke truthfully and without hesitation. Farfarello had no intention of going to any place deemed appropriate by God. If Hell was his reward for turning against Him, then he would go to the Hell of his own choosing. "I will."

The Cenobite bowed his head once, and then they were gone. The door closed and nothing more than a smear of blood where Farfarello's offering had been. It was a disappointing end, but he'd been prepared for it. Perhaps his time on Earth would be fruitful. Perhaps when he next solved the puzzle, he would have something new to show the Cenobites.

~

[Naruto] Perfect Woman

Thu, 01 May 2008 14:50:57 GMT

I'm getting used to the hear now. Just a little bit. When I'm not busy with work I'm ususally playing Crisis Core which is killing me with all of the stuff that it's hinting at. I've got a few fics to post, the Pit is no longer accesible to me as it's been blocked, so they'll all go up here when I get the time to do anything online.

So, please forgive me the occasional spamming of your friend pages.

Title: Perfect Woman
Author: Fairady
Characters: Shikamaru x Shizune
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the story line. I'm behind in both anyway.
Warnings: Crack ahoy! Gotta love this stuff.
Notes: Written for a FFnet challenge; put Shika in one of the character search boxes and find out every combination that has no fic for it. I was pretty surprised to find out how well Shika and Shizune go together.

~

Shizune wasn't what most would call a pretty woman. She wasn't exactly ugly, she was just average. Which would probably account for why, despite her position and skill, she was overlooked by guys. Most of them either zeroed in on the Hokage's rack, or Sakura's exotic hair. The only mildly attractive Shizune was never given a second glance.

Such a pity.

Shizune was a proficient medic, specializing in the creation and curing of poisons. She wasn't an expert though, and she was only considered average in all other medical fields. Neither good nor bad, she was once again eclipsed by the genius of the Hokage and Sakura. She was even being slowly overshadowed by Ino who was quickly finding an affinity for field surgery.

It was a waste.

Shizune was --despite everything-- a nice and cheerful woman. Rational and level-headed she neither let her position get to her head or begrudged her peers any of their fame. True, she had a bit of a short temper, but that was only directed towards the Hokage. And only after a particularly bad drinking and/or gambling binge. None of that was noticed when matched up with the hot-headed tempers around her though.

They were all idiots.

Shikamaru didn't really understand it. Shizune was pretty enough, her skills were good enough, and her personality was actually better than average. As far as he was concerned, all those guys who overlooked her for those other troublesome women were crazy.

Their loss.

"Shizune-san," Shikamaru greeted the woman formally one day. His father had stressed the importance of etiquette on first dates, and Shikamaru had decided early in life that if the occasion ever did come up he'd follow his father's advice. If for no other reason than that he could blame the old man later if things ended up horribly. "Do you play shougi?"

~

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:27:41 GMT

I don't think i'm going to get a good internet access at all while I'm here. Just another hope blown away. Bah, I knew it probably wouldn't happen but I was still hoping.

Good news is that we're starting to get busy with missions, so the time should pass really fast. I'm already looking forward to getting home though.

And now I vow to start writing all my shit out before hand on my own computer before going to the computer lab. There isn't nearly enough time to write anything here.

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 01:53:06 GMT

Gorged myself on crab legs and calamari today. Still feeling full and don't think I'll eat for a few decades at least. This pizza I'm eating right now? Doesn't exist. Also had a fun time helping my mom carry her newest edition to her statue collection into the hotel room. The statue isn't that heavy, but the box it came in was almost bigger than the both of us combined.

I'm cleaning out my folder of stuff I did when bored and had no internet access. Which includes this meme I stole from someone, can't remember who. Find and paste one paragraph from every WIP you are working on into your journal. I like this meme, it made me look at some of my stuff and actually finish a few.

Batman Beyond

"Oh come off it, Terry," Max toyed with an ice cube from her drink making the drops of water form intricate patterns on the tabletop. "You can't say you didn't expect something like this would happen. Dana's always been too self-centered, and things haven't been so great between you two lately."

due South

The god of office supplies was mad at him again. Ray cursed as he searched through his desk trying to find a pen to finish the damn report with. He never had this problem when he wasn’t doing anything. His desk was usually like a magnet for pens. Anyone who stopped by it seemed to leave a pen or two behind. Now he couldn’t find a single damn one of ‘em.

Fraser reached for the photos again. Ray waved the fly swatter in his direction. If the Mounty so much as caught even the slightest glance at them Ray could kiss his nice relaxing week goodbye. "Leave it alone, Fraser. I'm warning you I know how to use this and I will not hesitate to bring you down."

Final Fantasy VII

Traveling Ivalice as a mercenary under the young Beoulve was perhaps the best thing to happen to me in my entire life. No one questioned me too closely about my past or showed more than an occasional interest in my glowing eyes. I was not Cloud Strife, savior of the world who had barely managed not to fuck things up too badly.

It wouldn't be so bad if only the man would say something. The man had ignored every awkward attempt at conversation Cloud had tried, and he was beginning to wonder if he needed to casually walk to the clinic and have the man looked at. He'd heard rumors about Mako enhancement, and it was common knowledge that SOLDIERs weren't quite right in the head.

Come rain or snow, monsters or apocalypses, true alcoholics would always find their way to her bar. Tifa chuckled to herself wryly as her last customer, a middle-aged man she only knew by his preferred liquor, made his way grudgingly out into the storm. It was always a fight with him when closing time came around. More so than usual that night, Tifa had been very close to picking the belligerent man up and tossing him out herself.

Final Fantasy VIII

Quistis repeats the reasoning as she hurdles over the turnstiles, and breaks so many of the rules taught to her. There is no other way. When this was over she would talk to the Headmaster, Cid would understand even if no one else would.

Fresh almonds filled the bowl to the brim. Trepe ate one and opened a can of coffee. She didn't speak or even look at Almassy who refused to touch the bowl and the other can. Three hours passed before th bowl was empty. Trepe gathered everything back up and left still without a word having been said.

Shock, from the wound or betrayal, allowed Nida some much needed detachment as the bloody knife split his uniform. The blade tracing thin lines of blood in his skin. Nida barely felt the pain at all as the knife dug deeper.

Seifer was nearly killed by his cup of really shitty coffee.

"If I had my way," Kadowaki said as she finished the report. "No one would take the exam until after they were old enough to not be genetically stupid."

Final Fantasy XII

When Basch comes back, bloody and still pulling needles out of his gloves, Vossler does what any sane man in his position would do. He laughs until he is in danger of breaking a rib. Basch responds the only way he can, by pulling his gloves off and doing his level best to help.

And there are words for this. Words that Vossler should --that he must!-- say to stop this. Words of duty, station, and honor. Things he never thought he would have to speak of. The words are there, have been since the Princess was but a child, but they do not come as Ashe finds the clasp.

It is the sorriest looking piece of meat he has ever seen. Thin to translucence in some places, and burnt black in others. It is the best sight Basch has seen in months. He does not trust it.

"Relax," Balthier's voice eased the last of Basch's panic. He did not need to see to know the pirate was smirking. He allowed himself to be pushed back. Out of the way? The unrelenting darkness of the spell made it impossible to guess.

"Does nothing ever phase you, Basch?" Vossler watched as the other Captain peeled the drunk woman off of his arm. Taking care to pointedly ignore her mostly unclothed state.

"I'm Yuna," the woman offers with a bow, long sleeves barely touching the water's surface. She straightens and Ashe cannot help but feel that the woman is a priestess of some sort. Something in her bearing and the serenity in her mismatched eyes.

After the first match between Vossler and the foreign man, those who knew him well slyly enquired about his plans for a more private rematch. Never, would be a perfect time as far as Vossler is concerned. He did not know Basch fon Rosenberg at all, but it was plain that the man was not the type Vossler preferred.

Final Fantasy Tactics

Mustadio had not thought about what it would be like to be woken up in the middle of the night by shouts and pounding on the door. His mother screaming as the door was splintered open while his father all but shoved Mustadio out the back window begging him to run. Having to listen to his father's instructions through the nigh paralyzing fear as the door broke.

Ramza sighed and settled down into a deeper slumber. Kitty put the bottle back into her pouch and studied her leader. She was trained to care for the wounded in battle, it was all she knew to do. She couldn't lead so she followed. Ramza Beoulve was trained to lead, it was all he knew to do. He couldn't follow so he led.

Full Metal Alchemist

Annual inventory was a mighty bitch. Roy stayed in the office late every night for a week trying to get the numbers to match. The system made absolutely no sense, and he vowed to utterly destroy it when he became Fuher. His staff was good, they tolerated his extra snappiness and plied him with good coffee and plenty of Irish Cream.

"No!" Ino screamed in frustration. "I don't want to see another picture of your daughter! I don't care how cute she is or how wonderful or how perfect she is!"

Gundam Wing

Have locked 2 and 5 in an airlock. Relena swears is guaranteed to have them fucking in minutes. Think she is underestimating them. Have allowed for several days before plan might work. Not sure plan will work, 2 and 5 may kill each other. Doesn’t matter. Either option will work for me.

"Thanks again mister!" Duo said just a little too brightly as he followed Trowa out. The gullibility of most people was often as amusing as it was frustrating for him.

G glared, "And how long have you been planning this conversation?" The boy looked so innocent the Christian god himself would weep at his own comparative lack of virtue. Which effectively answered his question. Of course the boy would have been planning it for the better part of the last year.

Translation; Yeah, those drinking rules flew right out the window after the second bottle.

Duo had been silent for a while still looking thoughtful, he'd almost used up everything he had. Almost. A wicked gleam entered his eye as he followed Wufei to the break room for more coffee. No one was around to see him lean closer to the man and whisper something into his ear. Wufei froze and coffee sloshed over his hand as his eyes grew wide.

Kingdom Hearts

Aeris carefully set the plant into the small pot before turning to smile at the stranger behind her. The dark haired woman was bent down, hands on her knees as she looked over Aeris' garden with obvious delight. "Thank you. I'm Aeris."

No one had been able to figure out where they came from or how they got to Hollow Bastion. The four kids had just shown up one day, wandering around until Aeris had spotted them and decided they needed help. Leon didn't quite get how the responsibility of settling them in had landed on him, but he was fairly sure it was Cid's doing. Cid had been threatening to get him back for that comment about his age.

"Hey, dork," Seifer stepped into the semi-circle and way too close for Pence's comfort. "You're going to tell me a few things."

Naruto

Shikamaru groaned and did his best to ignore the noise. He was perfectly fine the way he was. Comfortable, warm, and utterly content to stay that way for a very long time. Deliberately ignoring the words made it easier to start drifting off again.

Another artwork of simplistic beauty stared coolly at him across the roof. Deidara felt his lips stretch into an appreciative smile taking in the smooth line of a cheek, the harsh angle of an eye, all framed by feather whisps of hair. And the colors... Vivid red, golden tan, and crystal green set in bruised black.

Shikamaru opened his eyes and looked at the cracked ceiling of Suna's hospital. An IV bag swung lazily at the corner of his vision which explained so much. The sound of howling wind outside explained more.

Shikamaru's long dormant pride had taken exception to the rant sometime between the comment about the blind leading the blind and the rocks. He might have agreed with Uchiha before, a sick man should not be leading any sort of mission, but damned if he was going to admit it to his face now. Hocking up another ball of phlegm, Shikamaru thanked every ancestor he could remember that the mission didn't need stealth.

"Man, I hate it when rich people get bored," Shikamaru leans against the nearest tree. "It's such a pain in the ass."

Shikamaru’s scent permeates the spot almost as much as if Kiba’d stepped into the guy’s apartment instead of an isolated clearing. The scent is so heavy that Kiba could close his eyes and imagine that Shikamaru is there laying out on the ground and staring up at the stars.

When Neji thinks of Shikamaru he sees eyes. Dark eyes staring straight into his own, and not flinching like most others when greeted with Hyuuga eyes. The setting around those eyes always varies, but Shikamaru’s eyes always say the same thing, “I will not fail you.”

"Your cat is eating the bones," Kiba looks vaguely horrified at that, flinching at every snap. Lee doesn't understand why. The marrow of bones was always the most nutritious part, and Poot was a very health oriented cat!

"Your responses are very different from other people's," Sai continued in an even, thoughtful tone of voice that shattered Shikamaru's hopes of being left alone. "But, you don't contradict yourself like others do."

Chouji was awake and assessing the danger before the zipper in his tent had been fully undone. Not friend, was the only thought he had while drawing back for a punch guaranteed to break bones. Wait, ally?, came half a second later making him pause long enough to really wake up. Chouji stared blankly at Temari who glared back from the entrance, lips pressed tight, and... Was she shivering?

The entire council was being held hostage.

Of course the blindfold would be reinforced with chakra. Nothing less than that would prevent the Byuugan from seeing through it. Neji should have expected that when he agreed to this. Genius that Shikamaru was he'd thought of everything.

Gai jolted out of his thoughts and spun around to confront the rude being. Kakashi stood behind him as cool as ever despite the glare Gai sent at him. Which was only what he could expect. His rival was truly not one to be bothered by such things.

He held himself very still and searched for what had woken him. There was a familiar stillness to the room and Kankurou opened his eyes to find Gaara standing over him. The impulse to scream was savagely stomped flat along with the urge to run very fast and the urge to grab him and pull him down to- No. He grunted and rubbed one hand over his eyes, "W's it?"

He looked down surprised that someone knew his name and wasn't using any formal titles with it. The boy had thick, messy red hair and green eyes that were only a shade off from his own. Gaara, Kankurou thought in surprise, he had to be Gaara.

The third day was spent the same as the first, and his pattern was set. By the end of the week he didn't even need to call for his meals, and his pack was filled with sweets for Chouji. There was no doubt in his mind, this was the best mission he'd ever had. Right up until the geisha slipped into his room.

"Na-" The rest of his sentence was cut off as a hand covered his mouth in a clear warning to be quiet. It takes him a confused minute to realize the hand is at the wrong angle to be Naruto's. It's only then that Shikamaru realizes there are two sets of arms draped around him and a warm body against his back.

"Here, let me..." Sakura stood up behind him and pulled it all back up into an approximation of his usual manner. Fishing in her pouch she came up with her spool of wire. Shikamaru hadn't been lying when he said normal ties wouldn't hold his hair up. The strands were thick and stubborn, and it took half of her spool to get it to the point where it stayed up. She wrapped more around it just to be sure. "There! Problem fixed."

Silent Hill

Cybil visits sometimes, when she's not too busy with her patrols. She'll sit back in one of the chairs and talk about idiots and dead cats. Rose will laugh and give the women coffee with just enough Irish Creme to make Cybil relax.

Teen Titans

The phone system for the Tower was a nightmare. There were extensions, and numbers, and codes. All of which had been explained to them by Cyborg the first day they'd come. Kon had been lost by the second sentence. He couldn't remember if he had to dial 4657 to get out, or if he had to use extension 39 and then dial 4657.

Weiss Kreuz

Ken doesn't know when it started. He only really noticed it months ago --when the butterfly touches became too hard to be anything but real-- but it could have started much longer than that. The first touches were always to his chest and back, and on Ken that was were most of his scars were. It took a bit of pressure for him to feel anything there.

The Cenobite studied the man carefully. No doubt seeing why Farfarello had chosen him. So many dark desires, so much denial. "He will do for the moment," the inky eyes turned back to Farfarello, "but you must come to us when you are finished looking."

Sometime between the first mission he stopped listening to unimportant details --all he needed was a face and a place-- and the first time he seriously considered killing his team, Ken realized he'd missed seeing the line he'd sworn he would never cross.

For being such a shameless voyeur of a telepath, Shuldig was remarkably blind.

Xenosaga

Allen barely controlled the urge to run. It would be incredibly rude for the Chief of Developmental AEGWS to run out on a very important diplomatic meeting. Even though it was more of a party than meeting, and back-stabbing politics than diplomacy.

"Of course!" Allen lashed out at the air still feeling angry and flustered. "That guy was just- I mean I know it's maybe kinda hypocritical- I mean the 100-Series aren't children anymore than you, but- but-" Allen slowed to a stop and slumped in defeat. "Oh, man...There's just no way I can say anything without being totally hypocritical is there?"

"Um," Allen eyed the door, it was only a few more inches. He could make it. Maybe.

Allen stared at the screen blankly before letting loose a string of profanity that would've made Tony proud. Gaignun arched one eyebrow and covered his mouth with a hand. Allen could still see the laughter in the other man's eyes though. Bastard. "Thanks."

Original

Scar says nothing. Shadows isn't entirely sure what the blond man's deal is. Somedays he thinks the man is mute, other days he isn't quite sure that the man knows English. Mostly, he thinks Scar simply doesn't care about anything at all, and does whatever the hell he wants. It hasn't been a problem with Shadows, they work well together. Most of the time.

Lady threw her head back. Sharp pain exploded across her head, but it was worth it to hear Side's pained cursing. Abruptly released she stumbled forward before whirling around. Side clutched his bleeding nose with both hands and glared at her. Lady smiled smugly. Anything she might have said though was cut off as the door opened.

“Offering you? They’re not offering you shit!” Marx leaned back and began stripping the label off his beer. “The company I’m working at is just getting started, so they don’t have that many people working for them. There’s going to be a big interview process the next few weeks. They’re basically looking for all types of people. Figured you’d fit in somewhere.”

"Sorry," Ted muttered as he checked the equipment for damage. He scratched his graying beard and ignored his brother's continued oration on the incestuous relationship of the Virgin Mother Mary and her divine son.

"Jesus!" Rummel's voice echoed louder than it should have in the vaulted corridors. Giesen didn't blame him. It'd been obvious that the ship was larger than anything they'd seen before, it would have to be to transport Dragons. What hadn't been so obvious was that most of the mass was just space.

Break!!!!

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:36:46 GMT

Nothing to do but eat and sleep for a few days! -now I just need some good places to eat at.

The internet is giving me the runaround when I try to look up some good restaurants. I don't suppose the few of you whom may read this know of a few places in Savannah, Georgia? A few once-in-a-life-time-you-must-go-here! places?

List your twelve favorite characters ~~in order,~~ and then answer the questions.

1. Gaara
2. Basch
3. Amarant
4. Shikamaru
5. Kankurou
6. Sakura
7. Farfarello
8. Penelo
9. Quistis
10. Cid
11. Freya
12. Seifer

Have you ever read a 6/11 fic before? (Sakura/Freya)

Read? No, it doesn't exist....yet. *slow evil smile*

Do you think 4 is hot? How hot? (Shikamaru)

I think he'd be really hot with his hair down and wearing only a mesh shirt, but most of his attraction is in his intelligence for me.

What would happen if 12 got 8 pregnant? (Seifer got Penelo pregnant)

I think Seifer would quickly find himself being forced to take care of the poor girl and child. Basch and Quistis would be the primary shotgun wielders in this case. Oooo, Basch and Quistis.....

Do you recall any fics about 9? (Quistis)

Lots of good stuff but there could still be more. Lots more. Quisty doesn't get enough love.

Would 2 and 6 make a good couple? (Basch and Sakura)

Not as a permanent one, but I think Sakura could learn a lot of-- not maturity, more like anger control. She'd have to be much older though or he'd feel way to guilty.

5/9 or 5/10? (Kankurou/Quistis or Kankurou/Cid)

Well, considering I already wrote a couple drabbles for the first..... I do have to say that I want to see the bitch fight that a Kankurou/Cid fic would be. So, both!

What would happen if 7 walked in on 2 and 12 having sex? (If Farfarello walked in on Basch and Seifer having sex)

Provided that Basch and Seifer didn't notice? He'd tilt his head, watch a bit, and walk away completely disinterested. I don't want to imagine the blood bath that would follow if they did notice.

Make up a summary of a 3/10 fic. (Amarant/Cid)

One of them is having a really bad fucking day. They're just not sure which one of them is it.

Is there such thing as 1/8 fluff? (Gaara/Penelo)

Um, no, but I suppose it might be possible. Maybe.

Suggest a title for a 7/12 hurt/comfort fic? (Farfarello/Seifer)

Comfort? For them!? Uh, maybe "Rabid Lambs"? Sorry, I think they'd both glory in the hurt and rebellion of their situations.

What kind of plot would you use if you wanted 4 to deflower 1? (Shikamaru deflowers Gaara)

Hm, good question. I think it would have to be some sort of self-defense thing for Shika. Perhaps a way to distract Gaara from possibly killing him and- Hey! Think I got myself a plot for a sequel to Dry Heat now!

Does anyone on your Friends list read 3 het? (Amarant)

I sincerely doubt it.

Does anyone on your Friends list write/draw 11? (Freya)

Alas, I must say again that I sincerely doubt it.

Would anyone on your Friends list write 2/4/5? (Basch/Shikamaru/Kankurou)

Um, probably not. I really can't see that crossover ever happening.

What might 10 scream at a moment of great passion? (Cid)

According to Square? "F&@%!"

If you wrote a song-fic about 8, what song would you chose? (Penelo)

Hm, "The Moth" by Aimee Mann. Don't ask why though.

If you wrote a 1/6/12 fic, what would the warning be? (Gaara/Sakura/Seifer)

Clashing egos, mass violence, and poor suffering Sakura. Note that the mass violence will be all on her part after she gets tired of Gaara and Seifer butting heads.

What might be a good pick-up line for 10 to use on 2? (Cid on Basch)

I honestly can't think of anything that Balthier hasn't probably already used. Except maybe, "Lets F&@%!"

List your twelve favorite characters in order, and then answer the questions.

1. Shikamaru
2. Kankurou
3. Sakura
4. Gaara
5. Shino
6. Chouji
7. Temari
8. Neji
9. Hidan
10. Lee
11. Ibiki
12. Naruto

Have you ever read a 6/11 fic before? (Chouji/Ibiki)

Can't say that I have. Can't say that I really want to. I like Chouji too much.

Do you think 4 is hot? How hot? (Gaara)

Yes! Hot enough to eat! Especially after the time-skip.

What would happen if 12 got 8 pregnant? (Naruto got Neji pregnant)

Heh! A lot of yelling, violence, fainting, and sputtering. Possibly attempted suicide on Neji's part.

Do you recall any fics about 9? (Hidan)

A few. Not much of it though.

Would 2 and 6 make a good couple? (Kankurou and Chouji)

Um, I don't think so. Chouji's too sweet, and Kankurou...isn't.

5/9 or 5/10? (Shino/Hidan or Shino/Lee)

Shino/Lee because I can't see Hidan with anyone he won't kill.

What would happen if 7 walked in on 2 and 12 having sex? (If Temari walked in on Kankurou and Naruto having sex)

Naruto would die of embarrassment, Kankurou would hurt himself trying to kill her, Temari would be gleeful over the blackmail material, and Gaara would have a strange premonition that he needs to kill his brother. Soon.

Make up a summary of a 3/10 fic. (Sakura/Lee)

Lee said he'd do anything for Sakura. He never imagined 'anything' would include studying Icha Icha Paradise.

Is there such thing as 1/8 fluff? (Shikamaru/Neji)

*lols* Yes! If not in fic form then I can point you to an RP where my Shika was real damn fluffy with someone elses' Neji.

Suggest a title for a 7/12 hurt/comfort fic? (Temari/Naruto)

Who is comforting whom? "Never Doubt."

What kind of plot would you use if you wanted 4 to deflower 1? (Gaara deflowers Shikamaru)

*snorts* Um, deja-vu. Pissed and confused over Shikamaru's odd behavior, Gaara decides he wants answers. I think my plot for Dry Heats sequel just got more detailed!

Does anyone on your Friends list read 3 het? (Sakura)

I'm afraid to ask. I hate having to defend female characters that I like.

Does anyone on your Friends list write/draw 11? (Ibiki)

I'm pretty sure not.

Would anyone on your Friends list write 2/4/5? (Kankurou/Gaara/Shino)

....I'd love and worship anyone who writes this forever.

What might 10 scream at a moment of great passion? (Lee)

My mind breaks trying to settle on just one cheesey thing.

If you wrote a song-fic about 8, what song would you chose? (Neji)

"If Only I Were A Goth" by Voltaire. Why? Because Neji wants to be emo and goth. He's just in denial over it.

If you wrote a 1/6/12 fic, what would the warning be? (Shikamaru/Chouji/Naruto)

Extreme crack, maybe warning for fluff too. I just can't imagine Naruto and Chouji mixing well as a couple.

What might be a good pick-up line for 10 to use on 2? (Lee on Kankurou)

"Here, kitty kitty!" I can only imagine this pairing if Lee was drunk.

List your twelve favorite characters in order, and then answer the questions.

1. Quistis
2. Basch
3. Freya
4. Seifer
5. Cid
6. Tifa
7. Auron
8. Amarant
9. Penelo
10. Vossler
11. Reeve
12. Rinoa

Have you ever read a 6/11 fic before? (Tifa/Reeve)

Not enough, but it's out there.

Do you think 4 is hot? How hot? (Seifer)

I like his eyes but I don't think he's really all that hot.

What would happen if 12 got 8 pregnant? (Rinoa got Amarant pregnant)

Squall would have an anuerism, Amarant would drink himself to an abortion, Freya would laugh herself sick, and Rinoa wouldn't stop apologizing.

Do you recall any fics about 9? (Penelo)

Quite a few good ones out there.

Would 2 and 6 make a good couple? (Basch and Tifa)

Yes. I think Tifa would spoil Basch, and quite frankly he needs it. In return he'd treat Tifa like the saint she is and I think she needs that too.

5/9 or 5/10? (Cid/Penelo or Cid/Vossler)

I can't imagine Penelo putting up with Cid so Vossler it is! It might work, if they don't kill each other.

What would happen if 7 walked in on 2 and 12 having sex? (If Auron walked in on Basch and Rinoa having sex)

He'd turn back around and walk out. He might raise an eyebrow over it later.

Make up a summary of a 3/10 fic. (Freya/Vossler)

The human was an infuriatingly morose drunk, but Freya doesn't ask for much in a drinking partner.

Is there such thing as 1/8 fluff? (Quistis/Amarant)

Not yet. I should warn that Quistis is my little black dress for any fandom. She goes well with anyone.

Suggest a title for a 7/12 hurt/comfort fic? (Auron/Rinoa)

Living On. Can't see this pairing, but that's the title.

What kind of plot would you use if you wanted 4 to deflower 1? (Seifer deflowers Quistis)

Fighting, anger, arrogance, and a good bitch slapping fest. The usual for a Quistis and Seifer fic.

Does anyone on your Friends list read 3 het? (Freya)

I doubt it.

Does anyone on your Friends list write/draw 11? (Reeve)

Sadly, no.

Would anyone on your Friends list write 2/4/5? (Basch/Seifer/Cid)

Is that possible without Seifer and Cid killing each other?

What might 10 scream at a moment of great passion? (Vossler)

Nothing really coherent.

If you wrote a song-fic about 8, what song would you chose? (Amarant)

"Creep" by Radioheead. *grins* Or maybe "Asshole" by Dennis Leary.

If you wrote a 1/6/12 fic, what would the warning be? (Quistis/Tifa/Rinoa)

OT3, femmeslash, and utter hottness.

What might be a good pick-up line for 10 to use on 2? (Vossler on Basch)

"Lets spar." Or "You, me, training area. Now." Or "Nice sword." ....yeah, just about anything could be a pick-up line with them. At least in my head.

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 01:27:44 GMT

Look at this, I've actually got some time to do more online than just post in a hurry! I've got a few precious days to breathe and kinda relax before they begin to bust our asses again with training. The training schedule is packed until the day we leave for pass, and none of it is stuff that can be missed. Well, not unless you want to give up your pass to make it up.

Why I use this time to go straight to new sites is beyond me. I should know better than that by now. Rising suicide numbers in soldiers show troops are at the breaking point. .....and the no shit award just found its recipient. Screw the news. I got better stuff to look up.

I'm trying to find out things about Savannah, GA. Restaurants that're good, places that might be interesting to see. Touristy type stuff for when I get my four day pass. Everything I pull up online though makes it sound boring. Anyone know the area enough to suggest something to do? As nice as four days of not doing anything sounds, I'd like to do something before going in country.

Ok, I'm off to see what else I can catch up on now.

[Naruto] Good Will Showing

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 23:28:51 GMT

Title: Good Will Showing
Author: Fairady
Rating: R
Characters: Kankurou/Naruto
Warnings: Strong language, boy kissage.
Disclaimer: I neither claim to own these characters, nor do I claim to make any money off of writing this. Mostly because that's the absolute truth.
Notes: Started ages ago for the LJ community, Naruto_phrase. Way before it became a claiming place. It took so long to finish because Kankurou's voice kept evolving as I wrote and I had to rewrite a lot. Prompt: “He-llooo. Is anyone in that airy head of your’s? We can’t go that way, the ______ will eat us.”
“Ano, what’s a ________?”

~

One of the many downsides of becoming a Chuunin, Kankurou had been quick to learn, was that he was now expected to do his own share of training the younger generation. Kankurou hated kids. Especially snot nosed brats barely old enough to walk without having their hands held, never mind the measly five mile trek he'd been forced to supervise.

The sniveling, the whining, the fighting, the damned singing- If there was any sort of divine god in the universe, he would strike the puppeteer dead to spare him the walk back to the Village. Right now.

Kankurou waited expectantly but no divine bolt of lightning appeared to end his misery.

"Damn," Kankurou muttered.

"Huh?" Uzumaki Naruto turned around and frowned. "What is it?"

He really shouldn't have hoped for anything. He'd known there was no god when he'd been "asked" to show Uzumaki how this training went. No god, no matter how evil, could ever be that cruel to him.

"Nothing," Kankurou growled before turning to look over the straggling line of red-faced, panting brats. "Oi! Hurry the hell up, it's getting dark and we still have a mile to go! Hey, brat! Get your ass back in line!"

Something that was probably a boy --hard to tell gender with the brats sometimes-- jumped at his shout, and immediately started whining. "But I hav'ta-"

"I don't care!" Kankurou glared murderously at the quaking brat. "If you don't keep your sorry ass in line I'll use you as bait for the hyenas! Got it?"

"Yes, sir," the boy stuttered as he fell back in line with the others.

They were moving faster now. Pleased Kankurou turned back around and saw Uzumaki's face. "What?"

"You're an asshole," the blond growled. "The kid just wanted to take a piss."

"If he can't hold it one more mile then he can just go in his pants," If he hadn't already. Kankurou smirked. "This is training, not a damn picnic."

"Yeah, but you don't have to be such an ass about it!" Uzumaki yelled back, and-

Shit. There it was, again. Kankurou flinched back and raised one hand up protectively. Not that there was a damn thing he could do against that.

Uzumaki was pouting. Behind the red-faced anger and screamed insults the blond nin was pouting. And that pout made Kankurou want to do things. Things that would undoubtedly scar the little brats behind them for life. Not that he really cared, but they wouldn't keep their yaps shut about it and some uptight parent was bound to make a fuss. Those things would then get back to Gaara, and Kankurou would then be slowly murdered in ways that would make the oldest and crustiest interrogation specialists wince.

"Hey! Are you listening to me dumbass?!" Uzumaki stopped his tirade and pouted more. Which shouldn't have been possible.

Why did they have to make him take the blond? Why?! Kankurou didn't think he could take this any longer. Desperately looking for a distraction he turned back towards the brats, and stopped cold. "Shit."

"Huh?" Uzumaki shuffled behind him. "What is- Where'd they go?"

Kankurou ignored him and broke into a run. The trail they were following was pretty well marked and easy to follow despite its winding through the canyons. There were only a few turn offs and it wasn't long before the puppeteer had found and overtaken the kids.

"The hell are you doing!?" The brats shrieked in abject fear when he landed in front of them. A few even threw weapons, which would've impressed him more if they'd come anywhere close to hitting him. "Is there anything in those airy heads of yours!? You go this way and the hyenas will eat you! Didn't you see the damn sign?!"

The little brats all cowered and stammered trying to come up with an answer. Kankurou snorted in disgust, he was never having kids, he wouldn't be able to deal with this on a regular basis.

"Um, what's a hyena?"

"What's a-" Kankurou blinked and looked at Uzumaki, who tilted his head curiously. "You Leaf people don't have 'em I'm guessing."

"Well, no shit," Uzumaki growled. "I wouldn't of asked if I knew what it was."

"Hard to tell with you," Kankurou smirked and ignored the blond's sputtering. "Hyenas aren't a big problem. Just scavengers, nothing anyone can't handle. 'Cept these little shits," Kankurou hiked his thumb towards the silent kids. "If there's a large enough pack of hyenas they wouldn't stand a chance. Get ripped up into bloody shreds of meat."

A muffled whimper escaped from one of the kids. Weak little brats, how the hell were they going to be shinobi if a little hyena spooking scared them?

"Yeah," Kankurou rounded on the kids, "and if you're lucky they kill ya with the first attack. Sometimes they don't do that. Sometimes you're still alive when they start to tear into you. You get to watch as they chew your guts up, and-"

"Hey!" Uzumaki shouted, a few of the brats screeched. "Why don't you just leave them alone? They're scared enough as it is, no need to scare them further. Besides the sun's going down."

Well shit. Glowering at the quickly fading sun Kankurou barked, "Get moving! And this time you sorry asses better keep up 'cause I'm not stopping to hold your hand anymore. If we're not at the camp site before that sun disappears I'll make all of you do night patrols. With the hyenas!"

Nothing like a good dose of fear to make a person really move. Kankurou smirked as the cowed brats jogged to keep up. If they kept this speed up they just might be able to set up their tents before the last bit of light disappeared. Then all he'd have to deal with was Uzumaki.

He really wasn't looking forward to that, he could feel the glare from his left. Thankfully the blond kept his trap shut until well after they'd finally reached their destination and set camp. Maybe there was some sort of god after all, albeit a real sadistic one.

"They're just kids," Kankurou rolled his eyes as Uzumaki started in on it again.

"Look, I know things're done differently in your Village. This," Kankurou waved towards the lumped together brats, "is how we do it in ours. So get off my freakin' back about it."

"You don't have to be mean about it!" Uzumaki readily picked up the earlier threads of their conversation, and seemed intent to finish it this time.

Kankurou tried to ignore Uzumaki's continuing tirade about his assholishness. For his own survival, if nothing else, he truly did try. He couldn't be held accountable for the fact that Uzumaki persisted in fighting dirty could he? He'd had one hell of a shitty day, and another full one to look forward to in the morning. He really couldn't be held accountable for his actions when the blond started pouting again.

It was as good of an excuse as any.

"Quit ignoring me you- Hey!" Uzumaki protested loudly as Kankurou grabbed him by that ridiculous orange jacket and dragged him into the tent he'd set up. Uzumaki protested and pouted the whole way. "Now you're just asking for me to kick your-"

So he shut him up with a kiss, the most damnable cliché in the world. Fuck if Kankurou cared though. It worked. And since he was already just a dead man walking he was damn well going to enjoy his last night alive.

~

[Naruto] The Bark is Worse

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:09:00 GMT

Am getting ass kicked by stupidity, internet is still very iffy. Not sure where my mind is right now. Mostly the days have been passing in a haze. Guess it's my way of protecting me from the stupidity.

Title: The Bark is Worse
Author: Fairady
Rating: G
Characters: Hana, Shikamaru
Warnings: None.
Disclaimer: Don't own the characters or story. Please to be seeing Kishimoto for that.
Notes: Another drabble for an old challenge to write Shika with other characters. This time around it was for Kiba's older sister, Hana. Not as hard as some of the others at least.

~

Hana slept in the hallway as close to Kiba's room as the night staff would allow her to be. Which was a full fifteen feet and three inches closer than they'd allow anyone else.

Perhaps it was because of their lack of knowledge when it came to animals. The hospital really wasn't set up to use or accommodate veterinarians. The few times they'd had to heal animals had probably always been refereed to the Inuzuka clan anyway. And no one was stupid enough to suggest separating an Inuzuka team.

It also could have been because of the two very large dogs that stuck close to Hana. Stuck close and growled every chance they got, showing off two rather impressive rows of sharp teeth. Very sharp teeth thankfully hidden now that they were curled up on either side of Hana sound asleep.

Most likely though, it was because of Hana herself. Shikamaru didn't know what she had said to the head nurse, but it had made the woman back off fast earlier that night. He'd felt the growl and seen the teeth, but the actual words had been lost.

Whatever the reason, Shikamaru was grateful for it. Because as long as Hana was around he was able to sleep a full ten feet and three inches closer to his friends' rooms.

~

Hiatus start?

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:31:11 GMT

Haven't posted much, or even done much online this break. I've been too busy visiting and finishing up the endless packing! You'd think that I'd have it all done by now considering I've done nothing but pack for the past couple of months. What is it with me and accumulating massive piles of junk?

I'm leaving again tomorrow, this time it's for good though. I doubt I'll have internet for the next two months, and if I do I wouldn't have the time to be on it much. I might afterwards, but who the hell can tell? I just expect to not have anything at all and am then pleasantly surprised by anything we do get.

Well, got to finish packing now. And laying out everything for tomorrow. And throwing away all my perishables. After I go out to buy myself some more space bags. Those things are a packer's best friend. Bah, enough listing.

Bye everyone!

[FFXII] Flawed

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 02:02:08 GMT

Finally finished. This challenge almost made me want to run away from the 'puter and never look at it agian.

Title: Flawed
Author: Fairady
Rating: R
Characters: Gabranth x Basch
Warnings: Mentions of incest, slash, and spoilers.
Disclaimer: Behold the mighty Square, for they own these characters and not I.
Notes: I use the one sentence challenge to help get the feel for characters and/or pairings. This one did not work for me at all. I simply couldn't make this work very well, and it took me a lot of work to finish it. I'm not completely happy with the way it turned out, but I can't sit on this claim until I'm happy with it. Some parts turned out alright though. Feel free to say what you will about this.

~

#28 - Fortune

The one tale they were never told as children --the one story they will never know-- is of twin brothers who raised a great city from nothing and destroyed each other for it.

#31 - Book

Mother had one book that she used to teach them to read; sitting cheek to cheek before the fireplace they would take turns carefully sounding out the words.

#01 - Motion

It is the only thing that betrays their identities; Noah can never muster the patience to be still for long, and Basch cannot make himself imitate his brother's restless pacing without seeming too stiff.

#10 - Learn

And one night Noah discovers something completely new by himself, he does not bother to tuck himself back in before waking Basch; they quickly discover that it is much better with two.

#03 - Young

They prefer to bathe in a nearby lake; it is small enough to not attract monsters yet big enough for the boys to enact full scale wars, but --most importantly-- it is secluded.

#29 - Safe

"Yes," Noah agrees, but his smirk dashes any hope Basch might have of talking his brother out of his insane plan, "but the challenge is what makes it fun."

#34 - Sing

Noah sang, not very well but what he lacked in tune and pitch he more than made up for in volume and enthusiasm; at least that is the only answer Basch ever gives him.

#45 - Naked

It is not until pretty Natalia squirms --in disgust, not pleasure-- that they even begin to wonder if what they have might not be normal after all.

#22 - Mad

Basch walked on ignoring the fact that Noah stubbornly refused to move; he would eventually realize Basch was right about the path home and follow as soon as his pride allowed.

#12 - Wait

Noah ground his teeth when the first stars became visible --he did not want Basch to be right-- he waited until morning to follow his brother.

#23 - Child

Their mother had laughed when they said they would share a wife, she did not laugh as much when they actually tried.

#06 - Gentle

Despite many sly speculations about the twins' tempers, Basch was the one who had a tendency to bite and scratch in bed, a fact that gained Noah a remarkable reputation in the barracks.

#42 - Bother

Noah thinks it hilarious how some people react when he kisses his brother.

#50 - Believe

Laughter echoes through the streets as the young soldiers return victorious, they lived and the Archadians would not win this war, and no one laughed louder or longer than the fon Rosenbergs.

#35 - Sudden

How the war turned so fast they did not know, one day the Archadians were almost routed and the next saw half the lands of Landis overtaken; Noah rages with much of the army, but Basch can only wonder at the family homestead now firmly behind enemy lines.

#21 - Fool

The dirty children begged for a trick, Noah laughed and easily flipped up to walk around them on his hands, and for a moment Basch forgot the war for their laughter.

#33 - Never

Basch is hot and delirious with fever and tries to remove the blankets wrapped tightly around him; Noah only holds him tighter to stop his thrashing, they only have each other now and Noah will not allow his brother to be taken so easily.

#08 - Thousand

Noah watched the people stream by in uncountable numbers --broken men, bloodied women, frail elderly, sickly children-- the Archadians showed no mercy.

#39 - Torn

They argued constantly, Noah insisted that the Archadians needed to be stopped; Basch insisted that it was pointless for them to even try; neither man would back down and the nights were filled with stubborn silence.

#26 - Goodbye

Noah tastes blood as his brother kisses him, and he knows --anger rising swiftly-- that Basch will be gone with the sun.

#07 - One

The third night away from Landis was the worst, it was then that Basch accepted the fact that Noah would not realize he was wrong and follow him; it was the coldest night of his life.

#11 - Blur

Noah barely remembers it --the fall of the last stronghold, the harried running fight, the surrender, the flight to Archades-- all he clearly remembers is the awful burning ache that was Basch's fault.

#46 - Drive

Fifteen died at the plains, ten on the banks of the river, three in the river, two in a forest, one to an unseen viper, four to a surprise attack, five to thirst; when King Raminas opened his gates to the remnants of Landis' people only Basch and old Jonas remained of the company assigned to protect them.

#13 - Change

Archades needed to be stopped, and while an army might not be what was needed Noah was beginning to think one man --placed just right within the system that made Archades-- might be enough.

#16 - Need

Basch accepted the enlistment gratefully, the familiarity of a soldiers life the only thing keeping the wondering from driving him mad.

#44 - Wall

Noah freely gave up his name; the foreign thing was more damning in the eyes of Archades than any act he could commit.

#48 - Precious

Blood and birth rendered meaningless, all that is left to him is honor and duty, and nothing is more important than the vows he takes.

#38 - Wash

Azelas took to dunking Basch under the steamy water of the baths at the end of practice claiming the other man was far too distracted for his own good.

#36 - Stop

It is not until Drace physically beats some sense into his head that Gabranth realizes he is lonely.

#02 - Cool

Under the relentless sun of Dalmasca, Basch misses the icy winds of home; amidst the small flurries of snow Archades calls blizzards, Gabranth cannot make himself miss it.

#14 - Command

Gabranth knew from the moment he was ordered to grow his hair; after all any good Archadian knew what treachery could be done with twins.

#49 - Hunger

The Cadet is young enough to be Gabranth's son --eyes almost grey enough-- and his arrogance speaks of noble ties that will be nothing but trouble --mischievous look just like him-- and yet Gabranth wants enough to close his eyes and pretend.

#05 - Wrong

There is nothing in Vossler that is familiar to Basch --skin far too dark-- he is strange in ways that Basch finds surprising --no scars, no memories-- it helps to distract him from how wrong it feels.

#09 - King

Raminas had no time to understand his own mortality, so complete was his trust in a familiar face; Gabranth feels something twist at the surprise that stays etched on the man's face.

#17 - Vision

For the longest time --he thinks time passed, it must have-- Basch was convinced the blow that nearly lost him an eye made him see things; that delusion was shattered one day when a man named Gabranth visited him.

#32 - Eye

Gabranth's first thought is one of relief that the blow had missed, his second is lost in a surge of anger, what should he care if Basch almost lost an eye to the dungeons care?

#41 - Power

Ondore was not the only pawn held in check by the imprisoned man, the regular reports of his brother's health were more than enough to keep Gabranth properly focused on his duty.

#24 - Now

Counting days nearly breaks his mind, remembering the past nearly brings him to tears, and contemplating the future nearly kills him; in the end, Basch finds that the best way to survive is to simply think of nothing beyond the current moment.

#25 - Shadow

Lately, the mere glimpse of Doctor Cid is enough to make Gabranth feel as if someone has trod on his grave.

#47 - Harm

Basch knows that he will face his brother soon and that it is likely one of them will die by the other's hand, because the Fates seem intent on leaving them no other option.

#40 - History

No sparks flew as their weapons met, but the air echoed old screams of pain and anger.

#37 - Time

There was no time left for regrets or old desires, Gabranth knew that even as he pulled himself to his feet, Larsa's life was far more important.

#43 - God

He has fought those called gods without hesitation, nothing else he does will compare to that; still, he hesitates outside of the room, the gasping breaths of his brother instilling a fear in him he has never felt before.

#15 - Hold

Blood fills Gabranth's mouth and his vision is fading, he knows his time is close, knows there is nothing to be done for it; still he holds tight to Basch's hand and tries his best to say everything he's never wanted to say.

#19 - Soul

Alive, Basch had never noticed the presence of Noah --always there, never going away-- but now, now there is a gaping abyss where his brother had once been, a pit he can feel inside him.

#30 - Ghost

There are days when Gabranth feels an echo, a step, something, and he becomes irrationally convinced that Noah is there, just out of sight.

#20 - Picture

Shame, duty, honor, loyalty, oaths, and vows are rendered meaningless in comparison to the complex ruse that keeps peace; still Basch thinks it as small a price to pay as his birth name.

#18 - Attention

Few noticed the change in Judge Magister Gabranth, fewer suspected there was more to the change than a new ruler, but only Zargabaath guessed the truth.

#04 - Last

Gabranth was there to bury the woman known only as Gran Pen and said goodbye to the last living soul to know him.

#27 - Hide

No stories were told of them, no accounts written, so that when Judge Magister Gabranth died fifty years after the Shard War nothing remained to tell the lives of Noah and Basch.

~

[Naruto] Cooking Malady

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 23:45:54 GMT

Title: Cooking Malady
Author: Fairady
Rating: PG
Characters: Naruto x Sakura
Warnings: Sap.
Disclaimer: See Kishimoto for who owns these characters and story, not me.
Notes: Response for an anonymous drabble request. Someone wanted PG rated Naruto/Sakura and pancakes. Easier to write than I first thought, but Naruto's already got it bad for Sakura so that shouldn't have been a surprise.

~

The pancakes were terrible. It was obvious that something wrong had gotten into the mixture. Something vile. The syrup didn't even help at all, it just made the pancakes thicker and harder to swallow.

"Naruto," Sakura looked back form the stove, her smile uncertain and a little shy. "How are they?"

"They're wonderful!" Naruto choked out around his last mouthful. Swallowing was a painful ordeal, but he managed. Two more pancakes were left. Just two. He could do this.

Sakura beamed and expertly flipped two more pancakes out of the pan. Which she promptly piled on top of the two on Naruto's plate. "Eat up! I can fix as many as you want."

Naruto looked from the plate to Sakura's back as she turned back to the stove. The pancake he'd already eaten felt like a lead weight in the pit of his stomach, and he knew he was going to spend the rest of the day in the bathroom praying to the porcelain god. Sakura looked over her shoulder and smiled at him. That cute little smile that he remembered was the first thing he'd loved about her.

The answering smile that he gave her in return was as sincere as his answer, "Thanks, Sakura, I will."

Grimly he took another bite. He'd eat a hundred of these awful pancakes if it kept his Sakura smiling like that.

~

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 00:30:37 GMT

Am home for holiday leave.

Am dead tired and very, very cold.

Might have more to post later that might make sense.

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:56:05 GMT

So, yes. My mother is the greatest! Why? Because she got me a 160GB external hard-drive. Yes, I am ridiculously happy about that. Why? Because that means I don't have to spend the rest of eternity trying to burn all the files I want to take with me onto cds. The fact that I spent half of eternity already doing that just makes me appreciate this all the more. SO. Yes! That is why she is awesome.

Don't be alarmed, that squeeing you hear is just me

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:20:25 GMT

My mommy is the best mommy ever!

The list of reasons why will follow after I come back from going out to buy her all the good soup and bread she can eat.

My icon says it all

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 03:42:56 GMT

Man, I almost got seriously screwed out of my time. People keep changing regulations and orders! Come on! You've got eighteen months to have us do all this crap, just let us be for another two weeks! Please? I'm begging you.

Transferred and backated a bunch of drabbles from LJ. I think I might have about half my stuff here now. Now I need to figure out if I can post here using email like I could over at LJ.

[Naruto] Retirement

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 03:07:41 GMT

Title: Retirement
Author: Fairady
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Shikamaru
Warnings: Future fic.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Naruto characters or storyline, Kishimoto does. I'm just playing with them for a bit.
Notes: Ah, poor Shika. He's fated to die in his sleep of old age when he's around a hundred. And he'll spend every single day of his life working as a shinobi whether he likes it or not.

~

No one ever sees any retired shinobi in a Village. That was because there was no such thing as a retired shinobi. Sure, once a guy got old enough to slow down, weak enough to be a liability instead of an asset, and cranky enough to want to stay home, dammit, then they were taken off the active roster. They were never removed from the list completely though. Only death could do that, and these days even that wasn’t a solid guarantee anymore.

No, a shinobi never retired, not even when he was no longer pulling missions.

That thought, or a variation of it, flitted through Shikamaru’s head at least once a day as he watched over his shougi parlor. Especially on the days when he knew there were shinobi around him. His eyesight wasn’t what it used to be; one eye completely filmed over with the cataract he’d never bothered going to a doctor for, and the other had never been quite right after a kunai had luckily missed it’s mark and hit his eye instead. He could still see well enough to pick the nin out of the crowd of civilians though.

They moved too fluidly to be anything but trained, or they moved with too much clumsiness to be anything but feigned. Sometimes, if he felt particularly benevolent, he’d take those that were really bad about it aside and tell them what to do to correct it. Only sometimes though, and only to those he knew were from Konoha.

It really would suck if he were revealed as a shinobi from Konoha living so close to Sunagakure. And despite what his aching bones and shaking hands might want, Shikamaru really wanted to live a while longer. If for no other reason than he’d miss the interesting people who regularly came through his parlor.

Like the latest group.

A fat man, still young when compared to Shikamaru, grinned in triumph as he moved a piece across the board. A novice player, but he had enough money on him to afford loosing a few more games. A merchant then. Not well off enough to hire permanent security, but just enough to pay for escorts.

It’s a Genin team, and their sensei leaned against the wall looking at nothing, but Shikamaru could feel the hair on his arm crawl. When he looked down he wasn’t surprised at all to see one tiny bug resting on the table. Picking it up and placing it on his arm got the Jounin to raise one eyebrow, but nothing else.

A girl sat next to the client, a polite distance away and looked completely absorbed by the game. The way her fingers twitched every time the man pats her head, calling her a lucky charm, gave her anger away though. Shikamaru figured the client had all of two and a half more games before the girl lost it and belted him a hard one.

The other two are luckier. Shikamaru can see them sitting just outside the door. They’re probably meant to keep watch, but the two boys seemed more concerned in coaxing a lizard out of it’s hole than watching for any danger. One of them grinned with sharp teeth as he finally pulled it out by it’s own tail. The other boy immediately started clamoring to hold it.

It’s interesting to watch these children, to think about whose blood mingled with another’s to create them. The possibilities are limitless and he can just as easily trace the girl’s anger to Ino as Sakura. The Jounin’s aplomb to Shino as Hinata. The sharp toothed boy’s grin to Kiba as Sasuke. The jumping boy’s exuberance to Naruto as Lee. It’s not as interesting as watching clouds, but the day is cloudless and they do for a distraction.

When they leave, the client a little poorer and limping from a vicious hit, Shikamaru nods at the Jounin’s politely framed prod for information. He sees Ibiki and maybe even Iruka in the way the man fishes for his name. A shout that sounds an awful lot like TenTen or even Chouji draws the man reluctantly away. The fight is ended quickly and Shikamaru sees his own scowl and a Hyuuga’s disdainful sniff in the boys.

With one last glance back, the Jounin leads his team away. Shikamaru waits for the bug on his arm to fly away before allowing himself to smirk. He almost wished he could follow them, just to see how many days it took the Jounin to realize he left the parlor with one more scroll than he came in with.

Running his own shougi parlor in the Wind Country wasn’t what he’d imagined for himself when he was younger, but in the grand scheme of things, being an informant/contact wasn’t such a bad thing for a not-retired shinobi.

~

[Naruto] All She Hates

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 04:58:24 GMT

Title: All She Hates
Author: Fairady
Rating: R
Characters: Naruto/Hinata, Hanabi/Moegi
Warnings: Creative uses of jutsus, semi-public alley sex, and some yuri. Or het. Depends on how you look at it. The back button is your friend if you don't like that stuff.
Disclaimer: I do not own, and I think it's better that way.
Notes: An anonymous request from the Naruto Kink Memes. Sexy no Jutsu!Naruto/Hinata, public sex, and Hanabi voyeur. I know, I teased with this, but I liked getting into Hanabi's mind more than writing Naruto and Hinata getting it on.

~

Hanabi's nails bite into the wood of the table she's sitting at, the only sign she'll give that she isn't looking at anything inside the slightly crowded tea house. She refuses to allow her face to show that she's looking into the almost empty alley behind her, watching the couple pressed close against the brick wall.

The couple has done this before. There is no other explanation for the ease and utter lack of embarrassment. It's Hinata after all. The wrong look makes her blush and stammer. Granted, she's blushing and stammering right now, but that has more to do with the way Naruto's hand is moving under her skirt than anything else. Or maybe it's the way Naruto, a very female Naruto, is opening his tight shirt and pushing his breasts into Hinata's face.

It's scandalous. It's beyond scandalous! Bad enough that Hinata was a disgrace to the clan, and passed over as heir for Hanabi. Worse still in that, despite her father forbidding it, she chose the village reject as a lover. This was just-

Splinters of wood pricked at the sensitive skin under Hanabi's nails. She could see reddish dust gathering under Hinata's nails as she clawed at the wall, then lifted her skirt and sank down onto a nearby crate. Naruto grinned slyly, an oddly alluring smile when made with fuller lips darkened with red paint. Hinata was wearing nothing underneath that skirt. Naruto's smile grew as he --she, he, she-- sank to her knees, her now delicate looking hands spreading Hinata's thighs apart.

A man walks by the alley opening, and Hanabi unconsciously freezes. They're in public! If anyone were to see- It's difficult to remind herself to relax, to remind herself that what Hinata is doing no longer matters to the clan. It was a scandal just waiting to be found, but it wasn't one that would effect them.

Hinata arches, her head falling back, and mouth opening on what looks like a full-throated moan. Naruto has a hand buried in Hinata, which is moving slowly and making Hinata jerk. Her other hand is under her own skirt hiking it up just enough to show a glimpse of what hides underneath. Naruto licks her lips and Hinata shudders as she moves in closer. It's too close for Hanabi to see what she does but Hinata's shriek is loud enough to be heard inside.

There is only one other shinobi inside, and he is engrossed in writing a report. The few civilians that hear only glance up at the door before returning to their conversations. Hanabi can only see part of the street outside, but no one appears to investigate the noise.

Both of Hinata's hands are fisted in Naruto's hair pulling her closer as she writhes. Hinata stiffens abruptly, her second scream is louder and almost sounds like a name. If Naruto shouts anything, it's thankfully muffled.

The other shinobi has finally taken notice, and is looking at the window that looks out over the alley. Some of the civilians are starting to talk. It won't take much for someone to get up and look, and then it's just a matter of time before someone will start telling stories.

A splinter draws blood as Hanabi clenches her hands, she doesn't feel the pain at all. Naruto stands up and drapes herself over Hinata, there's an unmistakable looseness in her body. Hanabi can't see her lips as she whispers something against Hinata's ear. She laughs though and takes Naruto's hand as soon as they've both fixed their clothes. Neither one of them pays one bit of attention to the stares they draw as they enter the street and walk away. Their forms are blocked from Hanabi's sight by a running girl.

Moegi slides into the seat opposite Hanabi slightly flushed and out of breath. The girl spouts apologies and excuses even as she sits. Her eyes flicker a little too much, and the flush stays just a little too long. It's not much, but it's just enough to start stories. Hanabi impatiently waves the excuses away and lays out money for her drink. "Let's go."

Moegi says nothing as they walk out and past the alley. She almost says something when Hanabi deliberately avoids her reaching hand though, but quickly bites her lip. The stupid girl is too nervous and jumpy. It's painfully obvious that they will never be able to go out in public again. Not without anyone finding out, and that is something that Hanabi cannot allow to happen.

Hinata might be scandalous, but that was alright. She wasn't the heir anymore, she could be as scandalous as she wanted. Hanabi couldn't though, and that burns more than anything.

~

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 03:57:30 GMT

Had a most excellent day today. I actually got some progress done on my packing before finding out I had a package delivered a few days ago that no one bothered to tell me about. Spent the rest of the day watching the Stargate movie and listening to the commentary track. Also, rediscovered my old teenage crush on dark, snarky, somewhat-silent Kurt Russell. And for some odd reason, James Spader has become much more interesting now that I can link him to Stargate and The Watcher.

Today has left me with a bunch of empty boxes, and an uncontrollable urge to find myself a copy of Soldier.

[Utena] Play Act

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 03:51:56 GMT

I've decided to play around with a WIP meme, and have found stuff that is actually completed. Think I need to clean out the fiction folder a bit more.

Title: Play Act
Author: Fairady
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Anthy, Utena
Warnings: Spoilerish.
Disclaimer: I don't own the wonderful series or these wonderful characters. So sad, I know.
Notes: Written for the LJ interest drabble challenge, this one was for Utena.

~

Her princes had always had a flair for the melodramatic. A flashy entrance, an exagerrated gesture, or a nicely timed declaration. Anything that would draw attention to them, leaving no doubt in anyone's mind that They were There.

Anthy almost felt sorry for the poor little boys, because in the end they were just playing make believe even as they were slowly ground to dust. Their cloth armor ripping and their cardboard swords folding.

Utena was no different. She shouted and declared with the best of intentions. She arrived in a room at the exact moment needed to make a large impact. She waved her hands to emphasis a point and clenched her fists when a fight neared. She was exactly like the countless fallen princes that had been left shattered by the End of the World.

She was exactly like them but different.

Because when Utena shouted everyone listened. When Utena made her entrance everyone looked. When Utena gestured everyone heard the words more clearly. Utena drew attention just by being and no one ever doubted her about anything.

Not even Anthy doubted her.

Utena didn't play games, she was a Prince. Throughout her life Anthy had known only one true Prince, and he died long ago. She had been presented with an endless parade of boys playing dress-up with the Prince's clothes, and smiled serenly as they shattered one by one. She'd nearly forgotten what a Prince looked like until a little girl showed up in the Prince's clothes and swore to save her.

And though everyone laughed and mocked Utena for it Anthy has never for a single second doubted it. For she remembered the promises of Princes are miracles in and of themselves, and Utena has always been a Prince.

~

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 23:36:47 GMT

I like 213 Things Skippy Is No Longer Allowed To Do In The U.S. Army. The reaction to fanfic being written using the list as inspiration is hilarious too. However-

131. No dancing in the turret. This especially applies in conjunction with rule #113.

Pity. Skippy should've been in my unit. We're encouraged not to dance in turrets too, but there is an exception. We're allowed to dance to ABBA's Dancing Queen as long as we sing it out loud.

Yeah, I'm cleaning out my bookmarks and finding links I forgot I'd saved. Next up on my list is to clear everything off my hard-drive. That's going to be an utter bitch.