AnimeSuki Forums

Aebliss · 2009-05-12, 00:51

Some quick work before I have to actually get ready for the rest of the day:

Pevious installment.

Spoiler for Suzumiya Haruki no Setsubun, part 5.:

Next installment.

Kogetsu Shirogane · 2009-05-12, 01:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aebliss

*snip*

... Somehow this one ended up creepier than the other girl

Cat Megex · 2009-05-12, 01:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aebliss

Some quick work before I have to actually get ready for the rest of the day:

Pevious installment.

Spoiler for Suzumiya Haruki no Setsubun, part 5.:

...Hopefully

Spoiler:

Aebliss · 2009-05-12, 01:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kogetsu Shirogane

... Somehow this one ended up creepier than the other girl

Why, thank you. ^^ It's nice to see I got that right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cat Megex

...Hopefully

Spoiler:

*LAUGHS* Heh, no, I don't think so, no. ^^ Besides, how much help would a disguised Taniguchi be, really? I like her, but she's ... um ... an idiot.

Kogetsu Shirogane · 2009-05-12, 01:55

It takes an idiot to do cool things. That's why it's cool.

Tyabann · 2009-05-12, 02:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kogetsu Shirogane

It takes an idiot to do cool things. That's why it's cool.

FLCL was so badass. Best thing Gainax ever made, after Eva.

vivify93 · 2009-05-12, 02:36

*reads the Setsubun miniseries*

This...is awesome. I love you.

On a related subject, it's a shame I don't write anymore--I was told that I'm decent enough for a writer. Dunno if I could get the whole "Awkward Japanese grammar thing" down though.

Not to mention, last time I checked, I couldn't write for Suzumiya worth shit.

Sure, I could do Kyon, Nagato (Yeah, right--how hard is it to write for Nagato?

), and Koizumi well enough, and Asahina decently, but Suzumiya just sounded off.

*looks at the above paragraph* Where the hell did that come from?

Jintor · 2009-05-12, 04:03

It came from your despaaaaaaaaaaaaaair?

People keep saying 'how hard is it to write for Nagato?' or 'How hard is it to draw Nagato?'. I think they're missing the point. In my opinion, subtleties are harder to convey that overtness, and Nagato is about as subtle as they get.

Joe4evr · 2009-05-12, 06:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivify93

(Yeah, right--how hard is it to write for Nagato?

)

My personal little experience says it's pretty hard writing for Yuki. And even then I think I have it slightly easier than others, given a few similarities between me and her.

On another note: Does anything music-related have to be done for the VN, 'cause I don't think I'll do that anymore (I could send what I have, which is really just one track shortened for loop-friendliness).

But since I wouldn't want to sit back and contribute nothing, I can make some visual effects if needed. I'm much better with that, anyway.

Aebliss · 2009-05-12, 09:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkellis

Just posting to mention that I've updated both archive posts with the stuff from the past few days.

Yay, updates! ^^ Thank you for your effort.

Aebliss · 2009-05-12, 15:57

On with the show! Plenty more to go!

Previous installment.

Spoiler for Suzumiya Haruki no Setsubun, part 6::

Inside:
"You were given to me," she declares. "And I hunger. I must have nourishment."

I was ... what?

She takes another step forward. The bell ... chimes. My spine, which had defrosted only so recently, now feels as if it's starting to melt with terror. My knees falter ...

And there is a horrible noise behind me, like a combination of ripping cardboard and shattering glass, followed by a dull thud. I look behind me and see ... Koizumi, Itsuko, lying at the edge of the barrier. She looks as if someone roughed her up until she fell unconscious; even lying still like this, I can see the bruises, and she's completely limp.

"Food!" the Oni-masked girl shrieks -- and I reach into my pocket, bringing out an item I'd been saving.

"Enjoy your meal!" I shout as I fling it into the air, turn on my heel and run. I look back -- a thousand fairytales probably weep with shame at this moment, but I can't help it. I'm not so afraid of being turned to stone right now, as I am of ... something. Imminent death, that's all I ... No, not 'know', but 'fear'. And so I look back for a moment, to make sure I'm not being followed. Makuro is looking up, her golden eyes wide behind the mask, feet shuffling left and right, hands outstretched as she anticipates the fall of that 'special item' I hurled into the sky.

Have you ever seen a ferret dancing to and fro under a beloved toy or a scrap of food that it it is being teased with? That momentary view reminded me strongly of such a ferret. ... I don't really like ferrets that much.

Now, you might wonder where I was running. I knew I couldn't get out of this Closed Space by myself already, so there was only one logical direction to head in. Especially since one should consider this simple fact: Itsuko had already gotten in, it was only natural to hope she could also get us both out.

Please don't ascribe any noble sentiments or concern to me in running directly for Koizumi and gently lifting her up from the ground. In passing, I noticed a plastic bag lying by her hand. You sure are diligent, Koizumi, bringing your setsubun supplies along even here! Now show me how diligent you really are by opening your eyes, please.

There was a very faint 'slap'-noise, followed by a greedy shrieking. Ducking my head against the hoise, I looked up to see Makuro snatch a piece of seaweed candy out of the sky, pull up her mask and stuff the treat into her mouth without even bothering to remove the wrapper or chew.

Her face ...!

My mouth fell open with shock, and I think I could have just sat there, watching the little girl chewing on that tiny morsel until she was done with it and again subjected me to her attentions. Fortunately, she broke the spell her face held over me herself by pulling her mask back down.

"Huh!" I exclaimed, shaking my head.

I looked back down at Koizumi. She was dead weight, the way she was now, although I noted her colour was getting a little better. That was odd. She did have bruises, but they were starting to fade. She was sweating profusely, but her skin was regaining its pink shade.

"Oi, Koizumi!" I whispered urgently, shaking her a little.

Koizumi's eyes fluttered open after a moment. At first she looked confused, but then her eyes focused on my face and she smiled feebly.

"Ah, Kyon-san," she said, sounding both happy and sleepy. "Go kigenjou. How are you doing today ...?"

"Never mind that!" I insisted. "Look there! See the little girl in black, trying to make a piece of seaweed candy do the work of a sandwich? I think she's going to do something unpleasant to us, if you don't get us out of this Closed Space! Can't you use your powers to fly us out of here?"

"I regret to inform you that I can not," Koizumi said, smiling sleepily as her eyes drifted shut. "It's the most wonderful feeling. When I was outside this Closed Space, I felt as if it were making me ill. Inside, though, the sickness is gone. My powers are all inside me now, working to make me ..." She yawned genteelly and fell asleep!

"... working to make her well again," Makuro's voice grated on my ears. Looking back, I saw she had finally finished the candy. Her staff chimed as she slowly crossed the distance between us, golden eyes fixed on Itsuko and myself. "Drawing on her energy to do it. And how much energy would she have left, after vomiting up her breakfast like that, I wonder? Not enough to run, little girl. This is quite the treat; your little friend had been given to her, but now she is in my place. Two for the price of one. What a feast this will be, to be sure --"

When subjected to clear and present danger, most creatures have two hardwired options: fight or flight. Escape was pretty much impossible, both because I couldn't get out of the Closed Space, and because Koizumi was now comfortably reclining on my lap, a dead weight that issues the occasional snore.

I wasn't all that confident of my ability to fight in this scenario. Memories of the murder attempt by Asakura Ryou flashed through my mind, and I dreaded the possibility of paralysis and being unable to even scream for help. So I reacted before anything of the sort could happen; I yanked off one of my shoes and threw it at the little girl's head.

It was a good throw, if I do say so myself. The shoe struck the little girl -- Makuro -- in the middle of her forehead. She stumbled, uttered a muffled shriek of outrage and dropped her staff.

Without further ado, I grabbed my other shoe, pulled it off my foot -- Ouch! Feels as if I tied the laces on this one a little better ... -- and chucked it at the slender figure before me. This time, she crossed her arms in front of her head, shielding it from the second impact. She yowled like an angry cat when the thing hit her, though, and started to edge her way forward.

I grabbed the next thing that came to hand and hurled it at the little girl. She swiped at it as it came near, and it fairly exploded. A plastic bag can only take so much, after all. Roasted soybeans, a lunch box and its lid went flying every which way, and I remember thinking very clearly that this must be the end.

And then it wasn't.

It was just like with the candy, only moreso. Makuro's attention was fixated entirely on the food stuffs littering the earth before her, her feet shuffling to and fro as she snuffled and whimpered in an agony of indecision.

In the end, she just threw herself bodily on the ground and started to scoop up handfuls of beans and soil, cramming them into her mouth once she'd pushed the mask up a bit. That was disgusting to watch ...! And the noises she made while scarfing down beans and dirt was as far from ladylike as I'd ever noticed a little girl going. They put me in mind of a pig at the trough, like the pigs I'd once seen (and unfortunately heard and smelled as well) during a visit to the country. Hey, you ... strange person! Didn't your mother teach you any table manners? Grunting and snorting are not attractive characteristics in a young lady!

"Beans," was all the weird little girl would say in response. Though it was more whimper than speech: "Beaaaaans ~!" And on she went, gobbling up every bean she could get her hands on.

"Koizumi, wake up," I insisted, shaking the unconscious esper girl. "Come on, we have a moment to act. Can you get us out of this Closed Space, and back to the others?"

Koizumi's eyes fluttered open, and a tiny frown creased her brow. "Out?" she asked muzzily. "There is no 'out'. Suzumiya-san is generating a powerful Closed Space of his own. Something is ... attacking him."

"What did you say?"

Next installment.

Kogetsu Shirogane · 2009-05-12, 16:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe4evr

On another note: Does anything music-related have to be done for the VN, 'cause I don't think I'll do that anymore (I could send what I have, which is really just one track shortened for loop-friendliness).

I honestly didn't know someone was even working on that aspect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aebliss

Spoiler for *snip*:

If there isn't one now, there really should be a trope for Kyonko's actions here.

Roger Rambo · 2009-05-12, 16:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrowKenobi

But I wouldn't think that Haruki would think that's manly enough... <snark>

So he'd dress up like Bean Bandit?

Cat Megex · 2009-05-12, 17:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kogetsu Shirogane

If there isn't one now, there really should be a trope for Kyonko's actions here.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...provisedWeapon ?

ryanasaurus0077 · 2009-05-12, 18:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrowKenobi

hmmm... this reminds me of this genderbended Sailor Moon fanfic I've read before...

Which Sailor Moon fanfic are you talking about?

Kogetsu Shirogane · 2009-05-12, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cat Megex

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...provisedWeapon ?

I'm actually referring to weaponized shoes in particular. I've seen them used as a weapon almost as much as I've seen knives

***CrowKenobi*** · 2009-05-12, 23:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Rambo

So he'd dress up like Bean Bandit?

Niiiiiice!

I wonder where Haruki would get the wig from...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanasaurus0077

Which Sailor Moon fanfic are you talking about?

It's called "Reversal" and I forgot where I found it (it's been years!)

otai · 2009-05-13, 02:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aebliss

*snip

That is really awesomely epic. I honestly wished Haruhi Prime's setsubun celebration was as epic.

Anyway, as promised here's another snippet of Loli Teacher Kyon.

Spoiler for Loli Teacher Kyon - Computer Club Extortion Scene:

On the VN; considering that imouto probably loses her prescence when shit hits the fan; if there is to be any imouto CGs, you'd have to create them in these few scenes. Maybe one where otouto slides over, encouters imouto and they play together on the seesaw(symbolizing the updown symmetry of their universes)?

DJ_RockmanX · 2009-05-13, 04:47

Spoiler for Day 4 Flowchart:

Spoiler for Day 4 Outline, By Kaisos Erranon:

Work spread over two days for this one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by otai

On the VN; considering that imouto probably loses her prescence when shit hits the fan; if there is to be any imouto CGs, you'd have to create them in these few scenes. Maybe one where otouto slides over, encouters imouto and they play together on the seesaw(symbolizing the updown symmetry of their universes)?

Crap, I had completely forgotten about Otouto. But this also goes in the pile of good ideas you've come up with, otai.

MrBirthday · 2009-05-13, 05:56

Hello, everyone. I've been following this thread, at random intervals, since about last May, and what finally prompted me to register is the mention of Samurai Kyonko. Until that came up, I was honestly more interested in the RomCom version of the Crossroads idea than I was in the straight genderbender. (Although since it's Samurai Kyonko, it can hardly be called "straight".) Anyway, I'd like to mention some random thoughts that have popped into my head:

First, concerning the (sadly abandoned) RomCom Crossroads idea: I don't remember if this was brought up earlier, but it would be very interesting to see what affect having a twin would have on Kyon/ko. I can't say why, but for some reason, I think that he/she would be happier. For me, this brings up the possibility that if the cannonverse and the genderbentverse started to merge (thus adjusting memories and the like), and the Kyons discovered that the world they lived in was merged rather than the way things had always been (or first encountered each other while their memories were of the separate universes), they might decide to keep things this way, provided the choice was up to them the the merger would not lead to disaster. (Part of this idea is the the Kyons would remember both the original and merged universes, either on their own or via assistance, as the case may be.) I think at least part of this has been mentioned before, but I don't remember how much.

And for the past few months, I've been getting mental images of Haruhi dragging Kyonko, Itsuko, Mikuru, and Yuki on a "girls' night out".

Second, concerning Samurai Kyonko: for some reason, since this is separate from anything else, I can't shake the feeling that giving her a height boost is order. Can't say why. (Thinking of it, if regular Kyonko got tired of being so short, couldn't she ask Nagato to make her taller? Slowly, of course. She'd want to be able to pass it off as normal growth. Not advocating anything, just mentioning a random thought.)

Third: I SHALL SERVE KYONKO WELL.

2009-05-12, 00:51	Link #15401
Aebliss Story Master Join Date: Mar 2008	Some quick work before I have to actually get ready for the rest of the day: Pevious installment. Spoiler for Suzumiya Haruki no Setsubun, part 5.: Outside: Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Koizumi Itsuko had, of course, heard her own heart beating in her head before. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. You were supposed to hear that sort of thing after exerting yourself, weren't you? When your pulse was racing and your lungs were burning from a long run or something. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. But the more she tried to stay calm, so as not to upset her already squirming stomach, the louder the noise became. Was it really possible that being this close to the toxic Closed Space was affecting her this much? "Please help me sit down," she whispered to Asahina Mitsuuru. The boy sempai didn't hear her over his own and Suzumiya Haruki's shouting for Kyon. "Nagato-san," she wheezed. The alien interface also didn't seem to register her pleas; his eyes were fixed on a point on the sports field which did not distinguish itself from any other in her eyes. Limp, almost as if she were boneless, Itsuko allowed herself to slide to the ground. Her back thumped against the school fence, sending jarring stabs of pain through her whole body. With her whole body seizing up with the agony, the thought that she wasn't doing well was rather superfluous. 'At times like these,' Itsuko thought to herself, 'it would be deeply helpful if I could reach out to my comrades at the Organization.' But she needed her energy for other matters. Important matters. Nagato was trying to find an entrance into the Closed Space before them, was he? Good for him. Koizumi Itsuko did not fully grasp his difficulty; after all, the way in was there. This Closed Space was based on Suzumiya Haruki's, after all, gaining entry felt as natural as breathing. Only in this case, what she was breathing was chlorine gas. 'I need to gain control,' Itsuko thought to herself. Slowly, one muscle at a time, she started to lever herself to her feet ... A stabbing headache lanced through the center of her head. With a whimper that went completely unheard, the esper sank back to the ground, eyes squeezed shut and jaws clamped tight against the waves of nausea that rode the pain. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump ... "Oh my, are you all lost?" Itsuko's eyes snapped open of their own accord. Suzumiya Haruki turned around, quick as a viper, mingled surprise, annoyance and hope evident on his face. They all melted into disappointment in an instant: the person standing behind them all was not Kyon. "Hey, what do you think you're doing, dressed up like that?" Haruki snapped, frowning fiercely at this ... apparition. There were some superficial similarities between this new arrival and the vanished Kyon; they were roughly the same height and build. Slender and frail-looking. The new arrival was ... extravagant, however. She wore a snowy white kimono, made of pure silk by the look of it. An intricate pattern, made of dragon, fox, phoenix, eagle, turtle and kirin, all bound up with each other in a complicated tangle, swirled over the fabric. A jet-black obi held the luxurious-looking garment closed. A smiling -- no, grinning -- Oni mask of the same hue covered the girl's face. Golden eyes twinkled merrily at the SOS-dan from behind it. Bangs of black hair framed it, the rest of the hair was bound back in a ponytail. "Isn't it setsubun today?" the stranger replied to Haruki's question with one of her own. "Today is the day people drive demons from their homes, isn't it? If you're going out into the street, you should wear a disguise so the demons won't recognize and eat you, little boy." There was a lilting, musical quality to her voice, as if she were constantly singing. Or laughing at a private joke at the world's expense. Under other circumstances, this line of thought might have tickled Suzumiya Haruki's fancy. Right now, however, he was confused and worried. This meant that he was quickly growing irritable. Angry, even. "Look," he said, his voice clearly conveying his feelings of annoyance, "I -- we -- really don't have time for jokes right now. We're --" "You've lost a little something, haven't you?" the new girl asked, taking a step closer. "H-how did you know that?" Asahina Mitsuuru asked. He blushed when the girl looked at him, smiled feebly and bowed. "Um, h-how do you do? I am Asahina Mitsuuru, we -- ah, well, that is ..." "I could hear you calling out," the girl replied, eyes shining, gleaming as she eyes Asahina-san up and down. Her mask bulged oddly for a moment. Itsuko was trying to think. What was the significance of that kind of motion? She knew she could puzzle it out, but ... "Ah, well," Asahina-san stuttered. "Um, our friend. We're looking for ... for our friend. Yes? Right, Suzumiya-san?" "Of course we are!" Haruki snapped. "Now, unless you're planning to help, just go away and --" "Oh my, you've lost your little friend?" the girl gasped, one hand covering the smirking mouth of her Oni mask. "Such distress! Little boys" -- she looked at Haruki when she said this, her voice becoming sly -- "should take better care of their toys. Just look at the one you didn't lose. Shouldn't you be trying to save her, first?" The girl gestured calmly at Itsuko when she mentioned 'the one you didn't lose'. The mask bulged out again, almost too quickly to be seen. Significance. While she painstakingly levered herself to her feet, Itsuko thought she must know the significance. The mask bulges out ... "If you're just going to stand there saying weird things and being annoying," Haruki snapped, "you can get lost!" "Oh, but I'm not lost," the girl tittered. "Your little friend is. And you are. Poor little girl, lost to her. She's so greedy. Don't you think sisters should properly share nice things?" "Y-you know where Kyon-chan is?" Asahina-san stuttered. Even that humble soul was starting to notice something was very, very wrong here. Itsuko painfully dragged herself up and up ... "Where is she?" Haruki demanded, taking one step closer to the girl, hands balled into fists. He seemed surprised at that; he looked down at his own hands, frowned, apparently tried to unclench them. They wouldn't go. Through the haze of pain, Itsuko could see Suzumiya Haruki was starting to sweat quite badly; he just shook his head, sending drops flying, and took another step towards the girl in white. "She really is greedy," the girl in white sighed. "Keeping the poor little lost girl all for herself. A sweet, savoury little virgin girl, with that sharp tongue. I like tongues. But then again, maybe it's for the best. After all, I'm not about to share any of you with her ... poor little lost boy." "I am asking you where Kyon is!" Suzumiya Haruki roared. He made to grab the girl by her shoulders -- and her hands shot up, seizing his wrists before they could get to her. His skin turned white where she grabbed him, a clear indication of the strength in those frail-looking hands. Suzumiya Haruki grunted, quivered, and his eyes rolled up. He remained standing, and the girl in white started to laugh, laugh and laugh: a musical, lilting titter, appropriate for the geisha of old, who had served the nobles of bygone eras. The laughter tore through Itsuko's thoughts like a rusted chain. She shrieked with pain and clamped her hands to her eyes, her ears, her eyes again, unable to decide where the pain was worst. "Koizumi-chan!" Asahina-san yelped, rushing to her side, attempting to pull her hands away and see whether she was bleeding. "Koizumi-chan, hang in there, I --" Closed Space. The sensation of utter misery that radiated out from Suzumiya Haruki was overwhelming. It battered at Itsuko like the fist of a giant, lifting her up and flicking her away. Her hands scrabbled at Asahina Mitsuuru, frail anchor that he was, and tore something loose before she went spinning away. Into the area of Closed Space that was making her sick. "Such a pity," she heard the sweet, poisonous tones of the masked girl's voice. "Oh, well. Maybe if she eats two girls, she'll be satisfied and go to sleep, and I can go back home. And I like virgin boys better, anyway." Sweet, lilting laughter followed her as she fell into the toxic space. It turned into a shrieking cackle as cool darkness enfolded her world, and died into a distant echo before she hit the ground ... Next installment. Last edited by Aebliss; 2009-05-12 at 15:58.

2009-05-12, 01:55	Link #15405
Kogetsu Shirogane Kneel Before Your King! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: My kingdom Age: 39	It takes an idiot to do cool things. That's why it's cool. __________________ WARNING: Kogetsu Shirogane cannot be held accountable for any actions taken by someone else. Potential side effects of communicating with this user include headaches, mild confusion, insanity, delirium, and jumping into fires. Do not expose this user to sunlight or water or feed this user after midnight. ... so you think you're a king now...

2009-05-12, 02:36	Link #15407
vivify93 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Age: 30	reads the Setsubun* miniseries* This...is awesome. I love you. On a related subject, it's a shame I don't write anymore--I was told that I'm decent enough for a writer. Dunno if I could get the whole "Awkward Japanese grammar thing" down though. Not to mention, last time I checked, I couldn't write for Suzumiya worth shit. Sure, I could do Kyon, Nagato (Yeah, right--how hard is it to write for Nagato? ), and Koizumi well enough, and Asahina decently, but Suzumiya just sounded off. looks at the above paragraph Where the hell did that come from? __________________ LONG LIVE THE QUEEN.

2009-05-12, 15:57	Link #15411
Aebliss Story Master Join Date: Mar 2008	On with the show! Plenty more to go! Previous installment. Spoiler for Suzumiya Haruki no Setsubun, part 6:: Inside: "You were given to me," she declares. "And I hunger. I must have nourishment." I was ... what? She takes another step forward. The bell ... chimes. My spine, which had defrosted only so recently, now feels as if it's starting to melt with terror. My knees falter ... And there is a horrible noise behind me, like a combination of ripping cardboard and shattering glass, followed by a dull thud. I look behind me and see ... Koizumi, Itsuko, lying at the edge of the barrier. She looks as if someone roughed her up until she fell unconscious; even lying still like this, I can see the bruises, and she's completely limp. "Food!" the Oni-masked girl shrieks -- and I reach into my pocket, bringing out an item I'd been saving. "Enjoy your meal!" I shout as I fling it into the air, turn on my heel and run. I look back -- a thousand fairytales probably weep with shame at this moment, but I can't help it. I'm not so afraid of being turned to stone right now, as I am of ... something. Imminent death, that's all I ... No, not 'know', but 'fear'. And so I look back for a moment, to make sure I'm not being followed. Makuro is looking up, her golden eyes wide behind the mask, feet shuffling left and right, hands outstretched as she anticipates the fall of that 'special item' I hurled into the sky. Have you ever seen a ferret dancing to and fro under a beloved toy or a scrap of food that it it is being teased with? That momentary view reminded me strongly of such a ferret. ... I don't really like ferrets that much. Now, you might wonder where I was running. I knew I couldn't get out of this Closed Space by myself already, so there was only one logical direction to head in. Especially since one should consider this simple fact: Itsuko had already gotten in, it was only natural to hope she could also get us both out. Please don't ascribe any noble sentiments or concern to me in running directly for Koizumi and gently lifting her up from the ground. In passing, I noticed a plastic bag lying by her hand. You sure are diligent, Koizumi, bringing your setsubun supplies along even here! Now show me how diligent you really are by opening your eyes, please. There was a very faint 'slap'-noise, followed by a greedy shrieking. Ducking my head against the hoise, I looked up to see Makuro snatch a piece of seaweed candy out of the sky, pull up her mask and stuff the treat into her mouth without even bothering to remove the wrapper or chew. Her face ...! My mouth fell open with shock, and I think I could have just sat there, watching the little girl chewing on that tiny morsel until she was done with it and again subjected me to her attentions. Fortunately, she broke the spell her face held over me herself by pulling her mask back down. "Huh!" I exclaimed, shaking my head. I looked back down at Koizumi. She was dead weight, the way she was now, although I noted her colour was getting a little better. That was odd. She did have bruises, but they were starting to fade. She was sweating profusely, but her skin was regaining its pink shade. "Oi, Koizumi!" I whispered urgently, shaking her a little. Koizumi's eyes fluttered open after a moment. At first she looked confused, but then her eyes focused on my face and she smiled feebly. "Ah, Kyon-san," she said, sounding both happy and sleepy. "Go kigenjou. How are you doing today ...?" "Never mind that!" I insisted. "Look there! See the little girl in black, trying to make a piece of seaweed candy do the work of a sandwich? I think she's going to do something unpleasant to us, if you don't get us out of this Closed Space! Can't you use your powers to fly us out of here?" "I regret to inform you that I can not," Koizumi said, smiling sleepily as her eyes drifted shut. "It's the most wonderful feeling. When I was outside this Closed Space, I felt as if it were making me ill. Inside, though, the sickness is gone. My powers are all inside me now, working to make me ..." She yawned genteelly and fell asleep! "... working to make her well again," Makuro's voice grated on my ears. Looking back, I saw she had finally finished the candy. Her staff chimed as she slowly crossed the distance between us, golden eyes fixed on Itsuko and myself. "Drawing on her energy to do it. And how much energy would she have left, after vomiting up her breakfast like that, I wonder? Not enough to run, little girl. This is quite the treat; your little friend had been given to her, but now she is in my place. Two for the price of one. What a feast this will be, to be sure --" When subjected to clear and present danger, most creatures have two hardwired options: fight or flight. Escape was pretty much impossible, both because I couldn't get out of the Closed Space, and because Koizumi was now comfortably reclining on my lap, a dead weight that issues the occasional snore. I wasn't all that confident of my ability to fight in this scenario. Memories of the murder attempt by Asakura Ryou flashed through my mind, and I dreaded the possibility of paralysis and being unable to even scream for help. So I reacted before anything of the sort could happen; I yanked off one of my shoes and threw it at the little girl's head. It was a good throw, if I do say so myself. The shoe struck the little girl -- Makuro -- in the middle of her forehead. She stumbled, uttered a muffled shriek of outrage and dropped her staff. Without further ado, I grabbed my other shoe, pulled it off my foot -- Ouch! Feels as if I tied the laces on this one a little better ... -- and chucked it at the slender figure before me. This time, she crossed her arms in front of her head, shielding it from the second impact. She yowled like an angry cat when the thing hit her, though, and started to edge her way forward. I grabbed the next thing that came to hand and hurled it at the little girl. She swiped at it as it came near, and it fairly exploded. A plastic bag can only take so much, after all. Roasted soybeans, a lunch box and its lid went flying every which way, and I remember thinking very clearly that this must be the end. And then it wasn't. It was just like with the candy, only moreso. Makuro's attention was fixated entirely on the food stuffs littering the earth before her, her feet shuffling to and fro as she snuffled and whimpered in an agony of indecision. In the end, she just threw herself bodily on the ground and started to scoop up handfuls of beans and soil, cramming them into her mouth once she'd pushed the mask up a bit. That was disgusting to watch ...! And the noises she made while scarfing down beans and dirt was as far from ladylike as I'd ever noticed a little girl going. They put me in mind of a pig at the trough, like the pigs I'd once seen (and unfortunately heard and smelled as well) during a visit to the country. Hey, you ... strange person! Didn't your mother teach you any table manners? Grunting and snorting are not attractive characteristics in a young lady! "Beans," was all the weird little girl would say in response. Though it was more whimper than speech: "Beaaaaans ~!" And on she went, gobbling up every bean she could get her hands on. "Koizumi, wake up," I insisted, shaking the unconscious esper girl. "Come on, we have a moment to act. Can you get us out of this Closed Space, and back to the others?" Koizumi's eyes fluttered open, and a tiny frown creased her brow. "Out?" she asked muzzily. "There is no 'out'. Suzumiya-san is generating a powerful Closed Space of his own. Something is ... attacking him." "What did you say?" Next installment. Last edited by Aebliss; 2009-05-13 at 16:47.

2009-05-12, 04:03	Link #15408
Jintor Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Land Down Under Age: 32	It came from your despaaaaaaaaaaaaaair? People keep saying 'how hard is it to write for Nagato?' or 'How hard is it to draw Nagato?'. I think they're missing the point. In my opinion, subtleties are harder to convey that overtness, and Nagato is about as subtle as they get.

2009-05-13, 05:56	Link #15420
MrBirthday Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lake City, Florida	Hello, everyone. I've been following this thread, at random intervals, since about last May, and what finally prompted me to register is the mention of Samurai Kyonko. Until that came up, I was honestly more interested in the RomCom version of the Crossroads idea than I was in the straight genderbender. (Although since it's Samurai Kyonko, it can hardly be called "straight".) Anyway, I'd like to mention some random thoughts that have popped into my head: First, concerning the (sadly abandoned) RomCom Crossroads idea: I don't remember if this was brought up earlier, but it would be very interesting to see what affect having a twin would have on Kyon/ko. I can't say why, but for some reason, I think that he/she would be happier. For me, this brings up the possibility that if the cannonverse and the genderbentverse started to merge (thus adjusting memories and the like), and the Kyons discovered that the world they lived in was merged rather than the way things had always been (or first encountered each other while their memories were of the separate universes), they might decide to keep things this way, provided the choice was up to them the the merger would not lead to disaster. (Part of this idea is the the Kyons would remember both the original and merged universes, either on their own or via assistance, as the case may be.) I think at least part of this has been mentioned before, but I don't remember how much. And for the past few months, I've been getting mental images of Haruhi dragging Kyonko, Itsuko, Mikuru, and Yuki on a "girls' night out". Second, concerning Samurai Kyonko: for some reason, since this is separate from anything else, I can't shake the feeling that giving her a height boost is order. Can't say why. (Thinking of it, if regular Kyonko got tired of being so short, couldn't she ask Nagato to make her taller? Slowly, of course. She'd want to be able to pass it off as normal growth. Not advocating anything, just mentioning a random thought.) Third: I SHALL SERVE KYONKO WELL.