53||0|4989|0| 0|0|0|||1||%28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|JeanneHedge||09:52:06|05/30/2014|[updated:LAST EDITED ON May-30-14 AT 09:55 AM (EDT)]A nice piece%2C with many character developing vignettes%2C along with actually seeing some things hinted at or promised earlier %28such as ice dodging%29. All in all%2C it gave me the feel of setting things up for a big payoff in the next part%2C promised to be S5M5 %5Bi%5DTaken by Storm%5B%2Fi%5D. %28I%27ve been wildly wrong about things like that before - 11 years ago I thought S4%27s %5Bi%5DInterlude at Vortigern%27s Lake No. 2 in C %28For Today%29%5B%2Fi%5D was going to be the end of the %5Bi%5DSymphony%5B%2Fi%5D because of everything that went on in it and the way it ended.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AI want Minami%27s %22little boat%22. A broom indicates %22victory at sea%22%3F I thought it indicated a series sweep. Well%2C they were %5Bi%5Dice%5B%2Fi%5D dodging%2C and curling is on ice too%2C and they use brooms and sweeps there%2C so it%27s logical. Sort of. Korra%27s not denying she has a %22new team%22%2C which has truly become %22new family%22. Wondering what Utena%27s going to come up with for Korra%27s problem with Corwin tho. Wonder if Corwin%27s really taken on board what Nall told him about him %28Nall%29 being around humans too much%2C wrt Garnet%27s upbringing. I was half-expecting Emily to show up at the celebration%2C but we got a new cub-photographer instead. And Nyima maybe got a boyfriend%21 What %5Bi%5Dare%5B%2Fi%5D the implications when a straight-on bear shows up%3F And finally%2C that was probably the wildest rose duel seen yet. %0D%0A%0D%0AOh%2C and who won the season opener%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AJeanne%0D%0A%5Bfont size%3D1%5DTianxia%27s %5Bi%5D1st Courier of the Heavenly Prophets%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ffont size%5D%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable border%3D%220%22 cellspacing%3D%220%22 cellpadding%3D%220%22 width%3D%2280%25%22%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%221%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd align%3D%22center%22 width%3D%2210%25%22%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.jhedge.com%2Fmisc%2Foldowl.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btd%5D%5Bfont size%3D2%5D%5Bb%5DJeanne Hedge%5B%2Fb%5D%0D%0A%5Blink%3Awww.jhedge.com%7Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.jhedge.com%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bi%5D%5Bfont size%3D1%5D%22Never give up%2C never surrender%21%22%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%221%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D 1|1|0|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Mercutio||11:39:38|05/30/2014|%3E A broom indicates %22victory at sea%22%3F I %0D%0A%3Ethought it indicated a series sweep.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt means roughly the same thing %28a clean sweep%29 in naval parlance%2C although often with more explosions. Lashing a broom to your mast %28or periscope%2C in the case of a sub%29 means that you %22swept the enemy from the seas%2C%22 i.e had a completely successful mission.%0D%0A%0D%0A-Merc%0D%0AKeep Rat 3|2|1|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|JeanneHedge||11:51:44|05/30/2014|%3E%3E A broom indicates %22victory at sea%22%3F I %0D%0A%3E%3Ethought it indicated a series sweep.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EIt means roughly the same thing %28a clean sweep%29 in naval parlance%2C %0D%0A%3Ealthough often with more explosions. Lashing a broom to your mast %28or %0D%0A%3Eperiscope%2C in the case of a sub%29 means that you %22swept the enemy from %0D%0A%3Ethe seas%2C%22 i.e had a completely successful mission. %0D%0A%0D%0AOK%2C yes%2C I do remember reading about that now. thank you.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AJeanne%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable border%3D%220%22 cellspacing%3D%220%22 cellpadding%3D%220%22 width%3D%2280%25%22%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%221%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd align%3D%22center%22 width%3D%2210%25%22%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.jhedge.com%2Fmisc%2Foldowl.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btd valign%3Dtop%5D%5Bfont size%3D2%5D%5Bb%5DJeanne Hedge%5B%2Fb%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont size%3D1%5D%5Blink%3Awww.jhedge.com%7Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.jhedge.com%5D%0D%0A1st Courier of the Heavenly Prophets for %5Bi%5D%5Blink%3Awww.kickstarter.com%2Fprojects%2F326055564%2Ftianxia-blood-silk-and-jade%7CTianxia%5D%0D%0A%22Never give up%2C never surrender%21%22%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%221%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D 2|1|0|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Gryphon||11:47:32|05/30/2014|%3EA broom indicates %22victory at sea%22%3F I %0D%0A%3Ethought it indicated a series sweep.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe premise is similar. The crews of submarines returning from successful patrols in WWII would lash a broom to the periscope shears when returning to base so everybody would know they%27d %22swept the seas%22.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EI was %0D%0A%3Ehalf-expecting Emily to show up at the celebration%2C but we got a new %0D%0A%3Ecub-photographer instead.%0D%0A%0D%0AEmily%27s expense account does not extend to airfare to Nanisivik%2C etc. Particularly not now that she%27s not really working the society page any longer. More on this upcoming.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EWhat %5Bi%5Dare%5B%2Fi%5D the implications when a straight-on bear shows up%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AThe going theory at the moment is that the spirits%2C which tend to be just one kind of animal or another %28by D%26igrave%3Bqi%26uacute%3B standards this makes them weird and exotic%2C but it also explains how people there %5Bi%5Dknow%5B%2Fi%5D that a buzzard wasp is part buzzard and part wasp%29%2C are in some way the progenitors of the various %22mundane%22 animals%2C which presumably represent some sort of collaborative effort. Under this hypothesis%2C boarcupines are the result of... %5Bi%5Dsome%5B%2Fi%5D kind of encounter... between the boar spirit and the porcupine spirit. %28Remember the thing that came up on another board a bit ago about why the ancient Romans called giraffes %22camelopardalis%22%3F %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0ANobody really wants to %5Bi%5Dask%5B%2Fi%5D the spirits in question%2C as that would lead to the awkward question of exactly %5Bi%5Dhow%5B%2Fi%5D that works%2C but that%27s the idea%2C anyway.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28As an aside%2C this is why the 52nd Earth King%27s pet bear%2C Bosco%2C was such a sensation. Apart from a few people in the South Pole who had caught a glimpse of Nanuq%2C and there weren%27t many of those hanging around the Earth King%27s court in the waning days of the Hundred-Year War%2C nobody had ever seen a bear before%2C and when they discovered that he wasn%27t even some kind of vanishingly rare spirit phenomenon - in those days spirits were very rarely seen in the physical world - he became an even greater enigma. Of course%2C in UF he was... just a bear%2C who happened to wander through one of the natural gaps in the Veil from Zipang. But nobody knew %5Bi%5Dthat%5B%2Fi%5D at the time either. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EAnd finally%2C that was probably the wildest rose duel seen yet. %0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C that%27s what happens when you have a celestial incarnation and... well%2C a celestial incarnation... who have very selective notions of restraint. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EOh%2C and who won the season opener%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AThe minor-league %22supporting bands%22 were all over the map%2C as usual%2C and the Fire Ferrets - despite what Korra and Utena considered some pretty dubious refereeing - defeated the Caldera City Catamanders two rounds to one.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 4|2|2|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|JeanneHedge||11:59:45|05/30/2014|%3E%3EI was %0D%0A%3E%3Ehalf-expecting Emily to show up at the celebration%2C but we got a new %0D%0A%3E%3Ecub-photographer instead.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EEmily%27s expense account does not extend to airfare to Nanisivik%2C etc. %0D%0A%3EParticularly not now that she%27s not really working the society page %0D%0A%3Eany longer. More on this upcoming. %0D%0A%0D%0AGood for her%21 Another thing to %28hopefully%29 learn is how her %22embedding%22 during the police raid went %28or if it%27s even happened yet%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3EAnd finally%2C that was probably the wildest rose duel seen yet. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EWell%2C that%27s what happens when you have a celestial incarnation and... %0D%0A%3Ewell%2C a celestial incarnation... who have very selective notions of %0D%0A%3Erestraint. %3A%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AUtena really needs to find a shorter way to do the %22kiss the sword%22 thing%2C though. Or even the heart sword thing. What if she needs to go to that level and Anthy%27s not around%3F %28a chance for the bad guys win one%2C as all bad guys do sometimes %28see Empire Strikes Back%29%29 But they%27ve probably thought of that already and have made %22arrangements%22 accordingly.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3EOh%2C and who won the season opener%3F %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EThe minor-league %22supporting bands%22 were all over the map%2C as usual%2C %0D%0A%3Eand the Fire Ferrets - despite what Korra and Utena considered some %0D%0A%3Epretty dubious refereeing - defeated the Caldera City Catamanders two %0D%0A%3Erounds to one. %0D%0A%0D%0AAlways good for the %22home team%22 to win the opener %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AJeanne%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable border%3D%220%22 cellspacing%3D%220%22 cellpadding%3D%220%22 width%3D%2280%25%22%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%221%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd align%3D%22center%22 width%3D%2210%25%22%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.jhedge.com%2Fmisc%2Foldowl.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btd valign%3Dtop%5D%5Bfont size%3D2%5D%5Bb%5DJeanne Hedge%5B%2Fb%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont size%3D1%5D%5Blink%3Awww.jhedge.com%7Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.jhedge.com%5D%0D%0A1st Courier of the Heavenly Prophets for %5Bi%5D%5Blink%3Awww.kickstarter.com%2Fprojects%2F326055564%2Ftianxia-blood-silk-and-jade%7CTianxia%5D%0D%0A%22Never give up%2C never surrender%21%22%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%221%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D 5|3|4|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Gryphon||13:13:38|05/30/2014|%3EUtena really needs to find a shorter way to do the %22kiss the sword%22 %0D%0A%3Ething%2C though. Or even the heart sword thing. What if she needs to go %0D%0A%3Eto that level and Anthy%27s not around%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AIn this instance%2C both the drawing of the Heart of the Rose and the Priestess%27s Blade Blessing were theatre as much as anything else - showin%27 off a bit for the crowd. Utena owns more than one sword for precisely that reason%3A so that if she needs to fight and Anthy isn%27t right there handy%2C she has other options. And while the Blade Blessing is a powerful spell%2C it%27s not Utena%27s only route to a %22power-up%22%2C either. We%27ve seen her tap into her full power without it before %28in her duel with Akio in %5Bi%5DKnights III%5B%2Fi%5D%2C most prominently%29.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 6|4|5|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|JeanneHedge||13:48:32|05/30/2014|%3EAnd while the Blade %0D%0A%3EBlessing is a powerful spell%2C it%27s not Utena%27s only route to a %0D%0A%3E%22power-up%22%2C either. We%27ve seen her tap into her full power without it %0D%0A%3Ebefore %28in her duel with Akio in %5Bi%5DKnights III%5B%2Fi%5D%2C most %0D%0A%3Eprominently%29. %0D%0A%0D%0AI%27ll have to re-read when I have more time. I was pretty sure Anthy did her thing during that fight %28after the heart sword got reassembled%2C of course%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AJeanne%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable border%3D%220%22 cellspacing%3D%220%22 cellpadding%3D%220%22 width%3D%2280%25%22%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%221%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd align%3D%22center%22 width%3D%2210%25%22%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.jhedge.com%2Fmisc%2Foldowl.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btd valign%3Dtop%5D%5Bfont size%3D2%5D%5Bb%5DJeanne Hedge%5B%2Fb%5D%5Bbr%5D%5Bfont size%3D1%5D%5Blink%3Awww.jhedge.com%7Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.jhedge.com%5D%5Bbr%5D1st Courier of the Heavenly Prophets for %5Bi%5D%5Blink%3Awww.kickstarter.com%2Fprojects%2F326055564%2Ftianxia-blood-silk-and-jade%7CTianxia%5D%5Bbr%5D%22Never give up%2C never surrender%21%22%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%221%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D 9|2|2|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Offsides||14:39:50|05/30/2014|%3E%3EA broom indicates %22victory at sea%22%3F I %0D%0A%3E%3Ethought it indicated a series sweep.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EThe premise is similar. The crews of submarines returning from %0D%0A%3Esuccessful patrols in WWII would lash a broom to the periscope shears %0D%0A%3Ewhen returning to base so everybody would know they%27d %22swept the %0D%0A%3Eseas%22. %0D%0A%0D%0AThat%27s the most recent commonly known usage of it%2C but it%27s been used by naval vessels of all sorts for over %7E350 years. It%27s also been used for racing vessels who%27ve swept a series of regattas %28or even just as prizes%29. I%27ve gotten 2 trophy brooms%2C one from a sailing race at summer camp as a kid%2C and the other that I got after the 2004 World Series to torment my office-mate who was a Yankees fan %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0ABack to the story%2C I really enjoyed it%2C other than the fact that I wasn%27t ready for it to end %3A%29 Looking forward to M5 or whatever comes next%21%0D%0A%0D%0AOffsides%0D%0A%0D%0A%26%2391%3B...%26%2393%3B in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.%0D%0A -- David Ben Gurion%0D%0AEPU RCW %23%26pi%3B%0D%0A%23include %3Cstdsig.h%3E 7|1|0|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Polychrome||14:19:05|05/30/2014|My thoughts%3A%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22We get 40 or 50 strong rowers in that hull and we can go a-viking. Won%27t they be surprised up in Qurluqtuq%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0ARemember%3A Pillage%2C THEN burn.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Ethe Mark of the Wise.%0D%0A%0D%0AOf course.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Ethe Mark of the Brave.%0D%0A%0D%0AWaaaait a second...%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Ethe Mark of the Trusted%2C%0D%0A%0D%0AOkay%2C good. You were paralleling the Hylian trinity there until the end%2C which is good because that would have made Corwin Ganon.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Ea circle%2C roughly the size of an old Earth Kingdom yuan%2C crossed with a jaggedly bent line that called to mind a lightning bolt.%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.rockstarhq.com%2Frocktaps%2F55035.jpg %3F%0D%0ATapping into the Speed Force are we%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E THURSDAY%2C APRIL 15%0D%0AThe most dreaded of all days%2C TAX DAY. Although probably not in Diqiu.%0D%0A%0D%0APolychrome%0D%0A%0D%0AProbably think of some more stuff later.%0D%0A 8|2|7|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Gryphon||14:36:41|05/30/2014|[updated:LAST EDITED ON May-30-14 AT 02:39 PM (EDT)]%3EOkay%2C good. You were paralleling the Hylian trinity there until the %0D%0A%3Eend%2C which is good because that would have made Corwin Ganon. %0D%0A%0D%0ANo idea what you%27re talking about%2C I%27m afraid%3B it%27s a reshuffling of the marks awarded in the %22rock dodging%22 scene %28they didn%27t have any ice handy%2C you see%29 that featured in an episode of %5Bi%5DAvatar%3A The Last Airbender%5B%2Fi%5D. Korra%27s implication that there are others available is my own addition to the mythology%3B we only see these same three in the ATLA episode%2C but nobody ever actually says those are the only possibilities.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3Ea circle%2C roughly the size of an old Earth Kingdom yuan%2C crossed with a jaggedly bent line that called to mind a lightning bolt.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3Ehttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.rockstarhq.com%2Frocktaps%2F55035.jpg %3F %0D%0A%0D%0ANot quite%3A%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2FUF%2FFI%2FSOS%2FGFX%2Fdb120.jpg%0D%0A%0D%0AFirst seen back in %5Bi%5DClarion Call%5B%2Fi%5D%2C at the first attempt at Corwin and Utena%27s wedding%2C and again in %5Bi%5DTry%2C Try Again%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3ETapping into the Speed Force are we%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AIt%27s actually the reference icon in the Asgardian technical diagram standard for denoting %22power output here%22%2C but don%27t tell Utena.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A%5Bfont size%3D%221%22%5D%5Blink%3Acalteches.library.caltech.edu%2F34%2F3%2FFeynmanLosAlamos.htm%7C%22What happens if this valve gets stuck%3F%22%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 10|3|8|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Polychrome||14:46:01|05/30/2014|%3E%3EOkay%2C good. You were paralleling the Hylian trinity there until the %0D%0A%3E%3Eend%2C which is good because that would have made Corwin Ganon. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3ENo idea what you%27re talking about%2C I%27m afraid%3B%0D%0A%0D%0AOkay%2C my knowledge of this is a bit sketchy%2C but the three main characters of the Legend of Zelda series%2C each have a triforce that they are associated with%3A The Triforce of Wisdom %28Zelda%29%2C The Triforce of Courage %28Link%29 and the Triforce of Power %28Ganon%29. Somebody better versed in the series can probably expand on this a bit%2C but that%27s what jumped to mind when I was reading that part.%0D%0A%0D%0APolychrome 11|4|10|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Gryphon||14:51:18|05/30/2014|%3EOkay%2C my knowledge of this is a bit sketchy%2C but the three main %0D%0A%3Echaracters of the Legend of Zelda series%0D%0A%0D%0AAh. Well %5Bi%5Dthere%27s%5B%2Fi%5D your problem. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%28Stand down%2C Zelda fans%2C I%27m not hating on your franchise%2C I%27ve just never played them. Evangelism is not required.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 12|5|11|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Polychrome||14:58:27|05/30/2014|%3E%3EOkay%2C my knowledge of this is a bit sketchy%2C but the three main %0D%0A%3E%3Echaracters of the Legend of Zelda series%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EAh. Well %5Bi%5Dthere%27s%5B%2Fi%5D your problem. %3A%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AMan%2C I just pick this shit up by osmosis. I haven%27t put serious time into a Zelda game since 1989.%0D%0A%0D%0APolychrome 13|6|12|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Terminus Est||16:16:21|05/30/2014|[updated:LAST EDITED ON May-30-14 AT 04:18 PM (EDT)]I%27m not up to date on much past the Nintendo 64 era%2C but that%27s pretty much it in a nutshell. To be fair though%2C it was a safe assumption to make that you were at least familiar with the canon%2C since... well%2C half a world is based on it.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd yes%2C this discussion%27s been had before - I was a participant%2C and if I remember correctly the instigator of said discussion. The other half of the world in question was Pirates of Dark Water if memory serves%2C and it was mostly Marty%27s brainchild. I think.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe question I took from this is a bit different. So%2C Utena has a bonafide goddess mark now%2C which... doesn%27t surprise me%2C since it was one of the Norns who drew hers to start with. The question%3A how long before she starts showing a permanent mark%2C if ever%2C and what form might that mark take%3F I know she%27s a minor goddess right now%2C but this being Utena%2C well... minority has never really been her %5Bi%5Dthing%5B%2Fi%5D%2C has it%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AETA%3A By permanent mark%2C I mean the minor%2C un-manifested variety. Kinda like Corwin%27s center-dotted circle expanding to the full configuration. 14|7|13|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Gryphon||16:47:51|05/30/2014|%3EThe question I took from this is a bit different. So%2C Utena has a %0D%0A%3Ebonafide goddess mark now%2C which... doesn%27t surprise me%2C since it was %0D%0A%3Eone of the Norns who drew hers to start with.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe funny part is that Utena herself has %5Bi%5Dno idea that happened%5B%2Fi%5D. She couldn%27t %5Bi%5Dsee%5B%2Fi%5D it%2C after all%2C and %28as yet%29 no one who did see it has mentioned it to her.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EThe question%3A how long %0D%0A%3Ebefore she starts showing a permanent mark%2C if ever%2C and what form %0D%0A%3Emight that mark take%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AUnknown at this time. Not all the gods have System Marks that are visible under ordinary circumstances. The d%26iacute%3Bsir%2C for instance - the class of goddesses to which ascended mortal women like Gin Shepard belong - don%27t.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EETA%3A By permanent mark%2C I mean the minor%2C un-manifested variety. %0D%0A%3EKinda like Corwin%27s center-dotted circle expanding to the full %0D%0A%3Econfiguration. %0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C if she had a proper System Mark%2C the form shown would probably be its %22default%22 form%3B the more elaborate version is something Gods and Goddesses First Class manifest when their limiters are off%2C which happens very rarely%2C and although what Utena did at the end of her Rose Duel with Korra was impressive%2C it was nothing like what a First Class Unlimited can do. That%27s more %22shattered continents sink into a boiling sea while the planet falls toward the Sun%22 territory. Which is why they don%27t take their limiters off in Midgard. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 17|8|14|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Bushido||22:06:48|05/30/2014|%3EWell%2C if she had a proper System Mark%2C the form shown would probably %0D%0A%3Ebe its %22default%22 form%3B the more elaborate version is something Gods %0D%0A%3Eand Goddesses First Class manifest when their limiters are off%2C which %0D%0A%3Ehappens very rarely%2C and although what Utena did at the end of her %0D%0A%3ERose Duel with Korra was impressive%2C it was nothing like what a First %0D%0A%3EClass Unlimited can do. That%27s more %22shattered continents sink into a %0D%0A%3Eboiling sea while the planet falls toward the Sun%22 territory. Which %0D%0A%3Eis why they don%27t take their limiters off in Midgard. %3A%29 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E--G. %0D%0A%0D%0Aor%2C you know%2C support the whole of creation%2C solely on the strength of her Will%2C while the World Engine is being rebuilt. 21|9|17|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Peter Eng||19:28:03|05/31/2014|%3E%3EThat%27s more %22shattered continents sink into a %0D%0A%3E%3Eboiling sea while the planet falls toward the Sun%22 territory. Which %0D%0A%3E%3Eis why they don%27t take their limiters off in Midgard. %3A%29 %0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3E--G. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3Eor%2C you know%2C support the whole of creation%2C solely on the strength of %0D%0A%3Eher Will%2C while the World Engine is being rebuilt. %0D%0A%0D%0AThis is one of the differences between Asgard and Midgard. Asgard is built to take that kind of focus without incidental shattering of mountains%2C evaporation of oceans%2C and division of continental plates.%0D%0A%0D%0APeter Eng%0D%0A--%0D%0AInsert humorous comment here. 15|1|0|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Matrix Dragon||17:39:58|05/30/2014|I wish I had the spare time for a detailed review. Sadly%2C I don%27t%2C so I%27ll just note that the post-credit scene is now one of my favourite moments in UF. I%27m a bit of a sucker for Korra and her Gran-Gran.%0D%0A%0D%0AMatrix Dragon%2C J. Random Nutter 16|2|15|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Gryphon||18:29:02|05/30/2014|%3EI wish I had the spare time for a detailed review. Sadly%2C I don%27t%0D%0A%0D%0AAw%21 Well%2C never say never...%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EI%27ll just note that the post-credit scene is now one of my favourite %0D%0A%3Emoments in UF. I%27m a bit of a sucker for Korra and her Gran-Gran. %0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m fond of that scene too%2C not only for what it contains but for what it suggests. The canoe%2C for instance%2C implies that one of the ways of reaching D%26igrave%3Bqi%26uacute%3B%27s Spirit World from Valhalla if you know what you%27re doing is by crossing the Sea of Ghosts%2C which I think is a really nice image%2C and perfectly in keeping with Katara%27s roots.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A%5Bfont size%3D%221%22%5DIf you %5Bi%5Ddon%27t%5B%2Fi%5D know what you%27re doing%2C the unagi probably eats you.%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 18|2|15|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Mercutio||00:37:07|05/31/2014|%3EI wish I had the spare time for a detailed review. %0D%0A%0D%0AI%27ll just note that I got to %5Bi%5DTyrants If They Could%5B%2Fi%5D a full %5Bi%5Dthree months%5B%2Fi%5D after it was released%2C and not only was our host quite gracious about it%2C it led to some productive development work on %5Bi%5DDesolation Angel%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo%2C I mean%2C take your time. I would love it if someone else around here were a great big internet loudmouth. %28I keep hoping Traitor steps up%2C because she is awesome and knows her way around %5Bi%5Dle mot juste%5B%2Fi%5D.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A-Merc%0D%0AKeep Rat 19|3|18|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Gryphon||01:13:38|05/31/2014|%3E%3EI wish I had the spare time for a detailed review. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI%27ll just note that I got to %5Bi%5DTyrants If They Could%5B%2Fi%5D a full %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5Dthree months%5B%2Fi%5D after it was released%2C and not only was our host %0D%0A%3Equite gracious about it%2C it led to some productive development work on %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5DDesolation Angel%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0A... although one does%2C admittedly%2C rather hope that particular example is something of an outlier. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 20|3|18|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|juniper||15:52:01|05/31/2014|%3E%3EI wish I had the spare time for a detailed review. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI%27ll just note that I got to %5Bi%5DTyrants If They Could%5B%2Fi%5D a full %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5Dthree months%5B%2Fi%5D after it was released%2C and not only was our host %0D%0A%3Equite gracious about it%2C it led to some productive development work on %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5DDesolation Angel%5B%2Fi%5D. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3ESo%2C I mean%2C take your time. I would love it if someone else around %0D%0A%3Ehere were a great big internet loudmouth. %28I keep hoping Traitor steps %0D%0A%3Eup%2C because she is awesome and knows her way around %5Bi%5Dle mot %0D%0A%3Ejuste%5B%2Fi%5D.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd%2C for what it%27s worth%2C the writers %28and assistant writers%29 really do appreciate reading what y%27all have to say about these things. It helps keep the creative juices going%2C knowing there%27s an audience out there that gives a damn about what%27s going on. %3A%29 22|4|20|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|sideways||13:08:52|06/02/2014|I would like to step forward and represent a community of reticents who%2C despite having little to say and less facility with which to say it%2C still give several damns. Apiece.%0D%0A%0D%0AThat said%2C I do love Mr. Zhi%27s octant. It%27s like a sextant%2C only more so%21 23|5|22|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Gryphon||13:33:42|06/02/2014|%3EThat said%2C I do love Mr. Zhi%27s octant. It%27s like a sextant%2C only more %0D%0A%3Eso%21 %0D%0A%0D%0AThere was kind of a navigational-instrument arms race for a while there in the eighteenth century%3A first there was the quadrant%2C then the sextant%2C then the octant. %0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 24|6|23|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|The Traitor||15:14:47|06/02/2014|The French attempt%2C the plumedematant%2C was rather less successful.%0D%0A%0D%0A---%0D%0A%22She%27s old%2C she%27s lame%2C she%27s barren too%2C %2F%2F %22She%27s not worth feed or hay%2C %2F%2F %22But I%27ll give her this%2C%22 - he blew smoke at me - %2F%2F %22She was something in her day.%22 -- Garnet Rogers%2C %5Bi%5DSmall Victory%5B%2Fi%5D%0D%0A%0D%0AFiMFiction.net%3A we might accept blatant porn involving the cast of My Little Pony but as God is my witness we have %5Bi%5Dstandards%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bsmall%5DI%27m appreciated%21 %3C3%5B%2Fsmall%5D 28|4|20|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|DaPatman89||15:55:56|06/05/2014|I just never really have anything to add to what%27s already been said%2C and don%27t feel having the entire contents of a post being %22I like it%22 is sufficient. Though having said that...%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EThis turned out to be Korra%27s hair%2C specifically her ponytail.%0D%0A%3EIt moved whenever she did%2C swinging a concordant angle as she turned her%0D%0A%3Ehead to look from one side of the drawing she was reviewing to the%0D%0A%3Eother. Now that he%27d turned to take direct note of it%2C Corwin found%0D%0A%3Ehimself oddly fascinated by the physics involved - the interaction of%0D%0A%3Egravity%2C mass%2C and inertia%2C the way thousands of individual strands%0D%0A%3Ecould and did function as a single body.%0D%0A%0D%0ATo be fair to Corwin%2C the physics of ponytails are very interesting%2C to the point that a paper about it won the 2012 Ig Nobel Prize in Physics. 25|1|0|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Senji||19:55:33|06/02/2014|%3EA nice piece%2C with many character developing vignettes%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd Gryphon%27s talent for taking a character I have no clue about and making them into a real person I can care about.%0D%0A%0D%0AS.%0D%0A 29|2|25|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Gryphon||16:05:59|06/05/2014|%3E%3EA nice piece%2C with many character developing vignettes%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EAnd Gryphon%27s talent for taking a character I have no clue about and %0D%0A%3Emaking them into a real person I can care about. %0D%0A%0D%0AOut of curiosity%2C which one%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 26|1|0|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Star Ranger4||03:44:13|06/05/2014|%3E %22I thought you said you were planning to -relax- here%2C%22 said%0D%0A%3ECorwin%27s mother Skuld with a laugh as she hugged her only son.%0D%0A%0D%0AFor corwin%2C this IS relaxing%2C really. DesignDesk so he doesnt have to reveal tech Diqu doesnt have yet%3B Futon for those 30 minute breaks every 2-3 hours%2C really reminds me of when he was working on the world engine for Cepherio. Granted%2C the house is probobly less complicated than the engine%2C but hey%2C its CORWIN. He generates this stuff the way a stray unfixed feline generates kittens%21%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22Don%27t look at me%2C%22 said Gryphon when Corwin did exactly that.%0D%0A%3E%22I%27ve known better than to try and slow these two down since the day you%0D%0A%3Ewere born. Literally.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AQuoted for truth%2C and just the sheer hilarty of the whole bit. Could be even more hilarious later in Future Imperfect or %22new era%22 when he%27s come into his own enough to riff right back at her.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E Skuld looked back at Annabelle%27s face%2C shaking her head in%0D%0A%3Eamazement. %22Inconceivable%2C%22 she muttered.%0D%0A%0D%0AInigo Montoya%3A You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. %0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22Well%2C obviously not%2C%22 said Gryphon%2C causing Korra to snort%0D%0A%3Einvoluntarily%2C Corwin to cough awkwardly%2C Anthy to giggle%2C and Utena to%0D%0A%3Estifle a bark of laughter that probably would have startled the baby%2C%0D%0A%3Ethen shoot him a reproachful smile.%0D%0A%0D%0AI dunno if I should be sad or glad that you didn%27t have UF-G go for the Inigo riff%3B after all she only used it once and Inigo didnt do it to Vinnie till what... the 4th or 5th time%3F Just before Westly beats him in the duel in the forest%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22The pun or the procreation%3F%22 wondered Anthy innocently.%0D%0A%3E %22Both%2C%22 Gryphon replied promptly%2C drawing another round of%0D%0A%3Esimilar reactions.%0D%0A%0D%0AOr maybe not so innocently. %3Ap I can totally see Anthy giving UF-G a straight line like that. And a pun is the shortest distance between 2 straight lines%2C after all. And I should know%2C my whole family is punny that way. Except for my stepdad. He%27d usually just turn down his hearing aid so he could ignore us once we got going.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22Oh%2C please don%27t say that where Minmin can hear you%2C%22 he begged.%0D%0A%3E%22She%27ll insist on submitting a bid as a matter of form and guess who%27ll%0D%0A%3Ehave to write it.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AChurch Lady%3A COuld it be.... Sata.... err... Ryo%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22She%27s a little bit crazy.%22%0D%0A%3E %22A little bit%3F%22 Corwin wondered%2C%0D%0A%0D%0AAh%2C but its a good crazy%2C the kind that takes after her... fudge. Are these Asami%27s kids or grandkids%3F I%27ve kind of forgotten at the moment.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E Anthy smiled. %22Well%2C for them%2C I%27m sure he%27ll be happy to go -%0D%0A%3Edespite how much he loves the Turing Board%2C%22 she added dryly.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnthy%27s true mystic power%3F getting her tounge that far in her cheek without biting it off at the root%21%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E Grown-ups are so weird%2C she thought as she slipped quietly back%0D%0A%3Eout of the house and took herself off to bed.%0D%0A%0D%0AJeremy Irons%3A You have NO idea.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E Of course%2C there was -one- important difference%3B back in the WPI%0D%0A%3Eand DSM days%2C her afternoon workouts with Kate had not involved the%0D%0A%3Eoccasional presence of a gleeful infant and a slightly fretful dragon%2C%0D%0A%3Eone lashed to her back and the other anchored watchfully on her%0D%0A%3Eshoulder. That was a bit weird%2C but at the same time oddly gratifying.%0D%0A%0D%0AMakes sense%2C really. Both Korra and Nyima are masters%2C and would be skilled enough that Annabelle wouldnt be in any real danger%3B and its not like bad guys to give you a chance to hand off your daughter before attacking. And while Nall loved to hang with Utena%3B I%27m certain that he%27d have found riding her shoulder while she spared far to energetic. he is a CAT dragon%2C after all.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EIt%27s... calming.%22 He shook his head. %22I just%0D%0A%3Ecan%27t say anything here that doesn%27t sound like a euphemism%2C can I.%22%0D%0A%3E %22Not really%2C%22 Corwin agreed.%0D%0A%0D%0A%2ASNERK%2A Ahem%2C excuse my not so dirty mind here%2C but I was actually assuming that her spending time with Nall %2AWAS%2A more like meditation and talking things out with a peer%2C etc... granted%2C Lhakpa isn%27t exactly a true PEER%2C but I have a feeling she kinda gets where Nall is coming from a lot more because of her own issues.%0D%0A%0D%0AI think I read way to much into the fact that this sceen happened on April 1st%2C though.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22%28Hmm%2C good point. I guess we%27d better skip that for right now.%0D%0A%3EI wouldn%27t mind so much%2C%29%22 she added with a mischievous grin%2C %22%28but Ryo%0D%0A%3Emight be embarrassed... %29%22%0D%0A%0D%0APoor Corwin. Even from his wives he gets no respect%21 And be glad Anthy wasn%27t there%2C she probobly would have come up with something even more wickedly teasing.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22It is a great honor to have you traveling with us%2C Avatar%21%22 Lt.%0D%0A%3EZhi barked stiffly before anyone else had a chance to speak.%0D%0A%0D%0AHeh. A continuation of stick up the... backsides officers tradition that runs all the way back to the first appearance of the HoSghaj.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E Zhi continued to look confused for a second or so longer%2C then%0D%0A%3Efinished parsing the request and smiled%2C suddenly looking much more%0D%0A%3Ehuman than he had when shouting rigidly formal greetings to the Avatar%0D%0A%3Eon the bridge.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd continues with showing their... well%2C I suppose calling it %22human side%22 might be considered an Insult by Zargh Thalekh%2C but...%0D%0A%0D%0AAs a complete and total non sequitur%3B I could totally see two Klingon warriors challenging each other to prove who was tougher by seeing who could down the most jalapenoes without having to take a drink during Taco Night.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E So she kept herself away from it%2C unconsciously editing herself%3A%0D%0A%3Esubstituting a series of small%2C easily overlooked awkwardnesses for one%0D%0A%3Ebig%2C unmissable one.%0D%0A%0D%0ARut Rhoh%2C Shaggy. What do you want to bet that...%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EAnthy was peculiarly well-equipped%0D%0A%3Eto detect such small awkwardnesses where others might miss them. The%0D%0A%3Erealization came to her gradually%2C but plainly%2C and by the time they%0D%0A%3Estopped for fuel at Kyoshi Island%2C she had begun seriously to consider%0D%0A%3Ewhat she might do about it.%0D%0A%0D%0Ayup. Healer Anthy is on the case.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22Oh%2C hang on%2C I see what you%27re getting at%2C%22 she mused to Anthy.%0D%0A%3E%22Hmm.%22 Then%2C with a shrug%2C she added casually%2C %22Welp%3B knew this was%0D%0A%3Ecomin%27.%22%0D%0A%3E Anthy blinked%2C surprised by the matter-of-fact tenor of her%0D%0A%3Ehusband%27s response. %22You did%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C I suppose Anthy%27s surprize at this could have been because she didnt have to draw Utena a picture this time%3B as Utena notes in the next few paragraphs she HAS been right where Korra is now.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22Ahh%2C don%27t worry%2C he knows%2C%22 said Karana with a grin. %22He%27s%0D%0A%3Ejust a big wimp about being cold.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AThe stereotype here is that most people would associate that sort of sentiment with a Firebender or someone from the Fire Nation. I know I was confused for a moment when I recalled Azana was the team%27s firebender.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E From ice-out in the spring until the freeze in late fall%2C%0D%0A%3Efishermen and -women - most of whom kept their main homes in Senna -%0D%0A%3Eworked the waters of both fjords%2C as well as the coastal waters beyond%0D%0A%3EQurluqtuq%2C from boats based out of the piers of Pangniqtuuq%0D%0A%0D%0AIOW%2C Deadliest Catch Diaqu style%2C Eh%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22Now that is a boat.%22 He turned to Korra with a%0D%0A%3Eroguish twinkle in his eye. %22I should make a couple of calls.%22 Gauging%0D%0A%3Ethe size of the vessel with a practiced eye%2C he went on%2C %22We get 40 or%0D%0A%3E50 strong rowers in that hull and we can go a-viking.%0D%0A%0D%0AHeh. Love seeing Corwins heritage peek through%2C though I doubt the poor fishermen who work the area would see it as that funny.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22Vicious little bastards. They%27ll take your leg off all the way up to%0D%0A%3Eyour neck.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AYipe. and I bet that if%2Fwhen they learn fishing boats have nets full of fish it just makes the catching that much more... Interesting.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EWhat you%0D%0A%3Ethree have to do%2C without any input from me%2C is get this boat%2C%22 %28she%0D%0A%3Etapped the gunwale with a palm%29 %22through that channel%2C%22 %28indicating the%0D%0A%3Eice-choked passage%29 %22and out to the open sea without sinking her.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd while the Trinity arn%27t waterbenders%2C would using bending be considered cheating%3F meh. Bellasarius%27 law prolly applies here.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E _Deadliest Catch%3A Music from the Series_ %282006%29%0D%0A%0D%0AHeh. Seeing this music cue just EMPHAsises my Quip about DC Daiqu%21%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E They arrived back at Pangniqtuuq half an hour later with a%0D%0A%3Ebroom%2C the traditional symbol of victory at sea%2C lashed to the top of%0D%0A%3Ethe mast.%0D%0A%0D%0AActually%2C it means a clean sweep of all tasks... but now I%27m getting excessivly pendantic%2C arnt I%3F %2Awince%2A%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Ethen%2C not entirely%0D%0A%3Econvincingly%2C she sobbed%2C %22-Hold- me%2C%22%0D%0A%0D%0Aapparently dragons learn win levels of snark during the dreaming as well as language%21%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22How hard can mmmrph%2C%22 said Garnet%2C and then%2C when he released%0D%0A%3Eher snout from between thumb and forefinger%2C %22Can you not do that%3F%22%0D%0A%3E %22Only if you stop making it necessary%2C%22 Corwin replied mildly.%0D%0A%0D%0ABut not about tempting fate. Some things one really can only learn through experience after all.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3ECorwin%27s %22well%2C -I- don%27t know%22 face%0D%0A%0D%0AAlso known as the %22lost in Cleavland%22 face in my minds eye.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E ... when%2C with a slightly wicked little smile%2C Anthy caught her%0D%0A%3Eeye. With a quick%2C hard-to-follow movement of her right hand%2C the%0D%0A%3ECephirean Priestess was suddenly holding two roses%2C one white%2C the other%0D%0A%3Ean almost-iridescent pale blue.%0D%0A%0D%0AYES%21 Its been way too long since we%27ve gotten to see one of these in text%21 and%2C I for one%2C somehow find it totally fitting that this winds up being part of Utena and Anthy%27s plan for inducting Korra into the circle of the %22Grave Corwin Conspiracy%22%2C %28not to be confused with the %22Grave Gryphon Conspiracy%21%22%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EOn the ground midway between them%2C%0D%0A%3Ethe pale blue rose that had been on Korra%27s chest lay scattered like a%0D%0A%3Ebomb burst%2C its denuded central bud smoldering gently.%0D%0A%3E Utena%27s was still right where Anthy had pinned it.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe Winner and still champ-een.... Utena TENJO%21%21%21%21%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E special guest star%0D%0A%3E Katara of the Southern Water Tribe%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd once again%2C Corwin shows just how he manages to be so darn luuuurrvable. %2Athumbs up%2A 27|2|26|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Gryphon||13:13:57|06/05/2014|%3E%3E %22The pun or the procreation%3F%22 wondered Anthy innocently.%0D%0A%3E%3E %22Both%2C%22 Gryphon replied promptly%2C drawing another round of%0D%0A%3E%3Esimilar reactions.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EOr maybe not so innocently. %3Ap%0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C yes%2C her %5Bi%5Dintent%5B%2Fi%5D was entirely non-innocent%2C but her %5Bi%5Ddelivery%5B%2Fi%5D was almost perfect. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EAh%2C but its a good crazy%2C the kind that takes after her... fudge. Are %0D%0A%3Ethese Asami%27s kids or grandkids%3F I%27ve kind of forgotten at the %0D%0A%3Emoment. %0D%0A%0D%0AMinami and Ryo are Asami%27s great-great-grandchildren. %5Blink%3Awww.eyrie-productions.com%2FForum-docs%2FDCForumID16%2F431.html%7CHere%27s a handy guide%5D to the entire Sato dynasty to date.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%2ASNERK%2A Ahem%2C excuse my not so dirty mind here%2C but I was actually %0D%0A%3Eassuming that her spending time with Nall %2AWAS%2A more like meditation %0D%0A%3Eand talking things out with a peer%2C etc...%0D%0A%0D%0AIn fairness%2C it mostly has been. Just... not always. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3E %22%28Hmm%2C good point. I guess we%27d better skip that for right now.%0D%0A%3E%3EI wouldn%27t mind so much%2C%29%22 she added with a mischievous grin%2C %22%28but Ryo%0D%0A%3E%3Emight be embarrassed... %29%22%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EPoor Corwin. Even from his wives he gets no respect%21 And be glad %0D%0A%3EAnthy wasn%27t there%2C she probobly would have come up with something %0D%0A%3Eeven more wickedly teasing. %0D%0A%0D%0AAnthy would%2C in fact%2C have reached over and %5Bi%5Dturned the video feed on%2C%5B%2Fi%5D so as to cause precisely the event Corwin warned her about.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3E %22It is a great honor to have you traveling with us%2C Avatar%21%22 Lt.%0D%0A%3E%3EZhi barked stiffly before anyone else had a chance to speak.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EHeh. A continuation of stick up the... backsides officers tradition %0D%0A%3Ethat runs all the way back to the first appearance of the HoSghaj. %0D%0A%0D%0AHeh%2C sort of. Lt. Zhi has a bit less of that Sam-the-Eagle %22indignant disapproval%22 thing going on compared to Zargh. He doesn%27t have much of a sense of humor himself%2C but he doesn%27t necessarily resent it in other people. He%27s annoyed at Yumi in that scene because she laughed %5Bi%5Dat him%2C%5B%2Fi%5D whereas Zargh gets annoyed when people laugh at %5Bi%5Danything%5B%2Fi%5D. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3E %22Oh%2C hang on%2C I see what you%27re getting at%2C%22 she mused to Anthy.%0D%0A%3E%3E%22Hmm.%22 Then%2C with a shrug%2C she added casually%2C %22Welp%3B knew this was%0D%0A%3E%3Ecomin%27.%22%0D%0A%3E%3E Anthy blinked%2C surprised by the matter-of-fact tenor of her%0D%0A%3E%3Ehusband%27s response. %22You did%3F%22%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EWell%2C I suppose Anthy%27s surprize at this could have been because she %0D%0A%3Edidnt have to draw Utena a picture this time%3B as Utena notes in the %0D%0A%3Enext few paragraphs she HAS been right where Korra is now. %0D%0A%0D%0AYeah%2C Anthy%27s not surprised that Utena saw what she was getting at%3B just that she was apparently %5Bi%5Dexpecting%5B%2Fi%5D it already.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3E %22Ahh%2C don%27t worry%2C he knows%2C%22 said Karana with a grin. %22He%27s%0D%0A%3E%3Ejust a big wimp about being cold.%22%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EThe stereotype here is that most people would associate that sort of %0D%0A%3Esentiment with a Firebender or someone from the Fire Nation. I know I %0D%0A%3Ewas confused for a moment when I recalled Azana was the team%27s %0D%0A%3Efirebender. %0D%0A%0D%0AHeh%2C yeah%2C and Azana doesn%27t actually mind the cold - she%27s a firebender%2C she can always warm up. Xiang Wan%2C on the other hand%2C is from Gaoling%2C Toph Beifong%27s old hometown. It%27s near the equator and rarely even gets %5Bi%5Dcool%5B%2Fi%5D weather%2C let alone cold.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3E From ice-out in the spring until the freeze in late fall%2C%0D%0A%3E%3Efishermen and -women - most of whom kept their main homes in Senna -%0D%0A%3E%3Eworked the waters of both fjords%2C as well as the coastal waters beyond%0D%0A%3E%3EQurluqtuq%2C from boats based out of the piers of Pangniqtuuq%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EIOW%2C Deadliest Catch Diaqu style%2C Eh%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AKind of%2C but not on a commercial scale. And they%27re fishing for fish%2C not crab%2C so the equipment is all different. So not really. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EYipe. and I bet that if%2Fwhen they learn fishing boats have nets full %0D%0A%3Eof fish it just makes the catching that much more... Interesting. %0D%0A%0D%0ALuckily%2C they%27re smart enough to stay out of the nets themselves. Sorting your catch would be a real hassle if there was an ottershark or two in there.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EAnd while the Trinity arn%27t waterbenders%2C would using bending be %0D%0A%3Econsidered cheating%3F meh. Bellasarius%27 law prolly applies here. %0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m not sure about that. The one ice dodging scene that%27s presented in canon does feature some bending stunts%2C but IIRC%2C they only happen after the person proctoring the test has already declared that they%27ve done enough and can knock off for the day%2C so they wouldn%27t have affected the scores%2C as it were.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3ECorwin%27s %22well%2C -I- don%27t know%22 face%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EAlso known as the %22lost in Cleavland%22 face in my minds eye. %0D%0A%0D%0AThat%27s the face Corwin has when he%27s %5Bi%5Dactually%5B%2Fi%5D lost in Cleveland%2C as opposed to Lost In Cleveland. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 30|1|0|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|TheOtherSean||23:15:37|06/05/2014|I enjoyed it. Can I have more%2C please%3F %3A%29 31|2|30|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Gryphon||23:47:25|06/05/2014|%3EI enjoyed it. Can I have more%2C please%3F %3A%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AI sure hope so...%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 32|1|0|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|starless||17:24:34|06/06/2014|I honestly feel like a bit of a prat saying this%2C but honestly I can%27t make heads or tails of any of this.%0D%0A%0D%0ABut I haven%27t seen more than%2C like%2C an episode of Avatar. Ever. And it was the first series. So basically all the names bounce off my ancient and weathered old person%27s skull and I basically end up going %22I have no idea what any of this means.%22 I mean%2C on one hand%2C what Mr. H tries to do here is to integrate these sorts of things into a pick-up-and-play paradigm%2C but it just feels like there%27s way more required reading on the Diqiu material than basically any previously integrated source material. I dunno. I%27m not turned off by it%2C but my reaction is basically going to be %22it%27s alright%3F%22 about this entire miniseries. 33|2|32|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Gryphon||17:54:15|06/06/2014|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jun-06-14 AT 05:54 PM (EDT)]%3EI mean%2C on one hand%2C what Mr. H tries %0D%0A%3Eto do here is to integrate these sorts of things into a %0D%0A%3Epick-up-and-play paradigm%2C but it just feels like there%27s way more %0D%0A%3Erequired reading on the Diqiu material than basically any previously %0D%0A%3Eintegrated source material.%0D%0A%0D%0AHmm. Well%2C maybe so. On the other hand%2C the canonical events happened a very long time ago in relation to the events of the %5Bi%5DD%C3%ACqi%C3%BA Suite%5B%2Fi%5D%2C and most of the characters in the latter are new%2C so not recognizing the names is not necessarily a source problem. Beyond that%2C I%27m not sure I agree that complete familiarity with the source material is required%2C if only because %5Bi%5DI don%27t have that either%3B%5B%2Fi%5D I did the television equivalent of skimming about 67%25 of %5Bi%5DThe Legend of Korra%5B%2Fi%5D Book 2%2C because it had made an enemy of me by round about the fifth episode. At this point Korra%27s as prominent as she is in UF %5Bi%5Ddespite%5B%2Fi%5D her origins rather than because of them%2C which is%2C perhaps%2C some indication of her general awesomeness%2C that she%27s so thoroughly established herself in my creative consciousness despite coming from a show that makes me want to punch someone. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0AAnyway%2C as you note%2C the intent is generally to set things up so that familiarity with the sources adds to the experience rather than unfamiliarity detracting%3B but I%27m willing to accept the possibility that I%27ve fucked it up this time. That is%2C alas%2C life sometimes. %3A%28%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 34|3|33|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|zojojojo||20:14:37|06/06/2014|%3E%3EI mean%2C on one hand%2C what Mr. H tries %0D%0A%3E%3Eto do here is to integrate these sorts of things into a %0D%0A%3E%3Epick-up-and-play paradigm%2C but it just feels like there%27s way more %0D%0A%3E%3Erequired reading on the Diqiu material than basically any previously %0D%0A%3E%3Eintegrated source material.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EAnyway%2C as you note%2C the intent is generally to set things up so that %0D%0A%3Efamiliarity with the sources adds to the experience rather than %0D%0A%3Eunfamiliarity detracting%3B but I%27m willing to accept the possibility %0D%0A%3Ethat I%27ve fucked it up this time. That is%2C alas%2C life sometimes. %3A%28 %0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AAs a counterpoint%2C I have only a passing knowledge that something about a last airbender exists as a cartoon-slash-comic %28which is more than I knew about Utena%2C but less than I knew about the various space opera sources%29 and am enjoying it thoroughly. Sure%2C sometimes I wonder if %24character is original or from the source%2C but in the end I find it doesn%27t matter and I can infer any necessary backstory as needed.%0D%0A%0D%0A-Z %5Bi%5D%5B%2Fi%5D%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A---%0D%0ARemember kids%3A guns make you stupid%2C duct tape makes you smart. 35|4|34|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Droken||00:01:57|06/07/2014|Agreed. As always it%27s worth recognizing that not everyone will have the same reaction to such a significant integration of something into UF that they have no knowledge of%2C but personally I%27ve greatly enjoyed the entirety of the Diqiu-related adds%2C and I%27ve seen less than 3 episodes of ATLA.%0D%0A%0D%0AIn some ways the Diqiu Suite in particular feels to me much like the later parts of the first and early parts of the second Symphonies%2C in that it%27s a great deal of character-driven%2C almost-universally good and awesome down-time for everyone%2C with a massive influx of new and interesting characters. And yet%2C at least for we the viewers%2C there%27s just the teeniest%2C tiniest reminder back in Honeymoon that the forces of the Black Rose are still at least lurking about. And with the Royal Progress bit happening in the very recent past as well...%0D%0A%0D%0AFrom my seat%2C it%27s been an excellent ride%2C and I don%27t personally think that you%27ve messed up on this one Chief. 36|4|34|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Blackbird||00:20:04|06/07/2014|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jun-07-14 AT 00:22 AM (EDT)]Similarly%2C I have as minimal of knowledge of this source material%2C having seen maybe ten minutes of ATLA and an episode or two of TLoK%2C as I can reasonable expect to have%2C given my age%2C social group%2C and internet presence %28I%27m one of the younger members of this board%2C which is occasionally %28often%29 intimidating.%29%2C and yet I%27m following the new material fairly well. %0D%0A%0D%0AAnd yet%2C similar to above%2C I can%27t help but be slightly %28very slightly%29 put off%2C because the entire Symphony has suddenly veered off in a rather unexpected direction and continues to meander there%2C though it%27s been quite enjoyable%2C and reminiscent of earlier Symphonies. I don%27t know%2C it seems to be dragging%2C a bit%3F That%27s not to say I%27m not entertained%3B there are plenty of wonderful moments%2C and great character development.%0D%0A%0D%0AI do%2C however%2C greatly appreciate what the suite in general%2C and this movement in particular%2C have done for my appreciation of Anthy. Before the continuation of the Symphony last summer%2C something about her struck me as ... off%2C somehow. Not to the extent Akio implied in Sympathy for the Devil%2C but she somehow never clicked into place for me %28I%27m unfamiliar with the source material%29. And then%2C it was her interaction with UF-Gryphon et al. which finally sold her for me. Thank you.%0D%0A 37|5|36|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Gryphon||01:16:51|06/07/2014|%3E%28I%27m one of the younger members of this board%2C which %0D%0A%3Eis occasionally %28often%29 intimidating.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AEh%2C I don%27t know if it%27s worth being intimidated. I mean%2C yeah%2C I%27ll technically be 41 in a couple of weeks%2C but psychologically I%27m not sure I made it out of high school. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EI don%27t know%2C it seems to be dragging%2C a bit%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AWell... hmm.%0D%0A%0D%0AI see what you%27re saying%2C and it %5Bi%5Dis%5B%2Fi%5D a bit of a large digression%2C but on the other hand%2C that%27s kind of the risk one takes when developing what amounts to downtime for action-oriented characters. There was a similar sort of thing during %5Bi%5DSymphony No. 1%5B%2Fi%5D - in the studio%2C we used to joke darkly and fatalistically about the %22entr%27acte deathmarch%22 between the Fifth and Sixth Movements%2C as all the different threads of the First Symphony%27s plot branched and then came back together again%2C and each one had to be followed to its logical conclusion before we could get on with the larger story arc.%0D%0A%0D%0ASince %5Bi%5DTry%2C Try Again%5B%2Fi%5D%2C the %5Bi%5DD%26igrave%3Bqi%26uacute%3B Suite%5B%2Fi%5D has developed organically into a similar sort of thing %28albeit one concentrated on a single thread%29%2C and I%27ve had my concerns that it mightn%27t be for everyone%2C source fluency or no. The forum community at large hasn%27t seen most of it%2C but there%27s been a bit of agonizing behind the scenes about just how far down the rabbit hole we really wanted to go with it.%0D%0A%0D%0ABut%2C on the other hand%2C this is what%27s %5Bi%5Dhappening%5B%2Fi%5D in this important character group%27s lives right now%2C and it%27ll be necessary that we %5Bi%5Dknow%5B%2Fi%5D it%27s happened later on... so%2C as with the various branches in the middle of S1%2C we have little choice but to follow where it leads until it comes back to the main road. So while I acknowledge that it%27s a diversion%2C I can only insist that it%27s an important one%2C and ask that those who are finding it a bit tangential to bear with us a while longer. %28I actually have a couple of looks at other corners of the %5Bi%5DSymphony%5B%2Fi%5D %22world%22 during the same timeframe in the works%2C which are %5Bi%5Dalso%5B%2Fi%5D digressions in a way%2C but at least they%27ll be a change of pace%2C and%2C as with the middle of S1%2C it%27ll all come back together. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m pleased that you%27re finding it enjoyable even if you%27re a little puzzled about where it%27s heading%2C though. That%27s kind of the second-best outcome%2C when you%27ve confused the readers but they%27re hanging in to see where you%27re headed anyway.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EI do%2C however%2C greatly appreciate what the suite in general%2C and this %0D%0A%3Emovement in particular%2C have done for my appreciation of Anthy. Before %0D%0A%3Ethe continuation of the Symphony last summer%2C something about her %0D%0A%3Estruck me as ... off%2C somehow.%0D%0A%0D%0AHeh%2C Anthy can be a tricky one to read%2C both in- and out-of-story%2C because she%27s very different from a lot of the characters around her%2C particularly right now. Many of the central cast members surrounding her are open books%2C real hearts-on-their-sleeves type %28including Korra%2C even though she rarely %5Bi%5Dwears%5B%2Fi%5D sleeves%29%2C and Anthy... isn%27t. Her self-contained affect can make her seem a bit sinister by comparison to those around her%2C and her modern tendency toward an air of quiet mischief doesn%27t help. She seems like she%27s up to something%2C and she very often %5Bi%5Dis%5B%2Fi%5D up to something%2C but one can%27t tell %5Bi%5Dwhat%5B%2Fi%5D from the outside.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 38|6|37|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Peter Eng||03:41:35|06/07/2014|%3EAnthy... %0D%0A%3E Her self-contained affect can make her seem a bit sinister by %0D%0A%3Ecomparison to those around her%2C and her modern tendency toward an air %0D%0A%3Eof quiet mischief doesn%27t help. She seems like she%27s up to something%2C %0D%0A%3Eand she very often %5Bi%5Dis%5B%2Fi%5D up to something%2C but one can%27t tell %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5Dwhat%5B%2Fi%5D from the outside. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0AIn my view%2C most of those %22up to something%22 moments are about keeping the Trinity stable - something which will likely keep her busy most of the time%2C especially since she seems to be using the same playbook that a certain Grave Feminine Conspiracy uses.%0D%0A%0D%0APeter Eng%0D%0A--%0D%0AInsert humorous comment here. 39|3|33|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Offsides||12:30:15|06/09/2014|%3EAnyway%2C as you note%2C the intent is generally to set things up so that %0D%0A%3Efamiliarity with the sources adds to the experience rather than %0D%0A%3Eunfamiliarity detracting%3B but I%27m willing to accept the possibility %0D%0A%3Ethat I%27ve fucked it up this time. That is%2C alas%2C life sometimes. %3A%28 %0D%0A%0D%0AFor various reasons%2C my familiarity with most of the source material that UF is taken from ranges from minimal at best to absolutely nothing%2C yet other than occasionally confusing me when I encounter it later and find that my mental picture was %5Bi%5Dcompletely%5B%2Fi%5D wrong%2C it doesn%27t really matter to me. Perhaps knowing the source material can make it easier to understand and%2For more enjoyable %28e.g.%2C I really like the various CSI characters in UF in part because of the comparison to their originals%29%2C but I%27ve rarely failed to get something because of a lack of source background.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd that%27s one of the reasons I love UF - you may have taken characters from somewhere else to assemble things%2C but you%27ve sufficiently made them your own that it %5Bi%5Ddoesn%27t matter%5B%2Fi%5D. You give me enough of the picture that even if I%27m missing minor nuances%2C it doesn%27t prevent me from seeing things in context%2C and you usually point out those nuances %28either on camera or in the forums%29 if they%27re really important. In short%2C you do a good job of telling the story%2C and that%27s all I care about.%0D%0A%0D%0AJust my %240.02.%0D%0A%0D%0AOffsides%0D%0A%0D%0A%26%2391%3B...%26%2393%3B in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.%0D%0A -- David Ben Gurion%0D%0AEPU RCW %23%26pi%3B%0D%0A%23include %3Cstdsig.h%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A 40|1|0|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Croaker||18:20:17|06/09/2014|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jun-09-14 AT 06:20 PM (EDT)]Not reading the actual thread yet because spoilers.%0D%0A%0D%0AI just today got the time to sit down and read this%2C and just now started the sailboat scene%2C and %5Bi%5Ddamn%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0AModerately experienced sailor here. I%27ve been -out- in boats like that. We%27ve owned several small and not-so-small sailboats in my life. And an open boat in arctic %28okay%2C antarctic%2C still FORKING COLD%29 waters in 25%2B knot winds%3F YIPE. We%27re talking %22Why%2C yes%2C officer%2C I%27d rather challenge a polar bear to a fistfight while armed with only a butter knife%22 conditions here. Add in an amateur crew%3F Even this particular trio%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%2Awince%2A doesn%27t even BEGIN to describe it.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A 41|2|40|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Gryphon||19:16:29|06/09/2014|%3EI just today got the time to sit down and read this%2C and just now %0D%0A%3Estarted the sailboat scene%2C and %5Bi%5Ddamn%5B%2Fi%5D. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%2Awince%2A doesn%27t even BEGIN to describe it. %0D%0A%0D%0AIce dodging is a very-well-calibrated way of measuring the brass content of balls%2C yes.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 42|3|41|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Croaker||22:20:38|06/09/2014|%3E%3EI just today got the time to sit down and read this%2C and just now %0D%0A%3E%3Estarted the sailboat scene%2C and %5Bi%5Ddamn%5B%2Fi%5D. %0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3E%2Awince%2A doesn%27t even BEGIN to describe it. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EIce dodging is a very-well-calibrated way of measuring the brass %0D%0A%3Econtent of balls%2C yes. %0D%0A%0D%0AThat%27s one way to put it.%0D%0A%0D%0AIf they were anything less than -master- sail-handlers%2C or action-movie protagonists %28the latter of which they are%2C fortunately for all involved%29%2C I would describe the entire concept as %22actively suicidal%2C of the Darwin Award variety%22. %0D%0A%0D%0AI know a lot of very experienced sailors who simply %5Bi%5Dwill not go out%5B%2Fi%5D in otherwise-ideal conditions with 20-25 knot winds%2C because you%27re edging onto ranges where the wind is really outmuscling anything you can do in the way of sail-handling%2C especially on a small open hull. The boat is going to be %5Bi%5Dextraordinarily%5B%2Fi%5D hard to handle%2C and any crew is going to come home with bruises%2C muscle strains%2C hypothermia%2C frostbite%2C and generally in need of some serious TLC. %0D%0A%0D%0ABrass balls%3F Sorry. %5Bi%5DVibranium%5B%2Fi%5D at the very %5Bi%5Dleast%5B%2Fi%5D. 43|4|42|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|pjmoyer||23:36:07|06/09/2014|%3E%3E%3EI just today got the time to sit down and read this%2C and just now %0D%0A%3E%3E%3Estarted the sailboat scene%2C and %5Bi%5Ddamn%5B%2Fi%5D. %0D%0A%3E%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3E%3E%2Awince%2A doesn%27t even BEGIN to describe it. %0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EIce dodging is a very-well-calibrated way of measuring the brass %0D%0A%3E%3Econtent of balls%2C yes. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EThat%27s one way to put it. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EIf they were anything less than -master- sail-handlers%2C or %0D%0A%3Eaction-movie protagonists %28the latter of which they are%2C fortunately %0D%0A%3Efor all involved%29%2C I would describe the entire concept as %22actively %0D%0A%3Esuicidal%2C of the Darwin Award variety%22. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI know a lot of very experienced sailors who simply %5Bi%5Dwill not go %0D%0A%3Eout%5B%2Fi%5D in otherwise-ideal conditions with 20-25 knot winds%2C because %0D%0A%3Eyou%27re edging onto ranges where the wind is really outmuscling %0D%0A%3Eanything you can do in the way of sail-handling%2C especially on a small %0D%0A%3Eopen hull. The boat is going to be %5Bi%5Dextraordinarily%5B%2Fi%5D hard to %0D%0A%3Ehandle%2C and any crew is going to come home with bruises%2C muscle %0D%0A%3Estrains%2C hypothermia%2C frostbite%2C and generally in need of some serious %0D%0A%3ETLC. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EBrass balls%3F Sorry. %5Bi%5DVibranium%5B%2Fi%5D at the very %5Bi%5Dleast%5B%2Fi%5D. %0D%0A%0D%0AAs a comparison%2C here is Sokka%27s own equivalent Ice Dodging experience%2C performed in what could be considered %22acceptable%22 conditions %28starting at 2%3A30%29%3A%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fnicktoons.nick.com%2Fvideos%2Fclip%2Favatar-extras-bato-of-the-water-tribe-cart-c.html%0D%0A%0D%0A%28That is%2C a strong costal current%2C brisk winds%2C and very large pointy rocks%29.%0D%0A%0D%0AKeep in mind that at the time%2C Sokka was 15%2C Katara 14%2C and Aang 12. And this was considered %22late%22 for a Water Tribe warrior to undergo the ceremony.%0D%0A%0D%0AKorra was intending to take Corwin Ice Dodging when he was around 13-14 himself%2C and would have scaled the experience accordingly. However%2C that didn%27t happen%2C so instead%2C when faced with a Corwin in the 18-19 year range%2C along with Utena and Anthy%2C she scaled the experience in the %5Bi%5Dother%5B%2Fi%5D direction.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28As an aside%2C bending %5Bi%5Dis%5B%2Fi%5D allowed for certain circumstances during the Ice Dodging ritual. If any of the crew under the command of the tested individual is a bender%2C then they are a resource to be used by the commander just as any other piece of nautical hardware.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--- Philip%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%223%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D2 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%0D%0A%5Btr%5D%5Btd width%3D%2265%22%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie.org%2F%7Eaerianne%2Ffoth.img%2Fgaia_ser_philip_saber.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%0D%0A%5Btd%5D%5Bfont color%3D%22%230000dd%22%5DPhilip J. Moyer%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22%230000aa%22 size%3D-2%5DContributing Writer%2C Editor and Artist %28and Moderator%29 -- Eyrie Productions%2C Unlimited%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22%230000aa%22 size%3D-2%5DCEO of MTS%2C High Poobah Of Artwork%2C and High Priest Of the Church Of Aerianne -- Magnetic Terrapin Studios%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22%230044aa%22 size%3D-1%5D%5Bi%5D%22Insert Pithy Comment Here%22%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22%230044aa%22 size%3D-1%5D%5Bi%5D%5Blink%3Amagnetic-terp-input.tumblr.com%7CFandoms%5D%5B%2Fi%5D -- %5Bi%5D%5Blink%3Amagnetic-terp-output.tumblr.com%7CFanart%5D%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%0D%0A%5Btd width%3D%2265%22%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie.org%2F%7Eaerianne%2Ffoth.img%2Fgaia_aeri_coat_sword.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%0D%0A%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%223%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D1 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D 44|1|0|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Mercutio||00:37:06|06/13/2014|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jun-13-14 AT 00:42 AM (EDT)]I seem to only be able to get these two weeks after the fact nowadays. Hopefully%2C the rest of the summer goes much more smoothly.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EWhile they were about it%2C a team from Republic Telephone and%0D%0A%3ETelegraph was on hand%2C along with a couple of technicians from Sato%0D%0A%3EComputing Machines.%0D%0A%0D%0AThis is such a silly thing%2C but... I love that there%27s an RT%26T. I don%27t know why. I kind of want to see one of their advertising posters now%2C done in that sort of 1950s IBM%2FGE%2FAT%26T%2Fetc. corporate aesthetic of %22Aren%27t we all responsible%2C forward thinking technologists here%21%22%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd of course the fact that %22Sato Computing Machines%22 is an awesome name is already well-known to us all here.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EThe senior man from SCM%2C a buzzcut%2C intense young man in%0D%0A%3Ean immaculate white shirt with sleeves that looked like they%27d been%0D%0A%3Erolled up with reference to a straightedge and then ironed that way%2C%0D%0A%3Egave him a serious thumbs-up and nodded firmly.%0D%0A%0D%0ANot pictured%3A socks with garters on them. Because some people%3F Have %5Bi%5Dstandards%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22OK.%22 Korra knocked on the jamb of the open living room door%0D%0A%3Eand leaned her head around it. %22Everybody decent in here%3F I%27ve got a%0D%0A%3Ecouple of stragglers to see Herself and the Red Terror.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bi%5DHerself and the Red Terror%5B%2Fi%5D was%2C of course%2C also the title of one of the Crimson Lizard films Kaitlyn was in. It is not to be confused with %5Bi%5DShe%21 The Earth Kingdom%27s Red Weapon%21%5B%2Fi%5D%2C one of Bolin%27s later Nuktuk serials during that period when they were trying to transition the franchise into a more sci-fi direction.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3ETurning to Gryphon with an expression of wonderment%2C Skuld said%0D%0A%3Eas if surprised%2C %22This is our granddaughter.%22%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EGryphon nodded. %22Indisputably.%22%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%22We have a -granddaughter%2C- you fool%2C%22 Skuld insisted%2C as if he%0D%0A%3Ewasn%27t -getting- it.%0D%0A%0D%0AAwww.%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m curious... no Priss and Guy%3F I mean%2C yes%2C clearly they%27re not going to haul the entire entourage out to Diqiu for this%3B it would bloat an already long piece%2C wouldn%27t add much narratively%2C and in-universe Redneck and R-Type and the Roses and everyone can all wait until the Trinity aren%27t on their honeymoon and have arranged all their post-partum situations to be much more stable%2C but you%27d think the immediate family would have been dragged in to see their adorable new niece and for Priss to get some %5Bi%5Dreally%5B%2Fi%5D good mocking in. Especially since I think Priss and Guy are still living at home.%0D%0A%0D%0AAlso too%3A it no doubt occurred offscreen%2C but I am totally imagining Len %28currently off moping-slash-becoming-a-Jedi%29 just completely not believing this when he asked Achika et al. over in %5Bi%5DWarriors%5B%2Fi%5D for an update on his brother.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Corwin%3F Got married a couple times%2C disseminated his genetic materiel. Your niece is pretty cute%2C by the way. Toddling adorably%2C like they do.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22... bullshit. You had me going%2C though.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EMuch of this seemed to hinge on relinquishing the baby as seldom as possible%0D%0A%3Eand soliciting tips from Jinora and Ikki%2C who had had the experience numerous%0D%0A%3Etimes and in multiple generations by this point.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Can you divorce your spirit from your body and wander freely and unseen%3F Because I%27ve found that made baby-sitting and%2C importantly%2C toddler-finding much%2C much easier.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22... yes%21 Yes%2C actually%2C I can.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Well you%27re good to go%2C then.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22You didn%27t save any work for me%21%22 Ryo Sato observed%2C entering%0D%0A%3Ethe room behind her. Then%2C to dispel any impression that he was%0D%0A%3Ecomplaining about that%2C he smiled and added%2C %22Excellent.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AOh%2C Ryo. Never stop being asian Tony Stark.%0D%0A%0D%0AOr maybe asian Howard Stark. Either one%21 Just never stop%21%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22I know%2C but she%27s nervous. Having your sapience judged by a%0D%0A%3Epanel of surly experts will do that to a person%2C%22 Skuld pointed out with%0D%0A%3Ea wry eyeroll - not at Anthy%2C but born of her long-nurtured disdain for%0D%0A%3Ethe Turing Institute%27s system of synthetic-sapience classification.%0D%0A%0D%0AY%27know%2C people mock the Turing Institute%2C but I kind of like them%2C both in-universe and as a plot device. If Dorothy%27s hearing and Eve%27s prelmins are representative of the process%2C it%27s staffed by sober%2C serious-minded people who realize they have a hard job to do%2C and that sometimes they have to dick over good people in order to conform to their charter%2C but they do the best they can%2C because undermining their own legitimacy would mean there%27d be no international framework at all for synthetic emancipation%2C and that%27d just be so much worse.%0D%0A%0D%0AWhat I%27m saying is that so far they%27ve been written well%2C coming off as a complex bit of galactic diplomacy and an interesting obstacle%2Fcoming of age challenge for some of the synthetic members of the cast. I enjoy subtlety and complex%2C morally grey situation.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22The question that my sister and brothers and I have used to shape the path of %3Ethe Air Commonwealth these many decades%3F It%27s a simple one.%22 With a broad %3Esmile%2C she said%2C %22What would Aang do%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0ATangent%3A while not a bad star to steer your ship by%2C I%27m more than willing to bet the whole %27Let%27s all be like Aang%27 thing has more than a little to do with Lhakpa%27s various issues.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22For right now%2C just tell me this much%2C if you think it%27s fitting.%0D%0A%3EIf I visited... would I be disappointed%3F%22%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3ECorwin regarded her thoughtfully for a second%2C then gave her a%0D%0A%3Elittle smile and shook his head. %22I don%27t think you would%2C no.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AYou know%2C this would make an interesting little mini-story%2C I think. Corwin might be a little bit wrong about Korra%27s level of disappointment. I mean%2C Korra would undoubtedly find the Golden City to indeed be all that%2C and I imagine that the various divine members of Corwin%27s family might have some enlightening conversations in store for her%3B Tyr and Heimdall seem like dudes who would have been keeping one eye on Diqiu and have some wise things to say to Korra. I find myself thinking that Odin%27s ravens would probably have a lot more to say to her than Odin herself regarding the Avatar%27s role in the grand scheme of things. All that would be awesome...%0D%0A%0D%0A... and then she%27d find out there%27s an actual Celestial Bureaucracy%2C and that in fact the universe is%2C indeed%2C controlled by functionaries at the very highest level. I anticipate that reaction would be way more mixed on her part. %3A%29 %0D%0A%0D%0A%3EAs he spoke%2C he unstrapped his Cirrus J-5 jetpack%27s control%0D%0A%3Emodules from his hands and slipped them into his side pockets%2C then%0D%0A%3Etugged off the heavy gauntlets he%27d worn underneath them.%0D%0A%0D%0AMinami is going to be very disappointed that Corwin %5Bi%5Dimported%5B%2Fi%5D a jetpack for this trip. What%2C a Sato-branded jetpack isn%27t good enough for him%3F He thinks he%27s better than her%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22We%27re still going to worry%2C%22 he said.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%22I appreciate that%2C%22 Nall replied.%0D%0A%0D%0AI feel like I should have more to say about this scene specifically.%0D%0A%0D%0AI mean%2C I have plenty to say about Corwin and Nall. I love how in some ways%2C Nall is actually entering the grown-up phase of his life %5Bi%5Dfaster%5B%2Fi%5D than Corwin is. I love the weird cultural interplay between them%2C and I love how Nall is actually smarter than he thinks he is and is going to make an amazing diplomat or politician one day.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd this scene is clearly an important brick in that wall%2C but I don%27t really have much more to say about it than %22Yep. That there%27s a good brick.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AHnn.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EShiro Shinobi Arena was packed and roaring on the first day of the Major League%0D%0A%3EBending regular season%0D%0A%0D%0ASame deal with this scene%2C really. Feel like I should have something to say%0D%0Aabout it%2C especially after Corwin%27s bout in the ring%2C but don%27t really.%0D%0A%0D%0AOh%2C wait%2C no. I liked Hitomi a lot despite her being a walk-on role. Aside from being a fan of alliteration%2C I like that they%27ve got a high-energy woman doing sportscasting. Not just doing sportscasting%2C but actually anchoring the broadcast. Admittedly%2C this might be because here in the real world%2C I am desperately%2C monstrously bored with the constant interchangeable middle-aged dudes of mediocre talent who alternate boring play-calling with shitty commentary lamenting the days of yesteryear when the sport was purer and cleaner.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bsmall%5D%28Seriously%2C Joe Buck can go fuck himself.%29%5B%2Fsmall%5D%0D%0A%0D%0ASo that was nice.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EHe affected to disdain broadcast programming and used his personal set%0D%0A%3Eonly to watch old action films%2C the world%27s most extensive collection of%0D%0A%3Ewhich he happened to own on Moverdisc.%0D%0A%0D%0AHeadcanon%3A Meelo and the Sato family have a longstanding competition as to who has the most extensive film collection. For awhile Ryo was winning%2C but then Meelo actually managed to dig up the disc version of %5Bi%5DWang Fire In The Clutches of General Azun%21%5B%2Fi%5D which Varrick Studios printed but never actually released due to a contract dispute.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EAs the Fire Ferrets%27 team principal%2C Korra had recused herself from commentary%0D%0A%3Eon the final bout%2C reporting instead to the stands to take it in with the%0D%0A%3Eothers in the Satos%27 courtside box. %0D%0A%0D%0AHmm%2C are you holding that content back for another Azana-n-Karana mini%3F Because you%27d think Azana taking the ring for the first time with her flashy new blue flame would be a big deal worthy of on-screen time%2C as it were.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EM%2FV MIRAI%0D%0A%3EFUTURE CITY%0D%0A%0D%0AMINOR SPOILERS%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AGiven what we now know about Book 3%2C it would appear that having awesome goddamn ships as your ride runs in the Sato family.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28Not as cool as Asami%27s enormous airship fortress%2C tho.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EUnlike many rich people%2C Minami did not generally employ a personal chef%2C%0D%0A%0D%0AY%27know%2C I generally disapprove of a lot of the conspicuous displays of consumption the truly wealthy get up to %28on aesthetic grounds if nothing else%3B shit%27s gaudy%2C yo%2C show some class%29 but I have to admit%3B if I had the money%2C I would totally have a personal chef.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3ENow that he%27d turned to take direct note of it%2C Corwin found%0D%0A%3Ehimself oddly fascinated by the physics involved - the interaction of%0D%0A%3Egravity%2C mass%2C and inertia%2C the way thousands of individual strands%0D%0A%3Ecould and did function as a single body.%0D%0A%0D%0ATangent%3A this is a topic of great interest to both mathematicians and those who work in high-end computer animation. Disney in particular has invested a lot of effort into creating physics engines that can handle hair down the level of the individual strand and throwing a lot of computing power at the problem%3B this is most notable in %5Bi%5DTangled%5B%2Fi%5D and the more-recent %5Bi%5DFrozen%5B%2Fi%5D. %0D%0A%0D%0AIt%27s apparently one of the most demanding problems in modern programming%2C how to make fake hair behave realistically.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EBut another%2C larger%2C more insistent part of it was Korra%27s developing awareness%0D%0A%3E- at this stage barely liminal - of Corwin not only as a bigger%2C stronger%0D%0A%3Eversion of her buddy of old %28though he still was that%29%2C but as a -man%2C- full%0D%0A%3Estop.%0D%0A%0D%0AWait%2C what%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A... this is where we%27re going with Korra and Corwin%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AMmmmmmmrrrr. Do not want.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EThere was a growing cognitive dissonance there that she wasn%27t ready to%0D%0A%3Ethink about %22out loud%22 just yet%3B and even if she did%2C it would only be%0D%0A%3Eto deem it inappropriate on several levels.%0D%0A%0D%0AYes%21 Yes%2C it is%2C Korra. There are weird grooming implications involved given the fact that you helped raise the boy. It would be like if Gryphon were to decide to make a move on Raven%2C only %5Bi%5Deven weirder%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22Sure%2C bail out when it gets complicated%2C%22 Utena joked.%0D%0A%3E%22There%27s that can-do dragon spirit.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AI believe technically the can-do spirit calls for burnination when things get complicated. A smoking ruin is very simple%21%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22I just have to give it some thought%2C%22 Utena went on. %22Some...%0D%0A%3Ediplomacy... may be in order%2C%22 she added with a little grin and a wink.%0D%0A%0D%0A... and now Utena and Anthy are collaborating on this one. Cripes.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22Do you have a boat%3F%22 Utena wondered. %22I%27m assuming we can%27t%0D%0A%3Euse the ones we came in... %22%0D%0A%0D%0AI was actually really hoping they%27d somehow manage to try it using the Mirai.%0D%0A%0D%0AI don%27t have a lot to say about the sailing porn%3B I read this at a bad time for it%2C as I%27m currently plowing through the most recent couple books of Weber%27s %5Bi%5DSafehold%5B%2Fi%5D series %28shut up%2C it%27s a guilty pleasure%29 and there%27s like a hundred and fifty pages of people fighting the ocean in each of them%2C so I%27m a bit full up. It was competent and well-executed%3B I%27m afraid my own knowledge of the practicalities of sailing ends with very dim memories of watching %5Bi%5DThe Voyage of the Mimi%5B%2Fi%5D in middle school.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22Makes sense%2C%22 said Utena. %22Like you said this morning%2C this is%0D%0A%3Ea hard land. Before modern times%2C just living here must%27ve been pretty%0D%0A%3Eprecarious.%22%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EKorra nodded. %22Not even that long ago%2C in the grand scheme of%0D%0A%3Ethings. %0D%0A%0D%0AA younger Korra would have mentioned%2C without even thinking about it%2C the attempted genocide right then%2C about two seconds before realizing she%27d just made the whole situation %5Bi%5Dvery awkward%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EA glance sufficed%2C between the Rose Prince and her wife%2C for the%0D%0A%3Eone to ask a silent question and the other to answer it%3A No%2C not yet.%0D%0A%0D%0ANot ever%2C hopefully. %0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22Ladies%2C I want you to meet another dear friend of mine. Utena Tenjou%2C Anthy%0D%0A%3ETenjou%3A This is Nanuq%2C the Great Bear of the South. He%27s the patron of my%0D%0A%3Etribe and guardian of our ancient land.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AOkay%2C that was pretty neat.%0D%0A%0D%0AI like what you%27ve been doing with the spirits overall so far in Diqiu. It%27s a lot more AtlA than LoK. That%27s a good thing%3B AtlA used a much lighter touch and it was more effective for it. I like my spirits mysterious and weird and cosmic.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EKaitlyn-sensei was already there waiting for her%2C an Aldera 2408%0D%0A%3Epromotional backpack - part of the swag from Juri%27s brief but eventful%0D%0A%3Ecareer as an Olympic fencer - slung on one of her shoulders.%0D%0A%0D%0AY%27know%2C what with Corwin getting hitched and all%2C I wonder if Juri and Kaitlyn are ever gonna get married. I go back and forth on it%3B Juri is such an intensely private person that it seems like she%27d be deeply uncomfortable with the notion of even a small%2C intimate ceremony%2C and neither of them have anything to prove about their relationship to each other or to the rest of the world. On the other hand%2C there are probably a lot of legal benefits to that sort of formal relationship status%2C and if they continue to build a life together they may decide that alone makes it worth it%3B in addition to being intensely private%2C Juri is also intensely practical.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EUtena was intrigued to see the good people of Senna%27s reaction to such blatant%0D%0A%3Edraconic showoffery%3A they rushed -toward- the common%2C exclaiming excitedly%2C%0D%0A%3Emany of them scrambling for cameras.%0D%0A%0D%0AThose pictures are gonna be all over tumblr in like half an hour%2C aren%27t they%3F I can see the hashtags now%3B %23southpoledragon%2C %23theyhavefeathers%2C %23whoknew%2C %23suckitfirenation%2C %23yoursarejustbiglizards%2C %23oursistotallyawesome.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22I%27m told that when I was around two%2C not long after she first met Dad%2C she%0D%0A%3Emore or less -hypnotized- me by doing an exercise in the dojo at our house%0D%0A%3Ewith a jian he used to have. There%27s a reason they call it %27the gentleman of%0D%0A%3Eweapons%27.%22 She smiled.%0D%0A%0D%0ATrivia%3A one of the longest and well-regarded Atla fanfics is%2C in fact%2C called %5Bi%5DThe Gentleman of Weapons%5B%2Fi%5D. Starring Piandao%2C because with a title like that of course it does.%0D%0A%0D%0AAs with just about every fight scene%2C I don%27t have a ton to say. I keep feeling like I%27m letting down the side there%2C but usually when EPU has fights that are meant to simply be an awesome fight %28Corwin probending%2C for example%29 as opposed to ones that are meant to be spiritually or emotionally significant in some way %28just about every fight Azula had in %5Bi%5DDesolation Angel%5B%2Fi%5D%29 it usually boils down to %22well%2C the production team has been doing this for two decades%2C it%27s the part of writing they%27re most proficient at%2C I have nothing to add.%22 %0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22Hello%2C Korra%2C%22 said Katara fondly%2C her own eyes none too dry%2C as she hugged %3Ethe Avatar tight. %22Oh%2C it%27s good to see you.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AAwww yeah. Getting our Katara on.%0D%0A%0D%0AHmm%2C I made it all the way to the end.%0D%0A%0D%0ALooking back%2C I had far fewer technical notes to offer than I did during %5Bi%5DDesolation Angels%5B%2Fi%5D run. I don%27t think that%27s a good or a bad thing in isolation%2C although it does make me a bit disappointed in myself%3B if it takes me two weeks to do a full review%2C I feel like I should have more to offer than snark. %0D%0A%0D%0AThat said%2C there weren%27t a lot of individual scenes here I felt needed it%2C so I%27m addressing the piece in aggregate here at the end instead.%0D%0A%0D%0AThis was a decent movement%2C on its own%2C but the %5Bi%5DSuite%5B%2Fi%5D as a whole is starting to drag just a bit. I%27m hesitant at making this sort of pronouncement without the entire thing being out %28I%27ve been burned before%29 but while this installment wasn%27t bad%2C it was remarkably plot-free. It was a lot of scenes of the characters going places and interacting and being themselves%2C which is fine and all%2C but the previous movement was %5Bi%5Dalso%5B%2Fi%5D just the characters going places and interacting and being themselves%2C as was the one before %5Bi%5Dthat%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0AThere%27s nothing wrong with establishing a major new part of the setting... but I%27d like to note that while that was happening in the earliest parts of the Symphony%2C which had all these new-at-the-time cast members and set pieces to get off the ground%2C there also tended to be a lot of plot movement as well%3B Utena kept accidentally hauling people into our universe%2C we%27d periodically flash back to Cephiro for a plot update and to watch Anthy live the glamorous life of a fugitive witch%2C international politics would happen to people%2C etc.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo I%27m rather hoping that now that we%27ve gotten all the establishing stuff out of the way%2C %5Bi%5DTaken by Storm%5B%2Fi%5D %28a title%2C by the way%2C that is rife with potential interpretations%29 isn%27t going to be just %27honeymoon in Diqiu ends%2C people go home%27 but rather %27shit goes down%2C yo.%27%0D%0A%0D%0A-Merc%0D%0AKeep Rat 45|2|44|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Gryphon||02:01:29|06/13/2014|%3EI%27m curious... no Priss and Guy%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AMaybe they%27re on giant robot call that week.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3E%22For right now%2C just tell me this much%2C if you think it%27s fitting.%0D%0A%3E%3EIf I visited... would I be disappointed%3F%22%0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3ECorwin regarded her thoughtfully for a second%2C then gave her a%0D%0A%3E%3Elittle smile and shook his head. %22I don%27t think you would%2C no.%22%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EYou know%2C this would make an interesting little mini-story%2C I think. %0D%0A%3ECorwin might be a little bit wrong about Korra%27s level of %0D%0A%3Edisappointment. %28snip%29%0D%0A%3E... and then she%27d find out there%27s an actual Celestial Bureaucracy%2C %0D%0A%3Eand that in fact the universe is%2C indeed%2C controlled by functionaries %0D%0A%3Eat the very highest level. I anticipate that reaction would be way %0D%0A%3Emore mixed on her part. %3A%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AAll of which is fine%3F Except none of that is really what she%27s asking about%2C and Corwin knows that.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3EAs he spoke%2C he unstrapped his Cirrus J-5 jetpack%27s control%0D%0A%3E%3Emodules from his hands and slipped them into his side pockets%2C then%0D%0A%3E%3Etugged off the heavy gauntlets he%27d worn underneath them.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EMinami is going to be very disappointed that Corwin %5Bi%5Dimported%5B%2Fi%5D a %0D%0A%3Ejetpack for this trip. What%2C a Sato-branded jetpack isn%27t good enough %0D%0A%3Efor him%3F He thinks he%27s better than her%3F %0D%0A%0D%0A%28shrug%29 Maybe he doesn%27t like single-engine jetpacks and Future Industries doesn%27t make twins.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EOh%2C wait%2C no. I liked Hitomi a lot despite her being a walk-on role. %0D%0A%3EAside from being a fan of alliteration%2C I like that they%27ve got a %0D%0A%3Ehigh-energy woman doing sportscasting. Not just doing sportscasting%2C %0D%0A%3Ebut actually anchoring the broadcast.%0D%0A%0D%0AYes%2C that was deliberate%2C and for something like the same reason. I am conversely a bit bored with the way that%2C although there are a lot of women in sports broadcasting these days%2C they%27re mostly the on-the-field%2Fin-the-stands segment reporter types - the ones who are actually on camera a lot%2C unlike the main commentary team - and are generally therefore selected mainly for telegenicity. %28Which is not to say that Hitomi isn%27t telegenic%2C but she%27s not actually there to %5Bi%5Dbe%5B%2Fi%5D eye candy.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EHmm%2C are you holding that content back for another Azana-n-Karana %0D%0A%3Emini%3F%0D%0A%0D%0ANot that I know of.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EBecause you%27d think Azana taking the ring for the first time %0D%0A%3Ewith her flashy new blue flame would be a big deal worthy of on-screen %0D%0A%3Etime%2C as it were. %0D%0A%0D%0AAzana%27s flame doesn%27t %5Bi%5Dhave%5B%2Fi%5D to be blue. It%27s entirely possible that she%27s not using it in the ring%2C specifically because she doesn%27t need the %5Bi%5Dtsuris%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3EThere was a growing cognitive dissonance there that she wasn%27t ready to%0D%0A%3E%3Ethink about %22out loud%22 just yet%3B and even if she did%2C it would only be%0D%0A%3E%3Eto deem it inappropriate on several levels.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EYes%21 Yes%2C it is%2C Korra. There are weird grooming implications involved %0D%0A%3Egiven the fact that you helped raise the boy.%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m not entirely sure how that%27s supposed to work%2C given that they haven%27t seen each other in six years%2C but regardless%2C it is something like one of her concerns %28or would be%2C if she%27d actually thought about the matter in %5Bi%5Dwords%5B%2Fi%5D%2C which she hasn%27t so far%29. However%2C at the same time%2C I think the situation is somewhat less straightforward than you%27re reading it to be. It has... a lot of levels%2C not all of them obvious at first look.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EIt would be like if %0D%0A%3EGryphon were to decide to make a move on Raven%2C only %5Bi%5Deven %0D%0A%3Eweirder%5B%2Fi%5D. %0D%0A%0D%0A... Well%2C one significant difference I can think of off the top of my head is that Raven%27s not an adult. %28As far as anyone knows. She doesn%27t really %5Bi%5Dknow%5B%2Fi%5D how old she is%2C but as of 2410 she seems to be about sixteen.%29 Or a%2C you know%2C fully accredited Norse god. Also%2C there%27s the whole ninja-hell-commando master-apprentice thing%2C and that semitranscendent mystic bond thing that happened at the end of %5Bi%5DBlood Ties%5B%2Fi%5D%2C and - yeah%2C actually%2C y%27know what%2C not seeing the resemblance at all%2C actually.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3E%22I just have to give it some thought%2C%22 Utena went on. %22Some...%0D%0A%3E%3Ediplomacy... may be in order%2C%22 she added with a little grin and a wink.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E... and now Utena and Anthy are collaborating on this one. Cripes. %0D%0A%0D%0AIn fairness%2C they collaborate on more or less everything these days. It%27s kind of part of their deal. Plus%3A%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3EA glance sufficed%2C between the Rose Prince and her wife%2C for the%0D%0A%3E%3Eone to ask a silent question and the other to answer it%3A No%2C not yet.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3ENot ever%2C hopefully. %0D%0A%0D%0AThat rather depends on what it%27s not yet time %5Bi%5Dfor%2C%5B%2Fi%5D which is not in evidence here. I mean%2C give Anthy and Utena credit for one thing%2C at least%3A However they address what they have observed%2C they%27ll want to do it carefully. It%27s a matter of some considerable delicacy%2C and it%27s got connections to a number of other things that all need to be taken into account. The last thing they want is to address one thing and break something else in the process - the %5Bi%5Dentire structure%5B%2Fi%5D has to be looked after.%0D%0A%0D%0AFor instance%2C they weren%27t present to hear Azana%27s observations to Anne in the noodlery scene in %5Bi%5DPrologue%5B%2Fi%5D - %22Kaitlyn%27s brother seems to unlock all that%22 - but they will have noticed something like it themselves%3B indeed%2C it%27s what Anthy noticed had started going away a bit in the first place. However they proceed%2C they%27ll want to put that back if they can.%0D%0A%0D%0AFor the record%2C what%27s going on here is so complex I haven%27t even completely shaken it down %5Bi%5Dmyself%5B%2Fi%5D yet%2C but one thing I can say is that%2C if you%27re worried that U%26A are looking for a quick and final resolution to the problem%2C uh%2C don%27t be. They are well aware that precipitate action %28for all that it%27s kind of Utena%27s m%26eacute%3Btier%29 would do a lot more harm than good%2C and the last thing they want is to do harm.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28Mind you%2C that doesn%27t necessarily mean that they won%27t indulge in a bit of gentle mischief now and then%2C once they%27ve stabilized the situation... %29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EY%27know%2C what with Corwin getting hitched and all%2C I wonder if Juri and %0D%0A%3EKaitlyn are ever gonna get married.%0D%0A%0D%0AWell... ever is a long time. Juri is%2C as you note%2C not real comfortable with the concept generally%2C and Kaitlyn can take marriage or leave it. It%27s only a piece of paper to her. It%27s not as if they live in a society where if you%27re %5Bi%5Dnot%5B%2Fi%5D married they won%27t let you jointly buy a house or check into a hotel or anything%2C nor are they likely to be concerned about legitimizing the children anytime soon. If other folks want to make the gesture for symbolic or spiritual or even legal %28looking at you%2C Amanda and Devlin%29 reasons%2C that%27s great%2C she%27ll be in the front row%2C but her own life is in no way incomplete without it.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E when %0D%0A%3EEPU has fights that are meant to simply be an awesome fight %28Corwin %0D%0A%3Eprobending%2C for example%29 as opposed to ones that are meant to be %0D%0A%3Espiritually or emotionally significant in some way%0D%0A%0D%0AFor the record%2C I%27m reasonably sure this one was supposed to be both.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EThis was a decent movement%2C on its own%2C but the %5Bi%5DSuite%5B%2Fi%5D as a %0D%0A%3Ewhole is starting to drag just a bit.%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27ve addressed this elsewhere in this same thread%2C and don%27t feel like going over it again here%2C so in this spot I%27ll just point to that one and say%3A Yeah... so I%27ve been told.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EI%27m hesitant at making this sort %0D%0A%3Eof pronouncement without the entire thing being out %28I%27ve been burned %0D%0A%3Ebefore%29 but while this installment wasn%27t bad%2C it was remarkably %0D%0A%3Eplot-free. %0D%0A%0D%0AHmm. You think%3F %27Cause I thought there was quite a bit going on. I mean%2C it%27s called %5Bi%5DFamiliar Spirits%5B%2Fi%5D for a reason%2C and almost everything that happens here touches that theme in one way or another. Just to take three examples%2C the ice dodging scene is far more than %22sailing porn%22%2C the Rose Duel was intended to mean a number of different things%2C and you may not have a %5Bi%5Dgood feeling%5B%2Fi%5D about Anthy%27s %22oh hey%22 moment and what Utena%27s reaction to it may mean%2C but that doesn%27t make it %5Bi%5Dnot plot%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0AThen there was Lhakpa-Nyima%2C we learned a few things about Karana and Azana%2C there%27s setup for what Anne%27s going to be up to once the school year%27s done... and that%27s the stuff that %5Bi%5Disn%27t%5B%2Fi%5D meant to be hidden hooks for stuff you%27ll only realize was set up here later on. No%2C %22starting to drag a bit%2C%22 I%27ll take that one and roll with it as best I can%2C but I don%27t think I%27m havin%27 %22remarkably plot-free%22.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 46|3|45|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Verbena||08:19:09|06/13/2014|%0D%0A%3EAzana%27s flame doesn%27t %5Bi%5Dhave%5B%2Fi%5D to be blue. It%27s entirely possible %0D%0A%3Ethat she%27s not using it in the ring%2C specifically because she doesn%27t %0D%0A%3Eneed the %5Bi%5Dtsuris%5B%2Fi%5D. %0D%0A%0D%0AI%27d have loved to see the reaction from the crowd%2C but yeah%2C given how rare it is%2C that%27d have caused...speculation.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%3E%3EThere was a growing cognitive dissonance there that she wasn%27t ready to%0D%0A%3E%3E%3Ethink about %22out loud%22 just yet%3B and even if she did%2C it would only be%0D%0A%3E%3E%3Eto deem it inappropriate on several levels.%0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EYes%21 Yes%2C it is%2C Korra. There are weird grooming implications involved %0D%0A%3E%3Egiven the fact that you helped raise the boy.%0D%0A%0D%0AI thought I was the odd one out when I told myself this was a bad%2C bad idea.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI%27m not entirely sure how that%27s supposed to work%2C given that they %0D%0A%3Ehaven%27t seen each other in six years%2C but regardless%2C it is something %0D%0A%3Elike one of her concerns %28or would be%2C if she%27d actually thought about %0D%0A%3Ethe matter in %5Bi%5Dwords%5B%2Fi%5D%2C which she hasn%27t so far%29. However%2C at the %0D%0A%3Esame time%2C I think the situation is somewhat less straightforward than %0D%0A%3Eyou%27re reading it to be. It has... a lot of levels%2C not all of them %0D%0A%3Eobvious at first look. %0D%0A%0D%0AWe%27ll see where this goes%2C but I will be blunt%3A so far it%27s got a squick factor. I%27ll explain more below.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EIt would be like if %0D%0A%3E%3EGryphon were to decide to make a move on Raven%2C only %5Bi%5Deven %0D%0A%3E%3Eweirder%5B%2Fi%5D. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E... Well%2C one significant difference I can think of off the top of my %0D%0A%3Ehead is that Raven%27s not an adult. %28As far as anyone knows. She %0D%0A%3Edoesn%27t really %5Bi%5Dknow%5B%2Fi%5D how old she is%2C but as of 2410 she seems to %0D%0A%3Ebe about sixteen.%29 Or a%2C you know%2C fully accredited Norse god. Also%2C %0D%0A%3Ethere%27s the whole ninja-hell-commando master-apprentice thing%2C and %0D%0A%3Ethat semitranscendent mystic bond thing that happened at the end of %0D%0A%3E%5Bi%5DBlood Ties%5B%2Fi%5D%2C and - yeah%2C actually%2C y%27know what%2C not seeing the %0D%0A%3Eresemblance at all%2C actually. %0D%0A%0D%0AThe age%2Fmaturity issue isn%27t it. Raven isn%27t quite ready for a relationship%2C sure%2C but that%27s entirely due to her upbringing%2C not her age. She needs social acclimatization first rather than maturity. And she%27s slowly improving.%0D%0A%0D%0AWhat IS the issue is the master%2Fapprentice%2C or in this case more of a parent%2Fchild relationship. Korra is not teaching Corwin%2C sure%2C and her age is not an issue%2C but she said it herself when she said she wasn%27t interested in Meelo because she changed his diapers. No matter how long they both live%2C there%27s always going to be a sense that she has moral authority over him. That sense will never go away and it means they can be friends%2C sure%2C but anything more comes across badly.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%3E%3E%22I just have to give it some thought%2C%22 Utena went on. %22Some...%0D%0A%3E%3E%3Ediplomacy... may be in order%2C%22 she added with a little grin and a wink.%0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3E... and now Utena and Anthy are collaborating on this one. Cripes. %0D%0A%0D%0AThere%27s no jealousy on the part of either one%3F At all%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EIn fairness%2C they collaborate on more or less everything these days. %0D%0A%3EIt%27s kind of part of their deal. Plus%3A %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%3E%3EA glance sufficed%2C between the Rose Prince and her wife%2C for the%0D%0A%3E%3E%3Eone to ask a silent question and the other to answer it%3A No%2C not yet.%0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3ENot ever%2C hopefully. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EThat rather depends on what it%27s not yet time %5Bi%5Dfor%2C%5B%2Fi%5D which is not %0D%0A%3Ein evidence here. I mean%2C give Anthy and Utena credit for one thing%2C %0D%0A%0D%0AGryphon%2C I respect you too much to pull punches here. What%27s in evidence%2C so far%2C is the beginnings of romance. If that%27s not what happens...well%2C good. But that%27s what it looks like and that%27s what%27s squicking me.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Eat least%3A However they address what they have observed%2C they%27ll want %0D%0A%3Eto do it carefully. It%27s a matter of some considerable delicacy%2C and %0D%0A%3Eit%27s got connections to a number of other things that all need to be %0D%0A%3Etaken into account. The last thing they want is to address one thing %0D%0A%3Eand break something else in the process - the %5Bi%5Dentire structure%5B%2Fi%5D %0D%0A%3Ehas to be looked after. %0D%0A%0D%0AIn other words%2C their marriage can%27t be hurt by bringing Korra into it. But Korra already was acting%2C not as a friend to Utena%2C but as a parent %28when Utena was on the cliff crying%29%2C and that was a very well-done%2C logical%2C and appropriate scene. I%27ve seen no indication that Korra likes Utena or Anthy that way %28even though Korra -did- like Asami%2C so gender isn%27t a factor%29 and we already know Utena is basically straight with the sole exception of Anthy. Between that and the jealousy thing I mentioned above%2C I%27m not at all sure why they would be for anything beyond friendship between Corwin and Korra.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EFor instance%2C they weren%27t present to hear Azana%27s observations to %0D%0A%3EAnne in the noodlery scene in %5Bi%5DPrologue%5B%2Fi%5D - %22Kaitlyn%27s brother %0D%0A%3Eseems to unlock all that%22 - but they will have noticed something like %0D%0A%3Eit themselves%3B indeed%2C it%27s what Anthy noticed had started going away %0D%0A%3Ea bit in the first place. However they proceed%2C they%27ll want to put %0D%0A%3Ethat back if they can. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EFor the record%2C what%27s going on here is so complex I haven%27t even %0D%0A%3Ecompletely shaken it down %5Bi%5Dmyself%5B%2Fi%5D yet%2C but one thing I can say %0D%0A%3Eis that%2C if you%27re worried that U%26A are looking for a quick and final %0D%0A%3Eresolution to the problem%2C uh%2C don%27t be. They are well aware that %0D%0A%3Eprecipitate action %28for all that it%27s kind of Utena%27s m%C3%A9tier%29 %0D%0A%3Ewould do a lot more harm than good%2C and the last thing they want is to %0D%0A%3Edo harm. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%28Mind you%2C that doesn%27t necessarily mean that they won%27t indulge in a %0D%0A%3Ebit of gentle mischief now and then%2C once they%27ve stabilized the %0D%0A%3Esituation... %29 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EY%27know%2C what with Corwin getting hitched and all%2C I wonder if Juri and %0D%0A%3E%3EKaitlyn are ever gonna get married.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EWell... ever is a long time. Juri is%2C as you note%2C not real %0D%0A%3Ecomfortable with the concept generally%2C and Kaitlyn can take marriage %0D%0A%3Eor leave it. It%27s only a piece of paper to her. It%27s not as if they %0D%0A%3Elive in a society where if you%27re %5Bi%5Dnot%5B%2Fi%5D married they won%27t let %0D%0A%3Eyou jointly buy a house or check into a hotel or anything%2C nor are %0D%0A%3Ethey likely to be concerned about legitimizing the children anytime %0D%0A%3Esoon. If other folks want to make the gesture for symbolic or %0D%0A%3Espiritual or even legal %28looking at you%2C Amanda and Devlin%29 reasons%2C %0D%0A%3Ethat%27s great%2C she%27ll be in the front row%2C but her own life is in no %0D%0A%3Eway incomplete without it. %0D%0A%0D%0ANow this makes perfect sense%2C and it%27s what I figured. Neither one of them is hurting for cash%2C after all. Though Miki is a part of all that. %3D%29 Not sure they get much time together%2C though%2C as busy as they all are.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%3E when %0D%0A%3E%3EEPU has fights that are meant to simply be an awesome fight %28Corwin %0D%0A%3E%3Eprobending%2C for example%29 as opposed to ones that are meant to be %0D%0A%3E%3Espiritually or emotionally significant in some way%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EFor the record%2C I%27m reasonably sure this one was supposed to be both. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EThis was a decent movement%2C on its own%2C but the %5Bi%5DSuite%5B%2Fi%5D as a %0D%0A%3E%3Ewhole is starting to drag just a bit.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI%27ve addressed this elsewhere in this same thread%2C and don%27t feel like %0D%0A%3Egoing over it again here%2C so in this spot I%27ll just point to that one %0D%0A%3Eand say%3A Yeah... so I%27ve been told. %0D%0A%0D%0A%2Anod%2A No worries.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EI%27m hesitant at making this sort %0D%0A%3E%3Eof pronouncement without the entire thing being out %28I%27ve been burned %0D%0A%3E%3Ebefore%29 but while this installment wasn%27t bad%2C it was remarkably %0D%0A%3E%3Eplot-free. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EHmm. You think%3F %27Cause I thought there was quite a bit going on. I %0D%0A%3Emean%2C it%27s called %5Bi%5DFamiliar Spirits%5B%2Fi%5D for a reason%2C and almost %0D%0A%3Eeverything that happens here touches that theme in one way or another. %0D%0A%3E Just to take three examples%2C the ice dodging scene is far more than %0D%0A%3E%22sailing porn%22%2C the Rose Duel was intended to mean a number of %0D%0A%3Edifferent things%2C and you may not have a %5Bi%5Dgood feeling%5B%2Fi%5D about %0D%0A%3EAnthy%27s %22oh hey%22 moment and what Utena%27s reaction to it may mean%2C but %0D%0A%3Ethat doesn%27t make it %5Bi%5Dnot plot%5B%2Fi%5D. %0D%0A%0D%0AAgreed.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EThen there was Lhakpa-Nyima%2C we learned a few things about Karana and %0D%0A%3EAzana%2C there%27s setup for what Anne%27s going to be up to once the school %0D%0A%3Eyear%27s done... and that%27s the stuff that %5Bi%5Disn%27t%5B%2Fi%5D meant to be %0D%0A%3Ehidden hooks for stuff you%27ll only realize was set up here later on. %0D%0A%3ENo%2C %22starting to drag a bit%2C%22 I%27ll take that one and roll with it as %0D%0A%3Ebest I can%2C but I don%27t think I%27m havin%27 %22remarkably plot-free%22. %0D%0A%0D%0AIt had a bit less plot than some pieces but was in no way devoid of plot. I think it feels that way solely because we had several pieces with similar plot ratios in a row. Honestly%2C I%27m not bothered by it at all and%2C despite my earlier comments am very much looking forward to the continuation. %0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A--------%0D%0A%0D%0Athis world created by the %0D%0Ahands of the gods%0D%0Aeverything is false%0D%0Aeverything is a LIE%0D%0Athe final days have come%0D%0Anow%0D%0Alet everything be destroyed%0D%0A%0D%0A--mu 49|4|46|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Gryphon||11:58:51|06/13/2014|%3E%3E%3EYes%21 Yes%2C it is%2C Korra. There are weird grooming implications involved %0D%0A%3E%3E%3Egiven the fact that you helped raise the boy.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI thought I was the odd one out when I told myself this was a bad%2C bad %0D%0A%3Eidea. %0D%0A%0D%0AIn fairness%2C Korra obviously thought so too%2C at least unconsciously.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3ENo matter how %0D%0A%3Elong they both live%2C there%27s always going to be a sense that she has %0D%0A%3Emoral authority over him. That sense will never go away and it means %0D%0A%3Ethey can be friends%2C sure%2C but anything more comes across badly. %0D%0A%0D%0AThis is a thing that immortals run up against a lot%2C actually - particularly the %26AElig%3Bsir%2C but %22ordinary%22 ones as well. It turns out that if you%27re going to live for a really%2C %5Bi%5Dreally%5B%2Fi%5D long time%2C words like %22always%22 and %22never%22 are not necessarily accurate in a lot of their common idiomatic senses. However%2C this is getting %5Bi%5Dwell%5B%2Fi%5D ahead of the game.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EThere%27s no jealousy on the part of either one%3F At all%3F %0D%0A%0D%0ANo%2C not particularly. Jealousy is for people who think they stand to lose in some way.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3EThat rather depends on what it%27s not yet time %5Bi%5Dfor%2C%5B%2Fi%5D which is not %0D%0A%3E%3Ein evidence here. I mean%2C give Anthy and Utena credit for one thing%2C %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EGryphon%2C I respect you too much to pull punches here. What%27s in %0D%0A%3Eevidence%2C so far%2C is the beginnings of romance.%0D%0A%0D%0ANot necessarily. It may be the beginnings of romantic %5Bi%5Dattraction%5B%2Fi%5D%2C but that%2C one submits%2C is not the same thing at all. One is a deliberate and complicated undertaking that is fully within an individual%27s control. The other is an unconscious response a person either feels or doesn%27t according to the whim of the Great Magnet. Choosing to %5Bi%5Dact%5B%2Fi%5D on B may lead to A%2C but in my experience%2C one doesn%27t get a choice as to whether B is there in the first place.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EIn other words%2C their marriage can%27t be hurt by bringing Korra into %0D%0A%3Eit.%0D%0A%0D%0ANot %5Bi%5Dprecisely%5B%2Fi%5D. I mean%2C as you note%2C neither of them is particularly interested in that capacity%2C nor do they have any reason to believe that the converse is true. Nobody%27s seriously considering attempting to square the trilateral%2C as it were.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EBetween that and %0D%0A%3Ethe jealousy thing I mentioned above%2C I%27m not at all sure why they %0D%0A%3Ewould be for anything beyond friendship between Corwin and Korra. %0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m going to get into this more next time%2C and I can%27t really dig into it here without spoiling a fairly important scene%2C but it%27s worth noting that what U%26A are primarily concerned with at this time is preserving that friendship - insulating it from the potential corrosive effects of that unconscious stepping back she noticed Korra doing - not necessarily promoting %22anything beyond%22 it.%0D%0A%0D%0AMy original plan was to sort the whole thing out %28at least for the short-to-medium term%29 in this one episode%2C but as the latter part of it came together%2C I realized that I%27d have to let it ride a little to pace it properly. For now%2C just be aware that I%27m not taking it lightly. As with many of the more intimately character-centered storylines around here%2C it is less a grand scheme than a thing that developed which I am now having to deal with.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3ENow this makes perfect sense%2C and it%27s what I figured. Neither one of %0D%0A%3Ethem is hurting for cash%2C after all. Though Miki is a part of all %0D%0A%3Ethat. %3D%29%0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C true%2C but Miki%27s such a bohemian he%27s also not bothered either way. If Juri woke up one morning and decided%2C %22I cannot possibly go another day without making this stuff official%2C%22 he%27d buy a suit and report for duty%2C but it%27s not gonna be his idea. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 52|4|46|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Astynax||00:15:11|06/14/2014|%0D%0A%3EGryphon%2C I respect you too much to pull punches here. What%27s in %0D%0A%3Eevidence%2C so far%2C is the beginnings of romance. If that%27s not what %0D%0A%3Ehappens...well%2C good. But that%27s what it looks like and that%27s what%27s %0D%0A%3Esquicking me. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0ASee%2C I%27m not sure where folks are coming to this from. I suspect you%27ve surprised Gryphon with it. I saw it as not the beginnings of romance%2C but the beginnings of Korra realizing that%2C to anyone outside her own head%2C it could look a hell of a lot like romance. Before%2C it seemed she didn%27t fully see Corwin as he is now%2C so the idea was obviously laughable%2C but now she%27s turned a mental corner%2C can see him as a man grown%2C and bingo we have awkwardness. %0D%0A%0D%0AShe doesn%27t want him in that way%2C and she doesn%27t want anyone to think that she does%2C but she doesn%27t want to go all cold and professional %28that just isn%27t Korra.%29 It%27s just she%27s damned unsure how to walk the right line%2C or even see the right line%2C to split the difference.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5BP%5D%5Btable border%3D%220%22 cellspacing%3D%220%22 cellpadding%3D%220%22%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%222%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv375%2Ferulogos%2Fv2%2FXSIG.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btd%5D%5BFONT SIZE%3D%222%22 COLOR%3D%22%23000000%22%5D%5Bb%5D-%3D%7B%28Astynax%29%7D%3D-%5B%2Fb%5D%5BBR%5D%5Bi%5D%22Just my view from the cheap seats.%22%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%222%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D%5B%2Fp%5D 53|5|52|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Gryphon||00:58:21|06/14/2014|%3EI saw it as not the beginnings of %0D%0A%3Eromance%2C but the beginnings of Korra realizing that%2C to anyone outside %0D%0A%3Eher own head%2C it could look a hell of a lot like romance. Before%2C it %0D%0A%3Eseemed she didn%27t fully see Corwin as he is now%2C so the idea was %0D%0A%3Eobviously laughable%2C but now she%27s turned a mental corner%2C can see him %0D%0A%3Eas a man grown%2C and bingo we have awkwardness. %0D%0A%0D%0AYes%21 That is much closer to the case%2C and better than I managed to word it. Kate%27s remark back in %5Bi%5DGoodbye and Hello%5B%2Fi%5D %28%22if you %5Bi%5Dhad%5B%2Fi%5D been on a date%2C it would%27ve looked exactly the same%22%29 is kind of rattling around in her subconscious now%2C and the appearance worries her. And it doesn%27t need to%2C which is mainly what%27s preoccupying Anthy.%0D%0A%0D%0AThat said%2C however... %0D%0A%0D%0A%3EShe doesn%27t want him in that way%2C and she doesn%27t want anyone to think %0D%0A%3Ethat she does%2C but she doesn%27t want to go all cold and professional %0D%0A%3E%28that just isn%27t Korra.%29 It%27s just she%27s damned unsure how to walk the %0D%0A%3Eright line%2C or even see the right line%2C to split the difference. %0D%0A%0D%0A... at the same time%2C she%27d be lying if she tried to claim flat-out that she doesn%27t find his adult self %5Bi%5Dattractive.%5B%2Fi%5D Like she told Utena%2C he%27s like somebody made the greatest hits album of her original crew %28no%2C I%27m not going to spell it with a K%29%2C and that%27s not hard work to have around%2Flook at%2Fgive a noogie to%2Fget a piggyback from%2Ftake a nap on a warm spring afternoon with%2Fand so forth.%0D%0A%0D%0ABut%2C see%2C the other thing I was trying %28and mostly failing%29 to get across earlier is that there%27s a %5Bi%5Dlong way%5B%2Fi%5D between feeling an attraction and declaring that the captain has turned off the Fasten Belts sign. At this point Korra%27s not convinced that even the near end of that continuum is acceptable %28even though it%27s not really in her control%29%2C but a few people seem to think that A%29 she wants to cut straight to the %5Bi%5Dfar%5B%2Fi%5D end and B%29 Utena and Anthy are prepared to encourage her to get right the heck on with it. Neither of those things is the case%2C and I was a bit... taken aback... by the apparent assumption that they were.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28Also%2C no one really seems to have solicited Corwin%27s opinion of the matter yet%2C although he did give a fair summary back in %5Bi%5DTry Again%5B%2Fi%5D.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A%5Bfont size%3D%221%22%5DI%27m just a soul whose intentions are good %2F Oh Lord%2C please don%27t let me be misunderstood%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D 48|3|45|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|BobSchroeck||09:07:58|06/13/2014|%3E %3EY%27know%2C what with Corwin getting hitched and all%2C I wonder if Juri and %0D%0A%3E %3EKaitlyn are ever gonna get married.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E Well... ever is a long time. Juri is%2C as you note%2C not real comfortable with%0D%0A%3E the concept generally%2C and Kaitlyn can take marriage or leave it. It%27s only%0D%0A%3E a piece of paper to her. It%27s not as if they live in a society where if%0D%0A%3E you%27re not married they won%27t let you jointly buy a house or check into a%0D%0A%3E hotel or anything%2C nor are they likely to be concerned about legitimizing%0D%0A%3E the children anytime soon.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd let us not forget that Miki%2C at least the last that we%27ve seen on-screen as I recall%2C is part of the equation as well%2C and would have his own contribution to both the dynamic and the subject.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- Bob%0D%0A-------------------%0D%0AMy race is pacifist and does not believe in war. We kill only out of personal spite. 47|2|44|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|BobSchroeck||09:03:04|06/13/2014|%3E This was a decent movement%2C on its own%2C but the Suite as a whole is starting%0D%0A%3E to drag just a bit. I%27m hesitant at making this sort of pronouncement%0D%0A%3E without the entire thing being out %28I%27ve been burned before%29 but while this%0D%0A%3E installment wasn%27t bad%2C it was remarkably plot-free.%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27ve been hesitant to say it before%2C but yes%2C I have to agree with this. This was the first UF installment since the Symphony began where I %5Bi%5Dwasn%27t%5B%2Fi%5D driven to read it all in one sitting. Until maybe the last third I kept finding my attention drifting from it%2C going off and doing something else%2C and then coming back for another few pages before the cycle repeated. It%27s not that it%27s not good and that I didn%27t enjoy it -- it most certainly is%2C and I most certainly did -- but it didn%27t drag me in and refuse to let me go the way practically everything else in the modern UF canon has.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- Bob%0D%0A-------------------%0D%0AMy race is pacifist and does not believe in war. We kill only out of personal spite. 50|2|44|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|Croaker||17:33:30|06/13/2014|%3E I don%27t have a lot to say about the sailing porn%3B I read this at %0D%0A%3E a bad time for it%2C as I%27m currently plowing through the most recent %0D%0A%3E couple books of Weber%27s Safehold series %28shut up%2C it%27s a guilty pleasure%29 %0D%0A%3E and there%27s like a hundred and fifty pages of people fighting the ocean %0D%0A%3E in each of them%2C so I%27m a bit full up. It was competent and well-executed%3B %0D%0A%3E I%27m afraid my own knowledge of the practicalities of sailing ends with %0D%0A%3E very dim memories of watching The Voyage of the Mimi in middle school.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AThat%27s okay. %0D%0A%0D%0AAll you really need to know about it is that they are trying something that is %5Bi%5Dinsanely%2C stupidly%2C Darwin-Award-deliberately-grabbing-hold-of SUICIDALLY dangerous%5B%2Fi%5D%2C and in the usual manner of EPU protagonists%2C pulling it off with flare%2C style%2C and panache. 51|3|50|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits Comments|The Traitor||18:58:36|06/13/2014|%3EAll you really need to know about it is that they are trying something %0D%0A%3Ethat is %5Bi%5Dinsanely%2C stupidly%2C %0D%0A%3EDarwin-Award-deliberately-grabbing-hold-of SUICIDALLY dangerous%5B%2Fi%5D%2C %0D%0A%3Eand in the usual manner of EPU protagonists%2C pulling it off with %0D%0A%3Eflare%2C style%2C and panache. %0D%0A%0D%0AIt is my secret dream that one of the future UF Gryphlets %28calling them Gryphon-chicks has what we in the trade call %5Bi%5Dimplications%5B%2Fi%5D%29 turns out to have DSA or dyspraxia or something%2C so despite all the martial artists about throwing everything they%27ve got at the poor bairn%2C they wind up completely useless at it and become something else instead. Not for lack of trying%2C though%2C as they throw themselves into combat training because it%27s the only way they think their slew of parents and parent by-products will ever actually be proud of them.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd then they %5Bi%5Dstill%5B%2Fi%5D save the day%2C because sometimes you need to have a hero whose prowess isn%27t conventional %22kill everything with preferred Large Metal Thing%22 stuff. Maybe bureaucracy-fu%2C maybe information-gathering%2C maybe just being really good at talking to politicians. But nothing involving%2C on a personal level%2C punching Evil very hard in the face. Like if Francis Urquhart was a hero.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt%27ll never happen%2C of course%2C but sometimes I imagine what we%27d get if it did.%0D%0A%0D%0A---%0D%0A%22She%27s old%2C she%27s lame%2C she%27s barren too%2C %2F%2F %22She%27s not worth feed or hay%2C %2F%2F %22But I%27ll give her this%2C%22 - he blew smoke at me - %2F%2F %22She was something in her day.%22 -- Garnet Rogers%2C %5Bi%5DSmall Victory%5B%2Fi%5D%0D%0A%0D%0AFiMFiction.net%3A we might accept blatant porn involving the cast of My Little Pony but as God is my witness we have %5Bi%5Dstandards%5B%2Fi%5D.