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0|0|0|||1||%28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits - Comments II|Peter Eng||19:01:15|06/14/2014|%28Because I didn%27t want to break the previous post%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bb%5DVerbena%3A%5B%2Fb%5D%0D%0A%3EI%27m not at all sure why they would be for anything beyond friendship between Corwin and Korra.%0D%0A%0D%0AMaybe they aren%27t.  But Korra%27s pulling away from showing any kind of affection towards Corwin%2C without even thinking about it.  She%27s aware of him as a mature male%2C and one who resembles a guy who %5Bi%5Ddied years ago.%5B%2Fi%5D  Sure%2C Corwin%27s probably among the hardest people to kill ever %28Detian and God of Mecha - what a genetic inheritance%29%2C but we already know she%27s having trouble with watching people grow old and die around her.%0D%0A%0D%0AIf she%27s pulling away from Corwin for any reason besides the appearance of the thing%2C I%27d guess it%27s because being the only person in D%C3%ACqi%C3%BA with her longevity makes it hard for her to risk loss%2C even if pulling away like this will make matters worse for her.  %28Losing friends hurts%2C therefore do not have friends.  Great for not having to mourn friends%2C makes life suck worse than going to funerals ever will.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AEven if it isn%27t anything more than appearances%2C how long can she do this unconsciously before she stops%3F  Will she settle on being at arm%27s reach%2C or will she unwittingly push Corwin away%2C just to make things look right%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AThis isn%27t just some personal romance thing.  Corwin%2C Anthy%2C and Utena made a promise about this back in %5Bi%5DWhat%27s Past is Prologue.%5B%2Fi%5D  If I had to bet on one of those three breaking a promise%2C or Surtur being the drummer for Spinal Tap in 2413%2C I%27d pre-order the Spinal Tap tickets.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bb%5DMercutio%3A%5B%2Fb%5D%0D%0A%3EAzana taking the ring for the first time with her flashy new blue flame...%0D%0A%0D%0AIt might not be MLB-legal.  There%27s limits on how hot the flame can get%2C remember.  It%27s possible that the easiest way to avoid questions of whether Azana%27s allowed to sling blue flame or not is by not using it during an event.  Even if it is tournament-legal%2C the hearings and decision-making needed to decide that fall under Gryphon%27s %22doesn%27t need the %5Bi%5Dtsuris%5B%2Fi%5D%22 description quite nicely.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0APeter Eng%0D%0A--%0D%0AMeet the new post%2C same as the old post.
1|1|0|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits - Comments II|rwpikul||22:21:51|06/15/2014|%3E%5Bb%5DMercutio%3A%5B%2Fb%5D %0D%0A%3E%3EAzana taking the ring for the first time with her flashy new blue flame...%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EIt might not be MLB-legal.  There%27s limits on how hot the flame can %0D%0A%3Eget%2C remember.  It%27s possible that the easiest way to avoid questions %0D%0A%3Eof whether Azana%27s allowed to sling blue flame or not is by not using %0D%0A%3Eit during an event.  Even if it is tournament-legal%2C the hearings and %0D%0A%3Edecision-making needed to decide that fall under Gryphon%27s %22doesn%27t %0D%0A%3Eneed the %5Bi%5Dtsuris%5B%2Fi%5D%22 description quite nicely. %0D%0A%0D%0AAnother possibility%2C assuming the blue flame is within the rules%2C is that she is holding it back.  While it might give her an edge in general%2C it is likely to be a _big_ advantage in the fight she first pulls it out.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt would sort of be like a hockey game where you suddenly realize that one of the opposing players is an in his prime Wayne Gretzky%2C Bobby Orr or Maurice Richard.
3|2|1|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits - Comments II|JeanneHedge||22:35:56|06/15/2014|%3EAnother possibility%2C assuming the blue flame is within the rules%2C is %0D%0A%3Ethat she is holding it back.  While it might give her an edge in %0D%0A%3Egeneral%2C it is likely to be a _big_ advantage in the fight she first %0D%0A%3Epulls it out. %0D%0A%0D%0ADoes she have conscious control over it yet%3F Can she call it on demand%2C or does it only come when under duress%3F%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
4|3|3|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits - Comments II|Gryphon||23:00:32|06/15/2014|%3E%3EAnother possibility%2C assuming the blue flame is within the rules%2C is %0D%0A%3E%3Ethat she is holding it back.  While it might give her an edge in %0D%0A%3E%3Egeneral%2C it is likely to be a _big_ advantage in the fight she first %0D%0A%3E%3Epulls it out. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EDoes she have conscious control over it yet%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AYes%21  I mean I %5Bi%5Dthink%5B%2Fi%5D so...  There are definitely no animals in there%2C though.%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
2|1|0|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits - Comments II|JeanneHedge||22:34:50|06/15/2014|Ok%2C here I go sticking my nose in again...  %0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m another who took the whole Corwin-Korra scene as unintended. At least it really twanged my squick-o-meter. Might have been because Corwin used one of the classic %28as in old-time%29 lines when he asked Korra to let her hair down. I did do an internal eye-roll - setting up a harem Corwin%3F Like father%2C like son%2C open marriage with many friends with benefits and all%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m not real clear if Korra knows why she%27s acting hand%27s off with Corwin either %28or realizes what she%27s doing%29. Utena and Anthy will make Korra know it%27s ok to get touchy-feelie again%2C but I gotta wonder if they%27d put a stop to anything beyond that.%0D%0A%0D%0AIn the original thread I wrote %22A 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%22.  But I also agree with what others have noted - it%27s slow%2C as have been the last few. I don%27t mind that much.  As I wrote%2C I%27ve had the feeling something big is being set up. %0D%0A%0D%0ABut please don%27t go all HGTV and give us micro-detail of building a house. How much longer will Nall visit or be visited to let the reader know he%27s still angsting%3F  Let stuff like that go on in the background - unless it%27s actively advancing the plot%2C it just brings what forward movement the plot may have to a screeching halt.%0D%0A%0D%0AAt this point%2C I%27m not even sure what the overall story arc is for this part of S5. Lots of little things are going on - the honeymoon and subsequent Tour of Diqiu%2C with child%3B the drug cartel%3B Anne learning to fire bend%2C after a fashion%3B building a vacation home%3B new friends for the Avatar%3B pizza on Diqiu. Will Anthy end up an air bender %28after a fashion%29%3F Korra%27s got a new team%2C but what%27s she going to do with them besides hang out%3F Where%27s a serious Big Bad for them all to go against%3F %28surely not Azula%29  Nothing going on that obviously links%2C and nothing going on that%27s enough to sustain a series by itself. The only thing that seems semi-ominous to me is the reveal of back doors between Valhalla and the Spirit World. Is that foreshadowing something serious%3F %28Nordic pantheon baddies invade Diqiu%3F%29 Lots of little observations and questions%2C which I don%27t expect to be answered here.%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
5|2|2|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits - Comments II|Gryphon||23:20:31|06/15/2014|%3EI%27m another who took the whole Corwin-Korra scene as unintended. At %0D%0A%3Eleast it really twanged my squick-o-meter.%0D%0A%0D%0AI gotta admit I don%27t quite understand this reaction.  Even if it %5Bi%5Dwas%5B%2Fi%5D what you guys thought it was%2C I could see thinking one or the other or both of them was being a bit of a cad and a bounder%2C depending on the circumstances%2C but not getting all oogy about it.  The guy%27s a grown man and - kind of significant in this context - %5Bi%5Da Norse god%5B%2Fi%5D.  To paraphrase L.P. Hartley%2C Asgard is a foreign country%3A they do things differently there.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EMight have been because %0D%0A%3ECorwin used one of the classic %28as in old-time%29 lines when he asked %0D%0A%3EKorra to let her hair down. I did do an internal eye-roll - setting up %0D%0A%3Ea harem Corwin%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C no%2C he really did just want to see what she looked like with her ponytail down.  With Corwin it often actually is just as simple as that.  %28SEE ALSO back during his brief residency in Cephiro%2C when he took Kozue for a late-night test drive in the %27Vette in order to... test his repairs to the %27Vette.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AHe liked the result%2C yes%2C and he wasn%27t shy about saying so%2C but he likes the Western Electric Model 500 telephone%2C too%2C that doesn%27t mean he%27s planning to leave Utena for one.  %28Now %5Bi%5Dthat%5B%2Fi%5D you could feel free to find oogy.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EI%27m not real clear if Korra knows why she%27s acting hand%27s off with %0D%0A%3ECorwin either %28or realizes what she%27s doing%29.%0D%0A%0D%0AHmm%2C I thought I%27d made it fairly plain in that sequence that she %5Bi%5Ddidn%27t%5B%2Fi%5D consciously realize what she was doing or why.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EUtena and Anthy will %0D%0A%3Emake Korra know it%27s ok to get touchy-feelie again%2C but I gotta wonder %0D%0A%3Eif they%27d put a stop to anything beyond that. %0D%0A%0D%0AAs ever%2C it would depend on the context.  %28The eventuality is presumably in the %22to be burnt if and when we get to them%22 sub-folder of Anthy%27s extensive %22bridges%22 file.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EBut please don%27t go all HGTV and give us micro-detail of building a %0D%0A%3Ehouse.%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m not sure how I%27d even go about that%2C although it%27s worth pointing out that there is the corresponding risk of someone complaining that the house construction was glossed over and%2For told-not-shown.  %28cf. when I skipped most of the workaday school stuff in %5Bi%5DA Fire to be Lighted%5B%2Fi%5D and people were all%2C %22eww%2C montages.%22 %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EAt this point%2C I%27m not even sure what the overall story arc is for %0D%0A%3Ethis part of S5.%0D%0A%0D%0AAt this point I think I can only answer this with a snippet of a favorite scene from %5Bi%5DDoctor Who%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btt%5DTHE DOCTOR%0D%0A%28shouting%29%0D%0AWatch out for the disinfectant%21%0D%0A%0D%0AROSE%0D%0AThe what%3F%0D%0A%0D%0ATHE DOCTOR%0D%0A%28louder%29%0D%0AThe disinfectant%21%0D%0A%0D%0AROSE%0D%0A%28louder%29%0D%0ATHE WHAT%3F%0D%0A%0D%0ATHE DOCTOR%0D%0A%28louder still%29%0D%0ATHE DISoh you%27ll find out.%5B%2Ftt%5D%0D%0A%0D%0A%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
6|3|5|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits - Comments II|The Traitor||07:28:31|06/16/2014|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jun-16-14 AT 07:30 AM (EDT)]%3Ehe %0D%0A%3Elikes the Western Electric Model 500 telephone%2C too%2C that doesn%27t mean %0D%0A%3Ehe%27s planning to leave Utena for one.  %28Now %5Bi%5Dthat%5B%2Fi%5D you could feel %0D%0A%3Efree to find oogy.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AHe sits with the main body cradled in his lap%2C a scented candle balanced carefully on the dial and some rose petals strewn around the place. He awaits the call. He hears the phone%27s new ringtone%2C the old bell replaced with the silky-smooth jazz stylings of Kenny G. He answers%2C taking time to stroke the crimson plastic of the receiver. He listens to the voice within.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Hey%2C you%2C%22 he says%2C his voice husky and wanting.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Corwin...%22%0D%0A%0D%0AA look of confusion spreads over his face like an oil slick. %22Wait wait wait%2C back up. What%3F You%27re not Utena.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22I know%2C I know%2C I can%27t be her... Corwin%2C please%2C please don%27t be mad at me-%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Seriously%2C who is this%3F I get one phone call%2C that was the arrangement we made-%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22It%27s %5Bi%5Dme%5B%2Fi%5D%2C Corwin. It%27s D.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22I don%27t know a Dee%2C%22 he growls. His special time has been ruined. %22I%27m going to hang up now. How in the name of Muspelheim you even %5Bi%5Dgot%5B%2Fi%5D this number%2C seriously%2C what is even the hell...%22 He trails off%2C remembering where he is%2C and makes to put the receiver down.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Wait%21 Please%21%22 The voice on the phone is desperate. %22I%27m D%21 You%27ve used me for so long t-to help you%21 Think in Roman numerals%21%22%0D%0A%0D%0AConfusion is replaced with understanding. %22... Five hundred. Huh.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22You got wasted one night and I woke up a sentient being. Tech gods. Whatcha gonna do%3F Except hang up%2C that would be bad%2C don%27t%2C don%27t do that.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22My life is weird.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22You%27re in a committed relationship with two b-beautiful women and yet you%27re sitting alone talking to them via a sentient t-t-telephone%2C and you%27re only realising this now%2C bucko%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Point. Wait%2C you have a stutter%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22A%2C a little. You thought it would be funny.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22... %5Bi%5DWhy%5B%2Fi%5D%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22See prior remarks about being wasted.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22My life really is weird.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Word.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AThere%27s silence for a little while%2C and then D speaks. %22So... what happens now%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Now...%22 he gets comfortable%2C lying on his back and stretching like a cat in a sunbeam%2C %22now we keep talking. Just you and me.%22%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%5DYes%2C yes%2C recursive fanfiction ist verboten%2C but what else am I to do with material like that%3F%5B%2Fsmall%5D
7|4|6|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits - Comments II|Gryphon||08:01:54|06/16/2014|There%2C you see%3F  Now that would be oogy.  %28Albeit preposterously out of character.  The very idea that Corwin would replace the bell of a Model 500 - one of the best parts%21 - with anything%2C but particularly weedy whitebread sax stylings%3F  Absurd.  Some days you guys make me feel like the German doctor in the Tim Burton %5Bi%5DBatman%5B%2Fi%5D.  You zee vhat I haff to VORK vith%2C Mr. Napier.%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
8|5|7|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits - Comments II|The Traitor||08:31:57|06/16/2014|I don%27t see %5Bi%5Dyou%5B%2Fi%5D doing a better version%21%0D%0A%0D%0AThis is probably because you are a rational human being%2C but whatever%2C the point still stands.%0D%0A%0D%0AExcept that it doesn%27t.%0D%0A%0D%0AUm... uh-oh.%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 wasn%27t entirely serious about the whole thing%2C but hey%2C Awful British Sex Comedy is a trope for a reason...%5B%2Fsmall%5D
10|6|8|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits - Comments II|Gryphon||14:17:03|06/16/2014|%3EI don%27t see %5Bi%5Dyou%5B%2Fi%5D doing a better version%21%0D%0A%0D%0ANo%2C no you don%27t.  I cannot in any way dispute this point.%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
9|2|2|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits - Comments II|Offsides||13:58:18|06/16/2014|%3EOk%2C here I go sticking my nose in again... %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI%27m another who took the whole Corwin-Korra scene as unintended. At %0D%0A%3Eleast it really twanged my squick-o-meter. Might have been because %0D%0A%3ECorwin used one of the classic %28as in old-time%29 lines when he asked %0D%0A%3EKorra to let her hair down. I did do an internal eye-roll - setting up %0D%0A%3Ea harem Corwin%3F Like father%2C like son%2C open marriage with many friends %0D%0A%3Ewith benefits and all%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AIf it was anyone other than Corwin%2C I%27d say you%27re right.  But he%27s been shown time and time again to have %5Bi%5Dabsolutely no bleeping clue that his straightforward approach could be interpreted in some other manner%2C especially as regards relationships with members of the opposite sex%5B%2Fi%5D.  Also%2C he both of them were clearly very tired when their internal filters were not at 100%25%2C which might have led to some conversation that could have been a bit embarrassing in the morning%2C but that%27s not the same as either of them intending to push things any further than they did %28or even that far%2C assuming someone clues Corwin in to the potential alternate interpretations%29.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EI%27m not real clear if Korra knows why she%27s acting hand%27s off with %0D%0A%3ECorwin either %28or realizes what she%27s doing%29. Utena and Anthy will %0D%0A%3Emake Korra know it%27s ok to get touchy-feelie again%2C but I gotta wonder %0D%0A%3Eif they%27d put a stop to anything beyond that. %0D%0A%0D%0AI suspect their main intent is to get Corwin and Korra to simply act naturally around each other%2C neither pushing them to do anything nor being held back by themselves or anyone else.  As has been proven many times%2C Utena and Anthy both subscribe to Feynman%27s wife%27s philosophy%3A %22What do you care what other people think%3F%22  So what if outsiders might interpret things in a manner that is less than flattering.  They%27ll know the truth%2C and that%27s all that matters to them.  I suspect there%27s also a bit of Utena being reminded of Anthy holding back%2C and not wanting any part of it.  Corwin won%27t do anything to intentionally hurt either Utena or Anthy%2C and they know it.  Therefore%2C why not take steps to resolve things between Corwin and Korra%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EIn the original thread I wrote %22A nice piece%2C with many character %0D%0A%3Edeveloping vignettes%2C along with actually seeing some things hinted at %0D%0A%3Eor promised earlier %28such as ice dodging%29. All in all%2C it gave me the %0D%0A%3Efeel of setting things up for a big payoff in the next part%22.  But I %0D%0A%3Ealso agree with what others have noted - it%27s slow%2C as have been the %0D%0A%3Elast few. I don%27t mind that much.  As I wrote%2C I%27ve had the feeling %0D%0A%3Esomething big is being set up. %0D%0A%0D%0AI can%27t disagree%2C but I also didn%27t really pay attention to it when I first read it.  Not every piece can be all edge-of-the-seat thrillers.  Besides%2C I%27ve learned over the years to never underestimate Gryphon%27s ability to set something up that nobody saw coming%2C and have the seeds of it planted years beforehand...%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
11|3|9|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits - Comments II|Vorticity||22:11:16|06/18/2014|I was finding myself increasingly irked by what appears from the outside to be a budding romance between Corwin and Korra.  The way he%27s interacting with her is not all that different between the way he acted with Utena in Symphony 1%2C and well%2C we know the signs.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd the potential that Utena and Anthy might even be accepting of it seemed even more strange%2C because it%27s really too soon.  They%27ve only known Korra for a few weeks%2C so my Mary Sue alarms were starting to go off.  But when I got to this line%2C I finally got the picture%3A%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E         %22Yesterday%2C you welcomed the three of us - %22 %28gesturing to Anthy%0D%0A%3E and Corwin%29 %22 - into your tribe and your family.  Tonight... %22%0D%0A%3E         Pausing%2C she raised her left hand%2C holding it in a fist against%0D%0A%3E her chest for a moment%3B then%2C with a smile%2C she said%2C %22Tonight it%27s our%0D%0A%3E turn%2C%22 extended the hand to Korra%2C and opened it.  On her palm%2C a silver%0D%0A%3E ring inlaid with the Duelist rose crest glinted in the firelight - much%0D%0A%3E like Korra%27s eyes%2C as they widened in surprise.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe Trinity%27s relationship has always been complicated by others.  Those Rose Seal rings represented engagement rings to Anthy originally -- and Juri%2C Miki%2C and definitely Saionji act as if they still do to some degree.  Even if the meaning of the rings has changed%2C they still represent the same kind of deep commitment.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo even if it does go in a romantic direction%2C I guess I%27m okay with it%2C because they%27re already in a strange situation. If it%27s romantic friendship without the full relationship%2C that would be fine too.  But I think I need to trust that Anthy will figure out the right thing to do.%0D%0A%0D%0AI have to say%2C I really like the way that Anthy has turned out.  She adds a lot of subtlety that much of the cast is lacking %28looking at you Utena and Corwin and Korra%29%2C providing the long term strategy to everyone%27s tactics.  She also happens to simultaneously be an archetype of the sweet maiden%2C the loving mother%2C the strong warrior%2C and the evil witch simultaneously.  I don%27t even know how that%27s even possible%2C but there it is.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnyway%2C good job writing Anthy%2C because she%27s hard to understand.  I don%27t think I understood her character at all until Page of Swords%2C when Devlin commented on how very deep her emotions run.  She%27s like Aunt Bell%2C but a little bit Evil.%0D%0A%0D%0AI have a couple of comments related to the fact that I%27ve never watched any Avatar or Korra.  When the Rose Duel exhibitions happen%2C I never really care that much about the outcome -- I just like the cool fight scene.  But this time%3F  Boy was I glad that Utena beat Korra.  After a long divergence into Diqiu%2C it felt like Utena was finally taking the plot back.  After all%2C she%27s the Rose Prince%2C you gotta deal with it.%0D%0A%0D%0ASecond%2C I feel like I had trouble visualizing the new characters in the Suite.  I don%27t know if it%27s because I glossed through the descriptions when they happened %28who are all of these random new people and why do I care%3F%29%2C or because the descriptions weren%27t meaningful to me %28%22looks like she%27s from the Fire Nation%22... ok%3F%29.  Maybe I%27m just a stupid reader.  But maybe a few reminders of the characters%27 appearance wouldn%27t hurt.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnyway%2C it%27s been a long detour%2C but things like that happen in life%2C so I%27m not gonna fret about that.  The story must flow.  Thanks for all the entertaining stories%2C including this one.
13|4|11|||1||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits - Comments II|Gryphon||20:52:28|06/23/2014|%3ESecond%2C I feel like I had trouble visualizing the new characters in %0D%0A%3Ethe Suite.  I don%27t know if it%27s because I glossed through the %0D%0A%3Edescriptions when they happened %28who are all of these random new %0D%0A%3Epeople and why do I care%3F%29%2C or because the descriptions weren%27t %0D%0A%3Emeaningful to me %28%22looks like she%27s from the Fire Nation%22... ok%3F%29. %0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m hoping more the former than the latter%2C if only because I%27d like to hope I wasn%27t quite that vague about most people on first meeting %28and that if I did say something as open-ended as that%2C I%27d at least have followed it with an outline of whatever the character the semi-omniscient narrator was following at that moment thought that meant%29.%0D%0A%0D%0ABe that as it may%2C there are a few illustrations showing some of the original characters %28mostly by Phil%2C over on the %5Blink%3Awww.eyrie-productions.com%2FUF%2FFI%2FSOS%2Fimages-staff.html%7CSOS staff images page%5D%29%2C and others are specifically said to resemble various canonical-source characters precisely so looking up images of people they resemble is possible %28cf. Azana%27s occasionally-striking resemblance to %5Blink%3Aavatar.wikia.com%2Fwiki%2FCategory%3AAzula_images%7CAzula%5D%2C of whom there are... a %5Bi%5Dlot%5B%2Fi%5D of pictures available%29 - so there are tools%2C it just sometimes requires a bit of homework. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0AOthers are a bit more oblique%2C I admit.  Karana%2C for instance%2C is based on %5Blink%3Awww.eyrie-productions.com%2FUF%2FFI%2FSOS%2FGFX%2Fkarana-source.jpg%3Fx%7Can unused test design for Korra%5D%2C though in UF she obviously doesn%27t dress so exactly like her most of the time.%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|1|0|||||RE%3A %28S5M4%29 Familiar Spirits - Comments II|Proginoskes||13:49:54|06/19/2014|I initially read more into the Corwin%2FKorra interactions than Gryphon wrote. I wasn%27t squicked at the difference in experience%2C but faintly disturbed at the extreme speed with which the relationship seemed to be changing. Then I remembered that Gryph %26co. are better writers than that%2C reread it to get what they actually meant%2C and firmly told my brain to stay out of the Shal-Mari sewers.