Randomness

[piratemarimo]

I damand Nightmare Luffy as Creeper.

That is... a good idea. You're hired. by the way, do you have any ideas about what to do about the rest of CP9 that didn't make it into the parody? Let's see, we've got:

Blueno, Spandam, Fukurou, Kumadori, and Funkfreed.

[Sai-chan]

I... don't really know. I can't really remember many of the monsters and villians, or characters in general, apart from Scooby Doo on Zombie Island, Scooby Doo and the Witch's Ghost and Schooby Doo and the Cyber Chase, and some misc episodes of the Scooby Doo Movies. xD;

I'd have to refresh my memories..

[metteminne]

*sings the theme song*

[CharmedWard]

:D Perfect! Thats just how I imagined it xD

Ooooh, I didn't know you had FP stuff in here though~ I'll have to look at that sometime.

[piratemarimo]

Part Two of the Hattori-Scooby Doo parody:

Spoiler:

[Later…]
Jyabura: [sporting slightly bloody bandages and a black eye]
Remind me why we’re doing this again?
Kalifa: [adjusts her glasses] If you had been paying attention earlier instead of sleeping, you’d already know.
Jyabura: Oh come on!
Kaku: Well, it’s not as though we have anything better to do. This could be fun!
[Rob Lucci standing unhappily to the side, frowns and says nothing]
Jyabura: Just give me my freaking money back, you jerks!!
Hattori: Coo! When you see the van, you’ll stop complaining.
Jyabura: If it was so important, why couldn’t we have just stolen one?!
Kalifa: We do not steal. We’re supposed to be role models.
Jyabura: [a vein pops on his forehead] Why the heck is it okay to steal my life’s savings, but it’s not okay to steal a van?! I had plans for that money!
Hattori: Hoo hoo! Jyabura wants to hook up with the ladies!
Jyabura: [flushes bright red] S-Shut up! That’s none of your business!
Hattori: [winks] Your secret is safe with me!
Jyabura: You’ve already said it, blabber-beak!!
Kaku: Guys, guys. Calm down.
Jyabura: Hmph.
Kaku: Do you want the answer to your question or not?

Jyabura: Which one again?
Kaku: … You forgot already?
Hattori: [laughs]
Rob Lucci: It’s no surprise, Kaku. Jyabura has the attention span of a louse.
Jyabura: What did you just say?! Wanna fight?!
Rob Lucci: As if I’d want to fight someone as weak as you.
Jyabura: [cracks his knuckles] I’ll show you who’s weak!!
[He charges at Lucci]
Kaku: Jinkies, guys.
Jyabura: Take this!! [he goes into a flying kick]
Kalifa: [adjusts glasses] Please stop fighting, you two.
[Jyabura and Lucci ignore her and start trading blows]
Kalifa: Stop fighting, please.
[They continue to spar]
Kalifa: I said stop!! [she kicks them both in the face as they are about to clash again]

[A minute later…]
Kalifa: There will be no violence or fighting amongst ourselves. Do you understand?
[Jyabura and Lucci are on their knees; both have several high-heel-shaped bruises]
Jyabura: [mumbles in unison with Rob Lucci] Yes, ma’am…
Kalifa: Good.
Hattori: [laughing at the hapless pair]
Kaku: … I don’t know how this is gonna work out, Kalifa.
Kalifa: [turns to stare at Kaku] You have a complaint?
Kaku: [starts sweating nervously] N-No. I’m all for this. Please don’t hurt me…

Kaku: [quickly changes the subject] So… listen up!! I’ll explain everything once more.
Jyabura: Joy…
Kaku: The mayor of Water Sev—I mean, “Coolsville,” gave us a new assignment, jaa. Apparently, our old jobs aren’t as important as before. After that incident last week, something must be done. In order to boost the morale of people everywhere, we have to travel around and help people solve mysteries.
Jyabura: Why’s it got to be us? Can’t they hire that Herlock Solmes guy?
Kaku: First of all, Jyabura, the man’s name is Sherlock Holmes. Second of all, he is not actually a real person. He can’t help us because he’s a fictional character.
Jyabura: What?? But if he’s not real, then maybe… we’re not real, either!!
Kaku: Don’t be silly, Jyabura.
Hattori: Coo hoo! That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard! Next you’ll be saying birds can’t talk! [At this Rob Lucci cracks a small, rare smile]
Jyabura: H-Hey! Don’t laugh! It was a good theory…
Kalifa: [adjusts glasses] Jyabura, I regret to inform you that you’re borderline retarded.
Jyabura: [mumbles to himself] You guys all suck…

[Sai-chan]

Ah, nearly breaking the fourth wall. I love it.


... hahaha, Kalifa punishing Jyabura I can see. Kalifa punishing Lucci? Now that's funny. lol

[piratemarimo]

I was just re-watching an episode of Enies Lobby, and it occurred to me that Jyabura is actually rather gullible and easily excited. I'm so gonna exploit that. >:D But man, at the rate this is going, I wonder if CP9 is going to actually get around to solving mysteries. They haven't even started and they're already falling apart. XD

--
In case nobody reads my earlier comment, the main character in this story was supposed to be a boy. Not that I think it really matters, but somehow you all thought it was a girl.

Pink Elephants Part Two:

Spoiler:

I didn’t really know where I was headed, but I figured it didn’t matter. I would become what people called a wanderer. I could do whatever I wanted. It’s not like I didn’t know how to take care of myself. For most of that morning, I walked aimlessly along the dusty path which I had always traveled. There was a great forest up ahead. Far as the eye could see, trees went on and on. Birds chirped and sang cheerfully. Normally the sweet melodies of the forest set me at ease, but I knew I had a ways to go before I could stop and relax. If I were to climb a tall tree and look out in all directions, I knew what I would see. So I stepped under the canopy of branches and into the welcoming shade.

Shafts of sunlight danced upon the ground. Two squirrels that had been chasing each other around stopped their game to look at me. They sat up straight and watched me silently. I looked at them and smiled briefly as I walked past. Somehow I could feel their gaze upon my back until I rounded the bend. It was certainly an odd sort of feeling. Birds continued to chirp. Insects joined in with many a buzz. Yes, this was the sort of harmony that was normal. Not… trumpeting. That noise didn’t belong here and it never would belong. Yet… that noise… continued to echo in my brain. I simply could not stand it. I would walk far away until that sound was gone. It was the only way to set things right. The alternative was going completely mad.

For most of morning, I walked along the path. The shafts of sunlight that shone between the tree gaps seemed less bright as they normally appeared to my eyes. In fact, I wasn’t truly seeing much of anything, as I was far too lost in thought to take in that beauty. Without even realizing it, I was scowling heavily. No wonder the animals kept their distance from me. For a while the general absence of other creatures in the forest was something I was only aware of subconsciously. Birds flew overhead, and whenever I looked up at them, they would appear to swoop away. It was starting to irritate me. However, there wasn’t much I could do. Why I suddenly cared about what the animals were up to was beyond my comprehension. Perhaps this was… an off day. Or perhaps… this was just another ordinary day, and I was simply being jittery.

When the sun reached its peak, I had already I made it to the stream. The clear blue water sparkled in the sun, and I decided it would be a good time to take a short rest. I sat down upon the bank and took off my backpack. I stared out at the peaceful little stream where I had gone fishing countless times. I even remember the first time I caught a fish; it was a trout with silver scales that glistened in the sun and seemed to change colors as I examined the fish inquisitively.

Even at that time, it would seem that strange things were already set into motion. It was only until years later, as I sat upon the bank, that I realized how bizarre that day had been. A silver trout shouldn’t have… There was just no way it was possible. I frowned, trying to figure out what it meant. Was it possible that history had gotten it wrong? They were human beings, just like everyone else. They might have made a mistake. They couldn’t have been to every place in the world where there was water. It was really a miracle that they discovered what they did. Secrets of the world, no, of life itself, were capable of being unlocked by those gifted with science. Yet there was simply no denying that the past was full of mistakes. How many times had people corrected false assumptions? Nothing was perfect. I still wasn’t convinced, though. Yet I wondered if this trust I placed in them was another false assumption. I’d never thought about why, I’d just always believed they knew what they were talking about. Now I was asking myself. Why? Why did they have authority of knowledge? Why did their superiority seem like an absolute, like words set into stone? Why were they so confident that the silver trout had really vanished?

The trout hadn’t wriggled about as much as one would have thought. I had known that fish don’t blink, but it was still strange to gaze into eyes that seemed as solemn as the inky black night sky. My original purpose had been to catch a fish to cook and eat for the evening’s meal. Well, to be more precise, I was bringing it home so that my mom could cook it, but that was beside the point. Not taking my eyes off the fish, I slowly reached out and grasped the hook. It took but a few seconds to get the hook loose. All the while the fish moved hardly at all. I carried it to the bank and crouched down. Gently placing it back in the stream, I whispered softly, “Goodbye, fish.”

The trout glanced at me, swam off a short ways, and leapt up out of the water. Its scales had glittered in the sun for a brief moment before the fish splashed back down and disappeared downstream. When I got back home, mom asked if I had caught anything, and I said no. So that night we had eaten macaroni and cheese, instead.

I knew it had been a silver trout. I knew it in my heart. That was already enough proof that the statement made by them was a lie, intentional or not. The assumption that the fish were only found in one part of the world was false as well. At least… back then it had been false. I had to remember that fish don’t live as long as humans. If that one had been the last of its kind, then it was definitely long gone by now.

As I gazed absentmindedly at the water, I reached over to my backpack, tugged Jeff out, and placed him in my lap. Next I rummaged for the bag of trail mix. I munched on a handful of granola. Jeff, as usual, was quiet. He was always polite and would wait for me to start up the conversations.

“I don’t see the fish, Jeff,” I said. “It’s not just the silver trout; they’re all gone.”
A beat passed. “Then tell me where they are, Jeff,” I countered. “Do you really think they could be sleeping? Maybe they’re… avoiding this place.” Another pause.
“I don’t know why, Jeff. That’s why I’m asking you for your opinion. How can every last one of them be doing the same thing? I can’t even see any minnows. Can you?” Gently, I lifted Jeff up so he could get a better view. I turned him back and forth slowly. “I can’t stay here forever, Jeff. There’s no time to go fishing. We should just cross the stream now and be done with this place. It’s not that far from… I mean, we still have a long way to go.”

With that I put away the trail mix and Jeff. I walked down to the edge of the water and set off downstream. I knew that there was a bridge upstream, but I preferred crossing the natural way. Plus, if Jeff was correct, there was one place that the fish always loved to be. Jeff, from inside the backpack, said nothing about my choice to go the long way.

[Nolus]

I love CP9 Scooby-Doo.

Hahaha, birds can't talk, Piratemarimo, you have a strange imagination, hahaha! .... wait a sec

"Helmock Solmes and Moktor Datson in Hounds of the Vaskerbilles"

[Kitsune Inferno]

piratemarimo, are you planning to submit PE2 for the Bi-Weekly? If so, let Kenny know that way I'll have more stories to review.~

(I'll also give reviews for "Working Title" and The Marvelous Adventures of Mr. M and I reach them on the Compendium thread. :))

[piratemarimo]

My bi-weekly entry <__< It has absolutely nothing to do with any other stories, this is new.

The Mouse

Spoiler:

Once upon a time there was a little mouse who lived in a cozy little mouse hole located in a cottage out in the countryside. He was a cheerful fellow with carefully groomed fur and shiny black eyes. Not even so much as a whisker was out of place. Each morning when the first rays of sunlight crept into his home, he would open his eyes with eagerness to start the day, for this was no ordinary mouse. He did not choose to be active at night like the rest of his family, who as it happened, lived elsewhere, in the city of twinkling lights in lands far away, at least, far for a mouse. He’d hop along to the bathroom using his mouse tunnels, of course. There was a human who lived in the cottage, and he didn’t want to cause trouble by showing himself. He had a tiny plastic cap that he used to collect water for washing up. Once he was done with his morning grooming, off he would go to the kitchen for breakfast. There was almost always something leftover for him.

There was one other resident inside this cottage. A lanky, orange cat with eyes the color of brilliant green acid prowled about the house with pride. She also provided a little company for the woman who had brought her over from the city. The cat’s name was Apricot. Now Apricot was intelligent as far as most cats go. The mouse hole did not escape her notice. No self-respecting cat would let mice roam about a house unattended. At least that was the way things were supposed to be. Since ancient Egyptian times, cats had helped keep down the rodent population. However, this was no ordinary mouse with which she was dealing. Getting rid of the would-be pest was not nearly as easy as Apricot had thought initially. Then one day while she was attempting to catch the mouse, a relationship of an unusual sort came about rather unexpectedly.

--

It was morning and the mouse had arrived for breakfast. He poked his head out cautiously and glanced in all directions. He had become aware that there was a new addition to the house. His nose twitched at the unfamiliar smell. This was not your usual bacon and eggs smell but something else altogether. The woman had gone out on an errand of sorts, and she returned carrying a wicker basket. There was something moving in there! He looked on and thought that it was either a new resident or a new type of food item for mealtime. Then he heard it! From within the basket came a mewling sound; why, it was a cat! The tip of his tail fell flat with dismay and his whiskers drooped.

Oh, this is just awful, thought the mouse. I am sure that this cat will not like me in the least, if any of the other cats I have met are anything to go by. I suppose it’s only common courtesy to give a greeting, even if I have my reservations. I must act like a gentlemouse and hope for the best.
With these thoughts in mind, he stood watching the basket. The woman lifted up the latch, and, ever so slowly, out came an orange cat, long of limb and young of heart, though not so young as a kitten. For a short while the cat wandered about the kitchen sniffing curiously. She was on the opposite side of the room from where the mouse hole was located. One saucer of milk and one of fish meat was set down on the floor, and the cat had breakfast. The woman left the room. Meanwhile the mouse quietly came out into the kitchen, unnoticed by the cat whose back was to him. The mouse climbed up a chair and then on the tabletop. He munched apprehensively on the scrap of bacon and stray bit of scrambled egg that was lying on the plate.

The cat finished her meal, looked up, and surveyed the kitchen once more. Her eyes swept past the mouse once. Suddenly her eyes flicked back sharply and stared at the mouse in consternation. A hiss escaped her throat, and her fur stood on end. The mouse had been regarding the cat, having finished his meal already. He swallowed nervously upon seeing her reaction to him. Waving tentatively with a paw, he attempted to smile winningly and act like nothing was wrong, even though his heart had jumped clear into his throat at the sight of those bright, bright eyes dilating with fury. This was not going according to plan at all.

“H-Hello!” he squeaked with as much enthusiasm as he could muster, though admittedly it wasn’t very much at this point. She bared her fangs. “I-I see that you’re a new resident to this humble cottage, and… I thought I’d, well, you know, drop by and pay you my respects…” He was met with a louder hiss. The cat was stiff as a board and crouched down, ready to spring. “P-Please wait a moment!” the mouse cried. “I am not going to cause trouble, even though I really am a mouse, but maybe we could talk a little and get to know each other better—”

That was as far as he got before the cat was leaping up at him. Her claws extended with obvious intent of tearing his head off. With a frightened squeak, he tumbled off the table and onto the chair, just barely managing to catch himself on the edge of the seat. Above him the cat had slid down the length of the table with the momentum of her jump and was quickly getting to her feet. He hastily dropped down to the floor into an ungraceful heap. Down leaped the cat. She turned and started for him under the table. He scrambled up and darted to the left, which saved him from death by a hair. Unfortunately, this also placed him farther away from his mouse hole. He had no time to think about that, being in mortal peril. All he could do was run. This cat was smart enough to realize which direction he was attempting to go, and prevented him from going right by swiping at him with her with paw. He went head over heels a few feet farther away from safety.

He picked himself off the floor and stood on his hind paws. The two of them stared into each other’s eyes. The mouse tried not to show that he was dizzy or fearful. He blinked rapidly in attempt to clear his head. He shakily spread his forepaws in what he hoped was a disarming gesture. “I just want to talk. That’s all. Would it hurt to at least introduce ourselves to one another? Please?” He received nothing but a cold, fierce stare. She was getting ready to spring forward once more. He took one step forward, reaching out imploringly. His silent plea was to no avail. As she was pouncing, he dropped down on all fours and shot forward like a cork from a popgun. He dashed under her and kept going as though his tail was on fire. By the time she had corrected her footing, he was halfway across the room to his mouse hole. She hissed wrathfully and gave chase even though she knew it was too late. He vanished into the safety of his hole with the sound of angry yowling ringing in his ears.

[qabyo123]

Trying to kill Izaya........................ LIKE A BOSS!!

[piratemarimo]

This was a story inspired by Sai-chan. Inspired by the two of us and these characters in the story are modeled on us as you will notice by the second sentence, but I hope it's suitable. I promise you the story will be more fantastical than this, Sai-chan. :P sorry it's so short (as usual) and ends in an odd spot but I kind of procrastinated on writing. No title yet. the title is:

Dream Dimensions

Spoiler:

Saiya was an artistic girl who loved to paint and draw. However, her greatest love was chocolate. No other child could eat as much chocolate as her in one sitting. One almost had to wonder if her stomach was, in fact, bottomless. Her bright blue eyes sparkled with delight at the mere mention of that delectable sweet, and then she became a hyper ball of energy, as opposed to her usual calm self. Of course she loved to have fun and play like any child, so calm was a relative term. Around certain people she could really let loose. At heart Saiya was a sweet girl who rarely lost her temper with others.

Mariel was the older of the two girls, but she acted and looked much younger. She loved reading books more than anything. She could pore through countless books just as fast as Saiya could eat chocolate. Mariel didn’t eat much candy, but she could eat food with as much gusto as her friend. Between the two of them, no table of food could survive untouched for very long. She also loved animals a great deal. One of her books was an animal encyclopedia, and she would stare at the pictures for hours on end, even staying up past her bedtime. Normally she was shy and quiet by herself. Though she was more adventurous and outgoing whenever she had a chance to play with her friends, she still tended to be timid and cautious of doing things that might be dangerous. Sometimes she was clumsy, too. Unlike her friend Saiya, she was easily irritated by others; she disliked being teased.

The two of them had become close friends. As it turned out, they lived rather close to one another. Mariel had moved in to the neighborhood more recently, and hadn’t gotten to know many people when she first met Saiya. As a result of their encounter, she would run along to the other’s house almost every day to watch cartoons and movies, build castles out of blankets, draw all over the place (one time they had drawn all over the walls inside Saiya’s house. After that incident they were given a bit of a scolding and a giant stack of paper that needed constant replenishing to keep them somewhat out of mischief.), eat snacks, or find a new place to explore. This is how it all began…

Mariel stared out of the window of the car with round eyes. It was a whole new world out there. Gone was the familiarity of the apple orchard and the tiny garden plots. Gone was the small pond where the turtles and frogs would swim. Gone was the humble little woodland thicket which was occasionally frequented by deer. On Mariel’s lap was a backpack bulging with various possessions such as crayons, some books, and snacks to name but a few.

“We’ve arrived!” her dad called out. The house was bigger than the last one. Everything seemed that way; the neighborhood itself was also bigger in size. Mariel’s new home was near the forest borders, elevated above the surrounding area. The front of the house looked down the gently sloping hillside and into the valley where various houses and stores could be seen for miles around. The back of the house looked upon the mighty forest that was separated from civilization by a stretch of grassland where sunflowers bloomed and bees buzzed. Many furry critters and birds also found comfortable lodging there and into the woods beyond. Hidden pathways formed from many years of treading feet wound their way to the forest.

She hopped out the car and tugged on her backpack, which was comically oversized in proportion to her body. Spinning around and running in the opposite direction of the house, Mariel stood at the top of the hill and stood breathless at the sight. Little did she know that much more grand sights were awaiting discovery in the not too distant future. Reluctantly she turned back to the house at the sound of her parents’ calling. For the rest of that week, her family was busy unpacking and settling in to the house. Other people who lived nearby visited the house to greet Mariel’s family and offer gifts as a token of friendship. Mariel shyly peeked out at the strangers from behind a wall. From time to time, she’d mumble hello.

All the neighbors had paid their respects, and so the new family was left to their privacy and settling down. At least, that is what Mariel’s family thought. However, one pleasant Saturday morning was about to get shaken up… At the moment Mariel was lying on her stomach in the living room, focused intently on her crayon drawing of a moose. As she was reaching for the pink crayon, the doorbell rang. Her bent head shot up with surprise. Scrambling upright she rushed to the door and saw the silhouette of a person standing there. She was about to open the door when she remembered that she was not supposed to let strangers in the house, so off she scampered to get her mom.

“Who could it be?” she asked.
“We’ll see,” her mom replied. Mariel hide behind a wall that provided her a nifty vantage point of the front door. The doorbell rang once more. Her mom called out “Yes, yes, I’m coming!” and then opened the door. Mariel peeked a little further out behind the wall. Standing in the door was a woman dressed in the strangest fashion that Mariel had ever seen. The stranger was sporting a cowgirl hat, big brown boots complete with shiny spurs, and a colorful skirt of crimson and gold. She was also wearing a t-shirt that had a picture of questions marks and a magnifying glass upon it; this matched the color of her skirt. As soon as mom opened the door she cheerfully stuck out her hand and said

“Well, howdy! You’re the new neighbors around here, aren’t you? I sure am pleased to make your acquaintance!” Mom seemed a bit surprised but quickly gathered her wits to give a polite response and invite the woman inside the house. “I apologize for not coming by sooner to give you a warm welcome to this wonderful neighborhood, but I was away on a camping trip up by the Great Falls. It’s a great place to go if you ever feel the spirit of adventure calling.”

“Oh no, that’s perfectly alright,” mom replied. “The neighbors treated us with plenty of kindness when we arrived. Can I interest you in a cup of coffee?”
“Sure!” As the woman stepped forward, she happened to glance to the side and spot Mariel peeking out from behind the wall. “Hm? Oho, who is that I spy?” she said. Suddenly she strode over to Mariel who flinched with surprise. “Is this your child?”
“Yes, that’s my daughter Mariel.”
“Well, aren’t you just the cutest thing?” she exclaimed, ruffling Mariel’s hair good-naturedly. “Of course, my little Sai-Sai is the cutest! But I’ll call you second first cute!”
“Eh??” Mariel squeaked in confusion.
“Oh yeah! Sai-Sai, honey! Come here and greet little Mari!” A girl with long brown hair who looked to be about the same age as Mariel stepped out from the doorstep and through the still-open door. She wore orange and black clothes emblazoned with cute ghosts and “Boo!” written across her shirt. She walked over to Mariel and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Hi, my name is Saiya. What’s your name?”

edit:
for my own reference, this was the general story idea inspired by Sai-chan, possibly subject to change :P

Spoiler:

Two young girls who just want to have fun stumble across something magical. They find themselves in a strange world like nothing they’ve ever seen before. It is a place full of dreams. However, all is not well. What seems like a wonderful, exciting adventure quickly turns into something else altogether. Will they be able to overcome these challenges in one piece, or will they fall prey to the evil forces of a terrifying enemy?

[trappedolphin]

BFF!!

I really like the way you build up a scene. You have a nice way of describing a picture and giving enough detail to create a good image and background without making it too heavy or letting the description dominate the story, which seems appropriate for this type of story. Scene transitions feel a bit jumpy and awkward, though, so it's a bit tricky to follow.

And um I normally don't do this but I know you're picky so I thought I should point this out...

Spoiler:

So off she scampered to get her mom.

^I don't think you're 'supposed' to start a sentence with "So", in 'proper' grammar. :P

[piratemarimo]

BFF!! I really like the way you build up a scene. You have a nice way of describing a picture and giving enough detail to create a good image and background without making it too heavy or letting the description dominate the story, which seems appropriate for this type of story. Scene transitions feel a bit jumpy and awkward, though, so it's a bit tricky to follow.

Thanks! Yeah transitions are tricky for me. orz

And um I normally don't do this but I know you're picky so I thought I should point this out...

Spoiler:

So off she scampered to get her mom. ^I don't think you're 'supposed' to start a sentence with "So", in 'proper' grammar. :P

NOOOOO I HAVE FAILED. Must fix... (thanks for pointing it out)

[Sai-chan]

Well ironically enough noob poster's off-topic post prevents me from double-posting. whatever. This was a story inspired by Sai-chan. Inspired by the two of us and these characters in the story are modeled on us as you will notice by the second sentence, but I hope it's suitable. I promise you the story will be more fantastical than this, Sai-chan. :P sorry it's so short (as usual) and ends in an odd spot but I kind of procrastinated on writing. No title yet.

Spoiler:

Saiya was an artistic girl who loved to paint and draw. However, her greatest love was chocolate. No other child could eat as much chocolate as her in one sitting. One almost had to wonder if her stomach was, in fact, bottomless. Her bright blue eyes sparkled with delight at the mere mention of that delectable sweet, and then she became a hyper ball of energy, as opposed to her usual calm self. Of course she loved to have fun and play like any child, so calm was a relative term. Around certain people she could really let loose. At heart Saiya was a sweet girl who rarely lost her temper with others.

Mariel was the older of the two girls, but she acted and looked much younger. She loved reading books more than anything. She could pore through countless books just as fast as Saiya could eat chocolate. Mariel didn’t eat much candy, but she could eat food with as much gusto as her friend. Between the two of them, no table of food could survive untouched for very long. She also loved animals a great deal. One of her books was an animal encyclopedia, and she would stare at the pictures for hours on end, even staying up past her bedtime. Normally she was shy and quiet by herself. Though she was more adventurous and outgoing whenever she had a chance to play with her friends, she still tended to be timid and cautious of doing things that might be dangerous. Sometimes she was clumsy, too. Unlike her friend Saiya, she was easily irritated by others; she disliked being teased.

The two of them had become close friends. As it turned out, they lived rather close to one another. Mariel had moved in to the neighborhood more recently, and hadn’t gotten to know many people when she first met Saiya. As a result of their encounter, she would run along to the other’s house almost every day to watch cartoons and movies, build castles out of blankets, draw all over the place (one time they had drawn all over the walls inside Saiya’s house. After that incident they were given a bit of a scolding and a giant stack of paper that needed constant replenishing to keep them somewhat out of mischief.), eat snacks, or find a new place to explore. This is how it all began…

Mariel stared out of the window of the car with round eyes. It was a whole new world out there. Gone was the familiarity of the apple orchard and the tiny garden plots. Gone was the small pond where the turtles and frogs would swim. Gone was the humble little woodland thicket which was occasionally frequented by deer. On Mariel’s lap was a backpack bulging with various possessions such as crayons, some books, and snacks to name but a few.

“We’ve arrived!” her dad called out. The house was bigger than the last one. Everything seemed that way; the neighborhood itself was also bigger in size. Mariel’s new home was near the forest borders, elevated above the surrounding area. The front of the house looked down the gently sloping hillside and into the valley where various houses and stores could be seen for miles around. The back of the house looked upon the mighty forest that was separated from civilization by a stretch of grassland where sunflowers bloomed and bees buzzed. Many furry critters and birds also found comfortable lodging there and into the woods beyond. Hidden pathways formed from many years of treading feet wound their way to the forest.

She hopped out the car and tugged on her backpack, which was comically oversized in proportion to her body. Spinning around and running in the opposite direction of the house, Mariel stood at the top of the hill and stood breathless at the sight. Little did she know that much more grand sights were awaiting discovery in the not too distant future. Reluctantly she turned back to the house at the sound of her parents’ calling. For the rest of that week, her family was busy unpacking and settling in to the house. Other people who lived nearby visited the house to greet Mariel’s family and offer gifts as a token of friendship. Mariel shyly peeked out at the strangers from behind a wall. From time to time, she’d mumble hello.

All the neighbors had paid their respects, and so the new family was left to their privacy and settling down. At least, that is what Mariel’s family thought. However, one pleasant Saturday morning was about to get shaken up… At the moment Mariel was lying on her stomach in the living room, focused intently on her crayon drawing of a moose. As she was reaching for the pink crayon, the doorbell rang. Her bent head shot up with surprise. Scrambling upright she rushed to the door and saw the silhouette of a person standing there. She was about to open the door when she remembered that she was not supposed to let strangers in the house, so off she scampered to get her mom.

“Who could it be?” she asked.
“We’ll see,” her mom replied. Mariel hide behind a wall that provided her a nifty vantage point of the front door. The doorbell rang once more. Her mom called out “Yes, yes, I’m coming!” and then opened the door. Mariel peeked a little further out behind the wall. Standing in the door was a woman dressed in the strangest fashion that Mariel had ever seen. The stranger was sporting a cowgirl hat, big brown boots complete with shiny spurs, and a colorful skirt of crimson and gold. She was also wearing a t-shirt that had a picture of questions marks and a magnifying glass upon it; this matched the color of her skirt. As soon as mom opened the door she cheerfully stuck out her hand and said

“Well, howdy! You’re the new neighbors around here, aren’t you? I sure am pleased to make your acquaintance!” Mom seemed a bit surprised but quickly gathered her wits to give a polite response and invite the woman inside the house. “I apologize for not coming by sooner to give you a warm welcome to this wonderful neighborhood, but I was away on a camping trip up by the Great Falls. It’s a great place to go if you ever feel the spirit of adventure calling.”

“Oh no, that’s perfectly alright,” mom replied. “The neighbors treated us with plenty of kindness when we arrived. Can I interest you in a cup of coffee?” “Sure!” As the woman stepped forward, she happened to glance to the side and spot Mariel peeking out from behind the wall. “Hm? Oho, who is that I spy?” she said. Suddenly she strode over to Mariel who flinched with surprise. “Is this your child?”
“Yes, that’s my daughter Mariel.” “Well, aren’t you just the cutest thing?” she exclaimed, ruffling Mariel’s hair good-naturedly. “Of course, my little Sai-Sai is the cutest! But I’ll call you second first cute!”
“Eh??” Mariel squeaked in confusion.
“Oh yeah! Sai-Sai, honey! Come here and greet little Mari!” A girl with long brown hair who looked to be about the same age as Mariel stepped out from the doorstep and through the still-open door. She wore orange and black clothes emblazoned with cute ghosts and “Boo!” written across her shirt. She walked over to Mariel and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Hi, my name is Saiya. What’s your name?”

Oh my god, that is so cute! <33 You got me perfectly! And the writting, descriptions and basic exposition went rather well.

The only 'flaw' I can see is my mom's clothes. xD; She's more of a... how you say... fashion girl. She loves high heeled black boots, short (sometimes leather) skirts and skinny jeans, and short shorts, rocker shirts... not overly so, you know, but I do love how you dipicted her. She does say 'howdy' and talks like that all the time. And she probably would call me Sai-Sai if my name were Saiya. You got my mom down pretty damn well considering I only told you so much about her.

[piratemarimo]

Oh my god, that is so cute! <33 You got me perfectly! And the writting, descriptions and basic exposition went rather well.

The only 'flaw' I can see is my mom's clothes. xD; She's more of a... how you say... fashion girl. She loves high heeled black boots, short (sometimes leather) skirts and skinny jeans, and short shorts, rocker shirts... not overly so, you know, but I do love how you dipicted her. She does say 'howdy' and talks like that all the time. And she probably would call me Sai-Sai if my name were Saiya. You got my mom down pretty damn well considering I only told you so much about her.

Oh~ I'm glad to hear it <3 I was particularly worried about if I'd get your mom's personality right since I only had descriptions and never actually talked with her as much as I have with you. lol I kind of fail at fashion, both irl and describing fashionable clothing. Glad you liked it. and also, do you have a fictional name you'd like me to call your mom? It felt slightly awkward writing the intro scene without having a name.

[Sai-chan]

Oh~ I'm glad to hear it <3 I was particularly worried about if I'd get your mom's personality right since I only had descriptions and never actually talked with her as much as I have with you. lol I kind of fail at fashion, both irl and describing fashionable clothing. Glad you liked it. and also, do you have a fictional name you'd like me to call your mom? It felt slightly awkward writing the intro scene without having a name.

Nah, you got her down reeeally well. <3 As for her clothing... uh. Well, do the best you can. We all have our follies.

A fictional name? How about... Samantha. Does that work?

Also, some little tidbits: She doens't like coffee, (she loves water and iced tea) and she tries to speak more politely when meeting new people. ex: 'Why hello there! My name is ___, how can I help you?' But when she gets to know them she becomes more laid back: 'What the fuck?! Hahahahaa! I can't believe it! Ya'll're serious? Really?!'

[piratemarimo]

Nah, you got her down reeeally well. <3 As for her clothing... uh. Well, do the best you can. We all have our follies.

A fictional name? How about... Samantha. Does that work?

Also, some little tidbits: She doens't like coffee, (she loves water and iced tea) and she tries to speak more politely when meeting new people. ex: 'Why hello there! My name is ___, how can I help you?' But when she gets to know them she becomes more laid back: 'What the fuck?! Hahahahaa! I can't believe it! Ya'll're serious? Really?!'

hm! I must learn the ways of fashion!

ah thanks for the new trivia. the funny thing is that I was hesitant to have her agree to coffee cuz in my mind I was like "Wait... does Sai-chan's mom drink coffee?" and I spent several long, agonizing minutes debating what to do for that part. lol I'm such a perfectionist. and then I usually describe characters with a few physical traits and then was like "Wait! What if she doesn't have brown hair?!" and stuff. I am so including your mom somehow in the dream world. perhaps in the form of a Ranger. Once we get there. I can see this taking awhile, since I want to build up our characters' friendship a little before we head off to our real adventures. While we're still talking about coffee, does your mom have any favorite snacks to go with her iced tea?

[Sai-chan]

hm! I must learn the ways of fashion!

ah thanks for the new trivia. the funny thing is that I was hesitant to have her agree to coffee cuz in my mind I was like "Wait... does Sai-chan's mom drink coffee?" and I spent several long, agonizing minutes debating what to do for that part. lol I'm such a perfectionist. and then I usually describe characters with a few physical traits and then was like "Wait! What if she doesn't have brown hair?!" and stuff. I am so including your mom somehow in the dream world. perhaps in the form of a Ranger. Once we get there. I can see this taking awhile, since I want to build up our characters' friendship a little before we head off to our real adventures. While we're still talking about coffee, does your mom have any favorite snacks to go with her iced tea?

You and me both; lol.

Nah, she doens't like coffee all that much if at all. xD My mom has blond hair. Interpret that however you like; her hair is also short. Basically I got my hair from the other half, lol. A ranger? Hm. She'd certainly be a sniper of sorts.

I love the building up of friendships~ the dynamics are all just so interesting.

Tacos. Or mexican food in general. Actually she's no where near as picky as me. However she's not so easy to feed that she'll eat a cow tounge or something--that's where her girly girl ness comes out. (Eeew! That's nasty!)

[ChesCa]

Finally! I'm getting around to reading stories today.
This one....I think is alright. I can't comment since this is something between you and Sai-Chan, but the least I can do for this community is give other people's stories a chance (as they did mine).
I'll be waiting for the next installment, but a good start right there.