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unforthThe next time I post, I'll be back in Indiana. That's surreal.
I know I've already been writing a lot of my thoughts, but then, I spend all my time thinking just about, so there always seem to be more. ;)
I woke up very early today and went to my apartment for the last time for the inspection. It went very well, the lady and I chatted about Tokyo, and I got back 20,000 yen (when I expected half that). That, plus the partial rent refund cause I paid for a full month when I was only staying 20 days, made up way more than I needed to fund my day, and now I don't have a clue what to do with all of this cash.
As I was leaving my apartment, I wanted to cry. All I could think was how I didn't want to leave, and how when I come back I won't be in the same apartment, and how I want to show my lovely little neighborhood to people. And the only way I calmed myself down was to make a decision. It's all well and nice to say I'm coming back, but now I have a goal, I've picked - approximately - when. I'm going to save money, and come back in spring or summer of 2009. A year and a half til I see Tokyo again - for I've left it already and so won't see it again before I leave tomorrow afternoon.
My day was otherwise nice enough. I had been planning to go to Harajuku, but really didn't feel like it, so instead I went to Ikebukuro. There, I more than compensated for the amount of room I freed up in my bags, but I replaced clothing I didn't actually care about with doujinshi, which I can't get at home, so I think it's a worthwhile exchange and I'm happy I made it.
Then, I headed to Shinjuku, made one last stab at finding the things that people asked me for, and my last stop was the Mochicream store. I had hoped, truly hoped, to bring the delight that is mochicreams to my friends back home, but I was worried, and so I asked when they had to be eaten by (well, no, I asked "when eat by?" ...but whose worrying about grammar? :) ) and was told they had to be eaten today. So no mochicreams for anyone, except for the two I bought myself. It's tragic. A year and a half until I next get to eat a mochicream...
I found having a time frame very calming, and I'm content to think of it as a made plan and to start saving money appropriately. I won't be able to set a more specific date until I know my work schedule then - which I won't until probably December or January before...so one year, and then I can plan my next visit. It's not so very long, really.
I'm gonna stop; I'm not really accomplishing anything by continuing. ;)
_____________________
“Good bye, Headmaster.”
“Good bye, Ms. Prince.”
I turned my back on Phineas Nigellus, and returned to my friends, heedless of the tears streaming down my face. They had the good taste not to comment on it, or perhaps to surmise it to have some cause unrelated to the headmaster – leaving the school, or the battle to come. I’d never see him again; at that moment I knew I never would. Years later, Headmaster Nigellus would still be spoken of with dislike and anger by those who had been his pupils, but I’ve never humored such talk to be spoken in my presence. He might not have been the greatest Headmaster Hogwarts had ever seen – indeed, I could even accept that he might well be the worst – but that was the fault of those who had decided he should be Headmaster, when his talents lay in brewing. I never learned how he ended up teacher, or Headmaster, but I knew it had been all wrong. He should have led a quiet life of research, but such a career – or so I’ve always suspected – would never do for a member of the Black family, no, they must all be renowned, and so a quiet and studious man, incredibly gifted in his field, and instead ended up dithering away in a job he hated, given position to ennoble his vaunted name. We wizard’s are such fools for our breeding; and where does it get us in the end? I’ve seen none who only thought of heritage end up happy, not a single one.
Forgive my digression. I’ve heard Headmaster Nigellus so maligned as to make it a permanent sore spot, and as one who loved him, I feel I have to express myself on that point. But I fear I have rather interrupted the train of my narrative. Where was I?
Ah yes. Tears fell fast, but I ignored them, as did my comrades. Time was passing with frightening speed, but Professor Patronius was in consultation with Professor Tremens – whose own motley of defenders stood near her – and they talked in a hurried, animated fashion. Finally, some sort of consensus was reached, and the teachers split to speak to their commands.
“Our goal,” Professor Patronius said without preamble, “is simple. We must keep the werewolf army from breaching the castle for as long as possible. They will be attacking from the Forbidden Forest, and so we will meet them at the Western Wall. Through foresight of some unknown previous headmaster, there are various armaments on that wall meant, I suspect, to ward of the centaurs in earlier times when they were still a danger. They will serve our purposes just as well, though. I will man those weapons; they should do to hold the middle. The flanks are the problem, and that is where you come in. Any beasts who don’t come directly at the doors will need be channeled in that direction, for otherwise they are outside of the sphere I can control. We can expect no help from other quarters – Professor Tremens’ will have her hands quite full in the sky, and the school defenses will not function until the foes are inside. Thus, it falls to us to hold. This is your last chance, to leave with the others.” He waited a moment, but not a one of us budged an inch. “Very well.”
“We are not completely defenseless,” he continued. “In November, while tracking some odd behavior of the students from Durmstrang, some of our own came across a mirror – this mirror,” he withdrew it from his pocket. It seemed to catch the light in the room unnaturally, gathering it before reflecting it back. “It is called ‘the Moon Mirror,’ unimaginatively enough, and its function is simple – it alters the reflection of moon light, and the effects of same. It plays havoc with the tides – a good thing these ancient item creators didn’t have an understanding of the concept of gravity.” I almost laughed, for I doubted that Professor Patronius, who was, after all, a 2000 year old reanimated statue, understood gravity either. “However, all in all it will suit us very well – for it has some disturbing effects on werewolves, not the least of which is to completely incapacitate them.” The Professor turned to Caius. “As a member of WAP, I entrust this to you, for I will be too busy to wield. There will certainly come a point in the battle where all we can do will no longer stop them from reaching the walls. At that point, brandish the mirror, and it will gain us the time we need, time to regroup. I do not know how many times it will work, but we might be able to stop several charges with it. You will do this duty?” Caius nodded. His eyes had a hungry look in them, and I couldn’t help but think he was too eager by half as he practically snatched the mirror from the Professors hands. A shiver of fear went through, but I dismissed it as absurd. Caius had been in WAP since the beginning; he’d apparently saved Marcus’ life twice, and Guillermo’s three times, and even James’, one of the hated – to a Slytherin – Gryffindors, had received his services. For all that, though, even Marcus had reservation about Caius. I was worried, but there was nothing for it.
“All of you should fetch what you need, and bring your brooms! We cannot apparate without withdrawing from the school grounds, and that means that we must ride to just outside in order to flee. Furthermore, the mobility afforded by riding will be invaluable in a battle where we are so badly outnumbered, and will hopefully serve to protect you all from injury. And remember – your safety is paramount! If you feel it to be in danger, you should not try to remain. Does anyone have any questions?”
“One hour?” asked Lycia concisely. The Professor nodded. We had to hold for one hour. She sighed, though she didn’t look surprised. Professor Patronius waited for other questions, but none came.
“Very well. Gather your things. We meet on the wall in 30 minutes time, which will give us just enough time to deploy and begin to patrol, for we dare not hope they will wait the full two hours to attack when dark falls so early, and we must be ready with time to spare.”
I know I've already been writing a lot of my thoughts, but then, I spend all my time thinking just about, so there always seem to be more. ;)
I woke up very early today and went to my apartment for the last time for the inspection. It went very well, the lady and I chatted about Tokyo, and I got back 20,000 yen (when I expected half that). That, plus the partial rent refund cause I paid for a full month when I was only staying 20 days, made up way more than I needed to fund my day, and now I don't have a clue what to do with all of this cash.
As I was leaving my apartment, I wanted to cry. All I could think was how I didn't want to leave, and how when I come back I won't be in the same apartment, and how I want to show my lovely little neighborhood to people. And the only way I calmed myself down was to make a decision. It's all well and nice to say I'm coming back, but now I have a goal, I've picked - approximately - when. I'm going to save money, and come back in spring or summer of 2009. A year and a half til I see Tokyo again - for I've left it already and so won't see it again before I leave tomorrow afternoon.
My day was otherwise nice enough. I had been planning to go to Harajuku, but really didn't feel like it, so instead I went to Ikebukuro. There, I more than compensated for the amount of room I freed up in my bags, but I replaced clothing I didn't actually care about with doujinshi, which I can't get at home, so I think it's a worthwhile exchange and I'm happy I made it.
Then, I headed to Shinjuku, made one last stab at finding the things that people asked me for, and my last stop was the Mochicream store. I had hoped, truly hoped, to bring the delight that is mochicreams to my friends back home, but I was worried, and so I asked when they had to be eaten by (well, no, I asked "when eat by?" ...but whose worrying about grammar? :) ) and was told they had to be eaten today. So no mochicreams for anyone, except for the two I bought myself. It's tragic. A year and a half until I next get to eat a mochicream...
I found having a time frame very calming, and I'm content to think of it as a made plan and to start saving money appropriately. I won't be able to set a more specific date until I know my work schedule then - which I won't until probably December or January before...so one year, and then I can plan my next visit. It's not so very long, really.
I'm gonna stop; I'm not really accomplishing anything by continuing. ;)
_____________________
“Good bye, Headmaster.”
“Good bye, Ms. Prince.”
I turned my back on Phineas Nigellus, and returned to my friends, heedless of the tears streaming down my face. They had the good taste not to comment on it, or perhaps to surmise it to have some cause unrelated to the headmaster – leaving the school, or the battle to come. I’d never see him again; at that moment I knew I never would. Years later, Headmaster Nigellus would still be spoken of with dislike and anger by those who had been his pupils, but I’ve never humored such talk to be spoken in my presence. He might not have been the greatest Headmaster Hogwarts had ever seen – indeed, I could even accept that he might well be the worst – but that was the fault of those who had decided he should be Headmaster, when his talents lay in brewing. I never learned how he ended up teacher, or Headmaster, but I knew it had been all wrong. He should have led a quiet life of research, but such a career – or so I’ve always suspected – would never do for a member of the Black family, no, they must all be renowned, and so a quiet and studious man, incredibly gifted in his field, and instead ended up dithering away in a job he hated, given position to ennoble his vaunted name. We wizard’s are such fools for our breeding; and where does it get us in the end? I’ve seen none who only thought of heritage end up happy, not a single one.
Forgive my digression. I’ve heard Headmaster Nigellus so maligned as to make it a permanent sore spot, and as one who loved him, I feel I have to express myself on that point. But I fear I have rather interrupted the train of my narrative. Where was I?
Ah yes. Tears fell fast, but I ignored them, as did my comrades. Time was passing with frightening speed, but Professor Patronius was in consultation with Professor Tremens – whose own motley of defenders stood near her – and they talked in a hurried, animated fashion. Finally, some sort of consensus was reached, and the teachers split to speak to their commands.
“Our goal,” Professor Patronius said without preamble, “is simple. We must keep the werewolf army from breaching the castle for as long as possible. They will be attacking from the Forbidden Forest, and so we will meet them at the Western Wall. Through foresight of some unknown previous headmaster, there are various armaments on that wall meant, I suspect, to ward of the centaurs in earlier times when they were still a danger. They will serve our purposes just as well, though. I will man those weapons; they should do to hold the middle. The flanks are the problem, and that is where you come in. Any beasts who don’t come directly at the doors will need be channeled in that direction, for otherwise they are outside of the sphere I can control. We can expect no help from other quarters – Professor Tremens’ will have her hands quite full in the sky, and the school defenses will not function until the foes are inside. Thus, it falls to us to hold. This is your last chance, to leave with the others.” He waited a moment, but not a one of us budged an inch. “Very well.”
“We are not completely defenseless,” he continued. “In November, while tracking some odd behavior of the students from Durmstrang, some of our own came across a mirror – this mirror,” he withdrew it from his pocket. It seemed to catch the light in the room unnaturally, gathering it before reflecting it back. “It is called ‘the Moon Mirror,’ unimaginatively enough, and its function is simple – it alters the reflection of moon light, and the effects of same. It plays havoc with the tides – a good thing these ancient item creators didn’t have an understanding of the concept of gravity.” I almost laughed, for I doubted that Professor Patronius, who was, after all, a 2000 year old reanimated statue, understood gravity either. “However, all in all it will suit us very well – for it has some disturbing effects on werewolves, not the least of which is to completely incapacitate them.” The Professor turned to Caius. “As a member of WAP, I entrust this to you, for I will be too busy to wield. There will certainly come a point in the battle where all we can do will no longer stop them from reaching the walls. At that point, brandish the mirror, and it will gain us the time we need, time to regroup. I do not know how many times it will work, but we might be able to stop several charges with it. You will do this duty?” Caius nodded. His eyes had a hungry look in them, and I couldn’t help but think he was too eager by half as he practically snatched the mirror from the Professors hands. A shiver of fear went through, but I dismissed it as absurd. Caius had been in WAP since the beginning; he’d apparently saved Marcus’ life twice, and Guillermo’s three times, and even James’, one of the hated – to a Slytherin – Gryffindors, had received his services. For all that, though, even Marcus had reservation about Caius. I was worried, but there was nothing for it.
“All of you should fetch what you need, and bring your brooms! We cannot apparate without withdrawing from the school grounds, and that means that we must ride to just outside in order to flee. Furthermore, the mobility afforded by riding will be invaluable in a battle where we are so badly outnumbered, and will hopefully serve to protect you all from injury. And remember – your safety is paramount! If you feel it to be in danger, you should not try to remain. Does anyone have any questions?”
“One hour?” asked Lycia concisely. The Professor nodded. We had to hold for one hour. She sighed, though she didn’t look surprised. Professor Patronius waited for other questions, but none came.
“Very well. Gather your things. We meet on the wall in 30 minutes time, which will give us just enough time to deploy and begin to patrol, for we dare not hope they will wait the full two hours to attack when dark falls so early, and we must be ready with time to spare.”
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no subject
Date: 2007-12-09 02:31 pm (UTC)And...I'll talk to you soon in the very same place! (The Internet is weird, isn't it?)
I MIGHT still be here then...though I'll be on my way home, I expect. But we may yet meet in Japan again!
no subject
Date: 2007-12-09 11:26 pm (UTC)I'll miss you too!
no subject
Date: 2007-12-09 02:38 pm (UTC)*hugs*
no subject
Date: 2007-12-09 11:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-09 04:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-09 11:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-09 11:24 pm (UTC)And the spirit of adventure does call! ...yay apartment hunting? Sigh.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-09 05:29 pm (UTC)see you soon!
no subject
Date: 2007-12-09 11:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-09 07:39 pm (UTC)*huggles*
-- Gerardo
no subject
Date: 2007-12-09 11:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-10 12:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-10 01:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-11 03:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-11 03:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-11 03:33 am (UTC)Have a safe trip.