It's to balance the sounds. Whenever you're listening to anything in stereo you get some of the sound out of one speaker and some of it out of the other, it makes it sound better I think.
Okay, this is the part of the story I had the most trouble writing in general. It's very visually geared and I'm not the best with imagery. I wonder how I'll get through some of the later parts of the story... Door 7: Duel with Madness The three walked past darkened storefronts, poorly lit streets and alleys for some time under the lead of the western man. Eventually they came to a warehouse district with the quintessential empty look. That’s when the brown coated man stopped and turned to the others trailing behind him. He looked over Callum in the dim light and smirked. “Okay, kid. I’ll need a bit of time to warm up so why don’t you go and do the same, I want a really good fight, okay?” The man said with a kind of good natured cheer that usually would be associated with total naivety or stupidity. “Fine.” Callum agreed with a stilted jerk of his head which could only have been a stiff attempt at a nod. The black haired boy removed his weapon from it’s case and put his key in the ignition, he stared at it’s now permanently transmogrified state for a brief moment before closing his eyes and turning the key. The engine hummed into life and the saw’s markings lit up before softening to a steady, faint glow. Callum had never practiced fighting before and had gone entirely on whatever popped into his head at the time, but this was different because his opponent was fighting him seriously, with every bit of his attention on the fight. All the youth could think to do was stretch out a little and take a few practice swings. The saw though light in comparison to a standard model was far from nimble. He glanced over at the scythe man who was watching the two from atop a crate smiling evilly. The brown coated man was jerking his hands about awkwardly and hopping up and down every so often, he didn‘t look at either of the other two and focused entirely on readying himself for battle. Callum could only guess that he was a lock user as well. As such the next thing the boy looked at was a set of possible escape routes. “Okay, I’m ready. And you?” The man said tugging a bit at his bandanna and shifting his feet about of the streets. He was very lighthearted about the situation and that only served to increase the stress on his counterpart. “Shiny.” Callum answered sarcastically. He raised his saw over his head ready to swing down only to see the brown coated western man chuckling. “Now that is one odd weapon. I heard you had a unique one but seeing it for myself just makes me want it all the more.” The effeminate man was the first to smile this time, the murderous mania hadn’t left his eyes and his bloodthirsty expression was enough to betray his thoughts. “Huh?” Callum stuttered dumbly, letting his weapon fall from the readied pose. “Oh yeah, I’ve yet to introduce myself. I’m Daniels the lock hunter.” He said with his usual tone but his meaning had a little more edge to it when he removed his bandanna to reveal three locks around his neck. “I’ve won these in fights with wagers. I hope you’ll being willing to do the same.” “Fine.” Callum agreed grudgingly, even more worried and scared than before. If this man was strong enough to win two locks he was definitely beyond Callum’s level. The two squared off in front of the lone viewer and readied for battle. The brown coated man, Daniels, whipped two keys out of an inside pocket and unlocked the outside two locks leaving the middle alone. Each opening that Callum had seen had it’s own kind of style, this mans didn’t alter the atmosphere but there was a shimmering metallic light as the locks fell away leaving two revolvers in the mans hands as if they’d only just been drawn from their holsters. “You, girly man, give the start signal.” The westerner stood sideways with one gun ahead the other behind. His face changed since he drew out his weapons, it had gone from cheerful and bright to almost menacing and deadly focused. “Alright, begin!” Callum moved first. He made a rush forwards with his saw directly ahead of him. His intent was to strike first and get off as painlessly as possible or die instantly if he couldn‘t, but he slid sideways mid step only just avoiding a bullet that would have easily torn straight through his head. When he regained his balance his nearly got sick with the realization that he was closer to death just standing there than he ever had been before. “Come on, get serious. It’d be a shame for you to die so early.” Daniels taunted without taking a step back even with the saw close enough to rip him in two with a single move. Callum stood up and shook his head trying to focus, the westerner patiently waited. “Okay, here it is, the real start.” Callum said with much more confidence than he felt. He once more lifted his saw for a long downward strike and rushed, sideways this time. When the brown coated man saw this he grinned and started firing. Much to his own amazement Callum could track the paths of the bullets as the were fired. He couldn’t follow the speed but somehow he figured out where each one was going based on the angle of the barrel. Using this knowledge he was able to evade getting anything more than gashes where he was too slow to dodge entirely. “Excellent. You can read the guns. I mean, I’d expect that of you if you beat the Life Thief over there but this is still pretty damned exciting.” Daniels said not dropping his guard once. Callum stared perplexedly at him but chose not to strike up a conversation in the middle of a fight when he’d just gotten a rhythm down. “That was ten shots.” The black haired boy thought to himself. “He hasn’t reloaded so he has two more shots left. If I can stay within these ten feet where we’ve fought I can cut him while he’s unable to fire.” Callum smiled back at the man before doing another diagonal rush at his opponent. First came a shot from the left tearing at the skin of his right arm and then there was the final shot, directly at his face, it left a burning cut from his cheek to his ear but the western man was wide open. Callum made his final swing only to feel a bullet tear through his upper leg. He cried out in pain as he fell to the ground cradling his injured leg. “Not bad kid. But you forgot that all locks have special abilities.” The man said lifting his hat with the barrel of his gun. “These two are an identical set, each has the ability to turn my will to fight into a bullet, so my ammunition is limitless. I’ll be taking that--what?” Callum took off running as fast as his pained leg would carry him with the chainsaw in hand trailing blood behind him. The bullet hadn’t hit a bone and had gone just through the muscle leaving a clean wound on entry and another on exit. The brown coated man walked after the limping target only just fast enough to keep him within sight. After what seemed to be an eternity of running Callum had left the warehouses behind in favor of a dark, scrubby, uneven lawn, it‘s plant life stunted and wretched looking from it’s proximity to urban development. This new venue only served to aggravate the pain in his leg. With a quick look behind him Callum saw Daniels in the distance. He was walking slowly but deliberately and the scythe man was not far behind him. Callum reached into his bag and grabbed a cloth and wrapped it around his leg as best as he could. By the time he’d finished the brown coated man was almost caught up with him. “Dammit. What am I going to do?” Callum wracked his brains for an answer and came up empty. As the distance between him and Daniels grew smaller his anxiety increased exponentially. Callum broke down and stopped thinking about everything and just let his body take over. He ran forwards clumsily and was just as bad with his strikes, Daniels easily avoided the huge swings and countered with his own weapons, each shot leaving more blood on the ground and a deeper cut in his enemy. “This is pointless. Just give up.” Daniels finally sighed. He lowered his guns and looked at the pitiable youth bleeding before him. “Like hell I would.” Callum spat before running once more. He wasn’t afraid of dying so much anymore, a different feeling had taken it’s place, an entirely new feeling that he had no understanding of, but it made him want to win, it made him want to keep fighting regardless of what reason dictated. After only a few moments of crippled running Callum came to an out of place stone wall and slumped over against it trailing blood all over it’s surface. Moments later Daniels came to the wall and looked at the unconscious figure before him. He sighed and holstered his weapons extending a hand to retrieve his winnings, however his hand was stopped, he felt a crushing grip on his forearm coming from none other than the black haired boy. He still looked unconscious but his hand moved anyways refusing to let go. After several seconds of struggling Daniels was free and Callum had opened his eyes. They were bloodshot and had an even more intensely murderous glare than the scythe man at his worst. The boy stood slowly, wobbling and wavering from blood loss and exhaustion. Slowly a manic smile creased the boys face, his teeth bared like an animals and his expression, insane. Daniels didn’t know what to make of the situation but drew one revolver ready to fire. Suddenly Callum swung his chainsaw wildly at Daniels, the form was still sloppy but he did it faster than he’d done before he was injured. “What the hell is up with him.” Daniels thought to himself. It was all he could do before Callum dashed at him with almost blinding speed. Daniels tried to fire at the crazed attacker only to see not only a bullet but his gun’s barrel shorn apart along with part of the revolving chamber. He instantly dropped to avoid the next strike and dashed backwards drawing his other gun. The boy followed him with almost impossible tenacity and continued to made wild slashed at Daniels. The most disconcerting part of this wasn’t the sheer difference in power but the maniacal cackling that had begun when he first saw the bloodshot eyes and the horrid smile. The effeminate man was watching from a safe distance in pure amazement. He couldn’t have possibly imagined that this would happen, whatever this was that was happening. Daniels managed to remain uninjured through the heavy onslaught but was incapable of finding a target in the wild mess. The two broke for a moment each breathing hard, but one not so hard as the other. Daniels was still at an advantage at this range and he intended on keeping the range in his own favor. He started his counterattack with a storm of shots at the legs, all of which missed when Callum leapt into the air waving his chainsaw about like a psychopath. The brown coated man followed the targets position in the air but was unable to land a single bullet dead on with the saw blocking most of the youth’s slender body as he held it before his own body. Daniels evaded the downwards swing and took aim at Callum’s head but couldn’t keep up with the fast movement of his opponent who had already started a sideways swing at his own head. Daniels was forced to duck as fast as he could, only to leave his hand up just high enough to have his other gun ripped apart at the barrel. He swore loudly as he unlocked his final lock revealing a large survival knife in just enough time to knock away an attack to his face. The two broke apart again. Callum’s slouched form was shaking with laughter by now and Daniels was trembling with fear. “This guy is impossible.” Daniels thought as he raised his knife before him in a defensive posture. “I need a way out.” The boy dashed forwards again with his final swing readied his expression twisted and deranged. Daniels sighed and stood firm, even knowing he’d never be able to block or dodge at that point. Upon impact Daniels knife shattered but the chainsaw stopped mid swing, or rather it was forced to stop by a long curved blade. The effeminate man was holding his scythe with a grin as he held back the saw. Suddenly the saw blade stopped and the blood seemed to drain out of Callum’s eyes, the bestial smile faded and the insanity withdrew as he passed out falling to the ground heavily. Daniels sighed again, this time with relief and wiped his brow. “How’d you get that?” He said looking at the scythe held in the other mans hands. “He dropped it when he dashed at you the third time. I wanted to leave but I thought if I didn’t stop his frenzy he’d never calm down and come after me once you were dead.” The womanish an said calculatingly as he looked down at Callum’s prone form. “Lucky for you and me if you stop his momentum the insanity stops as well.” “So what should we do with him?” Daniels asked straightening himself up and returning his weapons to their lock forms and stowing away his keys. “I dunno. He’s dangerous-- I can’t believe he actually beat you. He never showed this kinda power before.” The man said looking distastefully at Callum’s battered, bloody body. “I think I know a way to find the answer.” Daniels replied picking up the youth and placing his weapon back in it’s bag and taking the key into his own pocket. “Really? Now I’m curious.” The effeminate man said with an air of put on enthusiasm, but his eyes betrayed his interest in the situation. “Well, it’s in the central Enigma.” Daniels said as if the very thought of it exhausted him. He slung Callum over his should like a sack and looked to his womanish counterpart. “So, it’s nearly impossible to get there without an unformatted key.” “Hm. The central Enigma you say? Be that the case, I know I guy, who knows a guy that can get you all the way to the lateral Enigma for sure.” The scythe man said sealing away his weapon finally. “So you’re coming too?” Daniels asked. “Oh, don’t be so ridiculous, why wouldn’t I come? That is my best friend your holding over there.” The scythe man scoffed sardonically. “Whatever, just point the way.” Daniels replied in a tired deadpan. The other man started walking back towards the city with a minute spring in his step and a calculating smile plastered all over his face. Not so far behind the group the shadow of their pursuer flickering in the semi darkness, watching. --- Okay, well I hope this was not an utter failure. From here I can go one of two ways, I have to think about it so I probably won't update for some time. I don't think I left out anything, thank the gods. Well hope you didn't hate it.
Am I the only who doesn't understand this Roru human?
Okay. Always The End There are those who know I’m average Others that know I’m not There are places to take anchorage Others where you’ll be shot There are worlds and worlds of life Thousands more of death Alone struggle we through strife Crawling forwards to our last breath There are those who say that’s life Others that say it’s death But who of us is to really say Of all of us standing here today Of all of us who fear today
jaykay means j/k which is an abbreviation for just kidding. Though, Congress never seriously fought him on anything else...
You're not alone, I'm sure most people in your age group are just like you. I know I am.
Being Canadian must be nice.
This is really a starting point for the rest of the story. Door 6: Noir The black haired boy walked eastwards for hours, without stopping or diverting his course for anything more than a brief drink from a canteen he‘d gotten from the mercenaries the day before. By mid morning however Callum had taken to stopping under the sparse foliage and resting there for progressively longer periods of time as his water supply shrank. Eventually he came to a complete stop on the savanna like plain and slumped over under a not only spindly but barren tree. The heat only served to intensify the scent of yesterdays rotting flesh, already baking under the sun and swarming with delightedly feasting insects. Callum wiped his forehead frequently and was more than tempted to drink his own sweat, until a taste f it discouraged the idea. The minutes under the tree felt like hours, and the very seconds dragged their feet in passing. After a heavy sigh and a considerable struggle against gravity the black haired boy was on his way again, this time heading in the vague direction of what could very easily have been either a forest or a bog, the heat didn‘t do any favors in clearing this up. Callum contented himself with the idea that at least if it was in fact a bog he could jump in and have his body preserved for some years post mortem. However, he never got a chance to do so for as it turns out what he saw was in fact a forested area, and where there is plant life water cannot be far away. This may have seemed like a beacon of hope to begin with but it soon became a bane in itself. For one thing there were many roots sticking up out of the ground, each prompting Callum to trip and fall in a more painful way than the last. One of the arguably more prominent problems, was his consistent lack of knowledge as to his location. Though not the worst of his troubles it caused him what he believed to be more than his share of difficulties in his traversal of the wood. The worst of his troubles however was less of a trouble, more of a disappointment. After what must have been a couple of hours of walking, tripping, falling and repeating, Callum came within view of a stream, a clear, rushing, shimmering stream. When Callum lunged thirstily at the body of water he was met by not refreshing water, but a solid wall of indefinite construct painted just like the last he’d encountered to match the environment exactly. After several minutes of gratuitous cursing Callum came to himself and tried to find a door along this section of wall. The search at first seemed futile, but he pressed on, however when several minutes of skirting the wall yielded no results that feeling of futility began to stick. However, when Callum had already given up, he realized he had nothing better to do and continued on regardless of his lack of confidence. This ended up being a fortunate decision when mere seconds after he’d decided to go on he found a door. It was a wooden door painted black, with a matte finish. Other than this, it had no other features separating it from any other door he had come into contact with thus far. After, fumbling for his key and fitting it into the lock, Callum turned the key unlocking the door with a satisfying click he never got from a normal key. Behind the door was such a starkly different world that Callum jerked back in surprise, a habit he never entirely got rid of. The world matched it’s door very well, it was dark, slick, and had an unsavory look about it. However, the darkened alleyway had the promise of civilization and more importantly readily available food. So without a second thought, Callum bounded through the door into the dark city street. Upon closer inspection the place, more specifically, resembled a caricature of a grungy early twentieth century city underworld, the main difference lay within the strange arrangement of people walking the streets. Some looked like they were out of a horror film, others resembled fantasy characters, but the one thing all of the strangest people had in common was a lock worn proudly around their neck or at another readily visible location. Callum readjusted his bag and set off down the streets. The dark streets reflected the neon lights in pools of oily water as if it had just rained and dark clouds loomed over head, but it was soon clear from the general attire of most passersby that it was either always like that or no one cared about getting rained on, at that point either could have been a plausible guess. Callum glanced over the storefronts looking for an eatery until at last he came upon a small diner with few customers. Callum took his place at the counter and ordered some food and drink. It was only just his luck that his pocket money was also accepted at the odd establishment. Soon after he received his meal, Callum felt the odd sensation that one gets from being obviously watched. He tried to ignore it until he heard a familiar voice greet him. “How’s it been kid?†It was none other than the effeminate scythe wielder himself leaning on Callum’s shoulder before taking the seat next to him. “It was a really mean thing for you to take my lock like that kid.†“What do you want?†The black haired youth retorted, he hadn’t forgotten their last meeting as the scythe man pretended he had. “Well, I was just hanging around and saw my old prey. I rarely get that chance seeing as they’re all in the ground save for you.†The man stated with a fulsome grin. “I’m glad I could improve your day, now shove off.†Callum said brusquely as he tried to end the mans involvement in his life as soon as possible. “Kid, you won’t get ten more feet in this city with your knowledge base.†The man chuckled leaning his back against the counter, much to the displeasure of the proprietor who made a face, but much to Callum’s disappointment didn’t say a thing. “I’m fairly sure you’re not the helpful type.†The black haired boy replied. “Ah, but that’s where your entirely wrong about me, I like helping people, as long as there is something in it for me.†The man chirped cheerily. “If it helps I threw out that lock of yours.†Callum said gripping it even tighter in his pocket and eyeing the man with heavy suspicion. “I never entertained the idea of revenge. After all, if anything, our last encounter was something of a discouraging factor.†The man explained letting his airs drop along with the pitch of his voice. “Get to your point or I might kill you now.†Callum replied mechanically as he made a motion as if he was reaching for his saw. “Little rabbit’s gotten a pair of fangs it seems. Well, like you said, I did hope to have my lock restored but if you are no longer in possession of it that seems to be a bust.†The man said, seeing straight through the lie but playing along anyways. “Then we have no business with each other.†Callum said, before returning to his meal. “I find things to be to the contrary. Though you no longer have any object I want, you can be of some use to me, and I to you.†Callum remained incommunicative for some time before nodding the womanish man to continue. “You have more fighting power than me, it’s clear. I have more knowledge than you, also clear. What say you to you traveling with me and me helping you find your way around until I can lay my hands on a suitable lock?†“I refuse, I really don’t need anything from you.†Callum finished his food and looked directly at the scythe man before answering. “Fine then, I’ll let sleeping dogs lie, but if you ever reconsider, I’ll be waiting right here.†He said motioning to the seat he was in with a sarcastic expression painted across his mocking face. Callum pushed the man over a little in his chair before leaving his own and making for the front door. Halfway there he ran straight into a man dressed in a long brown coat, a wide brimmed western hat and a bandanna around his neck, in fact he looked remarkably similar to a western movie actor in full costume. “Sorry.†Callum apologized automatically without looking up at the man. “It’s fine.†The man replied straightening out his jacket and smiled warmly. The man continued on to take a seat next to the scythe man. The maniacal glint in the mans womanish eyes escaped notice, but they were a mere sign of things to come. Callum continued on to the door where he paused for a moment before pulling it open. Just when he was out of the door Callum heard the man in the brown coat again. “Hey, kid.†He stopped dead and turned to face the speaker. “Yes?†Callum answered tensed and ready to strike out. For some reason he was especially agitated after his meeting with the effeminate man. “I heard an interesting story about you just now. How ‘bout we have a fight?†The man said, with a bold swaggering tone. “You’re not taking no for an answer?†Callum confirmed, less as a question than a statement. Callum let the door swing closed as he reentered the diner and prepared for a fight. “That’s correct.†The western man said as he lifted the brim of his hat and chuckled. Seeing the black haired boys hand move to draw a weapon the brown coated man raised his hands in front of himself defensively. “Not here man. It should be a real mans fight, a right and proper duel, not some worthless barroom brawl, you know?†“Fine.†Callum accepted the challenge in spite of his suspicion, annoyance and incredible urge to take the mans head off then and there. The western man stood up, brushed himself off for no apparent reason and strode over the Callum smiling all the while. With a jerk of his head he and Callum left with the effeminate man trailing them at just out of striking distance. Shortly after the three of them left, another patron of the store stood up and paid their check before following the group out the door. -- Okay, another explanation I left out for flow purposes is the world naming and division system. Walls, can appear anywhere, it's not like a box, it defies logic because it can be there from one angle and not from another, it's implied by the name Escher but not explicitly stated. World names are reflective of where they came from, and have names to set them apart from the overall conglomeration Escher. The battlefield world which I left unnamed is called Ares for those who would like to know. This isn't necessary stuff but I hate leaving things like this unexplained.
It's spelled Spanish, not Spannish. America has no official language, and people in the rest of the world generally learn two and three languages it could easily be more depending on the location, it's not to much to ask Americans to do the same.
I don't really have anything that I'm tracking on E3. I just look pretty casually and find out what's interesting when it shows up on the floor. Star Ocean sounds good though.
It's Mandarin, like the oranges. It originates in the north, and is spoken alongside English the new Lingua Franca in many business endeavors. Just thought you'd like to know for future reference.
Congress, the body that is supposed to be either representing or doing what's best for the people is doing neither. It's hard to believe there once was a time when this government was by, for and of the people. However, this probably will come and go like so many other things, people will get a bit angry for a while and then let it go.
BaseSebastian, did you not even bother to read my post? I said ALL politicians are evil megalomaniacs. I hate the left just as much as the right, I just pointed out that you supported one side. Calling me a leftist for attacking all politicians is just stupid. Both sides are wrong, it's not a matter of left versus right for me, it's a matter of people versus government.
Similarity aversion at it's most blatant. I think too many people post in black. But, I will be anti-racist and post everything from now to doomsday in black.
Stumbles upon itself at bits rhythmically, but it's not bad.
No ****, the press is unfair. But what makes you believe, and I mean believe, because there is no thinking going on here, that you are so right? The media has one job, not to spread correct news, but to sell papers, get airtime or whatever the equivalent is for a certain type of media. Why could this be? Money, yes the media *gasp* like everyone else is trying to get money. They are a business just like big oil, which brings me to another term you so fondly used: liberal media. All media is crooked, just as an fyi, the Conservatives are just as ****ed up and wrong. Many people of your mindset see mass media as puppets of liberalism and that is just wrong. Mass media is just all the magazines newspapers and television programs spamming the nation that tell everyone what someone who supposedly knows more than you has to say, nothing more. Here's where you get ridiculous, you go on to say that people believe tabloid drivel and what's more you link it directly with liberal media. For the final time, all reporting is loaded and/or skewed, you can't do anything about it and it goes both ****ing ways. Liberal or conservative, radical or moderate, they all want to get their words out and the media allows them to do so.
This is really unfortunate. I mean, letting this go is actually worse than letting them trample all over free speech, this is a lot more overtly saying that they can **** with your life for no reason. Whatever, this is my concern but when it goes down to the quick, I'm just as likely to do something as the next guy. I see there are several people who like to blame the Democrats. This is wrong, it's not a party thing. Each party is just as bad as the other. However, I saw one comment that made me laugh. It went on to say that Republicans gave a **** about the country's well being. This has been disproven time and time again, anyone at this level of politics will only care about one thing, maybe two: First, money, next reelection and by default power. Back in the land of On Topic, this is going to get passed, no ifs, ands or buts about it. Not because all the people on top are screwing us, but because I seriously doubt anyone's going to do enough about it.
I'm secure now in the belief that I don't spend too much time on this site, seeing as I have never had a dream regarding the likes of any of you.
Whether this happens or not, I personally don't see a huge change coming. People can always manage to find a way around the rules. Whether it's through going underground, or it's starting a revolution, if the people don't like it, it's gonna fail.
I prefer the reviewing end of things, because analysis is easier than creation. I'm not an author, I write short things, often times I realize my immaturity as a writer when I go off on impossible tangents leaving a path of ruin in my wake. I can write an essay, a research paper, and some would say a review, but a story, probably not.
