You might be asking yourself (or me), "What in the world are footnotes?"
Well footnotes are what they are -- notes! Left by the author (me) for readers to give an extra-insight on jokes or refrences in the story.
I'll be going through the story chapter by chapter.
WARNING! If you haven't read the story yet, don't read these! They are packed with spoilers!
...I'm really serious!
=====================================================
Chapter 1
=====================================================
"He slowly drew his rust-ruined hand from underneath the wretched cloth..."
-This gives the idea that he's been holding something rusty. What is it? It's his sword, the
crappy-est peice of forged metal on earth.
"Fal, not quite familliar with children..."
-Not familliar with children? I wonder why... (Hint: He's not used to being around women, either!)
=====================================================
Chapter 2
=====================================================
"...Fal noticed that he was the only one with rosy cheeks and nose."
-Being the only one there not used to the cold, I would assume.
"'Fal' is a nickname I was given in the Wars of the western cities..."
-For all those who really want to know, I came up with this name in the school bathroom. Really.
"...Real name is William Riot." He replied."
-Keeping in the spirit of the Shakespeare feel in Vagrant Story, I called him William. Who is William, you ask? What? You don't even know?
"Willie Willie Willie!!" She cried in glee. "Your name is Willie!"
-This is a refrence to something my brother was called in the Navy. They'd all get together and sing "Little Willy Willy won't go home". What a bunch of jerks.
"The twenty-eighth of the coldest month."
-This would be December 28th, making him a Capricorn.
=====================================================
Chapter 3
=====================================================
"...be it by foot or be it by steed."
-This steed was usually Chocobos.
"...muttering the lord's prayer like a rattled maniac."
-A lot of the characters in this story are extremely religious, to keep the feeling of Vagrant Story constant. More examples of this are later on in the story.
"What in God's Earth do these things want from you?!"
-Come to think of it, Fal is probably the most religious one there.
"...like a hundred-fifty-pound log."
-Around 150 lbs at 5'5".
=====================================================
Chapter 4
=====================================================
Nothing there to mention...
=====================================================
Chapter 5
=====================================================
"Better?! I'm bloody blind, you fool!!"
-Although I can't write in old-english verse, I've given several of the characters English accents to ease the transition from Vagrant Story to my writing techniques. I didn't think anyone would mind that much.
"He urked a gutteral inquisitive noise."
-This would be a gurgling against the roof of your mouth. Some would consider it a "Hm".
"...no need to get all uppity about it!"
-This is my slang, through and through... Sorry if it takes away for anyone...
"This is Hana."
-Hana is Japanese for flower or blossom. Although her ethnic backround does little dabbling in Asia, it does fit her personality, hm?
"A strange snake-like warmth crawled through Fal's body, making him extremely uncomfortable."
-I really don't have to explain this one, do I?
=====================================================
Chapter 6
=====================================================
"...We figured that your blindness was a curse because of how you never said you were in pain."
-Actually, this isn't true. That was an excuse to keep Fal from gnawing into Lothair's neck.
"...his eyes were perpetually half-closed and actually quite beautiful."
-I always respected a man who admitted beauty in another.
"And in a low, silky tone, he ceased to repress one letter;
"D."
-Yes, Vampire Hunter D. The one and only.
=====================================================
Chapter 7
=====================================================
"It's Turner! The smith from the west?"
Fal sharply turned his head to the boy. "I thought you were killed by a Pirate!"
-This is an obvious refrence to Pirates of the Carribean. Turner is Orlando Bloom and the mad Pirate is Johnny Depp (Captain Jack Sparrow).
"My sword..." He recalled the chipped, blunt, rusted flank of metal in a black pigskin sheath. "...was called Sarabande."
-A Sarabande (Spanish spelling: Zarabanda) is, as my Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia states, "...a graceful, stately, slow Spanish dance in triple time, developed from an earlier lively dance." I perfer to keep with the theme of dances in Vagrant Story.
"How about... Fandango?"
-This sword should now be familliar to anyone who's played Vagrant Story...
A Fandango is (as my Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia states) "...a lively Spanish dance in rhythm varying from slow to quick 3/4 time."
"...his bottom jaw protruding an inch from his top, which caused his lower lip to pout."
-This expression is something I do when I'm flustered. Maybe it was vain of me to make him do this...
=====================================================
Chapter 8
=====================================================
"It could be yours... through your heart."
-Sorry for the cliche.
=====================================================
Chapter 9
=====================================================
"On my deathbed, wench."
-The definition of Wench that he refers to (as my Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia states):
"...a woman whose sexual behavior is loose and immoral."
The scene of the swordfight between Fal and Hana is a key part in her figuring him out. See if, by the end of the story, you can see why.
============================================================
Chapter 10
============================================================
"...D apparently had "business" during the night..."
-And any fan of Vampire Hunter D would know what this "business" was...
=====================================================
Chapter 11
=====================================================
"He walked off, whispering to his left hand."
-I guess by now I could just bring this to your attention and you'd know what I was talking about.
"She could barely make out a muffled heartbeat."
-As Marle did (Chapter 3).
=====================================================
Chapter 12
=====================================================
"...Why, my name is Cardonia!"
-Cardonia is the only one o the Cadaver Clan that can speak perfect english...
"...and a plate of caviar to the general."
-This is a parody of a figure-of-speech from Hamlet II. Although not used in the correct context, it is on purpose, you see. The real meaning of "caviar to the general" is something that appeals only to high tastes.
"A pool of blood, not merely a puddle of it displaced on the floor below, but the whole hall opened up into a small spring of it."
-This pool of blood is a refrence to the film "Legend of the 8 Samurai" (1984). The pool was apparently supposed to revive the youth of any who'd bathe in it. Technically speaking, if you normally had a bath in it rather than ordinary water, you would live forever. Sonny Chiba was in that movie as a Ninja! I completely recommend it.
"The creature, Cardonia, began to brush his rotting lips along the super-sensitive skin of his throat. "
-If you were wondering, I didn't try to make this "fan-service"...
______________________________________________________________________
Well, that's the end of the footnotes for now. I'll write more as the chapters come.
-Riot of the Blood Kyo
Well footnotes are what they are -- notes! Left by the author (me) for readers to give an extra-insight on jokes or refrences in the story.
I'll be going through the story chapter by chapter.
WARNING! If you haven't read the story yet, don't read these! They are packed with spoilers!
...I'm really serious!
=====================================================
Chapter 1
=====================================================
"He slowly drew his rust-ruined hand from underneath the wretched cloth..."
-This gives the idea that he's been holding something rusty. What is it? It's his sword, the
crappy-est peice of forged metal on earth.
"Fal, not quite familliar with children..."
-Not familliar with children? I wonder why... (Hint: He's not used to being around women, either!)
=====================================================
Chapter 2
=====================================================
"...Fal noticed that he was the only one with rosy cheeks and nose."
-Being the only one there not used to the cold, I would assume.
"'Fal' is a nickname I was given in the Wars of the western cities..."
-For all those who really want to know, I came up with this name in the school bathroom. Really.
"...Real name is William Riot." He replied."
-Keeping in the spirit of the Shakespeare feel in Vagrant Story, I called him William. Who is William, you ask? What? You don't even know?
"Willie Willie Willie!!" She cried in glee. "Your name is Willie!"
-This is a refrence to something my brother was called in the Navy. They'd all get together and sing "Little Willy Willy won't go home". What a bunch of jerks.
"The twenty-eighth of the coldest month."
-This would be December 28th, making him a Capricorn.
=====================================================
Chapter 3
=====================================================
"...be it by foot or be it by steed."
-This steed was usually Chocobos.
"...muttering the lord's prayer like a rattled maniac."
-A lot of the characters in this story are extremely religious, to keep the feeling of Vagrant Story constant. More examples of this are later on in the story.
"What in God's Earth do these things want from you?!"
-Come to think of it, Fal is probably the most religious one there.
"...like a hundred-fifty-pound log."
-Around 150 lbs at 5'5".
=====================================================
Chapter 4
=====================================================
Nothing there to mention...
=====================================================
Chapter 5
=====================================================
"Better?! I'm bloody blind, you fool!!"
-Although I can't write in old-english verse, I've given several of the characters English accents to ease the transition from Vagrant Story to my writing techniques. I didn't think anyone would mind that much.
"He urked a gutteral inquisitive noise."
-This would be a gurgling against the roof of your mouth. Some would consider it a "Hm".
"...no need to get all uppity about it!"
-This is my slang, through and through... Sorry if it takes away for anyone...
"This is Hana."
-Hana is Japanese for flower or blossom. Although her ethnic backround does little dabbling in Asia, it does fit her personality, hm?
"A strange snake-like warmth crawled through Fal's body, making him extremely uncomfortable."
-I really don't have to explain this one, do I?
=====================================================
Chapter 6
=====================================================
"...We figured that your blindness was a curse because of how you never said you were in pain."
-Actually, this isn't true. That was an excuse to keep Fal from gnawing into Lothair's neck.
"...his eyes were perpetually half-closed and actually quite beautiful."
-I always respected a man who admitted beauty in another.
"And in a low, silky tone, he ceased to repress one letter;
"D."
-Yes, Vampire Hunter D. The one and only.
=====================================================
Chapter 7
=====================================================
"It's Turner! The smith from the west?"
Fal sharply turned his head to the boy. "I thought you were killed by a Pirate!"
-This is an obvious refrence to Pirates of the Carribean. Turner is Orlando Bloom and the mad Pirate is Johnny Depp (Captain Jack Sparrow).
"My sword..." He recalled the chipped, blunt, rusted flank of metal in a black pigskin sheath. "...was called Sarabande."
-A Sarabande (Spanish spelling: Zarabanda) is, as my Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia states, "...a graceful, stately, slow Spanish dance in triple time, developed from an earlier lively dance." I perfer to keep with the theme of dances in Vagrant Story.
"How about... Fandango?"
-This sword should now be familliar to anyone who's played Vagrant Story...
A Fandango is (as my Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia states) "...a lively Spanish dance in rhythm varying from slow to quick 3/4 time."
"...his bottom jaw protruding an inch from his top, which caused his lower lip to pout."
-This expression is something I do when I'm flustered. Maybe it was vain of me to make him do this...
=====================================================
Chapter 8
=====================================================
"It could be yours... through your heart."
-Sorry for the cliche.
=====================================================
Chapter 9
=====================================================
"On my deathbed, wench."
-The definition of Wench that he refers to (as my Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia states):
"...a woman whose sexual behavior is loose and immoral."
The scene of the swordfight between Fal and Hana is a key part in her figuring him out. See if, by the end of the story, you can see why.
============================================================
Chapter 10
============================================================
"...D apparently had "business" during the night..."
-And any fan of Vampire Hunter D would know what this "business" was...
=====================================================
Chapter 11
=====================================================
"He walked off, whispering to his left hand."
-I guess by now I could just bring this to your attention and you'd know what I was talking about.
"She could barely make out a muffled heartbeat."
-As Marle did (Chapter 3).
=====================================================
Chapter 12
=====================================================
"...Why, my name is Cardonia!"
-Cardonia is the only one o the Cadaver Clan that can speak perfect english...
"...and a plate of caviar to the general."
-This is a parody of a figure-of-speech from Hamlet II. Although not used in the correct context, it is on purpose, you see. The real meaning of "caviar to the general" is something that appeals only to high tastes.
"A pool of blood, not merely a puddle of it displaced on the floor below, but the whole hall opened up into a small spring of it."
-This pool of blood is a refrence to the film "Legend of the 8 Samurai" (1984). The pool was apparently supposed to revive the youth of any who'd bathe in it. Technically speaking, if you normally had a bath in it rather than ordinary water, you would live forever. Sonny Chiba was in that movie as a Ninja! I completely recommend it.
"The creature, Cardonia, began to brush his rotting lips along the super-sensitive skin of his throat. "
-If you were wondering, I didn't try to make this "fan-service"...
______________________________________________________________________
Well, that's the end of the footnotes for now. I'll write more as the chapters come.
-Riot of the Blood Kyo