looks shame-faced Yes, I'm still alive, and yes, I still plan on finishing this monster. However, I don't *quite* have the next chapter ready yet. My sincerest apologies. A little update on what happened:
I managed to land myself a summer internship in all of 5 days (3 days before my finals began). In another state. With a start-up company. The end result? I was trying to cram an entire summer's worth of preparations (as in overhauling the family business' network, straightening out some school administrative stuff, etc.) in all of a week before I was dragging my butt out over a 17 hour drive up north. Woohoo! Beyond that, since it's a start-up company, it's both exciting as all heck, and very time-consuming. No set hours - you just get done what you have to get done.
Thus, I present my excuses for why I don't have anything new up. However! One unexpectedly bright side is that the family I'm staying with has DSL...but it hasn't worked in all the time I've been there (at least, not so far). This has the unusual side effect of boring me to death when I'm at home and didn't take any work with me - I'm hoping to use some of those empty hours to finally get all this wrapped up. Wish me luck!
(Anyone want to start a betting pool as to when I'll actually have the next part up? =P)
BTW, a *HUGE* thank you to all the people who responded to my plea for help!!! I received several copies of the missing section, and it has now been uploaded. I am now trying to be much more careful with my versions. =P
Finally, I wanted to at least get some responses out to the reviewers to let them know they've been 'heard', even if I have been playing 'possum. =)
bunny angel: beams ^_^
Oh, now, I can't really say...yet. ^_~ But you're on the right track.
on your second review: Yes, he was. Except he didn't quite make it to that point.
ola: My sincerest apologies. If it makes you feel any better, I have to review my own work as well these days before I can head off with a new part because I've forgotten so many details. o.O*
eeps and cowers and offers a cookie Don't eat me, please? I promise to finish, honest!
Happy to oblige. =) re:definition
on your second review: Thank you! And at your request, it's staying up. =) (Yes, I was beginning to get quite impatient with the pair myself...)
SCWLC: Hehehhe...aren't they fun? =) And thank you so much for your comments! 1) I didn't know how well I was contrasting Kyn's character with how he was and how he is now, but your first 'paragraph' has reassured me a bit on that point. It's important that others can see his loss of assurance and control. 2) You also brought up a point that I've been keeping in the back of my mind but which I had *thought* was somewhat clear, but which I see now is not. As mentioned in the interlude, its existence came about solely due to your review (in particular, the point addressed in the second and third 'paragraphs'). =) I don't know if I actually made it any clearer in the interlude, but...I've pretty much said all that I'm going to say on the matter in there, and the reason is that the narrative is so tightly focused on Kyn's character that there is not enough perspective (*he* doesn't have enough perspective) for me to include anything more on the subject. Does that make any sense? I hope so, because I've run out of other ways to express it at this hour of the workday...my apologies. =P
on your second review: My sincerest gratitude. I *do* try to keep as close to cannon as possible, and I truly appreciate your efforts in pointing out the inconsistencies. And thanks for pointing that out! Yes, it was an unintentional redundancy. I should remember to upload a revision. But otherwise, please continue to point out any etymologies of words that I appear to be misusing. One of my fascinations with the English language concerns word roots, and while I might not be that good at it yet, I do love learning about them.
melissa : Eep! The threat of disconnection or of bodily-prying-away-from-computer seems to be something that many people suffer from. o.O* I'm sorry I haven't been able to get something out for you, but your enthusiasm is encouragement enough for me to try and squeeze out the rest of the rough draft tonight. =)
WingsofJade: laughs You'll have to stand in line; I've got dibs on the first one off the assembly belt. =P And nope, it's not done yet! So stay tuned.
Rei Kobayashi: They did. And they're supposed to. Mannerisms change with the environment; he's been taught to blend in. =) However, you did prompt the thought that it might have been a little more drastic than I'd intended; I'll be rereading the old stuff later to check that out. (Though, personally, I know that the language that I use in the office and the one I use while amongst high school friends is even more drastically different than the examples in here. =P)
on your second review: LOL! My apologies for all your trials and tribulations. =) But, at least there's more to look forward to, neh? ^_~ (Yes, I love stringing people along...) And thank you very much for your offer to beta. What usually happens with my writing is that I reread it so much that the only reason why I throw it online at all in the end is that I get so tired of revising it. o.O* What I'm planning on doing is going back and reworking everything from the beginning for posting on my own website; making things more polished, more consistent, taking into account reviewers' comments that I had received along the way, and perhaps even adding extra scenes/parts. Would you be interested in "beta'ing" in that respect? If not, don't worry about it. =)
drunkenfairy: laughs That's good to hear! ^_^ Thanks much
A'kari: Your opinion matters *very* much to me. This story wouldn't even exist without your review and everyone else's; honest. I've almost never finished a story out of the dozens and dozens that I've started, simply because I get bored with it after plotting out the entire thing in my head. But the readers' responses have been constantly pushing me on and now I can say with assurance that I will be finishing up my first long work ever. Thank you for your encouragement, and in the future, I hope you'll be willing to read my works again - only this time, on printed paper rather than on the web. =P
Absynthe: Thanks! And I'm working toward it...slowly... =P
Magdellin: holds hands up in surrender Ok, I won't! =)
*Eep!* What in the world are you doing up that late/early in your condition?! o.O* Well...if nothing else, I hope the long haitus from updates has allowed you to get some real rest. =P And congratulations! Please take care of yourself, and let me know how you're doing.
Yo: Tantris? Sorry, I couldn't even remember who that was until you placed him as being in Vanyel's time, so I think it's a pretty safe bet I wasn't referring to him. ;) May I ask what aspect of the story/which character reminded you of Tantris?
Cosette Crystalline: Heh! Most likely a combination of the two. ;) I know the feeling well. gives you a cookie And you're right on the button. =) Thanks, and I hope I continue to surprise you! (Or, at least, *almost* surprise you.)
Akari: Thank you. =) And as you can see, I've since uploaded the missing section. ^_^
Faeriesinger: Thanks, and the missing section is now up. =)
Maischeph-Vanscrilla-Black: Wow. o.O* I must say, I am (almost literally) overwhelmed by your response(s)... laughs Thank you so much for going through all that effort, and I will try to get out the next section as fast as possible. Yes, I do like some rap (including some of Eminem's) and no, I'm not Buddhist. =)