Catching Up and Training… Or Something Along Those Lines: Part 2

It was a dark and stormy–ahh wait. Sorry.

It's a moonless night. The sky is completely absent of clouds—as if they were all swept away, erased like stray marks on a sheet of paper, before the master artisan begins his work. Innumerable stars dot the endless black expanse, blinking and shining as my silent audience for the night. The stage is set, and the main cast is in place. My gaze drifts down from the heavens to the sight which is before me, as I perch atop one of the school dormitories.

It's past midnight, but that is of no consequence to me; and apparently of little issue for the person I am currently watching in the dark. They stand far away from any light source, sulking in the middle of the gardens which occupy the rear of the female dorms.

It's not a problem for me, but I wonder how well she can see in the dark.

Princess Alexia Midgar is swinging her sword in the middle of the night like some kind of lunatic. Well, I already knew that she was, but it was still something to see that we share another habit in common.

She's wearing a simple shirt and pants, along with her favored high-laced boots. Her hair is tied back, unlike her normal style, as she cuts through the air and stabs at nothing.

I can admire the dedication—it's eerily familiar. But it's much better to learn from a teacher…

I glide down from the top of the building, my slimecape stretching out to slow my descent. My boots touch the grass without a blade being disturbed. I move closer, taking up position behind a row of bushes before starting the show.

"...You shouldn't be out here by yourself…"

I project my voice from several places at once, while also modifying it to be indistinguishable from the unusual deep, confident timbre of Shadow.

"...Out here there be monsters."

The princess snaps to attention, holding her sword up as she looks around for the source.

"Who's there!?" She issues a challenge, the tip of her blade pointed in the completely wrong direction.

Perfect.

I step from out of the darkness, letting the noise of my footfalls grow, until she finally whirls around and faces me.

"You!"

Though she can't see it, I smile anyway.

"Princess Alexia, of Midgar…"

She lowers her sword, but still keeps it pointed in my general direction. I approach to within a few dozen yards before I stop, stretching out my hand in a grandiose gesture.

"... Do you wish to become strong?"

She is silent for a moment, her eyes appraising me with unconcealed interest. Then there's the slight tightening of her grip on her sword—the moment of resolve I'd been waiting for.
"I do."

Spoken like a true hero.

"Then, If you want to become stronger…"

I hold out my open palm, summoning a small purple flame.

"I will train you, in the way of shadows."

I clench my fist, and the magical fire is extinguished.

"... I am ready."

I chuckle darkly.

"We shall see. We shall see…"

I flex out my right arm, letting the slime take the shape of a simple sword.

"Let's start with the basics."

Alexia brings her sword up into her favorite guard position, nodding at me.

"Of course. Mastering the basics is the way to becoming a master."

…

Interesting.

I extend the reach of my sword through the use of slime, so that it's as if my arm has tripled in length. My blade swings through the air, making a few casual feints and attacks on the princess.

She blocks each one, though her movements are wasteful.

"Regulate your breathing."

I increase the pace, watching as she starts to huff and heave, her magic pulsing as she uses it to strengthen her body and reduce her reaction time.

"Use only the least amount of magic necessary."

I flick my hand back and forth, directing my extended slime sword like a conductor leading an orchestra.

Unfortunately, our soloist is still out of tune—but we'll work on it.

Alexia yells and swings wildly, stumbling forward as she loses her balance.

"Don't over commit."

The princess finally manages to block two attacks in a row.

"... That's a start," I say. "Now close your eyes and use your magic to detect my next attacks."

"What?"

The silver-haired harpy leaps backwards, barely avoiding the bite of my blade as it slams into the ground, creating a small shockwave.

Alexia glares at me as she wipes the sweat off her forehead.

"You could have killed me!"

"React faster. Be better."

She opens her mouth to retort, but then decides against it. Alexia closes her eyes, and I can feel her magic stretch out around her—faint though it may be.

"Good. Your magic is like any other muscle; you must constantly use it, stretch it, in order for it to grow."

She nods, and begins to evade my next series of attacks, avoiding the use of her blade and instead moving her body. As the minutes drag on, she reacts quicker, though her heart rate is also skyrocketing.

I decide to give her a moment to catch her breath, since she's currently struggling to even stand, her hands on her knees. I snap my fingers, and there's a blur of motion. Only a glimpse of gold is visible—before my two assistants finish and disappear again.

At my side is a small table and an even smaller chair. On the table is a lavishly decorated tea set, the steam still rising from the cup set out for me. I take the seat, crossing my leg as I pick up the cup in my left hand, blowing on it a few times.

"Perfect."

I take a sip, while my right hand continues to stay outstretched, striking out at Alexia as she barely raises her sword up in time.

"Urghhh!"

Hmm. This is pretty good tea.

Meanwhile, The princess struggles against my renewed attacks. I can practically feel her frustration in the thrust of her blade, as she watches me sit casually, barely paying her any attention.

"In combat, do not let your emotions rule you. They will be your undoing."

Alexia huffs at me, swearing under her breath. A quick tap of my blunted blade against her ankle sends her crashing to the ground with a pained grunt.

I take another sip.

"Excellent tea, Kai."
Alexia struggles to her feet again, taking a few deep, heated breaths.

"... Alright. I'll try again."

I nod, unsurprised. Her training goes on for a few more minutes, striking an odd balance between her rapid improvement and growing exhaustion.

Eventually I let up my attacks, dissipating my sword.

Alexia, on her hands and knees, starts to mutter to herself.

"I'm starting to see… How you're so damn strong…"

I cock my head.
"That was just the warmup."

I stand up from my chair, taking delight in the utter despair and panic in her eyes. There's no helping the manic smile which stretches across my face. With another snap of my fingers, the tea set disappears.

"Now the real fun begins."

Alexia struggles back onto her feet, and I begin to actually train her for a while. Well, I don't know if I would say it was fun for me. It's a bit like playing with an angry kitten, I suppose.

An angry kitten that is also blind and deaf.

It's been about half an hour, my constant attacks interspersed with teachings of wisdom. She is a quick learner; but she's got a long way to go before she'll reach even my sister's level.

Alexia drives her sword into the ground, using it to support herself.

"You… Bastard…"

Oh? She's got guts. It's hard to tell their color in the faint starlight, but she's covered in bruises and cuts, her hair has come undone, and it looks like she just ran a series of marathons.

Yeah, I'm going pretty easy on her—but it is her first time, afterall.

We are far from done however, and I can't have my future puppet ruler sorry, I mean my acquaintance looking like that.

I wave my hand, healing and rejuvenating her instantly. Alexia lets out a gasp, looking at me with wide eyes.

"W–What is this…?"

"I have imbued you with but a small portion of my power," I say, though even that is an over-exaggeration.

"This is only a taste of what I give my shadows. Now… Rise, my Silver Wolf."

She'd better appreciate that name.

"Silver… Wolf?"

"Your new codename. Do you not find it fitting?"

"… It's alright."

Well, I suppose that's the most approval she'll give me. I toss a slime at her feet. She looks down at it, and then up at me.

"What am I supposed to do with this?"

I chuckle deeply. "Heheh, that is your new blade, princess. Take it, and mold it into its new shape. Discard your old sword—a mockery of skill and a misuse of magic. With this, your efficiency will increase tenfold."

Alexia nods, sheathing her sword before reaching down and picking it up. She rolls the gelatinous shape around in her fingers experimentally.

"So this is how you can so easily create any weapon…"

She summons her magic, using it to coil the slime into a crudely shaped stick.

"Not bad…" I hold out my hand, creating a jewel-encrusted sword of sheer magnificence.

"... For a first try. Now," I beckon her with an open palm. "Attack me."

Alexia raises an eyebrow, before she signs and nods. She steps forward and swings her slime stick, attacking me. I block.

She attacks again. I block.

It's not terribly exciting. But watching her strike like this, I can see that she really has put a lot into practicing the basic movements and forms. The problem is that she hasn't figured out how to put it all together. She certainly has enough magic to pull it off; most people do, they just don't know how to use it effectively.

"Your sword style…"

She pauses, panting as she listens to me.

"Have you been copying me?" I say with a tinge of amusement.

The princess huffs, before she surprises me by nodding.

"Yeah, I have." She tilts her head. "Should I not be?"

"If you want to be the best, then go ahead. You'll need to do more than copy, however. You must understand the meaning behind every move, as well. Also, your magical control is very imprecise. Sloppy. You could be moving twice as fast if you put as much effort into it as put into practicing the swing of your sword."

She glares at me, but eventually nods. "Alright. I'll focus on that from now on."

I stand silently, watching her, since it's apparent to me that she has more to say.

"Shadow… About the cult…"

Huh? Does she want more proof?

"I want to fight."

I raise an eyebrow.

"Like you did earlier?"

Alexia flinches, but I continue with a shake of my head.

"No. You're not ready yet, Silver Wolf. Your time has not yet come."

Yes, this is excellent!

She huffs, crossing her arms. "And you'll be the one to decide that?"

"Yes, I will. Or do you doubt my judgment?"

I unleash my magical power to its full intensity. It's as if the air itself has grown as heavy as water, purple light shining around us as my overwhelming presence seeps out.

Alexia staggers under the invisible weight, shuddering as she struggles to remain standing.

"N–No, I don't doubt you, Shadow."

"Good." I bring my power back to me, restoring the peace of the night. My newest trainee takes a moment to recover herself, but I can see that familiar spark of stubbornness in her red eyes.

"... If I'm not ready yet, then I at least want to join—"

"No. That is not your destiny."

Her mouth snaps shut, a simmering fire still burning in her gaze. Well, she can stew on it, but with that personality… Yeah, that's not a good idea.

I already have enough influence over her without needing her in the Garden anyway. Midgar is well on the path to falling away from the influence of the cult, but it'll need a ruler that is both as competent and ruthless as her.

Well, now seems like the perfect time for some mysterious foreshadowing to lighten the mood.

"The moment of fate is approaching; soon the era of hiding will end. You will have a splendorous part to play in the coming struggle against the rising darkness, princess. I almost envy you."

She watches me silently.

"The time of preparation is almost over," I continue. "The time of cleansing is near."

Wait… Did I already use one of those lines earlier? Well, she seems to always brush my awesomely crafted speeches aside, so I doubt she'll notice.

Alexia doesn't say anything for a moment, seeming to bask in the presence of my wisdom and power. Her lips part slightly, as there's a flash of comprehension in her eyes.

"I… I understand, Shadow."

Oh? I look at her fully.

She… No, she couldn't. She would obviously say something if she thought she knew, stubborn royalty that she is. To prove that point further, I think it's time for the ultimate protagonist test.

I release a part of my magic, letting its presence surround us. Alexia stands unmoving, though her eyes are oddly bright.

"You have performed… Adequately, princess. But there is yet one test you have yet to pass…"

I trail off, letting a few seconds of suspenseful silence extend, before giving her my final command.

"Now… Kneel."

Alexia clenches her fists. I can see her body tremble; but when she speaks, her voice rings with iron.

"No. I refuse."

I don't even bother trying to hide my satisfaction at her answer.

"Ahahahahaaa!"

After I finish my bout of maniacal laughter, I begin to clap slowly.

"Very good, Silver Wolf. Very good. I look forward to our next meeting."

I move away in the time it takes her to blink, reappearing on a nearby rooftop. I can see Alexia whirl around, looking for me, before with a sigh she gives up and begins her march back to the dorms.

Well, the main scene for the day has ended, and it was thoroughly enjoyable for me. Now though, I should give proper applause to the two stage hands who helped me perfect tonight's performance.

"Kai. Omega."

The two are kneeling before me in scarcely a single second. Though their heads are bowed, I can tell that they're much more at ease than before.

"The two of you did well tonight."

"Thank you, Lord Shadow."

I nod as I step forward. In the past, I've found something which has always pleased my shadows as a reward for when they succeeded, especially the elves; and since I have two hands, I can do them both at the same time.

I rest my left hand on blonde hair and my right on dark, ruffling their soft, silken locks. It seems I was right on the money, as they both struggle to stay still, their heads pushing up into my patting.

"The princess has proved herself worthy of my attention," I say as I withdraw my hands, the pair sighing almost in synchronization.

"In the future, I will leave her training up to you. She may soon reach the level of the named of Shadow Garden, so I expect you will have your hands full. Are you up to the task?"
"Yes, Lord Shadow!"

I nod. "Very well. You may rise, my loyal shadows."

The pair are on their feet, a distinct gleam in their eyes and the slightest upturn of their lips. I can sense a certain… Impatience in the air, though it's not coming from either of them.

I give them both an appraising look, before waving my hand.

"You are dismissed for the day."

They bow, and disappear into the dark.

I wait a beat, pretending to contemplate some intricate puzzle, before finally…

"So, Alexia finally proved her worth to you after all, huh?"

"That's correct… Zeta."

She's been watching me since I met up with Epsilon, lurking just out of sight.

How very cat-like.

My sixth shade appears from nothing, leaning against the wall with a casual indifference. She spins her favored circular blade in her hand idly, her blue eyes focused entirely on me.

"You really think she's worth training, Shadow?"

I look at her fully.

"There is something in her that reminds me of myself."

There's a slight widening of her eyes as she leans off the wall.

"... Oh. I see."

Zeta clears her throat.

"Well, how was the show?"

I chuckle; the euphoric feeling from that beautiful display still lingers in my memory.

"You pulled off the technique of a cult member perfectly. I have no doubt you will be able to infiltrate the templars with ease."

The beastkin bows, a hint of a smile quirking her lips.

"Thank you, Lord Shadow. I am certain now that my next operation will go off without a hitch."

She dematerializes her blade, walking closer to me.

"I must say that Epsilon was rather impressive; there were moments where I almost thought I was fighting the real you."

"Of course," I reply easily. "I am the one who trained her, afterall."

With Eta creating a device that modified one's voice, Gamma assisting with makeup and prosthetics, and myself training Epsilon to imitate my magical presence and mannerisms almost perfectly—it was truly a beautiful thing. Playing by myself was fun; but now with a supporting cast, being the hidden power was so much better.

Facing an actual, dangerous cult hiding in the darkness, having subordinates and my own organization to counter them—it's pure bliss.

I let out a contented sigh.

Bashing my head into that tree was the best decision of my life.

Zeta reaches my side, one of her pointed ears flickering as she observes my happy expression.

"... I'm glad our performance was pleasing to you, master."

She tilts her head.

"Perhaps it was fun for you as well?"

I nod, barely resisting the urge to reach out and pet her fluffy ears.

That can wait until later.

"Of course. It was such a refreshment, being able to see myself perform from the sidelines."

"I'm sure that's true, but… Even Epsilon's talent can't make up for your sheer presence, master. It's still nothing compared to seeing the real Shadow."

I can see her tail waving idly behind her. It's almost tempting, but I'm already well acquainted with how soft it is.

"Every day you take a step closer to my own power," I say. "Never stop pushing forward, and someday, you will grasp the power to shape reality for yourself."

Zeta blinks.

"... We will keep going, master," she replies with a faint shake of her head. "But there is no point in trying to catch up to you."

I hum, giving a noncommittal answer. The beastkin stares into my eyes for a moment.

"Shadow, I also have a report for you."

"Proceed."

She bows her head, reciting a slew of details from memory.

"Per your orders, our operations have succeeded in purging certain elements in the capital. The Dark Knights, the instructors at the academy, and business owners have seen considerable losses—but nothing catastrophic.

However, the royal court and upper nobility remain corrupted and under the influence of the cult. We could move against them now; but that would plunge the nation into chaos, perhaps even a civil war. If that is what you desire, we can make it happen by next weekend."

Well, that seems a little extreme. I want to be good at my chosen role; which means the average citizen shouldn't be heavily disrupted by what I do, and more importantly, they should never find out who's really behind everything.

For now, anyway.

"I have a plan of my own. Continue surveillance and curtail any operations the cult may undergo, but otherwise await my signal."

It's time for me to get to work on the other princess in this kingdom. I've already met her a few times in my Cid form thanks to Alexia, so I feel like I know what makes her tick.

Iris Midgar. Like her sister, I won't try to coax her into joining Shadow Garden, but I will show her who the real enemy is—only after I beat her face into the ground.

Hey, the hardest lesson is learning that you aren't nearly as strong as you thought you were.

I suppose I have yet to learn that lesson myself, but that's hardly my fault.

After acknowledging my orders, Zeta moves on to the rest of her report.

"Master, about the researcher you ordered us to watch: Sherry Barnett."

I nod, gesturing for her to go on.

"We believe she is close to discovering your true identity, Cid. She is… Obsessed with you."

Ah, of course. As if there weren't enough of them already. Honestly, I never stood a chance at playing a background NPC to begin with.

Zeta continues. "We've kept a close eye on them, but the cult has been keeping their distance from her. She's been working alone."

Strange…

"Does she know the reality of her fathers betrayal?"

"No, she is still oblivious."

"Lead her in that direction. She must face the truth."

"As you wish."

I nod while crossing my arms; I look out into the darkness, ruminating on the future.

Zeta stares at me, unblinking for several moments—as if she were watching something utterly fascinating, such as a mouse shifting through a bed of fallen leaves.

"You've changed, master."

I raise an eyebrow, prompting her to continue.

"It's for the better, I think. You trust us more. It's… Nice."

Zeta steps closer, reaching out her hand. Gingerly, she places it on my chest, centered over my heart.

"... I will do anything for you, Shadow," she murmurs, her face mere inches from mine.

"Even if it means the end of the world."

That's… Nice. I think what you're currently doing is enough however.

"The end… Of the world…"

I chuckle. Her hand remains on my chest, feeling the vibrations from my amusement, before she steps back, an odd look fixed in her eyes.

"If we do not stop the resurrection of Diablos," I say, "then that is what will befall us."

She nods, her gaze never leaving mine.

"Shadow… Do you think this will end with the cult?"

Huh? I'm still going to pursue my dreams no matter what, for as long as I can.

"No, I don't."

"Good. Then we are in agreement."

Okay.

"Shall we go for a walk, master?"

Usually Delta is the one asking for walks, but sure. I leap down from the top of the school building, landing without disturbing a single particle of dust. Zeta emerges from the darkness beside me; I didn't even see her jumping through the air. She's really come along as a master spy.

The beastkin nods, and I gesture for her to walk alongside me, as we leave the academy grounds on a path taking us around the outskirts of the city. Typically, going for a walk will entail taking out some sort of magical beast or cult outpost at the end, but tonight I get the sense that this will remain just a normal, unremarkable walk. Like Delta, Zeta usually has a certain… Energy around her, but tonight she seems oddly serene.

We stay silent for a few moments as we walk. My magic doesn't pick up anything, and though I can see her tan ears swivel around occasionally, apparently her acute senses don't either.

Well, this does seem like the right time to throw out a few lines, and also set up something I've been thinking about recently.

Right about… Now, I think.

"... It's time."

"Master?"

I glance down at her.

"The time has come, Zeta. Inform Alpha," I pause for effect, "to prepare the seven shades. I am going to train you to the next level."

Her eyes widen. "Yes, my lord. I will tell her the second I leave."

Her gaze darts to the side as her voice lowers a decibel.

"... Do you wish me to leave now?"

I shake my head.
"A few moments will not make such a difference. You will be ready, or you won't. Either way," my voice draws deep with wisdom, "I will impart some more of my knowledge upon you."

"Shadow… Thank you. I can only speak for myself," she places her hand over her chest, conveying her serious attitude. "But I will do my utmost to learn everything I can from you."

My eyes catch her tail waving behind her, almost as fast as her beastkin rival's does.

"Of course. All of you have done well to follow my teachings, just as I foresaw. You have proven worthy to ascend to the next step."

Truthfully, I've pretty much run out of things to tell them—but I figure some practice sparring couldn't hurt. I always need new opponents to try things on, anyway.

Zeta nods along with my every word, her gaze one of wonderment as she soaks in my presence. I wonder what the cat equivalent of puppy-eyes is.

"... It has been a while since you've taught us," she mutters.

Yes, it has… Well, how was I supposed to know that a random background story I made up on the spot in front of a ten year-old elf girl would lead to this?

Talk about coincidences.

We come across a random bench by the road, overlooking a small park. It's a few hours before sunrise, so there's not much going on at the moment around us. There's no wind, no noise; no birds singing, no people talking, not even the benign buzz of insects bumbling through the air.

Wordlessly, Zeta sits down, making a rather amusing sight with her black and gold slime suit situated against a plain wooden bench. I join her, since there is something charming about a tremendous power sitting down in such a normal way.

Though she hasn't said anything, Zeta is looking at me quite frequently for some reason.

Ah, did I forget to tell her? Whoops.

"You did well today, Zeta."

I pat her head.

"Good kitty."

"Don't patronize me."

"I don't see you complaining when I pet your ears."

"… Hmmph."

Well, if you're going to reply like that…

I move my hand over to her ear, rubbing it between my fingers. It's so soft, it's somewhat hard to believe it's a living part of another being.

Under my tender ministrations, Zeta closes her eyes. After I remove my hand, she starts to rub her chin over my shoulder and arm, moving back and forth as she rumples the slime of my suit.

I watch her do this with only some confusion.

"... Didn't you already mark me last week?"

"Mh-hmm" she hums, moving away as her feline eyes blink open again. "But that was last week. I've got to do it again this week."

Hmm. Cats.

Her tail somehow ended up in my lap, so I start to pet it while I think, ignoring the strange vibrations emitting from Zeta.

There's quite a few things coming up in my plans; both possibilities and opportunities. Our influence is already spreading to other countries—Oriana in particular. I'm not sure how the incarnation of sunshine that is Rose would feel about joining Shadow Garden; but if she sees the threat that the cult presents, I have no doubt she would do everything in her power to fight against it. It is the inevitable path of her hero's journey, afterall.

Sherry… She was such an innocent soul. But when I last saw her, she was holding onto that by the barest of threads. I'm not sure she has what it takes to be a main heroine. She's got the tragic backstory down pat; though I suppose that could go in either direction.

But… No, I don't think she would make a good villain either. That's not a story I want to see about her, now that I think about it.

Well, we'll see how she reacts when she learns the truth about her father. At the time, I did not feel it was my place to share that story. I only did what I had to.

Since its inception, Shadow Garden has become a haven for the lost, the betrayed, and the spurned. Perhaps…Hmm, we'll see.

Princess Alexia, I'll continue to keep a close eye on. If my suspicions are correct, she will overtake her sister as the swordmaster of Midgar. Though when that happens, I cannot say.

She is particularly stubborn, afterall.

My sister… Eh, I don't want to think about it.

Since I don't have to spend so much time concocting cool schemes anymore, I can devote more energy to developing some new combat techniques. I did get some ideas from the sanctuary, and its hoard of secrets—though I do need to check up on Eta to see what she's unearthed.

I have mastered the power of the atom, but there are still areas where I only have a fragment of strength. My next target will be perhaps the greatest of powers…

Time.

Yes, if I can manipulate that, there will be no possibility beyond my grasp. Not only the present, but the past and the future will be my stage.

Beside me, Zeta has been watching me think with open curiosity. She hums to herself, sparking my attention.

"Master…" She hesitates, which is a rare thing for her. "Are you beginning to understand the depth of feelings we have for you?"

…

… Yeah, I suppose I am.

I nod.

My sixth shade smiles, her eyes half-lidded.

"I'm glad. You are everything to us, Shadow."

Zeta leans her head against my side. Hmm, what's this noise?

Ah, she's purring. She's also pretty warm. Guess it's instinctive for her kind to keep close to preserve body heat; I can certainly feel it, against the coolness of the night. But there's also something else… Something inside me.

This… This feeling again.

What is this?

It's not painful—but it is new. It started when…

Hmm, I think I finally see the cause. In the past it would have gone unnoticed, but there's no denying it now.

I never thought I would find anyone who would actually believe in my dreams. In my past life, I had quickly learned to keep my thoughts to myself; my parents, (former) friends, relatives—they all would just smile and nod, patting my shoulder with a patronizing word.

My will—my destiny—was something no one else could see. Not even Nishino, though I suppose I never gave her much of a chance.

Now…

Now I am surrounded by people that I can truly call allies—friends, even. For the longest time I did not believe it; it didn't even seem a possibility. When my shadows separated to go their own ways some years ago, I thought my fate as a lonesome mastermind was sealed.

But I was wrong. They had always believed in me.

My left hand falls open; I feel warm fingers, and then a palm, meeting my own.

Zeta, staring ahead as if she is oblivious, is holding my hand.

It's… Nice. I follow her gaze as we look out into the darkness, the dwindling light of the stars heralding the imminent approach of dawn. There's a certain peace in the air.

Whether it is but the soothing calm before the tumultuous storm is impossible to say; but it is undoubtedly beautiful.

Whatever may come, I have no doubts; and certainly no regrets.

Zeta squeezes my hand, and I smile.

Next chapter will focus on Beta, Eta, and an emergency 7 shades meeting. I'll put off my Beta rant for now, but her screentime will depend on whether I can figure out a way to make her interesting/likable to write.
When? Uhh…
Also, I'm on the fence with Claire. I both do and don't want to go the 'Alabama' route, but until I decide she probably won't be appearing again. There's plenty of other EiS characters to write about in the meantime though.
Thanks for all the reviews.