Soul Meeting

After reading Magda's post, I remembered a story I read sometime ago. It is part of a chapter in a fanfic written by ShatteredLyre, who's truly a marvelous writer, and who I hope won't mind me posting this. Knowing the characters doesn't matter for understanding the story, but, for your information, Pirika's a nurse and Redseb and Seyram are two kids she's supposed to be taking care of and who love the stories she tells them. The other people mentioned are characters in the story, where lots of things happen and that's why Pirika has to keep the kids calm.

No pictures 'cause the point of this is the actual story.

Characters from the Shaman King manga (c) Hiroyuki Takei, Shueisha, Viz media I guess.
Story (c) ShatteredLyre

----

"So once upon a time, when the gods first created the earth, they didn't create humans as we know them today. Instead, they created these scary, all powerful, domineering beasts that had two heads, four arms, and four legs."

Redseb and Seyram clung to each other. Nope, Pirika still wasn't sane yet. "Erm…Pirika?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you tell us something that isn't so freaky because you are definitely freaking us out."

Never again. Never again should I be asked to keep anyone calm, Pirika thought to herself.

"Al…right…" She paused and frowned, trying to think of a less "freaky" way of telling the story to the kids and still be conveying the same message. "Okay. So here we go. Once upon a time, when the gods first created the earth, they didn't create humans as we know them today. Instead, souls, these bright, pure souls that were made out of the essence of light with the clarity of crystals roamed the lands. The gods saw this and they were pleased that they had created things that were so beautiful."

"Those do sound beautiful," Redseb agreed while Seyram yawned contentedly and rested her head on her brother's shoulder.

"However, the gods, since they were so pleased with their creation, didn't stop with making them beautiful. They were so encouraged with the perfection of these souls that they gave them everything they could: intelligence, power, agility. And over time, the gods saw that this, their pride in thinking that they could concoct something so perfect, would be their downfall. They did indeed make the perfect being, so perfect that they were more powerful than the gods themselves. In fear, the gods enslaved the souls instead of peacefully coexisting with them and ordered that the souls praise the gods constantly. Gradually, the souls saw the fear of the gods, they saw that they were more powerful than the gods and began resenting why they are being treated so badly. Why, they asked, why should they be the ones to be enslaved? Why should the gods be the one receiving praise? Shouldn't the souls be getting praised since they are the perfect ones? The stronger, smarter ones? They rose up and began to revolt. However, seeing that they would fall from the heavens if they were overcome by the souls, the gods banded together in a last ditch attempt. While it was nighttime on earth, the gods snuck down and split all of the sleeping souls into two halves. That way, the souls would still be perfect but would each half would take half of the original soul's power, thus making them weaker than the gods. For their insolence, the gods banished these half complete souls to roam the earth who were constantly in search of their other half so that they could finally be—"

"Complete," Redseb breathed.

"Yup." She smiled.

"I think…I think I heard something like this before. But the person before said that the gods split the souls into two halves, one male and one female. How come you didn't say that?"

Pirika blinked, surprised that Redseb had picked up on a small detail like that. "W-Well… I'd like to think that whoever we find that makes us 'complete' isn't going to be limited by gender. And it isn't necessarily just romantic love. It can be love between friends, familial love, you know. And I'd like to think that my guy friends and my brother make me just as happy as my girl friends." She smiled. "Not to mention, romantic love doesn't have to be just between a male and female."

Redseb laughed and clapped his hands together. "You know, I actually like that explanation a ton more than the other one I heard. It's nice. It's like…like…breakin' boundaries and stuff."

"Since love is love is love, no matter what kind, it will transcend all differences, all conflicts and bring us together as a family." Pirika tucked the two kids in.

"Say, Pirika, who's your other half then?" Redseb asked innocently.

She was caught off guard yet again, never having been asked this question before. "I…ah…"

But before she could answer, Redseb cut in. "Is it that Ren guy?"

Pirika's jaw locked in place as she remembered her less than pleasant initial encounters, then getting a huge donation from him for the fundraiser, then getting to know Ren, then seeing him with that infant, then swimming in abandoned hotel pools with him, then with giving him advice, then realizing that he actually listened to the advice, then getting severely threatened by Tao Ran. "I don't…I don't…No," she said mechanically.

Redseb cocked his head to the side and studied her. "Are you sure?"

"I honestly don't know but I do know someone who is my other half for sure," she said confidently.

"Really? Who is it?" he asked, bouncing up and down in his bed, ready to get some gossip.

She pointed at him.

He looked at her in confusion. "Me?"

She nodded and then pointed at Seyram.

"Seyram too?"

"Yup and Yoh and Anna and my brother and Lyserg and Jeanne and even Dr. Tao and Tamao and just about everyone here."

"But I thought that the gods split the souls in half…"

"I think…I-I think that more than one person can make us feel complete. That more than person can make us feel happy. How saddening would it be if only one person existed that could complete us, that could make us feel whole? I feel like a whole person around you guys and everyone in the hospital. Everyone in my home. Yes, I just called the hospital my home but you know what, it's totally true despite how lame and sad and cheesy it is. I love coming here. I love working here. I love everything about everyone, even if it is bad or good."

"It's not cheesy," Redseb declared. "I like it!"

She smiled. "That's good." Before leaving the two kids to sleep for the night, she said one last thing to him. "You know why it's important that the original souls were pure and beautiful?"

Redseb thought about it and then shook his head.

"It's because when we're rejoined with people who make us feel complete and whole and wonderful and happy and break down all the awkward, angry barriers that we might have erected during our isolation and sadness and then they make us feel like everything and nothing at the same time and the only thing we're sure of is that it feels absolutely right…then it's as beautiful and pure as the souls." She stopped by the door before opening it and going outside.

"Then it's perfect."

---------

Birthday Countdown: 1 day

Why I have been absent this week.

I know. I actually promised I would post this week, that I would make one or two or even three of my traditional, long, with photos posts... Yet I didn't post anything from my list. Add my general absence to that, and you have every right to scream at me:

"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN, ELVIELLA?!?"
I'll tell you.

Actually, this week, I barely studied, to be honest.

And why?

Because FullMetal Alchemist totally took over my life for the past week.



Seriously. I love this manga. I've read manga before, but really? TAKE NOTES, NARUTO, 'CAUSE FMA CAN KICK YOUR ASS!

...Really, I don't know how many people will actually comment on this. This post is to show you another side of me: that of the comicbook/manga fangirl.
Anyway.

I started reading the FullMetal Alchemist series back in January, but since I was too much into Shaman King and Death Note at the time, I read about six or seven chapters before forgetting about it. Then, in June, I read a couple chapters more on a spare hour I had. Then I went to vacations and completely didn't have the time or the internet connection or the mood to continue... And then, a week ago... I decided to go on from where I had stopped. Two days later I had read 45 chapters (the big ones, that have 35-45 pages) and now I have officially read it all. I stayed up till midnight last night to finish it, and then I went to write a mini essay for school.

So, if you like manga/comics and have the time... pick this story up! It's freakin' awesome, people!



Even though it's a shounen (boy) manga, the author, Arakawa Hiromu, is female. The fact that one of the best boy manga is written by a woman is very interesting, in my opinion.

The story is that of Edward and Alphonse Elric, two young alchemists who, while trying to resurrect their beloved dead mother, lose one of them his arm and leg, and the other his whole body. We follow them in their journey to get their bodies back, and as they find out that, in reality, there is something much larger endangering their country, in their trying to find out the truth and save their country.

10 Reasons to read it:

1. Great story, without plotholes and very tight and engaging in reading. Also, there's a lot of thought and research into it.
2. Very good and realistic characters with unexpected backstories and actions, that you are able to relate to and get to love and be worried about. I hadn't feel such relief for years as the one I fel during the last chapter. Extremely interesting villains, too, not just plain evil-ridden bad guys.
3. 3 words: Kickass. Female. Characters. If you've read any manga, you will know that, really, most female characters don't stand a chance in front of the male ones. They are too stereotyped, or weak, or annoying. In this one, they just KICK ASS. Oh, and they have variety.
4. Really touching in parts without being overly angst-ridden or sappy. The moments that are touching made me want to cry, but I never felt they were too pulling it too far.
5. Creepiest kid ever. Scary demon kiddies are just not enough when you've seen...no I won't tell you.
6. The romance. Not too little, not to much. And, mostly, nicely built. The ending sequence with the two main romatically involved characters was the best. Arakawa can do romance, believe me.
7. THE ART. When I first started to read it, the art style seemed a bit off to me. Maybe I got used to it, but I really enjoy it now. The backgrounds especially, are excellent.
8. PRETTY PRETTY INKING. D: It's just so nice and clean and effectiiiive.
9. The humor. Some moments are downright hilarious.
10. The meanings! I think it had some really nice messages, especially what it came to what makes you human and what it means to be one.

And this is my favourite cover ever! It's the one of the second to last chapter... Seeing all these characters together and spotting the little details made me feel very warm in the inside!
Birthday countdown: 1 week, 2 days

TEASER

The next two months, on Nieve y Lluvia:

-Elviella's projects! Comics and more!
-To steal or not to steal: a copyright issue.
-Tribute to a summer that has passed for good.
-The librarian's tale: a short comic I drew over the summer.
-Why I love this movie or A review on [500] Days of Summer.

-Artists I admire/adore/am envious of pt. 2

-Friends are not forever: bits I've come to understand about human relationships lately.

Starting tomorrow with "Nice things and where to find them"

P.S.: Sorry for not being super active lately, I'm trying to get into a schedule here. Thank you so much for following me! 21 followers, YAY! I'll thank each of you personally once I have the time. :3

Birthday countdown: 2 weeks and 2 days.

It's Friday and I'm...baking.

It's the first Friday of the new school year!

How cool is that? I love being able to say "YAY it's Friday!" and do my happy Friday dance.

The not really cool thing is that I'm a little bit sick, but I don't mind too much because I can stay home, paint, or watch a film and, maybe, cook!

...For now, I'll just answer Magda's questions, because she tagged me last week, and I had kinda forgot to do it, amidst school starting and trying to get some sleep.

1) How would you spend your day if it was your last one on Earth?

Saying everyone that I love them, laughing randomly, and trying to see and do as many things possible. Oh, and eating awesome food.

2) In which movie would you like to star?

Seriously? I'm all for artistic, less famous movies, but where I'd like to play? Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, or Inception.

3) If you were an object in your room, what would that be?

My bookcase, I think. I have a great love for books. :)

4) Describe a random dream you've seen in your sleep.

Two days (nights?) ago, I dreamt I could perform magic. So could my mom, and I think my sister, too. Yeah, ubiquitous, I know, but it was freakin' awesome, and extremely realistic!

5) Do you believe in past lives?

Nah, not really. I mean, it sounds very interesting, but you've got one very sceptic person right here (me!).

6) Do you read a book these days? Which one?

Just finished the amazing graphic novel "Blankets" by Craig Thomson (who is amazing, too). I'm not sure what I'm going to read next, but I'm open to suggestions!

7) Do you cook? Your specialty?

Hell yeah I do! I worked in a kitchen this summer, for those of you who don't already know! My specialty? Hard to say, but everyone says I have a particular skill in baking cakes. Oh, and spring rolls. (you won't get that last part if you're not Valassia)

8) Which is your worst house chore? (And no, I don't take "All" as an answer!)

I know most people say it's washing the dishes, but for me it is the cleaning the kitchen table after lunch.


Also, since I was talking about cooking, I need all of you nice people out there to do me a favour. Tomorrow we'll go visit my uncles and my cousin who's about to give birth and her husband whose birthday is today, and I really want to make a dessert for them. Problem is, I don't know what to make! So, if you have a nice dessert in mind and can share the recipe, BRING IT ON!

So I bid you farewell for now, as my delicious cookies are in the oven (yeah, at some point of the post I left to go make cookies. I'm that devoted to making this post). I can't wait to read your suggestions for the dessert, and I generally can't wait to hear from all of you. I'm going to make a more detailed post about school starting and stuff like that some other time. I gotta go look at cookbooks now.

Of tags, art, and an announcement

HALLO THAR. :D

I'm in a completely random mood - must be the hours I spent cleaning my room up.

Anyway!

I was tagged by the lovely Annie ♥ to answer the following eight questions.


1. If you were a cupcake, what would you be?

Hmm, actually I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know this much about cupcakes and decorations and flavours. Well, I think I'd make a good banana cupcake with chocolate frosting.


2. Which is your quotation?

Quotation, huh? I think I have two:

Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much.
~Oscar Wilde

and

Never lend books, for no one ever returns them; the only books I have in my library are books that other folks have left me.
~ Anatole France

...If they can be considered my quotations.


3. Which is your favourite item of clothing?

My violet Doc Martens, and a very nice dress from a store called Heel, which is too complicated to describe.


4. Your favourite word?

I'm sure that "nieve" and "lluvia" (=snow and rain) are my favourite spanish words... But other than that, I can't think of my favourite word right now. :

5. Which is your favourite song right now?

"She's got you high" by Mumm-Ra and "I'm on my way" by the Proclaimers.


6. If you could slap one celebrity on the face, who would you choose?

Sarah Palin. She annoys the hell out of me. And she's the only thing close to a celebrity I could think off.


7. Describe an amazing evening for you.

It MUST include: friends, good food, a place with a nice view, probably alcohol, laughter, and then I can go home happy and draw for hours listening to my music. Perfect. :)


8. What would your favourite breakfast include?

English breakfast! Eggs and bacon and bread, colourful jam, cake, fruit yogurt, milk...and croissants. <3>

So now I tag:

Valasia from Colours, photos and chocolate
Andreas from My Beautiful Disaster
Natalie from Nakedtile
Kat from My Life is a Mess


My questions are the following:

1. Which movie/book/comic character can you relate the most with?
2. Which is the physical characteristic that you always pay attention to when you see people? (e.g. I ALWAYS remember what people's hands look like)
3. Three things that annoy you to no end?
4. Who is your favourite band/singer currently?
5. Which is the first thing you do when you get in the internet?
6. Which is the latest film you've watched?
7. Something you really are looking forward to?
8. A thing you really have to do that you've been neglecting?

(you are allowed to tag me back, but please make these questions interesting. <3)

----------

Also! Remember that comic I told you I'd send to a contest? THE RESULTS ARE OUT TOMORROW. I'm anxious. Info here.

So if your parents happen to buy the newspaper... I don't know if I have won anything, but if you see a story with a librarian made by some Georgia girl, THAT'S ME.

I'M SO ANXIOUS LIKE YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT.

---EDIT: Just got the newspaper - I didn't win anything. I passed, however, the preliminaries. Well. I really, really hoped I would do well, but it's okay. I'm glad I at least passed the first round. Good thing is - you get to read the comic here. C:

---------


To close this the best way, I have some art to show you! Recently I was asked to post some more of my art (which I found very flattering), so I decided I should show you some of the stuff I did for art class this year (because I only got them yesterday), their colours kindly butchered by my camera.

(click on the pictures for larger version)

(unfinished)

KAT I CHALLENGE YOU TO POST YOUR STUFF TOO.

xD

*giggle*

Yeah. This is SO pointless but...



...but I just couldn't resist. We're supposed to share nice things. xD

In short:

-I'm back for good.
-I watched Inception and I love it - I'm SO going to watch it again.
-Joseph Gordon-Levitt is amazing and the funny thing is that I never get celebrity crushes - no kidding!
-I'm drawing. A lot.
-I have a ton of things to post but I'm not in a serious mood right now.
-I'll try posting A LOT this month. :)

-Until later,
Elv.

THANKS.

...to:

-Makis for being such a great teacher and so funny.
-the Chef for hiring us in the first place and for giving us jokes material.*coughthesexaholiccough*
-Thodoris A' for being the older brother figure and for giving me work to do when Maria wouldn't.
-Thodoris B' for all the Naruto recaps and for being funny too.
-Sergey for being the goodie of the place and for the nice singing.
-Litsa for yelling at everyone but us, therefore making us laugh.
-Mrs. Despoina for all the juice and the coffee and the tea and for everything.
-Maria, for all the breaks and for being so nice.
-Christina for being such a good friend.
-Christos for providing me with chocolate pie all season long and even for pulling a long face at us.
-Ahmet because he's awesome and hilarious (and for the fishing dough).
-Ivan for saying hello to me only.
-Erina for the biscuits and for being the kindest person down there.
-Elena for teaching me how to cut salmon for sushi.
-Jerry for all the beautiful photos and being almost as crazy as us.
-George for tolerating with us when we would be too hyper for everyone else.
-Prodromos for the ham and the eggs and because I would laugh at Valassia when she'd say he looked scary.
-Mr. Manolis for the bread.
-Mr. Nikos for the cooking tips.
-Mr. Ilias for the old stories about our grandmothers.
-Raphael for giving us small talk material without even talking.
-Markos even though I barely know him.
-Christina from Room Service for the water and the small talk and the capoeira courses.
-Mr. Tasos for the other old stories.
-George from the other restaurant for being eye candy for Valassia and, thus, laughing material for me.
-Vassilis for his disagreements with Valassia and Christina.
-Eugene and Alexander an Antonis for being so nice (and funny).
-Thanos for the cholesterol jokes.
-Sakis for all the other jokes, and for being polite (always).
...and, last (and kinda least)
-Arsen and Alejandro because even though they were annoying, they gave us stuff to talk (and be mean about).

C:

PS.: Yeah. I stopped working and I'm leaving tomorrow, so, uh, I feel weird and sappy.