Top Ten: Doctor Who Fan Fictions I Can't Wait to Write

Hey everyone!

So, everyone kinda has an idea in their head of what to think when they hear the words "fan fiction."  In this day and age, fan fiction mostly involves a bunch of teenaged girls living out their not-so-innocent fantasies with their favorite fictional characters on paper.  Seriously, don't go to any fan fiction site on the net if you want to keep your childhood memories unharmed.  I think this is kinda sad really.  Fan fiction gets the bad rap of being smutty trash.  Granted, most of it is and some of it is actually well written smutty trash.  Most people that I tell that I like writing fan fiction always give me a similar look of derision.  Fan fiction is, at its core, just fans of a certain genre or concept taking the preexisting material and putting their own twist on it.  It doesn't have to be smutty, violent, or sexual in anyway.  Ok?  Can we all live with that?

That all being said, I like writing fan fiction.  Like a lot.  I have a collection of story ideas for just about every television show I like, and that definitely includes Doctor Who.  Everyone that has been around me the last few month might know that I have been accumulating over fifty fan fiction ideas for each incarnation of the Doctor.  Today, I've whittled down all my ideas into the top ten fan fictions I can't wait to write.

THE LIST

10. The Gift of the Trees

This is probably my favorite Ninth Doctor story that I have come up with.  It centers around the Ninth Doctor, Rose, and Captain Jack as they travel to the Forest of Cheem, the homeland of both the Tree People and the lion-like Lowen.  They discover that the two species are fighting over a human child named Aublan found in the middle of the forest that demonstrates fantastic supernatural powers.  I'm excited to write this story due to its combination of interesting story elements.  The Doctor and his companions will have to traverse the Forest in order to negotiate peace between the Tree People and Lowen which will give me a lot of opportunity to describe some alien environments.  Plus, it will be fun to describe the battle scenes between the two species and unfold the secrets behind Aublan and his powers.

9. The Ark in Space

The idea for this story came to me when I released that the Time Lords are in fact, to an outsider's perspective, an endangered species.  The Tenth Doctor and Martha get caught between two groups of extraterrestrials: the People of the Interface who want to preserve all endangered alien species on their Ark and the Hallmark Hunter who hunt the endangered for profit.  The Doctor has to team up with Gregory Millhouse, another alien that is the last of his kind who has been hiding out on Earth, in order to rescue Martha, who has been taken captive by the Hunters to draw the Doctor out.  I'm excited to write this story because I think it will be interesting to see how the Doctor will react when confronted with the fact that he is the last of his kind in such a direct way.  Plus, I have some very interesting ideas on how to characterize The People of the Interface and Gregory that will be fun to write.

8. The Last Dance of Captain Flannigan

This story is one of the first I came up with starring the Twelfth Doctor, Clara, and a new companion I created named Benny Ravenwood.  The three end up in Civil War times  and meet an Union Army captain that has gained immortality after dancing with a mysterious woman.  However, the Union encampment soon comes under attack by devilish creature that are seemingly the only thing that can killed Captain Flannigan permanently.  I'm excited to write this story because of the mysterious atmosphere it has and all the historical references I can make to the time period.  Captain Flannigan himself feels like an exciting character to write and I am interested to see how he will play off the Doctor, Clara, and Benny.

7. Fifty-Two

This story is primarily focused on the Eleventh Doctor and River Song as they attempt to help a group of thieves called the Gold Hoppers rob a casino in order to repay a debt owed by River.  Amy and Rory, meanwhile, end up at the same casino as they spend time with their new friends: an alien couple named Ero and Theela Lake.  The story will be filled with a lot of Ocean's Eleven and Mission Impossible style fun which is one of the reasons I'm so excited to write.  It will also give a window into the adventures that River has without the Doctor and what the Ponds do when not running around in the TARDIS.  Mostly though, I like the character ideas I have for the Gold Hoppers and their admiration of the Doctor and River.

6. The Doctor's Tale

This story idea came from Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in that it revolves around a group of travelers resting in bar who tell each other stories of their travels.  Each person discovers, however, that all of their stories involve a different incarnation of the Doctor.  Also, in each of their stories, the Doctor dies in the end.  River appears in the bar and reveals that she lead them all there in order to tell she need all their help to save the Doctor from a permanent death.  I like the concept of a multi-Doctor story a lot and like how this idea keeps all of the incarnations of the Doctor separate.  It will take some serious wibbly wobbly timey wimey nonsense to explain how this story will work, but I truly believe that this part of the fun of writing Doctor Who stories.

5. God From the Machine

I tried to pull out all the stops when coming up with ideas for solo adventures for the Doctors and this Tenth Doctor story turned out to be a fantastic inspiration.  The Doctor has to intercede in a civil war on the behalf of the Shadow Proclamation and is hooked up to a machine that will allow him to see the entire of the war from start to finish from the memories of soldiers.  The Doctor also discovers that the machine also contains the remaining consciousness of the the Face of Boa who helps him.  This story concept I think fits the Tenth Doctor perfectly so I am very excited to see how it works itself out.  Plus, I would really like to give some closure to the Face of Boe storyline.

4. The Baker Street Justice Society

This story just screams fun.  The Victorian Sherlock and Watson team up with a variety of Doctor Who characters to combat an alien invasion force composed of some of the Doctor's most feared foes.  This story offers ample opportunity for some hilarious culture clash and timey wimey accidents.  With the Paternoster Gang, Captain Jack, and Leela as the supporting cast, this story will bridge the gap between many classic and new Doctor Who story elements.  I am really excited to write this story for the Victorian science fiction fun and an opportunity to crossover with Warehouse 13's Helena Wells.  Plus, the Eleventh Doctor in Victorian England going by the named "Lt. Columbo" with never stop being hilarious to me.

3. Two Moons

This is another Twelfth Doctor story which takes place in my own imagined timeline in which the Doctor has been reunited with the Time Lords, although he has a tenuous relationship with them due to his long time away from them.  The Doctor and Clara are commissioned by the Time Lords to find a group of missing Time Lord ambassadors on the planet Manapore.  The Doctor discovers that the position of the two moons above the planet are transmitting the memories of the Master from a nearby Time Lord prison planet where he is being held.  The Doctor begins to experience the Master's memories and slowly begins to be taken over by the Master's personality.  This story makes me excited to put my own spin on the Master's back story and I think the premise is compelling enough to make it on the actual show as a way to reintroduce the Master.  Who knows, maybe I will write the episode myself?

2. Prisoners of Time

This is a multi-Doctor story on steroids.  Each regeneration of the Doctor meets an alternate version of Clara, including ones that seem to be integrated into already established aspects of the Doctor's individual canon.  The Eleventh Doctor notices that Clara is missing from his time and races to rescue her from being permanently scattered across time.  This story is arranged in twelve short segments instead of a fluid story so I will be able to practice writing each of the Doctors' individual personalities and idiosyncrasies in a contained format.  Plus, each situation in which one of the Doctors will meet Clara are unique from the next, ranging from a series of letters to being a piece on a chess board.  I think it will be exciting to see the story unflod since I don't really know the ending yet. 

1. A Stitch in Time

So the Doctor Who fan fiction I am most excited to write is this one about what happened to the alternate version of the Ninth Doctor and Rose that were created in the Father's Day episode of Series One.  Knowing they don't belong in their current dimension, this version of the Doctor and Rose keep to the outer edge of the known universe and become quite jaded space travelers.  It isn't until the build up of the paradox energy caused by his existence transports him into the lives of the Tenth and Eleventh Doctor that this alternate Ninth Doctor is forced to reclaim his role as the last Time Lord.  I am really excited to write this episode because I really want to have an introspective of the Ninth Doctor and his role in Doctor Who lore.  Due to Christopher Eccleston's reluctance be apart of the series anymore, I feel the Ninth Doctor has been secluded from the current Doctor Who fandom.  I would really like to bring him back into relevance.  Somehow.

Thanks for reading!

Screen Time: The Unusuals

Hey everyone!

So, I've been into cop shows lately.  I think the last four blogs written about the topic are evidence enough of that.  Both of my last Screen Time blogs about Police Squad and Veronica Mars were centered around police/mystery themes so today I'd thought I'd round out a trilogy of cop show blogs.  I watched the entirety of the single season of The Unusuals in one night last week, and, my weird obsessions aside, that should demonstrate to you the quality of the show.  It is definitely worth a moment or two of your Screen Time.

On paper, The Unusuals reads like a typical modern cop show: a squad of quirky cops deal with a barrage of equally quirky crimes while discovering the secrets about each other that they want to keep secret.  The show follows the standard procedure of cop show in which it follows the perspective of a new transfer to the squad as she discovers all about her fellow cops.  However, there is a fantastic quality about the writing of the show that transcends the standard and typical.  There is a layer of character development beneath the police procedural that makes The Unusuals one of the most interesting cop show you will ever see.

As the title dictates, the cast of characters of The Unusuals are an odd bunch.  They are composed of a daughter of one of the richest families in New York, a former New York Yankee, a devout Christian with a torrid past, a lone wolf that refers to himself in the third person, a 42 year old man that never takes off his bulletproof vest, and his wisecracking partner who has a brain tumor and refuses to tell anyone about it.  The show is presented in a dark comedic fashion but the characters reveal a much less funny reality of what it means to be a detective.  They are broke, defective, secretive, self-destructive, neurotic, corrupt, and selfish.

The Unusuals are anchored by some fantastic actors putting on fantastic performances.  Jeremy Reimer and Adam Goldberg in particular are incredible in each and every episode, but each member of the cast gets a unforgetable moment to shine.  If you are in the mood for a show that isn't too high concept but is still addictive and thought-provoking, I can't recommend The Unusuals high enough.  There are only ten episodes to watch and, if you are anything like me, you will end the series begging for more.

Thanks for reading!

Once Upon a Blog: Spark of Life

Something was born tonight.

What is was I cannot really say, but I will testify to all that will listen.  Something was born tonight. 

I stood next to it as it formed out of the smoke, the sparks, and the damp earth.  I saw the bright light of existence enter its eyes.  I heard the rhythmic pulsations of life beat from its crest.  Its joyful exuberance glowed with a deep blue and a fiery yellow, nearly blinding me as I fell to my knees near it.

A tiny black fist reached up and clasped me by the wrist.  I looked down and saw that the fists was now a brilliant white.  Now a cold cobalt.  Now a red of burning coals.  Now flesh.  Flesh like mine.  I reached down and clasped its fist in my hand and felt it radiating a strange aura of something between heat and chill.

Lips trembling, I leaned down and placed a delicate kiss across its tiny fingers.  Upon contact, my eyes widened with the memories.  Memories of pouring strange elixirs onto the ground of the brick tunnel.  Memories of speaking strange words from a strange book which had no meaning to me but that of an expectation of a miracle.  Memories of smoke, fire, and sparks.  The sparks of life.

It opened its eyes.

"Who am I?"

The voice alone made me shiver.  It was full power and authority.  Never in my life could I have imagine such a voice coming from the being that lay before me now.

"Who?  Who am I?"

Lips still trembling, I managed to squeak out the words I had been waiting to say.

"You... you are mine and I am... I am yours...  I am your father... You are my...  Son...  my son..."

It turned two eyes, dark and intense, towards me.  The corners of the eyes began to curl upwards in happy contentment, and it spoke again.

"Father."  The word made him glow from beneath its skin.

"I am yours, Father, and you are mine.  Forever."

Musings of a Fanboy: You Are the One

Hey everyone!

So, as a card-carrying fanboy, I get unusually obsessed with things.  Obsessed is a strong word and it often gets a bad wrap due to its association with mental illness, but obsession isn't always such a bad thing.  Call it extreme determination or dedication, but it's all obsession when you get down to it.  I would like to think that everyone is obsessed with at least one thing but that might just be projecting on my part.

Now, I've been trying to figure out why I get so obsessed with certain things.  For example, I finally got around to watching the pilot episode of The Unusuals (an excellent darkly comedic police show that ran for only a season) and I'm probably going to finish watching every episode tonight.  I know, I have a problem.  So, what is it about The Unusuals (or other current obsessions, like Game Grumps, Ultimate Werewolf, OK Go, Stephen King novels, etc.) that my mind clings onto with such severity?  The truth is that I have no clue.  I am nowhere close to consistent with this sort of thing.  In some cases, such as with the X-Files, my obsession comes and goes in waves, trading casual indifference for hardy interest in a matter of days.

While I can quite nail down the causes of my fanboy obsession, I am certainly glad that I have them.  They inject a bit of excitement into the most boring of days because, at the end of it, I get to indulge in whatever I am currently excited about.  And, hey, I can get obsessed with productive things too.  I can't tell you how many times I've finished papers the day after it was assigned because I get so excited by an ideas just cannot stop writing about it.  As with most things, a tendency for obsession is both a gift and a curse, but it does makes the things I enjoy all the more enjoyable.

Thanks for reading!

Nostalgia Goggles: Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna Duuna Bat-Ben!

Hey everyone!

So, here's our new Batman:

Cards on the table: I really wasn't that floored by Christian Bale as Batman.  Don't get me wrong, I love this frickin' frack out of the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy, but the portrayal, in my opinion, aired more on the side of Tobey MaGuire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man than Christopher Reeves as Clark Kent/Superman.  So, the announcement of Ben Affleck as the new Caped Crusader has had me more intrigued than disappointed or angry.  This new photo nearly guarantees that the Batman we are going to see in Superman vs. Batman is going to be different than any incarnation that we have seen.

Now, I've been a pretty big fan of Batman since childhood.  His stories were a combination of two of my favorite genres: detective stories and science fiction.  As I've grown up and seeing all the different adaptations of the Caped Crusader, I've always been impressed by all the different ways creative minds have reinvented the same man over and over, each with an interesting and unique take.  I, for one, am excited to see how Zack Snyder and Ben Affleck will do with the character, even if it is a case of casting gone wrong.

This new Batman seems much larger than all previous Batmans, physically and in terms of presence.  Zack Snyder already revealed that Ben Affleck's Batman will be much further along in his superhero career than previous incarnations, so this grizzled and larger than life picture could be reflecting that.  Now, I could be reading too much into a single picture but this Batman definitely reminds me of Christian Bale at the beginning of The Dark Knight Rises, very worn and very jaded.  It will make an interesting dynamic with Superman, if this indeed is true, who I am hoping with take a much needed optimistic role in the upcoming film.

I'm certainly excited for Superman vs. Batman, even though I wasn't a huge fan of Man of Steel and the fact that the whole movie is just a stepping stone to the Justice League film is a little disheartening.  I think the first Superman and Batman movie should deserve a little more attention than that.  Either way, we are in for something exciting and new from Zack Snyder and company.

Thanks for reading!

Rain Dance in Traffic: Spinning Now #2

Hey everyone!

So, it's Monday.  It's my day off and I have nothing to write about for blog.  At least, nothing that jumps to my mind as interesting enough to post.  So, here are a few of the songs that I'm listening to right now.  Literally right now.  Like, as I am writing this sentence.

Guren Yo Yumiya by Linked Horizon

Ok, so yeah.  This is the opening theme for an anime.  Yeah, it's in Japanese.  Yeah, it's freaking awesome.  The visuals of the opening are little bit of an anime fever dream, but, gosh dang guys, watching all those people rise above the rooftops in a giant mass of epicness still gives me goosebumps.  The song is set at an incredible and out of control pace that gets the blood pumping even if you are, like me, stilling on your bed typing on your laptop.  I've experimented with watching animes before but nothing has quite stuck yet in the way that most well-crafted American, Canadian, and European television shows have.  But, if animes could all have freaking epic songs like this as openers, consider me a fan.

Heart and Soul by Twin Atlantic

I discovered Twin Atlantic a couple of years ago with the release of their fantastic album "Free," which I dutifully recommend.  They are amongst a group of pop rock groups from Scotland that I have been very fond of the past few years.  Heart and Soul is their new single for their new album coming out sometime soon, but this song has caused quite a buzz amongst fans.  It is a much more mainstream-sounding effort from the guys in the band and that has sent the "selling out" allegations flying from every corner of the fanbase.  I personally see no problem with a more accessible sound from Twin Atlantic, especially when the song is this catchy.  So, if you'd like, take a listen to some of Twin Atlantic's old stuff, compare it to Heart and Soul, and form your own opinion.

This Too Shall Pass (Marching Band Version) by OK Go

I don't know what it is about OK Go that has had me so fascinated by them these last few weeks.  I randomly popped in one of their older albums on my way to work one day and now I've listened to their entire catalogue several times over.  They have a new album coming out soon as well and the clips that they have put out sound fantastic.  OK Go, as I mentioned in a previous blog, have a reputation for making unique and eye-catching music videos for their hit songs.  It has gotten them a lot of attention and I believe it is rightfully so.  The marching band music video for This Too Shall Pass I think is a great demonstration on how a big budget production isn't always the best way to succeed with a music video.  All it takes sometimes is some enthusiastic participants, some great coordination, and a willingness to have fun on camera to make a music video memorable.

Thanks for reading everyone!

Branches and Roots: Uprooted

Hey everyone!

So there's a pretty mighty storm 'a blowing outside right now.  Everyone reading this that is in the Omaha Metro area, I hope you all are alright, with or without power.  Batten in the hatches because there is more on the way apparently.  We here at the Young house were extremely lucky that the wind decided to cut across the street away from our trees, felling an very large tree into our neighbor's yard.  The rain caused the roots of the tree to come right out of the ground, completely intact.  The root of the tree in my neighbors' yard reminded me of the blog I wrote last Sunday about branches, so I'd thought I'd do a quick blog about roots.

If branches are the future then the roots are the past, and the past has a nasty of uprooting itself.  The storms of life come along and weaken our hold on the pieces of our past that we want to keep in the past.  And, the storm passing and winds stop blowing, all of the bits are laying out everywhere for all of your neighbors to see.  However, like my neighbors and their fallen tree, having your roots exposed reveals more than just your own past.  Without waiting for the wind to die or the rain to let up, people from each and every house on my block spilled out into the streets to help my neighbors clear out the mass of branches and roots from their lawn.  With all of the storms we have had over the years in my town and the tremendous amount of trees in my neighborhood, it has becoming kind of a tradition to form a "neighborhood clean-up crew" during storms.  

The last few months have brought on a large bit of uprooting for me and my experiences with the storm today has made me want to give my gratitude to the "clean up crew" in my life that have been helping me with my splintered roots and branches.  You guys know who you are and please know that I thank God for you everyday.

Thanks for reading!

Top Ten: Episodes of Community

Hey everyone!

So, Community was canceled this week.  Seeing how much of a fan I am of the show, I'm surprisingly OK.  The last two seasons of the show have shown that, with or without creator Dan Harmon, the writers have lost a sense of direction for the show, stranding it in a kind of loosey-goosey limbo that tries to build to a conclusion and ends up with handfuls of nothing.  So, the announcement is met with a kind of bittersweet feeling.  On one hand, I feel like the dying show is being put out of its misery and, on the other, I keep hearing Abed shouting "Six Seasons and a Movie!" in my head.  And, darn it, I really wanted that.  So here today are my top ten favorite episodes of Community for its entire five season run.

Disclaimer: So, all of these episodes are from the first three seasons.  And, when I think it over, I don't think that's unfair.  Sorry, if you disagree.

THE LIST

10. Digital Estate Planning

• Interesting episode concept and great writing to match
• Visual art style is great and the humor is perfectly matched
• Any episode that humanizes Pierce is fine by me
• The satirization of video game culture is sidesplitting
• Unique and memorable stand alone episode in a plot-heavy part of the season

9. Contemporary American Poultry

• One of the shows first and most successful film parodies
• Great introspection on the characters of Jeff and Abed
• A great gateway episode to introduce new fans to the show
• The story is a bold move from the show's early sitcom formula
• Makes a great use of the show's deeply comedic supporting class

8. Basic Lupine Urology

• A nearly screen-by-screen parody of a standard Law and Order episode done to perfection
• "I transferred or 'downloaded' the picture from Troy's phone."
• The way the episode portrays police and court procedure without police or a court
• A snappy stand alone episode that is subtle smart and infinitely hilarious
• No study group drama just satiristic fun

7. Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design

• Community is at its best when it keeps it simple
• The incredible acting keeps the plot twists from giving viewers narrative whiplash
• Surprising revelations about the status of Jeff and Annie's relationship
• An equally entertaining subplot that builds up to one of the show's best episodes
• Top notch writing and a master class in creating fantastic tension

6. ModernWarfare

• The episode that made Community "that show where they play paintball"
• A challenging and dramatic departure from the show's basic formula
• Danny Pudi's character acting... just all of it
• Balls to the walls hilarious and action-filled insanity
• Comes to define the show's offbeat and unique television presence.

5. Cooperative Calligraphy

• Bottle episode at its finest
• Fantastic meta humor and meta commentary
• Breaks down the thin facade of the study group's true feeling towards each other
• Makes the insignificant significant and the significant insignificant
• Instantly memorable and iconic episode that will stand the test of time

4. A Fistful of Paintballs/ A Few Paintballs More

• Fantastic extension of the show's paintball fun
• Parodies both westerns and Star Wars in the same go
• The action and tension between characters is kicked up several notches
• A thought-provoking end to the second season
• The influence of the main story arc of the season on the paintball action

3. Paradigms of Human Memory

• A clip show with all original clips... Why can't all shows do this?
• A strangely unnostalgic trip through the show's history due to resolved character tension
• Fractured storytelling reveals the new storylines one bit at a time
• Jeff's epic monologue spanning multiple study group adventures
• Superb writing brings a strangely uplifting ending even though very little is actually accomplished

2. Pillows and Blankets

• A near perfect imitation of a Ken Burns documentary with the integration of social media
• An interesting and much-needed challenge to the Troy-Abed dynamic
• Community absolutely shines in a documentary format and this is the clear winner for the best one
• Jeff's surprising reveal in the ending recording
• Leonard likes this post

1. Remedial Chaos Theory

• The finest example of fractured storytelling I can think off
• Begins the "darkest timeline" story arc and ridiculously long-running joke
• A fluid and balanced examination and growth of each individual character
• The ending is fantastically satisfying
• This episode is pretty much the reason I want to write for television

Thanks for reading everyone!  And, Community, you will always be six seasons and a movie in our hearts.

Screen Time: Veronica Mars

Hey everyone!

So, I came home from work today and all my family was watching Frozen.  I sat and watched as I ate dinner and the whole time I could only think how weird it was listening to Kristen Bell doing the voice of a Disney Princess when I am so used to her off-the-cuff and sarcastic performance as Veronica Mars.  So, hey, I thought I'd give one of the most interesting shows I've watch all this year a nod.  Let's give Veronica Mars some Screen Time.

So, why Veronica Mars?  Well for starters, it's one of those shows, like Firefly or Freaks and Geeks, that has such a rabid and loyal fanbase that I was insanely curious to find out why.  I am now only a season into the show's "three season and a movie" run and I can tell you right now from the bottom of my heart that Veronica Mars is completely worth its incredible fanbase.

The show is anchored, as you might imagine, by the fantastic performance by Kristen Bell in her breakout role as the inquisitive, intense, and insanely entertaining Veronica Mars.  Veronica is a middle class girl living in the upper crust world of Neptune, California where she lived as the daughter of the local sheriff and rubbed elbows with the sons and daughters of country's richest men and women.  However, after the mysterious murder of her best friend and her father's failure to solve the case, Veronica's world is shaken to the core.  Her mother leaves, her father gets fired, and they are forced to move and Veronica watches her perfect life slowly dissolve.  When the show starts, we get to see Veronica rejecting her cheerleader persona of the past and embracing the life as a private detective, under the tutelage of her father who had opened a private investigations agency after getting fired from the sheriff's office.  However, her past life refuses to stay dead as evidence concerning the murder of her friend begins to resurface after a year of silence.

I think the reason I like Veronica Mars so much is that it is so similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  Both have incredibly engaging female leads that are strong and smart with being overly and annoyingly feminist (unlike a certain character from Frozen).  Both also deal with the world of high school drama in a surprising authentic and compelling way that hardly feels forced in the least bit.  Veronica Mars, while pulpy and sarcastically humorous, is a show that deals with some tremendously heavy material such as drug addiction, underage sexual relationships, and date rape.  All of these are handled with intense care and appropriate emotion.  However, the most engaging part of the show is the tenacious way that Veronica solves the crimes in her town.  Kristen Bell shows off an incredible and flexible acting range, playing many different roles and personas to get information from others.  She has fantastic chemistry with the entire supporting casts, her enthusiasm bringing bringing great performances out much of the cast.

The legacy of Veronica Mars has transcended the canceling of the show as a movie tying up the remaining character arches was released in the film festival circuit earlier this year.  However, as it is all that I have seen, the first season of the original show comes highly, highly recommended by me.

Thanks for reading everyone!

Once Upon a Blog: Lady in Red

"Excuse me, where are you going?"

She tossed her head backwards, her smile acknowledging the fact that she had never answered that question in her entire life.  Her eyes, however, invited me forward with an impish glint that betrayed her eagerness to see what lies on the other side of the street.

The scarlet wings of her dress flew gracefully above the gritty pavement beneath her as she moved across the street with a succession of graceful hops.  The whole movement of time and traffic seemed to stop around her as if the sun wanted to remain hovering just above the horizon so it could continue to shower her in its golden red glow for a few moments longer.

The lady did a small spin in the middle of the road, fearless in the face of the frozen traffic.  The outer rims of her dress spun and wobbled on the axis of her enthusiastic burst of energy.  For some reason, to this day I still don't know what powers of nature compelled me to do so, I pulled my camera up to my eye and placed the lady in red in the center of the viewfinder.  Through the limited perspective of the lens, she really was the center of the world.  The center of my world.  My dazzling lady in red who stopped all of time for me.

I paused and dropped my eyes to take a look at the picture I had just taken.  The photograph had perfectly ensnared the moment.  The image of the lady in red seemed to almost move in front of my eyes, as if even the ghost of her essence could not be held in a simple photographic facsimile.  

When my eyes returned to the street, the lady was gone.  I knew, somehow I always knew, that she would disappear one day back into the sunbeam that she had appeared from.  As the sun finally decided to slip back into the cover of the horizon, the traffic of the city roared back to life and I was left staring at the camera in my hands.  It was left embroidered with the frozen moment of beauty and freedom, a final aprting gift from my immaculate lady in red.

Musings of a Fanboy: HOENN CONFIRMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HEY EVERYONE!

TODAY, I AM SO FREAKING EXCITED! (takes a deep breath)

Ok, so, as many you know, I'm a fairly huge fan of the Pokemon video game series.  The games, the cards, and the television were all important pieces of my childhood and, in a strange or unfortunately way, (depending on your point of view) my adulthood as well.  I think it definitely takes an adult to realize we can't give up on our childhood.

Anyways, Nintendo announced today that a 3DS remake of Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire will be released in November 2014 and I'm having a hard time thinking about anything else.  Just a note here: the following rant will have a lot of Pokemon jargon in it so, if you are not familiar with the series as a whole, prepare yourself for my true fanboy to come out screaming.

Whew, ok.  My thoughts right now are going at a mile a minutes, so BULLET POINTS!

• This November is a quite soon release date seeing as Pokemon X and Y came out less than a year.  Seeing as Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire seem to be created with the same graphics engine and art style, this means Game Freak has probably has been working on this project simultaneously with X and Y, perhaps even Black 2 and White 2 since there didn't seem to much work done between the two Fifth Generation games.  Maybe that's just me.  I just hope this doesn't mean Game Freak is just squeaking out this game to appease us fanboys.  Please Nintendo, make this worth the wait!
• I freaking cannot wait for the updated musical score for the Third Generation games.  The Hoenn  soundtrack relied super heavily on trumpets and brassy sounding music and a fully orchestra revamp would sound absolutely fantastic.  Pokemon has made such leaps and bounds in score quality since 2003, with X and Y being the amazing pinnacle of that effort.  The music for Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire is going to be a nostalgia-fuelled trip to Pokemon nirvana.
• The trailer (here) mentions "an adventure in a brand new world" which is either just fancy trailer jargon or subtle hint to something more that will make an appearance in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.  Will an old region be added on?  Will a new region be added on?  I have no idea how long Game Freak has had to develop this game and therefore have no idea the depth of content that will be in this game.  I personally hope to see an updated version of the Battle Frontier that includes a Pokemon World Tournament-like battle system in which the player battles Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, Champions, and protagonists from previous games.  It would be fantastic to see my favorite characters from past games in full 3D sprites... holy cow, I'm hyperventilating... give me a sec here...
• Mega Evolutions!  In Pokemon X and Y, a whopping 8 out of the 29 Pokemon able to Mega Evolve originated from the Hoenn region, including the special Speed Boosting Blaziken.  Ever since they revealed that Blaziken would be available in X and Y, many have speculated a Hoenn remake game would soon follow and, with Omega Red and Alpha Sapphire on the horizon, I want to see some more Mega Evolutions for my favorite Gen 3 Pokemon: Sceptile, Swampert, Breloom, Wailord, Sharpedo, Flygon, Slaking, Metagross, Salamence.  I'm begging you Game Freak.  Do well by us!
• Finally, while Pokemon Yellow was my first Pokemon game, the original Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald were the games that honed by love for the Pokemon series and I would full-heartedly choose Hoenn to be my home region if were able to.  I can't even describe how excited I am for this November.  It almost overshadows my excited for Peter Capaldi's first season as the Doctor this August.  Almost.

Thanks for reading everyone!  And for all you Poke Fans out there, I'm dying to talk to people about this so hit me up!

Nostalgia Goggles: This is the Reboot

Hey everyone!

Ever notice that Hollywood loves to play with our childhood?  Everything from Transformers to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is getting a gritty and realistic remake.  (That's right: there have been almost four movies about realistic talking robots from space.  Michael Bay everyone.)  GI Joe.  Alice in Wonderland.  Batman.  All victims to the gritty reboot.  I think that the magnificence of the Christopher Nolan trilogy and the fact that the Batman comics read like a Game of Thrones novel has made us forget that Batman started with some fairly campy and family friendly origins.  Remember, the Joker used to just be a clown.

It kinda makes me think where Hollywood will go next.  What sections of our childhood have remained untouched by screenwriters?  Here are some ideas of what gritty and realistic movies based off of things from out younger days that should in production right now.

This summer: five have been summoned.  Fueled by a burning curiosity and driven by a need for adventure, this small collection of people have answered the call of a strange creature as it towers above them, promising wonders beyond the imagination.  Will they follow the leader?  Will they sing to his tune?  Or will they realize that everything they believe is just a figment made by years of idle television and substance abuse?  From the creators of Shutter Island comes this summer's newest psychological thriller: Barney and Friends.

Every year, there comes a movie that asks you: what lengths will a man go for love?  Will he overcome many dangerous obstacles?  Does he have the skills to hammer his opponents and the speed to reach the top?  Will he have the strength to finally defeat his beast?  With the life of the love of his life on the line, one man will have to push himself to his limit and hope his quest isn't just a pipe dream.  Coming to theaters next month: Donkey Kong.

Alex Forbes is not having a good day.  His wife is missing, his daughter has been kidnapped, his son has just been revealed to Soviet double agent, his mom has just wrecked her minivan, his dad just discovered bike shorts, and, you know what, he stubbed his toe on the coffee table this morning.  He's pissed off, he's out for blood, and ready to make the people responsible pay dearly.  Alex is sick and tired and he is ready for a bit of revenge.  This Halloween, Liam Neeson is Alex Forbes in Alexander and Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. 

The only way to survive in the world is to be the biggest, fastest, strongest, and fiercest.  Every day is race to be the eater and not the eaten.  In order to survive in this brave new world, a group of friends will have to team up into to make it through the day.  However, the sun will soon set on this land and our heroes will be history.  This summer, travel back to a time when the only thing you don't have is enough time.  It's The Land Before Time.  Time.

Thanks for reading everyone!

Rain Dance in Traffic: I Heart Controversy

Hey everyone!

I spent a bit of time looking for something to write about today.  I wanted to write something that has been in the music news over the last couple weeks.  I found a lot of interesting articles that would make interesting blogs, but there was an interesting thread running through each.  The music community loves controversy.  Music reporters love publishing it.  Music fans love expounding it.  Music websites love to keep them going for weeks after they should've faded away.

Here are some I've run across:

http://flavorwire.com/453477/cultural-appropriation-is-the-last-resort-of-the-lazy-pop-star

The music business is a fast moving game.  Many artists find themselves with their heads under the water when the moment before they were bobbing safely above the surface.  There is a distinct opinion that popularity is survival and obscurity is death.  The unfortunate reality is that many has-been artists will reach for controversy as a way to stay relevant instead of more traditional means.  Avril Lavigne's public flop of a music video is still an act of desperation, but her actions may not have been so unintentional.  Her image, like that of Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry, is based off of the idea of controversy.  She is supposed to be rebellious and make the parent nervous about their kids' music.  Avril has not lived up to that ideal in many a year so, the next best thing she can do is start a controversy.  Her recent music video might not have been a smart move on Avril's part, but it certainly wasn't an unexpected one.

http://thequietus.com/articles/15031-record-store-day-2014-problems-distribution-vinyl

I respect the vinyl-buying community like the way I respect the thrift stores that sell them.  They are trying to preserve a part of the past that is very important them.  I can't fault them for that and I know for sure I have done things in the ilk without a second thought.  However, I just don't understand them.  I am by no means tossing my own hat into this controversial argument because I simply do not have enough of a grasp on the independent music world.  However, from an outsider's perspective, this whole controversy seems a little nitpicky.  Record Store Day this year did exactly what it intended to do and any unintended side effects are simply that, unintended.  If trying to revive a dead medium of music is the goal, what's the problem of stores and artists making money?  Are we that intent on making the sharing of music a free enterprise that we criticize any attempt at a profit?  Just food for thought.

Thanks for reading!

Branches and Roots: Onwards and Upwards

Hey everyone!  I'm not really sure what I will write about tonight, so please stand by while I ramble nonsensically about stuff.

'K?  Good.

I like this picture.  I've always been a sucker for cool aesthetics and symbolic imagery.  Plus, I think it really sums up the idea of "branches" that I'm kinda going for on this blog.  Branches reach up, right?  They are a metaphor for growth and moving forward.  A "spread your wings" kind of thing.  This blog is in a small way the first of my "branches" reaching out.  The words I write here are not just for myself anymore.  They are going to a place where they can't be ignored.  They are out in the open.  My words may not be very unique or interesting, just like a branch of tree isn't very distinguishable from the next branch or the branch of the next tree.  However, the words of the branch, no matter how plain, make the ideas they carry reach further off the ground than ever before, like leaves on a branch.

Dang, what a confused and mixed metaphor that was...

All that being said, most of the time I feel like the tree and the branches in the picture above.  I fully expect my words and ideas to take my branches and my leaves upwards.  Elevating them, bettering them, making them stand out from the pack.  However, my branches don't always go up.  They slant, droop, and go about every which way but up.  These unexpected twists and turns my ideas take are not always a bad thing.  In fact, the way in which my branches almost never take me upwards gives me more of a reason to keep writing.

I can't always expect every step I take to move me forward in life.  We all like to think that each triumph and mistake is taking us closer to person we were meant to be, like steps on the yellow brick road of life.  Isn't it possible that where we are right now in life, with our branches all twisted sideways, is the exact position we should be in right now?  It's not wrong to think forward, but our branches miss out on so much of the world if they only grow skyward.  So for now, I will ne content that I'm not growing upwards.  There is a lot of space to explore to my left and my right that I'm sure I will be the sorry that I missed.

Thanks for indulging in my random nonsense today everyone and May the Fourth be with you!

Top Ten: Joss Whedon Characters

With a backlog and career path such as his, it's really no surprise that many people wait ever so impatiently for Joss Whedon's next project.  Nearly everything that he has put his name on has transformed into the subject of a cult following.  His writing, filled with snappy dialogue and tons of metafictive fun, touches viewers in such a profound way and never fails a defying any convention it comes across.  Needless to say, there are a lot of fantastic and unique characters from Joss Whedon's shows and movies to pick from, but I'm going to attempt to pick a tentative top ten.

Just so there is no confusion: I'm only including characters from shows, movies, and seasons I have seen.  So sorry to any Dollhouse or Angel fans that might be reading.  I might make an updated list later when I've seen more of Joss Whedon's catalog.  But, for now, enjoy my current list!

THE LIST

10. Phil Coulson

Let me start my list with an exception to my own rules.  SHIELD Agent Phil Coulson is not technically a Joss Whedon character.  While he first appeared in Jon Favreau's Iron Man, I think we can all agree that it was Whedon's Avengers that solidified Coulson as pop culture phenomenon.  Actor Clark Gregg continued his role as Agent Coulson in the Whedon-produced Marvel's Agents of SHIELD television show, so I think that gives me the go ahead to put him on this list.  Coulson himself is an earnest and often hilarious character that exemplifies the human side of the cool and collected SHIELD spy agency.  His willingness to bend the rules and put himself on the line for the betterment of all mankind makes Coulson rise above the rest of his comrades.  At the same time, his quirks, such as a pension for straight-faced sarcasm and a fanboy obsession with Captain America, make him a likable and endearing hero that doesn't need superpowers to prove himself one.

9. Jayne Cobb

The cast of Firefly is a diverse bunch of misfits that transcend the traditional character stereotypes and find their own niches.  Jayne, the Serenity's own shoot-first-ask-questions-later security expert, keeps up a thick facade of a meat-headed simpleton that is only in it for the money.  However, as the show's single season progress, the layers of Jayne's character are peeled back revealing a loyal and honest man that can't hide his true feelings for his fellow shipmates.  Jayne's slow and subtle transformation, not to mention an impeccable sense of humor, makes him one of Whedon's most likeable characters, and Firefly certainly wouldn't be the same show without him.

8. Xander Harris

The world of Buffy is filled with superpowered heroines and undead monsters, so you can imagine how hard it would be to be the "normal guy" amongst the supernatural and superhuman.  However, Xander Harris pulls it off with incredible aplomb.  Xander begins the show as the unlucky-in-love friend of Buffy who strikes out with not only Buffy but with his best friend Willow and first girlfriend Cordelia.  He feels lost and useless among his superpowered friends who sometimes see him as a liability.  However, as the show progresses, Xander finds his own as the heart of the Scooby Gang, helping Buffy soothe her dark side and giving her the confidence and purpose she needs to save the day.  "The Zippo," a Xander-centered episode from the third season of Buffy, is my favorite episode of the show, as it shows what Xander does while Buffy and the team are off fighting evil.  The fact that Xander is as memorable a character as he is without superpowers or magical abilities shows how fantastic of a Whedon character he really is.

7. Kaywinnit Lee Frye

While Xander is the heart of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Kaylee is the heart of Firefly.  She is positive, honest, and always willing to see the best in everyone she meets.  Whedon, instead of making her a jaded example of the dangers of being trusting, makes Kaylee's intuition an amazing creedence.  Everything that Kaylee believes is true in the world of Firefly, from her beliefs about Mal's motivations and her intuitions about Simon and River.  Jewel Satire's performance is charming, joyful, and never fails to make me smile, proving that Whedon has an incredible knack of finding the right roles for the right actors.  No one will play Kaylee like Jewel and her performance is one of the many reasons that Firefly is so rewatchable.

6. Angel

Amongst all of the memorable supporting characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel is the only one to get his own spin-off show.  That, if anything, should be a sign of how memorable of a character Angel is.  He is a vampire that was cursed with the regaining of his soul, giving himself back his consciousness and guilt for his actions as a vampire.  Cursed with eternal youth, Angel is placed in Sunnydale to be the protector of Buffy and, surprise, ends up falling for her.  However, his attempts to form a permanent relationship with Buffy end in tragedy, forcing Angel to run to Los Angeles and find a new path for himself.  The incredible range of David Boreanaz's acting is what sells the role of Angel, as he flirts between broody and mysterious and devious and devilnare.  Even when his storylines fall into the realm of soapy nonsense, the character of Angel is as intriguing and original as Buffy the Vampire Slayer gets.

5. Buffy Summers

Joss Whedon knows how to write main characters.  They aren't always perfect and they are not always necessarily heroes.  However, Buffy Summers is Joss Whedon's best hero.  She struggles with self-doubt and loss of innocence while always kicking absolute butt in every episode of the show.  Sarah Michelle Gellar's incredible athletic abilities add so much to the kinetic and fervent energy of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, bringing the show a head and shoulders above the typical high school or supernatural drama.  Buffy's life is a rollercoaster ride of tragedy and triumph and every inch of it is incredibly entertaining.  Her transformation from flighty cheerleader to gritty vampire slayer is a sight to behold.

4. Billy/Dr. Horrible

Joss Whedon's process of writing memorable heroes is nearly the same for his memorable villains.  He builds up a character as a hero and then tears them down to the level of villainy, and there is no better example of this than Dr. Horrible.  Played flawlessly by the incredible Neil Patrick Harris, Dr. Horrible's tragic journey from redeemable rouge to flat out supervillain is one that has left quite a bad taste in many of my friends' mouths.  Whedon breaks all convention with Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog's not-so happy ending, which betrays our avid cheering for Billy's redemption with his full-on transformation into evil.  It almost seems unfair how much Whedon get us to like Billy while clearly stating he is the villain of the tale.  Any character that can illicite the reaction that Dr. Horrible does certainly deserves to be on this list.

3. Spike

While Xander, Angel, and Buffy are all fantastic characters, my favorite character from Whedon's vampire-slaying classic is James Marsters' Spike.  The main villain of the second season of Buffy, Spike is a dramatic vampire who wants nothing more than to live life his way.  However, as the show progresses, Spike, and Marsters' performance, blooms into something incredible.  As evidenced by the fantastic "Lovers Walk" episode in which he helps Buffy and Angel discover that not everything is as doomed as it seems, Spike's character is dynamic and undeniably larger than life.  James Marsters steals the spotlight in every single scene in every single episode that he is in, outshining even Buffy as the show's interesting character.  When Angel leaves the show, Spike begins to fill his shoes as the show's main vampire.  Spike will always be Marsters' iconic character and is further proof that Weldon's directing brings out the best in his actors.

2. Hoban Washburne

There are very few things to dislike about Wash.  He's funny, he's likeable, he's dynamic, clever, loyal, and Serenity's never-flinching guiding light.  His relationship with Zoe grounds the crew in a family-like dynamic, keeping Mal and Zoe's relationship from getting tangled in a heavy-handed love triangle.  From the very first moments that the viewers get to see Serenity, the connection between Wash and the ship is clear.  The ship is not meant to be a transport vessel, just as Wash is not meant to be an outlaw circling the Outer Planets for whatever jobs the crew can find.  However, through a loyal to Zoe and to Mal, Wash finds a purpose on the Serenity that is beyond anything that he was meant to do.  His story and character arcs are charming and unforgettable.  Wash is also, without a doubt, Alan Tudyk's signature role as no other role in TV or film has been able to showcase his scene stealing as well as Wash. 

1. Malcolm Reynolds

I would call Mal, the fearless captain of the Serenity, Joss Whedon's best hero, but, simply put, he is not one.  His moral compass twists and turns too much for a hero's title.  However, this very quality makes Malcolm Reynolds Whedon's most iconic, most memorable, and most dynamic character.  The entire show of Firefly is anchored on Nathan Fillion's electrifying portrayal of Mal and his unpredictable nature reflects the unexpected twists and turns of the show that keep the viewer locked into and waiting for some kind of resolution.  Mal will surprise you with the choices he will make, one minute willing to put himself on the line for Simon and River and, the next, kicking some goon into Serenity's turbines.  Everything you feel about Firefly and all the tremendous cult show status that the show sustains is all due to Mal in one way or another, whether it's the intensity he brings to the show or they way he inspires those around him to fight for what they believe in.

Thanks for reading everyone!

Screen Time: Police Squad

There's is always something fascinating about television shows that last only one season.  They have a definite start and a definite ending.  They exists as a snapshot of exactly what the creators and producers intended, not at all influenced or altered by popular and critical opinion.  Usually, there is a reason why the show had only lasted a single season.  Many shows aren't of a quality that was promised and many shows simply don't find an audience to sustain itself.  And some shows just are too ahead of their time.  Police Squad is definitely one of those show and it definitely deserves some of your Screen Time.

Starring Leslie Nielsen and Alan North, Police Squad is a high concept parody show that brutally mocks the gritty cop shows of the 60's and 70's.  Each episode of the show's six episode run is filled to the brim with Airplane-style humor that range from completely random to completely genius.  Leslie Nielsen is at peak form and is drop dead hilarious using his straight laced persona in dealing with a variety of ridiculous situations.  He is supported by a zany cast of supporting characters, including a giant officer whose face is never shown, a strangely perverted lab technician, and a shoe buffer with infinite knowledge of everything.

Although Police Squad barely has three hours of show time to its name, I cannot give a higher recommendation to a one season show.  Well, besides Firefly.  Duh.  Police Squad's humor and its ingenious writing offers up some instantly classic TV moments that are still being recycled as GIFs today.  I don't want to mention too many specifics because it would ruin a lot of the craziness you are in for if you choose to watch Police Squad.  But trust me when I say you will be giving Police Squad a fantastic recommendation to your friends too.

Thanks for reading!

Once Upon a Blog: Show and Tell

Everyone Rebecca knew had asked she at one time or another if she regretted the choice she had to make.  She had been teaching the first grade for three years now and there hadn't been a single day that she would've done over again.  Of course, there were days like today that certainly gave her a run for her money.  As the residual smoke from the open window of the school building turned and twisted past her face, Rebecca silently remember how innocently the day had started.

She had, like most days, been excited to step through the door to her classroom where the smudged and smiling faces of her little students would be waiting.  On top of that, today was the annual Show and Tell Extravaganza and the kids' desk would be filled with colorful toys, shaggy pets, and glimmering family photo albums.  Looking back, she must have seen that Zach Parkin's desk had been empty.  It must have stuck her as a little bit odd.  Rebecca couldn't imagine that anything she could've thought of could have lived up to the true reason behind Zach's empty desk.

The sharp crack of another support beam inside the school succombing to the fire brought Rebecca out of her reminiscing.  From across the parking lot, she could see a man in a dark suit wading his way through the crowds of confused school kids and worried parents towards her.  By his clothing, Rebecca was sure he wasn't another police detective or arson inspector and he certainly wasn't one of the firemen.  As he approached, Rebecca could see the man's eyes were slightly red and sniffed his nose lightly as if he wasn't acclimated to the smell of the fire.

"Miss Dennington?" asked the man in the dark suit, leading his head down to see through her open car door.

Rebecca poked her head out.  "Yes?"

"Miss Dennington, can I please have a word?"  The man's eye, while red, sparkled in the fading light of the day.

"Of course you can," said Rebecca, standing up and stepping out of her car, "I've already given a statement to the police though."

A firm smile touched the man's lips.  "I'm not with the police, Miss Dennington."

Rebecca stood and tilted her head in curiosity.  "FBI?  CIA?  MIB?"

The smile remained unmoved.  "I do work for the government ma'am."  The man quickly flashed an official looking badge, but the identification had only fluttering in front of Rebecca's face long enough for her to read the name "Agent Wesley King" across the top.

"Well," said Rebecca, "What would you like to talk about, Agent King?"

Agent King stuffed the badge happily back into his breast pocket and then turned to look at the smoldering school building to his right.  "Quite the day you've been having here."

Rebecca followed his gaze.  "I assume you are talking about Zachary Parkin."

Agent King turned back to look at Rebecca.  "Tell me about show and tell today Miss Dennington."

Rebecca let out a quiet little breath.  "Well, everything had been going smoothly, much more smoothly than other show and tell days.  No screaming about who gets to go first, no dogs pooping on carpet.  Zach was one of the last of my students to go.  He didn't even seem excited."

"Well," said Agent King, "He certainly caused some excitement."

"It's not really his fault."

Agent King crossed his arms at Rebecca's words.  "Now, why would you say that, Miss Dennington?  Numerous eyewitnesses, including a teacher assistant, a visiting parent, the school's principal, and your entire classroom of students, say that this was all in fact Zachary Parkin's fault."

Although she wasn't sure why, Rebecca's hand shot out and grasped Agent King's folded arm.  "You aren't taking him away, are you?  I'm sure he had no idea what was going to happen when he..."

Rebecca paused.

"When he showed the class that he had the ability to shoot flames three feet high from his palms,"  Agent King finished for her.

Rebecca hung her head and dropped her arms to her sides.  "It's not his fault that he couldn't control his powers, Agent King.  He's too young.  He's couldn't have known."

Her mind flashed back to the movement that the flames had sprung from Zach's small, glistening palms.  There was an immediate sense of panic that had swept over the room, replacing all feeling of excitement and happiness.  She could remember the feeling of the licks of heat that spread over her cheeks and she could remember the look of fear on Zach's face as the flames in his hands grew out of his control.

Agent King cleared his throat and sniffed a few more times.  "Well, Miss Dennington, I am not actually here to talk to you about Zachary Parkin."

Rebecca looked up at the man in the dark suit.  "You're not?"

Agent King looked back at the school once more.  "No.  I'm here because seven of your students claimed to have seen you put out most of the fire with an icy blast of wind from your hands."

Rebecca's face whitewashed.  "I, I don't know what you mean, Agent, Agent King.  The imagination of kids, kids at that age.  It's truly amazing."

Agent King's firm grin return again.  "The principal gave me the security tapes, Miss Dennington.  There's no denying what I saw."

Rebecca's eyes fluttered past the man in a panicked attempt to find a way past him.  Agent King chuckled deeply and placed a hand on Rebecca's shoulder.

"Don't worry Miss Dennington, you aren't in trouble."

Rebecca furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.  "I'm not?"

"No, no," said Agent King, "I explained to your principal how what he saw on the video was just a sort of camera trickery and that what looked like fire coming from Zachary's hands was actually a magic trick gone extremely wrong."

Rebecca nearly hugged the man.  "Really?  He bought that?"

"Hook, line, and sinker," said Agent King, "The badge helped too, of course.

"Why?" asked Rebecca, "Why would you do this?"

Agent King dug a hand into his back pocket before responding.  "I am here, Miss Dennington, on the behalf of a friend.  A friend that is very interested in you and young Mr. Parkin."  He handed her a small white business card and began to walk away.

"Give him a ring sometime, Miss Dennington," said Agent King, "He's expecting your call."

Rebecca looked down at the card with curiosity.  It read in simple and elegant lettering:

Charles Xavier

School for Gifted Youngsters

1407 Graymalkin Lane, Westchester County, NY, 10461

(542) 555-0993

Prompt