Disclaimer: This post discusses the possibilty of a relation between Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano. READERS< YE BE WARNED.

I know I've said before that Anakin and Ahsoka have a relationship unlike other masters and padawans.

Having done some research into the news aspect, others have noted it.

In an interview with Matt Lanter, the voice of Anakin Skywalker has mentioned that Ahsoka as a character has become very near and dear to his heart. As I'm sure is true for many others. Myself--I really, really hope she doesn't die either in Clone Wars or Order 66. It would be really cool to me if Ahsoka had a hand in raising Leia, because after watching A New Hope last night, I realized that some of Ahsoka and Leia's mannerisms are incredibly similar--the kind of similarity that comes from familiarity.

In an interview with Dave Filoni, the director, he mentioned that at one point in Season 2, Anakin thinks that Ahsoka's dead, and he does something that absolutely horrifies his fellow Jedi. Now, attachment is supposedly "bad," so this display of attachment would be REALLY BAD.

Would Anakin do the same thing to save Padme? Yes. He would.

Would he do it for Obi-Wan, Yoda, or Mace Windu, who are his Jedi equals (or superiors)? Absolutely not.

Would Anakin do that to save any person he has a bleeding heart for? No.

It seems a bit strange to me that Ahsoka is now under the same, narrow umbrella of protection that once belonged only to Padme. But wait--she's his padawan. Of course, she would be protected by Anakin.

But Ahsoka has proved time and time again that she can take care of herself--far more than Padme has.

Anakin is also incredibly reckless--and he's shown to the enemy that Ahsoka is one of his weaknesses. Threaten her, and Anakin will do his very best to save her. I can't imagine Cad Bane keeping that knowledge close to his chest.

I have also paid close attention to their body language whilst interacting. Ahsoka always places herself at Anakin's right hand, even if it means she's cut out of the conversation. When they speak, their bodies are angled towards each other, even when not speaking directly to each other. And some of their banter has a decidedly flirtatious feel to it.

They also tease each other, and tell each things that are hard to hear--and both of them refuse to hear it from others, arguably Obi-Wan for the both of them. Such as when Ahsoka is adamant on continuing the fight on Felucia, and Obi-Wan tries in vain to get her to stop. It takes a few sentences from Anakin--okay, with LOTS of impatience/frustration--to get Ahsoka to stop fighting and get on the tank ship thing.

It's been called "the nastiest fight" by Eric Goldman on TheForce.net between the two of them. The thing is? I don't think so. Ahsoka didn't want to retreat, because, like Anakin, she equates retreat with failure and losing, and she hates to lose. Anakin rebukes her, but she doesn't protest and she feels incredibly guilty even days later.

At this point, whatever their relationship is, it is incredibly complex. It has elements of romance--the flirting--true friendship, sibling (omnipresent rivalry),

They truly love each other. What kind of love is it? That remains to be seen.

Okay, Obi-Wan and Anakin are sent to capture Dooku.

Can we say: BAD IDEA?

At least Ahsoka was sent to back them up.

So, they end up in these caves, unleash toxic gas, exchange thinly-veiled barbs about a Gundan (???) and eventually get caught in the caves.

Then Ahsoka and Rex show up to save their collective asses, and Ahsoka scolds her master. Anakin turns to Obi-wan for support, but he's too amused.

Obi-Wan FOR THE WIN!

So THEN Dooku gets captured by pirates who really wish they were as bad-ass as the Avatar pirates. PIRATES FOR THE WIN!

Very notably, later, the Dream Team (not really) has to go confirm that the pirates have Dooku.

Again: BAD IDEA.

Then the Dream Team gets captured--and this time, Ahsoka can't save their ass. (where did she go, anyway?)

Of course, they all end up chain-linked to Dooku.

Grr..

Where's Ahsoka when you need her?

Since the stupid bloody italics wouldn't turn off, I'm forced to revert to a second post. (*grumblegrumblecomplaincomplain*)

Anyway--Ahsoka.

She's pretty cool. A bit like me when I was 12 or 13, only I had a better vocabulary.

But I think the relationship between Anakin and Ahsoka is a bit...unconventional, at best. I took a peek at spoilers for the upcoming episodes, and apparently the wooden would-be Elphaba (another female Jedi, whose name I have forgotten) gets a padawan, a guy. (Figures). And that relationship ends up illustrating how unorthodox Anakin and Ahsoka's relationship is.

REALLY?

A news article reviewing the 2008 movie (where Ahsoka was introduced) describes it in perfect terms.

"Ahsoka Tano — who easily out-toughs even Princess Leia in her prime — is smart, sassy and skilled with a light saber. And despite that she's merely a teen 'toon, Ahsoka kicks up more chemistry in a few scenes with the animated Vader-in-waiting than the real-life Natalie Portman could muster over three whole films."

After actually watching the movie, I was forced to agree.

For instance, she isn't afraid to argue with him, despite being about 6 or 7 years his junior. And I must admit--a pissed Anakin is not someone I would argue with. Unless I was pissed at him.

Oh, and did I mention? She saves his life.

Within about 30 minutes (their time, not movie time) of knowing him, she saves his life. By pulling a wall with a convienent hole in just where Anakin is down on the robots threatening him, crushing them but not him.

Already, in my mind, she's my favorite character.

They created nicknames, too, from the very start. "Skyguy" and "Snips".

...

"Even Yoda hints early on that Anakin, who already has issues with attachment, could have trouble letting go of his apprentice when the time comes."

By the way, did the Jedi Order miss the memo about how important attachments are? If they did, I'm sure Naruto would be delighted to explain it to them. With a slideshow. And a pissed Sakura on the sidelines, ready to beat it into them if she has to.

After all, attachments make you stronger.

I, the Capricorn with a Capricorn moon, am admitting that. DOESN'T THAT MAKE ANY SORT OF AN IMPACT, GUYS???????????????

"From there, she exhibits enough battle pluck and witty repartee to win over her brooding mentor — he warms quickly to the idea of having a young assistant (who Mark Rahner of the Seattle Times describes as "a tiny girl with huge eyes and a tube-top who looks like a slutty Disney character." Fair enough)."

Wait--brooding? Anakin may be many things (emotionally screwed up, avenger something like that complex, overly protective, deceitful, "too attached", etc) but he doesn't brood.

(waves arms frantically in the distance at Sasuke and Angel, getting into a "I'm-more-emo-than-you-are" contest. "My entire family died in front of me. "I was cursed with a soul and that I would remember every single soul I'd killed, as well as losing my soul if I ever had a moment of true happiness." "I was forced to kill my brother, and I found out he was trying to protect me all along." "I slept with my Slayer girlfriend, experienced a moment of true happiness, lost my soul, and tried to kill her friends in front of her. Several times." "I'm an avenger." "I had to leave the one woman I loved--that Slayer chick--so that her life and mine would no longer be in danger from me losing my soul again." THROAT CLEARS. "SASUKE, ANGEL, don't MAKE me come over there!")

He might have brooding moments--hell, we all do. But he's not necessarily broody. He's very action-oriented, not really all that inclined to sit back and ponder how sucky his life it.

Anyway, there are undercurrents of something in Anakin and Ahsoka's relationship. She's met Padme, they worked together, and Ahsoka has never actually said a word about it to anyone, versus Padme's comment to Anakin: "Your padawan--she's brilliant."

I don't think Ahsoka likes Padme all that much, though of course she'd never express it where her master could hear her.

We'll have to see.

Ta!

So, I was hanging out on my couch Friday night, and my brother was watching the season premiere of Clone Wars, Season 2. (I was surfing the Net, so nothing major was going on).

My thoughts as I watched part 2:

Oh, look, a female Jedi. Oops, sorry, Padawan. Still, cool.

Oh dear, she's being tortured. Poor girl.

Why is Anakin Skywalker only taking himself out of the wreckage when she's being tortured? Could he have done that BEFORE she was tortured?

Oh, look, the blue guy--Cad? His name is CAD?????--is noting the bond.

He's willing to let this weird glowing box go in exchange for his apprentice?

Oh, look, he saved her life.

Pretty green lightsaber...

Oh, look, they're leaving the ship that's being blown.

Elevator music...

Oh, it's next week's preview.

He's calling her name VERY DRAMATICALLY?



Ugh, I can't get rid of the italics. Blast it all.

The only time we ever see Sakura fight is against Sasori (in Shippuuden, I mean). With the "OMG we're going to get info on Orochimaru and subsequently Sasuke!" arc, I can understand.  Somwhat. Naruto loses control of the Kyuubi, and that doesn't exactly allow anyone else wiggle room.

Yet...I could hardly miss it when Naruto-as-Kyuubi bats Kabuto away, into Sakura, knocking her out and possibly leaving her to the mercy of the crumbling bridge (thanks, Sai). And she was the only one of Sasuke's original team to try to attack him. That counts for something, right?

And then...nothing. She may have been a healer or a sealer, but no actualy fighting roles. And we don't know if she can do chakra scalpels, or even summon Katsuyu on her own. We're left to assume, since it appears Tsunade passedon everything else, but I would appreciate having an actual visual.

Well, maybe in this upcoming TEH ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN in the manga. I'd like to see Sakura beat the crap out of Madara...or even Danzou.

SOMEONE HAS TO STRIKE A POSE
AND BEAR THE WAIT OF WELL-TAILORED CLOTHES
AND THAT IS WHY THE LORD CREATED.....MEN!!!!!!


(I really love The Scarlet Pimpernel--music by Frank Wildhorn)

(for everyone who either a) dislikes Harry Potter, b) doesn't ship Harry/Hermione, or c) doesn't really care either way, I advise you skip this entry).


So the HMS Harmony (Harry/Hermione) is a fascinating vessel. I have enjoyed Dramione for quite some time now (*points to veela!Draco fics*), but about two days ago I read the ship manifesto over on the Shipper's Manifesto, and that introduced me to all of the essays written for the specific purpose of explaining the gloriousness that is H/Hr.

Can we safely say I'm a Harmony shipper now? ;)

There are a bunch of things that really impressed me, from the "siblings" argument to the discussion of alchemy and how that actually works towards Harry and Hermione having a romantic relationship. The essays were very thought-provoking, well-thought-out (for all of y'all who know me, that's one of my highest compliments). I've disliked the Herons for quite some time now (ever since I read the books, actually.), and upon reading some of the reflections on the DH, HBP, and OoP, I learned why exactly Ginny's presence never sat well with me, or shall we say, Ginny Sue. So the OBHWF don't get me. Ever. Because I think it's downright icky that everyone ends a Weasely at the end (not that I have a problem with them, but Hermione Weasely doesn't sound quite right, and Ginny Potter...eeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww).

I admire JKR, (she taught me how to write, really. And do literary analysis, since my mother read the books aloud to me and we discussed plot, characters, villains, etc. and still do to this day), but I think a lot of things in the HBP/DH were contrived. Um, the existence of Deathly Hallows, for starters. Um, NO.

And the epilogue, just, just FAILED. Epicly.

A few thoughts, that's all this was. I might enlarge upon this later, but in the meantime, I have to go wrangle with my Morgan/Reid ship manifesto. CRIMINAL MINDS FANS OF THE WORLD UNITE!!!

All of my mood themes were done by the fabulous routinedaydream. Huzzah!

This thread contains spoilers for Criminal Minds 2x14/15 "The Big Game/Revelations" through the end of the second season.

Because I love Reid so much (and character development!Reid is awesome, even if he's being tortured), I rewatched Revelations yesterday.

A quick note--my totally awesome piano teacher is into a whole bunch things, that include the benfits of birth charts, purifying rooms from negative energy using sage and on REALLY heavy duty negative energy using rue, and right now she's looking into angels.

Apparently, Raphael is the angel of healing and science. DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A CHARACTER WE KNOW AND LOVE?

(There's a link to the discussion of the BAU as the seven archangels here http://community.livejournal.com/glass_cats/4349.html)

No, what really is getting me about this episode is the unspoken-yet-there relations. In times of crises, people either pull away or pull together. The team pulled together. Even when JJ sought anger, recrimination, anything. She was deflected (albeit badly. Anything you want to confess here, Morgan?)

While Reid was missing, the team could not allow themselves to fracture. They had a goal, and that brought them together to keep from attacking each others' throats. This show is about people (obviously, because of the psychological aspect) and how people relate to each other, for good or for ill. Immediately after Revelations, Reid pulls away from the group because of his PTSD/supposed-maybe-I-think drug use. The team reached out one at a time (Morgan, first. Then Prentiss, Gideon, and so on and so forth), but Reid rebuffed it in a couple of different ways. Deflection, out-and-out agression (I know, is this Reid we're talking about? apparently so...), and finally...agreement.

Agreement that rang a little hollow.

I have no doubt that Reid was sincere about his place on the team. No, I think he was still wrangling through problems, and as much as Gideon is his father figure, I don't think Reid was ready to talk about them.

Reid felt alone, isolated from the rest of the team. He pulled back from the team, and felt isolated. As a person who doesn't have PTSD, I can't really speak accurately, but as someone who isolates herself deliberately (hey, most people are annoying. And ignorant. And can't have a reasonable conversation on why we shouldn't threaten Iran with nuclear armageddon), there is very much the outsider-looking-in perspective. You want nothing more than to be a part of the group, but you fear what you have to give up to get there (you also end up forgetting convinently [sp...] that it's your own fault you're isolated) and you decide ultimately that it isn't worth it.

Except that the team doesn't really allow Reid to isolate himself completely. There's always someone who was catching him, calling him out (if needed). Reid wasn't really alllowed to isolate himself.

Go team.

The warnings from Part 1 still apply.

The second most obvious pairing: Rossi/Prentiss

• ( This turned into not only a ship manifesto, but an episode guide too. Urgh..... )

Warnings: A) This note will contain spoilers for all four seasons of Criminal Minds.
                   B) This is not a ship manifesto.

Pairings that appear to be canon in the Criminal Minds verse:

Morgan/Reid: Yes, I support this pairing. No shocker there, I suppose. There is canon, which I hope to rehash here.

( The ship manifesto I didn't intend to write... )

Okay, since I shift my attention from one fandom to the next so quickly, I apologize in advance.

Musings on Criminal Minds 4x01: (this contains spoilers--be warned!). I thought that opening episode of the fourth season, Mayhem, was a little too awkward. Hotch and SSA Joyner (played by the fabulous Sienna Guillory, known to some as Arya from Eragon, but she's also played Helen in Helen of Troy--a huge compliment--and Resa in Inkheart) were both injured in car bomb. Hotch survived with trauma to his inner ear, Joyner did not because of arteriol (sp?) bleeding. That could have been avoided--she could have been saved. Believe me on this one. Her death was superfluous.

Also, the UnSub wanted to blow up a hospital? They'd been trying to do something memorable, something to compare to 9/11. Blowing up an empty hospital? Excuse my French when I say WTF?

The Tudors: OMG, this show is absolutely fascinating for the politics, though I do believe that Anne Boleyn is not well portrayed here. Henry, by this point, was an out and out lecher, and Anne had to fight him to get him not to take her virginity before their marriage. Henry just blithely accepting that she didn't want to lose her maidenhead before marriage? Um, this was not based in historical fact. And The Tudors' Anne...just fades into the background. And Mary Boleyn was Henry's lover for longer than 8 months. She bore two children, both his, a son and a daughter.

I'm also sick of the constant sex scenes. Imply it, don't show it--this is about good taste.

Avatar: (also contains spoilers!) Zutara was SOOOOOO canon this last season, and then they turned around and forced Kataang on us after Katara said SHE DIDN'T THINK THAT THIS WAS THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIP FOR HER. Shimatta.

Okay, moving onto this psycho dream I had last night...

For some reason, King Henry (Tudors King Henry), Dr. Spencer Reid (Criminal Minds) and I were all in the debate club together (I'm joing debate this year). Cardinal Wolsey was our sponser, and we were flying on the BAU jet to get to a conference. Reid was doing extamperaneous speaking (ugh, my inner spell check is on the blink), I was doing Lincoln-Douglas debate (debate on moral issues), and I had no idea what Henry was doing. We get there, and all of a sudden, we have to leave again because something went wrong, and Cardinal Wolsey barely got us out.

Strange, eh?

This is in part for a project I'm doing, but this is BIG.

Med disables drug-resistant tuberculosis in lab. Will it work in humans? : Scientific American Blog

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So, as in the Naruto anime we are wrapping up the Hidan-Kakuzu arc, I am struck by something.

When Itachi and Kisame infiltrated Konoha the first time, Itachi was familiar enough with Asuma to call him by his first name. So when Itachi found out when Asuma was dead, did he mourn him? I mean, this is Itachi, so it most likely wasn't outward, but did he? I'm just kind of confused.

And the other thing: the anime seems to LOVE adding in stuff that isn't in the manga. There's going to be this HUGE issue about the Three-Tails (combined with Sasuke's arc--we have to keep Naruto occupied SOMEHOW). Hm.

(That was not a good "Hm". FYI).

Okay, so there is WONDERFUL website that has the Jung/Myers-Briggs personality stuff. Because I prefer to be a smart anime fan, I decided to look up further stuff for Itachi, and now Deidara.

Deidara: Crafter-Artisan

http://www.keirsey.com/handler.aspx?s=keirsey&f=fourtemps&tab=4&c=crafter

Itachi: Mastermind Rational:

http://www.keirsey.com/handler.aspx?s=keirsey&f=fourtemps&tab=5&c=mastermind

And as for me? I'm a Counselor Idealist.

http://www.keirsey.com/handler.aspx?s=keirsey&f=fourtemps&tab=3&c=counselor

Okay, so this semester in high school I've been taking Psych 1 (really, it was just enlarging on my knowledge, and how to apply it--but I digress).

Finding out that Itachi was really a good guy was WEIRD, but whatever.

So here it is: my personal psychological interpretation of the enigmatic shinobi guy (let's ignore the fact I do not POSSESS A LIFE).

( Itachi + Psychology= Beka not having a life )

So yesterday, Kat had a seizure. It was rather frightening. At least it happened at lunch, where she was surrounded by people who cared about her instead of in class, where people...don't.

This has inspired a desire in me to take First Aid, not to be a doctor or nurse, some such like that (I don't have the patience nor temperment), but only so that if my friends get hurt, I can help them until someone who is more skilled than I can get there.

I'm a figher, not a healer.

I just need a good, long hug.

Unfortunately, I have to put on this facade for everyone else. (Except Kathryn and Laura, I guess). This facade that says I'm calm (mostly), cool, unaffected.

To be frank, it sucks. But if I ever let it down to show my true emotions, people would never let me forget it, that I was vulnerable in front of people I dislike, hardly trust. I've been hurt too many times not to show this mask of mine.

Even at camp, my safe haven, I have to put it up. I love just about everyone there, and yet I'm wary of showing what I truly feel sometimes. I hate these barriers, but they are a necessity.

Sadness.

What is it with my weeks' being so long? It seems like the day takes FOREVER to get through, and that just goes quintuplet for the week.

And to top it all off, my cats don't really let me sleep me at night. Joy.

Ignore me, I guess. I'm complaining for the sake of complaining.