The secret of my strength is a secret

Hello, my name is Judith. I am a member of the guild Brave Vesperia. Some of my hobbies include cooking, poker, and moonlit strolls; however, nothing can beat a good fight. I'm afraid I'm not very good at lying... And I just don't like leaving things half-done. In the past, it was just my dear partner Ba'ul and me, but now? It is nice to have friends. Yes, just take my word for it.

[materialblades-deactivated20131]

This Summer I Went Swimming, This Summer I Might Have Drowned | OPEN

[graceful-krityan]

  When travelling alone, making camp during the day was preferable to making camp at night. There was a liveliness to everything that kept the world preoccupied and allowed a fatigued Krityan to, if only for an hour or two, disappear. She longed to close her eyes and rest her rubbed-raw feet. Before that could happen, though, she needed to get a lock on the landscape. Where had her travels taken her? Hopefully, her ears told her, to a place near running water. There was something about the idea of a bath that evoked a low moan from her throat, like the rumbling of a stomach that remembers food.

Following sound alone, Judith cut from the beaten path and parted greenery to lay here eyes on— someone who had found her private bath first. In a blur, the shape slipped ungracefully out of sight before recovering quite loudly.

She stepped quickly yet calmly to investigate. She knew that voice. It sounded urgent, but not hurt.

"It’s just me," she called, bending forward at the water’s edge. "Fancy meeting you here." Her own shock at running into the swordsman here, of all places, was less important than his at seeing her.

[materialblades-deactivated20131]

Lloyd stopped his fussing once he saw a woman emerge from the bushes.

Violet hair, long legs, white skirt…thing. 

"Judy…?" 

She was the last person he would think to meet here, if he were to meet with anyone at all. Yet, there she was, with that smile he knew so well. That smile could mean anything. It could mean ‘It’s good to see you’ or ‘I just saw all of that’ or…maybe even both. 

"That’s my line," he replied, looking up at her from the river. "What are you doing here?" 

It had been so long since they had last met, but to meet under such circumstances was… rather inconvenient. Unless…

"Did you come here to swim?" He asked, half-seriously. 

[graceful-krityan]

"Something like that!" A note of excitement crept in to her hushed voice. She turned downstream, punctuating with a raised eyebrow at his powers of deduction. There was plenty of room for two. The sun's glare danced invitingly upon the ripples Lloyd caused as he tread. She imagined the gentle current would not be cold against her skin. Judith blinked back, confident Lloyd would not send her away.

"Funny how these things happen, isn't it." Seeming idle, one glove came off and crumpled to the bank. Then the other. Fingertips dipped past the surface of the rushing water to meet predicted satisfaction. She flicked droplets playfully in her friend's direction before impulse overtook. What a drag it would be to wait. Judith simply didn't want to.

"Don't mind me..." she chose to ask in stead of for permission. Before her actions could be closely examined, her boots were added to the pile with a weighted clunk and Judith lowered herself over the edge, clothing and all. A twinge of relief softened her features. She anchored herself there with her arms, not displeased to find the riverbed lay more deeply than it appeared from above.

"What about you? Come here often?"

[materialblades-deactivated20131]

Lloyd and Judith | Mama Jamma

[graceful-krityan]

  Lloyd was a young man with a reputation that preceded him; rumors of his deeds spread like fire through word of mouth and seemed to spark in the wake of everywhere he’d been. They were best from his own lips.

He was a warrior full of vim and initiative, greater than even the generous sum of his parts. He was also mindful. It didn’t matter that Lloyd did not see what everyone did. He saw them simply as they were—not as he hoped they were, either. The freedom he conducted himself with was perceived available to everyone. 

His eyes fell upon Judith kindly, without weight. She made no move to rush them. Then he responded in a language she was fluent in, herself. She could bet on what was meant. One of his hands grazed the other. The action was memorized. 

"We can." Truthfully, her mind had exchanged the old habit of rehashing her mission, again and again, for a new one. In times of solitude, it was ever more natural to while it away with recollection of another’s company. She had the time, and as memory also served, he had the appetite. She took a wide stance and softened it with a smile.  "You wouldn’t turn down dinner, would you?"

[materialblades-deactivated20131]

It would be a cold day in Triet when Lloyd would ever turn down a meal.

"O-Of course not!" He quickly said, balling his hands into fists. "That sounds like an awesome idea!"

Judith had the ability to always match his tempo while keeping her own personal rhythm. That was part of the reason that Lloyd was so comfortable with her, despite knowing very little about her. At the same time, Judith always found a way to keep him on his toes. It was never easy to predict what she was thinking. 

She was someone that Lloyd wanted to spend as much time with as he could.

Part of him selfishly wanted her to accompany him on his journey, but even he knew that she had her own responsibilities to tend to. 

It was just that Lloyd was incredibly curious about her. He wanted to learn more about her. That didn’t necessarily mean about her past or her occupation, rather he wanted to learn about her.

But first…grub.

"Let’s talk over dinner," Lloyd said, putting a hand over his empty stomach. "I could eat a horse."

[graceful-krityan]

"Yes," Judith nodded in blanketed agreement. Yes, he could. She couldn't boast the same at present, but it would feel good to have formal meal. He stood and joined her. The wind picked up, and so did they. 

"Good thing I know just the place." Her eyes charted a course down the road and past the slope of the next hill. As if to cheer, a noise of anticipation came from the depths of Lloyd's stomach and qualified his last statement. "My, I hope we can get there in time."

Her gaze appeared to remain fixed, but she chuckled over what couldn't have been grass or sky. "You're a growing young man," she observed simply of the hungry swordsman that was now slightly, without contest, taller than she was.

[graceful-krityan]

Hey hey, it's me =P How's things? RB

RB. Oh my goodness. I know exactly who this is! !?!?!

There isn't a word forhowwhat did i ever do to find such a patient and caring friend

[graceful-krityan]

Judy, where have you been? I feel like I havent seen you on the dash in ages....

//Long story short— I’ve been here! But my motivation to interact in character really dwindled. After a few months of that being the case, it’s difficult to jump back on a moving train. 

This community is full of great individuals and friends of mine, and it isn’t going to change, so I can’t hold my squabbles against it.

Thanks a bunch for your concern. I hope you and everyone has been keeping well!

[materialblades-deactivated20131]

Lloyd and Judith | Mama Jamma

[materialblades-deactivated20131]

Lloyd grumbled. 

He wasn’t sure if she was talking about his face or shirt, but perhaps that was the point. He decided it was best not to inquire about it.

It wasn’t often that Lloyd stopped to observe the krityan, but when he did…he would find time and time again that she was absolutely beautiful.

Judith stood up and watched the clouds, a scene that seemed to fit her quite nicely. Her sky-blue hair gently danced in the breeze. He had forgotten how tall she was. She was just an inch or two under his height. Her legs were long and slender, but powerful enough to deliver a bone-crushing blow. And her eyes… wait, just how long was he staring?

The blush he had worked so hard to get rid of came right back.

He cleared his throat and then spoke.

"There’s a promise I must fulfill," came the reply. He subconsciously ran a finger over his exsphere. "But that doesn’t mean that I don’t have time for old friends. Maybe we can catch up some more?"

[graceful-krityan]

Lloyd was a young man with a reputation that preceded him; rumors of his deeds spread like fire through word of mouth and seemed to spark in the wake of everywhere he'd been. They were best from his own lips.

He was a warrior full of vim and initiative, greater than even the generous sum of his parts. He was also mindful. It didn't matter that Lloyd did not see what everyone did. He saw them simply as they were--not as he hoped they were, either. The freedom he conducted himself with was perceived available to everyone. 

His eyes fell upon Judith kindly, without weight. She made no move to rush them. Then he responded in a language she was fluent in, herself. She could bet on what was meant. One of his hands grazed the other. The action was memorized. 

"We can." Truthfully, her mind had exchanged the old habit of rehashing her mission, again and again, for a new one. In times of solitude, it was ever more natural to while it away with recollection of another's company. She had the time, and as memory also served, he had the appetite. She took a wide stance and softened it with a smile.  "You wouldn't turn down dinner, would you?"

[anatoleguild]

From the Guild's Wanted Board: Anatole, Seeking Members!

Hello, Tales of Roleplayers!

AnatoleGuild is a Tales-centric roleplaying group centered around the the fledgling guild Anatole. Being a new guild, Anatole is trying its hardest to get its feet off the ground – that’s where you come in. Your character has decided to join Anatole. Why? It’s up to you.

Canon and original characters may read the rules and apply here, if interested. Don’t forget to check our member list to see if the character you want to play is available! If you’ve got a question, please check our FAQ, or send it to our ask box if you can’t find your answer.

Anatole is not an open group. It is, however, a group that invites anyone willing to apply for membership. We are a safe-for-work roleplay group looking to enjoy and improve our writing through collaboration. And we’re a friendly bunch to boot.

If you have questions, comments, or concerns, ask them at the guild main page and the mods will get back to you as quickly as possible. You can check the guild main page for more in-depth information.

We look forward to seeing your applications!

— The Mods

[bonafidebittersweet]

Two Sides of a Coin

For many long years, Alvin had pegged flying solo down to an art form. He thought he was rather finessed at the whole ordeal. He was right, of course, but he would be lying if he said that being a team player hadn’t had its perks too. When he’d discovered that thought lurking in his brain, he’d been at a loss on how to resolve it. But Alvin couldn’t let a puzzle sit for long, and soon he found a workable solution.

That was what had brought him into the job market with a different goal than normal in mind. Plenty of people had jobs that needed two to take care of business properly and efficiently, and that was exactly what Alvin wanted. He’d struck a deal with a merchant named Simon after finding out the man had already hired one for the assignment. 

The mission would be a theoretical cakewalk — the kind of stuff Alvin had picked up, usually, for extra cash. It was an age-old story: Simon’s cart had been attacked by monsters on the road en route. His cart had broken, and he’d been forced to leave some valuables and needed them recovered. Alvin had been cautioned against monsters, maybe bandits if the cart had been discovered, and not much else. 

Alvin had asked his client where he could find his new partner in crime. Simon told him, after stumbling a bit, he really had no idea. Alvin left the exchange with a brief description of the lady to be accompanying him and a head full of questions. They were to leave midmorning the following day, and Alvin would meet his partner outside the inn where the deal had been originally made.

Leaning against the brick of the building, Alvin crossed his arms and watched the midmorning crowd swell. He’d been given a description of his partner, sure, but the client had just kept saying ‘you’ll know her when you see her.’

Alvin found that to be true when a young woman drifted free of the crowd. Purple hair wasn’t a commonality, after all, but that wasn’t the thing that made it click. The woman walked with a casualness undercut by raw purpose, each step taken with deliberateness. She walked bright and alert and ready to take on the world, armed with the knowledge she’d done it before. That kind of look only came with experience.

And here was Alvin, lounging against a wall and sporting dark circles. He pushed away from the wall when she approached, straightening his jacket a bit. Some mercenary types, Alvin knew, tended towards the opposite end of his favored devil-may-care disposition.

"Hey there. Name’s Alvin." He offered his hand. "If you’re looking for the second hire to Simon’s retrieval mission, you found him."

[graceful-krityan]

There was next to nothing special about this new contract. Monsters and treasure hunts were quite standard. At this point, hardly anything was untried in the buffet of freelance fit for mercenaries. A little small talk, and little elbow grease; then, on to the next. She took comfort in her experience, both old and new. It was a pleasant rhythm. Luckily, for Judith, that was where the mundane predictability stopped. This time was no exception. Simon, a man desperate enough to hire her without any talk of guild credentials, insisted that he hire another pair of hands for the job as well.

One of those very hands was extended her way. Planting the base of her spear into the ground, The Krityan completed the professional choreography with a smile.

"Judith." The grip was firm, possibly even testing. She gave both steady eye contact and a steady squeeze to correct that before letting go.

"Lucky me," she coyly supplied. There was a put-togetherness about him. He was clearly crafty, as well as crafted.

"You look like a man who knows his trade." He bore every trait a solo-act ought to have, down to the variety of weapons and the breezy exterior. Her eyes narrowed slightly with intrigue. "Ready to get going?"

As far as commission work goes, a three-legged race was hardly commonplace around these parts, but there were worse sentences than idle chat with rugged strangers.

[materialblades-deactivated20131]

This Summer I Went Swimming, This Summer I Might Have Drowned | OPEN

Lloyd was the type of person to make the most out of every minute. 

He made sure that he was always doing something productive. ‘If there was time to laze around, there’s time to be doing something useful’, was a motto that he had acquainted himself with recently.

This mentality was adopted somewhere in the past two years. Being on the move for that long…it wasn’t easy to go back to his previous lifestyle—if that was at all possible. 

Lloyd had become a very productive person, but that didn’t mean that it didn’t wear him down. Despite all of the incredible things that he had done in the past, he was 100% human. Humans needed breaks. 

The Iselia Forest, despite the events that have transpired in it, was actually a very peaceful place to be (Dirk’s house was evidence of this). 

A sweaty and tired swordsman sat at the river that coursed through the forest at a steady pace. The sunlight danced on the surface of the crystal clear water. The sounds of the running river made for soothing background noise.

A sigh of content. 

It had been a long time since he had spent time here. The last visit he had made to this place it was with Genis. They had gone swimming a number of times when they were kids, though Colette never got a chance to join in. Still, Lloyd only had fond memories for this river.

Perhaps…just one more time, he’d go swimming in it.

He kicked off his shoes and through his tank top onto the branch of a nearby tree.

Lloyd took a few steps back and planted his left foot backwards. A running start was necessary to a proper entrance into the water. Genis and he often tried to see who could make the biggest splash when jumping into the river.

Old habits die hard.

He ran towards the river as fast as he could, but right before he planted his right foot for the take off, he heard something or someone rustling in the bushes.

"…Ah!"

The abrupt stop had caused him to lose his footing, causing him to fall into the river regardless. 

Lloyd came back up, spitting out the water that he had unintentionally swallowed from falling in with his mouth open.

"Who the hell is there?," Lloyd demanded in between coughs.

[graceful-krityan]

When travelling alone, making camp during the day was preferable to making camp at night. There was a liveliness to everything that kept the world preoccupied and allowed a fatigued Krityan to, if only for an hour or two, disappear. She longed to close her eyes and rest her rubbed-raw feet. Before that could happen, though, she needed to get a lock on the landscape. Where had her travels taken her? Hopefully, her ears told her, to a place near running water. There was something about the idea of a bath that evoked a low moan from her throat, like the rumbling of a stomach that remembers food.

Following sound alone, Judith cut from the beaten path and parted greenery to lay here eyes on-- someone who had found her private bath first. In a blur, the shape slipped ungracefully out of sight before recovering quite loudly.

She stepped quickly yet calmly to investigate. She knew that voice. It sounded urgent, but not hurt.

"It's just me," she called, bending forward at the water's edge. "Fancy meeting you here." Her own shock at running into the swordsman here, of all places, was less important than his at seeing her.

[materialblades-deactivated20131]

Lloyd and Judith | Mama Jamma

[graceful-krityan]

  He was so sure. Why shouldn’t he be? He knew as well as she, for their own reasons, that the world was nothing but cause and effect. The sum of your own choices pave the path you’ll take, and Lloyd was charting a course beyond the clouds—up and out of the limits anyone might set to restrain him. 

It was beautiful up there.

Lloyd… it was not that he possessed vision, neither did he lack it. Lloyd had ideals. They gave him purpose as well as freedom from anything that would compromise his very best. His thirst for adventure even gave rise to a little good-natured rivalry within her. They were different, yet they spoke in silent ways that only fighters can. In that respect, Judith’s heart swelled with understanding as the outline of a certain familiar shape darted across the image of the sun. Her eyes lingered justa moment longer where Ba’ul had been while Lloyd gave her his second promise.

She reflected his smile. “I believe you,” she stated plainly, removed from irony. Their inner shoulders brushed against one another. The space shared between them became even closer for comfort. “I don’t plan to be easily forgotten.”

[materialblades-deactivated20131]

The contact between his shoulder her’s had broken his rhythm. He turned toward his friend to find her eyes looking straight into his. 

He hadn’t realized how close they were until that moment. Judith, on the other hand, seemed to have realized it long ago but was not the least bit bothered. In fact, she was smiling. 

"Ju—!"

He swiftly turned away from her, hiding his embarrassed face. 

Even if they hadn’t seen each other for months, things between them remained the same as they had left it. He was thankful for that, even if he was as red as a lobster. 

"N-neither do I," he muttered.

[graceful-krityan]

Thoughtfully, Judith raised a clutched hand to her chest, not even batting an eye at Lloyd from the now opposite side of the boulder. It seems he forgot himself before defaulting to his boyish charms. It would have been more surprising if he didn't react that way. It was nice to push buttons and see they still worked as you remember.

"Good." She nodded with an approving hum. "You look good in red," she complimented, not needing to delve too deep for the tongue-in-cheek humor to come across. The big stuff never changes.

(Not completely.)

She rose, briefly watching the clouds and the wind again as he composed himself.

"Where are you headed from here?"

[materialblades-deactivated20131]

Lloyd and Judith | Mama Jamma

[graceful-krityan]

Lloyd unpacked his memoirs like souvenirs from a chest of collected treasures. The gems and the plucked four-leaf clovers were trotted out beside the eggshells and ugly rocks alike. All were weighted with importance. Judith nodded attentively at each one, not needing a mask of assumed interest. Lloyd’s earnestness was a wonder in and of itself. “Of course”, “Oh?”, and ”I see,” she punctuated now and then.

During the span of starting one story and finishing several more, the pair of old friends migrated from standing where they met to sitting upon a boulder. The curtain’s fall was applauded with a final round of muted laughter. Both stared comfortably out at the surrounding green.

"You clever boy," she breathed his way. "What a relief to know you’ve met people who can keep up with you." Her fists clenched and relaxed, and the knuckles beneath her gloves made small cracking sounds in unison. "My, how exciting. And you’re still raring to go, aren’t you."

[materialblades-deactivated20131]

"You bet," came Lloyd’s spirited reply. "The adventure isn’t over yet! There’s still more—a lot more to see. It won’t end here."

He reached his hand out to the sun, closing his grip around it. It was almost as if to say that his journeys would take him places so extraordinary that even the sun was reachable.

Everyday was an opportunity to explore the unknown. To learn what he hadn’t learned before. These experiences would shape him and help him become stronger and wiser. All the more reason to remember the places and people he had seen up until now.

Turning back to Judith, he said with a smile, “but that doesn’t mean that I’ll forget the people whom I’ve met along the way.” He paused. A bashful grin spread across his face. 

"Especially you."

[graceful-krityan]

He was so sure. Why shouldn't he be? He knew as well as she, for their own reasons, that the world was nothing but cause and effect. The sum of your own choices pave the path you'll take, and Lloyd was charting a course beyond the clouds--up and out of the limits anyone might set to restrain him. 

It was beautiful up there.

Lloyd... it was not that he possessed vision, neither did he lack it. Lloyd had ideals. They gave him purpose as well as freedom from anything that would compromise his very best. His thirst for adventure even gave rise to a little good-natured rivalry within her. They were different, yet they spoke in silent ways that only fighters can. In that respect, Judith's heart swelled with understanding as the outline of a certain familiar shape darted across the image of the sun. Her eyes lingered justa moment longer where Ba'ul had been while Lloyd gave her his second promise.

She reflected his smile. "I believe you," she stated plainly, removed from irony. Their inner shoulders brushed against one another. The space shared between them became even closer for comfort. "I don't plan to be easily forgotten."

[graceful-krityan]

I was wondering, is your anatole guild taking off yet? :x would I be allowed to reserve a character, if so?

// Thank you for your interest!

Due to the nature of the application process, we’re assuming that someone who applies is already 1) ready to obey the rules and 2) enjoys putting thought into things like background and AU settings. Currently, we’re holding to the idea that reserving characters gives people the right to back out, and might intimidate others. Submit when you’ve got an idea you love, and we’ll be glad to help from there!

The announcement hasn’t been up for long—only a little over a day. Don’t count yourself out!

If you’re interested in a friendly, safe-for-work RP dashboard, and if you’re willing to participate at least 1+ day a week, come on down and join us.

[anatoleguild]

From the Guild's Wanted Board: Anatole, Seeking Members

Hello, Tales of Roleplayers!

AnatoleGuild is a Tales-centric roleplaying group centered around the the fledgling guild Anatole. Being a new guild, Anatole is trying its hardest to get its feet off the ground – that’s where you come in. Your character has decided to join Anatole. Why? It’s up to you.

Canon and original characters may read the rules and apply here, if interested. Don’t forget to check our member list to see if the character you want to play is available!

Anatole is not an open group. It is, however, a group that invites anyone willing to apply for membership. We are a safe-for-work roleplay group looking to enjoy and improve our writing through collaboration. And we’re a friendly bunch to boot.

If you have questions, comments, or concerns, ask them at the guild main page and the mods will get back to you as quickly as possible. You can check the guild main page for more in-depth information.

We look forward to seeing your applications!

— The Mods

[graceful-krityan]

//Friends and Tales RPers, please take a look or consider passing this around! Anatole hopes to provide something fun and different to the tumblr atmosphere.

Jumping for Joy,

Judy

[graceful-krityan]

#of course Judy will get her free example

[materialblades-deactivated20131]

Lloyd and Judith | Mama Jamma

[materialblades-deactivated20131]

"Don’t be silly," he replied. "Of course I don’t think that. Both of us have things that we needed to do. As much as I wish I could spend everyday at Nordopolica, there are things I needed to take care of. I’m sure it’s the same for you." 

Judith was strange, but she had her reasons for her actions. Lloyd would understand if something required her to leave for a few weeks. When it was time for her to return, he would happily pick up where they had left off. She was his friend after all. Meetings with friends after a long time makes you appreciate them that much more. 

"You bet," he said, returning her smile. That’s right. There was no use in dwelling on the past when they were together now. "Man, it sure brings back memories." At her question, Lloyd’s eyes widened and his grin stretched.

"I’ve made a lot of new friends and I’ve seen a lot of new places," he beamed, spreading his arms out as if to give a visual representation of the amount of ‘new’ that he had experienced since their last meeting. 

"There was this one time when…"

He told stories of great allies and strong opponents. Strange occurrences and wondrous sites. Before he knew it, he was getting lost in his own memories.

[graceful-krityan]

Lloyd unpacked his memoirs like souvenirs from a chest of collected treasures. The gems and the plucked four-leaf clovers were trotted out beside the eggshells and ugly rocks alike. All were weighted with importance. Judith nodded attentively at each one, not needing a mask of assumed interest. Lloyd's earnestness was a wonder in and of itself. "Of course", "Oh?", and "I see," she punctuated now and then.

During the span of starting one story and finishing several more, the pair of old friends migrated from standing where they met to sitting upon a boulder. The curtain's fall was applauded with a final round of muted laughter. Both stared comfortably out at the surrounding green.

"You clever boy," she breathed his way. "What a relief to know you've met people who can keep up with you." Her fists clenched and relaxed, and the knuckles beneath her gloves made small cracking sounds in unison. "My, how exciting. And you're still raring to go, aren't you."

[materialblades-deactivated20131]

Lloyd and Judith | Mama Jamma

[graceful-krityan]

Maybe they could manage to check on him, one of these days, Judith thought to herself.

"Feel free to keep guessing." Her eyes shone with sincere amusement. "I so enjoy our little times together."

[materialblades-deactivated20131]

"You know, you don’t make this "conversation" thing easy," Lloyd mumbled under his breath. 

"But, I guess that’s what makes you Judy."

[graceful-krityan]

"I don't?" She deliberately readjusted, mirroring with body language her favor of give over take. Sometimes an outside opinion had to be taken into account, after all. even after all this time. If she sounded hurt, it evaporated with his final statement. That was understanding for you. 

"Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies." Judith laughed. "But I'd never lie to you, Lloyd. We can leave it at that." Her chin lowered several degrees. "Unless, of course, you don't want to." The Krityan held locked eye contact with the swordsman she trusted and respected. Cheek rested against fingertips, and she spoke again, unbid.

"If it seems like I am evading you... I don't know what it is I should say. It was not my intention to stay away, but I accept that I have." Her arms dropped, floated, to her sides. "And now, we're together again. Isn't that nice?" She smiled to herself before sharing it with Lloyd.

"What other stories have you got to tell me?"

[materialblades-deactivated20131]

COME ABOARD AND BRING ALOOOONG

ALL YOUR HOPES AND DREAms

[graceful-krityan]

TOGETHER WE WILL FIND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOOOR

(Anatole)!

YEAH!

[graceful-krityan]

There's a special feeling that discovering fandom-specific make-believe gives us. I still remember it. Some of you may still feel that way. I made some real, legitimate, and close bonds with creative and thoughtful writers who were willing to share with me how COOL this or that was. These friends shared ideas I'd never had before with me and expanded what it meant to have friends online.

...I did lose some of it, though. And it was a real shame. I can make all kinds of excuses; I can talk to you about how I wasn't doing justice to my part as a long-standing Judith, and all the other pet projects that cropped up along the way.

The atmosphere literally began to eat at me. Either I'd ceased to be good at ignoring what was once to easy to overlook, or some switch had flicked in my brain. I felt like I'd been duped. No one was talking about the games much, anymore. Everyone had grown beyond that, somehow. Everyone was becoming bored and finding solutions to that. Regarding content, I didn't feel like I belonged here on my dash board and I certainly didn't have the words to express why this was.

It comes down to one little acronym and its lackadaisical treatment: NSFW.

There's a safe haven of sorts that two people I am incredibly lucky to know have crafted from the ground up with me.

Anatole Guild wants to revive the excitement and inspiration to adventure, be silly, be courageous, and problem-solve with other writers. We're together and open to examine the fine details, while remaining true to the rating of the actual series itself.

This may attract brand-new faces who were nervous or turned off to the kinds of M!A prevalent in unmoderated rp circles.

It might be an invite to someone who's an old pro, and interested in returning to the meat of the story that first captured their heart, and all without sex-scenes to boot.

Whatever it might be, this is something I feel I've needed and I'm going to give it a try. My best try. It would be beautiful to see you pop in to visit, too.

I will always love each and every one of you, and I hope that whatever words you write, they're ones that feel just like what you need to say and see.