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The Narrator
11:46pm, January 09, 2012
[Edit]
[Delete] | "Planet Neverland"
Hear the sounds of the drums in the night. Ewoks, communicating through their methods, a tribal beat and one of many on the world as in the distance, flickering firelight from the Witches are seen as they dance before their fires in tribute. The soft growls of their rancor partners heard as their eyes shine in the dark, and the march and chants of the Mandalorian Clans are heard as they pass. All of them, owing much to their benefactor...The one who brought them all together on this planet, rich in game and green.
The Mandalorians boast of knowing her best. Clan Ordo, their ancestor being the one who first pledged his service and alligance to her. Themselves, his descendents now who wander the planet and the galaxy. Her eyes and ears, proud to serve she who is "Ba'buir'Darasuum". In their tongue meaning "The Eternal Grandmother." They are unusual among their own people even...Stoic, and even-tempered. Mysterious and tight-lipped, though like any Mandalorian they revere war and have a passion unusual for ancient history. In particular, the Mandalorian wars against the Republic and the mysterious figure who defeated them, "Darth Revan" whose name they speak with pride.
However just as vocal are the Witches. Warrior women, clad in lizard hide armour and riding Rancor mounts. Primal, beautiful and strong in the Living Force. And on this planet, they have grown strong indeed, if generally hidden. To them, the deep places in the woods, the jungles... Untouched glades of nature, the lakes fresh and cold from the mountains...These are their refuge and like the old tales of Fae, one might see them briefly in passing before by some magic no doubt, they vanish entirely from view. To haunt your dreams and waking moments alike, perchance forever.
They too, stake their claim on the Guardian of the planet they live. One of them, who in centuries past came to their ancestors and proved her worth in a way that even now, was told in hushed tones among their Sister-Tribes. To them, she was Mother, Protector and Benfactor and with her help, they had prospered and grown strong.
Last, but certainly not least....Would be the strangest part of the trio. Hailing from the forest moon of Endor, whose connection to the woods was nigh spiritual, the little bear-men would have prospered after a fashion. Devoted as well to her and well-favored, in her visits to them. Their leader, a cranky old shaman though his devotion to her was well known. Woe to the one who thinks them weak, for on the walls of their huts remain yet the skulls of those who underestimated them. They are well-beloved of the Guardian, and the feeling is mutual by them.
Mandalorian, Witch and Ewok....Three of the strangest groups to ever come together, and all connected by the farmstead which all revere. A sanctuary, a place of refuge and peace. Someday perhaps, the multiverse will have need of them but for now?
They are content to protect it, as they had for almost 4000 years now.... |
| |
Kokonoe
3:30am, January 10, 2012
[Edit]
[Delete] | *Author’s note* Omake in the for fun sense, in that this is not at all canon and more of a what if. Also, had lots of help from Hugo for galen's parts
“You got girl problems I feel bad for you son, I got ninety nine problems… and counting”
Galen Marek, the Starkiller, victor of a thousand battles and slayer of countless lives, champion of light against the cult… was having relationship issues. He loved his wife Terra, he really, truly did… but between the voluptuous vampire Rayne and the wild yet refined Gloria, his head was spinning thirty six ways at once as he used a bit of alone time before everything went down to try and clear his head. The spinning apparently wasn’t doing much for his attention span, as he turned the corner right into a young woman, knocking her to the ground as she gave a started “Why, I never!” Galen caught a hint of fangs in her mouth as she spoke, and reflexively muttered “oh, great, another one”
First mistake of the night.
“Another one!? Tell me imbecile, do you make it a habit of walking around pushing young ladies over in the street?” asked the girl as she seemingly floated back to her feet. Galen rolled his eyes and kept walking. “Sorry miss, it was an accident.” Rachel Alucard, however, did not believe in accidents. So when the incredibly rude man turned his back to her, she lifted a finger, and an unholy blast of lightning alighted the sith, overloading his cybernetics as he fell to the ground with a ‘why me?’ As he layed their motionless, the vampire crossed her arms and gave a ‘hmmph’ before saying to herself “A simple trip to the realm of the unconscious is not enough to repay such buffoonery. I believe /this/ should teach him to respect the fairer sex more” She reached into the folds of her dress, and pulled a pair of heart shaped spectacles out, before placing them on his nose, before turning about on her heel and sticking her nose in the air. “There. Now all within the range of the item will flock to you. Maybe then you will show them some… oh my.” She took a step forward. “I did not expect them to take effect… so quickly”
Pain. Something he was used to. Waking up in pain. Also something he was used to. Waking up in pain with a vampire seemingly about to do something with her mouth near his neck. Mayhap something he was used to, but sure as hell did not want right now. So it was with an exclamation of surprise that he shot his hand forward, and the vampire was sent careening into a nearby brick wall with a massive force push. He shot to his feet horrified. First, at what he had seemingly done… then, at what he apparently didn’t succeed at, as from the rubble arose the girl with a giggle “Oh ho. I see you like to play rough little boy. If that is how it is then so be it, I shall prove my dominance befo-“
“BACK OFF VAMPIRE FREAK”
SLAM! Out of seemingly nowhere the vampire was sent /flying/ into the air, a winged black hair girl with leg extended into a kicking position and hand held up to her face to watch the vampire blast off. She nodded in satisfaction, before suddenly appearing before Galen in a burst of speed “Are you alright?”
"Ummm...Thank you? Who was she?"
The youkai shrugged “Beats me. But, more to the point, good sir, who are /you/. My readers want to know!” she added hastily, notepad suddenly in hand and apparently eager for a response
“…Galen Marek. Captain of the Night Fury”
“Captain of a ship? Wow, that’s so manly. The next thing my readers want to know…” She leaned in a bit, poking the pencil into his chin as her voice suddenly went from eager to seductive “Is what you’re wearing under that armor. And I’d hate to disappoint my readers, so why don’t you and I head back to my place?” Two words could sum up his current feelings at the situation, and inwardly, they would cross his mind. Oh crap.... He had a good idea what was going through her mind and waving a hand, would attempt a mind trick as he spoke.
"You are distracted!"
And with that he sprinted off in the other direction. The bird girl blinked for a moment, staring at her shoe laces… “God damn’t, why can’t I ever remember the name of the things on the end of these?”
A few blocks away, and he was seemingly free! And even better, a seemingly familiar face was in the crowd, though the fact that the woman in the red hat was making a bee line towards him now of all times had him worried, and… whatever the hell it was that just happened momentarily left his mind. So he paid it no mind when Carmen suddenly took his hand in his, and he complied when she muttered “Close your eyes”
When he opened them, they were no longer on Aldopus, but another place, full of trees, a small clearing in the canopy shining moonlight down on… a picnic? “…Carmen…what does this have to do with the bounty?” Humming, she led him to the blanket, pushed him to seated, and took a seat herself, opening a champagne bottle with practiced ease. “Oh, well, nothing I suppose. Galen, you know how many people have stolen from me?”
“I can’t ima-“
“None. Not a single person has ever successfully taken anything from me.” She said, handing him a glass which he took in bemusement as she continued. “…until now that is. Because you have stolen… My heart” she said, leaning closer. Galen slooowly began to lean back, ready to bolt
“Carmen, I’m married!”
“And I stole you for myself” she replied simply, almost on top of him “And no one will ever be able to steal you back.”
“Wanna bet ze?”
Carmen whirled around, growled “You! Of all times, why now! We can settle our score another day!” from over the canopy and into the clearing came a girl on a broom stick, dressed in black and white and grinning like a maniac
“Oh, I think it’s the perfect time ze. I’m pretty interested in how well that merchandise behind you performs, and while you may be a /bit/ better of theif… I’m a helluva better at this” she finished with grin as her palmed revealed a hexagonal device glowing with power. Carmen swore, gave Galen (Who was currently stuck in a small ‘wtf’ moment) a hug and muttered in his ear “I’ll hold her off my love, be safe!”
He managed to get out “But I’m not your lo-“ before her magic teleported him and she turned to face the witch. From the tree’s at the edge of the clearing, a man dressed in red muttered darkly “he didn’t even have a nice hat”
“-OVE!” Galen blinked, and looked around. He was… back in the Night Fury. What a relief, but a distressed Alanna Harkness turned to him in surprise “Captain, you’re here! Thank god, we have a terrible situation on the ship!” He would blink, and discard the strange happenings for now out of his mind. This was more to his mind and adopting the air of general calm he had for these situations he spoke. "Status report, now!"
She gave a hurried nod and replied in the same breathless voice he had originally mistaken for panic “It’s been ages since you’ve come up to the cockpit, and I was gettin worried y’all forgot about me. But its ok now, because you he- hey!” Galen was rather capable of putting two and two together, and suddenly bolted for the door, forcing it shut, drawing his lightsaber, and sautered the lock in one fluid motion. A bit extreme, but until he figured out what was going o-
“K-Klutzknight!”
… oh son of a bitch. Galen sloooowly turned towards what he already knew was there.
“…Hello Cirno. Do you feel strange?”
The fairy at the other end of the hall blushed and growled at the same time
“N-no!.. but I do need to ask you a question…”
Deadpan behind his helmet, he sighed inaudiably and just in case he was just being paranoid, spoke cautiously. "...And what would this question be?" She fidgeted a bit.
"Why...why don't you do the same things with me you do with Gloria and Terra!?" Oh son of a-?! And pointing to a place behind her he spoke frantically.] "OH LOOK, A FROG!!" She instead dashed forward, yelling "I'D RATHER CHASE YOU!!!"
New plan! And he would seek to slice and force push his ways through the walls as he tried to think of a place to hide...Holodeck? No, he shuddered to think of the imaginative ways some of the women he knew after him could program it to keep him in. Hot springs? No! Not at all, BAD IDEA! And left with one method in mind, he would dash and run as fast as he could for the cargo hold. PLENTY of places to hide in the dark! Maybe a crate he could hide in, he could only hope...
... Unfortunately, the hope was forlorn, as standing near where he came out of was Lucy. Though luckily(?) she gave him a rather flat look “Captain. What are you doing down here?”
"...would you believe hide and go seek?"
The summoner rolled her eyes and sighed. "Just don't destroy anything. You know, like punching bags" He winced a bit at that, but nonetheless set off to hide, who knew how close Cirno w- "You know, I still haven't forgiven you." came Lucy's voice as he left. He froze at that, believing himself safe from Lucy at least from the way she was talking and letting his guard down, he spoke as he paused. "I'm sorry, I really am....Look, is there anything I can do to make up for it?" The summoner bit her lip. “Well, ther-“
“Lucy! Have you seen the captain I need to…” Rin came flying into the room, glancing around in confusion, before making eye contact with Lucy. And something just… clicked. So close were the pair, that it was with almost simultaneous nods and smiles that they turned towards Galen, Rin flying down to hug Lucy close as Lucy said “There is /one/ thing you can do to make it up to me, and Rin can even help…” from the hole he had come from, the echoing of “cooome back Klutzkniiiight!” could be heard as well.
"...Fuck." In hindsight, not the best words to say and he would turn and run as fast as he could, leaping from crate to crate and blasting out the lights to plunge the room in darkness. Hidehidehidehidehide!
“Don’t run you jerk!” yelled the pair in stereo, Rin flying above and shining light down on the crates while Lucy searched below. Then, from a hole nearby, came the wonderful, wondrous sound of a familiar voice, one that, no matter what the hell was going on, would treat him the same. “This way captain” came the calm tones of Gloria” Thank God! he thought, and rushing for her, he'd be cautious as he moved to avoid the lights and Lucy as he whispered frantically. "Everyones gone stark, raving mad!"
“I noticed” she replied somewhat flatly. “Mayhap it has something to do with the ridiculous gl- Galen?” She blinked “Your getting fuz-“ and suddenly… he was gone…
… Somewhere else on Aldopus, one of the rooms in the nearby casino, a strange device on top of the bed linked to a computer. A cackle sounded nearby, and he turned to see engineer Tali standing with a short, pink haired woman with cat like ears and two tails, who said “HAH! I told you the phenomenon shift would work” “Well, yes, but you would of missed had I not given you the DNA sample” “Semantics” The duo turned to him, Kokonoe’s gaze clinical yet eager, Tali’s hidden. “The important part is that he’s here now… lets makes some science”
"Dear god, what have I done to deserve this?" The look behind his mask would be somewhat helpless now before he leaped into action and blasted the device with all he had before doing the same to the walls. Escape! And on the other side of the wall, he received his answer.
“You pushed me.” The vampire he had met earlier was floating nearby “And now you are paying the pri-“
AYA KICK! AGAIN! “Hello again Mr. Captain, you never finished my que-” then, karma outta nowhere, as the squirrel lady he had met the day before came crashing down from a nearby rooftop “Don’t worry my love, I will protect you from such harpies!” “Me too!” came a voice from nearby, a young girl with a pair of rather ridiculously large pistols jumping off the same roof and giving Galen a smart salute despite her blush. “We will protect you from all who approach!”
He blinked behind his mask “…That sounds a bit Yande-“
“Here they come!” interrupted Makoto, as she and Noel took fighting stances. And from around the corner came… Angel, being, well, Angel as she was almost half naked as she ran towards the trio with a hungry grin, the cat girl from yesterday riding on her back for some reason, Leeloo and Chimere tripping them from behind with relative grace as they started dashing forward with looks of determination, only to get force blasted away by a strange woman who Galen couldn’t help but feel like he knew somehow, who turned to face him with a strange look, trying to speak before a portal opened up beneath her and she fell, a small smirk heard from over his shoulder “Well well well, that will teach /her/ who’s the strongest of the old ones around here” came the voice of Yukari Yakumo, sitting on a gap in the air behind him as she regarded him with regal eyes “You. You are mine now. Co-urk!” She suddenly keeled over, a thoughtful looking Yuyuko behind her, the ghost shrugging and smiling at Galen “Your turn! I prefer ghosts anywa- oh my” She blinked at the salt encrusted dagger suddenly protruding from her chest, before fading away. Galen turned, his impromptu body guards gone somewhere, the streets occupied only by a single woman with short black hair and a cloak more akin to mist than cloth “Oh Gaaaaaleeeen…”
“AAAAAAAAHH!” Galen shot up in his bed, glancing around in terror. It was… a dream? Just a dream. “Did you have a nightmare honey” came the voice beside him. He nodded “nothing I couldn’t han…dle… wait.” That wasn’t Terra’s voice. He slowly turned. Beside him was sprawled the walking man himself, signature cowboy boots all he was wearing save for a pair of fake cat ears as he gave a crazed smile “C’mon, show me how much you dig your man”
“AAAAAAAAH!” Déjà vu as Galen shot up in his bed once more. He immediately glanced to his side, saw Terra sleeping soundly, and sighed, flopping backwards back into his pillow. “Worst. Dream. Ever.”
Back in his hotel room on Aldopus, The spirit Terumi came back from his little trip to the Night Fury and repossessed his usual body, which woke up with a cackle. “Oh ho ho ho /man/ that was great! I’m gonna love it on there! Now, who’s dreams should I screw over next…”
Edited 3:30am, January 10, 2012 by Kokonoe, author. |
| Hermaphromorphs - unfinished project |
Rin Kurasawa
3:55am, January 10, 2012
[Edit]
[Delete] | OK this is written in a Manga Style with thoughts in [ ] and scene direction. It may be a little hard to follow until you get used to it. My artist backed out. This was going to be a webcomic project of mine and I have really not proofed it much so there may be some errors in it, but here goes.
***
“I am the engineer of my reality.
Designer of my destiny.
It flows past in a flicker of an instant
and I am the only constant
In a universe full of infinity”
Part I – Shaken
Pretty girl looking in the mirror, putting on her makeup
Looking back on it now, it seems so distant. It seemed strange at the time.
Scene shifts to the same girl writing in a journal propped up on one elbow in bed, her legs folded up behind her It was like an earthquake in my soul. I am Jo Lassiter. And I...
… am a hermaphromorph.
“It was a normal day.” Scene of a crowded high school, kids walking by, saying good morning and other greetings, the back of someone's head is in every panel. “I went home as usual after refusing offers from several friends.”
Scene shifts to an apartment door opening.
“I'm home!” A young man walks into the apartment.
“Welcome home son!” a woman's voice calls from the kitchen. “Get cleaned up because we're going out to eat tonight.”
“Again mom? Did you work so late that you forgot to put dinner on again?” The boy drops his backpack on the floor next to a couch, which he flops down on.
She peeks her head around the corner, presumably from her home office. “I had a long conference call about my new project. Couldn't be helped, Jo.”
Jo sighs. “If we're going out, can we try that new hawaiian restaurant downtown then, Mom?” Jo puts his hands behind his head, leaning back and closing his eyes.
“Uh, I guess so.” Rattling of change is heard “Hawaiian food isn't that expensive is it?” her voice echoes in from the other room.
“Eh? I don't think it would be, except for the stuff they'd have to import. If we get 'Loco Moco' it should be OK...” Jo responds, his eyes still closed.
[Jo's mom walks around the corner, caption on top of panel reads 'Jamie Lassiter, 39, mother of Jo']
“Loco Moco? That sounds sort of gross, what is it?” Jamie asks.
Jo opens his eyes and looks at his mother.“It's not weird, mom. It's a lot like flower-topped hamburgers. And it is on top of rice, too.”
Jamie blinks. “Well, then why not go to the place on the corner? They have flower-topped hamburgers too and I know they're not expensive...”
“Are we low on money again mom? I could get a part-time job if you want.”
Jamie waves her hand nervously.“No, no you don't have to do that. I get paid again Friday. We'll be fine.” ['I guess I'll have to get my hair and nails done after Friday, then.']
“OK.” Jo stands up and grabs up his bag. “I'll go change. No homework tonight, I did it at lunch and on the train.”
“All right, Jo. Don't take long. Momma's hungry!”
End Scene I
Jo comes out in a casual shirt and pants, his mother is sitting on the couch doing a sudoku.
“OK, Mom, I'm ready.”
“Mmm? Oh that was fast.” Jamie puts down her sudoku and grabs up her purse. “Let's go.” She grabs Jo's hand and yanks him behind her as they leave the house.
“Mom! Do you have to hold my hand outside? It's embarrassing! I'm fifteen now!”
“Oh!” She lets go of his hand.“You have to lead the way anyway, after we get downtown.”
“Mm! It's not far from that shop where you get your hair done. About one block past that.” Jo says as the two walk to the train station.
“Oh? Where that empty shop was, where the flower shop used to be?” ['that flower shop was too expensive. No wonder it shut down.']
“Yes, that's it, Mom.” The two get on the train
[Janice is staring at her son, deep in thought. 'I was about his age when it happened to me. I wonder if it will happen to him too. It skipped my mom...]
“Mom? It's kind of uncomfortable, you staring at me. People will think we're strange.” Jo speaks, shocking her out of her reverie.
“Oh! Sorry, I was thinking about the bits of you that look like your father.” Janice lies.
“But I thought you didn't like Dad anymore. That's why you divorced, isn't it?” Jo gets shoved closer to his mother by a press of people boarding the train.
“Well, I loved him for awhile. It is why I had you and your twin sister.” Janice looks down, blushing.
“But the judge separated us in the divorce. They're in Hawaii.” He looks away, but they're only inches apart now. [Jo - 'I hate riding the train at this time. It's too crowded']
“Yes. That's why you always read about Hawaii on your computer, isn't it? You're sort of a Hawaii otaku, aren't you?” Janice comments, teasingly.
“Y-yes. But Dad won't contact us. Your divorce must have been really bad. You never talk about it.”
[sfx: nervous - by both characters]
“It... was tough.” Janice looks down.
“Do you miss my sister too, Mom?”
[pause]
“Yes, but I have hope I will see her again.” ['maybe sooner than you think']
“M-mom. This is the stop.” Jo grabs his mom's hand and they push their way out of the crowded train.
End Scene II
“Mm! That was very good, son!” Jamie says, as they re-enter their apartment.
“I told you! But you should have tried it the way I did it.” Jo replied.
“That kind of meat, I'd never seen it before.” [ it was square and pink?]
“Yeah, it's called Spam. I told you it's just pork.”
“I was happy with the hamburgers. The rice was spiced so different.” Janice taps her fingers together.
“I guess I could find a recipe for it on my computer. It would be cheaper to make at home I think.” Jo replies, scratching his head.
“Y-yes that would be good.” [The food wasn't that expensive but now I don't have enough for both my hair and nails. I guess I could do my hair at home.]
“OK, I'll bathe then maybe look that up before I go to bed.”
“You know you don't have to go bed early tonight. The school holiday starts tomorrow.” Janice reminds.
“Oh! That's right! I guess I'll read some of my new manga then.”
[Janice – 'that's not what I meant. Why don't you want to talk to your mother anymore?']
“We'll I'm done with work for a few days too, we can spend time together, unless you have plans?”
“Huh?” ['Why is mom clingy all of a sudden? Maybe she misses dad and sees him in me? Ugh!] “Well, no.. I don't.” ['I turned down all the offers.']
“Great! I know you had a busy day today so we'll talk in the morning, K?” ['He usually spends his holidays with his friends from school. Maybe I can get to know my son again?']
Jo bows his head, “Yes, Mom!” and heads off to the bathroom.
End Scene III
The scene is a bedroom, fairly dark, and it zooms in on the face of a woman lying on her side. “Unh.” she says and rolls onto her back. The covers are just above her breasts. She reaches up to scratch herself, then suddenly sits bolt upright. “This can't be...” she says, looking down at herself. She raises her hand to her chest, touching herself briefly, her hand recoiling from her own skin. “Must be a dream.” She stands up and walks to the full-length mirror on the wall. She examines herself, totally naked. Her hand comes to her mouth. “MOOOOMMM!” She screams out.
Rustling and rattling is heard nearby and the door flies open. Janice is standing there, eyes wide at what she's seeing.
“Mom..” the girl says, dropping to her knees. “It's me. Believe me. I don't know how it happened...”
“Shh. Jo, it's OK.” Janice drops down next to the girl and hugs her close. “I know it's you Jo. I was about your age when this happened to me.”
Jo suddenly stiffens in her mother's embrace. “You knew this would happen?! And you didn't tell me?!”
[Janice – 'Oh no she's reacting badly']
“Not for sure. It didn't happen to your grandmother, but it did to mine.” Janice pets her daughter's hair.
“Uh-uh. You... you ch-changed too?” Jo breaks the embrace and looks into her mother's eyes.
Janice nods. “Mmhmm. I was born a guy just like you were, Jo.”
[sfx: no way!] Jo grabs the sheet off the bed and wraps herself in it. “You-you were...”
“Yes. I just decided I liked it better this way...” Janice absently twirls a lock of hair.
[sfx: scoot] Jo slides a bit further back from her mom on the floor, and looks into the mirror again. “What... what about my twin sister?”
“Honey... you're looking at her.” Janice says, staring at the floor, blushing.
“Wh-wha? And what about Dad?!” Jo, tearing up, yells at her mother.
Janice just raises one hand and points at her own face. A moment later, Jo passes out.
End Scene IV
The scene resumes in the same bedroom, morning. Jo (still as a girl) is sleeping in bed and Janice is sitting on the opposite side of the bed, watching her. ['She's going to be surprised when she wakes up that she is still a girl. I better be here for her to answer her questions. I got very little sleep anyway.']
“Mmm.” Jo stretches and sits up, (now wearing an oversized t-shirt) blinking at her mother. “Mom! Did I oversleep?” She suddenly covers her mouth. “What's wrong with my voice?” [sfx: shift!] Jo looks over at the mirror ['it wasn't a dream?!']
“You passed out last night. I dressed you and put you to bed.” Janice closes her eyes and smiles. ['Maybe I can make this seem more normal?']
“I... I... What you said last night, is all true?” Jo says. [sfx:gulp]
Janice nods. “Yes, Jo. It is. I named you Jo because it is a name that fits a boy or a girl.”
“But But.. then the divorce? And my twin?” Jo stares at her mother [sfx: evil glare]
“Uh- I.. I had to have a good explanation, if... if... you changed.” Janice puts her hands up in front of her, fingers spread.
“I.. guess. Guess so.” ['So this is real. And Mom planned for it?]
“You're not mad?” Janice scoots a bit closer, and Jo doesn't recoil this time.
“I didn't say that, but I understand why you did it. I know I'll forgive you. I just have to get used to this.”
“I understand, Jo.” Janice sighs and looks away.
“M-Mom. It's not like that.” Jo reaches out and touches her mother's shoulder.
“I'm glad.” Janice exhales forcefully and looks at Jo. “I suppose you have a lot of questions.”
“Yes. I just don't know what to ask first?” Jo blushes and looks down.
“Well then, I'll answer the questions I had when I first changed that my grandmother answered for me. Is that OK?”
“Yes.” ['what have I gotten into?']
“All right. First off, you will be able to change back, but when you're young it takes time to master. You won't be able to change back from the first time for about a week.”
“O-OK. Why?” ['so weird']
“Because you're about to have your first period.” Janice smiles.
[sfx: shocked!] “Wh-what?!” ['I'm going to bleed?']
“Yes. But I'll help you through it. Trust me, OK?”
Blushing deeply and looking down. “Yes, Mom.”
“Next, you're probably wondering why I told you that you were your twin sister and I was your Dad too...”
Jo nods vigorously.
“Well, I never ended up liking any guys, because, well, I was born one, but I wanted a kid so I.. well,” Janice makes shaking movements with her hand. “And then... I changed back and...”
“You don't have to explain more!” Jo, looking away and putting a hand up in a 'stop' motion towards Janice.
['whew'] “OK, so after you were born it was harder and harder to change back to a guy, and by the time you were five I knew that if I kept that going, you'd figure out quickly why you never saw Dad and Mom together... so I made up the divorce. And it sort of was a divorce... from my old self.”
['how do you divorce yourself?'] “I... I sort of get it. And you added the part about a twin sister just in case... this happened?”
Janice nods “Yup.”
“But why? Why tell me I had a twin sister?”
[sfx: regret] “I wish I didn't have to, but if you did change, and it was during your high school years, I needed a way to keep you going to school without having to move and start all over.”
“So... it was for me?” Jo points to herself.
“Mmhmm. I was thinking of my child's education.”
“I... I never thought of it that way. Can I ask a question now?” Jo asks.
“Yes of course!” Janice smiles and scoots closer again.
“Well, you said it got harder to change. Can you still do it? Change into a guy?”
“Mn! I can. It's harder mentally picturing myself as a guy but if I can do that I can do it.”
“Can I... I... see... Dad?” Jo asks, staring downward.
“Oh! Uh... well...”
“You won't do it?” Jo wipes her eyes.
“Ah! It's not like that at all! I'll do it, but I have to change out of these clothes.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Do you want to see your Dad dressed as a girl?”
[mental picture in Jo's head of a big strong man in a flowered dress, carrying a purse] “No!”
“I'll be right back dear.” Janice says, standing. “Or rather, you father will.”
End Scene V
“I can't meet dad just dressed in a t-shirt!” Jo goes through her closet, trying to find some clothes that will be more appropriate, but ends up in a baggy sweatsuit. Jo stares at herself in the mirror. “It can't be helped. My chest is just too big to wear most of my regular clothes..” [sigh]
She perches at the edge of the bed, waiting. Eventually there is a knock. “Fa- Father?”
“Yeeess!” the deep voice on the other side responds.
“Please- Please come in!” Jo looks down. ['this is stupid. We're both the same person why are we introducing ourselves?']
The door swings open and the man that she remembered from the pictures as her father, though a bit older, stands there, then steps in. “Is this what you wanted, daughter?”
“Ye-yes!” Jo nods vigorously.
The man steps in and places his hands on her shoulders. “You never learned my first name did you, Jo?”
“No, I didn't” [it couldn't also be Janice, right? That's a girl's only name!]
“It's Jason. Mother didn't have the gift and so she didn't think of naming me neutrally...”
“It's a nice name.” [sfx:gulp] “I..”
“Yes dear?”
“I want to hug you father!” She blurted out, blushing.
“Why it's only natural!” Jason gently urged Jo to her feet and gave her a good, solid, fatherly hug.
“Father I missed you!” Jo said, sobbing.
“I.. I'm sorry I was away for so long. But you know I can't stay around very much.”
“Huh? Why not?” Jo trembled, clinging to Jason.
“Silly daughter. Do we both juggle between forms all the time to try to fool all of our friends? Or do we move far away and slowly get to that point elsewhere too?”
“Um.. um.. I understand but I don't want you to go!” She held onto Jason tightly. [why am I so clingy to him? I know he's the same person but]
“I'll come around now and again. And in the next few days we'll have to take a lot of pictures together.”
Jo suddenly released her grip and looked up at Jason. “Pictures? Why?”
“Why, who would come from being with their father for ten years and bring no pictures?”
“Oh, that is so, but they'd all be recent ones wouldn't they?” Jo responded.
“Now you're thinking! Yes, but I already have earlier ones.”
[you do?] “How is that possible?”
Jason patted Jo's head. “I've taken pictures of you and myself at various ages all along. I thought originally I was going to have to work really hard to make good looking pictures but computers have gotten so good lately I can just put us in any picture we need, but I want recent ones that people can look closely at and not think they're changed...”
Jo nodded. “I guess that makes sense. Do you think I am silly for wanting to see you even though... you're... you?” [that made no sense! Stupid!]
Jason laughed. “I understand you well enough. You had a picture in your mind of a father that could come back and see you again, and there is no way I would let my child down like that.” A tear runs down one of his cheeks.
[he's so serious and sensitive at once!] “D- Dad, you don't have to cry. I... this is strange but I... I think I can get used to it.”
“That's my girl.” Jason patted her head, then gasped a little.
“Oh! Are you OK?” [is it too much for him?]
“I'll be all right. I am just a little out of practice keeping... in shape.” he winked.
[he winks just like mom. Ugh! He is! Oh this is stupid!] “You don't have to stay. I don't want you to be hurt or anything...”
Jason gasps suddenly. “I promise to practice more so I can keep in shape longer at once. I'll be going now.” he kisses Jo gently on the cheek and bows out of the room.
Jo, holding her cheek, smiles. “Daddy kissed me. I guess, for today, I'm happy being a girl.” [What!? What did I think!?]
End Scene VI
About an hour later, Jo is relaxing on her bed, reading some of the required reading assigned over the holiday break. A knock is heard on the door.
“Who-who is it?” Jo felt strange saying it but she really didn't know which 'parent' would be there?
“It's mother, dear, and I brought something for you.”
“Oh! Come in, Mom!” [sfx: swish] Jo swivels around and sits on the edge of her bed.
The door opens and Janice comes in carrying a small stack of clothing, and a little box under one arm. Resting on top of it are a bra and a pair of panties, both rather fancy-looking.
“Uh...” Jo points.
“These are mine, but smaller sizes. I'll have to adjust the bra on you. We're about the same size but you're a little smaller...” Janice lays the stack and the box down on the bed, and sits next to Jo.
“Adjust...” [just what is she going to do?]
“You'll have to take off that top so we can get your bra on.” Janice says, smiling.
“I.. I can figure it out myself!”
“Oh dear, don't be embarrassed! I'm your mother. It's my duty to do such things. Now take off that top. If you let breasts as big as yours go unsupported they'll look like an old woman's in no time!”
“Old woman?” [mental picture of Jo with old woman sagging chest] “No I don't want that!” with that, she quickly takes off her top.
“That's my daughter.” Janice scoots right next to Jo, and hands her the bra. “Arms through the straps here. I'll scoot around behind and adjust the length...”
A furiously blushing Jo nods and complies.
“Good, if I hook this on the tightest hook in the back it should fit.”
“Ouch! It pinches!” Jo exclaims
“Of course it does, you need to lift them up in the cup so they sit right. Like this.” Janice quickly reaches inside the newly-fitted bra and straightens Jo out. “There. Better?”
[she touched me there!] Jo blinks a couple of times. “Uh... yeah. It feels good in a way. I can even breathe a little better.”
“Of course! The rest of this pile are other clothes that might fit you. That little box there are some tampons. You might want to put one of those on because any day now you'll start your cycle and since it's your first one you won't recognize what it feels like...”
“Tampons? Cycle?” [oh my God this is embarrassing!]
“I won't embarrass you more about it. There are instructions inside the box. When you get all dressed we'll go out and buy a few new clothes for you. We won't have much money to do it... unless we use the money you put aside for baseball...”
[that's right! I was saving for baseball equipment so I could be the catcher next term!] “Uh, so it will be awhile before I can go back and forth between this... and the other?” Jo sighs.
“Well, for me it was about six months. My grandmother took over a year to get full control. It varies.”
[six months as a girl? Or a year?] “Um... baseball season will be done by then so it would be stupid to save for that.” Jo looks down.
“I know you're disappointed but trust me...” Janice stands, holding up an index finger and winking. “Shopping always cheers a girl up!”
End Scene VII
Jo is sitting on her bed, staring intently at the instructions on the little box her mother left behind. “I can do this. It's my body after all.” Jo tells herself. [but I have to stick it 'there' in that place!] After a moment or two, she lets the sweatpants fall to the floor and she removes one of the tampons from the box. Blushing and sweating she pauses. [you can do this! If girls can do this, so can you. But aren't I a girl?]
As quickly as she can, she follows the instructions applying the tampon, then pulls the panties her mother gave her back up. [oh god I still feel it in there. This is so weird]
“Can't be helped, Jo.” she says aloud to herself, mimicking her mother's manner. She turns and finds a pair of jeans and a v-neck black blouse among the clothes her mother left her. [she used to wear these back when I was around seven.]
Carefully, she dresses and looks at herself in the mirror. “Cute!” she exclaims to herself, turning around. [Ah! What did I just do?]
“This is no good, Jo. You can't be shocked at yourself all the time. People will think you're weird.” she raises her index finger and wags it at the mirror, scolding herself. [people? Oh what about school? I hope Mom has that planned too.]
“All right, young lady. March out there and meet your mother. You have to go shopping!”
Jo turns and almost really marches out of her room, and into the living room. When she arrives, her mother, also dressed casually sits on the couch, giggling a bit. “You know, I used to give myself pep talks too!”
[she heard? Well, at least she did it too so it's not so weird.] “You did? What a relief. I thought I was going crazy.”
“Dear, it takes a lot more than that to make a Lassiter go crazy. Come on, we'll stop for donuts on the way to the shops.” [donuts will be cheaper than a full breakfast, and Jo looks like she's going to burst out of those jeans any moment. Her hips are so full!]
“Mn! We are women on a mission today!” Jo raises one arm in triumph.
Janice laughs. “You're so cute!”
End Scene VIII
End Part 1
Part II – Settling In
Jo and Janice step off of the train in the shopping district. “Jo, before anything else we need to get your underwear.”
[so soon? That will be embarrassing!] “Umm... Why's that?” Jo responds, blushing once again.
“Well, if you don't have proper fitting underwear, what you wear over it won't look right.” Janice ruffles her daughter's hair a little.
“Oh, I guess that makes sense.” [but I'm still embarrassed] Jo sighs.
“It won't be that bad. There's a lingerie shop right over there. I'll be with you the whole time, dear.”
“Ok, but only because I'll be able to buy the cutest clothes because of it.” Jo suddenly covered her mouth. [I'm even talking like a girl now!]
Janice laughs. “You'll get used to it after awhile. Rumor has it that some of our people have no personality change between... but most of us do.”
[our people? It's more than just our family?] “There... are others?” Jo wondered out loud.
“Of course! We'll talk about this at home of course.” Janice waved her hand absently as the two of them entered the store.
“Janice-sama! I haven't seen you in here in awhile. How are you?” One of the workers, a middle-aged woman, smiles and walks up to the pair.
“I'm sorry Chizuka-san, I've been rather busy at home.” The two join hands for a moment. “I'd like to introduce my daughter to you.” Janice turns to face Jo.
Jo bows. “I'm Jo- Joan Lassiter. Pleased to meet you Chizuka-sama.”
Chizuka waves a hand at Jo. “No need to be so formal, Joan-chan. I'm just a simple merchant.” She looks again to Janice. “I thought your child was a boy, since you said the name was Jo. You're full of surprises, Janice!”
“Well, until recently my Jo was a boy.” Janice replies.
“What? You're kidding, right?” [they do amazing things with plastic surgery these days!]
“M-mom!” Jo blurts out. [isn't it supposed to be a secret?]
“No, no, it's not like that. My husband and I were divorced some time ago and each of us was caring for one of the twins. We went back to court recently and... well... my son is with his father in Hawaii and my daughter is now with me.”
“Oh! Well that explains it. So, what brings you here today, Janice?” Chizuka looks over the pair as she asks.
“Well, it seems a lot of Jo's luggage was lost in the trip, so she needs new clothes. And of course we have to start here.” Janice smiles.
“Of course!” Chizuka places one arm around Jo's shoulders. Jo is staring at the ground. “What's wrong Joan-chan?”
“I've never been in one of these shops before. It's embarrassing.” Jo mutters.
“Oh! I suppose your father just set you loose in one of those department stores and let you buy on your own. It would be embarrassing for a father to walk into one of these stores. Well come back to the dressing room and I'll get you measured.” Chizuka starts walking with Jo back towards the dressing room, and Jo shoots a desperate look at Janice.
“Go on, it will be just fine, Jo.”
Chizuka and Jo enter the dressing room. “All right, take off your blouse, please, Joan-chan.”
Jo blushes and almost protests then complies. [better to get it over with fast].
“Oh! The bra you're wearing is probably your mother's right? It's all hitched up. Well I'll just measure here, and check the size of this one so I have an idea of what will fit you better.” Chizuka quickly goes to work, and Jo blushes all the way down her neck in response.
“Hmm, big for a young girl. How old are you, Joan-chan?”
“Fifteen, Chizuka-sama.” Jo's eyes are securely shut.
“Amazing that you can be a C cup and nearly 86 centimeters at that age.” [I developed much later.] Chizuka responded.
“All right, I need to take your other two measurements.” A few expert swipes of the tape measure later and it's revealed that Jo has a 74 cm waist and and 84 cm hips. “You have a very good figure, Joan-chan!”
“Th-thank you, Chizuka-sama.”
“And quit calling me that! We're friends, huh? Just Chizuka is fine. Ok, put your blouse back on and we'll find you some nice underwear, eh?”
“Yes, Chizuka-sa .. Chizuka.” Jo quickly dons her blouse and walks out with Chizuka.
“So, that wasn't so bad, was it Jo?” Janice says, turning from a display she was looking at.
“No.. Not so bad.” Jo manages a small smile, and her blush has mainly faded.
Janice leans in to whisper something to Chizuka, who whispers back to her. Janice whistles. “Well! You've certainly got a better shape than I had at your age, Jo!”
“Thank you, Mother.” [is her goal to make me die of embarrassment?]
“Well, let's get shopping!” Janice proclaims.
After the embarrassing time at the lingerie store, Jo and Janice went to about half a dozen women's clothing stores, and picked out a number of outfits. “So, Joan, eh? That was quick thinking. I like it.” Janice whispers to her daughter.
“It's not much longer than Jo so I figured it would be easier to respond to...”
“I chose Janice before I knew there was such a name as Jayce, which would have been the same for me.”
“Mn. I like Janice though. It is a cute name.” Jo says, taking her mother's arm and leaning her head on her shoulder.
“Tired, my daughter?” Janice asks.
“Mn. A little. And my baseball money is mostly gone. Let's go back home. I'm hungry.” Jo says, eyes closed.
Janice yawns. “I think we can pick up some ramen bowls from Jin's by the house for dinner, if you don't mind. I'm tired too.”
“OK, let's go.”
End Scene IX
Two days later...
“Jo? Are you awake yet?” Janice calls down the hall.
“Yes, Mom. I'm just reading.” Jo shifts from where she was lying on her bed reading and stands. “Did you need me?”
“Yes, dear. Get into that button-up blouse and the long skirt we got you. I just finished talking to the principal at your school. I made an appointment to meet him later today. We're going to get you transferred in.”
[so soon?] “All right, Mom. I guess I can't avoid this any longer.” [I wanted to wait until after I stopped bleeding.]
“Come on out dear, I made Hawaiian style french toast for breakfast!” Janice teased and opened Jo's door.
“Really? You got fresh pineapple?” [I wonder if that was expensive?] Jo pulled on her robe and shambled out to the kitchen, well behind Janice who had already whisked away and was serving the plates already.
“Wow, Mom. You've got a lot of energy today! That's strange because... Dad was here the last two days.” [it's like I'm in slow motion]
“You'd think so, huh? But it's like the energy was waiting to burst out once I stayed that way awhile, it got easier and I got used to it.”
“Mm! Smells good! Bacon too! Itadakimasu!” Jo laid into her breakfast, and Janice sat down across from her smiling. “Mom. Not going to eat?”
“Oh I ate already dear. It's hard to keep this hot for long.” [I just had some rice and egg, because this food was too strange.]
“Oh, ok! I can see why you couldn't wait. This is delicious!”
Janice laughed. “I'll leave you to finish while I get dressed. Once you're done, get dressed so we can go to the school.”
“Mn! Oh this pineapple is so good!”
Janice ducked into her room, which doubled as her office during work days, to get dressed. When she slid open her closet door and pushed aside some clothes, looking for a nice outfit, something hanging in the back of the closet met her gaze. The ancient looking sword, in its scabbard and hanging from a belt in the rear of the closet, was still there. [Of course it's still there. It's just a sword isn't it?] She reached out to touch it, then let her hand fall short as she sighed. “Hopefully you and I will not have to wield these. Hopefully what grandmother and I did all those years ago stopped this whole thing.” she whispered, clutching one fist to her chest, suddenly looking down.
“Enough of that.” she told herself quietly, as she found her nicest blouse and the longest skirt she had to dress in. It was the only one she had that went past her knees. “We'll go to school today and get Jo transferred in and everything will be just fine.” She adjusted her glasses, which she really didn't need – they were just glass and didn't magnify anything, but they made her look smarter, she thought. [and just how smart are you not telling your daughter about this part?]
Janice shook her head. “A little at a time. She'd think she'd died and been reborn as an anime character.” She stood in front of the full-length mirror in her room.
“What's this about anime characters?” Jo poked her head into the room.
“Uh.. um.. I thought in this getup I look like one.” Janice replied.
“Oh... you do, sort of. Onegai Sensei!” Jo winked at her mother. “Like one of those librarian types who are really magical girls who fight unspeakable evil!” Jo posed dramatically a few times.
“N-no it's not like that!” [did she hear me somehow when I was whispering?] Janice waved her hands at her daughter.
Jo laughed. “Of course not! That'd be silly!” she started to turn away then paused. “... Right?”
“Silly! Yes of course! No go get your silly self dressed before I take you to school in your bathrobe!”
Jo giggled and ran to her room.
End Scene X
Jo came out of her room, dressed in the white button-up blouse and long black skirt her mother suggested, but she looked dissatisfied.
“What's wrong, Jo?” Janice asked.
“It doesn't feel right. Feels like something's missing...” Jo tapped her chin and stared upwards.
“Ah. You're thinking more like a girl all the time! I have an open vest you could wear.” Janice suggested.
[I am? I guess it's natural that when I'm in a girl's body that I think like a girl.] “Yeah, that's what's missing. I tried putting on my old jacket but it didn't look right...”
“Exactly!” Janice called as she stepped away and back into her room. I'll get you one of my wristwatches to wear too...”
“Oh that will be perfect!” Jo giggled. [a giggle? Me? I guess I'm just really becoming a girl]
Janice emerged a few moments later and walked behind Jo, helping her on with the vest. She then handed Jo the watch which she put on.
“There! Come take a look in my big mirror in here, young woman!” Janice clasped her hands together as she walked into her room.
[Mom's letting me into her room? She never does. That's odd...] “Yes, Mom.” she walked into the room, which was half-office and half-bedroom, and stood in front of the full-length mirror that served as the closet door as well. “Wow... is that really me?”
“Yup! You're so pretty I can hardly believe it!” Janice grinned, and Jo blushed. “Let's get to school, shall we?”
“Mn! Let's go.” Jo and Janice left the house, and boarded the train to get to school. “Mom, this is strange. It's been forever since you've went with me to school...” She said quietly to Janice.
“And as far as you're concerned, I've never done it before. I'm trusting on your Hawaii knowledge to not only know about the place, but act as if you've spent the last ten years living there. You're going to have to forget that you know anyone, because everyone knows that Jo has had no contact with his sister in ten years. You're up to it, right?”
“Yes! I've been studying and... well I made a new email address for myself and I've been... uh emailing myself, like I was learning about me.. from me...” She looked down, embarrassed.
“That's a good way to do it, Jo! This way you can base your information solely on what your brother would have told you in the emails. You're so clever.” Janice closed her eyes and smiled, cocking her head a little.
[Mom looks really cute when she does that. Huh? That wasn't a girl thought, was it?] “Uh, yeah, I thought so. Don't worry Mom, I can do this.”
“I know you can dear.”
The two rode the train in silence until they got off at their stop. When they approached the school, Jo saw many of his friends, but forced herself to ignore them. As they got closer to the administrative offices, Jo's best childhood friend, Mari Nakano, walked up to them. “Mrs. Lassiter! What happened to Jo? I haven't seen him for awhile?”
[Jo? I'm right here. Oh, that's right... I guess it's good she doesn't recognize me.] Jo just looked down and let her mother respond.
“Hello Mari! Oh... well, you know that Jo had a twin sister and that she was staying with my ex-husband... There was a court hearing and... well, Jo went to Hawaii and his sister came here to live. This is Joan, Jo's twin sister.” Janice indicated Jo and smiled.
[sfx:bow] “Pleased to meet you.” Jo said in English, instead of her usual Japanese.
“Oh! I am being so rude!” Mari bowed and replied in English, “Pleased to meet you. Do you speak Japanese?”
“Hai! I learned in a Japanese school in Hawaii, so I even learned English with a Japanese accent!” Jo giggled a little.
[she's so cute! Now that I look at her, she's obviously Jo's twin!] “Oh good, because my English isn't the best.”
“I know.” Jo blurted out before she could think. [it was her worst subject]
“Oh! Is it so obvious?” Mari blushed.
Joan scratched the back of her head and looked away a little. “Well, sort of. But I can tutor you in English if you like...”
“Really? That would be great!” Mari giggled. “We're going to be such good friends!”
“Uh, Mari. We're here to transfer Joan into school, so why don't you come by later to talk with us? We live at the same place.”
“Oh! Yeah, right.” Mari bowed and smiled. “See Ya!”
End Scene XI
Jo and Janice entered Princial Ozuka's office and sat down in two rather skimpy chairs in front of the lavish desk the Principal was behind. He swiveled his rather plush leather chair around and faced the pair. “Greetings, Mrs. Lassiter, Jo-chan. So, you are here to transfer Jo-chan into this school, mmmm?”
“Yes, Principal. Jo does well at school and I think she would do fine placed in the same grade as her twin brother.” Janice said, straightening her glasses.
“Mmm... I will have to judge that myself. I assume you brought the transcripts from her other school?” Ozuka leaned forward and steepled his hands ( http://www.indiabix.com/_files/images/body-language/8-42-12.jpg ).
Jo looked down and Janice looked away and scratched the back of her head. “Um... it was in Jo's luggage and a lot of it was lost in the trip from Hawaii...”
“So it's like that then. Well, that makes this much harder.” He paused, leaned back and then looked at Jo. “Jo, you speak Japanese well?”
“H-Hai Sensei. The school I learned at was a Japanese school. Even my English teachers were Japanese.” Jo didn't even look up totally, and was staring at the corner of Principal Ozuka's desk.
“Well, that's one thing. So, which school did you study at? I am sure I could call their records department and have them sent to me right away.” He smiled at the pair. [they're not going to deceive me. I will not accept a sub-standard student into my school if I can help it.]
Janice covered her mouth and blinked hurriedly. [I didn't know he was going to be so thorough!]
“It was Fukuoka Academy, Sensei. You are familiar with it aren't you? Your uncle is the Principal there, isn't he?” Janice said, with an inner smile. [I know he and his uncle do not get along well. I've heard them arguing as I have passed by the office in the hall.]
“Y-yes. That is right.” [Fukuoka? I couldn't even get into that school when I was her age!]
“And since he is your uncle, it should be no problem to get my grades from him, right, Sensei?” Jo pressed, looking the Principal right in the eye and smiling brightly.
“Oh... well... I know of Fukuoka's reputation, and if you met with my uncle's approval, there's no need to go to all that trouble to get that.” Ozuka waved dismissively. [there's no way I'm calling my uncle. He never thinks anything I do is worth anything.] “Did you have an idea of which classes you would like to enroll in, Jo-chan?”
“Well... yes. I looked at my brother's class schedule, and except for the type of PE and shop class, I'd like the same classes.” Jo nodded confidently.
“So it's like that then. That makes things easy. So...” he fiddles with some papers. “You don't want baseball or shop, which is understandable. Which ones would you like instead?”
“I.. I guess gymnastics for PE, and... umm...” [Mari is in Gymnastics.] “A home economics or cooking class instead of shop?” Jo smiles and fidgets a bit.
“Nice choices.” [it would have been strange to let a girl into baseball or shop, we don't have co-ed classes for either of them] the Principal paused. “Mrs. Lassiter, will this be a permanent move? You said the court case was very troublesome...”
Janice cleared her throat. “As far as I know. At least for the rest of this term and next term, if you will, Principal.”
“Ah. That will make placement easier.” He turned and typed some things into his computer on his desk for a while. Meanwhile, Jo and Janice exchanged nervous glances.
“There. Not hard to do that, really. The gymnastics team doesn't try out for a few weeks. If Jo-chan shows talent maybe she could try. I put her in the afternoon class for that, and I found an early morning cooking class. You'd have to come in a bit earlier than most students. Are you all right with that, Jo-chan?” Ozuka's attention wandered between the two girls. He looked them over with a critical eye. [why did we have to lose a boy to get a girl? But I'd rather not lose students altogether so it can't be helped.]
“H-hai Sensei! I will work my hardest!” Jo said enthusiastically.
“I know you will, Jo-chan. Is Jo your full name? Mrs. Lassiter, did you name both of your twins Jo?” [that would be very strange if she did]
The two both stared at the Principal. Jo was asked first but Janice was the senior. Jo figured it was best to play as the American she was supposed to be and answer first. “My name is Joan, and my brother's is Joseph. We grew up separately but both of us became known as Jo by our parents.”
[ah, she at least paused. She has some idea of how to be polite, unlike most Americans] “So it's like that then. I'll make the change to the record, and … Unless something strange happens and I call you before then, Joan-chan will start on Monday. This will give you two days to get the right books and your uniforms, Joan-chan.”
[he did it again! Talking to both of us at once so neither of us can speak without looking silly] “I appreciate the help you are giving my daughter, Principal.” Janice said, giving Jo a look to silence her, as she was about to speak.
Principal Ozuka nodded. “I think our business here is complete.” he paused, and waited for the two women to stand before he continued. “Please go to the administrative office and order Joan-chan's books and uniforms on your way out. It was a pleasure. Both of you.”
Both women bowed deeply, Jo purposely delaying until her mother started to bow, to make it seem like she didn't know to bow.
“The pleasure was all ours, Principal.” Janice said as they straightened out. “Thank you once again.”
“Most welcome. Most welcome indeed.” he said as the two departed.
Once they were out of the room he clenched a fist. “I will make sure that Joan-chan is the best student ever at Shinzu High. My uncle will have to bow down before me and proclaim me the victor!” [visions of Ozuka standing triumphantly over a deeply bowing and humbled uncle] “I won't call him, because I want him to know that I took one of his students and made her the best ever! Bwahahahahahaa!”
“Principal? Did you call me?” His secretary poked her head inside the door.
“Uh... no. No... I am just happy to have such a good new transfer student coming in is all. It's OK.” Ozuka waved his hands a bit.
“Oh, all right. I'll... just go have my lunch now, then.” The secretary closed the door. [such a strange man.]
End Scene XII
“Jo! That was a dangerous game you played there! How did you know he wouldn't call? Especially his uncle!” Janice said, as the two boarded the train.
Jo adjusted the package of uniforms she was carrying. [they had my size right there so at least that part was easy] “Easy. I did some work last term for the school newspaper, and I walked by the Principal's office often. He's always trying to outdo his uncle. It's a strong rivalry.”
“Aha. So you think he won't call because of his pride?” Janice asked.
“Mn! Of course... I think school might be harder for me. The rivalry will make him want to make me a better student than his uncle would have been able to.”
“Well, it would be better for you too.” Janice nodded.
“I suppose so...” Jo said. [I really didn't want to work so hard.]
A short time later, they get off the train and returned home.
“You should redecorate your room a little, Jo. If Mari is coming over and thinks you've been staying here a week, she would expect that. Start by taking down those baseball posters and putting something else up.” Janice warns.
“Oh! I totally forgot! But what do I have to put up instead?” Jo paced.
“How about those posters you got from the manga shop last year?” Janice suggested.
“But Mom! Those are collectables! I... well yeah I guess. But what will she think? I don't know if she reads those but a couple of them are...” Jo paused.
“Are what dear?” Janice prodded. Jo responded so quietly that Janice didn't hear. “What?”
“Yuri, Mom. Do you think she'll notice? And think I'm weird?” Jo looked panicked.
“No, just make little notes on the posters about what you think is cute. I see a lot of the girls doing that these days. Find heroines they like and idolize them.”
“Uh...” [how does she know that?]
“I did that project for the girl's dorm last year, remember? I saw every girl's room in that place as I was redecorating.” Janice wagged her finger at her daughter.
“Oh, yeah, right. I guess it's worth the sacrifice...” [not sure posters would be worth all that much later anyway]
“Well, get redecorating! I'll add some touches to the bathroom and my room. Mari's classes will be done in an hour, and you know she'll come right here afterwards.”
“Right!” Jo went to her room and started making it more girly. [it's like I am giving up being a guy totally. But it's only for a year, at most. Then I can go back to being a guy. I'll ask Mom soon about that]
Meanwhile, Janice added a picture of herself and Joan to the pictures on her desk, and rearranged things in the bathroom so it would be more convenient for a girl to use. “Oh, about right now I bet Jo is having a real identity crisis. Maybe the visit with Mari will remind her that she's the same person, regardless of which body she's in.” Janice stared at herself in the mirror, and the reflection in the mirror for a moment seemed to reflect Jason's face. Janice blinked and shook her head. [I like being Janice so much better, but I better keep in practice... just in case.]
End Scene XIII
“Mrs. Lassiter? Joan-chan? Are you home?” Mari called out, as she tapped on the Lassiter's door.
“Okaeri, Mari-chan!” Janice replied, making sure to use the informal version of 'welcome back' hoping Mari would start using her name instead of making her feel old with 'Mrs. Lassiter'.
Mari slipped off her shoes and stepped into the apartment. “Arigatou, Janice-sama. Is Joan-chan here too?” Mari had her arms crossed behind her back and rocked on her heels.
“Yes, Mari-chan. She's taken over Jo's old room. I have to get dinner ready soon, so why don't I go do that while you visit with Joan? Did you tell your parents that you'd be staying for dinner?” [she usually did stay when she visited before]
“Hai-hai, Janice-sama. Mother says to call if I am going to be later than nine coming home, but she expected me to stay for dinner.” Mari smiled and waved as she walked out of the living room to the small hallway that led to Jo's bedroom. Mari suddenly stopped right in front of Jo's door. [I used to just walk in here without knocking. But this is Joan-chan, not Jo-kun.] She gently knocked on the door.
“Hello?” a voice came from inside, in English. “Who's there?”
[sfx: blink] Mari wasn't used to hearing English. She knew what most basic words meant alright, but it took her a moment to process it. Mustering her limited English mastery she replied. “It is Nakano Mari. May I come in?”
The door flung open instantly, so quickly it took Mari aback. “Of course, Mari-chan!” Jo said switching back to Japanese, and stepped back to allow Mari to come in.
Mari walked in, carefully, looking around. Gone were the baseball posters and the stack of unread manga on the wardrobe. They'd been replaced by posters for anime and manga that were far more pink than anything she'd ever seen in Jo's room. “You've redecorated a little. I see.” Mari ventured.
“Yes. I'm really not all that into baseball.” Jo shrugged as she lied. “I think I will ask Mom to get me some more girl-looking stuff for my bed too.” Jo walked over to her bed and sat down, leaving plenty of room for Mari to sit on either side. It's where he always sat when Mari visited.
[she sat exactly where Jo always sat when I came over? I guess that isn't too weird, since it is in the middle, and they are twins after all.] Mari smiled, and sat on her usual corner of the bed next to Jo. “That'd be nice. A lot of my friends buy things at Carousel. It's a furniture and bedding store.”
“Oh I know! I read a little about the shops around here on my computer. I hate feeling out of place.” Jo replied while smiling nervously.
[really likes computers too. Yeah, she's a lot like her twin.] “That's cool. So... when do you start school?”
“Monday. I'm excited. I have almost all of the same classes as my brother had, except I have gymnastics instead of baseball for PE, and cooking instead of shop.” Jo looked off to the side and put her finger to her chin, recalling it.
“Gymnastics? Morning or afternoon?” Mari asked.
“Afternoon I think... is that good?” Joan cocked her head.
“Hai! It is the same class as I have! That's so cool!” Mari clasped her hands together.
“Oh? That's great! I've never really taken gymnastics but I ran track at my old school, so I'm in good shape.” Jo grinned and flexed her arms playfully.
Mari giggled. “You're silly Jo-k... um Joan-chan. I'm sorry I almost called you by your brother's name.” She suddenly looked away.
“Oh it's all right.” Joan waved her hand dismissively. “You can call me Jo if you want. I went by that in Hawaii anyway. That is, if I can call you Mari?”
Mari smiled and nodded emphatically. “Mn! Of course, Jo! She started to extend her hand for a handshake, then thought better of it and draped an arm around Jo's shoulders instead. “Friends!”
[she's so close to me] “Y-yes. Friends.” Jo smiled.
Mari tightened her grip on Jo, jolting her a little. “Mn! Good! Soo... what kind of hobbies do you have?”
“Oh, well... I like playing games on my computer and reading. Mostly manga. I watch a lot of anime too. I was thinking of getting into more girl like hobbies. I was raised by my dad so I was.. um a real tomboy.” Jo blushed.
“Aw, it's not bad to be a tomboy.” Mari jolted Jo again, playfully. “Trust me, I know.”
[I can feel her breast rubbing against my arm!] Jo continued blushing. “All-all right.”
“Hey, are you uncomfortable or something? Am I being too familiar? It seems strange, like I've known you for a long time even though we just met. I guess it's because you are so much like your twin.” Mari looks intently at Jo.
“I.. well, just a little but it's ok. I really need a friend and I can't afford to offend the only one I have!” Jo suddenly giggled and winked at Mari. [another giggle? I'm getting more girly all the time!]
“No, no you aren't offending me! I am just wondering what we'll do until your mom calls us for dinner.” Mari scratched the back of her head, a puzzled look on her face.
“Well... what did you and Jo do?”
“Eh? Oh, your brother. Um... we'd talk about school or schoolwork, our friends... sometimes played cards or read magazines or manga together. You know, just different things.”
“Well, I haven't been to school yet, but I know I am in the same homeroom as you because I'll be taking my brother's seat in there. Is there anything I should know about the people there before I get there Monday?”
“Um, well Mr. Shimato is very nice, so you don't have to worry about him. You might get teased by Yuki Masimoto. I think she doesn't like people who look like foreigners. She used to tease your brother a lot, but he didn't respond and teased her back so she finally quit. Other than that, everyone is pretty nice.” Mari fell silent, thinking of what to say next.
[yeah, I remember that teasing.] “Uh... well, we could read, or listen to music or something, maybe?” Jo suggested.
“All right. Jo used to keep manga on his wardrobe. Did he take them with him?” Mari asked.
“No, but I put them away in this drawer over here.” Jo leaned across Mari and opened a drawer.
“Neat! These are all the ones he hadn't opened yet. Wonder why he left the new ones?” Mari asked.
“Uh... we switched places... really suddenly. A lot of our stuff didn't get moved.”
Mari suddenly giggled. “So... Jo has a closet full of girl clothes? I can just picture him in a girl's uniform!”
[sfx: blink] Jo shook her head violently. “No! It's not like that!” she grabbed some of the manga out of the drawer and scooted back, tossing them across the bed. “Let's pick one to read together.”
“Huh? Wow, Jo really is your twin. He always wanted us to read the same one together too. OK, how about... this one?” Mari picked one at random. The title was 'Girl Friends'
[oh no, that one is probably Yuri! She'll think I'm weird!] “Hm. Is that one ok? Do you think my brother bought 'H' manga?” Jo said, and blushed instantly.
“Naw, the 'H' ones have warning labels on the plastic. It might be a little ecchi but that's OK right?” Mari said absently, ripping off the plastic wrap. “Jo always bought the ones they had wrapped in plastic. He had this thing about not wanting to buy manga other people had touched. I think he had to pay more for them where he bought them, but it was what he did.”
[Yeah I did. I didn't mind until one day I found stains that probably came from Pocky (or something worse!) on some pages] “Everyone has things they do strangely, I guess.” Jo opened the manga and started looking at it. “Let's read!”
“Mn! Let's!”
End Scene XIV
Jo and Mari were stretched out on the bed, reading the manga 'Girl Friends' that Mari had picked from the pile that Jo had. “Jo, turn the page already.”
“Mn ok.” Jo flipped the page and was presented with a full page spread of one of the main characters kissing the other one. She immediately blushed.
“Wow, she really kissed her. I bet she's going to confess to her too!” Mari said, apparently unbothered.
“Uh... don't you think that's sort of weird?” Jo asked.
“Not really. I mean, you've read yuri manga before, right?” Mari looked at Jo, blinking.
“Um yeah, but not with another girl right there...” She looked away.
“Oh... I never thought of it that way. I think, that the person you like... you should tell them, right? Even if you're both girls or both boys.” Mari declared.
[you never talked so progressive when I was a boy.] “Uh, I guess so. But it might be too strange if you knew that they wouldn't like you too, right?”
“Yeah, but that can happen even if its a boy and a girl too.” Mari countered.
“I suppose so...” Jo shrugged.
Mari looked back at the manga then up to Jo after a long moment of silence. “Can I ask you something, Jo?”
“Hai! Anything.” [Mari looks worried suddenly. I wonder if she thinks I'm weird]
“If a person makes a promise, they should keep it, right?”
“Yeah, usually. Sometimes things happen and you can't keep your promises because there's nothing you can do about it.” Jo replied, trying to reassure Mari.
“And, if I tell you something, can you keep it a secret? Pinky promise?” Mari said, extending her hand, pinky distended.
“Hai!” Jo reached out and joined pinkies with Mari. “I promise! I'll keep this secret no matter what!”
Mari giggled and released Jo's hand. “All right... You know that I was childhood friends with your brother, right?”
“Mn. Mom told me.”
“Well, we've been friends for years, and we've just always been together. Recently, both Jo and I had been getting asked to go out by people and getting love letters and such. We even used to share them here and laugh at them, because we never got ones from people we liked.”
[I remember that] “Oh... I see.” Jo blinked and waited for Mari to finish.
“Well, I was thinking about this a lot lately and I figured out why I never had anyone I liked...” Mari paused, and ever so slightly blushed.
“Why is that, Mari?” Jo asked [does she like girls?]
“Because I like Jo-kun. I even made a promise at the shrine the other day that I would have my first kiss right here in this room with Jo.”
[sfx: doki] “Uh, and since my brother moved away, you think you have to break your promise?” Jo crossed her arms across her chest to keep herself from hugging Mari like she wanted to so much now.
Mari nodded. “I'm a bad person for breaking my promise, aren't I?”
Jo waved her hand dismissively. “No no you aren't. It can't be helped.” [yes it can. Suggest it to her.]
“I shouldn't make promises so casually, I guess.” She looked down, saddened.
“Mari... I think I know how you can keep your promise.” Jo said, quietly.
“Really? How?!” Mari looked up and her eyes lit up.
“You said that your first kiss would be in this room right?”
“Yes.”
“And that the person you kissed would be named Jo Lassiter, right?”
“Yeah...”
“Well, you're in that room and...” Jo pointed at herself. “I'm Jo Lassiter.” Jo was blushing furiously.
“Hmm..” Mari was blushing too now. “I guess that's technically right. But the person I like is your brother.”
“So, I am his twin. That's the next best thing right? And it would fulfill your promise.”
“Oh it is so sweet of you to offer! You're the best friend ever! And you won't mind... if I kiss you? I mean, it won't be too weird?”
[I have to make this sound like I am doing her a favor.] “Naw. Girls kiss each other all the time, right? It doesn't mean anything.”
Mari laughed. “You got that line right out of the manga!”
“So that's where I heard it before.” Jo grinned at Mari.
“All right, let's do it.” Mari declared and stood up. “Come on, stand up!”
“O OK.” Jo got to her feet and stood in front of Mari, facing her.
“Weird. You're a little taller than your brother.” Mari noted.
“Huh, I guess I am.” [I never noticed] “So how do you want to do this? Do you want to pretend that I am my brother when you do it? Or just do a friendly girl kind of kiss?”
“Hmm... I think I need to fulfill the feelings in my heart when I do it. If it is too weird you don't have to do it...” Mari looked away.
“No. I- I'll do it. Just... keep your eyes closed when we do it, OK?”
“OK...” Mari reached up a little (Jo was about 3 inches taller than Mari) and put her hands behind Jo's head.
They both closed their eyes and Mari closed in for the kiss. Jo felt herself changing. [oh no not now Mari will see that I'm the same person!]
Mari and Jo kissed, and when they stepped back and both opened their eyes, Jo was back in female form. [I guess I only thought I changed?]
“Mm. Thank you for letting me keep my promise.” Mari said, stepping back and sitting on the bed again. She looked down and blushed.
Jo, still blushing touched her lips for a moment then sat down next to Mari. “No problem.”
They sat there in silence for over a minute, neither looking at each other.
“Jo?”
“Yes Mari?”
“It was nice.”
“Mn. It was.”
“I felt like I was really kissing Jo-kun. Isn't that weird?”
“No, because you wanted to so much.” [Did I change for a moment when we kissed? Can I do it so fast?]
“Hmm. I guess you're right.” The moment was over and Mari's tomboy style came back. She grabbed Jo around her shoulders and jolted her again. “You're really like the best friend ever, you know that?”
“You say too much. I'm not so good...” Jo replied.
“No, you are! You're smart like Jo-kun. That's why you figured out how I could keep my promise.” Mari insisted.
“Well, since you say it like that...” Jo smiled. “But you're a very good friend too because I don't know anyone at this new school now I feel like I won't be alone.”
“Mn! Yep! That's us! The two best friends in the world!” Mari giggled and fell back on the bed, sending manga bouncing all over.
“Jo-chan! Mari-chan! Dinner! Come on, It'll get cold!” Janice called from the other room.
“Dinner! And home cooked! I'm going to enjoy this!” Mari proclaimed.
[Mari's parents usually bring some sort of take out or make the simplest foods. I don't think her mother knows how to cook very well.] “It's not like my Mom is the best cook in the world.” Jo said as she followed Mari to the kitchen.
“Compared to my Mom, she is!” Mari giggled and winked.
End Scene XV
Edited 4:01am, January 10, 2012 by Rin Kurasawa, author. |
| Hermaphromorphs - unfinished project part 2 |
Rin Kurasawa
4:03am, January 10, 2012
[Edit]
[Delete] | The scene fades in with the three women sitting at the kitchen table. Dinner is nearly finished.
“Thanks for dinner, Janice-sama! I don' think I've ever seen flower-topped hamburgers done this way.” Mari commented.
“This is actually a Hawaiian dish when it is done this way.” Janice replied
“It's called 'Loco Moco', and in Hawaii it's often had for breakfast.” Jo chimed in.
“Breakfast? Awful lot of food for breakfast!” Mari exclaimed. “Did you have this for breakfast when you were in Hawaii, Jo?”
“Mn. I did, but usually in a smaller bowl. Rice on the bottom, topped with Spam and an egg.” Jo nodded.
“What is spam other than unwanted email?” Mari asked.
“It's basically canned ham.” Jo shrugged. “It's very good fried.” [or so I'm told]
“Hmm. I like ham. Maybe I can try it sometime. Can you get it in Japan?” Mari wondered, tapping a chopstick to her chin.
“Mn! But it's sort of expensive because it has to be imported. Usually from America.” Janice replied before Jo could
Jo gave a quick look to Janice. [How did she know that? Did she try to buy some?]
“Well, I'll get this cleaned up so you can get the train back home, Mari-chan. We don't want you to be late!” Jo started stacking up the plates.
“Oh, I suppose it is getting late...” Mari looked disappointed. “Jo-chan...” she paused and switched to English. “Would you be my English tutor?”
Jo laughed and replied in English, “With the way you said that, I would be remiss to refuse!”
“Um.. 'remiss'?” Mari blinked.
Jo switched back to Japanese. “It means it would be like abandoning a duty if I didn't.”
Mari also switched back to Japanese. “Oh! Arigatou, Jo-chan!” she bowed her head for a moment.
“Well, I guess I'll see you at school Monday then, Mari?” Jo asked.
“Nope!” Mari said with a twinkle in her eye.
“No? Why?”
“You'll see me before! I'll come by your house Monday morning and we'll go in together!” Mari declared.
“Um... I have an early morning cooking class. Do you want to come in that early?” [Mari was late for regular classes sometimes. I don't think mornings agree with her.]
“Sure! I can get some extra gymnastics practice in! The gym is almost always open.” She nodded emphatically.
[That's it. Whenever she nods like that I know her mind's made up.]
“OK, but remember that there's no way I am going to be late on my first day so if something happens and you don't show up, I'll have to go on my own.” Jo advised.
“Oh I'm wounded!” Mari clutched at her chest. “We're friends, right? I won't let you down!”
[so dramatic] “Mari, you're so silly. Now get going before you're late getting home!”
“Mn!” The two girls made their way to the door. “Oh, one more thing!”
“Eh?”
Mari rushed forward and hugged Jo. While they were close, she whispered in Jo's ear, “Don't tell anyone at school about what happened today. Remember, you promised.”
Jo nodded, and as Mari broke the hug, Jo held up one hand and extended a pinky, indicating that she recalled the 'pinky promise'.
“Goodbye! See you Monday morning!” Mari slipped into her shoes on the porch and ran down the street.
Janice sighed. “She always has so much energy. I'm glad you two became friends again.”
“Mn. Me too. It would be hard to pretend I didn't know her.”
“Did you tell her?” Janice asked.
“Tell her what?”
Janice just stared.
“Oh. No, I think she'd be too freaked out. I don't think she would tell anyone but... no.”
“Then why do you look so uncomfortable?” Janice persisted.
“Um... well...”
“If you can't tell your mother, who can you tell?” she placed one hand on her daughter's shoulder.
“Mari kissed me!” Jo blurted out, blushing and looking down.
“Really? I suppose it makes sense, since she's such a tomboy...” Janice considered.
“No no it's not like that!” [I guess since the promise we made was to not tell anyone at school, I can tell Mom and keep the promise.] “Jo made a promise at the shrine last week... that her first kiss would be me, in my room.”
“But if you didn't tell her...?” Janice wrinkled her brow.
“I... wanted to kiss Mari so bad I pointed out that her promise was to kiss Jo Lassiter in that room, and I was also named Jo Lassiter, and we were in that room. And she looked so sad that she was going to break her promise...”
“You sneaky devil.” Janice ruffled her daughter's hair as she continued to blush.
“Oh, Mom... I have something to ask you.” Jo started.
“What is it, dear?”
“When... she was kissing me... both of our eyes were closed so I didn't see, but I felt myself changing. But when we opened our eyes I was still... Joan. Could I have changed that quickly?”
“Hmm... not your full body. Sometimes when I stare in the mirror and think of Jason my face becomes his for a moment.”
[what?! My boy head on my girl body? Just when I thought it couldn't get any stranger!] “Well, I guess that's good then. I really fulfilled her promise.”
Janice stooped slightly, as she was only a head taller than her daughter, and looked her in the eyes. “You are a very good person, in whatever form you take. I'm proud to be your parent.”
[I'm not that good!] “I wouldn't be as good as I am if I hadn't had good direction.”
“See what I mean? Even when I compliment you, you find a way to help others.” Janice hugged Jo tightly for awhile.
“Mom? Are you crying?” Jo said after a moment.
[sfx: sniff] “Yes, but they're happy tears, Jo. They're happy tears.”
End Scene XVI
End Part II
Part III
Education
|
| Chill Pill |
Ranma Saotome
5:08am, February 25, 2012
[Edit]
[Delete] | Removed as per request of author. See instead the original post.
Edited 9:58pm, November 17, 2014 by Tino Didriksen, moderative. |
| Chill Pill - Chapter 2 |
Ranma Saotome
9:49am, February 25, 2012
[Edit]
[Delete] | Ditto. See original post instead.
Edited 9:59pm, November 17, 2014 by Tino Didriksen, moderative. |
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