Heeheeeheeheehee

Ahem. Sorry about that. Couldn’t resist the urge to snip a blurb snippet from the Lemony Snicket movie. Snot snat? Snood.

As I’ve mentioned in the fic’s author’s notes, here are possible questions which might need answering, along with brief explanations on what I’ve introduced in the first chapter, and what would most probably explain the rest of the fic, just in case. Even that is tentative, but I can’t very well leave you all in the dark this early, no siree.

( Q#1 How AU will the fic be? )

( Q#2 Ritz = Riccio? Hu-whaaat? )

( Q#3 Attarria = Italia? )

( Q#4 The HxH Mafia vs. the movie Mafia vs. the real Mafia: what’s the diff, man? )

( Q#5 So what’s going to happen in this fic of yours? )

Bonus Question:

Q#6. Are writers schizophrenic?

            Yes.

            In one way or another.

mood: aw gee music: drops o' rain

“Kill all your darlings.”

                        -William Faulkner

 This revision applies to my fic, “The Apple in Well,” which, after a considerably lengthy amount of time, have duly displeased me and had dissipated my interest; therefore, the looooOOOOoooooOOOOoong hiatus. So now, I’ve have to get that blood running again.

Yup, some of my present plot and plot bunnies have either got to go, or re-visualized, or changed and re-directed in all sorts of ways. Furthermore, I have gone over my past reviews of gracious people who may be still waiting for an update until now (ye gods… I’m SO sorry, guys!). I’ve collated some parts of reviews which, I think, need to be considered. That is partly my reason why I’m keeping my old reviews despite the fact that I’m beginning the whole thing all over again. Review the reviews, my friends!

The names of the reviewers precede the review. My response to those comments follow suit for each review, identified with a triple dash (---).

( Points of weakness/clarification: )

 I thank all of those who reviewed the first draft of my fic, and I mean all, and not just those whom I have mentioned above (you guys just got lucky, wink wink) How do I thank thee? Let me count the ways…

mood: well whaddaya think? music: Enchantment - Enaid

I. But First, The Introduction

Our happy joyful word of today: GEEK.

Dictionary Delineations: (courtesy of The Oxford Desk Dictionary American Edition)

geek /geek/ n. sl. 1 socially inept person. 2 carnival performer of sensational but disgusting acts.

Oh oh goodie, hooray to the modern times, the word actually has a dictionary definition now!!! Ten years ago giving that word its denotative due was inconceivable to think of. It was underground and most likely would appear in tabloids and fanzines than in a dictionary. Three cheers for Oxford!!!

Problem is, its dictionary definition doesn't quite hit the mark as the geekfold perceives it. It is very misleading and may lead to symptoms of contempt and utter normality in order for individuals allergic to the concept to draw the line between them and the other. Ah well, they don't know what they're missing!! To not be a geek at least 10% of your life will be missing 10% of the wonderful possibilities which life may bring. Which bring us to its...

Connotations (and corrections, mind you. Aww, looks like Oxford's three cheers are presently demoted to pending… besides, the second definition kind of breaks my heart):

A geek is not socially inept!!!! A geek blends in with other geeks. And believe me, they are proud of it. Let's place the word "geek" in the field of fandom. A geek is not just a fan. A geek is an incurable fan. A blessedly malignant tumor of a fan. A geek is near to omniscient in every aspect of the fandom s/he belongs in. Let's say, for example, these geeks are fans of a certain book (and to take it to a more valid level, a sci-fi or fantasy book). Geeks do not only build shrines for the book's characters. They have graduated from that stage and are literally pursuing a master's degree.

They live, breathe, drink, devour, and carress the world of the book. They explore all possibilities related to the fandom: chug the book around, recite lines of it by heart and considering those lines very proverbial indeed. They know and are in the process of knowing the etymologies of the characters' names down to the nook and cranny where (insert character's name)'s old shoe was lost, however relevant it is to the plot or otherwise. An ideal geek is a shaman; but of course, there are different kinds of geeks who geekerize themselves in the fashion as their environment humanly allows them to. There are even demi-god/dess geeks who have obtained PH.D. level and walk around, heads high without a trace of shame and doubt as living incarnations of the characters. And are fatally, deliciously good at it too. Hmmm hmmm hmmm.

As the nature of categorizing goes: All geeks are fans but not all fans are geeks. But fans, don't think geeks are lofty bitches and bastards who deserve to die and peacefully reincarnate into the realm of the book where they would not plague you with their geekerisms. Geeks are friends, not food. Geeks are (sort of) living organisms in (almost) humanoid form and they eat, sleep, drink, bathe (yes yes believe it or not they do!!!) and... well, just like any other human being. Don't be obliged to be a geek in order to be marked a true blue fan of your fandom. Geekerize yourself at your own free will. Live in harmony with your geekhood, accept it as something good, and hopefully, the "normal" society will follow the belief that geekism is not bane.

Ah, let us not forego the fact that in Conventions, geeks amass abound. In Conventions, there is no second skin (even under all those costumes and exclusive-to-the-fanclub t-shirts). Only blissfull blahblahblah-ings. An opportunity to see other fans in the flesh, a time to showcase your fandom merchandise and treasures. They raise their voices on high like the very choir of heaven (or, er, well) to theme songs related to their fandom. They speak the language of the fandom. They even take the liberty to gather around in circles or in squares or other polygons as what suits them and criticize the fandom material from which they so derive their much celebrated joy. They debate and concede, but come up with common conclusions that leave knowledge bins full and souls at peace. Also, not all geeks are pedantic and purist. They name their pets with names derived from the fandom. They name their kids in a similar manner. They name their unsuspecting kinsfolk's kids in that manner as well. They also name their godsforsaken pens and cellular phones.

Ah, to sing the song of life.

No, geekhood is NOT a severe mental disorder. It is a level of existence, a philosophy, a religion, a body of knowledge, a school of theory. On the other hand, it is, in its better sense, immensely therapeutic.

And during intervals of realization that they are still part of the capitalist (or communist, depends on national government) world, they are your mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, teachers, lawyers, engineers, managers, doctors, priests, politicians, farmers, fishermen, plumbers, next-door-who-blunder-to-the-front-door-to-typically-yawn-every-morning-neighbors. They are everywhere and anywhere in places and positions where you least expect them to be. Geeks aren't the stereotypical pimply nerdy braces-full creature of wedgies, get-stuffed-into-the-locker dilemmas and other forms of ridicule. In fact, in every person's heart is a half-submerged desire to be a geek.

Come on, admit it, you know you want to!!!

II. The Point Is Near

On a side note of pondering wonderment, if Hunter X Hunter had a following of geeks, they would found a fanclub artlessly but meaningfully baptized as The Hunter Association and membership cards will come in the form of superb quality printer-fresh laminated Hunter License cards with their "Hunter Name" in it, supposedly (but not ideally) plucked from a "Hunter Name Generator." The more capable computer whizzes (since I've coined so many words already, might as well let that one breeze through) will actually devise the Greed Island game, and perhaps even attend a real-life auction, disregarding the fact that the auction may be selling off sixteenth century antiques in need of exorcism. They would converse in writing utilizing the Hunter Alphabet.

Of course, Hunter x Hunter geeks may not have room for other anime series because accommodating more, especially one with principles and laws different from that of Hunter x Hunter, will experience minor bouts of Identity Crises (plural form. I can spell). However, there are those who are flexible: one moment, s/he sings the significant anthem Ohayou, and the next moment, enumerates and explicates the myths and legends from where Reikai, Ningenkai, and Makai had been based on. And then yet, at the next minute, intones a ballad encrypted in the Holy Writ called The Silmarillion. And finally, proclaiming that s/he is a proud denizen of the House of Slytherin. That, or arcanely waving his/her hand in magnificent deliberation in front of your very presence and gallantly announce, "May the Force be with you." (In jovial respect, I recount an event wherein someone mentioned that the Kuruta is actually related to the Fremen, except evolved with a more potent choice of color)

It's a great and beautiful world, it is.

III. Oh Wait, Almost Forgot: The Ficblog, Which Is My Point, You Know

Fanfiction is one form of life-blood to a populace of fans. But there are dire instances wherein a fanfic without author's notes is like chocolate milk without chocolate. Since Fanfiction.net disallows the paragraphical ratio of 5:1, 5 being the author's notes, I decided to get a little unconventional and document necessary information, rantigs, ravings, and musings concerning the fandom and of course, the fanfic itself in a separate repository. And if it so happens that I receive reviews with questions that need answering (duh) and points that need clarification, I'll do it here as well. I do not wish to flood my own review board with the ratio of 100:20, 100 being the messages sprung from my own hand.

IV. The "Art" of Geekery?

"My, my," quoth thee, "first this crazy delusioned nutcase bawls about geekery being 'good;' now she's profaning it into 'art'?"

Yah, got problems so overwhelming your very dreams attempt to kill you in your sleep about that?

Well, can't blame ye, friend mine; more often than not, Geekism will most likely fall under twisted science than twisted art. But folks, in all truth, however awkward I still am about it, Geekery needs skill and grace, needs mood and tone and a dash of life essences. Geekery need not always be systematic to work; it can be symbolic, or whatnot, to be of effective use to the giver and the receiver of information obtained through geekiness.

And I also put that word in for fun. Imagine the troubled numbers who will flee screaming for their very spirits if they would encounter the word "science" instead.

V. There Is No Five: This One Is Already Long Enough As It Is