It must be fresh...

--I was smoking a precious cigg, watching as the smoke flew helplessly upwards, heavy, as if burdened by the cold. It was freezing, the earth stood still under a blazing sun whose heat failed to reach out and touch with warmth those dwelling beneath it. Only some privileged few were able to experience it in the South, way South, near the equator. Hands shaking, I imagined fantastical tropical beaches, like the ones you used to see in commercials, and then naked people dancing underneath the Sun – because, after all, who cared about PIGs when it was warm? To just be warm…I thought, was all I wanted, even if I knew it’d do me no good.
--We were waiting for Anthony, whom, like the Sun, shone his special sunlight onto people more privileged, or perhaps, more worth his time. I didn’t care, or really know; I had a feeling that if I had met Anthony without Tory…that if I had let her die that day back then that he would have probably liked me better. Even if I don’t think I would have liked him. And the Sun would shine on me; I would sit in with the others around a fire, drink, and tell stories…
--Instead I was freezing outside on what I had heard Carter’s people call a Decepsun day, trying not to stare into Tory’s blindfold hoping for some response. But I couldn't help it, I couldn’t help but shake and suck on my cigg and watch Tory from the corner of my eyes hoping to see a smile, a tint of emotion. She was like a frozen torch, her lit up hair stagnant on the tip of layers of brown and green, mismatched clothes. I myself preferred black, leather especially, even if I was a little cold; or a lot cold.
--Her chapped lips opened. “Here he comes,” she mumbled for my sake, but I caught the grin on the tips of her lips. I nodded, knowing, damn, that she couldn’t see it, and waited for another minute or two before the door swung open and out stepped another that preferred black. But he dressed warm, prepared for even just this little private meeting; a familiar black scarf wrapped around his neck. Only thing that got me curious was the addition of a backpack that looked packed and ready to go.
--“Good morning,” he said in his usual, formal-ass tone.
--“Sup’,” I replied with a nod of the head.
--“Good morning,” Tory mumbled dutifully.
--“I will cut to the chase because it’s cold. I’m doing something a little different today – it’s going to be like before. Not Before. I mean before everyone else got here. I’m going to go out with you two to see personally how Tory is progressing.”
I couldn’t help but cock a brow and loosen my hold on my cigg. “I’m sorry, so, you’re leaving the school to them?”
--Anthony smoothly replied, “You don’t trust them?”
--Maybe. “No, you can never trust anyone, but, it’s your choice, man.”
--There was a moment of silence where I’m very sure Anthony was contemplating his decision. But he nodded, as if it was the thing to do, and turned to knock on the heavy school doors twice. There was movement and loud creaking – the doors were locked up tight. The noises had sent goose bumps over my skin, and for a brief awfully frightening moment I thought of long brown-black hair and amber, almost devilish eyes. Tamiko – would she cause any trouble? But I checked myself, knowing that she could make it happen with or without Anthony there to stop her. As we turned to go, though, I couldn’t help looking back at the face of the school, taking another long puff of my cigg. Why was I so anxious? My skin tingled when I thought again of her smile, hidden by the cold concrete of the school. Shrugging my shoulders as if pushing off the feeling, I looked forward into the Decepsun day, the blue sky familiar in its harshness. If I never saw her again, I thought, it would be for the best; she was a dangerous and unnecessary distraction.

Blue and Tamiko convo

_"Do I seem childish to you? Do you get the impression that I am naive or unaware?"
_Her eyes were piercing. I got lost in a gaze of greens, browns, and tinted yellows, that were alive and dancing with intensity. Answers; always searching and coaxing for information. Those eyes wanted everything and I knew it. In that sense, she was childish, but at the same time there was a powerful, almost wise, force that drove her forward. Somewhere deep within, I knew, Tamiko held a purpose that pushed her towards a goal that only she saw. It was far, beyond all our simple thoughts, shooting past even Anthony's. Perhaps even there within that gaze visions of a far off world fueled her flame. It gave her a beauty that no one else in the deadly cold-blue could ever maintain.
_The corners of her lips came up and she flashed her gaze to the others lounging, eating the steamed vegetables slowly and with care.
_"Obviously not." She was looking at me again, arms crossed and her untouched food left to cool beside her thigh.
_"No," I responded, shoving a carrot into my mouth. I hated carrots, but I was so hungry I didn't care. "Not really."
_"Then why warn me? I know what I'm doing. You should be more concerened with your own affairs."
_My hand froze halfway to lifting a fork to my mouth. "With Jack?"
_"With the King, yes. You think he's just going to forget your promise?"
_Thoughts ran ahead of me and scattered, mapping out a picture of memories. They floated around until finally I spotted the one that held which promise she meant.
_"Oh, right. Yeah, so?"
_Her brow furrowed in amusement. "You're not concerned? You do know who you're dealing with, don't you?"
_"I know enough, and I don't really care. Better things to worry about."
_"Like a past that's suddenly deciding to bite you in the ass?"
_We locked challanging gazes for a moment. "Yeah, like that."
_She smiled. "Well, just so you know. Jack's promises last forever. In his mind, he owns this place. He owns everything that the cold-blue touches."
_My head perked up. "Cold-blue? He's mentioned that before, what is it?"
_Her eyes lowered for a moment, long lashes almost touching her cheeks. "It's...a word he made," she mumbled, and then her eyes were back to mine again, intent and knowledgable, "And I think you already know what it is."
_Slowly I chewed a cucumber, is dull juices surprised my mind that thought there should be the evident taste of salt. Unconsciously my mind worked with this, while at the same time I tried to gather what she meant. She was right, I knew what cold-blue was, I had known for a long time. And I was a part of it, if anyone could say what cold-blue was, then it was me.

New name

Going to sleep so late....again ahhhh...

Karas' new name is Mathis. I think it suits him perfectly.

It's brilliant.

Karas was too weird to say...Mathis seems more human, and less like I'm trying to copy the anime...hahaha

p.s It means gift of god.

It's no longer "Chronicles of Faraday" now it is, "Chronicles of Rowan". Why does that disturb me? A tree named Rowan, a whole grand city named Fort Rowan, a crazy blue-eyed boy named Rowan...now it's not starting to sound so good. Not that I liked the name Faraday for him, but "Chronicles of Rowan" reminds me of something that's already been done...and it sounds so...like, oh it must be about Rowan. Maybe I should switch it to "Chronicles of Briar." A tree named Briar. A city named Fort Briar. A crazy-blue-eyed young man named Briar. Ok I like that much better.

Cider is no longer Cider, but Rowan. Faraday is now Briar.

The twins Briar and Rowan. One with sky-blue eyes, the other with emerald-green ones. Holding hands tightly, they will be thrust down a path that can only lead to separation. Buds stretching outwards from the tree, separating and blooming into different folding colours.

Of the two, who will be the one to sacrifice their life for the sake of the future. For the sake of Tory?