<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966985602258232208</id><updated>2011-04-21T12:57:18.601-05:00</updated><title type='text'>The Silver Saga</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://silverbranch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7966985602258232208/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://silverbranch.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Arkali</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06797332294932931602</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/Signatures%20and%20Whatnot/arki-3_th.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>2</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966985602258232208.post-2172995050303054719</id><published>2007-09-11T10:42:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2007-09-11T13:53:23.195-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Chapter 2:  The Man Hunt</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;So, we've got Bachelor #5 on his way.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Hopefully he'll be better than the last four."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-31.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;"Oh.  My.  God.  What's on his overalls?  Is that bug guts?!?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Just gaze into his blue eyes and tell me what you think...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"He's CUTE!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;I thought you'd like him.  He's a good guy, too.  We'll work on that later.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-32.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;But for now, to work!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-33.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;"Hssst!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;What?  Aren't you supposed to be working?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Yeah, but something happened.  What do I do?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Well - you know how I said I can't always control everything?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Yeah..."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;This is one of those things.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Well, just guess, for crying out loud!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Well - do the grammar check.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"You know those things are unreliable, right?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-34.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;"Whew... it worked out."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Well, of course it did.  I knew it would.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Sure you did..."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;As a treat, maybe you'd like to invite Robi over tonight?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Let me think about it.&lt;br /&gt;Ummm, YEAH!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-35.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;See how well this is working?  He's thinking about kissing you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Really?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Really.  How about making his dream come true?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-36.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;"Mmmmm....."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-37.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;You like him?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Oh, yes!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-38.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;"Okay - what the hell is that thing?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;It's a noodle-soother, also known as a noodle-hootchie.  Put it on.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"I am &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;so&lt;/span&gt; not putting that thing on my head."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;We spent reward points on it - put it on!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"You wasted our green stamps on this?!?  Gah!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-39.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;See, what did I tell you?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Okay, okay."  *grumble*  *grouse*&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"So, when am I getting a house?  I need a house!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Soon.  You don't need one yet.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-40.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Do I need a house YET?  Gypsy and I are freezing our asses off.  It's frickin' cold to be living outside."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Soon....&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-41.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;"How 'bout now, before I turn blue and the cat gets lost?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;You know, you could put some clothes on and that might help.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Whatever.  Bite me!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Oooh, who's that?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-42.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;"Robi!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;So easily distracted...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-43.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Why don'cha go ahead and pop the question?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Truly?  What if he says no?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;We'll cross that bridge when we get to it...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-44.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-45.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-46.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;See - no worries!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-47.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Y'all didn't waste any time.  :snicker:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-48.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;That's one way to warm up.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-49.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;And look, a house! &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-50.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Kind of small."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Yeah, but it's cute.  And kwitcherbitchin' - you got a roof over your head now.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"True."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-51.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;And here's Robi, post make-over.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-52.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;So, what do you think?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"I'll get back to you on that...."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-53.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;These two are constantly kissing and flirting.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-54.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;AND!  Because you've been doing so well, how about a honeymoon?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Really?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Really.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Where are we going?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;How 'bout a tropical island?  I figure you're tired of snow.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Got that right!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-55.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;"This is soooo cool!  Thanks!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;You're welcome.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-56.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Heee.  Ya'll look a little lost.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Hey!  The hula is harder than it looks..."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-57.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Robi knows how to relax.  I want a hot stone massage!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-58.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;And that's the end of three days in the sun...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;See what I mean about the funky tan lines?!?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;~~~~~~***~~~~~~&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;And the Silvers are back home.  Tune in next time to see what they're up to!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-59.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7966985602258232208-2172995050303054719?l=silverbranch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://silverbranch.blogspot.com/feeds/2172995050303054719/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7966985602258232208&amp;postID=2172995050303054719' title='6 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7966985602258232208/posts/default/2172995050303054719'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7966985602258232208/posts/default/2172995050303054719'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://silverbranch.blogspot.com/2007/09/chapter-2-man-hunt.html' title='Chapter 2:  The Man Hunt'/><author><name>Arkali</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06797332294932931602</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/Signatures%20and%20Whatnot/arki-3_th.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/th_g1_ch1-31.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>6</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966985602258232208.post-8876876316951024683</id><published>2007-09-11T09:22:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2007-09-11T11:20:55.043-05:00</updated><title type='text'>The Silver Saga Starting Out</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-01.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Hola!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"What?!?  Who's there?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;It is I, Arkali!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Well, who are you and where are you?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Hmmm.  I'm your controller.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"I don't need a controller."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Sure you do!  Don't you want somebody with you, looking out for you?  Think of us as a team.  And this &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"&gt;is&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt; a challenge, so you'll appreciate the help.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"I don't understand..."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Well, of course you don't.  You're a sim.  I'm your controller, mouse-mistress, call me what you will.  I don't have complete control - some things are outside my influence.  But I see the big picture, and I want what's best for you.  Comprende?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"I... I guess."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Oh - and another thing - people will be watching what you do.  Why don't you say hi to everyone?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Watching!?!  Eep!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-02.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;"Hi!"&lt;br /&gt;whisper: "What now?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Just smile and wave while I introduce you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;"Greetings, everyone!  This is Sapphire Silver..."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Sapphire Silver?  Tell me you didn't!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Shush.  Don't interupt.  It's called a theme.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;:snort:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;That's not very lady-like.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;"As I was saying, this is Sapphire Silver.  She's an adult, a family sim, and she's making an extreme start."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"What's an extreme start?  And can I stop smiling and waving?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Yeah.  And an extreme start means you're what they call land poor right now.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Simlish, please?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;You've got a lot of land, but you're practically broke.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-03.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;In fact, this is all you can afford right now.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"You've got to be kidding!  You said you'd look out for me..."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Stop whining.  It's unbecoming.  And I am looking out for you.  This isn't permanent.  Oh!! Quick!  Go say hi to the paper-boy.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Why?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Just do it! I'll explain in a moment.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-04.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;See, you have these goals, and if we satisfy your goals, you get points that we can spend on special prizes.  Don't you want to win prizes?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Yeah.  But how do I know what the goals are?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;You don't.  I do.  Remember how I said we were a team?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Yeah."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;So - you ready to do this?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Yeah!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-05.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;This is the welcome wagon.  I don't really see anybody to hook you up with.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"What do you mean?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;We're husband hunting.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Malcolm Landgraab is cute."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Yeah, but we don't want him.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Why not?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Because he's business poor.  He's not got much ready cash, and we need some cash.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Ah.  Okay."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-06.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Hsst.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;What?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Who &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;is&lt;/span&gt; that lady, and why won't she leave?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;I dunno.  Let's throw her out.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Thank god."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-07.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;"Have I mentioned I'm sick of instant drinks?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;That's all we've got until we get enough money to buy something for you to cook on/with.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Well, make it soon, please.  These things taste like a tin can."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;I know.  Gross, huh?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-09.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;"Hey!!! Do you mind?!?!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Oops!  Sorry!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-10.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;First day on the job?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Yeah."  *gulp*&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Don't worry - you'll do fine!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-11.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;So, why are you so blue, kitty cat?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"I'm not blue, I'm red, you stupid biped."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Well!  Excuse me!  So, why are you red?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Well, my two biggest problems are having to sleep on the ground and not having anything to sharpen my claws on."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Well, if you're good at work I'll work on that, okay?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Whatever."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Geez.  Cat with a 'tude!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Lady, we all have 'tudes.  It's part of our job description."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-12.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;So, what do you think of this guy?  I think he's got money.  Lots of it.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Eh.  His lip has a weird quirk."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Okay.  We can keep looking.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-13.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;See, I told you I'd fix you up.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Thanks!  I'm feeling much better."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;So, you're up for learning how to shake hands?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-14.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;"I suppose.  God, how humiliating."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Why are we doing this?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Fame and fortune!  Just trust me, you two.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-15.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;An aside:  How the hell do the bills work out to be $78??  We're not talking posh, here.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-16.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;"Omigawd, these trees are so cool!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;I know.  We "bought" these with goal points.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Really?  What else can we buy?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Lots of stuff.  But you see now why it's important?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-17.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Ooooh!  Say yes!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"I don't feel like going out."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Go anyway.  We can look for a husband AND you can eat solid food.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Done!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-18.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Slim pickin's on the husband front.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Yeah.  Ick."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;But at least you're getting solid food.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"There is that..."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-19.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Another aside:  How the hell did this happen?  I don't even think there were 9 people in the group.  What the heck?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-20.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Okay, what do you think of him?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Eeeww.  He's got old man hair."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Hair we can change.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"I still don't like him."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Grrrr.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-21.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;"But this Chico guy is cute."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Last resort.  NPCs first.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-22.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;"No comment."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Me, either.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-23.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;"Ooooh!!! You got me a stove!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Well, kinda.  I have plans for the stove.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-24.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;"Wait - why am I burning my dinner?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Firemen are hot.  It'll work out.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-25.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"It better.  This sucks!"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-26.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"And I'm tired.  So the fireman was a firechick.  What next?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-27.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;"Why do you want me with a woman?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;I don't.  I swear I ordered pizza from the guy.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Yeah, right."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Let's try the bar-tender again.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-28.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;"I told you, I don't like him."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;He's got black hair - that's one of your turn-ons!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"I don't care - I don't like him."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-29.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;"And he doesn't like me.  Now, are you happy?"&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;I guess.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/g1_ch1-30.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;"This is infuriating."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;I know, but we just pulled out the big guns.  This next guy is a sure thing.  EVERYBODY loves him.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"We'll see."&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7966985602258232208-8876876316951024683?l=silverbranch.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://silverbranch.blogspot.com/feeds/8876876316951024683/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7966985602258232208&amp;postID=8876876316951024683' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7966985602258232208/posts/default/8876876316951024683'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7966985602258232208/posts/default/8876876316951024683'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://silverbranch.blogspot.com/2007/09/hola-what-whos-there-it-is-i-arkali.html' title='The Silver Saga Starting Out'/><author><name>Arkali</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06797332294932931602</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/Signatures%20and%20Whatnot/arki-3_th.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/arkali/silver/th_g1_ch1-01.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry></feed>
