A romantic tale.

Decided to put in a short story I wrote once while bored at school. Finished it in roughly an hour, if I remember correctly. Something different for this site.

People who read this have told me they liked it, but these people also happen to be my friends, so while they may truly like it, I am not completely satisfied.

So far, it's been called slightly "purple" and florid by others, and I am curious as to what other people see it as.

I humbly present my short story...

HILDE

She is my heavenly beauty.

To glimpse her would be a sin.

With divine strength and immortal grace, she travels this ruined world, searching for those who are worthy to follow her, to fly with her to the gates of heaven, and to be welcomed as heroes among heroes.

I espy her resting on a grassy knoll, her feathered helm on the ground beside her.

She is smiling as the wind blows her gold-spun hair.

I dare not approach, I, who is but a mere shepherd boy, who has never seen war.

Yet, I begin to step forward.

She turns to me, her radiant face ever more so attractive to me, her smile ever more so sweet.

She has been waiting for me.

Elation and bewilderment fill my being.

So long have I dreamt of her.

So long did I want to see her.

Now, she is here before me, so fair, so strong.

I do not hesitate, and begin to walk towards her, each short step an eternity to me, so anxious am I to see her.

I stand at last beside her, the truth of her existence filling me with joy.

She bids me to sit aside her. I do so, captivated by her in quiet wonder.

We are silent for a while. I do not know what to speak of to one such as her.

I look at her, hoping to find a clue to her person.

She is lovely beyond compare, her slender body belying her true strength.

A question forms in my mind, and I pronounce it to her.

“Am I to die soon, milady? I am not a warrior, yet, you come for me...”

She laughs at my query, a sound full of mirth and sweetness.

“No, not yet,” she replies. “You have a long and fruitful life to live on this earth”

“No, I merely wished to see you, before you become one.”

She turns her head, her pale cheeks with a rosy tinge.

As are mine.

“What is your name?” I ask her.

She looks at me, and sadness forms on her visage.

“You knew me once, Soren, not so long ago, when these hills bloomed with the colors of the rainbow. I did not wish to leave you then, but the fates had other plans”.

I sit in silence, not knowing what she meant.

Then, a deluge of memories flood my mind.

And I know who she is.

She places a finger on my lips, before I could say a word.

And she smiles once again.

I hold her then, not wanting to let her go. Tears well in my eyes as I weep silently, feeling her warmth once again.

I lost her once. I did not want to lose her again.

Here, on the same hill as before.

But, I know I have to release her. I do not have the power to bind her.

Nor do I want to.

Slowly, I drop my hands around her waist.

“It will be so long until I see you again,” I sigh.

She draws her knife, and cuts off a lock of her hair. She hands it to me, and I receive it gingerly, cupping my hands so as not to lose a single strand of her precious memento to me.

“I have time yet, my love,” she says endearingly. “I shall stay as long as I am allowed”.

We sit there silently, mortal and immortal, looking into each other’s eyes, and seeing each other reflected within.

I hold her hands, feeling their softness, though long have they wielded her sword and shield.

I want to kiss her, as I used to, before she disappeared from my unhappy life.

Is it possible to do so?

To have such an interaction between goddess and man?

Yet, from the depths of my heart...

I know...

She is more human than divine being.

She is the same person I knew before.

We kiss before we realize it.

A long moment we are locked in a passionate embrace, the joy and love in our hearts expressed in rapture and fond desire.

We sink to the ground as we finish our caressing of lips.

We lie there, her head resting on my chest as I play with her shining hair.

She begins to sing, a sweet lullaby our mothers sang to us as we journeyed to our dreams.

Her voice soothes me, and I close my eyes in pleasure for her singing.

I will soon fall asleep with her in my arms, and I know she will be gone when I awake, not knowing if she was a dream or reality.

It matters not at this moment. I would die happy if now is my death-hour.

“Will you wait for me, Soren?”

“I will, I always have been.”

“What is my name beloved?”

I see her smiling, even with my eyes closed.

The same sweet smile as before.

The smile of one who loves another, beyond all boundaries.

Beyond the powers of the gods.

I, too, carry that same smile.

To all others, she is the Valkyrie.

Warrior maiden, servant of the gods, bringer of the dead to Heaven.

But, to me...

She is my...

“Hilde...”

My one love above all...

I awake later on.

She had left me.

Yet I can still feel her upon my chest.

I know she is real.

I feel into my belt pouch.

Her lock is gone.

I know she is real...

I stand perplexed. And sadness slowly overcomes me.

It is nighttime when I arrive home. My family had not been looking for me, yet was worried at my apparent lateness. Food and drink pass through my mouth, yet all I can taste are her sweet lips upon mine.

I bed down for the night. I care not for bathing at the well. I do not wish to wash away today.

I bury my face in my cushion, and place my hands beneath it.

I pause... Confused, and curious…

There is something beneath… It is under my bed cloth!

I stand and pull the cloth off.

And there, shining like the full moon, a wondrous rune-carved blade lay.

It is warm to the touch.

It is her warmth.

And as I grasp it, my heart pounds in absolute happiness.

For there, tied around the pommel, was the lock of hair she gave to me.

Her voice sounds in my mind.

“Will you wait for me Soren?”

I will wait for you Hilde, as you will wait for me...

Revoltech EVA-02 (Evangelion 2.0 Version) Mini-Gallery

The new Revoltech iteration of the Eva-02 is quite a treat. Better poseability, good balance, new proportions, nearly everything about it is a step-forward in what action figures should be...

Except maybe for the hands. They're connected to the wrists by small pegs and pivot at an odd angle as well, so posing the hands with weapons is a bit difficult without them popping out every now and then. I kinda wish Yamaguchi had kept the revolver joint wrist connections, but I guess the figure wouldn't be as sleek-looking as it is now.

Counting other toy series, this is probably the 8th Eva mold that Yamaguchi has made. Makes you think that whenever he's run out of sculpting ideas, he goes back to what apparently sells. Thankfully, I've seen the line-up coming soon, and I'm quite pleased with it. More Getter Robo is always good!

Hope you like the pics!

Revoltech Collection Closeups

Some close-ups of my Revoltech collection. I wasn't expecting to even start on this toy-line, since I was initially apprehensive as to how different it might be out of the box. However, when I saw that they had actually made a figure of King Gainer, I was sold.

Left: Overman King Gainer, Right: Overman -XAN-

Since then, my collection's grown erratically, as I either went on a monthly release buying spree or a slow downtime as I started my Figma collection.

From the left: AV-98 Ingram 1 (1st version), AV-98 Ingram 2 (Movie Version),
ARL-99 Helldiver, Type 7B Brocken (OVA version)

What I love about this toyline is the dynamic poseability of the figures that most toy interpretations don't have. Nearly all manner action-based affectations can be had with just a little imagination and a thorough understanding of the toy's limbs and joints.

From left to right: VF-1J Max, Hikaru, and Milia custom

It was a short time after purchasing King Gainer that I found out the sculptor's name: Katsuhisa Yamaguchi, whose earlier works included a series of poseable Virtual-On toys I collected a while back.

Front: ARX-8 Laevateinn

Back: Regult

Now, I love his work, I really do. Every once in a while however, I question different design quirks for different Revoltechs. Some have more mobility than most. For others, it's a figure balance issue. Or heck, even the accessories.

From left to right: Optimus Prime/Convoy, Ultra Magnus, Hot Rod/Hot Rodimus

The Revoltech series is not without its flaws. However, they never totally detract from all the amusement I've had from fiddling with one.

Foreground, Left to right: Shin Getter-1, Mazinkaiser
Background, Left to right: Black Getter-1, Getter-1

If you ever get the chance to buy one of character you like, do so. Revoltechs are relatively cheap, quite sturdy, and above all fun to play with.

Enjoy the rest of the photos.

Eva-05 Mass Produced

From left to right: Starscream, Megatron

From left to right: Eva-03, EVA-01 Type F AFC Experiment, Eva-00 movie version


Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

From left to right: Kenshiro, Zeed member

Rei slicing up an unfortunate thug

From left to right: Dante (Devil May Cry 3), Revy

Front, left to right: Yotsuba, Danboard, Yotsuba (DX Summer Vacation Set)
Back, left to right: Asuka Langley Soryu, Pocco, Rin Tohsaka

Revoltech -XAN-

If you wish to skip to the pictures, be my guest. That's what's important anyway. If however, you decide to read the following tale of tribulation and eventual triumph, then by all means, do so. Thank You!


Last year, Dengeki Hobby magazine announced an exclusive Revoltech action figure that immediately caught my attention: the black Overman -XAN-, an original design created by the magazine, to be sculpted by Katsuhisa Yamaguchi. Being a fan of three things involved, those being the underrated and fun anime "King Gainer", Revoltech action figures, and Katsuhisa Yamaguchi's action figure sculpts, I was totally into the idea of buying it for my collection, to the point I actually had dreams of owning one (with the horrible realization that it was all a dream whenever I woke up). The fact that it was a limited edition exclusive further added fuel to the nerd-fire that was growing inside me.

I ventured frequentely to my hunting grounds, hoping to find clues as to how to wrangle such a rare beast upon its eventual release from the fields of Kaiyodo, haranguing shop-owners and fellow hunters of poseable poly-vinyl figures. G Gundam's protagonist Domon Kasshu springs to mind.

Late one night, I finally received word from internet-reknowned purveyors of electronic gaming goods Play-Asia that they had -XAN- available in stock, ready for order. With my heart pounding, lips dry with anticipation, I placed my request for one, thinking I could finally lay my anxieties to rest. Misfortune, however, was beside me that night, for after entering my credit card number, I immediately received a screen notifying me of my card's denial.

Panicking, I repeated my order over the course of an early dawn, failing to receive a confirmation each time I did so. Tired, I slept, leaving one order on my shopping cart, to be fulfilled in the morning. A foolish miscalculation of the figure's apparent popularity, as the dreaded "OUT-OF-STOCK" line had appeared on the product's availability hours later.

And yet, hope had not dimmed, as there it was, still in my shopping cart, waiting for my credit card to accepted should I still wish to purchase it. Remembering the troubles I had hours earlier, I instead asked my friend pay for it with his own account. Unfortunately, my comrade decided to change the payment method midway, and cancelled my order. I was in shock needless to say, but not too angry, as it was an honest mistake.

I had succesfully stalked prey before in the wilds of EBay, acquiring rarities with little cost and no problems, but I knew, that this was one beast for which I might pay a hefty sum. And indeed, -XAN- was being sold at a premium, the highest being a ridiculous $300! Holy crap dude, are you serious?

I stayed my hand for weeks, hoping to espy the lowest price possible. Nerves were strained as one by one individual sellers listed their figures as "SOLD", and the days left for bids dwindled to hours and minutes. My gamble paid off however. One appeared in front of me, at a price I can justify to myself paying for one as rare as this. I paid for it, and slowly let the realization that I finally bought one sink in. Two weeks later, it arrived, a bit unceremoniously, in a cheap cardboard packaging that contained only a few shreds of an old flyer to keep the figure in place. At least it was covered in bubble-wrap.

I brought the parcel to work, fighting the urge to open it within the darkly-lit premises, so that I could fully appreciate -XAN's- construction at home. The hours were shortened by the accompanied purchase of an SDX Full-Armor Knight Gundam

(which i would recommend to any lover of all things die-cast and Gundam. IT'S SO CUTE! And pleasantly hefty too). The day ended with the box opened and the figure played with, "Limited Edition" be damned.

I have posted a review of Revoltech -XAN- in Mr. Choo's blog. Head on over after you get tired of looking at the pictures.

My Room

So, what did it finally take for me to post a new entry? A contest. That's what. Sigh... But really, I've been wanting to post pics of my room for a while, even before the contest started. Guess I just needed incentive for it... Anyway, I'll highlight what's inside. Hope you enjoy the pics. Oh, wait...

Mmmm... Steak...

Ahem... Let's start with that wooden bookcase on the left...


Well, the top shelf is mostly Zoids and some random stuff I've collected over the years. Not really sure what to put in there. The second shelf is my collection of manga, and a mini shrine to "Ah! My Goddess!!". Never grew tired of it after all these years.

Is there such a thing as a "casual worship"?

The third and last shelves are my books and magazines. Mostly issues of Heavy Metal in the third, and my collection of Hobby Japan over the years. Stopped getting them after a while (friend from Japan brought them over), but I found more sources of news later on, even if they were a bit delayed.

I read them for the articles.

Next up is the other bookshelf at the other end of the wall.


Or not... Still feeling tired from the flu... I'll just post my pics for now, since I really shouldn't leave you hanging like a bad anime episode. I do rightly apologize.

Update June 28, 2009: Guh. NOW I update... Lazy lazy lazy.... Anyway, this "bookcase" as it is now is where I keep my modest harem of PVC ladies, as well as some Gundam and non-Gundam toys and left-overs from when I used to play Mage Knight (pardon me for saying this, but GO TO HELL WIZKIDS!). My fave girl of the bunch? Kotona. My fave mecha? From this bunch, the Tamashii Spec L-gaim and Kaiyodo Apharmd.

My desk. It's been cleaned up since this photo was taken. For one thing, the Figmas are now placed on top of a new bookshelf next to my desk. Looks pretty nice too. I should post the pic up.

One of my favorite items I keep in my desk is a Murano Glass calligraphy pen my folks got me from their trip to Italy. A really gorgeous pen, hand-blown intricately decorated. I try to write with it when my ideas start to flow. Some diplomas and posters are squshed under the glass.


My glass case. It has lights on the uppermost level, but doesn't illuminate much past that. Still looks nice whenever I feel inclined to turn it on at night.

Transformers up top, then Gundam Fix Figuration toys, after which are some Hyper Complete Model-Pros. Then comes my Revoltech collection on the next two shelves, and finally some MS in Action figures. I should really fill that last one up.

And that's about it for my room. Thanks for visiting!

Hello

Welcome to the site. It ain't much now, but hopefully it'll be updated constantly. IF I can compose something from the stuff in my head.

So what's this blog about? Dunno really. Figured it'd be about my hobbies, like toy collecting (mostly Japanese in origin), modelling (not catwalk walking, mind you), maybe games, or even things culinary in origin. But, I decided not to be too specific when it came to my topics. So occasionally, I'll put up something non-sequitur mainly for my own amusement.

Why'd I start a blog? Hmm, good question. I'd guess it was from reading other blogs (mainly, these guys here). I'd say I'm not as articulate nor as verbose as these guys, and I'm not expecting the same amount of traffic. But who knows? Mostly though, I'm writing to understand myself, or rather the way I think.

Browsing the other sites, I often find myself going against what is the "norm", or making choices that most others wouldn't. Do I just like things that most people don't, or do I make my choices BECAUSE they aren't popular? (I guess I have a bit of rebel in me, but I admit, I've got a yellow streak running down my back too.). Which brings me to my blog's name...

A plastic moustache? No, I don't have one, and no amount of time waiting for it to grow will let me get a real one. But if I could, I'd get a "Lemmy", even if it really wouldn't fit my face. Er, sorry, I digress...

My blog's title refers to one of my recently built models, a Bandai Master Grade Turn-A Gundam. Indeed, not one of the most popular designs in franchise, one I thoroughly maligned in my not-so-recent youth. Even today, people unjustly proclaim it as the Gundam that ruined the whole series (though they themselves have not watched a single episode of what is arguably one of Yoshiyuki Tomino's best animated series to date).

Over time, I have grown to love the design. But, is it really because I find it to be interesting and unique, or is it merely my usual rooting for the underdog, an unloved mecha from a supposedly unloved show? So, I chose it to be my mascot of sorts for this site, as an affirmation of both. I had fun building it, I had fun watching it, and because of that, I'm ready to root for the underdog.

Did I say I wasn't verbose? Yech... If you're still here, thanks for wasting your time on my first post, on my first blog. I promise I'll get better at this whole web log thing eventually.