AQATSA: Chapter Thirty-Seven - Gift

[inverarity]

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Comments

[ascot-gavotte.livejournal.com]

Did the creature attack Larry and Alexandra when Larry stepped over the wards? Or were they already outside the wards to begin with?
Looking forward to Sunday.

[swissmarg]

Larry was just outside the wards and Alexandra was inside. She told him to come back, but he didn't, and the creature attacked him. Then she went to help him.

[ascot-gavotte.livejournal.com]

oic. I just don't want Ms. Grimm to blame what happened to Larry on Alexandra. Alexandra will probably get some of blame though because she was hanging out on the edge of the wards :/

[potterfests-mod.livejournal.com]

LOL well that's another question of who will get blamed for Larry being hurt and what Ms. Grimm's take on the whole thing is. I mean, the creature was only there in the first place because Alexandra went over to Dinétah to try and bring in John Manuelito single-handed, and illegally cast spells right and left. And I really think, given where this chapter ends, that it's the least of Alexandra's problems right now to worry about whether Ms. Grimm gives her another detention. ;)

[swissmarg]

Oops that was me, sorry, logged into wrong account.

[(Anonymous)]

Well, the creature might have gone looking for her even if she did not try and hunt down John.

[swissmarg]

Why? The only reason it went after her was because she burned down John's hogan. It's like some kind of protector/revenge-taker thing.

Will Alex get the blame?

[anonjune.livejournal.com]

Larry seems pretty ethical... I can't see him putting all the blame on Alex.

Re: Will Alex get the blame?

[swissmarg]

I don't think it will really matter what Larry says. Alexandra weakened the wards all on her own and let the creature in. That's the worst of it, not Larry wandering off the school grounds.

Re: Will Alex get the blame?

[anonjune.livejournal.com]

When did she weaken the wards? And I don't think she let the creature into the wards at all - they were outside the wards.

Re: Will Alex get the blame?

[anonjune.livejournal.com]

Never mind - yes, she did make a hole in the wards. But I hope destroying the creature will get her some credit. And how can they punish her already - snap her wand? expel her?
She's overdue for being expelled as it is, and honestly I think Thorn would do a great job teaching her, if she wasn't in school.

The coming cosmic struggle of Alexandra

[(Anonymous)]

whoa! I didn't expect her to shake off her Nemesis so quickly and so easily. Did it really go to the Generous Ones? And if so, does it now free her of her Gees? And do the Generous Ones Appreciate such a troublesome gift? Will it satisfy Death? Or will it scamper around the Lands Below until Alex comes to visit, and then pursue her once again? And … poor Larry.

And I still don't get why John wants to kill Alexandra, though next chapter may give us a clue.

Anyway, upon continuing to reread the series searching for clues, I am increasingly convinced Inverarity is setting Alexandra up to fight a cosmic struggle. In AQ2, we have the following scene:

“Okay, Mr. Know-it-all. So what is corn doing in the Lands Below?”
“Dying,” whispered a sad voice.
Maximilian and Alexandra both blinked, and looked at each other.
“So cold,” whispered another voice.
“So dark,” whispered a third. And then a chorus of voices drifted up to them, in the still air.
“Our father the sun,
our mother the moon,
our brother the wind,
oh, how we miss them!
We fell through a crack,
and here the stones are our brothers,
snakes and scorpions our sisters.
We lonely and forgotten ones.”
Their sad lament filled the air. Alexandra found herself feeling sorry for the dying plants.
Maximilian stood up. “Come on. We'd best not meddle with what we don't understand.”
The voices of the corn plants continued chanting, dirge-like:
“Where is the sun? Not here.
Where is the moon? Not here.
Where is the wind? Not here.
Only we are here.
We lonely and forgotten ones.”
“Can't we... do something?” she asked.
Maximilian shook his head. “We can't help them, Alexandra.”
“How do you know? Maybe they can help us!” She knelt next to one of the wilted plants.
“What do you need?” she asked.
There was a pause in their chanting, and then a tiny voice said, “Bring us the sun.”
“Bring us the wind,” whispered another.
“Tell our father we are here.”
“He will crack the earth and split the sky!”

Is this perhaps foreshadowing that Alex will call on the Sun and the Moon - are they among the Stars Above? - to fight Death, so that the Deathly Regiment becomes obsolete?

--Geneva

Re: The coming cosmic struggle of Alexandra

[anonjune.livejournal.com]

I was wondering the same as your first paragraph. And that's really interesting about a cosmic struggle.

[rheymus.livejournal.com]

WOW!!!

Neatly done with the Charon penny and so I thought it was over and then ...

[indigo-mouse.livejournal.com]

I like how Alex is growing up. And I like how Larry came back when he thought the giant snake would attack her. Love or hate, that couple has chemistry.

[aisaacs.livejournal.com]

Exactly what I've been thinking. Alex not only came when he thought the giant snake would attack, he also put himself between Alex and the creature when Alex was trying to distract it away from Larry. I think Larry has some feelings for Alex, but I doubt Alex has ever thought of Larry that way.

[swissmarg]

Really? I just thought he wanted to find out what was going on with the creature, and that's why he Apparated to where she was. I didn't see it as him trying to protect her. But maybe?

[tealterror0.livejournal.com]

I got the impression he was trying to protect her. That said, that doesn't necessarily mean he has feelings for her. It could be just out of arrogance: "I'm not going to let her save me!" or something like that.

[aisaacs.livejournal.com]

Agreed, but I still think he has some kind of feelings for her. His attitude towards her has changed quite a bit in this book.

[jengro.livejournal.com]

I agree that Larry was trying to protect her out of a sense that she shouldn't save him or he is responsible for what is happening (by stepping over the wards). I don't really get a romantic vibe from him.

2nd to last chapter

[anonjune.livejournal.com]

Inverarity, I really like your writing, but sometimes it's a bit hard for me to wait for the next chapter!
I can't even imagine what's going to happen now. Will he send her to the elves? Will Abraham save her? Will Grimm find out?

Monday never seemed so far away...

(p.s. so I joined livejournal, and you're on "my friends" page, but how do I get an email when you post?)

Re: 2nd to last chapter

[swissmarg]

Click on track this and then click on the option to 'Notify me when ... Inverarity posts a new entry tagged... (and then choose the tag you want, either Alexandra Quick or aqatsa) or if you want to be alerted for any post, then choose the last option.

Re: 2nd to last chapter

[anonjune.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! (Yes, I do read the FAQ's - but I seem to always miss just the details I end up needing to know. :) )

[rheymus.livejournal.com]

You forgot to give Larry a cigarette holder. Smoking a regular cigarette is all bad boy, James Dean and cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yuo8JEYeqZE

you need a cigarette HOLDER to betoken evil.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cFzABv0xMU Time 1'30"

Um, what about Quimley?

[serbitchalot.livejournal.com]

He lives with the Generous Ones, too, after all... I mean, not even a warning or a single thought about it!

I guess it would be in character for Alex to forget all about that, though. I just hope he doesn't get hurt because of her plan, necessary as it was.

Re: Um, what about Quimley?

[shinygobonkers.livejournal.com]

thats true about quimley :[

Re: Um, what about Quimley?

[swissmarg]

Why would this involve Quimley? There are lots of things living down there. I assume the Generous Ones will know what to do about this creature. Send it to the Lands Beyond or something. And anyway, it seems to only be after Alexandra. It didn't attack anyone else in all the months it was tracking her. Well, except for Larry at the end, but that's because he was with her. There is no reason to think the creature would go on a random killing spree once it gets to the Lands Below. Maybe it's from there originally anyway and will just go back to its tribe.

Re: Um, what about Quimley?

[serbitchalot.livejournal.com]

You're right, there's no guarantee. Still, the story and the information available leads us and Alexandra to believe that, if she's succeeded, Nemesis/Gift's new target is the Generous Ones. They seem pretty adept at weird and bone-y magic, so maybe it won't be more than a nuisance... I just don't like thinking Alex has caused trouble for someone who did so much for her.

Also, is there really any doubt JM created the nemesis?

Re: Um, what about Quimley?

[swissmarg]

Oh, I'm sure she was trying to at least annoy the Generous Ones. She didn't just see it as an 'easy' way to dispose of the nemesis. As to whether John created the Nemesis from bits and pieces like Frankenstein's monster, or summoned it from some other realm and placed a geas on it to do his bidding, I don't think is ever made clear, is it? Not that it really makes a difference at this point.

Re: Um, what about Quimley?

[inverarity.livejournal.com]

And Martha!

Re: Um, what about Quimley?

[swissmarg]

What about Martha?

Re: Um, what about Quimley?

[inverarity.livejournal.com]

The Nemesis attacked her too.

Re: Um, what about Quimley?

[swissmarg]

Oh right! Forgot.

Maybe it was following Alexandra's scent which led it into the old factory, and Martha tried to fight it and it fought back. Still doesn't mean that it will automatically attack everything that it comes across in the Lands Below. Although if Alexandra's scent/trail is still present there, that will lead it straight to the Generous Ones, haha!

[wodcdre.livejournal.com]

HOLY SCHNIIIKEEESSSS!!!! I feel like I just came to a screeching halt by the time I hit the last few sentences!!! Well then...THAT'S how JM got the murder of crows to get Alex at the invisible bridge in the beginning....duuude that was genius!!! I'm SOOOOO stoaked that Alex won't have to die after all, since she made mummy thingee go in her place!!! That was so awesome that she had that planned just in case.....buuuut, the ending is a bit disturbing. Wonder if the dean or anyone knows what's up...and if they do....they're probably diffusing the crow thing....ooooooooo boy.....MAAAAAN what a chappie!!! I practically scared one of my girls awake from her nap when I finished this chapter....brilliant writing Inverarity!!!

[(Anonymous)]

Yup, that was a hell of a thing.

~DarkSov

[aisaacs.livejournal.com]

I guess Alex might be able to get the grade for her original 'catch Manuelito' project after all. I don't think she has done any impressive work with the Hags project.

Cliffhanger

[(Anonymous)]

You do know that you're a terribly mean teaser, don't you. What. A. Cliffhanger. Is it monday yet???

Great writing, as always. Can't imagine what's next... at all...

Gwen

Login

[dutchostrich.livejournal.com]

While my latest comment awaits Inverarity's approval I finally made an account myself to do my posting. From now on all the anonymous Gwen comments can be filed under Dutch Ostrich. :)

I also have a new account!

[klaelman23.livejournal.com]

Yeah, totally. This is now my new handle.

~DarkSov

[jengro.livejournal.com]

Such an intriguing way for Alex to get out of her gift...if it works out. Also interesting that JM chooses to physically punch Alex instead of casting a spell. He actually comes off more enraged this way. With the public crows attacking students and Larry's injury (can fingers be magically attached?), Alex's reputation is really going to blow up (kinda deservedly). I do think she could have tried talking with adults more before taking these actions herself but I do want a big reckoning/shocking scene where the adults realize how involved/awesome Alex is. She is Named by the Stars Above, people!

Restless

[dutchostrich.livejournal.com]

Another day of restless checking in and out... Hopig against hope that inverarity has pity on us.

How the hell is Alexandra goimg to save herself from this?! And if not Alex, then who? Who can find her and save her from John...

Tomorrow is only a day away... *sighs*