Marked: Chapter 21
ZeldaQueen: Well, this chapter certainly is irritating! Actually, it's more the calm before the storm, so strap in!
Projection Room Voices: Starting Media in 3...2...1...
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Chapter 21
ZeldaQueen: Zoey gets on the phone with her grandmother, and I'm at a complete loss as to where the fuck she is. I...guess it's supposed to be Neferet's office phone or something, because we don't hear about her leaving the office. *checks* Yep, it's Neferet's phone. Alrighty then.
So Grandma Redbird picks up the phone and Zoey starts sobbing because she just missed her grandmother so much, as evidenced by the fact that she hasn't thought about her for chapters on end. Grandma asks if Zoey's mother has called, and Zoey starts angsting about no, she hasn't. *scowls* Bitch, after how ungrateful you were over Kayla and Heath coming to rescue you, you have no right to complain. And yes, we do see that she hasn't called home at all (you know, after she was essentially kidnapped from them). Grandma Redbird says that she tried to call Zoey before and just got her cell phone's voice mail, so maybe her mother tried to call and just missed her. I'm never getting over that, her angsting over how she's been abandoned, after she couldn't even bother to check her cell phone.
Zoey agrees to check for messages for her mother, and proceeds to emulate Bella Swan and tells us in an aside how she's only doing it so that her grandmother will stop pestering her about her negligent mother.
We move on to the typical parental dialogue, how are things, are you making nice friends, what are classes like, and so on and so forth. Grandma guesses that Zoey's upset about something, and Zoey says that she's a bit upset about some of the stuff vampirism requires. Funny how she only is bothered by it when it's needed to further the plot. Zoey angsts for awhile and Grandma Redbird tells her "I'll be your Grandma even after I join our ancestors in the spirit world, and from there I'll still love you, Little Bird". You know, she talks like that because she's Cherokee.
Zoey finally blurts out "I drank blood and I liked it!" What response does Grandma Redbird have?
"Without any hesitation, Grandma said, 'Well, honey, isn't that what vampyres do?'"
ZeldaQueen: Um, Grandma? Don't you want any details first? Because Zoey never told you how much blood, or the circumstances behind it. For all you know, she lept the fence and drank every drop out of a five-year-old.
Zoey continues to angst about how fledglings shouldn't like the taste of blood, and I notice that she never does tell her grandmother the circumstances, so Grandma Redbird never knows that her granddaughter didn't potentially commit murder. Keep that in mind, because the very first thing she says, after hearing that Zoey has an unnatural lust for blood?
"You're special, Zoey. You always have been. Why should that change now?"
ZeldaQueen: *closes eyes and counts to ten*
There is telling your child that they are special when they are acing every final in high school.
There is telling your child that they are special, as they struggle to get accepted into Yale.
IT'S QUITE A DIFFERENT THING TO TELL YOUR CHILD THAT THEY ARE SPECIAL WHEN SAID SPECIALNESS REVOLVES AROUND A DESIRE TO DRINK HUMAN BLOOD!!!
My word, I seem to be having a lot of outbursts as of late. Thank God we're only eight chapters from the end!
Grandma Redbird keeps going on about how Zoey will always have the same spirit and is destined for greatness, yadda, yadda, yadda. For whatever reason, hearing the Cherokee word for "daughter" makes Zoey think of Nyx, which causes her to blurt out that "I think I feel the five elements when a circle is cast". No, she doesn't give any sort of explanation about this, nor does Grandma Redbird ask for any. And no, don't tell me that her grandmother knows it through her Cherokee background or some such bullshit, the ritual is Wiccan. They're not the same thing.
And instead of thinking that Zoey is drunk or something, Grandma Redbird gives us this
"If that is the truth, you have been given great power, Zoey. And you know that with great power comes great responsibility. Our family has a rich history of Tribal Elders, Medicine Men, and Wise Women. Have a care, Little Bird, to think before you act. The Goddess would not have granted you special powers on a whim. Use them carefully, and make Nyx, as well as your ancestors, look down and smile on you"
ZeldaQueen: First of all, did they seriously just pull the famous "With great power comes great responsibility" line? Bitches, you did not! Spider-man will end you!
Second of all, apparently Mary Sue mysticism runs in the family. Good to know. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the only possible explanation we get as to why Zoey was chosen for these powers, out of all of the vampires in all the countries in all the world.
Third of all, why is Grandma Redbird going on about Nyx? Did Neferet tell her about Nyx while Zoey was unconscious? Because I think that's the only possible time when she would have been told that vampires worship Nyx! Anyway, Grandma Redbird doesn't worship Nyx, so why is that the deity she invokes? It's like a Jewish person casually saying "Make Pele proud!" I mean, she's invoking a blessing and I honestly don't believe she's ever heard of Nyx before so...where's that from?
Zoey brings up Aphrodite at this point, because *groan* she figures that she was specially chosen by the Goddess of Night to get rid of the Scary Sue. I STILL can't believe that we're supposed to accept this as the primary conflict! Oh, but we're supposed to believe it's hard, because Zoey will have to be High Priestess in her place! Let's...just keep this in mind for a bit, shall we?
Grandma says to follow her spirit (DID YOU GET THAT SHE'S ALL MYSTIC AND CHEROKEE YET???), and then asks if Zoey remembers a purification ritual she used to do as a child because it was the Way Of The Cherokee. Zoey says that by gum, she does! Grandma Redbird tells her to perform the purification prayer on herself to invoke the blessings of Nyx. This will help take down Aphrodite. Somehow.
Seriously, this is Zoey's Plan Of Action. I...guess she expects to get hit with a bolt of inspiration or something. I have no idea. She just picks to hold the ritual under the oak tree she found Nala at, and we get a lot of emphasizing over how HEATH WAS THERE ONCE, BUT HE SURELY WILL NOT SHOW UP AGAIN, NOPE!
And then...what the fuck? We're at breakfast? Lunch? Some mealtime? There wasn't even a space or anything! When Erik started to talk to Zoey, I thought they were still under the oak tree! I don't even know if it's the same day or not! *flails in frustration* Well, they're in the cafeteria...at some point in time... and...I'm so confused! *wails*
So yeah, Erik is there, and he starts chatting Zoey up about the baby corn. Interesting topic. He mentions how he heard she'd joined the Dark Daughters officially, which Shaunee and Erin hear. Oh, and it's officially stated that being a Dark Son is "just ornamental. Kinda the opposite of how it is in the human world". Seriously, this vampire world needs a man's liberation movement or something.
Erik says that he basically is expected to stand around and amuse Aphrodite, and that he has decided he won't put up with that anymore. You know, this all makes Shaunee and Erin's disgusting talk about him all the more vile. Zoey asks him about his monologuing and he says that that's not who he is all of the time, and then leans in and whispers to her that he's actually a dork.
Zoey asks him "Does that line work for you?" and he insists that no, he really is one. He promises to prove it to her by having her over that night to watch the original Star Wars trilogy, which he claims he knows, word for word. Somehow, this alone is enough to convince Zoey he's a dork.
They start to go take seats, and we're told that Zoey's friends are openly gawking at them. What charming people. Erik asks if Zoey wants to take him up on his offer, and she says thanks, but not tonight dear. She's already got plans. *rubs head* Ms and Ms Cast, you do know that if you actually spread out your timeline a little, that would have been a fantastic opportunity to show Zoey and Erik's budding relationship.
Erik says fine, maybe another night, and wanders off. As soon as Zoey sits down, everyone starts going on about how Zoey has lost her mind for not going out with Erik, never mind if she had homework or plans already. Stevie Rae goes on about how Zoey had just better have a good reason to hurt Erik's feelings like that (MAYBE SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DATE HIM, YOU IDIOTS!!!") and we're reminded that Damien is gay as he openly drools over the thought of comforting Erik. Zoey tells everyone that something more important than dating a hot guy is going down - getting rid of Aphrodite. No, I still don't know how that purification ritual thing will help with that. Why do you ask?
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Onward to: Chapter 22
Back to: Chapter 20
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Chapter 21
ZeldaQueen: Zoey gets on the phone with her grandmother, and I'm at a complete loss as to where the fuck she is. I...guess it's supposed to be Neferet's office phone or something, because we don't hear about her leaving the office. *checks* Yep, it's Neferet's phone. Alrighty then.
So Grandma Redbird picks up the phone and Zoey starts sobbing because she just missed her grandmother so much, as evidenced by the fact that she hasn't thought about her for chapters on end. Grandma asks if Zoey's mother has called, and Zoey starts angsting about no, she hasn't. *scowls* Bitch, after how ungrateful you were over Kayla and Heath coming to rescue you, you have no right to complain. And yes, we do see that she hasn't called home at all (you know, after she was essentially kidnapped from them). Grandma Redbird says that she tried to call Zoey before and just got her cell phone's voice mail, so maybe her mother tried to call and just missed her. I'm never getting over that, her angsting over how she's been abandoned, after she couldn't even bother to check her cell phone.
Zoey agrees to check for messages for her mother, and proceeds to emulate Bella Swan and tells us in an aside how she's only doing it so that her grandmother will stop pestering her about her negligent mother.
We move on to the typical parental dialogue, how are things, are you making nice friends, what are classes like, and so on and so forth. Grandma guesses that Zoey's upset about something, and Zoey says that she's a bit upset about some of the stuff vampirism requires. Funny how she only is bothered by it when it's needed to further the plot. Zoey angsts for awhile and Grandma Redbird tells her "I'll be your Grandma even after I join our ancestors in the spirit world, and from there I'll still love you, Little Bird". You know, she talks like that because she's Cherokee.
Zoey finally blurts out "I drank blood and I liked it!" What response does Grandma Redbird have?
"Without any hesitation, Grandma said, 'Well, honey, isn't that what vampyres do?'"
ZeldaQueen: Um, Grandma? Don't you want any details first? Because Zoey never told you how much blood, or the circumstances behind it. For all you know, she lept the fence and drank every drop out of a five-year-old.
Zoey continues to angst about how fledglings shouldn't like the taste of blood, and I notice that she never does tell her grandmother the circumstances, so Grandma Redbird never knows that her granddaughter didn't potentially commit murder. Keep that in mind, because the very first thing she says, after hearing that Zoey has an unnatural lust for blood?
"You're special, Zoey. You always have been. Why should that change now?"
ZeldaQueen: *closes eyes and counts to ten*
There is telling your child that they are special when they are acing every final in high school.
There is telling your child that they are special, as they struggle to get accepted into Yale.
IT'S QUITE A DIFFERENT THING TO TELL YOUR CHILD THAT THEY ARE SPECIAL WHEN SAID SPECIALNESS REVOLVES AROUND A DESIRE TO DRINK HUMAN BLOOD!!!
My word, I seem to be having a lot of outbursts as of late. Thank God we're only eight chapters from the end!
Grandma Redbird keeps going on about how Zoey will always have the same spirit and is destined for greatness, yadda, yadda, yadda. For whatever reason, hearing the Cherokee word for "daughter" makes Zoey think of Nyx, which causes her to blurt out that "I think I feel the five elements when a circle is cast". No, she doesn't give any sort of explanation about this, nor does Grandma Redbird ask for any. And no, don't tell me that her grandmother knows it through her Cherokee background or some such bullshit, the ritual is Wiccan. They're not the same thing.
And instead of thinking that Zoey is drunk or something, Grandma Redbird gives us this
"If that is the truth, you have been given great power, Zoey. And you know that with great power comes great responsibility. Our family has a rich history of Tribal Elders, Medicine Men, and Wise Women. Have a care, Little Bird, to think before you act. The Goddess would not have granted you special powers on a whim. Use them carefully, and make Nyx, as well as your ancestors, look down and smile on you"
ZeldaQueen: First of all, did they seriously just pull the famous "With great power comes great responsibility" line? Bitches, you did not! Spider-man will end you!
Second of all, apparently Mary Sue mysticism runs in the family. Good to know. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the only possible explanation we get as to why Zoey was chosen for these powers, out of all of the vampires in all the countries in all the world.
Third of all, why is Grandma Redbird going on about Nyx? Did Neferet tell her about Nyx while Zoey was unconscious? Because I think that's the only possible time when she would have been told that vampires worship Nyx! Anyway, Grandma Redbird doesn't worship Nyx, so why is that the deity she invokes? It's like a Jewish person casually saying "Make Pele proud!" I mean, she's invoking a blessing and I honestly don't believe she's ever heard of Nyx before so...where's that from?
Zoey brings up Aphrodite at this point, because *groan* she figures that she was specially chosen by the Goddess of Night to get rid of the Scary Sue. I STILL can't believe that we're supposed to accept this as the primary conflict! Oh, but we're supposed to believe it's hard, because Zoey will have to be High Priestess in her place! Let's...just keep this in mind for a bit, shall we?
Grandma says to follow her spirit (DID YOU GET THAT SHE'S ALL MYSTIC AND CHEROKEE YET???), and then asks if Zoey remembers a purification ritual she used to do as a child because it was the Way Of The Cherokee. Zoey says that by gum, she does! Grandma Redbird tells her to perform the purification prayer on herself to invoke the blessings of Nyx. This will help take down Aphrodite. Somehow.
Seriously, this is Zoey's Plan Of Action. I...guess she expects to get hit with a bolt of inspiration or something. I have no idea. She just picks to hold the ritual under the oak tree she found Nala at, and we get a lot of emphasizing over how HEATH WAS THERE ONCE, BUT HE SURELY WILL NOT SHOW UP AGAIN, NOPE!
And then...what the fuck? We're at breakfast? Lunch? Some mealtime? There wasn't even a space or anything! When Erik started to talk to Zoey, I thought they were still under the oak tree! I don't even know if it's the same day or not! *flails in frustration* Well, they're in the cafeteria...at some point in time... and...I'm so confused! *wails*
So yeah, Erik is there, and he starts chatting Zoey up about the baby corn. Interesting topic. He mentions how he heard she'd joined the Dark Daughters officially, which Shaunee and Erin hear. Oh, and it's officially stated that being a Dark Son is "just ornamental. Kinda the opposite of how it is in the human world". Seriously, this vampire world needs a man's liberation movement or something.
Erik says that he basically is expected to stand around and amuse Aphrodite, and that he has decided he won't put up with that anymore. You know, this all makes Shaunee and Erin's disgusting talk about him all the more vile. Zoey asks him about his monologuing and he says that that's not who he is all of the time, and then leans in and whispers to her that he's actually a dork.
Zoey asks him "Does that line work for you?" and he insists that no, he really is one. He promises to prove it to her by having her over that night to watch the original Star Wars trilogy, which he claims he knows, word for word. Somehow, this alone is enough to convince Zoey he's a dork.
They start to go take seats, and we're told that Zoey's friends are openly gawking at them. What charming people. Erik asks if Zoey wants to take him up on his offer, and she says thanks, but not tonight dear. She's already got plans. *rubs head* Ms and Ms Cast, you do know that if you actually spread out your timeline a little, that would have been a fantastic opportunity to show Zoey and Erik's budding relationship.
Erik says fine, maybe another night, and wanders off. As soon as Zoey sits down, everyone starts going on about how Zoey has lost her mind for not going out with Erik, never mind if she had homework or plans already. Stevie Rae goes on about how Zoey had just better have a good reason to hurt Erik's feelings like that (MAYBE SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DATE HIM, YOU IDIOTS!!!") and we're reminded that Damien is gay as he openly drools over the thought of comforting Erik. Zoey tells everyone that something more important than dating a hot guy is going down - getting rid of Aphrodite. No, I still don't know how that purification ritual thing will help with that. Why do you ask?
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Onward to: Chapter 22
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