Monday, May 31, 2004 - Happy Memorial Day, everyone. I would like to start by expressing my sincere appreciation for all veterans and everyone who's out there in the US military, keeping the world safe for democracy. (And me, safe to sit on my lazy, undeserving suburban ass and draw webcomics. Don't think I don't appreciate it.) Thank you.

Now, with that out of the way, I have an announcement to make. Shard of Chaos is closing. The website, fanfic and illustrations will, of course, still remain posted for all to see, but there will no longer be any updates. I'm afraid I just cannot carry on this charade any longer, pretending that this is a work in progress, when it's blatantly obvious to anything with a working brain stem that Chris has abandoned this project. The last update I received from him was back in December. The last correspondence I received from him was back in March. My subsequent attempts to contact him were met with loud, stony silence. Now I'm certainly not one to judge others on their online communication habits (or lack thereof.) God knows I answer the e-mails of even my closest bosom friends and companions at a crippled snail's pace at best, but to respond to a person who is actively trying to contact you at a rate of only once every six months....well... it's obvious... I'm no longer a member of his inner circle (or his outer circle. Or his standing-200-yards-beyond-the-circle-staring-mournfully-at-the-outer-rim-of-the-circle-through-the-slats-of-the-wooden-fence circle.) Which is fine. People outgrow friends and projects sometimes. Especially if those people (like most people in the military) are constantly active and having to cope with ever-changing life situations.

I really don't know what's up with the man, though. I suppose as he grows and becomes more mature and more saddled with responsibility, and as his life becomes more burdened with the pressures of advancing through the ranks of the military, he's finding it harder and harder to keep in touch with people whose lives and decisions don't directly influence his own on a daily basis. I can understand this. And sympathize. The military certainly can't be an easy place for a bright, creative soul to ground itself and thrive, even during times of relative peace and plenty.

Of course, the snide, sarcastic, cynical, Black Adder-y part of me thinks he's probably spending most of his spare time sitting on his ass playing RPGs...

The truth is, of course, unknown. All I know is that I'm tired of trying to maintain a one-sided friendship. Chris, if you're out there, this is your last chance to shoot me a message; some evidence that you want our collaboration to continue. I'm certainly not going to try writing to you again. My life is filled with enough disappointment as it is.

Back in December, Chris sent me an unrevised version of Chapter 27 which he posted on fanfiction.net and which I'll post right here. but with no chapter illustration. I don't feel I should spend any more of my time on what is essentially, for all intents and purposes, a dead project. (Okay, okay. I suppose I'm one to talk about dead projects, seeing as how I haven't updated Hamlet in almost a year, but my dropoff in activity is due to extenuating circumstances, not a lack of interest. I fully intend to take it up again at some point in the future.... Really....Stop laughing.) To all of our readers who've been avidly following the adventures of Mina and Gaav for the past 2-1/2 years, I appreciate your loyalty, your devotion and your kind words of encouragement. I hope that at some point in the future, I'll be able to post more of this engaging and wonderful fic. If not, well.... it's been a fun ride while it lasted.

Thank you and good night.

Sunday, November 23, 2003 - Welp. Operation "Bug the Hell Outta Chris and Get Him to Finally Send AA Chapter 27" was a complete failure. Why? Because little gray aliens stole my brain and replaced it with cat droppings, an act which resulted in my spelling Chris' e-mail address incorrectly in my last update. I have since re-posted what I hope is the correct address: dusttaveller1@yahoo.com

So there ya go. Commence with the bugging.

Disclaimer: The Slayers is the property of Software Sculptors and Hajime Kanzaka / Rui Araizumi / Shouko Yoshinaka / Hujimishobou / Kadokawashoten / TV Tokyo / King Records / SOFTX

All original, creative-type stuff on this website is copyright to Chris Cuellar and Teresa Dietzinger, 2002

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