Author notes

503

usedbooks

on April 25, 2008

And for anyone disappointed by the lack of real bloodshed… While she seems to be acting uncharacteristic, you have to keep in mind that Raidon has a very strange effect on Kaida. We've seen this in two flashbacks (when they met) and a romantic dinner) and a more recent visit.

JustNoPoint: Unfortunately, Ronnie won't fall for it again either. :P (Alex is good at survival. He's survived Fudo twice and Ronnie three times.)

LanceDanger: The Harding children are infamous for their pranks. Tricksie hobbitses, all of them. XD

Tantz: For a successful ploy, it's best to keep things on a "need to know" basis – but I too would be a little angry to be out of the loop.

n_y_japlander: No worries. There's always more "good stuff" on the way. ^_^

smkinoshita: Yeah, I always think of head shots, etc. too. Most TV and whatnot neglect the whole risk thing with vests, and this is more "TVish" than "realish," so I'm bending toward fiction – not that I don't know reality. Pain does always take a while to hit you. When I've been badly injured, I've gotten dizzy or nauseous before I ever feel any pain.

amanda: Kaida mostly doesn't have to worry about (physical) injury. She's Raidon's "special friend…" ;-) Plus, he probably already knows she has the vest. He's likely the one who gave it to her. (Work clothes…)

blntmaker: Hit me now! Come on!

dueeast: To a true prankster, bodily harm is worth it for a good trick/joke, so he'll smile through the pain. ;-) As for the "he's gone" line. I thought of it first as a signal to Alex and then cackled with glee when I realized the other effect. (The double-meaning giddiness happens a lot – usually with chapter titles.)

trevor: Sorry about that. ^_^ I'm terribly influenced by the "reveals" of certain books and shows.

patrick: Often I make my last minute decision whether the reader should be "in the know" or not – depending on character/reader perspective. For example, I decided only after deliberation to not include Raidon's foot chase.