Nightfall's Nest: A Room of One's Own

5/25: Random NEXT trivia!
Just some notes I jotted down the last time I watched Slayers: Next. No real point here, just things I didn't notice the first two (many, lots) times I saw it.
These aren't the names of the episodes; I don't have that list on me.

Episode 1: Meeting Martina
* Rezo has definitely been to Xoanna--they have a HUGE statue of him, looking triumphant. Lina uses it in battle and displays no animosity towards Rezo's memory.
* Amelia is very glad to see Lina.
* Martina is very glad to see Zel. ^.^
* Zel, for his part, looks mostly depressed, in that nasty-edge way.
* Shabby was revived 1000 years ago, with help from the Claire Bible. That must have been what the Kouma Sensou (the war of fallen evil) was about. Something of a misnomer, much? Evil seems to have done pretty well, unless the evil that fell is meant to refer to Gaav.
* King Moros (his name is Morose! ^.^) calls Amelia dono, not hime, and Xellos calls the Mazoku lords sama, not dono. So I'm guessing sama and dono are the equivalents of sempai and kun for the nobility, with the first being lower to higher and the second being higher to lower?
* Zel says "Omae o korosu!" Hiya, Heero! Whatcha doing in this anime?

Episode 2: Meeting Xel
* Zel's hood is seperate from his cloak. And I've been drawing Xel's cloak wrong for years--the wings seperate off to the right, not in the center. (gloom)
* For somebody with a reputation for subtlety, Xel... sheesh. The entrance is a bit much. But I love the Sylphiel imitation he does for Zel, with the s-curved torso and the clasped hands.
* Gourry is starry-eyed at the Fighting Dragon's Blood Macho Battlers. I can't tell whether Lina is, too, or if she's just mocking him.
* Xel gives Lina free strategy tips and an indirect kiss, which she doesn't slaughter him for. o.O
* Xel does floor-to-window backward handsprings, and it's a high window, too. This does not, of course, mean anything about his physical condition, but it does give us a pretty good indication about his ability to know where he is in space.
* The Xzels are united in their love of melodrama.

Episode 3: Roast beef and wizard's duel
* Let's not forget--Zel may not need to eat much, but he does care about good food.
* It's known that Lina the Pink does come from the Sorcerer's guild, but her belt is a nice touch. All the guild-folk wear the same winged circle. Phil's headband echoes this theme, too, although not precisely.

Episode 4: Meeting Halciform
* Amelia shows her crest in Atlas City and the guards kowtow. Now, we know that Sailoon is a Power from the way Amelia throws her weight around in Xoanna and the way Phil tactfully refrains from looking dangerous (he looks dangerous in person, of course, but it seems that he actually acts like the pacifist he says he is while he's got his Prince hat on). Anyway, we know that, but kowtowing is something else. I had wondered if Atlas might be part of the Sailoon hegemony, but my map places it in the Lyzeillian empire, half a peninsula away.

Episode 5: Seeking the pledge stone
* Halciform has a copy of that little statue from the first season, the one with the philosopher's stone in it.
* Lina: (sets off a trap)
Amelia: "You were right, Zelgadis-san."
Zel (calmly): "In this situation I positively don't need the compliment."
^_^
* Halciform's lab looks like a microchip. No, really. The water-trenches in the floor make the room like a memory card or something.
* Seigram has a woman's figure.
* ...The jellyfish called by Zelas Burst have hearts on. Okaaay, Zelas-sama...

Episode 6: The Return of the Obsessive Martina
(That really is the chapter title.)
* Xel, ducking out of an awkward conversation, dodges around a tree. In his place is left a cabbit the color of his cloak lining, which gleefully yowls like a Siamese. That same loudmouth cabbit is what Gourry grabs while trying to capture Martina a few minutes later.
* Zel may prefer to bathe alone, but Gourry wants him to stay. Gourry gets his way on this issue at one point (not in this episode), and there's wine. I'm just saying.
* Martina keeps a tiny Zoemelguster in a heart locket.
* When Martina steals Lina's headband during the night, Zel is the one who notices.
* Xellos: "Since I'm just a shadow, all I can do is cheer you on." This is bull, since he intervenes on her behalf more than once over the course of the season, but isn't it a provocative line?
* Gourry, using Baka Power to escape the clutches of the Evil Mint-Haired one: "Is it a pickle? What's a fiancee?!! Is it sour? Salty? Tastes good?"
...No comment.
* Zel looks terrified before Lina even decides to kick him. Does the curse creep him out, or is he predicting the kick?
* I read once in someone's evidence log for X/Z that two of her reasons for thinking the pairing is practically canon are (1) Xel was so worried about Zel when Filia maced him in episode 3 of TRY that he fell off the roof and (2) he always appears next to him. Now, Xel's not actually worried in TRY; he's laughing his tail off; but he really does phase in next to Zel 3/3 times in this episode.

Episode 7: Dragon cuisine
* Xel is impatient with this diversion. Maybe after having been prempted by Lina's knowledge of the Pledge in episode four or five, he thinks she already knows about the toxin.
* Xel has no dignity when he's by himself. He giggles hysterically and yawns like a whale.
* Dammit, I hate the pairing, but I have to admit that Zel's perfectly willing to get CPR from Amelia. He dokidokis and blushes and everything (sulks).
* I like to pay attention to how much attention Xel pays to civilized behavior, and and also to how much patience he displays, which is a lot more than most people give him credit for. So I find it interesting that he sits all day and night and day on the same branch of the same tree--and then he uses a tablecloth for his morning tea.
* Zel would rather be Barnacle-san than stay on shore with Xellos. Even knowing he's going to be the anchor, he gets on the boat three times!
* Swimming, Gourry can pull drag the boat and Barnacle-san! ^_^

Episode 8 and 9: Assassination in Sailoon
* Xel disappeares the moment Amelia pulls rank on the guards.
* Zel worries about what Xel's up to in his absence and breaks sticks by stomping on them. Gee, Zel, I would have thought you'd be glad to be rid of him for a while. ^____^
* Phil understands refusing to use violence so as not to be a threat.
* Gourry has the right to give Zel punitive noogies when he gaffes.
* Zelas Brid summons doves.
* A thought: could Rey Wing really be Lei Wing? As in Lei Magnus?

Episode 10: Sorcery Doctor
* Xel, although he admires Martina, thinks that selling curses (or useless brooches as curses) to the masses might be going a little overboard. So, he's in favor of, what, responsible vengeance? Obsession in moderation? Okay...
* Xel gives Martina no less than three warnings about not messing with Magicless!Lina. Anybody else wondering whether he's the one who set that storm on her? The reciprocal pain curse may have, as Zel thought, have been brought about through pure obsession, but that was small-time. Zoemelguster's other great success (shielding the group against Gaav) was also feuled by someone other than Zoemelguster.
* Xel plays nurse for Kira, holding the tray of ingredients and generally being helpful. He's also able to tell Lina that the mixture looks right. Is he sincere? I think so. He continues to be helpful for the rest of the arc. This indicates to me that he really knows what he's doing--and also that he probably could have fixed Lina himself.
* Xel's happy to let Lina look at the Bible manuscript as long as she wants (note one: he seems to enjoy watching a researcher at work. Note two: did he know about the scribble drawings?), but he destroys it when Martina won't give it back. Personally, I think he's really teleporting them somewhere. This is the second manuscript we've seen him fry, and it seems like a waste.
* Zelas Brid doesn't work for Zel. Is this measure of his power, or an indication that it's only Lina the Metalliums are backing?

Episode 11
* Lina's recklessness makes Xel hyperventilate. ^.^

Episode 12
* Gourry isn't worried about throwing the SoL (sword of light) at Phil. This, along with a moment (I don't remember which episode, but I think it's in the Phibby arc) where Lina stands up right through it, supports a conjecture of mine: the Sword cuts everything but humanity. And maybe dragons; he doesn't use it on that black dragon in episode 2 of the first season, either.
* Zel's chest is less pebbly in this episode than in the bath. Huh.
* Xel thinks Mazoku should be above taking hostages. Another moment of oddly prim ethical standards from the Lesser Beast.
* Xel's role in NEXT is to keep Lina from having to make those pesky heroic decisions.

Episode 13
* Lina actually uses the advice Xel gave her back in episode two: if you can fool your friends, etc. You'd think there'd be a problem with advice that comes from Xellos, and there is. It sounds good and it works, but it leaves everybody really annoyed.
* Amelia begs Shabby to save Sailoon. Zel and Gourry are all, "ARE YOU NUTS?"

Episode 14: The Song
* When exiting the ruins Lina leaves in her wake, Zel walks backwards with his hand on his sword.
* Mimi and Nene's dresses are just like Xel's in episode 17, only shorter. Modesty? Please. Didn't want to let Martina at his legs with a razor? Could be. After all, no one's supposed to know he's mazoku yet.
* Val must be Gaav's priest. My reasoning: the general would be in charge of the fighting minions, and neither Gaav nor Val has sufficient imagination to come up with this minion. It's bizarre.

Episode 15: Showdown at Artemey Tower. Or, Fun with Puppets
* I'm wondering if Artemey is meant to be Artemis.
* Sub!Xel does a congested deep voice while storytelling. I think it sounds dumb, but it seems to work for him. Everyone is entranced.
* Zelgabunny is Zel-usa-chan, short for Zel-usagi-chan. This pune or play on words would work equally well if not better for Xellos's name.

Episode 16: Brass Racquets
* Zel was born to be a sports commentator. In watching Martina's fancy snake-in-the-hole move, he forgets to keep track of Xel and Amelia.
* It's seems that gumi has the connotation of team, where tachi is just group. So what's ikkou, gang? Sanzo-Houshi-sama, gangleader. ^,^
* Amelia comes about to Xel's shoulders.
* Xel is LOUSY at looking innocent. He hums and is smug.
* --but is a gracious victim. He keels over for Zel so nicely. Good sub, have a biscuit! (cackles)

Episode 17: Slayers In Tights
* When Zel shows up in his dress, Gourry is the only one to blush.
* For whatever reason, Zel gets pissed when Martina says Xellos is cute.

Episode 18: Library
* Shabby is currently sleeping in the far North. I thought that was Dynast. Oh, well (maybe they're shacking up).
* Xel contributes to a wishing well, commenting that the town's economy must be in a slump. No good deed goes unpunished; he gets smooshed.
* Auntie Aqua is magnetic!
* The heartless, magic-using swordsman takes a moment to comfort the camels.
* Gaav's first line in the anime is "Even Xellos must be getting excited now."
* Xel doesn't lift a finger to defend himself against Gaav.
* Who says after beating the tar out of him that Xel alone would have been enough to distract him.
* And appreciates the 'crafty bastard's' 'smart-ass mouth,' and seems pleased when Xellos weasels out of his grasp without giving him any information.
* Let's put that together, shall we? Xellos, who is either somebody else's minion or the closest thing the mazoku have to a mercenary (he's worked for both Phibrizzo's purposes and Zelas's) puts up no fight at all and the War Lord is still giving him props and compliments and taking him seriously? Go ahead, tell me these guys don't have history.
* Xellos admits his debt to Seiryu for helping Lina. In complete earnest. To the Water Dragon. Whoa.
* On another note, this puts another slant on something that happens in TRY. I have a wav of dub!Xel saying, "Hello, Filia, how's the Fire Dragon doing these days?" She takes it as taunting, but in the light of this debt, he may have been perfectly sincere, or even looking for some way to pay it off and get out from under it.

Episodes with Milgazia In
* When fighting those two color-coded zapper balls (I forget which episode), Amelia throws a Gaav Flare. I understand she's under a lot of pressure, but wow. Not only a dark spell (she's never had any problem with dark spells), but one which is totally useless under the circumstances. Who did she think was powering the zappers, anyway? I'll be fair, though; she's having a rough day. It's about to get worse.
* When Gaav himself explains his situation (again, I'm not sure of the episode), he says that it's the mazoku race, not Shabranigdo, that he turned against. I'm not sure where I got the idea that it was Shabby he rebelled against--might have been canon or fanon. But the idea is out there, and he's refuted it. Mind you, I don't say he wasn't just trying to make himself look better. Still, interesting.

Episode 22: Phibrizzo
* Gaav says Xel's specialty is attacks from the Astral Plane.
* Xel calls Gaav 'dono.' This indicates either that my little sama/dono theory is scotched, or that Xellos is one impertinent son of a beast.
* Zel calls Lina his friend. Out loud. O where the brooding chimera of ill fame...?
* And then he says, "No matter what, I canšt just go along with what youšre planning. Thatšs because, unlike Xellos, Išm *human.That's because, unlike Xellos, I'm human!" And he's all proud. Which is, of course, news in no way whatsoever and on absolutely no front, but it was such a cute little moment of Klassical Khimeric Klaptrap that it deserves mention.
* Gaav has blue eyes.
* Gaav says, after defeating Amelia with a brilliant burst of pure logic, "I despise people who hypocritically brandish justice around." Yaknow, Valgaav is a twisted little momma's boy who doesn't bother to get his facts straight, but I can see his point. Gaav is pretty cool sometimes.
* Gourry has a great line in this episode. He scoops Lina up and looks down at her, all serious and confident, and says, "I'm gonna try to give us all a chance. ...EVERYBODY RUUUUUUUUUUN!"
Bing! Essence of Slayers!
* Shades of TRY, anyone? Killing Gaav was not, in fact, something Phibrizzo actually wanted to do. It looks like he'd been trying for a while to figure out how to separate Gaav from the human soul Ceiphied had attatched him to, and is taking him out only now that he knows the two are irrevocably fused. This was, sadly, inevitable, when you think about it. In a system of polarized ethics, neither the 'good' or 'evil' side is going to let anyone stay maverick--witness the Golds' treatment of the Ancients and the mazoku's courtship of Lina.

Episode 23: Kidnapped Gourry
Which deals with the aftermath, not the event, of his kidnapping.
* In episode one, Gourry didn't just call Lina a kid--he called her 'gaki,' a brat. No wonder she got all stiff and twitchy!
* The clock on Lina's dresser has ten numerals, not twelve.
* As of this episode, Lina and Gourry have been traveling together for a year and a half.
* Even after being hit by one of Lina's Burst Rounds, Sylphiel does not land on her head. And she keeps her grip on the white flag.
* She also acts slightly deranged. To quote Lina, "You're going to use sex appeal on a mazoku??!" I'm sorry, Sylphiel is not boring. Wierd, certainly, obsessed, absolutely. Not boring.
* Zangulus's hair is what I call black-plum; black with purple highlights. So in my personal canon he's gotta be from Lyzeille.

Episode 24: Ghost City
* Sylphiel's father calls Lina 'dono.'
* Zel puts himself bodily between Sylphiel and a threat to her, and loses his temper at Phibrizzo for making her cry.
* Sairaag has a temple to Phibrizzo. It's on a little hill. I'm reminded first that it's Sailoon which is the city of white magic, second that we're never told the nature of Sylphiel's shrine, and third that she wears a lot of purple. I'm not drawing conclusions, but these are interesting factoids, taken together.

Episode 25: More Phibrizzo
* All Phibby's servants were destroyed 1000 years ago.
* The underground passages under the old city extend as far as present-day Sairaag.
* Phibby's thoughtful hums are just like Xel's. ^_^
* L-Sama talks just like her spells.
* Xel calls L-sama Konjiki no Ou. No and ou I know. I'm guessing it's nightmare, but if anyone has an actual translation for konjiki, I'd be interested.
* Well known, but I'll mention it. In the presence of his Mother, Xellos takes off all of his masks. He phases in with his Astral form--which is a clean black wind, unlike the monstrous Astral bodies of every other Mazoku we've ever seen in the anime, and he opens his eyes with a grave face on. It's the only time we ever see him really acting like a priest. He kneels and everything. And for someone who's supposed to rejoice in negativity, he completely fails to rub Lina's destruction into her friend's faces. He acts, in fact, like a doctor, with just that respectful, regretful turn of the head to tell them she didn't make it.

Episode 26: Go to NEXT!
* Sairaag is left flooded.
* Sairaag is really spelled Sailague. It's on a sign and everything. I'd go change things, in my fics, but I think Zel's last name is about as much as I can get away with in the realm of alternate spellings.
* When Xel appears to give Gourry his sword back, he doesn't have the Staff O' Doom with him. I think this is a first, and also a last.
* Gourry is left without armor. He'll have it back by TRY, but he got stripped of everything but his everyday clothes on the way to Lina, and the armor went, too.
* You'd think it would be telling that Lina seems to feel she's lost her innocence, but it doesn't seem to have affect her very much. She's the same old Lina during Try.

Email: Nightfall@suntemple.org