Predictions and Observations:
Dormitory Demolition

While it *was* amusing to see Chazz get coated with paint every few minutes, doesn’t Duel Academy have better things to spend its money on than demolishing and rebuilding by lifepoints? I wonder what would’ve happened if one of them had used, say, a Ring of Destruction; they’d have to demolish and rebuild simultaneously!

Did you see that? Did you *see* that?! Crowler was having fun! Right there toward the end, Crowler was taking it to him and having a blast!

I noticed a hint of Ojama music while the guys were rebuilding the Dorm at warp speed, but maybe it was just me. *sigh*. I miss the new old Chazz and his Ojamas…

Wasn’t the last time Crowler played Ancient Gear Castle when he dueled Camula? “You see, though it makes me slightly ill to admit it, Jaden is absolutely right: I *can* throw down and I *can* get my game on! Ugh, why do I suddenly feel the need to rinse my mouth out!”

Awww… once again, when Crowler starts in with the rather cliché but possibly from-the-heart, I have to ask, was he for real, when he said that a good teacher is one who learns from his/her students? Whether he meant it or not, I think he *has* learned a thing or two from Jaden and his crowd, whether he’s willing to admit that’s what he meant or not.

No one gets to call them slackers but Crowler! How very interesting. I guess I can understand that. It certainly lends at least *some* “excuse” to this supposedly out-of-character move for him. I say supposedly because we all know that once he got to know Jaden and company, he was mostly talk about expelling them.

Crowler and Bonaparte argued about the difficulties of either being short or being tall.

What was that Bonaparte called Crowler in response to Crowler’s “In that case, prepare to eat dirt, shorty”? I didn’t catch it, and due to an unfortunate misunderstanding my recording accidentally got erased before I could go back and check it out more carefully.

I have a feeling that Bonaparte’s little toy soldiers represent something about him. The soldiers and emperor probably allude to his namesake, the French ruler Napoleon. But why would they be toys rather than real soldiers? That may allude to what sets him apart from Napoleon; they’re both short and like to be in control, but Bonaparte-the-GX-vice-chancellor would not be up to, say, overthrowing the French government and taking over as supreme dictator. He’s a bit more, well, cartoony, than all that.

Why did Crowler take the side of Slifer? What else have we learned about this throughout the year?:
“ It seems to me that Crowler doesn’t want to voice that he actually doesn’t agree with Bonaparte about Slifer Red, because that would be quite an admission for him to make, but he seems very reluctant with this idea. Come on, dude, you’re Chancellor and he’s vice-chancellor—if you don’t agree, don’t do it!” –Predictions, Champion or Chazz-Been?
“ Unless I’m much mistaken, Bonaparte is slowly shoving Crowler out and taking over the school. That’s a bit disconcerting. Though, on the bright side, that puts Crowler back on our side against this insanity.” – Predictions, The Demon
“ Chancellor Bonaparte—I have a sinking feeling that we’ll be hearing *that* more often. Crowler’s being usurped, he knows it, and—I recognize that feeling—he doesn’t have the guts to do something about it. In that sense I can relate at times; it takes guts to stand up to someone who is more vocal and possibly more able for the task at hand than you, but that’s a matter of confidence: Crowler has to stand up for himself and his position, or Bonaparte’s going to snatch the school right out from under him and soon. He can’t keep taking this. If I could advise Crowler on this (which I can’t, but still), I’d say that you don’t have to be completely outrageous and demand your position back or anything; innocent until proven guilty. You can simply take an opportunity, away from anyone else, to have a word with him and state your position: in this case, Crowler might say that the “personal secretary”, etc. remarks really hurt, and that it seems to him that Bonaparte is, well, trying to do his job for him. If Bonaparte doesn’t want to have his little scheme (so it seems) cut off before it starts by admitting to it (and if he does Crowler could appeal to some higher authority like, for instance, Kaiba, who probably appointed him to this post for a reason) (then again, Kaiba would probably tell him to figure it out himself. What about a duel to settle this?), then he’ll reply that of course he’s not. Then Crowler could take the opportunity to set up some boundaries, like who handles what aspects of Duel Academy administration, and problem solved unless, like I said before, Bonaparte wants to get fired by overstepping these and trying to claim control. This is probably not what will happen, of course, and I have a feeling that soon these two will come into conflict over who is actually in charge of Duel Academy, and there will no doubt be a duel, in which, may I be so bold as to predict Crowler’s victory, because, even though he talks a big game and plays a terrible one, he cares deeply for Duel Academy and is not about to let anyone cheat him of this post he cares so much about (remember, the exchange in Champion or Chazz-Been? “It’s *Chancellor* Crowler now.” It takes nine years in Duel School to achieve a Ph.D., and yet once he became Chancellor, that mattered to him far more). I have a feeling that Crowler will always care deeply for Duel Academy’s image, too, and he hasn’t by any means made his peace with Slifers, but I think that he also cares about the students and the school itself, while Bonaparte cares only for the image. One way or another, Crowler, take ‘im down!” –Predictions, A New Breed of Hero I
“ Interesting point, Bastion: without Jaden out there showing what Reds are made of, Crowler just might align with Bonaparte about tearing down the Slifer dorm. However, I think they still have time; Jaden won’t stay like this for long, and they can’t forget past successes so quickly. But, when the time comes to defend the Dorm, or, I perceive, to defend Jaden in the near future if he needs it, because it’s clear that he’s in no shape to stand up to much of anything, those five stand together like the keykeepers so recently did, and will take it on as a team! And by the way, props to Chazz for rallying them like that—Chazz it up!” –Predictions, Pop Goes the Duel

Jaden doesn’t seem to notice that Chazz is a bit different from when he last saw him. Wonder why? I mean, Jaden’s not know for being observant or lightning-quick on the uptake, but come on! One of his friends suffered a major, visible, inexplicable (unless you’re Sartorius) change of personality! Surely he has to notice that! Wonder if he’ll notice when they get a rematch soon? I say “soon” because not only are they overdue for one, but Chazz *did* offer right before Jaden left and Chazz got taken; bet Jaden might remember that and take him up on it!

Crowler mentioned that a student taught him that “it isn’t over ‘til it ends.” Sounds like a paraphrased Jadenism, the same one we’ve been having trouble finding since Camaraderie Contest. We’ll find it eventually!

Pharaoh was around and about today. I wonder how Banner would have felt about Crowler of all people ending up defending the Slifer dorm? By the way, I think Crowler might be allergic or something; he freaked when Pharaoh came near him, and his eyes were streaming tears. He’s never liked Pharaoh, but his eyes were streaming. Maybe it was just amusing overstatement.

This isn’t helping my suspicions about Bonaparte being one of the bad guys, one way or another…

Soooo… How did things work out with Aster becoming a student?

Is it just me, or did the work guys tear down the “Chez Chazz” section of the Slifer Dorm and not repair it? I suppose we’ll find out whether it’s still there or not…

Okay, it’s twenty to midnight and I still have an essay to write that isn’t for fun (if only my teachers knew what I like to do every afternoon in my spare time…), so—tomorrow’s episode is Obelisk White? (you’re kidding, right…?), good night! -Clio