T.02.17 Visitor

In Which... Oh No, It's Alice

Yep, It's Alice. Ever-so-useful Alice and she's surprised to see Bella in Bella's own home. So that pretty much sums it up, eh? You know, I really wanted Victoria to amount to something other than a vague, distant threat, not much hope with a scant 8 chapters remaining and a whole climax in the courtyard to get through.

Onward, then. Alice saw Bella jump off a cliff and blah blah. She can't see Werewolves in her visions (eh?) Bella smells like a werewolf (oh kay...) Jacob checks in on Bella and we split up for showers and feeding time.Alice returns and the girls catch up a bit, big news is that Edward seems to be off and about in South America, so I'm trying to figure out how Alice's vision gets to him.

Charlie comes back and he discusses funeral plans with Bella, who then crashes out on the couch. While she pretends to sleep, Charlie chats with Alice about Bella's long depression. It's a bit of insight into Charlie's state of mind over the whole book... which would have been really nice before Book 2, Chapter 17. Beggars and choosers and such.

Charlie heads out to help with the arrangements while Bella chats with Alice. There's some catching up on the rest of the Cullens and a bit of background on Alice's life.

The next day is the funeral, Bella and Alice stay home and Bella cleans house while they chat about friends and old times. When the doorbell rings, Alice is surprised which means Jacob (invisible in her visions) has returned.

SumUp B-

Although I'm not recounting much here, it's not because this is a short chapter. There just isn't much happening outside of long discussions. It's all chit-chat and catchup that gives us some much-needed insight into Alice and Charlie. I'm only docking it to a B- because I know that Alice's ever-plot-dependent powers are going to somehow set the final story into motion.

I'm still trying to get a grip on Alice's powers. Sometimes she has to do this trancey thing to see stuff, sometimes she just KNOWS things are going to happen. Description in the text suggests it depends on how detached it is from her, but is she really always aware of whats going to happen directly to her five minutes before it does? That's a really messed up way to exist. How would you possibly live like that? Maybe she just does a day-check each morning or something. Odd and annoying.

The creepy Charlie infatuation mentioned previously is absent (thankfully) and there's a real sense of affection between Bella and Alice. It all flows and informs and colors, which I guess makes it the calm before the storm.