Crystal yawned as she walked down the hall toward home. Her and Silent's home. The base was quiet and still, which was just fine by her. All she wanted was to go straight to bed, but a small stack of letters that had been pushed through the slot demanded her attention.
With another yawn, Crystal floated her luggage over to the bedroom door and levitated the letters. Bill... fan letter... fan letter... interview request... oh! Her ears perked and her mood lifted. A letter from Reindom House!
The other envelopes were set on the coffee table while she flopped onto the couch. How much were they going to advance her for The Desert Rose? How many changes and tweaks were they going to request?
Dear Crystal Wishes
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to consider your latest proposal.
Regretfully, we do not feel that The Desert Rose is in line with what readers have come to expect from C.W. Step nor what the market we cater to is currently looking for. Therefore, it is our belief that Reindom House is not the right publisher for it.
Thank you for your continued efforts, and we wish you every success in providing us with the next C.W. Step bestseller.
Yours sincerely,
Perfect Pen
A strange feeling gripped Crystal's chest. She read the letter over a second time. A third time. Again and again until she could define how she felt: angry. She was angry! How could they just... reject it? Were they allowed to do that? Was she just supposed to give up, roll over, and try to find a new muse?
Crystal's hooves trembled as the letter and its envelope fluttered to the floor, her magic instead snatching up her suitcase. She jumped off the couch and stormed back out the door. No, she was going to do none of that. She was going to find a way around them! The Desert Rose deserved a chance, and if it wasn't with Reindom House, then she would just have to look elsewhere. And she just knew who to go to.
Determination guiding her, she marched right back off base and through the town, retracing the steps she had just walked moments before. There was no need to hurry, as she had long since missed the train's departure, but there was a storm raging within her.
They hadn't just rejected her idea; they had rejected Velvet! Her story wasn't interesting enough, even after the addition of an exotic setting? Crystal blinked a few times when her vision started to blur. How could she possibly tell Velvet that her story wasn't worthy of being told?
She wouldn't have to, because she was going to fight. So what if Reindom House didn't want the story? There were other publishers.
"Hello!" she said breathlessly when she arrived at the ticket counter. "Ticket to Manehattan, please!"
The old stallion blinked a few times, adjusting his glasses. "Afraid you'll be waiting a while, miss. Next train isn't due for another two hours."
Crystal shook her head. "It's fine. That's fine." She floated the bits onto the counter, then pushed them toward him. "Ticket, please."
With her ticket clasped in pink magic, Crystal sat on a bench, gazing at the empty tracks. A cold breeze ruffled her coat and she tugged a shawl tighter around her shoulders. She was alone, save for the ticketmaster, though he was hardly any company. As far as she could see from looking around the platform, she was the only pony there.
A moment passed. Perhaps it had been a minute, thirty seconds, or not even a second at all. However long the moment had been, it was long enough for darkness to creep into the corners of her mind.
What was she doing? Running off to go fight for a story? Silent Knight was where ponies were fighting for real, or at least going to be, and here she was all worked up over something inconsequential. She was wasting her time.
Crystal shook her head. No! It wasn't a waste of time. She was fighting for Velvet. That was important... wasn't it?
Did Velvet even care?
Slowly, her ears started to sink. Did anypony care? It was just a story. There were hundreds of thousands of stories. Reindom House didn't think hers was worth publishing.
Her chest tightened and, unbidden, a choking sob fell from her lips. She quickly clamped a hoof over her mouth and glanced around, easing when she confirmed she was still alone.
Alone.
Why did he have to leave her all alone?
♡
The train's whistle cut into the dream that vanished as soon as she opened her eyes. She must have fallen asleep after the transfer to the second train, because it had hardly felt like time had moved, but the surroundings outside the window certainly had changed. Manehattan stood on the coast, overlooking an ocean that was barely illuminated by the first rays of sunlight.
Crystal gathered up her belongings and readied herself for when the train pulled into the station, doing her very best to keep her mind on track. Should she wait at the office, or just go directly to his house? Sunset Coffee was a notoriously early riser. For all she knew, he was already at his desk, sipping his coffee and starting his day.
Then again, whether he was there or not, it would be nice to drop off her belongings at his place instead of lugging everything through Eminence Tower. She just hoped he and his family didn't mind the sudden drop-in with no advanced notice.
Her body jolted forward when the train came to a complete stop, squealing wheels and hissing steam filling the air for a moment. Then everything went quiet. She was the only pony in the car, and after hours spent on trains, the silence was starting to feel comforting.
The whole of Manehattan was covered in a light fog. Sounds of a city stirring with life reached her ears when she stepped off the platform and into the city proper. Taxi carts were already zipping through the streets and the sidewalks were about half as full as they were during the midday lunch rush. The fog, however, kept everything shrouded in an air of melancholy, especially with how nopony took the time to greet one another as they passed by.
Even though she was now surrounded by ponies, she still felt a sense of loneliness clinging to her withers like a ragged shawl. She pulled the real one she wore tighter around herself in an attempt to chase away that clawing, chilling sensation.
"Extra, extra," a colt's voice called among the haze. "Read all about it! Nordanver forces moving toward Rindaire to engage their enemy!"
Crystal had to stop and catch her breath. The words knocked the wind right out of her. Tears filled her eyes and she quickly shook her head to chase them away, urging her hooves to keep moving.
No matter where she went or what she was doing, the war followed her. It was the feeling that nipped at her, clung to her, suffocated her whenever she was alone.
Faster. She had to get to the apartment complex faster. The sooner she had company, the sooner she'd feel better. This all-encompassing darkness would be chased away by the light of a friend.
She made her way to and inside the building, hurried up the stairs, and rapidly knocked on the door. She prayed somepony was home as she waited, each beat passing in the pounding of her heart, a drum of war that throbbed in her skull, until—
The door opened and Sunset Coffee blinked. "Crystal Wishes!" He beamed at the sight of her. "What a surprise! I was just on my way into the office."
Crystal nodded. "Good morning! I was hoping to catch you. I'm sorry it's so short notice, but do you mind if I drop off my luggage here and chat with you while you walk to work?"
Sunset's brow raised, then he chuckled and, after she levitated her bags inside, pulled the door closed behind him. "All right. Is this for business or pleasure?"
"Business, though it's always a pleasure to see you." She winked, trotting alongside him. "How are the girls?"
"Great! Can never complain about my little flowers. Cocoa loves the little mare care packages you send her, by the way." After a pause, he glanced at her, concern in his eyes. "So. What's up?"
A soft sight escaped Crystal while her magic retrieved the letter from her saddlebag. "Here."
Sunset stopped to take the letter in one hoof and read through it. His expression grew serious and his tone remained even. "I see. I imagine you want to talk about this. You've not had a rejection before, have you?"
"No." Crystal's ears flicked back and she did her very best not to pout, though she very much wanted to. "It doesn't mean the story is dead, is it? I just simply have to find another publisher?"
"Well... It's somewhat tricky, isn't it?" He cleared his throat and continued leading her out of the apartment complex and onto the street. "You have a contract with Reindom House. C.W. Step is a publisher pseudonym... more or less, they own it. Our parent company owns it, to be precise. So the only way to use C.W. Step for—" He paused, glancing at the folded-up letter. "Sorry. What was it called?"
"The Desert Rose," she replied in a quiet mumble.
He nodded. "Right! The Desert Rose. If you want to publish that under C.W. Step, either we fight to prove to Reindom House it is what they're looking for, or—"
Her ears perked up, hope fluttering in her chest. Such a simple little word could have so much meaning. "Or?"
"Or you rework your idea to a more serial-suitable format and we publish it in Mares Monthly." He bumped his shoulder to hers. "I believe in you. You haven't let me down yet. If you're willing to fight for this story, then I'm willing to fight for you."
The hope exploded into joy as she threw her forelegs around him in a tight hug. "Oh, thank you, thank you! Yes! A serial's fine!" She withdrew and continued walking beside him, a happy skip in her step. "It's not quite what I wanted for this story, but at least it'll have my name on it. I don't want to have to hide behind a different pseudonym, not for Rose."
His brow knitted slightly as he glanced down at her. "Hmm... You seem particularly attached to this one."
A smile spread across her lips and she giggled, nodding. "I am. This one is special. More special than anything I've written so far, I think. I want to prove to a friend—my very best friend—that her story, her life, who she is... That she's not strange or bizarre."
"Well." He puffed his chest, holding one of the doors that led into Eminence Tower open for her. "Tell me all about it, and I'll pitch it to Kahuna. I know it won't pay as much as if Reindom House had taken it, but at least it will get out there, eh?"
The smile faded some, but she nodded. "It's something. It's not what I wanted, but I suppose we can't always get what we want."
"You never know!" Sunset winked as they made their way toward the elevators. "It could take off swimmingly and Reindom House will approach you, begging for your forgiveness!"
Crystal laughed and waved a hoof. "Oh, wouldn't that be a wonderful turn of events?" After he pressed a button and they waited for the elevator to make its way down to the lobby, she sighed wistfully. "It is what it is. Now, then, let me tell you about The Desert Rose. I've set it in Saddle Arabia to add an exotic appeal."
Sunset's head bobbed. "Okay. I like it so far."
The gilded doors slid open and they stepped inside, a unicorn wearing a tuxedo collar operating the elevator while Crystal continued, "The... complicated part, I suppose, and why Reindom House rejected it, is the protagonist does not fall in love, nor does she want to."
"Oh?" He blinked at her. "That's, well. I'll be honest. That's a bold move for you, given your reputation as a romance writer."
"I know, but I want to do it. I want to write it." She nodded, mostly to reassure herself and her nervous heart. "I have a stallion and a mare that pursue her, seeking her hoof in marriage. As such, she finds them companions better suited for them than her, which is how I tie in the romance part."
Sunset hummed in thought. He didn't say anything as they arrived at the sixty-third floor, instead just nodding his head to gesture for her to keep following. He led her into the Mares Monthly wing and all the way to his office before he finally said, "It has potential."
Crystal released the breath she forgot she had been holding. Lowering herself into the seat across from his desk, she asked in a quiet voice, "You think so?"
"I do." He steepled his forehooves. "Of course, you know just as well as anypony else that comes into this office that a serial publication is different from a novel."
She nodded quickly, her nerves tingling with excitement. "Oh, absolutely. What do you think needs to be pared down?"
Tapping his hooves together, he pursed his lips, then said, "The suitors and your protagonist helping them find love... That will be a few too many plot threads to keep track of with a monthly publication. What if she simply helps the two of them get together? That would simplify things a great deal."
"Oh..." She bit her lower lip.
One of his brows raised. "'Oh'? Is that a problem?"
"No, I—well, it's just that—" She took a sharp intake of air and released it as a sigh. "It's not a problem, per se. I would simply have to change the mare suitor into a stallion."
Sunset blinked a few times. His confusion was entirely understandable. She kept her gaze averted as he puzzled through her words for a moment and finally asked, "Why is that?"
Oh, how could she put it? She raised a hoof to rub the back of her neck. "Well, you see, Velvet—this is written for and loosely about her... She, well." She swallowed, the hoof sliding down. "She thought it would add a certain—a certain appeal if the stallion pursuing the main mare ended up with another stallion. She said it would be"—her voice lowered into an embarrassed tone—"hot."
The immediate response she received was a snerrk. He slapped his hooves on the desk and threw his head back, laughing without any restraint. The sound stirred Crystal into joining him, first with giggles, and then full-on laughter.
"I—" He gasped for air. "I see!" He wiped his eyes with both hooves. "Well, that's a great idea. The mainstream market could use more hot stallion love." The moment she felt her face turn red, he started laughing again.
"Ohh!" She tried to pout, but giggling made it a difficult look to maintain. "Could you please be professional about this, Mr. Coffee?"
He snorted and waved a hoof. "Okay! Okay, okay." He breathed in and out. "I'm just surprised. You've talked about Velvet before, but I had no idea how different you two were. In seriousness, though, that gives you two unique hooks. I think our audience will love it. We don't have anything on the schedule set in Saddle Arabia, and I can't remember the last time there was a story in Mares Monthly that was set there."
She twiddled her hooves. "You don't think it's... too unique, do you? Too far out there?"
"Not at all. It will be fine. After all, you believe in it, don't you?" His smile was still in place, but his eyes had a serious look in them.
"What?" She blinked, then steeled her resolve. "Of course. No—" Tossing her mane over her shoulder, she straightened her back to sit as tall as she could. "Not just of course. Absolutely! I know I can write this well."
His eyes softened and he tapped a hoof on the desk. "That's the spirit! Well, I'll present it to Kahuna. Why don't you head back and hang out with the girls? I'll let you know how things go when I get home."
Crystal nodded and rose to her hooves. "I'll do just that. Thank you, Sunset. I really appreciate it."
"Anything for my favorite client!" He winked. "This'll work out just fine for you, I'm sure of it."
"I certainly hope so!" As she made her way out of his office, she couldn't help but feel a strange bitterness in the back of her mind.
Nothing was going to take her writing away, not the war, and certainly not Reindom House. Oh, she'd show them what her readers expected! They expected good, quality writing, and that was exactly what she was going to deliver.
I can see the word count, and yet this still seemed incredibly short.
I don't understand.
I don't care, either, I still loved it.
Rejection. The worst thing a writer have to face in their live, but don't worry. If all writers works are accepted, then there is no need to make improvements and all editors/proofreaders will be unemployed.
Uh oh. Is that new (old) crystal that Crystal has slowly amping her magic? Will Crystal mount a rescue expedition for Silent Knight?
Begin Laughter
Repeat
We saw this coming way back in Wishes. Of course The Desert Rose is about Velvet, everything Crystal writes is taken from someone she knows or grills. The only question now is how badly it blows up for her when Velvet finds out or at least how badly Velvet trolls her about it.
I'm somewhat surprised that Sunset didn't simply tell Crystal that she could use another pseudonym to publish it elsewhere as another option. Unless Crystal is under contract not to do that or perhaps Sunset wants to keep Crystal inhouse and failed to offer this solution on purpose.
The meta humor here is delicious. I've seen so many authors on this site get popular for A and when they write B suddenly their reputation counts for nothing as the majority of their readers are here for A.
Ohhhhh, that's a tough one. I'be had problems when people asked me for multiple versions of an idea I was posing, much less outright rejection. I felt that one right in the gut.
You go Crystal! Fight for that story! That I probably still wouldn't read because I'm just not the intended audience. Maybe.
7373441
3099? Yeah, I see the word count too.
7373656 I think that he assumed she didn't want to write under another pseudonym.
yep rejection sucked. I've been looking for internships this year and last year and rejection really sucks.
I starting laughing at that. It's true though, we need more good M/M fics.
A part of me hopes the story works out, and the other part thinks it would be a great life lesson for one of her stories to be rejected for exactly the reason they gave: The story doesn't match their market. Her response to the rejection letter proves that she needs the experience as a writer.
Although I always wish for her happiness...errg I fight against myself with my own desires!
3099? ... What?? Not the neat, tied off 3100? Whaaat? Something is going on here! You can't fool me, Crystals!
I see the start of this fragment being fueled by personal experience, I believe...
... and I see the ending being right up my favorite, drama alley. Oh, why are your tales so satisfying, hmmm... :drinks in the gloom:
“From my close observation of writers... they fall into two groups: 1) those who bleed copiously and visibly at any bad review, and 2) those who bleed copiously and secretly at any bad review.”
― Isaac Asimov
7373850
...
3099! Combo breaker!
Are you all right Crystal?
7373850 ITS THE END OF THE WORLD!!!!!!! TARTARUS HAS FROZEN OVER! The Rose Princess didnt have an even number count!
In all fairness. I wonder if they will take the story as is, and maybe publish it as a novel instead of mares monthly. Or she could always Publish it under a different name maybe if it dont work out either way. And I can relate to the crippling aloneness feeling she felt. sometimes your mind loves to play cruel games. This was a good chapter, and I enjoyed it!
Some folks have been turned off by the x00 word count thing I do, calling it creepy, strange, obsessive, off-putting...
And 7373776 7373850 7374028 are proof that I mean it when I say it is no longer me, but my readers, that require the x00! I'm held captive by my audience!
But, here's the weird thing. When I posted it, it was 3,100.
cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/121289410481225728/200918126261567488/Screen_Shot_2016-07-08_at_6.16.29_AM.png
So... I legitimately don't know how, after I went to bed, it dropped to 3,099.
7373475 Crystal certainly has yet to have to deal with it until now, and she wasn't prepared for it whatsoever. She decided to go the "angry and swinging punches with lapses of doubt" route.
7373656 Velvet already knows it's about her! They had a conversation about it when Crystal and her had their little luncheon early in the story.
Sunset's advice was framed around if she wanted to use C.W. Step. "If you want to publish that under C.W. Step" and all that. She of course can (and does) publish some works using a different pseudonym, but she came to him instead of doing that, so he took that as a sign that she wanted to publish this as her main author-self.
7373776 Hahah. Well, I'm sure she appreciates your support, even if you wouldn't read it.
7373779 Yeah... Rejection absolutely sucks. Especially when you think you're a shoe-in, like Crystal did. It totally blindsided her!
7373807 I totally know what you mean! Coming up with the plot threads for this story was difficult. Have to balance my own love for these characters vs. what I want for them... Crystal, sweetie, it'll be worth it in the end! Don't hate me for what is in store for you!
7373869 Move along, blue shadows, move along! Your drama isn't wanted here!
... not that that'll stop it. Oh, no, it certainly won't. There's just too much on the horizon for drama to go away that easily!
7374006 So true. Ugh, it's so true it hurts.
7374284
Drama is crucial to live. You can either continue in the helpless struggle against it, or learn how to absorb strength from it. I feel pretty empowered already... and I am still awaiting the upcoming despair and torment. It shall be... glorious.
Damn, This feel too short :)
7374284
"Every proper lady ends her chapters in neat 'x00' word count." Isn't that what Upper Crust taught you?
Belated now I am at home comment bomb because I was bad and read this on my phone at work instead of doing what I was paid to do by those who chose to pay me for some reason and I didn't want to get caught by anyone posting a comment on my phone and now this is a run on sentence!!!
(Gasps for writing breath...)
Whew! But it did give me time to think (some say this is a BAD thing) and really consider the implications for Chrystal and The Desert Rose. A story like this one would work particularly well in a monthly serial, as it IS different, and thus not totally predictable. It has a real 'Will they kiss' draw to it as the reader eagerly awaits to see if the protagonist does finally fall in love. These sorts of stories can end up as an obsession for some, instead of getting a single shot of guilty pleasure from a romance novel, it is now drawn out over many months, to be savored like a fine chilled orange juice on a frosty morning...
.
..
...
...mmm, condensation...
I'm keeping my eye on The Desert Rose, I think it's going to be interesting.
Crystal, I think, is actually embodying the idea of "write for yourself". Despite being rejected, despite Sunset's seemingly being hesitant (calling it a bold move), she's intent on writing this story.
It also has the chance to blow up in her face.
As a romance author, Crystal's readers will have come to have certain expectations of her, like those from her previous books. Now she's doing something different, and that could potentially leave readers disappointed.
Here's hoping for the best.
7374284
And I have concrete, pictographic proof that it wasn't 3100! Muwahahahahahaha- *cough* Ahem. Erm... Just teasing, y'know.
But I'm keeping the picture.
And, if you hadn't seen until now, fimfic has some weird word-count-reading software because the numbers don't always turn out like you'd expect.
EDIT:
Au Timer: It has been 14 gigajillion stalker moments since Au made an appearance.
7374540 Oh, I logged in and saw it at 3,099 as well. I know FiMFic has really weird word counting algorithms, but... It was 3,100 when I posted and went to bed, then 3,099 when I woke up. That is the part that is boggling me!
And good things come to those who wait, especially those who don't have to wait very long.
7374284
what really sucks is when the rejection comes after you've been accepted. That's infuriating.
You go Crystal Wishes, show em.
I hope you know I say this in a good humor voice, but
am I going to have to start linking that Get on with it! clip every chapter now? You keep teasing us by inching closer and closer every chapter! It's like time is moving at a constant rate and refuses to be rushed by anyone.
Oh, and yes, unexpected rejection from a previous confident source does suck. What can I do to get you to accept me, and all that jazz.
7374284
This is true.
->
This does make me wonder how loose the loosely actually is. Of course it's entirely possible that Crystal's rather strong reaction is because of her fragile state regarding the Silent Knight war issue causing her to really latch onto The Desert Velvet and assign it more importance than it is truly due.
Assuming The Desert Rose is re-purposed into a serial, it should be amusing to see Crystal when her fans react to this new material. Her retelling of her defense of it over a tub of ice cream with Velvet will happen.
I remember when I posted up my first story here. I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread, so when the justifiably terrible reviews started pouring in... I felt pretty crap and did not respond well to the whole ordeal.
Still, since then I have learned so much about writing stories, it's amazing. /)(\
Now, Crystal, if you could, just perhaps, lend me some of that fabulous muse you seem to have...
Seeing the title instantly reminded me of this:
This is one of the few stories [along with Trials of a Royal Guard] that updates pretty often but can still make me do a happy dance. Obviously, I cheer for new chapters of the epic stories like Lunar Rebellion and Aftermath of a Fallen Star [and many others, those are just the first that came to mind] that update maybe once ever few months.
But stories that update weekly or weekly-ish generally lose their novelty.
Not this one!
First off everyone chill about the word count. If the author wants to write a shorter chapter thats up to her. (Ignores authors post in favor of humor). Did you consider it could be the start of a countdown?
On the real topic though, part of this is "Who is Crystal writing for?" - her friends, herself, her fans, a 'living'? Obviously its her fans and friends, so any rejection is going to sting, but one so close to her heart is going to sting worse. As a creator whose work is often rejected, I can say you eventually learn to shake your head and become less attached, but resentment does build up over time. It is easy for others to say no, but without the emotional attachment the author of a work feels they don't suffer nearly proportionate trauma. Some authors get rejected hundreds of times before they gain acceptance.
Why I do I have to be up to date with the chapters ?! The suspense from waiting and desiring more is too much !
Oh wow, so the Velvet story got turned down.
Ooo, that sets the current timeline. The near future of the story is going to be painful, give or take a few chapters to get there.
So, a serial? That works well enough if the end goal is to publish Velvet's story somewhere. That may even end up building some interest for an eventual novel publication.
You know, thinking about it, it's kind of funny how much the story Crystal is writing maps to what actually went down with Dawn and Tumble, in spite of her not really knowing the full details of it. Well, other than the stallion difference, heh.
Upon reading that last part of the chapter I couldn't help but think of the old saying, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Crystal is on a mission and she will not rest until it is accomplished.
7380815
heh, oh well.
7374390 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
7374415 She told me to trim off the words to lose a few letters... But hah! I sneak in d0nuts and c4k3s when she's not looking to get the numbers up to a x00 rather than down. Rebellion!
7374470 Hahaha. Don't get in trouble at work, especially not for pony words!!
Those are some pretty interesting thoughts. I definitely don't disagree with your logic at all...
7374534 It is definitely a matter of writing for herself and throwing caution to the wind. Sometimes that works out just fine. And, as you said, sometimes it doesn't and blows up in your face. Only time will tell how things go with Crystal!
7374755
7375050 I'm moving weeks at a time! You just can't see it. I have plot points to work on and bring in and neener neener you can't rush me!
7375402 Wuugh, it is really hard to get the nerve to post the first story and get that kind of reception. Sorry you had to go through that, but it looks like you're coming out stronger at the end for it!
7375576 Hahah. It's a lyric from the song Blue Shadows on the Trial in Melody Time.
7375645 Awww. Thanks!! I'm glad you're enjoying int, and super glad that it can make you do a happy dance!
7376999 It's the final countdown!
Yes, Crystal has been very lucky so far in regards to her career. To have three novels published and several serials, and finally hit her first rejection? She should be glad she's gotten this far with as much luck as she's had. Of course, in the moment, it never feels that way. Feels like a slap in the face!
Not to mention, there are some authors whose work never got recognition until they had passed on. Now that is tragic.
7377699 It is funny, isn't it? The funny part, at least to me, is imagining Velvet's face when Crystal's not around. A mix of amusement at Crystal's accidental stumbling on her life, a little bit of fear of how close to home it is... Wonder if she introduced the stallion thing just because it's hot, or to keep a wall of separation between the story and her?
7378366 Sooo true! Definitely some scorn and fury going on in this chapter.
This word count always ending in "00", that's something that I do not believe I've seen here, or any other fanfiction site, before. Yes, I've seen occasional chapters now and then ending on the event hundred mark, but you have done so consistently. It takes a creative and skilled writer to be able to do such an accurate word count time and time again.
7422858
Holy Moons, i never even noticed! That is so cool!
Author Respect +5
Oh, good lord, this chapter was great. Sunset Coffee was great. The Desert Rose sounds great. I want to read all of the stories Crystal has written so far.