(OOC: State of the Branch Address) This is not a chapter.

First, thanks for reading folks. Nothing gives me more of a thrill than seeing the view counters rise.

For those that have been following my ramblings in the Author’s Note, you know where my head is . For those who haven’t, it’s currently wrapped in three inches of cotton, or at least that’s what the cold medicine makes it feel like. My sinuses are more enflamed than a gay bar at naked thirty, and I’m sure my phlegm is a color not found in nature. Ain’t that a visual? Dextromethorphan is the active ingredient in DayQuil and most cough medicine, and it has a pretty horrific effect on the central nervous system. In the 70s and 80s it was used recreationally for a high called Robo-tripping. Essentially what it does is literally make you stupid for the time it’s in your system. This is not highly conducive to good writing.

So instead of actually writing tonight I’m going to take some time and plan out a roadmap for the story. Nothing so confined as an outline, because the story generally goes the way it wants to and the hell with my ideas, but more a few beats I definitely want to hit, a couple set pieces I’d like to visit, and a path for Jimmy to get through the three major arcs that I have planned. And since I’m not actually giving you guys content, I kinda feel guilty so I’m gonna lay out those arcs for you here:

First arc (first season?) - following the trail of clues to track down his long lost sisters, and eventually encountering the antagonist.

Second arc (Season 2) - redemption arc. A loss will convince him that he needs power to protect those he cares about

Final arc (Season 3) - a rise to power. Becoming the monster to protect others from a worse one.

This is of course all subject to change at a moment’s notice, because if nothing else Jimmy is an unpredictable bastich. For all I know his next move could be the **** of Putin.

One of the beats I really want to touch on is the mythology of the AMA itself. Now my revelations are obviously not to be considered canonical for the story as a whole, but I have an idea of where it comes from and why it chose Jimmy. I’d appreciate any input y’all have on this or for that matter on anything at all.