Sandy

I'm not entirely sure how Lector Moebius has wronged the children, though, except being somehow "unqualified" in their eyes and having a stick up his butt. But I guess the children need a villain, too, since they can't go throw stinkbombs at Gaul Rosier, for example. ;D [B]James[/B], you're going to post [I]that[/I] scene next, am I right? Just checking... After the events of New Czenoble are over, I'm going to write a special post with a new landmark that greatly deviates from the previous ones. So you all can look forward to that. ;D

February 14th is celebrated in Finland as "Friends' Day", as we lack the Catholic tradition that many other countries have. Of course the day's tradition was brought here by American postcard companies sometime in the 50's or so. But yeah, in my country it's been more about celebrating friendships and close relationships rather than strictly about pairs of lovers. But I got to admit that ever since I went steady with my boyfriend, the day has had a certain "lovey dovey kissy kissy"-feeling to it. ;D And that, my friends, is not a bad thing. Not a bad thing at all...

Aren't you guys worried that McCain's last name means "Son of Cain"? I thought that would matter very much to at least funda... excuse me, [I]evangelicals[/I], and vampire roleplayers.

Okay, I'm back to business now. In my latest post I have tried to explain my character's motives that some of you were confused about. Hope I could make them more clear now. Gadget will be at the center of events in New Czenoble as well, but I aim to return him to High Czenoble after that.

[CENTER][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/gadgetgerrault2avatar.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] [FONT="Georgia"]Gadget felt panic creep into his heart as he heard the order of evacuation. He had already made it half way between the Train Station and the Aerodrome, but the street he was in was blocked by an angry crowd. There was no way around it. That morning he had woken up from the underground pavilion of the Starks. Donner had shaken him awake roughly and given him the order to follow him. He had received some Silver Thrones from the couple for his new life in Brigit Town, but nothing else. Blair had hugged him goodbye, and then Donner had taken him through a series of tunnels to the New Czenoble Train Station, where the day's first train towards Brigit Town was already standing on the platform. [I][B]"This train will take you to safety, kid"[/B][/I], was all that Donner had said. He watched as Gadget got into the train, still confused and torn between his urge to be with his parents and disgust about what they had done. It was the same with the Almagests. Gadget knew that Macey was partially responsible for the death of his companions from the Gearloose Street, yet he couldn't resist caring about the woman who called him "her treasure". She had been the first person to ever show him that kind of warmth, and for that, Gadget was ever grateful. For that, Gadget wanted to seek her out and tell her that her father was still alive and held captive by the Underdogs. Vincent was something completely else. Gadget had fallen for his silent strength and dark demeanor, but after spending a week with him, Gadget had started to see a whole other side of the man. When they were together just the two of them, Gadget didn't feel insecure anymore, but happy and confident. Gadget figured that it meant that he was in love with Vincent. Sure, he had had sexual contacts with other young men before, but this was so much different. He didn't know what the other Almagests thought about their relationship, or whether it was even acceptable in High Czenoble, but frankly Gadget didn't even care. But in a fleeting moment of hope, he had left Vincent behind to follow a couple that claimed to be his parents. Gadget knew they hadn't lied, but he also knew now that Donner and Blair could never be his true parents. He had already grown past that state where he needed nurture and caretaking. Gadget was an adult, and it was time for him to come to realize that. He had just been so vulnerable during the days after the release from the laboratories, that he had taken everything for granted. He hadn't questioned anything that had been thrown in his way. But he questioned them now. And that is why he got out of the train as soon as Donner had disappeared into the crowd. Now Gadget had to find a way to return back to High Czenoble. He needed to at least try to explain everything to Vincent. But with a massive gunship hovering in the smoggy sky above, it was eternally easier said than done.[/FONT]

[CENTER][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/gadgetgerrault2avatar.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/blair-avatar.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/donner-avatar.jpg[/IMG][/center] [FONT="Georgia"]What seemed to be hours later, Gadget and the Starks arrived to a large cave-like structure. Great stone archs supported a roof, and massive pillars lined the walls. There was a stream of murky water running across the cave. Dozens of tents of varying sizes and materials were scattered around the space, and people in rugged outfits were walking about. Gadget also saw rusty machines and vehicles being repaired on the far edge of the cave. [B]"Welcome to Camp Doberman, kid"[/B], Donner Stark said. [B]"I can't tell you it's exact location, I don't trust you yet. But this place is just one of the hidden camps of the Underdogs. Let's head to our tent for now. I'm hungry."[/B] As they walked towards a large pavilion located between two of the pillars, the people they passed just nodded or waved at the Starks, and gave suspicious glares at Gadget. This confused him, since he had already gotten used to the clear hierarchy among the people of High Czenoble. Down here, everyone seemed to be equal. Soon they were sitting around a small table, eating a steaming stew made of some unidentifiable grey meat and pale vegetables. But the spices used in it made it quite delicious. Gadget smiled at his parents, but Donner concentrated on eating and Blair only responded with a weak smile. [B]"If I may ask"[/B], Gadget started, wanting to ask something that had been bothering him ever since he first ran into the Starks. [B]"What were you doing at the Chimaera Cup?"[/B] [B]"We were trying to make the life of those tyrants a bit more difficult"[/B], Donner answered bluntly. [B]"But we were interrupted and had to make a quick escape. That's our life, kid. That has been our life for twenty years."[/B] [B]"You see, dear"[/B], Blair continued. [B]"That's why we had to gave you to the orphanage. We were idealists then, we thought that we could stop the opression of the aristocracy in a matter of years, and then take you back to live with us as a real family. But things didn't go as planned. We would occasionally come to watch you play with the other children in the yard of the orphanage. But when you grew up, we had to give up those visits so that you wouldn't guess who we were."[/B] Gadget realized now why the two had looked so familiar. He remembered that odd young couple from his childhood, observing him from beyond the metal fence of the orphanage. His parents had been there right near him all along! He felt tears filling his eyes. [B]"But I'm so glad we found you now, after all these years. You've grown into a beautiful young man, Gadget"[/B], Blair said, and took his hand into hers. [B]"I will arrange a ticket for you to the train to Brigit Town tomorrow"[/B], Donner said. [B]"We have a camp there too with many associates. You can start a whole new life there."[/B] Gadget was stunned. He had just met his parents, and now they wanted to send him away! [B]"But... No! I want to stay with you!"[/B] Gadget exclaimed. [B]"Trust me, kid. You don't want to be here when things get really heated. Maybe when this is all over, if we survive, we can come to live with you. But for now, I want you out of our hands."[/B] [B]"[I]If[/I] you survive? What are you talking about, [I]father[/I]?"[/B] Gadget demanded. Donner was clearly taken a-back by hearing Gadget call him that. [B]"I told you, you're not ready to know. If you knew... you wouldn't want us as parents, trust me"[/B], Donner sighed. It was obvious that no matter how much they wanted it, the Starks knew that they weren't any better than the aristocracy. But they didn't fight for their own sake, but for the sake of New Czenoble - and freedom.[/FONT]

[CENTER][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/gadgetgerrault2avatar.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/blair-avatar.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/donner-avatar.jpg[/IMG][/center] [FONT="Georgia"]After miles of walking in endless tunnels, descending stone staircases and climbing down rusty ladders, the reunited Starks family stopped for a break. They sat on fallen pillars, and Donner passed on a waterskin. Gadget examined his parents with his eyes. They both looked relatively young, but their faces reflected a hard life filled with violence and misery. [B]"We weren't followed. Will you be missed soon, kid?"[/B] Donner asked gruffly. [B]"No, not soon. They... I mean, he won't know where I went"[/B], Gadget explained. The face of Vincent Achard haunted his mind. The memory of the beard scraping his chin as they kissed, the strong hands carrying him, the warmth of his embrace... [B]"What on earth were you doing in High Czenoble anyway? In the Chimaera Circuit out of all the places!"[/B] Blair wondered. [B]"It's a long story, really"[/B], Gadget tried to explain. [B]"Until a week ago I was still in New Czenoble, locked away in some facility. They did... experiments with me. But the place was attacked, and this nice lady took me to the safety of her own home up in High Czenoble."[/B] Gadget was hesitant to mention the name of the Almagests, fully aware that his parents had tried to explode Rosengard just the previous night. He had to be careful with the two, since if they would start to think that he was a puppet of the Almagests, they would kill him despite the fact that he was their son. [B]"You were in that horrible place?"[/B] Blair gasped. [B]"Are you telling us that you survived what they did to those innocent people down there? Gadget, it was [I]us[/I] who attacked the Prometheo Laboratories. We wanted to save the workers who were imprisoned there, but all we found were corpses. Piles of corpses twisted by agony and pain, with strange marks on their skins."[/B] Blair buried her face to her hands, as if trying to cover her eyes from the grotesque vision. [B]"We heard from a reliable source that the Dynast King, cursed be his name, was trying to build an army of superhumans to defend his shriveling pride"[/B], Donner told, and spat on the floor. [B]"They used that damned magitechnology on you, didn't they? 'Project Alchimaera', they called it. Kid, they were trying to make you a human chimaera!"[/B] Gadget gulped audibly. He was pretty certain that Macey and the other had succeeded in their trial. [B]"But no matter, they will all pay for their crimes"[/B], Donner continued. His face was distorted by a sinister grin. [B]"Kid, you were lucky you ran into your folks now, because soon you would've been obliterated with the rest of those tyrants!"[/B] [B]"What do you mean?"[/B] Gadget whispered in terror. The thought of losing Vincent and Macey and the rest of those kind people who were trying to help him was intolerable. [B]"Darling, he's not ready yet"[/B], Blair said suddenly. [B]"Gadget-dear, we will tell you when the time is right. Just so you know, we are holding all the aces now. We have Leonhart Almagest, and that will ensure the victory of the honest people of New Czenoble."[/B] Gadget couldn't help but to gasp. So the Almagest patriarch was still alive after all![/FONT]

Well Gavin, Daedalus cannot be sure that Nellie is dead, but I understand his urge to find Gadget. I bet Vincent and Macey will want to know where he went to, as well. ;D In other news, the [B]family tree[/B] has been updated. [IMG]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/SamSandy/almagest-familytree.png[/IMG]

With the posts of Josh and me, the drama is back on. Just to be absolutely sure, everything that happened in my post is completely unknown to the rest of the characters. So rather than focusing on the disappearances of Nellie and Gadget, you should all react to Morphia's accident. And if anyone thinks that the plot-twist in my post is not believable, I can tell you that it was planned from the start. ;D [spoiler]Donner and Blair Stark were only seventeen when they had a baby boy. They were madly in love with each other [I]and[/I] with their cause of saving the people of New Czenoble from under the oppression of the High Czenoble, so there really was no room in their lives for a child. They ended up giving the baby to Mrs. Charcoal's orphanage, where he grew up as Gerrault Knotting, later known as Gadget.[/spoiler]

[CENTER][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/helen-chronicle.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/gadgetgerrault2avatar.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] [FONT="Georgia"]Helen Almagest had a wonderful time at the Chimaera Cup, sitting with her nearest and dearest and not having to worry about the pampered Princess Augustine for the moment. These moments of relaxation came too seldom in the life of a hard-boiled personal guard. Nellie was pleased to see her family doing so well after that horrible incident at Rosengard last night. It seemed like it was all just a bad dream to everyone now. Sighing happily, she raised her eyes to the blue sky above the Circuit. The sun was shining brightly, but if it hadn't, Nellie would have missed the peculiar reflection coming from the roof on the opposite side of the elliptical building. Suddenly she felt that something ominous was in the air, despite the lovely weather and the high spirit around her. She just could get past the alarming feeling. [B]"Uh, Vincent"[/B], said the young man who had appeared to Rosengard just a week ago, sitting on the seat in front of Nellie's. [B]"I need to excuse myself, but I have no idea where the rest rooms are."[/B] Before Vincent could reply, Nellie interrupted. [B]"I can show him. I need to strech my legs as well."[/B] Being quite a tomboy, Nellie had never felt embarrased to admit that even aristocrats had natural needs. After all, she had been present when Augustine, considered to be the most beautiful lady in all Czenovia, had suffered from a horrid diarrhea. So what if it was unbecoming for a lady to show the way to the rest rooms to a man? It was also unbecoming for a lady to beat most men in arm wrestling, like Nellie did. [B]"Come along, then"[/B] Nellie urged the young man. Gadget was his name, she remembered. He smiled sheepishly at her, but followed obediently. They walked along the upper corridor until they came to the stairs leading both down to the lower leves and up to the roof. [B]"Go down and turn left, the toilets are there. I'm going to go up to get some fresh air"[/B], Nellie told Gadget, and gave him an encouraging smile.[/FONT] [CENTER][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/blair-avatar.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/donner-avatar.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/helen-chronicle.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] [FONT="Georgia"][B]"What's taking so long, Donner?"[/B] Blair Stark whispered in frustration up to his husband, who was lying on the inner edge of the slightly sloping roof of the Chimaera Circuit. She was standing on the paved walkway circling the outer edge of the roof, keeping watch for passers-by. [B]"I'm trying to get a clear shot, Blair! So shut up and let me concentrate!"[/B] Donner hissed back. He was holding a massive rifle with a contraption that allowed him to aim with a deadly accuracy. Right now the target was on Prince Juvenus Courageous, who much to Donner's dismay was constantly swaying while cheering to the racers below. [B]"We need to do this [I]now[/I]! There is no second chance, the guards will come flooding in when you kill that spawn of a tyrant"[/B], Blair explained through gritted teeth. There was nothing that the Starks wouldn't do to save their oppressed people, but being there on hostile ground trying to assassinate one of the Dynastial Heirs was almost too fool-hardy for them. It was a long way down to the tunnels they knew by heart from the roof they were on now. Frustrated and desperate, Blair was about to climb up the tiled slope herself when suddenly a fierce-looking tall woman rushed towards her from the left, and tackled her to the ground. [B]"I knew I saw something!"[/B] the woman shouted, obviously shocked to find the Starks, of all the people, up there. [B]"Lower your weapon at once!"[/B] The woman tried to lift the struggling Blair to shield her, but Donner was faster. He turned the rifle and shot the woman to the head, killing her in the instant. Blair pulled away from the dead woman, and looked at her husband. [B]"We have to abort. Somebody might have heard the shot. We will report to Augustine later."[/b] [B]"What about the body?"[/B] Donner asked, sliding down to the walkway. Blair glanced over the railing of the walkway. As it happened, the side of the Circuit they were on was situated on a ledge of Mt. Grail. There was only a thick cloud of smog below it. Together they heaved the body of Helen Almagest over the railing, and it fell down for a small eternity, until it vanished into the smog. It fell all the way down to New Czenoble, where it crashed into a heap of waste, never to be found. Silently buit in haste, Donner and Blair Stark packed the rifle to a large leather bag and ran to the stairs, eager to get away from the scene. [/FONT] [CENTER][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/gadgetgerrault2avatar.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/blair-avatar.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/donner-avatar.jpg[/IMG][/center] [FONT="Georgia"]Gadget was returning upstairs from the toilet when to his great amazement he saw the couple in the poster from earlier that day running towards him. All three of them halted in the middle of the stairway. [B]"Move aside!"[/B] the man ordered. The woman just stared at Gadget. [B]"You... You're the Starks!"[/B] Gadget exclaimed, then instantly realizing that he had made a mistake. These two were infamous criminals who had taken countless lives in order to free the people of New Czenoble. Surely they could add Gadget to the death toll without even thinking about it. The man moved threateningly towards him, but suddenly the woman stopped him. [B]"Donner! Look at him... Look at those eyes!"[/B] she said, almost in awe. [B]"Uh, I'll make way for you"[/B], Gadget said cautiously, backing down. [B]"Don't hurt me, I'm from New Czenoble! You wouldn't hurt a fellow citizen, would you?"[/B] Gadget's voice had turned to whimpering. The man was still giving a murderous stare at him, but the woman's eyes were in tears. What the heck was going on? [B]"Look at that face, that hair! Donner, it all matches!"[/B] she sobbed. [B]"Boy"[/B], the man spoke finally. [B]"Where did you grow up? Your life depends on this answer, so don't you dare to lie!"[/B] [B]"I was raised in Mrs. Charcoal's orphanage, good sir. Honestly, I'm a pure New Czenoblian!"[/B] Gadget told in despair, totally unaware as to why the woman was crying and why the man was asking him such a question. [B]"It is him, Donner!"[/B] the woman beamed. [B]"It's our son!"[/B] The moments after hearing that sentence were a blur to Gadget. The next time he realized something, he was running down a dark tunnel, following the Starks. Following his parents.[/FONT]

[quote name='Gavin'][SIZE="1"]I think she was referring more to Chimaera who stand vertically Sandy, like humans, as opposed to the examples you gave. Still, quadrupeds would definitely have the advantage if there's ramming and shoving involved.[/SIZE][/QUOTE] But I just wanted to show D'Ann that bipedal doesn't equal walking upright like she said. [quote name='Raiha']Well I suppose they'd have to be capable of being ridden, so not bipedal.[/quote] Besides, the chimaeras are hybrids of [I]animals[/I], and I can't think of any animal that would walk upright (besides us humans, haha).

[quote name='Neuvoxraiha'][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"] For example, Chimaeras that stand upright and can't be ridden except piggyback style. ....which sounds stupid.[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] Ahem... [IMG]http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/mi20060601a_cfr.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://static.battlelore.com/lang/french/images/bl_gob_ostrich_rider.jpg[/IMG]

I think you guys have nailed the idea of the chimaeras despite their description is so vague. They really are a combination of various animals, with the purpose of making them as fast and agile as possible. I don't see why bipeds can't race against quadrupeds, though, but it's your choice. ;D There's also the possibility of combining magitechnological parts to the chimaeras, which was something that Evangeline studied, at least to my knowledge. This of course gives those individuals an unfair advantage, but it's a race, not a charity. Also remember that the Chimaera Circuit has a director, [B]Thames Dreadnaught[/B], who's yet to be even mentioned. He's pretty much in charge of holding the Cup and everything. You're free to use him in your posts if you want to.

Seriously, D'Ann, you can quit that right now. You are very aware that I don't speak English as my native language, so you can't just jab me for every unclear sentence or wrong word I make. I know I'm not on your "favorite people"'s list anymore, but can't we at least treat each other like humans? Enough of those snarky remarks to my each post, [I]please[/I]. [B]Edit:[/B] James, I get you. I have a habit of overanalyzing things, I know that. But I guess to me having random sex (that nobody else is supposed to know of) isn't such a big deal as it seems to be to you. ;D Oh, and in your post to come (whatever it contains), you can write that Vincent left Gadget to the Chimaera Circuit. That way you can go and do your stuff before that thing with Gustave in the evening (you said you wanted to do a post before that, right?).

Well, screw you all for not letting me screw. XD James, you have got to stop giving me mixed signals. First you say Gadget shouldn't have left, and now you're saying he shouldn't have come back. You also said Vincent would do irrational things just for Gadget's sake, but now you're saying he's a responsible adult and always keeps his head cool. I will remove the sex part, but to my[I] personal [/I]storyline it's important that Gadget gets this injection. Don't you guys think I have a plan to what my character will I do? Anyway, Vincent can return to his work after this incident, just leave Gadget to Rosengard or his appartment. *shrugs* It's not harder than that, Jamesy. ;D

[quote name='Gavin'][SIZE="1"]If Daedalus however ever finds out about the Dynasts links to the bombing, let's just say he's going to pay a visit to Mount Grail for a rummage.[/SIZE][/QUOTE] Just to make it clear, it's only Princess Augustine Beauteous who's connected to the Underdogs. The Dynasty isn't [I]so[/I] inbred that it would start to rebel against it's own rule. XP [quote name='Gavin][SIZE="1"']On that thought, exactly how is Magitech being divided up Josh/Sandy?[/SIZE][/quote] I don't think it matters to the main story, really, so unless Josh has something to say about it, you can do as you please with it. ;D Oh, and y'all should be thankful that I haven't gone graphical with the intimacy between Gadget and Vincent. ;P I'm just trying to catch the vibe of "forbidden love" - and that includes doing it in the strangest places, just out of a spur of the moment. ;P And Kathy, this turned into a soap opera looong time ago. ;D EDIT: You have to remember, Kathy, that Henry is an [I]illegitimate[/I] son of Leonhart, thus he has no legal rights to any of the Almagest fortune, unfortunately.

[quote name='Neuvoxraiha'][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]So I can only assume that Macey gave Gadget a copy of her key, or he pinched hers and had a copy made and returned hers before she could notice.[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] Well, if you want to [I]nitpick[/I], then yes, that's exactly what happened. XD Come on now, don't mess up our love story with such trifle things such as [I]locks[/I] and [I]doors[/I]. I'm not questioning how Macey got out of the medical center in just few hours after the explosion, either. ;D

Okay, so now Gadget and Vincent did it in Macey's lab. XD You're free to take our characters anywhere you like from Rosengard, James. I have no further plans for them until the Chimaera Cup. ;D

[CENTER][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/gadgetgerrault2avatar.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/vincentavatar.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] [FONT="Georgia"]Gadget didn't get to walk alone for long until he heard a familiar deep voice shout from behind him. [B]"Gadget! Wait!"[/B] Gadget clutched his hands into fists and hurried his pace. Half of him wanted to stop and rush into Vincent's arms, but the other, more persistent half, wanted Vincent to proof that the man really cared for him. But Vincent caught up with him fast enough. [B]"Gadget, for goodness sake, just wait! Why did you leave on your own like that?"[/B] Gadget just pouted, refusing to look Vincent in to the eyes. [B]"Look, I was just caught up with work, the RPG have their hands full because of those Underdogs. I'm the Assistant Commander, I have duties to fill, Gadget!"[/B] Then the man seized him to a tight hold and kissed his hair - right there in public. [B]"I promise I will make up everything to you tonight. Now let's go back before these good people's eyes drop off."[/B] By now Gadget was smiling. The feeling of unbreakable security and comfort rushed back to his heart. [B]"I'm sorry, Vince"[/B], Gadget mumbled as Vincent led him back towards his house. Vincent just smiled and messed up Gadget's hair like was his habit. Unfortunately the good sensation didn't last long, for the sinister headache returned unexpectedly. Gadget realized that he hadn't gotten an injection since before the memorial service. [B]"Vince... I need... Macey"[/B], Gadget whispered. Vincent instantly recognized what was going on, so he supported Gadget until they reached his steamcar. Quickly he drove across the city to Rosengard. Gadget was moaning and sweating in the backseat. His skin emitted the eerie glow again. When they finally got there, the servants told that everyone had left to their businesses already. [B]"Let's go, dear"[/B], Vincent urged. [B]"We could still catch up with Macey if we hurry."[/B] But Gadget shook his head. [B]"I don't think... we need Macey... afterall. Just... follow me."[/B] Gadget and Vincent descended to the cellar which was still covered in dust, past a few servants who were scrubbing the floor and the walls, and into Macey's laboratory, which was luckily far away from where the explosion had occurred. Gadget sat on the bed and rolled up his sleeve. Then he pointed to the syringes in the cabinet across the room. [B]"Are you serious?"[/B] Vincent asked incredulously. [B]"I can't stick a needle into you, darling!"[/B] [B]"You have to!"[/B] Gadget demanded, his green eyes flaring. His skin was starting to turn transparent. [B]"I can't control it! Not... yet."[/B] Vincent gave up and took a syringe from the cabinet. [B]"I do hope Ella and Eva find the cure for you soon. I just can't bear to see you like that..."[/B] With shaking arms, Vincent released the ominous green liquid into Gadget's veins. Gadget fell on his back to the bed, and the pain slowly subsided. [B]"Oh golly, what will Macey say when she finds out we've been here on our own?" [/B] Gadget asked suddenly, his eyes still closed. Vincent laughed at the thought, and Gadget joined him. As soon as Gadget had restored his condition, the lovers snuck out of the laboratory.[/FONT]

I have a weird "talent" of getting people to confide the strangest things to me. I'm an open person myself, I like to blabber about all sorts of things that other people would usually keep to themselves, but recently I've found out that perhaps because of that, people tell me their worries and troubles. I guess it helps them to be able to confide to [I]somebody[/I]... If only I was a totally trustworthy person, which unfortunately I'm not. XP I can keep a secret to myself, sure, but not much else. Yes, I'm a gossiper of the worst kind.

[quote name='James'][font=franklin gothic medium]I know I'm late to the party, but here's my own understanding of the timeline: Leonhart's wake (goes for most of the afternoon I'd imagine) Gadget goes back to Vincent's place (early evening) Gadget/Vincent fall asleep and wake up to news of the bomb situation at Rosengard (late evening) Gadget/Vincent return to Rosengard and bomb goes off (later evening) Gadget/Vincent go to pick up Gustave (late late evening) Macey comes out of hospital (following morning)[/font][/quote] I kinda thought this as well, but then I figured that there was no way all that could happen in just one night. XD Especially since you wrote "night had just fallen" on the post with Gustave, when in fact Gadget and Vincent were looking at the nightly city from the balcony waaaay back in my post. [quote name='James'][font=franklin gothic medium]Also, just a quick note to Sandy: I know that you wanted an excuse for Gadget to explore the town, but I doubt that Vincent would dismiss Gadget as he did in that post. It's not a major issue and you don't need to change it, but it's a fairly fundamental mis-reading of Vincent as a character.[/font][/QUOTE] But he was on the phone doing his business, and Gadget was being airheaded! XD I thought Gadget just overreacted to Vincent's request of allowing him to finish up the phonecall. I imagined Vincent would be terrified to find out Gadget left, and would rush out to find him. ;D I really thought Vincent was this work-a-holic type who was completely dedicated to his work after the divorce. How could a few shags with some twink (albeit a lovely twink) suddenly change that? Besides, with all this mushiness, I need some drama for my character! XD

[CENTER][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/gadgetgerrault2avatar.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/vincentavatar.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] [FONT="Georgia"]Back at Vincent's penthouse appartment, Gadget tried on a new suit brought to him that morning by Audrey, Vincent's assistant. As he had successfully tied the silk scarf around his neck, he walked to Vincent's study. The older man was talking to an elegant telephone made of polished dark wood and ivory. [B]"How do I look?"[/B] Gadget asked with a grin, and spun around. To his amazement Vincent just frowned to him and waved his hand towards the door. Stunned by this, Gadget walked out. So this was how it was going to be, then? Was Gadget just a moment's pleasure for Vincent, meant to please his urges whenever [I]he[/I] felt like it? Frustrated, Gadget snuck into the foyer, grabbed his coat from the closet and went down with the elevator. He needed to see Macey. As he stepped out of the tall building, Gadget realized that this was his first time alone in the streets of High Czenoble. So why not take this chance to look around? [CENTER][IMG]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/SamSandy/almagest-highczenoble.png[/IMG][/CENTER] The day was nice and sunny, with small clouds dashing across the sky like lambs herded by the mountain winds. The houses at this part of the city were tall and decorative, and the streets between them were narrow and busy with people. Little boys sold The Chronicle at streetcorners, and streetvendors stood behind carts selling snacks, tobacco, magazines and jewelry. People in the streets were polite to each other, while trying to look as important as possible. This all amused Gadget, and soon he forgot Vincent and Macey altogether. Then a poster on a lamppost caught his attention. It had black-and-white pictures of a man with a hat and a woman looking down. There was quite a lot of text as well. [B]"W-A-N-T-E-D... Wanted"[/B], Gadget spelled. Reading was tough to him, since he hadn't read much anything after leaving Mrs. Charcoal's orphanage. Luckily an elderly couple passed him at that moment. [B]"Is everything a-okay, young man?"[/B] the old gentleman asked. [B]"Oh, it's nothing, sir. I'm just wondering who these two people in the poster are"[/B], Gadget replied with a corteous bow he had learned from Vincent. [B]"Oh, those two are the Starks"[/B], the lady answered. "They're bad business, young man. They want to ruin the work of the honest people of our city. Spreading filthy lies and terrorizing the city, they are... Did you hear about the bomb in Rosengard, the Almagest's abode? They say those two were responsible!" [B]"Now now, dear Edina, you shouldn't believe everything you hear in your knitting group"[/B], the old man said with his voice full of patience for his blabbering wife." You should read today's Chronicle, young man - [I]it[/I] has all the facts." Gadget thanked the silly old couple, and they continued their daily stroll. Gadget leaned closer to the poster to see the pictures of the Starks properly. There was something oddly familiar about the man and the woman, but Gadget couldn't quite put his finger on it. [B]"Donner... and B... Blair Stark"[/B], he read. As he walked on, the pictures of the two hovered in his mind.[/FONT]

Heh, since I knew what the riddle was about, I didn't realize it was so hard (for the record, I didn't make it). XD But the thing is that riddle must be solved by [I]you guys[/I] first before the characters can solve it. You can't just post "Gadget (or whoever) solved the riddle on the note and they moved on", since it's a real challenge meant for the players. ;D But enough blabbering about that, you'll get the next part of the landmark (which I thought was the answer, silly me...) when Shy sees the best to post it.

[quote name='Shy'][size=1]As for the timeline. The post with Gustave is what threw off the timeline. If you merely reword the post so that it takes place in the morning then everything would be much more clear. We are on late morning/early afternoon Day 7 from what I understand. James' and Sandy's posts are the only ones who contradict this. Really he should be nitpicking himself.[/size][/QUOTE] *removes the strikethroughs* That's really unfair to say, since when I posted, I actually thought it [I]was[/I] the morning of the 7th day - I even said so in this thread. Then James pointed out that it was the next night, and that's when I got confused. But as I already said, the timeline I posted should clear everything up, and I hope everyone agrees with it to save us from further unnecessary complications. Do you guys honestly think I'm sorting out the days just for fun? XP Although they are a minor issue, it's still important that all the characters are on the same day, or we'll have some [I]serious[/I] issues in the future. But we should really wrap up this conversation and move onto the chimaera races. Maybe we can move on with the story eventually, as well. ;D PS. Doesn't anyone really want to try to solve the riddle on the landmark?

Kathy-dear, I only replied to indifference to sort out the confusion about which day it was, there's no need to get annoyed over that. I agree that it was a minor technicality, so I thought it would be over and done with by making a simple timeline for the major events. The posts concerning the days that came after that were frankly speaking unnecessary *pokes Rach and Crystia back*. But now I hope we're all on the same page, and we can continue from here. ;D