James

[quote]I know it's a huge generalization, but the things the party represents - moral conservatism but economic liberalism - it just doesn't get into my head how people can think that way about the society. It's taking from the poor and giving to the rich. :/ [/quote] [font=franklin gothic medium]If you carry through with that logic, then all Democrats are Communists, lol. To use an analogy, there's one basic difference between the left and right wing of politics when it comes to welfare and commerce: leftists generally want to give people fish, while conservatives generally want to teach people [i]how[/i] to fish. In reality it never quite works that way - the real world is made up of shades of grey. It would be a mistake to think that every Republican is automatically like Bush, you know? I personally tend to be financially conservative (I believe in low taxes, performance benchmarks for public institutions, budget surpluses and saving rather than borrowing), while I'm also more socially liberal (equal rights, reasonable welfare system - without it becoming crazily expensive - and so on). I haven't followed this campaign much, at least, not like I used to follow American politics. I just wonder if an Obama/Clinton president/vice president ticket is the way to go. That is, if the pair can get along. :catgirl:[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]*scratches post* It sounded too confusing, lol. Anyway, yeah, in my last post I'd indicated that Gadget and Vincent would be meeting up later that day. I just didn't specify when. Hopefully that doesn't mess with things too much. If I need to modify anything I'd be happy to. :catgirl:[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I sent Sandy a PM about this, so hopefully it's all okay. I wasn't sure when to mention Gadget's updated appearance. Again, hopefully this is acceptable - if I need to change anything please let me know. I'm sure dinner with Lady Bavaria will be most interesting![/font] :catgirl:

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/vincentavatar.jpg[/img][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/damegrimalkinavatar.jpg[/img][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/gadgetgerrault2avatar.jpg[/img][/center] Vincent finished his cigar and wandered around the gardens, towards Rosengard's east entrance. His room was directly above this, which was convenient. Although Vincent had left a family behind in Anova, Rosengard felt as close as possible to a real home. When one entered the Great Hall, warmth and sweet scents filled the air; it was like a combination of perfume and wonderful cooking. Visitors and residents alike could not help but feel at ease within the walls of Rosengard. Although Vincent knew that some visitors felt intimidated by the sheer size and grandeur of the building. Just as Vincent approached the east entrance, Dame Grimalkin came rushing around the corner, a throng of servants in her wake. 'Make sure you have her favorite sheets and pillows ready, for heaven's sake!' she cried. The servant at the rear of the group looked somewhat puzzled and quickly dashed off into the building. Apparently he'd forgotten this little detail. 'Vincent!' Vincent was about to open the door as Dame Grimalkin swept up behind him. 'I'm sorry to be in such a rush, but I wanted to let you know that your clothes have been delivered by Audrey.' 'She's arrived?' 'Yes,' Dame Grimalkin nodded, her cheeks flushed from running around the halls all day. 'She has brought several outfits for you as well as your papers. Your office has also sent a new steam car, which is parked in the garage. I believe Audrey is in one of the guest quarters near you, if you wish to see her.' 'Thank you, my lady,' said Vincent. 'Now, please, stop fussing over me! You are going to make yourself sick with stress. I am fine.' A slight hint of a smile came across Dame Grimalkin's face, as she gave a shallow bow and rushed off towards the south entrance. Even though Lady Bavaria had arrived, there was [i]still[/i] apparently much to do. Vincent closed the door to his quarters. He occupied one of the larger guest quarters in Rosengard, but these rooms were still far smaller than the actual resident bedrooms. Vincent had used this particular room ever since his divorce from Macey. The room had become his de facto bedroom at Rosengard, which is why it was punctuated by various black and white photos of his parents and his old family home in Anova. He stood at the largest window in the room, which looked out over the eastern side of the estate. Beyond, he could see the elaborate gardens and the rolling hills of the High Czenoble countryside. It was now late afternoon and the sun was settling lazily on the horizon. A large, leather suitcase sat on the bed. Vincent clicked it open. It contained several fine shirts, trousers and even a change of shoes. Vincent slipped his borrowed shirt and trousers off and hung them neatly over the back of a nearby chair. He sorted through the suitcase and pulled on a fresh shirt and trousers of his own. The shirt was black, with a high collar and a deep v-neck. He attached a pair of fine silver cuff links, which had been a gift from his mother. The trousers were also black, with a slight bootleg cut. Underneath, he wore a pair of sharp-toed leather boots. It wasn't necessary to wear gloves or a jacket presently, being that Vincent was considered family. If he'd been a guest (or if he'd been walking in the street), it would be impossible for him to avoid wearing them. Vincent pushed the suitcase under the bed. Then, with a sigh, he lay down, with his arms behind his head. As he stared at the ceiling, he heard a quiet knock at his door. He sat up and adjusted his cuff links. Knowing his luck, Lady Bavaria had likely decided to make an impromptu visit. 'Come in,' called Vincent. The door swung open slowly and a figure entered the room. The door clicked shut behind him. It took Vincent a moment to work out who the visitor was. 'Good evening, I hope I am not disturbing you. But you [i]did[/i] say I could come back to check on you...' It was Gadget. Although he suddenly looked very different to what Vincent remembered from earlier in the day. [center][img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/SamSandy/almagest-gadgetnew.png[/img][/center] 'Miss Macey helped me change. She didn't want Lady Bavaria to have an excuse to question me, just in case.' Vincent realized his mouth had been agape, as Gadget was grinning. He collected himself and stood up. 'You made me speechless for a moment!' exclaimed Vincent with a smile. 'I didn't recognize you. Macey certainly does know how to give a makeover.' Gadget looked several years older. In fact, he wore his new outfit with such confidence and composure that Vincent couldn't imagine Lady Bavaria questioning him. Gadget gestured towards the bed with a gloved hand. 'May I?' 'Of course,' said Vincent. 'I wanted to tell you something,' said Gadget, as he sat on the edge of the bed. He rubbed his brow as he spoke. 'It's about my name. It's a nickname, as you would know. And I [i]do[/i] usually prefer that people use it, but...' Vincent sat on the chair opposite the bed and clasped his hands together. 'But?' 'Well, my [i]real[/i] name is Gerrault. Gerrault Knotting. Few people in this house know that. I was worried that if they knew, my secret would be given away. I wanted to tell you, since you've been so honest with me. I feel I can trust you.' 'I see,' Vincent rubbed his chin thoughtfully. 'You shouldn't worry, young man. Macey cares for you and she will not let you come to harm. Even if Lady Bavaria questions your presence, I know that Macey would rather die than have you kicked out of Rosengard. You do have some powerful allies here.' Gadget smiled slightly. 'Thanks. I do owe much to Macey...' 'So,' Vincent said as he stood up, 'you came to check on me, huh?' Gadget's face reddened slightly. 'Yeah. How are you feeling?' 'Oh, better I suppose,' said Vincent. 'It's good to be back in my old clothes, anyway. But I must admit, I don't like the thought of coming across Lady Bavaria tonight. I'm sure she'll be at dinner. I wonder how many people will make excuses not to be there!' Gadget laughed, 'She must be awful. Even Macey seems on edge, which I never thought I'd see.' 'She's very demanding, let's put it that way. Anyway, I don't know what I shall do before dinner.' Vincent pulled his suitcase out again and produced a thick file. 'I should look over some of these approvals, probably. I haven't been into the office today.' Gadget put his hand on Vincent's, but quickly withdrew it. 'Uhm, don't you think you've been through enough today? You were attacked, after all. I think you should enjoy yourself and not worry about work.' 'Oh?' 'Yes,' Gadget nodded. 'Perhaps you would like to go for a walk? I have much to tell you. And that way, we can avoid Lady Bavaria a little longer.' Vincent smiled. 'I suppose so. Actually, there is something serious we need to discuss. I know, it's still work, but it would be a major help to the investigations.' Gadget stood up and gestured towards the door. 'Well, okay. Walking and talking about work is better than sitting here alone and checking off papers! I will meet you at the east entrance in a few minutes, then?' 'It's a date,' said Vincent. Gadget nodded and promptly left the room. 'So much energy,' said Vincent to himself. He could hardly believe that Gadget was able to maintain such a positive outlook, despite his experiences. At the very least, Vincent hoped that Gadget would have some useful information about the incident in New Czenoble. If he was ever going to find out what Gadget knew, tonight would be the night.

[font=franklin gothic medium]Those posts were great, guys. No worries at all; they were a lot of fun to read. :catgirl: In some ways I think Vincent would envy Jack to some extent. He does what he wants and has a lot of fun in life, without too much stress (other than the possibility of being arrested, haha). I'm sure Vincent often wishes he could throw off the shackles of the Guard for that kind of lifestyle.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Okay, here's the first entry: [center][URL=http://img139.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sydney08wormap3.jpg][IMG]http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/6950/sydney08wormap3.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/center] I didn't get to say happy new year to OBers on new year's day, so this is the next best thing. :catgirl:[/font]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/vincentavatar.jpg[/img][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/damegrimalkinavatar.jpg[/img][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/gadgetavatar.jpg[/img][/center] 'I'm here to ask further questions,' said Vincent. The security officer dilligently examined his I.D., before allowing him to enter the grounds of Rosengard. [i]'Must be new,'[/i] thought Vincent as he walked up the cobblestone driveway. The front door was unlocked and Vincent pushed it open. He half expected to see Dame Grimalkin standing in the foyer, a fresh towel over her arm and a silver tray in her hand. She was nowhere to be found. Vincent wandered through the foyer. He was feeling more collected now, even though he'd lost his jacket and his shirt was torn along his chest. His face was still sore, but the pain had dulled. As he wandered, he examined the paintings on the wall. Rosengard was famous across Czenovia for its collection of art. The largest piece of art in the foyer sat directly above the Grand Staircase. It was a massive painting of Mount Grail, produced just after the end of the Mine War. The Almagests had been the chief beneficiaries of the Mine War; this single event was what bound the family together. It was no coincidence that this priceless painting occupied the most prominent position within Rosegard. It was like a constant reminder of the family's heritage. 'Oh, Vincent!' Vincent spun around and saw a rather flushed Dame Grimalkin enter the foyer, with two severants in tow. Much to his surprise, Vincent noticed Gadget standing behind the servants, his arms full of silverware. As if she knew exactly what he was thinking, Dame Grimalkin quickly interjected. 'Oh, the boy eats so much, he might as well help with the washing up! All of my servants are busy in preparation of Lady Bavaria's arrival tonight.' Vincent nodded. He barely knew Lady Bavaria. In fact, he had had more to do with Leonhart over recent years; Lady Bavaria was often absent from Rosengard. She seemed to travel across the New Globe regularly, although much of this was related to her work. She was undoubtedly the most worldly of the Almagests, but she was also the most uncompromising. Vincent was hoping he would be able to leave before her arrival, although he did not think much of his luck. Dame Grimalkin gasped again. 'Oh! I've been so busy that I didn't even realize!' She rushed over to Vincent and looked him up and down. 'What happened to you?!' Vincent decided not to fill her in immediately. She was busy enough and he didn't want to panic her. 'Oh, it is a long story, my lady. Please, continue about your business - do not worry about me.' Dame Grimalkin paused. A subtle grin spread over her face. 'No, this won't do. You are hurt and you require attention. Perhaps Gadget can help you; he is, after all, a laboratory assistant. I'm sure he can use his skills to treat your wounds. We'll be faster clearing the dishes on our own, anyway.' As she said this, she cast a suspicious look at Gadget. From what little he knew, Vincent thought she'd never have gotten away with that if Macey were in earshot. And with that, Dame Grimalkin swept off towards the kitchen. The taller of the two servants took the silverware from Gadget, leaving him standing in the middle of the foyer alone. Vincent felt slightly awkward, which was rare for him. Despite his intense curiosity about Gadget, he had been unable to speak with him in any detail. Now was his chance to discuss the explosion, although, he knew he'd need to ease into the subject; no doubt, Gadget would not open up immediately. Gadget stood with his hands clasped together, as though he did not know what to do with them. He smiled warmly at Vincent and gestured to the stairs. 'Follow me?' Vincent did as he was told. The pair walked along the East Hall towards the Guest Wing. At the other end were several guest rooms, each with their own ensuite. Vincent walked into his usual room - it was the farthest away from the main hallway. The room was unofficially his, being that he always slept there whenever he stayed at Rosengard. He was still holding a batch of files from the steam car. He carefully sat them on the bed and walked into the ensuite. One side of the ensuite contained a large ornate bath, with several marble steps leading to its edge. Vincent sat on the second step and sighed deeply; finally, he could relax for a moment. Gadget entered the room soon after. He had a small bottle of ointment in one hand and a white cloth in the other. 'Oh, it's okay,' said Vincent, 'I think Dame Grimalkin was just giving you a hard time. You don't have to tend to my wounds.' Gadget gave the bottle to Vincent. 'Are you sure, sir?' 'Of course. And please, don't call me sir. My name is Vincent.' Gadget nodded. He handed the cloth to Vincent and perched himself against the basin. Vincent placed the bottle and cloth next to him and pulled his shirt off. He winced. The glass had apparently grazed his chest and stomach as well. 'What really happened to you?' asked Gadget. He seemed genuinely interested. 'There was an explosion in the city,' said Vincent slowly. 'My car was attacked. My driver, Sanderson...he...' Vincent couldn't say the words. He smiled awkwardly and wet the cloth with ointment. He carefully dabbed at the side of his face. Once it was clean, he tried to get at the grazes and cuts on his stomach and side. 'Agh, damn it,' Vincent winced again. His body was sore and he was becoming frustrated; images of Sanderson's lifeless body floated in and out of his mind. 'Here,' said Gadget, 'let me do it. You're in too much pain.' Gadget took the cloth from Vincent. He wet it again and leant over him. Vincent felt the cool cloth on his waist. While Gadget concentrated on the wounds, Vincent studied his face. Up close, he seemed far older. He had a face that had obviously seen much, despite his young age. As Gadget worked, a lock of hair fell down over his eyes. He hooked it back behind his ear. This made Vincent smile. Gadget glanced up at Vincent a few times. 'It is amazing that you're still alive,' he said finally. 'You are the luckiest person I've ever met.' 'I don't know,' said Vincent. 'They attacked me once and I was lucky, but will I be lucky again? I'm sure it's not over.' Gadget nodded. 'Still,' he said, 'you are very brave.' Vincent smiled. 'It's not that I'm brave, it's just that I have seen many horrible things as a soldier. Part of you becomes accustomed to it.' Gadget moved the cloth up to Vincent's chest. He dabbed at the deeper cuts along Vincent's collar bone and shoulder. 'Does that mean you are never afraid?' Vincent shook his head slowly. 'Soldiers are always afraid,' said Vincent. 'That is natural. You just have to know how to ignore your fear sometimes.' 'I wish I could do that,' said Gadget. 'I sometimes feel like I'm afraid of everything!' Gadget smiled. 'All done, Vincent.' 'I appreciate it,' said Vincent. For a moment, Gadget stood in the ensuite, apparently unsure of what to say. He didn't leave - his feet didn't seem to want to carry him out the door. 'Vincent...' 'Yes?' 'Can we talk again sometime?' Vincent took the cloth from Gadget's hand. 'Of course. Whenever you want.' 'Thank you,' said Gadget. 'I don't know many people in this place. Macey has been so good to me, but I still feel like an outsider sometimes.' 'I understand,' said Vincent. 'I am not from here either, actually.' A smile crept across Gadget's face. 'I will come back later to see how you are feeling, then?' 'Sure,' said Vincent. 'I'd like that.' And with that, Gadget left the room. Vincent stood up and looked in the mirror. He felt strange; his heart was racing all of a sudden. He kept telling himself that the conversation had been important - now Gadget would trust him enough to discuss the explosion in New Czenoble. Sub-consciously, however, Vincent knew that he had genuinely enjoyed Gadget's company. The image in his dream was now real and more wonderfully vivid than ever. He still did not know what this meant, but for now, he didn't care.

[font=franklin gothic medium]I just want to point out the incident that occurred in my latest post. I will summarise it here for those who may miss it, if only because it [i]might[/i] have an impact on other people's posts. Basically, the Underdogs (presumably) knew that Vincent's steam car would be travelling near the center of High Czenoble and they caused a major traffic jam, which allowed them to detonate an explosive right near his car. His driver was killed, but he survived. Vincent is now on a train, on his way to Rosengard (there is a terminal within walking distance).[/font]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/vincentavatar.jpg[/img][/center] Vincent's steam car rolled through the inner-city streets. Up ahead, he could see Grand Square, the center of High Czenoble. It was necessary to drive through the city to reach Rosengard, which was out the other side. The ride was mostly quiet, giving Vincent time to leaf through the paperwork he'd been given by Gaul. Most of the papers were related to mass arrest orders, as well as submissions to the King for widespread curfews. Vincent noticed that the curfew order for New Czenoble had not yet been given Royal Assent; that is, the King had not yet signed off on it. Any major changes to law - including martial law - required Royal Assent. Perhaps Gaul had simply assumed that the Dynast King would approve the measure and his signature was only a formality? For the most part, though, Gaul had complete autonomy; he was able to approve all kinds of major security measures at any time, without the approval (or even knowledge) of the King. Vincent often wondered why the King had appointed a man who had been part of the Mine War; Gaul's views were widely known and they affected Royal Police Guard policy. In any case, Vincent couldn't help but feel that something was in the air - something he hadn't felt before in Czenovia. Although he never told anyone, he wondered if he was witnessing the beginnings of a Civil War. After all, it had happened in Anova almost a century ago; the commoners had become increasingly unhappy with what they perceived to be an arrogant and domineering Royalty. In a bloody Civil War that lasted several years - and killed thousands - the Royal Family was overthrown and a democratic civilian government was installed. Many of the poor in New Czenoble did not know that their closest neighbouring country had gone through such a war, or that it was now, in fact, democratic. Poor education combined with a fairly tightly controlled media meant that factory workers in New Czenoble were largely ignorant - especially relating to foreign affairs. Moreover, few New Czenobles could afford to travel. New Czenoble's Aerodrome was only small and usually it was only the senior managers of major firms who travelled between High and New Czenoble; general public air transport was largely unnecessary if nobody could afford it. Vincent suddenly realized that he had been so wound up in his own thoughts that he hadn't noticed the immense traffic jam in front of the steam car. He looked around and noticed many frustrated drivers; even the elegant golden rickshaws had nowhere to go. The glass panel separating Vincent from his driver wound down. His driver was a surprisingly uncultured fellow, but Vincent found him to be refreshing. He had obviously come from New Czenoble and was one of the few New Czenobles to be lucky enough to work in High Czenoble. His name was Sanderson. 'Sanderson, can you see what's happening ahead of us? An accident maybe?' called Vincent. Sanderson shook his head vigorously. 'No sir, no accident up that way. Looks like a freighter has stopped in the middle of the intersection. Bloody freighter drivers! Think they own the road!' Vincent grinned. Sanderson was known for his road rage. As suddenly as the jam had started, Vincent noticed that several people had gotten out of their vehicles and were wandering between the lanes. Vincent rolled his window down to get a better view; just as he did this, he heard a chilling smash. His head jerked backwards instinctively. 'Sir!' called Sanderson frantically, 'What's going on?! Are you okay?!' 'Y-yes,' said Vincent, as he looked around the interior. The neck of a deep green bottle lay near the rear seat. The seat and carpet were covered with shards of glass. Vincent put a gloved hand to his face and pulled it away. His grey leather glove was smeared with red and brown; the glass had grazed his cheek. He promptly rolled the window up and just as he did so, he was blinded by a flash of brilliant white light. Vincent was thrown back into the other side of the vehicle, as it lurched sideways. He was deaf. It was like being underwater. Glass swarmed the air around him and sunlight broke in through the gaping hole in the roof. As sound returned, he heard distant sirens and the cry of panicked crowds. Vincent immediately knew what had happened, but now, he simply needed to get out. He crawled across the floor on his elbows and glanced over the front seat. Sanderson lay across the front seat, his arms outstretched. His cap was on the floor. Vincent frantically tried to pull him up, but it was no use; his body was lifeless and impossibly heavy. A photo of his beaming young daughter sat on the dash, near the steering wheel. She had been so proud of her father, who had promised to bring her to High Czenoble as soon as he could afford it. Vincent brushed the tears from his eyes and his expression hardened. [i]'This is not the end,'[/i] he thought, [i]'they might come back to finish me. I can't let them...I still have to find Leonhart...'[/i] And with that, Vincent crawled back to the rear seat and pushed himself out through the gap in the roof. Without waiting for a second wave, he ran across the steam car's roof and onto the nearby footpath. Despite the chaos surrounding him, it seemed that his car had been worst hit; the damage was not widespread. Most people seemed to be reacting to the shock of what had happened. Vincent could only think of one thing; he had to get to the train station. Central Station was not far and there were trains running out Rosengard way every ten minutes. [center][img]http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/9374/centralstationwy2.jpg[/img][/center] Central Station lay before Vincent. It was as bustling and busy as it had ever been; nobody seemed to have heard or noticed the blast, which had taken place only one block away. Several people did notice Vincent, however. It was no doubt odd to see the Assistant Commander of the Royal Police Guard walking through the station in a torn shirt, blackened pants and deep cuts on the side of his face. Vincent knew that at this stage, it would be impossible to call for a Guard escort. The traffic was still jammed for several blocks and it was more important that the Guard officers reach the scene of the blast itself; Vincent knew he'd be able to reach Rosengard safely. At this moment, Dame Grimalkin's hospitality was a seductive thought. He knew that as soon as she saw him, she'd have an army of staff attending to him; a warm bath, a hot cup of tea, fresh towels, anticeptic and a change of clothes. Vincent could not shed the intense guilt he felt at this prospect. What about Sanderson, who would never see his daughter again?

[font=franklin gothic medium]Just remember that kuja was known for his purple g-string. Also, he has one weakness: spelling his name with a capital "K". He hated that...[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I've been listening to quite a bit of Róisín Murphy lately. Her latest album, Overpowered, is pretty good. I think I'm liking her more as an individual artist outside Moloko. Definitely not for everyone, but she has a couple of tracks that can really grab you.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I'm [i]so[/i] sorry about this not going up, guys. We do normally do this but by the time I got around to it this year, we were just too close to Christmas day. And me being away for that whole period made it even more difficult. Even though it's become a bit of a tradition, I will look at holding a different competition to make up for it. Any suggestions? I'm thinking that we can still incorporate banners, but perhaps we can feature different banners or something. I'm sure we can build something fun around that.[/font] :catgirl:

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/vincentavatar.jpg[/img][/center] A frail, elderly woman leaned over Vincent's shoulder and delicately refilled his wine glass. 'Yes, my boy, drink up!' cried Gaul Rosier, who sat opposite Vincent. An elaborate oak dining table divided the two men as they lunched in Rosier House. Rosier House was an imposing building but it was nothing like Rosengard, thought Vincent. Rosengard may have been clean and tidy, but everywhere there was evidence of it having been lived in; family portraits, children's paintings and the sounds of talking or laughter echoing down the halls. In stark contrast, Rosier House felt cold and empty. There were occasional portraits lining certain walls, but none seemed to involve Gaul or anyone directly connected to him. Rosier House seemed almost entirely abandoned; it had apparently been built to house a large family, but in the end only Gaul and his staff lived there. Vincent knew that Gaul had been married once. His wife had apparently passed away years ago, although the circumstances were not public knowledge. Vincent did know, however, that Gaul had never managed to have children. Perhaps this explained something about his outlook, thought Vincent. The previous night had been difficult for everyone. Lady Grimalkin had given an important clue to Vincent, but despite its obvious message, Vincent knew that it would be almost impossible to locate the perpetrators. In reality, New Czenoble's population was many times larger than that of High Czenoble. Moreover, Vincent suspected that the residents of New Czenoble would be generally unwilling to support a Royal Police Guard investigation, especially one focused on their own citizens. Vincent had arrived at his apartment late in the evening, only to find an urgent telegram from Gaul Rosier sitting on his desk. Gaul had requested lunch with Vincent at his home on the south coast the following day. And now the pair were sitting in the opulent surrounds of the Rosier dining room, enjoying the very best wine that Czenovia produced. At least, Gaul was enjoying the wine. Vincent was feeling increasingly uneasy. 'So,' said Gaul finally, 'do you have any idea who these people are? They have a symbol, which suggests and organized group.' Gaul examined the note with one hand and swirled his wine in the other. 'I have no idea,' said Vincent truthfully, 'but the presence of an organization changes everything for us.' Gaul looked over the note at Vincent and raised an eyebrow. 'If anything, I would say that an organized group makes things much easier. These groups need to meet and communicate amongst their members. If we were dealing with random acts of terrorism, the matter would be much more difficult.' 'I see,' said Vincent. He knew better than to disagree too forcefully with Gaul. 'You may have heard,' said Gaul casually, 'that we have begun several new initiatives in New Czenoble.' Vincent nodded. 'I received some information from your office about this today, but I don't yet know the details.' 'Well,' said Gaul, 'first and foremost, we are imposing a strict curfew on all residents of New Czenoble. It will begin tomorrow night. No citizen will be allowed on the streets after ten o'clock.' Vincent sipped his wine, as Gaul continued. 'Furthermore, we are doubling our deployment of Guard officers in the city. We are transferring a quarter of the Guard from High Czenoble to New Czenoble. The officers will attend regular street patrols and they will be stationed at several major production facilities, to prevent repeats of recent kidnappings.' 'I see,' said Vincent. 'Is there any progress on the investigation into Leonhart's disappearance?' Gaul's expression hardened slightly. 'Actually I have been looking into this personally; Leonhart has always been a close friend of mine. We have several leads within New Czenoble, but gathering intelligence is slow and difficult. I have ordered several arrests of prominent trouble-makers. Several of them have been brought to our High Czenoble headquarters for questioning; I do not expect them to be released soon.' It was becoming increasingly difficult for Vincent to accept Gaul's stance, especially as it grew increasingly tough. Nevertheless, Vincent did care for Leonhart and no matter what the legitimate political grievances of those who kidnapped him, he knew that kidnapping and law-breaking should not be rewarded. Still, Vincent wondered where it would end. Despite his position, he was not at all able to contradict Gaul Rosier's orders. To do so would, at the very least, get him kicked out of the Guard. At the worst, he might be charged with treason - depending, of course, on Gaul's mood at the time. Vincent was convinced that part of the answer lay within Rosengard itself; specificaly, Gadget. He wanted to know what kind of experiments Macey had been running. Even more than that, Vincent wondered if Gadget had seen or heard anything suspicious during the experiments; was there anyone, even internally, who knew more about what was happening? Vincent decided to return to Rosengard immediately after his lunch. Learning more from Macey and Gadget was going to be critical, but he also couldn't ignore the voice in the back of his mind that continually reminded him of his odd connection with Gadget.

[font=franklin gothic medium]I've been away on my end of year break, but I'm now back. So you can expect my next post shortly. I will try to follow on from Sandy's last post as best I can. I've just sent a PM to Sandy to clarify something a bit before I post. I've been reading through what I missed and it's all looking fantastic! Great job guys.[/font] :catgirl:

[font=franklin gothic medium]Ah, well it seems like this has been settled then. Thanks for attending to this. My only general comment is that I think Otakupedia is clearly written with a tongue-in-cheek perspective most of the time. I don't believe the intent is ever to harm or degrade anyone in particular. Anyone who has a picture or an artwork that is their property does have the right to request its removal from Otakupedia - I do think that's fair. We also have the right to mention in the article that the creator/owner requested the image's removal. I think Charles adequately covered the copyright issue, so I won't say anything further about that. My advice would be to take Otakupedia and its contents with good humor and grace. Most members who have had funny/satirical articles written about them have done this. In this way Otakupedia can remain fun and entertaining without being too bogged down in restrictions, for fear of offending people. Also I want to add that defamation cases can only be won on the basis that someone is outright lying about you. The contents of our articles - while obviously written in a humorous/entertaining manner - are 100% factually correct. In any cases where facts are not represented correctly, then of course, I am happy to have edits or removals made to content.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Apologies for not being around; I'm currently in another city and I really don't have any regular access to a computer. I just dropped in to see if there was anything urgent to attend to. I haven't read this thread other than the last couple of posts, so I don't want to make a comment here. I will be back on the 2nd of January, which is when I'll be able to address this issue. In future, please send a PM or an email my way if there's something urgent to be dealt with.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I actually fiddled around with GarageBand a bit more today and I went through some of the tutorials. The new version especially is really well worth trying if you have access to a Mac. The whole thing is quite a lot more sophisticated than I first thought - there are a myriad of editing options and you can do some auto-edits that make life a lot easier (such as fades, auto-key adjustments and so on). That way you can just focus on your sampling. One of the cool features that I haven't really tried to use is the virtual instrument system in GarageBand. You can basically bring up any instrument you like (out of however many hundred are in the program) and you can use your keyboard to "play" the instrument. So different keys are obviously different notes, with various keys providing additional real-time effects. I could see this program being very powerful if used properly. You can even plug an electric guitar (and other instruments) directly into your Mac and record riffs with GarageBand. It's very cool. But I think I must have to buy the full version of iLife '08. Right now I'm just using the standard version on Leopard, which I think is a trial version or something. One of the most interesting things is the podcast feature, actually. I want to do postcasting on OtakuBoards, so this would be interesting to play around with. Unfortunately there's no way to do "real-time" podcasts unless the other podcasters are sitting in the same room with you. So you'd have to have different people recording different programs and then someone would have to edit it all in GarageBand. Still, it's quite interesting. I wonder if there is any way for GarageBand to record from Skype or something. Does anyone know if this is possible at all?[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I hope that my post was okay; I found it difficult to inject Vincent back into the main story, haha. But I figured that due to his role, it wouldn't matter too much when he arrives at the house. I just hope my post made sense, lol. I tried to time it just as dinner was starting.[/font]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/gadgetavatar.jpg[/img][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/damegrimalkinavatar.jpg[/img][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/vincentavatar.jpg[/img][/center] Rosengard loomed on the horizon. Night had fallen and the great Almagest residence cast a deep silhouette in the distance. Vincent thought it rather looked like a big cat, crouched slightly on its haunches. It somehow appeared to be in distress; it was wounded. Vincent opened his briefcase and poured through the papers he had been given by Rosier. They were many and they were worrying. There had been a significant increase in crime throughout New Czenoble in recent days, but the explosion at Prometheo Labs had been devastating. Worst of all, Leonhart Almagest himself was apparently missing; the Royal Police Guard had been unable to locate his body. The briefcase snapped shut and Vincent stared out the window again. The sky seemed to darken further as deep grey clouds rolled over the mountains. A storm was coming. The steam car stopped in front of the Grand Entrance and Vincent stepped out. Audrey was not with him tonight. He had given her the night off. No doubt she would be working more than her usual hours in the coming days, at any rate. Before Vincent could tap the gold knocker on the front door, it swung open abruptly. Dame Grimalkin appeared in the Foyer. Her usual calm demeanor seemed to have been replaced by a tangible urgency. She seemed relieved to see Vincent, at least. 'Oh, Mr. Achard...thank God you are here! Please, come in!' Vincent walked into the Foyer, brief case in hand. This time, his visit was official. 'My Lady, is Daedalus home? I believe he is the most senior member of the family at present.' The words were difficult to say, even for Vincent. And clearly, Dame Grimalkin didn't like hearing them. She grimaced as he spoke. 'Er, yes, of course, I will tell him you are here. Please make yourself at home. When he is ready, I will call you to his study.' And with that, Dame Grimalkin swept out of the Foyer, towards the Grand Staircase. Vincent was left alone. He could hear echoes in the distance; several family members had obviously arrived. He could only imagine how they felt with the head of their family missing. Vincent himself knew little, so he would not be able to completely satisfy Daedalus' curiosity. Several minutes passed without any sign of Dame Grimalkin. Vincent decided to take the opportunity to pay a short visit to Macey. He had no doubt she was there. The fact that they had managed to part ways on good terms at the party meant that things were starting to improve. Vincent wanted to reassure her personally. Vincent made his way down the long hall that led to Macey's quarters. As he neared her ensuite, though, he heard splashing. What he saw surprised him; a young man was standing at the basin, splashing his face with water. His hair had been slicked down and he was wearing a slightly ill-fitting suit. He did not look at all comfortable in either the suit, or in the walls of Rosengard itself for that matter. The man suddenly noticed Vincent's presence and looked up at him. Vincent's entire body froze. He almost fell backwards. The man looked oddly familiar. 'Who are you?' Vincent mentally corrected himself; he did not know what else to say. The young man at first appeared intimidated by Vincent, who was much taller and older. His hand shook slightly, but he did not back down. He cautiously approached Vincent and held his hand out. 'I'm Gadget, Sir,' said the young man. 'Pleased to meet you.' Gadget smiled broadly. Vincent shook his hand absently. 'Do you know who I am?' asked Vincent. Something about Gadget's demeanor suggested this. Gadget paused for a moment and then finally nodded. 'Yes, sir. There are posters of you on some of the walls where I come from. Sometimes people write horrible things on those posters. But you shouldn't worry; it's Mr. Rosier who they really despise.' This could only mean one thing: Gadget was from New Czenoble. Some brave citizens in out-of-the-way places within the city dared to deface Government posters, many of which displayed Gaul Rosier, with the slogan [i]"Creating a safer city for everyone."[/i] Vincent found it difficult to place Gadget's face initially. He felt that he knew him from somewhere. And then, a thought occurred to him - but it was far too ridiculous to entertain. How could a dream be real, after all? For a moment, Gadget simply stood before Vincent and looked up at him. Although he was not smiling, his entire face somehow smiled; Gadget almost seemed relieved to see Vincent. Perhaps, he thought, it was always relieving to see an authority figure during a time of great turbulence and fear. 'I am a guest at Rosengard, Sir,' said Gadget, 'and we are about to have dinner. Perhaps you could join us?' Vincent did not want to be drawn into a long dinner with the entire Almagest family; he worried that everyone would have questions about the explosion. He really only wanted to speak to Daedalus. However, as Dame Grimalkin had not yet returned, dinner might be the only option. In any case, Vincent thought, it would give him the chance to learn more about Gadget and his story.

[font=franklin gothic medium]In terms of software, I can only recommend a couple. One is GarageBand on the Mac. I don't think it's available on other platforms and I've only experimented with it a little bit...but it's quite good. And I think it could have a lot more depth than first thought. It's also ridiculously easy to use. Other than that, there's SoundForge by Sony. That's a meatier program but it's a bit more difficult to use. It's great for basic cuts though. One other program I worked with ages ago is called Flux, I believe. I worked with an early version that wasn't terribly good; it didn't allow you to really layer your samples, in the way more advanced programs do. Still, it's an interesting tool to play around with.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I'm sure that the word "hate" is used as a throwaway line most of the time. But...the only reason I make an issue in this case is because it's become so fashionable to "hate" what's popular. And for what reason, really? The stereotype of pop music does exist for a reason, admittedly. But there are plenty of pop artists out there who actually dare to try something that isn't canned and wrapped for the masses. Any artist who dares to actually inject some visual or aural innovation is ironically labelled as weird or a sell-out or whatever. I don't understand that. Moreover, as I said...I'm more than happy for people to have a legitimate conversation about musical styles and stuff. That's totally cool. But devoting a whole thread to bashing someone only makes OtakuBoards look bad, honestly. lol Anyway, Justin, I tend to agree with you. I think we already covered the "L" question, haha. :catgirl: [/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I think the problem is that you're trying to position yourself as some martyr when that's clearly not what you are. Why are people criticizing you? They're doing it because you're not simply talking about your preference for a type of music. Nobody will say that you have to like Gwen Stefani's music for example. The [i]point[/i] is that you're visciously attacking someone in a personal manner - someone who you don't even know. Don't try to pass that off as some high-minded ideal or "personal preference". It's outright bashing of another person on no real basis other than the art they produce. If you want to be critical of art, then by all means, you can do that. Nobody is arguing otherwise. There's nothing unreasonable at all about not wanting to turn this thread into a "let's all bash person A for no reason!" discussion. So I recommend remaining on-topic; I've never tolerated personal attacks on members, so I don't know why I'd tolerate it against anyone else.[/font]

[quote]Now if you'll excuse me I'll be listening to 2112 and reassuring myself that people who listen to mainstream music can be likened to enjoying having sandpaper scraped across their eardrums. [/quote] [font=franklin gothic medium]That's just sad, really. I hope you're not suggesting that pop music in general is empty garbage - you need a serious music history lesson if you believe that. "Mainstream" (depending on how you interpret it) doesn't necessarily equate to "bad". I think we have to be very careful not to dismiss relevant art and relevant artists in our quest to be cool, or at least, to somehow represent that we're doing something different or unique. And guys, seriously, whatever you think of Gwen Stefani...I don't see why we should devote an entire thread to bashing her personally. She's a person at the end of the day - a person who none of you actually knows, so you really aren't in a position to judge her character. There are plenty of celebrities that I don't like (in terms of their art), but I would never sit there and go on and on about how much I hate them personally. If I don't know them personally, how can I hate who they are? As I said before, hate is a very strong word. All of the hot air in this thread is only serving to kill brain cells as far as I'm concerned, lol.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]The only thing that frustrated me about the purple coin levels are the times when the screen is scrolling along (like if you're riding on a platform for example) and you miss [i]one[/i] coin, which you can't go back for. That really sucks. Other than that, I never had much of a problem. I actually found it enjoyable to find all the coins, especially on the Honey Hive Galaxy (at least I think that's the name, haha). It surprises me because I never liked the red coin or 100 coin challenges in Super Mario 64.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I agree with John. Saying kawaii was never cool. If anything, Gwen Stefani certainly isn't going to make it less cool. lol[/font]