Quick, check your atlas to figure out where these master criminals– oh, London, right, okay.
First story update for the new blog! And hoping the new interface won’t cause some commenters to shy away. Although the new shiny may even encourage some new comments. We shall see.
Regardless, this is a pretty beefy story update, with several new scenes telling the entire transition to England and into the next act of the story. I’m having a lot of fun telling “ministories” within scenes… making one encapsulated point, exploring one theme, showing off one side character, etc. It seems to be working well for me.
We’ve hit the point in this chapter where I’m not sure precisely what happens next. I know what GENERALLY happens, but like how sf02’s complete outline was “And then they go find out about the Essence Capacitors and bring home a copy of the spell” my entire outline here is… well, no spoilers, but it’ll be clear by the end.
Enjoy, and thanks for reading. Whaddya think?
Andrew says
I really like the description of doing verbal battle: “– the give and take of social politics. It required absolute mental focus, to be precise and cutting with your remarks…” I also like the concept of using multiple layers of masks when deceiving someone.
And Jesse’s statement about understanding the House of Gears and the Ascendancy being intertwined is nice, could be taken to mean many things.
Nice that the next generation kids are working together and learning from each other. Also, good pointing out that the fake wheat is inedible, so we can bypass that whole “Let’s just make food for everyone” concept.
Benny’s magic trick was nice. I really like Camille’s reaction.
Yes, I agree that Lar is most likely not mentally stable.
Lirazel says
Comment thread links in the story are still pointing at LJ
I am wondering about this whole age stuff = caution equation. It seems that Lar’s being made young has made him reckless, while Jesse’s maturity manifests as caution? I can think of a host of RL examples to refute that, even with motherhood thrown in.
I’m all down with L’Anonyme, though. Free Our Angel!
Stefan "Twoflower" Gagne says
Huh, thought I fixed that. Well, fixed now.
Lar’s always been a bit reckless, despite claiming to be a logical and pragmatic man. He instigated the chaos in the first anachronauts series, going so far as to crash an entire Arcology, just to further the cause of the conspiracy he belonged to. He seems to favor incredibly sweeping, dramatic plans which satisfy him on an emotional level while claiming it’s all quite sensible. And then he gets kicked in the nuts.
Jen Gagne, Psycho Happy artist says
I would bet Lar is going increasingly crazy too — he’s been casting and experimenting extensively with all sorts of dark magic after all. And we know just from Jon that even the few spells he casts for the capacitors affect one gradually, if nothing else.
I also haven’t seen any indication whether or not the Ascendants are blessed to avoid memorizing spells. Either way I doubt Lar was all squared away with a blessing from day one of his experimentation…
Eagerly anticipating that nut-kick. :D
Stefan "Twoflower" Gagne says
It hasn’t been explored much, but the Orbitals use synaptic stabilizers to counter the negative effects of spellcasting — much like the technology they used to heal Jesse of her brain damage, only preventative, rather than curative.
Of course, I wouldn’t put money on it working quite so flawlessly as they think it does.
Jen Gagne, Psycho Happy artist says
Like most things the Ascendancy does, that would mean it’s got the veneer of acceptability which is just enough to get away with a lot.
loopychew says
Keeping the content comments separate: Are Gilbert’s calculations shifting? Initially there was to be twenty-five years between them, then recalculated, and now a decade has passed and Jesse’s fearing that the end is soon upon her?
Cammy is incredibly adorable.
Interesting that while Jeeves has been given a scene for himself, he’s rarely mentioned the moment they actually step into London. (Which makes sense, in the sense that he’s there as an aide and doesn’t have any need to participate in the conversations, but at the same time it feels like saying “that ninja over there is important.” And, of course, the ninja is difficult to actually note, because, well… ninja.
And we haven’t even gotten to the Gatherer’s agenda and how it crosses with everyone else’s plans.
Stefan "Twoflower" Gagne says
Jesse’s fears are because she lost to the robot. It’s probably an overreaction.
I should at least note Jeeves didn’t come along for lunch. I’ll fit that in.
Not sure what you mean by the Gatherer’s agenda. The Gatherers were destroyed from within, or went into hiding and dormancy. If you mean Petersen/Emily’s efforts, they’re pretty directly stated; they want an angel.
loopychew says
The result of morning amnesia: forgetting Sarah’s already had her meeting with Jesse, and all of this wasn’t solely the result of Lar’s initial provocation.
Unless there’s a need for Jeeves to be absent at lunch, there’s no reason to rewrite the lunch scene.
Jen Gagne, Psycho Happy artist says
Did Gilbert have very specific calculations? I don’t remember. It really all depends on how many years Jesse had left in her own life, right? So half that would make it probably 25 to 35 max.
Stefan "Twoflower" Gagne says
All they’ve had are estimates. Nobody really knows, since we’re talking about angelic power in play; not even Benny would know for sure. Raphael might know. The Word certainly knows. But for Gilbert, best he can do is take a guess.
Lirazel says
Like the rest of us, really. They know it’s “sooner”, but not a lot more.
loopychew says
They’d switched away from vynil to proper electronic media many years ago,
“vinyl”
In her mid thirties, still a healthy and robust woman.
Hyphenation.
“Wish she could join us, but… well. First thing’s first. Oh, garçon?
Missing an endquote.
who opted to order off the available menu and be very insistent on her unusualselection,
Missing a space.
“My apologies, then, for revitalizing the spirit of Guy Fawkes ala Alan Moore
“à la”