Greetings

[Martin]

Shadow9808 wrote: Now it's war. ::grabs his flaming dual bladed chainsaw, puts on a hockey mask and follows Martin::
*gets back in, riding a really tall unicycle and drinking an alcohol-free cocktail, then points out the obvious*

'scuse me, Shadow ol' chap, but even if we accept motor tools in a victorian background, don't usually chainsaws run on OIL? Easily flammable, quite detonating oil?

*cycles off, waiting for the "cartoon reality effect" to take place, as reality suddenly notices two burning chainblades whirring dangerously close to a fuel tank*

(okay, I could have done without the unicycle, but it's funnier that way :D )

[Ashton Gray]

Done without the unicycle? Are you mad?

[Tadelesh]

-clears his throat- Ahem. If I could steer you all back to the question I asked that remains unanswered? I would like to know people's opinions on the possibility of my occupation being a street magician. Kind of like Stella, but more.. roguish, for want of a better word.

[JohnnyPsycho]

That's an idea... another idea I had (and feel free to shoot this one down, since it's your character after all) is someone more along the lines of a spirit-medium or some other practitioner of the occult... basically, someone really showy, yet you're not quite sure whether he's for real or just conning you (I suppose part of the street-magician idea would sort of coincide with that). The only image that comes to my head is Dr. Byron Orpheus from the Venture Bros., a self-proclaimed necromancer (though, of course in that show, there's little doubt to the credibility of his powers).

...or you could mix in both ideas together, and create a strange amalgam of Aleister Crowley and Harry Houdini.

[Ashton Gray]

I don't see how there could be any problem with that but, if I may suggest, it may be wiser to list your occupation as "profesional magician." In the intrest of the story. If memory serves, they were quite popular in the late 1800's-early 1900's.

[Tadelesh]

I had thought of that, Johnny, but then I realised I might be stepping on Gantros's toes a little. I don't want to be a second occultist.

Hmm. Fair enough, Ashton. I hadn't given any thought to the name of the occupation, I was just voicing an idea.

[kommy]

Well, I like both the high-class stage magician and the streetwise card shark always ready to try a little slight-of-paw. I got to say, though, this brings to mind the film 'The Prestige.' Now *that* was some classy magic and sleight-of-plot.

Of course, Tesla was the high point for me. The promise and peril of science far exceeds what people attribute to the occult. Man's grasp exceeds his imagination. :D

[Ashton Gray]

I was wondering if anyone else would think of The Prestige when I said that. I'm glad to see it was you, Doktor.

[Tadelesh]

I haven't seen that yet but I want to.

[JohnnyPsycho]

I actually liked The Prestige slightly more that The Illusionist, which had come out around the same time... plot's a little different, but they're both essentially mystery plots centered around stage illusionists during the turn of the century. Both have pretty amazing casts (Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlet Johansen [hottie], and Michael Caine in The Prestige; Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel [also hottie], and Rufus Sewell in The Illusionist), though The Prestige has an extra surprise casting for the character (and historical figure) Nikola Tesla, played by... no, wait, I don't wanna ruin the surprise! ;)

[Tadelesh]

Oh yeah, I want to watch that one too. I can't remember which one I was more interested in, but I kinda forgot about them both until now. I might buy them on DVD.

[JohnnyPsycho]

I definitely recommend both, and despite the similar premises of the two movies, they're both fairly different. The Illusionist has a bit more romance to it, and The Prestige is definitely darker (it was directed by the guy who directed Batman Begins and Dark Knight, so... yeah).

[Tadelesh]

I think I was probably more interested in The Prestige, because Hugh Jackman and Michael Caine are both wicked, and I enjoyed Batman Begins (so the director and Christian Bale added to the interest). Haven't seen Dark Knight yet, going to watch it on Friday.

[Foxonian]

Tesla was ahead of his time in so many ways.Still think that he actually made the "sonic resonator" and the "death ray",since his descriptions of both were very plausible.

[Xebulon]

kommy wrote: Of course, Tesla was the high point for me. The promise and peril of science far exceeds what people attribute to the occult. Man's grasp exceeds his imagination. :D

When it comes to Tesla, I'm afraid I have to disagree with you Kommy. That man's imagination could not be contained by any device, institution or indeed any means yet devised. In point of fact, technology as we know it would not exist if Tesla hadn't discovered Alternating Current and possessed the brains (and the balls) to oppose Thomas Edison. Granted, he was neurotic, possessed of obsessive-compulsive tendencies and felt he needed to live in the grandiose manner that led to his bankruptcy but he was still one of the greatest geniuses ever to live.

Foxonian wrote: Tesla was ahead of his time in so many ways.Still think that he actually made the "sonic resonator" and the "death ray",since his descriptions of both were very plausible.

Not only that Foxonian. Did you know that he had devised a way to provide free, unlimited electricity to the entire planet? True, it would have required adjusting the Earth's electromagnetic field, but imagine if he had succeeded! Actually, that was one of the projects he was working on during World War II. The government halted his funding though and seized his lab. Much of the original structure was scrapped for raw materials for the war effort.

[Ashton Gray]

Or was it? Hmm, I smell the makings of a possible conspiracy theory.

[Martin]

Ashton Gray wrote: Or was it? Hmm, I smell the makings of a possible conspiracy theory.
Huh? Oh, THAT smell! That'd be me, actually... I'm cooking a large frittata with onions. Want some? :D

[Tadelesh]

Ooh. Sounds delicious. Sure. Just don't throw it at me. :P

[Ashton Gray]

Damn, and I just ate. Of all the luck.

[Xebulon]

The lab was torn down Ashton. It didn't necessarily have anything left in it when they dismantled it though. :wink: