"...and that's all the APD's been able to find out," Lisafinished lamely as they strolled through one of the plazassurrounding GENOM Tower. It was easily the warmest day in weeks,with the bright sun bringing the ambient temperature far enoughabove freezing that the seemingly-eternal slush was turning intoquickly-moving meltwater. Still, just because it was abovefreezing didn't mean she couldn't snuggle; she had wrappedherself around Doug's arm and leaned her head against hisshoulder. He'd eaten her chocolates as his dessert, carefully,deliberately, and pronounced them exquisite; the heady feelingthat gave her almost outweighed her embarassment at having failedhim in finding out anything from Daley.Thinking about how little she had to offer him in the way ofleads, she grimaced privately. While even the lack ofinformation might mean something useful to Doug, it still didn'tmake her feel any better about coming back to him with,essentially, nothing."Hm." She risked a glance up at him. She still couldn't quite get used to the change in his appearance. Even though he hadn't changed the color of his hair or the mustache -- which after nearly two weeks probably wasn't fake any more -- he had shed the vaguely disreputable air he'd possessed when they'd met in Eriko's a few nights earlier. Instead, even though he was dressed casually for a GENOM employee, he radiated an aura that said, "I'm a respectable young executive." Knowing he couldn't be using his powers to do it, Lisa was forced to conclude it really was just a matter of how he carried and presented himself. That kind of skill would be *very* useful to an investigative reporter, and she made a mental note to see where and how she might be able to learn it."I think your contact's right, Lisa," Doug said, shaking her outof her distraction. "It's likely GENOM. I should probably sayanother GENOM faction -- the whole corp is rife with littlepowerplays and rivalries between divisions and departments." Hechuckled. "Hell. I half-expect to hear any day now that arunning gun-battle has broken out between the fifteenth- andsixteenth-floor janitorial staffs over who gets the really *good*soap."Lisa laughed in spite of herself. "You know it'd be easy toclean up afterwards," she offered with a grin.He laughed, too, the first time he'd done so in her presence in awhile. "Which is good, because there'd be no one left with theproper skills for the job."
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

I just uploaded a revised copy of the concordance to the website. Mostly this just fixes dead links I found over the weekend along with some grammar/spelling errors. But there is also new material on the "Ode to Joy" and live action Sailor Moon.

-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

I just uploaded a revised copy of the concordance to my website. Mostly this just fixes dead links I found over the weekend along with some grammar/spelling errors. But there is also new material on the "Ode to Joy" and live action Sailor Moon.

-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

I can't remember if any mention of this made it into DW2, but I know there are references in the fragments of the other Steps that exist. During the vampire invasion of Warriors' World, Shadowwalker was caught by the foe and almost turned; a hastily-improvised ritual cast by Dwimanor (and Hexe, I think; it's so long ago now I can't remember for sure) managed to halt the conversion and leave her balanced on an uneasy cusp between vampire and human. She lived the best part of a year like that, only able to eat raw meat and mildly vulnerable to light. Needless to say, we wanted her cured.
It took Dwim and Doug several months to work up a full High Magick/theurgic ritual, which they performed at Stonehenge on Midsummer's Eve. It was, fortunately, successful, although Shadowwalker came out of it slightly altered. (Not for the worse, mind you. Oh, and the "markers" or favors Doug sometimes notes that he owes several gods are mainly for their participation in the theurgic part of the ritual.)
Anyway, while Dwim performed a very structured and complex ritual, Doug stood by, external senses locked out, playing this song and forcing it for all that he was worth:

It's a strange aberration, this brainstorm of youth
Though it's lost in translation from fancy to truth
It's hopelessly human, both inside and out
A joyous occasion, there's no reason to doubt
It's easy somehow, what once was elusive
Is calling me now
I am waiting, I am patiently
Doing nothing, in a reverie
Climbing higher, seeing everything
Interacting, slowly spiralling
I am giving, while I'm watching the
Life I'm living, precious energy
Escalating, what was once just a game,
It's never the same, no one's to blame
It's a strange situation, there's no cause for alarm
All these hot licks and rhetoric, surely do you no harm
They're hopelessly human, both inside and out
A joyous occasion, there's no reason to doubt
When each word is read, would you know the difference
If nothing was said?
All is rhythm, all is unity
I am laughing, as it's meant to be
Just amusing, I am using the
Word was given, making harmony
Moving slowly, dancing aimlessly
Endless circle, turning fearlessly
Resurrected, falling down again
Introspective, I'm just stating my view
Now you can choose, what do you feel,
Is it for real this time?
-- Kansas, Hopelessly Human
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

This bloody road remains a mystery
This sudden darkness fills the air
What are we waiting for?
Won't anybody help us?
What are we waiting for?
We can't afford to be innocent
Stand up and face the enemy
It's a do or die situation
We will be Invincible
This shattered dream you cannot justify
We're gonna scream until we're satisified
What are we running for?
We've got the right to be angry
What are we running for?
When there's no where we can run to anymore
We can't afford to be innocent
Stand up and face the enemy
It's a do or die situation
We will be Invincible
And with the power of conviction
There is no sacrifice
It's a do or die situation
We will be Invincible
Won't anybody help us?
What are we running for?
When there's no where, no where we can run to anymore
We can't afford to be innocent
Stand up and face the enemy
It's a do or die situation
We will be Invincible
And with the power of conviction
There is no sacrifice
It's a do or die situation
We will be Invincible
-- Pat Benatar, Invincible
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

Not sure if this would have any bearing on Doug or not, but it was too amusing to keep to myself. I just heard a remake of the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" - _in German_. And apparently there's a whole CD (15 tracks IIRC) of the stuff floating around out there somewhere. Now I know DOug doesn't speak German, but I have to wonder if his metagift would pick up on the fact that it's a familiar song, just in a different language. That could make for some interesting (and potentially disastrous) side effects if his tuneplug didn't filter it out properly...
Offsides
Drunkard's Walk Forum Moderator and Prereader At Large

There are new versions of every chapter of Drunkard's Walk II. Do not feel obligated to download these unless you're really detail oriented; mainly I went back and made sure that Doug is using metric units everywhere except in idiomatic phrases -- I was a couple chapters in before I realized initially that he ought to speak in metric, and never got around to revising the earlier chapters. I've also changed or added the link to the discussion forum in the earlier chapters, fixed the throwaway Sony reference that conflicted with later citations, and updated some of the citations in the credits here and there where I've come across information since the relevant chapters were released.
I've also updated the Concordance -- a couple new entries, and I revised the entry for the "Brag of the College Applicant" to include a link to the biography page of its author.
I think that's everything...

-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

I don't know if this song has come up before, but when I heard it with Drunkards Walk still on the back of my mind, it occured to me that this would be the perfect song to describe Doug's power.
Rock and Roll Dreams by Steinman/Meatloaf
You can't run away forever
But there's nothing wrong with getting a good head start
You want to shut out the night
You want to shut down the sun
You want to shut away the pieces of a broken heart
Think of how we'd lay down together
We'd be listening to the radio so loud and so strong
Every golden nugget coming like a gift of the gods
Someone must have blessed us when he gave us those songs
I treasure your love
I never want to lose it
You've been through the fires of hell
And I know you've got the ashes to prove it
I treasure your love
I want to show you how to use it
You've been through a lot of pain in the dirt
and I know you've got the scars to prove it
Remember everything that I told you
And I'm telling you again that it's true
When you're alone and afraid
And you're completely amazed
To find there's nothing anybody can do
Keep on believing
And you'll discover baby
There's always something magic
There's always something new
And when you really really need it the most
That's when rock and roll dreams come through
The beat is your forever
The beat is alway true
And when you really need it the most
That's when rock and roll dreams come through...for you...
Once upon a time was a backbeat
Once upon a time all the chords came to life
And the angels had guitars even before they had wings
If you hold onto a chorus you can get through the night
I treasure your love
I never want to lose it
You've been through the fires of hell
And I know you've got the ashes to prove it
I treasure your love
I want to show you how to use it
You've been through a lot of pain in the dirt
and I know you've got the scars to prove it
Remember everything that I told you
And I'm telling you again that it's true
When you're alone and afraid
You're never alone cause you can put on the phones
And let the drummer tell your heart what to do
Keep on believing
And you'll discover baby
There's always something magic
There's always something new
And when you really really need it the most
That's when rock and roll dreams come through
The beat is your forever
The beat is alway true
And when you really need it the most
That's when rock and roll dreams come through...for you...
What kind of power could this song give?
- Song-database Update for song released after Doug started his Odysse or in places he has never visited.(concentrating on the "something new" and "gave us those songs" parts.)
- Give a oneshot version of Doug's powers to another person (concentrating on the "for you" part.)
- Or (re-)enable Doug to use his powers. If Doug is on a world with low or now magic or his magic is somehow dampend or blocked, this song might be the key. If Megatokyo has a giant mana-node that supercharges his powers other places might have low mana making Doug almost 'normal'. The Song might work be helpful in such a place. (concentrating on the "need it the most" and "always something magic" parts)
Drawbacks for the first and third possibility include the possible invocation of higher powers. They might not always be disposed to bless him with gifts from the gods and it is almost impossible to come out ahead when dealing with gods; even when they give you something for nothing.
On a lighter note the part about the angels having guitars could make for a cute gag in EVA or OMG.

Since Bob & I want this part of DW to happen well *after* the events of Oh! My Brother!, I thought I'd let you all know what's going on from my end.
I'm working on CH 11 of O!MB! seriously now, with the hopes to finish it sometime before the new year. This isn't because it's going to be long (I'll never be as prolific as Bob, let's be honest) but because I'm carefully working on it - because it's supposed to be the last chapter of the main story.
So, here's a bit of a teaser for the last Chapter of O!MB!
****
So there I was, doing my best to sneak - which is a trick on those bedarned nightingale floors of the temple, let me tell you - up to where where Urd was located.
Which, of course, explains why the Sneaking Music from Looney Toons was going through my head.
I heard voices on the steps of the temple, and crept up as close as I could. I couldn't see anything, but audio's better than nothing.
"...the hell is with that guy?!" Hmm..new voice. The demon?
"I take it you didn't like your first meeting with my brother?" Urd, in her 'sincerity has left the building' voice.
Uh oh, long silence. I bet I can guess what's coming next. 'But you don't have a brother.'
"But you don't HAVE a brother." And the kick is good!
"But of course I do," Urd said smoothly. "You met him earlier." Gee, someone's having fun with this.
"Urd..." What a remarkably pleasant concept - even demons feel annoyed with Urd sometimes.
"Let me explain," Urd began, and then stopped. "No, there is to much," she corrected. "Let me sum up." It took a great deal of my willpower to stop myself from smacking my forehead.
A snort of disgust, "Do you HAVE to be a smartass all the time?"
"As a matter of fact Mara, I do, especially where you're concerned, but that's another issue," came the prim response. "But here's the story: Stupid mortal gets wish. Stupid mortal makes stupid slip of tongue. Yggdrasil lets wish go through. Stupid mortal is now a god."
See what I mean? No respect. Oh well, time for yours truly to make an appearance.
"Mornin' Urd," I said cheerily and then frowned slightly at the demon. "You would probably like to know that there's a little part of me that really wants to try to maim you severely. Could you just make with the leaving so I can go back to bed?"
He?...she? - look, I couldn't tell - stood up and pointed an imperious finger at me. "We aren't finished here, Mortal! There will be a reckoning!" the androgynous wonder cried, and disappeared in a puff of brimstone-flavored smoke.
My, how melodramatic. I said as much.

*************
--
Christopher Angel

And one that'll likely be of interest, given one of discarded steps on the Walk.
Hop on over to www.jetwolf.com/ and check the lovely and Talented Ms. Wolf's "Daily Deformations" blog. A link is posted to her newest music video, a BTVS jam about Willow and Tara set to the ubiquitous Evanescence song "Bring Me To Life". Of the approximately 200 AMVs to use this song, this is probably one of the two best I've seen.