Angelique Radio Drama CD: Farewell, Labyrinth - download + synopsis

[indigozeal.livejournal.com]

No, it's not the metal angels, but it's pretty interesting on its own.

OK, I think we've all seen this image:


(Image ganked from neo-romance.net; my scanner finally had the good grace to brick itself completely.)

Have you ever wondered what's going on in it, though? It looks like at first glance like the Guardians are taking a desert holiday. What's with Sturgis angel Oscar, though? And a holiday wouldn't explain this:



Clavis. Smiling. While standing next to Julious.

It's more unusual than you'd expect - sort of a Fushigi no Koku no Randy and Marcel, except riffing on RPGs instead of Alice in Wonderland. It eventually, though, takes a left turn into the unexpected.

You can download the CD here. A synopsis with partial translations along the way is available here. Please let me know if this translation/synopsis format works for you folks; if so, I'll use it to cover Gaiden 1: Metal Angels with Assault Weaponry A Scale of Infinite Notes. Any suggestions on how to improve matters are welcome.

Note: if you can understand Japanese well enough to follow a drama CD, then please take a listen instead of reading my synopsis to find out what's going on; it's a quickly-paced drama CD, and part of the fun is discovering where the story is headed.


On other business: you'll forgive me if I use this opportunity to ask the comm some advice on a few tangentally-related, actually-OT matters:


1) I just got a PSP. The glass screen collects dust horribly, even when it's tucked away safely in its box in a drawer. I'm scared that, eventually, some of those specks are going to work their way beneath the screen through the seam between the screen and the casing and muck up my view of the game permanently. Is there any way to prevent this? (Screen protectors, in my experience with a DS, don't prevent dust from entering those seams, and since I'm keeping the PSP in its box, I doubt a carrying case would be of any further help.)

2) I need to touch up an old website, and I'd like to get my HTML out of the early '00's. I know the basics of frames etc., but I'd like expand my knowledge beyond that to create an actually good-looking website by modern standards. Would anyone be able to recommend a site that has good upper-level HTML tutorials (and, while I'm at it, perhaps one for some basic Photoshop)?

3) Coincidentally, I just learned yesterday that my webhosting service is pulling the plug in about a month. Recommendations for a replacement host? (I don't have videos or anything bandwidth-gobbing on my sites; just text files and some images.)

Thanks again.

Comments

[animekittysama.livejournal.com]

Ah, I've always wanted the first drama in this series as I have the second one, Fushigi Chaser! Which is Tutor/Collaborator-centric. If you want, I can easily rip and upload it. You did a great job with your summary, I really enjoyed it.

As for webspace, I whole-heartedly suggest DreamHost (http://www.dreamhost.com/). I've had them for years and have only had a minor issue with my mailboxes in that whole time. I have promo codes if you want to waive the sign-up fee.

[indigozeal.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks much for everything! ^_^ I do have the set of this particular radio series but have been slow to listen to the other two CDs; while Inspector Rachel on the cover of CD2 intrigues me, I guess I'm a Sacred Bird fan at heart, and I like CD1 so much as a standalone story. (I suppose a heck of a lot more does happen, though. By the third CD's booklet, Julious is breaking out the flowcharts to show what occurred when.) On that note, I suppose the sequels should be ripped and posted, though, shouldn't they.

I've heard about Dreamhost, and I might just go with them. I appreciate the promo code offer!

[btamamura.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the explanation of the drama! I love that one, if only for happy Clavis!

That format was helpful in my eyes, not just script, but the story as well helped me understand just what was happening.

[indigozeal.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad the format worked out; making text pretty isn't my strong suit. (I loved happy Clavis, too; it was so sad to see him go. Even more so for Lumiale's sake.)

[fandramon.livejournal.com]

In all honesty I had always seen that picture as some kind of haruka/ange crossover [complete with tengu!Oscar and possibly bushi!Lumiale XD] and didn't divulge any further thinking into it than that XD I do intend to give this a read/listen when I have the chance, thanks for taking the time to do this :3

As for website building, I've read in a couple places that CSS is the new HTML, so you might want to take a look into that too [oh, the joys of webpage programming...not @_@] I have uploaded a textbook [in a windows help file format o.O] that I used in a course on webpage building about HTML and CSS and all that fun stuff if you wanna take a peek HERE (http://www.mediafire.com/?qjicwzttthw). It's easier to navigate than a pdf file, and its free :3 Hope it helps on your journey to a better webpage :B

[indigozeal.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks very much; that is *such* a help. (And I haven't even heard of CSS before; oh, dear, I *am* going to be long in catching up, aren't I?)

Again, I really appreciate the generosity.

[guardianrandy.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for sharing this. I lost my marbles many years ago (about 5, I think) and deleted all the drama tracks and CDs that weren't musically-based. Now that I'm picking up more on my level of Japanese, it's more fun to listen to them. Time to rebuild the full collection. :)

[indigozeal.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's me (I, but anyhow) too. I previously disregarded any drama tracks of CDs from my favorite fandoms because I initially couldn't get enough out of them. I did well enough with Gaiden 3 and unsubbed Abyss, though, and after popping in one of the combo drama-music collections I got in a big lot of Ange CD, I discovered that I'd apparently levelled up quite a bit since my initial attempt. Now it's finally hitting me about all the great stuff I've passed up all these years.

[durffy.livejournal.com]

Oh...wow....

Thank you so much for that story summary! Yes, I'd seen that picture before, but never knew the story behind it. Poor Clavis!

[indigozeal.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'd seen that pic before listening to the summary, too, but I didn't think the truth was anything like this; I thought it was just a little fantastic "desert holiday" idea, myself.

[sableblanc.livejournal.com]

Amazing <3

It's quite intriguing and bittersweet how Clavis has this alterverse in his mind, where he gets along with everyone with a different personality. This man never fails to surprise or awe us~ does he dream of this place when he spends long hours sleeping, I wonder ? Does he even remotely wish for things to be different in reality ? Yes ? No ? Is the white labyrinth an inverse of the dark labyrinth of reality, a retreat from the pain of unrequited love ? (No, I'm not expecting an answer for all these questions, just over-thinking again~)

And the epilogue ? I loved it of course. As a bonus, it even contains a textbook example of Julious choking on nothing lol

Thank you, you must have spent a lot of time and effort, and perhaps some consideration to amuse ? (Bishounen Senshi Sailor Lumi, anyone ?) into translating this ^_^

[indigozeal.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the kind words! ^_^ I *tried* to do well by the material; at least English speakers have the opportunity to enjoy the story in some form, albeit not the optimum one. (Looking over the summary, though, there're a few rough spots I'd like to go back and fix.)

Bishounen Senshi Sailor Lumi wrote itself, though.

Your ruminations on the story's implications are evocative and sad; please allow me to respond with some overthinking of my own:

-This isn't clearly stated in the drama, but I believe Clavis's burning of smoke actually created the mist instead of purifying it. The nonsensicalness of the idea, even in a dream world (purifying mist through burning? How would that work?) is meant, I believe, to be one of the clues to which Randy alludes. (I don't, of course, think this is a conscious deception on Clavis's part; it's like his unwitting masquerade as the Wanderer - one of the things he has to do, unconsciously/unknowingly, to keep his world together.)

-Out of all the traits applicable, Clavis uses "content/fulfilled" to describe Olivie; he seems to envy or admire Olivie's ability simply to be happy.

-Clavis gives Luva a name with negative connotations but quickly reassures the boys that "he's not a bad man." I wonder if this is connected to the #255 fallout. Luva was the one who urged Clavis to express his feelings to Ange, after which everything rolled downhill. Perhaps the Thief nickname stems from residual resentment toward Luva for the incident (the Thief that stole his life away) that he knows is really irrational ("he's not a bad man").

While I did and do feel horrible for Clavis after the main part of the story, I did feel like belting him one after listening to the epilogue repeatedly for the summary. Lumi is finally just quietly happy for the evening, finally getting some reciprocal happiness from his friend, and when he finally gets a little comfortable, a little glimmer of hope...it turns out to be all a dream. (This may also be the residual effect of Gaiden 1, which is the "feel sorry for lonely Lumi" story, instead of the "feel sorry for lonely Clavis" one we have here.)

[sableblanc.livejournal.com]

here're a few rough spots I'd like to go back and fix.)
Yes, revise all you wish. I am a bit curious about the "final scene" between Randy and Clavis myself (if that indeed is one of the parts you're targeting).

I believe Clavis's burning of smoke actually created the mist instead of purifying it.

Well, according to Sailor Lumiale :

"that you, despite the deep fear you held in your heart, were wielding a great power to bind this world together with the mist."

This looks like support for your theory. Additionally, the burning of anything adds to air pollution so it could be that Clavis created this haze "mist" unconsciously in the atmosphere.

I wonder if this is connected to the #255 fallout.
This is an interesting idea. Ingenious, really. We can attempt to test this theory. If Luva's title alludes to a certain event or significance in reality, then the other guardians' titles should hold up as well~

The Thief (Luva)
So called due to his unquenchable thirst for knowledge and playing a major hand in the #255 fallout which stole away Clavis' will to exist, among other things

He Who Is Fulfilled (Olivie)
Olivie is probably the most contented guardian in the sanctuary (or at least has the appearance of one). As you've already noted, "Clavis seems to envy or admire Olivie's ability simply to be happy."

The Guide (Julious)
Clavis might not have particularly minded smiling with Julious... when they were kids, that is. I believe they were quite close in their childhood days, and little Clavis in a way relied on Julious in the strange, unfamiliar sanctuary (after they got over their initial fallout). The added detail of the Guide living on top of a steep mountain and protected by a shrine, can go both ways. Either these represent the difficulties of Clavis reaching Julious and being on good terms with him again (though it's not clear who threw up the barrier first, Julious or Clavis, or it's a matter of circumstances) ; Or, it may mean his previous good relationship & childhood memories of Julious is something very dear yet terribly private (the shrine), to be guarded and not shared casually to just any onlooker.

The Courser (Oscar)
Manga-wise, Julious sometimes sends Oscar to check on Clavis' well-being, among other things. The wings could be a metaphor of a messenger. And an eagle is a far-seeing bird. It may allude to the fact that Oscar being Julious' trusted friend/right-hand man, knows a lot of what goes on in the sanctuary.

The Supplicant (Randy)
This may be a nod to Randy's helpful nature It may just be me, but I seem to have a foggy recollection of Randy bursting into Clavis' office/mansion with a petition of assistance, over something not directly related to him...

The Healer (Marcel)
Marcel seems to be happy person (the happiest after Olivie I suppose) and tries to cheer up others as well.

The Striver (Zephel)
Somewhat tricky~ Well, Zephel is always striving to do something. To invent, to innovate, to run away from his lessons, to be a general annoyance in the santuary j/k XD

The Illuminator (Lumiale)
I think you can do more justice to Lumiale than I do~
(This much is evident: "You always light the way to the future. If only I could follow you...")

Do the rest hold up reasonably ? (If no, then we could simply be over-analysing things XD)

"feel sorry for lonely Lumi" story
*sigh* It's always sad when any bishounen, but especially the bishounen one <3, suffers~