Maquillaville - Queen's Film Studios
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Don't disturb...this wonderful dream... |
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*Neige disappears into the darkness* |
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Whew... Is everyone okay? |
Security Guard A |
HEY! What do you think you're doing?! |
Security Guard B |
You're slinging magic around in front of Queen's Film Studios? What school do you go to?! |
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I think we'd better retreat for now.
If this gets any more out of hand, we may draw even more GMs here. |
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Oui. We should review what we've learned so far. Let's find a safe place to do so, shall we? |
Maquillaville - Crystal Galleria
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So this is the famous Crystal Galleria...
I can see where it gained its name. Its crystalline glass ceiling is a work of beauty! |
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Every little detail has such reality to it. I could easily forget this is a dream and immerse myself in the scenery. |
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*munch, munch* All the food here's good stuff!
Especially after how bland all the food was when we were adventurin' with Lilia in Briar Valley... |
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You ain't kiddin'! This's one mighty fine marinated pork sandwich! That apple vinegar gives it just the right kick!
Gotta say though...
I've gotten kind of used to it, but it's still weird eating and sleeping inside a dream. |
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Shouldn't you be more guarded, considering the darkness could strike at any moment? |
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You can't exactly muster your full strength on an empty stomach.
It's like Father says—you should always eat and energize yourself when you can. |
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And that's rich comin' from you, Sebek, considerin' you eat more'n the rest of us. |
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Well, I'm the tallest one here. It's only natural I require more food! |
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Looks like everyone's having a good time. |
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Welcome back, Ortho.
You wanted to visit someplace while we were eating, right? Where'd you go? |
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A bookstore. I guess Maquillaville is highly regarded in the movie industry for a reason... |
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Then again, maybe Vil deserves more of the credit, since it all comes from his imagination.
He's got a powerful imagination. There was a wide selection of information available in the magazines there. |
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Oh, my! Ortho, what you're holding... |
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That's Prince Fan, the magazine all about young actors, and Monthly Cinephile, the movie information magazine!
Vil's graced the front covers and feature stories of both publications. |
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Yup. I've only skimmed them, but from what I gathered, in this dream...
Vil Schoenheit has been cast as the lead in lots of plays and films since his child actor days. Not as the antagonist. |
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Let's see here... |
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"This masterful actor's incredible performances have lit the world of musicals on fire since he was a child star."
"The movie he starred in last year based on a young adult novel has grossed over 20 million thaumarks since its opening week..."
...and a sequel has been green-lit." |
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"This movie has earned him a nomination for this year's Diamond Movie Award for Best Actor at the tender age of 18."
"Even as we speak, fans around the world are waiting eagerly..."
"...for the moment the most brightly shining star in all the land receives that prestigious crown." |
| Hm? What's the Diamond Movie Award for Best Actor?
| Is the Diamond Movie Award for Best Actor a big deal?
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The Diamond Movie Awards is an event held to foster further development of the Shaftlands' film industry.
It's a traditional and prestigious film awards event to honor exceptional cinematic works, as well as the cast and staff who create them. |
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The ceremony itself is held each year at Queen's Palace here in Maquillaville.
It garnered more and more attention with each passing year...
And nowadays films from around the world are nominated, not just those made in the Shaftlands. |
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Hence, it would be no exaggeration to say that it's the most preeminent film awards event in the entire world.
I daresay there's nary a soul in the film industry who doesn't dream of receiving honors on that stage. |
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The Award for Best Actor is the one that gains the most attention out of all of them...
And in the real world, the Roi des Neiges is the youngest recipient of said award, having received it at the youthful age of 14. |
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So Neige won it in reality... |
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But from what we saw, he isn't an actor here. |
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That human was acting like a humble assistant...
Though I suppose that's all a scheme to keep Vil absorbed in pleasant dreams. |
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Yeah.
Unlike with Epel and Rook, the GM is by the dreamer's side at all times here. |
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Considering circumstances were much the same with my brother...
That might mean even Malleus is wary of housewarden-class mages, and keeps them under tighter surveillance. |
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...Hold on.
If this is supposed to be a happy dream, isn't it weird that Neige, a source of stress for Vil, would be his assistant?
If I couldn't stand to even see someone's face, I definitely wouldn't want to be stuck with them all the time... |
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I reckon that'd make your inner darkness worse, not better, right? |
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Maybe deep down, Vil wished he could bully Neige and make him work like a dog. |
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I wouldn't put it past him! |
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Huh?! Surely even Vil wouldn't go THAT far... |
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Then again, it's hard to completely rule out... |
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This is purely speculation on my part, but...
"Vil Schoenheit pursues the apex of beauty and aims for those heights with stoic determination." |
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That status quo hinges heavily on the existence of his rival, Neige. |
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So the presence of someone he feels the need to beat is what motivates Vil to strive as hard as he does.
Is that what you're suggesting? |
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Right. Neige LeBlanche is too much a part of who Vil is to completely remove from the picture. |
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I see.
Altering or omitting something that's critical in the real world could make the dream world more prone to paradoxes and breakdowns? |
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Exactly.
But maybe due to latent defensive instincts...
Neige has been defined within this dream as someone who can't possibly be a rival. |
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And then, with no rival to speak of...
Vil can easily win the Diamond Movie Award for Best Actor? |
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Non...! Vil would despise such a scenario more than anyone else. |
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Neige has inflicted pain upon Vil many times...
But Vil knows better than anyone else how strong and capable Neige is. |
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That's why he was so desperate on the day of the SDC. That's what drove him to such...such extremes...*sob* |
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My heart breaks at the thought of Vil's pride being trampled upon so flagrantly while he remains blissfully ignorant.
How happy Vil is now, never having to experience setbacks or jealousy. |
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But that happiness comes at the cost of that which he holds most dear. |
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The spirit of tenacity! The very spirit of the Fairest Queen, which makes him who he is! |
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Oh, would that I could wake Vil up right now, I can hardly bear the sight of him like this! |
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Rook... |
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