Part 28: Blackwell Convergence - Update 3

Update 3

After looking around Rosa's apartment last update, it's time to get moving on the actual story of the game.

Rosa's Theme



But first, let's catch up with Joey.

Uh huh.
I know I'm forgetting something.
Well maybe you should have written it down.
You know... I think I did.
Do you remember where?
No.
Well there you go.

So yes, in case you forgot from yesterday, the only "clue" we have about what to actually do is that Rosa is forgetting something.

Where do you think I wrote it down?
Wrote what down?
That... thing I'm forgetting. If I wrote it down, you must have seen me do it.
You're always writing stuff down, sweetheart. When you start scribbling away, I just tune out.



Rosa is insistent about this.

You sure you don't know what it is?
What am I, a calendar? Just forget it.

Joey gives us a subtle hint as to where it might be, which Rosa completely misses.

This is going to drive me CRAZY. What am I forgetting?
All your bills paid this month? Laundry done?
It's nothing like that. It's something important.

Looks like Rosa can add OCD to her list of mental hangups.

So what should we do now?
Do? Nothing. A ghost is saved. The day is done. Nothing else for us except to cool our heels and relax.

Joey attempts to change the subject.



Oh really?
Yeah. It has a lot more personality now. It used to look like you were only halfway trying.
Well I'm glad you approve.

This is a bit of a fun little dig from Gilbert at the background artist in the first game, who up and left a month before the game was due to ship, leaving the backgrounds mostly finished but lacking in detail.

It doesn't take long for Rosa to get back to her issues, though.

What are you pacing around for?
I KNOW there's something I'm supposed to do.
Well it can't have been that important, if you can't remember. Will you just relax?
It's on the tip of my tongue. It's driving me crazy.
If it was important, you'd remember. So just forget it.

Rosa is seriously going nuts here.



Where would you write something you need to remember? On the calendar of course, as Joey hinted early. But honestly, it doesn't seem like Joey really wants Rosa to remember whatever it is she has forgotten.

I... don't see anything. There's absolutely nothing written here.

Sorry, Joey. Let's get Rosa to look at it...



Oh... CRAP. What time is it? 7:15? Damnit. She's going to kill me.

Looks like Rosa got invited to a gallery visit with Nishanthi. Good to see Rosa is still keeping up with her

What's your problem?
The Gallery Opening! Don't you remember? She invited us to go.
Us?
All right, ME. But you're still coming.

As usual, Joey is not even remotely interested in doing anything that doesn't involve saving spooks, and throws a tantrum.

You really want to go to some stupid gallery?
We're going. I'm not flaking out on her again. It's not nice.
Fine. Whatever. Do what you like.
It's not like I have a choice.

Here comes the sulking from Joey.

I never knew you were such a fan of art.
I'm not.
Then why are you dead set on going to this thing?
I'm not flaking out on Nishanthi again.
Why not? You've done it before.
I know. And I don't feel good about it. Besides, you said it yourself.
We've got nothing else to do.
...
Nothing sounds pretty good to me.

Seriously, these two never stop bickering



One problem - we don't know where the Park Gallery is.

Ah, no.
I have to find the address. We're already late.
You're resourceful, dear. You'll figure it out.

This little puzzle is just here to prompt us to learn how to use the Oogle search on Rosa's computer. Just in case you couldn't figure it out, the two immediately start talking about computers to clue you in.

I'm thinking of getting a new computer.
Oh, really.
Yeah. It's been kinda slow and clunky lately.
Well, you'd know more about slow and clunky than me.
Hmph.

Awesomely, Rosa has a portrait specifically for her to say "hmph" to. Seriously, that's the only line of dialogue that will ever accompany that portrait, but we'll see it a number of times



Okay, let's look this up... the missing text on the image is:

The Park Gallery is excited to have its first public opening. Claude Urdin, a neighbourhood street artist, will be making his debut.

The Park Gallery is curated by Josie Park.



Stop dragging it out.

Glad to see you've accepted this, Joey! It's nice to see Rosa actually dictating the terms for a change, even if it means dragging Joey kicking and screaming the whole way.



Rosa quickly checks to see if Nishanthi is also running late...

Nishanthi isn't home. She's probably at the Gallery.

...but no dice. She's already at the Park Gallery.

Joey can also weigh in on Nishanthi:

That's Nishanthi Sharma's place. A bit too nosy for her own good, but she's okay.

We can ask Joey to head through the door, but he refuses.

I'm not floating through that door. Last time I did that, her dog nearly had a seizure.

Yes, I remember, Joey At least that's a happier memory than the time Rosa tried to DRUG THE DOG WITH DIURETICS.



Here is this game's "world map". Once again, Gilbert decided to go with a Manhattan skyline for his world map, similar to in Unbound. The icon on the top left is for Rosa's apartment.

The Park Gallery



Shh!

Rosa and Joey arrive at the Park Gallery. Joey lasts approximately three seconds before letting a sarcastic remark go. Next to Rosa is a bubbly young lady.

Hi! Are you here for the opening?
Yes-
Great! But I'm sorry, I think you came on the wrong night. The public opening's in two days. Tonight's a private showing.
Oh no, I'm with someone. Nishanthi Sharma. Is she here?
Really? Lemme check. Nish? Nish!

She seriously needs to call out to check? There's, like, five people here.



There's our kindly old neighbour. She's voiced by a different actress in this game, who at least tries to put on an Indian accent this time around, which makes sense considering she is only supposed to have moved to America in her teenage years.

Someone here says she knows you.
That must be Rosa. It's all right, Josie. She's with me.
OK, thanks! Sorry about that. You know how it is!
Sure.

When I described Josie as bubbly before, it was an understatement. She comes across as seriously hyperactive here. She's giggling and going high-pitched all over the place.

Anyway, I'm Josie Park, and this is The Park Gallery.
Man, she's clever. I bet she came up with that all by herself.
Go on in. Have fun! If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

This "private showing" has literally four people at it, not counting Rosa and Joey. Josie Park is the curator, and I'm guessing beard dude there is Claude Urdin, the artist mentioned on the webpage announcement. That leaves Nishanthi and her friend there as the only other people here.



Too bad.

Rosa and Joey look at one another.

She's just standing there, looking awkward and ill-at-ease. Totally normal, in other words.

Rosa decides to be cultured, and checks out the various paintings.

From a certain angle, it looks like a street corner.
These paintings look like part of a set.
It looks pretty abstract.
It looks impressionistic, whatever it is.
Really bold lines. This would look great in my bedroom.
These look like impressionist skyscrapers. Not bad, actually.

Let's be honest, Rosa. The paintings suck. Joey concurs:

Do people really pay to look at this stuff?
They call this art these days?
What an eyesore.
I know what I like, and I don't like this.
I don't know much about art, but I know this is crap.



On a prominent wall, there is a painting that looks very different to the rest of them. Let's get Joey over here...



I can't put my finger on why.

"The Dark Lady"? It's a painting of a creepy old woman? This is all starting to sound very familiar.

Let's play around with Joey a bit. He now has the ability to breathe his magic breath on various people and give them chills



Feel what?
That draft. I'll have to get the super to look into that.

He won't do it to everyone, but he will to some people. He can also blow on Nishanthi:

Are you okay?
Just a chill. I always get them when it rains.



Well, let's hobnob while we're here.

Yep! That's me. And you are?
Rosangela Blackwell.
Rosangela? What a neat name! Anyway, nice to meet you.

Josie is like the artsy girl who always seems way too interested in everything going on around her, yet isn't actually paying any attention at all.

So are you Josie Park as in the "Park Gallery?"
Yep. This place is mine. We just opened. Well, technically we open in two days, but it's my gallery. If I say we're open, then poof! We're open!
Ooh, watch out. She's so sharp she might cut herself.


Yeah, interesting's the word.

Hahaha. I will never, ever get tired of Joey cutting into conversations with sarcasm where all but one participant can't even hear him

You like them?
Sure.
Did you hear that, Claude?
Yeah.
He's convinced that nobody will understand his work.



Claude is a snobby artist prick, apparently.

Oh, you. Pay no attention.
So you're a friend of Nishanthi's?
Oh, Nish? Isn't she marvelous? She comes to all the art events. That's how I know her.

Between walking her dog, playing her bansuri, and attending art events, Nishanthi has a fairly active social life.



An awkward, greasy artist sounds just like Rosa's type. Let's chat him up!

Yeah.
This is Claude Urdin. My discovery.
Some discovery. I've been painting on your street corner for eight years.
Yes, and I've seen you improve. When I got the funding to open this gallery, I knew Claude would be my break-out artist. We're having the public opening in two days. You should come.
Don't count on it lady.

He was drawing these shitty abstract paintings on the street? How the hell did this place ever get off the ground?

Well, I'm going to look around some more.
Sure. Have fun.



Time to chat with Nishanthi!

Don't worry about it. How'd you find the place?
The internet.
Oh, of course. I should really try using it one of these days.

Rosa decides one apology isn't enough.

I know I've been kind of flakey lately...
Oh, don't worry about that. No need to stress on my account. Besides, you look exhausted. Are you all right?
I'm fine.
All right. If you say so.



Let's see who this rather overdressed lady is...

I'm sorry, that was rude of me. This is Monique Stahlman. Monique, this is my neighbor Rosa. The one I was telling you about.
You were talking about me?

Oh geez, what has she been saying about us?

She was just telling me that she had a famous writer for a neighbor.
Famous? I'm hardly famous. I haven't had anything published yet.

Hahaha, "famous writer". Maybe Rosa should have brought along all of her rejection letters Nishanthi seems genuinely impressed with Rosa, though.

She writes ghost stories, Monique.
Nish, please.
Go on, tell her.
It's hardly the time or place.



Rosa can tell there is a story here.

Oh, Monique here has a fascinating ghost story to tell.
I wouldn't call it fascinating, per se.
Please, it sends shivers down my spine. Wait until you hear it. It's about Frank Lyons.
Frank Lyons? The actor?
Nish, please.
Sorry, Monique. Just getting carried away.

A ghost story, hey? It's a long shot, but perhaps this "ghost story" might actually lead to a case.



See? I told you.
Well, all right. But let's not talk about it here. Here's my card. If you want to talk, drop by my office tomorrow. We can discuss it in private.
Thanks, I'll drop by.



Well, well, a potential lead. It might not go anywhere, but at least we got something out of coming to this shitty gallery.

Thanks for inviting me.
I'm glad you could make it. For a while, I was worried that I'd be here all by myself. But Monique was interesting company.
So how are you doing?
Oh, you know. Same old thing. Practicing my flute. Walking the dog. Trying to get out more. Although this weather isn't making it easy.
I think I'll browse around.
Sure Rosa, enjoy yourself.

To be honest, I think we're done here.



Rosa attempts to sneak out, but Nishanthi isn't having any of that.

We were just about to get started on the wine. Why don't you join us?
Well...
Please stay. We hardly see enough of each other, as it is.



We have a choice here, which actually does have an impact on the rest of the game, though only in a couple of dialogue choices. For now, let's see what happens if Rosa leaves.

No, I'd better go.
THANK you.
You sure?
Yeah. I'm kind of tired, but thanks anyway.
You do look worn out. All right. Go home and rest. Try not to work so hard, okay? Life's too short.
Yeah, tell me about it.



With that, Rosa heads home to sleep, and the sun sets. The music fades out at this point. As darkness envelopes the city, we hear muffled whispering, but it's impossible to make out any words.



What happened? How'd I get here?

Rosa finds herself in Nodespace as the stale hiss of blowing wind fills her ears.



With nothing to do here, Rosa attempts to leave, but a ghostly figure materialises behind her.

What? Who are you?
Someone who has been here for far too long.
I... don't understand.
It does not matter. We will meet again soon.



Rosa collapses to the ground, seemingly exhausted.

Your time will come soon.



The ghost vanishes away, with a final ominous comment for us. That was strange. She seemed to know us, whoever she was.

Rosa's Theme



Good morning.
It's a bright new day, and we've got a brand new ghost to nab.
Yeah, I know.
Tick tock, doll. Let's get moving.

And with that odd little dream sequence, a new day starts.

Now, that's the way things go down if Rosa decides to leave the Park Gallery early.



Wonderful!
Fantastic.

If she chooses to stay, however, things turn out slightly differently.

Pour more of that wine and let's get it started.
*sigh*



Rosa enters her dream sequence with a hangover and looks sick the whole time...



...and our ghost is less than impressed with Rosa. "The duty?" I guess she knows something about all of this medium stuff.

The rest of the conversation with her is the same...



...but Rosa wakes up feeling awful.

Yeuch.
Enjoyed the free booze a little too much, hm?
Bleg.
Clear the cobwebs, kid. We've got work to do.
Yeah, I know.

Depending on whether Rosa stayed behind or not, the characters who were present at the Park Gallery opening will actually react differently to Rosa throughout the game, though it's all just flavour. In the next game, it is revealed that Rosa staying behind and drinking herself stupid is the canon choice, so we'll go with that from now on.


Tomorrow, we'll get started investigating this ghost story, and see if we can figure out what the deal was with that lady ghost chilling around in Rosa's Nodespace. Join me then!