#I did a google for 'guilty gear short stories' to see how far up the first English translations were

[solradguy]

It always kills me that people forget that ky, dizzy, and sin were definitely going to get killed had their relationship gone public before xrd.

Like the entire point of blackmailing ky into kingship. I don’t blame people though, fighting game lore is infamously inaccessible.

Yeah and the short story that covers the main chunk of this lore is hidden away in an obscure (Japanese language only) art book for a game a lot of people that got in with Strive don't even know exists. I think it's briefly mentioned in Xrd somewhere too? But even then, like, unless someone's a Ky fan then it's a line or two easily forgotten

[rosalind-of-arden]

Ink and Bone Reread Chapters 14-End

Here we are, wrapping up Ink and Bone. Still looking at Morgan, Wolfe, Santi, worldbuilding, and whatever else.

It is not specified just how long it takes to get back to Alexandria: two days of the trip are actually accounted for, but no total time is given. Google maps says it’s about 61 hours, including driving and a ferry ride. Assuming something like 8 hours of driving per day, that’s around a week of travel. And that would be assuming High Garda transports go as fast as whatever speed Google maps estimates for driving, which they probably don’t? We could push this to two weeks easily. So we can push the end of this book into winter even if it was still fall in France. Let’s say late November in France, mid-December when they get to Alexandria.

Wolfe isn’t with the students when they get to Alexandria. He’s not with Morgan either. Presumably hanging out with Santi? He’s been providing extremely minimal supervision of his class on this road trip, as far as I can tell.

The Obscurist Magnus: “a tall, bronze-skinned woman with backswept dark hair that fell nearly to her waist, liberally streaked with silver.” Later, Jess observes that Wolfe and his mother look alike. Now, looking over at the story about her and Eskander on Wattpad, Eskander is also described as tall with “thick, dark hair”, no skin color given. For those wondering about where Wolfe got his coloring from (can’t find the post now), it looks like he resembles both parents, maybe a bit darker because he gets to spend time outdoors. Also, if both of Wolfe’s parents are tall, is he? Santi’s taller, but by how much? Is everyone just tall to Jess because Jess is short?

So, I get that the Obscurist is probably a bit irritated with Wolfe for trying to help Morgan run away, which presumably had unpleasant political consequences that she had to deal with, but... seriously? “You, of all people, should know how deep our duty goes”? Yes, please, remind your son about the most traumatic experience of his life in front of his students, his boss (who had him tortured), and lots of soldiers wearing the same uniforms the prison guards probably wore. Give her a fucking World’s Best Mom mug already, my gods. Also, is this an attempt to excuse herself for not helping him when he was in prison? I think it is. Right, great parenting there. Excellent.

“To the bone.” Yes, nice metaphor there. Oh, wait, it’s quite possibly literal. And then, having made his mother feel sufficiently guilty, he follows up with a request to let his students say goodbye to Morgan. This is, presumably, why he’s even there. He avoids his mother like the plague, but he’s going to make sure his kids students get the chance to say goodbye to each other. One last, tiny thing he can do, for Morgan and Jess especially.

We see how much Wolfe has bonded with Jess by this point, but in this moment, he puts Morgan’s needs ahead of Jess’s and pulls Jess back from the kiss. Seems rather angry that Jess did it at all. How much bonding between those two has Jess just not seen? Additionally, Wolfe knows a lot about maintaining composure under difficult circumstances, so he’s going to have a lot of sympathy for Morgan here.

Obscurist: “Artifex. I expect you’ll attend to... this.” In reference to Wolfe and the class. Oddly mirrors what she said back in that note in the ephemera with Wolfe’s book on printing. Handing her son right to the Artifex. We could give her the benefit of the doubt before, maybe she was deluded and thought the Artifex wouldn’t hurt Wolfe too badly. No such excuse here. No effort to protect Wolfe from any consequences he might face for his attempts to keep Morgan out of the tower. Again, award-winning parenting right here.

Santi, on the other hand, is there for Wolfe as soon as he’s allowed to dismiss his troops. Maybe sooner (Jess doesn’t notice him until after the Obscurist leaves, but Jess is oblivious, after all).

Artifex: “Wolfe. You lost the Archivist’s train. He’s very... peeved.” Wolfe: “He has another.” Wait? There are two of these things? And Wolfe knows about them.

The snark between Wolfe and the Artifex, omg.

And Santi, once again making his opinion of the Artifex very clear. He literally has Wolfe’s back here.

Notice the difference here in what Wolfe says about giving the students their scrolls compared to what he said before. Before it was basically “if I’m not there to give them to you, someone will.” Here it’s “I’ll expect you all at dawn in the Reading Room.” Either something has convinced him that he’s not going to be arrested/killed, or he’s decided that he wants his students to be suspicious if he doesn’t show up.

“I intend to drink myself into some very bad judgment” “I wouldn’t want you to do that alone.” First, if any of the students didn’t get the memo that Wolfe and Santi are a couple yet, they definitely know now. Second, this right here confirms any and all kinky headcanons we may have. Also, Wolfe is planning to drink heavily before turning in his reports to the Artifex, which the Artifex wants “tonight”. Right, probably that’s just a matter of sending a Codex message, but it’s also possible Wolfe plans to go see the Artifex drunk.

Also, it’s Santi’s idea to take the students out drinking. Bit of support for the whole Santi/Dario thing there, perhaps?

Is this Santi outright encouraging Wolfe’s drinking right after he had to face his mother and the Artifex? Yes, it is.

“men and women who seemed to enjoy the pain” It’s just about tattoos. Sure. And Dario’s response to seeing this is “We should do that.” You adorable little masochist.

Obscurist: I’m sorry I was a stone cold bitch distant with you earlier. I really tried to protect you, honest, and it hurts my feelings that you’re so upset about the whole torture thing. I won’t abandon you, I’ll just abandon you and make excuses for it. Please behave and stop messing up my political scheming that you know nothing about.

Really, though, leading off with her feelings? Telling him things he already knows? She’s pretty much trying to provoke Wolfe with this note.

Santi wasn’t dressed before Jess knocked. Wolfe probably wasn’t either. Jess is cockblocking again.

Really, though, it’s very sweet of Santi to be the one to throw on a robe (is it the robe? We don’t get a color) and get the door while Wolfe gets dressed properly. Lot of possible reasons for this: protection, stemming from both their fears of Wolfe being taken again, sensitivity toward Wolfe’s preference to hide his scars, sensitivity toward clothing issues Wolfe may have, indulgence of an exhibitionist kink, giving Wolfe time to get out of any bondage gear he’s wearing?

So here’s Santi throwing his trauma out in the open: “they persuaded me to stop”, the robe open enough for Jess to see his scars, the emotional tone of his descriptions of what happened to Wolfe. It could be that he’s processed this all well enough not to care what Jess sees. I think, though, that this is strategic: he’s letting Jess see how badly he was hurt, and also emphasizing how badly Wolfe was hurt. Trying to scare Jess off. Note that at this point he’s telling Jess all this because he thinks Jess is there about Morgan, he doesn’t even know how closely Jess’s problem is related to Wolfe’s past. This is completely “he’s been hurt too much already, and he’s already in too much trouble with the Library, he can’t take any more.”

That little smile about Wolfe’s “little rebellions.” “Some people you don’t walk away from.” He loves Wolfe so damn much. *swoons*

“It’s too hard for him. He was born in the Iron Tower. He understands what it means to be locked up in that place.” It’s very interesting how much Santi’s argument relies so heavily on emotion. Does he understand how much Jess cares about Wolfe? Or is he so wrapped up in his own feelings that he’s not even thinking that another person might not care about hurting Wolfe?

Santi is already emotional here, but he really gets upset when Jess says it’s about Thomas. He connects the dots quickly. And he is devastated to see that Wolfe is getting involved. Because why else would Wolfe come out of the bedroom?

Jess: Was Wolfe not asleep? Did he sleep in his clothes? These look too good for that? Idiot, he wasn’t in that bedroom to sleep.

Wolfe vs. Santi, staring contest. Wolfe wins. Current count is, what, 3-0 in Wolfe’s favor on these little standoffs?

Santi makes Wolfe drinks when he’s mad at him. This is just adorable. Also, Wolfe completely blowing off Santi’s argument by telling him how he wants his coffee, not that Santi doesn’t already know. This is so their usual fighting routine.

“Chris, for the love of Amon, don’t do this.” This is just such a cute little habit for them. Santi refers to Egyptian gods when talking to Wolfe. Wolfe refers to Christian God when talking to Santi.

They both instantly react when Jess mentions the press. Wolfe has himself so tightly controlled that he puts the coffee down “precisely. Carefully.” Tell me that isn’t a practiced response, something he does when he knows his hands will start shaking. Santi just freezes. That’s a trauma response too. Wolfe also gets very quiet. Santi doesn’t even say anything until Wolfe heads for the door.

Wolfe vs. Santi, wrestling match. Very good illustration of how traumatized they both are and how desperate the situation is. Unlike the coffee thing, this does not seem to be their usual fighting routine. Santi anticipates Wolfe’s moves, but he’s a trained fighter, so of course he does. Wolfe, on the other hand, makes the rather stupid decision to charge right at the trained fighter - he’s not thinking at all. Santi could have kept Wolfe pinned, but he lets him up, so let’s call this another victory for Wolfe. 4-0.

Nic’s journal is filled with anti-Library rants, plans to get Wolfe into hiding that now have to be thrown out and replaced because the Library has seen them, and porn.

Santi to Wolfe: “don’t argue about how you can’t protect me.” This sounds like an argument they’ve had before. How would Wolfe protect Santi? By claiming it was all his fault not Santi’s? Like Santi would let him do that?

Notice how confident Santi is about being able to get Thomas out of Alexandria. He so has plans to get Wolfe out of Alexandria, which he will use for Thomas.

Wolfe knows there are people in the house and expects to be ambushed. Jess doesn’t. Did he and Santi hear something while they were on the stairs? Is he somehow familiar with the tactics being used? Santi’s company does raids like this on smugglers/Burners?

Santi’s hands are up before he’s ordered to do anything more than stop. He knows how these things go.

Santi: “It was worth every moment of what comes next.” I so need to finish the fic I started based on this line, in which the Artifex has Santi tortured as a warning to Wolfe. Because, well, Santi must have been threatened, and must be expecting something unpleasant will happen to him, specifically, to say something like this. He would not say it’s worth it if he thought they were going to hurt Wolfe.

Wolfe is also expecting something bad will happen to Santi: “I’m sorry, Nic.” and then the crying.

And they’re both very confident Jess isn’t going to be killed. Could be putting on a front to comfort him, but considering those other lines, I really think we have a specific threat to Santi from the Artifex.

The italics here “he is very capable.” Everyone likes Santi, even the Artifex. Does the Artifex want to get into Santi’s pants too?

Artifex knows about Liam. Now, at this point, if there was no collusion between the Library and the Brightwells, if he knew this, why would Jess and his family not all be in jail or dead? Conspiracy starting earlier than we might have thought?

Here’s Wolfe and Santi split up. Good way to keep Wolfe under control. Kind of surprised the Artifex doesn’t do this more often.

Wolfe is very, very careful with his words here. He says he’s been told Thomas is dead, not that Thomas actually is dead. He already suspects the Artifex is lying.

Oh, Jess. One second you want Wolfe to send you away from him, the next you’re mad at him for actually doing that with the High Garda appointment. How does it not occur to you that Wolfe would anticipate the Artifex using you?

[xonemi]

Bored So I'm Here to Rant

4 o'clock in the morning. I have been sleeping all day yesterday, and woke up around evening time. I saw my typewriter keyboard and have realized that I haven't been using it much.

Reasons for not using it. I mainly use it to type on my journal app called One Day. I haven't been able to do that because the journal app One Day is an iOS app and is not available for windows. My current laptop that I have is a Windows laptop. My Mac laptop that I have is being borrowed by my sister who lives far from me. Oh well.

I could just get a windows journaling app, but as it turns out I looked up the best journaling apps and Day One was number 1 and the next best one that can be used on Windows you have to pay monthly for premium. I am not paying for another journaling app. I already paid a one time deal for Day One.

Anyways, my rant is not about that. My rant is about pyramid schemes. In today's techy world, I am amazed people are still being BAMBOOZLED into pyramid schemes. Like hello? Google that shit maybe? Idk.

Look, I understand that not all pyramid schemes are scams, but they are still fucking pyramid schemes, which just doesn't seem right to me. BUT WHATEVER.

So I had a coworker friend who asked me to go with him to this "business" meeting with him. I thought it was just his aunt trying to sell some random crap. I know there are some people out there who need to do presentations on selling a product but they don't actually need everyone in the presentation to buy the product.

My initial thought was okay, go to this so called business meeting, listen to the presentation and then leave. But boy was I fucking wrong.

Days before the business meeting, my friend sends me and a group of people a link about the product. I look up the company, and I see articles about it being a pyramid scheme.

Already my mind is closed off. Like there's no way in hell anyone is going to get me into some damn pyramid scheme. I don't care if he is a really good friend, there is no way in fucking hell.

I stopped doing any more research because that is all I needed to know. Pyramid scheme. Nothing else will change my mind. But I still made a promise to my friend that I would go to this meeting, so I didn't back down.

Friday, I had to do overtime at my work. My plan was to only work 8hrs so that I could get some sleep because the stupid meeting was in the morning.

The weekend shift didn't have a properly trained person working the laboratory so the shift supervisor asked if I could stay the whole shift which was 12 hrs and ended at 4:30 in the morning.

I was livid, not because I had to stay but because someone who actually works that shift, is always going home early. I wanted to go home early, but couldn't yet this mother fucker was allowed to? And what makes me more mad is his reasons are lies. One time he used the excuse that his girlfriend's grandmother (who lived with him and his gf) was depressed and needed his help. If she really needed help, why the fuck is his gf partying it up? Posting vids on social media of her drinking the night away. It just fucking makes me so mad that this fucker gets away with anything… It's not my shift but still... Whatever.

Back to the pyramid scheme. I worked until 4 am. Got home and went straight to bed. I was hoping I could sleep through the morning meeting because I was so tired and I know that my friend won't be mad because he knows I worked until 4:30.

He ends up calling me after 9 am. I somehow wake up. I ignore the call cause my eyes literally wouldn't stay open. He leaves a voicemail saying that it's okay if we arrive at 10. My subconscious is starting to feel guilty. I did make a promise and I hate breaking promises. Since he said 10 was okay, I got up called him back and said okay I will leave now.

This foo goes, "don't leave yet because I still have to pick up our other co-worker, that way we could arrive at the same time."

I should have taken that moment to go to starbucks and get breakfast and coffee because what happened afterwards was just a shit show.

I get ready and leave after 10 mins. My GPS says I will arrive at 950. I get there and my friend calls me. He asks where I am at and I tell him that I was at the location already. This mother fucker tells me he's barely on the way. It will take him 30 mins to get to the location. LIKE BRUHHHH. Are you fucking kidding me?

I'm tired. I am a very cranky person in the morning. I am definitely not a morning person despite working 1st shift for 6 yrs. (I now work night shifts) I was fuming mad. But I stay calm. I look at instagram for awhile, I try to stay awake while I wait.

20 mins pass and this guy tells me that his uncle will pick me up and that I should just go ahead without him. This mother fucker gives him my phone number (I don't want calls from these people in the future, I might have to change my phone number.) and calls me telling me where to meet him. He takes me to their like lounge eating area. I sit there for almost another 20 minutes. My friend arrived almost fucking 11. They go to different area. Turns out the presentation already started. Thank goodness I didn't go there from the beginning. After 10 minutes of listening to the guy do his presentation, I was already over it.

This guy had no good selling points. I was squirming in my chair the whole fucking time. My other coworker brought her 5 year old son with her and he was dying of boredom. I looked at him and was all "you and me both man"

I really do believe that their product works. It seems to be a legit product. But that foo wasn't selling the product, he was selling the business. I am not an entrepreneur. Although I like money, I do not have the social skills to go around selling a product and a pyramid scheme. So this presentation was not geared towards me. I wanted to leave so badly.

The guy's selling point was that you had to pay $2500 and get 4 other people to pay $2500 and you could start making $500 a month. And from there it could only go up. First of all. I do not save money. I am a spender. There is no way I have $2500 in the bank on hand. That's not me. I barely have $300 at most, most of the time. The only reason I have actual money saved right now is because I am waiting for my speeding ticket. That is the only reason I have money right now. Once that speeding ticket is paid, I am back to being a broke ass bitch because I will more than likely spend the rest of the money left over after the ticket is paid.

Looking around the room during the presentation, the people there were mostly people over 50. Only me, my friend were under 40. It just blew my mind that they were all just very into the presentation. I felt like I was in a cult or something. They were really buying this dude's sell. Which understandably, I could see it. He made it seem easy to earn money through their program.

It really did seem easy to earn millions in a year. But this is where my problem lies. You have to go out there and recruit people. Recruit people to pay $2500 so that they can recruit people to pay $2500 so that those people could recruit people to pay $2500. Those older folks, could easily find people to spend that kind of money because they're old and probably have savings that could be used to pay that $2500 and have cultivated lots of friends, but me? Someone who has limited friends, who is shy, hates any social event, like bruhh, you're barking up the wrong tree here.

The second guy who spoke in the presentation, he was even worse than the first guy. He said "i'll make this short. 10 mins top." This fucker speaks for another 30 mins. Only stopped because the afternoon session started walking in.

He went on to talk about the types of people you needed to recruit. He used an acronym... He wrote EMPOWER on the board. So this is the type of person you need to recruit. E for Entrepreneur M for Motivated, P for positive, O for Open minded, W for Willing, E for Enthusiastic, R for (i forgot, i legit started tuning him out after awhile because I was bored and hungry and sleepy.)

First of all. My friend made the wrong choice in trying to get me into this. Even until now he is trying to convince me.

If there's one thing you should know about me is I am a very negative person, and the funny part is my friend knows this about me. Why he thought I would be POSTIVE here was actually a surprise. Open minded? YEAH NO. FUCK THAT. There is no way in hell I will ever be open minded about Pyramid scheme. I was open minded about their product, but definitely not their business structure. I am the type of person who loves to spend money on myself and others, but NOT ON PYRAMID SCHEMES. And then there's WILLING. Bruhhh I am so fucking lazy. The fact that I was willing to go to this business meeting in the first place was already too much for me. How many times I almost tried to cancel. If he wasn't a good friend to me, I would have done everything in my power to get out of it. But yeah me willing to put in any effort on a pyramid scheme is soooooooo not going to happen. Enthusiastic???? HHAHHAHAHAHHAH I had a sour face the whole time. You aint going to catch me be enthusiastic about any type of pyramid scheme.

I dont know. I still can't fathom why anyone would join a pyramid scheme.

A few hours ago my friend messages me before he went to sleep saying he was sorry he knew that I didn't have much sleep. I was fine. I just love to complain a lot (part of my negative vibe I am trying to put out into the world) anyways, I went to it that's all that matters to me, that I was able to keep my promise... but then this foo saw my "pyramid scheme" story on social media, and he sends me a video link titled "Is *COMPANY NAME* a scam?" I didn't watch the video. I went straight to the comments section. Of course the top comments are from "users" and "reps" of the company boasting about how great the company and the product is. All the way at the bottom was the real comment. The commenter said something about how the person on the video didn't mention anything about the company and their business structure, he was just selling the product. So was the video link my friend sent me proof that the company isn't a scam? NO. I never told him I thought it was a scam, i merely mentioned it was a pyramid scheme, and like I have said somewhere in this post that not all pyramid schemes are scams... I just don't like pyramid schemes.

Anyways, Pyramid schemes aren't for me. Nor will I partake in any form of joining them.

Side story which is funny and stupid... I didn't want my friend to look bad so I went straight to that stupid meeting without eating breakfast... when the person came and took me to the lounge area, they had donuts and coffee provided, my dumbass thought they might have put their product into the donuts or coffees so I didn't eat or drink anything there. hahahahha. I feel bad for my friend if he actually joined, hopefully he will be able to bamboozle someone else. that isn't me. He shouldn't tell our coworkers if he tries to recruit someone else from work that I went to that meeting, because let me tell you, there's no way I am lying to them. I will tell them not to join. AHahahhaha

[aurimeanswind]

I’m More of a Winter—Sunday Chats—1/28/18

Oddly enough, I find myself more “happy” or more at home and comfortable through the winter. It’s my favorite season, yet this one seems to not provide the same boons to excitement as the previous have. There is far less joy to be found, and that kind of sucks.

But we move on with the show.

Talking About The Week I Had

I’ve come to both hate and somewhat enjoy talking about having terrible weeks and rough times. I always, in my heart, feel I am begging for attention. And there must be some honesty in that, right? But I also feel this sense of responsibility and obligation to my internet presence that I need to keep sending those thoughts and feelings out there, and that maybe I’ll feel better when I do. And I usually do. There is always a warm and loving outcry of support when I do, and it always warms my heart, without fail.

But I dunno. It’s hard. I have really bad days and I put myself in a dark place, and while I love the honesty, I don’t want to share that because it’s both personal and it looks like I am begging for good vibes to be sent. Obviously this is all counteracted by me openly expressing my frustrations here (or so my brain hopes) but it’s a difficult side to every coin. The one that’s aware of the more selfish-seeming repercussions of crying out for help, and that just so wishes to be like, not bad on your own. 

I think with my depression and fits of morbid thoughts and feelings of wanting to hurt myself, that’s always the fall back. I just want to be good without having to ask for help. The idea of, “well why can’t I just be alright on my own? Why does this have to be a thing where I have to have me picked up off the ground by my wonderful companions who’d graciously do so, but I can’t just “be” on my own?” When i say I express frustration in sharing my feelings of being depressed, I think it helps to empathize from that angle:

I’m not frustrated because I don’t want to ask for help, I’m frustrated because I was never given the opportunity to not need it.

Does that make sense?

God I hope so. In short I had a bad spell of self-hatred style depression this week, and this is me just airing it out those feelings. If it doesn’t make sense, ah don’t worry about it, but if you saw me struggling this week, that’s your bit of context.

What’s On Tap

Predominantly I’ve been playing one thing this week, and that’s been going back through The Witcher 3. That’s a great goddamn video game.

The Witcher 3

There is just something about Yennefer that... goddamn. She is just like a magnet for me. I definitely feel to her what Geralt does. It’s an attraction that goes beyond appearance. She isn’t like, the best person? either? But I just adore her. She fits the mold of a partner in so many respects, and peeling back the layers of her character are excellent.

I got to Skellige and boy that is just the best part of that game hands down.

The snow, the wintery peaks, the people of Skellige, it’s just so much better than anything you see in Velen or Novigrad I think. Not to say either of those chapters are bad, they’re excellent, but I think it just shows that Skellige is that much more interesting of an area. I think that, to some extent, derives from the fact that Velen and Novigrad are neighboring areas, and so their culture is very similar. It gets me even more excited to see Touissant, the place added in Blood and Wine, because that is also a totally separate part of that world.

Celeste

I’ve managed to put a few hours into Celeste now, where when we recorded the podcast I had only put about a half hour into it.

I worry that maybe my expectations for this game were set too high, especially with folks continually telling me how impactful it’s emotional aspects are. I’m trying to keep my expectations in check, but I will say so far the game has done some pretty interesting things.

On the gameplay level, it has the tightness of something like Towerfall, applied to very Super Meat Boy reminiscent platforming levels that are short, consumable, and challenging. It kind of reminds me that I’m not really in the mood for something that is just outwardly so challenging right now though. Like, it makes you frustrated and you’re supposed to derive enjoyment from the victory, but the levels are very long and frustrating at times, and I’m not getting the same satisfaction I got from something like Cuphead. 

That, mixed with the really interesting story bits makes me kind of just want to get to the next story beat above everything else. The constant dying and repeating of the same challenges impedes that.

Maybe most of my frustration is that each “chapter” bases itself around a different mechanic, and a lot of those have been more just annoying than anything else. One was these platforms that you can move by pressing against them while holding them, which worked, but another was ground or wall that you can’t retread once you’ve touched it once or you die, and that was just zero fun.

There is a very interesting scene where you have to calm yourself from a panic attack, and it’s very evocative, so maybe there is something too Celeste, but right now I’m more mixed than I’d like to be. Overall it definitely plays well, I’m just unsure of if I am buying everything there.

Questions

Like always, look for my tweets on Sundays with the hashtag #SundayChats in it, respond with your question, and be in the chats! Let’s do this!

I like that Ubisoft essentially did this by putting Mario in XCOM last year.

But like, what if Princess Peach was a leader in Civilization 6?

How good would that be?!

Have Mushroom Kingdom units?! Build Peach’s Castle as a World Wonder?! Having to import mushrooms from other city states to appease our great lord and savior Princess Peach?! PEACH getting NUKED by GHANDI?!

Anyway.

I feel like I can’t think of any mind bending ones, or ones that haven’t been done before, save for the Princess Peach one. Like, I’d love to see an strategy game with the Tales characters, and that already exists. I’d love to see a third person action game with Final Fantasy characters, and that kind of exists, and that’s also kind of happening with the FF7 Remake. I’d love to see Vincent from Catherine as a character in a Persona game with all adults, but that feels like a cop out. 

Link playing Baseball? in MLB the show? 

I’ll think on it and if I come up with anything good I’ll tweet it at you.

I don’t know that series sounds like its for weebs.

Nah I’m kidding, I’m glad everyone seems to be having fun with Monster Hunter World. I definitely have a bit of FOMO, but after that beta I really doubt I’d have fun with it.

Nabeshin would go Insect Glaive. Scott would get the biggest and weightiest sword. Tony you’d get whatever you’d get. You said you were trying the Bow on the latest show, so maybe that? And I’d be the cat and I’d be chilling on an inflatable tube.

Hands for feet. Duh.

I’d get like, those toe-shoes, which would basically be gloves, and then go on my merry, tree-swinging way. Like, I’d finally have my dream of being able to have four hands. Ugh. Feet for hand sounds awful because you’d still have “arms” so its not like you’d be able to four-footed run. 

Garbage.

I have no clue what this is.

*Does a quick google*

So Like, I am only loosely familiar with Big Brother, and I hate reality TV (I know Jazz, I’m sorry) but this seems like, totally boring! No big names at all. The entertainment weekly article I read showing the contestants for this upcoming one were recognized by their recent “Dancing with the Stars” placements, and that’s just fucking depressing.

But yeah, I like the idea of celebrities that don’t know they hate each other slowly learning that they do, in fact, hate each other all for your viewing pleasure, sure, if you’re into that sort of thing. But at least throw like, Liam Neeson in there to choke somebody or something.

Oh man there is so much I’d love to see Rocksteady do. They’ve definitely become a favorite developer of mine, even if i have a tenuous love-hate relationship with Batman Arkham Knight. 

I mean they are almost definitely working on something Batman. I feel like we don’t end this year without knowing exactly what they are making, or without it releasing. I think Justice League/Batman Beyond would be cool, but I just worry that they aren’t going that route.

I want them to break away from Batman. I think they’ve earned enough clout to do their own thing, and that’d be the thing I’m most excited about, but it may ultimately just be another Arkham game.

I’d probably kill myself right away tbh.

I know that’s a little morbid haha, but I’m definitely not making it. I have really bad asthma, so assuming we are getting “infected” “running” zombies I am boned. I’ve also never fired a gun before, nor do I really have any interest in doing so. I’m also a pacifist and hate the idea of hurting other living things, dead or not. I’d also not want to be a hindrance to me loved ones who are stronger than me and can live on. And boy it’d be a fucking bummer to just watch humans kill humans over food and water and guns and stuff. I just don’t want to been that world (which is kind of our world, I know, yes).

And knowing my luck I’d be patient zero, so there’s also that.

First, I want to say:

fuck Captain Jack Sparrow.

That being said.

I want Sly Cooper’s ancestor who was also a Pirate, Henriette Cooper.

Hell, I’d probably just want Sly Cooper too.

And maybe Captain Kidd, but like, cool Lady Captain Kidd from AC Black Flag.

And Nato Johnston, who is real.

Jurge Cruz is into some deep web shit with his crypto-mining operation.

It’s messed up.

And very impressive.

That’s a really good question. I want to say yes, because I think that’d be cool, but I don’t know of any Arc System Works game that’s made it big there. There probably (definitely) is one? But I just don’t know it. Maybe Guilty Gear. 

I’d say no because I think the way the controls work in FighterZ is just too simplified. I don’t know what the skill threshold for that game is, but who knows, maybe it’s possible. God wouldn’t that be rad?

This is a tough question. I saw this and I think, at least partially, thats what my opening thoughts bit was about. I don’t really think there is, and I don’t think that is such a bad thing, right?

Like that doesn’t make you any less of a friend, and this goes for everyone to anyone they know with mental illness. If you’re there, supportive, and send the good vibes and are understanding of their issues, you're doing it right. I think it’s people that just lack empathy or say “why aren’t you just happy?” that are the ones super fucking up.

I’d say just empathize with the fact that sometimes all you can do is send support, and that’s totally enough. So don’t sweat it.

Christ.

Joel’s Ears from The Last of Us because apparently that mother fucker can just hear through walls. 

And maybe.... uhhh... The lady from The Sexy Brutale who can hear codes being typed in on keypads from the room over? That’s lit.

Goddamn my arms would just be horrifying tendrils though. Imagine if this combined with my feet that are hands and I’m just a four-eared two-handed monster crawling around listening with my big stalk-ears?!

God help us for this image will never leave my brain.

Ah so you play the Wraith eh?? Well that’s good to know. Time to get my STRATS ready. Of course you’d play the most broken monster though.

And probably never but I’m keeping the dream going.

Evolve was good you guys.

9.0/10, Irrational Passions.

I REVIEWED IT.

http://irrationalpassions.com/evolve-review/

That’s it! That’s the show and the whole kitten-caboodle. 

It’s been a long week but keep things on the up and up. We’re about to move into February and I’m about to launch a cool new show and IP is working on some cool stuff to look forward to. So get hype!

oh and please keep it on the real.

(this gif of Danny laughing on Table Flip just miraculously popped up on my gif search and it’s a gift to you, me, and the GG gods, so enjoy)

[notasammich]

You’re My Resolution; Destiel Fanfic

Title: You’re My Resolution Rating: PG Pairing: Dean/Castiel Summary: Castiel makes a new year’s resolution to tell Dean how he feels. It is more difficult than expected. 

Castiel reaches into his pocket, hands searching for the scrap of paper that he keeps there. Not that he needs to see it to know exactly what it looks like. Even if angels didn’t have perfect recall Castiel had taken the message from his pocket enough times to sear it in his memory.

The paper is small, about half the size of a standard sheet of paper, jagged at one edge where it had been ripped from the pad of paper that bore the logo of the regional motel chain where he’d been staying with the Winchesters. The paper has become smudged and wrinkled from a month of frequent handling. Written on the paper in Castiel's own messy scrawl are the words “Tell Dean how you feel”.

It had been Sam’s idea. It was a few days before what humans following the Gregorian calendar call the new year. Dean was out getting dinner. Sam was looking for their next case on his laptop.  Cas was watching the local news on the motel’s barely functioning television.

In between stories about snow storms in the Eastern United States and discord in the american government their a story about celebrity resolutions. Despite having spent the last few years in the presence of humans Castiel hasn’t had a chance to experience many of the holiday rituals performed by regular humans.

“What’s a new year’s resolution?” Castiel asks Sam.

“Um well,” Sam says looking away from his computer. “Well many people use the end of the year as a time to think back on the year that just passed. They evaluate the thing that happened last year and plan for the year to come. Sometimes a person finds something they’d like to change about their life. They make a resolution, a promise to themselves, to do, or sometimes not do, something in the year to come.”

“What kind of resolutions do humans make?” Castiel asks.

“All different kinds of things,” Sam says. “Losing weight is probably the most common. Some people resolve to save money and others to spend more time with family.”

“That is an interesting ritual,” Castiel says. Something suddenly occurs to Sam. He’s never been big on making New Year’s resolutions, he’s aware that most people don't keep their resolutions but there’s a chance...

“Often people make a resolution to do something that they’ve been putting off, something that scares them,” Sam says. “Such as maybe telling someone they care about how they feel about them.” Sam stresses the last sentence hoping that Castiel will get his meaning without making him spell it out. Castiel’s eyes widen and suddenly he refuses to meet Sam’s gaze.

“Thank you Sam that was very enlightening,” Castiel goes back to watching his program although Sam suspects his mind is still on their conversation. Sam smiles to himself and goes back to looking through his “suspicious death” Google News alerts.

***

That night, when the Winchesters were both sleeping, Castiel had done research on his own about New Year's resolutions. That was when Castiel had found an article stating that writing down a resolution makes the resolver more likely to keep it. That was when Castiel scrawled his own promise on the motel’s notepad. Not that it had helped him so far.

It’s been a month since New Year’s and Castiel’s resolution remains resolutely unfilled. Not that Cas hadn’t tried.

The first time Castiel had tried to talk to Dean about his feelings they’d been in a bar. They’d been watching a man they thought was putting curses on his romantic rivals. After 3 hours of watching the man become increasingly inebriated it became obvious that the only thing this guy was guilty of was being a sloppy drunk. As soon as they finished their drinks they were going to go back to the bunker. Castiel sipped his drink slowly trying to savor the moment. It’s nice here. Their corner is warm and quiet Castiel can almost pretend that this is a date rather than a stakeout. Maybe if Cas plays his cards right the next time it could be.

“Dean,” Castiel says. “This was an enjoyable outing.”

“Yeah,” Dean says with a smile. “Probably better if we hadn’t been on witch watch.”

“Well maybe next time,” Castiel doesn't finish his thought. He’s interrupted when the drunk they’ve been watching suddenly starts spewing bodily fluids, too much and too violently to be anything other than a curse. Even if they didn't have to get back to work now the mood would be ruined. Castiel will try again some other time.

The next time Castiel tried was a few days later in the Impala.

Dean had opened the fridge in the bunker only to find some rancid milk and Sam’s rabbit food. So Dean had decided to make the trip into town to pick up something edible and Cas had offered to accompany him. Castiel had heard humans refer to something easy as a “milk run” so theoretically if Cas attempts to complete his new year’s resolution on this trip it will be easy. Right? Hopefully.

“Thanks for coming with me man,” Dean said as they drive back to the bunker. The trip to the grocery store had been uneventful thus far. “Grocery shopping sucks when I’m by myself.”

“It was not a hardship,” Castiel says. “Dean I wanted to tell you...

Suddenly the conversation is interrupted by the flashing lights and sounds that Castiel has learned to associate with the human authorities.

“Shit,” Dean curses. “Don’t these guys have something better to do? We weren't even speeding that much.”

Dean pulls over to the side of the road and they wait as the police car pulls up behind them. They don’t have to wait too long until a man strides out of the vehicle toward them.

“What can I do for you officer?” Dean asks putting on his most charming smile but the policeman is having none of it.

“Would you please get out of the car, sir?”

“I really don’t think that's necessary,” Dean replies.

As Dean is arguing with the first officer his partner exits approaches and comes to stand on Castiel’s side of the car. The angel’s gaze is drawn the the metal gleaming on his hip, handcuffs, but they aren’t normal. As the officer gets closer, Cas can make out the enochian symbols etched into the restraints. Angel restraining handcuffs are hardly standard police issue.

“Dean…” Castiel says gesturing toward the second officer. “We should get out of here.”

“Sir, I don’t want to have to ask you again,” the first officer says. The second officer leans down about to say something.

“Fuck this,” Dean says below his breath. He quickly shifts gear and gunns it. The police officers barely dive out of the way as the Impala rockets forward. They get a few minutes head start before the flashing lights are back in their rearview window. Long story short those police officers are really members of a cult that needs angel parts to complete a ritual to make themselves immortal. Eventually they take out the cult but by that point the milk has gone off and the moment for Cas to admit his feelings to Dean has been lost.

That isn’t the last time Cas tries to tell Dean how he feels but it goes about as well as the first two times no matter where they are.

-----------------

As they sat in a small dinner outside of town Cas began the same speech he’d tried twice before. He was so preoccupied by his speech the he barely noticed when the waiter approached their table and until he spoke Castiel didn’t notice that the waiter was Crowley until he spoke.

“Well hello boys, am I interrupting something?” He was and from the smug look on his face Castiel suspects that the demon knew it.

-------------------

Even when they were sitting in the bunker’s kitchen in between hunts...

“Dean…”

“So get this…”

Castiel had continued to dig around in his pocket as his mind had contemplated the recent past. His hand had failed to close around the small scrap of paper as he had expected. He checked his other pockets hoping that the scrap of paper had merely been put into the wrong one but to no avail. He can only check his empty pockets so many times before he has to admit that they are empty. He wracks his brain to try to think of where he could have left his resolution. Maybe he…

“Cas! Cas!” Castiel's thoughts are cut off by the sound of Dean frantically searching for him.

“I’m in here,” Castiel calls. Dean follows the sound of Castiel's voice.

“Dude, did you write this?” Dean asks showing Castiel the note that he’d been looking for.

“Where did you find that?” Castiel asks.

“On top of the washing machine,” Dean answers. “but that's not the point.” Oh yeah. Castiel remembers now. Castiel had taken the paper out of his pocket when he washed his coat after it got witch spew on it. Cas can use his grace to keep his clothes clean but he decided to save his grace and keep it clean the human way. He must have forgotten to put the paper back in his pocket.

“What is it?” Dean asks.

“It’s nothing,” Castiel murmurs unable to meet Dean’s eyes.

“Don’t lie to me,” Dean snaps. Castiel flinches and Dean feels bad. He takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself. “Sorry. Just tell me the truth.”

“That is my new year’s resolution,” Castiel admits. “The website recommended that I write it down.”

“Website? Nevermind. That’s not the point. What was it that you want to tell me?” Dean presses the point.

“Dean… I…” Castiel struggles to find the words.

“Are you tired of being here?” Dean interupts him. “Are you leaving again?”

“No Dean of course not,” Castiel says.

“Then  what did you want to tell me? Dean asks. “What are you so afraid to say?”

“I... am romantically and sexually attracted to you,” Castiel stumbles over the words.

“Really?” Dean says with a huge grin on his face. He can barely believe this is happening. There’s a part of him that’s afraid he’s fallen into another Jin dream. He wants to return the sentiment but those three little words are so hard to say. He can’t even say them to Sam unless one or both of them is dying. He decides to just do the best he can. Dean wrapps his hands around the edges of Castiel’s coat and pulls the angel in for a kiss. It’s a simple kiss but passionate, a promise of things to come. They’re both panting slightly as Dean pulls back slightly.

“Same,” Dean says. That’s the closest Dean can make himself get to a proper declaration of feelings. Well, he’ll hopefully have a lot of chances to practice in the new year. He can make that his resolution.