#SSi computer game

[oldschoolfrp]

If exploring eerie dungeons filled with monsters is your idea of fun (hellish dungeon art by Christopher White in ad for SSI games Wizard's Crown and Rings of Zilfin, from Computer Gaming World magazine, issues 26-29, March through June-July 1986)

[qhazomb]

god i hate not having money. and that the only way i even CAN get money is by trying to appease a government that hates my fucking guts.

[billloguidice]

My SSI and Avalon Hill shelf. They're two of my favorite classic computer gaming publishers to collect for. They each have more than 5 packaging types, but my favorite is always the large bookshelf boxes. Both collections are fairly complete, but there's still quite a bit missing, including a few notables.

[khunyuki]

"I am not going to fall in love, Yuu. Not until we find a way home"

<Observing Idia>

Sypnosis: You made up your mind not to fall in love the moment you arrived at Twisted Wonderland with your bestfriend, Yuu. With plenty of responsibilities on your shoulders in both worlds, do you even have time for romance? At least that's what you thought... Until a certain someone's actions caught your gaze.

Oneshot Pairing/s: Idia Shroud x reader

Note/s: My no. 1 fav Idia <3 I love youuuu

Masterlist: TOC

As a magicless student at an all-boy's school like Night Raven College, there are a lot of things you can't do nor can't relate to. The very fundamental thing in this world is magic and that's something you don't have. Being unable to use magic in a magic school has more cons than pros but can you complain? No cuz being in NRC is the only way to keep you, your bestfriend and monster cat safe. That's why it comes as a surprise to you when you found out that there are a lot of people who can't use magic themselves. It's part of the norm so you feel at ease and confident enough to face challenges you normally don't encounter. Magic isn't everything as humans can always adapt to whatever situation they face.

Be it in Twisted Wonderland or your world, there's something that will never change. The inventions created, interests shared, hobbies formed, and many more. It may deviate from your own world but it is essentially still the same. While you can't relate to using magic in your everyday lives, can't properly attend classes like flight, nor can you use it to protect yourself and your friends, there's still something you know you can relate to.

*ping**ping**ping*

Your phone chimed repeatedly as someone seems to have barraged you with text messages. You turned it on to see the person you have plans with that day, your senpai, Idia Shroud.

Gloomurai: Y/N-ssi, raid starts in 10. wer r u?

Gloomurai: come over already

Gloomurai: hurry up

Gloomurai: gonna to start w/o u if ur 2 slow

You looked at the time on your phone, 4:51pm. One minute has already passed so you gotta run. You have plans to play that popular MMORPG at his room where you can use his spare computer.

Nickname: okiokii

Nickname: running as fast as I can

You typed as you literally ran as fast as you can from your initial location at the courtyard to the hall of mirrors so you could get access to Ignihyde. You take twists and turn without getting lost as you always go there to hang out. Once you arrived, you entered without knocking as you know you're the only one he's expecting aside from Ortho.

"Hey, Idia! I arrived in...7 minutes. Wow that's a record"

You cheered as you weren't late yet panted from the sprint. You greeted the owner of the room who was sitting in front of his own pc. There you could see his bright blue hair burning eternally so clearly in the darkness of his room. He turned to face you and pointed at the desktop beside him.

"I already booted the game in your pc"

"Really? Thank you~"

You sat beside him and true to his words, your game is indeed open. Your character can be seen standing besides his inside the screen.

"No prob"

He pulled the strings of his hood as he tried to hide his face from you. While he can hide the blush on his face, he cannot hide the pink tinting his hair. As you started the raid, you couldn't help but think.

Should you try to get to learn Idia more deeply?

Introducing Idia Shroud

Idia Shroud is the introverted housewarden of Ignihyde. After arriving in Twisted Wonderland, you immediately searched for animes, mangas, and games unique to that world. Due to your immense love, you decided to approach him out of your own volition with the help of his little brother, Ortho. He thought you were one of the normies pretending to like anime but you soon became close friends when you expressed everything you know with the same excitement real otakus have.

Your Relationship

Your first IRL interaction is at the board game club. It was awkward for him but you didn't care because he was entertaining you back. You soon became inseparable as you two are often in your own world. He even went as far as to set up an old spare pc so you could play together at the comfort of his room. When it comes to your interests, it was only you two who got along so it wasn't a question how fast you became the bestest of friends.

Observations

It's probably a month after you arrived at NRC when you met. You just finished adjusting to your now life, hastening the process by encountering your very first overblot. You noticed him as soon as you found out about him that you didn't care about what he thinks of you.

Listed below are things you find interesting about him:

Idia has a unique personality

Idia has been frowned upon by people due to his interests in anime and have developed a sharp tongue in his own defense. You could definitely empathize with him regarding that as back in your world, you have also faced challenges due to your interests. You chose to keep it to yourself at the start but have learned that you shouldn't let other people's words bother you. That's why you could understand his defensiveness when you tried to get close to him at first.

He's always so confident behind the protection of his floating tablet or the screen. He would say sassy remarks, insults or whatever is on his mind but when you meet face to face he couldn't even speak a word. You knew he was suspicious of you for trying to get close to him but your relentless pursuit made him crack. He'd berate you for the wrong information you share and correct it. He'd either be rapping his words or muting it so low on he can hear it.

As time passes by, no longer would he say such mean words to you. He's always excited to hear the continuation of the animes you've watched from your world. He would even unleash his keyboard warrior when someone tries to berate you. To others, he may seem weird or creepy but he's actually really kind once you get to know him.

Most of the time, he's pessimistic about himself so you would always tell him otherwise. Even if what he says are true, you still like him and want to be his friend. You'd do your best to comfort him by being by his side and not judging him. Idia isn't a people person nor does he know how to comfort others but if you're not feeling well, he'd try his hardest to make you feel better in the way you can. Like when he offered you to play games with him to release all your stress or simply watch your favorite series together. He won't ask you what's wrong and you appreciate it as he gives you the space you need.

Idia gets flustered really easily

Idia doesn't believe in the compliments you throw his way but when he does, he'd be a blushing mess. As his friend, you didn't like to see him so pessimistic so you'd compliment him whenever you can. All of it are genuine though as you really does think he's a great person that deserves to hear good words.

The way he easily turns red makes you want to tease him. You won't tease him by lying or insulting him, you'd tease him by saying great things about him just to get a reaction. You'd praise him for the little things like when he wins a game he's been grinding for a while. You'd do anything just to see his face, ears and hair turn pink once more.

Idia seems to give you special treatment

You could see this in the way he treats you differently from the others. Mainly because you're close friends that secretly like each other (you admit this but won't act on it). The treatment becomes even better due to you and Ortho getting along really well. You know how harsh Idia's words can be to others and it's in great contrast to his gentle interactions with you. Most of the time, you'd be the only person he'll talk to in the room which others don't really like as he takes most of your attention away. He's definitely smug about it.

If your friends invite you to something you know he'll like, you'd invite him as well. If he doesn't agree, you'll tell him the contents of your trip once you get back. If he does agree to join, you'll keep your attention on him so he won't be left out. If he's feeling unwell, you'll take care of him and move him away from crowds. So he'd repay you by paying for all your expenses for that trip, even the souvenirs or merch that you want.

He knows of your inability enjoy the things you really want to do due to the financial constraints of Ramshackle. That's why he specifically built a pc setup in your dorm and his room just for you as a gift. In your dorm so Yuu and Grim can also use it, mainly for academic purposes, and in his room so you could play together since his internet connection is better. He'd even go as far as to lend you money so you could pull for your favorite gacha banner, or gift you those expensive armors in matching pairs for your characters. It's a bit too much for you as you felt like you're taking advantage of him and his feelings so you reject it but then you'll suddenly see the thing you have your eyes on and he'll make an excuse saying it's your advanced/belated birthday gift.

Idia's intelligence

This is definitely one of the your favorite things about him which leaves you in awe every single time. You remember how he got offered an internship by Olympus Company and how he's being offered by other sponsors for his genius. His talent and expertise in engineering and gaming makes you admire him. Also how he made Ortho when he was just 16, something so complex and hard that you thought many people needed to work on was something he did by himself. You are definitely mindblown by his talents. Add to that when he told you the reason he's allowed to stay in his room during classes as he's practically in charge of NRC's security.

Dilemma

You knew that from the moment you heard about him and sought him out that you will like him. You can clearly see how he likes you too everytime his hair turns pink around you. The two of you have this sense of comradeship and understanding you cannot find with others. Your interests are aligned which brings you so much joy in this world.

If you weren't trying to go home, you would've made the first move already but unfortunately that wasn't an option just yet.

You decided to just keep these feelings to yourself as soon as you realized it. Even if it was unfair to him, all because you like him yet couldn't pursue him.

Conclusion

It's been months since you became friends with Idia. Your blatant interest in him was something you try to keep to yourself yet still uncontrollably express. You like him so much that when you saw him just standing so defeated, like he just accepted that he cannot change anything. That he'll be stuck at Styx forever, his curse has no cure, his brother lost, his friends aware of what he's done, him being all alone in this world. You hated it.

Yuu, Grim and the other kidnapped overblotted boys were finally starting to leave the underworld after giving him words of encouragement, expecting him to come back to school soon. You stayed behind to talk to him, getting closer to his lonely figure.

"The rest are leaving. You should go with them"

His voice that resorted to muttering again hurts you, as you can feel the pain hiding behind it. You took his hand in yours and squeezed it, wanting to share your warmth even just a little bit.

"I will wait for you Idia"

You gave him the gentlest smile you could muster as you gazed tenderly at his eyes. His eyes moistening at something he feels like he doesn't deserve. Your affection was overwhelming and he craves it. It hurts but he loves it at the same time.

"So you have to come back to me"

You leaned forward to kiss him on the lips. It was just a peck that lasted for a few seconds yet felt like eternity. You pulled back and hugged him tightly to show that he wasn't alone. You could feel him trembling as he also clung to you, not wanting to let go but you have to.

"I'll see you at school"

You let go of him and started to leave, following the rest who went first, giving you two privacy. You could see it in his eyes how the gears have turned where he has something to look forward to. He touched his lips with his fingers, disbelieving that you just kissed and hugged him. You were there waving him goodbye excitedly at the premise of meeting him again.

He has to go back. Because you'll be waiting for him.

It's a promise

=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=

Note/s: I didn't seem to do well even though I love him so much😭 I'll do better next time. Anyways is this an observation or a drabble cuz it's mixed😂 Pls give me ideas🙏

[vintagerpg]

Now these are my Gold Box games. Or, er, game, singular, I guess, since they came in one box. This is SSI’s Dragonlance Limited Collector’s Edition (1992). I got this on clearance the day after Christmas in 1993 and had a transcendent time playing through them on the school break between the holidays. I didn’t finish all three in that time; I definitely remember herding the guys I walked to school with into the computer room at one point to show off how good the graphics were (even though, in Dark Queen, they were pretty much just pixel art versions of Dragonlance paintings).

As with Pool of Radiance, looking back through this box and the Adventurer Journal for each game, I am realizing that this is the Dragonlance I love, and when I kind of complain about the RPG material, it’s because it doesn’t measure up to these games. Which is kind of funny, because what I can recall of the stories isn’t great (not that Dragonlance is like high art). There are definitely monsters in the videogames that aren’t supposed to be in Krynn. And in the final game, you explore the other continent, Taladas, and it feels just, entirely divorced from everything that made Dragonlance feel Dragonlancey, despite fighting Takhisis at the end. But they work. They feel like games at the table, even.

I think Death Knights of Krynn is maybe my favorite, because the NPC questgiver from the first game comes back here as an undead warrior. It also has this really interesting thread of story in the Journal (part of the copyright protection) about a town full of undead that isn’t in the game but was entertaining and mysterious anyway. One of the games has a puzzle sequence that involves a candle and finding the correct path through a market that I definitely lifted for my actual games. Oh, and the clue books! You could buy them from SSI and they gave you maps and room descriptions like a D&D module. When I got this, they were out of the Death Knights cluebook, but someone there was nice enough to photocopy it and send it to me free of charge.

[wishful-seeker]

I love that im in a point of my life where i play video games all day either with my friend or bf or we play separate games and still talk on the phone during. I love recovering :)

Although, my sister really hurt me recently, she was more ablist to me than I've ever experienced. As i enjoy myself i hear her voice in my head, judging me for playing games and gardening instead of cleaning or trying to get a job (which im too disabled to do) she also said i shouldn't be saving my SSI money she said "its not meant to be saved" like as if disabled people don't deserve to save their money. I have an able account which means i can save, im saving up for my own place. She things thats wrong. She wants me to live paycheck to paycheck and work until i die, she thinks that is how life is supposed to be, and because i don't want to be like her she hates me. I try to remind myself, i was in hell for 4 years. A year ago i couldn't touch a computer, and like ive said before sometimes i had to be spoonfed because the pain was so bad. I have fucking EARNED this. I have earned spending my days like im a retired old woman. Of COURSE i do whats fun all day 𝘢 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘰 𝘪 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐'𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘰 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯. Of course that what im doing early in my recovery.

Please do not let assholes like my sister tell you what life is supposed to be. If you are lucky enough to be happy, FUCKING RELISH IN IT. THAT is what life is for. You are meant to find happiness, not just survive but THRIVE. If you are lucky enough to be able to do that don't take it for granted. ENJOY YOURSELF.

[weirdkpopgirl]

Unstoppable Feelings | Jeno Imagine #5

Title: Unstoppable Feelings

Genre: A little angst, slight fluff

Warnings: mentions of reader being insecure

Word Count: 1301

Author's Note: I am so bad at coming up with titles for these things, so I apologize. This was another request from an anon, so I hope it's not too bad. Merry Christmas everyone ^ - ^

° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 °° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ

Being the girlfriend of Lee Jeno made you feel like you were in a dream. Three years ago, you met through Jaemin. Due to your similar tastes, the two of you immediately hit it off. Then one year later, Jeno worked up the courage to confess his feelings and you guys became official.

Despite not having much experience, you could confidently say that Jeno was the perfect boyfriend. He treated you like a queen. He was affectionate, and he always had that adorable eye smile for you. Your relationship was full of cuddles, shy smiles, and frequent text messages when you weren’t together.

But lately, things haven’t been so nice.

From the beginning, you knew dating an idol wasn’t going to be easy. You were supportive of his career and tried your best to be understanding. Even if it meant canceled dates, and not seeing each other for weeks.

It’s been one of those months where your boyfriend has been busy preparing for his group’s upcoming album. When he did have free time, you guys couldn’t go out like normal couples. So Jeno would often invite you to his dorm, which you were fine with.

By the time you came over, however, you’d find him engrossed in some video game on his computer. All he mumbled was “hey,” when you entered his room. Other than that, he barely acknowledged your presence.

This has been happening a lot lately. You’d be sitting on his bed, pretending to be occupied with your phone. Every so often you glanced over to watch his hands dart from the mouse to the keyboard as the colorful screen shined through.

“Jeno-ssi,” You called his name softly. “Do you think we could—”

“Hold on, Jagi. Let me just beat this level,” He replied, without even looking at you.

These instances bothered you more than you liked to admit. You weren’t someone who called for a lot of attention from others, and it wasn’t like you were one of those clingy girlfriends. Was just a few minutes away from his gaming asking too much of him?

It wasn’t like you could do much at his dorms. But he could still make some effort to talk to you, right? Especially not seeing each other for days.

Nonetheless, you told yourself that you were just being oversensitive. You didn’t have the right to be upset. He was probably so tired from work, and he was relieving some stress through gaming. Who were you to criticize him?

You’ve always been the insecure type, nothing new. You’d get over this feeling soon, you told yourself.

A few days ago, you went to lunch with some of your university friends. Aside from the classes you shared, they often talked about their boyfriends. Oddly, you could never fully join the conversation because you hadn’t told them about Jeno. With him being an idol, it was safer to date quietly with very few people knowing.

“How are you and Dongmin doing?” One of your friends asked Misoo who was sitting across from you.

Misoo groaned, seeming annoyed by just the mention of her partner. “He’s been so frustrating lately. He always out with his friends and doesn’t answer my texts. He acts like I’m not even there.”

You sat up in your seat when hearing your friend was going through a similar situation. 

“Seriously? That’s awful,” Your other friend, Seona commented.

“Yeah, I’m probably going to break up with him,” Misoo sighed.

“But…haven’t you guys been together for almost a year now?” You asked, unsteadied by your friend’s words.

She nodded sadly, “We have. But when guys focus too much on their own thing and stop putting effort into the relationship, that means he isn’t interested in you anymore.”

“Really?”

Seona placed a hand on Misoo’s shoulder. “I agree. It’s better to break up now before you guys fight more and start to resent one another.”

That night, you lay in bed staring up at the ceiling. Sleep was out of the question when your friends’ words kept replaying in your head. Did Jeno not want to be with you anymore? 

He had become such a crucial part of your life. Jeno was always there during your hard times—even when you tried to push him away. The thought of separating from the one person that brought you so much happiness terrified you. You didn’t know if you could handle it.

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.

“Is everything okay?” Jaemin sat down beside him after dance practice one day. He noticed the boy wearing a troubled expression.

Jeno sighed, “(Y/n) has been acting weird lately.”

“Why?”

“I asked her if she wanted to come over the other day. But she said she had a lot of homework to do, so she couldn’t.” 

He pulled out his phone to show Jaemin their past texts. All of your responses were short and turning down his invites. He also brought up how you haven’t been sending him the random cat videos you usually did.

“Maybe she’s mad at you,” Jaemin suggested.

Jeno leaned back against the couch, trying to think if he did anything to upset you lately. He then remembered the last few times you came over, and that’s when he realized. He’s barely paid any attention to you because he was so preoccupied with his game.

“Ugh, I messed up,” He groaned.

The latter gave his friend a quizzical look when he stood up. “Where are you going?”

“To see (Y/n),” Jeno answered quickly, grabbing his jacket. “I need to talk to her.”

You had been at home all day, doing homework, and studying for other classes. Trying not to think about Jeno was hard. Filling your time with university work was the only distraction you could come up with.

Late in the evening, your doorbell buzzed. Of course, the last person you expected to see was there when you answered the door.

“Jeno-ssi?” 

His ears were flushed red from the cold, as he stood with flowers in his hand and a box of chocolates. Not knowing what to think of this, you ushered him into your apartment. 

“What is all this?” You asked as he gave you the bouquet. Giving gifts was a rare thing between the two of you. 

Jeno scratched his head, “Jaemin said that blue hyacinths are the best apology flowers.”

“You didn’t need to do that,” You frowned, even though you were touched by this romantic gesture.

“No, I think I did. I’m sorry for taking our time together for granted.” He took your hand. “You’re always so understanding and patient. I shouldn’t have been so careless.”

The relief that washed over you was so heavy. Jeno’s eyes widened when he saw you begin to tear up. He quickly wrapped his arms around you. You closed your eyes, letting yourself sink into his embrace. It felt like it’s been so long since you guys hugged like this.

“I thought maybe you lost feelings for me,” You confessed quietly.

His arms squeezed tighter around your waist, and you felt his lips brush against your hair.

“Pabo, my love for you will never leave,” He spoke softly. “I’ll do a better job of showing you that, from now on.”

Looking back, this was just a minor bump in the road that the two of you were able to drive over. Jeno made sure to treasure you more so that you’d never feel insecure about your relationship again.

° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 °° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ

[eldritchsurveys]

1238.

What type of milk do you like to drink? >> I don't drink any kind of milk by itself.

Do you have a first aid kit at home? >> I do not. It's one of those "if we had more disposable income we'd have one, but as it stands it's low on the list of priorities when so many other immediate needs require meeting" sort of things. I guess if either of us got injured more often it'd be a higher priority.

What’s the absolute bare minimum in terms of facilities when you’re camping? >> Food and something to protect me from the elements and bare ground.

How many places have you lived in your life? >> Five different states and countless different specific locations.

Are your parents dog or cat people? Is that different or the same as you? .

What’s your favourite flavour of potato chip? >> Basic kettle-cooked salt and pepper. Zapp's Voodoo chips if I want more flavour.

What’s the longest your hair has ever been? How long is it now? .

What video games remind you of your childhood? >> Just the classic nineties-era computer games that you found in every computer lab in school, like Oregon Trail, and various Bröderbund games I had for my own computer. No actual video games because I didn't have access to those.

What does your body wash or soap smell like? >> It's the Dove Beauty Bar, which just smells like... soap, I guess. The quintessential soap smell.

Are there are sounds that bother you on a visceral level? >> So, so many. I genuinely don't know how I'm going to keep living on this planet sometimes.

What was the last thing you bought online? >> FFXIV: Dawntrail, back when that was about to drop.

Name something you always have in your fridge. >> Various condiments.

Have you ever had to hire a lawyer? Why? >> The closest I've come is getting an advocate from one of those urban justice orgs for my SSI application process.

Have you taken a walk today? Did you see any dogs? >> I have not. The humidity has worn me down, I can't get motivated to take my morning walks these days because I just obsess about how sticky I'm going to be the whole time. Also, sunrise is now 07:00 and that's so late, people are so active at that point, it's not like the beautifully quiet dawns of midsummer :/

What vegetable do you really hate? >> I honestly can't say I hate any vegetables. There are some I'm far less likely to eat, but none that I flat-out can't stand.

Does your family have any traditions or rituals? .

If you could learn any language, what would it be? >> Well, I can learn any language, at least passably if not fluently. Right now, I'm working on Irish.

What was the best thing that happened today? Something that seems minor can still be awesome. >> I was finally finishing my Person of Interest rewatch now that my loins are girded enough to handle that sort of emotional damage, and I got so much lightning-flash inspiration for merging that universe with my Saints Row one. I love that feeling, it's like... being full of electricity, being plugged in, connected to the fabric of reality. Seeing how the threads intertwine, and how they can be made to weave new stories. !! What a thrill. Have you ever donated money to a charity? Which one? >> As a person who is known for Having No Money, I have not. I am, in fact, a charity case.

Did you have a large circle of friends in high school? >> I had no circle of friends in high school. There were about two or three kids tops in each school that would put up with me.

Would you ever get a matching tattoo with someone? >> I have matching X-Files tattoos with Sparrow, and I'd do it again. The trick is to make it a tattoo similar to something you'd get independently anyway -- I had already had the "scully, it's me" tattoo idea and when I was planning to get it, they were like "hey what if we matched", and I was fine with that.

What time do you usually go to sleep? >> I go to bed at 22:00 and I stop using my phone at 23:00 (the last part tends to vary, but that's where I'm at right now). When I go to sleep, however, is not something I can control.

Do you have a job? >> I do not.

What colour are the plates in your kitchen? >> We don't have a matching set. We mostly use paper plates, anyway. Well, I do, certainly.

What was the last gift you received? >> The stuff I got for Christmas -- the earbuds and the pillow and weighted blanket.

What is your Chinese zodiac animal? >> Rabbit, I think. Are you inside right now? If you’re home, what room of the house are you in? >> I'm in my bedroom, as usual.

Are you good at remembering faces? >> Good enough, I guess. I do have a hard time trying to place where I've seen certain actors and stuff, but I guess that's normal especially if you watch a lot of shit like I do. What will you do after this survey? >> I might poke around on tumblr. I don't know, I feel like I did a bunch of stuff I wanted to do already so now I'm like "now what :V"

[posttexasstressdisorder]

So yeah...dentist.

The whole thing was just kinda mind boggling.

I had to go do Bunny Duty this morning, and got my inhaler at safeway pharm, which was fast. Came home and pissed away an hour or two and figured I should leave about 11am, since I had to go by the lab and give the vampires their blood. That would leave me plenty of time before the 12:30 check-in, 1pm appt.

Finding the dental clinic in Highland was daunting. I am used to just the building with the ER, for the elevator up to the Adult Medicine Clinic. The dental clinic is in the OLD hospital building...which I'd never been in. Down a flight of stairs, through a maze of hallways, two security checkpoints...I was pretty bug-eyed by the time i found the dental clinic.

Everything they do at Highland is 100% digital now, and that included things I had no idea about.

The assistant lady was very sweet, just came out and told her this was the first dental appointment I have had in over twelve years. A quick run-down of why I'm on SSI and use baking soda, coz I can't pay for toothpaste. So the dental Resident came in, and she, I can tell, is aghast at the mess that is my teeth. Did a little poking, asked where it was hurting, etc. and told the assistant lady to do the xrays.

So she leaves, and the assistant hauls out the old "Lead Apron", and lays it across me, and said OK, open wide and bite down when I tell you. I was confused, no nasty little cardboard things to cram in your jaw and bite down on , and I was looking around for the XRay machine. I figured she would go and get it. Surprise!

She picked up this thing that was about as big as a compact kitchen HAND MIXER, with a 5-inch diameter "cone of shame" and a flat piece of plexi where the blades of the mixer would be. Like a space blaster on The Jetsons, but a REAL "Ray Gun"!

She placed this plastic sensor thing in my mouth and told me to bite down, and put the mixer thingee against my head and clicked a trigger. About six seconds later, the goddamn xray of my goddamn teeth showed the fuck up on the computer screen! No more waiting for hours, no big glass plates, none of that.

And yes, a veritable cornucopia of crowns and fillings and much less pleasant findings were all there, worst of which was exactly what I figured: the back molar on left is cracked. Much poking and prodding. So much poking and prodding.

After the usual question about why my teeth are the color they are, she asked if I took Tetracycline as a kid, and I said, yes, along with every other antibiotic made between 1959 and 2000, and I also drink hot black coffee all day, and smoke only cannabis (when I can). I knew the Tetracycline turning teeth grey long ago, plus 60 years of asthma inhalers.

I told her that I gave up on having pretty teeth a long long time ago. I don't open my mouth when I smile, unless made to. I've always considered showing your teeth when you smile to be a sign of menace and aggression, another reason I don't.

Besides the busted molar, three cavities, probably more.

So the coolest part, besides all the Space-Age George-Jetson Dental Bling is that she came up with a game plan to fix things fairly quickly, and we start Aug. 7th with cleaning.

I've been instructed to brush my tongue. It must be hairy. lulz.

Oh, and the blood test results are now almost instantaneous: they were waiting for me in the MyChart by the time I got home.

Thank you Medi-Cal !

"California, Ah LUV YEW!"

[sapporo-division]

With the COVID numbers slowly rising again (unfortunately), that's got me thinking of a question I wanted to ask...

If COVID took place in the HypMic universe, how would your OC's handle it? Would they slowly go insane from being trapped indoors? Would they develop an unhealthy drinking/smoking habit? Or would they be perfectly fine?

Actually Yuki would be the one to catch up in everyday news and as the pandemic happens, he takes serious precautions on keeping himself safe by wearing mask, washing/sanitize hands, and keeping distance from other person. He isn’t bothered and understand the situation when every workplace went in lockdown but just because everyone should stay at home safely doesn’t mean he wouldn’t do anything from doing his work so most of his time he’d arrange a zoom meeting with his colleagues just discussing about work stuff by as per usual but if he gets to relax for the first time, I would say he spend of his time enjoy reading King Arthur books or watch a marathon (screenshare with Iwao & Yaoki) and play with his pet wolf, Blanc. Although it kind of sad for him that he won’t travel to England for a visit in seeing his family until the quarantine was subsided

Iwao really likes to go outside a lot I mean, he’s a street magician after all! He has to perform his usual tricks in public while hearing people’s cheers and laughs of young and old audiences then lastly greeted with applauses but if it’s pandemic, he would probably feel bored staying at home for too long that he won’t able to do his work for awhile it’s like you’re put in a time out. He understand it’s the only way to keep us safe and alive but he still complaint while hugging his two precious bunnies tight and he feels sorry to the children that he won’t visit them at the hospital as he’d promised. Although he does have a backup plan in case like this would’ve happpen, he would do his magic tricks on live for the time being. He’ll have to wait until everyone can able to got out again

Most people know Yoichi’s a type of person who doesn’t want to breathe in a same air with many people but good news! this boy he’s celebrating his heart out that he won’t have to deal with people and his demanding boss and enjoy himself being at home spending time most on his own tiny sanctuary (his room) of using his computer, playing video games, reading manga while other times he had zoom meet with his friends (especially his team, Saburo, and Doppo). Of course he should be aware to stay hygiene if ever we can on going out but for the time being, he had so much time for himself without care in the outside world in a hope this quarantine won’t last long

ARE THEY S***ING ME RIGHT NOW!? IVE BEEN ASLEEP FOR SO DAMN LONG AND YOU’RE TELLING ME I CAN’T GO OUT JUST BECAUSE THEY’RE SCARED OF A F***IN VIRUS! F*** THIS GERM BULLS*** I KNOW IT AIN’T REAL! EVERYONE EVEN THE GOVERNMENT ARE P*SSIES YOU’RE JUST SAYING THAT SO YOU CAN RUIN MY FUN, YOU A** Ruichi wasn’t aware of COVID regulations and warnings that was announced around Japan until he gets the message, he was pretty upset knowing he can’t go out like he used to so that means he can’t hurt people anymore which is sucks to him so he went on a batshit rampage in destroying of Yoichi’s bedroom furnitures to bring his frustration out. He knows how much it’s suffocating to stay indoors for who knows how long like you’re trapped at the asylum inside a white room and wear a straitjacket preventing you from going crazy. It took him awhile to calm himself down and has no energy to do anything anymore because of the safety regulations, he just went back to his sleep again then Yoichi quickly went back to his senses, completely unaware what’s going on except he found his favorite anime figures, mangas, video games were scattered on the floor as his room were a complete mess

[foxymoxynoona]

foxy, I don't know if you're still taking drabble requests, but can you please do the perilla leaf thing with flux JK? his little jealous pout in that mbti episode is just too cute

Hope this is what you were dreaming of! And to the person who requested the same for Amended, I've still got that one in my queue, I need to dream a bit about how they're similar/different 😉

series banner by @awrkives

Story: Flux (no spoilers) Characters: Sasha & JK Words: 1661 CW: some cursing 😂

“What are you doing?”

Sasha didn’t think Jungkook’s question was leveled at her seeing as she wasn’t doing anything, certainly nothing that deserved that edge to his voice. She’d been on the receiving end of it before, for instance when he caught her eating crumbly food in his bed (she was leaning over the edge!) or when he found her tweaking the settings on his speaker (the bass was too loud!) or that time she played games on his computer while he went downstairs and he thought she’d fucked around in his Overwatch save file (as if she would ever commit such a sin!) Although even in those instances, the height of Jungkook’s “anger” could barely even be called that. He was never mad at her, not really, and if he was going to lob the question at her “what are you doing?” it was usually in a curious, baffled, or endeared tone.

But this time she was just sitting there, innocently wiping the spices from her fingers after she’d failed to keep them clean. Despite her practice with chopsticks over the year and a half she’d lived in Korea, the dishes tonight were thwarting her –whether that was long slippery noodles that broke free of her grasp and swung across her chin and tangled in her hair, rice that wasn’t quite sticky enough for her skill level, or those damn pickled leaves that clung together on the plate like they’d been glued. 

Since there were four at the table, Sasha assumed he probably meant Taehyung beside him, since she wasn’t watching him but wouldn’t be surprised Taehyung was getting up to something to tease Jungkook. She’d been focused on her struggle to separate the pickled leaves without using her fingers –which was going poorly, until Jimin used his chopsticks to nudge hers out of the way, then peeled the leaves apart for her, and even lay one on her plate.

“Thank you–”

“Jimin-a, what do you think you’re doing?” Jungkook spoke over her, more loudly this time. Sasha turned her confusion to Jungkook, but not before noticing the way Jimin’s mouth twitched and his expression remained neutral.

“You are welcome, Sasha-ssi.”

“Ya!” Jungkook called again, reaching forward with his chopsticks like he was going to pinch Jimin’s hand. He grabbed the plate of perilla leaves and pulled them closer, demanding, “Answer me! What are you doing?”

“I’m helping her–”

“He’s just helping her,” Taehyung agreed. “Peeling her perilla leaves–”

“Yeah I know what he’s doing! What do you think you’re doing–”

“What’s the problem?” Sasha interjected. Honestly, Jimin and Taehyung were being shockingly calm about Jungkook making such a sudden confusing fuss about nothing. “I was having a hard time and he helped me. He just peeled the leaves for me.”

“Yah! And he put it on your plate too!” Jungkook said, food still balled up in his cheek, lips in a pout. He moved the plate of leaves even closer, where no one could reach it except him, which made Jimin and Taehyung protest. “No! No, you don’t deserve any more leaves! None for you!”

“What did I do?!” Taehyung demanded.

“What did I do?” Jimin echoed. “I just helped your girlfriend, Jungkooka! I’m just being helpful!”

“Like shit you are being helpful!” Jungkook insisted.

Sasha thought she must be completely misunderstanding the Korean around her. There had to be something she was missing because this made no fucking sense. Baffled, she looked between the three of them. Taehyung stared at her without blinking, face stern, a possible giveaway he was trying not to laugh. She only thought of it because Jimin suddenly took her hand and sighed,

“You see he’s–”

“Ya! Why are you holding her hand?! Let go of her hand!” Jungkook practically shouted, standing up from the table. “See! See, I said this will happen–”

At that point Taehyung and Jimin erupted with laughter. 

“Sasha, will you marry me?” Jimin asked. She only understood that Jungkook was upset Jimin had grabbed her hand, innocuous as it obviously was, so pulled away but Jimin reached for both of her hands and his question surprised her enough he managed to grab them. His mouth was starting to twitch as well as Jimin and Taehyung flopped around in their amusement. She still didn’t understand except that clearly Jimin and Taehyung were having Jungkook on.

<”I’m flattered, but I’m afraid the answer is no,”> she admitted to Jimin. Suddenly Jungkook started moving plates again, and pushed his chair back, and gestured vaguely at Jimin. 

“Huh?”

“What are you doing?”

“Move, Jimin. You sit here. You can’t be trusted.”

“I’m not moving!”

“You are moving, I will move you,” Jungkook insisted. He dragged his chair out of the way and walked behind Sasha. And picked up Jimin’s chair with him still in it and shuffled around the table to set it down where previously he’d been sitting. By this point Taehyung’s head was on his arm on the table as he sobbed; Jimin was nearly in tears; even Jungkook was laughing and shaking his head but he still moved JImin. 

Sasha remained utterly confused.

“What the hell is this?” she demanded in the only Korean words she could think of. “Why?”

“He helped you with your perilla leaves! He can’t do that. He knows better,” Jungkook insisted. He settled into his chair, now beside Sasha, and further adjusted the plate. “He can’t touch your leaves.”

“Woah, Jungkooka,” Taehyung gasped, “What leaves are we talking about–”

“Hey don’t talk about her leaves!” Jungkook shouted.

Sasha just held her hands up and demanded, “What? Perilla leaves? Why….”

“No no don’t ask,” Taehyung insisted. 

“It’s nothing. I’m innocent. I was only helping,” Jimin claimed.

“No,” Jungkook said emphatically. To Sasha, he added, “Only I can help you with perilla leaves.”

“Um… why? I don’t get it…”

“Because it’s– nevermind. Just don’t do it.”

“But… but why?”

“He’s worried if someone helps you, you’ll fall in love with them,” Jimin gleefully confessed.

Sasha couldn’t make sense of this, but decided to joke too and asked, <”If you already know it’s that easy to win my love, why didn’t you ever help me with perilla leaves?”>

<”We never eat them!”>

<”Yeah, why not? Don’t you want my love?!”>

<”If I peel leafs, you celebrate things with me?”> he asked slowly, eyebrows going higher, lips pursing.

<”No, probably not,”> she joked. He snickered. Then he lifted the perilla leaf she hadn’t used off her plate and put it back on the pile, flipped the pile, drew the top leaf off and put it on her plate. “Jungkook. You are serious now?”

“Only me, Sasha.”

“Yes, I know but… it’s leaves?”

“My leaves! Take it or leave it.”

<”Take it or leave it?”> she clarified and he nodded. “Ok ok I take it…” It was so absurd though, so over the top. Leaves? Leaves? Well she had her own petty jealousies… but this was just so specific!

She put together the leaf Jungkook had given her, not missing the way Jungkook glared and motioned at his friends that he was watching them while the two of them just continued to laugh. She kept her laughter to herself and decided to ask Michele later…

“More tea?” Jimin asked Sasha, lifting the pot. She nodded, then gestured for him to wait and looked suspiciously to Jungkook. He was just stuffing his face again.

“Uh… tea is ok?” she asked him.

“Yes?”

“He can pour my tea?”

“Yes? Why?”

“But no leaves? I don’t understand! Why??”

It set Jimin and Taehyung off laughing again. 

“Just because. Because I said so. Do what I say, Sasha.”

“Oh really? Big man says so?”

“Huh? Big man?”

“Hand me the bowl,” Jungkook told Taehyung but Sasha interjected, “No, only me.” It backfired; Jungkook grinned, “Ok, you hand me the bowl.” It would require her to get up and walk around the table to serve him though. So she huffed and waved her hand.

“This is so funny,” Taehyung snickered.

“It’s just perilla leaves,” Jimin told her. “Everything else is fine.”

“Not everything else!” Jungkook corrected. “No kissing, no holding hands, no naked, no–”

<“Why is perilla leaves on that list?”>

“Because I said so,” Jungkook said, not looking at her because he was already trying not to laugh. “It just is the way it is.”

“Ok, baby, if you say so…”

“Yeah. Baby, that’s me. I say so.”

Honestly. Sometimes it was tricky figuring out what was Korean culture difference and what was just her somewhat strange boyfriend… Seriously?! No fucking and no perilla leaves, those were his rules??

“Aya, you are strange, Koosha..."

[oldschoolfrp]

Eight valiant characters fight to recover the Crown of the Emperor, stolen by the usurper Tarmon, Wizard of Thunder, and hidden in the ruins of Arghan (Christopher White box art for Wizard's Crown, "A Role-Playing Fantasy Game with Tactical Combat," Strategic Simulations, Inc, 1986, available in Commodore 64/128, Atari 8-bit and ST, DOS, and Apple II versions) Wizard's Crown was a relatively simple dungeon bash, but its combat system formed the basis of SSI's later Gold Box AD&D games.

[boredtechnologist]

SSI's Reforger '88 for the Apple ][ computer

Reviewing SSI's "Reforger '88," a game simulating NATO's defense of the Fulda Gap, through a philosophical lens involves examining its strategic and military themes in the context of broader existential, ethical, and geopolitical considerations.

1. The Ethics of War and Military Strategy: "Reforger '88" places players in a hypothetical Cold War scenario, focusing on NATO's defense strategies against a potential Soviet invasion through the Fulda Gap. This setting invites deep philosophical inquiry into the ethics of war and military strategy. The game challenges players to consider the moral implications of warfare, particularly in a Cold War context where the specter of nuclear conflict looms large. It raises questions about just war theory, the morality of preemptive defense strategies, and the ethical considerations in balancing aggressive tactics with the preservation of human life.

2. The Concept of Deterrence and Mutual Assured Destruction: The game's Cold War setting is intrinsically linked to the concept of nuclear deterrence and the doctrine of mutually assured destruction (MAD). Philosophically, this reflects a bleak view of human cooperation and trust, where peace is maintained not through mutual understanding but through the fear of total annihilation. It invites players to contemplate the paradox of achieving peace through the threat of ultimate destruction and the psychological and moral consequences of living under constant threat.

3. The Nature of Geopolitical Power and Realpolitik: "Reforger '88" involves players in the complex dynamics of geopolitical power, echoing themes of realpolitik – politics based on practical and material factors rather than ethical or ideological considerations. The game encourages players to think about the nature of power, the influence of geopolitical strategies on global stability, and the ethical implications of political decisions that prioritize national interest and power over moral or humanitarian concerns.

4. The Individual’s Role in the Machinery of War: As a war simulation game, "Reforger '88" places the player in the role of a decision-maker within the vast machinery of war. This aspect raises philosophical questions about individual responsibility and agency within large organizational structures like the military. It prompts reflection on how individuals reconcile personal ethics with the roles they are required to play in larger systems, especially in scenarios that involve life-and-death decisions.

5. The Psychological Impact of Simulating War: Engaging in a war simulation game also invites analysis of the psychological impact of simulating violent conflict. Philosophically, it raises questions about the desensitization to violence, the moral ramifications of engaging with war as entertainment, and the blurring of lines between simulated strategy and the grave realities of actual warfare.

6. The Human Cost of War and the Value of Peace: Finally, "Reforger '88," through its depiction of a potential military conflict, underscores the human cost of war. It invites players to reflect on the value of peace and the profound impact of war on human lives and societies. The game serves as a reminder of the tragedies of war and the importance of diplomatic and peaceful solutions to international conflicts.

In summary, SSI's "Reforger '88" is more than a strategic war game; it is a platform for deep philosophical exploration. The game engages players with themes such as the ethics of war and military strategy, the concept of deterrence, geopolitical power dynamics, individual responsibility within war, the psychological impact of simulating war, and the human cost of conflict. Through its gameplay and narrative, "Reforger '88" offers a medium for players to engage with complex ethical, existential, and geopolitical questions.

[open-hearth-rpg]

#licensedRPGs2013to14 Thunderscape: The World of Aden Campaign Setting

The major reworking of the "World of Aden" setting for Pathfinder. That was originally 1996 WEG game based on an SSI computer game. As I said when that appeared on an earlier list, "World of Aden appears to be a sword & sorcery game with a Thundarr or even steampunk vibe to it. It’s actually built on a trilogy of novels I'm having a hard time finding anything about. Only one volume appears to be in print...with a review by Shawn Carman on Amazon. West End Games, in their explosion of licenses for MasterBook, went into production just based on those novels and a pair of games. In Aden there's an event called the Darkfall destroying civilization, making it an Aftermath game, but there's also hints of lost technology."

The difference in presentation and tone between the two versions remains hilarious. This new edition was created by industry veterans Shawn Carman (see above) and Rich Wulf. This is a 220+ page book, split evenly between PF mechanics and background for the setting. The company has supported the line with a variety of pdf releases. Thunderscape's gotten generally favorable reviews. If you're a Pathfinder enthusiast interested in weird fantasy with fallen tech, consider checking it out.

[queerautism]

I know this is random but you've always been so kind about listening so...

It... shouldn't really be a luxury to buy new, matching furniture that won't need to be replaced for a good few decades when you first move out. Not even necessarily all your furniture, just some of the most-used pieces. To have enough room for a small kitchen table, a couch, a few bookshelves, and space on your wall to hang clumsy art you make yourself.

To have a decent wardrobe where you can replace clothes when they wear out, to be able to affoed to do laundry, to have clothes last a good few years and be comfortable and fit (especially for me as a fat autistic person TT), to have like... a small section of "nice" stuff from mall stores that you didn't even have to buy on clearance, and the rest to come from consignment and thrift stores and a few from walmart if necessary (I know, I hate the corp but the clothes are comfy, well made, and actually have decent plus sized ranges -_-).

And after that to still have enough to buy nice things that you like - whether saving up for a gaming system or PC, having a fund for car maintenance if you live in a place where it's necessary, to be able to get books or dice or dolls or board games or other little collection things at a steady and not overly consumerist pace, to have space to put them...

And before even that to not have to eat plain rice for half a month when you have disordered eating patterns due to sensory issues, but to always have enough of safe foods to be able to meal plan all month.

Idk, supporting my partner and I off my SSI, plus a small stipend from my dad (so less than 1200 a month for two people), even with section 8 and 42), is wearing me down. It'll get a little easier when my partner gets SSI, but... idk.

Maybe what I want IS too consumerist, some kind of middle class pipe dream. Maybe what I'm actually craving is just stability and security anyway. Who knows. I just - so many things I was incredibly lucky to grow up with now are as inaccessible as gold bricks and mined diamonds (yuck!) the size of my head. Can't even afford mobility devices, food that doesn't trigger my MCAS, etc, and quite honestly I'm sick and tired of having to try and "budget my way out of poverty" like that one old Nilla wafers minimum wage post said.

I am not abled enough to DO the labor to afford cheap meals that don't make me sick for an extra 3-5 days and that doesn't cover the last week and a half anyway.

That makes a decently made couch that doesn't set off my sensory issues sound like a genie lamp.

Blech this turned into a bit of a whiny vent 😅

Have a joke: How are a toilet and a computer similar? Their "IP" addresses! ;)

Thanks for listening though. Even if you don't have the spoons to respond just, thank you

I really, really feel this. We're on a similar situation and Dave's place still has barely no furniture. When it started to get proper cold, I didn't have any actual appropriate clothes for a couple weeks. My food issues and gluten intolerance are a huge burden on our food budget, and I feel awful about it.

These are basic things no one deserves to struggle this much with. You absolutely deserve better than that. I understand your situation, I see how hard you're trying to make everything work, and I'm proud of you.

[vintagerpg]

Once upon a time, SSI made a series of Dungeons & Dragons videogames collectively referred to as “Gold Box” games because their boxes were, well, gold. They were a mix of 3D exploration and top-down tactical combat with good graphics for the era (and they generally hold up pretty good today). The first, Pool of Radiance (1988), set in Forgotten Realms, was a big hit. Lots of people explored the pixelated ruins of Sokol Keep and the curiously named city of Phlan, and get warm, nostalgic memories at the mention of the name.

This is FRC1: Ruins of Adventure (1988), a squarebound D&D adventure boasting the same cover painting by Clyde Caldwell as the Pool of Radiance computer game. It sort of bills itself as a companion to the videogame, a way to translate its action to the tabletop, but apparently SSI actually fashioned the videogame out of the tabletop adventure framework (which does adhere in curious regular ways to the computing constraints of the videogame, with maps on 16x16 grids—they feel fine in the game but weirdly claustrophobic in the book). There’s a bit more in the book, too: a Zhent outpost, several lairs of monstrous humanoids I don’t remember from the game and a thri-keen settlement that definitely wasn’t there. There’s lots of background material and lore, too, of course, it being a Forgotten Realms product. And because it is such a loyal reconstruction (or progenitor), it functions as a pretty thorough tip book for the videogame too.

Is it good though? I dunno! It’s weird, for sure. It is kind of nice to see a D&D product that isn’t obviously panicking about how videogames are going to destroy the tabletop industry, at least? And it is a nice way to revisit the game without having to figure out how to make it run on a modern machine. Ruins of Adventure is a terrible name, though.