#i haven't played a game in months (except for my job) because there's so many shows i'd like to gif ugh

[pharawee]

I've been thinking about it for a while but I decided that I probably won't gif or even watch Only Friends. No special reason. The show is fine. The trailer looks good. But I need a break (from gmmtv shows especially).

I'll still watch and gif other shows but cutting out the biggest/most hyped show of the bunch seems like a good opportunity to get some rest.

Plus, I need all my energy to gif every frame of I Feel You Linger in the Air. 🤡

[drinkyourvillainjuice]

Hopefully you haven't answered this before (if you have I apologize).

See, I've been following your blog for months now, because the concept of this IF is fascinating. Yet, I have not read any of the most recent updates. Not due to me having any complain about your writing of any thing of that sort. But there is something (which is totally a me problem) that has made me stop reading. And I suppose I prefer to ask so I can finally allow myself to continue reading and playing this IF, rather than just keep myself in the dark for no reason.

When I was creating my character, I was going for a himbo (in the past, at least, I don't see much of a chance to be one in the present, at least for the earliest parts I remember reading). So, as tall and muscular as the game allowed. And dating Grant, although that's irrelevant for this ask.

Then, I'm shocked when Dime sees his current reflection. From a muscular guy to a gaunt one. And that threw me for a loop. Like, I began obsessing over such a body change for a while.

For instance, given how tall my Dime is, that means he probably spent years building muscle mass. So, the tragedy only grows. Not only he has been tortured, and his reflection is unfamiliar, but also years of work are gone.

Well, I've said to myself. I understand this decision. It obviously is meant to be a shock, and it was that indeed. Then, I began to wonder. Why did they let Dime get to this point, if they were planning using him for undercover missions. Wouldn't it make sense to allow him to be in a better physical condition? Or does the juice fix that part? Or...

Well, I began asking myself many questions. But I stopped myself, took a breather and decided to continue. After all, you often get answer in stories if you continue reading. Most of the time. Hopefully.

Then, we get a scene where we can use gym equipment. I don't remember exactly why or how. But I remember a character taking pleasure on looking at my shirtless MC. And now I'm again spiraling. What does that mean? If MC is gaunt, that means he looks like a person with malnutrition, right? Like, enough to be alarming, right? So where is the lust coming from? Is MC delusional, and still muscular? Like, they have body dismorphia thanks to the torture? Or am I exaggerating with my comprehsension of the word gaunt, and you just meant a lot of muscle mass and fat was lost, but Dime was still in shape? So, going from Bodybuilder/Football/Rugby player physique (is what I imagined) to marathon runner (so still defined muscle, but very skinny)? Or instead of marathon runner to a twink?

You probably would say at this point that I'm overthinking this for no reason. But the thing is, after that scene, I have been unable to continue reading. I feel too bad for my Dime, and have to many questions to actually concentrate on what is going on. And then time passed, so now I have to begin again because I don't remember a lot of things (except the scenes from the past, because they still haunt me, good job at that; and the overthinking about Dime's body).

Everything came to a halt when I saw a recent ask about playing a towering muscular Dime who is about to cry at any second. Because, while the ask presented this as an hypothetical, it shot me directly to my thought spiral.

So I've come here to ask: Is Dime having body dismorphia? Or, on the contrary, can Dime recover their previous physique as the story goes on, enough that such an hypothetical is possible to be presented? Or, perchance, is a bit of both?

The only thing I'm certain, as of now, is that I've been overthinking this way too much. And that I have debated myself about asking this for months now, but always decided against it because it seems so unimportant in the big scheme of things. I'm also aware I sound deranged. Yet, I have to know. I want to read the rest of this IF of yours, and I cannot do it if I don't get an answer.

That said, feel free to ignore this if it makes you uncomfortable for any reasons. Also, don't take it as a criticism of your work or as me asking for you to make any change. This is entirely a me issue, that I have rudely loaded onto you. You don't owe me anything.

Sorry for the length as well.

Firstly: don't apologise for the length! It's really flattering when people put such huge amounts of thought into something I wrote!

Secondly: Honestly, you've highlighted a slight oversight. Dime isn't skeletal but depending on height definitely looks underweight. They're kind of wiry though, and even with low guts are stronger than they look: Mal doesn't really mind that they're over-skinny cause Mal just sort of. Admires bodies (and flirts for fun). However, I've made a note for myself to add an option for Dime to react in a way that's more on the lines of "you're mocking me. I look malnourished". It won't be included for a while but it makes sense to me.

Third: Yes, there will be opportunity/ies for Dime to get back to a more healthy weight.

Fourth: Hypothesis views the powers > the physical condition. CG does not agree with this. Either way, Dime spent a considerable time being heavily neglected and certainly didn't get to exercise much. Although their treatment eventually improved, it wasn't enough to reverse the previous damage. (Also, if it wasn't for the Juice, Dime definitely wouldn't be in any kind of shape to do the things they're doing)

[kaija-rayne-author]

Bear with me here. I only started playing DA games a couple months ago, so still a huge special interest for me.

Perspective is such an interesting part of these games, and I love how they juxtapose that against current events and characters' personal goals/needs.

Let's say you're the bodyguard of someone you really respect. You fail in your job to protect. You're doing your damnedest to save people who need to be free. You're a freedom fighter, because you care, deeply.

Your protectee is murdered, but you survived. I would imagine this would be something that could piss you off.

You imprison the perpetrators in the only way you can.

Then because it was such a big magical undertaking, you pass out and slip into uthenera for thousands of years.

You wake up, a bit groggy, find out how weak you are (which, to someone who has never been lessened in power is awful) possibly panic a little and fuck up.

You see you fucked up, while dealing with some pretty massive mental illness issues (PTSD, Depression, anxiety, survivor-complex) just for starters).

The entire world feels like a bad dream. Like it felt for people seeing the alternate future.

Humanity, a species you last remember as 'beings setting up tents in mud, selling bone beads, who stank a lot' have somehow flourished and enslaved the very people (or the descendants of your people?) you gave so much to free.

I don't see how, given that, at the beginning of the game Solas could honestly feel any different.

It'd be like waking up and finding out some sort of creature you thought of as vermin (sorry human lovers, perspective here) was running the world and harming your grandkids.

And worse, because of how you imprisoned the murderers, it actually tore the world you were trying to save apart, dooming said grandkids.

Except, familiarity can breed caring as well as contempt. He learns over time, as he's repairing his strength and healing his mind, that these 'tranquils' are still actually people. If romanced, you even fall in love with one of them!

Aaaand, you're probably also (originally) a wisdom spirit with any spirit's ability to demonize. Into Pride in his particular case.

It's a miracle he's not even more stand-offish with people.

Pride can blind us to a lot of things. In many established world religions, pride is bad. It's a deadly sin in xtian mythology.

And Solas is both wisdom and pride. Two sides of the same coin.

It's warped into his very being.

His character growth arc from who he is at the beginning of the game, to who he is at the end is so well written.

I hope Dreadwolf continues his growth arc in some way. I really love growth arcs. He might even have a redemption arc.

I think it's utterly delicious when authors play with perspective like this. It's really well done with Solas.

I only wish I felt more of the other characters were as well written so I could analyze them, too. But honestly, most of them really aren't well characterized. On a professional level, I'd send them back to the author with a gentle suggestion that they do some more character development & much needed writing for them.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Note that I base all my analyses on the base game and DLCs. I haven't managed to afford the books yet. (Being poor sucks.) So there could easily be information I don't have access to. And wasn't there a show? Was that any good? (I struggle with passive entertainment like tv shows.)

[thefirstknife]

can we please. go one (1) week without the PVP obsessed people going off about how PVP is the only thing that matters in the game. im so very tired. "PVE people are probably about to find out that PVE can't carry the game because PVP is ruined and we're all gonna quit and play better games" please just can they shut up and go already instead of threatening us with a good time they never follow through on??

I saw that stuff as well, I know exactly what you're talking about. It's incredibly disingenuous and deliberately incendiary to cause more people to bitch about the game being doomed or whatever.

They are constantly using "steam numbers" to show that this is the lowest population count that Destiny 2 ever had and how that's proof that the game is being ruined and dying, that pvp bros and content creators are more important than we think they are, that Bungie needs to make Destiny 3 (yes, that is unironically stuff that people are saying) and other really incredibly tiring things.

Not to mention the vitriol towards the devs. Every time they bitch, more and more people show up in the comments saying awful shit about devs and how they are lazy, they don't work, they don't care, they are bad at development and so on. This is what eventually fuels harassment.

These "steam numbers" are disingenuous because they are taken out of context and they strip all other external reasons from the "low player count."

Is there a low player count? Yes! That is correct. Even when we account for console players, it's still low.

This is nothing new. This is a constant trend. Last month of the season ALWAYS has low numbers. People finished their story and their pinnacle grind and their seals and are doing other things.

More under for length:

Is this the lowest it's been so far? It seems to be, though the final month on steam charts isn't over so we can't fully tell yet, but it seems to be one of the lowest. However, there's been similar numbers before during seasonal end. It's quite literally nothing new. We go through this every season, except this season it's slightly lower than usual.

Why is that? Well, the chart Aztecross put to prove there's not many people playing happened on a Monday before the final Tuesday reset of the final week of the season. Yeah bro, very few people have things left to do in the season. They're not bothering. Unlike you, other people have other hobbies and games to play. I haven't played in days, I only got on on Saturday to finish my King's Fall seal and that took 10 minutes. This is what I mean by "disingenuous." It's a cheap bait tactic. Find the lowest number and ship it for cheap outrage engagement.

Others are constantly also posting the cummulative steam chart for every month of Destiny since the game came to steam and they're pointing out that we have lowest numbers now. Which is, again, posted for cheap outrage. They look at the number and see it's low and their conclusion is "game is dying." They don't care about the trend (every season end is "dying"), they don't care about external reasons (other game releases), they don't care about overall how some seasons are just weaker and have less interest (not the first time), they don't care about anything.

They just want people to be mad enough to harass the devs. Because like, what do they think is going to happen when they spend 2 months blogging to hundreds of thousands of people about the game being ruined by evil devs who don't do their job? When they constantly talk about how everything in the game is bad, pvp is bad, pve is boring and easy, story is bad, seasons are bad, events made for fun are bad, small community event is bad. What's going to happen is thousands of people are going to harass the devs. That's what going to happen.

I took the "steam numbers" chart that people are throwing around and I went into it in-depth to explain what the numbers mean and add context to them. You can see it here. It's a big image but you can zoom in and explore. It makes more sense when you see it separated by seasons; you can CLEARLY see the main trend of "low population at season end."

Another thing to consider with these numbers is the scheduling pattern. Shadowkeep released in October, Beyond Light released in November after a delay. October-November are usually months with a lot of other game releases and holidays. In 2019 and 2020, Bungie had an expansion themselves to cover that time. In 2021, there was no expansion in Oct-Nov; and that was the last time the game had the lowest population record ever. WHAT A SURPRISE. In this period, if Destiny doesn't have an expansion, people move on to play other games!!!! WOW! We have the technology to decipher the low numbers!

It's important to also note that back in 2021, that was the first time a game was delayed properly and significantly, so the year was without an expansion and there was a lull in Oct-Nov period. However, at that time, it was the first time this schedule happened and people generally didn't know how will it go. We were also kept in the dark about the seasonal story end (the infamous When Is Exorcism incident) so people had to keep coming back. Now, we're in the same situation; no new expansion in Oct-Nov, seasonal lull, nothing is happening. However, now, we know how this goes. People know how this schedule works AND we're not dealing with an extended season. We know when this season ends and there's nothing to wait for. People are more comfortable taking a break. So there's less people in Oct-Nov 2022 than there were in the previous lowest point, Oct-Nov 2021. It's almost as if there are reasons for this that go beyond "game is obviously dying."

These people also seem to be incapable of understanding that some players just... stop playing. For no specific reason. The game isn't dying, some people just lose interest. Content creators are especially guilty of this, because THEY can't stop playing, because they tied their income to a single live service game. To them, quitting the game is losing a job. Curious, maybe that influences their views about the game and about burnout and taking breaks and the quality of the content?

They simultaneously want Bungie to drop FOMO and reduce burnout, but they ALSO want for there to never be "content droughts." Which one is it? Because these two things cannot both be gone. If you want less FOMO and less burnout, then there will be less content. If you want more content, then you have to get on that burnout grindset.

It's the end of the god damn season. Yeah, nothing is happening. Yeah, fewer people are playing. Players finished their grind in the Destiny mines and are doing other things before the new season drops. Stop catastrophising it for cheap outrage bait. You not being able to take a break and having to keep making new content even when the season is ending and there no new content is your problem. Not Bungie's, not the other players'.

Bungie is not going to force their devs to crunch 80 hours per week so you can have brand new content every Tuesday that no regular player can catch up with. As it currently is, I want MORE downtime. I want seasons to be 4 months and to have less time and more downtime to catch up with stuff. Imagine the outrage though. Genuinely, society if these people would actually deliver on their promise and leave. Someone else will take your place, bro.

Also, as a final note before a dissertation in the tags: these pvp mains are weak. They whine about only having 2 new maps in 2 years. Gambit got -2 new maps. Like, literally we had 6 maps and now we have 4. LMAO. Crucible has a total of 24 maps and 8+ modes, constant updates, Iron Banner rework, multiple Trials reworks, incoming competitive rework, Crucible labs, three different sets of armour, prestige weapon loot, three different seals, entire twabs dedicated just to it. And they whine about not enough attention for the Crucible?

It's getting more attention than any other core playlist. Their problem is that they're not the ones being catered to. An update doesn't count if it doesn't satisfy mister Crucible Main #37. Fuck everyone else I guess! They are the most entitled selfish childish little pricks I've ever seen. They do not deserve Bungie talking the players at all.

[depoteka]

last week @nxposure tagged me in two different tag games and now i have some time to answer! thank you, dear!

first game: 15 questions

Are you named after anyone? no, i'm not. my parents just liked the name. but allegedly for a short while they considered naming me after a song by a band they love and i dislike. i thank god everyday that in the end they decided to name me weronika instead

When was the last time you cried? this month? or last month? i don't remember

Do you have kids? i don't but i want to in the future

What sports do you play/ have you played? only PE classes at school. would love to start doing some yoga at home tho because i don't move much other than evening walks from time to time

Do you use sarcasm? i suppose. i don't pay attention to that

What is the first thing you notice about people? hard to say, i'd say general vibe. having some sort of social anxiety and experiences with bullying makes you decide pretty fast if the other person is nice to you or if they make you uncomfortable

What's your eye color? dark green. sort of blueish

Scary movies or happy endings? happy endings. i avoid horror movies at all cost (with some exceptions)

Any talents? uh i guess crocheting! not an expert on it and cannot make my own patterns but it makes me and some other people happy

Where were you born? poland, in a shitty hospital in a different town so i don't even have my hometown on my birth certificate

What are your hobbies? as tumblr puts it "media consumption" (watching movies and listening to music) but also crocheting like i said previously

Do you have any pets? a black cat! she lives with my parents so i don't see her that often now

How tall are you? 162cm which is 5 feet 6 inches i believe. i've had to convert inches to centimeters in so many crochet patterns and i still don't remember how much an inch is

Favorite subject in school? english because it was the easiest class for me. i also liked history and geography

Dream job? translating movies but they don't give me a deadline and i can just make the most perfect translation. or i could do voiceover for nature documentaries. an impossible job is an old hollywood movie star or a rockstar in the 70s

and now the second game!! 5 songs i like. i think i will just list things i've been listening to lately

i went thru sleater-kinney's discography again after the release of their new album because well, i didn't like the new album. so i'll stick to their older ones

spotify reminded me about this song by putting it on my discover weekly playlist and i'm just looping it constantly

peter!!! i love this song, the ending especially (and also the reworked version of this from birdy soundtrack)

finally watched shaft the other day and i love this instrumental

haven't heard this song in years but now i'm listening to it a lot like it's 2008 again

[random-introverted-blog]

Introvert, Introvert, Introvert. Where are you?

Well, let's see. Do you have a day or two to kill?

First and foremost: none of the stories are dead. I'm back to actively writing HS-HQ. Flickers, I plan on fully involving my bestie on in all parts of the process. She is wonderful and working on her own story To Defy The God's and all you Shadowheart girlies should absolutely check it out. So damn good 😳😩.

I'm also building a new Shadowheart x OC story, which includes a Durge x Astarion. It's called Estranged and I can't wait to share more. This one has been my baby for the last 3-4 months and I'm stupid proud of how fleshed out the details and lore are for the OC, including their backstory and how it interacts with the main game.

That said; the last few months haven't been easy.

At the end of April, I was mentally preparing for June. June is the busiest month at my job. No days off, 11-13 hour days, super stressful workload, the whole nine yards and then some. I had about 2k words for Chapter 11 of HS-HQ but I wasn't really enjoying it, and I got stuck. And that combined with the impending stress, the blog took a backseat.

I can not stress to you how much I hate June at my work. Anything would be preferable to working that many hours. Overtime pay in my state is a legal requirement, so it's not like that's even a big deal. They have to pay me for it. But even with the pay, I miss so many family events, opportunities, life in general in June.

Trigger warning: self harm/Dark humor

And the lead up to June this year I was saying I would rather play in traffic, stab my hand with my box cutter, break my foot, jump off the roof, anything except work another June (this was my third June).

My (other) bestie even offered to run over my foot with her car and I considered it, honest to God.

Where am I going with this?

Ahem.

End of Trigger Warning

Ladies, gentleman, and gentlefolk.

'Twas the night before Monday, June 10th, about 11pm. I had just gotten a new A/C for my room. My old one had given up the ghost many moons ago and was just window dressing at this point. The new one I had was a portable, not a window one. But I needed one short notice for the heat wave we were suffering and, as I mentioned, June is a busy month. What sleep I could get, I didn't want to spend just trying to sleep in my hot, wooden panel bedroom.

How this situation came to be, I won't explain, but I wound up carrying my old A/C unit out of my bedroom and down the stairs to get it outside and in the front yard. The goal was to get it out of the house and deal with it later.

I'm a 5 foot, 3 inches lady and I'm not a twig. The A/C, although more bulky than heavy, was still manageable for me to lift. I couldn't see my feet, and that was the only significant problem.

And it was the only one that mattered 😌.

I'm on the last 4 of 15-ish steps and my foot decides it too, would like to give up the ghost.

Did I think I was closer to the bottom than I was? Probably. Did I think "fuck, I'm dead, this is how I die, this thing is going to crush me"? Also probably.

My mom was behind me. And apparently my head hit the dry wall too, but I don't remember that. My body slid down the rest of the stairs. I land at the bottom and my foot is sore. A/C landed on my stomach, but honestly, only a cut or two was visible on my legs. My foot was swollen something ugly and bruised, but eh, whatever.

Until I tried to stand up.

That's right, ladies, gentleman and gentlefolk.

Following an ER visit at 1 am and a doctor's appointment, my foot/ankle was undeniably shot. I couldn't put weight on it if my life depended on it.

I still can't fully walk right/normal on my foot, but I think that's because I've spent about 2-3 weeks wearing a boot and my foot isn't at full strength.

With that said, I am back; I am alive, and I will be sharing what I've been working on relatively soon. Such as the new story, Estranged...

And a little something called

Ahem.

His Star - His Queen Chapter 11 teaser?

This chapter is going to be shorter, just to get back in the saddle and reestablish myself. The first major blow to my writing schedule was writer's block. I knew what I wanted, but not how to get there, and it killed me. So Chapter 11 has been gutted more than once.

Normally, every two chapters we switch POVs, but for some reason, I got stuck on Astarion's. And in all honesty, I think you guys/gals/pals are more interested in seeing what's happened to yourselves [Tav] than the shenanigans Astarion and Jester have gotten themselves into. So we'll check in on how you guys are handling the maestros composition of his masterpiece...

P.s: I'll try and respond to my inbox, comments and DM's later tomorrow night, I've seen and heard all of you, including on AO3.

[objectivistnerd]

good blogs to follow for politics stuff?

I can't in good conscience give a recommendation without first telling you to try going outside (or failing that, trying video games) instead of developing an interest in politics.

This isn't total do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do because I used to be way, way more politically-engaged and can't say I got too much for it. The combination of circumstances that led me out of that darkness probably aren't easy to recreate, though I can say that reading The Sequences went a long way to helping me see through the fog of tribalism. More actionably, I basically quit Twiblr for a few months earlier this year because I was too busy bingeing fantasy novels and playing Civ VI. (Having good coworkers and meatspace friends probably helped.)

The best stuff probably isn't on Tumblr. If you want blogs, I recommend Scott Alexander's substack and the archives of his old blog, and usually appreciate the posts I read from Noah Smith and Matt Yglesias, though I wouldn't describe myself as a regular reader of either. Sadly, most of the Neoliberal Project crowd seems stuck on TwXitter, and I'm not going to tell you to spend time on a website where you gotta pay to longpost. A few notable blogs (which I don't read) from that cluster include Some Unpleasant Arithmetic and Word Rotator.

Tumblr is superior among the socials for enabling actually meaningful discussions. Often the best stuff comes from people you wouldn't expect. Posts are usually better than the blogs that produce them. I try to collect good posts more than I try to follow good blogs, because actually good blogs are few and far between.

If you must have recommendations of Tumblr blogs, though, a few accounts which are more likely to produce or surface good political, economic, and meta-political content while not spewing total garbage constantly or posting lots of non-politics content include: @centrally-unplanned @eightyonekilograms @iates @isaacsapphire @marginal-cost and @powermonger. Any omissions naturally represent direct personal insults and I expect all of you to name your seconds before the week is out.

In all seriousness, I do not necessarily endorse any particular view the above take (and in fact do not even follow several of them) so much as appreciate their commentary on particular subjects. You can, of course, follow @argumate to be exposed to more discourse bloggers than you could possibly ask for and sort at your own leisure. Due to his continued efforts many old posts from good bloggers no longer active still circulate; many of my favorite bloggers fall into that category, which I have not included. I will make an unprincipled exception to point out that @theunitofcaring wrote some excellent posts before getting a real job.

You'll notice I'm recommending a lot of people from the Less Wrong diaspora. That's because talking about politics with people who haven't read Politics is the Mind-killer, Meditations on Moloch, and I Can Tolerate Anything Except The Outgroup is generally a waste of time. You'll get so much mileage and insight out of Yudkowsky and Alexander's top posts that it's hard to put into words.

That's a long answer to a short question. Hope it helps.

[alsjeblieft-zeg]

077 of 2024

Created by chasingghosts

What's your favourite cereal?

Cheerios and Cini Minis.

Is there a bus stop near your house?

Yeah, next street. About 100 meters from me.

Do you prefer red wine or white wine?

White, it's somehow lighter.

What's the last airport you were at? Why were you there?

I've never been to an airport.

Who do you live with?

My husband, stepson and cat.

Do you read reddit? If so, how often and what subreddits do you like?

I do, but I don't like the community very much. People there tend to be jerks, except for shortwave and signal identification subreddits, both of which I contribute to.

Have you recently broken up with a significant other or even just a friend?

Yeah I got in a conflict with a workmate in recent months and I didn't even do anything wrong lol. We'll see how it goes, but for now, we don't talk to each other anymore.

What's the weather like today? Is it nice enough to go outside?

It was raining at night, but now it's sunny and fairly warm. But I just came back home after 10 hours (!!!) and I'm not going out anymore, I just ordered food.

Do you know anyone who's had a baby recently?

Yeah, our friend Chayenne. She gave birth to a daughter <3

Have you used a pen or pencil today? What did you write down?

No, I haven't had a chance so far. Even my signatures were electronic :P

What does your last text message say and who is it from?

My husband, about the package I was about to send.

Can you count how many times you've seen your favourite film?

I don't like movies in general.

When was the last time you ate marshmallows?

Very long time ago, simply because I don't like marshmallows.

Do you listen to any podcasts? How do you listen to them?

Very rarely, I prefer the radio. If I ever do, it's on Spotify.

How old will you be in the year 2030?

I'm gonna be 40 then. Still not that old :P

How often does the kettle in your house get used?

Every day. Sometimes more than once a day.

Does your skin bruise easily? Do you have any bruises right now? What from?

Yeah, very easily. I have weak veins and I'm on blood thinners, so my bruises always look drastic lol. Currently I have two big ones, from losing balance in the bus.

What was the last thing you spent $150 or more on?

Smart TV for our bedroom, it was 450€.

Do you prefer yes or no questions or more open-ended questions?

I like to elaborate at times.

What brand of toilet paper do you usually buy?

I don't pay attention, shit tape is shit tape.

If I knocked on your door right now, would you be acceptable dressed?

Yeah, I expect food to be delivered anyway.

Why did you leave your last job?

Because I was hired where I work now. 10 years ago.

What colour were the last socks you wore?

Grey.

Are you studying currently? What level of education and what do you study?

No, I'm not. My highest level of education is BAS in electrical engineering.

Have you ever eaten at a restaurant and left without paying?

Nope, never. I not only pay, but also give tips.

What was the last thing that made you laugh out loud?

Yesterday we had fire alarm at work and one of my workmates said someone farted and the smoke detector actually detected it. It wasn't a real fire, though.

What's your favourite scent of air freshener?

Lemon, I think.

How many weddings have you ever been to?

Three or four, I think.

Do you know anyone named Nora?

Yes, but not in person. She's Swedish.

Are your hands and feet in good condition or could you do with a mani-pedi?

I'm a guy, so I don't really care.

When was the last time you played a board game? What did you play?

15 years ago? Probably Monopoly.

How old were you when you first became sexually active? (consensual sex act )

24. Never felt the need anyway.

Have you ever been to a festival for beer or other type of alcohol?

Yeah, many times.

Do you own a record player and/or vinyls?

No, I don't.

When was the last time you went out for drinks?

Last year, we've been to Brussels.

Have you ever been to a strip club?

Never had the occasion.

What's your favourite kind of smoothie?

I don't like smoothies.

Do you know anyone with a 'virtue name'? (Google it)

Yeah, I know one Grace.

Would you ever wear real authentic leather?

I would wear it as long as I like it.

Have you taken out the trash today?

No, we do it at Mondays in my city.

How often do you wear make-up?

Never.

What's your opinion on The Simpsons?

They're timeless.

Do you prefer horizontal or vertical stripes?

Definitely horizontal.

What's your favourite brand of deodorant/antiperspirant?

Dove, Axe, Nivea.

Do you know anyone who has been through a divorce?

Yeah. A lot of people actually.

If you had the money, would you take taxis everywhere instead of driving?

No. I don't drive anyway. I enjoy public transport.

Have you ever done a juice cleanse?

Never heard of it.

Do you have any friends who you can't decide if they're attractive or not?

I've never been thinking of my friends in such categories.

Is the inside of your fridge clean right now or does it need a clean out?

It's fairly decent, I just did some cleaning today.

When was the last time you washed the dishes?

Today.

Are there any magazines that you read on a regular basis?

Yeah, I collect old magazines for teenagers and I like to read them out of sentiment.

Do you have to pay for parking in most places in the town/city you live in?

Yes, parkings here are paid. You can only park for free on the street when you live here.

What's the first thing you tend to do when you have a headache?

Go to bed.

Tell me about your responsibilities at work.

Wiring control racks for trains, making and installing electrical components in train carriages, collecting parts we use for doing that, taking measurements, correcting technical drawings, wiring the train doors, installing automatic door systems, connecting current collectors on the roof, wiring the train driver's desks, tin soldering if necessary, operating contact-crimping machines, laying cables under the panels in train carriages and many more.

What's your favourite style/cut of underwear?

Wait... is it called trunks?

Can you hear lots of traffic from your house? Does it bother you?

No, I don't. I live near the ring and there's always lots of traffic, but you can't hear it from my street.

Have you ever had proper Canadian poutine with the squeaky cheese?

No, but I had proper Belgian fries with mayo.

Do your parents know how to operate smartphones and/or computers?

My dad knows both, my mum can operate her smartphone.

How old are your parents, anyway?

Mum is 61 and dad is 71.

Are you allergic to anything? What do you have to do to prevent them?

Yeah. Nuts, almonds, dandelions, grass, lavender, dogs, dust. I just try to avoid them.

What song is stuck in your head at the moment?

Mouth by Paradise Lost. I love this song, though.

Do you hate it when people try really hard, or do you kinda like it?

It depends if they try their best to achieve something or if they're desperate for having a partner.

What's your boss' first name? Do you call him/her by that name?

My current boss is named Michael and I didn't get to that point, but I was calling my previous bosses (Kurt and Nico) by their first names because we've known each other for ages.

When was the last time you wore a uniform of any kind? What colour was it?

If my work clothes count, then last Friday. They're a combination of navy blue, neon yellow and reflective parts.

Do you complete a survey before taking this one? Will you take one after?

Probably I will. But this one I've been doing for two days already.

Have you ever lost enough weight to drop a dress size?

I don't wear dresses, so I don't know. :P But yeah, I lost 10 kg at some point (I was in coma, though).

What's your favourite kind of bread?

Farmers bread, our farmers bread is amazing.

When was the last time you got pizza? What toppings did you get?

Last month probably, it was mushrooms, bell peppers and red onion.

Do you own Monopoly? Is it the original or a special version?

No, I don't.

What was the last thing you said out loud?

I talked to my cat.

You have to choose one: cats or dogs?

Cats, easy choice. I'm a 100% cat person.

Would someone being either a cat or dog person effect you dating them?

No. I love cats the most, but I love animals in general. The thing is, I'm allergic to dogs.

How do you travel to and from work?

By car (we have a carpool system and it's either my husband who is the driver or one of my colleagues), or by bus if none of them is available.

Do you primarily use cash or card for your purchases? Why?

Card because it's easier.

Have you ever been to a stadium concert?

Yes, a few times. I don't remember who was playing, though.

[wild-blue-sonder]

I think my story contains trigger warnings regarding mental health, so I'll share it beneath the cut.

I started playing in April 2020 after many years of being harassed encouraged by my sister to get XIV, "because I think you'd really like it!" She started during Heavensward on PS3 and was hardcore raiding, like trying for world firsts with Alexander. I hadn't (and still haven't) played any Final Fantasy games prior to XIV. My sister notified me that Shadowbringers and the previous expansions were all on sale, so I finally caved and bought the bundle. I was living in Germany with my ex-husband at the time, sitting at home taking care of our dog, cooking, cleaning, and not much else. I was deeply depressed when I bought XIV and worried it'd be a waste of money since I'd lost interest in all my other hobbies (writing, reading, model kits, every other game I used to enjoy), but I felt it'd be even more wasteful not to take advantage of the 30 days of free play time before I had to pay a recurring subscription. So I created my female Wildwood Elezen, named and modeled her after the protagonist of Valkyrie Profile (an old Enix game), chose Conjurer as my starting job, and set out on my adventure through A Realm Reborn.

It probably sounds cliché to say that XIV saved my life, but it certainly affected it for the better. I was so depressed I hardly had motivation to get out of bed most days. I didn't really eat and I didn't want to socialize. But since my ex had, at that point, prioritized his career over me, I forced myself to get up each day to at least keep the dog alive. Then I started getting up, taking care of our shepherd, and sitting down to play XIV. I had finagled an NA service account instead of EU so I could play on Aether-Gilgamesh with my sister and join her free company, Roses of May, where the members were all great at not spoiling anything for me despite being endgame raiders. So I was just going around, doing the MSQ and my job quests to unlock new spells, exploring the three main cities, until I decided to pick up all the crafting and gathering jobs. At the time of April 2020, a certain global pandemic was rapidly unfolding, and Germany declared lockdown. Being affiliated with the US military, my ex still had to go to work on base each day, but now I had an excuse to stay home and not socialize.

Except my dread at having to get out of bed each morning was slowly turning into anticipation and excitement to jump back into the world of Eorzea, where I could keep people alive as a pretty good healer and fill in the maps of all the interesting overworld regions and their dungeons and check off everything in my gathering logs and craft all the things, because not being able to rely on anyone but myself irl definitely translated to how I played the game. I also decided I wanted to pick up and play every job, which I do currently with varying degrees of competency. It took me just under one year (April 16, 2020 to April 14, 2021) to complete Shadowbringers, and I finished Death Unto Dawn in October.

It feels strange to reminisce on the way my life was when I started XIV because literally everything is different now. I got divorced last May, I moved back to my home state, I started a business with my sister and get to spend a lot more quality time with her. I got a decent job in December; I was supposed to be a temp and be let go in April, but they kept me on. I like being able to pay my own subscription. Weirdly, or perhaps serendipitously, I was working on my penultimate anima relic at the end of May, right after the anniversary of my divorce, and the male Duskwight in our light farm party sent me a flirty tell after we finished. Then we started talking, and kept talking, and decided to try a long-distance relationship. And now he's coming to stay with me for half a month this Sunday.

So now I'm that person encouraging others to try XIV.

Question for the ffxiv fandom!

How did you all get into the game? I love hearing everyone's stories about how they found the game.

[wyrdify]

You ever get tired of being depressed about the same thing, but there's not much you can presently do about said thing? That's me right now with my job.

I'm just... I don't like the constant reminder of the low pay, how I haven't gotten a raise in years, how I basically trained my replacement, and that my hours are continuing to be cut. Like, my schedule has been inconsistent every week now when it used to not be, and now I have to move appointments around. All while I'm getting less than 20 hours per week scheduled. So I have to see if I can pick up any extra hours elsewhere, often outside of my availability or on my days off.

"Just get another job," I hear you say. Yeah, except all of the other jobs in my area are basically admin assistant jobs. That's essentially all I'm qualified to do. Or work in retail/food service. I don't want to exchange one hell for another just on the basis of pay. I also am working with a staffing agency to find me something better, so there's that. There's just not many jobs right now. "What about going back to school?" Once the taxes are done, I'll work on the FAFSA again and see about getting my MLS/MLIS. But, it's gonna be slow. I'm not gonna get that degree instantly.

I feel like a constant bummer to be around. Husband has a temp job right now that'll last for 2 months, so we'll be financially fine. We had money saved from his previous job anyhow, so maybe now we can get tires for his car. Just... I'm making $13.80/hr because that's my state's minimum wage. My company doesn't do regular raises. I'm afraid to ask for one. We don't even do regular employee performance reviews or shit like that.

Like, I get that I'm privileged to be able to work from home with a lack of a dress code, and I can play games during my slow shifts. But, the cons of this job largely outweigh the pros. I wrote out a list.

I needed to get it out of my head.

I dunno. I guess I'm just in "I should isolate instead of complaining about the same old thing" mode. So, once this shift is over in like 15-20 minutes, I'm going to go play Genshin. If I'm quiet on disco, this is why.

[goblinofbiscuits]

Hello again! Maybe a Dave x reader where maybe y/n is Kurt’s friend and Dave likes her??

Kurt's friend

A/n: sorry this took so long, I have been focusing on my music alot more and was trying to pass school for a good solid month, I have been working on my writing again and finishing request and all of that, so hope you like it more to come

Warning: smoking, invasion of personal space

You and kurt have been friends since the beginning of nirvana, you were a musician in the same scene, had the same believes, and tastes. You personality were quite different though. You were a little more outgoing You had your shy moments yea but doesn't everybody.

Kurt's was more shy and reserved, he did have his burst of energy moments though, especially on stage, many who observed you friendship thought you two were in a relationship you were quick too shut them down though you two were friends that's it that's all.

Kurt had called you asking if you want to play a solo on one of his songs, you were suprised one because kurt didn't collaborate too often and two, cause he wasn't one for solos either. But of course you excepted, who were you to turn down a opportunity like this, so next day you packed you guitar and headed to the studio

"Kurt!"

"Y/n, hi!"

You two hugged for a moment, Kurt's become a very busy man in the last couple years so you haven't had much time to hang out

"I missed you man how are you" you said taking in his new hair, no longer a dark brown color

" I've been doing good, touring us grueling as hell though" he said sitting down lighting a cig before turning to you with a worry look and quickly going to put it out.

"Kurt I smoke Tolman, you don't have to not smoke around, I promise you my asthma stops nothing"

"I know I know, I'm just trying to be thoughtful" he said relaxing after your statement

"Well thank you that's very sweet but you don't have too" you say before ruffling his hair and going to set down you guitar case and start tuning.

As soon as you start tuning the e string, a man with long brown hair walks in with two drumsticks in hand

"Sorry I'm late, traffick was shit" he said absent mindly

" it's all good man, hey let me introduce you two, this is y/n, y/n this is dave our drummer"

"Hi" you said brightly, happy to meet a new person

"Hi" dave replied with a love struck look that you didn't quite know what emotion he was feeling

" so it's only gonna be you two working in the studio, kris is visiting his girlfriend and the main guitar and vocals are already recorded, the only job left is the solo and the Drums behind the solo" the producer chimed in

So you finished tuning threw some ideas back and forth with kurt about what the solo should sound like and got to work.

You made your way to the booth and briefly just marked your solo to dave so he can come up with the beat and extras like fills and such. You did pick up on the fact that he might be a little off his game.

Kurt had mentioned dave before, talked about how he was kinda shy in his own personal way, you had also picked up on how he spoke a lot less than the rest of the members. So you just chalked it up to you being new and unfamiliar, qnd the blush on his cheeks from the heat considering it is summer.

You and Dave started playing and it was amazing, you didn't have to more than two takes. You were so excited about how well it went that as soon as you put down your guitar you rushed to hug dave as he was standing up from his kit.

"OH shit I'm so sorry I was just really excited about how well that went that I had seem to forget that person space exists" you said pulling away once common sense kicked in

"nah it alright, I was actually mean to ask you something?" He said kind of tense

" wass up?" You said messing with your hair a bit

" would you like to go on a date friday, I really wanna get to k-know you better" dave said really nervous at this point

"I would love that umm aha here we go this is my number call me" you said grabbed a piece of paper writing your number and giving it to the musician

You said your goodbyes and set up plans to hang out with kurt, you ste up a time you were gonna see dave on Friday and head to you car feeling on top of the world

[star-going-supernova]

Ya know, everytime I post one of these things I keep thinking it will be the last one... anywho here's another one, this one is a throwback to my first ever idea.

Bot Boy Idea/Concept 12: VR Game testing second attempt

So after Vanessa leaves the company, the Fazbear Funtime Service gets canceled after they realize that the numerous logistical issues with manufacturing possibly thousands of animatronics and then delivering them to people in thousands of cities is extremely unprofitable as well as unfeasible. The multiple glitches, as referenced in the cut emails, did not help matters. Steel Parasol decided to turn it into a mobile game, one basically identical to FNAF AR, except with far more bugs and not as good.

 Initially it does ok, but after 6 months it has lost its charm and people aren't playing it anymore. The constantly increasing number of bugs doesn't help due to lack of personnel due to the transfers. By the time Vanessa gets her job back, Steel Parasol games is getting close to bankruptcy.

Desperate for an idea to save the company, one of the head people there decides to try and look for an old project that was abandoned and see if it is in a reasonable state. They find the VR game we know as Help Wanted. It was shelved because after beta testing was completed the game was nonfunctional and no one could be bothered to fix it. They decide to see if it somehow still works by simply checking to see if it boots up and not actually playing the thing.

To their surprise it seemingly works, so the management decides that it is good enough to release as a sort of playable alpha. When they hold a meeting with everyone and announce their plan to release the game by the end of the week (3 days), Vanessa and Luis look at each other with expressions of panic and fear.

Luis knows about what happened to Vanessa because she told him about it, along with Freddy and Gregory on the first day she was freed, before she was too overcome with emotion. After a night to think it over Luis decided he believed her since they were/are really good friends and he knows she wouldn't lie about something this serious, not even as some weird joke. Also the way she struggled to not burst into tears during her explanation helped. It also explains why she was acting so uncharacteristically cold during her last few weeks before being transferred. He helps her by just being a pillar of support and just being a good friend overall.

So they both know what the potential implications of the game being released are if HE is still corrupting it, just one person nearly brought HIM back fairly easily. If there were many…

Vanessa, trying to calm herself, asks the people in charge of this idea if any of them have actually PLAYED the game yet. They say they haven't and plan to just release the thing as a "paid alpha" and if there are problems, fix it later. She realizes that if she does nothing, then what happened to her has a very high probability of happening again. This is her chance, in her mind, to try and fix things. After mentally preparing herself and taking a deep breath, she asks if she can…test it. They say yes and give her the game and a headset.

She really, REALLY doesn't want to test the game for obvious reasons, but she feels like she HAS to because she is the only person who knows what HIS presence in the game looks like. She wants to make SURE that what happened to her NEVER happens to anyone else.

Vanessa doesnt want to make the same mistakes twice, so she takes some precautions with testing the game. She decides to not test the game by herself, but instead at the pizzaplex surrounded by the animatronics, Luis and Gregory. This is for 2 reasons, if she loses control then there will be more people who can subdue her. The second reason is that she really doesn't want to be alone with the game and the company calms her. Vanessa also doesn't strap the headset on, but instead holds it in place with one hand. This is done so that if HE appears again she can rip the headset off before he can possess her through it.

After a few hours everything is in place, the game is turned on, the headset and controllers are activated. Vanessa prepares herself, pushes the "continue game" button and… 

…finds nothing. HE isn't standing next to her, the "pizza party" minigame has disappeared. The tapes are still there, but are now accessed by a normal non glitchy tape recorder. Other than that there is  The game is now just that, a game. All of them then spend the rest of the night taking turns playing the game and just having fun as family of sorts.

Ok I don't think I have any ideas left in the tank, but I won't promise anything lol.

Good for Vanessa, refusing to stand by in silence! The idea of the animatronics playing fnaf vr is hilarious, I can only imagine the critiques over the past designs.

[pedropascalunofficial]

Pedro Pascal and Lena Headey

Head to head interview

Hunger Magazine, Issue 6. Released December 28, 2014. Photoshoot October 15, 2013.

Thirteen million. That's the number of people, on average, who tuned into each episode of the third season of Game of Thrones. Among them was Chilean actor Pedro Pascal, who was as enthralled by the sex and slaughter as the rest of us. But little did he know that within a few months he'd be pitching up on the shores of Belfast to join the cast as Oberyn Martell, affectionately known as the Red Viper. Sound ominous? It is. The Red Viper is GoTs newest anti-hero, “sexy and charming but driven by hate”. Sounds like he'll be right at home.

Pedro, on the other hand, though he looks good on paper, wasn't the obvious choice for the role. Expecting a big name to ride into King’s Landing, the show's fans took to forums to express their concerns as soon as the news broke. So is he worried? Like hell he is. “The fans had the part cast in their minds already. They knew who they wanted and it certainly was not me. But I'm not stupid, | presumed that people were going to say ‘who the fuck is this guy’. Since I anticipated the reaction it didn't throw me off.”

“There are so many different ways to go into battle with yourself when you're trying to get a job. I felt a certain amount of pressure because I wanted to make everyone happy. The fan base is so specific and, as a fan myself, I understand the relationship that they have with the show. The Red Viper is the best part I've ever played, and in season four shocks come at the most unexpected times. You might think you know, but you have no idea,” he explains.

Looks like the Red Viper could be in line to fill a Walter-White-sized-hole in television, but to test the theory we pit Pascal against Lena Headey, aka the Queen. Because if you can come away from Cersei unscathed, you can handle anything.

LH: So, Pedro, you come into Game of Thrones in season four, playing a pretty major character. Does that fill you with joy or dread?

PP: I'd say it fills me with joy because it’s a really fucking fun part. He’s a badass. He comes up against a lot of the main characters in the show. I'm very aware of the show. I watch it like a fan.

LH: Were you a fan before you arrived in Belfast?

PP: Yeah, I was a proper fan. I was caught up in the drama of it before I even auditioned for the part. I was already up to speed.

LH: I remember meeting you and thinking, “he fucking loves the show’.

PP: I kissed your ass.

LH: Well, it worked. We're friends now.

PP: I was like a tourist visiting the set, and yet I had to act with you and be in a scene with the characters that I had such a specific association with already.

LH: So you’re saying it’s boring?

PP: No, it wasn’t boring at all. It was extremely, relentlessly surreal.

LH: And who were your favourite characters up until that point?

PP: Not you.

LH: I realise that!

PP: There are too many characters to have a favourite, but I was fascinated by the Lannisters because they're so frightening. They scared me and then you would come in and pull sympathy from your audience somehow, and I found that rather fascinating. The Northerners were so easy to like or get behind, but it was quite something to see people sympathise with a Lannister, after you made people see things from their perspective.

LH: Speaking of being slightly ambiguous as a character, you come in as a major player and a very well-loved character in the eyes of people who read the books, and he’s somewhat of an anti-hero. Did you base him on anyone?

PP: What does an anti-hero mean exactly?

LH: It means he doesn't wear deodorant, doesn't it? [Laughs]. Someone you shouldn't champion, but you do, like Walter White in Breaking Bad.

PP: No, | didn’t really base him on anyone.

LH: Did you take anything from classic movies that you thought you could use and spin to your advantage playing the Red Viper?

PP: God, that’s a good question. I probably did subconsciously. Now I feel under the spotlight because I need to think of somebody, and I have so many in my mind! I think that’s something that is happening a lot in TV today: the anti-heroes are central to these television shows, and people are really getting behind them, even though they're not necessarily the most moral characters. So I'd say that ‘ve become more familiar with the character who's obviously very flawed but gets you on their side — you have complicated feelings about them. But I think I saw the story too much from this character's perspective to perceive any flaws.

LH: He has some.

PP: I know, from the outside. But I don't see any of them. What are his flaws?

LH: His flaws? He's a dirty bastard!

PP: Why is he a dirty bastard? He likes to fucking fight, for sure.

LH: Back to you as an actor. You've done it for a long time and, as we all know, the path is not always golden, and sometimes you think, “fuck it” and you want to leave it and do something else. Have there been moments where you wanted to give up?

PP: Yes, there have been moments where I came very close to giving up. But I never had anything to fall back on. I think you can understand that.

LH: Because were stupid?

PP: We're stupid.

LH: I can't even make pizza!

PP: We don’t have any other skills.

LH: None at all!

PP: And that’s the odd conundrum. You get to a point where you think, “This isn’t going to happen. This isn’t sustainable. I'm too exhausted, and it can't be good for me.” There were moments where I truly did try to formulate an idea of what I'd do. I thought I'd go back to school, start pre-med again and go to medical school or something like that.

LH: But that didn't happen, you just thought about it?

PP: Yes, I'd have thoughts, but it was still fantasy really. But at the time it felt like a practical life plan. Do you know what I mean?

LH: Yeah of course, you need to pay the fucking rent.

PP: Exactly. You just try to escape from the chaos of what you're feeling by trying to create order in your life. Order seems like a solution to save you from the pain of acting!

LH: It's a mental pain. Who was the first person you called when you got the role?

PP: My sister.

LH: Does she watch the show?

PP: Yes, she does.

LH: Pedro Pascal... or Pablo as I called you when I had too much wine, which was deeply insulting.

PP: Even family members have done that to me! Do I look more like a Pablo? Because it happens with about ninety-five percent of the people I meet.

LH: No, I think I’m just an ignorant drunk person.

PP: No, you were an ignorant drunk person that night is what you're saying.

LH: And now I’m educated.

PP: [Whispers] But | want you to call me Pablo.

LH: Ok, Pablo! When you first arrived on set in Northern Ireland, what was your feeling showing up to a bunch of British actors? Did it feel different to doing an American project?

PP: Yes, but I loved it. It wasn’t intimidating. I found it surreal because I’d watched and loved the show. I hadn't had the opportunity to work on something that I was really familiar with before, so it was overwhelming. But it was far more delightful than intimidating. Also you guys were really cool. Everyone was friendly.

LH: Oh, that’s just fake.

PP: Well, you guys were good at it!

LH: We know Game of Thrones is very popular obviously. Do you have any thoughts, or fears, about what this is going to bring you in terms of exposure?

PP: I have hope.

LH: Oh, God. I don’t mean to shatter that, but give it up.

PP: I don’t know really. It’s all been filmed, and now I'm back to my normal routine, so I haven't really thought about it. I remember when we finished filming and we were on our way to the airport, you asked me, “How does it feel you're all done?” and I couldn't really answer.

LH: You were quite emotional that day.

PP: I was very emotional because I’d had such an amazing time doing the part. Also just being there immersed in the experience... You described it to me best. You told me how I'd be feeling.

LH: We don't know your character's backstory when you enter the show, and you have some rather brutal scenes. Anyone who has read the books will know what I’m talking about.

PP: My character comes in, he stirs a bunch of shit up, and then he makes this fucking enormous exit. Now can | ask you a question?

LH: What is it? I’m not going to sleep with you. Give it up.

PP: Oh, come on! This has gone to shit and it’s your fault, so good luck to whoever has to edit it! But anyway, sometimes I'd hang out with the cast members and we'd go to dinner and they would get stopped constantly. There was no denying who they played because they were so recognisable, but you got away with it because you have this beautiful blonde wig on in the show, and in real life you are...

LH: Grey?

PP: {Laughs] No! You have beautiful chestnut hair! Is it liberating to not be recognised the way some of the other cast members are?

LH: Yes, it is liberating.

PP: Liberating being able to walk down an alley in Dubrovnik without being stopped?

LH: Yes, except sometimes | get recognised in the weirdest places. A woman was emptying my bag at Heathrow Airport's security gates and just went, “Are you the Queen?” while rummaging through my underwear. It was so fucking weird.

PP: It seems they're more respectful to you?

LH: Because they're frightened. Wait until they meet the Viper.

PP: Well, that covers it.

LH: I think we're going to get our own show out of this, you know

Interested in learning more about Pedro? Check out Pedro Pascal Unofficial on Pinterest!

[punderfulowl]

Top 10 Anime (That I've Seen) in 2020

Well now, it has certainly been awhile. I'm currently sitting at eight months too late for posting this, but, y'know, something something life happens. More accurately, I already made this list, but wanted to try out what response I'd get from Reddit. Turns out, they're not as cool as you guys!

Anyways, as the title states, this is not a list of my favorite anime that came out during 2020, but instead my favorite anime that I just so happen to see during that year. While it's fun to have an end of the year retrospective, I find that having a list in this format not only adds variety, but also helps bring attention to anime that might have been lost in the shuffle in previous years (I also don't have enough time to stay caught up in seasonal releases).

Honorable mentions:

Aggretsuko S3, My Hero Academia S4, Today's Menu For the Emiya Family, Interspecies Reviewers (yes, really), and I Couldn't Become a Hero So I Reluctantly Decided to Get a Job

10. Maid-Sama (2010)

In hindsight, I find it a bit funny that I wanted to watch something wholesome to kick off 2020. Anyway, Maid-Sama is about a high school girl that is also a no nonsense Class President and she kind of has to be at a school where, until recently, was an all boys school. While she kills it in academics and is good at shutting down any shenanigans from the male student body, her financial situation isn't the greatest and has to balance a job at a maid cafe along with her school-related responsibilities. She does her best to hide her employment there to keep up appearances, but is one day found out by one of the boys who happens to be a big flirt and, yeah, hijinks ensue. While this anime doesn't have too many surprises, our main leads bounce off each other well enough to keep me entertained. Nothing I haven't seen already in other anime Rom-Coms, but I think it has more than earned its place at the start of this list.

9. Haganai NEXT (2013)

It's a personal rule of mine when making these lists that I don't include sequels of shows that were in previous lists. While I DID see the first season of Haganai a couple of years ago, it didn't quite make it into the top ten at that time. Because of that, it meets the criteria for this year's list. While I found the characters were just as charming here as I did during the first season, the development of their relationships really took off. It's a shame that it will most likely not get a third season, but I'm happy with what ride this show gave me. But hey! At least I can read the light novels/manga to continue the story! Wait, nevermind, the Haganai fans on Reddit are saying that's a bad idea.

8. Engaged to the Unidentified (2014)

Based off of a Four Panel joke manga, Engaged to the Unidentified tells the story of a girl in high school suddenly getting some life changing news. As it turns out, her grandfather made an arranged engagement with her and the son of a family he knew. Next thing she knows, the boy in question, as well as his little sister, moves into her family's house! While the boy is unassuming at first, there may be more to him and his family than he lets on. Plain and simple, this anime has charmed me. There's a decent amount of drama and mystery despite the source material and I applaud it! Even though this also doesn't have much new to offer, even to the point where I would compare this to Maid-Sama, what made me pick this at the 8th spot were the color choices and animation quality. Give this a shot if you can!

7. Grimoire of Zero (2017)

It's a fantasy/adventure story starring a loli sorcerer and a huge, anthropomorphic white tiger man. I honestly can't say anything else. I won't be able to do it justice. That first sentence should intrigue you a lease a little bit. Read it, again. Please check it out. It's an underrated gem that no one is talking about.

6. ID: Invaded (2020)

Hey, here's something recent! Unfortunately, this is also not something I can say much about. There may not be too many deep characters and the secret bad guy isn't hard to figure out, but BOY is this anime cool! The best way to describe this series is that it's like the movie Inception, but instead of brain heists, it's brain murder mysteries.

5. Carole and Tuesday (2019)

A runaway rich girl has a fated meeting with an orphan and they decide to make music together...oh, this also takes place Mars. Joking aside, this show was something special with its music (a new song almost every episode no less), interesting setting (freaking Mars, dude), and endearing main cast. Shoot, the music itself would be top 3, maybe number 1, but what bogs it down is the show's second half. I can easily see myself watching this again someday, and maybe my opinion will lighten up, but for now, 5 is a dang good spot.

4. Fate/Grand Order: Absolute Demonic Front - Babylonia (2019)

Part of me hesitates placing this high up on list due to this show being animated, fan service spectacle for Fate fans. However, that hesitation is overshadowed by the fact that I am a Fate fan myself and I can do whatever I want with this list. Even if you're not a Fate fan or play FGO, if you enjoy some solid fight animation, this is worth a look.

3. K-On S1 (2009)

I'll admit it, I might regret not watching the second season then putting the series on the list as a whole, but this how I've been doing these lists and I'm such a creature of habit. There's not much I can say about K-On that hasn't already been said. By itself it's an anime classic and one of Kyo-ani's biggest properties. It's a sweet and wholesome watch, but be sure to have some insulin within reach.

2. Princess Principal (2017)

Imagine you're working with a team of programmers trying to make a mobile game then all of a sudden someone asks to make a show out of it. You know, a show with different character motivations, plot, twist and turns and all that? Most might say that's just a shameless, shallow cash grab, but it turns out okay for Princess Principal. Sure, most might summarize this anime as, "cute girls doing espionage things," but with its cast, visuals, and interesting alternative timeline, it works! Apparently there's a new season or movie in the works and I am all for it!

1. Beastars (2019)

I was not expecting this to be number one, but with much deliberation (with myself obviously) this feels right. It tells a pretty unique story while showing itself to be the exception to the rule when it comes to 3D anime.....it being that it's actually good. While I acknowledge that shows like K-On are classics and deserves to be number one on many different lists, it didn't line up with my personal criteria like Beastars did. My biggest deciding factor is: Now that I've watched this, do I want more? It's true that while I'm excited to start K-On S2, Beastars intrigues me more and ever since season two was announced, I'm looking forward to that more.

Sorry again for this list being so late, but at least the silver lining is that the next end of the year list is about four months away (in theory)!

[hurlumerlu]

Top 5 "must see/read" you've enjoyed then 8)

huhu :3

Okay so I had actually never seen Casablanca in its entirety - the movie is so ubiquitous and the script so often used as The exemple of a good script that I had of course seen/read some scenes, and knew basically all of the plot as well as everyone and their mom's opinion on the movie, but as a result I was always a bit hesitant to actually sit down and watch it ? I kinda felt like the chance had past me by, which is truly absurd but also thematically appropriate. Anyway then @the-lady-knight came home from vacations and was like, "dude, did you know that Casablanca is super gay ?" and so I went "uh, yeah, duh." and she said "wait, you've seen in it ?" but I hadn't, so she said "wait, you HAVEN'T seen it ?" and - long story short - that's how I watched Casablanca and saw that it was good (and gay).

Next one is weird because I almost put it into "hidden gems" but I mean... it's one of the most prestigious Cdrama of this decade so I really couldn't, but it's also a bit strange to put it here because if I say "Nirvana in fire" people around me will just go "what in what, now ?". But it was one of the important media piece of this year, for me : this Montechristo-esque tale of revenge and political intrigues and standing up to corruption. I'll be frank, on a purely political stanpoint I have numerous issues with it, but also it's just. My shit. It's so much my shit. (except the yeti subplot. i wish i could forget about the yeti subplot.)

And hey ! speaking of famous chinese stories whose politics I don't vibe with but entirely deserve the hype : the-lady-knight bought us The Three-Body Problem and it is hands down one of the best books I read in a year full of great books. I just loved it. Specifically, I adored Ye Wenjie. It has been a while since a female character grabbed me by the throat the way she did (which is strange, because this book is so weird toward women), and she's probably the reason I won't read the other books in the trilogy. As far as I'm concerned, that story was her story, and I'm very glad I read it.

Next up on the list would be the first volume of Vernom Subutext, which I wasn't sure I wanted to read because I didn't like the way many men reviewed it (rather silly, I know). But a friend of mine had just finished it and so I asked to borrow it and what can I say ? It's fucking good ! Those men were weird about it though. (I'm obviously planning on reading the rest of it, just wainting to see my friend again)

And finally I am obligated to put Pillars of Eternity on that list, for the simple reason that I played *cough* nearly a thousand hours of it in a few months ? *cough*. Honnestly I'm not sure what happened here, I do tend to need to explore every nook and crannies and several different dialogue choices and fighting strategies before letting go of that kind of games, but even for me that is kind of too much, especially since I don't think the game is that rich thematically. I think I just need to find either a d&d party or a job. You know, whatever comes first.

So yeah ! other things could be on that list, but I think it's the most accurate one. smooch.

[sunflower-swan]

Not fandom related. TW for Covid content. I just need to put this out there.

...

...

...

One year ago this week...

Wednesday, March 11, 2020: My HS Choir sang the national anthem at the opening game of the state basketball tournament. We had lunch on Mass Street. My Mom came to see me and have lunch together. Dad was busy with farm stuff. My kids were excited to meet my Mom. On our way home we visited the capital building because they had never seen it before.

Thursday, March 12, 2020: HS Music trip to St. Louis cancelled. We were supposed to leave in a week. The kids had been fundraising for a year. We still haven't taken this trip. I'm hopeful for next year.

Friday, March 13, 2020: All of my groups had fantastic rehearsals. We were on the right path to having another great contest season. I told my kids I would see them Monday. We had four more days until Spring Break.

Sunday, March 15, 2020, around 5pm: Schools in my state shutdown until further notice.

Sunday, March 15, 2020, around 5:15pm: Calls and texts from crying and hysterical seniors who just lost all of their lasts. Who had been practicing their solos for months because this was going to be the year they received top marks at state music. Who had their final day with their band and/or choir family and they didn't know it at the time.

And then...

November 2020: A staff member tests positive. I was sitting next to them in a meeting the day before. We were both wearing masks and socially distanced. I was not quarantined.

Also November 2020: Three of my students test positive. I sit next to one of them during band rehearsal the day before. We were socially distanced and I'm not quarantined.

Still November 2020: My BIL tests positive. Sister and kids are quarantined. Family Thanksgiving is cancelled. We'll get together for Christmas.

Day after Thanksgiving 2020: My Uncle calls me to say he was in the hospital a few weeks ago for Covid. My Uncle never calls me. I probably hadn't talked to him in... A year? It was nice to talk to him but apparently thinking you're going to die changes a person.

A week before Christmas 2020: My Dad and his parents admitted to the hospital for Covid. My Dad and Grandma come home. My Grandpa does not... He passes away on New Years Eve. We did not have family Christmas.

Two weeks ago: We made an impromptu visit to see my family. It did not suck as much as I expected it to, to be at my grandparents house. It was the first time had seen them in person in four months. My Grandma is having surgery to remove her thyroid soon. When she was in the hospital for Covid the doctors found early stage cancer.

It has been a real turd of a year for everyone. For educators I feel like it has had an extra special suck. In my classroom (band & choir), kids are literally projecting their breath forcefully into the air. Kinda scary in an environment where kids are often unknown carriers of a dangerous virus that is transmitted through droplets expelled from one's mouth.

In August, when I found out my school was going completely in person with no mask requirement, I did some serious soul searching for a couple of days. In the end, I took the gamble that if I got sick, odds where good that I would feel lousy for a week or two but ultimately be ok. If I wasn't at school, then my kids would not be able to play their instruments or sing, and what's the point in being in music if you can't do those things?

I still feel like that was an unfair choice I was forced to make. The choice between my future health and my students education. For many kids, their elective classes get them out of bed and at school every day. A couple of teachers chose to teach remotely. I'm glad they had that option. The way I looked at it, if I wanted my program to survive beyond this year, and I did, then I had to be at school.

Not gonna lie, that first month of school was rough on me. I hadn't been around anyone other than close family in about six months. I went to the store a couple times with my husband early in the spring. Apparently I don't hide my fear as well as I think I do because we got home and he said that he wouldn't make me do that again. And he hasn't, bless him.

Except... Our weekly trips to the store were fun. We don't really go out so that was our time together outside of home. And we lost that. He still does the shopping on his own. It's the only time he leaves the house other than when we walk the dogs in the evening. (His job allows him to work from home.)

Which brings us to today. I got my second Covid shot on Friday. Saturday I spent the day in bed. I didn't feel "bad" I was just too exhausted to do anything. Yesterday I felt better but still kinda tired. I don't like needles or shots, and the thought of receiving an emergency vaccine really scared the hell out of me.

Teachers in my state were part of group two, right after senior citizens and health care workers, to have the chance at the vaccine. Some of my colleagues chose to opt out. In the end I decided to get it because my Grandpa couldn't. He was gone before it was an option.

And then my Dad sends me this picture this morning:

I was probably about six years old here. And that's my Grandpa helping me ride a bike.

Tell your loved ones you love them every chance you get. Don't take a single second for granted.

...

This ended up way longer than I expected it to be. When I started it was just going to be what happened a year ago. And then it sorta snowballed into everything from the past year. If you've made it this far, well, congratulations I guess. Thanks for coming to my TedTalk.