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shamanicshayminI'm not going to miss this year. At all. Thanks to politics, it's pretty much been one long endurance run where the extinction of important species and even the apocalypse feels like one executive order away. Two states (including mine) got flooded, and Puerto Rico is without power while our fucking government sits on their asses with their ears plugged in the hopes everyone on the island will die off soon. Don't get me started what's happening to Net Neutrality, and I pray to god Ajit Pai and the FCC are successfully sued.
That said, I'm knocking wood due to events that happened which makes me cling to hope a little. Like...
- Exposing Harvey Weinstein and the following arrests of predators who have gotten away with their shit for WAY too long. I'm crossing my fingers that the #MeToo movement is more than just a trend, and we can FINALLY get overdue laws into place once we kick out the 45 Administration. The toxic systems in Hollywood and workplaces in general need to be overthrown, not called out for several months before things return to the status quo. They must be gone for good.
- Doug Jones' victory over a homophobic racist pedophile. I know we can't rely on black voters to always get white people out of our messes and we can truly thank them by electing more black people (especially black women) into powerful government positions, but I'm grateful all the same. I'm glad "keep fighting" isn't just an empty mantra under Unholy Orange Hell.
It's been pretty big fandom-wise.
- My best friend and I have been RPing a big Charasriel (which later became Chariskriel) AU we call The Scars We Choose. This AU has kept us sane throughout the whole year, and it's what kept me active in writing. Even if I barely got much done in fic this year, I've been VERY productive regarding TSWC. We have fanmixes, art, and everything. TSWC has just been so cathartic for us, it's incredible. I'm proud of the work we're doing for it. ;;
- After suffering and dealing with the worst of Undertale fandom for so long, I finally got invited to a few Discord groups where I felt welcome and safe. I missed the warmth, love, and creativity of that side of UT fandom so much, and I'm glad I got those spaces whenever I'm down.
- This is the year I also went to PAX San Antonio! I got to see my TSWC partner there and it was the first time I got to meet an online friend IRL. ;; Realmscon was also magical because I GOT TO SEE FUCKING VOLTAIRE. Hands down the best concert I've been to. It's like hanging out at a campfire with an old friend who happens to be a gothic rum-loving skeleton raised by bats.
- Much to my surprise, TCM did a showing of rare cult classic Belladonna of Sadness (NSFW) (the movie that inspired Kunihiko Ikuhara into becoming an anime director) and my parents recorded it for me! I didn't know what I was going to think about it coming in. But holy fuck. I loved it. Considering I watched it right on the heels of the election of the Orange Führer, a movie where a wronged and traumatized woman makes a deal with the devil and gains power, and whole village respects her and they give a giant Fuck You to the so-called "righteous" church monarchy terrorizing them, it is SO satisfying. Even with the ending, it clearly shows that the revolution is Not Over. Needless to say, you can see why Ikuhara likes this movie. :P The movie is definitely Not For Everyone (rape, explicit sex, violence, exploration of witchcraft and witch hunts, Nightmare Fuel up the wazoo, TRIPPY AS BALLS ANIMATION) but goddamn, did it hit all the right notes for me. Not to mention there's the gorgeous watercolor art and TRIPPY AS BALLS ANIMATION and an awesome 70s soundtrack. 8)
- I finally got around to playing OneShot. Perfect timing too, because the Solstice update came out this year. omg omg omg it's so good. ;; It's interesting to compare with OFF and Undertale (though one of its primary inspirations is Hyper Light Drifter, which I still have to play. ;;), but it's very much its own thing and does crazy shit with your computer that serves a purpose WAY beyond gimmicks. The game is smart without being smug, and it has a warm heart at the center of it all. ;; Niko is the biggest cinnamon roll in the world and I love them so much, aaaaaaaa. I won't spoil anything at all, let's just say a certain scene between Niko and the Entity legitimately made me cry. ("I really am a flawed machine, aren't I?") Also, I recommend after you get one of the two original endings of the game that you listen to Yin / Yang: A OneShot Concept Album. Hell, my current icon even comes from the cover. :o My favorite track would definitely be the first one, "A Distant Prayer (Ending)." The vocalist even reminds me of Sharon den Adel from Within Temptation. ;;
- My family and I got to see Coco for Christmas (and we mercifully were spared of the 22-minute Olaf special). Congratulations Pixar: you made the second movie to reduce me to tears (the first was Inside Out). Like, my relationship with Pixar films has been like this:
UP: teary-eyed near the end, but didn't cry.
Toy Story 3: Touched, but didn't get teary-eyed.
Inside Out: Cried near the end.
Coco: Cried twice in two different scenes near the end.
So... Coco. A++
Hurricane Fanmix Progress: I haven't forgotten any of you at all! Progress is just really slow, aaaaaa.calliatra, your smut inspiration mix is almost ready! I got all the songs I need, I just need to make the cover and the write-up post. I hope this'll be worth the wait. ;;
Happy New Year, everyone. Let's not blow it on 2018.
That said, I'm knocking wood due to events that happened which makes me cling to hope a little. Like...
- Exposing Harvey Weinstein and the following arrests of predators who have gotten away with their shit for WAY too long. I'm crossing my fingers that the #MeToo movement is more than just a trend, and we can FINALLY get overdue laws into place once we kick out the 45 Administration. The toxic systems in Hollywood and workplaces in general need to be overthrown, not called out for several months before things return to the status quo. They must be gone for good.
- Doug Jones' victory over a homophobic racist pedophile. I know we can't rely on black voters to always get white people out of our messes and we can truly thank them by electing more black people (especially black women) into powerful government positions, but I'm grateful all the same. I'm glad "keep fighting" isn't just an empty mantra under Unholy Orange Hell.
It's been pretty big fandom-wise.
- My best friend and I have been RPing a big Charasriel (which later became Chariskriel) AU we call The Scars We Choose. This AU has kept us sane throughout the whole year, and it's what kept me active in writing. Even if I barely got much done in fic this year, I've been VERY productive regarding TSWC. We have fanmixes, art, and everything. TSWC has just been so cathartic for us, it's incredible. I'm proud of the work we're doing for it. ;;
- After suffering and dealing with the worst of Undertale fandom for so long, I finally got invited to a few Discord groups where I felt welcome and safe. I missed the warmth, love, and creativity of that side of UT fandom so much, and I'm glad I got those spaces whenever I'm down.
- This is the year I also went to PAX San Antonio! I got to see my TSWC partner there and it was the first time I got to meet an online friend IRL. ;; Realmscon was also magical because I GOT TO SEE FUCKING VOLTAIRE. Hands down the best concert I've been to. It's like hanging out at a campfire with an old friend who happens to be a gothic rum-loving skeleton raised by bats.
- Much to my surprise, TCM did a showing of rare cult classic Belladonna of Sadness (NSFW) (the movie that inspired Kunihiko Ikuhara into becoming an anime director) and my parents recorded it for me! I didn't know what I was going to think about it coming in. But holy fuck. I loved it. Considering I watched it right on the heels of the election of the Orange Führer, a movie where a wronged and traumatized woman makes a deal with the devil and gains power, and whole village respects her and they give a giant Fuck You to the so-called "righteous" church monarchy terrorizing them, it is SO satisfying. Even with the ending, it clearly shows that the revolution is Not Over. Needless to say, you can see why Ikuhara likes this movie. :P The movie is definitely Not For Everyone (rape, explicit sex, violence, exploration of witchcraft and witch hunts, Nightmare Fuel up the wazoo, TRIPPY AS BALLS ANIMATION) but goddamn, did it hit all the right notes for me. Not to mention there's the gorgeous watercolor art and TRIPPY AS BALLS ANIMATION and an awesome 70s soundtrack. 8)
- I finally got around to playing OneShot. Perfect timing too, because the Solstice update came out this year. omg omg omg it's so good. ;; It's interesting to compare with OFF and Undertale (though one of its primary inspirations is Hyper Light Drifter, which I still have to play. ;;), but it's very much its own thing and does crazy shit with your computer that serves a purpose WAY beyond gimmicks. The game is smart without being smug, and it has a warm heart at the center of it all. ;; Niko is the biggest cinnamon roll in the world and I love them so much, aaaaaaaa. I won't spoil anything at all, let's just say a certain scene between Niko and the Entity legitimately made me cry. ("I really am a flawed machine, aren't I?") Also, I recommend after you get one of the two original endings of the game that you listen to Yin / Yang: A OneShot Concept Album. Hell, my current icon even comes from the cover. :o My favorite track would definitely be the first one, "A Distant Prayer (Ending)." The vocalist even reminds me of Sharon den Adel from Within Temptation. ;;
- My family and I got to see Coco for Christmas (and we mercifully were spared of the 22-minute Olaf special). Congratulations Pixar: you made the second movie to reduce me to tears (the first was Inside Out). Like, my relationship with Pixar films has been like this:
UP: teary-eyed near the end, but didn't cry.
Toy Story 3: Touched, but didn't get teary-eyed.
Inside Out: Cried near the end.
Coco: Cried twice in two different scenes near the end.
So... Coco. A++
Hurricane Fanmix Progress: I haven't forgotten any of you at all! Progress is just really slow, aaaaaa.
calliatra, your smut inspiration mix is almost ready! I got all the songs I need, I just need to make the cover and the write-up post. I hope this'll be worth the wait. ;;Happy New Year, everyone. Let's not blow it on 2018.
