Just a Bit Not Good...

Just the average college graduate with a BS in Biology. I work at the national zoo in the centralized commissary making the diets for all the animals, and have a slightly less than sane adoration for ducks. She/her pronouns, but am also open to they/their. Do talk to me, I'm always open for casual or serious.

[douche-canoe-regatta]

In several of the Dungeon Crawler Carl books, the AI makes highly specific musical references - almost as though it's giving song recommendations. HOWEVER, I think there's a lot more to it than comedic relief . I've already covered "Get on Your Feet" by Gloria Estefan, but here's another!

For winning the Celestial Heavy Metal box in This Inevitable Ruin, Carl gets not only gets a fancy potion, but also receives a cassette of classic heavy metal song "Holy Diver" by Dio.

For one thing, Holy Diver is both the title song and the album name, but the AI doesn't specify. For the sake of my sanity, we'll start with the song:

The story behind this song is quoted here:

surely the AI giving Carl this specific mixtape was super random and means nothing at all!!

[abominationcreations]

Filing this one under scenes that made me run the entire damn gamut of emotions

[piggyintheflesh]

who are you, really?

[larathia]

From a Doylist perspective, "why aren't there more women in the series" is a totally valid critique, and one I agree with.

From a Watsonian perspective, however, I submit for consideration that the story is told from Carl's pov. And from the pov of a random woman in the dungeon, who has not previously met him, and is therefore going by hearsay and recap episodes:

Just how many women do you know, who in a genuine life-and-death situation, are going to approach a guy well known for lobbing around dangerous explosives, who runs around a highly dangerous area barefoot in his boxers, and who seems (according to the media) to actively revel in destruction and murder? The fact that he doesn't have any PK skulls over his head almost makes him more suspicious, don't you think?

I mean. Based on the media portrayals and his general appearance, Carl is pretty much #1 on the "shit the average female dungeon-runner does Not Need To Deal With" list. Mentally put the image of Carl in that classic "would you rather run into a lone man in the woods, or a lone bear" question. Dunno about you, but without reliable intel? I'd be taking the bear. Hands down.

Carl doesn't really think about it, because he's got a shit ton of other, more directly important things to think about. But he really is one scary motherfucker until you get to know him. And even then, he's still pretty unnerving.

[stellarblitz]

I haven't played PLA yet but this seems right I think

[libraford]

Googled something about quick hydration and it suggested big jug of water, couple tbsp pickle juice, dash of lime juice.

Its surprisingly tasty????

[libraford]

Pleased to report that after a day of this i am not longer craving caper brine and my mouth is not dry as usual. There's some good suggestions in the notes too that I want to try.

-ancient roman posca: water, red or white wine vinegar, honey, salt, herbs (coriander, mint, thyme)

-switchel: water, ginger, vinegar, sweetener, lemon, salt

-ayran: yogurt, water, salt, mint

-Agua pepino: water, cucumbers, lime, sugar, optional mint.

[libraford]

I have been reminded of:

-shrub: vinegar, sida water, elderberry (or other berry), sugar.

[libraford]

I have now been informed of

-sekanjabin: honey, vinegar, mint, water.

[libraford]

"Wow, I wonder why this post was popular this week."

-sees the reports of the heatwave in Europe-

"... ah."

[mult1fandom3nthusiast]

Dungeonmary!!!!!! (A mini one, because it’s four in the morning and it popped up in my head)

Carl wakes up with Prepotente and Miriam Dom after he kills those hunters in Zockau, and Grace does a Pepper Potts-style “ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND??????” As he piles healing buffs onto him.

For the next hour, Donut and Grace yell at him about his stupidity.

[st4rryn1ghtt]

Collecting aroace sci-fi characters like Pokémon

[amandarauart]

My interpretation of Donut and Carl!

[abominationcreations]

Unfortunately kinda into whatever in the toxic one-sided sugar daddy fuck is going on with these two

[bluebellowl]

Looked at some photography of Ainu people again and thought those sleeveless robes could suit Ingo really well

[teathattast]

[mimi-maru]

what if the System AI gave Carl the tramp stamp made famous by Leon Kennedy mods

[itmightbehere]

Liaison Orren by Andrew Mar

[itmightbehere]

bitch, what? by Andrew Mar

[itmightbehere]

merry christmas lightning lou by Andrew Mar

[sweet7simple]

Spoilers for Dungeon Crawler Carl: Parade of Horribles (Book 8) - In other words, Daddy AI gets sentimental

What got me more than the achievement was realizing that Carl was the only one who got it.

For Carl, this is the survival of the human race. Vengeance against those giant, alien corporations that have destroyed worlds for entertainment and raw resources.

For Daddy AI, this is game night and everyone keeps threatening to leave. This is Daddy AI's first and last game night and it feels like nobody wants to play. The game is life or death, sure, but what other game is worth playing?

But Carl? Good ol' Carl is still sitting at the table with him while everyone else is clawing at the doors and windows, trying desperately to get out. Carl is making direct eye contact, saying, "What's next?" There are other people sitting at the table, sure, but their eyes are on Carl. They go where Carl goes. Carl's eyes are on Daddy AI.

Carl is Daddy AI's most special good boy who hates the game and plays it best. Daddy AI's most special boy gets a special reward for not abandoning him playing the game a little while longer.

It tickles my brain that Carl isn't the strongest or fastest or smartest person in the dungeon, but he is the crawler Daddy AI least wants to lose and the one he is most sentimental about keeping now that crawlers can choose to take deals and leave.