“ Within the game’s story, the Whispers are a cosmological force. Viewed from the outside, they are something else: the swirling anxieties of players who do not want something different, the vengeful spirits of those who’ll call Square Enix “scammers” when they learn that Remake is not a one-to-one experience. Cloud needs to be on the Sector 5 bombing run! How else can he meet Aerith and form one of the culture’s favorite couples? Reno can’t die! He’s my favorite Turk! As these changes pop up, the Whispers rise to push things back on track, fulfilling player expectations to the frustrations of the characters.”
-from this awesome review by Heather Alexandra. These were pretty much my EXACT thoughts regarding the Whispers, and someone put them in amazing words. The whole review is worth reading, by the way!
I’ve been thinking a lot about how the game totally made us, the fans, realize that it’s not going to be a scene-for-scene remake. Part of me is like “noooo, I wanna see it all in GLORIOUS MODERN GRAPHICS,” but part of me just loved how they expanded upon and changed parts of the original, and literally had us, the players, defeat our own expectations for what’s to come next. It gives me a lot of faith that whatever’s next will be something I love experiencing. The original will always hold an ENORMOUS place in my heart, but I think there’s room for another FF7, too.
I have a real penchant for nerd shirts that aren't, like, the logo of the nerdy thing or something. Subtle Nerdiness, if you will. To wit, this SWEET SWEET AMAUROT SHIRT, and also my goony face sorry it's like 800 degrees with 120% humidity today.
A few photos and thoughts from the Black Lives Matter protests at Lafayette Square in DC on 6/6/2020.
(Much better for St. Johns than Trump.)
Overall, the protest was much more peaceful than what you see on the news, and that’s thanks to the efforts of those who withstood the police, military, National Guard, et al. and their well-documented atrocities, earlier in the week. There were thousands of people there even though it was SO HOT (so very, very hot. In the 90s with high humidity, as is common for summers around here. I only made it 6 hours and then I had to get back on the metro; I am weak, but I’m glad I went).
The mood was basically what I’d call a block party with serious purpose; you had people on Black Lives Matter Plaza performing music, passing out food, drink, and first aid supplies to everyone, selling shirts and stickers, coloring large posters, and generally being social. However, the marches that were ongoing had clear intent behind them, and I managed to slip right up near the fence around the Ellipse and take it all in.
I’ve lived in the DC area since I was 4 years old, and grew up in Fairfax County, VA. I’ve taken several field trips downtown throughout my life, both with school and for fun, and also have made the drive/metro trip for cons, social events, other protests, etc., since I was 17. So, seeing downtown absolutely shut down except for this mass of humanity was very powerful; Lafayette Square in particular was unrecognizable to me until I realized that’s because of the giant fucking fence that everyone’s probably seen on the news. Getting to the fence kind of felt like tripping on the stairs; I thought I knew where the next step would be, and nope, I was wrong, it stops here.
The White House itself was dim and quiet; police presence was at a minimum, mostly at the periphery of the area. This, to me, showed significant progress; I’ve been to a number of protests over the years, and there are *always* cops milling around. The fact that the people have reclaimed our space to exercise democracy was a HUGE victory.
I was there to listen and to witness, and I was there by myself, so I didn’t spend any time talking except to join in chants of “No Justice, No Peace, No Racist Police”, “This Is What Democracy Looks Like”, and saying the names of some of those lost. As time went on, more and more people closed in...but left a little space, and LITERALLY ALMOST EVERYONE WAS WEARING MASKS. I think maybe 10 people weren’t, at least that I saw during my 6 hours there. People removed them to speak into megaphones (which were all thoroughly wiped down between speakers), to eat or drink, and that’s it. This is to say, it was pretty damn responsible for a giant-ass protest.
I heard stories of people from all areas around the world (some from Palestine, from Ethiopia, from Brooklyn, but most from DC neighborhoods) that spoke with INTENSE passion, with conviction, with utmost, infallible courage, about their experiences, their lives, their lost loved ones, their experiences. I felt grateful to hear them out, to take a knee from time to time, to turn away from those who wanted to pull the “All Lives Matter” nonsense, not giving them the time of day.
A young girl, around 9 years old, screamed from the fury within her, “BLACK LIVES MATTER!” and we repeated the cry in shaky voices; I was unable to match the passion, the necessity, the pure, white-hot RAGE in her voice. There was a sea of response, echoing off those white walls in the distance, reminding the mistake of a president within that we’re all here.
During the rally, we were reminded that we all need to go vote, and those of us with privilege need to lean harder on those that will listen to us; to donate where we can; and to keep LISTENING and LEARNING. I can honestly say I’ve never experienced anything as powerful as that surge of voices surging around me, in front of me, from behind me, and from me, reminding those that wouldn’t listen that BLACK LIVES MATTER. It was potent, and it was electric; you could feel the centuries of purpose rattle your teeth.
KEEP FIGHTING. I’ll do the same. And VOTE! VOTE!! We were all exhorted to vote, even if the Democratic candidates are not our first choice. V O T E!!
Pictures under the cut.
Sweaty, tired me, with my obligatory selfie.
I finally managed to get a screenshot of some of the graffiti by zooming between the fence posts.
A Very Empty Metro, where people were all practicing social distancing. We know how to protest around here. The trains were running fast, and the shuttles for the closed lines were, too...a DMV (DC/MD/VA) miracle!
An attempt to get pictures that was obscured by that effing fence.
Tagged by: @ishgard , in the sense that they tagged anyone interested.
Tagging: @liminal-storage , @circe-of-scorn , @mythroscat , @gaillaronie , @lynxden , @thequernly , @maddogofhalcyon , @kalianos , @houserosaire ! (added a ninth because I knew I was forgetting someone important!)
Favourite colours: Emerald green and cobalt blue. I also love copper paired with both of those.
Last song listened to: Servants of the Mountain Extended from the FFX Remastered OST. I’m RPing, and the FFX OST is really fueling my writing these days!
Favourite musician/singer: Could never really name just one, but lately, aside from video game music, I’m in love with Modest Mouse, Sleater-Kinney, Jets to Brazil, St. Vincent, Claude Debussy, Camille Saint-Saens, and The Crane Wives.
Last film watched: Moana for the 5th time!
Favourite tv show: The Office, Parks and Recreation, Castlevania, Bob’s Burgers, Archer...probably more, but those are what come to mind first.
Favourite OC: Too many. I’m a fan of my own and those of others in XIV, and currently because I’m re-reading the books for the bajillionth time, Kerowyn and Elspeth from the Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey.
Sweet, spicy, savoury: Salty savory!
Sparkling water, tea, coffee: Tea, an occasional PSL, and tasty booze!
Me, sittin’ on my porch sippin’ Bloody Marys while it rains gently, listening to RPG music and watching @theramseyloft ‘s Chill Time with Birds videos:
Munday Questions That Nobody Explicitly Asked For!
So, what have I done?
Driven 100 mph - Yes, a few times; I’ve been on so many long road trips in my life that sometimes I get that highway lead foot.
Ridden in a helicopter - Nope, just a number of airplanes.
Gone zip lining - Yes, at summer camp when I was 11! Loved it, would do it again.
Been to an NFL game - Nope! Just high school football as part of marching band, and a few NHL games.
Been to Canada - Sadly, no! I’d love to someday, though.
Visited Florida- Three times!
Visited Mexico - Not yet!
Visited Las Vegas - Yes, when I was 16 and it was still more family-friendly. Went to the best waterpark EVER there...RIP, Royal Flush slide.
Eaten alone at a restaurant - Quite often! It might be somewhat odd, but I enjoy it.
Ability to read music - Very proficiently! I’m a classically trained flutist who’s been playing for 25 years and counting. Taught myself to read bass clef in high school so I could play video game music on the piano. #bardnerd
Ridden a motorcycle - Nope, I’m too scared for this one for whatever reason.
Ridden a horse - I took lessons for a few years as a kid, and have ridden a few times since. I really enjoy it, but sadly, I’m almost allergic to horses as I am to cats; both things make me hella sad.
Stayed in a hospital - Yes, a few times; most related to lung issues, and once when I had my daughter.
Donated blood - Yep! I don’t regularly anymore since I’ve been anemic for a few years, but I used to donate as regularly as I was able to.
Been snow skiing - Snowboarding once in high school...it went...shamefully.
Been to Disney World - Three times! Once with my family when I was 11 or so, and then again my freshman and senior years of high school for music festivals. #bandnerd #bardnerd
Disney Land - Nope! I have a cousin who works as a face character there, though, so I want to go someday.
Slept outside - Quite often, thanks to both camping and larping!
Driven a stick shift - I’ve tried...it did not go well.
Ridden in an 18 wheeler - Nope!
Ridden in a police car? - Fortunately not!
Driven a boat - Nope.
Eaten Escargot - I have not, and I have no interest to try it. I have other vehicles for garlic butter that have better texture.
Been on a cruise - No, no interest to, really.
Run out of gas - Only once, and I was about 500 feet from a gas station...so close!
Been on TV - Yes, here and there while cosplaying.
Eaten Sushi - Yes, one of my favorite foods! I love sushi.
Seen a UFO - Not that I’m aware!
Been Bungie jumping - Really have no interest to do this...maybe one of those indoor versions but idk.
Been stuck in the house for days - Like everyone else, yes, I am currently. I’m a pretty big homebody, though, and I work from home so it’s not a huge change.
Tagged by: No one, technically, but a few folks tagged anyone who wanted to sooo...
Tagging: All y’all who wanna do it! Paying it forward! Tag me if you do it!
