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Shizuka listened patiently while Isis talked, while her brother deliberated, before chiming in, 'that's a possibility Isis, but I don't think that's it. I don't know how to explain, but I get the feeling that whatever this is its personal, but its not personal to Yuugi. It's personal to my brother, and Kaiba. I'm not even sure that the fact that its personal to the two of them is even related to each other. I really can't explain why I feel this way, but I feel it to be true. Even if I'm wrong though, your contacts might be a good place to start. Suggestions on where to begin, or with whom?'

((Dragon Age has its generic qualities but I think it works really well, though I'm approaching the end and I'm not happy about it. Why can't wars end magically with everyone happy and kittens? xd This game definitely gets me invested in different people and different stories, but as the game approaches the end I realise I can't make everyone happy, and that does make me unhappy. I'll probably go back to L4D when I finish up with Dragon Age. Definitely hope we can play together sometime, time zones really are an annoyance.

I really got into Yuugiou on my own, for several years I didn't know anyone particularly who was into it. However, what got me back into it after I took a break and what really invested my interests in things like talking about it in a guild was prompted by other people. I really 'want' to want to read more manga/watch more anime these days, however I've also kind of drifted away. Busier with academic interests, been reading more novels or not reading at all, and playing games a lot more. I've always liked games in the past, but never got immersed the way I do now. I think part of that is how my life is structured. I got really into manga b/c it was 'faster' to read than novels when I was too busy with academics. These days I tend to have less free time everyday and more days with no free time and days that I leave completely empty. So I just like the idea of burying myself in a game in a free day, or watch a bunch of bad horror movies.

Curious to see if anyone will express interest in the guild. If not maybe if it's public enough people will happen to wander in in the future with an interest of reforming it.))

In spite of the gravity of the situation Shizuka couldn't help bursting into laughter at the mental image of her brother pulling out his deck in front of some crazed blade wielding sociopath. She apologised profusely when she managed to calm down, aware that her brother didn't look quite as amused as she felt. 'Well we don't need this Tenchi Domon to be kind, just helpful. Perhaps Kaiba and my brother could collaborate on everything they've been together over the past few days and go see him while the rest of us continue our independent research,' Shizuka suggested. As much as she didn't like the idea of her brother going off without her, and she knew Mokuba would be even less enthused to let his brother run off again, she wouldn't stand in the way of any plan that might gain them answers, or better yet help.

((I agree that I don't mind generic, this escapist reviewer that my bf likes called it generic yet after 5 straight hours he still felt the desire to keep playing and find out what happens next. I also think it combines a lot of things I can't really find any other game to combine. Basically I like the whole dagger/blade + elves/mages/dwarves type worlds a lot more fun than modern or futuristic play (I enjoy those at times but this is my favourite, the more medieval feel). I like squad based combat and I like being able to interact with thought out characters who aren't real people. So while dragon age is 'generic' it also combines a lot of things I love that aren't usually combined. I'm almost done with the origins main story, but the ultimate edition came with an awakening campaign which I can import my character into (though this one won't allow romances sadly, I did have fun with that). I'll probably take some time between games though; this is seriously eating into my PhD. The funding rejection bumming me out doesn't have me quite as motivated to dig back in either, but working on getting motivated again. I have a conference I'm presenting at coming up next week and a large one I'm helping to run the 12th of June. So maybe once we move more into summer we can find some common free time. My schedule might be busier but it also might be more flexible, especially in summer when my jobs will die down and other forums, seminar series and responsibilities beyond just work on my thesis. My username on Steam is the same as on here btw. I'm also likely to be pretty bad at these games as well, there are some I pick up frequently (like Killing Floor, it's the one multiplayer game I have that I have a lot of Steam friends also playing) but most I'm probably similar to you, though I was fairly decent at L4D. I downloaded TF2 the other day and was just absolutely terrible at it, had no idea what I was supposed to be doing, neither did my bf who is originally who asked me to download it. He's since played and is getting better but my frustration with it hasn't subsided enough for me to try again yet. xd I can imagine GameStop would influence that. My bf follows more current gaming info so that has me more aware/playing more games as well. I am trying to read a chapter of a (fun) book a day but it's turning more into a chapter a week, maybe. Hopefully I'll have more time for that in summer as well.))

They ended the call with Isis after jotting down all the information they would need to find Domon. 'Well I guess you and Kaiba should probably go see this man then, you two can compare notes about shared experiences along the way, unless there is definitely anything else you need to do first?' Shizuka both stated and asked, worry creeping back into her voice at the thought of letting her brother go off without her again.

((Yea, games are definitely where I prefer fantasy the most, but it probably wins in books for me as well. Though fantasy series do tend to feature some of the driest book sections. LOTR Two Towers definitely was a struggle to finish. I think the film got it much better in rotating between sam/frodo and the major battle scenes because it paced it better. The book has literally 200+ pages of Frodo slowly going mad and them slowly trudging toward Mordor. That was painful to get through. Films I love big fantasy worlds but I equally love modern/sci-fi. Films I love fantasy/sci-fi/horror but sci-fi/horror (often sci-fi space horror) is definitely winning quantity of loved films. However, I don't like as many old sci-fi films, I feel how dated they are and its harder for me to get immersed. I think Alien is one of the oldest sci-fi/horror movies that I'd say I enjoy. It's just harder to really immerse in an older film when it's blatantly obvious that their 'future' technology is actually about 10 years behind where we are currently. And yes I'm talking about Yahtzee, my bf has seen every video millions of times and he's the one who put me onto him. I've seen most videos once or twice, though if I haven't heard of the game unless Tom is watching the video I won't necessarily look for it on my own. Bad reviews are of course the most fun.

Yea I think L4D will still be fun. TF2 I'll probably give another shot when I have more time. The servers were definitely not working well the first time Tom and I tried to play. I guess if you could suggest what might be the best mode in which to gain some semblance of what you are trying to do in the game that'd be helpful. I think what we did was some defend against robots mode, forget what it was called but we could never make it past the third wave. The bomb was always launched and we always failed. Spent a lot of time trying to figure out a strategy for that one wave (rather than more the game on a whole), never managed to do so, and felt at a loss and frustrated. I did enjoy the escapist article Tom was reading yesterday (read it over his shoulder so unsure who it is by) that began something like hat simulator TF2 has finally dropped all pretense of being a FPS. That made me laugh. I barely know the game but I do know it quite likes its hats.))

Shizuka sighed at the needlessly overprotective request. However, if it would give her brother peace of mind before he set out alone with Kaiba then she would agree to it, for his sake. 'I don't know what Honda can do against the supernatural but if you think it's a good idea I have no objections,' she replied sweetly.

((I haven't played many horror games actually but I think that might be a constant for me if I didn't freak out. Things that would freak me out in real life freak me out in games. Spiders are the worst thing for me in rpg games, I want to scream and run in circles. The first time I came across spiders in Dragon Age and was still having trouble learning the controls I screamed and threw a fit until Tom killed all the spiders for me. I've since regained composure and can handle my own spiders now, but yea, games make things too real for me sometimes. I like some sci-fi but I'm definitely picky about it. I really need strong characters to love sci-fi - though if it has them it can be really good, I really love Firefly although the movie that concludes the series is a mixed bag for me.

Fantasy books do draw out a bit, but for me the good parts are worth the perhaps less interesting parts. I think a lot of the fantasy series I've liked have also been quite 'earth like' in terms of the 'world' so they don't have such a long draw out of 'what is in this world.' Fantasy series frequently switch b/w lots of characters or expand over multiple centuries and thus focus on several different sets of characters. So often I find myself attached to a particular set and then not happy with later sets.

Haha, see my bf thought that would be the easiest thing to learn on, also he did want to play together and that seemed the easiest way to do so. He's been doing training and now that I'm slowly coming out of my Dragon Age binge I might give one of the other modes a shot. I hate that bomb cart thing though. I'm afraid I'll never know the prestige of the hats, having come in so late. xd ))

'Well then let's give him a call and figure out a quick way to get him here asap so that you and Kaiba can set off then,' Shizuka answered warmly, handing the phone back to her brother so he could see if her friend was up for a trip, after which they'd have to check with the Kaiba brothers to see if potentially another helicopter could be taxied for a bit.

((I love watching people play horror games, I just don't know what it is about being in the horror spot that freaks me out so badly. My phobia of zombies (and it's a silly yet kind of unnecessarily persistent phobia for something not real - yet) stemmed from playing Resident Evil games. I watched the films long before I played any of the games, watched tons of other zombie films. Yet the first time I played my game myself I have since been terrified of the things. To the point where there have been nights I've barricaded my door, just in case. I haven't done that in awhile, but I haven't lived in rooms without locks much while in Birmingham. The only giant hands I can think of were in Castle Crashers, and I had a hard time being terrified of that. I could see giant hands being done quite creepy though in a less cartoony setting.

Yea I think it was figuring out the servers, that mode just made it more obvious how to start and then invite me. I'd prefer being on the same team at first, but as long as we are in the same game I suppose that'd be okay. The team thing is more about I'm hyper competitive and while I'm terrible at the game (even if that is always) I'll get annoyed while he/his team slaughters me.

Please don't die! But seriously yea, I'm totally up to being Vice Captain. We'll say in case of the account frozen thing, not the death thing.

Man that convention sounds amazing, I am beyond jealous. Hopefully I'll be able to afford/have time and have a good convention near me sometime in the near future. Plus having contact with a loved author, that's not easy to come by, even if you never have more than the forwarding of pics, that's something. Too bad about the Homoerotic Subtext panel being a wash though, that sounds like it had the potential to be a very fascinating talk. I mean the best parts of Yaoi-con were always the bits that justified that this is an 18+ convention. And that definitely sounds like a great haul of swag, books are probably my favourite thing to buy at conventions. The opportunity to get them signed that sometimes arises is probably a big part of that. Although being 'saved' by the Avengers is probably the coolest thing story wise, but yea, that sounds like a tough convention to beat.))

((Sadly that made me have to go look at page one because I realised I couldn't remember who was playing Honda. As it's me that is even sadder. However I scrolled through the story a bit and I don't think Honda knows anything about the supernatural stuff. I think the last time he was in the story was at the Kabia mansion and he knew something weird was going on, but he was told nothing and he never thought 'supernatural' weird, just 'why the hell is Jou feeling a need to stick with Kaiba' weird. I think Shizuka and then Yuugi were the first reveals on 'something supernatural was going on', with Mokuba unhappily being filled in by not his own brother later. So he'll know about the Kaiba/Jounouchi hospitalisation, and the problems with Shizuka showing up, but not any of the supernatural stuff or even that Shizuka/Jounouchi's mom had an accident and they have all flown off to see her, now with Yuugi in tow.

I also see that I was using Hiroto when I played him in the story, which I no longer like so I'll use Honda, but let me know if the switch bugs you. However, as neither of us could really remember what was going on with him I don't think it'll be too noticeable. My original desire to refer to people by their first names when they are 'in their own head' as that is what seems logical to me has been trumped by I just don't ever call him Hiroto, Tristan maybe, but not Hiroto.))

Honda glanced at his phone and almost didn't answer the unknown number. However, after years of friendship with Jounouchi who had never owned a cell and frequently called from borrowed devices and payphones, Honda didn't want to take the chance that he'd be hanging up on him. Particularly as things had been so weird lately and he was worried about the guy. 'Hello?' he answered questioningly, hoping that it really would prove to be Jounouchi.

((I too rather love watching games, often times more than playing. If it's a good story based game I find that easily just as fun to watch, if it isn't I still enjoy watching those games as much as I'd enjoy playing a non-story game. With few exceptions. Shooters aren't often very fun to watch. Dying when I'm the character definitely feels more real, and I think it gets more frustratingly intense for me in story based/rpg/you are a character and not merely controlling a tool to push buttons and reach levers game. Heh, cute comic though, I definitely get the feeling. I definitely hate any object that is chasing me and my objective is just to run away or die. Boulders for some reason bother me the most. The first game I really got into was Crash Bandicoot back when I was 9, and each game has at least 2-3 levels where you are being chased by something. However, it's the being chased by a boulder that I find more nerve wracking than being chased by a giant bear or dinosaur (other possible chasers). I guess even though I can't fight chaser types if they are characters they still feel like 'enemies' rather than looming natural disaster. In films it's always been natural disasters that make me really uncomfortable, and I think that fear in games kind of relates in. Horror movies rarely feel realistic (even slasher movies because while serial killers are real - though not generally supernaturally strong ones - they are full of token people rather than realistic people), where even badly done natural disaster movies have some element of maybe that could happen. I do think even in Castle Crashers there is something creepy about fingers reaching for me though.

I'll hope that even if I suck my team is better than his. razz

I feel so honoured to be 'vice captain', even if it is in a not so active guild. Ah titles.

I do prefer smaller cons as well, they can be much more efficiently oraganised, though larger ones have more options of what to do/who is there. The only UK con I've gone to has not had LK in attendance yet so far as I'm aware, but maybe. It's run for 3 years but this year went on hiatus and won't be back until 2014, so depending on how finances look then maybe I'll give it another shot then, esp if LK is scheduled to appear. Do let me know what you think about season 7, 6/7 are blurred a bit for me (so don't want to talk to much about 6 and actually find I'm spoiling 7) which to be fair is probably a lot of why 6 doesn't come off as well for me as I do think there probably is a lot in 6 that I liked. I'll have to catch up on Season 8 sometime soon, I hope. I think I'm tech back in Feb/March, I started catching up at the end of April but that's dropped off again because I've been so busy. And yea I love physical books so much, even if I'd bought it on an ereader (assuming I had one) I'd definitely feel it'd be worth to buy a hard copy if I could get it a favourite author to sign it. And take charge Robin!! Oh I <3 it so, I always have such a soft spot for Robin, though that's probably a lot of the homoerotic subtext that both crops up around him and gets imposed on him.))

((Yea part of watching the show dubbed sometimes and subbed at other times means I'm used to a weird mix of different things. However, I tend to refer to him as Honda or Tristan (depending on the forum/context) and definitely not Hiroto or Taylor. Plus I'm always unsure of how I want to refer to siblings because obviously they'll share a last name.))

'Glad to hear from you man I was definitely starting to worry. I wandered back to Kabia's place to check on you and you weren't there. Just let me know what you need I'll do whatever I can to help,' Honda stated, glad that he had decided to answer the call.

((I hate redoing mundane tasks so that is definitely worse than dying. I was a bit confused by the Leviathan metaphor as while I know they regenerate I don't typically think of them budding like that, but eh I understood what you meant and went with it. smile There are worse levels, but none that really make me feel as uncomfortable as running from something. Accidental deaths make me sad and sometimes frustrated but they never really scare me. I suppose while they seem quite possible they don't seem worth fearing. I can fear thousands to millions getting killed en mass as I can identify with 'if I were in that situation there's really no escape,' whereas I can always rationalise an accidental death by not identifying with the character who experiences it. I can't think of many (I say many but atm I can't think of any) characters I've felt a strong connection/affinity toward who've been taken out in that way.

I do like how the brother relationship is starting to reform after shifting away from it for so long, I think that's the one thing I really do like as the series is progressing. And Bobby has some great moments in season 7, got to love Bobby. I just kept buying more bookshelves when I ran out of space, I've yet to run out of room for shelving. Atm though, without any real idea of where I'd want to put down roots I rarely want to buy books as they are not fun things to cart about. The cost of shipping books around the world doesn't necessarily equal the cost of replacing them.

I'm now going to cheekily shift the other conversation threads over here as Morgey seems to have slipped out again for a bit. Also easy to do as this should be brief. In relation to the Iron Man stuff I have no more but a *nod in agreement*. I'll definitely be making a statement, including some stuff that come up at the meeting just to have it well formatted in writing. Now that I know a bit more about who is on the panel I can tailor a statement to my audience and what their thoughts and sympathies might be. My bf coincidentally finished his Iron Man/Avengers thing (still not sure what he was watching) and started watching WatXM without me yesterday. :'( He said he'll re-watch the 5 or so episodes he's already in but I'm now annoyed and will probably just sulk and avoid it for awhile because why would he honestly want to re-watch something literally a day or so after watching it. He started with EVO but couldn't get into it. Le sigh.))