Good morning, I’m John, and you’re not. Ain’t it a shame.
Friday
Time by myself. I got a lot of editing done on the novel, had a fun talk with the -ex, and… well, that was it. I had a chance to go to a game, but after hearing what happened, I’m glad I didn’t. It got my mind thinking, which eventually led to a moment with the Wake-Up Stick…
Saturday
Was supposed to head out to the San Diego Sabbat game (www.sincitybynight.com). I was very excited about it. Heading down with a bunch of friends. Unfortunately, schedules conflicted and we weren’t able to make it down in time to make the game. Instead, I ran the TT Vampire game. I was itching to play Mr. Finger, and he pulled off a nasty trick, so I was happy.
Sunday
Spent the day at 3rd Street Prominade with visiting friends from Santa Barbara. We ate brunch at Hooters and got charged for the scenery. A lot. A whole fucking lot. As much as I like the wings, ain’t going back there again. The Temple of Testosterone can keep it’s scenery. I didn’t enjoy it all that much anyway. Lots of half-drunk, mostly drunk, entirely drunk assholes at a peep show was what it felt like. Yuch. I needed to take a shower when we came home. Wings were good, though.
And then the Wake-Up Stick… (names have been changed to protect the inept)
ME: It’s too bad we couldn’t play in the LA Sabbat game.
CHERYL: You couldn’t play Mr. Finger.
ME: But there’s nothing really strange or different about him. I mean, he’s your typical Tzimisce…
CHERYL: No, he’s not. He’s the coolest Tzimisce ever, just like Marcus is the coolest Nos ever and they wouldn’t let you play him.
ME: Yeah… I mean, that’s why the MC system sucks so much. It’s telling me, “You’re not a good enough player to play Marcus or Mr. Finger, but (insert high MC butthead with roleplaying skills of wet cardboard here) sure is.”
WHAM!!!
That was it. That’s what kicked my ass. I’d been climbing to the top of the mountain for a while, and I finally reached the summit.
The whole MC thing… I never understood it until then. But, there it was. Telling me, “You aren’t a good enough player, but this guy over here, who’s been in the club for five years, the guy who cheats, who’s a wanker, who whines, who practices rampant nepitism… he’s a good enough player to play the character you want to play.”
The stick hit me so hard, I stumbled. Tony and James laughed when Cheryl told them what I said, because I was laughing so hard.
That night, the Vampire TT game was on again. An hour and a half debating what to do with a sticky situation, watching players argue from their characters’ points of view, rather than their own. Sometimes to their own detriment. It was a blast.
Oh — and one other thing. Cheryl made these amazing things for the L5R players. Maybe I’ll get a picture to show you. Fucking amazing.
I have good friends.