Lots of Monkeys

A symphonic concert featuring music composed for video games. This would be great to go to, as they are picking the best of the best.

I still can recall listening to Nobuo Uematsu’s opening theme for Final Fantasy on the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System. Sure, it was on a tinny television speaker and in mono, but it was still moving. Not too long ago, they started releasing the soundtracks to some games here in the United States. Previously a “Japan only” phenomenon, game music enthusiasts can now get game some soundtracks without having to resort to grey market importers with inflated prices.

Right now, I’m listening to a playlist of MIDI files (yes, MIDI files) that I’ve got queued up. I like the symphonic arrangements, but listening to the synthesized versions takes me back to when I was actually playing the games.

Simpler times, those.

I mean, on the one hand, I really like Bruce Campbell.

On the other hand, it would be an Ash vs. Freddy vs. Jason movie.

I’m a big fan of crossovers, and apparently so are the numerous people that enjoyed the Batman: Dead End fan film. Hell, at one point in college, I fancied the idea of a Highlander / Gargoyles: The Animated Series crossover and even outlined a fanfic. I stopped after I realized that I’d be writing fanfic. Segue to:

Real Conversation
SCENE: A restaurant across the street from the anime convention. I’m seated next to IvyDraken and HazyDestiny, along with others from the convention. The restaurant is filled with people wearing con badges.

Me: So, what are you guys doing here at the convention, I don’t really recognize it as your, “scene.”
IvyDraken: Well. . .
HazyDestiny: We write fanfic!

I look at IvyDraken accusingly. She’s glaring at HazyDestiny
Me: It’s not slash*, is it?

At the mention of slash, people at other tables turn their heads. IvyDraken puts her hand on her forehead and averts her eyes.
Me: It’s not. . . Power Rangers slash, is it?!

IvyDraken covers her face with both hands and hides under the table. People at other tables are staring, their jaws agape.
Me: OH. MY. GOD.

At this point, I’m standing and pointing at IvyDraken.

HazyDestiny hands me a sheaf of paper, “Here’s chapter 5!”

IvyDraken’s voice squeaks out from under the table, “It’s only the Red and Green rangers! They’re the only ones that are good together!”

*: Slash the short definition: “fanfiction written about romantic or sexual relationships occurring between two same-gender characters, usually male. The characters used in the fiction are denoted by X/Y, where X and Y are the characters’ initials or names.”

So. Let’s say that there’s a friend of yours. You know that they need to be picked up from the airport some time in the relatively near future. You say, “Sure,” you could do that, just let me know when.

You don’t hear from them for a while. So, on a whim, you call them one morning, just to check if they need that ride.

Turns out they’re coming in that day at around 3 in the afternoon.

So you say, “Sorry,” and explain that of course, you needed a little more warning. I mean, you work for a living, and getting that time off without any prior warning is going to be tricky. And you don’t go pick them up and they’re left to find another ride. You hang up, you go back to work and don’t give it another thought. I mean, this is what people do, they say, “No” all the time and nobody thinks badly of either side. Situation’s over and done with. There’s no drama.

Except it’s not your friend.

It’s a parent.

And of course, you say, “Sure,” and talk to your boss, get the time off and get ready to pick them up from the airport at 3.

Because it’s your parents.

So, I checked out the Express, the washington post’s new tabloid format that they give away for free during the metro rush. It’s not bad. All the news that you can read on your morning commute without taking up all that additional space.

I like the fact that I can get a free crossword every day now.

How good are your moshing skills?

Find out.