SleepingSilence

Word association Game!

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Digimon: Synchronicity Of The Shooting Stars (On Hiatus)

Asher Shaw

Asher spent the eerie silence in thought. After he pressed each button on the small device to no avail, he carefully stuffed it into his pant’s pocket, and leaned up against the same moss covered tree that left them without a portal home. Only being able to see Vorvomon cautiously pace around the perimeter of the forest, due to the glowing plants that reminded Asher of the foreign world he was now stranded in. Yet with an exchanged glance between the pair, it was apparent which of them was on edge.

“Well?!” Vulcan half-shouted, with his wing pointing at who he was describing. “You’re the one that comes up with the strategies, and I’m the dragon that does them!”

“Okay, I’ll get us out of here. Just try to chill a little.” Asher reassured. Walking toward what appeared to be the best lit path and rubbing the back of his hoodie. As Vorvomon glared in his direction and proceeded to follow behind him, as his body began to glow red with a noticeable heat. “Maybe the portal moved somewhere else nearby.” He uttered with scant confidence in his theory, while wiping a bit of sweat from his forehead. “At least I hope so...”

“Do you even have a clue where you’re going?” Vulcan muttered, shifting his gaze to the surrounding dark on either side. As it didn’t take long for Asher to realize that the plants were decreasing in frequency the further he went, and so was the light necessary to see anything. But then ⁠— Asher was interrupted by a mighty stomp that rattled the ground beneath his feet. Getting him to turn and witness Vulcan's expanded wings, and his open maw abruptly unleashing a flame that Asher felt blasting past him. Though it merely dissipated into the darkness, as Asher swiftly raised his hands in a stopping motion.

Though before Asher could speak, Vulcan’s wings folded as he looked up at him. “You didn’t notice it moving through the shadows?” He asked crossly, squinting his eyes at Asher’s lack of reaction. Continuing with his literal heated words faster than Asher could fully process what had happened. “You should pay more attention to your surroundings!” Vulcan scolded with puffs of smoke coming out of his maw, before pointing at him again. “Because what am I supposed to do if my ally gets hurt?”

“Alright, Alright,” Asher interjected in a placid tone. “We’ll head back and stay in the light.” He proposed, noticing that Vorvomon’s body was cooling off, as the two soon returned to where they started. Asher pulled out the device and pondered their options. “If there’s a threat out there ⁠— wandering aimlessly is the last thing I should be doing.” He concluded, looking at Vulcan, who let out a brief growl and stomped up to the mossy tree.

“Why. won’t. you. open?” Vulcan said, releasing his pent-up frustration by clawing at the tree.

“I’ll let him cool off his own way.” Asher dismissed, before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Inexplicably picturing a vision of his own backyard, as the device’s screen then lit up in a bright white light that caught Vulcan’s attention. “There must be a reason the portal closed. And this device has to do something…why else would it suddenly appear in my pocket once I arrived here?”

“Asher! That light is like the portal!” Vulcan exclaimed, seeming to calm down in an instant. Causing Asher to open his eyes and see the gleaming device, as everything in his mind had suddenly clicked.

“I get it now.” Asher replied, as he extended his arm and held out the device in his hand. Obtaining knowledge of the device’s purpose that seemed to come from nowhere, not too dissimilar to the device itself. Both watching the device's light beam out and create a portal on the surface of the tree. “Let’s go home, Vulcan.” As Vorvomon smiled. “Gladly.”

Then without hesitation, they both rushed into the light.

---

Kate Beckham

The bedroom door remained wide open, as Dracomon boredly laid on the floor and muttered to himself. “I know I don’t belong here...but I thought we could be friends.” But he was soon interrupted by the sight of Roxanne approaching with a colorful knotted rope clamped in her maw. Dropping the toy down in front of him, as he swiftly sat upright and blinked at the dog. “What’s this?” He questioned, reaching out to inquisitively pick it up with his claws. Realizing its true purpose, once the dog hopped forward to grab the other end to tug it away from his grip. “Oh, I see. A friendly challenge of strength.” Ouro said with a grin, quite easily holding the toy against the German Shepherd’s efforts to repeatedly scoot backward with a low growl and wagging tail. As Ouro stood up and started stepping backward toward her bedroom dresser. “I admire your bravery against a far stronger opponent.” Ouro snarked with his tail swaying about, playfully dragging her along as Roxanne persisted. However, their tug of war would be disrupted by a loud bark coming from the doorway.

Meanwhile downstairs…

“I can’t just ignore him...” Kate thought, making the mistake of opening their door. As Troy presented Kate with a confident smile, along with a dozen violets, and a heart-shaped box of dark chocolates with its price tag half torn off.

“I noticed your parents weren’t home.” He stated with a brief chuckle, trying to eliminate the last excuse for why he couldn’t come inside.

“This is really not a good time-” Kate stressed with a clenched hand gripping the doorknob, unable to stop the boyfriend from walking through the door.

“Do you need help with something?” Troy asked, noticing as she looked away from his gaze. “Are you...still angry with me?” He added in a guilty tone.

“No I’m not, but I have-” Kate paused, as they both overheard the loud crashing sound coming from upstairs. “Really? What are you doing, Ouro?” Kate internally questioned in exasperation, before being hit with a sudden revelation. As she facepalmed and let out a believable groan. “Well, I guess you can hear it.”

“Sounds like your dogs are roughhousing.” Troy replied casually, also listening to Roger’s barking, as he set the gifts on the nearest table.

“I’m watching the Perkinson’s Cat. The Hellspawn.” She revealed with a sigh, observing Troy’s apparent discomfort. “That’s right. You’re not only allergic. It’s the one that chased you out of their yard, when you delivered their newspaper.”

“Oh. Doesn’t she hate your dogs though?” He uttered, as she shrugged her shoulders in false irritation.

“It wasn’t my idea for a punishment for not cleaning my room within the five minutes I was told to.” She said indignantly. “So now I have a little demon barricaded in my room, and wrecking it even further because they keep barking at her.”

He sighed in defeat, reluctantly walking out to her porch. “I’ll let you break it up then.”

“Thanks for the flowers and chocolate. I’ll call you when you can come over tomorrow.” She hinted with a polite smile. Causing him to smile and give her a departing wave, as he walked off toward his car, which was parked by the next door neighbor’s mailbox. Allowing Kate to promptly shut and lock her door. “Thank god.” She emphasized. Rushing upstairs to her bedroom where Ouro stood alone beside her upright dresser with a nervous look. Along with many piles of clean clothes that covered her floor, and the knotted rope toy by Dracomon's feet.

“U-um. It was an accident.” Ouro stammered.

Kate rubbed her forehead and sighed. “Look, I’m sorry that I snapped at you earlier, Ouro. She apologized, while receiving Ouro’s slightly agape maw in response. As she approached him to start picking up the clothes and stuffing them back into the drawers with disregard. “And I’ll still feed you after I put everything away.” She remarked with a smirk.

Ouro released a hot sigh of relief and held his stomach. “Thank you. I’m starving.”

---

Izabel Ivanowski

Izabel rocked back and forth with the laptop on her folded legs. Simultaneously responding to the guildmates’ text messages through her laptop’s phone service, and watching Sunny glow from the opposite end of her bed. Evolving into a Muchomon the second after finishing his half of the tuna sandwich. As he took a moment to briefly admire the exquisiteness of his regrown wings, and then patted his plump belly with a gleeful smile. “I love the way you dance Izzy.” He commented softly, breaking the quiet atmosphere of her typing away.

“I’m not dancing. It’s how I stay focused.” She explained in a calculated manner, promptly setting the laptop aside and standing up from her bed.

“Oh.” Sunny uttered shyly, as he spun around to follow her advancing toward the door. “Um, where are you going Izzy?

As Izabel opened the door and peeked her head out. Seeing that the coast was clear, as she soon shut it again and turned to approach the anxious bird. “Since you don't remember where you landed. We’re going to go look outside for the portal that ApolloKnight was talking about.” She replied, while putting on her goggles.

“Can I come too?” He asked with a twinkle in his eyes.

“Yes bird-brain, that is what ‘we’re’ means.” She lightly chided, as he blushed and twittered from beneath his wing.

“I’m truly humbled by your praise-” He added, clearly tickled by her words.

“But you need to sit there until I make sure that mom won’t notice you.” Izabel clarified. “Can you do this time?”

Muchomon nodded happily. “I understand perfectly.”

“So what will you here do when I leave?” Izabel questioned skeptically, as Sunny wiggled his feet with readiness to prove himself.

“Sit and wait for Izzy to return.” He chirped.

“Good.” She said with a firm nod, before walking out of her bedroom and closing the door. Heading downstairs to check in the living room where the television was still on, reporting on last night’s meteor shower denting someone’s mailbox, and then into the kitchen to turn off the dripping sink faucet, and even peeking inside her parent’s bedroom to find nobody there. “Mom?” She called out from the first floor hallway. “Where else would she be?

* * *

“Sit and wait for Izzy to return.” Sunny repeated like a melody in his head, as he sat in the same spot and preened his feathers as the minutes passed by. Looking up with a smile when he heard the doorknob turning. As Izabel stepped into her room with a sigh.

“Alright, my mom’s busy. So we can go now. Just follow me closely, okay?” She stated, looking at Muchomon.

“Really? I can come too?” He asked, as his face lit up with excitement. Receiving a blank stare from Izabel, as then she approached and picked him up. Causing him to blush as she proceeded to hold him in her folded arms. “O-oh my.” He muttered sheepishly, glancing up in surprise to see the slightest smile on her face.

“Let’s go find our partner device, Sunny.” Izabel said, as Muchomon relaxed in her hold.

“I-I’ll do my best.” He responded. As she carried him all the way downstairs and into the garage, before he mustered the courage to speak up again. “Um...could you remind me what that is again?”

Current Mood in One Gif

>Helping someone with work outside for hours. (R.I.P the back of my neck.)

What Are You Listening To?

Best thing I found today in another bout of unsuccessful music searching.

How do YOU do 1x1s?

@stone Hmm. Well, I'll try. There's simply been a lot of group RP's that I've done personally, where the GM, or the ones who lead it, are the reason the RP never gets off the ground.

So for instance, they make it, make everyone expend their effort making and reworking character sheets, often writing posts and trying to communicate in the OOC. Then they immediately flake out and drop it. Often without a serious reason, beside having the general lack of desire to continue the thing you started. Sometimes, they drop a RP they've created, just to make another one within a ridiculously small window of time. Which, unfortunately, the longer you roleplay, the more you see those types of players showing up. But an easily disinterested player, is just as easily replaceable. The GM however, really, shouldn't be the first one to stop caring about their work. And usually, you will (okay, I will) have to practically pry it out of them, if they mention their enthusiasm for the RP is dead at all.

(And every 'CO-GM' I've experienced has done one, if not all three of these things. 1. Cannot actually help you with lore, or cannot answer questions the same way as the GM would. 2. Posts the least and last. 3. First, or one of the first to drop out.) Which honestly, I get. It's usually merely a friend of the GM, looking to provide minimal support and encouragement. But then the GM makes the mistake of making them lead too. When the friend doesn't know about the RP, and might not even want to RP. But they don't want to say "No, I'll stay on the sidelines." to a friend. So instead, they waste all the other players time...)

*Obviously, this is my own experience that I'm describing.*

There's more and far worse examples, like a GM who got power hungry and banned player after player for not doing precisely what they wanted. But I've basically learned to "set my own example" through the same repeated failings of previous experiences. And I much prefer, 1x1 ghosting. Because I don't need to empathize with all the other players wondering where the GM went. And have long talks about, "someone taking over for the GM", which I also don't have pleasant examples of.

Word association Game!

number

How do YOU do 1x1s?

Personally, I’ve had longer and more successful RP’s through 1x1. Although, if I’m being honest, it’s not a big mystery as to why. (It’s because I tend to put the maximum effort into making sure my partners are satisfied, and keeping my roleplays active.) In contrast to groups RP’s I’ve been the player in, where the GM (or “CO-GM”) has been more than half of the reasons something dies before it gets off the ground. And half-assing my creation has never been a problem for me. But, if I can offer a general truth and tips on how someone may improve their chances here...

It all starts with my observed mantra: Many players do not know what they want.

So we’ll start with how to advertise yourself with your 1x1 page. Mine, (and no I won’t shamelessly link it here) has basically everything a potential reader could need. General information about me. What I expect from my partners, and what they can expect from me. How to contact me. Many fandoms, genres and examples of plots. Writing samples. And it’s formatted to look nice and organized. Etc. Etc. I’m missing pretty much nothing, is my point.

And I recommend doing that, so when you run into people like this...you can be certain it was their fault and not yours.

Example One: Someone who claimed they looked through my 1x1 page, so they wanted to start an RP with me. So I sent them my introduction post, and then asked them if everything was alright. They thought it was good, and then sent me their post shortly after. But it had a lot of misspellings and typos, as if it was rushed. (Though if they looked at my 1x1 page. They’d have to know that all I ask for in my 1x1 in terms of quality control, is for the general spelling to be correct as possible.) Since it really is the very easiest thing to do. So I said that I liked the post, though I simply mentioned they should check their spelling in future, and offered them a site that does it all for them.

One very nasty “I’m offended” conversation later, and it was obvious this guy didn’t read my 1x1. But if I didn’t have that very thing specified on my page, I could imagine how that outburst might have made anyone feel. (And tip to inspiring roleplayers out there. When you defend a rush job by trying to explain it away. You can almost always edit a post faster than moaning about why you didn’t do it right the first time.)

Example Two: I was interested in someone’s IC. But they had next to no information present in it. So I sent them a polite PM of interest with a non-specific idea they had, and then sent them my IC. (You usually do this for common courtesy sake. Since you’d imagine any roleplayer would like to know more about the people interested in their stuff. But also, to indicate that you have your own plots and ideas that mesh with theirs.) However, I get this as a reply...“No, I have no ideas. But fuck you, I’m not reading your 1X1. Because if you read my two paragraphs you’d already know if we were compatible. Kthax.”

Believe me, there is no other context. But let’s pretend that would’ve ever been okay to do this to someone simply asking for interest. Maybe, if the user themselves would’ve put this in their 1x1. “Please never ever send me your 1x1’s, or give me any plot ideas. I won’t like them.” But even when a player admits they don’t know what they want...it doesn’t mean that being kind and offering a suggestion will lead to anything but unacceptable rudeness. So, hey, if you make a 1x1 page. It actually is relevant to include, “I will not be a massive prick to you.”

Next comes partners who don’t have major antisocial personality disorders, but problems still arise from lack of clear communication. (Because say it with me now, most players don’t know what they want.) Whether one minute someone wants a purposefully fast scene to slow down, and then almost quits immediately after because the RP isn’t going fast enough. Or a frustrated player doesn’t quite understand that a ‘collaboration RP’ means you can always put your ideas in the RP too.

I always encourage my partners to introduce their ideas, characters, and use creative IC problem solving. Because I believe there’s very rarely a time where an RP fails due to too much creativity. But it can be in your best interest to plan out every conceivable thing, if you’re that type of roleplayer. As personal taste obviously applies, and there isn’t a “wrong” way to roleplay, if everyone’s having a good time.

So here’s how I generally prefer to roleplay.

• 1. Be willing and eager to fix my IC writing mistakes, if my partner brings them up. Because I believe all they want from me, is to improve both of our experiences.
• 2. Directly communicate everything. When I’m busy, when I’ll be posting, updates in my writing process, providing branching options and suggestions on how the story can move forward. While making sure my partner is on the same page.
• 3. Encourage my partner. And often, if needed. As I almost feel bad when I’m in a supposed collaboration and I’m nearly leading the whole process. So it really does help to emphasize that you like ideas, and want partners that can go with the flow. As I will never outright dismiss an idea. Quite the opposite, usually. I’ve never stopped an RP dead, because “Well, this element (you or I) introduced is something I don’t like now.”
• 4. Stay active in my writing. (And explain what I’ve observed in terms of RP shelf life. A.K.A “How long will this last without either a post, or communication why that post isn’t done?”)
• 5. Match intensity. (My biggest flaw that I’m currently working on. Which I’ve seen become an issue with some good partners.) Don’t constantly write so much more, or so little in comparison to your partner. Because it can easily lead to someone feeling bad, and assuming they’re doing something wrong. When it’s usually not a perceived problem at all. Though I do tend to write on the longer side, I really do try to keep things even as possible.
• 6. Be willing to do things out of your comfort zone. For a lewd instance, I’ve both done and tried to initiate or be in romance RP's that would include kinks or pairings that I’m not particularly into in real life. But through my general experiences, they’ve certainly made for more interesting stories. And this usually works for genres that you don’t often do as well. So the more absurd and less generic the starting point, the more potential for greatness I say.
• 7. Have all the small nagging details already clearly shown on my interest check. Because first impressions are valuable, after all.

And to end this long spiel on a positive note, I’ve been blessed with some of the better partners that I’ve had in a long while. Where my work and conduct is both praised and clearly appreciated. So here’s a non-specific thank you to my excellent partners, for being great roleplayers, and letting me continue to enjoy my hobby!

Ban the Person above you

Banned because truth is subjective. Probably.

RPGC: General Discussion

@Calle Both of the options aren't exactly foolproof. Since friends of the writer can still vote for their friend's entry. And this particular space is still very limited in its user base. Though for anonymity's sake, which there's hardly a difference in all cases but one. That alone may be worth considering. I.E. The idea that you privately post your entry to the contest moderator. So they can post all the entries themselves, so the username of the work remains unknown to the readers and contestants who may review it.

So no biases can be either claimed, nor inflicted upon a user's work. Which might encourage more thorough and less shallow critiques of one's work. Say, if you don't like a user for whatever reason, and don't actually have much legitimate critique of their writing, that person therefore won't be able to make up criticisms that don't reflect the work. In contrast to having the names displayed, before the writing is even witnessed.

RPGC: General Discussion

@Calle Belated, but congrats on becoming a contest mod. I planned on giving it another try when you started your own contest in June.