"I'll get back up after this fall-down"

[enemyofperfect]

Lately I've been really enjoying the song "Hide Out" by Mahalia (lyrics here). There isn't really an area of her performance that doesn't shine, but maybe my favorite part is her body language and delivery. Revenge through living well is a common theme in breakup songs, but she seems so genuinely delighted by the person that she is that when she sings You don't know what you had, I'm amazing, it feels less like defiance and more like the simple truth.

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I've been quiet lately, but I'm still here. My life hasn't been very eventful (and I'm grateful for that fact), but I have started DMing a new D&D campaign, which currently has four whole players! It's definitely more of a balancing act than DMing for just one -- and I went and upped the challenge rating by homebrewing the setting, too -- but I absolutely love the characters everyone came up with, and I'm doing my best to learn quickly enough to deserve my players' trust.

---

There are about a million things I meant to post about and didn't -- novels, fics, two whole anime series, the game Lenna's Inception from that itch.io bundle, an interactive novel about professional wrestling, the writing of Michael Harriot. I don't know if I'll catch up on any of that, but I hope I can do a better job of keeping up with my reading list going forward.

How have you all been?

Comments

[scytale]

Ooh, I love the staging for that vid. It really highlights her body language, and she's basically carrying the whole thing through her body language and confidence. It's mesmerizing. o.o

The GMing sounds exciting! Good luck. :D

(Also, ooh! My Next Life as a Villainess! I have a couple of episodes left, but I really like it.)

[enemyofperfect]

I can't get over how effortless she makes it look to hold the viewer's attention that way. Her stage presence is incredible.

Thank you for the good wishes! And I have to thank you for reccing My Next Life as a Villainess on your journal, wow, three months ago now -- I guess that's one of the entries I meant to comment on and never did, but it's definitely part of what got me watching, and the show is so much fun! It's so lighthearted and genuinely kind, and the comic timing is fantastic. ♥

[scytale]

Oh, I forgot I'd written about it! I'm glad you're enjoying the show, and yes, the timing! And the kindness. I really love what they did with the episodes that delve into the other character (Maria's made me cry <3).

It's been a while! I'm glad to see you around these parts again. :)

[enemyofperfect]

I don't know how it kept taking me aback every time the show gave me feelings like that. Each time I'd be like, wait, this is a show of fluff and prettiness, why am I getting emotional? And then I'd remember that it kept doing that and why was I even surprised? I blame the adorable obliviousness of Bakarina. And everyone else's thirst.

It's wonderful to see you too, thank you for welcoming me back!

[brokenallbroken]

We trust you plenty already.

[enemyofperfect]

Aww, I know you do -- that's why I'm working so hard to live up to it! (But seriously, thank you. ♥)

[unavee]

Oh wow, that performance is amazing. Her body language is so expressive!

[enemyofperfect]

Isn't it just? I love her singing and the song itself, but then she just brings a whole extra level to it with the way she carries herself and tells the story visually, too.

[amovingtarget]

That song is really cool! And you watched and played so many things! And DM'd so much!!!

I went and upped the challenge rating by homebrewing the setting, too

You did that (^_^;) although, for the record, I know there's a "Master" in Dungeon Master, but I feel like making a good game is a whole group responsibility rather than just you. So there. :*

[enemyofperfect]

You're so nice to me!!! *smushes you* Thank you for your encouraging words, you creature. ♥

[alchimie]

My daughter is reading the manga of the second series you mention! And I have heard marvelous things about the first but not gotten to it yet.

[enemyofperfect]

My Next Life as a Villainess is utterly charming and sweet, as well as beautifully queer! And I have to add to the marvelous things people say about Mob Psycho 100, which I initially thought was just going to be silly and enjoyably over the top, but quickly rose to one of my all time favorites by virtue of the things it did to my emotions. It gets to the part of me that was a weird kid who was really good at maybe one and a half things, and not so much at the entire rest of life; and also, I think, to the part of me that's gradually developed compassion for that poor anxious kid I used to be.

[alchimie]

Those are both excellent recommendations! My daughter has now read all the extant manga and is trying to talk the family anime group (now meeting remotely) into watching the anime of the show with her.

[enemyofperfect]

I wish your daughter luck in her quest!