#metal geal survive

[lunardragonfly]

December 2

Baking

The schedule of any SOLDIER was often very full, the schedules of the three elite SOLDIERs even more so, so when Angeal found the time to do some baking he made sure to make big batches and hope that enough would survive for two weeks at least. Though, he knew that Sephiroth and Zack had big sweet tooth’s and would probably see these treats go away during the week. He knew Sephiroth came by at odd times and snuck some of the cookies into bags and hid them in his desk. Angeal never let on that he knew but one day he had entered Sephiroth’s office without knocking and saw the General quickly shut his desk drawer. That wouldn’t have caused and suspicion but as Angeal came closer he saw the telltale signs of chocolate chip cookie crumbs at the edge of Sephiroth’s mouth.

Today was a rare day off, one of a few he would have this month, and he decided that today would be one of the Christmas baking days. He would accomplish the traditional baked goods; shortbread and ginger cookies, fruitcake from his moms recipe collection that he and Gen loved, and he would try one of Cloud’s moms recipes; the mincemeat tart.

He had been marinating the fruit for the fruitcakes since August, keeping the main batch hidden from Genesis because he knew his fiery redhead liked to ‘sample’ the batch to make sure it was marinating correctly. Angeal learned to keep a small batch slightly hidden so Genesis could use it to assess the stages of marination for the cake. Keeping it slightly hidden in his fridge gave Genesis that feeling that it was his little sneaky secret, a runoff from the times when they were younger and Genesis would sneak a bit from the original batch. The memory of catching Genesis red handed with a spoonful of the boozy fruit halfway to his mouth made Angeal chuckle.

Starting with the cakes, since they would take the longest to bake, Angeal began to mentally plan which cookie to bake first and decided on the shortbread. He buttered the bundt cake pans and poured the cake mix inside. The smell of nutmeg, cinnamon and clove wafted up and Angeal breathed deeply, knowing that soon this smell would permeate his apartment. He gently slid the baking sheet holding the two bundt cakes on it into the oven and closed the door.

Next was the shortbread, Sephiroth’s favourite. He rolled out the dough and began to cut shapes out with his cookie cutters that he got from his fan club. They were Christmas themed; bells, gingerbread man, ornament, Christmas tree and a candy cane. He was meticulous and with his steady pace he was able to fill four large pans with various shapes of shortbread. Next was the ginger cookie, one of Zack’s and Genesis’s favourites. Angeal looked up at the clock and was surprised that it was only 11am. He had started early, thinking it would take him longer and the ginger cookie would only take him twenty minutes to put together and place on a pan, it was just a drop cookie. He checked the recipe over for the mincemeat tarts, he had secretly gotten the recipe from Cloud’s mom as a surprise. He knew his Cloud was going to be away all day but would be done by 4. That would give Angeal enough time to make it and have it cooled down so Cloud could enjoy them.

The smell from the cakes filled the kitchen and he smiled. The second best thing about baking was the good smells that cake with it all. The first best thing was eating the treats! He was busy mixing the ginger cookie dough when he heard his door open. He could hear the person take in a deep breath and from the sound of pleasure he knew it was Zack. Sure enough Zack came running down the hallway and bounced into the kitchen, an excited grin plastered on his face.

“Angeal! It smells wonderful! what is it?”

Angeal chuckled. “That would be the fruitcake. Next to go in are these shortbread” he flicked his head towards the pans and saw Zack’s eyes light up.

“We should put that coloured sugar on them!”

Angeal hummed in thought, he had forgotten about his coloured sugar. It would add a nice festive touch. “They’re in a metal container above the stove. The one with the horse sleigh on it”

Zack came around to the cabinets and reached up to get the container. Angeal glanced over to look, Zack’s T-shirt rode up as he stretched and bared a bit of his muscle stomach. Zack caught Angeal looking and waggled his eyebrows, the larger man just chuckled and gave him a flirty wink.

“Which colours should I use?”

“You decide. I’m sure they’ll be nice either way. Just don’t-“ Angeal cut himself off as Zack poured some of the sugar out and did it ever pour out as a colourful pink sugar dump on top of a cookie. Zack gave Angeal his apologetic smile and with a small ‘sorry’ he began to clean it up, using small pinches from the sugar mound on other bare cookies. Angeal his shook his head with a smile and began portioning out the ginger cookies.

“I think the candy cane cookies should only be red and white. I wanna make the candy cane design!”

“I believe Genesis might complain of a cavity if you over burden them with sugar.”

Zack sniggered. “Oh, I know Seph won’t mind though.”

“No,” Angeal smiled. “He would enjoy them all. But he might get it all over his paperwork.”

The buzzer rang and Angeal went to check on the cakes. The toothpick came out clean and he popped the ginger cookies in the oven.

“The ornament ones should be colourful!” Gaudy, Genesis would end up calling them and Angeal knew he would when he saw Zack sprinkling several colours on one cookie. However, Angeal truly enjoyed what Zack was doing, he was adding his flair to the baking and it, like himself, was colourful and happy.

“What else are you making?”

“I got a recipe for mincemeat tarts from Cloud’s mother. It’s a surprise for him.”

“Oh! I’ve had them before, when she sent Cloudy a care package. Man, those were SO GOOD!”

“Well, I’m hoping I can replicate them well enough. A recipe can only bring you so far, it’s the little tricks you get to know by doing it over and over that make it so tasty.”

Zack could tell that Angeal was nervous about making it. He knew the man wanted it to be perfect for their little golden chocobo, just like his mom would make it for him back in Nibleheim. “Well, then this will be the first of many trial runs of it doesn’t turn out well. I’m sure it’ll be tasty all the same and Cloud will be super happy.”

“Yeah. I was planning on presenting it and the cakes for dessert today after supper.”

“Just make sure you make enough. Seph will probably down six of them before you can eat one.”

“I bought 36 small tart shells. I’ll make the tart shells from scratch next time. I wanted to perfect the filling.” Angeal went over to the fridge and pulled out another bowl that was filled with nuts and fruit wrapped in a sugary liquor syrup. He took a spoonful of it and held it out to Zack. “Tell me what you think, since you’ve had hers before.”

Zack made a small show of tasting it, letting out a groan of pleasure. He wasn’t faking it though, the mixture was so close to the one he had first tried. “It’s really good ‘Geal. Cloud’s gonna love it. Really.”

Angeal relaxed a bit and began putting the tartlets on another set of trays when the buzzer for the cookies rang. He slipped them out and turned to Zack. “Are you done with a few of them?”

“The candy canes and ornaments are done.”

Angeal took those two and put them in the oven. “You have 12 minutes to decorate the last two trays.”

Zack pulled out the green sugar and began dusting the trees with them. Angeal busied himself with filling the tartlets. The rest of the day went by pleasantly. After the mincemeat pies were done Angeal and Zack took a break, snacking on some shortbread, before they did some decorating. Zack was a great propeller of Christmas decorating. He had his young puppy prep the vegetables for supper while he got to work on the chickens.

That evening saw Cloud enter first, in a tired but still jovial mood. His spirits perked up as he entered he apartment. Smells from baking early that day and the cooking of supper made his mouth water. Genesis and Sephiroth came together about a hour later.

“Angeal!” Genesis said with a flourish, “you’ve been baking! Tell me you made the cake.”

“Yes Genesis,” came the reply from the kitchen. “The cakes are cooled and ready for dessert.”

“Cakes? There’s more than one?” Genesis slunk into the kitchen while Sephiroth continued to the living room where his two younger lovers sat. He vaguely heard Angeal saying Genesis’s name sharply before a slap was heard.

“Good evening you two.” Sephiroth bent down to give them each a kiss.

“Long day?” Zack stroked Sephiroth’s cheek.

“Very.” He saw down beside Zack and wrapped an arm around his waist. Genesis came out of the kitchen rubbing his hand, Angeal not too far behind. “Get caught against Rhapsodos?”

Genesis stuck his tongue out slightly, the perfect image of a pouting boy. Cloud laughed at the image and Genesis gave him a rueful look before he grabbed the blonde cadet up in one swoop. Cloud gave an embarrassing squeak as Genesis hoisted him up before gracefully taking Cloud’s spot and nestling his chocobo on his lap.

“Supper will be ready in twenty minutes.” Angeal looked down at his group of boyfriends. It was a perfect scene; cloud sat on top of Genesis’s lap, Zack sat in between him and Sephiroth, who had one arm wrapped around Zack’s waist.

Supper was delicious, Angeal had cooked three chickens and made plenty of side dishes. Feeding four First class SOLDIERs and one cadet was a feat for any cook. Conversation was about the events of today, Genesis cursed Heidegger and Scarlet, Sephiroth had a meeting with Rufus, his pleasure from that meeting was that Rufus still remained intimidated by him, although he tried to pretend otherwise. Cloud told them about his classes that day, one revolved around materia and he struggled with Fire. Genesis jumped in and told Cloud he would help him on Saturday afternoon.

After supper had been cleared Angeal came back out, with Zack’s help, with the fruitcake and platter of mincemeat tarts. Angeal placed the holly decorated platter filled with the tarts in front of Cloud. Cloud stared at them in surprise.

“Are these mincemeat?”

“Yes. I asked your mother earlier this summer about your favourite Christmas desserts. She told me that her mincemeat tart recipe was something you always devoured.”

Cloud blushed a bit. “Yeah...she had to hide them on me sometimes.”

His boyfriends chuckled. Cloud reached for one and he felt Angeal’s eyes on him as he took a bite. Cloud could feel himself being transported back home. The fire crackled in the background, smells of nutmeg and clove filled the small cabin, the tv blared the news of the day in far off cities, and his mom pulled out the cookie sheet of tarts.

“They’re wonderful Angeal,” Clouds voice a reverent whisper. He looked up at his gentle giant of a boyfriend. “Thank you.”

Angeal accepted the thanks and was happy that his effort gave the desired result. True to Zack’s warning however, Sephiroth indeed inhaled many tarts. Genesis had two tarts but stayed with his cake. His piggish side showing as he cut himself a third slice, a satisfied look on his face.

Angeal loved baking, and the number one favourite thing was eating the treats but sharing them with the ones he loved more than anything in this world.

[aurimeanswind]

Let’s Get Down to Business (’To Defeat the Huns’)—Sunday Chats—1/21/18

It’s time to get back to work! Or, er, writing. All writing and no games makes Alex a dull boy.

Uh...

God, sorry, how do i do this again? Oh yeah. Opinions. And stuff.

Okay.

Deep breaths.

Post Game of the Year

I think the GOTY season is both great and not great. It’s easy to get upset with the “hot takes” and there are a lot of folks that use the opportunity to tell you exactly why your favorite game shouldn’t be game of the year, but then, I don’t see a lot of folks just enjoying their 10 or whatever favorite games of 20-whatever. What I set out to do on our Irrational Passions Podcast Game of the Year Deliberations, Five Days, Four Hosts, Three Mistakes, Two Fights, One Winner, Podcast Spectacular™ was highlight the moments I liked and enjoyed and veer more off of what I disliked. I think there is plenty of room for that discourse, and I’m not saying I am a shill who just loves everything, but there is just so much drowning negativity out there. And hey, I know I’m on Twitter too much, and that fuckin’ place runs rampant with it, that’s my own fault, but I’d rather be a well-thought opinion as to why I like something rather than the guy that hates Wolfenstein, or Nier, or whatever. It’s part of why I love being “The Persona Guy” so much, because people know I love it, and they come to me to talk about how much they love it or don’t with me. I love that.

So anyway, long and short, I think GOTY went really well for IP. We actually had an editorial meeting about all of the content and what we liked/didn’t like/could do better next time, and it was really productive. I’m a big fan of the stuff that happened, especially how we handled guests this year, and I’m curious to see that grow in the future.

If you missed it, the front page of IrrationalPassions.com is going to be highlighting our Game of the Year 2017 content for the next week or so, so go check it out!

What I’ve Been Working On

Since I have been in GOTY I haven’t been doing Sunday Chats or much else, but I am settling back into work, and am maybe expanding my day-job-work over there in my personal life. We’ll see how that goes, and how much time that removes from games for me (hopefully not too much!), but that’s all hypothetical right now. 

I am excited to say I am launching a new project next month. It’s a new show and as I’ve been thinking about all my pieces of content, IPP, Alex Talks, Case Study, and now this new show, it’s been a weird concept of what do I want to lean on, what do I want to continue, et cetera. In a perfect world I can do them all together, but I know that’s just not possible. I’m looking at monthly content and what I can do around that, but we’ll see. I want to do everything! I want to make stuff that will get me hired into video games! But I want to make sure I’m doing stuff that I love doing, and at the center of all of that is having deep and meaningful conversations, whether it’s long, thought-out essays conveyed in audio, written, or video form that engage you and I in a conversation, or an actual, recorded conversation. 

So that’s what’s up. Without giving anything away, stuff is in the pipeline, and I’m hopeful that people will take notice, and you all, my loyal readers, will dig it.

What’s on Tap

VIDEO GAMES.

I’ve been playing a lot, so I am going to go back and highlight just some gems I want to talk about from the last three weeks.

The Witcher 3

So I rebought Witcher 3 to see all of its glory on my Xbox One X. Boy, that’s a motherfucking video game.

For point of reference, I just got to Novigrad and have been starting the strings of quests there, which is kind of my least favorite part of that game (chasing Dandelion around, specifically) so hopefully I stay with it.

It’s really cool to appreciate this games innovations on another level after seeing stuff like Assassin’s Creed Origins and Breath of the Wild.

I’ve actually been switching between this and Breath of the Wild, and while I still think BotW is the far more interesting world and game that I like spending time in, I was surprised at how comfortable that switch (aha! Puns!) is. The games are very different and both good in their own ways, and really scratch two different itches. 

I will say, AC Origins is definitely the game that came closest to The Witcher 3 as far as formatting its side quest content, but it still didn’t get close enough.

Okami HD

I’ve now replayed this game basically to completion. I would have finished it again too, as I’m just before the final boss, if a week after release they hadn’t gone and synced the trophies in the PS4 re-release to the PS3 one, in which I already have the platinum. So I’m no longer earning anything on the PS4 version, which is a bummer.

Still an excellent game. It’s really odd playing a game where you’re actually a four-legged creature just running around doing dog-stuff. It’s cool, and it’s something I haven’t seen a lot of 3D games do, or at least do well.

Stardew Valley - Switch Edition

I put about 78 hours into my Stardew Valley town on PS4, and now, 60+ hours into my Switch town, I’m definitely sick with the small-town-fever.

I really love this game, and it scratches my “I wanna live in a small town” dream-itch in just such a righteous way. I love it.

I didn’t expect to take to it so hard on Switch, but there is something about cuddling up with this game in bed and losing myself to it that is just so intoxicating.

Questions

As always, look for my tweet on Sunday afternoons with the hashtag #SundayChats in it, reply with your question, OR ANSWER, depending on what I’m feeling that day, and be a part of the Sunday Chats shenanigans!

Now I’m more curious about this snake research you were doing...?

Hrm, now this is a great alt-universe theory. I’m going to assume that it’d be in place of Cedric, so it’d be Harry and a Slytherin as the champions, which does throw a lot into question. 

I think it would have. In a few ways. One, we have to assume it’d be a 7th year Slytherin, so in short, someone we don’t know. It’d be a great opportunity to characterize someone, who, say, isn’t a dick, like Malfoy, who is kind of our avatar or stand in for Slytherin characters. It’d be great to see that character and Harry develop a not-antagonistic relationship. Like, I think Harry would have still told this person about the Dragons, because that’s still just the kind of person Harry is, and I think we would have seen less shit from the Ravenclaw/Hufflepuffs to Harry because of the assumed distaste for a Slytherin champion. I don’t think it would have effected the fight between Harry and Ron though.

Where it becomes super interesting is, assuming they are a good or normal or upstanding person, do they still tell Harry how to get into the egg? Knowing that Mad-Eye was the one who told Cedric, I say yes, since they themselves didn’t get that information on their own, much like Harry with the Dragons, and I believe strongly in the pay-it-forward mentality. 

The other big question is: would they have died? If they don’t, that wildly changes the rest of the books. Harry’s PTSD in the fifth book would be, still severe, but different. What would happen to them? Would they have escaped with Harry? Would that bond make them unbreakable friends? I’d imagine so. Or after a year of tension and not talking, they’d bury the hatchet, and then the repercussions for that are massive, in that I think Harry would lead a bond between all Slytherins and Gryffindors.

Goddamn. This may be too good a question to answer in a simple Sunday Chats, but yeah, in short, I think the repercussions would have been very different.

YES!

Great video game.

I’ll say this, you get essentially experiences for feeding the animals out and about in the world. DO THIS. It’s not too expensive and and will totally be worth it in the long run.

Also, get as MANY demon fangs as you can. AS MANY. You get them from using your slash ability on enemies who are flying into the air after they hit zero hp. They’ll drop a demon fang, which is a type of currency you can use much later in the game, and having a big stockpile will do you a ton of good.

Outside of that, have fun! Talk to everyone! It’s like a Zelda game, so tons of people have problems or off side quests you can initiate by talking to them. You can get the platinum pretty easily in one play through, so if you’re curious about that, hit me up.

Haha, well, how about Kinda Funny Prom? I can see it hit you with the eh vibes too. Though I’m very bummed you won’t be able to make it. I’ll be sending you good vibes from there, okay?

Oh, and I am sending you selfies. Hella selfies.

But yes, I was very, hrm, I guess, unsettled, for lack of a better word. It’s like getting invited to a costume party, where I just want to hang out with my friends. Now there is all this pressure and requirements and this feeling that you’re going to be shown-up. Plus, I don’t really clean up well, so like, I know I’ll feel super self-conscious the whole time, but that’s just me I suppose. 

Then again, it’s another thing of well, I know when I’m there, and I’m in it, I’ll have a great time, but that’s a pretty big hump to get over, and I hate that I feel like I’m being forced into it, because, well, I am. 

I suppose, if nothing else, I’ll just go for the weekend and then not go to KF Prom itself, but I haven’t decided yet. We’ll see. 

Here is another, relevant example though, hearing about how things were being handled in the Harry Potter movies, starting with the third. No Marauders? Oh okay. Cool. Trash. Adios. Again, very much a me thing, but this is such a good question and I can’t think of a great example. I’m sure it’s out there, if I think of it I’ll let you know.

Listen, I love Tom Hanks as much as the next guy. He was in a Carly Rae Jepsen video, he, by all accounts, its a super cool dude, and I wanna hang out with him. 

But Tom Hardy is a mountain of a man. 

That man looks capable of actual murder. Not to say he would, he also seems like a lovely chap, but in a fist fight?

Nah.

Hardy, all the way.

Lol you’re great Nato, but also SO MUCH BOOTY AND OR TREASURE.

I talked about it a bit earlier, but I think the Guest Roundtables is a huge stand out. Those worked really well, felt good to do, and were a good reflection on a handful of cool games from the last year.

The criticism that Jarrett lodged that I sort of agree with is that there was just too much content. He said how could anyone reasonably consume all of it? Well, that’s never been my intention, I want it all out there so the audience can pick and choose what they want to hear themselves, and then go from there. But I think that’s a fair criticism. Written top 10s, guest and ours, our top 10 podcast, the five day goty show, and 10 podcasts on 10 games. It’s a ton, so why not just cut it down next time around, right?

Next year I think focusing on highlighting guests would be good. Either in just written or just podcast form. But we’ll see, we’ll have to start those conversations earlier this year.

Not at all! We just had our editorial meeting about it and I am V EXCITE.

I’ve been very lax on myself, not forcing myself to write at all. In fact, I’ve barely written a thing over the last month. Which has been, kind of nice, in the grand scheme of things. I think that’s okay. Rest is really important, and I can already feel my creative juices swirling around. 

I think my feelings about writing are very much the same, but I have a better appreciation for it now. I feel like I need to write with more purpose now, and I don’t need to set arbitrary time or character limits on it. Once I get back in the swing fo writing complete things, maybe I’ll have a better grasp on how that feels.

I think it’ll review very well and I think it’ll do very well in the states. I know that may seem surprising, but the betas, the reception to them, and the time of release, are all in Capcom’s corner. Honestly, it’s a very strategic and smart release for them. I’m quite impressed at how shrewd it is. They’ll do great.

It’s just a bummer because I see so many folks talking about how it’s clicking with them or how satisfied they were with it, and after doing the three hunts in the beta with a group of three friends, I had fun but... well, I felt nothing. It just totally did not click with me. No satisfaction, no excitement, and I couldn’t wait to be done playing it, just because how it felt did zero favors for me. I’ve always had a cursory interest in Monster Hunter because of my cohosts who are so into it, and after finally playing it I just... don’t anymore, haha. I know that is a bummer, and trust me, no one is more bummed than me that I don’t get to get in on the Monster Hunter party, but more power to the folks out there playing! it think this game will do very well. It’s finally time for the Hunters to shine in the west!

This is a great question! I’d probably own an italian restaurant, and out of spite, I’d call it “O’Neill’s”, spelled the correct way. Sick of seeing all these goddamn pubs called “O’Neals” with their goddamn sheleighlies or whatever (is that offensive? Oh god I’m sorry Amy Gils) so we are doing it the right way.

And yes, I understand the absurdity of an italian food restaurant with the name O’Neill’s, that’s the whole bit. But I love italian food. It wouldn’t be just limited to that though.

I’d absolutely hire the retired Gen and Greg Miller as my head chefs. Meaning we’d have a ton of awesome stuff on the menu. I’d make my aunt’s secret pasta sauce, my mom’s secret brownie recipe, it’d be super good. 

Oh, and we’d have only the best beer, curated by the best beer goddess in the business, Jazz Foster. Duh.

Also like, Beer Goddess is a thing, don’t ask questions.

No, it’s just not going to happen. I think there are plenty of players out there totally unaware fo the drama and fallout that dug MGSV and will get Survive and have a good time. Hell, I played the beta this weekend and had a good time with Logan Moore. Save for it crashing every time I went into the pause menu.

But that franchise just has too much baggage. People are going to tear it to shreds no matter what, but like, also, vote with your wallet. If that game ultimately doesn’t do well, then Konami is less likely to try and do another one, and I know a ton of hypocrites out there are going to just go and buy the game so they can shit on it on the internet. Be better then them. Go play a game made by a small indie developer, or talk about a game you really dug, that maybe folks aren’t talking about enough, like Hollow Knight, or Butterfly Soup. 

Well duh, I am doing that RIGHT NOW

Happy birthday dude <3.

I’m not sure what you mean in this context. Like if you’re pitching an editor with a different ideology then you? Differing “goals” is I guess what’s throwing me off here. 

I think you need to really sell why your stance is valid for that prompt, and as with everything, know your audience. If you’re doing a pitch, know the editor, know what they’re looking for, either in your, or in that pitch or prompt. They’re your audience, and your pitch is what you need to sell. You’re not necessarily selling the piece, you’re selling why the piece is special and why you need to be the one to write it.

I hope that helps?

I, unfortunately, haven’t been reading a lot of good stuff lately, so I can’t make any solid recommendations at this time, but Jarrett recommended a lot of good stuff in his Top 10 Write up, some “required readings” on all of his favorite games of the year. 

http://irrationalpassions.com/jarrett-greens-top-10-games-of-2017/

That’s all I got. I deleted my Facebook account the other day, so really I am living my best life on the internet now, and I’m ready for this year. I’m not going to be doom and gloom. Things will be hard, but there are great games coming that I can’t wait to discuss and exacerbate myself talking of, and there will hopefully be great things to go along with those games. 

Thank you all so much for reading, as always. I will try and get more into the swing of writing this every week like before, and also writing and producing cool stuff on top of that.

It’s 2018, or 20-great-teen as me and my friend Brandt Ranj have coined it, so let’s make this year great, together.

Keep it reeeeeeal.