Right, so, if you're not one of those people who knows Japanese (by virtue of supreme otaku-hood or some other spiffy talent), that title means, if translated with syntax intact, "Birthday is!" I say this 'cause, yes, it's my birthday. Whee. (Forgive my relative deficit of enthusiasm, but current events coupled with a lackluster opinion of the whole birthday thing make me rather apathetic.) I received, from my family (surprisingly enough), Xenosaga Episode II. It is my intention to go and play it to death after I finish the first one, which I'm still working on. (So...crazy...long!) It scares me that this sequel has 2 discs, though, considering how much they crammed onto one in the first game.
Moving on to things slightly less nerdy--Christmas, spent in southern California with the relatives, was probably the worst yet. If you wish to know more, you can ask me on IM, but I'm not really in the mood to declare it to parties unknown at this time. We saw the "Narnia" movie, though, which was quite splendid (even though some artistic liberties were taken that I disagreed with slightly). We also saw "Cheaper by the Dozen 2," which, like many paperback novels, is worthwhile for killing time and slightly entertaining, but nothing especially great.
New Year's Eve was quite quiet, but we'd just returned from the trip/ordeal/thing that day and weren't in any particular party-hearty mood. I just would have liked to have some actual friends to enjoy the peaceful evening with me, but such is life. *le mini-sigh*
Some people we know have been worried about us 'cause this part of NorCal apparently experienced quite a drenching whilst we were away. Fear not: our home and healths are all intact, even though our sanities are slightly round the twist (not that that's especially abnormal for us). Some of the roads near our town are closed off, though, 'cause the Russian River overflowed and some pavements buckled and some mud did the sliding thing and other such overabundance-of-rain-related things occurred in the general vicinity. No big.
And some other goodies may cause me to have new things to post, but I'm going to leave them be for now. You'll see when I'm ready to let you see.
Miscellaneous links that I don't care to retype right now live in my previous journal. Go look at them. Because I said so, that's why.
--Me
EDIT: Because it seems that only three people have thought much about the above, I decided to tack this fun lil character thing on the end of this and let it be a non-minor edit, which means everyone will see it in their devWATCH inboxes again. If it's a problem...oh well. It just seemed like awfully soon to be making an entire new entry.
Right, so the character thing:
1. What is your character's name?
Right now, it's just Terra. I could come up with titles 'n whatever, but his name itself is independent of titles.
2. What kind of character is it (furry, anime, etc) and any particular race?
Terra is a shapeshifter, somewhere between furry and therian, but usually assumes a heavily-customized canine-like appearance.
3. What is the first thing your character would think of when he/she first wakes up?
If Terra would be similar in this aspect to me, the typical action would be to rehash the preceding dream. However, it is probable that Terra would be able to effectively send his consciousness elsewhere during sleep, so he'd probably be planning his day as his awareness returned to his awakening body.
4. Your character's favorite outfit would be?
Terra morphs his fur to make pseudo-outfits, so there's no need for one favorite. When in roles that call upon his abilities, fancy and outlandish things, such as the one showcased in Strype's representations, would be common. For everyday work, cargo pants, pockets, and other such amusing oddities would usually be present.
5. When your character looks into a mirror, what's the first thing they would notice?
Terra believes strongly in self-expression, and so he'd be checking to make sure that the individualized look of the day had been properly carried out.
6. Does your character have the same tastes in food as you?
Yes, except more expansive. Being able to shut off one's taste buds at will can have its benefits, especially where healthy (but nasty-tasting) foods are concerned.
7. How is your character similar to you?
Terra is an expression of my thoughts, ideas, and dreams, and so we share a lot of facets with regards to mentality. Terra would share my thirst for knowledge and my curiosity for people.
8. How is he/she different?
Being able to control reality on the quantum level is certainly a major quirk, no? Additionally, Terra would probably be more disciplined, level-tempered, and multi-talented--products of his more extensive ability to learn and observe. Terra's appearance could be customized to look just like me, should the situation call for it, so appearance isn't necessarily a difference.
9. If your character could speak, would they have the same voice as you?
Sometimes. The shapes and sizes of the vocal cords and cranial cavities is ordinarily the main factor determining a person's voice, but these are at Terra's whim, along with the end sound (which can be modified by changing the sounds "post-production," so to speak). As a result, Terra would be able to have the same voice, but probably wouldn't for most purposes.
10. If you were to suddenly become your character, what do you think would be the first thing you would do as them?
I'd explore the capabilities that I've thought of, and see if perhaps I'd more of them than I'd anticipated. These would be integral to deciding what to do later with my new form.
11. Is there something about your character that you don't like how others think of them?
I'm not sure I understand the question. However, most people gripe that Terra is too powerful, and in some ways, I agree. Yet it is the purpose of Terra's power that I highlight--he is not combative by nature, and his powers are primarily intended that he might use them to more effectively aid others and to learn new things in new ways.
12. What advantages does your character have over you?
Any list I'd come up with would be too long, and yet not comprehensive. So I won't try here.
13. What disadvantages?
The only disadvantage that comes to mind is that he wouldn't experience the life that I've ahead of me, supposing I became him--no matter how many memories he delved into, a future un-made is a future impossible to see.
14. Do you have any secrets relating to your character that only you know?
Yes. Very very many of them.
15. Do you have any secret drawings only you know about?
No. Someone knows, in some way or another, about all of my drawings that are worth noting.
16. Do you have any plans for your character or are you working on something big relating to him/her?
I have loads of plans. These plans, however, are contingent upon my becoming skilled enough to execute them--a precarious proposition.
17. What misconception(s), if any, do people have about your character?
Many are led to believe that he's just a fruity-looking wolf or fox bishie. This is a bit far removed from the truth, but I can see how that mistake is made.
18. If you could have just one characteristic from your character, what would it be?
The quantum-control abilities. However, these would essentially enable me to become most or all of Terra, so that might be cheating. If I couldn't have that, I'd go instead for the mere shapeshifting, which is nifty enough.
19. Have you made any characters that go along with yours, based on real-life people, that have the same relationship with your character as you with the real-life person?
I have not, though the people I know with existing characters I sometimes "write in," as it were, into my imagined plotlines, while maintaining their in-character personalities and relationships to Terra.
20. Have you written any stories about your character?
I've started a few that work him in; none of them are yet finished. I have yet to write a full story totally about him. I intend to place him into my "Fursonified" poetry series some time, once I find proper words.
21. How has your character changed since his/her first creation?
Terra is still evolving, primarily in terms of abilities and appearance. Terra originally had much longer hair (see "Envy" from the cast of Fullmetal Alchemist, whose hair is oddly similar, though this was purely coincidental as I'd not seen that show when I first imagined Terra) and was a bit more vicious at heart. Because Terra is so inextricably tied to my own journeys and emotions in life, he will inevitably change over the years. I doubt there will ever be a "definitive" Terra, but that's part of why he's a shapeshifter.
22. Give us a one-liner from him/her.
"Treasure your personality...it's all that separates you from me."
23. Weaknesses and Drama.
Terra's weaknesses lie in his friends, for he trusts them. This does not mean that betrayal = death. However, they will be able to take greater liberties than people whom Terra does not trust. Terra enjoys watching drama, and even being part of it when masquerading as another. Terra enjoys being a moderator for RP (convenient, too, given his plethora of abilities), as it allows him to watch how people interact and innovate in an action-driven environment. He himself is not given to drama, however, aside from drama as theater (which he is quite good at, incidentally).
Dazzy sez:
"I demand everyone do this...cause their interesting and fun :3"
You heard the lady. Get to it.
Additionally, I'm interested in working with people, RP-wise, as a moderator or outfitter. (Combat is also a possibility, but not especially likely.) IM or note me about it if your curiosity is piqued.
Tired 
Eager 
Triumph 
Cheerful 
Mesmerized 
Stuck 
Lonely 
