Thanks, everyone! There's never been a more appropriate time for...



While writing, I was thinking "Wow, this Anthy portrayal is really raw, the misery and ennui are coming through so clear I feel like I have a little Kurt Cobain living in my head! But how am I going to keep everyone from guessing me? I know, I'll throw in some rapid-fire Kozue-related images! Birds, wild animals, a garden... if my calculation of average human subconscious suggestion potential is correct, this verbiage will cause one participant's mind to align with Kozue's metaphorical memescape to the extent that it'll override their personality assessment faculty and cause them to guess her!"

But I should have gone with my gut on Ragnarok. The take-no-prisoners attitude is pure Kozue, but I was thinking there was no way there could be two of them, so I went with Mikage, although he's really not an appropriate choice - he's really fatalistic and emotionally invested, and Ragnarok's character isn't. The other thing that got me was that Ragnarok didn't allude to Kozue's devotion to Miki, which was really clear in KaleMarsh's post. But since this is a hypothetical situation where Kozue is stranded in the wilderness, far away from Ohtori and everything she knows, it makes sense that Miki wouldn't be the first thing on her mind. Besides, a wild animal shows weakness to no one, so who's to say she would admit to the place Miki holds in her thoughts?

I thought Anthiena nailed Touga's attitude perfectly, I'm surprised she wasn't guessed more. Touga is assured of his status and his desirability and thinks that he'll never really have to worry about facing the world alone. The massively egotistical voice with the faux fig leaf of self-deprecation is nauseatingly well done - brings back memories of reading marketing consultants' biographies. "I'm so honored and humbled to have the chance to share my incredible genius with losers like you." Come to think of it, those guys tend to react just like Touga does when things don't go as they expect.

And there's one other thing. Perceptions can be, well, this game is all about the tenuous relationship between perception and reality. Sometimes perceptions can get a bit strained, a bit distorted... but everything will sort itself out in due time. No need to rush things. Good game, everyone.

That is quite impressive. And congratulations!

Ragnarok wrote:

Lots of fun as always! Especially Saionji; this was the perfect set of questions to pick him for, even though he'd probably hate Minecraft. (If anyone asked, that is. He shamefully spends hours playing it every night.)

While crying.  Don't forget the frustrated, shameful sobbing.  I mean that's what I do when I play minecraft. 

Ragnarok wrote:

Thank you for guessing me, OITL.

I was having trouble at first, but it was that line about not settling for the first place you end up at.  It was subtle but there was no way that was anyone other than Kozue.

Last edited by OnlyInThisLight (03-04-2012 07:21:37 PM)

BioKraze wrote:

I'm getting better at this "guessing" thing. Three out of five isn't too bad, but last I checked a 60 was what, a C- grade? Plainly I have room to do better.

Which reminds me, I am going to force myself to participate in the questions for Round 20 if it kills me.

But that was a good showing from everybody! Good game, y'alls!

That sounds awesome. Just to mix things up and so satyr gets a chance to participate, I'll be hosting Round 20 tomorrow.

Talk to you all then.

Hahaaaaa!

That is a truly fine point, Dallbun. And really indicative of shit. A) The people in Ohtori love to tote the illusion, but are too delicate somehow for the reality 2) As the show progressed, the creative team had to do some pretty serious humiliation to make Saionji endearingly non-threatening.

That and stuff.

Dallbun wrote:

Though KaleMarsh, the idea of Akio as a closet romantic survivalist is oddly appealing...

I had a gut Saionji reaction, but it actually was the romantic survivalist aspect that drew me to Akio.  I could see him having a faux passion for nature the way he has one for stars.

That and the idea of unchanging/permanence.  I had Akio down for each of the first three at one point.  Yet there wasn't a single Akio portrayal in the bunch.  Got me.  Every.  Time.

This really needed some of the more emotionally minded cast, I think.  More talk of frolicking, less talk of psychological manipulation and resignation.

More Nanami, less cow, if you will.

But then I'm attempting to justify my near goose egg score.  Don't mind me.

YOU'LL RUE THE DAY, CHRIS KNIGHT.  YOU'LL RUE THE DAY.

My favorites here are the more obscure interpretations.  I might have to give it a try in a subsequent round.

Congratulations, Davine.  I had the opposite strategy, dropping in bird cages and hints of more sophisticated manipulation in an otherwise possessive, straightforward Kozue rag.  It is interesting that we both went the Miki route and latched onto parallels between the two.

You, however, are a master of that. guesswork. and deserve a hearty victory.

Last edited by KaleMarsh (03-05-2012 01:23:49 PM)

Mmmk, so much later than expected, but that's OK, because somewhere else in the world, it is the evening.

Why does that matter you ask?

Well since I just got back from a trip, Round #20 of IWIW is going to be travel-themed. That's right, Utena is going abroad!

Rules, as according to our mod:

satyreyes wrote:

The Rules!  To play, pick an Utena character and PM me their identity -- but keep it secret from everyone else!  Then, answer the interview questions below in character in a post to this thread.  Once everyone who cares to play has posted, I'll call for you to guess who the other players are.  You get one point for every player you get right, plus one point for every player who gets you right.  Role-play well and guess well, and you'll rack up the points!   

Extra Rules! No picking the same character you picked last time you played; no posting "dead giveaways" like the color of your hair or the fact that you're in the fencing club; and finally, if everyone guesses you right, you get only half credit for each correct guess.  That means you want to be guessable but not blatantly obvious.

1) What is your destination? For example it can be somewhere you've always wanted to go, a place that has a population that suits your demeanour or is the best place to learn more about your favourite hobby.

2) Before your trip has even began, your carry-on is checked for contraband at customs. What in your suitcase would be the item in question and how would you wiggle your way out of it?

3) What is the one souvenir that you would covet from a foreign country and why?

There they are! If you want to play, PM me your identity. Flags ahoy and happy playing!

KaleMarsh wrote:

Dallbun wrote:

Though KaleMarsh, the idea of Akio as a closet romantic survivalist is oddly appealing...

I had a gut Saionji reaction, but it actually was the romantic survivalist aspect that drew me to Akio.  I could see him having a faux passion for nature the way he has one for stars.

That and the idea of unchanging/permanence.  I had Akio down for each of the first three at one point.  Yet there wasn't a single Akio portrayal in the bunch.  Got me.  Every.  Time.

It's interesting to consider what kind of responses Akio would have for these questions. If he was being interviewed by the Ohtori school newspaper club or someone, he would offer up charming lies. "If I was stranded in the wilderness? Well, first I'd look for some materials to build a fire, and when night came I'd look for the North Star to orient myself. But most of all I'd be thinking of all the people who need me here at Ohtori and hoping to return as soon as I could."

But most IWIW players have their characters giving totally honest answers. If Akio were to honestly answer the first question... well, I don't think he's capable of honestly answering it. He can't bring himself to take one step away from his cloistered dreamworld. If he were suddenly stranded in an unfamiliar environment outside his control, it would break him. Especially if he didn't have Anthy at his side. I don't think he could imagine it, because the mere act of trying would rock his psyche like an earthquake.

And I don't think Akio would even pretend a passion for nature. His world is man-made, and its pinnacle is the synthetic sky of the planetarium. "There is nothing higher than this room." Nature is a feminine principle, nature is dirt, rain, blood - he considers himself above these things, but beneath a thousand layers of denial he's terrified of them because he knows they're forever beyond his control.

satyreyes wrote:

Aine Silveria wrote:

Wow, I don't know that I've ever seen anyone but Satyr run a round of IWIW. My feels are all confused!

This is the first time!    But I've said before that anyone is welcome to host IWIW! anytime, and Syora even asked my permission!  It's too late at night (okay, too early in the morning) for me to enter right now, but when I wake up I will participate as an IWIW! player for the first time

Yup, it should be fun to get to play a round with you finally! It was brought up ages ago, but it kept getting pushed to the back burner.

I'm excited to be hosting the first time too! I hope everyone enjoys the round.

What is your destination? For example it could be somewhere you've always wanted to go, a place that has a population that suits your demeanour or is the best place to learn more about your favourite hobby.
"Planning a trip, I'd most likely be visiting Brazil, ultimately checking out the Amazon rainforest. Its seeming timelessness in the face of little civilized habitation suggests that it would be an ideal location for me to unravel the mysteries of the universe and relax in its atmosphere while I'm at it."

Before your trip has even began, your carry-on is checked for contraband at customs. What in your suitcase would be the item in question and how would you wiggle your way out of it?
"A palette scraper, to be used for my work in capturing the beauty of my destination forever on canvas. As far as I'd be concerned, they could keep it; they're easy enough to find before I truly set off on my sojourn."

What is the one souvenir that you would covet from a foreign country and why?
"An overpriced postcard from New Zealand. A reminder to me that sometimes, not everything can be eternal."

1) What is your destination? For example it can be somewhere you've always wanted to go, a place that has a population that suits your demeanour or is the best place to learn more about your favourite hobby.

Somewhere where the water is warm and the surf is good. Let's throw in some hiking and bungee-jumping, and ooh, how about skydiving? I've never tried that one before. Yeah, I like to get the adrenalin pumping - if you can't keep up, then get outta my way, that's what I say. Anyway, Hawaii sounds pretty good. It's a shame I don't have any relatives there to hit up.

2) Before your trip has even began, your carry-on is checked for contraband at customs. What in your suitcase would be the item in question and how would you wiggle your way out of it?

I don't carry much - certainly nothing illegal. I think I'd be more likely to be stopped because I seem suspicious. Whatever, assholes. That's why I like traveling with friends when I can - we can just stick to ourselves, and screw everyone else.

3) What is the one souvenir that you would covet from a foreign country and why?

I'm all about the experience, man. I hate those touristy jerks who are always looking for some oh-so-exotic authentic cultural souvenir to show off to their friends back home. Only assholes like them buy that overpriced shit anyway.

Dallbun wrote:

Hey Syora, it says your inbox is full, so I can't send you a PM right now. Just a heads-up!

OI. Thanks for letting me know. Should be good now!

1) What is your destination? For example it can be somewhere you've always wanted to go, a place that has a population that suits your demeanour or is the best place to learn more about your favourite hobby.

It would definitely be Rio de Janeiro. There's no better place to party or for me to stand out. I'd rule that place in no time.

2) Before your trip has even began, your carry-on is checked for contraband at customs. What in your suitcase would be the item in question and how would you wiggle your way out of it?

Contraband? Innocent little me? Okay fine, I'd probably have whatever the trendiest drug is. Maybe I'd take some of that purple stuff along. 

3) What is the one souvenir that you would covet from a foreign country and why?

    A picture's worth a thousand words, so that's all I'd bring back.