I’ve moved to a nearby city now. It was sad to leave the forest but I can’t really learn about the people of this world out in the middle of the wilderness. I’ve been spending a lot of time at and around the universities here. The libraries, coffee shops, and outdoor quads are particularly useful for catching up on the latest news and trends. I still have a lot to learn but I think I am making good progress on getting a feel for the world and the people in it.
Earth is so big and diverse. It’s more complex than Caelis. The sheer number of divisions and factions can be hard to understand and keep track of even when you focus on only one country. It’s disheartening at times to watch. So much fighting. It makes me miss the peace and companionship of Caelis.
Sometimes I wish I could change the way this world is but as an other-worlder it’s not my place to meddle. Trying to enrich the lives of those who come across my path is one thing but changing the world, that’s up to the people of the world.
Not that this world is all bad, quite the opposite actually. There is so much beauty too! The forms of storytelling are as varied and vast as in Caelis. Maybe even more so due to their different technologies.
For example, written stories. In Caelis, such stories are recorded in either physical books or light records. Here on Earth they have physical books, digital versions of those books, small snippets of stories posted in virtual forums, I’ve even seen stories printed on fabric and worn as clothes.
It is fascinating to see the different methods of storytelling that they have come up with here. There is much overlap between Caelis and Earth but also many differences. I have greatly enjoyed learning about and experimenting with different forms of storytelling in this world. Though the handwritten written form is still my personal favorite to do.
I’ve discovered a thing in this world called anime. It’s animated stories and the amount of variety in the genres it includes is amazing. There are typical stories like you would find in any storytelling medium but there are also some that I have never experienced before. Some of the stories are so crazy and all over the place that it is almost hard to believe that they exist and work in a coherent way.
I’ll be honest, I’m slightly obsessed. The stories are so interesting and I love the general art style. Learning about the process of them being localized into English is also really interesting. It is fun getting to know the voices of all the voice actors. I have started a sort of game against myself to try to guess who voices new characters. (Not to brag but I am getting quite good at it.)
Unsurprisingly, boy love has become one of my favorite genres of anime. After all, a show all about guys means more guys for me to drool over. Ok, really the main reason is that I can relate more to guys who are into guys than guys who are into girls. Plus, a lot of times the main conflict in the plot is internal conflict. Such as the characters internally wrestling with their own thoughts and feelings. I love seeing that kind of character development and being able to really experience and walk alongside a character’s growth in such a deep way.
I will admit that some of the boy love shows are messed up and problematic, especially among the older shows. But there are also many that have some of the most beautiful, healthy, and wholesome relationships I’ve ever seen. And they just keep getting better and better as new shows come out.
It is wonderful to see queer stories getting proper representation and recognition. In Caelis, queer stories stand equal alongside cis-het stories but in this world there is still a discrepancy. There are still many people who look down in judgement on queer stories and many who feel shame in reading and enjoying stories about queer characters. It is sad to see. People are missing out on the joy and inspiration that can come from queer stories. But at least it is getting better. People are becoming more open and accepting and those who know the worth and power of queer stories are continuing to fight to make such stories better and more accessible. Hopefully one day all the prejudice and shame around queer stories will go away and they can be enjoyed in the same way and to the same extent as cis-het stories
I think I may have found a homebase, if you will, for my guild. There is this website called Twitch and there are people who do something called co-working streams on there. The streams are a chill space designed for working and hanging out together. In many ways it is like the guild halls in Caelis. The streams seem to work well and be things people enjoy too. I could do that for my guild. I could create virtual spaces that people can come to relax, chat, or get work done. I did often find being in the guild hall with other people working helped me stay motivated and productive too. A sort of accountability space in a way. Plus it just makes long work days feel a little less long and lonely.
I guess I better start researching co-working stream stuff to figure out exactly how it works and if I will be able to use it to make my guild. Luckily there are lots of computers and people on Twitch around here, so with a bit of observation I should be able to get the information I need.
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