girlofprey

Today I watched a documentary about London where the host talked about a gay brothel that was there in the 18th century, and the account given of it by an undercover police officer at the time. Who apparently had to go back several weeks in a row to "gather evidence". So what I want to know is: where is all the historical undercover-in-a-gay-bar fic?

Also I learned that lots of silver is terrifying. IT IS JUST SHINY AND THE SAME COLOUR SO YOU CAN'T SEE WHERE ONE PIECE ENDS AND ANOTHER BEGINS. Suddenly I know how to decorate a terrifying fairy lair should I ever write and/or film one.

I downloaded Minecraft today, after learning that it was finally available for the PS3 online. It now has every chance to impress me as all the Let's Plays suggest it should. Actually I've already played a couple of hours of it, and it is pretty good. I like the fact you can tame wolves and have them follow you around and help you. And also ocelots? I didn't manage to tame the ocelots though.

Meanwhile in Skyrim I finally get to have adventures with a hot Orc lady. Yusssss.

Oh and I had an actual look at the PS4 in a games shop today. It seems pretty cool, and smaller than I was expecting, but the only game I was interested in turned out to be a Playstation Store game that doesn't come in a bundle, and which I can get for the PS3. So that £400 price tag continues to be off-putting.

( My never-ending frustration with Coronation Street, possible spoilers for Tina's storyline/Tina )


Also I finished the main quest part of Dragonborn, the DLC for Skyrim today. ( Spoilers )

Steam is pissing me off at the moment. The game software, not actual steam. EVERY TIME I switch my computer on, it needs to update. Sometimes I switch it on a couple of times in a day, and almost every time it needs to update. Multiple times a day! What updates could there possibly be hours since the last updates? And I don't know if that has anything to do with it, but I'm playing Skyrim again at the moment, and a good half of the time the game won't load, and I have to switch my laptop off and on again before it will. What is that? Is it so much to ask that I can just play the games I have paid for? Must I constantly have to ask Steam's permission, and often be refused it? And what is the point of constantly updating your software - usually before my computer is completely switched on and connected to the internet - if it still doesn't work even when you do? I am genuinely considering buying a copy of Skyrim for the Playstation because fffffffff. Fuck's sake.

Anyway. It's SUPER COLD here. And wet. Apparently 'wet snow' is on the cards for tonight? A White Christmas is usually too much to ask, never mind a White November. I may have to buy some jumpers at some point soon.

Also I have been rewatching Death Valley and I genuinely don't understand why there was never a fandom for it. Aside from being reminded how much of an MTV show it really was. So much unnecessariness. But it was genuinely funny a lot of the time and everyone was beautiful. Especially Dashell, and someone should have written me Dashell/Santos fic by now. I might start a kink meme. And write all the prompts, and fill all the fills.

Also, a decade on, I still don't understand how Coldplay's 'Shiver' is anything other than an out-and-out song about stalking:



And googling that has revealed: " Martin actually wrote the song in a "glum" day, when he felt he would never find the right woman for him. He described it as something of a "stalking song", admitting he wrote it for a specific woman.". Something of a? I do genuinely like it though. Frankly I was never a huge Coldplay fan, but I think they were better when their songs were as emotionally dead as their voices. Oh well.

Anyway. I'm going to a comics convention this weekend. It comes but once a year, and I am super looking forward to it. Of course last year I had already read half the comics on sale, or bought them at least, because they have a lot of the same artists back year on year and they don't spit out a new series a month or anything. But it's still always a nice day out. Hurrah.

So I called the Jobcentre yesterday. Again, it was one of those conversations where I didn't understand everything the guy was saying and I hoped he would explain it before the conversation was through, but he didn't. But he seemed genuinely perplexed by the idea that the Jobcentre would appeal the Tribunal's decision, because it doesn't happen very often - which I knew, but still. He kept saying he didn't know why "they'd done that", and I couldn't tell if he meant why the reasons for the Tribunal's decision were requested or why the court told me they'd been requested - it seemed like he meant the latter, but the letter was just a courtesy thing, as far as I could tell. I was mostly freaked out because the last time I won an appeal (so much experience now), I didn't get a letter saying anyone had requested the reasons for it, as I recall. So it seemed like a ~special case~. But it probably wasn't. In any case, the guy said there was no note on my records saying the Jobcentre was planning to appeal, he said they were working on paying me my arrears, and that my case wouldn't be treated any differently from anyone else's. Like I said, I still don't entirely trust the Jobcentre, but that's about as fair as anyone can say about it for now, so I'm happy with it.

I'm nearly done with Saints Row IV now. I've been super-enjoying it, but I also don't really see where the story can go from here, if it all plays out as I'm assuming it will. Maybe back into the past. Into fantasy world. They can fight Cthulhu. But then this game has been quite retrospective, which is sometimes a sign that a series is coming to a close. But I'm sure that'll depend on how much money they make from it. Anyway, I really like it, even if it's not really like Saints Row 2 anymore. And I'm sure my tendency to ship badass protagonists with their enemies will abate any day now. Although Dane Vogel is still her truest love obv.

I also found a Saints Row Kink Meme on Livejournal, which was great, except that it doesn't have a single entry on it. By which I mean, not even a post saying "Yo put your prompts here!". It's like the saddest thing I've ever seen. EXCEPT NO because I've been getting into Olan Rogers lately (dude from the video the other day) and today I caught up with some of his 'updates' from a couple of years ago, and - as I suspected and feared - it was about him moving away from his home state so he could have any kind of career in video work, and he was crying because he'd had to leave all his best friends behind. Including Reid. REID. The other dude from the video the other day. Oh Olan. Get rich and buy a big house so he can come live with you.

I take back some of what I said about Saints Row IV being really fun yesterday. Whoever's idea it was to have the cars constantly glitching as you're trying to customise them can go fuck themselves. Right in the face.

( Coronation Street, tw for cancer and suicide )

I went to Blackpool! It was lovely, even though the weather was changeable enough to make it difficult. The first night we were there it was just throwing it down all night. On Saturday it started out dry at least, then the sun came out and I was wondering around without a coat for a bit. Then there was a thunderstorm. It was funny actually, mum and I were in a cafe on a pier - which was already rocking because of the water underneath - just eating lunch, and then I noticed one of the girls from behind the counter asking if any of the other workers minded if she borrowed a jumper, and putting it over her head before she ran outside. Then we just heard the rain, sheeting down on the roof and outside. People started running in to take cover. Then the thunder started rolling. It was like being on the Ark. Like we were the last people in the world safe from the rain. One poor woman ran in with her kid, completely drenched, and told whoever she was meeting in the cafe that they'd been at the top of the big wheel when it started coming down. It let up enough that mum and I managed to leave, and we were planning to go to the Sealife centre just down the road anyway. When we came out it was dry again, and it was just sort of drizzling on and off for the rest of the night. It got cold though. The next day it was sunny in the morning, and then just started raining and showering for the last few hours we were there. There was a train at 2 and a train at 4, but we were both knackered and the weather was terrible, so we ended up going at 2. Then on the way home there was a rainbow over the Pennines. British weather, eh?

So it was a little difficult, but it was lovely, and I glad we went. We stayed in a great B&B on the North shore, so it was really quiet, but within walking distance of everything. On Saturday we went up the Tower, which I'd never been to before. We watched the dancers in the ballroom, including one young couple who must have been professionals and were amazing, had a drink in the cafe looking out over the sea (ocean?), where I had the finest traybake I've ever had in my life. I'm not sure any other will ever compare to it. Then we went to the top of the Tower - we had to have a 4D Experience on the way, but I did learn some interesting things, like that there are more B&B and hotel beds in Blackpool than in all of Portugal. Weird. The views from the top were lovely, as the sun was out at that point, and I did do the Skywalk, but I think the effect was spoiled a bit by the scaffolding a few stories below us. Anyway. Then we went and looked round the Winter Gardens, where mum said she'd gone back in the 60s, and walked down to the Central Pier and had lunch. Thunderstorm, and then the Sealife Centre, which was lovely, but they did have a weird attitude to their sharks. Telling you all about how sharks are endangered and not to buy products made from sharks one minute, and then playing Jaws-style music in the tunnel and selling shark's teeth in the shop the next. Didn't know what to make of that. But it was nice to see the fish.

Then mum and I walked down to the south pier and Pleasure Beach, but we were pretty knackered at that point and possibly about to do our feet an injury, so we just had dinner and went back to a bar near out B&B on the tram. I tried a Strawberry Daiquiri, finally, which was lovely, but as it was made in a Wetherspoons from what was apparently a pre-made mixer, I suspect it still wasn't the genuine article. Anyway. The next day we were both tired and it kept raining, so we just walked the opposite way up the North shore, came up from the slipway and walked to the end of the illuminations - all the way to Bispham station - then walked back, had some lunch and went for the train. Mum was talking about staying till the 4 o'clock train, but I don't know what else we would have done there. We were both tired, our feet were killing us, I didn't want to walk back into town anyway, and it was raining. And it had forecasted thundery hailstorms for later on. So we came back. And that was our weekend in Blackpool. It was grand.

I also went into Wakefield last week to try to get my netbook sorted out, or get some tips on fixing it. I don't think I ever posted about it, but I went to jekesta's on the 4th and took my netbook with me, and it connected to her wireless internet immediately. In Wakefield, in the shop where I bought it, it also connected to their internet immediately. So the guy said it couldn't really be the computer, or the software, because it was staying connected and loading webpages. He said it must be our router, somehow, even though all our other computers can connect through it. There might be something I can do with changing the internet options on the netbook, apparently, but he couldn't do anything there because I wasn't on my dad's network. So his only advice was to call our internet provider and talk to them about it. I'm not looking forward to that really. But it's the only thing being suggested at the moment. And if they can't help, the guy said I could bring it back and send it to them for a service, and he'd make sure it went even though there was nothing to say it was a problem with the machine itself, but he wasn't sure there'd be anything to fix, you know? Sigh. It's a conundrum, this netbook. But I may as well keep at it. One thing he did say was that registering my warranty online, like I was being prompted to do at jekesta's, wasn't an issue, and I'd have a warranty whether I did that or not, which was the only thing I was freaking out about. So at least that's not such an issue.

Other than that I'm mostly watching Coronation Street and replaying Oblivion. I've been replaying a lot of my old RPGs lately, but Oblivion's a slightly more serious one because I wasn't really that bothered about it when it came out. I bought it in 2011, when I finally got a laptop that could cope with it, and I kind of rushed through it so I'd be all caught up when Skyrim came out. And the Empire/Cyrodiil was always my least favourite part of the Elder Scrolls world. But now I'm going through it properly and have thought a bit more about my character and class, I'm enjoying it a lot more. The number one thing that still irks me though is that Foxglove Nectar doesn't have the Damage Health effect. Foxglove is like one the deadliest plants in the world. Worse than Nightshade, I think. It should definitely be a poison, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THE BEST POISONS EVER WITH IT. Bethesda!

Also I bought Scribblenauts Unlimited because it was £3.74 on Steam. Fun!

I would like to say, though, that I am partly an emotional wreck over Dragon Age because I choose to play a female character.

( Dragon Age: Origins spoilers )

And also, ( Coronation Street )

I don't know what is wrong with me, but I keep waking up every morning with a really bad sore throat, which then gets better throughout the day, and then is bad again when I wake up the next morning. All I can think is that I'm just a bit ill, and am not drinking fluids throughout the night so it gets worse, or my neck is getting cold at night. I don't know what to do if my neck is just getting cold. I am applying duvets the best I can, and the weather isn't looking to get any warmer. Uhh.

Also, I have recced fanmixes on here before, and this isn't going to turn into a fanmix rec journal. But I have been listening to these, and they are pretty awesome.

Fuck That Noise

Well Done, Tamika - A fanmix for Tamika Flynn from Welcome To Night Vale. Spoilers only really for her short mention on the show.

( Vera tonight )

( Tonight's Coronation Street, tw for rape and rape culture )

( Dragon Age: Origins spoilers I guess )

And can anyone tell me, if they shop at Play.com, if the Play.com search engine is working for them at the moment? I go to the site and put something in the search box and hit return, and it either does nothing, or just puts a little # in the url. It doesn't seem to be loading anything, so I don't know if I'm just not waiting long enough. But it's frustrating. And it'd be nice to know if it's a problem with the site or my computer.

I don't have enough detective icons. Is what I've worked out from this post.

RIP William. My lovely friend.

I have been playing Fallout 3 this week, partly because I love it and partly to take my mind off things. Unfortunately - though it is very sweet most of the time - the main 'companion' you can have in that game is a loyal dog, that comes panting up behind you whenever it catches up to you. I am planning to go play some again today, to take my mind off things, and because I need something to do, but it might present a difficulty all of it's own.

I had quite a lovely night tonight. Last year my local castle was holding a Proms-type event, but by the time I'd decided I wanted to go the tickets were all sold out. Then last night I found out it was on again, but today, so I assumed it would be sold out again. But my mum took my ON to the castle today, and found out they were still selling tickets, so she got one for me and one for herself, and we went down. It didn't start until 7.30, so the weather had cooled down from what it was like earlier today, and it managed to hold off from raining, and the place was packed. So we just spent a rather lovely evening sat on the grass with a few hundred other people, listening to our local symphony orchestra. I didn't even know we had one. Highlight of the evening: hearing one theme tune and racking our brains trying to think of what it was, humming it to ourselves, only for me to remember while mum was in the toilet that it was the theme to the Magnificent Seven. LITERALLY ALL I COULD REMEMBER WAS THAT THE SIMPSONS MAY HAVE DONE A PARODY OF IT ONCE USING THE THEME TUNE, AND IT MAY HAVE INVOLVED HORSES AND LASSOS. A close runner-up was the orchestra playing the can-can, and a bunch of people in the audience getting up and can-canning to it. And then at the end of the night we had a fireworks display. It was an incredibly decent night out for £5.

In family news, things aren't really any better. ( Talking about our dog, cut for mention of animal death )

And in general family news, I generally ask not to be involved in or hear about news to do with my sister anymore. But despite this, I have heard or overheard this week that she and her partner had a massive row on Wednesday night which ended with her sleeping separately from him, that having been moved from Disability Allowance to ESA recently she's now being asked to attend assessment interviews, and after an unfortunate incident on Thursday while my mum was looking after my YN, I seriously suggested to her that maybe she just shouldn't take so much on, if she genuinely can't cope with it. So it sort of feels like things might be changing in the near future, and possibly not for the better. Maybe they won't though, I might just be worrying too much about these things.

In other news:

• I honestly can't believe there isn't a Starkid kinkmeme in existence. I found a TFLN tumbr, and even they for some reason miss out Holy Musical B@man! in their posts. YOU SHOULD ALL WATCH TEAM STARKID PRODUCTIONS. And write me fic.



• You know how a while back I was talking about the video games I played in my youth, and mentioned the Great Giana Sisters?
  
  - I just spent literally about an hour looking for it, and while I remember posting about it, I can't find it. But anyway. Whereas I had assumed the Great Giana Sisters was a one-off 'homage' to the Super Mario Bros, it turns out it's actually an ongoing property. And there's a new game that just came out. I bought that. I'm going to play the hell out of it.



• I saw (most of) an amazing documentary about a lioness today, that ended up being basically a slash fic between her and a rival lioness. It was amazing. Then it ended on the note that there were 450,000 wild lions 50 years ago, and now there are 20,000. Which was a bit of a downer. I didn't even realised lions were in trouble. Still, it was an amazing documentary though. It was called The Last Lions, and it's apparently available on DVD, even though it's only about an hour long. Also, it was narrated by Jeremy Irons - I c what u did there, documentary makers.

In other news, I'm playing Fallout 3 again, and I've just gotten to the parts in the game that make me really angry. Or kind of angry. I feel like I want to go somewhere and discuss at length the differing moralities of the characters in the Wasteland - and why I think they're genuinely good choices by Bethesda, even if they didn't quite write them as well as they could have done. But either no-one is having/had those conversations, or I'm missing them. Or they're on the type of game websites that I don't like to frequent, in case they're a little more hostile than the sites I usually go on. Oh well.