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So am I the only one who is like: “Shizune clearly didn’t care about a person’s agency before, and made decisions for them based upon her own desires. And now she’s not doing it towards Misha? Either this is inconsistency on the character, or hypocrisy we’re intentionally supposed to be aware of.”
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Nov 16, 2021 01:15
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Karia posted:But, as an abled reader: honestly it's mildly annoying. I read the text in the images. It's not that I actually prefer text in the images, but it always jumps out at me first: it's a larger font, it's next to a colorful image so it stands out first, just force of habit from other LPs, etc. Most of the time it's totally fine, but it's very very slightly awkward when you've got really long lines from a single person that didn't fit entirely in that textbox, like this: I would suggest: If there is text in an image, have the block of text under the image be exactly that text, so a reader who prefers reading the image can easily skip it (then there is an obvious block-level delineation for it by the line break). If there is more text that's a continuation, put it in a separate block. Like so: quote:
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Nov 16, 2021 01:53
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Quackles posted:I would suggest: If there is text in an image, have the block of text under the image be exactly that text, so a reader who prefers reading the image can easily skip it (then there is an obvious block-level delineation for it by the line break). If there is more text that's a continuation, put it in a separate block. Like so: i like this suggestion a lot. i am abled and do not use a screen reader, but i do read primarily on my phone, and i appreciate the text because it saves me having to zoom in on the pictures if there's a lot there.
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Nov 16, 2021 04:43
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i'm vaguely non-neurotypical in some way and i really appreciate having the text repeated outside the image. like maybe this sounds weird but my brain processes text differently if it's presented to me in an image vs if it's in the body of the post -- maybe it's the switching between fonts or something? i dunno. anyway, it's always a little jarring to have to switch between reading one, and then the other for a line or two of text in most LPs. It's nice to be able to look at the picture and just... not have to deal with that, it makes the experience feel much more cohesive to read for me. That said, Quackle's suggestion is definitely a very good one imo!
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Nov 16, 2021 04:52
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Quackles’s suggestion, while really good, is a little painful for me to implement; I have trouble keeping track of fine details like the exact lines of text in a given textbox, so for every image I’d basically have to flip several times between the image I have saved in my screenshots folder, the script, and the word document to make sure I didn’t gently caress the text up for every image. I already have some trouble with that; if you spotted me missing a line of text at some point, it’s because I lost track of what text I already had in the word doc. If you guys really want it, I’ll do it, but it won’t be happening until after this route is over (which will be in a week or so).
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Nov 16, 2021 05:55
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I'm neuroatypical too; the double text thing doesn't bother me though Quackles's suggestion seems sensible.Psycho Lawnmower posted:So am I the only one who is like: “Shizune clearly didn’t care about a person’s agency before, and made decisions for them based upon her own desires. And now she’s not doing it towards Misha? Either this is inconsistency on the character, or hypocrisy we’re intentionally supposed to be aware of.” I think that's supposed to be less hypocrisy and more an attempt at character development. The climax of the route seems to largely be about Shizune realizing that she's taken Misha for granted.
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Nov 16, 2021 09:18
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I was about to say exactly what Karia and Quackles said... but it is a pretty minor thing, so if it's a humongous pain to do, I wouldn't personally see it as a big deal.
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Nov 16, 2021 12:54
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Falconier111 posted:Quackles’s suggestion, while really good, is a little painful for me to implement; I have trouble keeping track of fine details like the exact lines of text in a given textbox, so for every image I’d basically have to flip several times between the image I have saved in my screenshots folder, the script, and the word document to make sure I didn’t gently caress the text up for every image. I already have some trouble with that; if you spotted me missing a line of text at some point, it’s because I lost track of what text I already had in the word doc. If you guys really want it, I’ll do it, but it won’t be happening until after this route is over (which will be in a week or so). Yeah, this is pretty much why I didn't suggest that. That's not tracked in the script, so it's not possible to automate, and you put a ton of work into this as-is. The way you're doing it right now is totally fine, I was just trying to point out how UI polish can also be important. Keep on keeping on! EDIT: Now that I think about it, taking screenshots without text would also be an interruption to your workflow, wouldn't it? Definitely not worth it. Karia fucked around with this message at 14:36 on Nov 16, 2021 |
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Nov 16, 2021 14:05
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I think image cropping can be automated as well, but that's yet another thing to automate.
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Nov 16, 2021 15:19
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Space Kablooey posted:I think image cropping can be automated as well, but that's yet another thing to automate. Image cropping is actually viable. It would mean adding a batch edit via IrfanView to the process, but I already use IrfanView for the Interviews updates to get the screenshots postable. My only concern is that I’ve been using screenshots of important lines to break up text and draw emphasis to certain points. Does that actually work, would screenshots without text have the same effect, or does that just break the flow?
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Nov 16, 2021 18:28
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I think it'd feel kind of weird to not have the text in the images, so I wouldn't vote for that. (Just personally, again.) If you were to do that, cropping the text out of the images doesn't seem great either, since obviously you'd be losing some of the image - not just the text. Doesn't Katawa Shoujo have a hotkey to hide the text and other UI elements? (Sure would be good if the images could just have alt-text that screen-readers could pick up. That was mentioned earlier in the thread as something that the forum software doesn't support yet though, wasn't it?)
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Nov 17, 2021 03:08
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Antistar01 posted:I think it'd feel kind of weird to not have the text in the images, so I wouldn't vote for that. (Just personally, again.) They haven’t implemented that yet, yeah. I could definitely use that hot key every time I take a screenshot, but it would make screenshotting anything in motion (Misha zooming behind the Hakamichis, Emi’s comic book sound effects) impossible without leaving an empty text box at the bottom. It’s viable but inelegant, but maybe that’s what we need?
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Nov 17, 2021 05:06
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Update 82: The Summit (Act 4, Scenes 4-5) Katawa Shoujo OST - Comfort .png) Although I start feeling tired even after doing what could be described as on the level of a brisk jog at best, Misha and I eventually make it to the gate of the school with a little over ten minutes to spare.  HISAO: "I didn't even want to really come to this school, you know. I didn't have a choice. When I got to this gate, I'm sure a part of me was thinking, “What a depressing place.” It doesn't look depressing at all, though. Well, I still thought I had everything figured out. I felt practically like another person. If I could, I'd go back and tell myself to stop thinking he can write everything off at a glance, and acting like his life is already over, and he can never have fun again.” .png) The school grounds are still littered with quite a few people. It's lunchtime, so it's typical. HISAO: "This is where you and Shizune had me helping you put together two festivals. What a lot of hard work. I thought, “I don't have time for this.” When I look back on it, though, I didn't do all that much. I also didn't have anything better to do. I'd have just spent the time alone." .png) I drag her to our homeroom next, which is empty except for Mutou trying to eat a sandwich before classes resume. HISAO: "Every time I thought of either of you, I wished you would leave me alone. Whether it was here, or..." Leaving Mutou to his lunch, we head for the nearby vending machine, and I grab a soda while I still have five minutes to drink it. I've spent an entire lunch period with Misha; longer than both Shizune and I have managed to find to talk to her in days. HISAO: "...Following me to the cafeteria, or trying to corner me after half my classes. I never realized we only talked like four times. It really was all in my head. I only barely realized it now."  MISHA: "I remember that, Hicchan. But~, I know where all of these places are, too." HISAO: "Wait, let me finish my guided tour. Since we're running out of time. By the way, do you want a soda?" Making our way to the stairwell, I'm glad that I don't have to pull her by the hand any more. HISAO: "You get dizzy on stairs, right?" MISHA: "Yeah~." HISAO: "I guess just here is good enough, then." I lean against the wall as Misha sits down on the steps, across from me. .png) HISAO: "Do you ever miss the people you went to school with in elementary school, or middle school?" MISHA: "No." That was fast. She didn't even have to think about it. I find myself cringing reflexively. HISAO: "I had more friends in my old school, but I don't talk to them any more. It almost feels like that was another lifetime ago. Which is sad, really. Sometimes I want to talk to them again, but I know I can't. I'm scared, and embarrassed, things like that. They're too far away for me to go see them. Then I think about calling them, but I don't know most of their numbers. And I left on a sour note. So why would they want to see me again? It feels like I should just forget about it, but I still think about it anyway and regret that I didn't try harder to stay in touch somehow. And I start to think that maybe feeling like I should forget about it is wrong. It would be an insult to all those people I had fun with and a waste of all the good times. Like I said before, even if there are some bad times, too, it's all right if you can look back on them as happy memories. But I didn't even think about it then. So, it was like I woke up one day and realized I had no friends. I just let myself lose all my friends, and it felt awful. I'd really hate it if you and Shizune ended up the same way. That's all." MISHA: "“That's all~.”" HISAO: "It makes me sad to think that you'll do the same thing and push away your friend. Especially because you're not far away from Shizune; I mean, you even live in the same dorm." MISHA: "Friend, hm~... Aren't you my friend, too, Hicchan?" HISAO: "Yeah. You slept through all of it, but the fireworks were really nice way back, at the festival. My first time seeing fireworks like that. And my first time really seeing the sky in a while. And, I'd never really looked at the stars before then, either." I had thumbed through a book about them while I was in the hospital, though, and learned a lot. Like that stars aren't just burning, they're more like a constant chain of explosions, so far away that some of the stars I'd be seeing would have been burnt out for thousands of years already. It's that their light would only just then be reaching Earth. I saw a mockup comparing the size of the planet to our sun, and then that to other suns. Japan wasn't even visible on the tiny Earth in that book. HISAO: "You know what I'd never realized?" She looks at me expectantly. HISAO: "They're amazingly shiny." MISHA: "Ahahaha~." HISAO: "It's true." MISHA: "Why're you doing this, Hicchan?" HISAO: "Doing what?" MISHA: "I'm not stupid." HISAO: "I don't know. A bunch of reasons. Because you're Shizune's friend? And I liked how close you were? And maybe I'm trying to tell you that we all have our low points, but giving up is stupid. Anyway, it seems worth the trouble." MISHA: "That's the only reason?" HISAO: "And you're my friend." MISHA: "That's it?" HISAO: "Can't I do something for no reason?" MISHA: "Wahaha~. You can, you can~, but~, I want to know." HISAO: "Well, what else do you want to hear?" The bell rings before Misha can reply, so she ends up laughing instead. Katawa Shoujo OST ~ Passing of Time .png) (Silence) I see less of Misha in the following days. But I don't worry, because when I do see her, she looks a bit more like her old self each time. Once it's clear enough that I don't have to be afraid of it being my wishful thinking coloring my perceptions, I start to relax again. I wake up very early and feeling sick on Sunday. I went to sleep too early last night, too. Something's also wrong with my curtains, and they won't close completely. Because of that, I can't even attempt to go back to sleep. The sun hits me in the eyes every time. I'm sure this is probably why I woke up so early this morning as well. Being this sick and tired is a perfect storm of frustration. I'm almost glad when there's a knock at the door. Katawa Shoujo OST - Out of the Loop .png) It's a familiar person holding an almost completely eaten apple in his hand. Taking one last bite, he attempts to shoot it into my trash can and misses completely, and it smashes apart on the wall two meters too high. To be fair, most of the pieces afterwards do manage to fall into the trash can, but I'm pretty sure no one is so brazen that they would be aiming to do something like this on purpose.  KENJI: "Perfect shot! Sup, roomie?" HISAO: "I'm not your roomie, we don't live in the same room." KENJI: "It doesn't matter." HISAO: "It does, you should at least know the difference between living in the same building and living in the same room." KENJI: "I need to use your room." HISAO: "For what?" I messed up, I should have said “absolutely not.” KENJI: "The Student Council keeps delivering my mail, even though I asked them to put it in my locker or something. But they keep putting it under my door, delivering my mail without me noticing it, so today, I'm lying in wait to catch them in the act... like a detective, or a safari hunter. I need to chill in your room for today and look through the little peephole or I won't be able to catch them in the act. And maybe tomorrow, too. It'll be awesome, we'll get pizza, on both days. Or should we get pizza on just one day, and something else on the other day? But what? And which day is pizza day?" HISAO: "Not today. Never. You know, I'm in the Student Council. Why didn't you just ask me about this?" If he had, I would have been able to find out very easily and wouldn't have to have Kenji in my room. It's win-win, except I guess this way he might be able to get a pizza out of me. I start thinking that maybe that was Kenji's intention. But... No, I doubt it. There's no way he could plan something that elaborate. KENJI: "You know?" HISAO: "When they deliver mail? Well, no. They just hand me my mail when I go to Student Council, usually. The point is, I could find out by asking them. Then I'd know and I could tell you. That's how people find things out, by asking." KENJI: "Not cavemen. Aw yeah, no response to that, right? Checkmate." HISAO: "...Use your own peephole." KENJI: "What if they see me?" HISAO: "They can't, that's how peepholes work. It's like a one-way glass." KENJI: "For real? Well... No way. They'll be expecting me to be in my room, anyway. They'll sense my presence and know I'm there. They'd never expect me to actually be in the room across the hall." HISAO: "I'm going to go to the student council room and go get your mail for you, right now." KENJI: "Then I guess I can't let you leave." HISAO: "That's dumb. What if I have to use the toilet?" KENJI: "Your games won't work on me." I sit down at my desk and start doing my homework for the weekend. HISAO: "You know, you're going to have to leave eventually, so you can't stay here forever, or keep me here forever. I mean, this is my room to start with." KENJI: "Yeah, I don't think I can. What time's the mail usually come?" HISAO: "Now." KENJI: "Why are women so slow?" HISAO: "Why do you care so much about the mail anyway? Are you expecting something?" KENJI: "I'm always expecting something. ...Not today, though." HISAO: "Do you want them to send something? Do you even send mail?" KENJI: "Nope! That's how they get you. I haven't used the mail since I was eight. Sent a letter to Lego asking them to make Dragonball Legos. They said they couldn't get the rights and gave me some coupons. Totally worth it, but after that I made sure to stay off the radar. You don't use mail, do you?" HISAO: "I wrote to my parents last week." KENJI: "But that's how they get you!" HISAO: "Yes, I should have known. Maybe that's why they put that microchip in me the next day." KENJI: "So... the rumors were true." I'd like to know what rumor mill he got that from. HISAO: "I was kidding. It's a joke." KENJI: "Joke? drat. You would joke on me? I guess this is how it feels... to have jokes cracked on. I never thought it'd happen to me. This is a serious issue. Man, I think you are not appreciating the depths of my dilemma. It's a work in many acts. Complicated acts, with many players. It's really hard, okay? After I'm done I'm gonna eat a whole fish, to celebrate. Aaaah, poo poo. I wanted a pizza, though. I still want pizza. Can I get fish on the pizza? Do they do that now?" HISAO: "You're going to be paying for it. You still haven't paid me back, and I'm not hungry right now anyway." KENJI: "Not in the mood for pizza? That's just not possible, son. It's got to be pizza, anyway. I'm in the pizza stage of my life. Before I was in an ice cream stage, but my girlfriend kept eating all the strawberry out of my Neapolitan. It'll probably happen to you, too." It's hard to tell if he's serious half the time; I can only see his expression when he's not nose deep in my door. HISAO: "I doubt that. Hey, you know that I do have a girlfriend, right? Not Iwanako, either. The Student Council president, actually." KENJI: "Old news." HISAO: "What? Seriously?" KENJI: "I have my sources. Anyway... Then it dawned on me that I'd gotten fat from all that ice cream. It was a rude awakening. Like sleeping on a beach and getting hit by a wave that destroys your sand castle. I started running. Had to lose the pounds. But maybe... I was really running away from myself." (Silence) A sudden and continuous knocking causes him to leap backwards far enough to hit the wall all the way behind him. I take the opportunity to walk over and open the door. .png)  SHIZUNE: “[Good morning. What's up?]" KENJI: "I hear if you salt the doorway they can't enter uninvited."  The camera spends the next scene rapidly hopping between Kenji and Shizune. Katawa Shoujo OST - Katawa Shoujo OST - Generic Happy Music HISAO: "I'm not going to put salt in my doorway." KENJI: "But... you're considering it. Good." HISAO: "Good morning. Are you here to deliver the mail?" Nodding, Shizune waves a couple envelopes between our faces. I take them from her, freeing up her hands for conversation. SHIZUNE: “[How did you know, how did you know?]" HISAO: "You were hiding it behind your back in a really obvious way." KENJI: "Hiding what?" HISAO: "The mail." SHIZUNE: “[It's okay, I wasn't trying very hard to hide it in the first place.]" HISAO: "That's not like you. You're the type of person who'd go “anything worth trying is worth trying hard.”" KENJI: "Girls taking initiative? And what about me? I've been using that phrase for years. Where's my parade, dawg? I spit literary gold and you women just steal it and wear it out like a two-for-one sundress. You're all like the Picard to my Kirk. Or you could even be Janeway." SHIZUNE: “[Not all the time. Are you making fun of me?]" Finally noticing Kenji, she gives him a wave. HISAO: "Hey, Kenji, the Student Council president says hi." KENJI: "Hi." SHIZUNE: “[Introduce me. I have no idea what he was saying, but it looked confident.]" Oh yes, no one is better at saying that kind of stuff confidently. HISAO: "I already did. I even introduced you by title. This is Kenji, he's the guy across the hall. His room is right behind you. Anyway, do you have his mail too?" SHIZUNE: “[I'm only delivering your mail because it was there. I have early access! It's all about location. Consider it as a perk of being in the Student Council.]" That doesn't sound very fair. She takes a lot of liberties with her position. At least they're small ones. SHIZUNE: “[I never got to enter your room before. It's interesting. Why does he get to see your room and I can't? Is it a guy thing?]" HISAO: "It's not a secret club being a guy." KENJI: "It should be. With rings. Rings with big-rear end emblems. And gold!" SHIZUNE: “[Are you sure? Are you really sure? I always thought that there was a secret brotherhood of men.]" KENJI: "Why's she ignoring me? Let me tell her about the guy club. Also, what's up with the hand signals? Is she trying to hex me or something?” HISAO: "No, stay out of this. I'll have to translate anything you say to her, and I'm not sure if I could even handle it. And she'll probably misunderstand it, and then you'll probably misunderstand the reply, and I'll have to translate your rebuttal." KENJI: "Rebuttal? Why would I rebutt? I like my butt." SHIZUNE: “[What is he saying?]" HISAO: "He says he has no rebuttal." SHIZUNE: “[Rebuttal to what? I haven't even begun to challenge him yet." I don't like the way she put that. So, it appears that she wants to. But about what? It doesn't matter, since it wouldn't end well. HISAO: "Don't pick fights where there are none." SHIZUNE: “[I've never met your friends. Why can't I? It looks like he's... being passionate." I suppose with the way he's flailing around it would be stupid to expect Shizune to think otherwise. Anyway, I'd better change the subject. Not that it would be likely to work on her, but I'm sure that she has to have come here for a reason, other than just to drop my mail off. If it was something that tiny she wouldn't have even bothered knocking. HISAO: "You didn't come here just to give me my mail or chat up my friends, did you?" Shizune snaps her fingers in mock frustration. It's as cringe-inducingly loud as ever. SHIZUNE: “[You're right. Let's go somewhere again.]" HISAO: "Do you have somewhere in mind already?" SHIZUNE: “[You're right again. Let's go to the usual place.]" She whips out a bag of neatly wrapped containers from just outside of the doorframe. I'm guessing they're filled with food, and this time, it doesn't look store-bought. Setting it down between her feet, she continues. KENJI: "Is that for me?" SHIZUNE: “[This was the real surprise. See?]" SHIZUNE: “[I have to have something over everyone at the very end.]" I agree, in the way people normally do when someone makes a statement in front of them that tells more than they meant to tell. KENJI: "Well, fine, if you're both going to ignore me, I'm out of here. So cruel. You'll regret this!" Katawa Shoujo OST - Air Guitar .png) Not long afterwards, we find ourselves on the school roof. Is it normally deserted at this time, on a nice day like this, on the weekend? No, of course not. I can only think that it's because of Shizune. Not that clearing out a roof would require anything more than posting a sign on the door. The empty plastic containers Shizune had packed our meal in lie next to me. It was another quiet meal, since holding chopsticks prevents us from saying much to each other. While it's not blowing hard enough to be a problem, the wind is a little strong today. It blows the plastic bag loose from under the empty containers, so it whips around for a bit before rolling over my legs and getting caught on the tip of Shizune's shoe. .png) Immediately, she grabs it and starts signing, not looking happy that I'm laughing at her, even though she's trying not to let out a laugh herself. With the bag in the way, however, she has to eventually sit on it to continue. SHIZUNE: “[Very funny. How was it?]" HISAO: “[The food? It tasted familiar.]" SHIZUNE: “[That means it was bad.]" HISAO: “[No, no. I remember eating this exact meal before, when you made it.]" Not exactly the same. The fried shrimp was new. SHIZUNE: “[It's the only thing I know how to make, but I should have improved.]" HISAO: “[How many times have you made it before?]" SHIZUNE: “[This is the second time.]" HISAO: “[Making this particular meal?]" .png) SHIZUNE: “[Cooking. Next time, it's your turn to try it.]" The way she keeps tugging on the corner of the bag is bothering me. I think I know why she's doing it. HISAO: “[Is it really bugging you that much?]" SHIZUNE: “[I want to pack them up properly.]" HISAO: “[It's okay, I'll get them.]" As I'm picking them up, I realize she must have brought a lot of food to be able to fill all these containers. I didn't even eat much. Shizune must have some metabolism in order to pack all that away. (Sudden Silence, Soft Thump) Even though I've only been up for a second, it's long enough to stupidly trip over my own feet. Barely managing to break my fall, I end up landing on my elbows and knees right next to Shizune's lap. (Soft Heartbeat Sound) As I pull myself back up, hand gingerly held on my chest, all I can think about is how my knees hurt and how this fall could have killed me. I feel nauseous. Shizune gives a helpful push on my shoulder to help me upright, though I notice her eyeing me oddly. Unfortunately, even a light shove is enough to take me by surprise. .png) SHIZUNE: “[Are you okay?]" I nod, but we don't return to sitting beside each other. Naturally, being alone with Shizune is going to involve a lot of silence, but I only start to notice it now. The typical sign of awkwardness. Again, she's the one to break the ice. SHIZUNE: “[I was expecting you to try something dirty.]" HISAO: "..." And now the mood is back to awkward. HISAO: “[How's Misha?]" Katawa Shoujo OST - Aria De l’Etoile SHIZUNE: “[Misha seems happier now, back to her old self. I thought this would be a good way to celebrate, and to thank you for helping her." Her hand stumbles for a bit on the last word. HISAO: “[You think too much like a businesswoman.]" SHIZUNE: “[I can't help it, it's how I've been taught to do things. It makes me happy that you're asking about Misha. It would be more accurate to say “back to her real self.” She would only be back to her old self to you. The Misha you know is completely different from the one I think of, when I think of the first time we met. Even though I think she looks better cheerful and smiling, that isn't how she typically is. I wonder if it's true for you, too?]" I don't answer. HISAO: “[Well, if Misha is happy, then it doesn't matter, if it worked out in the end. Your plan worked. You knew her just as well as you said. You knew everything she would say. If your idea was just that I'd speak for you, though, doesn't that just make me your puppet? I didn't do anything, then.]" .png) SHIZUNE: “[Not true. It was your idea first. I was wrong. I have a way of seeing things that is very flawed, now that I've thought about it. I'm sure you know. Sometimes, I treat everything like a competition between myself and everyone else. Even when it doesn't make sense to.]" Sometimes? SHIZUNE: “[I know very well how easy it is to ignore someone if they can only communicate with you through sign. I should have asked for help. But I was so sure I could do it on my own. It was actually a brave thing you did. Even if you won't take credit for it. Aside from that, you've really become kind of admirable lately.]" It's strange having her compliment me while her facial expression hasn't changed in the slightest. SHIZUNE: “[But! “People don't change so easily.” According to you. Am I right?]" She winks, clearly enjoying herself very much. HISAO: “[Does Misha tell you everything?]" SHIZUNE: “[Almost everything.]" HISAO: “[I guess you're going to tell me that I'm wrong about that, aren't you?]" SHIZUNE: “[Yes and no. I'm the one who told Misha that before anyone else. But she took it too far, and changed the meaning. It's not easy, but she acts like that makes it impossible. It's possible, if you go little by little. I'm considering trying to be less competitive.]" HISAO: “[I thought you enjoyed that, though.]" SHIZUNE: “[Maybe just a little. That's why I specifically used “less.”]" She leans against the fence. I have things I want to say to her, but it doesn't seem like the right time for it, somehow. It's a feeling I have. I can tell she isn't done just yet. SHIZUNE: “[A lot of people think I try too hard. Well... I've always thought that I try to try just enough.]" The sound the fence makes as she pushes against it, and the delicate clink of her sleeve buttons scraping against the links, are oddly soothing. So is the breeze gently picking up behind me. I can hear people below us. Shizune's eyes dart below us as well, and I wonder if she still thinks about what she might be missing out on. The attention-grabbing way she tends to snap her fingers proves she has an understanding of how other people perceive sound. It must be odd, being able to understand that much, but unable to experience it yourself. She starts walking slowly around the perimeter of the roof, still scraping her buttons against the fence. It isn't rhythmic at all, though not for a lack of trying. I sort of zone out in thought while she does, and am rudely snapped out of it when she circles around completely and taps me on the shoulder. SHIZUNE: “[Do you remember what we were talking about?]" HISAO: “[When? Now? Of course, it just happened.]" SHIZUNE: “[It's been almost ten minutes. When I first saw you, you seemed like you were very attached to the idea of feeling sorry for yourself.]" That stings, even if it is true. SHIZUNE: “[Sorry, sorry. It made me want to cheer you up at first sight. I was scared it would be for nothing, though. I couldn't help thinking it would be hard to change your mind. But you did. I thought that was very surprising, and also that you might be kind of easily influenced. Still, I was surprised. It made me reconsider a lot of things. Like... that maybe everything was worth it in the end.]" HISAO: “[Everything?]" SHIZUNE: “[—That's why I like you.]" (Silence) HISAO: “[I see.]" It's nice to finally know. Falconier111 fucked around with this message at 19:02 on Nov 18, 2021 |
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Nov 17, 2021 15:49
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Went back and counted out of curiosity: we now have over a hundred entries in Our Stories  The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of excising text boxes for most screenshots and leaving the blanks in when capturing motion. I'm not at the point where I'd put this in front of the thread as a formal vote, though.
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Nov 17, 2021 16:02
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Janeway wasn't that bad.
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Nov 17, 2021 16:26
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OK, Shizune vs Kenji was actually kinda funny.
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Nov 17, 2021 19:21
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Quackles posted:OK, Shizune vs Kenji was actually kinda funny. I was just about to post that. Describing Kenji as 'confident' is...accurate, in a sense. Kenji is kind of growing on me, but I don't think we see him much in the remaining routes.
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Nov 18, 2021 00:46
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Psycho Lawnmower posted:So am I the only one who is like: “Shizune clearly didn’t care about a person’s agency before, and made decisions for them based upon her own desires. And now she’s not doing it towards Misha? Either this is inconsistency on the character, or hypocrisy we’re intentionally supposed to be aware of.” No? Shizune wanted Misha to be her friend again, because she cares for her. But we saw how Shizune's attempts at a Shizune solution of forcing the problem didn't work because Shizune didn't think enough about Misha's agency to mope. Hisao did, which is why he was more successful. Just because someones behaviour sets your buttons off doesn't mean it's not deeply felt.
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Nov 18, 2021 00:51
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Falconier111 posted:Update 82: The Summit (Act 4, Scenes 4-5) Missing Shizune portrait? I don't think this was intentional.
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Nov 18, 2021 01:06
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Nothingtoseehere posted:No? Shizune wanted Misha to be her friend again, because she cares for her. But we saw how Shizune's attempts at a Shizune solution of forcing the problem didn't work because Shizune didn't think enough about Misha's agency to mope. Hisao did, which is why he was more successful. Just because someones behaviour sets your buttons off doesn't mean it's not deeply felt. Sure, but that also doesn't mean she doesn't have a hammer and a nail-if she was willing to use all this against one person, she would-at least-consider using the same methodology again. Of course, it would make Misha even more withdrawn, but it got their third member right? And honestly, Misha is sorta just dancing around Hisao, even with his successes. He's trying to have a earnest, honest conversation with her, and she's not exactly being reciprocal
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Nov 18, 2021 01:26
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Falconier111 posted:Went back and counted out of curiosity: we now have over a hundred entries in Our Stories If you want, I can throw together a few example lines tomorrow to see what it looks like. No pressure: as-is is more than good enough.
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Nov 18, 2021 04:55
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Space Kablooey posted:Missing Shizune portrait? I don't think this was intentional. It wasn't. Fixed. I'm still not sure how to represent simultaneously spoken lines tbh, but I don't have a better solution yet. Karia posted:If you want, I can throw together a few example lines tomorrow to see what it looks like. No pressure: as-is is more than good enough. That would actually be amazing. The temperature where I live dropped 40 degrees in the course of a couple days, and the resulting allergy imbalance and hibernation instinct are leaving me treacherously low on energy. But hey, I'm doing what I'm doing because I won't accept suboptimal solutions when I can improve them, you know?
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Nov 18, 2021 05:23
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Misplaced.Falconier111 posted:
Also, square brackets around Kenji's line here. Falconier111 posted:
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Nov 18, 2021 05:34
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Thunk posted:Misplaced. That’s supposed to indicate they they’re both speaking at the same time. The technique’s efficacy is… Questionable. Thanks for the brackets, though.
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Nov 18, 2021 19:05
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Here's a few example lines from the very start of the game. Honestly it's way less weird than I was expecting: I thought removing the text from a VN would make it really strange, but at least IMO it works OK. Long descriptive text Current format: quote:
Proposed format: quote:
Single line dialogue Current format quote:
Proposed format quote:
Longer dialogue People aren't nearly as talkative in the first fifteen minutes of the game, so this isn't the most egregious example, but it shows the concept. Current format: quote:
Proposed format: quote:
Character animation Turns out that that way you captured the first sign-language animations is exactly the same format you were thinking, so I've just included that here as well for reference. Current format (at least in the first post): quote:
Somehow I hadn't noticed that the game's textbox just runs off the right side of the screen like that. Looks super weird now that I'm really noticing it. I thought it might be due to different resolution, but the screenshots on the official website show it that way so 
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Nov 19, 2021 03:59
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And the box that shows the name of the speaker is just the right end poking in from the left side. Ugh. Now I can't unsee it.
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Nov 19, 2021 05:00
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Update 83: Succession (Act 4, Scenes 6-7) Katawa Shoujo OST - Ease .png) HISAO: "...And remember, you have to take this job seriously. Too many people think you can just slack off, and that it isn't important. That is a dangerous way of thinking." MISHA: "Definitely~. You can't take it too seriously~! If you aren't always thinking big, thinking positive, and if you show any signs of weakness, people will start to think you're incompetent, you know~. And soon you won't be able to do anything because your power is going to be delegated off to others piece by piece, and you'll be left with nothing. That's what happened last time~. So~! Remember~, it may seem like an easy job, but a lot of carnage can happen in this room. Ahaha~. And~, out of it. Dealing with school staff, too! Even trying to get a budget report from a class rep can be a fight to the death~, sometimes." HISAO: "...Yeah. It's kill or be killed. There are no friends in the pits and you take no prisoners. ...Are you sure about this? Is this right?" SHIZUNE: “[You don't seem excited enough, I have to make sure it's getting through properly. Once more, with feeling!]" .png) Left to right, Aoi and Keiko. We don’t know anything about Keiko, but in the beta, Aoi showed up in Hanako’s route as a member of Lily’s class and friend of Miki. We don’t know anything about her in the finished product other than her name, though. Shizune twists her hands like a maestro for emphasis, visibly intimidating the two girls standing at attention in front of us. To think this all started because one of them asked if she wasn't taking her job too seriously. SHIZUNE: “[Do you understand!?]" HISAO: "Do you understand? Pretend I'm shouting it." AOI: "Okay, okay! Aaargh! This Student Council is so weird." KEIKO: "Yes, sir." HISAO: "“Sir?” Who are you guys talking to, anyway?" SHIZUNE: “[It's not weird! You have to think of it as a job. If you want, think of it like they are paying you with the right to use this great office.]" HISAO: "You want another lecture?" AOI: "Noooo..." SHIZUNE: “[You can go now.]" (Silence) Just like that, the hour-long student council orientation is over. Personally, I thought it was about fifty minutes too long, and also found it funny that it incorporated a tour of a school that we have all been going to for a while, but I guess it didn't hurt. I expect Shizune to fall back into her chair, since she has been on edge all day, but she doesn't. She continues pacing the room restlessly. Katawa Shoujo OST - The Student Council (Shizune’s Theme) SHIZUNE: “[They still have a long way to go! Right now, they're a joke.]" MISHA: "Eh?" HISAO: "What?" SHIZUNE: “[They think they can be the new Student Council? They're so unfocused. You can really see the lack of experience. This was our best year yet; I don't think they have what it takes to be our follow-up act. And I know there are more of them than those two girls. Where are they? They're like the heavily-marketed but mediocre, big-budget, critically-panned sequel to the acclaimed, low-budget sleeper hit.]" Eventually, she does stop and sit down. HISAO: "Are you going to miss it?" SHIZUNE: “[Obviously.]" MISHA: "Hm~... I'd be happier if I didn't have to leave, too. I like being in the Student Council, even if it can be tiring, too." HISAO: "Yeah, it's definitely tiring." MISHA: "Only because Shicchan is always trying to do more than she has to~." SHIZUNE: “[You're forgetting that if I did the bare minimum, we wouldn't do anything all year except hand out flyers, collect surveys, and plan the next student council election so the next Student Council could sit around for another year of doing nothing. Asking me to let that happen? Don't be ridiculous. In a Student Council like that there wouldn't even be any power to play around with.]” .png) SHIZUNE: “[I'm just happy that even though I clearly need to ride them harder, those two aren't bad. Not there yet, but the new Student Council should be in good hands.]" HISAO: "How can you tell?" SHIZUNE: “[After the festival, they asked me if we could also organize a Halloween event, like a haunted house or something along those lines. They had a bunch of other ideas, as well. Of course my response was “no.” I had Misha tell them to do it themselves, if they wanted it so badly. They were angry, for some reason.]" MISHA: "Ahaha~." HISAO: "Of course they'd be angry if you said that." And Misha delivering the message wouldn't help. SHIZUNE: “[I was angry too. All of a sudden, they want so much. If they wanted a haunted house, or a traditional-style café, or a trip to the beach, or whatever other cliché thing, why didn't they try to organize it before? It was like they were taking advantage of me. I worked hard to organize those festivals, and in return they came to me with “That was nice, but can you do this now? How about doing this? It's what I really want.”]" MISHA: "Shicchan was wrong~, though." SHIZUNE: “[Right. They wanted to join the Student Council so they could make it happen. I made them feel jealous and riled them up. That can be a kind of motivation too. The desire to do something great spreads, even if it's to show me up. They decided to take me up on the challenge nonetheless. I'm impressed. Well, for now. I would have to see how it plays out a little longer in order to know for sure.]" She snaps her fingers suddenly, which sends Misha almost bolting out of her seat. Interesting, I guess it is impossible to get used to. .png) SHIZUNE: “[That's right! We were going to have a party to celebrate passing the reins to the new Student Council, weren't we? Why not have that now? Or at least plan it now, and have it tomorrow.]" HISAO: "But they're not even in charge yet. In fact, that's the first thing you told them: “You're not in charge yet.” It seems premature." SHIZUNE: "... [Misha, what do you think?]" MISHA: "Hmmm~, I agree, it's too early. Plus~, I don't think I could go anyway. Sorry~! In fact, I was going to leave right now." SHIZUNE: “[Why not?]" MISHA: "No~ comment~!" SHIZUNE: “[Come on, tell me.]" MISHA: "Well... okay~!]" Way to not crack under pressure, Misha. .png) MISHA: "I thought about it, and~... Even if I didn't want to go, I would say yes~! Usually~. It's the kind of person I am. I really should stop doing that, and this is a good place to start, I think. If it's a celebration to say goodbye, I don't want it. It would be too sad~. I want to do something else instead. And after all, Hicchan, you and Shicchan will still be here tomorrow. It doesn't seem right. Besides, I have other school things I have to do today~! I can't drop them just like that." SHIZUNE: “[We can postpone it.]" MISHA: "No. No early goodbyes~!" She looks very firm as she says this. HISAO: "Aren't you going to go now, though?" MISHA: "Hm~? Oh, that's right~! Wahaha~! Okay, besides now, no too-early goodbyes, okay?" SHIZUNE: “[I get it.]" MISHA: "Okay, later~!" (Silence) .png) The light gradually fades from the room. With that, it's just Shizune and I left alone in the student council room. Sunset slowly changes to night as we sit in silence, both searching for something to say. Katawa Shoujo OST - Raindrops and Puddles SHIZUNE: “[Would it really be that bad?]" HISAO: “[Yeah. I didn't think about it like that, but Misha's right. Parties set a mood, and it would be a sad one. A sad party doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun.]" SHIZUNE: “[Why would it be sad?]" Is it a trick question? I'm sure of it. Shizune's eyes pierce into mine, waiting for my answer with a detached, analytical stare that I haven't seen in a while, but feels familiar anyway. I consider my answer carefully, but also what it means for her to ask me. It could be that Shizune finds it depressing as well. Or it could be that she doesn't understand why anyone would find it depressing. Both are equally plausible. HISAO: “[I had a thought that when you graduate, that's it. It's going to be the end of the Student Council. I was wondering if you had the same idea.]" SHIZUNE: “[Don't be stupid. I look forward to it. I won't be a student any more, so the expectations are going to be completely different. People's expectations of me, and my expectations about everything else. It seems exciting! As for the Student Council, it should be in good enough hands. I don't have anything to be sad about.]" HISAO: “[I don't think you're being honest. You looked upset about having to give the Student Council up not even a few weeks ago. It wasn't about leaving it to a bunch of newbies either, it was having to stop doing student council work at all.]" Unexpectedly, Shizune smiles. HISAO: “[So, you're not disagreeing. Then it doesn't make sense. Why would you want to have a party about it?]" SHIZUNE: “[I'm trying to get over it. Besides... Goodbye celebrations are very important. People say the first step is the most crucial, but following it through and finishing cleanly are just as important, right?]" HISAO: “[I guess that is true.]" SHIZUNE: “[Anyway, I don't consider it goodbye. But it's still an event. You still have to go through the proper motions.] (Silence) SHIZUNE: “[Aren't you going to?]" HISAO: “[Aren't I going to what?]" SHIZUNE: “[Kiss me, of course.]" HISAO: “[Is that “the proper motions?”]" SHIZUNE: “[It would be normal, wouldn't it? The natural thing to do.]" It's time to act decisively. If I don't, I'm sure my heart will explode. Katawa Shoujo OST - To Become One .png) They used the cuttlefish again, it’s definitely at least partially random and the game just had a sick sense of humor for Hanako. There isn’t much to say about this scene because, while it is emotionally charged, it’s ultimately just a sex scene and doesn’t have much bearing on the plot. It’s worth clarifying that this time they both actively consent and Hisao’s much better with managing his heart.Cut away from the CGs and – wow, full frontal this time, stockings and absolutely nothing else. You know, back when we’d just entered Emi’s route proper, I ran into someone who said they wanted to play KS but were nervous about 18+ content since they were underage. I complemented them on their integrity, but confidently assured them you could turn off all the spicy stuff and get through just fine. I wonder if they took me up on it? (Silence) SHIZUNE: “[It was a lucky break that Misha couldn't be here, wasn't it?]" HISAO: “[You're in an unusually joking mood today. I wonder what she had to do.]" Shizune traces the air lazily with a finger and points to the door. SHIZUNE: “[Go see for yourself.]" HISAO: “[Why don't you just tell me?]" SHIZUNE: “[It's more interesting if you see for yourself. Seeing is believing.]" HISAO: “[Sure. Clever. Maybe I will. What about you, are you going to stay here all day? It's getting late.]" SHIZUNE: “[It feels like my last day as Student Council president, so maybe I'll sleep here tonight. It could be the last chance I have to sleep at my desk, like after a long day trying to meet a deadline.]" HISAO: “[That's weird. I'll sleep in my bed.]" SHIZUNE: “[Sleeping sitting up is a skill. A very useful one.]" HISAO: “[Right.]" For a moment after I leave the room, I actually do consider seeing what Misha is up to, just because Shizune made it sound so secretive, as if she were building a time machine or something. But in the end I decide not to. .png) The night air is pleasant at this time of year. It's refreshing and a little humid, but not so chilly as to make it uncomfortable to stay outside for a while. It's late enough for the courtyard to be all but deserted, too. After Shizune and I said our farewells to each other, I'd set out to return to my dormitory room. I didn't even make it all the way there, though, before getting distracted. It doesn't seem like a bad idea to go see what Misha is up to. I have nothing better to do. No homework. I'm out of anything worth reading. On top of that, I simply want to know. This isn't my first time being in the main building after hours, but usually, it's as I'm leaving the place with Shizune and Misha after a long day at the Student Council. Not entering it alone. The atmosphere is quiet, a word I would not normally use to describe these halls. It's a little creepy. A light starts flickering up ahead. This seems like a horror movie moment waiting to happen. Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I stiffen reflexively. It's not Misha, or else there would be hands clamped over my eyes and a sing-song “guess who” accompanying them. So, who is it? I hope it's not Kenji, or at least that it's someone I know, or this will take a turn for the weird. .png) Whoever it is quickly slips in front of me. It's Shizune. Katawa Shoujo OST - Fripperies HISAO: "What are you doing here?" I'm so relieved that I forget to sign it. Shizune puts a finger up to her lips. I guess even though she can't hear, she has some idea of what loudness is, and can tell from my expression that I was being loud. And apparently, being loud isn't a good thing right now. But then, why is Misha her interpreter? HISAO: “[Oh, very funny. Why are you here?]" SHIZUNE: “[I was waiting for you to come see. I knew you would show up. It took you a while, though.]" HISAO: “[You've been waiting here?]" SHIZUNE: “[Yes, but that isn't important. We have to be stealthy, if we don't want Misha to detect us. Tell me if I'm not being stealthy enough, okay?]" With that, Shizune starts slowly tiptoeing through the middle of the hall. I pat her on the shoulder to get her attention. HISAO: “[That's not stealthy. Why do we have to be stealthy?]" She refuses to answer, probably because signing and walking stealthily at the same time doesn't look easy. Before I know it, we're in front of our homeroom. Suddenly, a sound like the crack of a whip pierces the air, followed by a familiar expression of frustration. I'm sure a sound like that isn't good for my heart. Not to mention, everything sounds about a million times louder with how silent it is. It's coming from inside the room, and I sidle up to Shizune to get a look inside. Katawa Shoujo OST - Katawa Shoujo OST - Generic Happy Music .png)  MUTOU: "Can you stop throwing your pencil, please? How do you even throw a pencil that loudly?" SHIZUNE: “[He looks very flustered.]" What an understatement. I sympathize with Mutou. I was able to hear Misha's pen break the sound barrier even through a wall and a thick classroom door. It probably blew out his eardrums and left an imprint on the wall. .png) MISHA: "I'm not throwing it~, when I get nervous, I like to spin it around, but~, then I forget I'm holding onto it, and—" MUTOU: "It doesn't matter, either way, there shouldn't be pencils flying around. I get enough of that during regular school hours, I don't need it after hours." MISHA: "R-right~! Sorry." MUTOU: "Whatever, just stop throwing, or releasing, or dropping things, please. Teachers have work, too." I notice Shizune watching the same scene I am. Mutou is yelling at the top of his lungs, and Misha is being Misha. I can hear them reasonably well through the door. But Shizune obviously can't hear anything at all. So, I wonder what watching this is like for her. She must know, since she understands well enough to want me to see it too, but I have to wonder if she ever feels like she's missing out on something, having to work that much harder to understand what she's observing. SHIZUNE: “[It looks like she is taking supplementary lessons. Is she?]" HISAO: “[Yeah.]" I answer, despite knowing the question is completely rhetorical. SHIZUNE: “[Misha told me she really wants to be a sign language teacher in the future. If she can get a recommendation, she can study overseas for it. That is why she is working so hard. Her grades were always kind of on the low side.]" HISAO: “[Now I feel guilty. I haven't even thought about what I'm going to do yet.]" SHIZUNE: “[Neither have I!]" The cheerful way that she signs it is very unlike her, and is very obviously false. SHIZUNE: “[Let's get out of here, we don't want to be seen. It would be a problem if we were caught standing out here like idiots.]" HISAO: “[Where? The student council room?]" (Silence) Shaking her head, she slips into the classroom across the hall instead. HISAO: “[Great hiding place.]" SHIZUNE: “[You're unusually sarcastic, lately. With the door closed it's a good one. Anyway, wasn't it interesting?]" HISAO: “[Yes, but I'm not really surprised.]" I close the door behind us, prompting Shizune to laugh soundlessly as she slides into a chair. For a second, it depresses me. I want to hear her real laugh. Katawa Shoujo OST - Innocence SHIZUNE: “[I was. I've been looking down on Misha. I didn't think she had a goal at all. But it turns out that I was wrong, I made a careless assumption. I thought Misha was as aimless as I was. I was stupid. I lost.]" Shizune pauses to crack her knuckles, then folds her hands over each other, and leans forward in her chair. In the abnormal quiet of the building, I can hear Mutou yelling at Misha again even across a hallway and through two doors. Shizune's eyes are locked on mine, unblinking behind the gleaming lenses of her glasses, observing my reaction to her words. This is a test. Her opinion of people is rarely formed from how they respond to questions; it's how they respond to statements that counts. In hindsight, it makes sense. Shizune's inability to speak, as well as just her personality in general, means that anything she “says” is a big commitment on her part. Everything. For that reason, I sometimes doubt she says anything without a hidden agenda behind it. That sounds remarkably paranoid. Even Kenji would think so. Unfortunately, I'm so caught up in thinking about it that I forget to give her an answer. She takes it as there not being one. There was an invisible time limit to this test, shorter than usual. SHIZUNE: “[Just as I thought.]" HISAO: “[What do you mean?]" SHIZUNE: “[You don't agree?]" HISAO: “[Not really, it's not that. I don't get it.]" SHIZUNE: “[I want to force my will on people.]" How refreshingly honest. SHIZUNE: “[Don't give me a weird look like that. It's not like that was always my intention. At first, I was just bored. I wanted to see someone's passion for something. Then I could try and beat them. I wanted to test their ability or their convictions. But it was impossible, no one has any passion for anything in this school. They just want to keep to themselves. I can't believe it. It's too boring that way. I thought that there was no way these drab people could be for real. It goes beyond not wanting to make waves. They had to have some interests. They had to be hiding something. I wanted to expose it, and reveal it, and drag it out. One of the most successful ways to get people to open up to you, and cheer them up, is to open up with a story about yourself. And then you ease them into telling you about themselves. It's like give and take, but with an element of manipulation, which makes it interesting. I can't do that. If I attempt to have Misha talk about me, for me, it makes me seem arrogant. The message has to go through a messenger. I'm standing next to Misha, telling her to tell someone about me. You don't have to be able to read sign language to see that. If I were forced to sit through that, I would think I was arrogant, too. I was frustrated; I couldn't figure out a way to have a conversation with anyone but Misha. No one would open up to me.] .png) SHIZUNE: “[I came to the conclusion that I can't make people confide in me, or believe in me. I can only hope to create things, and show them to people, and hope they make them happy. Or I could be more forceful and hope it would eventually stick to someone.]" I guess that would be me. Feels vaguely depressing." SHIZUNE: “[Somewhere along the line, I think I started to ignore Misha, or see her as less of a person, or something like that. I took her for granted, I think would be the best way to put it. It was like she was just an extension of myself.]” .png) SHIZUNE: “[I forgot that the whole time, Misha was there, opening up to me, and giving a hundred percent every day. I missed what I was looking for, because it was in plain sight. How stupid of me. I really did become arrogant. That's why I've lost. I'm more shortsighted than I was back then. I went in reverse.]" She's pacing back and forth now, almost brooding, yet still filled with so much energy that she can't stand to stop moving. If you got her to hold two wires I'm sure Shizune could power a light bulb. It's odd that I could have such a lighthearted thought while she's being so serious. SHIZUNE: “[And in spite of that, Misha tells me that I'm her inspiration. Isn't that ridiculous? I'm not the kind of person who can inspire others. Even if a person who inspires you is flawed, it can be acceptable. I've thought about this. There is even acceptable hypocrisy. For instance... If your hero was an athlete, but unsportsmanlike, they could still be respected for their athletic ability, even if they had shortcomings as a person. However,]" She snaps her fingers briskly. It sounds like a thunderclap in the empty room, and Shizune takes a few seconds to stretch her fingers. Come to think of it, this is the most she has ever signed. SHIZUNE: “[If someone like me has no goals, it would be totally unacceptable. It'd be the worst kind of hypocrisy. And hypocrites don't deserve responsibility over anything, they can't even manage themselves.]" How incredibly pessimistic. It makes me angry to think about it. I would hate myself just a few months ago. This must be how I looked to others. And, funny enough, it was Shizune and Misha who convinced me to stop. Without them I'm sure things would be much different, and not for the better. Lately, I feel as though we pass around our miseries as much as we're supported by each other, but I think it just comes with the territory of having friends and being close to someone. HISAO: “[You're the leader anyway.]" SHIZUNE: “[That is only because no one else wants to be.]" HISAO: “[But that means you still are, since people are putting their trust in you anyway. In fact, doesn't that make it more important? Either way, you are the leader, you are the inspirational figure or whatever you want to call it. You're responsible for what you tame. I read that in a book somewhere.]" SHIZUNE: “[That's clever.]" Shizune only seems to show what she's feeling on her face when she wants to, but I don't think she's being sarcastic. SHIZUNE: “[I don't want to “tame” anyone, though.]" HISAO: “[Being the leader and being looked up to, then. Same thing.]" SHIZUNE: “[I never wanted to be the leader, it just ends up that way.]" HISAO: “[I don't believe that, all you do is try to grab more and more responsibility.]" SHIZUNE: “[Wait, wait. I wasn't going to tell you that I don't enjoy it. I don't care about being the leader, but I don't mind. I don't care about being the best, but I don't mind. You're right, though, about me wanting responsibility. Of course I want more responsibility. Having responsibility makes me feel alive. That's why I joined the Student Council: If there is no pressure, I just can't stand it. Even so, now I'm the leader. I always thought being the leader meant you give orders, but it really is more. It's about having a goal. If I don't have a goal, then it's pointless. People would only be following me for my own enjoyment. It would be selfish.]" It's a strangely moral viewpoint for a person who seems to love one-upping others so much. Resting her chin on her tented fingers, Shizune looks disarmingly childish as she thinks hard about her problem. The expression on her face is a little comical, because it's too obvious, and therefore, very unlike her. HISAO: “[It comes with the job. I think you'd have to be a leader. You wouldn't be satisfied with anything else, you would just get bored.]" Shizune doesn't reply, but from her annoyed expression, I think I've guessed correctly. HISAO: “[I've been thinking that I need a little direction, too.]" SHIZUNE: “[Were you told that it's important to contribute to society?]" What an unusual response. It's so out of nowhere that I don't know how to respond. And it also bothers me, though I don't know why. Possibly because it doesn't seem like something that would come from her. So I start to think that it isn't Shizune's thought at all. I wonder who told her that. Well, it was probably her dad. But there is a chance that she came up with it on her own. If so, would it be because she can't hear? HISAO: “[Why do you say that?]" SHIZUNE: “[Just because.]" HISAO: “[I don't believe it. I guess that's right, though.]" SHIZUNE: “[I see. I don't know if it's the same for me. I hate it.]" I think everyone wants a purpose. Looking back, it makes sense that Shizune doesn't have one. All that energy would otherwise have been directed at something. .png) Since she had nothing to channel it towards, Shizune lashed out in all directions. Reminds me of a downed power line flailing in a storm: Furious and incandescent, but aimless and dangerous. Just like Shizune. I want to say that this is why she feels the need to turn everything into a competition, but... that's probably just how she is. Having a goal to put that energy towards is just the next level. SHIZUNE: “[How about this? I could go into business. My family is well connected, so it shouldn't be too hard. ...That comes off sounding a little unethical and nepotistic, doesn't it?]" HISAO: “[A little.]" SHIZUNE: “[I won't coast, though. I'll work hard, until I'm at the very apex. When I have as much money as possible, so much that it'll be like I won't know what to do with it, I'll move on to the next step. After sitting on it for a while, of course, like a fairy tale dragon.]" HISAO: “[You want to be...?]" .png) SHIZUNE: “[A philanthropist!]" HISAO: "..." SHIZUNE: “[Tsk tsk. What were you thinking? That I want to be a miser? Well, it's true, it is a part of the plan. Don't sell me short and stop there, though.]" (Silence) Shizune still looks uneasy. Of course; even if she did seem to resolve her problem quickly, no one can get over their anxieties that fast. No one can solve their problems that easily. The important thing is, it looks as though she has her heart set on trying. It's still hard to tell whether that drive of hers comes from a good or bad place. But she has something to hold on to now. I can genuinely believe that she does. I'm happy for her. And at the same time, I feel a little cold. I'm the one who's behind. Now, I'm the only one without a goal.
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Nov 19, 2021 15:12
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Falconier111 fucked around with this message at 07:03 on Nov 20, 2021 |
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Nov 19, 2021 18:28
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Took 4 acts, but they're finally acting like lovers. Is two people bonding over a third person realistic?
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Nov 19, 2021 19:16
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It could be due to reading it as an LP with periodic updates, but this part of Shizune's route is longer than I remember. I don't remember much of this stuff at all.
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Nov 20, 2021 10:01
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Same, but I think it's because this part of Shizune's route is boring. This is a visual novel in which we play the protagonist, but we've had practically no options throughout the route and nothing that's going on seems to be about us at all.
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Nov 20, 2021 17:54
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It's Shizune's coming-of-age story, not a romance. Hisao is more of a supporting character than a protagonist. Looks like it's finally ending, thank goodness.
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Nov 20, 2021 19:56
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Decoy Badger posted:It's Shizune's coming-of-age story, not a romance. Hisao is more of a supporting character than a protagonist. I think this hits it on the head. The romance scenes and everything about them dating feels like it was forced in on the side as a contractual obligation, added in post, and then nothing of the rest of the story was rebuilt around including it into their dynamic. It's not necessarily a bad story so much as it just isn't the story that it is being billed as.
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Nov 20, 2021 20:23
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Decoy Badger posted:It's Shizune's coming-of-age story, not a romance. Hisao is more of a supporting character than a protagonist. Yeah, we're over the hump. We wrap up early next week, then after a quick break we FINALLY hit Rin's route the week after.
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Nov 20, 2021 22:48
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Be warned that all of the following contains spoilers for routes we haven't covered yet: just found an in-depth review of KS that takes a slightly different tack towards its interrogation than we have in the thread, plus another that works over all the themes we've covered an more. I googled "Katawa Shoujo legacy" to see what came up, but I didn't get much outside of articles like this: well-thought out, intelligent, charismatic, and limited to blogs and small websites.
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Nov 21, 2021 05:00
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Falconier111 posted:Yeah, we're over the hump. We wrap up early next week, then after a quick break we FINALLY hit Rin's route the week after. oh no 
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Nov 22, 2021 01:38
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I have learned I don't remember this game nearly as well as I thought, but I remember Rin's route being my favorite by a good margin, so I'm looking forward to this and seeing whether my feelings have changed.
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Nov 22, 2021 02:47
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woke kaczynski posted:I have learned I don't remember this game nearly as well as I thought, but I remember Rin's route being my favorite by a good margin, so I'm looking forward to this and seeing whether my feelings have changed. It's a great route, probably the best-written in the game (though not my personal favorite), the "oh no" is because (not really a spoiler but I don't necessarily want people to see it coming, either) it's going to hurt us.
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Nov 22, 2021 03:52
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Antistar01 posted:It could be due to reading it as an LP with periodic updates, but this part of Shizune's route is longer than I remember. I don't remember much of this stuff at all. I went back and checked update counts to see how long these routes are. While it's hard to measure exact length due to overlapping content, Shizune's route is indeed the longest... By about 2 updates, depending on how you slice it. Hanako's sits at maybe 22 and Emi's at an estimated 19. So, it is pretty long but still within acceptable parameters; they all sit somewhere between 60k-100k words, which is about what you'd expect out of a published novel. EclecticTastes posted:It's a great route, probably the best-written in the game (though not my personal favorite), the "oh no" is because (not really a spoiler but I don't necessarily want people to see it coming, either) it's going to hurt us. I've beaten every KS route multiple times. Except for Rin's. Somehow, I never got around to actually starting it. I'll be going on this journey together with you  .
Falconier111 fucked around with this message at 05:33 on Nov 22, 2021 |
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Nov 22, 2021 04:25
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Rin's route was also my favorite, though I gotta say I didn't remember Shizune's being this bad so I'm curious how the rest of the game holds up. Regarding route length, I read somewhere that Shizune's isn't the longest due to the lack of branching options outside of the infamous "comfort" bad end, but it's probable that it's longer than the rest as a single playthrough. It certainly is the one that spans the longest time in-universe.
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Nov 22, 2021 07:35
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