I was trying so hard to please myself...

[beled_el_djinn]

Tonight I went to the WPI practice for the first time in way too long and while I'm as sore as if I spent a whole weekend as an NPC, I feel pretty darned good.
I must admit to some trepidation with my decision to attend practice - in the few times I've been back to Realms events, I've always felt the awful weight of everyone's ideas on who I am, what they think I am capable of, etc... and I found it hard to live up to my weird legend. But tonight, I think for the first time in, what, 15 years?, I didn't get the "Oh, you're Meerkat!" reaction that I've come to dread, and I can't even describe how awesome that felt. It was nice to be just a face in a crowd of mostly n00bs and earn people's respect based on my (rusty) skills - Oh, Accelerant how you have wronged me! - and not my reputation.
I've got a lot to re-learn, and even more to learn, but I think I've found a great group of folks who can help me with that. So it looks like for the foreseeable future, my Mondays will be spoken for.

Comments

[wench33.livejournal.com]

Excellent! *hug*

[beled-el-djinn.livejournal.com]

Eee! Wenchyhugs!

Ahem.

I mean, thanks sweetie :)

[dervishspin.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's awesome!

[beled-el-djinn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was nice to just be able to concentrate on my fighting and let my inner stick jock have some fun.

[redfishie.livejournal.com]

go you!

[beled-el-djinn.livejournal.com]

Thanks :)

[taranhero.livejournal.com]

I've heard good things about the WPI Realms crew from some of my other friends that are loosely affiliated with them. It sounds like a good time!

[beled-el-djinn.livejournal.com]

You know, I always forget about your tangential relation to the WPI crowd and thus am always surprised that you know them.
And yes, the WPI Realms crew is generally really friendly and open, which is nice.

[metabomber.livejournal.com]

I promise that when I show up on alternate Mondays, I wont call you meerkat.

Look forward to seeing you, bud.

[beled-el-djinn.livejournal.com]

Or mention that you saw the Lion King the other day? :p

It'll be nice to see you too.

[mighty-1.livejournal.com]

Are they still having practice? I thought I heard it had died out, but I guess it's a new school year so people may be returning.

If it's a good practice again, maybe I will show up some time too.

[beled-el-djinn.livejournal.com]

It seems to be going pretty strong - there were about 20 people there last night and according to what I heard that is a standard-ish number. They are all new (to me anyway) however, I don't think there was anyone there who was playing when I last played. That being said, there are some surprisingly good fighters doing the training, so I think it is a pretty worthwhile practice.

Right now they are in the "we're only fighting with single long swords" phase of things to get the incoming freshmen up to speed and it is primarily 1 on 1 fights with a little bit of line work. The emphasis seems to be on getting folks comfortable with taking their hits and rudimentary field tactics, which is a nice refresher for me, seeing as how I haven't had to call my hits in far too long.

[conspiratrix.livejournal.com]

If this WPI practice is in my general vicinity, feel free to stop by sometime before or afterwards. If you come by at the right time, I could even cook you some tasty dinnerz. :)

[beled-el-djinn.livejournal.com]

I was actually pretty close to your place on the way home and had it not been 10pm would have probably payed a social call.

I got into Worcester an hour early for practice, so maybe next time I'll take you up on that offer. I could even drive you home from work if you wanted to forgo the whole train thing.

[conspiratrix.livejournal.com]

Sounds good. :)

[marcus-sez-vote.livejournal.com]

Leave the headshots at the door.

Unless you know you're fighting chodes. ;)

Be well.

[beled-el-djinn.livejournal.com]

But headshots are what make the world go round! And how else am I going to maintain my kill to death ratio when I get into those 13 on me scenarios?