Smile for the camera...

[kiaxet]

Five days from now, it'll be October 6th: exactly 20 months since Daisychain started. I've spent some time thinking about it tonight, and...well, it's been a long not-quite-two years.

Cloverfield premiered on January 18th, 2008. lynxgriffin and I went to see it the next day, the 19th. That, as I remember, was a very long and paranoia-filled night.

On the 20th, I worked an eight hour shift at the campus operator. That was when I saw makani's review, ending with a line about "the thing that fell in the water at the end." This prompted a metric ton of internet research and hours of delving into viral marketing, trying my hardest to find a cohesive backstory and creating theories.

On the 21st, I worked another eight hour shift. That was when lovediamond first IMed me with the idea for a Cloverfield-based RP. I whipped out all the research I'd done the day before and we went to town creating a plot. Most of it - Tagruato corporation, creating monsters out of people, interdimensional conquest - stayed the same, though a few aspects did change (for example, DC!Manhattan was originally an island in the south Pacific, on which a replica Manhattan was built. That idea lasted for a short while). We started setting up the RP that day. There was a small chat of people who had seen the movie in which we bounced RP ideas off them. This was also where the name "Project Daisychain" came from - that was all ggmoonycrisco.

We started advertising the game on the 25th. I remember our first few reservations. I remember our first encounter with Stormy, before either of us knew his name or reputation (though I did refer to him as Failstamp for a good while afterwards). I remember a certain someone asking permission to reserve Godzilla from the animated series. We turned that one down, though I still wonder how it would've worked out.

The game officially opened on February 6th, a Wednesday and a day I remember suggesting since 6 was a recurring number in Cloverfield marketing (for reasons still unbeknownst to the viewer). Week changes were later moved from Wednesday to Sunday for the sake of everyone's sanity.

This is the point where it stops being in perfect chronological order. It is, after all, a memoir as well as a timeline.

I remember the first few logs, the first few journal posts. I remember Flonne talking to Diegodot on Mia's behalf ("I will not talk to my hallucinations. Flonne's doing it for me. ._."). Hell, I remember the advent of the name Diegodot.

I remember Seto Kaiba, if only for a short while. True to his claim, he was gone within the week, though it wasn't for reasons he expected.

I remember having South Park characters. That in and of itself was interesting, though they didn't last long either.

I remember Harry Dresden's first journal entry. I remember Flonne being pinged on "love potions" and missing just about everything else.

I remember making first impressions, ditching those impressions completely, and forming new ones.

It didn't take long for fullarmoredgg to become a mod - we needed the help pretty quickly. DC!Manhattan being built in an empty dimension was her idea. I also remember watching her flail as we gave her the rundown on the story behind the story, all the information she'd need to be a mod.

I remember Marluxia, and Dilandau, and the Joker. I remember soulgazes and crab bites and hallucinogenic tea and age-changing cookies and a short fling with unintended side effects (what inhibitions?)

I remember apping Rosette when I realized I'd need the capability to snark and I didn't have it with Flonne.

I remember receiving an IM from Lynx in mid-February (I remember getting it on my old pink Razor phone that bit the dust not long after. I remember receiving it in the middle of an episode of Torchwood at the first house of fandom.) "I'm thinking about apping Sora at Daisychain."

I remember our first secret, back when rp_secrets still existed. I remember having it bookmarked for the longest time and glee-ing every time I saw the link.

I remember April 1st. I still love the chocolate.

I remember Laharl, and Etna once and again, and Mid-Boss, and Zetta, and Mao. I remember the fourth wall utterly decimated via strikeout.

I remember Stumpy, and long logs complete with illustrations. I remember text, upside down and backwards and all but unreadable in content and form. Migraine fuel.

I remember closing apps for the first time. I never expected to have to do that, but there it was.

I remember making lynxgriffin a mod. I remember absolutely breaking her brain with the story as well. That story does that a lot, I've discovered.

I remember Wolf and Giselle. I remember a wedding, despite barely seeing it myself.

I remember the Rai Rai Ken. I remember Hotel Pennsylvania. I remember Keyblader's Court.

I remember the BFA. I remember Madison Square Gardens, and rescue threads, and the realization that with Clover comes massive waves of crabs.

I remember Spin.

I remember fights with a fellow mod - locked, never to see the light of day, both of us stressed beyond belief and clashing and neither of us handling it as well as we could have. I remember resolving it and moving on.

I remember killing the monster. I remember lost days - "broke the damn calendar" - and the monster's return. I remember panicking as Harry used his Sight - what could we write without giving the game away? I remember Lynx's clever answer - credit where credit is due, after all.

I remember disappearances, and reappearances, and memory loss. I remember a note in a pocket: CV-108.

I remember Halloween, and Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I remember pool parties and masquerades and caroling.

I remember our first anniversary, and Daisychaindansen, and the celebration when we upped the character limit.

I remember a small earthquake and a crater. I remember Toph: "there's something big down there!" I remember Herbie.

I remember apping Silver. I remember Aerith, and Raiel, and Dr. Horrible, and Blaze.

I remember long drives to and from LAX with Lynx, and lunches and dinners at Jack in the Box and McDonalds, talking Daisychain the entire time. Endgame was planned in that car.

I remember CFP-TCI. I remember military orders, and Fawful speaking genius. I remember TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

I remember Lelouch. I remember ill-fated tunnel meetings and holding up the ceiling while people escaped. I remember public meetings - "Be careful what you say" - and a fight between Will Smith and Will Smith.

I remember my roommate discovering "Locking Up the Sun" and playing it for me the first time. I remember it becoming Daisychain's theme.

I remember Brandon's notebook being longer than Harry's.

I remember mentioning to universejuice that I might be interested in apping J and nearly getting smothered for it. The app was in four days later, despite the death of my laptop. I remember a tearful reunion and trying to figure out what the hell to do with a character with no canon.

I remember Roosevelt Island. I remember the Central Park invasion. I remember getting my flippy floppies under white sun, heading to rio in hammertime. I remember the rescue thread, distracting monsters until they fought each other.

I remember Clover on dear_mun. I don't think anyone could forget that.

I remember private threads and massive injuries. I remember Basil.

I remember peer pressure, and accusations, and anonmemes. I remember mod chats that were anything but happy.

I remember losing Dia.

I remember full casts that diminished to nothing, and I remember small casts that filled out, some of which weren't expected to at all.

I remember Daniel. Hell, I think everyone remembers Daniel.

I remember new crabs and faster venom. I remember characters finding out it was faster the hard way. I remember teleportation causing heart attacks.

I remember Silver becoming unplayable and picking up Foxx, and I learned just how much fun a hacker could be.

I remember Derek and crabs and things going Not As Planned, in many more ways than one.

I remember MHamel and miscommunication and many more things beginning with M. I remember retcon, for the first time ever, and simply trying to get back into the swing of things afterwards.

I remember a full-cast mission, and taking back the city for ourselves tonight.

I remember downed helicoptors and locked briefcases and too-detailed files. I remember some of the most interesting code I've ever seen on the network - everyone tried their hand at it, it seemed.

I remember planned executions and lynch mob justice. I remember inactive canonmates and sunk ships.

I remember a letter from Tagruato to its "assets." I remember the powers of irony being invoked. I remember ships and cells and cellmates. I remember team names - Team Sexy, Team WTF, and later on Team Technology. I remember singalongs and busting down doors and powerbombs and taking over kitchens and bridges and communication centers. I remember sending in the cavalry and watching them get smacked down. I remember more reunions and even more sheer asskicking. I remember Bruce and Henry and Kimiko and Margaret-Jim. I remember comparing comment counts. I remember HELL MODE.

I remember staying up until three and four and five in the morning, talking and laughing about everything and nothing. I remember purple and light blue Verdana and purple Times New Roman and blue Comic Sans and black Arial. I remember Clovercon (that never was). I remember photos of DC meetups, and a small DC meetup at a large con. I remember making friends. I remember creating something and being gobsmacked as I watched it become bigger than I ever thought it would be. I remember thoughts of quitting. I remember complete satisfaction that those thoughts never followed through. I remember having fun.

Tomorrow night is the last day change, which makes tomorrow night the beginning of the last IC day and the last OOC week-or-so of Daisychain. After that, it's over. It's the end of an era.

Am I ready to give it up? Probably not. Will I? I'm going to have to, huh. It isn't as though it hasn't had a great run and a great ending. While I will miss Daisychain, I know I can say this about the game in general and the last part of endgame specifically:

It's gonna be the best night ever.

Comments

[nalina.livejournal.com]

All that and you don't remember me dropping Laharl from Polychomatic and you hopping on me to join DC like... the same day?

|D

[batfowl.livejournal.com]

/WIPES AWAY TEAR GD

I wasn't always there but I remember all of it and just...it was wonderful even through the bad times something awesome would always follow and and I AM GOING TO MISS THIS GAME SO MUCH.

I honestly wish I could take a day off from work and just stay up all night with you guys because I am sure it will be the best night ever. ♥

[ormery.livejournal.com]

dfjkhdfg

/SOBS AND CLINGS

I WILL GET BACK INTO THIS FOR THE LAST DAY IF IT KILLS ME DAMNIT

[ggmoonycrisco.livejournal.com]

That was beautiful. ;_;

I remember a few more!

I remember igng.

I remember hunting people down and pestering them for clips from the music video, and resorting to stealing Jen's Paixao video for a lot of the clips, and how she was nice enough to let me do it.

I remember the modface.

I remember taking bets on who in the chat would notice a major plot event first, and I remember winning that bet several times.

I remember character bleeding so hard I cried at Flute's heartbreak. Billy and Rebecca's tango suffering finally working out. Diego and Mia.

I remember Mayauron.

I remember Kia consistently mistaking my AIM handle for my LJ handle.

[ecojak.livejournal.com]

I do still thank you for being one of the very few people who flailed over me apping Ratchet, even if he didn't go so well. Large RP, one canonmate, and not a lot of people familiar with him. And his only non-canonmate dropped off the face of the internet suddenly.

*HUG*

[deltashade.livejournal.com]

I remember where I sat when I saw Cloverfield for the first time. I remember arguing with friends about shakycam.

I remember leaving the Nexus and finding Erica's dear_mun post.

I remember apping in April with Freudia and waiting. I remember waiting until May and thinking that I had been ignored due to the obscurity of the character. I remember finding you on BRPS and bringing it up and discovering that GMail ate the app. I remember feeling embarrassed and re-sending the app and making my debut on May 12th.

I remember my first thread. Nash Tringham. I remember thinking I was tagging too slowly. Which hasn't really changed. I remember telling myself that I would stick to Freudia for a while.

I remember apping Fran two weeks later. I remember Dia and Mynx loving her Coheed keywords.

I remember apping Ty Lee and Ember.

I remember the first thing I said to Stella. It was about how I couldn't communicate properly. Which hasn't really changed.

I remember concerts at Starbucks and kickflipping off crabs and dates that didn't go anywhere and mockery that didn't have to.

I remember dropping Ty Lee and Ember.

I remember Tatsuki and Naoki and Jayne. I remember lap dances and breakups.

I remember being impressed at myself for going so long without playing Terra. I remember the breakdown in a church garden and the rebuilding in an apartment.

I remember going on for ages trying to sound deep but accidentally ending up biting the style of others. Which hasn't really changed.

I'm glad DC has spawned so many splinter games. I don't think I can imagine RP without the people I've met here.

[lynxgriffin.livejournal.com]

I remember reading Daisychain posts on Godot's friendslist, before I joined, and thinking it looked like fun.

I remember Mia channeling a "dead" Ichigo.

I remember V and Wolf making turducken.

I remember Wolf taking a bite out of Dahlia's shoulder and then crawling into the Strand through the window in order to stay safe.

I remember creating the DC Wiki.

I remember the literal version of Take On Me, and Don't Eat The Mushroom.

I remember chat once successfully pulling off a complete Disney sing-along.

I remember Sephiroth vs. Chii the Kitten.

I remember back when we thought about introducing moles or double agents, but didn't do it. I remember people actually thinking of one, and IC secrets about it.

I remember Soraxas and how fun that was to thread.

I remember drawing colored circles to demonstrate dimensions.


I was thinking of doing an introspection post, but I honestly don't think anything I wrote up could match what you've said here. Just...oh goodness it's going to make me cry, seriously. I love this game and I love you all. ♥

[shadowdancer09.livejournal.com]

Damn you. ;__; *teared up a little*

I can't believe it's really been this long. Hell, I remember how you guys ended up getting me to join after someone mentioned the movie was about Sin attacking Manhattan. XDD

And the whole thing with Rosette taking in Book!Zetta. And just... playing Zetta as a book in general.

And... damn. So many memories. ;__;

[tricia868]

I'm so depressed I've missed endgame. Timing just didn't work.

[bouncy-erbear.livejournal.com]

That was beautiful.

I remember my first characters I app'd (Riza and Toph).

I remember when I played Luxord and he went fairy hunting with Harry.

I remember the start of Riza/Harry and how it grew into something I don't think either Brandon or myself imagined it would.

I remember parts of the Avatar cast coming and going.

I remember Toph getting the nickname 'Molita' from Godot.

I remember the Blind Friends Forever club and how it accepted everyone with a disability/handicap.

I remember coffee.

I remember the first and only DC wedding.

I remember Renji and Minako having so much UST. I remember their kiss. I remember dropping Renji.

I remember freaking out in chat. I remember crying over logs. I remember laughing so hard I was afraid I'd wake up my roommates.

I remember DC when the chat was smaller than 15 people.

I remember txting Brandon and saying "I want to make Riza pregnant for endgame." And the subsequent DO IT DO IT DO IT, from him and the mods.

I remember scarf runs and cookie runs and how big those threads would get just for Giselle passing out happiness.

I remember Acen and meeting some of our lovely RPers there.

I remember being introduced to The Dresden Files, Elite Beat Agents, and Phoenix Wright. I also remember apping Thomas after reading said series.

I remember several trips into the subways with varying levels of success.

I remember wakkawakkas and Yachiru and Renji's porn run.

I remember bras.

I'm not ready to give it up either, but I've made some great friends over the year that it's been running and I would not trade it for anything in the world.

[universejuice.livejournal.com]

I remember an obsession with a mysterious movie. I remember reading all the viral marketing and conspiracies. I remember running out of them, then, and having to wait for the next pieces of information to come out with extreme impatience. I remember resorting to fanart.

I remember a silly picture with an intriguing link in the description.

I remember nerves, not being sure. I remember worrying over sending my app in. I remember having to change my app, because I Didn't Know. I never got used to Not Knowing.

I remember not knowing how LiveJournal worked, and I remember a welcoming, friendly, and hyperactive chatroom that was eager to guide me through.

I remember lyrics and rhyme, keeping the beat and in time, wond'rin' which part of the lines made people think it so divine.

I remember sitting in front of the computer every other Saturday, refreshing nonstop as the hour neared. I remember extreme nerves on the days I couldn't be around to do it. I remember unannounced events.

I remember panic, confusion and rage as if I were there. I remember really hating the mods sometimes. And I remember loathing the goddamn fucking modface.

I remember broken bones, ruined suits, shattered glasses, exploding inventions, destroyed faiths. I remember finding the music, finding fury, and losing sanity. I remember singalongs and chats, friendships and furious encounters.

I remember getting canonmates.

I remember bombing Central Park on dragonback.

I remember late nights and lost sleep.

I remember going to New York and buying a bat.

I remember developing the Music, growing to understand it deeper and more clearly. I remember gaining a faith in something in a way I hadn't before. Finding a way to look at the spirit in a way I could understand, appreciate.

I remember disappearing, one by one. I remember saying goodbye, and crying.

I remember loving it. I remember having something always there for me when I came home. When I was lost, confused, when things weren't working out, when I didn't feel right, I remember having friends waiting to support me, with words of encouragement and advice, or just words of *hugs*

I remember planning out writing this during class and trying to keep from crying, but it didn't really work. I remember feeling, even as I wrote all this, that I still hadn't properly conveyed how much this game and the people in it, everything it's represented for me in the last year, how much it all meant to me, how big it's been. And how scared I am now that it's ending.

Fuck best night ever. Best year ever.

[aviekokyre.livejournal.com]

I remember going on to dear_mun one time and seeing lots of posts about something bad happening and DC. I didn't understand, but my first muse tried to cheer on one that was in there and offer a fun break if needed. I remember wanting to give a bunch of muses in DC hugs, even though I knew none of them. It wouldn't be the last time I wanted to hug a DC muse.

I remember mental keyboard smashing upon being called out, furious typing, and trying to work up some more characterization. And things probably wouldn't have been so bad had I not also been sick. I remember people supporting me and offering encouragement. I remember first interactions with a few of them on dear_mun and otoeab_dressing and gaining some courage that I might be able do this.

I remember the other muses' reactions on sending Derek to that place and the look of betrayal on one, not for the focus change but for taking him away and putting him there.

I remember not understanding a lot, trying to figure it out, and just letting history be and focusing on a smaller scale. I remember Derek code fail #1, Daniel, hiatuses, Kirk and Pinky. I remember wanting to try to expand who Derek interacted with and writing a post about crabs. I remember being surprised and wondering why he had that button and kept jumping at the mentions the weapons, especially guns. I remember the faint hints that Derek lost someone.

I remember irony and 9:00 that night.

I remember wracking my brain trying to find a bite scenario that wouldn't hurt the EBA anymore than it has. I remember listing things to prevent multiple breaks. I remember more buttons. There were plans, emails sent out, and a scared-nervousness as it all started. I remember a confused surprise when the mun of a Healer asked if there were plans there too. I remember things going wrong and trying to pull things together.

I remember breaking Derek. I remember crying for doing all that to Derek and not being able to bring him back. I remember a nervous moment when I thought about dropping because I just didn't have the backbone for this. I remember all muses going silent for days. I remember a bunch of people offering to help and doing so with so many things.

I remember the bacon cookie and hug machine and real life bacon cookies being made.

I remember the mission, unable to find a codename, being so energize though confused and following what was written before concerning Music, and the character bleed as the good feeling disappeared when Zero mentioned it. I remember angry partners, and Derek trying to stop them. It didn't work but instead created two other interactions, one completely unexpected but very happy for, one with more Derek code fail and a chance to be silly. I remember staying up way too late that night talking.

I remember the next day, a supportive goodbye, and Daniel Jackson and how Derek was more hurt by it than he let on. I remember Pinky too. I remember trying to make things better for Derek by letting him have an outlet and a lot of little things connected together. I remember not wanting it to happen. I remember a lot of other moments like Iris that kept pressing it. I remember Elphaba. I remember wanting to give more hugs to many characters.

I remember reading so many threads, knowing I lacked the background, but feeling happy or sad all the same. I remember never fearing the mod face but fearing irony more.

I remember disappearances, separation. I remember when the jerk made things headcanon anyways and became a twin with the other killed by a gunshot. I remember being furious. I remembered my Spin and finding out the connection as to why Derek and him were always close in my headcanon.

I remember panic, punches and shades, Pinnacle, Hard Mode, Nightmare Mode, Kadosuki and Hairek, OMG Healers please!, a talkative Derek and fairies, a few times, good times, bad times, epic times on every boat ship. I remember being ecstatic when he could hear again. There was character bleed and just happy when things started to come together.

I remember realizing I didn't want it to end because it meant more to me than I ever imagined it would.

[fairytaledreams.livejournal.com]

I remember hearing bouncy_erbear talking about DC for ages. I remember avoiding looking at the rp because I didn't want to take on another. I remember caving. I remember planning the two apps.

I remember changing the keywords because I wanted to be ~*sneaky*~

I remember doing that for every app afterward just to keep it the same.

I remember being accepted into the biggest rp I'd ever been in at the time. I remember being terrified out of my wits. I remember everyone being supportive and helping get this little rper on her feet.

I remember the difference between healer and Healer.

I remember Vanish!fail and Celes getting bitten in the subways. I remember Ashe.

I remember the best discussion the blonde ex-general has ever had.

I remember nearly crying when I realized these muses would never be played anywhere else with the CR they have here.

I remember realizing I'll never be able to reuse some of these journals because they're so associated with the DC versions.

I remember f5 on Saturday nights.

I remember "I WIN" from a mod on other nights.

I remember character bleeding so bad that I cried when Clover died and Seymour found out.

I remember laughter.

I remember horror.

I remember looking at the plotline and mentally bowing down to the mods for creating such a world for us to play in.

I remember my heart squeezing when I found out DC would end someday. I remember loving and hating it for that.

I remember Aerith making me take over the Healers. I remember watching her grow from a small muse I loved into one of the strongest I have ever had. I remember conferences, and planning. I remember character bleeding. I remember intense fear.

I remember cells and numbers, chaffed wrists and indignation, questions and confusion, wonder and amazement. I remember watching everyone, mun and character alike, bind together when it mattered.

I remember loving the rp.

I remember wanting to drop and knowing that I never could.

I remember crying reading this, and wishing DC could go on.

I remember knowing it'll never end as long as we remember.



We're all going to make it the best night ever.

[anzila.livejournal.com]

I remember the amazing friends I've made since this adventure began, and all the things they've taught me about gender, friendship, patience, sexuality, race, love, and bra sizes.

I remember first picking up Harry on an impulse, not knowing what he would become.

I remember Goofy tackle hugging Sora when they first met.

I remember Godot's epic spit takes.

I remember Harry and Riza's first date.

I remember Yachiru watching 300 with Minako

I remember the first Strand, and the family that was born there.

I remember Murphy, as brief as she was there.

I remember Harry rescuing Rosette

I remember Ichigo Fey

I remember Princess Kaiba

I remember Yachiru throwing a dead crab at Bebe

I remember the first Harry Godot Toph thread

I remember lock picking and dramatic rescues

I remember Harry saving Rosette from crabs.

I remember golf cart gun battles.

I remember aircraft carriers and subway battles and whim plots i had that grew bigger than I could ever have imagined.

I remember relationships and friendships growing up where I never could have expected them to.

I remember you going to my defense when you didn't have to when I was attacked and making me feel better.

I remember how much I'm going to miss all of you.