Culture
The No-Girlfriend Rule - Ep 26
In Episode 26 of 'The No-Girlfriend Rule,' hosts Anna and Miranda dive into the LGBTQ+ book 'The No-Girlfriend Rule' by Christian Randall. They explore themes of representation, in...
The No-Girlfriend Rule - Ep 26
Culture •
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Interactive Transcript
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Music
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Listen to Two Mary Lesbians discuss an LGBTQ plus book each month that highlights the queer
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human condition as they use connection and humor to relate the issues to us as a queer
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community.
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She's Anna and she's Miranda.
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I am and we're two Mary Lesbians.
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We are and we're all queer here.
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And we're back.
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We're back.
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Happy summer.
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Happy Pride Month.
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Mm-hmm.
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Now we're special our community because we get a Pride month in July and a history month.
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June.
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You're just, you're trying to get your birthday.
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I love July 4th.
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I love the fireworks.
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So we have Pride Month in June and then we have LGBTQ history month in October.
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So we get the history which is a lot of bad things but some positive things too.
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And then we just get all happiness in June.
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Lots of happiness in June.
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But I was talking about this recently that I don't actually wear a lot of rainbow things.
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Yeah, I mean, I've noticed the longer I've been out the less rainbow I wear.
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Yeah.
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I was like rainbow everything when I first came out because I was just so excited.
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And I don't know and it's like the older I've gotten the more I'm like, well, I guess
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that didn't look as good as I thought it did when I was just saying.
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Rainbow doesn't go with everything.
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It's not fitting on everyone.
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No.
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I had to learn that.
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Yeah.
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All right.
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So the no-girl from roll.
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This title is suggested by publishers weekly for ages 14 and up.
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Please consider the needs and interests of your reader before suggesting they read it.
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Always good advice.
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Always good advice.
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And our author, Christian Randall, is quote, queer, fat, neurodiverse author and quote and
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goes by she, they write why books about quote, queer, fat, geeky kids and quote.
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So that's right up our alley, minus the kids part.
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Yeah.
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I mean, we have one.
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Right.
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Exactly.
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Yeah.
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So I mean, am I right?
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Yeah.
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So you're wanting to do that.
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That's a little bit about that.
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That's exciting.
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And I mean, it's one of those things that like you yet again, I mean, we said we've said
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it before.
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We'll say it again.
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When you have people writing from those lived experiences, to me, this book felt, it felt
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very real.
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In fact, you had started reading it initially without necessarily planning it.
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Oh, I was like a page and I was like, oh, we have to read this together because of the
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role playing game, secrets and sorcery.
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But I want to say, because I think I've mentioned on another episode, there was a book a
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while ago from a state reading list that I was like, oh, great.
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It's about a fat girl dancing and the model was not bad at all.
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And I was very like aware when giving it out to students like, this is not great representation
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data.
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So when I was reading the description of this, like, okay, but then looking at the cover,
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actual fat representation, thank you very much.
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Thank you.
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I appreciate it.
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And I understand there's obviously different levels of fat, but like we are obviously a slim
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person and you're calling yourself fat.
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That's a problem.
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Don't put a size 10 and be like, look at this super curvy fat person.
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Exactly.
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So I appreciate it.
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I really appreciate it.
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The representation there.
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Yeah.
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We still don't have enough queer fat representation.
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I mean, that the more-
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Or just fat representation anyway.
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Fair enough.
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And the more different artists and authors and musicians and all that different people
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and every different type of art form that get those chances to elevate the work, the more
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that we get to see some of those gaps kind of filled.
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So you know, I'm going back to what the authors said that they write for queer, was it
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queer fat geeky kids.
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I always thought that my inner child was seven, but when I like reexamine my like, quirkiness
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and attitude, I'm really more of like a 15 year old.
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You know, I'm not a snark.
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I have a lot of snark, like that pre-driver kind of angst of like going to get out of the
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house and go pick up my groceries and like that.
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But notably you don't like, you don't have your driver's license yet.
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You don't leave the house.
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You don't want to leave the house.
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A lot of emo music.
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I never really thought about how old my inner child is, but probably, I don't know, maybe
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like 10?
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Oh, you get that track.
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Yeah, I just, I feel like I'm young enough that I am playing with my Ninja Turtle Actual
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figure.
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But your joints.
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And my joints still work.
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Yeah, but like old enough that I can like, I don't know, walk to records on my own.
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Records, that's a thoroughbiting.
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Dude, my friend across the street and I, we would ride our bikes or walk and we were
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allowed to go to the shopping center and they had an records and we would, we would do
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the blood pressure cuff because it was free.
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Oh, and you got to hit the button.
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Yeah, and you got to hit the button.
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I understand how bad it is.
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I can handle it.
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It hurts.
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But if you did it too much, then the pharmacist said, oh, they would be a sad day.
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Yeah, they're like, you need to leave.
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Yeah, so like that was where, I think I bought my first comic book.
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Was it that, Eckerts?
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Oh, wow.
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And, and like I'd buy a comic book if I was really like, I'd buy a comic book and then
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maybe a candy bar.
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So let's dive in.
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So the premise is the title of the book that they can't, I guess she was playing with.
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Paulus's boyfriend, Chris.
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But they, she was playing with them, a group of boys.
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Well, no, she's never been able to play with them.
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I thought they were doing after.
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So she never got to play.
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No, she never got to play.
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She's heard about it.
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They would always talk about the game and she thought it was really cool and she wanted
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to play it, but they would never let her play.
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I guess I didn't realize I thought because they'd been friends for a while.
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They're ones of the premise.
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Yes.
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They've been friends forever.
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How long ago did they start playing?
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Was she not allowed to play before that?
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Because they're mandating what?
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Two years?
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I thought so, yeah.
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Yeah.
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So maybe they just started playing with them last two years.
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Or consistently every Friday.
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Yeah.
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Especially in high school when you're scheduled, it's kind of all over the place.
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Trying to figure out what to do, what stuff you're involved in.
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Yeah, but yeah, basically she wanted to play, but she couldn't.
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I just kind of was like, I mean, I loved the book, but like why?
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Like just let her play.
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I mean, I know you need a premise to like, write from.
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But it also does seem very like doobro.
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As someone who has existed in a heteronormative relationship previously,
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and been in and out of Dungeons and Dragons, which is what SNS is based on, obviously.
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Obviously.
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Obviously.
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It is so much of the negative behaviors that you see around Dungeons and the SNS in this book
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are extremely popular and gross beliefs within a lot of those circles where
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many DMs, um, and this is a secret keeper, Dungeon Master in D&D.
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So you can see slip into a D&D DM?
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You could, yeah, I suppose so.
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But you know, there are some Dungeon Masters, they'll be like, well no, you're not allowed
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to have a girlfriend because it could be disruptive to the game.
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Because now I have to start a new player in there.
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But like if you're a decent Dungeon Master, you can find a quick narrative reason
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why somebody's in there.
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Like I've done it.
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It's not bad.
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Why do you think the author decided not to call it Dungeons and Dragons?
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Uh, didn't want to be sued, probably.
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There are Dungeons and Dragons books.
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Yeah, but those are like a print to buy Wizards of the...
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I think...
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No, hasbro now, sorry.
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I think besides copyright, it was because secrets and sorcery is more realistic in the name
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that you can actually be a sorcerer in it.
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Yeah.
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Because you cannot actually be a dragon in Dungeons and Dragons.
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I just want people to know that if you love dragons, you don't want to be a dragon.
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But if you love dragons and you wanted to like be a dragon and play with that,
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then you cannot actually be a dragon in Dungeons and Dragons.
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Actually be a dragon, no.
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And I feel like the term dungeon master is super problematic.
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I didn't create it, but yeah.
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What were they called in SNS?
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I don't know, secret keepers.
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Yeah, that's even better.
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That's so much better.
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Yeah.
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It is kind of cool, like, the way that the author wrote about this is they got to actually
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kind of rework a lot of the things that maybe could be better.
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And I really found it delightful.
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I found myself, because I've only played D&D a few times, and it's long and exhausting.
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But I really, that is not how I feel, but we are.
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A lot of it is my introvertedness, though, like wanting to just read a book and be on my
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own journey and imagine it instead of waiting for people to say what they're doing.
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But I found myself wanting to play secrets and sorcery a lot more than I would D&D.
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How so?
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What was different?
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I'm curious.
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I just like the world they built around, like inclusion and all of those, like, so just
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like the magic and like having to go up against things.
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I just felt like it floated a lot better.
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I mean, all of the things you're describing exist in D&D.
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Now, one thing that wasn't in the book for good reason because it does bog things down
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is that there wasn't a deep dive into, like, rules and rules and how many-
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Are there any other things that you can do?
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The one that's much math.
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Maybe it was just I wanted Hollis's group to play with.
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Oh, that would be phenomenal to get to play with Hollis's group.
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So it could have been the poor DM that I played with.
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Okay, rude.
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Rude?
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I'm just saying if the story ain't clicking.
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Okay, well, next time I will-
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I will, I will write you a Hollis's group.
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So I can be a dragon this time?
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Again.
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But why?
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Why is it called Dungeons and Dragons?
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Like, I just have this huge prop.
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Because you fight dragons, you explore dungeons, and that's fine, fine, fine, fine.
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I'm-
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That's what I just think this problem is.
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It's false advertising.
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Okay.
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Okay, let's actually get back to the book.
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So by the way, my point is made that I think it really does, both for me and Hollis in the
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book, it's about finding the right gaming group and that you might enjoy it with one group,
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but then not like it with a different group.
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Absolutely.
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I've definitely-
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I've had that experience where I've had a really great time with some people and then
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not great with others.
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So yeah, much like many things in life, being surrounded by the right people can make
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all the difference.
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Uh-huh.
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Is she-
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Oh, it's actually Instagram stocks.
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Oh, yeah, Instagram stocks.
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Was it Maggie?
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I think it's Maggie.
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People did that a lot when I was dating.
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Of course, I dated a while ago.
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Mm-hmm.
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Well, I'm always dating you.
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Oh, I'm always dating you.
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But so like, I guess it was like 2017 and then I was dating again in 2019 and people
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like, oh, what's your Instagram handle?
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And I'm like, it's all like Pugs, Books, and Coffee.
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Like, artistically crafted in a frame of a photo, but like, why?
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And then people would follow me.
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Like, not just like, oh, let me look at this.
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I guess because like that kind of shows like what you're putting out into the world.
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It was just so bizarre to me.
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And then like, as I didn't date them anymore because sometimes you know, you just casually
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date and then you move on.
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Yeah.
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I would go and find them and not necessarily block them.
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But like, I would either unfollow them if I followed them and then be like, I wish she
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wouldn't follow me because then it's like, once I was in a relationship, then like,
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they liked it, you know, because you get those notifications.
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Yeah.
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It's like, oh, someone I went on two dates with liked my photo.
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Like, it's just, I find it so odd.
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Yeah.
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I don't need to build up my followers.
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I know that's odd.
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I just want to post my cute photos to whoever I know.
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I don't need, I don't need followers.
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I just found it odd.
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But mine's also private too because like, you know, being an education, I'm like, what
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I put out there, but I don't put anything silatious out there.
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Just scandalous.
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Like I said, it's Pugs, Books, and Coffee.
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It sounds pretty silatious to me.
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It's pretty ridiculous.
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I am just flabbergasted by how, let's tone down the heat, babe.
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Let's move on.
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Okay.
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And sometimes coffee, while reading a book and holding a phone.
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Oh, ho.
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So that is my faint.
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It's a lot.
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Yeah.
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I'm the lot of feeling.
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Uh-huh.
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I've got the vapors.
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Yeah.
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You got vapors.
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You need just falling solves.
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Yeah.
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I need my swollen solves.
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So anyway, I just, I kind of like I said, that was kind of like a throwback and I couldn't
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see that really being popular to do.
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Yeah.
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Like, again, like making it, I think people, young people need to realize that they should
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make those things private.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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Mainly some police can still be considered.
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Well, yeah, I mean, that brings up a whole other world.
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We don't have time to get into.
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I, um, I really, I loved kind of seeing that stark contrast between Hollis trying to get
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in this game.
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That was just like at the local, you know, game shop.
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And it was an absolute train wreck, super uncomfortable.
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Because I think that's where a lot of people will start.
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Well, yeah, because you're not sure where to start.
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You're like, well, I'll start at the place where I bought my dice.
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Well, the libraries have, have, do they, that's playing groups for different age groups.
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Yeah.
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That's pretty cool.
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With a host one.
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You kind of bring your own stuff.
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Yeah.
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I mean, you compare that to how welcoming her, her group that she ends up with was, um,
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maybe they, they advertised.
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Mm-hmm.
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Yeah.
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But it was, it was really cool to see.
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And like, it was wild that like right out the gate, uh, Hollis and if he, um, are just
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like, they end up being like guard buddies.
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And, um, and then, uh, Hollis's character and Amy's anoria, um, like, just somehow end
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up with like a romance in the game.
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Which I thought that permeates into the real world.
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Yeah.
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I, I, I never really had that happen.
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That was, that was really cool.
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You ever had a romance?
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No, I've had a romance.
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Obviously, we have a, we, now talk about in your game, role playing game.
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No, that's why SNS is better than D&D.
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What?
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I'm telling you, this is, this could be a whole community.
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Would you mind the game be branded?
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Would you mind the game be more if I rename it SNS just for you?
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No.
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Oh, okay.
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Because my character was like going and trying to find their last love or something.
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That was really cool.
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I loved your character's backstory.
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I had a great story like that.
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You really did.
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I, I would love to see more from your character.
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We'll see.
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Um, okay.
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So she gets into this great group and then her, my boyfriend calls, yeah, Chris, calls
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her campaign dorky, which was so rude.
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Yes.
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And like, dismissive.
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And then I was like thinking about it because you get bothering me and I was reading
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on it.
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I was pausing and I go back like, you know, you're not being supportive.
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But like, isn't it all dorky?
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I mean, that's why we like it.
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The whole, the whole setup is dorky.
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I have to say.
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It's a role playing game.
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What he's doing is dorky.
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What she's doing is dorky.
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What we are doing is dorky.
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Like the whole concept, like that's why it works.
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It's so nerdy and fun.
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But how dare he use that in a derogatory way?
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When they're not inviting her into their game.
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Mm-hmm.
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Yeah.
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He's an unexglutator.
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Not to skip ahead, but to skip ahead.
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Mm-hmm.
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And I blanked on Garrett Chandler.
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What's a jerk guy's name?
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Oh, Landon.
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Oh, such a jerk.
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So when Landon somehow gets a girlfriend.
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Yeah, that was amazing in another cell.
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Yes.
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That might have been the climax of the story.
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Oh, Lacey.
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Lacey's super cutesy.
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Yeah.
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And let's them play with them.
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Why?
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It's awful.
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Why would they do that?
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That's so rude.
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I mean, at this point, when...
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Because you know they're going to break up.
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Because it's Landon.
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We're fine with it because we're like, yeah,
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Hollis, stay with your better group.
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Please distance yourself from her group.
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Like they almost did her a favor.
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He's being a jerk.
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Yeah.
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I'm not welcoming her in.
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Yeah.
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Making her find her own group of people.
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Yeah.
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Because it was just...
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It was a really selfish jerk move on Landon's part.
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Well, my girlfriend can be in it because she's my girlfriend.
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But...
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Was he the dungeon master?
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Yeah, or the secret keeper?
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The secret keeper.
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That's what I thought.
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Okay, I thought that was the explanation.
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I didn't even write it down.
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I was like, I'm so offended.
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This is probably not.
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It doesn't matter why.
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And it's true.
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It doesn't matter why.
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But at the same time, it's like,
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well, who came up with the rule?
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Uh, probably Landon.
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And then now he wants to undo it.
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Because now he has a girlfriend.
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It could be that he was just jealous initially.
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And so that's why he made up the rule.
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Because Chris had a girlfriend he didn't.
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Could be.
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I mean, don't really matter.
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Like you said.
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I mean, any good storyteller as a secret keeper
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is going to be able to write in a...
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I mean, writing in a little bit harder sometimes
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than writing it out a character.
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But like, that's just a challenge you have.
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Like, you're going to have games where people are absent.
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Remember, like, you know, they miss games or whatever.
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So where are they?
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Why you're going on this epic quest?
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Like, yeah, you just make up a quick thing.
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You're like, oh, there's six of them.
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So they're gonna stay in the...
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The sister is ill.
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They've been sent a message.
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They have to go back and care for her.
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Exactly.
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So it's one of those things.
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Yeah, it took me three seconds off the top of my head.
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It's a jerk move.
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It's a jerk move.
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It's a jerk move.
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And we'll be right back.
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And we're back.
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Um, I absolutely loved...
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Fran, who repeatedly is referred to as basically, like,
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all caps lock screaming, but in real life.
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Yeah, that's pretty fantastic.
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And that's the thing, like, I love that description so much.
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Everybody knows that person.
spk_0
A person like that.
spk_0
Everybody can relate to that.
spk_0
She's eating all the cupcakes.
spk_0
She's hugging and screaming.
spk_0
She's basically...
spk_0
We have a very hyper pub.
spk_0
She's basically a penalty and human form.
spk_0
Yes.
spk_0
Always excited, always down for fun.
spk_0
Always alive and eager.
spk_0
And I loved her.
spk_0
Um, her...
spk_0
I thought it was interesting how, you know,
spk_0
not only each individual personality in the book
spk_0
that the author created between, like,
spk_0
Hallis and Ivy and Amy and Fran and Gloria and Maggie
spk_0
and everybody, but then also each of them
spk_0
with their own characters they have in SNS.
spk_0
And, like, how different each one is.
spk_0
And there's similarities to each person who created it.
spk_0
But then there's also differences
spk_0
based on, you know, what that specific character
spk_0
is kind of working out in the world.
spk_0
In that SNS world.
spk_0
I really felt like, you know, before the end of it,
spk_0
I could have looked at all of their characters
spk_0
and winded up to the character that was playing them.
spk_0
Oh, yeah, probably.
spk_0
I just really felt like that.
spk_0
You know, it just kind of felt natural, like, the whole way through.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
I really loved the advice that Gloria shared with Hallis.
spk_0
When she said that, like, sometimes when you haven't quite
spk_0
worked something out in the real world,
spk_0
you kind of try to figure it out in SNS world
spk_0
and how neatly that played with how...
spk_0
Hallis came up with them.
spk_0
Yeah, with a word for the game.
spk_0
But I think they were, you know,
spk_0
they were shipping their characters, which was cute.
spk_0
And, you know, it added to the game's drama.
spk_0
Steadfast, however, looking at it outside of the game
spk_0
when her boyfriend sees how she is and calls her extra
spk_0
and then starts asking about her anxiety medication.
spk_0
And she just tells them that she's just happy.
spk_0
Like, at that point, it really made me...
spk_0
I don't want to use the H word,
spk_0
but it really made me hate him a little bit.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Because you don't just bring up someone's medication
spk_0
so cavalierly.
spk_0
Mm-hmm.
spk_0
Yeah, he wasn't doing it in good faith.
spk_0
Yeah, so he wasn't like, hey, I've noticed these things about...
spk_0
spk_0
And like, I wanted to talk to you about your medication.
spk_0
Like, are you taking it?
spk_0
Is everything okay?
spk_0
Just like, oh, you're just happy.
spk_0
What's wrong with you?
spk_0
You're so extra and like not wanting to like listen to her...
spk_0
He didn't want to hurt a change.
spk_0
He wanted her to support him.
spk_0
And what he was doing, he didn't want to reciprocate.
spk_0
He didn't want her to grow and become, you know,
spk_0
a better, happier version of herself.
spk_0
Well, it doesn't really make a lot of...
spk_0
I mean, it does because he's a changed boy.
spk_0
But it doesn't make a lot of sense in the long term
spk_0
because they've been friends for a while.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
And you have your own group to play SNS with.
spk_0
So now she has her own group to play SNS with.
spk_0
Why would you not...
spk_0
You know, she listens to their recaps.
spk_0
Mm-hmm.
spk_0
And sometimes I ask questions because you can't always follow
spk_0
because she wasn't there in the middle of the cloud.
spk_0
But like, he just calls all her stuff to her key.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Well, like, the first one, one or two times,
spk_0
he was supportive and like, he would help relate it.
spk_0
But as it builds...
spk_0
But then, yeah, as it builds up.
spk_0
The second, it started to bear out that she was having
spk_0
a good time without him and that, you know,
spk_0
maybe he was starting to feel a little jealous
spk_0
and see her change and grow.
spk_0
Then it was like, oh, now I'm gonna just...
spk_0
I'm gonna poop all over her.
spk_0
You're a good time.
spk_0
And that's...
spk_0
I find that just really frustrating
spk_0
because I think so many, you know, young relationships
spk_0
make it all about the other person.
spk_0
Yeah, and that's not...
spk_0
And you have to have your own things.
spk_0
You do.
spk_0
You have to have your separate U times
spk_0
so that you can have some attack
spk_0
when you're together.
spk_0
Yeah, that's different.
spk_0
You always have to make sure that you are taking care of yourself
spk_0
or there can't be an us.
spk_0
Like, each person has to make sure
spk_0
you're taking care of yourself.
spk_0
Mm-hmm.
spk_0
I do want to mention,
spk_0
Lyndon makes a comment early on when Hollis says
spk_0
she's joining this group that they were like,
spk_0
queer friendly and, you know, they're great.
spk_0
And he calls them weirdos
spk_0
and to not turn into, quote, one of them.
spk_0
No, I was so angry at Landon.
spk_0
Yeah, but like, obviously he didn't want her
spk_0
to become a lesbian.
spk_0
But...
spk_0
Well, that's not...
spk_0
She thinks herself...
spk_0
Or him.
spk_0
Right, but she already worries
spk_0
if she's already too weird anyway.
spk_0
Mm-hmm.
spk_0
So that kind of was like a move point for her.
spk_0
Oh, I was...
spk_0
So I just didn't really seem like...
spk_0
And she literally went from one extreme to the other
spk_0
between the lack of support
spk_0
and not being wanting them to play with her
spk_0
to even like wanting her to talk about their recap
spk_0
towards, you know, she just was welcomed from the beginning.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Even though she was nervous about emailing past the deadline.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
It was like, like, 18 hours past the deadline or something.
spk_0
She kind of makes fun of it.
spk_0
She's like, you're fine.
spk_0
Because you can't always help when you find out about stuff.
spk_0
Fair, fair.
spk_0
The little sign was still there.
spk_0
I think one of my favorite moments in the book,
spk_0
I almost said it in the game.
spk_0
They were playing a game in the book.
spk_0
I mean, you know, let's talk about that
spk_0
because I think it was so flawlessly done.
spk_0
So again, I read, like, less than a page
spk_0
before I was like, oh, it's about role-playing.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
And like, was really well done from the first page.
spk_0
So thank you.
spk_0
That I had to bring you in on this.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
But I think, you know, throughout the whole book,
spk_0
you have the real world, you have them playing it,
spk_0
and then you have the story itself.
spk_0
So you really have these three different levels.
spk_0
Sure.
spk_0
Storytelling.
spk_0
And it's pretty masterfully done.
spk_0
Like, I don't really feel like there was any lows
spk_0
or I was like bored or, you know, sometimes like in traditional books,
spk_0
you know, there was a low as they get you to the next subplot
spk_0
or conversation, and I always catch myself thinking,
spk_0
what does it have to do with them?
spk_0
Like, well, but this is important, you know,
spk_0
that kind of thing, or it's getting us to the next part.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
But I guess I was a little worried with that when I brought you in
spk_0
because I was like, well, it read really well from the beginning,
spk_0
but like, that doesn't necessarily mean it's going to withstand that
spk_0
through the length of the novel.
spk_0
Oh, yeah.
spk_0
But it did.
spk_0
It did.
spk_0
And like I said, a book about role-playing,
spk_0
that sounds amazing, but I don't think a lot of people could do it very well.
spk_0
And I think this was just amazingly done.
spk_0
Like I said, it makes me want to play us again.
spk_0
It's very obvious that this author has a deep love of
spk_0
and experience with D&D or another role-playing, you know,
spk_0
tabletop RPG, because there's no way you can tell the story that well
spk_0
and not have played and enjoyed it and like really understood
spk_0
the power of a good game with a good group of people.
spk_0
I think one of my biggest, oh my gosh, I was really-
spk_0
I was thinking this is the only book by that author that I could find.
spk_0
Really?
spk_0
So yeah, I just, I think it was kind of shocking because it-
spk_0
We'll have to look for more.
spk_0
Yeah, we'll have to wait.
spk_0
It came out in March, but like-
spk_0
Of this year?
spk_0
Wow.
spk_0
It doesn't read like a debut.
spk_0
I mean, it reads like a debut in the sense that it's really really good,
spk_0
but it doesn't, you know, have any like,
spk_0
subtle like lacking that a debut novel would have.
spk_0
Like, oh, I would have wanted more about the mom character.
spk_0
Oh, yeah, yeah.
spk_0
This or that.
spk_0
Like I feel like everybody was so well developed and everything was so kind of came together so nicely.
spk_0
I think one of my favorite moments in the-
spk_0
I mean, I had quite a few, but I loved when they-
spk_0
I guess they were going to buy dye,
spk_0
they're making-
spk_0
Hallas buy dice.
spk_0
Because she was rolling poorly.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Because she was borrowing her boyfriend's dice.
spk_0
Which is-
spk_0
But she-
spk_0
I'm not gonna have your own dice.
spk_0
Yeah, I got to have your own dice.
spk_0
Anyway, so they're at the store and the creepy bard that was like-
spk_0
Oh, yeah.
spk_0
Like hitting on her or whatever when she first went.
spk_0
At this point, she and Amy really have, you know, a thing going.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Hallas hasn't figured out necessarily everything, but-
spk_0
Do we all-
spk_0
Do we all-
spk_0
Any of us ever have a-
spk_0
No, nobody ever figures that out, but anyway-
spk_0
It's probably-
spk_0
It's a-
spk_0
And Amy just basically is like putting all these moves on Hallas to try to put that bard in this place
spk_0
to really, you know, make him a, leave her alone, but also be like,
spk_0
you're being a jerk.
spk_0
Like, yeah.
spk_0
But this is what-
spk_0
This is what she deserves.
spk_0
Your attitude is not, right?
spk_0
You're a toxic human.
spk_0
Yeah, you're toxic human, goodbye.
spk_0
You're dumbster fire of a human.
spk_0
Well, hopefully that will be a wake-up call for him and he will do-
spk_0
It probably wasn't.
spk_0
He was probably thinking about it later.
spk_0
That's probably right.
spk_0
But I want him to grow.
spk_0
I want-
spk_0
Right.
spk_0
I want people to be able to grow.
spk_0
I do, I do.
spk_0
I think that's, you know, kind of the hope of reading is that people see themselves in characters
spk_0
like Landon and then they grow.
spk_0
They're like, ooh.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
And then they become a better person.
spk_0
I mean, he doesn't in the book, which I think is realistic to a lot of people.
spk_0
Yeah, unfortunately.
spk_0
As a teenager, again, but like you would hope along the way he sees the era of his ways.
spk_0
So 10 years of now, he's a much better person.
spk_0
Hopefully.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
I think many people that are jerks when they're a teenager, like as they age, you know,
spk_0
there are a lot of opportunities to be less of a jerk.
spk_0
So.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Um, I want to talk about when she breaks up with Chris and then just kind of mentions
spk_0
that it wasn't that bad.
spk_0
She specifically mentions that they never had the lowest lows or the highest highs.
spk_0
And I thought that that was really pivotal in the story because when you're trying to
spk_0
kind of understand the relationship from the beginning, you naturally already have that
spk_0
friction of her wanting to find a group to play.
spk_0
And she can't join his.
spk_0
So you just kind of think, Oh, well, this is just a little like couple disagreement.
spk_0
And then he's supportive and then he kind of isn't.
spk_0
And then he's kind of flaky.
spk_0
And then he's like, Oh, what's up with your meds?
spk_0
I guess it's just kind of, you know, you don't necessarily see a lot of them being good
spk_0
together.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
You just see Hollis being near Chris.
spk_0
Right.
spk_0
Um, but I think you know when she plays.
spk_0
Like a relationship of convenience.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
When she puts it in the terms of they never have the lowest lows or the highest highs, I think
spk_0
you know, that's kind of what.
spk_0
You know, a good relationship is not that you initially want a lot of lows, but like, you
spk_0
know, a low can be anything, you know, from like the loss of a pet to, you know, attending
spk_0
the.
spk_0
Yeah, attending someone's great grandparents funeral like because you kind of expect elderly
spk_0
people to die like those kinds of things can't happen.
spk_0
Does it make it less tragic?
spk_0
spk_0
But like not going because you just didn't want to go.
spk_0
Like I hate funerals, but I would go among us.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Right.
spk_0
I love you.
spk_0
Love me a funeral.
spk_0
You know, hot take in.
spk_0
I don't like funerals.
spk_0
Why?
spk_0
No, but like I just, it makes me uncomfortable.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Um, but I would go to support someone.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
If I had a flask.
spk_0
So I think, okay, note to self, get your funeral flask.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Like it was black.
spk_0
Imagine the mouth.
spk_0
Well, I mean, I guess the good news is, I don't know, that's Derek.
spk_0
Let's not say that.
spk_0
Oh boy.
spk_0
Interesting.
spk_0
Hot take.
spk_0
We're turned.
spk_0
So I think too, like when it's the highest highs could be, you know, necessarily because
spk_0
they're getting ready for like prom and like all those things.
spk_0
Like, you know, could you just be a really great date?
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Or like age that test.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
It doesn't have to be this life changing moment or a really great, you know, campaign in
spk_0
SNS.
spk_0
Like it doesn't have to be these like movie moments.
spk_0
Mm-hmm.
spk_0
Because when you look at what attracted her to Amy, it was little things.
spk_0
It was little things.
spk_0
It really is the little things.
spk_0
I mean, like noticing when she was having an anxiety attack.
spk_0
Yeah, when they were driving.
spk_0
Let me go get your medicine.
spk_0
Let's stop.
spk_0
Let's, you know, do this.
spk_0
What do you need?
spk_0
Like those little things made a huge difference.
spk_0
And I mean, when you look at a relationship, anybody can do a grand gesture.
spk_0
That doesn't make a relationship.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
A relationship is made by many, many reoccurring tiny choices and the little things.
spk_0
I remember we used to make your lunch for you every morning.
spk_0
Yeah, that was sweet.
spk_0
I don't know how I got out of the habit.
spk_0
I guess it was one of the summers when I was off and I was doing it.
spk_0
I don't know.
spk_0
It was just like, I used to write you post it and that's all in time.
spk_0
Yeah, it's true.
spk_0
I tried to every once in a while.
spk_0
I also don't have to pack my own lunch.
spk_0
So I usually just grab whatever's in the fridge that is edible and I'm hungry and I've
spk_0
all eaten it.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
And it's hit or mess if I actually eat lunch.
spk_0
Yeah, that feels better.
spk_0
It just lunches like that hard meal in the day.
spk_0
Like it is.
spk_0
I could never have a training.
spk_0
I'm like, I get to go out to eat.
spk_0
I'm like, oh, I'm going to eat lunch to die.
spk_0
I'm like, I'm going to get to get to get to get to sleep.
spk_0
But yeah, so I think for me it was something that I hate doing and I wanted to take off
spk_0
your plate.
spk_0
spk_0
But yeah, that's what it says every day.
spk_0
Yeah, it's like it really is.
spk_0
It's not really one big moment of like, oh, you were there for me that one time.
spk_0
spk_0
Well, because people, I leave the pause in there because I think sometimes people
spk_0
like, why are you still with so and so?
spk_0
Like, you know, you hear that a lot TV, but yeah, you know, and people say, oh, well,
spk_0
they stayed with me through blah, blah, blah.
spk_0
Or they were with me with a sunk cost fallacy.
spk_0
Yeah, I know.
spk_0
But like literally when people say, well, they stayed with me through cancer.
spk_0
Okay, that is a big one.
spk_0
But also like, you didn't die.
spk_0
So don't suffer now.
spk_0
Like, yeah, you made it through cancer.
spk_0
You can't be happy.
spk_0
Yeah, you don't know how to do it.
spk_0
You have obligation.
spk_0
You should stay with somebody because you both.
spk_0
Unless you're like a boy, if you're a royal, you have to raise a lot of life just screw
spk_0
it anyway.
spk_0
You don't just have an extra marital affair.
spk_0
Like if you're a royal, okay, yeah, and I'm popping off with the pro tips for royalty.
spk_0
Well, royals marry.
spk_0
Next time my fifth cousin twice removed Prince Harry.
spk_0
Prince William.
spk_0
I'm just saying, like, we don't always stop and ask ourselves, like, well, why are we
spk_0
still together?
spk_0
And like, you know, this idea is a new story a long time ago, but of relationship contracts
spk_0
and people actually type it up and they, it was a thing for a while.
spk_0
I remember hearing about it.
spk_0
People reviewed it every year of like, okay, these are your tasks, these are whatever.
spk_0
This is now asked for help.
spk_0
We're like, I've noticed that you haven't been doing this.
spk_0
They're like, I'm really happy with this.
spk_0
We need to have more dates.
spk_0
Basically, we had to check in with each other.
spk_0
Yeah, it's like an animal check and like a review of how you do this spouse.
spk_0
And I kind of thought it was corny within like now being married.
spk_0
I think it's a good idea.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
I mean, to check in, I don't know that I would like type it all up and be like, I do
spk_0
a lot of extra marital.
spk_0
It sounds like a lot of extra marital.
spk_0
It sounds like a lot of extra marital that maybe AI could do for you.
spk_0
Oh, a chat GPT.
spk_0
Make me a marriage contract.
spk_0
Correct.
spk_0
It's more of an agreement, really.
spk_0
You know, it would just type us up the same thing.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
I just think it's something that you do need to re-evaluate not necessarily a wire together,
spk_0
but what is, what isn't, isn't working in relationships.
spk_0
spk_0
What needs are being met.
spk_0
Because I think are there things that we could, you know, traditional YA, someone starts
spk_0
falling for someone when they're already in a relationship.
spk_0
But I kind of like that their relationship kind of ended on its own before she really
spk_0
leaned into the feelings for Amy.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Because that's really what should happen.
spk_0
Yes.
spk_0
But also like you said, it was a relationship of convenience.
spk_0
And I think she was starting to see that.
spk_0
And like, you don't have a grade.
spk_0
You don't have like a best moment.
spk_0
You don't have a really low moment.
spk_0
Like, it's all just kind of there.
spk_0
It's just a yard sale.
spk_0
Did you stop at the yard sale?
spk_0
Did you find anything?
spk_0
I don't know.
spk_0
I'm just going with this metaphor.
spk_0
Oh, okay.
spk_0
Is it drive by?
spk_0
It's a drive by yard sale.
spk_0
Oh, you just kind of, oh, not the slow drive by.
spk_0
That's cool.
spk_0
Oh, that is slow when you look at that.
spk_0
I think guilty of doing that only when there's like traffic and there's too much parking
spk_0
and you have to slowly maneuver.
spk_0
But for all they know, you could be a neighbor.
spk_0
I don't know.
spk_0
Good day.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
I mean, I think.
spk_0
I think it's easy when you're young and you don't quite have enough lived experience
spk_0
of the framework to understand what a relationship is.
spk_0
spk_0
One thing when you're joining over.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
That's the only thing.
spk_0
Yeah, carry things.
spk_0
That's the only thing.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
That's fair.
spk_0
But anyway, but like, you don't have the best framework for understanding if you're having
spk_0
the same feelings that it seems like other people are having.
spk_0
Like that kind of like projecting what you want.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
You like projecting back in.
spk_0
spk_0
We should get together because everybody says, which is that's why they got together.
spk_0
Everybody assumed they were together.
spk_0
And they're like, oh, I guess we'll do that.
spk_0
Because you're a man and a woman and you're having fun with us to be together.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Basically the, uh, the movie rules to attractive people in a movie have to fall in love.
spk_0
It's the rules.
spk_0
Just has to happen.
spk_0
Sorry.
spk_0
But yeah, I, I liked that she just kind of slowly realized maybe this isn't a good relationship.
spk_0
Maybe I just don't want this because that could be hard, you know?
spk_0
I mean,
spk_0
hmm.
spk_0
Um, I want to talk about the bangs.
spk_0
The bangs scene where hall is.
spk_0
Oh, yeah.
spk_0
Suddenly decided she needed to cut bangs for this outfit for this outfit.
spk_0
I loved it.
spk_0
I thought you never cut your own bangs.
spk_0
No.
spk_0
Well, when I was a tiny child, okay, then I count.
spk_0
But you have to like, you know,
spk_0
get conscience consent to doing it yourself.
spk_0
Uh-huh.
spk_0
Um, I knew my bangs out the minute I had the opportunity.
spk_0
Oh, I, I've trimmed my bangs.
spk_0
I've cut my own bangs many times.
spk_0
Hmm.
spk_0
Every time I'm like, yeah, it's time for bangs.
spk_0
And I'm so excited.
spk_0
It's time for bangs.
spk_0
I've been like, whether I've done it myself or had it done at the salon, I say salon at
spk_0
super cats.
spk_0
Um, woo.
spk_0
It is a salon.
spk_0
It is a salon.
spk_0
spk_0
Um, I regret it the next day.
spk_0
It's almost like a one night stand.
spk_0
Like it's very regrettable.
spk_0
And it's almost like you're not a hair stylist.
spk_0
And so no, I meant, even if I get it done, yeah.
spk_0
Oh, yeah.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
Because I was like, yeah, it's great.
spk_0
Like they're all flouting their downs.
spk_0
Because I usually wear my hair wavy or curly.
spk_0
Well, then I don't translate well to bangs.
spk_0
So then I would like pin my bangs and have them dry wavy or I would blow dry them straight
spk_0
and wave.
spk_0
It's a hot mess of morning debauchery to get them to work.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
So you have to beat them into style formation.
spk_0
Style formation.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
You have to, you just have to, it's a, it's a whole deal.
spk_0
It's a whole deal.
spk_0
It's a table.
spk_0
I'm sure that you naturally style or you're welcome to styling for a long time every morning.
spk_0
Good for you.
spk_0
Go for you.
spk_0
I am not that person.
spk_0
I haven't bludgeoned in my hair in a long time.
spk_0
Good for you.
spk_0
What are you doing with the time you've earned back in your day?
spk_0
Well, I still technically have bangs.
spk_0
Yeah, I do.
spk_0
Thank you.
spk_0
Because my hair is short enough.
spk_0
I just, they're swoopable bangs.
spk_0
I swoop them back.
spk_0
But so they will sometimes fall in my face.
spk_0
It's very cute when they do that.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
But I also am like a naturally shy person.
spk_0
So I should have bangs so I can hide behind it.
spk_0
This is a call back to the email.
spk_0
Yes, that's what I was about to say is, were you an emo time?
spk_0
Because they felt like long-sleeping bangs.
spk_0
And I was hiding behind them.
spk_0
I had this like hidden, you know.
spk_0
But I've seen a picture of you from that era.
spk_0
Yeah, no, that's right.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
That was a powerful photo.
spk_0
Oh, what they had on?
spk_0
Yeah, that was great.
spk_0
Because they could keep the bangs in the play.
spk_0
Oh my God.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
It was something, readers, viewers, listeners, no viewing.
spk_0
No viewing.
spk_0
Just listening.
spk_0
It was great.
spk_0
It was a phenomenal photo.
spk_0
Can that photo go on Instagram?
spk_0
No.
spk_0
Okay, that's fair.
spk_0
It is an amazing picture.
spk_0
You can lead me on that if you want.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
But absolutely not.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
I'm going to have to do that.
spk_0
I know that's a cherished time.
spk_0
It was eye cherished.
spk_0
It's funny because you never really learn how to like style yourself.
spk_0
I certainly did.
spk_0
It's a lot of...
spk_0
Until my third is.
spk_0
Trial and error error error error.
spk_0
Trial error error.
spk_0
You know, because you have to kind of figure out like your hair type and all this and everyone's
spk_0
trying to sell you things and you try a million things and it still doesn't work.
spk_0
And then as you get older, you're like, I'm just going to do this.
spk_0
And you're like, hey, that works.
spk_0
It takes a long time to really like style yourself.
spk_0
It takes forever to figure it out.
spk_0
spk_0
Well, because sometimes you'll fall in love with the style.
spk_0
You're like, wow, that's so cool.
spk_0
It doesn't work for your hair type.
spk_0
But you don't get that because you don't know that the person who did that has a different
spk_0
hair type than you.
spk_0
So you just keep trying your like, surely it's going to work for me.
spk_0
No, never does.
spk_0
spk_0
Don't come home with me.
spk_0
I'm a big fan of you.
spk_0
If you're debating bangs, if you want to trim your bangs, start with trimming your own bangs.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
And there's, and there are now there's all the tutorials on YouTube so you can do it.
spk_0
I wouldn't just cut your own bangs from the get-go because some people pull too far.
spk_0
You're doing bangs now.
spk_0
No, I'm just, I'm so nervous about our messaging about bangs.
spk_0
I think, I think maybe just think we're hard about bangs and consultable.
spk_0
Oh, there's even like absence of to like redo your hair with your face to see how you would look.
spk_0
Oh.
spk_0
But if you want to go old school, just go in and talk to the hair stylist.
spk_0
A lot of times they'll say you would, like they're going to know face shapes and what you're working
spk_0
with.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
Like if you've got ugly eyebrows, yeah, let's get some bangs.
spk_0
They're going to, they're not going to tell you that.
spk_0
Oh, they're going to say, you have bangs.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Anyway, I loved that.
spk_0
I thought that was so authentic to anyone who was anxious.
spk_0
I really saw myself in Hollis aside from, well, I had a boyfriend for a little bit, but here and there.
spk_0
I just didn't want them to touch me.
spk_0
It's funny now.
spk_0
It's funny.
spk_0
I get it.
spk_0
Yeah, that's great.
spk_0
But anyway, so I did love that Amy helped her fix it.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
She came, like she practically forced her way and was like, listen, let's get this done.
spk_0
Oh, indoors locked.
spk_0
Now I'm really nervous.
spk_0
Are you okay?
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
But also, you know, kind of flash forward when Amy admits her feelings in the car and then, you know,
spk_0
she's going to freak out and they have the break, the winner break, I think, to really think about stuff.
spk_0
And I liked that.
spk_0
It was a little different than like them both professing their feelings because you got that natural.
spk_0
Like I said, it's just very realistic.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Of like taking time to process.
spk_0
Well, it was really healthy.
spk_0
But then Chris, follow me, offers Hollis a place in their game, Q the eyebrow.
spk_0
Uh-uh.
spk_0
Too little too light grace.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Now I was, I was like, oh boy, I hate this guy.
spk_0
Like, again, I don't hate him.
spk_0
I'm sure he's great.
spk_0
And the world of fictional characters.
spk_0
I hate his behavior.
spk_0
Yes.
spk_0
Yes.
spk_0
Which is indicative of being an asshat.
spk_0
Hmm.
spk_0
Indeed.
spk_0
So I, along that same timeframe, I think.
spk_0
Landon said one of my least favorite, probably my least favorite comment in this whole book.
spk_0
That it's so selfish when hot girls aren't straight.
spk_0
I was like, Landon, I want to shove you off the face of the other.
spk_0
You know, beauty really is in the out of it beholder.
spk_0
I have been with some whoops.
spk_0
And I'm like, how has I ever attracted to them?
spk_0
And I really think it's because you find them attractive once you get to know people.
spk_0
So not just to get go.
spk_0
Like you, I was very interested from the get go.
spk_0
Oh, thank you.
spk_0
And then I was forced to, once I got to know you.
spk_0
Oh.
spk_0
I am, I increased my attractiveness.
spk_0
But like, yeah, you can't just be blanket hot.
spk_0
Cause what's hot to someone is not to somebody else.
spk_0
Hot or not?
spk_0
Hot or not.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Well, yeah, that is terrible.
spk_0
Yeah, it's obviously a super anti gay comment.
spk_0
I know you're coming from.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
But it's also like an ignorant comment because of people view people what people find attractive is different based on person to person.
spk_0
Oh, yeah, absolutely.
spk_0
And obviously there's some people like famous celebrities that they're like, oh, a lot of people find them attractive.
spk_0
But not everybody.
spk_0
Well, and just because you find someone attractive doesn't mean that they would want to date you or are obligated to date you.
spk_0
And what has landed look like?
spk_0
Like, yeah, it's probably not.
spk_0
I picture him as not hot.
spk_0
You picture him as not hot.
spk_0
Yes.
spk_0
I pictured him as like, okay, this is mean.
spk_0
So just gonna, okay.
spk_0
But like baseball player hot.
spk_0
But looks dumb.
spk_0
Looks like he couldn't.
spk_0
No, but like baseball player hot isn't like basketball or football player hot.
spk_0
I don't know what it's like.
spk_0
It's like they're a little I was trying to.
spk_0
It's like hot, but only sometimes from the right.
spk_0
And they're in the uniform hot from the right.
spk_0
And hot only in their baseball uniform.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
But like you put him in like jeans and a t-shirt and the right eye.
spk_0
Like that.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
But then is Jersey.
spk_0
Oh, is it a Jersey?
spk_0
Yeah, baseball Jersey.
spk_0
Yeah, baseball.
spk_0
No, it's a baseball buttons up the front.
spk_0
I know that because I think they're cool.
spk_0
I just don't want to watch baseball.
spk_0
Well, that's what I got.
spk_0
What you're reading.
spk_0
Oh, well, no, no, no.
spk_0
I want to say my favorite line because I said my least.
spk_0
I know.
spk_0
I'm just saying like my favorite line in the whole.
spk_0
Again, I've lost track of what this was.
spk_0
It was a book.
spk_0
But the whole, my favorite line in the whole book was after like,
spk_0
Hall is an Amy like, get together fully.
spk_0
Like it's been the, you know, we're wrapping up after the climax of the book.
spk_0
And they kiss each other and Hall says she tasted like rose tea
spk_0
and the right choice.
spk_0
I was like, oh my gosh.
spk_0
That's a beautiful line.
spk_0
I love it.
spk_0
What do you think?
spk_0
I do, I do like that comment.
spk_0
I don't think I've had rose tea.
spk_0
So I got to really kind of think about trying that.
spk_0
Oh, okay.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
I like it when people describe them as what their chap's take tastes like.
spk_0
Or like sometimes you just taste like mouth, you know?
spk_0
Oh, you're like, end of the day.
spk_0
It tastes like mouth.
spk_0
But not like bad breath, but like, end of the day mouth.
spk_0
End of the day mouth.
spk_0
Wow.
spk_0
It's really getting romantic in here.
spk_0
I don't know if y'all can handle it.
spk_0
Getting seduced by end of the day mouth.
spk_0
But you know what I'm talking about.
spk_0
I know what you're talking about.
spk_0
It's not like, you know, free bedtime toothpaste breath.
spk_0
Oh yeah, okay.
spk_0
Fine, fair.
spk_0
That's a very distinct.
spk_0
It is very distinct.
spk_0
I want to ask, are you Amy?
spk_0
Because you've played a bard and you're smooth AF.
spk_0
Oh.
spk_0
You got some Amy energy, babe.
spk_0
I do.
spk_0
I take charge.
spk_0
Yeah, you do.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Well, we have the same letter in our first name.
spk_0
Oh, maybe.
spk_0
Are you saying like, maybe?
spk_0
Well, which character would you kind of relate to?
spk_0
spk_0
Huh.
spk_0
Are you a Chris?
spk_0
I am not a Chris.
spk_0
How dare you.
spk_0
I'm just kidding.
spk_0
How dare you?
spk_0
I mean, I don't know what you're not.
spk_0
I think I'm not as anxious as Hollis.
spk_0
I definitely, I think I saw myself in a lot of different characters.
spk_0
Because like, I don't know.
spk_0
I guess at the end of the day, I probably feel the most like iffy,
spk_0
because that's how I approached my high school experience.
spk_0
It was like, oh my gosh, I have to do all of this.
spk_0
I have to get, you know, A's in all these classes.
spk_0
I'm the president of this club and the secretary of this club.
spk_0
And, you know, so I think that was probably, I'm probably the most like iffy.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
So now you're ready for the reading?
spk_0
No, I'm not ready for the rating.
spk_0
Mine's pretty obvious.
spk_0
Can I go first so that you can't say I copied you?
spk_0
Five glittering rainbows.
spk_0
I said it.
spk_0
Oh, I forgot about the glittering part.
spk_0
I definitely give it five rainbows.
spk_0
Yes.
spk_0
I think glittering, yeah.
spk_0
Like I said, it just it felt.
spk_0
It was just so great.
spk_0
It was beautiful.
spk_0
It was a chef's kiss.
spk_0
I think this could, you know, not to like.
spk_0
Are you a monster?
spk_0
No, I was like putting it in my, like putting vibes out there for the author.
spk_0
But like, could I mostly see this as like a series?
spk_0
Ooh.
spk_0
And like.
spk_0
Wait, different groups of kids playing the game.
spk_0
No, like different.
spk_0
We follow the characters in their relationships.
spk_0
No people join the game.
spk_0
There's, you know, maybe there's a love triangle.
spk_0
I don't know.
spk_0
I just think there could be, I would just love to, or they, you know, pop in.
spk_0
Maybe it's like a, not really a sequel.
spk_0
Or you've asked for it.
spk_0
And now it's Fran.
spk_0
Let me think.
spk_0
Oh, okay.
spk_0
I'm like, there's a book in like, you see some of the characters pop in.
spk_0
And, you know, I don't know.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
You kind of like see them as a couple later.
spk_0
I just didn't think about it.
spk_0
I definitely think this is an author to follow, author to watch.
spk_0
I enjoyed, I enjoyed their work very much.
spk_0
This was a true delight.
spk_0
And one of my favorite books I've read in recent months.
spk_0
And it was one of those like, I read the description.
spk_0
I was like, yeah, I'd read that.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
But like reading it, I was like, oh, this is so good.
spk_0
But yeah.
spk_0
You just like, it didn't do a justice.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
All right.
spk_0
Well, there you have it.
spk_0
Highly recommend going to read this book now if you haven't already.
spk_0
And if you have, we're preaching to the choir.
spk_0
You already know it's great.
spk_0
So until next time, we're all queer here.
spk_0
Absolutely.