Revisiting the hydra.
It's been just about two months since Mischief had her frustrations in regard to the engagement with their hobbies in the clothes of a metaphorical hydra. This is mostly a catch up post - how have things changed since then? And what has this literary barista been up to?
The more time passes, the more I end up relating to Zagreus from Supergiant Games' Hades (2020) - At least in regard to his dealings with the Lernean (bone) Hydra, to be fair.
It's a fun little detail that after a certain number of runs through Hades - more specifically: through Asphodel - that Zagreus will try and find a name for his foe. After a few attempts he settles on the nickname 'Lernie'. It doesn't change the mechanics of the fight, nor does the Lernean Hydra seem to care, but it does establish both a certain familiarity as well as a routine with the being that keeps trying to stop him from progressing further through the underworld.
It's mostly a one-sided camaraderie, but it had been an attempt to reach an understanding from Zagreus' side.
This rather aptly encapsulates my own feelings regarding my personal hydra - and the title that I've given it back when I wrote down my thoughts a few months ago.
Mischief
Maybe it's my love for drama and theatre, but I've come to really enjoy the imagery. It's silly, it's kind of over the top, and - therefore - it's actually the perfect reminder that none of this was ever as serious as my own mind had made it sound.
Since I've posted this article, I had decided to allow myself to not only indulge but also to take my time with things; To disregard those nagging thoughts and to simply enjoy what caught my interest.
This article here is mostly to reflect on...
...the past:
There is no need for me to talk around the bush. Unsurprisingly, I ended up spending quite some time revisiting, and catching up with, Team Starkid and their projects. Initially, there hadn't been any notion of covering it in an article. However, I truly wanted to share my joy after having discovered Cinderella's Castle, and then share my excitement for the Hatchetfield series.
This also meant that I ended up watching Starkid's second season of Nightmare Time (2020-2021); Something which had been on my list since its release back in 2021.
Generally, the return to the world of musical theatre had been quite enjoyable - and something that has reignited my own interest in the stage. While I won't be jumping into any performances immediately, I've found places where I could partake in a script reading...
...which reminds me: Reading.
Another fun hobby.
This is a decent place to cover what I've been reading, or maybe... how I've been reading?
It's quite freeing to say that I've ended up deleting my Goodreads account - as well as any other online tracking system that I'd attempted to log my reading habits. This probably doesn't come as a surprise for those that have followed my previous complaints about sites such as Goodreads and their 'Reading Challenge'. There I'd noted that the main reason for having tried these systems had been due to the fact that I'd thought my previous note-taking system to have been "inadequate". It is somewhat funny, that I've come to appreciate this simple approach a lot more: Note the title, the author, and a few final thoughts; No pressure from any external sources.
Then again, this isn't meant to air those grievances I've had with Goodreads, but to share what I've read. It's only come to mind since the book series that I ended up reading had been suggested by Sherigan in 2023 - during the height of my of interest in the reading challenge! Thus, unintentionally, it's become a funny coincidence to note and cover.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree was one of those title that had left me immensely curious. Not enough to immediately follow-up on Sherigan's suggestion, but enough to have kept it in mind.
I'd acquired a copy of the book in 2025, and decided to read it when browsing the shelf earlier this year.
Truly, there is something quite fascinating about the concept of a "slice of life" novel. It's not something I've seen often, even if the theme itself had garnered quite some interest within the visual media landscape.
This case specifically had my interest due to its setting; To first create a fantasy world before attempting to elaborate how a café could even come to be. However, I understand how this could be considered somewhat of an acquired taste. A 'slice of life' piece is meant to cover the mundane, which might deter and disappoint those uninitiated that had picked up this book expecting a more 'classic' adventure. Then again, unlike other books that I've read, I do think that this book makes its low stakes clear on both cover page and blurb.
To me, this book was exactly what it advertised: the story of an adventurer that wished to settle down and serve coffee.
It was down to earth, and I quite enjoyed my time with it.
To counterbalance all that joy I ended up playing and rolling the credits on two games that were advertised as 'psychological horror'; Those games were Pony Island (2016) by Daniel Mullins Games and Buddy Simulator 1984 (2021) by Not a Sailor Studios.
Especially the latter of the two had left such an unexpected impact, and I wish to cover that experience in some further detail - but that's for...
...the present:
At least in regard to my non-fiction writing, I have slowly working on a piece about Buddy Simulator 1984. As of now, I'm still figuring things out - but hopefully I'll have something fun and interesting to share soon enough in the form of a nice latte; My digital buddy really deserves the effort.
On the topic of games, I've also been slowly playing through Persona 3 Portable (2011). I'd mentioned it not too long ago, and while I've reached (most likely) the endgame, I'm in no need to rush it.
I've been having a great time with it - and it's been even more fun to occasionally discuss the game's themes and some of my theories with my friend.
Now, regarding the notion of "taking my time" there's also a rather slow watch-through of the Twilight Zone happening; The occasional episode here and there. I partially blame my fallback into Starkid Productions that cut into the time I would have spent watching a TV-show; Nevertheless, I've still come to enjoy the show as a whole.
Maybe it's the film degree talking, but there is something so interesting about the different conventions present in their film-making. The number of compelling mirror-trick.shots was only one of many positive surprises.
Mirror-Trick-Shot from "Where Is Everybody", The Twilight Zone S01E01, broadcast 1959.
This casual fascination with the Twilight Zone also led to some casual read-through of some academic literature. Thus, when I came across Philosophy in The Twilight Zone, which offers a variety of interesting essays on the show and its themes, I simply had to indulge my curiosity.
There is also something fun about recognising certain scholarly names. People I've read either for class, or for additional research - now all talking about the Twilight Zone.
This isn't the only thing I've been reading during my off-time though. Maybe it's the need for variety, or maybe it's because the character Senshi had been given a lot of screen-time on social media, but when I'd been offered the chance to read Delicious in Dungeon (ダンジョン飯, 2014-2023) I'd taken it.
Personally, I'd like to imagine that this is somehow linked to NBC's Hannibal (2013-2015). It had been one of the first shows with a focus on cooking, which had caught my interest; Though, I guess that's where the similarities already end.
So far, I've read the first volume, and I'm already quite impressed by the world-building. I'm not sure if it'll keep my attention, or not. That, however, is for...
...the future:
This is the hardest part to figure out. I do not wish to overthink or plan too much ahead, because I've come to realise that my mind can be quite fickle. It's fine to have options, but there's no reason to set them in stone.
However, those are things that I've been thinking about:
- Potentially reading the prequel to Legends and Lattes: Bone & Bonedust. If the mood strikes me. It'll depend on how I feel after having finished Delicious in Dungeon.
- Originally, I'd considered to directly move from Persona 3 Portable to Persona 3 Reload (2024). However, while it would make it easier to compare the two, I'd probably end up getting frustrated. Thus, I plan on either playing a few shorter games, or to simply play one game of a different genre. Admittedly, I've also been side-eyeing other games that I'd like to replay.
...The list of games had grown enough that I could probably set up a "wheel of games" and let fate decide... - In a few months, there should be another episode of Nightmare Time, which I'll be keeping an eye out for. Additionally, since I'm already catching up with the classics, I'm quite tempted to watch Twin Peaks (1990-1991, 2017), another show that influenced and inspired a multitude of texts that I've come to enjoy. Alternatively, I was also recommended the TV-Series Galavant (2015-2016), which would probably be the perfect show to indulge a musical theatre nerd...
It's interesting to note that all throughout these points, the hydra kept growing. Small things that had been added to the list, even as I'd 'completed' something else.
Simply more proof that the hydra will persist. However, already I've noticed that I've been having far more fun with it than before. Yes, it's silly that I'd decided to call an accumulation of texts my "hydra", but if that is what will create that much needed calm and a sense of camaraderie, then why not?
