As mentioned in the previous post, this fifth stage of friendship is defined as achieving complete trust. This can only be done if you open yourself up and share information. For Kathryn, I am sure the thought of divulging her love of Euro Games face-to-face would have been terrifying, but thanks to faceversating, it was easier to open up. It was also easier for me to display my e-vulnerable side when I admitted to having never heard of the award-winning board game, Settlers of Catan.
Kathryn Rawson August 19 at 12:16pm
Funny you bring up your love of scrabble because there is something I have to tell you: I am a gaming nerd. I understand if you want to stop talking to me. About once a week I play board games with a small group of friends. You may have heard of the game Settlers of Catan. We play games similar to that but even more extreme. Please tell me how this affects our relationship. Also tell me if I used the correct 'affect/effect' in that sentence. It is a bit of grammar I still struggle with.
Rachel Kagan August 19 at 3:04pm
I think I have heard references to Catan and didn’t know what it meant, but I just Wikipedia’d it and now I sort of understand (the part about the hexagon confused me) and I am intrigued. But don’t worry, our relationship is still intact. And your use of affect was correct. I am proud of you. I grammatically struggle with who’s and whose.
Kathryn Rawson August 19 at 4:48pm
I once had a teacher that told me there was a version of 'which' spelled 'wich'. And not just as a suffix for sand. It confused me for many years. I did not think a teacher could possibly be wrong. But I was wrong. Just like my teacher.
Rachel Kagan August 27 at 1:10pm
Games night! Mind is quasi-blown.
Kathryn Rawson September 1 at 12:24pm
I know you are worried that you haven't been to games night yet, But it's okay, we are on a slight break right now while my sister prepares to move. My sister is pregnant, did I tell you that? I can't remember. I am going to be an auntie. I am looking forward to being a person who knows how to hold a baby correctly.
Rachel Kagan September 1 at 2:47pm
Congratulations to sister Rawson! When is she due? You will be a good aunt. Wait, is she moving to that condo? Does that mean you are too? Should I buy a condo?
Do you like logic games or only settlement type games? Have you heard of Mastermind? Other than when people call you that, of course.
Kathryn Rawson September 1 at 5:15pm
She is due mid January. Yes, the same condo. Yes, please buy a condo in my building so the douchebag levels go down and so we can finally start our True Blood fan club.
Logic games are good too. My sister has Mastermind and sometimes we play it. My sister, our friend Finch and I are the core members of the gaming circle. My sister and I are open to playing all games but Finch is a euro game purist. Settlers is a euro game. I will stop with the game talk now.
Rachel Kagan September 2 at 9:31am
So I only like the Mastermind from the 70s with the mysterious weirdos on the cover. Do you know it? The new one is ass.
I don't think I should go to games night if Finch is there. His euro game purity scares me. I already feel like I've somehow offended him. I am not sure why, but I am pretty worried about offending Finch.
Kathryn Rawson September 2 at 11:41am
Yes, I remember those mysterious weirdos. You are talking about my childhood babysitters, right?
No don't worry, Finch is a nice person. Ha! Nice is the wrong word. He is a person. You haven't offended him. The fact that you are even somewhat interested in games has already made you his lifelong friend.
Kathryn Rawson September 13 at 4:42pm
I was going to ask you if you wanted to come to your first games night on Sunday. This is exciting/scary for you because you will meet new people. Would you like to do that?
Rachel Kagan September 14 at 9:24am
Games night! I will come and be scared, thank you. Are there rules or an agenda? How do I prepare?
Kathryn Rawson September 14 at 11:54am
There are no rules to games night beyond the rules of each game we play. You should know that we have customized our joking to particular games. It is quite nerdy. Prepare yourself. You are smart, you will pick it up quickly. We will likely play 2 or 3 games depending on time. I have suggested we start with Settlers of Catan as it was our gateway to euro games. I will give you a run down of those in attendance:
Me: you know me. I occasionally get upset while playing Talisman if people steal from me or I get turned into a toad. Otherwise I am a sporting player and do not begrudge others for winning.
Lora: my sister. We have very similar mannerisms, sense of humour etc. Only some people think we look alike. An all around sporting player, even during Talisman.
Bronwyn: you have met. Bronwyn is a stickler for the rules but she also likes to try to bend the rules to her needs. She will say "can I do this", we all go "no". Then she will say, "but can I do that", we all go "NO!".
Branko: I believe I mentioned that Branko and Bronwyn dated. When we play Talisman he likes to be the minstrel and sing everything he says.
Finch: he is obsessed with games. He is a classic rock and roll person. And a sporting player.
Ivan: Ivan is my brother in law. He may or may not be there. He won't be playing. He is only okay with games. He is the best guy a sister could ever want for another sister.
Glossary:
Yoinkle-Doinkle: an expression we use when something especially bad or something especially good happens.
Natch Finch: this is used to describe finch when he has no alcohol or marijuana in his system, a rare event.
Sew My Dreams: used to tell someone to 'fuck off' in a less salty manner. Has fallen out of favour recently.
Gamesbrary: Finch has so many games we invented this term for his place.
We sometimes give people fake demerit points for ridiculous reasons. Lora records them in a notebook. They are meaningless but they make Bronwyn extremely mad.
I think I have prepared you as best as possible. One last thing, Talisman may or may not be played.
Rachel Kagan September 14 at 2:19pm
I thoroughly enjoyed this message. It has all the things I like: order, explanations, fake words, and humour. Thank you for taking the time to explain your world to me. I am scared and intrigued.
This is what I am looking forward to:
1. Meeting your sister.
2. Judging the people silently.
3. Giving Bronwyn at least 2 demerit points.
4. Maybe meeting Ivan. I like how you said what you said about him being the best a sister could ask for.
Things I am scared about:
1. Offending Finch.
2. Getting turned into a gaming nerd (I mean that respectfully).
3. Playing the games. Wait, am I playing? Or do I observe? I don’t want to be the kid that everyone has to explain everything to all the time. Then Finch will get mad (see point #1 of this section). I just looked up Talisman and now I know what it is. It is not just an energy company.
4. Receiving a negative yoinkle-doinkle.
Can I drink wine when I am there? I am going to need something to take the edge off all the daunting newness you are exposing me to. Is there some customary offering I should bring? I hope it is nothing sacrificial.
Kathryn Rawson September 14 at 4:20pm
I'm sorry to disappoint you but Bronwyn cannot make it on Sunday. You will have to reserve your demerit points and give her 4 next time. You can for sure drink wine. Some people bring snacks (me, Bronwyn). Other people bring cartons of milk for themselves (Finch). Others don't bring anything (Branko). You will definitely be playing.
Rachel Kagan September 14 at 5:09pm
Please tell Bronwyn she gets 25 demerit points for not coming on Sunday and that it will be recorded in your sister’s log in permanent marker.
I can bring snacks too and maybe some Magic: The Gathering cards to try to fit in.
Kathryn Rawson September 15 at 11:14am
Ha ha those 25 demerit points will kill Bronwyn. You already get games night. I won't actually tell her though else you guys might have a games-related brawl. And no one wants to see that.
Rachel Kagan September 19 at 8:39am
Games night!!
Kathryn Rawson September 20 at 10:52am
Please tell me your review of games night and of each new person you met. I liked it when you called Finch old.
Rachel Kagan September 20 at 12:22pm
Last night was fun. I really enjoyed the first two games but I felt lost playing that last one, which is disappointing since I think it was a smart one so then I felt dumb-ish. Your friends are funny and welcoming.
Lora: nice, funny and in control. I looked for a likeness between your persons and there is some but not a lot, but you have similar facial expressions.
Finch: I am intrigued by his tattoos. I am also intrigued by yours but I haven’t told you this yet. He is quick witted and I like salt-and-pepper hair on a man. I semi-regret asking him if he was a "visual" artist. That made me vulnerable to his scathing humour. What was I thinking!
Branko: he’s funny. I enjoyed when everyone picked on him.
Kathryn: you’re still okay by me.
Pepper: cute! I tend to like bigger dogs but Pepper has a big personality and I quite like her. Don’t tell her though. I don’t want it going to her head.
Did you have fun? Was it a different dynamic with me there?
Kathryn Rawson September 20 at 2:12pm
Don't feel dumb-ish about games. I too was lost for a while during Small World but then my knowledge of other games came through for me. I have been playing similar games for a few years now, you were good for a beginner.
I think you did well in the Rachel vs Finch battle of comedic wits. I have seen other people crumble.
I will definitely not tell Pepper how you feel about her. She is so spoiled due to her cuteness, she doesn't need a bigger ego. I also like bigger dogs better as a general statement but I love Pepper a lot. My dog is a bigger dog.
The dynamic actually wasn't very different with you there, which is a compliment.
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