First, I think this is an appropriate time to do something that people have asked me about for years. Im giving up the (( )) in my posts. I used to post in-character a lot. A good many of us did. But I dont post in-character these days. I dont think anyone really does. So... no more (( )) from me.
Now, on to the real post...
I got stupidly sentimental during my short time in Gemini Park last night, to the point that I had tears in my eyes. I'm sorry I didn't stay around longer, but, as much as it was great to see the park full, it was hard to think that it will never happen again. Sure I can go to Gemini Park via Ouroboros any time, but events like tonight? Or the much wished-for-but-never-quite-happened Gemini Park Revival... Nope.
But I'll have the memories. The first time I logged on to Virtue (in July or Aug 2004) I created a character in Galaxy and wound up in Gemini Park. It was wondrous. I was amazed! The entire park was a sea of superheroes! Blue names for as far as the eye could see! I lurked for a month or so, drifting close enough to the Legion of Young Heroes, or the Dauntless Reverie to listen to their stories. Or Freedom Factor, or KGB Special Section 8. If it wasnt for Gemini Park and the role-players there, I wouldnt have played City of Heroes past the first year, because I wouldnt have found out about role-play and the interactive fiction-writing and world-building we all do together.
I feel sorry for the players who started the game after City of Villains came out with its bases and killed the Gemini Park scene. There was some crazy stuff back then, and crazy characters like: Dueling Dervish, whose player eschewed travel powers for his natural origin character; Killer Whale, the fishy-eating, lovable orca-man; Cog Sprocket, the rogue Clockwork hero; Mrwrk the magical kitten who played at the feet of broodingly serious darkity-dark characters; Billy, the goat boy who was lonely for a mommy; Jessie, the near-powerless little orphan who lived in the underground home of the (possibly insane) Insectoid Knights, Shinsektor and Krickette; Swamp Bug, the giant water bug who talked with a gruff, halting voice, but whose philosophizing ran deeper than the river he swam in. There were so many stories going on. So many BIG stories. You can keep your Marvel and DC events. Ill take the stories woven by Smersh and Red-eye, Pill Bug/Phantom Soldier, Troubadour, Vagabond Mage, Darkfang and Ravenbane, Vangelus, and so many others... stories rich and well-conceived, and yet flexible enough so that the other players who participated in them could actually have an effect on the outcome. And you cared about these characters and about their stories.
And there were many, many people I missed last night. I wish Maggie had made it back. I wish I had caught Ascendant when he was there. I wish Shae Firewarder (and oh, how I wish Creyon) could have been there. And Glory and Valor. And Lord Paladin. And Ms. Independence. Haleys Comet. Tessarae.
I had intended on Roy Kirby (HEROID, my global and forum namesake character) to come by and spend some time catching up with old friends like Jake (Flea) and Parz and Reiki and Brian (Sea Hawk), but I just couldnt do it. I got all choked up. It was the same, but it wasnt. Dont get me wrong my short time spent in Gemini last night was great, and it was quite a reunion, even though some of family didnt make it. But going back to the old home place for the last time is always hard. You realize that youll never have what you had back in the day. That youve moved on to other things, another (virtual, imaginary) life. Gemini Park was wonderufl last night, but it wasnt quite... home anymore.
So, goodbye to Galaxy City. More to the point, goodbye to Gemini Park. It wasnt a place. It was a moment in time. Im glad I didnt miss it.