NIS America - Script/Trailer Writing Samples

I've had many opportunities to put my writing skills to use with my company, NIS America, and I couldn't be more proud of the things I have accomplished with them. I've been able to contribute to the writing process for a number of trailers and videos, and I would like to share all of the ones that have been published as of the writing of this post. Please enjoy!

You can view them all on the NIS America YouTube channel as well.

The Princess Guide - Your 4 Knights Princesses

The Caligula Effect: Overdose - Mastering the Imaginary Chain

Neo ATLAS 1469 - Go forth and explore!

killer7 - 2005 vs. 2018

NIS America - 11/12/18 - The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince - How we will survive

This is a very proud moment for me. I constantly joke that my writing degree will never apply to anything in the real world, but with this trailer live for the world to see, I can no longer claim that self-deprecating statement to be true. I never would have dreamed that my education, career, and passion would line up in such a satisfying and meaningful way. My writing isn't shut behind the covers of a book or holed up in some closed doors brainstorming session. My writing is out there for the world to see. I'm blown away. You can literally see my words appear on screen as you watch this. This trailer was a group effort with lots of input from many people, but the words are mine. Please enjoy this trailer for The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince.

Original post: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERTGFHaV1Bk

NIS America - 10/18/18 - WHAT’S NEW IN THE CALIGULA EFFECT: OVERDOSE

Original post: http://nisamerica.com/blog/what%E2%80%99s-new-caligula-effect-overdose

WHAT’S NEW IN THE CALIGULA EFFECT: OVERDOSE

RETURN TO MOBIUS WITH NEW CHARACTERS, NEW STORY BRANCHES, AND MORE!

School is back in session! Join the ranks of the Go-Home Club and choose between the path of rebellion or the path of deception in the remastered and expanded psychological RPG thriller, The Caligula Effect: Overdose!

Set in the pristine utopia of Mobius, you and your fellow students endlessly relive your high school years in a fantastical, dreamlike existence orchestrated by the sentient vocaloid program μ (Mu). This near-perfect simulacrum is devoid of pain and hardship, but despite its beauty and comforts, something far more sinister lies beneath the surface. Recruit your classmates, rise up against μ and the Ostinato Musicians, and return to the real world!

Previously released as The Caligula Effect on PlayStation®Vita, The Caligula Effect: Overdose offers an enhanced version of the original game, boasting many features that will thrill both new and returning Go-Home Club recruits.

Rediscover the ethereal realm of Mobius, which has been rebuilt from the ground up using a new game engine. Seamless gameplay and the implementation of an updated UI help to unlock the true vision of what the world of The Caligula Effect should be. The story has also been expanded with a plethora of new scenarios and an alternate ending, and includes the brand-new “Forbidden Musician Route,” where you can conduct the rhythm of the rebellion and compose your own unique path to seal the way out of Mobius forever!

Of course, no performance is complete without its cast of characters. The Caligula Effect: Overdose gives you the option to play as the newly added female protagonist, opening up more storytelling possibilities. Choosing the female protagonist allows you to experience Mobius from her unique point of view and will drastically change some character interactions.

You’ll also be introduced to two new members of the Go-Home Club, as well as two new Ostinato Musicians that must be overcome. These new faces join the over 500 other students you can recruit to your cause.

The doors to Mobius reopen next year on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4, and Steam. But you don’t need to wait for a breakthrough; preorders for The Caligula Effect: Overdose are available now!

Visit the official website or Steam for more information about The Caligula Effect: Overdose.

© FURYU Corporation. Licensed to and published by NIS America, Inc.

NIS America - 10/9/18 - PHANTOM BRAVE INCLUDED IN OCTOBER’S HUMBLE DISCOVERY PACK!

Original post: http://nisamerica.com/blog/phantom-brave-included-october%E2%80%99s-humble-discovery-pack

PHANTOM BRAVE INCLUDED IN OCTOBER’S HUMBLE DISCOVERY PACK!

GET PHANTOM BRAVE NOW AT A HUMBLE PRICE, BEFORE IT’S GONE!

Looking for some phantasmic and fantastic games for the Fall season? Then look no further, because the acclaimed tactical RPG Phantom Brave is joining the October Humble Discovery Pack! Praised by IGN and Eurogamer for its innovative battle system, unique story and art style, this gem is a rewarding addition to any Steam library, boasting over 100 hours of addictive gameplay. And thanks to this month’s Humble Discovery Pack deal, Phantom Brave will be available alongside a collection of other worthy titles for a limited time!

Step onto the lonely shores of Ivoire as the cheerful and spiritually gifted Marona, who can communicate with lost souls called Phantoms. Along with her spectral companion Ash, she accepts freelance work from clients via Bottlemails that float along the sea. Although her desire to help others is often challenged by their fear of her otherworldly abilities, nothing will stop Marona from achieving her goal of earning enough money to buy the Phantom Isle. An ocean of danger and discovery awaits!


Phantom Brave is included as part of the Humble Discovery Pack, and is available to anyone subscribed to the $1-or-more tier. The bundle is available today on October 9th, and will run until Tuesday, October 23rd. Check it out now, as this deal is only available for a limited time. Don’t miss your chance to dive into this otherworldly adventure!

NIS America - 10/8/18 - Disgaea 1 Complete release (social media post)

Hello all, long time no post! I have finished my first day in my new job position: Marketing Copy Editor for NIS America, a publishing and licensing company for Japanese video games and anime. While I am involved to some degree in a lot of the marketing efforts of the company, a huge chunk of my position revolves around writing, so I thought it would be beneficial to share my work as it goes public. Here is a simple Twitter post I wrote today. It's a small step, but it represents my first real foray into marketing writing.

****

Get excited doods, because Disgaea 1 Complete comes out TOMORROW! Did you preorder your Rosen Queen’s Finest Edition yet? A whole horde of goodies comes with it! Get ‘em while they’re hot! http://bit.ly/D1CStore  #Disgaea #Disgaea1Complete #nintendoswitch #PS4

Original post: https://twitter.com/NISAmerica/status/1049441813487124481

Character piece: "Second Choice...or Second Chance?" (Dungeons & Dragons)

Back in my college days, I played my fair share of Dungeons & Dragons, and I was fortunate enough to be part of a group of players who encouraged each other to create backstories for our characters. My writing senses were very much indulged and nurtured in this free-form creative environment, and I do assert that some of my best writing came from late-night sessions spent rolling dice, scarfing down McDonald's, and laughing about nonsensical things. Please enjoy this prologue piece from one of my past characters.

“Second Choice…or Second Chance?”

For as long as I have lived, I have been in the shadow of my older brother, Jaren. All my triumphs, my accomplishments, my efforts, they only paled in comparison to his. Although Jaren always tried to talk me up to others, especially to the members of the Elder Council, it was his talents and reputation, not mine, that everyone noticed. I was often discouraged, yes, but it only strengthened my resolve to become stronger and wiser. Luckily for me, pride was no fault of Jaren’s, and he helped me to train and study hard each day, no matter how much I bothered him or messed up along the way. Sometimes, it felt like even he wanted me to succeed him. Whether it was true or not, it was a comforting thought. As much as I did not always want to admit it, Jaren really was the strongest and wisest member of the clan, and with him assisting me in my training, nothing would stop me from rising to the top.

There is an old saying that our mother use to tell us: “Sometimes, glory hides within the mouth of misfortune.” I never really understood what it meant, but I soon came to know the truth behind those words.

One day, our house was approached by emissaries from the western lands across the Inner Sea. They had a brought a summons for Jaren, bidding him to come to the city of Kenabres. They were seeking manpower from across the nations to help bolster the defenses at the borders of the Worldwound, where a great evil lurked. Jaren was among the few selected to represent our nation of Varisia in the vanguard. It was a most dangerous-sounding proposition, but at that moment I could not have been more proud to be his brother.

However, misfortune fell upon us the night before Jaren was the leave with the emissaries. I was watching him spar with a few of his friends, and during one of their bouts, one of them fell against a stack of hay bales, causing them to begin tipping over. Jaren managed to run up and shove his friend out of the way, but the falling bales crushed his leg. The emissaries were distraught. They needed more able bodies to help guard the Worldwound. They could not afford to come back empty handed.

Jaren did not hesitate one moment. He told them that I would take his place in the vanguard.

At first, the emissaries resisted. I was too young and inexperienced. But Jaren assured them that he had been training me in private to be his successor for years now, and that I exceeded him in both skill and expertise. No one from our clan would dare question the word of our greatest warrior, at least not in public. That seemed to satisfy the emissaries. I was to pack my things and be ready to leave my morning.

Jaren was lying. I was nowhere near as good as him.

He and I stayed up all night, talking everything I learned, and everything I feared. But despite the physical pain he was in, Jaren’s spirit never seemed to falter. “If anyone can protect us, it is you, brother,” he told me. As scared as I was, I knew that to back down now would be to turn our back on our honor, and on everything we held dear. The moment I had been waiting for my whole life now lay before me. I was to finally succeed my brother, and emerge from his shadow. I would be the hero he could not be.

The next morning, we ate little and spoke less. He was unusually quiet, only managing to smile and nod whenever I said something. That is when I knew that for the first time, he was scared. He was scared for me, his little brother who was only just beginning to grow, and now it was my turn to be brave for both of us, just as he had done countless times before.

As we embraced for the last time, he told me the words our mother once told us:

“Go, brother. From my misfortune, seize your glory.”

Builders of the New Order - Prologue: "The Messenger"

This was an interesting piece. A friend of mine who is an aspiring tabletop game designer had approached me about writing some flavor/aesthetic pieces for his latest project: a standalone card game based around cults and creatures inspired by folklore and H.P. Lovecraft. This is the intro/primer for one of the cults, The Builders of the New Order, which was inspired by the Illuminati.

Builders of the New Order - Prologue: "The Messenger"

“Alright, bring the prisoner in.”

An overhead buzzer mounted above the door heralded the entrance of a gaunt, grey-haired man clad in a dark blue business suit, flanked on either side by a police officer. The room was dim, save for a lone ceiling light that illuminated a small metal table at the center of the room. A wooden chair sat before the table, seemingly pulled out for him. He was seated, his hands uncuffed, and across the room from him, a stout middle-aged man in a white dress shirt and slacks stepped into view. In his hands was a manila folder, teeming with papers.

“Thank you, Williams, Stanton,” the stout man said. “I’ll take it from here.”

The two officers nodded and stepped out of the room, clicking the door shut as they left. The stout man began a slow pace around the room, opening the folder as he went.

“Good evening, mister…” He shuffled through the papers, and the sound echoed slightly in the bare stillness of the room. “…Dominic Seras, is it?”

He halted his march for a brief moment, glancing up at the old man for a response. None seemed to be given. He continued.

“I’m Detective Mark Hawkins. Do you know why we’ve brought you in here tonight, Mr. Seras?”

At this, the old man lifted his head and looked up at him, revealing an ashen face and bloodshot blue eyes. “I’m afraid my memory escapes me, detective,” he croaked. “Please, do remind me.”

Hawkins glanced down at his papers again. “Suspected embezzlement of company funds. Tax evasion. Fraud. It’s not every day that a person comes across millions of dollars overnight, Mr. Seras.” He shut the folder with a loud snap and held it up for Seras to see. “It’s all in here, in black and white. Just because you neglected to fill it out on your forms doesn’t mean that we won’t find out.” He slapped the folder down on the table in front of him. “So I suggest that you make this easy for both of us. Tell me how you did it, serve your time, and be on your merry way. Sooner or later, Mr. Seras, we’ll find out what we need. Everything you do, we know all about it.”

Seras suddenly chuckled. “Well, I regret to inform you that you are quite mistaken, detective.”

“Oh, am I now?”

“Yes, detective. About two things, in fact.”

Hawkins took a deep breath, a bit taken aback by this sudden assertion. “And what would those be, Mr. Seras?”

Seras leaned forward in his chair, as if studying Hawkins’ face. “The first is in your implication that the money was taken. Such an interesting notion. ‘Taken.’ As if you yourself could dictate who it rightfully belongs to. Why indulge in fruitless matters such as who owns what? It all ends up in the same place in the end. It is inevitable. I am merely getting it to where it needs to go sooner.”

Hawkins stepped forward, huffing slightly in agitation. “Listen here, old man. I know all about lowlife crooks like you. Thinking that the world is yours for the taking. Like you can just waltz right up and pocket someone else’s hard-earned cash. And you know something? You’re all the same. You’re all filth. Dregs. Rodents. Bums who steal from honest people, honest people that bust their asses all day for a couple bucks. And as long as I’m around, you’re gonna get caught. I know everything that happens in this city.”

Seras’ stony expression did not waiver. “Ah, but detective, that brings us to my second point. In truth, you do not know a thing about what goes on in this city.” He leaned in closer, standing up slightly from his seat. “Would you like me to let you in on a little secret, detective?”

Hawkins eyed him suspiciously, crossing his arms. “What?”

“As of right now, detective, the man known as Dominic Seras sits here before the detective Mark Hawkins, playing a verbal game of cat-and-mouse in an attempt to garner answers that don’t exist. Meanwhile, your investigative team has been busy breaking into my bank account, and they have no doubt found it completely empty, devoid of those millions of dollars you’re so hung up on.

Hawkins tensed up, his arms dropping to his sides and his blood beginning to pump harder in his ears. “You’re bluffing, old man.”

“I’m afraid not, detective.” Seras reclined in his chair and chuckled. “The money has already been transferred into the appropriate hands. It will reach the end of the east coast by the time I finish this sentence.” He paused for a moment, a slight smile crossing his lips. “It is bound for a Swiss bank account in an undisclosed location. From there, well, there are things even Dominic Seras isn’t privy to. But rest assured, though the remainder of the path is unknown, the final destination is.”

Seras paused again, seemingly satisfied with the bewildered look on Hawkins’ face. A tense silence followed, and was suddenly broken by a polyphonic jangling noise. Seras dug into his pocket and procured a cell phone, which he flipped open and held to his ear. “Go ahead.”

This snapped the detective back to the present. “Wait, what…where did you get--?”

“Understood,” Seras muttered, seemingly oblivious to Hawkins’ reaction. “Thank you very much.” He shut the phone and leaned forward once again, resting his elbows on the table and weaving his fingers together. “Oh, don’t look so shocked, detective. If you must know, your colleagues were kind enough to permit me use of my phone during our little meeting.”

“What…you mean…Williams…Stanton…they’re in on this!?”

Another toothless grin from Seras wordlessly answered him. Hawkins turned away, rubbing his forehead in exasperation. “I can’t believe it…this whole time they were…?” The shock of the moment endured for a few painfully long minutes, before Hawkins, breathing heavily, faced back towards him. “What do you guys want?”

“Want, detective?” Seras’ eyes narrowed behind his hands. “There is nothing we want. We already have it.” He lowered his hands, his stern gaze fixed upon Hawkins. “You were always about want. Always asking, ‘What do you want?’ Always thinking that the world’s problems could be solved if you satisfied as many of the ‘wants’ as you could. As I recall, your precious littler daughter had a lot of wants, didn’t she? Elise, was it? Yes, that was her name.”

Hawkins stiffened up. “How do you know my daughter? What do you want with her!?”

Seras cackled loudly, and the walls seemed to shake at the sound. “You were always quite generous with her, detective! Like when she got that acceptance letter into Yale. You couldn’t bear the thought of her losing a chance at her dream school, so you paid that very steep tuition. You were a hero that day you handed in that check, weren’t you, detective!? Well, you’ll be happy to know that your generous contribution of $54,000 shall not go to waste, since we’ve…how shall I say it…relocated those funds to their proper place. I’m sure Elise appreciates it as well, the little peach.”

At this, Hawkins leapt at Seras, his face glowering red. The door behind him burst open, and the two police officers came rushing in, grabbing a hold of Hawkins as he landed upon the table, his gnarled grasp falling short of where Seras sat. “I swear to God, Seras, if you lay a hand on my daughter--!”

“There’s no need to worry about that, detective,” Seras replied calmly, standing up from his seat. “She is of no use to us.” He stepped around the table as the two officers pinned Hawkins to the ground, wrenching his head so that he could look up at them. Seras walked over, his shadow blanketing the entire floor as he approached, until he loomed over them, the toes of his shoes inches away from Hawkins’ face.

“It is no coincidence that, after several years of my supposed ‘embezzling,’ you’ve finally caught me. You, a detective who claims to know everything that happens in his city, have only now managed to catch me. Why do you think that is, detective?

“The truth is, I’m not here because I was arrested. I was sent here to oversee this little transaction. The fact that you’ve actually noticed suspicious activities in regards to my personal accounts is all I needed to know. Once it reached the point where even the federal authorities began to take notice, my task was complete. It was a sign that we had allocated a sufficient amount of funds. So for your assistance in this little matter, you have my gratitude, detective.”

Seras turned heel and slowly made his way to the door. “So now, you might be wondering, ‘Where do we go from here?’ Well, tomorrow, an article will be printed in the second page of the newspaper, about how a man named Dominic Seras was arrested for several counts of tax evasion and embezzling money from a Fortune 500 company. He pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 25 years in county jail, with no possibility of parole.

“However, tonight, a man named Walt Mitchells will walk out of this room, having concluded his business with detective Mark Hawkins. There will be a limo waiting for Mitchells. Where it goes, not even I know. As for yourself, detective, consider this the beginning of what is sure to be a prolonged vacation.”

He stopped as he reached the doorway, and took one last glance back at them. “You see, detective, no matter how much you think you might know, you cannot stop what has already been set in motion. Everything you have done from the moment you set foot into these streets…nay, set foot into this world…it has all been towards our purpose. Every channel you have watched, every store you have walked into, every cup of coffee you bought on the way to work, it has all been a part of our glorious plan.

“You asked me earlier what it is that we wanted, detective. Well, I shall give you a more satisfying answer than my last. We want to re-create the world. We want to bring the light of perfection to the masses. What we want, is a new world order.

“Well, it has been nice chatting with you, detective. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be on my way. My limo is waiting.”

A Noise in the Night

2018 has been an interesting year so far. Career changes, moving into a new apartment, and various other personal shifts have been the focus of these first few months. But in the midst of all the changes and craziness of life, I've decided that among everything else, I should keep posting stuff here, especially since I have a massive portfolio of writing that never went public. I don't know if I'll have a consistent post schedule, but I will try to post as often as possible. Anyways, enjoy this short piece from my junior year of college.

A Noise in the Night

A barrage of bangs echoed through the evening air. Billy sat up, wondering if he had merely dreamed the noise into life. A second volley screaming in the distance quickly dispelled this thought.

Stumbling to the door, he rattled the knob only to realize it was locked from the outside. He began beating upon it, his cries overwhelming the thunderous boom of his fists. Meanwhile, the explosions were sounding closer.

The deadbolt slid open, and several men entered Billy’s room. As they pinned him down and delivered a dose of sedatives, the doctor shook his head and said,

“Poor soldier.”

Radio

My apologies for the lack of posts. My life has experienced a whirlwind of events and changes over the past 3 months, including delving into the world of video game development. Most notably, I had the wonderful opportunity to work for Idea Factory International, Inc. as part of their Quality Assurance/Editing team. With their blessing, I contributed to the development of the scripts for their upcoming visual novel game, Hakuoki: Edo Blossoms, which is due out in Spring 2018. It was a pleasure to work with such fun and devoted individuals on this project, and I can't wait for the world to see what we've created. In the meantime, while I carve out the next leg of my path as a writer, I thought I'd share a piece from back in my college days that was never formally published. Please enjoy.

Radio

“You like this kind of music?” Frank asked.

From across the room, I shut the drawer full of shirts I had been leafing through and turned towards him, surprised at his off-hand question. “Excuse me?”

He motioned towards the green and bronze FM radio on his bedside table, which was piping out a warm and driving overture. “The classical station. It’s good stuff.”

“Oh. I do, actually. I used to listen to it all the time.”

“Me too. I used to play trombone in a big band. We played all this stuff.”

“Oh yeah? Who’s playing right now?”

“Oh, I dunno, Billy. It’s been a long time. It might be Stravinsky, or Wagner, or maybe Rachmaninoff.”

I chuckled and turned back to the dresser, shaking my head as I sorted out pairs of socks. “Did you want to wear the brown or argyle today?” I asked, holding up each for him to see.

Frank sat at the edge of the bed, seemingly studying his attire – a collared white button-up shirt and grey sweatpants. He didn’t seem to hear my question. Next to him, the speaker began to churn out the first movement, speckling it with static as the string section started to swell. He scratched at his silvery hair, which formed a transparent helm that ran from his widow’s peak down the back of his head. The unblinking eyes and furrowed brow suggested that something was troubling him.

“How long was I asleep for?” Frank finally asked.

“You were napping for about an hour.”

“Christ, that’s too long. I don’t even remember having breakfast.”

“Well, it’s just about lunch time. That’s why I’m here. It’s time to get up.”

“I know, I’m trying. Just a little groggy. Hey, you ever hear this type of music before?”

The flutes sounded off the last note of the leitmotif and the strings began to swell once again for the first variation.

“Yeah, I used to listen to it,” I replied.

“Same here buddy. Not sure who this is though. Maybe Stravinsky? Or Wagner? Maybe Rachmaninoff?”

“C’mon, Frank. Lunch is in ten minutes. I don’t want you to be late again.”

“Okay Billy.” He gave a great cough ah-HUM and pulled handkerchief from his breast pocket, blowing his nose loudly. From the speakers, the brass section answered him with equal gusto. “Damn these allergies. Okay, let’s go with the argyle.”

****

Where I work, they’re called “residents,” not patients. They live in a “community,” not a facility. We’re called “partners,” not caretakers. Residents are “in need of assistance,” they’re not sick or disabled or crazy.

The building is divided into three sections. The front half that faces the street is the biggest section, Assisted Living, where the independent and able-bodied residents live. The back half is called The Neighborhood, which houses those in need of minor to moderate assistance. That’s where I’m normally stationed. The entire second floor is devoted to The Terrace, where they look after those in need of constant heavy assistance. This included the mentally-impaired, whom we lovingly referred to as “the pleasantly confused.”

The way it goes is like this: those in Assisted Living fear that they may one day end up in The Terrace. Those in The Neighborhood wonder if they belong in The Terrace. Those in The Terrace don’t realize they’re in The Terrace, or anywhere else for that matter.

****

It was Wednesday. That meant that today’s post-lunch afternoon activity was an entertainment social. The act was typically either a hired professional or, on occasions such as today, one of the partners on staff. By process of elimination (i.e. I was the only one on the team with any sort of inclination for music), I was drafted to play for the residents on the upright ebony and faux-gold piano we kept against the back wall of the dining area. I performed the few songs I knew: “Fur Elise,” “Here’s that Rainy Day,” and the intro to “My Immortal.” I got the usual clapping and compliments of “You’re so talented!” when I was finished, then went to assist people back to their rooms, starting with Frank.

“Hey, that was really good!” he said as I approached. He was sitting cross-legged in his wheelchair, hands folded in his lap. “You’ve got a real talent there, kid. Don’t ever lose that.”

“Thanks Frank.”

“You ever consider going professional? Like in a big band or a composer or something?”

“I did at one point in my life.”

“You mean you don’t want to anymore?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to, I just can’t afford the tuition at most universities. Heck, I can’t even afford junior college right now. I’m working full-time too, so there’s not much time to practice nowadays. Maybe after a while I’ll have saved up enough to go back and finish school.”

“Well Billy, I hope that you do. You really are a talented guy. Don’t ever let that get away from you. You’ve got a lot of potential, you just gotta work hard. That’s how I got ahead in life.”

“Thanks Frank, I’ll try to remember that.”

“I remember one time, they gave me this IQ test at the college I was at. It was for all the engineering majors only. You wanna know what they told me afterwards?”

“What?”

As I asked him this, the blues of his irises seemed to shimmer slightly and retract, giving way to large pitch-covered pupils, like a set of periscope lenses had taken refuge in his sockets.

“They said my IQ was off the charts. They never saw any score so high before. Then they said they were from NASA, and wanted another engineer in their program.”

“Mmhmm,” I said, stepping around to the back of his wheelchair. Sometimes, I felt like Frank was the only one who got me. Even if he was only imagining that parts of his life when he was a trombone player or an engineer, he understood how hard I worked, both as a partner and as a student. Granted, I had given up studying the art when costs caught up to me, but Frank’s endless reminiscing kept a faint spark of that dream alive for me.

After a moment of silence, Frank asked, “Hey, what was that first song you were playing? Stravinsky? Wagner? Rachmaninoff?”

“Beethoven, actually.”

“Good stuff, man. I used to be in a band, you know,” Frank gave a great yawn that sounded like a drawn-out dog yelp. “Christ, I can’t keep my eyes open. You got any coffee?”

“Not yet, we’re still brewing it. Let’s go back to your room, you can take a nap. I’ll wake you up when it’s dinner time.”

“When I get there, I wanna wash my eyes out and get a drink of water.”

“You got it.”

From across the room, my coworker Montana was leading Paula Jenkins by the arm through the kitchen. She stopped momentarily to call out, “Hey Billy! Make it quick! We still need to make dinner rolls before the food carts get here!”

“It takes as long as it takes!” I answered.

Under her breath, I heard her mutter, “Just don’t let him take half an hour to wash his eyes…again.”

“I’ll be back in a bit,” I said, dismissing her remark.

As we approached the door to Frank’s room in the hallway, he turned his head slightly towards me. “What’s her problem?” he asked.

“Montana is just task-oriented, she doesn’t like taking too long to do any one thing.”

“Well, when she’s my age, she’ll understand that it takes a long time for people like me to do anything. You can’t rush these things.”

“That’s true. Maybe we should go back there and tell her that.”

“I have half a mind to. She reminds me of one of those cranky ol’ biddies. You know, the ones with the snobby voices and the pointed fingernails? They laugh like ‘hee-hee, hee-hee.’”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Frank’s “old biddy” impressions never ceased to make me forget how much of a drag the rest of my job was. I really did enjoy working with the residents. Frank in particular had quickly become a favorite of mine. We got along like two old drinking buddies, even though he had only been living here about 2 months. We would swap stories and complain about the management every day. It made the shifts go by a lot faster. He was like the older brother I never had. A much, much, much older brother, mind you.

****

Where I work, we use a technique called “joining the journey.” There will be times when a resident's perception of reality becomes different than our own, and they will begin to forget certain things, and even believe things that are completely fabricated. When this happens, you're not supposed to refute them or correct them. You just go along with it. You take them by the hand into Wonderland, and you ride that flying ship all the way to wherever Treasure Island is for them. It makes it that much easier to bring them back down to reality. It makes them less hostile, less agitated, less likely for them to run away or hit you or try to act on their own without your assistance.

Sometimes, however, this technique doesn't work at all. The reality becomes too overwhelming for them. Imagine their position: abandoned by their family, being ordered around by little brats in red aprons, shoveling down the same poorly-prepared food for three meals a day, surrounded by the same people, doing the same things every week. Sometimes, they get anxious. Sometimes, they get scared. And fear has a way of giving even the unable-bodied the will to move. At least, that's what I've heard.

****

I parked Frank in front of his sink, locking the brakes and keeping both hands on the back of the seat as he pushed himself up on the armrests, leaning on the edge of the sink for support. He splashed his eyes a few times, then without turning to me, he said, “Man oh man, I have not been the same since that fall. Must have been months now and I'm still not recovered.”

“It's only been about two weeks, Frank. All you need is some time to get back on your feet.”

“I landed on my spine, you know.”

“I know.”

“Don’t believe what they say, I didn't really trip. The bottom of my shoe just didn't slide across the floor like it's supposed to. It was like putting on the brakes real fast. As I fell, I told myself, 'Land on something soft.' So I landed on my butt. I think I must have landed right on my spinal column. I guess not everything it soft down there.”

All I could do was nod. I knew the story so well I could probably reenact it word for word. He told it every time we took him to the bathroom or to wash his eyes out. That was easily three to four times on a single shift. The mind really does go first when you get older.

It was a shame, if you thought about it. Frank used to do a lot of athletic activities in his youth. His favorite was riding in bike marathons on weekends. “Up and down the coast in California,” he would tell me. “From San Diego to Monterey. I was so strong.” He would often pull up the legs of his sweatpants and say, “You see how skinny those calves are? That's what happens when you exercise all the time.” Nowadays, he spoke of it as if it were a lifetime ago. “I don't know what happened to me, Billy. My legs are so shaky. That's what happens when you stop being active. Your legs muscles start to atrophy and get useless. I gotta start exercising more. You think maybe they can take me for a walk with my walker in the mornings, just down the hallway and back? At least twice a day would be best.” I had to tell him every time that I would let the morning team know. I did mention it to them a few times. At that point, whether they actually did it or not was out of my hands.

He splashed his face a couple more times before plopping back down onto his seat. I handed him a towel, and saw a familiar blank look cross his face. His eyes stopped blinking, his brow stiffened, and the bright blues of his pupils dilated just as before. I realized a while back that in moments such as these, Frank was a temporal pilgrim, unstuck in time. I could only imagine how many times he had gone to sleep an athlete and a breadwinner and awoke on his wedding day. After a brief sojourn, he came back down to earth.

“You see that dog there?” Frank pointed to three pictures taped to the cabinet doors above the sink. They were all of a large brown and white sheepdog lounging on a flight of maroon-carpeted stairs. “That's my beautiful dog. His name's Russ.”

I opened up the cabinet doors and pulled out a drinking glass. “That is a good-looking dog there, Frank,” I replied as I filled up the glass using the tap. “I wish I had one. Here you go.”

“I wonder if I'll ever see Russ again,” Frank murmured, taking the glass from my outstretched hand. His eyes glazed over and became distant again. “You know, my wife brought me here. She said I can come back home when I get better. I told her we should install a stair elevator so I can go up and down without stressing out my legs. You know what she said to that?”

“What?”

“She said, 'You know how much that will cost?' Jesus Christ, can you believe it?” Frank took a large gulp of water. “I miss my family. I miss my wife. I miss my dog.” His eyes seemed to bore into the pictures of Russ, as if somehow Russ would appear next to him if he stared long enough.

I didn’t have the heart to tell him that Russ had been dead for a long time already due to age, and that his wife wasn't coming back to him. She was too busy paying the bills and working full time. She didn't have time to take care of someone with Alzheimer's. Neither did their sons, who had wives and dogs of their own to tend to. I could never break it to him, but this community was the rest of his life.

The radio was still humming in the background. No one ever turned it off. Frank always worried that he would forget his favorite station if it was ever turned off. The sound of the radio was as constant as the steady decline of anyone who lived here. It was still tuned to the classical station, with the violins sounding off long runs of notes culminating in a dramatic plagal cadence. I found myself wondering who the composer was. Stravinsky? Wagner? Rachmaninoff? I wanted to ask Frank, even though I knew he wouldn't have the answer.

The pristine blue had returned to his gaze, and he downed the rest of his glass. “All right buddy, let's get me to bed.”

****

Where I work, there are no accidents, only “incidents.” They happen when residents don't call for assistance, believing that they are still capable of doing what they used to normally do on their own. Sometimes, it is unexpected, and an able-bodied resident will trip or bump into something, or swallow the wrong way and choke. Occasionally, an incident will prove fatal to the resident, and that's when you call in the family, the paramedics, and the community coordinator, just to be sure you got all your tracks covered.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of three adults age 65 or older falls each year, but less than half of these people talk to their healthcare providers about it. Among adults 65 and up, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death. They are also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma. It's amazing to think that any object, be it a desk, a chair, or even just the floor, becomes deadly if you approach it fast enough and at the right angle.

Where I work, residents don't die, they “expire.” Like bad milk. Or coupons. I think it’s a poor term. It makes them sound like objects, not people.

****

The night shift had just come in when it happened. I was finishing paperwork and putting away equipment while the other partners did their rounds. All of a sudden, I heard Montana frantically calling out on the radio, “All Neighborhood partners report to Room 301 immediately! This is an emergency!”

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. Room 301. Frank's room.

I was up in a flash. As I rushed down the hallway, I heard the faint symphony of winds and strings billowing out of his open door, intermingling with a chorus of tense voices speaking unintelligibly over each other. I skidded to a halt in the doorway and froze. Montana and two other partners were kneeling down next to Frank's bed, bent over a limp form on the ground. Their backs obscured most of him from view, but even from the hallway I could see the mass of blankets half-pulled off the mattress and tangled around a pair of legs stretching out past the foot of the bed. I had been the last to arrive. Was I too late?

I edged my way in and crouched down next to Montana, peering over her shoulder. Frank was on his back, rigid and motionless like a plastic doll, blood oozing out of a small wound on his temple. His eyes were still open, and had the familiar opaqueness that I had seen so many times before. I nudged Montana aside and leaned in close. “Frank? Frank, are you still there? Frank, say something. Anything. Blink if you can hear me. Frank? Frank! FRANK!”

No response. He continued to lay there in stone-faced contemplation, much as he had always done when he washed his face or listened to the radio. I staggered backwards until I felt the wall to my back, the panicked cries of the other partners growing distant. Time slowed to an adagio, like pouring cold honey out of a jar. Even from how far back I was, I could still see Frank's shale blue eyes glinting at me, hypnotizing me. It was only when the harmonious dissonance of wailing sirens reached my ears that I found the will to move again. I stood up, leaning against his dresser for support as the paramedics came in and lifted his body onto a stretcher. They wheeled him away, and a cacophony of voices and feet scampering down the hallway sounded off their departure. It was all white noise and static to me as I stood there, lost in the discordant buzz of the moment.

When the last partner had vacated Frank's room, I sank down to the floor, burying my face into my knees. The radio had fallen off the table next to Frank's bed, but it continued to play as if nothing changed. Even through its distorted sputtering I could make out the climatic swell of the Grand Coda. Cymbals crashed and brazen horns howled into the air, providing the perfect accompaniment to the growing crescendo of my anguished cries, creating a bitterly beautiful concerto that only the walls and furniture could hear.

I may not have known composers, but it was certainly a rendition that would have rocked the bones of Stravinsky. And Wagner. And yes, even Rachmaninoff.

The Gamer.com - 9/9/17 - "FLAWLESS: 20 Times Jessica Nigri Cosplayed A Male Character"

Original link: http://www.thegamer.com/flawless-times-jessica-nigri-cosplayed-a-male-character/

Nobody rocks the cosplay world like Nigri does. As one of the reigning queens of cosplay, Jessica Nigri has been the face of innovation, creativity, and fun in the convention and nerd culture scene since its explosion in the early 2000s, and she’s only just getting started. The rising relevance and presence of cosplay in today’s pop culture has only increased the need for creative minds and innovative entertainers, and in that regard, Jessica has the costume game on lock. As we’ve stated in a previous article, Jessica has and always will be a hot name in cosplay, and there’s hardly a conversation about cosplay that goes by without some mention of Nigri’s brilliance and influence.

But aside from showing off skillful and detailed recreations of fan-favorite characters, Jessica is also known for putting her own spin on known characters. This is most apparent in her interpretations of male characters from video games, movies, and TV. Join us as we check out some of Jessica’s most cosplays of male characters, from the sexy to the badass. Let us know your favorites in the comments below, and tell us if we missed an awesome Nigri costume that you think deserves a spot on this list!

20. Still Not A Ginger, But Still Lovely

Allons-y! Everyone’s favorite timey-wimey transdimensional traveler gets a tantalizing twist thanks to Jessica’s cute-yet-classy take on this nerd culture icon. The trademark aspects of The Tenth Doctor are still present: the dapper trench coat, the black-framed eyeglasses, the Sonic Screwdriver, all these things evoke fond memories of David Tennant’s reign as The Doctor. The twist comes in the form of Jessica’s long brunette hair, a shake-up from Tennant’s short and spiky style, as well as the dress suit-inspired ensemble that retains the classiness and sophistication of The Doctor while painting this as a Nigri original. While one can consider this a more conservative and modest look from a cosplayer known for her playful eccentricity, this costume goes to show that Jessica is capable of demonstrating a wide breadth of styles, from the wild to the refined.

19. A True Heroine Of Time

Any fan of the Legend of Zelda series is well-aware of the long-standing “What If Zelda Is A Girl” meme that eternally plagues our flute-playing pot-smashing protagonist, Link. Jessica looks to blow that tidbit of trending troll trivia wide open with her female version of the Hero of Time, pictured above next to fellow cosplay queen Lindsay Elyse as Navi. With this costume, Jessica plays it closer to the iconic design, complete with a simple green tunic, white leggings, and minimal use of accessories, resulting in a familiar yet well-executed look. As the old saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and that adage holds true even in cosplay. Sometimes, it’s not about reinventing the wheel; it’s about making the best wheel you can make, and in that regard, Jessica beautifully presents a classic, no-fuss version of this beloved video game mascot.

18. Maximum Effort? More Like Maximum Steamy

Roll out the chimichangas and hold on to your butts, ‘cuz we’ve got a hot one incoming! Sorry Wade Wilson, but while you can certainly fill out the red and black body suit nicely, Jessica’s killer curves take this foul-mouthed merc to a whole new level of s*xy. Who knew a cosplay could look so tantalizing while showing virtually no skin? Such is the Marvel that is Jessica Nigri, who uses her eye for precision in tandem with her alluring beauty to reinvent and reinvigorate popular characters into something new and exciting. Deadpool is already amazing by design, so Jessica takes care to preserve the character’s core aesthetics, toting the full arsenal of katanas, branded grenades, and twin pistols while allowing her flawless figure to rock the Spiderman-esque super suit.

17. Barrel Rolling Into Our Hearts

While the Star Fox games focused heavily on aerial combat and maneuvering sequences, it would a real shame to keep a pilot as good-looking as this cooped up in that Arwing cockpit. We like to think that Jessica took some inspiration from the one-off Star Fox Adventures release, which features Fox McCloud facing fierce foes and tackling dangerous endeavors on foot rather than in a vehicle. In any case, this Foxy lady has us wanting less space time and more face time in the next release. The execution of this costume is brilliant, channeling a grace and allure similar to Zero Suit Samus via the dynamic pose and use of props. Stylish and sexy, this is an instant highlight of Nigri’s creativity and we absolutely love it!

16. The Princess Of All Saiyans

This… this power! What is she!? Why, she’s the one and only princess of all Saiyans, of course! Jessica’s sexy version of Vegeta was made and worn in the early stages of her career, and it’s so crazy to think that with how awesome this cosplay is, she was only just starting to power up as a cosplayer! The design for this fem-Vegeta is also creative in how it captures not just the first-time appearance of the pint-sized prince (with full-fledged armor and a scouter) but also incorporates the aesthetic of general Saiyan battle gear to turn this into a unique genderbent offering. The minimalist design evokes the iconic look of the Saiyan elite fighters, mixing mobility with protection to allow Jessica to move freely across the battlefield (or convention floor, in most cases) while showing off her fit form.

15. A Mutant Mistress Of Metal

Forget Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters; we want to join the Brotherhood and serve this magnificent mutant maestro! Once again, Jessica slays the costume game with her creative designs, adapting the infamous dark and gritty design of Michael Fassbender’s version of Magneto from X-Men: Apocalypse to her own form and style. But it’s the cold and slightly devious facial expression that really brings this costume to life. Much like the magnetic mastermind of the Marvel universe, there’s no telling what this vermillion-armored vixen is going to do next. Is she going to crush us with a storm of metal? Is she going to convince (ie. threaten) us to join her side? We hope it’s the latter rather than the former; there’s only one side in this mutant war, and it’s Jessica’s side!

14. This Overwatch Cosplay Is Crushing It

What happens when you take one part precision German engineering, one part epic cosplayer, and sprinkle on a dose of video games? Well, we’re not sure either, but we do know that this Reinhardt cosplay by Jessica is 100% awesome and worthy of all the honor and glory! Jess really shows us how it’s done by combining her armor-crafting skills with her adaptive sense of style, the result of which can only be described as “the ultimate girl-crush machine.” Overwatch‘s justice-bound juggernaut has never looked so good, and Jessica’s display of technical skill and beautiful badass-ness instantly makes her the (Cos)Player of the Game in our hearts and minds. Lady Nigri, you really hammered this cosplay home, and we salute you for it!

13. The Rarest Of Encounters

Cubone may be a common Pokémon out in the wild, but how many of them look as jawbone-dropping as this? Inspired by traditional tribal wear and the ragged aesthetics of Wasteland festival outfits, Nigri is at her best in this bodacious offering, which utilizes Cubone’s trademark bone weapon as a motif throughout the costume. Savage and sexy, this head-turning costume is an elaborate and fearless endeavor by Jessica, embracing the wild side of her personality and brimming with more confidence than you can shake a Bone Boomerang at. And that’s what makes Jessica such an admirable figure in the cosplay world: she dares to push the envelope with her art, and her passion is very apparent in her work. Mewtwo and Lugia got nothing compared to this legendary catch!

12. We Wubba-Lubba-Love This Cosplay

Lo and behold! We found something sweeter than Szechuan sauce and more exciting than an entire afternoon at Blips & Chitz: a totally hot Rick cosplay by Jessica Nigri! She riggity riggity wrecks our hearts with this sexy little number, and we can’t wait to be whisked away to our next dangerously exciting adventure across the universe by this brainy blue-haired babe. It seems quite fitting that the queen of all things crazy and cosplay would take her shot at recreating the sultan of getting schwifty, and as you can see, the results are quite stunning. Here’s hoping she’ll bust out a Pickle Rick cosplay in the near future. Given her history of donning full-body costumes of lobsters, tacos, and T-Rex’s just for fun, it’s not entirely impossible.

11. This Treasure Hunter Is A Gem

Jessica may be the one who’s all dressed up and looking for treasure, but WE’RE the ones who are treated to an exquisite find! Even the most dangerous tombs and ruins feel like a thrilling vacation when this sultry salvage expert is leading the charge, and maybe she’ll even teach us a thing or two about history along the way. Aside from the costume, which is well-done and has clever personal touches like the scraped knee, a big draw of Jessica’s version of Nathan Drake also comes from the gorgeous locations where this shoot takes place. Calculated photo compositions incorporating forest and river scenery help to create a sense of adventure and urgency in every shot, and Jessica even stretches her parkour muscles in a couple dynamic mid-action pics where she is jumping over rocks and ducking behind ruined buildings.

10. Worthy Of A 1-Up

Jessica must have Blue Shells for eyes, because one look from her has got us stunned! This 1-Up worthy cosplay shows off Jessica’s love for classic consoles and retro games, and even without a Fire Flower she definitely knows how to turn up the heat. I bet if Bowser got an eyeful of this beautiful Bob-ombshell, he wouldn’t be so quick to run off to the nearest castle. Jessica fully embraces the fun and whimsical flavor of the Super Mario Bros. games with this costume, and even with all the photo effects, she still stands as the brightest Super Star of all. And if you’re wondering where Luigi is, don’t worry; Jessica wore this costume as part of a duo photo set with the lovely Lindsay Elyse as her green-garbed sibling, so do yourself a favor and look them up!

9. Fortune And Glory Never Looked So Good

Now for something a bit different! As you can see, Jessica’s costume repertoire is not just confined to video games and cartoons. Even staples of the silver screen such as Indiana Jones are shown some cosplay love, and this delectable doppelganger of the eponymous archaeologist has got us whipped up into a frenzy! Originally meant to be a light travel-friendly outfit for an intense hike through rugged stretches nature, Jessica was struck by inspiration and ingenuity, and turned this casual affair into a sensational saunter into the wilds. We love the rugged, well-traveled aesthetic of this ensemble. Perhaps we’ve caught her in a moment of rest after a rigorous temple run or an encounter of the snaky kind. In any case, we can’t wait to book an express biplane flight to our next adventure with this tantalizing tomb raider (sorry Lara Croft).

8. Her Hotness Level Is Over 9000

There’s no need to summon the Eternal Dragon when Jessica is already making all our wishes come true. I’m just… Saiyan. But in all seriousness, many remember the debut of Jessica’s fem-Goku as a standout moment of her early costuming career, and we can’t help but gush over it even today. What at first seems like a fairly plain costume is elevated to the next (power) level with the effective use of detail work: bloodstains, rips and burns, and even the bruise makeup all add to the effect of this costume, which captures the essence of a post-battle Super Saiyan Goku. No scouter ever made can properly measure the level of badassery that this costume brings, and it really shows another way of cosplaying this king of Kaio-ken.

7. She Has Us Hooked

You don’t want to be in the way when this petite porcine powerhouse is pushing the Payload! We’re going hog wild over this amazing rendition of Overwatch‘s resident hookmaster, and it looks so good that you don’t need to tell us to “Come here!” twice. Roadhog is usually seen as one of the biggest and baddest behemoths on the battlefield, but we’re certainly not complaining about Jessica’s smaller and sexier version. She even made sure to include the finer details of the original design, like the stomach tattoo and individual buttons and patches on the harness. When it comes to Overwatch cosplays, this one-woman apocalypse is a prime specimen that always takes Player of the Game. We’re gonna need healing, ‘cuz cosplay has sunk its hook deep into our hearts.

6. If Looks Could Kill…

In the world of Assassin’s Creed, nothing is true, and everything is permitted. But even so, please permit us to say that there is at least one true fact in this world, and it’s that Jessica is the hottest assassin in the entire Order! The tomahawk-toting renegade of Assassin’s Creed III, Connor Kenway, takes on a whole new life when given the Nigri twist, and the resulting cosplay is as beautiful as it is deadly. This is actually one of two Assassin’s Creed cosplays that Jessica has done, the other being Edward Kenway, and both show off a high amount of attention to detail from the arsenal of assassination tools to the meticulous sewing and button placements. No Leap of Faith required to fall for this alluring assassin!

5. A League Of Her Own

Captain Teemo reporting for duty! This was one of the first League of Legends cosplays that Jessica has done, and made its glorious debut at Anime Expo 2013. Jessica’s love for yordles, the tiniest and most polarizing of League‘s many races, is very apparent in her body of work, and we can credit her infatuation with the the fuzzy denizens of the Rift to this Teemo cosplay. Before she brought her bodacious flair to the likes of Veigar, Ziggs, and Kled, we all got to behold her as the shroom-tossing, dart-spitting scout that we all love/hate. Whether you go AD or AP, Nigri never fails to be OP! This cosplay goes to show that you should never underestimate the power of the Scout’s Code, or the power of Nigri’s creativity.

4. Siren Of The High Seas

 Even the power of the Devil Fruit couldn’t create a cosplay as hot as this! Portgas D. Ace from One Piece gets a sultry and summery makeover in this classic number by Nigri, and the result speaks for itself. The fiery fist fighter looks more like she’s ready for a pool party rather than a punchout! This cosplay made its first appearance at Anime Revolution 2013, and the sunny seasonal locale made a surprisingly fitting backdrop for the occasion. We’re hoping for more One Piece-inspired cosplays like this in the future, and if this one is any indication, they are sure to make waves. Nami better count herself lucky that she doesn’t have to share the spotlight with this seafaring siren, ‘cuz when Jessica’s around, there’s no question as to who the Pirate Queen is here!

3. Long Live The Queen

With killer instincts and killer looks, we’ll gladly follow this khal-turned-khaleesi into the heat of battle! The dothraki from Game of Thrones may be more infamous for their brutality than for their beauty, but Jessica reminds us that it’s always best to get you a girl that can do both. Her savage and sensuous take on Khal Drogo is actually the first cosplay she has done from Game of Thrones, and we hope she continues to enchant and innovate us with more creations from the fan-favorite HBO series. The level of detail and clever adaptation from male to female design is impressive, and Jessica expertly melds ideas into a look that shows off her feminine form while preserving the wild warrior vibes from the original character.

2. She’s The Very Best Like No One Ever Was

No cosplay countdown would be complete without a classic Pokémon costume, and even a popular character like Ash Ketchum never seems to get old when people like Jessica make it look so good! Dubbing herself “Ashley Ketchum,” Jessica kicks the nostalgia hype train into overdrive with this lovely look, which emulates a “girl next door” vibe that has us pulling our best Brock impressions. Fun fact: this isn’t the only time Jessica has cosplayed from Pokémon. Her cosplay catalogue also includes gijinka designs for Cubone, Charizard, Blastoise, Houndoom, Slowking, Litten, all the Eevee-lutions, and even Pikachu, which many consider to be her first breakout cosplay of her career. But speaking of Electric Pokemon, forget Pikachu; Ashley Ketchum, please choose ME to be your partner in your battles and travels!

1. She’s Gonna Rock Your World

By now, you’ve probably already seen this mindblowing cosplay floating around the ol’ Internetz, whether it was in recaps and photo albums of Blizzcon or rampaging around the Lich King ice cream stand at San Diego Comic Con 2017. This cosplay, which is an original design by illustrator extraordinaire Zach Fischer, shows off the best of Jessica’s talents from armormaking to makeup work to posing and photo production. The hours Jessica has spent meticulously hand-crafting these pieces is covered in a video on her YouTube channel, and as we watch the magic unfold we can see her blood, sweat, tears and passion practically pour out of every scene. This costume, representing the efforts of artist and creator and community love, embodies cosplaying at its finest, and easily tops our list as Jessica’s best male character cosplay.