So while I was away, we celebrated our birthday. Unfortunately for me, my schedule was so time consuming when I first moved back to campus after getting back from my New York City trip, that I didn't properly get to recognize the achievements we have all made over the past year.
Guys, its been 2 years. Do you realize that most RP websites don't make it past the few months mark? Let alone a year, or more for that matter! Sapphira was right in her letter to you all, so was Cayana, so was everyone else who wrote one. We have accomplished sooo much ya'll, and while things may be quiet in the world of Fusions every now and then, we always have activity, we always have dedication, we always have people coming back to it...sometimes a year after they departed, they return... and that isn't just a coincidence. There is something here, something about this website that keeps people here, keeps them coming back. This is why I think that is.
Dedication. Where would we be without the efforts of every single member that we have? Without a permanent base of members, Fusions would have done what I have seen so many other websites become...Dead. I mean, we have our slow periods (because everyone, for some reason unknown to me, always seems to have life hit them in the face at the exact same time), but then it picks back up. Even during our slow periods there is a thread or two going on, never does it just cease. When things are rolling... its completely insane. We have little white yin yangs popping up all over the forums, even in ones that are normally quite inactive. I remember logging on a while back and noticing that someone had actually started a thread in Tel'Aran'Rhiod. Do we even have 5 members who have that talent? Seriously, its so completely and utterly exciting when I log on and find that someone has posted.
I've said it before and I will say it again, I read everything guys. Every now and then I'll be behind, but when I'm bored at work and what not, but not in the mood to post, I read. Its another way of being an active and dedicated member. I read EVERYTHING. That thread you don't think anyone else is interested in except you and the person you're rping with? I read it. yup. yup I read it. Often I read things while they are ongoing, but sometimes I wait until the very end. Mainly I read because I love your characters, but I suppose 10% of that reasoning is to make sure you don't pull a, "OMG AND LIGHTNING CAME OUT HIS ARSE AND SCORTCHED THE WORLD INTO AN OBLIVION ONLY READ OF IN THE LATEST SWORD OF TRUTH BOOK." And I'll be honest, it happens every now and then...but with swift retribution, when a week later, its a perfect example of a post. :D See, I'm not a complete beast of a M'Hael/Admin, I only half bark most of the time. I love you too much to do anything else.
I've got favorites of course, like The Price of Eavesdropping between Marian and Edeleas, Danshu with Nevira, Laridian, Aven, Katrina, Miakoda, Robert, Mirazhe, Myara, and Edeleas... or Masks, Lights...and Evil which was our site-wide rp a year ago. I love reading the first rps of new members, and if they need it, helping them improve. I love watching plot develop between characters, like Sloane and Lalaine's kinship, or Cayana and Radgar's love for eachother. But you know what I love more than anything else about Fusions? (aside from the people)
I love RPing with you all. I mean, I have complicated relationships with many of the characters on this website, like Edeleas and Rialt's interaction, or Cayana and Rialt, or (though we haven't rped it in a little while), Lyla and Rialt. I love the ability to RP with any member no matter their station and take rping where it hasn't gone before. I like unconventionalism, ideas and craziness! We've been working on a massive RP for like a year now (and really should get it up and going...but anyway :P )... and I can't wait for certain celebrations off of the wheel of time calendar. Freedays come so rarely here that the RPs that come out of them are always a pleasure to read. So for the conventionalist inside me, I need to mention some people.
Miakoda, thank you for not being afraid to rp with me even though my characters rank could be intimidating to some people. You're RPing has matured so much over the past year, I don't think you realize how much more pleasurable reading your stuff has become.
Achlys I absolutely adore your avatar...We never get to talk for some reason or another, and I know you haven't had the chance to rp alot, but every time you do, it reminds me of your dedication. Even if you take a break here and there, you always come back.
Farina, I can't WAIT to read more about your encounter with Edeleas.. I was like, holding my hand over my mouth when I read that post. It was one of the ones that I had to read after your were done with the thread because it would have driven me crazy to wait.
Hanajima, your activity and willingness to work with anyone astounds me. You're always willing to work with everyone, and because of this I always have my eye on you. (in a positive way!).
Ildeus, your ideas and rp always manage to do something for me. Shock me. Completely and utterly shock me. I love your idea for your character, I love the way you intend on playing him out. I look forward to watching his progression.
Johanna, never afraid to ask questions. An admirable trait to say the least.
Kris, your post count may not be extensive, but I love working with you, and I love when you bitch at me to post. You remind me that I suck by taking so long to do so, and it keeps me on top of things all the more because of it. Your character is going to become an integral part of this website. Your bio for Kris, your dedication to his character, even when you have no inspiration is a reminder to me, if not everyone, to keep on going, keep on rping to the very last. I can't wait to see where you take him, and I can't wait to further explore our friendship. This guy, everyone, is a shining example of someone who is not afraid to IM me. You should do the same!!
Mirazhe. You of all the people on this website, have had the most development and RPs for a junior member that I can recall. You don't have issues with staying at the junior member level, and then you take it, and make it your own. You RP with everyone and you always give several paragraphs that are well written and QUITE fascinating to read. Its so exciting when you involve yourself in plot, and you bring so much to the table for us here. Mirazhe, you astound me over and over again every time you post something. Did you know that? Did you know how much I look at your RP and think to myself, “this chic has talent, what a great RPer, she’s the future of what I want Fusions to be.” I quite frequently have my eye on you and all that you do (don’t be freaked out, Im not a creepy bastard :P), and I look forward to what your going to bring to the table when you become a Senior Member.
Naridin!!!! Your progressing so well (in part I am sure because of your friendship with Edeleas ooc). You going through the JM process is kind of a technicality since you write so damn well, and your progression with your character in so little amount of time kind of makes my head hurt (but in a good way!). I can't wait to continue RPing with you in our current thread now that I'm back from my LoA. I'd like to see a love interest come from your character... *whistles and shoves you towards the white tower*
Nina... your character is hot. Very very very hot. I just needed to throw that out there! :P I predict a raising in the foreseeable future, perhaps?
So lets see... Moderators...
Radgar. When you first came to me with your character idea I thought you were frickin' insane...and then I thought to myself...WHAT A GREAT IDEA, OMGWTFROFLIMGONNAEXPLODE. And holy crap was I thinking the right thing. At every turn you never cease to amaze me in terms of the crazy ass ideas that come out of your head. Your like, “hey, whats up, I got an idea!” and then I groan, smile and ask you what it is. I look forward to when your character becomes an Asha’man, even though you’re a SM already. Thanks for doing unconventionalist things.
Cayana, I don’t even know where to start. You have been my number one inspiration since we started here. Since the day you posed the question of who Cayana’s father would be, you had me hooked. Of course I was already tainted since we had worked together on Glimmers, but this is where we bloomed. I could not have asked for a better friend. Not only do you take time out of your busy schedule to be the Mistress of Novices, but you also work intimately on our home page, that is looking great. (if only I would get off my ass and write what I need to! :P ) You have always been there for me personally, both on and off the website, and your unwavering friendship reminds me why it is that I love Fusions so much.
Sapphira, you rock my world. I love the fact that our characters hate each other, yet we somehow manage to be completely productive. We’re on the same level and that makes for such a great team of people! We are different in our personalities in real life, it would seem, yet we work so well together. A little ironic also, if you think about Rialt and Sapphira’s relationship. :P I don’t have words for how much you mean to me as a friend, peer, and administrator. This place wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. Nothing would have happened. We have prevented the untimely death of Fusions time and time again, and as long as we work so well together as we presently are, Fusions will have a long life yet. Thankyou for everything…for more than you know.
Edeleas my friend, the fact that you work so hard on here when having barely any time for yourself, makes me believe that you are by far one of THE most dedicated members of this website. I am so happy that you have been able to go to so many lengths with your character, and that your imagination will never cease to amaze me. You are brilliant and an inspiration as Master of Soldiers, and as a moderator and friend. Thankyou for everything that you do for us here. We miss you, just let us know how you are doing every now and then, even when you can’t post. :D
Freyja, I only have to say a few things here because I believe that our friendship is a developing one. We haven’t had the opportunity to RP very much, but since we both seem so stubborn in that regard, I look forward to when we do RP more in depth. I would like to thank you for sticking with us for so long, even when your life gets extremely busy. The fact that you just keep on coming back…well it’s the reason our site has lasted as long as it has.
Marian, the same goes for you as with Freyja. I hate having to go through and prune the sites I am a member of, but for some reason, Fusions isn’t ever among that list. Thank you for that. Thank you for being a moderator and for RPing with our Junior Members just as fervently (if not more) than you do with the Senior.
Kiren…Another whose friendship stretches far back before Fusions. To when you helped me on Glimmers and then when we started to talk to each other more fervently, and became such good friends through msn. I live for conversations when you have the time. And even when you had that massive internship, you still came back, and you still haven’t left! You’re here, and you check in, and you’ve contributed so greatly to our Gaidin path that I don’t know what the hell we would have done without you. Thank you so much for being here for us, and for me. Thankyou for being my bondmate and for being my real life friend. Thanks for being there on Glimmers, and thankyou for reminding me to give Tarvalon another chance.
Laridian, you crazy bastard! Our friendship stretches back before anyone’s, being that I’ve known you now …oh… going on 6 years I think. Granted you get the brunt of my wrath when it comes to Fusions because I know you in person, but hey… you know I love you and its my job to bitch at inactive people :P Never the less, you have come up with some really great RP ideas and I’ve had a great deal of fun RPing with you so far. Especially in Spamalicious RP!, which needs a response from me. Thankyou for your time as Moderator and for just…RPing such a fuckin weird ass character! :P
Lyla, I know that shit is blowing up in your country right now (and it worries me, I’ve told you this, but bah), but your influence on me is something you may not even know about. I remember RPing the relationship between Rialt and Lyla, and how exciting it was. How I would wait for 2 days for a response, just because I knew it was so juicy. I remember when you called me on my birthday 2 years ago, what a surprise. I will NEVER forget our talks on msn and over the camera..and also when you first talked to me over the voice chat, but my mic was broken. I look forward to when you can come back and dazzle us all with Lyla, and when we can finally RP that thread with Sapphira and Rialt. :D
Myara. One of the life bloods to our Gaidin path. Your intricate interaction with Edeleas is ever so perfect and subtle. Its growing and growing, and one of these days, your just going to knock the hell out of my mind in RP to the point where I shall be rendered useless! :P Thank god for people like you, thank you for being a mod for me and sapphire, and for always keeping the path of gaidin alive. Can’t have towers if you don’t have gaidin!...or gaidar. Its not an accident that our gaidin path seems to be dominated by women.
Don’t worry Robert, I know how much you enjoy RP. I imagine you wouldn’t come back if you didn’t care just a bit. Its so important that we have someone of your military and life-long experience. You always refer to yourself as the old fart, but I consider you more of our quasi resident wise-one. I can bounce ideas off of you, you always respond promptly. You keep things rolling with posts like, “where the hell did everyone go? RP everyone!” Do you know how important that is? How much I appreciate that, and appreciate you? You are an inspiration to everyone when it comes to chugging on and posting…and generally just being incredibly helpful and intelligent. You rock!
If I didn’t mention your name, don’t feel bad. I read everything on this website, I am following your progress. It usually only means that you need to RP a little bit more so everyone, including myself, can get to know you. I can’t do this site unless we have new members and junior members. There is appeal in being bosses around sometimes, and ya’ll are the backbone of what Fusions is.
At the end of the day, it’s a place to go and have fun, and I hope that with all of the dynamic people we have here, that it remains that way until we die….or I die. Because that’s the only damn way I’m ever going to leave this website behind.
Happy Birthday to our website, and thank you to every single person who is a member or ever was a member. Now get the hell out there and post.
EDIT * RESOLUTE. *scoffs privately, assuring herself that missing ONE NAME out so many is not that big a deal, even if it IS Res*
Thankyou thankyou thankyou, for giving Fusions a chance, even when you have all this real life stuff going on, you ALWAYS come back! You're like, "hey, loa," and then a month later or something, you come back and then you actually post. Your idea for the combining of your dying website with this one, shows the character you possess and gives me hope if anything ever happens here, we would have somewhere to go. Shit, if something happened to me, I'm sure you would be willing to step up to the plate. I'm sorry I forgot your name, I could have sworn I mentioned it.
OMG, my name was in that list. I had an ENTIRE paragraph dedicated to ME. Holy ****. I worship you, M'hael. I hope you know that. I mean, I worship everyone, but especially you.
And that was one long, but amazingly written letter. *nodses* Absolutely.
Naridin, I can help you find a girl. :look *runs away*