jointstereotype: I can't believe it's already dawn.

rygar: I can't believe we stayed up all night playing Super C.

jointstereotype: I can't believe we only made it to stage 4. And with the Konami code.

rygar: Stupid poisonous soap bubbles. No wonder kids don't like to bathe. They see what happens to you in Contra and they say, "Soap? Fuck that, mom!"

jointstereotype: We suck. 10 years ago we would have spanked Contra.

rygar: 10 years ago we would have had the time to practice between school and homework until we were 2-button gaming gods.

jointstereotype: 4 if you count Start and Select.

rygar: 5 if you count the crosspad.

jointstereotype: No one counts the crosspad.

rygar: They would if they played Tetris. For most games the crosspad is just a garnish on top of all the wicked moves you can do with A, B, X, Y, L, R, Z, and whatever else your gamepad has on it. Tetris was all about crosspad action.

jointstereotype: You had to know your shit.

rygar: Check this—Erotic Tetris:

Erotic Tetris

jointstereotype: You are such a horndog.

rygar: You know it.

jointstereotype: Regardless, give me the link.

rygar: Oh, I wouldn't think of corrupting your innocent little mind as such. Happy new year, by the way.

jointstereotype: Dude, it's January 3rd. Thursday.

rygar: Holy shit, you're right—have we been playing for 3 days straight?

jointstereotype: Apparently so.

rygar: Hm. That would explain the hunger pangs. And the BO.

-- susie-q has joined the chat --

susie-q: Happy new year, AJ. :-D

jointstereotype: Happy new year, Susan.

susie-q: You too, Max. :-)

rygar: Codenames, please.

susie-q: OK, then, rygar. :-| What have you two bums been up to?

rygar: For your information, we just made it to stage 4 on Super C.

susie-q: Have you been playing 20-year-old Nintendo games all day? O.o

jointstereotype: Since Monday, actually.

susie-q: What a way to start off the new year. x-( You guys are unbelievable. Didn't you make any resolutions?

rygar: I'd like a PlayStation 3.

jointstereotype: I'd like to sell more books.

susie-q: Those aren't resolutions—they're hopes, wishes, daydreams! :-(

rygar: So?

susie-q: You have to be specific! You have to set goals and then meet them! Look at me: I've made the national team 3 years in a row because I give it my all day in and day out, because I study hard and train hard, because I want to make something of myself. No one's going to do that for me; I have to make it happen...

-- jointstereotype has created a private chatroom --

-- rygar has entered the private chatroom --

rygar: Dude, she's nagging again.

jointstereotype: I know.

rygar: Why do you put up with it?

jointstereotype: I always try to be polite to my readers.

rygar: Even if they're psychotic fangirls?

jointstereotype: Every reader counts.

rygar: You're just hot for her because she's a gymnast. I know you have a thing for girls in leotards.

jointstereotype: She's my proofreader. And she's sixteen, you perv.

rygar: All the more reason to call the morality police.

jointstereotype: A morality lecture from someone who keeps a zombie porn repository on his hard drive? Hah! I laugh in your general direction.

rygar: Crap. She's been typing this whole time—we should get back to the other chat.

-- jointstereotype has left the private chatroom --

-- rygar has left the private chatroom --

susie-q: ...sometimes I don't want to wake up in the morning, but I know if I don't keep the ball rolling I'll end up sleeping in 7 days a week, and then I'll never get the grades / scores to snag that scholarship, I won't get into college, I won't find a decent job, and my life will be over before its begun. Is any of this getting through to you?

rygar: ...

jointstereotype: Wanna grab some breakfast, ry?

rygar: Yeah, but first I really should take a shower. Are we finishing Super C afterward?

jointstereotype: Sure.

susie-q: You two are amazing.

rygar: No, finishing Super C with only 3 men, now that's amazing!