Page 72 of Level Up
I don’t know what drugs they were on when the creators decided to make a game about a matchmaking laundromat empire, but I want some.
The weirdest part of all of it is that it’s actually really fun and kind of brilliant, and the random NPCs all have these unique personalities that make you feel invested in their lives.
The gameplay is pretty straightforward, although the solutions for making matches does get more complicated as you grow your business—it turns out not everyone is a fan of the “missing sock” meet-cute after all.
Also the cat is a literal demon and I will protect him with my life.
If you’ve been on the fence about this game, I’d say wait for a sale and then grab it, because I don’t know if it’s worth the full price, but it is a lot of fun.
You can also check out@OddlyAdored’s archives to see some of the gameplay, since that’s how I got into it, though she tends to keep it more family friendly—be warned that the game has its rating for a reason, and it can get way raunchier than that.
— Review forLaundromateby@ToastOnBeanson Play’N (August 7, 2023)
nineteen
the earth’s core
I knowwhat to wear onnot-a-date; I’m good at making myself look like a misshapen lump of heavy fabrics, especially in autumnal weather. But I feel like I should probably make some sort of effort on a date, even if it’s just Tuesday morning coffee again.
I’m aware that I’m overthinking this, but I still sift through all the clothes in my closet and drawers—and the pile of clean laundry that I’ve needed to fold and put away for the past two weeks—weeding out anything that is the colour of poop. Which is a lot of what I own, apparently.
After a minor meltdown where I almost put on the one dress that I own, despite it being a summer dress, I end up in my usual formula: high-waisted pants that make my wide butt seem even wider, and a chunky cardigan over a t-shirt. But I specifically chose a t-shirt that Victory designed for me, with a graphic of Hadley on the front and bold text that readsHAD ENOUGH?
Becausethisis how you dress for a date when you both are introverted weirdo nerds obsessed withThe Stones of Ayor. Ifeel good about this. (I also feel incredibly nauseous, but it’s fine.)
I get to the café before Damien, once again, although this time I text him when I get there so I can order his drink with mine. Actuallytexthim, like with a phone number, instead of just through the janky Play’N app. We’ve never done that before. It’s like we are officially more than justgaming friendsnow.
I’m grateful that I can snag the armchairs by the window again, since the more comfortable I can make this for myself, the better. I sink into the soft upholstery and let myself slump against the seat back, despite my current instinct to perch at the edge so I can take flight at a moment’s notice.
I’d like to say I haven’t been this nervous about seeing Damien in person since the first time we came here for coffee over a month ago, but there’s part of me that’s always this nervous about seeing him. Or maybe nervous isn’t the right word. Excitedly anxious? Anxiously excited?
Pal’s voice in my head offers the termnerd-girl horny, but I blot it out.
At least I try to, but I curse under my breath when Damien walks in and it becomes painfully obvious. I thought I’d only ever had a crush on Cameron before now, but I’m starting to think that I’ve never had an actual crush on anyone before. Becausethisis nothing like that.
Damien is grinning from ear to ear as he walks up to me, and on some level, I know that he looks like a complete dork, but that only makes my heart pound harder in my chest. He’s a dork but he has no shame about it, which is apparently the hottest thing ever.
Nerd-girl horny, indeed.
“Hey,” he says as he shrugs off his jacket and hangs it over the back of his armchair before taking a seat. He looks at mewith a curious expression, still smiling. “You look like Jarl Balgruuf.”
At first I think he’s telling me I look like a cowardly old man hiding in his keep to avoid picking a side in a war, and I don’t know if I should feel offended, but then I realize how I’m slouched in my chair—as I always am—with my elbow propped up.
“This is how I sit,” I tell him, and he laughs. Which might be my favourite sound in the world. I’ve always liked his laugh in his streams, but it sounds even better in person, I’ve noticed.
I feel like I’m cataloguing things about him, and I don’t know why. Things I’ve noticed before but didn’t let myself think about, because if I thought about them then I might never stop thinking about them. But I’m allowed to now. Maybe.
Damien starts talking about the latest drama with Malcolm—apparently Evan wants to slow things down a bit, while he’s about ready to start picking out dinnerware—but I can’t stop staring at his hands as he picks up his mug.Can hands be sexy? Is that a thing?It sounds absurd. Maybe there’s something seriously wrong with me.
I tell him about the latest drama with Marie—that she’s started looking for a job locally because she is officially moving back home, and I don’t know how I feel about that.
“Some sad, desperate part of me hopes this means we can be friends,” I admit solemnly. “But I worry she’s just going to be a constant source of judgment in my life, like nothing I ever do will be good enough.”
Damien nods but doesn’t offer advice. Like he knows that I don’t want advice, I just want to vent. I want to be petty and whiny and bitchy about this without trying to solve it right now. He lets me.
“Have you given any thought to doing a part twospeedrun?” he asks. He also knows that I want a change in subject. “Unless you’re sick ofSOAfor now, which is understandable.”
I laugh at that. “I don’t think it’s possible for me to be sick of it.”
