I famously love to just chatter on about how much I love people so I’m going to try my best to be concise here, but who tf knows.
Sigmund - my Stheno, my partner, my friend. I have a long list of people I have been wanting to write with but you have been near the top of it for some time. This experience did not disappoint. Azula and Stheno complimented each other so excellently, and you were such a grand person to make every move with, bounce every decision off of, and just in general get to know better during this process. I’m so happy it worked out this way, friend.
Jak - similar to Stheno above. I walked into this not knowing how or if Azula and Connor would mesh, but they DID, and it was wild. The amount of trust and friendship we grew in this was amazing, and you are always such a supportive and encouraging friend that I have such respect for, and I hope I succeed in offering that same friendship in return.
Aaron - Elise is SUCH an incredibly fascinating character, and although things didn’t go perfectly between our girls, I’m glad we got to write, however briefly, together, and create such a layered relationship.
Roy - my bro. We were in the weeds together those first few weeks and I am so impressed with how amazing you were doing. You are such a superstar and how you juggled so much and wrote so well all at once I’ll never know. Just truly magic.
Jeff - Toga and Azula’s friendship, however brief, was one of the most fun aspects of this DA for me. I’m sad we didn’t get to see more of it, but so proud of you for being a badass and throwing yourself into the deep end. You always shine and stand out in these competitions and I hope you know that and feel that way.
Straz - 10/10 would abduct again! You have been one of my favorite writers for a long, long time and I am still geeking out that my hairbrained scheme to write with you worked.
Adam - Thanks for not rescuing Straz! It was a blast writing that Azula/Altanis scene with you even if it didn’t work out the way I wanted, and I’ll be eager to ask Alex in the postmortem what he thinks would’ve happened if we had broke north to attack Jade together, because I was really feeling for like 24 hours that Azula/Altanis was too compelling a pair of generals to lose, and that’s on how much I love and enjoy writing with you anytime.
Jade - yet again, we didn’t get to write together, and yet again, you still somehow managed to be one of my main points of contact in this competition. You were really there for me in moments when I got overwhelmed and frustrated and so this message is mostly a thank you for your wonderful friendship. The way it’s grown over the past year has been, frankly, irreplaceable— you are irreplaceable, and I am so glad to have you in my corner and be in yours.
Joe/Deme - I didn’t get to write a lot with Mirage and Wraith but their story was so compelling, and you guys were such helpful voices as I was trying to wrangle the Miniskirts into gear. I’m so thankful for both of you — for Joe’s continued friendship after over a decade (!!!) and for the opportunity to keep getting to chill and get to know you, Deme!
Weiss - fuckin. Someone said it above but you are probably this DA’s superstar MVP. I’m glad Ridley is back for good because you slayed.
Iza - I love a badass new member, and I am so super stinking proud of how you just jumped right on into this mess. It’s not for the faint of heart!! I hope you stick around a long time!!
Sammy - you are a light, and having you around in my unit for most of the game was always such a joy. Thanks for being you anc bringing this neat character in
Alex - the man. The myth. The legend. This had to have been such a challenge to organize and run and keep up with and I am always in such awe of how you keep it all together. We’ve known each other for fifteen years — longer than most of my IRL best friends — and since the early days of that you have looked out for me, been there for me, and offered me such friendship and support and it is no different now. I love you and love how much you care about everyone in this community being happy and having a good, badass time every single summer.
Well. Still long. I’m sure I had more to say about more people too, so let me just say everyone’s stories were SO EFFING BADASS this year. Like damn. Good game, y’all.