Its a parody of the Chinese “I told a girl I play DoT teams” in HSR but changed to Dark Souls 2.
Recently, I talked to a girl about Dark Souls at a game conference, it did not go well.
She straight-up asked me: โHey, which From Software title is your favorite?โ
Upon hearing this question, my heart tightened, I began to have an intense panic attack and almost choked. So I gave my response: "Y-you know, the one that's kind of... peak? Has a plethora of bosses?"
Her eyes sparkled for a moment, and I caught a small flash of excitement. "Oh? You're into Elden Ring? I love Elden Ring."
I immediately tried to explain. "N-no. Wh-"
"Ah, then Dark Souls 1? That's a classic." "No, not that eitherโ" โDark Souls 3? Sekiro? Bloodborne?โ
At this point, my head was already buried in my chest. I dared not even lift my head up, I was already sweating bullets, and the atmosphere was so awkward my twitching feet could almost penetrate a hole through the conference room flooring.
โYou like Demonโs Souls? Thatโs pretty niche, but respectable.โ
Her tone had shifted, and her gaze was one of pure astonishment.
Demonโs Souls? Who in this day and age still plays that? Itโs the kind of game favored by those clinging to outdated gameplay, still overdosing on nostalgia for game design from decades past. Her pitying expression pierced through me like a soul spear cast from another zip code in the Shrine of Amana.
I felt my face fluster, my breath got heavy, and my head dazed. I tried my damned hardest to calm my quivering legs and clenched my teeth to say the words I was about to say next. This took the last of my strength: "Not that either!"
The words barely escaped my mouth, quieter than an uncaught exception. It was the loudest I could manage in that moment. I looked up at her face. Her expression had changed.
A dreadful silence fell between us. "Then... what game is your favorite? I thought those were all the main From Software releases."
Every single word she spoke struck me like Lenigrastโs smithing hammer striking to form blades. I was awestruck, my soul rended apart by the sharpness of her words. Then, I could hold it in no more. Along with my words, a few strong-willed yet aggrieved tears rolled out of the corner of my eye.
โDark Souls 2. Dark Souls 2 is my favorite.โ
When I said that name, the discussions around us stopped, leaving me to wallow in the silence between my occasional sniffles. Feeling the pitiful gaze from passersby around me. I held my face in my hands, I was too embarrassed to let anyone see my miserable state.
She turned to leave. At this point, tears already washed my face, I was on the floor, my two arms gripped on her ankles, and didn't dare let go. I was a clown to the people around me. The last words that I let out that day before being dragged out by the security and falling into unconsciousness were spoken at that very moment.
"So what if thereโs adaptability? So what if thereโs soul memory? It's not like it's dead! Someday, with Vendrickโs Blessing, it'll be respected again! From Software subreddits donโt understand everything!"
