The Anthologies Saga Volume 1-Pixelations

Beta Testers

Anastasia grabbed her gaming headset and adjusted it so that it wouldn't slide off when she played.
This was still so surreal that she was given permission to play this game. She always has been a big fan of Sullen Starz. They created some of her favorite games. Her favorite-favorite was a game they created back in 2007, called "Fae and Fancy-Free," a game where you play as a lesbian fairy who has fallen for the kidnapped elven princess. The graphics were phenomenal, the story was gorgeous, and there was so much heart to it. They also knew how to make a character's death hurt worse than Disney ever could. It hurts her to play it because she knows what will happen to Hermit Kermit, the loyal dwarf.
#JusticeForHermitKermit.
She snapped back into focus. Time to focus on the now. "Memento Morí." That was supposed to be Latin for something, but Anastasia couldn't remember what for. She googled it up and found that it meant "remember you must die".
Well, that got dark.
She clicked the button on the camera and faced it will a smile. "Hey everyone. It's Anastasia here, and I'm super excited. I'm gonna play a game that hasn't even come out yet, a game by the name of 'Memento Morí.' Yeah, it's the new game from Sullen Starz, the guys gals and gays who created 'Kool Kidz', 'FEAR', and a personal favorite on the channel, 'Fae and Fancy-Free'. So let's get into it!" She played a snippet of "Get Into It" by Doja Cat before recording the game. "Wow. Look at those graphics. Sullen Starz, you never disappoint me." She clapped her hands. "Now, I've asked a few people if they would join me, and they said yes, so say hello, hola and bonjour to our lovely beta tester team! First up we have gary_got_guns. Gary, how you doing?"
"Uh, doing fine, 'Stasia. Is it cool if I call you 'Stasia?"
"It's fine, Gary. Just don't call me Boo."
"Boo? Uh..." Gary himself found this peculiar. Why would others call her "Boo"? He answered his own question in his head-pedos and pervs are always watching, especially at young pretty women like 'Stasia. "That's cool."
"Okay, thanks. Also with me today is uwu_kittykat. Kat, how's it cooking?"
Katherine's voice came through the other line. "Well, there's pizza in my oven thanks to my roomie, Treyson, but besides that, nothing's cooking."
Anastasia let out a little chirp of laughter. "Alright, next up on the roster is good friend of the comedy community JJ The Bard. Howdy do, JJ?"
"I'm doing muy bien, amiga amiga. ¿Que pasa?"
"Bien, mas o menos. Gracias."
There was laughter from Gary and Kat. JJ just sat, stunned.
"Yeah, soy hablo un poco de español."
"Lo sè. Wow."
"Okay, are we gonna play or what, silly gooses?"
"Oh! One last introduction, our own babi_gurl. Babi, what's poppin?"
"Don't mind me, just watching." Babi started beatboxing the rest of the verse before fading herself out. "Okay, let's do this!"
Everyone held their seats as the screen loaded. The first thing it did was say "what's your name?"
Gary entered "gary_got_guns" but was met with a BEEP-BEEP.
"Not your username, silly, your name."
"Hey guys," he called to the others. "You have to use an actual name."
JJ scoffed. "Yeah, right. I'm just gonna put something in here." He heard the DING! and he laughed. "I'm in!"
"How?" Gary asked.
"I just typed in JJ."
The chat went "ahhh" almost simultaneously. After a few seconds, Gary went "I'm in."
"Dido," called out Kat.
It took careful consideration on what Babi wanted to be. She didn't want to use her actual name Phoebe, so she decided she would enter a name off the top of her head. She went to work typing Isabelle. DING!
"I'm in, too," Babi told the gang.
That left Anastasia. She entered Anastasia, but it cut off at the i. She didn't want to be called Anastasi. That's not her name. So she shortened it up to Anna. DING! And with that, the game began to load.

The party was in full swing. According to Alfred, it was still only 9pm. Keaton wiped the sweat off his brow. He's been scrubbing floors and counters for about 5 hours now, excluding times where he had to deal with drunks and... "entertainers". Keaton averted his eyes when they were onstage.
JJ soon entered. He flung the doors open wide and yelled out "¿Que pasa?!"
Keaton smiled. Finally, someone to take his mind off the distinguished lady entertainers. "Good evening, JJ." He looked over JJ's shoulder and saw there were people following behind him. "Oh! New friends! JJ, you didn't tell me you were bringing guests! Evening, friends. The name's Keaton. You can call me Keet if you'd like to. My pronouns are he/him."
One by one, they introduced themselves. The first person told Keet his name was Gary, and his pronouns are he/him. Gary was a tall kid with a bit of facial stubble and a mop of black hair. I guess not brushing your hair is the cool thing, Keaton thought to himself.
The next kid was introduced as Kat, she/they. Kat had pigtails and was wearing a lolita dress that went up to her knees. She was mute as well, and them doing sign language threw Keaton off. He knew a little bit of ASL, but he didn't know enough to fluently speak it.
'Hello. My name is K-e-a-...' he tried again. 'I'm K-e-e-...' "How do you sign T?"
Kat showed him and he did a double take. 'You're not deaf?'
'No,' she signed. 'Just mute.'
Keaton sighed. "Okay. I don't know much sign language. If you need anything, Kat, I'm happy to help."
Kat smiled behind their screen. Not a lot of video games are known for being okay with diversity, but this blew her away.
Back in the game, Keaton looked over at the other two. He didn't see the other one, he could only see Isabelle, she/her. Isabelle stuck her hand out to shake his. Keaton was impressed. Good manners are very important.
"Hello, Keet. I'm Isabelle, my pronouns are she/her. It's very nice to meet you."
Keaton was taken aback. "Well, it's nice to meet you too, Isabelle. Do you prefer Isabelle, or can I call you Izzy?"
Isabelle looked at Keaton and then nodded. "Izzy's fine."
Keaton nodded once with a smile. "Alrighty, Izzy."
When Keaton finally got to the last member of the party, he was not expecting what he saw. The woman after Izzy was drop-dead gorgeous. Her eyes were sparkling in the lights, her hair was a dark auburn red, and she was wearing a black crop-top under white overalls. Keaton averted his eyes to the ground and saw that the woman was also wearing Converse and ankle bracelets. He looked back up to see her face again and saw, just briefly, her dangly diamond earrings.
He found her.
"Hello, Keet. I'm Anastasia. You can call me Anna. My pronouns are she/her."
Keaton was lost in thought, his mind flashing over a million pictures in his head. And she finally has a name.
His nose twitched and he snapped back to the present. "Oh! I'm so so sorry, m'am. Anna, was it?"
Anastasia nodded. Keaton smiled. Her name sounded right coming from him. "Well, Anna, welcome to Mama's."