Gothic.net Community - Hello there.

Hiya. I just found this place. I'll be looking around and reading some threads and generally lurking over the coming weeks, but since I'll likely end up replying to something at some point, I figured it'd only be good manors to introduce myself.

So, basically I'm here because I've always had an (unfortunately underdeveloped) interest in the darker side of things, though due to my thoroughly generic clothing and goofy smartass attitude, most people are surprised by that side of me. Mostly this interest manifests itself by a love of horror films, though in all honesty I prefer atmosphere and creepiness to random jump scares and gratuitous gore.

Anyway, so here I am, checking out the gothic community. Be gentle, it's my first time. :P Oh, and as a warning, on message boards and whatnot I tend to come off as more sarcastic/mean than I really am (or so I've been told). I've been around the block a few times in life, and frankly I've reached the point where I feel that picking fights with people on the internet is kind of a sad waste of time. Go figure, right? Yeah, so if anyone wants to insult me, complain about my occasionally unusual (or even poor) grammar, or whatever, it's your own time you're wasting. I've got better things to worry about. ;)

So here's the questionnaire thingy:

1. What do you do? (Hobbies, job)
I have a not-terribly-exciting-but-pleasant-enough office job. I like to make stuff (jewelry, leather stuff, etc) and sell it online. I started with an Etsy store but recently made my own store, Alchemical Moxie! (hence the screen name ;) ) I have a category for stuff I make with my own take on the gothic aesthetic, though honestly it's largely based on this weird obsession I have with the black and red color combination, which I believe came from old vampire costume capes which were black with red lining.

I also like to write and have put out a wacky/action packed urban fantasy/soft sci-fi novel called Psychics and Swords: The Amazing and Totally Plausible Adventures of Steve Walton. It's, well... I wouldn't call it good, but I would call it entertaining. I have a new book I've started on, which will be a collection of interlinked adventures with a little bit of horror and steampunk flavor.

2. Where are you from?
I am from fabulous Illinois.

3. Who is your favorite author?
Oy, too many to pick. I'm kind of all over the place on the reading.

4. What are your favorite films?
All time favorites are the Indiana Jones movies (yes, all four of them :p ), but I tend to most watch movies of the horror, fantasy, sci-fi, or martial arts variety. Also, I do love movies where Godzilla shows up and steps on stuff.

5. What music do you want played at your wedding?
Um... I don't know.

6. At your funeral?
I also don't know.

7. This IS a gothic website, so... how do you want to die?
Quietly in bed. Or else saving a schoolbus full of adorable children from some sort of hideous demonic monster. Whichever.

8. What kind of casket would you want?
Honestly? I've always kind of wanted to just get stuck in a wooden box and buried out in the middle of some big, dark old forest.

9. What's your FAVORITE outfit?
Anything that's comfy. I tend towards earthtones, with some dark gray and black thrown into the mix. *shrug* Nothing exciting, nothing much gothy. Going back to my answer to question #4, I used to have most of an Indiana Jones outfit (who's the closest thing to a fashion idol I've had, I guess), and still wear the bits and pieces that suit me personally (jacket, shoulder bag, shoes, and hat, though I'm sadly between hats at the moment).

10. What's one thing you miss about being a little kid?
The complete and total lack of responsibility.

11. What's your favorite band?
Nine Inch Nails. Probably not a terribly original answer around here, but what can I say? And the older and grouchier I get, the more I appreciate it. I also love David Bowie, Enigma, the Beatles and Oingo Boingo. I guess those would be my ultimate top five favorites.

12. What kind of education do you have? What is/was/will be your major?
All over the place...

13. Why did you join?
Well, as I said, gothicness is an area I've had some interest in for some time now. But outside of the teenagers hanging out at the Hot Topic in the mall where I used to work, I really haven't had much contact with this particular subculture. And I'm all for learning about subcultures and whatnot.

14. If the first 13 questions didn't give it away. What is your gender?
I'm a guy.