[Kamen Rider Die]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunred

And next, episode 13. That one person I think was important in Ryuki finally debuts.

Yeah, I...

Man, I don't know when I'm going to be watching that. I'm sort-of not doing great with emotions right now.

I'm a small business owner in Chicago, and my governor just told me I have to shut down my business for the next seventeen days at a minimum. (Strangely, "comic book shop" was not designated an essential business. Tell that to the dude who's outside my store first thing every Wednesday for Spider-Man comics, Pritzker!) The guidance from the city makes it unclear what I can do to support my customers and generate any revenue. Can I go in to pack up books for USPS delivery? Unclear. Can I go in to ring up books for curbside pickup? Unclear, but looking like a no. Can I get in a car to drop off shipments outside customers' houses? Unclear. In the meantime, I've got leases on two locations to pay, bills coming pretty goddamn steady from suppliers for standing orders placed months ago, and my own personal expenses to worry about. I'm low-key freaking out right now. I'm trying to watch a funny episode of Better Call Saul (Kim's impression of Kevin is Emmy material) and I have to keep stopping it every commercial break because I'm too anxious to enjoy it.

Like, I legitimately don't know how my business survives this. There're promises of loans, but I'm not sure if we'll qualify, I'm not sure if they'll be enough, and I'm not sure how we'll be able to pay them back with long-term reductions in walk-in traffic and everyone in America being broke. It's a kind of stress I've never known in the twelve years I've owned a business.

So, yeah, unfortunately, real hard to take my mind off of things and have fun with Kamen Rider right now. It should feel like an escape, but as my financial reality is crumbling with a speed hitherto unimagined, it's a little distracting. I don't know. I'm remembering Chris Onstad, creator of the comic strip Achewood, explaining why strips would be going on hiatus while his family moved: "There would be comics about crying." Like, man, I don't know if you want to read my thoughts on Ryuki right now. It would maybe be disappointing.

But, like, that's right this minute. Probably ain't going to be another Ryuki write-up tonight, is the short version. I'll try for tomorrow, if my anxiety abates. If I don't get around to it for another few days, it's because I just couldn't get to a space to really process anything else.

It's rough out there, y'all. Take care of yourselves, stay safe, and try to take your mind off of things if you can. Sorry this thread can't do that right now.