It's possible. If my man did it with me, you can do it too.

I still don't like the idea of games. I'd rather go do water sports, learn a language, go out or watch every season of Bob's Burgers again then invest 30 hours in a game. But, here I am pissed off I have to wait until Sunday to play on my man's Xbox in my underpants and not answer to anyone but that magic lady telling me what to do in Fable.

Anyway. Here's what happened, and why it worked.

1. BF went to the effort of giving me his Xbox and games to play. Let's put this scenario in different terms... your beloved dog brings you a toy, or your little baby kid friend brings you a toy phone, what do you do? You PLAY with that shit, because you aren't scum. The same theory applies. He gave me something important out of the kindness of his heart. Not being scum stipulates I appreciatively use it.

2. Furthermore, BF went to the effort of devising a fucking curriculum mapping plan to help me along from "how do I hold this controller?" to "bitch let's play ________ get your ass online." I'm not jumping into playing Battlefield with him (yet) but I'm a far sight closer than I was three days ago. If I went to that effort of thought, to plan out a progression of games one by one, even if coming up with that plan was easy and in an area I loved, I would be quietly disappointed if the person I did it for didn't at least try. When someone gives you a tip, cares about you enough to offer a suggestion, at least try to act on it.

3. I was sitting with him while he played.... Something. And I was asking questions, and he was answering, and he eventually said, "Let's try this." I start playing Rayman's Legend. And loved it. I got to save these cute little noodles, the controls weren't complicated, and I wasn't overwhelmed with decisions about where to go in a huge world. He knew to start me here because he listened to my frustrations.... I don't like complicated buttons, I can't even run without getting stuck in corners, I get frustrated when I feel like I'm not exploring everything and am not on task, I don't want to play with other people until I know they will be able to enjoy playing with me instead of feeling like I might be a nuisance because I'm dying every five seconds. He never made me feel bad, he heard me out, and even though I probably unknowingly insulted his passion he valued my perspective because he values me. He took my ass to the game store and bought me my own Rayman's Legend to play on my own, and when I told him I still wasn't good enough to beat it all the way he told me fuck it-- even he probably couldn't (probs a lie) and that I was more than ready to try the next one, which on his list was Fable 2. Which was so right. Bird turds falling in people? I can be a good guy with an EYE PATCH? I HAVE A DOG! There's a runny glitter trail so I don't get confused? I feel like a hero? Yes. Yes. All the things yes. He paid attention to me, my comments, what I liked, and showed me where to find more of it. And it worked. So try some stuff with your person... Start them easy and then up the stakes with something you know they'll be motivated to play.

4. I'm going back to the patience bit. He lets me ask him so many questions, and answers them, too. He doesn't belittle me, shrug me off, or any of that. He doesn't show his frustration that I may be interrupting him while he plays his game. Although I try not to ask too many questions or ask at obviously inopportune times, it has to be slightly vexing. But not to him. Who one earth has that kind of self control? You ask me questions when I'm watching the new episode of GOT, or Unbreakable, or a horse show, and I get testy. But THIS GUY, he welcomes my questions. Probably because he's in it for the long game to spark my passion for his passion, but still!

5. I never realized how social gaming can be. I thought it was impersonal, hard to navigate, and intangible... All major turn offs to an extrovert like me. I never realized how much he interacts with these people he plays with... How he knows more about his friend on another continent than some of our own family, and how he was there when that guy graduated/got promoted/got married/had a lil nugget. That's a more meaningful relationship than I even have with some of the people I hang out with weekly in person. So don't take for granted the knowledge you have, or the way of life you live as a gamer, and how someone not involved has no concept of what that's like.

6. Everyone has a different love language, and some people have more than one. For me? I want to spend time with my man. I want to be next to his fine ass as much as possible. If I can play, we can play together, and that means I get two of my favorite things: time with him, and time I can physically touch him. If you can patiently and aptly bring your SO into this world the way mine did, you can get more out of your relationship.

Tldr Rayman's Legend leads to Fable 2 leads to butt touching. Haha see now you wanna read it.