SORT OF

Subject: SORT OF
Author: Cat-on-the-Keyboard
Posted on: 2017-01-23 04:41:00 UTC

I spent a solid five years looking for the second Septimus Heap book. I only found it last summer, and I was in the middle of something else at the time (was it Carry On?) so I didn't pursue it. I probably should have.

I personally love time travel, and think Pseudonymous Bosch handled it pretty well, but I get that it's not for everyone (I wish I hadn't read the whole series though *grumble grumble* actually I liked it; I'm just annoyed that my first-ever LO had to go get herself a boyfriend *disappointed small lesbian noises*).

Ayyyy, one can't not read the prequel! As for Chasing Vermeer, the big question: how many of the codes did you crack?

And Lemony Snicket's writing is pretty amazing. Yeah, it's settled; I have to read ATWQ. I'll probably do it this summer; I volunteer (high school requirement) in the children's section of the library, and they let me read on the job (befriending librarians is among the best life choices I ever made).

Okay, I also want to ask you about stuff I like that I got into post-fifth grade: Anything Susanna Clarke? How about Six of Crows -- it's kind of YA, I know, but it's good YA. Are you perhaps one of those wonderful people who treats Shakespeare as a fandom?

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Hi (again) or kind of returnbie by periferal on 2017-01-22 17:37:00 UTC Reply

So three years ago I posted here under the name "lightdarkpheonix" for a while, obtained Permission and then began but never finished a sporking of the fic Life of Cristancia.
It is now three years later and I kind of miss the PPC but have no idea how to return.

So uh, hello!

Hiya! by The Triumvirate on 2017-01-28 15:55:00 UTC Reply

I'm going to give you a present now. Because I can. Deal with it. Accept my kindness. You cannot prevent me from being kind to you.

Your present: a full set of dice! They come in all your favorite shapes: d3/4, d6, d8, 2d10 (your probability dice), d12, and a d20. The pattern is yours to choose! Do be mindful of when, how, and most importantly why you use them, though - dice have been known to have... certain amounts of power, when placed in the right (or wrong, as the case may be) hands.
Have a welcome-back plover! (nm) by Tawaki on 2017-01-25 14:22:00 UTC Reply
I think I remember you... by eatpraylove on 2017-01-23 17:03:00 UTC Reply

Anyway, welcome back! Here's a mechanical pencil and an extra box of lead!

*attaches to fishing pole* (nm) by periferal on 2017-01-23 18:30:00 UTC Reply

Wait, what? (nm) by eatpraylove on 2017-01-23 23:01:00 UTC Reply

I think I got a fishing pole the first time I showed up by periferal on 2017-01-24 00:02:00 UTC Reply

I have an odd sense of humor.

Hello returnbie. by Hardric on 2017-01-23 17:00:00 UTC Reply

Please have a bag of black-hole chocolates and a self-updating guidebook of all the deathtraps in the multiverse. Really hope you're back to stay.

Anyways, welcome bac to the madhouse.
Welcome back! :D by SkarmorySilver on 2017-01-23 13:26:00 UTC Reply

Since I don't think I've given you a newbie gift before, have one of my own shed feathers and a complimentary kit of Spikes!

thank you by periferal on 2017-01-23 15:14:00 UTC Reply

these should go well with the fishing pole i got last time.

I realize I haven't actually given you a gift yet by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-01-23 05:09:00 UTC Reply

How thoughtless of me! Have an invitation to the live chat on Discord: https://discord.gg/HatcBnQ

I'm not actually on right now, since I have an essay to write, but they seem to be having a lot of fun. Looks like a dramatic badfic reading.

thank you! (nm) by periferal on 2017-01-23 15:12:00 UTC Reply

Welcome (for the first time) or kind of greeting by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2017-01-23 01:28:00 UTC Reply

Well, if you want to return to the PPC, you've made a really good first step by returning.
So, good job!
You're done!

Welcome back, mate.
My gift upon you is: this incredibly complex mechanical device!
You can do all sorts of things with it - keep doors open, keep gates open, keep hatchways open, keep windows open, keep curtains open. And then you can put it on a book to stop it from closing, or you can throw it at a window and it'll break the window.
Think of the possibilities that this machine, which took over five generations to put together and complete, can hold for you!
Think of all the entryways you could hold open with it!

So you got permission, oy? Who're your agents, then?
They on the Wiki?
Also also: what's your favourite spin-off?

Welcome! Back!

Reply reply by periferal on 2017-01-23 02:01:00 UTC Reply

Thank you. I shall use this bookmark faithfully

I never actually posted any missions, and I am very embarassed by those agents in general, so that's probably for the best. But I think the wiki page I made under my old name is still up (oh god).

Spin-off of what? If you mean Sherlock Holmes than probably either elementary or the short story A Study in Emerald.

No, nonono no no! by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2017-01-23 02:23:00 UTC Reply

It's not a bookmark, it's an incredibly complex device that has been passed down the family line for centuries. It is an astoundingly complex, intricate mechanism, built of over a million gears and pistons and springs and engines and such.
It, er, makes a really good bookmark, but! But!
It makes a really good door-holder, too! And window-breaker!
Don't you forget that.

And I meant PPC spin-off! The sort of other stories that aren't from Jay and Acacia, is what I meant.
Spin-off is a really, really vague term, and, er. I realise I honestly would have reacted the exact same way.
Pardon me!

But, you know, if I ever feel the sort of need to read Sherlock Holmes, I will remember that!

Ah I see now by periferal on 2017-01-23 04:08:00 UTC Reply

What a wondrous device!

Oh whoops. Uh. It's honestly been a while, which I should correct, but the stories with the characters who are all minor characters played by the same actor were could.
I'm very tired right now so more specifics will come in the morning. I also don't know where to begin, now that I've returned. There's just so much and I'd like a list of what order would be best to read them.

Have some more links! by Neshomeh on 2017-01-23 05:20:00 UTC Reply

Also, hi. I should probably say that. I do remember your old username, if only vaguely. Welcome back!

For the links, I have a list of spin-offs I like specifically for occasions like this. You don't have to read them in any particular order, though starting with the introductory ones is probably a good idea. Enjoy! {= )

~Neshomeh

thank you! by periferal on 2017-01-23 14:00:00 UTC Reply

I definitely remember you! You seemed pretty cool, if terrifyingly impressive (which described how I viewed all the oldbies, ngl)

THANK YOU SO MUCH THAT IS VERY USEFUL :D
-Wes

That name rings a bell, I think. by Desdendelle on 2017-01-23 00:13:00 UTC Reply

Welcome back, returnbie. Please have this piece of music as a welcome-back gift.

Yay music by periferal on 2017-01-23 00:22:00 UTC Reply

I think my post noticeable achievement was nearly having no permission because I had an agent who collected Sue hair samples. And otherwise was Sherlock!Moriarty!Edgy
Whoops.

the part with the information by periferal on 2017-01-22 18:01:00 UTC Reply

Fandoms: Harry Potter, RWBY, Discworld, random one off novels that I wish had more fanfic, too many tv shows, Sherlock Holmes (all of them)
I fear the remnants of my attempt at a mission still little some pages so I'm going to go uh-- deal with that.
Eventually.
Pronouns are he/him.

Ooh, what novels? by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-01-23 01:29:00 UTC Reply

I love one-off novels, especially ones that need more fanfic (not that I would help write fanfic for them, but I'd join you in bemoaning the lack of it :P). All my fandoms are tiny and underficced (with the rather notable exception of Star Trek: TOS)(and I think A Series of Unfortunate Events is in the beginnings of a fanfic explosion thanks to the new Netflix series. . . I'm terrified).

--Key

We should form a club! by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2017-01-23 02:09:00 UTC Reply

A club for people who have fandoms that exist only in theory!

We can all gather on Fridays in a clubhouse, and sit around and awkwardly look at each other, because we don't know anyone else's fandoms!

I feel like there should be a subdepartment by periferal on 2017-01-23 04:11:00 UTC Reply

But that sounds nice

There are so many books that deserve so much more love.

I think there's a Rare Fandoms Division of the PPC by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-01-23 04:55:00 UTC Reply

(I would look it up, but the computer I'm on is too slow to load the wiki. I think they only had a couple missions, anyway.)

There is! Have some links! by Neshomeh on 2017-01-23 05:01:00 UTC Reply

The Sub-department of Rare Fandoms doesn't have its own wiki page yet, but there certainly could be if anyone were interested in making one! There are actually quite a lot of missions, but most of them are by just one person, for just a handful of fandoms, many of which aren't actually all that rare, now that I look at it. I dunno how much lore there is about the actual division, either. If you delve into it, good luck!

~Neshomeh

Ah thank you! :D (nm) by periferal on 2017-01-23 14:02:00 UTC Reply
Thank you! by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-01-23 05:28:00 UTC Reply

I probably will look into the lore -- if I ever get around to writing missions, they will for sure be for tiny, tiny fandoms.

same, honestly by periferal on 2017-01-23 14:02:00 UTC Reply

I feel like if I tried to write missions now it would either be for excruciating Sherlock Holmes stuff (I am a slash shipper and some of the H/W stuff is just. Painful) or, alternatively, THAT ONE REALLY BAD ARCADIA FIC I FOUND (arcadia is a play)

I suspect a lot of people would be happy to see those dead by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-01-23 14:42:00 UTC Reply

I'm generally a slash shipper too, and while I'm not heavily into Sherlock Holmes, I'm familiar enough with the canon (read a good chunk of the original short stories, saw a fair piece of the new show) that I know there is a lot of H/W out there, and as the maxim goes, 90% of it is crud.

(I need to go refamiliarize myself with a ~~decent~~ version of ~~Irene Adler, the greatest~~ Sherlock Holmes ~~that wasn't written by a certain Mr. Moffat~~.)

excuse me a moment while I have FEELINGS by periferal on 2017-01-23 15:04:00 UTC Reply

I mean like I have greater issues with the authors who write basically slash and then in their authors notes go "and this is obviously not slash because that would be gross and wrong" (WHICH IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN A PUBLISHED SHERLOCK HOLMES THING THAT CAME OUT A FEW YEARS AGO BECAUSE UGH) but just.
Why is Watson always mpreg. Why. WHY
(weirdly Sherlock Holmes is a place where I found the One Good Sentinel/Guide Fic so)

(OKAY SO I LOVED THAT SHOW AND WROTE A LOT OF FANFIC IN IT UNDER MY OLD USERNAME AND NOW I AM SO UPSET
when the 19th century author writes better female characters you need to rethink things. A lot.
-vague mutterings about Mary-)

I mean, I can't imagine Sherlock carrying a baby by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-01-26 06:32:00 UTC Reply

Nasty, dirty, smelly things ~~wait~~. Out of the two, Watson ~~the one who doesn't fake jumping off cliffs~~ is the more parental.

Didn't mean to upset you... I am also upset. I flat-out stopped watching after s4e1 (which was maybe petty...but I was attached...) (highlight to reveal spoilers: I was complaining to my sister about how I hate stupid sexist tropes where women get killed off just to get an emotional reaction from the guys in their lives. And at first she told me I was overreacting and it wasn't like that...but by the end of the season, I don't know what happened, but she was in agreement).

You said "Sherlock carrying a baby" and I thought of this. by Iximaz on 2017-01-26 21:28:00 UTC Reply

Thank you and you're welcome.

OKAY SO by periferal on 2017-01-23 01:57:00 UTC Reply

THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING ASOUF BECAUSE ONE OF THE TINY THINGS I WAS THINKING OF WAS "ALL THE WRONG QUESTIONS" WHICH IS A SERIES ABOUT LEMONY SNICKET AS A CHILD

Okay. Ahem.
The book The Manual of Detection.
Agatha Christie novels (and then they were none)

OKAY AND by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-01-23 02:09:00 UTC Reply

It never even occurred to me to write fanfic about Agatha Christie (even though I once put on a fan production of Murder on the Orient Express with my little sister and a bunch of stuffed toys)! And Then There Were None will always have such a special place in my heart.

By the time ATWQ came out, I was way out of the target age group and firmly attached to my headcanons about Lemony Snicket and VFD, so I never quite got into them (didn't want to, oddly enough -- Lemony Snicket was a mysterious figure who communicated through coded notes stuck in your dry cleaning; it was weird seeing him have a life and childhood. That was narrow of me and I ought to give the series another shot).

Things I put into a category with ASOUE: The Name of this Book is Secret? Mysterious Benedict Society? The Candymakers? Anything by Daniel Pinkwater? Chasing Vermeer?

--Key

AND SO by periferal on 2017-01-23 04:14:00 UTC Reply

Honestly despite being way older than the main character ATWQ is amazing just for the descriptions.

I read Vermeer and the mysterious Benedict society (including the prequel) and some of the name of this book is secret-- when the time travel happened I got very confused.
Do you remember the settings heap books?

SORT OF by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-01-23 04:41:00 UTC Reply

I spent a solid five years looking for the second Septimus Heap book. I only found it last summer, and I was in the middle of something else at the time (was it Carry On?) so I didn't pursue it. I probably should have.

I personally love time travel, and think Pseudonymous Bosch handled it pretty well, but I get that it's not for everyone (I wish I hadn't read the whole series though *grumble grumble* actually I liked it; I'm just annoyed that my first-ever LO had to go get herself a boyfriend *disappointed small lesbian noises*).

Ayyyy, one can't not read the prequel! As for Chasing Vermeer, the big question: how many of the codes did you crack?

And Lemony Snicket's writing is pretty amazing. Yeah, it's settled; I have to read ATWQ. I'll probably do it this summer; I volunteer (high school requirement) in the children's section of the library, and they let me read on the job (befriending librarians is among the best life choices I ever made).

Okay, I also want to ask you about stuff I like that I got into post-fifth grade: Anything Susanna Clarke? How about Six of Crows -- it's kind of YA, I know, but it's good YA. Are you perhaps one of those wonderful people who treats Shakespeare as a fandom?

MANY WORDS by periferal on 2017-01-23 14:06:00 UTC Reply

I read up until the... somethingth book, and then there was time travel which turned me off because little me was more interested in the spells than the characters (whoops). I NEED TO READ CARRY ON (that's the gay harry potter one, right?)

I read the synopsis, admittedly, so was very confused, but I am definitely going to reread that at some point now that I remember it exists. (Oh no, I hate it when that happens. Sincerely. As a boy who was at one time a small lesbian (it's complicated) I feel you)

I read it so long ago I can't remember, whoops.

THAT SOUNDS INCREDIBLE. I need more librarian friends.

I haven't read anything by Susanna Clarke, or six of crows, but i gotta. I went through a huge YA phase-- got into a highschool on the strength of an essay about how much I hated the last divergent novel :P

SHAKESPEARE IS A FANDOM AND DESERVES MORE FANFIC AND I LOVE HIM

BOOKS. AND PLAYS. AND THINGS. by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-01-26 07:04:00 UTC Reply

Yes, Carry On is the gay Harry Potter one. Specifically, Harry Potter falls in love with Edward Cullen and they go on a quest to save the world. And it's actually really good and infringes on no copyrights. I really like it. My friends like it even more -- one of them is one of the major bloggers for the Tumblr fandom, another has a copy which she's passed around and everyone she knows has read and written in it, we did a dramatic reading in a subway station.

It's complicated? Like, okay, being trans or gender-fluid or something is one thing, but now I'm imagining a forbidden magic potion gone wrong, you angered a faerie, you knocked over the wrong vial while cleaning your friends' lab, or a Disguise Generator was horribly broken (also I want to link to Baroness Delta Juliette's Plort coming-out story, but wiki not working on my computer so go find it yourself (you're a returnbie; you know how Plort works, right?) because it is good and when I think things are good I make people read them)

Or, okay, normal people use "it's complicated" when they don't want to talk about things. I'll drop it.

I might be a librarian (my plans for the future are extremely undecided). If we stay in touch you might get a librarian friend :P

If you get more invested in spells than people, you might not like Six of Crows; the magic is a little hand-wave-y (although I hear the companion series has more world-building) and while it's a tightly-plotted adventure novel, it's mostly about the characters figuring out what to do with their various traumatic backstories (warnings for almost everything)(okay that's not accurate, but yeah, lots of warnings). It's really well-done...but maybe not your thing.

Susanna Clarke, though, basically just writes about her world and system of magic, with characters as an excuse. A good excuse, but the pseudo-scholarly asides are the best part.

OKAY Shakespeare is the only fandom I write for on a regular basis and I have so much (for example) Antony and Cleopatra slash (that I need to just go ahead and publish already) so if you ever want to read anything I have everything because THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH SHAKESPEARE FIC.

STOP THE PRESSES by Iximaz on 2017-01-23 04:50:00 UTC Reply

WE HAVE MORE SEPTIMUS HEAP FANS HERE?

YEP. HELLO (nm) by periferal on 2017-01-23 14:18:00 UTC Reply
Me, not quite by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2017-01-23 05:00:00 UTC Reply

All those years of futile searching kind of killed the joy. But good, you have something in common with periferal! Help make him love us so he doesn't fall prey to Disappearing Newbie Syndrome!

Hi! by palindromordnilap on 2017-01-22 17:52:00 UTC Reply

(I should probably greet newbies and returnbies more often.)
Welcome (back) aBoard! I don't think I was here when you were active in the PPC, but it's nice to see you here! c:
Anyway, have this... I'm not sure what this is. Don't look at it for too long, just to be safe. And do not pay attention to the singing.

*waving* by periferal on 2017-01-22 17:58:00 UTC Reply

Thank you?
I still have that fishing pole someone gave me the first time around I wonder if that will...
Oh god, you weren't kidding about the singing were you

Returnbie! *glomp* *poke* by Iximaz on 2017-01-22 17:45:00 UTC Reply

I remember you, too! Have this plate of welcome-back SPaGhetti!

Yay I'm remembered! by periferal on 2017-01-22 17:48:00 UTC Reply

I remember your user vaguely but mostly what I remember is being kind of an edgelord. Sigh.
Also should I do the listing of fandoms thing because they've changed some.