That music, too.

Subject: That music, too.
Author: Larfen J. Stocke, esq
Posted on: 2016-07-19 13:06:00 UTC

Heard the theme to Howl's Moving Castle, recently.
It's bloody beautiful.

What do you mean by subtlety? I get sort of what you mean with it, (at least, what it looks like when something doesn't have subtle storytelling,) but what's specifically subtle in their stuff?
I need more reasons to beat myself up over not seeing their works.

I love subtlety, myself. Feels like the creator respects me as a human being with a brain inside of my head instead of the spaghetti-jelly mixture wobbling around in the skull that some people reckon we have.

Reply Return to messages

Jump to this post's position in the thread ↴

Fresh meat! by Aeroden on 2016-07-19 04:39:00 UTC Reply

Hello! Newbie here. Feel free to call me Aer, or Aero. Or any other appellation. I'm not overly picky.

I've only read the Original Series, and one or two other stories, sadly, but the humour and taking apart bad writing has convinced me it might be worth my while to crawl out of my cubby-hole and introduce myself. Way back when I was young, innocent, and naive to the ways of the internet, I had dreamt of myself as a fanfic writer (old shame, really). I began a quest to seek out fine fanfics to use as examples of the shining standards of storytelling. Needless to say, I encountered such disappointment in my search that I gave up on the dream for years.

That is when I stumbled across the PPC.

Belated welcome! by eatpraylove on 2016-07-24 14:37:00 UTC Reply

And if you're still looking for top-quality fanfics, I recommend the "Infinite Coffee and Protection Detail" series by owlet on AO3. Set after "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," the stories follow a deprogramming Bucky as he protects Steve from various HYDRA goons and generally adjusts to the future. Naturally, each of the other founding Avengers (and the Falcon) eventually play a role.

I found them consistently funny and interesting, though the parts dealing with Bucky's experiences as the Asset/Winter Soldier get sad and scary.

Belated response by Aeroden on 2016-07-30 07:06:00 UTC Reply

Thanks for the rec. I'm not too familiar with Captain America, but I'll take a look.

First plover! (nm) by Tawaki on 2016-07-20 14:28:00 UTC Reply

Thank you! by Aeroden on 2016-07-22 00:30:00 UTC Reply

I'm not sure how well it'll get along with the cat though.

Hi there! Have a Black Cloak of Swirly Awesomeness! by Silenthunder on 2016-07-20 01:47:00 UTC Reply

So you'll always look awesome. We're glad to have you!

Re: Hi there! Have a Black Cloak of Swirly Awesomeness! by Aeroden on 2016-07-20 03:43:00 UTC Reply

Thanks! I already feel more swirly.

Welcome, welcome! by Badger421 on 2016-07-19 23:29:00 UTC Reply

It seems everyone else has covered the basics, so I'll just say welcome to the PPC! Hope you enjoy your stay.

Oh, and take this floating hammer dulcimer as a newbie gift. I don't know how to play the thing and it keeps bumping into my floating chandelier, so hopefully you can give it a better home than I can.

Why floating? by Aeroden on 2016-07-20 00:23:00 UTC Reply

Thank you! This will go nicely with my collection of dusty instruments.

To be quite honest I've no idea. by Badger421 on 2016-07-20 01:34:00 UTC Reply

It just seemed like a good idea at the time

Hello newbie. by Hardric on 2016-07-19 17:02:00 UTC Reply

Please have this pot of black-hole coffee, and enjoy your stay here at the madhouse.

Ah yes caffeine by Aeroden on 2016-07-19 18:07:00 UTC Reply

the fuel of writers everywhere. Thanks.

Newbie! *glomp* *poke* by Iximaz on 2016-07-19 15:16:00 UTC Reply

Hello, and welcome aBoard! For your newbie gift, take this plate of freshly-made SPaGhetti!

Since it looks like everyone else beat me to my usual questions, I'll just say I hope you like it here!

Re: Newbie! *glomp* *poke* by Aeroden on 2016-07-19 18:05:00 UTC Reply

Thank you! Er, what's the difference between this and normal spaghetti?

SPaGhetti... by Iximaz on 2016-07-19 18:54:00 UTC Reply

...is like normal spaghetti, only it also gives you the ability to spell, punctuate, and use proper grammar when you eat it. Think of it like a pumped-up, internal spellcheck. :P

Re: SPaGhetti... by Aeroden on 2016-07-19 22:27:00 UTC Reply

Ah, yes, a fine gift. I wish I had an unlimited supply.

Welcome to Creation, here's your shovÂ—ooooh! by Voyd on 2016-07-19 15:04:00 UTC Reply

By any chance, is your username a reference to Pathfinder? Because I'm uncannily reminded of Aroden, the god of humanity.

Shove..? by Aeroden on 2016-07-19 18:04:00 UTC Reply

I've never played Pathfinder, so that's a negative.

My usual greeting is... by Voyd on 2016-07-19 18:41:00 UTC Reply

"Welcome to Creation, here's your shovel."

And aaww.

Fee-fi-fo-fum! I smell... a newbie! :D by Matt Cipher on 2016-07-19 10:40:00 UTC Reply

Welcome, welcome! Make yourself comfortable and have a slice of Infinite Pizza! :D

Re: Fee-fi-fo-fum! I smell... a newbie! :D by Aeroden on 2016-07-19 11:11:00 UTC Reply

Infinite Pizza! This is the greatest welcome gift ever! Thanks!

Also, since I hadn't seen this question yet: by Matt Cipher on 2016-07-19 12:59:00 UTC Reply

What are your pronouns of choice?

And, if you need to ask anything about the PPC and how it operates, feel free to ask! :D Email is clickable on my name.

Her, she by Aeroden on 2016-07-19 18:03:00 UTC Reply

I identify as female, but I'm honestly none too bothered by being referred to as one.

Mresh feat! by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-07-19 07:12:00 UTC Reply

Welcome, any other appellation. Great to have you here, I'm a big fan, brilliant to see that you've left the cubby-hole, very proud.

My gift to you is: rotten meat, as a healthy reminder of your own mortality.
It's the great equaliser, you know. Even I'll die, one day.
Even me!

Welcome!

Re: Mresh feat! by Aeroden on 2016-07-19 08:33:00 UTC Reply

Ooh you're the first fan of mine I've ever met! Thank you! I'll, er, be sure to take care of this rotten meat.

Please do. by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-07-19 09:27:00 UTC Reply

It's very fragile. Rot, and holes, and maggots, and whatnot.

So, you've heaps of fandoms. Too many to list, and all.
I'm a pretty smart bloke, so I've already figured them, but for the sake of everyone else, what're your, I don't know, top five fandoms, then?

Re: Please do. by Aeroden on 2016-07-19 10:20:00 UTC Reply

Yes, I can see that. It's grown rather...squishy.

I'd reward you if you can prove you've got them. I'm guessing that anyone who's read my introduction can already guess I'm into LotR. I'm also a rabid fan of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, pretty much anything Studio Ghibli puts out, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Hannibal. I wouldn't say they're my top five, but they're definitely up there, and I figured they'd be common enough to find like minds in most places.

Mate, Last Airbender's brilliant. by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-07-19 11:33:00 UTC Reply

Ought to re-watch that. I sometimes forget how good it is, and then I see it and it beats my expectations.
I'm very stupid, like that.

Always wanted to see something by Ghibli, though. That sort've stuff looks awesome.

Yes you ought to. by Aeroden on 2016-07-19 12:08:00 UTC Reply

I know it's got rave reviews already, but I cannot overstate how amazing it is, particularly in the context of a children's cartoon.

Ghibli is my Disney. I grew up on their work. I feel like that left me with a lot of room for disappointment when I finally got that classic Disney I had so desired. I love the subtlety of the storytelling, the heroines, and the art, of course, is stunning.

That music, too. by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-07-19 13:06:00 UTC Reply

Heard the theme to Howl's Moving Castle, recently.
It's bloody beautiful.

What do you mean by subtlety? I get sort of what you mean with it, (at least, what it looks like when something doesn't have subtle storytelling,) but what's specifically subtle in their stuff?
I need more reasons to beat myself up over not seeing their works.

I love subtlety, myself. Feels like the creator respects me as a human being with a brain inside of my head instead of the spaghetti-jelly mixture wobbling around in the skull that some people reckon we have.

Fair warning, the film is different from the book. by Aeroden on 2016-07-19 18:00:00 UTC Reply

Joe Hisaishi is one of my favourite modern classical composers. One Summer's Day was the first piano piece I taught myself.

There's a lot of things they leave unsaid, or only hint at. Symbolism also comes into play. It's great that the audience (presumably the target audience remains children) are treated like they can grasp material that isn't shouted at them with a megaphone, can read between the lines, and tackle serious, unflanderized real-life issues that Disney films sometimes like to skirt over. And I love that their films are more character centred than plot-based. Heck My Neighbour Totoro doesn't really even have a plot. It's something I find much rarer in western animation.

Agh! by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-07-20 00:32:00 UTC Reply

Something's got in my eye, lemme just, er, y'know, wipe it out.
This stuff's brilliant. Need to convince one of my mates to figure out how to play this on the piano. Blimey.

I don't even know what to say, except that I'll be beating myself up harder, from now on.
Don't worry. I can take it. I drink my milk.
Just wish that there were more works that put in the effort to do that. I mean, again, look at all the bollocks that doesn't do that.
I imagine the PPC wouldn't even exist if we had more subtlety in media.

I'm not sure if... by Aeroden on 2016-07-20 03:42:00 UTC Reply

...you're just really touched by the music, my praising Ghibli, or if you've actually gone and watched a film now. I do agree though. I really loved it when there was subtle, complex storytelling, flawed, all-too-human characters, and ambiguous morality in my childhood fandoms. Probably all a result of being weaned on Ghibli films.

Also, are you by any chance British?

I'll let you take your pick. by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-07-20 03:52:00 UTC Reply

I'm Australian, which is essentially British, but slightly slowed down because of all the heat.

Ah, I do wish we had more ambiguous morality, as well. There's more room for tragedy and drama, as I see it, when the villains are just as heroic as the protagonists.

Newbie! *poke* by DCCCV on 2016-07-19 06:06:00 UTC Reply

Hello there! Congratulations for finding your way to this corner of the internet. You get a guava. *Flees from Iximaz*

Re: Newbie! *poke* by Aeroden on 2016-07-19 06:26:00 UTC Reply

It did take quite a bit of luck, both good and bad. Thank you for the welcome, but for future reference, Aerodens and guavas are mortal enemies.

A newbie! Yay! by Granz the Ice Cream Monarch on 2016-07-19 06:01:00 UTC Reply

Have this Royal Ice Cream Container! Close lid, state desired ice cream flavor, open lid, enjoy. It has infinite refills and doubles as a nuclear bomb shelter, assuming you can make yourself small enough to fit in it.

Re: A newbie! Yay! by Aeroden on 2016-07-19 06:24:00 UTC Reply

Thank you for the gift, your...actually, how does one address the Ice Cream Monarch? I'm afraid I'm not very well-versed in the court mannerisms of the Ice Cream Kingdom.

And I believe this Container will be the perfect fit for me.

Welcome, Bobby. by Desdendelle on 2016-07-19 05:58:00 UTC Reply

Here, have a hamster in a teacup.

Have you read the Constitution already? What are your fandoms?

Re: Welcome, Bobby. by Aeroden on 2016-07-19 06:22:00 UTC Reply

A fine name, Bobby.

I have indeed. I have so many I thought it would be impossible to list them all.

Finally, another air-themed Boarder! Welcome! by SkarmorySilver on 2016-07-19 05:02:00 UTC Reply

Have one of my own shed feathers and a complimentary kit of Spikes!

Re: Finally, another air-themed Boarder! Welcome! by Anonymous on 2016-07-19 05:47:00 UTC Reply

My name ironically comes from something not even remotely related to air, but thank you! I've always wanted a skarmory feather! Tell me, what does one need to eat to grow steel feathers? And is it painful to when they sprout?

He drinks lots of milk. by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-07-20 00:13:00 UTC Reply

All that calcium, y'know.

Soda, actually. I get the metal from eating the can. (nm) by SkarmorySilver on 2016-07-20 00:41:00 UTC Reply

Correctamundo! by SkarmorySilver on 2016-07-19 22:14:00 UTC Reply

I don't know how I grow steel feathers, I just do. And I molt them every year before growing new ones to replace them. ;)