<i>I really can't imagine what the problem is.</i>

Subject: I really can't imagine what the problem is.
Author: The Nightshade
Posted on: 2020-07-15 13:12:01 UTC

You would hardly demand that the rain stop falling if it fell on more than one of you, would you? That would be nonsensical. So why do you object so strenuously now that we've brought the rain indoors and warmed it up for you?

I suppose it's possible you're afraid one of you will soak in more than their fair share, but don't worry - we can provide enough water for all of you.

-The Nightshade, Head, Department of Operations

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New spooky interlude! by Mirage Fontane on 2020-07-11 07:14:36 UTC Writing Reply

In which May, Melissa and rookie agent Sumie decide to share some campfire tales on a mission... but it turns really scary.

What a fun one this was to write. ^_^ I love doing missions, but as I mentioned in my last mission post, I feel like it's about time for me to break away from the mold and explore the PPC setting a little more. It's chronologically set after and during two missions I have yet to publish, but I've been sitting on this for a while and I'm really eager to see what you guys think. I can't give individual content warnings because I'd give away plot points, but it's a horror story... sort of. It's meant to be at least a little disturbing.

Also, a bar of Bleepolate to anyone who figures out which famous horror tale was my inspiration for this one. I'll help: it's a Stephen King short story, and still one of my favorites of his.

Well... enjoy!

https://rc746.dreamwidth.org/4595.html

Darn, almost forgot to give credit where credit is due. Many thanks to Larf for betaing this one.

This was great! by Neshomeh on 2020-07-15 20:12:54 UTC Reply

Figured I'd better comment on the story, since I'm RPing in the thread.

I really liked it. There's some great imagery, such as the head floating in darkness and the creepiness inside RC 1000. I was genuinely uneasy, half a suspicion that "I'm melting" was going to end up being a Wizard of Oz gag notwithstanding. I think it's a very PPC sort of horror, too—not gory, not overly macabre, just messing around with your comfortable notions of what's real and what's not. It's a cool piece of lore I hope to find a chance to reference in my own work at some point.

... Which theoretically might not be that hard, since my DIC boys have one that should (sometimes) be right next to it... {= O

I think RC 1000 should be added to the List of RCs with a link to this story. ^_^

~Neshomeh

Thank you! by Mirage Fontane on 2020-07-15 22:34:39 UTC Reply

I'm so glad to hear that you liked this story, and I'm happy to have added something of my own to the PPC universe. And I was actually going to ask whether I should add RC 1000 to the list, but you've answered that question for me. :) It shall be done right away. And really, I'd be honored if you were to reference this short tale I wrote one late night in your own writing. ^_^

Thanks for reading!

Okay, that was fun. by Huinesoron on 2020-07-14 09:39:58 UTC Reply

I loved the rapid-fire references in the early 'scary stories', they were great fun to spot.

And the story itself... spooky. Very well done.

hS

Why thank you. ^_^ (nm) by Mirage Fontane on 2020-07-14 17:47:01 UTC Reply

Great work by Meta007 on 2020-07-13 05:47:28 UTC Reply

Really enjoyed it, and completely understand what you mean about the desire to explore HQ setting a little more.

Thanks, Meta. ^_^ by Mirage Fontane on 2020-07-13 08:03:21 UTC Reply

This has to be one of my favorites of my own PPC writings. There are just so many possibilities with this setting - and I love the PPC urban legends and conspiracy theories a lot, so it was great adding my own to them.

That is a good scary story by Tomash on 2020-07-13 03:28:24 UTC Reply

(No specific thoughts atm, just wanted to at least say I read it and liked it)

Thank you! by Mirage Fontane on 2020-07-13 08:00:35 UTC Reply

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!

Re: mid-mission . . . interlude? No, intermission! Ha ha ha! Intermission! by doctorlit on 2020-07-12 20:39:50 UTC Reply

Hey, this was a lot of fun to read! The light, PPC-standard tone of the opening scene made the emotional impact of the actually scary scary story stronger. I'm very intrigued by RC 1000 (that number wasn't taken yet!? What?!) and what could have happened in there to make the HQ dimensions go all wonky. I . . . hope Sierra is rescue-able in some fashion? Though I understand if this is meant to function more as a setting-expanding legend and not a proper plot hook. Also, it's interesting that May isn't actually telling the story as we-the-readers are hearing it, which I assumed was happening in real time while I was reading that section. I'm a little surprised May is keeping this secret from Melissa, especially considering it occurred while they were partnered.

When Melissa was telling the Rose Potter story in the beginning, I got real spooked. Not by Potter, but by the revelation that Headquarters has communal showers. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

But do you know what's even scarier?

. . .

. . .

A typo!

"'I must have imagined it, or remember the wrong place.'"
"remembered"

Oh, by the way, have you come across the Halloween Co-Write stories yet? They're right up your alley! I should have thought to point them out to you before . . . Sorry!

—doctorlit and his nightmares about shared showers in an unstable inter-dimensional universe

Oh, we've always had those. by Huinesoron on 2020-07-14 09:47:04 UTC Reply

Communal showers, I mean. Kaitlyn and Selene had a chat in them, and the Multiverse Monitor crew liked to hang around outside them to get photos for Page 3. Come to think of it, I think you could take photos in there in the PPC Computer Game (which was based on the Monitor, so yeah).

hS

Yup. Nume had to use them once. by Neshomeh on 2020-07-15 20:26:14 UTC Reply

For about a week, while a territorial mini-Aragog was occupying his RC's bathroom. I wasn't imagining open communal showers like you'd find at a pool, though I'm sure those exist, too—or else some of the stalls must be large enough to accommodate an Andalite if he needs to wash glitter out of his fur.

FicPsych has communal showers, too, and they're definitely not open ones. Just several stalls set alongside one another.

~Neshomeh
Aurgh, but the potential for awkwardness! It's immeasurable! AAAUUURGH! (nm) by doctorlit on 2020-07-15 12:15:21 UTC Reply

I really can't imagine what the problem is. by The Nightshade on 2020-07-15 13:12:01 UTC Reply

You would hardly demand that the rain stop falling if it fell on more than one of you, would you? That would be nonsensical. So why do you object so strenuously now that we've brought the rain indoors and warmed it up for you?

I suppose it's possible you're afraid one of you will soak in more than their fair share, but don't worry - we can provide enough water for all of you.

-The Nightshade, Head, Department of Operations

It's not that... by Tanner Rice on 2020-07-15 13:37:27 UTC Reply

The problem is mainly that we tend to take our clothes off in order to wash everything in the shower, and we are very sensitive about seeing each other naked or in considerably less clothing than usual. (Well, MOST people cough cough are, but the exceptions are all perverts and/or shameless heathens.) So obviously, communal showers would be a little bit awkward due to the fact that they involve multiple people in the same room with reduced clothing.

Did someone call for a shameless heathen? :D by Jenni Robinson on 2020-07-15 15:43:05 UTC Reply

Honestly, people, we've all got variations on the same bits. It wouldn't be a big deal if no one made such a big deal of it. And then there are those with vastly different bits who simply don't fit in a regular shower, too.

Anyway, if you have one of the newer RCs, you've got a bathroom to yourself. Be happy and don't make it weird for those who have to use communal facilities whether they want to or not.

--Jenni

PS. I might be a pervert, too, but I'm not telling. You'll just have to use your imagination. ;)

Some of us are more than happy to share that gift of our newer RCs with other people ;) (nm) by Jacques Bonnefoy on 2020-07-15 15:50:49 UTC Reply

Cold showers, you lot. Cold. Showers. I wondered why Robinson had been looking preoccupied... by Spinel Promotor Notary of the ConCounOfGaInEx on 2020-07-15 19:09:37 UTC Reply

Why would you even want to do that? With anyone? There's no space, it's slippery, you have to take turns in the water, it's vastly overrated. I could go on but decency forbids it. Instead, I'll simply recommend a wet room to all concerned. Much more livable, and it means your partner with a serious medical condition can't elbow your towel heater and turn it into a plague of iron frogs.

But you outlined the reasons so well! by Jenni Robinson on 2020-07-15 19:27:11 UTC Reply

No space = getting close, slippery = slippery, and if you get chilly there's a friend to warm you up. :D

Granted, there would be more room and more hot water in an open shower (read: "wet room"), but I understand that would make some people uncomfortable. Alas, we must make do with the small ones if we would.

FYI, I'm writing from RC 5242, and that invitation of Jacques' still stands. ^_~

--Jenni

No, I don't think that can be right. by The Nightshade on 2020-07-15 14:12:06 UTC Reply

I'm sure you're trying your best, but it's obvious that you are, to be blunt for a moment, simply wrong. This idea that bipeds can't stand to look at each other without artificial additives is completely nonsensical. How could such a thing even evolve? It would be like... like needing a pot to stand up, before pots had even been invented!

It might make sense for Suvians, since they appear to have evolved as a parasite species; this could be a form of adaptive camouflage. But the majority of bipeds are not--

Wait, unless they are--?

Please excuse me; I need to have an urgent word with the Thistle. It is no exaggeration to say I may be about to rewrite the entire history of biped evolution.

-The Nightshade, Head, Department of Operations

Thanks, Doc! by Mirage Fontane on 2020-07-12 21:04:43 UTC Reply

I'm glad this was as fun to read as it was for me to write. I mostly wrote this piece as a standalone, but I'm planning to dive a bit more into Agent Ketevan's life as a DIA agent, so she might come across RC 1000 herself... who knows? :>

And yeah, I admittedly wasn't going to go in this direction with the ending, but I haven't really explored May's psyche in my stories before - Lissa is sort of my avatar, I think. I generally envisioned May as a more keeping-to-herself kind of person, so even if she's good friends with Melissa by now, I feel like it might make sense for her to not to reveal such an upsetting personal story. Especially with Sumie around.

Also, that's not a typo. :) I meant for May to say that she's remembering wrong, not that she was, hence the present tense. I figured I can use some sloppier wording if it's dialogue, but I might have to change that if it doesn't work.

And no, I haven't seen the Halloween Co-Write before, bur thanks for showing me! It really does sound like my kind of thing. :) Perhaps we the Ghost Squad could do something similar in a non-PPC setting?

Thanks for reading!
And I didn't recognize what King story was being referenced. Must not be one I've come across yet. (nm) by doctorlit on 2020-07-12 20:56:27 UTC Reply

Then I guess you haven't read Everything's Eventual? by Mirage Fontane on 2020-07-12 21:09:41 UTC Reply

It's from that collection.

No, haven't gotten to that yet. by doctorlit on 2020-07-12 23:11:59 UTC Reply

I do have a copy I found in a Goodwill, though, so . . . the eternal "I'll get to it eventually!"

Heh. Heh heh. "Eventually."

And now that I see how you intended "remember," I think it works just fine as it is.

—doctorlit, eventual reader of Eventual

Excellent by Kittyauthor on 2020-07-12 00:58:38 UTC Reply

This interlude was excellent. I loved it.

My brain isn't in reviewer mode, sorry.

I love how you dove into the story of RC 1000. It gave me a bit of the chills. I feel so bad for May.

But, wow. Lovely interlude.

For the life of me, though, I can't think of which short story of King's this was based off of. May or may not be the answer

-Kittyauthor

Thank you! by Mirage Fontane on 2020-07-12 07:49:01 UTC Reply

I'm really glad I managed to spook you a little with this interlude. : D And especially that you enjoyed it.

No, the inspiration for this wasn't The Mangler, although that's a pretty good one - a bit of a ridiculous premise, but the story itself creeped me out a lot when I read it.

I'll come back and tell you the answer if/when someone else figures it out. ^_^

*facepalm* by Kittyauthor on 2020-07-13 00:51:42 UTC Reply

I just figured it out! Why did it take so long! Gods, I read that story. I knew I read that story. Why did it take this long?

Gods...

Answer, plus some spoilers about the answer

clears throat Sorry it took me so long. I knew I read the King story.

Yep, that's the one. ^_^ by Mirage Fontane on 2020-07-13 07:58:57 UTC Reply

It's one of the quintessential genius loci stories for me - a place that has its own mind, and is not so much haunted as simply "an evil shpxing room" (I think this quote is from the movie verson, which I also love). RC 1000 is meant to be less sentient than Room 1408, but the principle is the same.

I should read that story again.

And really, no need to apologize - I'm glad someone caught the reference. ^_^