Oh ack, I didn't even think of that.

On rogue agents. by RezMontrose on 2011-02-24 21:18:00 UTC Reply

As of the end of "Sweet Abomination," Rez and Flip are running around in a stolen transport pod, with HQ about to find out that they're still out there and killing badfic.

So my question is this: what do you guys think about the possibility of a pair of "rogue" agents, traveling around the multiverse killing badfic while evading HQ's attempts to bring them back?

How I imagine this working is that Rez and Flip aren't trying to work against HQ, but they are inadvertently causing a bit of continuity-screw with their multidimensional badfic-killing hijinks. It would be in HQ's best interests to bring them back, but after "Subjugation" drove them into hiding, they're... less than willing to return. (This is probably a pretty minor conflict in relation to the PPC as a whole, considering all the crazy stuff that goes on around here. Unless someone wants to spin it into something bigger, I dunno.)

So what do you guys think? Interesting enough to run with, or too Sueish/too not-what-the-PPC-is-about?

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My two cents. by Neshomeh on 2011-02-26 05:29:00 UTC Reply

To be honest, if it were most anybody else, I'd probably be against it, but in this case I trust you to use it as way to highlight what the PPC is about rather than try to change it, and also for it to be fun rather than srs bsns, which makes it okay with me.

An interesting point was made down-thread about HQ actually keeping people saner than they would be by themselves. I would add to that, just think, no access to Bleeprin, either. It's back to the bad old days of trying to spork their own eyes out if they get desperate.

~Neshomeh

Or having to rely on their own mental toughness. :P (nm) by kgarrett on 2011-02-26 14:42:00 UTC Reply

*le gasp!* You mean those two things aren't the same? (nm) by Neshomeh on 2011-02-26 18:20:00 UTC Reply

Oh ack, I didn't even think of that. by RezMontrose on 2011-02-26 06:57:00 UTC Reply

Re: Bleeprin, I mean. Oooh, this is going to be fun (and by 'fun' I clearly mean 'augh oh gods why').

Y'know, I ought to start keeping a list of things I need to throw in. XD

I like it... by Elcalion on 2011-02-26 04:00:00 UTC Reply

Not too Sueish, but nicely different to the run-of-the-mill agent/mission format.

Rule of Funny will allow you to get away with quite a lot, IMHO, regarding what HQ can throw at Rez'n'Flip.
Sounds interesting! by The 9th Blue Mage on 2011-02-26 03:14:00 UTC Reply

That is, if you're allowed to do this kind of stuff without breaking the PPC or something.
re: On rouge agents by OpinionedAngel on 2011-02-25 14:24:00 UTC Reply

I personally think it sounds like an interesting idea, but that's just me. It probably shouldn't go on for too long, though...

Like...makeup? (nm) by L'Homme Arbre on 2011-02-26 20:24:00 UTC Reply

I think... by Phobos on 2011-02-25 04:26:00 UTC Reply

If you intend to have them brought back to HQ eventually, then it is a good idea. If you intend to have them run around evading HQ and the DIA forever, then it makes no sense to have it in the PPC.

I will note that there are other agents that went rogue after taking on "Subjugation". Two of them were guilt-tripped back to HQ at the end of this mission.

Maybe you could write a new agent pair that is tasked with bringing them in? Or maybe a co-write with kgarrett's DIA agents? It could be a very fun story.

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Yeah, I was planning to bring them back eventually. by RezMontrose on 2011-02-25 04:38:00 UTC Reply

Because you're right, if they were going to stay rogue forever there'd be no point. Like I said to kgarrett down the thread, what I want to do is kind of examine the line between what's PPC and what's vigilante badfic justice.

Ooh, I'll totally think about a new agent pair! I'm... kind of terrible about co-writing, to be honest, but that could be fun too. But! That is to talk to kgarrett about. Yes.

Re: On rogue agents. by meta on 2011-02-24 23:27:00 UTC Reply

Personally I think it could lead to some interesting stories, and let's be honest, interesting and entertaining stories are the main reason we are here.
Depends on how you handle it. by kgarrett on 2011-02-24 22:17:00 UTC Reply

I'm personally of the opinion anything can be done well, though you might have to be a bit careful. I seem to be alone in feeling that way, but it could be interesting in my opinion. All depends on how you write it. I know I've been looking into writing stuff with the DIA, who would probably be looking into bringing them back; might or might not tie into things, but if there's something there I thought it could be left in the open as a possibility.

Ooh, the DIA. by RezMontrose on 2011-02-25 04:30:00 UTC Reply

I'm glad you mentioned them, I was trying to figure out who would be in charge of trying to bring them back. If I do go this direction, anyway. If I do, maybe we could tie some stuff together? Because inter-author continuity is fun!

The challenge of writing the rogue-agents situation well is part of the reason I'm interested in it, honestly. I think it'd be fun to poke at the line between what's what-the-PPC-is-about and what's just vigilante badfic justice. Examine it a bit, sort of thing. [/srs bsns]

Oh, cool! And topical for me. by Aster Corbett on 2011-02-25 12:13:00 UTC Reply

In my mind, the PPC is more effective than vigilante justice not because they are somehow 'better' at killing Sues, but because they are more organized and have more rules as to what to leave alone.

Like, the agent Aster Corbett was a rampaging vigilante before an Intelligence agent found her. She not only eliminated Mary Sues (In incredibly unfair, canon-disturbing ways) but every Original Character and Self Insert in her path because she was flamethrower-crazy and hated them because she was one.

Not only that, but killing Mary Sues and solving other problems in ways that aren't controlled to protect canon may be bad for canon over-all-- leaving behind a huge mess that a vigilante doesn't have the manpower or equipment to clean up. Not to mention the concept of "He who fights monsters..." and that vigilantes are in constant danger of being contaminated by glitter and becoming Mary Sues themselves.

It may be counter-intuitive, but having HQ to back agents up may make them saner. Badfic is great and vast and hopelessly out of control. Sure, being beeped at by a console and called to duty is annoying, but at least Agents aren't literally submerged in badfic day in and day out.

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ExACTly! by RezMontrose on 2011-02-25 18:23:00 UTC Reply

Those are all issues I was planning to poke at. (Or if I wasn't before, I am now. :D)

I'm imagining Rez and Flip going crazier and crazier, as more and more weird crap happens to them, until they finally give up and turn themselves in. Hmm, and now I have the idea of Sue-contamination in my head... *evil grin*

Yeah, you definitely have a point, about HQ helping agents stay sane-ish. Maybe one of the things I can point out is how much about HQ the agents take for granted.

That'd be fun. by kgarrett on 2011-02-25 04:36:00 UTC Reply

I've just been thinking a lot about their workings and poking at stuff with them in, lately, and like I said, seemed to me they'd be involved with agents going rogue. Wouldn't mind the chance, though; I can leave my e-mail if you'd like.

Cool! by RezMontrose on 2011-02-25 04:43:00 UTC Reply

Yeah, email would be useful. (Mine's rinwins at gmail dot com, in case you need it.) Phobos mentioned coming up with a new agent pair for the case, which I might do, so as not to completely inflict my shaky collaboration skills on you.

But! Let's email, kick things around, and things. Excitement!

Collabs aren't so bad once you're used to them. by kgarrett on 2011-02-25 04:46:00 UTC Reply

Anyway, you can drop me a line at kyle.garrett41 at gmail dot com any time you'd like; that's the only one of my numerous e-mail accounts I regularly check any more, so it's your best bet. I'm actually doing a DIA introductory piece, but this is a bit lucky; I've been trying to figure out what to do with them after I've finished that. :P

Ends in tears by Ugolino on 2011-02-24 22:06:00 UTC Reply

Unless I'm wrong, HQ can just cut the power. Besides, it doesn't really fit...

Cut the power? by RezMontrose on 2011-02-25 04:24:00 UTC Reply

How so? Like, shut off their devices? Revoke their PPC authority? I'm probably just being dense and missing something here, but please do elaborate.

And you have a point, it doesn't quite fit. Which is why I thought I ought to kick it around. Hmm.

I think he meant turning off the transport pod you mentioned (nm by kgarrett on 2011-02-25 04:38:00 UTC Reply

Aha. by RezMontrose on 2011-02-25 04:44:00 UTC Reply

Might be able to work that in, actually. Can HQ do that?

Maybe? by kgarrett on 2011-02-25 04:49:00 UTC Reply

I've no idea, actually, but I wouldn't be surprised if they could. And they'd certainly try to.