I guess I don't need to post this...

Department of Improbable AUs by PoorCynic on 2010-09-08 21:04:00 UTC Reply

Does anyone have any ideas on what the flash patch for the Department of Improbable AUs should look like? I'm asking because I want to do a few Danny/Laura punishment missions dealing with AUs and there's almost no details regarding the DIAU itself, including the flash patch (http://ppc.wikia.com/wiki/DepartmentofImprobable_AUs).

My ideas:
-- A white upside-down question mark
-- A rubin vase (the vase-two faces optical illusion)
-- A mirror
-- Layered images of the Earth
-- A coin balanced on its edge

Thoughts? Concerns?

Results! by PoorCynic on 2010-09-14 01:07:00 UTC Reply

Seeing as the voting is stuck at three (and I never officially cast my vote), I am going to break the tie and make the Rubin vase the flash patch design of the Department of Improbable AUs.*

If anyone has any questions or concerns, feel free to let me know.

*Because that's my idea and I'm awful like that.

Question by The 9th Blue Mage on 2010-09-14 06:01:00 UTC Reply

What does the Rubin Vase represent in order for it to be connected to The Improbable AUs Department, anyway? I can understand the other two choices (the lightning and the broken mirror), but I'm just wondering about the vase.
(No offense to anyone).

Two possible answers by PoorCynic on 2010-09-14 14:58:00 UTC Reply

The Thoughtful Answer

Think of the canonical universe as the two faces and the alternative universe as the vase. All it takes to go from one to the other is a change in perspective, which is provided by the fic author. Good AUs make the illusion work, whereas poor AUs give you headaches. The DIAU agent's job is to cull out the weak realities (badfics) and leave the strong ones (goodfics) be.

The Not-So-Thoughtful Answer

It represents the same thing as a cactus does for the Department of Mary Sues.

I like both :D (nm) by Sedri on 2010-09-16 01:53:00 UTC Reply

A Final Vote? by PoorCynic on 2010-09-10 18:11:00 UTC Reply

Reduced to three:
-- A rubin vase
-- Twin lighting bolts striking the same spot
-- A mirror (presumably an image of a mirror and not an actual mirror)

A rubin vase. by Sedri on 2010-09-11 04:26:00 UTC Reply

It just seems so appropriate.
Lightning bolts... by Callista on 2010-09-11 03:26:00 UTC Reply

...because it was my idea and I'm awful like that. :)
Vase. (nm) by Chliever on 2010-09-11 02:11:00 UTC Reply
two lightening bolts striking at the same point (nm) by Miah on 2010-09-11 00:55:00 UTC Reply

I will change my vote to rubin vase... by Miah on 2010-09-12 16:06:00 UTC Reply

for the Department of Improbable AU, and cast the vote for twin lightening strikes hitting the same place for the Department of Improbabilities.
I find it amusing that the voting is not only stuck at... by Miah on 2010-09-11 07:49:00 UTC Reply

three each, but that they came in perfectly alternated.

Yes, there is that. Annoying, no? But unintentional. by Sedri on 2010-09-11 10:33:00 UTC Reply

Is a compromise possible? A rubin vase sort of image made with lightning bolts?

That sounds good, if someone would be able to draw it. (nm) by Miah on 2010-09-11 22:59:00 UTC Reply

I could try. by Sedri on 2010-09-11 23:42:00 UTC Reply

I'd have to sketch it and scan it, and I'm in a bit of a hurry now. Later today, maybe, or tomorrow.

It'd help if anyone has any specific ideas about how to arrange it.

I'm afraid it's not working. by Sedri on 2010-09-12 05:14:00 UTC Reply

The rubin vase effect needs a shared border between two images to make the effect, and I haven't been able to make anything out of the borders of two lightning bolts except two lightning bolts - everything else comes out looking like abstract art. I'll keep trying, but don't bet on it.

As a side note, I stand by my original vote for the rubin vase.

Rubin vase by DL_Blanca on 2010-09-10 21:38:00 UTC Reply

eventhough the two lightningbolts could be good as well.
I vote for two lightning bolts. by Neshomeh on 2010-09-10 19:08:00 UTC Reply

If it ends up being a rubin vase, though, I think it should be an odd-shaped one--maybe with a unicorn horn, or something. If possible.

~Neshomeh + $0.02

I guess I don't need to post this... by Elemarth on 2010-09-10 00:53:00 UTC Reply

Because my agents are going to be in Improbable AU (whenever I actually get to write about them... things are getting in the way), I was going to ask just this question! Also, how the missions work. I read a bit of despatch and thought it sounded similar: the canon has to be neuralized and portalled back to wherever he/she belongs.

I like the question mark a lot, second the mirror (not sure how you'd put it on, though), but not the other three. I guess maybe the coin. I don't have ideas myself.

Please make sure I don't get left out of this, because whenever I can write (soon I hope), this will be my department!
Two lightning bolts by Calista on 2010-09-09 23:37:00 UTC Reply

If you want a simple image, two lightning bolts--for the phrase "lightning strikes twice in the same place", meaning an extremely unlikely event. Of course, lightning does strike some places repeatedly (depending on elevation and location)--but improbable AUs are actually highly probable because there are so many badfic writers! I think it kinda fits.

A little like your balanced-on-edge coin, but doesn't take a 3-d image. And not so continuum-specific as the whale/petunias idea.

I like that. by Neshomeh on 2010-09-10 01:38:00 UTC Reply

The Despatch flash patch has a single lightning bolt, but I don't think it would be too confusing. Visually it would be quite different enough.

The two bolts would have to meet at a single point, naturally.

~Neshomeh

Maybe a.. Ohp, wait, you already said it. (nm) by Nielymoon on 2010-09-09 03:17:00 UTC Reply
Venus with Pluto for a moon. (nm) by Tawaki on 2010-09-09 01:51:00 UTC Reply
Hmm, I like the rubin vase by Sedri on 2010-09-09 00:03:00 UTC Reply

I also like the mirror for its more direct symbolism, but it would be a rather hard thing to embroider on a flash patch - unless you want agents to actually have small mirrors on their shoulders, which may or may not be a Good Idea.

I also like the sperm whale and bowl of petunias ;) (Though in all fairness, maybe that should be just for DIAU agents that work in Hitchhiker's fics, as it's rather fandom-specific, and no other flash patch that I know of has something from a particular fandom on it.)
A rubin vase by Silverwind on 2010-09-08 23:30:00 UTC Reply

Sounds nice and easy to me, then again I have been making flash patches so I am a tad bit bias towards simple symbols.
Expanding on your mirror idea... by AmitiRequiem on 2010-09-08 23:07:00 UTC Reply

A cracked mirror, perhaps? It's bad luck, and it portrays the crudiness of improbable crossovers! *is then shot for explaining the joke*

AU =/= crossover. by Neshomeh on 2010-09-08 23:21:00 UTC Reply

People get "Improbable (AUs)" and "Implausible (Crossovers)" mixed up all the time. {= )

(And then there's also the Department of Improbabilities...)

~Neshomeh

Sorry, that was me not triple-checking my post. >.o by AmitiRequiem on 2010-09-09 00:14:00 UTC Reply

The suggestion still stands, at least. I had the right idea but used the wrong words.

Two ill-fitting puzzle pieces? I like your coin idea, too. (nm) by doctorlit on 2010-09-08 21:44:00 UTC Reply
A sperm whale and a bowl of petunias. (nm) by Callista on 2010-09-08 21:32:00 UTC Reply

Ehh... by PoorCynic on 2010-09-09 00:09:00 UTC Reply

It's a bit too continuum specific, as Sedri mentioned in her post. That's why I didn't post my full idea for the mirror (that it should have a goatee in it). I think we should shoot for something a little more general.
*grins* I second that. (nm) by Gen on 2010-09-08 22:36:00 UTC Reply