Subject: I sort-of second that.
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Posted on: 2010-04-23 01:59:00 UTC
If you feel that your condition is a key part of your character, then you don't need to cure it altogether--perhaps the cure is something worked into the disguise generator, or it only lessens the symptoms. But I definitely agree that even our self-insert agents are usually not completely true to the original.
If/when I ask for permission, I'm thinking that I'd like one of my agents to be a self-insert, but there's a problem with that that I'm not sure how to deal with. I currently have a rather disabling lung condition that severely limits my mobility and has reduced my stamina, so I'm having trouble thinking of how my agent-character would deal with said condition on missions (or really, even go on missions). I'd rather not write the self-insert as joining before I got sick, since that eliminates some of the personal growth and development I've gone through since I've been sick, but I'm not sure what else I could do. The only other thing I could think of was to have DoSAT come up with something that mitigated the condition to the point of being able to go on missions, with the explicit understanding that it would only be used for missions. I'm open to any and all ideas anyone else may have.
If there's a cure somewhere out in the multiverse, you could plausibly have PPC Medical "borrow" it in some form. An inhaler of atomised bacta or kolto from Star Wars might do the trick, and may prove less than permanent, allowing it to be used as a "reliever" temporary plot device (I'm thinking Asterix's magic potion here!).
As for self-inserts, in my case Logan is a more psychotic, athletic, more random version of me, with my low-level addictions to various soft drinks blown up into a compulsive dependence and with an even more flippant and annoying sense of humour, but with a few random quirks thrown in for good measure.
I still haven't written Logan enough for much character development to occur, but I'm aiming for his character to diverge in interesting directions, even if he does start out as more-or-less a self insert.
I love the idea of an atomised bacta inhaler.
If you're at all familiar with the Dragonlance books, Raistlin's cough potion might be applicable. It's not precisely specified what it does (except ease the cough) or how it does it, so it might work for agent!you, and you could probably get it from Medical.
If you prefer science over magic, maybe a hypospray from Star Trek, in which future-set continuum they may have discovered a treatment or even a cure for what you have. *shrug* I'm sure there are lots of possibilities, and if there is one thing the PPC has, it is excellent medical care. Igor might even offer to get a new set of lungs for you. They're excellent at that sort of thing, are Igors. Just don't ask where the new lungs come from...
I recommend whichever suits you best and makes for the most interesting and/or funny story. {= )
~Neshomeh
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. It'll probably be funnier if it's just a treatment, since that way it can wear off unexpectedly. Your suggestions have given me a good idea of how I can handle the condition with agent!me.
That's like saying, "Hungry? Here, have a fork!" But I know what you mean; Star Trek has an easy cure for lung cancer by 2150, and the continumn stretches all the way to the 31st century, so you could easily say your agent was cured by Trek technology that Medical snitched to patch up canon characters.
Anyway, Neshomeh's right - take whatever best suits, especially if you can make it into a plot device or just somehow amusing.
Make it yourself, but cured. Most of our agents that are named after us are at the very least more violent than reality. I know that mine is more violent, thinner, messier, more coordinated, has a more interesting story of origin, and cooler gadgets. Not so much me as I want to be (except the thinner bit), but more my base exaggerated in the areas that make a more fun read as a PPC agent, if that makes sense.
Though I'd say it's a good idea to add flaws you don't have as well as abilities you don't have. Agent Laburnum is, on the good side, more physically fit, slightly more sociable, and has opportunities to do much cooler stuff than me, and on the bad side, more self-hating, affected with far more psychological problems (in her case, beserker rages, depressive tendencies, some gender identity issues, and a refusal to acknowledge that any of the above might be a problem), and more careless (I do let my mouth run away with me in real life, though I don't do it as much as I used to, but I'm not stupid enough to try and face hundred-to-one odds alone).
If you feel that your condition is a key part of your character, then you don't need to cure it altogether--perhaps the cure is something worked into the disguise generator, or it only lessens the symptoms. But I definitely agree that even our self-insert agents are usually not completely true to the original.