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He is a great inspiration to me, and will be missed.

A toast to the fallen hero!

May we all transcend our limits as he did!

It can still be pronounced just right.

"Call-I-o-pe" is easily done if you're willing to turn a quarter note into a pair of eighth notes. I'll show you if you're ever about in a place where I can do voice things.

But you're not.

This fic. Yes. All of my yes.

I see no out-of-character-ness, and the interactions between you and me in particular I can say are absolutely spot-on. As in, I know we have actually had part of that argument before, and the rest could easily be quotes.

Just. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes they are.

Except for, I think, the one that was less floofy and more... well, if there had been descriptions (any more than there were) Birdie couldn't have posted it.

Black cards:
How do my agents stay sane during a badfic?
Sometimes you have to teach a Sue that being _______ doesn't mean _______ the hard way.
"Any excuse for ______ is a good excuse."
What weird creature did Agent Chris squee over this time?
To exactly no one's surprise, this Sue turned out to be ______ the whole time.

White cards:
The New Year's Gift Exchange.
A non-ironic thumbs up.
Romantic strolls through the woods.
Someone's previously-unknown sister.
Yet another cheesy soulmate AU.
Because the plot said so.
Having a laundry list of superpowers.
An uncultured ferret.
Quoting Monty Python.
A rebellious lab experiment.
Aliens!
Ami reading Elvish poetry.

That's amazing. Made me smile to find it out. :)

*fails miserably*

Loved the spoof, by the way. Are Kaitlyn and I I forever to be known as the ones who wear the corsets now?

Good going beating the doctor's diagnosis by 53 years and counting. Now you just have to wait for someone else to come close to your record.

Usually, when I try to apply the color pie to non-Magic characters, I end up going either monocolor or two-colored. I think that's because I've been looking more at the themes presented by such characters than trying to look at their underlying motivations.

I'll try to use your method for a few of my characters and aim for three colors, but I'm not sure I'll be as analytical as you.

Doc
I think I can get Doc pretty well, since he's still largely me. Primary color is absolutely white, and for a different reason than I've seen any other character in this thread be pegged as white. The saying goes "you're either a leader or a follower," and Doc and I are followers, hands-down. Referring to myself as a sidekick is a running gag at work, and I often go in early/stay late to do extra work, because to my mind, my time is spent better on the animals at the zoo than on myself; I am their servant. Translating this to Doc, I feel that he sees himself as servant to all the worlds under his protection, and doesn't have as much motivation to go out into HQ and spend time on anything other researching new canons.

But of course, Doc's love of books also has an element of greed and obsession to it. While cards themed with greed tend to be black cards in Magic, I feel that Doc's tendency to fly into a rage when books are threatened, coupled with the servanthood attitude from his white slice of the pie, which makes the books themselves his focus, make this attribute more red for him than black.

The tertiary color is where Doc and I diverge. I think Doc's tertiary is green. This mostly comes from the manner in which the both of us prefer to read: very slowly, savoring each sentence, and allowing the story to unfold itself at its own pace, rather than hurrying through and skimming. My full time+ job sometimes forces me to forego reading the way I like, during lunch breaks and such, but Doc is able to read my original, green way. (I think my "tertiary" has split into a tie between green and blue, since my job requires me to be proactive in planning and problem solving.)

So Doc is WRG.

Vania
Vania is probably going to be the hardest for me, if only because of the spoilers. Looking at her as I picture her base state, before she was recruited to the PPC, she was very friendly and outgoing, participating in campus activities and trying to get along with everyone. This mostly sounds white, but there's also an element of recklessness and jumping to snap decisions in her character. I think I'm going to cheat and say her primary is a relatively even split between red and white.

Tertiary is a bit hard. Her narrative has had a small element of showing people the ropes in a new situation. I think that would be blue rather than green, though I'm not entirely certain. Although I just noticed she's very near to becoming the same colors as Doc, so let's go with blue, but a very small blue.

Vania is WRu.

Paul
aka, the flashback character no one remembers or cares about. He does exist, though, in some of PoorCynic's writing exercises, here and here, if you scroll down to "2. Responding to criticism . . ." in the first link.

Since he's flashback-only, and was basically just a past antagonist to Vania, I very intentionally designed Paul to be Not Nice. That second prompt seems to show him caring for his Pokémon, but he's ultimately just acting that way because he thinks it will make them grow stronger, faster. (Didn't reallt write it that well, in retrospect.) It's the same rote, empty act as giving your Pokémon a haircut in the games to increase their Friendship stat by 1: it represents care and attention, but is really nothing more than a game mechanic. Paul wants to make his Pokémon powerful, he single-minded about that goal, and he doesn't want others controlling his life. Paul's primary color is easily black.

Even in the PPC, where he has actual, living Pokémon instead of game data, and can physically go to the Pokémon universe, Paul still looks at those things in terms of stats and numbers and strategy guides, because those are things he can know in his head, without being distracted by the open-ended randomness of the organic world. There's no subjectivity in his charge lists, either; there's only right and wrong. Paul is confident he knows which is which, and dictates it to the badfic accordingly. Paul's secondary color is blue.

For tertiary, weirdly, I think it's actually green. Even though Paul's care for his Pokémon is largely arbitrary, the fact that he's putting that time in, rather than pumping them full of Rare Candies to get them fully evolved as soon as possible, is an aspect of green. He's letting the Pokémon grow on their own time, getting them experience points and effort values bit by bit as he battles Sue trainers. (Which I just remembered is outlawed . . . in the modern setting . . . maybe Paul's screwing around back in the day is the reason for that rule existing now?)

Paul is BUG. Though he has no Bug-types.

—doctorlit realizes it will be hard for anyone else to debate his characters when he has published so little material

... that he was and is (apparently) the only person to have portrayed themselves in an episode of Star Trek. Here he is. Now that's a legacy worth remembering.

Also, y'know, the thing where he discovered more than anyone ever about black holes while confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak unaided, wrote one of the only popular science books that most people can name, and was one of very few living scientists with actual name recognition. But pfft, the fandom thing is much more impressive. Hey, Wikipedia says he asked to sit in Picard's chair during filming - and got to!

... :(

hS

https://rc1587.wordpress.com/2018/03/14/blank-sprite-mission-record-12/

We go back in time to see how everything started, as we witness the year Sergio spent at Strike Dove through the eyes of a certain ghost sniper.

Twistey kissed Voyd, running her fingers through his long, flowing blond hair.

“Oh, sweet Twistey,” Voyd said. “Why must our parents’ strange and absurd network filtering keep us from our sacred love?”

Twistey blinked slowly. “Voyd... why are you talking like that? Also, since when have you been in love with me?”

“Twisty...” Voyd said slowly. “It’s shipfest.”

“Ooooh, riiight,” said Twistey. “So... who’s writing us?”

Voyd scratched his head. “I’m... actually not sure. Come on, let’s go ask Tomash. He’d know.”

Thankfully, Tomash’s room was across the hall. As the pairing walked in, he was on the bed, giving Horvat snuggles. “Oh, sorry!” said Twistey, concerned they might be interrupting.

“‘S fine,” said Tomash. “Horvat and I were just...” He sighed dreamily. “...Anyways, what do you want?”

“We’re in a shipfic,” said Voyd, “and we were wondering who’s writing us.”

“Wait, we’re in a shipfic?” Tomash wrinkled his brow. “Huh… come to think of it, that explains a lot, actually. Like why I’m snuggling Horvat on a bed…”

Horvat, meanwhile, pumped his fist in the air. “Yes! I’ve finally been shipped!”

“But the question is, by who?” Twistey was still feeling sort of awkward, but her curiousity lead her on.

Tomash rubbed his chin. “Let’s see… you two are being shipped, as am I and Horvat… hmm… and we’re all here discussing this thing, which makes this waay to met—”

He and Horvat both groaned as they arrived at the conclusion. Tomash sighed. “Thoooooth...”

~~

“And then we cut to you next to me as I explain all this, and you say, ‘I bet you think you’re terribly clever, don’t you?’” Thoth said, biting into his sandwich. “What do you think?”

Neshomeh shrugged. “I suppose there are worse ways to end a fic. But why are you talking about other people’s romance on our date?”

Thoth sighed. “I don’t know. I just… get into the shipfest, I suppose. It’s just so much fun…”

Nesh nodded. “Yeah, I know what you mean. I’m writing this shipfic right now.”

Thoth blinked. “Wait, what?”

“I’m writing this shipfic right now.”

“Huh… you know, this whole meta thing isn’t like you.”

“That’s because you’re writing me.”

Thoth paused. “Okay, so let me get this straight… I’m writing you writing a ship of us discussing a ship I made.”

Nesh nodded. “I… think so? It’s really confusing and hard to keep track of. I mean… can we get any more meta?”

Thoth thought for a moment about all this, carefully pondering the ramifications.

>Fic: Quick, find a way to get more meta while Thoth is thinking.

Dammit Cal, I said no Homestuck references in this one! How did you even get edit permissions?

I added myself while you weren’t looking. Wait… aren’t people going to get confused trying to figure out which one of us is talking?

>I’ll prefix a my statements like so.

]And I’ll do the same with this.

]Anyways, you need to go to bed.

>But Caaaal… shipfic!

]I know, but you need to bed. You’re tired.

>But…

]You’ve left Granz to sleep alone for three consecutive nights writing shipfic, Thoth. Just… go to bed. Hug him. Comfort him. You know you want to.

>Sighs. Okay, fiiiine… And when are you coming up? It’s not like you’ve been sleeping with us this past week.

]NOT THE POINT!

>Just… come to bed with us, ‘mkay?

]Alright...

I feel like the Time-Grump has been influential far beyond the scope of her missions. She was in the Continuity Council, which was probably the biggest extended crossover generator in the PPC's history (think of how many Time Lord teamup stories we've had since then!), and of the founding members, you, Zing, and I are the only ones left.

But also... look around you. Who are the most prominent posters on the Board? Checking the second page (to avoid the Shipfest), I count these posts:

-Neshomeh: 40 (sweet Nienna)
-doctorlit: 31
-Thoth: 23
-Scapegrace: 20
-Iximaz: 17
-Tomash: 13
-Huinesoron: 9

Okay, it's been a quiet time for me, but you still said more than Iximaz or Tomash; you're pretty prominent around here.

hS

This song is exclusively about the Shipfest, and I think you'll agree that the stories you've shown up in have been overwhelmingly floof.

hS

Never heard the song before today, and I've only listened to it the once, but I love this.

Though the fact that my first line "I'm found in the fluffiest narratives" is all the proof I need that you have never read any of my other writing ever. Because a big part of that fic was me proving that no, heart-wrenching feels is not the only thing I am capable of writing.

(Before this I quite literally could not remember the last time I wrote straight-up sweetness.)

After Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story. I've just checked, and yes, I'm pretty sure this is singable. (Now all we need is for every person who's been mentioned in the shipfest to own a microphone... >:D)

(Note: It's pronounced 'Cal-YO-pe', because scansion is hard.)

[Huinesoron:]
Let me tell you what I wish I'd known
When I was young and dreamed of glory
You have no control
Who's shipped with who
Who writes the stories...

[Scapegrace:]
Kaitlyn and Iximaz, I've got to say:
They wear those corsets and they look great
I couldn't get in those if I tried.
And... I've tried.

[Huinesoron:]
Who's shipped with who
Who writes the stories...

[Thoth:]
Tomash the coder
He took this Shipfest from concept to reality
I may be prolific
But I haven't done half as much with my stories
As he did with the thread.

[Huinesoron:]
Who's shipped with who
Who writes the stories...

[Larfen:]
Sometimes I'm a sandwich and sometimes I just like them

[The Unshipped Boarders:]
At least you got a story from it; we only get to read them

[Maxewell:]
Now be fair, there are too many names
To fit them in
Our Shipfest stories

[Huinesoron:]
We write the stories...

[Granz & Thoth:]
Calli'ope...

[Calliope:]
I'm found in the fluffiest narratives

[Granz & Thoth:]
Calli'ope...

[Calliope:]
With snuggles and lots of hugs
With Thoth, Granz, and fuzzy love
Just look them up!
It looks like we might be the latest and most famous ship

[Kaitlyn:]
I've got more stories!

[Calliope:]
I'd read every word if the Boarders would only keep writing
We really do write, but we're running out of--

[Iximaz:]
--time!
My ideas are plentiful
But time's running out to write my stories
The thread's falling steadily down-page
If it drops too far, we'll be out of--

[Delta Juliette:]
--time!
And I'm still not through
I'd write half a dozen more fics if I had more--

[Tomash:]
--time!
It's been a good 'fest
We've got lots of stories already
I think we had--

[Phobos:]
--time!
I've been shipped with my wife less than with Huinesoron's

[Neshomeh:]
I like those stories!

[Phobos:]
I guess they're maybe quite thrilling
Maybe we'd have fics with all four if we only had--

[Twistey:]
--time!
And I'm quite confused; 'cause now I'm a muse

[Huinesoron:]
I wrote those stories...!

[Zingenmir:]
Wait. Can we get a few more thank-yous in?

[Grundleplith:]
I'm in this one...

[Zingenmir:]
We've all had a lot of fun reading the 'ships we've been put in

[Leto:]
I'm in it too...

[Zingenmir:]
And Badger, and Voyd (or Dah-LI-a)
And Geema and maybe more
So I hope we can all get a line in
We're nearly out of--

[Badger:]
-- time!

[Voyd:]
But if our time is up, have we done enough?

[Good Mod Addict:]
Are we in this story?

[Huinesoron:]
Folks, I can't wait to 'ship you again
It's only a matter of--

[Entire PPC:]
Time...

---

Dedicated in no particular order to Neshomeh (for naming the Hamilton 'ship), Kaitlyn and Phobos (for being the Hamilton 'ship), and Zingenmir (for demanding more Hamilton). ^_^

hS

I wasn't, but since you mentioned it, I've had a few ideas.

Most of them haven't panned out; I end up with two-or-three-line fragments, like these:

After Dear Theodosia: "Dear Huinesoron, what to say to you?"

After One Last Time: "Lady Zingenmir; you asked for shipping./I know you're busy.../Whatever you need, Zing."

After The Schuyler Sisters: "The canon shippings:/Aegimaz/Huinelyn/And Neshbosh!"

Luckily I then found one that got beyond a couple of lines, so I'll see whether it pans out the rest of the way.

In the meantime, here's the alphabetical list of how many times people have appeared in the Shipfest so far:

Badger 1
Calliope 4
Delta Juliette 2
GMA 2
Granz 4
Grundleplith 1
Huinesoron 5
Iximaz 2
Kaitlyn 7
Larfen 4
Leto 2
Maxewell 1
Neshomeh 5
Phobos 5
Scapegrace 3
Thoth 5
Tomash 3
Twistey 3
Voyd 1
Zingenmir 2

^_^ hS

"... Perhaps it should be marked 'pull'?"

hS ^_^

... that I actually know this song.

Also it's a song, rather than rap mingled with some narration. "Non-Stop" was a nightmare.

hS

It just seems unwarranted to be mentioned in the same breath as you and Nesh. I mean, you basically built huge portions of the shared universe from the ground up, Nesh did the Wiki, and I... made... clowns... happen? Also sometimes a pointy fish in a fetching shade of neon pink. And povs, I suppose. And corsets for everyone. But besides that, I don't rank alongside the big names in the community.