The PPC Posting Board - Latest posts

Heeeeey so. For a long while now, I was kind of obsessed with my archival project, and haven't been reading new missions. I'm trying to dial back the monomania, and get back to writing my own PPC work, and also start reviewing newly published stories again. This unfortunately means that for some Boarders, I'm jumping back into their spin-offs "mid-season" with no idea what's gone on since I went coo-coo for archive-puffs, including yours, Skarm. So the following reviews are from that point of view. Sorry for any complaint or confusion on my part that stems from that.

Additionally, due to time constraints of work shifts, I read both of these interludes at work and wrote out notes about stuff I wanted to mention, based on something I saw in the beta workshop. Sorry if this makes my reviews a bit patchy, but it was the only way I could get this done during the work week.

"Illogic Bomb"
My favorite part of this story was the framing flashbacks taking place during Velociripper's origin badfic. In addition to their base value of making a "share my backstory" story more interesting and unique, I really like the way you present them. I loved the opening scene with Doctor Wu, especially with him being as in character as you write him. Its quite fun for a canon character to "guest star" in an interlude! I appreciate the explanations for why the park's dinosaurs are anatomically incorrect, too. I also liked the juxtaposition of Wu's correct grammar with Tanya's spelling errors, hinting that there's a bit of canon blended into the fic here—and I also liked the little hint that Tanya's not entirely chained to her fic when she uses an apostrophe correctly to wave away Wu's reaction to her "wacky" laughing gas usage. (That confused me at first, but I figured out eventually that Tanya is an Incredibles-verse Super with some kind of elemental gas-related power, yes?) Although you kind of departed from that later with the bidder from Aperture, who doesn't talk with typos despite the fact that he must be an OC, since Aperture has no living human employees. (Unless this takes place before GLaDOS took over?) Oh, also, I'm having trouble telling whether Ripper's fic was in the novel or movie version of Jurassic Park, since Hammond seems to sometimes have the movie version's personality (not wanting to sell the dinosaurs as weapons) and sometimes the novel version's (saying the public wants monsters rather than animals). Finally, I liked the transition back to the present after the second flashback, when Rayner acknowledges that Ripper was just staring off into space, and that the bartender filled Rayner in on the info contained in the flashback, so that he's still in the same level of understanding as the reader is.

Moving on to the bartender, I didn't totally understand why Velociripper was so adamant about preventing Rayner from getting the guy angry by throwing the drink out. Is this a character you've used before who reacts badly to insults? If not, it seems like an overly tense moment for the rest of the story's tone. There's a contradiction about Jurassic Pond Scum, as well. Early on, you imply it's alcoholic: "'I didn’t think you’d be the kind to drink anything alcoholi...il recently.'" At the end, though, it's apparently not alcoholic any more: "'In that case, we’ll see which species is better at holding their G-rated alcohol counterpart. Bartender? Another Pond Scum for the Deinonychus, please.'" You've also made me look up and read "A Sound of Thunder," which was fantastic, so thank you!

Your choice to present Ripper as transgender is an interesting one. I was a bit put off by it at first—dinosaurs certainly aren't representative of the actual population of transgender people—but on further reflection, I see that it does work okay, if not, excellently. We do know that some JP dinos changed sex due to population-based behavioral cues . . . I think to really sell this as a part of Ripper's life, though, I do think you should eventually write a story detailing what it was like for a sentient character to experience that change, as it would be completely unique (feeling the change happening on a biological level first, and changing the mindset later, as opposed to actual transgender people experiencing the dysphoria first and getting the sex change after). Otherwise, it just feels like a tacked-on adjective. (After all, Ripper didn't need to be one of the sex-changed dinosaurs; many remained female.)

Two more minor notes. First, I like that there's an explanation for Rayner's bloodthirstiness. It feels like it fits his character, and makes sense with the revelation (to me) that he's "Rainbow Factory" personified. Also, in the sentence: "His eyes met hers’, and he would swear his heart melted just a little," "hers" doesn't need the apostrophe, since it's already a possessive form.

"Anthophobia"
I have to admit, with all the time I spent "away" from your spin-off, I'm disappointed that Rashida's attitude and treatment towards Falchion doesn't seem to have improved much. I know partners aren't going to get along all the time, but I feel that in a healthy relationship, they ought to be arguing from equal footing. Here, it feels like Rashida puts herself in a position of authority over Falchion. Her anger also feels fairly mis-aimed and unnecessarily over-the-top. Part of this is the fact that she's worried about his impending performance review, and insists he be thinking about job opportunities. I know every spin-off has aspects that others lack, but the fact that most don't feature a business-formal review, or agents having noticeable jobs outside of being an agent, denies both topics some of the weight you're trying to give them in the text—I, as the reader, don't go in to the story subconsciously valuing those things, and that makes it feel like Rashida is overreacting over them. Kind of the same thing as her ire at Falchion browsing the internet; they're not on a mission, or filling out a mission report, so is he really goofing off if it's clearly down-time for them? I was amused by the not-porn fake out, though.

The idea that getting a bad review with the Flowers nets an agent more, harder work seems weird. With the "always understaffed" running joke present, it feels like the Flowers would want agents where they're most useful, not put under-performing agents in a situation where they perform even worse— even if it means transferring an action agent to infrastructure. (Yes, I know putting agents in positions they're ill-equipped for is a traditional source of humor, but this story has a more serious tone, so I'm examining the topic seriously.)

I like your characterization of the Hyacinth. You got the "respectful, but stern" trait down, and it's an excellent Flower to use for a performance review situation, as well. You used the Nature mechanic from Pokémon in an interesting way, bringing up the question of whether Falchion was always Careful, and his file contained an error; or, if the game data's label of him never really applied, and Falchion's personality simply can't be fully defined by one of a set of arbitrary adjectives. One noticeable lacking point was that the Hyacinth brings up working differences between Falchion and Ripper, but the conversation veers away, and the topic never gets addressed again during the review.

I think there's a contradiction concerning the relationship between Rashida and Falchion, specifically in the way Rashida views it. Before the reviews with the Hyacinth, Rahsida is arguing for Falchion to take more responsibility, and asks, "'So why have you lost that willpower? Is it because you’ve been thinking of me as a superior rather than as an equal?'" This seems to indicate that she sees a problem in Falchion feeling subordinate, and that that's part of the reason he isn't taking more responsibility. However, after their reviews, she says, "'On the one hand, I’m not confident in your ability to take up that much authority just yet. I understand that you have one year of experience, but that’s as a subordinate to me, which is a natural way of thinking considering that I’m older than you by quite a margin and have more experience dealing with critical matters.'" Now, she's saying that Falchion acting as her subordinate is appropriate, and that he isn't ready for more responsibility . . . Yeah, she's pretty much advocating for exact opposite agendas in the beginning and end, at least by my reading. Is this intentional, with her review making Rashida go back on her views? Or have I missed something huge?

Finally, some random little errors:
"'. . . and so little to keeping touch with others . . .'"
I usually hear this phrase as, "keeping in touch."

"Rashida had just shut off all of Falchion’s non-work-related browsing tabs."
This one may just be a question of local dialect and phrasing, but I've always heard "close" used as the verb for, uh, closing tabs.

"'I may or may not have been underperforming because . . .'"
Since this sentence is part of Falchion arguing in favor of him accepting more responsibility, I feel like the "may not" is unnecessary and contradictory. It also makes for a confusing double negative with the second part of the sentence, "'. . . not coming up with . . .'"

"'I guess have my question answered.'"
I think missed a word.

"'Gods, I’d better.'"
This might be really stupid nitpicking, but I wanted to bring it up just in case it wasn't intentional. I noticed that Falchion swears by Arceus at least sometimes, but here, he just uses a more generic "gods." Does he switch it up sometimes? Does it matter? Do you wish I would shut up already?

I feel like my reviews got a bit unfocused and jumpy, being the results of bullet points being mashed together into paragraph form. I hope they've still been useful to you. Please feel free to review the reviews! I may be a little rusty, after all.

—doctorlit, slowly falling asleep in his chair

I mean, things won't just fry because I'm looking at them, unless we're talking about real high tech, so I can buy groceries for instance but... Cell phones and credit cards, for instance, can go kaput in a matter of days, so as you can imagine, no using them. Computers can be forgotten too. And be damn careful when you go to the hospitals. Don't want to kill these patients needing life support, eh? And of course, that means things like X-Rays are way harder to use on you. Also, planes. No. just... No.

Heck, we got to aim or the older tech things, or the ones known for reliability if we want something not breaking up too much. Like Dresen's Beetle, for instance. Or use circles to try to keep magic energy away from them. Not that's always making lots of good, since we generaly have to ward our homes, and that always keep some magic inside.

And I'm supposed to have it relatively easy, since the hexing effect is lessened by how familiar you are with the technology. Better control of the magic helps too, but you needs being far more experienced than me, someone who was freshly out of apprenticeship. But... that's pretty much the point. Having magic is supposed to make you some sort of outsider for the rest of the society. From what I know, back in the past that was the disturbing look, souring milk of the neighbours, all these little things which indicated you had someone using magic around. Today, it's technology age. So that's the new thing. I wonder if I'll live old enough to see how magic will screw us up later, or if this techbane aspect will stick.

To Ix (possibly via Charlotte): Sorry about intruding like that.

To Ave: That's good to hear!

To Farilan: I can understand that I (and other humans) look and smell strange to you. However, I don't appreciate seeing my entire species being called arrogent. It's rather speciesist.

I don't know your political stances, but if you generally support recent Andalite foreign and military policy, I'd say you calling us arrogant is rather hypocritical.

Get to the next Christmas party early, so I can try the chocolate-covered ham before the Andalites get to it.

The Unclaimed and Claimed pages are looking a little messy, and since no one else volunteers for these things, I will. If you have any claims from January 2016 or earlier that you still want, please renew them! The cleanup begins Saturday at noon eastern time, so y'all have a little more than three days to take care of that.

I've been on a pretty big Pokemon Emerald kick; I started up the ROM about a month ago and already have most of my final team as well as six badges. Also I fought Omega Flowey in Undertale, which was completely freaking insane for multiple reasons.

Tell me a little more about the books you mentioned. "The Way of Kings" sounds like fantasy, which I am always 500% down for. :)

It had me laughing the whole way through. ^^ Y'all are geniuses at this.

Fun thread.

Farilan: I'm not particularly fond of humans. They look strange, and they smell stranger, and their arrogance is unbelievable! I suppose their ability to grip things with a greater strength is useful, though it's a rather unattractive holdover from their days as apes.

As for the second part of your question, kindly find the nearest airlock and throw yourself from it.

The Aviator: Elanor's doing great. She's able to sit up on her own and she's been babbling almost nonstop over the last month. Zeb and I are hoping she'll say her first real word soon. (It's going to be momma. I hope.)

Charlotte: So, uh, it's me answering, because my girlfriend's face turned about six different shades of white when she saw her question. So, yeah, I'd say it's too personal, but the official story is her neighbor's dog attacked her when she was a kid, and that's all you need to know.

Thank you for replying, first of all. It's very appreciated.

I think I'll give the stare a try next; I can't really smile all that well and talking tends to give people an invitation to just ask more questions, which... I'd rather they didn't.

But thank you. I've spent most of my life being ashamed and I'm trying to change that. Hopefully this helps.

And, if you ever need anything, I'm pretty good with a wand. It's the least I can do.

Agent Ix, ESAS

What kind?

I don't know how to respond to this.

He was in Star Wars (uncredited) as Jabba the Hutt's head of security, but British people probably knew him best as Simon Bodger of Bodger And Badger fame.

My childhood is all dying at once and I would like this to stop please.

Welcome to the PPC! From your name, can it be assumed that you're a Steven Universe fan? (If so, have hugs. If not, have an Archive Binge of Steven Universe.)

Either way, for your Newbie Gift, have a full set of roleplaying dice! Usually, I give them some boring theme like "space" or "chocolates", but yours are all carved from gemstones! Enjoy your murder dice.

All of them.

Ilraen: This would not be an easy question for most Andalites, I think, but it is for me: I would choose my human form. I spend half my time that way, if not more, as it is. The adjustment would not be too difficult. I would miss my natural body, of course, especially the ability to run with Alice and my other friends in the Courtyard . . . and I can just imagine what Farilan would say . . . but, well, it is only a hypothetical question.

The tastiest thing . . . there was chocolate-covered ham at a Christmas party once. I think that is the most sensational combination of flavors I have yet discovered. Salty and sweet, smoky and a little bitter . . . yes, that was very good.

Alex: No, but if I had, I'm afraid they would be useless. You'd have to figure out which lottery they applied to, in what universe, and whether it's in my future, or yours, or someone else's . . . Precognition is really a useless talent in a place where time is in business for itself.

"Y-Yes, my Diamond?"

Why wasn't I notified we were getting a visitor? *sighs* Never mind...

I suppose a welcome is in order. Hope you enjoy your labor here.

What colors are they?

Some of my recent stuff:

Finished Eldest not long ago (spoilers further down in this paragraph), as many of you in the chat heard me whining about. It is definitely an improvement over the original Eragon, at least in the realms of world-building, and characterizing the side characters and giving them things to do outside of defining Eragon himself. Nasuada is by far my favorite character in the series so far, the way she lost her father and got thrust into a position of power by the Varden's council, thinking they could control her, and then she just, "No, pardon me while I Competent Ruler all over this place," and turns herself into such an incredibly powerful figure. Roran is my second favorite, possibly just because he got so much page time away from Eragon.

Eragon himself is still an insufferable, thoughtless twit who talks too much and takes too much for granted. I don't know why he's the protagonist instead of Nasuada. I also didn't like how some of the Carvahall villagers, like Sloan and . . . the one lady . . . seemed more intent on spiting/revenge against Roran in the midst of a siege. It's like, priorities, people? I did like the long-time set up with Arya throughout the first book, where she was the only elf we had met, leading the reader to believe all her people were as solemn and austere as she is. Then, we finally meet other elves, and they're instantly singing and dancing, all they're all just happy all the time. That was actually a well-done fake-out on Paolini's part.

I also just finished The Adventures of Pinocchio (also spoilers below), don't judge me, I need to read and my need is deep. It was actually bizarrely dark? Like, I'm not sure I would recommend it for actual children? Which feels weird. There's just a lot of violence in it, and Pinocchio kills the Talking Cricket with a hammer, and gets hanged at one point, and it's just . . . dang. This was a kids book in early 1800s Italy? Dang.

It's also very, very inconsistent about Pinocchio himself. Like, he is made of wood, and displays borderline superstrength at some points due to the density of his skin, but he also gets hungry all the time. So, is he wood, or does he have organs in there? He also sometimes needs to breathe and sometimes doesn't, as he nearly gets hanged early on, but later spends about an hour under water with no trouble.

I may be overthinking a piece of outdated children's literature. Sorry.

—doctorlit is a glutton and reads just about anything he can get his hands on, other than straight romance

Ooh, Portal 2! Haven't heard that name in a while. I hope you enjoy facing up with a psychopathic AI when you get around to it!

I've been reading/watching American Gods this week in between my exams. Thrilling stuff.

For Ilraen: If you had to be trapped as a (non-Andalite) nothlit, but you could pick your new form, what would you go with?

Also, what's the tastiest thing you've eaten in human morph?

For Alex: Have you foreseen any winning lottery numbers (that you'd be willing to share)?