The Longest Thread (Misadventures)

[Through the Living Heir he/him]

6 minutes ago, Through The Living Glass said:

We'd have to know they were planning something, somehow.

Well, he could be the Antagonist, but that depends on his goals.

And since you're the only one who knows them . . .

I'd agree on all counts. 

8 minutes ago, Bird Furious said:

Bat slipped the shard of Nullite back into his bag. We need to do something productive. Can you take me to the Nullite caverns? Maybe to where my compass is?

Platypus's? The one that absorbs any Nullite it touches, growing larger as it does so? 

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

3 minutes ago, Through The Living Glass said:

What for?

-

She jumped, not having previously realized he was holding that.

Um . . . are you sure? That didn't go very well last time . . .

Symbol grinned. Patience. 

-

Just real quick. Then we'll go... He bit his lip. Somewhere I probably shouldn't take you. But it feels right. 

Just now, Dragonheir said:

I'd agree on all counts. 

Platypus's? The one that absorbs any Nullite it touches, growing larger as it does so? 

No. He carries bits of Nullite, especially since discovering his powers. 

Oh, and I believe he's still holding a bunny. In case that's in any way relevant.

...

I guess he was holding a bunny when he decided to try to become protagonist. 

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

12 minutes ago, Bird Furious said:

I'd agree. It doesn't make sense for him to just show up and say "guess what, everyone, I'm important". In my personal opinion. You need the buildup. That's what this thread is all about! It's kind of the soul of TLT. Planning, building up to it, in spite of or at the behest of other players, using fair methods and not sheer stubbornness as manpower. I dunno. It does'nt sit right with me when I've been building up Bat for hundreds of pages now, and the buildup Nameless (before he vanished) and Dragonheir have done for Antagonist. Yeah, Platypus is the antagonist right now, but I think he lacks the scope to be the Antagonist, at least right now. 

Agreed. Symbol vanished, promising to return after she gave Nemesis a little level-up to provide alternate engagement for those who did not wish to stick around for the stalemate. 

Exactly!

11 minutes ago, Dragonheir said:

I'd agree on all counts. 

Platypus's? The one that absorbs any Nullite it touches, growing larger as it does so? 

Mhm.

No, regular Nullite he had in his bag.

11 minutes ago, Bird Furious said:

Symbol grinned. Patience. 

-

Just real quick. Then we'll go... He bit his lip. Somewhere I probably shouldn't take you. But it feels right. 

No. He carries bits of Nullite, especially since discovering his powers. 

Oh, and I believe he's still holding a bunny. In case that's in any way relevant.

...

I guess he was holding a bunny when he decided to try to become protagonist. 

Tam rolled her eyes and smiled.

A tiny baby turtle appeared in front of Symbol.

It was exceedingly adorable.

-

She cocked her head.

What? Where?

hehehe 

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

1 minute ago, Through The Living Glass said:

Exactly!

Mhm.

No, regular Nullite he had in his bag.

Tam rolled her eyes and smiled.

A tiny baby turtle appeared in front of Symbol.

It was exceedingly adorable.

-

She cocked her head.

What? Where?

hehehe 

Symbol hesitated for a long moment, then bent to pick up the turtle. 

Mine now, she thought to herself, summoning a trench coat to slip the turtle into. 

-

"I... can we please just go?" 

[Through the Living Heir he/him]

14 minutes ago, Bird Furious said:

No. He carries bits of Nullite, especially since discovering his powers. 

Oh, and I believe he's still holding a bunny. In case that's in any way relevant.

...

I guess he was holding a bunny when he decided to try to become protagonist. 

1 minute ago, Through The Living Glass said:

Mhm.

No, regular Nullite he had in his bag.

Rebus actually considered dropping the shard into the Eternal Mountains' Nullite vein, but decided that was too mean and uncontrolled, since he could simply use grey goo if he really wanted to. 

Just now, Bird Furious said:

Symbol hesitated for a long moment, then bent to pick up the turtle. 

Mine now, she thought to herself, summoning a trench coat to slip the turtle into. 

Rebus smiled in genuine amusement and fondness, bringing another copy of him to her so he could be there and still keep arguing with Platypus. 

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

Just now, Bird Furious said:

Symbol hesitated for a long moment, then bent to pick up the turtle. 

Mine now, she thought to herself, summoning a trench coat to slip the turtle into. 

-

"I... can we please just go?" 

AWWWWWWWWW SYMBOL THAT'S ADORABLE

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

The baby turtle looked up a her happily.

-

She looked like she wanted to say something else, but nodded.

She took them back to the neighborhood area of the Nullite Caverns.

I can't go any deeper into the caves. We'll have to walk from here.

Just now, Dragonheir said:

Rebus actually considered dropping the shard into the Eternal Mountains' Nullite vein, but decided that was too mean and uncontrolled, since he could simply use grey goo if he really wanted to. 

Actually Tam thought about that, too

[Immortal Platypus]

17 minutes ago, Bird Furious said:

I'd agree. It doesn't make sense for him to just show up and say "guess what, everyone, I'm important". In my personal opinion. You need the buildup. That's what this thread is all about! It's kind of the soul of TLT. Planning, building up to it, in spite of or at the behest of other players, using fair methods and not sheer stubbornness as manpower. I dunno. It does'nt sit right with me when I've been building up Bat for hundreds of pages now, and the buildup Nameless (before he vanished) and Dragonheir have done for Antagonist. Yeah, Platypus is the antagonist right now, but I think he lacks the scope to be the Antagonist, at least right now. 

Agreed. Symbol vanished, promising to return after she gave Nemesis a little level-up to provide alternate engagement for those who did not wish to stick around for the stalemate. 

to clarify, I'm not arguing Platypus should hold Antagonist. I'm thoroughly opposed to that, at the very least for now. I think, based on his goals alone, Protagonist fits him better. It doesn't fit the rest of him, but by goals alone, he's much closer to a protagonist than an antagonist. But I would disagree that buildup and such is the soul of TLT. I think that's what you have decided to use it as, but the soul of TLT has no plot, no protagonist, no antagonist. The soul of TLT is randomness.

Just now, Bird Furious said:

"Your belonging you basically attatched to him! You clearly intended it to happen." 

-

"What wrongs?" Bat huffed. 

It's mostly perception in the Thread. I'd argue that here, since it's run by the people, it should be the way the Thread-people generally perceive it. I'd say you're an outlier, honestly. 

"Actually, he never tried leaving it. Tam's was following her, but his wasn't following him."

"So many. I can elaborate later, but for now, I cannot."

1 minute ago, Through The Living Glass said:

We'd have to know they were planning something, somehow.

Well, he could be the Antagonist, but that depends on his goals.

And since you're the only one who knows them . . .

lets just say, most people would oppose them if they knew them  

2 minutes ago, Dragonheir said:

He brought Bacon to him so he could have another shard. 

Rebus hadn't been making any attacks, other than his attempt to take vengeance by shattering Vengeance. "You are not planning. You're magically corrupted and steamrolling past any opposition that has the decency to follow the rules. As for Master Plan, there's a reason Magnificent Bastard is a separate blade - which keyed off of my archetype, I may add." 

Rebus was attacking at several literally hypersonic speeds, using a shard that hadn't been there before. If Platypus can steal seven Plotblades before Rebus - who uses ansibles and utility fog to dodge things going at lightspeed - could react, I don't see how Platypus can turn around and no-sell the same tactic. If we want a stubbornness contest, though, that's fine with me. 

"Your calling card is barely related to you and yet has the potential to destroy the strongest magics here. You obviously engineered it, since if it existed before someone else would be using it, and you sent it to every Narrator in the Thread. That is a threat, and quite frankly I was justified in trying to break the thing that had showed up in my inner sanctum, sent by the person who had just killed me when I tried to talk to them. Listen to yourself, Platypus! There was a time where you fought people because you thought it had to be done - not because they attempted to talk to you!" 

The thing is, up until a couple days ago there was only three or four active plotlines left, and only three or four Authors. 

If only Platypus was listening to them. 

ah. that does make sense.

"You say I am not planning. I assure you, this has been planned for pages upon pages. I am not magically corrupted. My eyes are simply open to the problems here." Platypus laughed uproariously. "The rules? What rules? This is TLT!"

Platypus fought Thaidakar, who was (I'm pretty sure, if I'm clear on my lore), at one point at least Adonalsium, and later killed him. He's done battle with hundreds of enemies at once. He's also hundreds of thousands of years old, and most of that time has been spent training for battle. In addition, he's boosting his powers using Plotblades and a few other things. It wasn't seven Plotblades, just a few daggers (probably 3, I haven't decided yet). You are right though, I'm being unfair. It's been a while since I've been here, I apologize. If you'd like, Rebus could have taken one or two of them before Platypus got to them. It's also just that he wasn't expecting it, but Platypus was.

"Barely related to me? I created it! Perhaps I was just sharing my scientific discoveries with the thread. I can understand why you'd assume it's a threat, but that doesn't make it one. I killed you because I needed to test something. I figured as a man of science, you'd understand that." Platypus scoffed. "First off, I did think killing that version of you had to be done. Second, what do you know of why I fought people in the past? What do you know of me?"

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

7 minutes ago, Immortal Platypus said:

lets just say, most people would oppose them if they knew them  

Well then

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

14 minutes ago, Dragonheir said:

Rebus actually considered dropping the shard into the Eternal Mountains' Nullite vein, but decided that was too mean and uncontrolled, since he could simply use grey goo if he really wanted to. 

Rebus smiled in genuine amusement and fondness, bringing another copy of him to her so he could be there and still keep arguing with Platypus. 

Symbol blushed, somewhat startled. "What?"

13 minutes ago, Through The Living Glass said:

AWWWWWWWWW SYMBOL THAT'S ADORABLE

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

The baby turtle looked up a her happily.

-

She looked like she wanted to say something else, but nodded.

She took them back to the neighborhood area of the Nullite Caverns.

I can't go any deeper into the caves. We'll have to walk from here.

Actually Tam thought about that, too

Symbol glanced over at Rebus, then tried to pet the turtle in a nondescript way. She felt very awkward. 

-

"Thank you," he told her. "First, since we're here, I want to gather a couple things." He walked toward the trolley stopped still on the street. 

Nobody seemed to be around.

13 minutes ago, Immortal Platypus said:

to clarify, I'm not arguing Platypus should hold Antagonist. I'm thoroughly opposed to that, at the very least for now. I think, based on his goals alone, Protagonist fits him better. It doesn't fit the rest of him, but by goals alone, he's much closer to a protagonist than an antagonist. But I would disagree that buildup and such is the soul of TLT. I think that's what you have decided to use it as, but the soul of TLT has no plot, no protagonist, no antagonist. The soul of TLT is randomness.

"Actually, he never tried leaving it. Tam's was following her, but his wasn't following him."

"So many. I can elaborate later, but for now, I cannot."

lets just say, most people would oppose them if they knew them  

ah. that does make sense.

"You say I am not planning. I assure you, this has been planned for pages upon pages. I am not magically corrupted. My eyes are simply open to the problems here." Platypus laughed uproariously. "The rules? What rules? This is TLT!"

Platypus fought Thaidakar, who was (I'm pretty sure, if I'm clear on my lore), at one point at least Adonalsium, and later killed him. He's done battle with hundreds of enemies at once. He's also hundreds of thousands of years old, and most of that time has been spent training for battle. In addition, he's boosting his powers using Plotblades and a few other things. It wasn't seven Plotblades, just a few daggers (probably 3, I haven't decided yet). You are right though, I'm being unfair. It's been a while since I've been here, I apologize. If you'd like, Rebus could have taken one or two of them before Platypus got to them. It's also just that he wasn't expecting it, but Platypus was.

"Barely related to me? I created it! Perhaps I was just sharing my scientific discoveries with the thread. I can understand why you'd assume it's a threat, but that doesn't make it one. I killed you because I needed to test something. I figured as a man of science, you'd understand that." Platypus scoffed. "First off, I did think killing that version of you had to be done. Second, what do you know of why I fought people in the past? What do you know of me?"

Perhaps not. But when so many of us have been tending towards buildup, and since the Thread now has concrete lore and so much invested in it, I'd disagree that the soul is randomness. The soul of TLT is, increasingly, the characters within it. Randomness is the main medium, but... in this case, randomness shouldn't overpower preparation. You can assure us all you want that it was planned, but none of us saw any of it. That makes it feel, to the rest of us, cheap and unearned. Sorry if that's a bit blunt; I'm just trying to sum up this slight frustration.

But we don't know them. 

Well, experience doesn't necessarily translate to power. Rebus is honestly one of the most formidable people on this thread, and if, as you said, Platypus was moving slowly, Rebus would easily have been able to neutralize him with utility fog and get at the very least all but one of the daggers. 

A new version of Symbol appeared in order to tell him off. 

"You killed him? You killed Rebus and expected him to take it as an EXPERIMENT? You're INSANE! WORSE than insane-- you're delusional!" 

She was fuming. 

Edited April 20, 2025 by Bird Furious

[Immortal Platypus]

3 minutes ago, Bird Furious said:

Perhaps not. But when so many of us have been tending towards buildup, and since the Thread now has concrete lore and so much invested in it, I'd disagree that the soul is randomness. The soul of TLT is, increasingly, the characters within it. Randomness is the main medium, but... in this case, randomness shouldn't overpower preparation. You can assure us all you want that it was planned, but none of us saw any of it. That makes it feel, to the rest of us, cheap and unearned. Sorry if that's a bit blunt; I'm just trying to sum up this slight frustration.

But we don't know them. 

Well, experience doesn't necessarily translate to power. Rebus is honestly one of the most formidable people on this thread, and if, as you said, Platypus was moving slowly, Rebus would easily have been able to neutralize him with utility fog and get at the very least all but one of the daggers. 

A new version of Symbol appeared in order to tell him off. 

"You killed him? You killed Rebus and expected him to take it as an EXPERIMENT? You're INSANE! WORSE than insane-- you're delusional!" 

She was fuming. 

The thread has had concrete lore for a long time. I wouldn't agree with what you're saying the soul is. I think that TLT fluctuates, and that it's in a plot time right now, but someday it will go back to chaos. That's what the soul is - the randomness inherent to TLT. 

Experience doesn't translate to power, but Platypus has been well-established to be very powerful. You say that Rebus is one of the most formidable people on the thread, but before it was him, it was Platypus and Thaidakar, who Platypus fought to a draw, and later killed. I also believe I said that it was as if he was moving in slow motion, if not, that was a mistake on my part. In addition, Platypus is almost impossible to neutralize, Rebus wasn't expecting what happened to happen (while Platypus was), and, perhaps most importantly, you'll note that I said that Rebus could take one or two of the daggers. Assuming there are three, which is what I was leaning towards, that would be all but one (assuming that he got two).

I don't know what more you want me to say. i'm not even sure what message you're trying to get across. That Platypus shouldn't hold Antagonist? I agreed with that. That he shouldn't hold Protagonist? I also agree with that. That I was being unfair? I agreed with that too.

"Yep, that about sums it up. I killed a single being of a hive mind that could be effortlessly replaced. It's like I chopped off a finger that could easily grow back. Besides, killing him wasn't the experiment, something else was. And I'm afraid to tell you, but I've done worse, and I'm willing to do worse. Now, you can pout about it like a child, you can scream at me all you want, but it's in the past. Someone needs to do what needs to be done, and that someone will be me."

[Through the Living Heir he/him]

49 minutes ago, Immortal Platypus said:

"You say I am not planning. I assure you, this has been planned for pages upon pages. I am not magically corrupted. My eyes are simply open to the problems here." Platypus laughed uproariously. "The rules? What rules? This is TLT!"

Platypus fought Thaidakar, who was (I'm pretty sure, if I'm clear on my lore), at one point at least Adonalsium, and later killed him. He's done battle with hundreds of enemies at once. He's also hundreds of thousands of years old, and most of that time has been spent training for battle. In addition, he's boosting his powers using Plotblades and a few other things. It wasn't seven Plotblades, just a few daggers (probably 3, I haven't decided yet). You are right though, I'm being unfair. It's been a while since I've been here, I apologize. If you'd like, Rebus could have taken one or two of them before Platypus got to them. It's also just that he wasn't expecting it, but Platypus was.

"Barely related to me? I created it! Perhaps I was just sharing my scientific discoveries with the thread. I can understand why you'd assume it's a threat, but that doesn't make it one. I killed you because I needed to test something. I figured as a man of science, you'd understand that." Platypus scoffed. "First off, I did think killing that version of you had to be done. Second, what do you know of why I fought people in the past? What do you know of me?"

"The rules are what let you kill my clone. The rules are what stop me from ignoring you, or declaring you dead. The rules are what makes this spoken words and not mere abnormally thick text on a page. The rules are what can let you beat me - your Author is right that you have more experience and resources than I, and if you throw out any consistency you throw out any path to victory but stubbornness, which I assure you I am your match in."

I don't actually care that the Plotblade is broken, or even that Rebus couldn't get the pieces, though it ruins a couple ideas I had for the future. My main frustration is that Platypus's shards don't follow the same rules as everything else. He doesn't have an established way to have them, and they seem to be able to do anything, without any counter - including using their properties against him. To make a weapon that can break Plotblades is fine, but to make it impossible for anyone else to use feels unfair. If there is an actual reason he can make and control such a thing, I will accept it - though Rebus will of course attempt to duplicate the feat (or if it really is Umbrite, he may try for another axis). Magnificent Bastard was alive, and "loyal" to Rebus (it was perfectly willing to betray him, of course, but he is more likely to use it than Platypus), so perhaps I can be responsible for one of the daggers - Charm, with the other two being Adaptation and Love to Hate. Edit: Love to hate is probably under Charm, or perhaps vice versa. The third should be something about the morality - pragmatic but gracious, villainous but not despicable. 

"You created it? No wonder you've ended up like this, if it truly is what I suspect." Rebus shook his head. "I am indeed a man of science. Such a man of science, in fact, that I would have volunteered a clone had you asked me. Such a man of science that I was willing to break my own Plotblade in order to find the means to break others. But to destroy me without even asking if I would be willing to sacrifice a clone speaks to a failure to consider any measure but the most drastic. Weren't you the one who fought against the killing of Plot?" 

36 minutes ago, Bird Furious said:

 

 

Perhaps not. But when so many of us have been tending towards buildup, and since the Thread now has concrete lore and so much invested in it, I'd disagree that the soul is randomness. The soul of TLT is, increasingly, the characters within it. Randomness is the main medium, but... in this case, randomness shouldn't overpower preparation. You can assure us all you want that it was planned, but none of us saw any of it. That makes it feel, to the rest of us, cheap and unearned. Sorry if that's a bit blunt; I'm just trying to sum up this slight frustration.

But we don't know them. 

Well, experience doesn't necessarily translate to power. Rebus is honestly one of the most formidable people on this thread, and if, as you said, Platypus was moving slowly, Rebus would easily have been able to neutralize him with utility fog and get at the very least all but one of the daggers. 

A new version of Symbol appeared in order to tell him off. 

"You killed him? You killed Rebus and expected him to take it as an EXPERIMENT? You're INSANE! WORSE than insane-- you're delusional!" 

She was fuming. 

Rebus smiled at her, grateful. 

22 minutes ago, Immortal Platypus said:

The thread has had concrete lore for a long time. I wouldn't agree with what you're saying the soul is. I think that TLT fluctuates, and that it's in a plot time right now, but someday it will go back to chaos. That's what the soul is - the randomness inherent to TLT. 

Experience doesn't translate to power, but Platypus has been well-established to be very powerful. You say that Rebus is one of the most formidable people on the thread, but before it was him, it was Platypus and Thaidakar, who Platypus fought to a draw, and later killed. I also believe I said that it was as if he was moving in slow motion, if not, that was a mistake on my part. In addition, Platypus is almost impossible to neutralize, Rebus wasn't expecting what happened to happen (while Platypus was), and, perhaps most importantly, you'll note that I said that Rebus could take one or two of the daggers. Assuming there are three, which is what I was leaning towards, that would be all but one (assuming that he got two).

I don't know what more you want me to say. i'm not even sure what message you're trying to get across. That Platypus shouldn't hold Antagonist? I agreed with that. That he shouldn't hold Protagonist? I also agree with that. That I was being unfair? I agreed with that too.

"Yep, that about sums it up. I killed a single being of a hive mind that could be effortlessly replaced. It's like I chopped off a finger that could easily grow back. Besides, killing him wasn't the experiment, something else was. And I'm afraid to tell you, but I've done worse, and I'm willing to do worse. Now, you can pout about it like a child, you can scream at me all you want, but it's in the past. Someone needs to do what needs to be done, and that someone will be me."

I think you could be right here, but that doesn't mean interrupting the natural process isn't unexpected and in some ways rude. 

Rebus didn't expect that exact situation, but he was prepared for both "Platypus shows up" and "Plotblade is destroyed" - simply not the two at once. In my mind he was not caught nearly as unaware as you seem to have gathered from what I said. 

Edited April 20, 2025 by Dragonheir
more fragment speculation

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

13 minutes ago, Immortal Platypus said:

The thread has had concrete lore for a long time. I wouldn't agree with what you're saying the soul is. I think that TLT fluctuates, and that it's in a plot time right now, but someday it will go back to chaos. That's what the soul is - the randomness inherent to TLT. 

Experience doesn't translate to power, but Platypus has been well-established to be very powerful. You say that Rebus is one of the most formidable people on the thread, but before it was him, it was Platypus and Thaidakar, who Platypus fought to a draw, and later killed. I also believe I said that it was as if he was moving in slow motion, if not, that was a mistake on my part. In addition, Platypus is almost impossible to neutralize, Rebus wasn't expecting what happened to happen (while Platypus was), and, perhaps most importantly, you'll note that I said that Rebus could take one or two of the daggers. Assuming there are three, which is what I was leaning towards, that would be all but one (assuming that he got two).

I don't know what more you want me to say. i'm not even sure what message you're trying to get across. That Platypus shouldn't hold Antagonist? I agreed with that. That he shouldn't hold Protagonist? I also agree with that. That I was being unfair? I agreed with that too.

"Yep, that about sums it up. I killed a single being of a hive mind that could be effortlessly replaced. It's like I chopped off a finger that could easily grow back. Besides, killing him wasn't the experiment, something else was. And I'm afraid to tell you, but I've done worse, and I'm willing to do worse. Now, you can pout about it like a child, you can scream at me all you want, but it's in the past. Someone needs to do what needs to be done, and that someone will be me."

I guess basically what I'm saying is that I personally try my best to be courteous of the other Authors. Without the other Authors invested in the storylines, one of two things happen--- those storylines get ignored or pushed aside in favor of the ones that seem more interesting or fair to those particular Authors, or the Authors just leave TLT entirely. Neither of which we want to have happen. Part of that, in my personal opinion, is avoiding situations that might frustrate other Authors. Rebus was really proud of his Plotblade, it fit him well, and now you've taken it away. That's naturally something Dragonheir's going to be frustrated with. And negative emotions is never something we want associated with ourselves as an Author and fellow roleplayer, nor with the roleplay itself. So while the Thread is random, it doesn't need to be so random that we have to fear losing what we've established through careful planning to that same randomness. It, quite frankly, doesn't make sense to hold everything we've been building hostage to the Thread's randomness. Especially when the state of the Thread has been so precarious lately. 

Sorry again if that's blunt. That's just how I see it, and I really don't want anyone to feel like they came off the loser. 

"WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?"

3 minutes ago, Dragonheir said:

"The rules are what let you kill my clone. The rules are what stop me from ignoring you, or declaring you dead. The rules are what makes this spoken words and not mere abnormally thick text on a page. The rules are what can let you beat me - your Author is right that you have more experience and resources than I, and if you throw out any consistency you throw out any path to victory but stubbornness, which I assure you I am your match in."

I don't actually care that the Plotblade is broken, or even that Rebus couldn't get the pieces, though it ruins a couple ideas I had for the future. My main frustration is that Platypus's shards don't follow the same rules as everything else. He doesn't have an established way to have them, and they seem to be able to do anything, without any counter - including using their properties against him. To make a weapon that can break Plotblades is fine, but to make it impossible for anyone else to use feels unfair. If there is an actual reason he can make and control such a thing, I will accept it - though Rebus will of course attempt to duplicate the feat (or if it really is Umbrite, he may try for another axis). Magnificent Bastard was alive, and "loyal" to Rebus (it was perfectly willing to betray him, of course, but he is more likely to use it than Platypus), so perhaps I can be responsible for one of the daggers - Charm, with the other two being Adaptation and Love to Hate. 

"You created it? No wonder you've ended up like this, if it truly is what I suspect." Rebus shook his head. "I am indeed a man of science. Such a man of science, in fact, that I would have volunteered a clone had you asked me. Such a man of science that I was willing to break my own Plotblade in order to find the means to break others. But to destroy me without even asking if I would be willing to sacrifice a clone speaks to a failure to consider any measure but the most drastic. Weren't you the one who fought against the killing of Plot?" 

Rebus smiled at her, grateful. 

I think you could be right here, but that doesn't mean interrupting the natural process isn't unexpected and in some ways rude. 

Rebus didn't expect that exact situation, but he was prepared for both "Platypus shows up" and "Plotblade is destroyed" - simply not the two at once. In my mind he was not caught nearly as unaware as you seem to have gathered from what I said. 

Agreed. The mineral came out of left field and quite frankly doesn't make sense with the established lore. 

Also, I had another post above. I can grab that if you'd like  

Symbol blushed slightly. Sorry. 

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

32 minutes ago, Bird Furious said:

Symbol glanced over at Rebus, then tried to pet the turtle in a nondescript way. She felt very awkward. 

-

"Thank you," he told her. "First, since we're here, I want to gather a couple things." He walked toward the trolley stopped still on the street. 

Nobody seemed to be around.

The turtle slowly closed its eyes, looking content.

-

She nodded and followed, noting the absence of people.

. . .

Wait, except . . . there were supposed to be people here, were there not? Rebus had let some of his people return here . . .

She conveyed that to Bat, worried.

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

Just now, Through The Living Glass said:

The turtle slowly closed its eyes, looking content.

-

She nodded and followed, noting the absence of people.

. . .

Wait, except . . . there were supposed to be people here, were there not? Rebus had let some of his people return here . . .

She conveyed that to Bat, worried.

Aw... 

Uh, whatever, was what Symbol meant. She carefully tucked the turtle into a magical pocket that doubled as an aquarium from the inside. 

-

He blushed deeply. "I... I'll explain soon, okay?" He took a deep breath and turned back to the trolley. He closed his eyes and the trolley was shredded. 

Bits of Nullite flew away from Bat and the trolley in a straight line. He walked over and picked up the largest bits. 

[Through the Living Heir he/him]

39 minutes ago, Bird Furious said:

Symbol blushed, somewhat startled. "What?"

"It's what you were talking about earlier - character moments. Both with the turtle, and with whatever it is I'm feeling because of it." Rebus assembled the turtle a little hat. 

7 minutes ago, Bird Furious said:

Agreed. The mineral came out of left field and quite frankly doesn't make sense with the established lore. 

Also, I had another post above. I can grab that if you'd like  

Symbol blushed slightly. Sorry. 

Yeah - if we'd been getting some Thaid-style glimpses of what Platypus was doing (though I suppose Platypus the Author was too busy), or even if it had been foreshadowed better during Rebus's interaction with him, it would feel much more natural. 

"Righteous frustration is nothing to be sorry over - I would feel the same if our positions were reversed." 

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

Just now, Bird Furious said:

Aw... 

Uh, whatever, was what Symbol meant. She carefully tucked the turtle into a magical pocket that doubled as an aquarium from the inside. 

-

He blushed deeply. "I... I'll explain soon, okay?" He took a deep breath and turned back to the trolley. He closed his eyes and the trolley was shredded. 

Bits of Nullite flew away from Bat and the trolley in a straight line. He walked over and picked up the largest bits. 

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww :3

The turtle was very happy to be able to swim around in the pocket-aquarium, but for now poked its head out to be with her.

-

She shied back, then sighed inwardly.

Calm down, she told herself. Just calm down. He's not going to hurt you with it or anything.

She waited until he was done to ask what he was going to do with the pieces.

3 minutes ago, Dragonheir said:

"It's what you were talking about earlier - character moments. Both with the turtle, and with whatever it is I'm feeling because of it." Rebus assembled the turtle a little hat. 

It bit the hat playfully.

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

3 minutes ago, Dragonheir said:

"It's what you were talking about earlier - character moments. Both with the turtle, and with whatever it is I'm feeling because of it." Rebus assembled the turtle a little hat. 

Yeah - if we'd been getting some Thaid-style glimpses of what Platypus was doing (though I suppose Platypus the Author was too busy), or even if it had been foreshadowed better during Rebus's interaction with him, it would feel much more natural. 

"Righteous frustration is nothing to be sorry over - I would feel the same if our positions were reversed." 

Symbol pulled the turtle back out so he could give it to the turtle, and also to do something so that hopefully her confused blush would be lost in the slop of words. 

Agreed. 

"Thank you." That felt like the right thing to say, at least. 

[Immortal Platypus]

6 minutes ago, Dragonheir said:

"The rules are what let you kill my clone. The rules are what stop me from ignoring you, or declaring you dead. The rules are what makes this spoken words and not mere abnormally thick text on a page. The rules are what can let you beat me - your Author is right that you have more experience and resources than I, and if you throw out any consistency you throw out any path to victory but stubbornness, which I assure you I am your match in."

"Those are not rules. Any of those are options. They are guidelines, agreed to by the Authors. But they are not rules."

Quote

I don't actually care that the Plotblade is broken, or even that Rebus couldn't get the pieces, though it ruins a couple ideas I had for the future. My main frustration is that Platypus's shards don't follow the same rules as everything else. He doesn't have an established way to have them, and they seem to be able to do anything, without any counter - including using their properties against him. To make a weapon that can break Plotblades is fine, but to make it impossible for anyone else to use feels unfair. If there is an actual reason he can make and control such a thing, I will accept it - though Rebus will of course attempt to duplicate the feat (or if it really is Umbrite, he may try for another axis). Magnificent Bastard was alive, and "loyal" to Rebus (it was perfectly willing to betray him, of course, but he is more likely to use it than Platypus), so perhaps I can be responsible for one of the daggers - Charm, with the other two being Adaptation and Love to Hate. 

He could, very likely, end up with them once more. They can't do anything, though I can understand why you'd feel that way. There is a reason that he has created and can control them, and you're quite close to it. I'd be willing to explain it further if you'd like. 

Have at with the daggers. That wasn't what I was think of for them, but those fit fine.

Quote

"You created it? No wonder you've ended up like this, if it truly is what I suspect." Rebus shook his head. "I am indeed a man of science. Such a man of science, in fact, that I would have volunteered a clone had you asked me. Such a man of science that I was willing to break my own Plotblade in order to find the means to break others. But to destroy me without even asking if I would be willing to sacrifice a clone speaks to a failure to consider any measure but the most drastic. Weren't you the one who fought against the killing of Plot?" 

"It would not have worked if you had known about it. The test could not have succeeded without you being unaware of it."

At the last sentence, Platypus looked shocked. "Fought against? I was the one who caused the death of Plot! That is why I wield his Blade!"

Quote

I think you could be right here, but that doesn't mean interrupting the natural process isn't unexpected and in some ways rude. 

Rebus didn't expect that exact situation, but he was prepared for both "Platypus shows up" and "Plotblade is destroyed" - simply not the two at once. In my mind he was not caught nearly as unaware as you seem to have gathered from what I said. 

I was trying to signal you not to do it in the classic "DM way" with the "are you sure you want to do that?" 

He probably wouldn't have been as unaware as I am portraying him, but he likely wouldn't have been what I would call "prepared" for either, and certainly not both.

4 minutes ago, Bird Furious said:

I guess basically what I'm saying is that I personally try my best to be courteous of the other Authors. Without the other Authors invested in the storylines, one of two things happen--- those storylines get ignored or pushed aside in favor of the ones that seem more interesting or fair to those particular Authors, or the Authors just leave TLT entirely. Neither of which we want to have happen. Part of that, in my personal opinion, is avoiding situations that might frustrate other Authors. Rebus was really proud of his Plotblade, it fit him well, and now you've taken it away. That's naturally something Dragonheir's going to be frustrated with. And negative emotions is never something we want associated with ourselves as an Author and fellow roleplayer, nor with the roleplay itself. So while the Thread is random, it doesn't need to be so random that we have to fear losing what we've established through careful planning to that same randomness. It, quite frankly, doesn't make sense to hold everything we've been building hostage to the Thread's randomness. Especially when the state of the Thread has been so precarious lately. 

Sorry again if that's blunt. That's just how I see it, and I really don't want anyone to feel like they came off the loser. 

"WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?"

Just to start, I don't care if someone is blunt to me, in fact, I appreciate it, so don't worry about it. 

I agree with much of what you said, but I do disagree with some things. 1, I disagree that frustrating other Authors is always something that should be avoided. I think that it can build ideas, and that it can make the RP a little bit more real. In general, I would agree, however, and it should usually be done with someone you know better than I know Heir, and for that I apologize. I again, would mention that I did try to warn him. It wasn't an in-world thing, that was directly from me. 2. Negative emotions can be something you want from RP, but in general, I would agree again. 3. I didn't think it was totally random. I believe that I've proposed the idea that Plot's energy was that of each of the 4 axes combined before here, and the shard had been shown to have major (or at least notable) reactions with at least two of them. In my head, it would make sense that it would either break or absorb the Plotblade, and break made more sense. Also, I didn't know that the Thread-state has been precarious lately.

"I can't say. I can't give them any warning. They're probably already watching me, and they can't know for sure what I intend. And thus, I must go. Until we meet again, because I'm sure we will."

Platypus disappeared.

Quote

Agreed. The mineral came out of left field and quite frankly doesn't make sense with the established lore. 

It does fit, at least in my head, but I can see how it seems random to you.

6 minutes ago, Dragonheir said:

Yeah - if we'd been getting some Thaid-style glimpses of what Platypus was doing (though I suppose Platypus the Author was too busy), or even if it had been foreshadowed better during Rebus's interaction with him, it would feel much more natural. 

I don't know what you mean by Thaid-style glimpses - from my recollection, we didn't get too many glimpses of what his villains planned (or any that I can think of). I have been very busy, and the mineral was a different thing from what he was testing with Rebus.

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

Muin is just standing there wondering where all the Narrators went.

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

Just now, CoderDrag0n8 said:

Muin is just standing there wondering where all the Narrators went.

Utility is still dutifully standing nearby.

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

5 minutes ago, Through The Living Glass said:

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww :3

The turtle was very happy to be able to swim around in the pocket-aquarium, but for now poked its head out to be with her.

-

She shied back, then sighed inwardly.

Calm down, she told herself. Just calm down. He's not going to hurt you with it or anything.

She waited until he was done to ask what he was going to do with the pieces.

It bit the hat playfully.

Symbol couldn't hold back a happy smile. 

-

"Oh, sorry..." He bit his lip, but tried to push down the guilt. "I just... felt like I needed more Nullite. I was actually wondering if you'd... maybe carry some for me... just in case mine gets confiscated, or in case I need to push you out of danger, or something." 

-

Symbol giggled.

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

Just now, Through The Living Glass said:

Utility is still dutifully standing nearby.

"Would you like to hear another story?" Muin asks because he is bored.

Is the shard still next to Utility's feet?

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

2 minutes ago, Bird Furious said:

Symbol couldn't hold back a happy smile. 

-

"Oh, sorry..." He bit his lip, but tried to push down the guilt. "I just... felt like I needed more Nullite. I was actually wondering if you'd... maybe carry some for me... just in case mine gets confiscated, or in case I need to push you out of danger, or something." 

-

Symbol giggled.

It nipped her finger playfully.

-

She wavered.

Um . . . yeah, I guess that makes sense. I can . . . carry some, she agreed even as her very being screamed at her that that was a bad idea.

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

3 minutes ago, Immortal Platypus said:

"Those are not rules. Any of those are options. They are guidelines, agreed to by the Authors. But they are not rules."

He could, very likely, end up with them once more. They can't do anything, though I can understand why you'd feel that way. There is a reason that he has created and can control them, and you're quite close to it. I'd be willing to explain it further if you'd like. 

Have at with the daggers. That wasn't what I was think of for them, but those fit fine.

"It would not have worked if you had known about it. The test could not have succeeded without you being unaware of it."

At the last sentence, Platypus looked shocked. "Fought against? I was the one who caused the death of Plot! That is why I wield his Blade!"

I was trying to signal you not to do it in the classic "DM way" with the "are you sure you want to do that?" 

He probably wouldn't have been as unaware as I am portraying him, but he likely wouldn't have been what I would call "prepared" for either, and certainly not both.

Just to start, I don't care if someone is blunt to me, in fact, I appreciate it, so don't worry about it. 

I agree with much of what you said, but I do disagree with some things. 1, I disagree that frustrating other Authors is always something that should be avoided. I think that it can build ideas, and that it can make the RP a little bit more real. In general, I would agree, however, and it should usually be done with someone you know better than I know Heir, and for that I apologize. I again, would mention that I did try to warn him. It wasn't an in-world thing, that was directly from me. 2. Negative emotions can be something you want from RP, but in general, I would agree again. 3. I didn't think it was totally random. I believe that I've proposed the idea that Plot's energy was that of each of the 4 axes combined before here, and the shard had been shown to have major (or at least notable) reactions with at least two of them. In my head, it would make sense that it would either break or absorb the Plotblade, and break made more sense. Also, I didn't know that the Thread-state has been precarious lately.

"I can't say. I can't give them any warning. They're probably already watching me, and they can't know for sure what I intend. And thus, I must go. Until we meet again, because I'm sure we will."

Platypus disappeared.

It does fit, at least in my head, but I can see how it seems random to you.

I don't know what you mean by Thaid-style glimpses - from my recollection, we didn't get too many glimpses of what his villains planned (or any that I can think of). I have been very busy, and the mineral was a different thing from what he was testing with Rebus.

Frustrating other Authors can be okay if it doesn't... well, end like this. And yes, sometimes it can be fun, but in this case it's only fun for you, and the reason is we have no idea what the heck you're doing, and none of us are in on it. Trying to signal that he shouldn't do it is... frankly, not enough. You wanted someone to break their Plotblade on that stuff. That much is clear. That's why it feels like a hustle. Roleplaying should not feel like a hustle. Half of the point is interacting with things to open new and interesting scenarios, not interacting and getting robbed while Platypus returns to whatever place he came from with no indication of what he's gonna do next. That's only fun for you. It's not fun for any of us. It's actually highly frustrating. 

Also, as for the mineral, I try not to dip too much into the lore. But if it's another Prismatine or another Nullite, fits properly with the axes, and the properties make sense, I guess I have no complaints there. Except how Platypus can control it willy-nilly. I would like more explanation on that, and on the three Plotshards, and basically everything you're trying to do here. Just since it's based on unsolidified Thread science that hasn't been tested or explained yet. 

2 minutes ago, Through The Living Glass said:

It nipped her finger playfully.

-

She wavered.

Um . . . yeah, I guess that makes sense. I can . . . carry some, she agreed even as her very being screamed at her that that was a bad idea.

She bit her lip hard so she wouldn't giggle again. 

-

Bat hesitated. He didn't want her to feel how she was obviously feeling. 

How about something else? How about just a belt? They all have Nullite-plated buckles, and shouldn't be hard to find... 

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

2 minutes ago, Bird Furious said:

She bit her lip hard so she wouldn't giggle again. 

-

Bat hesitated. He didn't want her to feel how she was obviously feeling. 

How about something else? How about just a belt? They all have Nullite-plated buckles, and shouldn't be hard to find... 

It chirped at her hungrily.

-

She nodded, heart pounding in her chest nervously.

Yeah. That'd probably be better . . . thank you.