Story: "Saving the Heroes" (Part 5 of 5)
Dec. 20th, 2012 12:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis story fills a square on my second card for the ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
cottoncandy_bingo fest. This fest encourages people to create and share material focused on what is variously called fluff, schmoop, gentle fiction, light reading, comfort reading, positive thinking, chicken soup for the soul, or anything else that offers a fun alternative to usual run of sex, violence, and angst of modern media. I'm hoping to attract some new readers for my writing.
The following story belongs to Schrodinger's Heroes, featuring an apocryphal television show supported by an imaginary fandom. It's science fiction about quantum physics and saving the world from alternate dimensions. It features a very mixed cast in terms of ethnicity and sexual orientation. This project developed with input from multiple people, and it's open for everyone to play in. You can read more about the background, the characters, and a bunch of assorted content on the menu page.
This is actually the first piece I've written about fans of the show, rather than the characters within the show itself. (It will make more sense if you've read the background material, especially "About the Show," "Aired Episodes," and "Unaired Episodes.") In this case, the Avengers are all great big fangeeks, and they happen to love Schrodinger's Heroes. There are also references to assorted other fanac hijinks. As sometimes happens with Schrodinger's Heroes, various relationships among the Avengers are hinted rather than specified. So you can pretty much fill out the shipping manifest with your favorite combination(s).
Begin with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.
Fandom: Avengers/Original (Schrodinger's Heroes)
Prompt: Crush / Infatuation
Medium: Fiction
Summary: The Avengers and friends watch television together and discuss how much they wish for the return of a favorite show.
Content Notes: Fluff. Meta. An assortment of crushes, squishes, infatuations, and admirations. Team bonding. Patching up dysfunctions. Friendship. Science jokes. Avengers geeking out. Pepper is perfect. Tony is a jerk but he's OUR jerk. Steve is homesick for his former time. Phil is the puppy-est fanboy in the history of ever. Some references to real people, but all offstage.
"Saving the Heroes" Part 5
"Amazingly, Tony, you turn out to be worth putting up with after all," Phil said.
"I told you so," Tony said.
"You also told Fury he couldn't afford your rates," Phil said. "Then you took it in barter."
Tony winked. "Favors cost far more than cash, Phil. I reamed Fury on that deal, and he knows it, he just doesn't talk about it."
"Definitely worth putting up with," Phil said with a smirk. "So how does this work with reviving the show? Shoot the unscreened episodes in probable order? There were gaps in the storyline because they never fully developed some of the planned material. You'd have to find people to flesh out some of that..."
"You could start by finishing 'Where the Caged Bird Flies.' That was in production when the show got cancelled," Pepper said. "Stacy completed all the special effects before sneaking out the bootleg of the fragments, so it's just a matter of shooting the remainder of the plain scenes."
"Hah!" Bruce barked. "I knew Stacy had to be the one who let that cat out of the bag."
"Shush," Pepper said. "Let's keep that to ourselves, at least until we have all the relevant copyrights in hand."
Clint gave Tony a measuring look. "If renewing Schrodinger's Heroes is enough to make Phil admit that you're worth the stupendous amount of trouble you cause ... maybe it would have the same effect on that Lisa chick."
"She's not a chick, Clint," Pepper said with a frown, "she's one of the leading quantum physicists in the entire world."
"But it's an amazing show and Tony does amazing things with computers, so it ought to impress her," Clint said.
"Lisa does have the portable terminal for the Teferact from 'A Door in the Wind.' I don't know how she managed to outbid me," Phil said. "So she's definitely a hardcore fan. Dilettantes don't collect original props. Besides, Clint's right about Tony, and don't forget that Stacy Anderson is a genius too."
"I can't wait to see 'Where the Caged Bird Flies' finished," Bruce said. "Just the special effects are eye-popping, and you can kind of guess the plot from there. It always reminds me of the Sneetches and the Star-On machine."
Pepper smiled at him. "You would think of that, Bruce. But you don't need to bankrupt yourself with the Fix-It-Up Chappie. We love you just the way you are."
"Anyway, the show is going to be a huge hit again," Clint said. "This is history we're making here. Everybody should appreciate it."
"I doubt this will do me any good with Lisa Randall, though," Tony said. "She really does hate me, and okay, can't say I blame her, Tony Stark not recommended, yadda yadda --"
"So don't tell her it's from you," Clint said. "Think like a spy for once. Write the program, shoot the episode, send her a copy of it. She's a fan, she'll flip over it." Heads nodded around the room. "Then after she falls in love with the finished version of 'Where the Caged Bird Flies,' you send her a note telling her that it's your very belated apology for spilling your drink on her napkin equations. That should at least get your foot in the door."
"You know," Bruce said slowly, "if we released the later episodes one at a time at Mensa parties, I bet we could get Lisa Randall and Stephen Hawking to sit with us. Word is they both did a bit of consulting for the show."
"Everybody who's anybody in quantum physics did, it's a small world," Tony said, "but yeah, that's an idea." He grinned dreamily at the thought. Then he shook his head. "I dunno, though, this is all fun to talk about, but we're pretty busy with Avengers stuff. Crazy villains. Armor upgrades. Clint's new arrowheads ..."
"I'll take the show," Clint said instantly. "You gave me the last batch of arrowheads less than a month ago, Tony, I haven't even tested all those in combat yet."
Just then, Thor walked Steve back into the main group. Steve's eyes were red, but he had mostly stopped crying. Phil tugged him onto a couch. Steve leaned against Phil, pressing into the comforting warmth. Phil looped an arm around him. Natasha silently curled up on the other side of Steve.
"We heard the talk about restoring the Heroes of Schrodinger to their former glory," Thor said. "I wish to hear more of this!"
"Tony's getting cold feet," Clint said.
"I am not!" Tony said. "I'm just trying to be responsible. People are always bugging me to be more responsible, jeez, make up your minds."
"Pepper and I have already pointed out the practical benefits," Phil said. "As for the personal benefits ... well, an impressive enough apology can work miracles."
"Come on, Tony. Save the day in a way that doesn't involve blowing things up, for once," Bruce wheedled.
"Did you even read the unscreened episodes?" Tony said. "Put me and Stacy Anderson on that project, and there will be all kinds of explosions."
"Just say you'll do it," said Bruce, bouncing a little in place.
"It would probably make Farkendorker and Hammer cry," Rhodey pointed out. "That never gets old."
"Okay, I'll do it," Tony said.
Pepper squealed and clapped her hands. "I'll put Legal right on the copyright acquisition," she said.
Steve emerged from his handkerchief, still sniffling a little, but smiling now. "My hero," he said.
* * *
Notes:
Mensa is the high-IQ society, an organization for exceptionally smart people. They throw good parties at speculative fiction conventions sometimes.
~ END ~
cottoncandy_bingo fest. This fest encourages people to create and share material focused on what is variously called fluff, schmoop, gentle fiction, light reading, comfort reading, positive thinking, chicken soup for the soul, or anything else that offers a fun alternative to usual run of sex, violence, and angst of modern media. I'm hoping to attract some new readers for my writing.The following story belongs to Schrodinger's Heroes, featuring an apocryphal television show supported by an imaginary fandom. It's science fiction about quantum physics and saving the world from alternate dimensions. It features a very mixed cast in terms of ethnicity and sexual orientation. This project developed with input from multiple people, and it's open for everyone to play in. You can read more about the background, the characters, and a bunch of assorted content on the menu page.
This is actually the first piece I've written about fans of the show, rather than the characters within the show itself. (It will make more sense if you've read the background material, especially "About the Show," "Aired Episodes," and "Unaired Episodes.") In this case, the Avengers are all great big fangeeks, and they happen to love Schrodinger's Heroes. There are also references to assorted other fanac hijinks. As sometimes happens with Schrodinger's Heroes, various relationships among the Avengers are hinted rather than specified. So you can pretty much fill out the shipping manifest with your favorite combination(s).
Begin with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.
Fandom: Avengers/Original (Schrodinger's Heroes)
Prompt: Crush / Infatuation
Medium: Fiction
Summary: The Avengers and friends watch television together and discuss how much they wish for the return of a favorite show.
Content Notes: Fluff. Meta. An assortment of crushes, squishes, infatuations, and admirations. Team bonding. Patching up dysfunctions. Friendship. Science jokes. Avengers geeking out. Pepper is perfect. Tony is a jerk but he's OUR jerk. Steve is homesick for his former time. Phil is the puppy-est fanboy in the history of ever. Some references to real people, but all offstage.
"Saving the Heroes" Part 5
"Amazingly, Tony, you turn out to be worth putting up with after all," Phil said.
"I told you so," Tony said.
"You also told Fury he couldn't afford your rates," Phil said. "Then you took it in barter."
Tony winked. "Favors cost far more than cash, Phil. I reamed Fury on that deal, and he knows it, he just doesn't talk about it."
"Definitely worth putting up with," Phil said with a smirk. "So how does this work with reviving the show? Shoot the unscreened episodes in probable order? There were gaps in the storyline because they never fully developed some of the planned material. You'd have to find people to flesh out some of that..."
"You could start by finishing 'Where the Caged Bird Flies.' That was in production when the show got cancelled," Pepper said. "Stacy completed all the special effects before sneaking out the bootleg of the fragments, so it's just a matter of shooting the remainder of the plain scenes."
"Hah!" Bruce barked. "I knew Stacy had to be the one who let that cat out of the bag."
"Shush," Pepper said. "Let's keep that to ourselves, at least until we have all the relevant copyrights in hand."
Clint gave Tony a measuring look. "If renewing Schrodinger's Heroes is enough to make Phil admit that you're worth the stupendous amount of trouble you cause ... maybe it would have the same effect on that Lisa chick."
"She's not a chick, Clint," Pepper said with a frown, "she's one of the leading quantum physicists in the entire world."
"But it's an amazing show and Tony does amazing things with computers, so it ought to impress her," Clint said.
"Lisa does have the portable terminal for the Teferact from 'A Door in the Wind.' I don't know how she managed to outbid me," Phil said. "So she's definitely a hardcore fan. Dilettantes don't collect original props. Besides, Clint's right about Tony, and don't forget that Stacy Anderson is a genius too."
"I can't wait to see 'Where the Caged Bird Flies' finished," Bruce said. "Just the special effects are eye-popping, and you can kind of guess the plot from there. It always reminds me of the Sneetches and the Star-On machine."
Pepper smiled at him. "You would think of that, Bruce. But you don't need to bankrupt yourself with the Fix-It-Up Chappie. We love you just the way you are."
"Anyway, the show is going to be a huge hit again," Clint said. "This is history we're making here. Everybody should appreciate it."
"I doubt this will do me any good with Lisa Randall, though," Tony said. "She really does hate me, and okay, can't say I blame her, Tony Stark not recommended, yadda yadda --"
"So don't tell her it's from you," Clint said. "Think like a spy for once. Write the program, shoot the episode, send her a copy of it. She's a fan, she'll flip over it." Heads nodded around the room. "Then after she falls in love with the finished version of 'Where the Caged Bird Flies,' you send her a note telling her that it's your very belated apology for spilling your drink on her napkin equations. That should at least get your foot in the door."
"You know," Bruce said slowly, "if we released the later episodes one at a time at Mensa parties, I bet we could get Lisa Randall and Stephen Hawking to sit with us. Word is they both did a bit of consulting for the show."
"Everybody who's anybody in quantum physics did, it's a small world," Tony said, "but yeah, that's an idea." He grinned dreamily at the thought. Then he shook his head. "I dunno, though, this is all fun to talk about, but we're pretty busy with Avengers stuff. Crazy villains. Armor upgrades. Clint's new arrowheads ..."
"I'll take the show," Clint said instantly. "You gave me the last batch of arrowheads less than a month ago, Tony, I haven't even tested all those in combat yet."
Just then, Thor walked Steve back into the main group. Steve's eyes were red, but he had mostly stopped crying. Phil tugged him onto a couch. Steve leaned against Phil, pressing into the comforting warmth. Phil looped an arm around him. Natasha silently curled up on the other side of Steve.
"We heard the talk about restoring the Heroes of Schrodinger to their former glory," Thor said. "I wish to hear more of this!"
"Tony's getting cold feet," Clint said.
"I am not!" Tony said. "I'm just trying to be responsible. People are always bugging me to be more responsible, jeez, make up your minds."
"Pepper and I have already pointed out the practical benefits," Phil said. "As for the personal benefits ... well, an impressive enough apology can work miracles."
"Come on, Tony. Save the day in a way that doesn't involve blowing things up, for once," Bruce wheedled.
"Did you even read the unscreened episodes?" Tony said. "Put me and Stacy Anderson on that project, and there will be all kinds of explosions."
"Just say you'll do it," said Bruce, bouncing a little in place.
"It would probably make Farkendorker and Hammer cry," Rhodey pointed out. "That never gets old."
"Okay, I'll do it," Tony said.
Pepper squealed and clapped her hands. "I'll put Legal right on the copyright acquisition," she said.
Steve emerged from his handkerchief, still sniffling a little, but smiling now. "My hero," he said.
* * *
Notes:
Mensa is the high-IQ society, an organization for exceptionally smart people. They throw good parties at speculative fiction conventions sometimes.
~ END ~
(no subject)
Date: 2012-12-20 09:17 pm (UTC)Now, if only we had someone like Tony who was a Browncoat.... or heck, if we could get someone interested in Schrodinger's Heroes !
Hmm, now whom would you cast for the parts though?
Thoughts
Date: 2012-12-30 08:29 am (UTC)I so wish.
Though I swear, me in a room with Tony Stark, we'd either blow shit up and a have a ball, or I'd knee him in the balls. Or both.
>>Hmm, now whom would you cast for the parts though?<<
I'm not sure, other than the two already mentioned. I really don't have the mental list of actors that most people seem to.
My friend WBM suggested Taye Diggs for Pat.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-01-06 05:47 am (UTC)SH, though.... *that* could be interesting. Hmmm. A half-live half-CGI show's been done (Babylon 5) but not *this* way, i.e. where your actors do your physics engineering and all the renderer has to do is follow the actor and show us backgrounds.... It's a wonky way to make a movie, but what the heck?
We'd have to crowdfund it. The odds of getting anybody big to mess with this are astronomical.... and Joss is *taken* for the next few years if Disney has *any* brain cells atall...
I admit it. It's total pie in the sky, and I'm still excited. :)
Thoughts
Date: 2013-01-06 08:39 am (UTC)In its original incarnation, alas, yes. :,,,(
>>SH, though.... *that* could be interesting. Hmmm. A half-live half-CGI show's been done (Babylon 5) but not *this* way, i.e. where your actors do your physics engineering and all the renderer has to do is follow the actor and show us backgrounds.... It's a wonky way to make a movie, but what the heck?<<
I'm also thinking about Farscape in which Pilot and Rigel were extraordinary puppets and Moya was scenery. Rendering Tim would necessarily require adept-level technical expertise of one kind or another, and at this stage, CGI would be my first choice.
>>We'd have to crowdfund it.<<
Or one of us win the lottery, yes.
>> The odds of getting anybody big to mess with this are astronomical.... and Joss is *taken* for the next few years if Disney has *any* brain cells atall...<<
I find myself less charmed by that idea. However, this IS an open-source project. As long as people don't attempt to rob the public domain of material they fucking well did not make up, anyone is free to play with the core concepts if they want to.
>> I admit it. It's total pie in the sky, and I'm still excited. :) <<
I love pie in the sky. The more folks get interested in this series, comment on it, write in it, the more excited I get. This is, after all, the kind of television I want so much that I made it up rather than settle for what's available.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2013-01-06 06:18 pm (UTC)*grins* You know, you *are* on my List Of Bards That Get a Slice if I Win the Big One...
This is, after all, the kind of television I want so much that I made it up rather than settle for what's available.
Be the change? Hellyeah.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2013-01-06 06:40 pm (UTC)Aw, shucks.
That's what I did with a chunk of my holiday money, though -- I made donations to projects I had wanted to sponsor during the year but couldn't afford at the time.
>> Be the change? Hellyeah. <<
Yea, verily.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2013-08-08 10:46 pm (UTC)Just reading this piece, and next will go read the actual Episodes.
:-)
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2014-07-05 07:46 pm (UTC)Re: Thoughts
Date: 2014-07-06 06:57 am (UTC)*smile* Andy Serkis would be my dream pick. He's the first actor who has truly mastered the digital costume.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-01-06 05:41 am (UTC)*hugs*
Date: 2013-01-06 05:42 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-11-29 08:14 pm (UTC)Try this ...
Date: 2021-11-29 09:44 pm (UTC)https://www.mensa.org
Mensa events:
https://www.us.mensa.org/attend
Sometimes you can also find them through other organizations that connect people:
https://www.meetup.com/topics/mensa
Science fiction conventions:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_science_fiction_conventions
https://fancons.com/events/schedule.php?type=scifi
To find a Mensa party at a science fiction convention, look for a medium-size con with lots of activities. Those usually have a designated "party floor" at the hotel and a list of scheduled parties that starts developing well before the date of the con.
Re: Try this ...
Date: 2021-11-30 07:37 pm (UTC)