Poem: "Those Who've Been in the Well"
Jul. 12th, 2020 10:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis poem came out of the July 7, 2020 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from fuzzyred, Anonymous, and readera. It has been sponsored by janetmiles. This poem belongs to the Kraken thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.
Warning: This poem contains intense and controversial topics. Highlight to read the warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes fallout from Kraken decloaking, Whitevan being a dick again, attempting to shut down the Triton Teen Centers, distressed teens, implying that supervillains are all somehow neglectful or abusive of children, reference to past and present child maltreatment, baseless accusations, reference to past vandalism via a fifty-foot robot with Laser Eyes, vague threats, a complete lack of alternative plans, (probably correct) distrust, graphic reference to past teen suicide, aspects of a bad neighborhood, cluelessness, and other challenges. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.
"Those Who’ve Been in the Well"
[Monday, January 11, 2016]
They had been expecting some trouble,
of course, so Captain Kelvin made
sure to be out front on the patio of
the Bayview Triton Teen Center
as a grinding sound brought
the arrival of Whitevan.
The young man was only
a few years older than
the center's clientele, but
he puffed himself up and
tried to look important.
"I've come here on behalf of
the Westbord SPOON Office,"
said Whitevan. "We heard that
the Triton Teen Centers are
actually run by supervillains,
and that is unacceptable.
You are to cease and desist
working with troubled youth."
"No," Captain Kelvin said firmly.
Squeaks of dismay sounded
behind him as several teens
crowded around the bike rack.
"Mr. Kel? Is the center in trouble?"
"Don't worry, I will handle this,"
Captain Kelvin said firmly. "You
go back inside and tell folks
to get ready for band practice."
Whitevan crossed his scrawny arms.
"You have to stop," he said. "I have
paperwork." He flapped the pages.
"Yes, I'm sure our legal department will
want to see those," Captain Kelvin said
as he took the papers from Whitevan.
"Nobody wants people like you
working with vulnerable kids,"
Whitevan said. "You can't do that."
Captain Kelvin snorted. "Nobody
wanted me when I was a vulnerable kid,
and we all saw how well that went,"
he said. "Today, nobody wants
these kids either. I'm trying
to prevent a repetition."
"Sure you are." Whitevan
rolled his eyes. "I bet this
is nothing more than
a recruiting ground!"
Captain Kelvin frowned
at him. "Quite the opposite,"
he said. "We aim to help teens
find their footing in life. We don't
want anyone winding up in crime
for the lack of better options."
"You're not offering them
a real future, though,"
Whitevan said. "SPOON
provides opportunities!"
"Yes, we have those too,"
Captain Kelvin assured him.
"We help teens consider what
they want in life and how to get it,
whether that's college or cape work,
trade school or traveling the world."
"You're not suited to help them,
you don't have any credentials,"
Whitevan argued. "It's not right."
"Most often, those who’ve been
in the well are those most likely
to pull others out of the well,"
Captain Kelvin said. "I was in
grade school when my powers
manifested. In the 1980s, people
tried to ban superkids from school."
"They can't do that anymore,
though," Whitevan said weakly.
"That didn't matter to me then,"
said Captain Kelvin. "By the time
I reached junior high, I was so sick of
getting picked on and pushed away
that I built a giant robot and rode it into
town to tear down my school building."
"Everyone knows that," Whitevan muttered.
"Then pay attention to it," said Captain Kelvin.
"When I was a teen, I was once in the well.
Now I have an opportunity to reach down
and help others out of the well. I won't
give that up because you don't like it."
"I'm not the only one who doesn't
like it," Whitevan warned. "I'm
just the messenger. Ignore me
and you'll have them to deal with."
"I look forward to it," said Captain Kelvin.
"We can discuss their alternative plans."
"What plans?" Whitevan said, blinking.
"Yes, I rather thought that was the case,"
Captain Kelvin drawled. "They want
to shut down the Triton Teen Centers
without giving a thought about how
to replace them or the staff."
"At least it would get people
like you out of the way,"
Whitevan said smugly.
"And then what?"
said Captain Kelvin.
"Who's going to take care
of the poor kids, the superkids,
the ones already in trouble who
are too prickly for anyone to want?"
"SPOON has teen resources ..."
Whitevan said. "Lots of kids like them."
"Kids who come from nice homes and
families that don't hit them, perhaps."
Captain Kelvin waved at the building
behind them, which had started out
as the Barbary Coast Garage.
"These teens wouldn't trust you
as far as they could throw you."
"Look, I just came to hand over
the paperwork and tell you
to shut down," said Whitevan.
"Cleaning up your mess is
someone else's responsibility."
"Speaking of which, you haven't
offered anything to replace what you
want to take," said Captain Kelvin. "So
before our lawyers grind you into chum,
we're prepared to release a statement
detailing not only the benefits offered
in Triton Teen Centers but also now in
Thalassia for those inclined to immigrate."
"You can't steal people's kids!" Whitevan said.
"Of course not," Captain Kelvin said smoothly.
"You can't steal what's been thrown away."
"Well -- well -- it's not like you're offering
much anyway," Whitevan sputtered.
"Triton Teen Centers all provide
healthy food; Bayview is a food desert.
We provide tutoring to make up for
the execrable public schools. We give
music lessons and practice space;
most of these teens live in apartments
where they can't play music at home,"
said Captain Kelvin. "We do all this
free of charge, at our own expense."
"Anyone could do that," Whitevan said.
"SPOON has plenty of money too."
"It's not about the money, it's about
giving kids a place to go and mentors
who actually understand what they're
going through," said Captain Kelvin.
"I don't volunteer at the center to annoy
pissants like you. I do it because I never
want to see a teen suffer like I did."
"And how is that working for you?"
Whitevan said, sneering at him.
"Better than before we had places
like this," said Captain Kelvin.
"That's rich, a supervillain trying
to save the world," said Whitevan.
"You really think you can save them all?"
"No," Captain Kelvin said quietly.
"I know I can't save all of them."
"Then you --" Whitevan began.
"Have you ever cleaned
a boy's brains off the wall?"
Captain Kelvin said bluntly.
"What? No!" Whitevan said.
He took a shaky step back.
"Then shut up, unless you want
to learn advanced mopping skills,"
said Captain Kelvin. "It's ugly work."
Whitevan blanched. "Have you really --"
"Yes. Last year. His name was Toby.
We didn't get to him in time. He tried,
but he'd taken too much damage in life,"
Captain Kelvin said. "I hope that he
found some peace in death."
"Oh. I didn't know that,"
Whitevan said in a low voice.
"Now you do," said Captain Kelvin.
"It's a sad truth about dealing with
people in grave situations: you're
always going to lose some of them,
no matter how hard you try, and
it rips your heart out every time."
Whitevan looked away.
"I guess ... that's not good."
"It is not, but things are getting
better. We reach more of them
in time than we used to, and that is
thanks to the Triton Teen Centers,"
said Captain Kelvin. "Specifically,
we're reaching the kids SPOON
doesn't want, who don't like
your sugar-coated worldview."
"Superheroes aren't sugar-coated!"
Whitevan protested. "I work hard."
"Maybe you do, but not everyone
wants to be a superhero, or is
remotely suited to becoming
one," said Captain Kelvin. "We
offer options, not railroading."
"SPOON doesn't railroad
people," said Whitevan.
"We just teach how to use
your superpowers for good."
"I'm sure that's more appealing
to those who led a sheltered life,"
said Captain Kelvin. "Our teens
come to us for survival needs,
not for rainbows and fairy farts."
"Oh, like what?" said Whitevan.
"SPOON teaches classes, not just
at the bases but in schools too. We
connect new soups with mentors,
and they can register if they want
official support. There are even jobs.
What can you possibly offer them?"
"Besides the educational and
recreational opportunities of
the center itself, I'll point out that
Thalassia has total health coverage,
total education, total employment
for those willing and able to work,
and total pension," said Captain Kelvin.
"Tell SPOON to top that if they can."
"That's, um ... how would anyone
even pay for that?" said Whitevan.
Captain Kelvin chuckled. "When
you can invent the future, money
really isn't a problem," he said.
"What about the problems
around here?" Whitevan said.
"Thalassia has no hunger,
poverty, or homelessness,"
said Captain Kelvin. "You'd be
amazed how many minions are
in it for three hots and a cot."
"Why would you want people
like that?" Whitevan said.
He just didn't understand
those who had been in the well.
"My teens will be reassured
that your school didn't teach you
everything either," said Captain Kelvin.
"When you get home, look up the poem
on the base of the Statue of Liberty.
I think you'll see why a few folks
have suggested 'liberating' it,
since it's a bit out of date here."
"Whatever," said Whitevan. "I
didn't come to argue about poetry."
"No, you came to disrupt our day and
intimidate us into abandoning the teens
in our care," said Captain Kelvin.
"That's not going to happen."
"You're just going to wind up
arguing with the big guys,"
Whitevan said, shaking his head.
"So let me be crystal: When you
can provide a list of benefits that
equal or exceed ours, then you
can argue that your system should
replace ours," said Captain Kelvin.
"You don't sound unhappy at
the prospect of that," Whitevan said.
"I'm not," said Captain Kelvin. "After all,
we never set out to become a refuge for
troubled youth, they just keep finding us.
We would be happy to let someone else
take that responsibility, if they can do
a better job of it. Until then, get out of
the way, because I have work to do."
Whitevan shuffled in place, but
he did not actually give way.
Fortunately, that was when
the band students poured onto
the patio with instruments in hand.
Without prompting, they began
to play "Fifty Feet and Climbing."
Whitevan finally broke and fled,
his superpower sounding like
tires peeling out of the parking lot.
Captain Kelvin was so proud of his kids.
* * *
Notes:
This poem is long, so the notes appear separately.
fuzzyred, Anonymous, and readera. It has been sponsored by janetmiles. This poem belongs to the Kraken thread of the Polychrome Heroics series. Warning: This poem contains intense and controversial topics. Highlight to read the warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes fallout from Kraken decloaking, Whitevan being a dick again, attempting to shut down the Triton Teen Centers, distressed teens, implying that supervillains are all somehow neglectful or abusive of children, reference to past and present child maltreatment, baseless accusations, reference to past vandalism via a fifty-foot robot with Laser Eyes, vague threats, a complete lack of alternative plans, (probably correct) distrust, graphic reference to past teen suicide, aspects of a bad neighborhood, cluelessness, and other challenges. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.
"Those Who’ve Been in the Well"
[Monday, January 11, 2016]
They had been expecting some trouble,
of course, so Captain Kelvin made
sure to be out front on the patio of
the Bayview Triton Teen Center
as a grinding sound brought
the arrival of Whitevan.
The young man was only
a few years older than
the center's clientele, but
he puffed himself up and
tried to look important.
"I've come here on behalf of
the Westbord SPOON Office,"
said Whitevan. "We heard that
the Triton Teen Centers are
actually run by supervillains,
and that is unacceptable.
You are to cease and desist
working with troubled youth."
"No," Captain Kelvin said firmly.
Squeaks of dismay sounded
behind him as several teens
crowded around the bike rack.
"Mr. Kel? Is the center in trouble?"
"Don't worry, I will handle this,"
Captain Kelvin said firmly. "You
go back inside and tell folks
to get ready for band practice."
Whitevan crossed his scrawny arms.
"You have to stop," he said. "I have
paperwork." He flapped the pages.
"Yes, I'm sure our legal department will
want to see those," Captain Kelvin said
as he took the papers from Whitevan.
"Nobody wants people like you
working with vulnerable kids,"
Whitevan said. "You can't do that."
Captain Kelvin snorted. "Nobody
wanted me when I was a vulnerable kid,
and we all saw how well that went,"
he said. "Today, nobody wants
these kids either. I'm trying
to prevent a repetition."
"Sure you are." Whitevan
rolled his eyes. "I bet this
is nothing more than
a recruiting ground!"
Captain Kelvin frowned
at him. "Quite the opposite,"
he said. "We aim to help teens
find their footing in life. We don't
want anyone winding up in crime
for the lack of better options."
"You're not offering them
a real future, though,"
Whitevan said. "SPOON
provides opportunities!"
"Yes, we have those too,"
Captain Kelvin assured him.
"We help teens consider what
they want in life and how to get it,
whether that's college or cape work,
trade school or traveling the world."
"You're not suited to help them,
you don't have any credentials,"
Whitevan argued. "It's not right."
"Most often, those who’ve been
in the well are those most likely
to pull others out of the well,"
Captain Kelvin said. "I was in
grade school when my powers
manifested. In the 1980s, people
tried to ban superkids from school."
"They can't do that anymore,
though," Whitevan said weakly.
"That didn't matter to me then,"
said Captain Kelvin. "By the time
I reached junior high, I was so sick of
getting picked on and pushed away
that I built a giant robot and rode it into
town to tear down my school building."
"Everyone knows that," Whitevan muttered.
"Then pay attention to it," said Captain Kelvin.
"When I was a teen, I was once in the well.
Now I have an opportunity to reach down
and help others out of the well. I won't
give that up because you don't like it."
"I'm not the only one who doesn't
like it," Whitevan warned. "I'm
just the messenger. Ignore me
and you'll have them to deal with."
"I look forward to it," said Captain Kelvin.
"We can discuss their alternative plans."
"What plans?" Whitevan said, blinking.
"Yes, I rather thought that was the case,"
Captain Kelvin drawled. "They want
to shut down the Triton Teen Centers
without giving a thought about how
to replace them or the staff."
"At least it would get people
like you out of the way,"
Whitevan said smugly.
"And then what?"
said Captain Kelvin.
"Who's going to take care
of the poor kids, the superkids,
the ones already in trouble who
are too prickly for anyone to want?"
"SPOON has teen resources ..."
Whitevan said. "Lots of kids like them."
"Kids who come from nice homes and
families that don't hit them, perhaps."
Captain Kelvin waved at the building
behind them, which had started out
as the Barbary Coast Garage.
"These teens wouldn't trust you
as far as they could throw you."
"Look, I just came to hand over
the paperwork and tell you
to shut down," said Whitevan.
"Cleaning up your mess is
someone else's responsibility."
"Speaking of which, you haven't
offered anything to replace what you
want to take," said Captain Kelvin. "So
before our lawyers grind you into chum,
we're prepared to release a statement
detailing not only the benefits offered
in Triton Teen Centers but also now in
Thalassia for those inclined to immigrate."
"You can't steal people's kids!" Whitevan said.
"Of course not," Captain Kelvin said smoothly.
"You can't steal what's been thrown away."
"Well -- well -- it's not like you're offering
much anyway," Whitevan sputtered.
"Triton Teen Centers all provide
healthy food; Bayview is a food desert.
We provide tutoring to make up for
the execrable public schools. We give
music lessons and practice space;
most of these teens live in apartments
where they can't play music at home,"
said Captain Kelvin. "We do all this
free of charge, at our own expense."
"Anyone could do that," Whitevan said.
"SPOON has plenty of money too."
"It's not about the money, it's about
giving kids a place to go and mentors
who actually understand what they're
going through," said Captain Kelvin.
"I don't volunteer at the center to annoy
pissants like you. I do it because I never
want to see a teen suffer like I did."
"And how is that working for you?"
Whitevan said, sneering at him.
"Better than before we had places
like this," said Captain Kelvin.
"That's rich, a supervillain trying
to save the world," said Whitevan.
"You really think you can save them all?"
"No," Captain Kelvin said quietly.
"I know I can't save all of them."
"Then you --" Whitevan began.
"Have you ever cleaned
a boy's brains off the wall?"
Captain Kelvin said bluntly.
"What? No!" Whitevan said.
He took a shaky step back.
"Then shut up, unless you want
to learn advanced mopping skills,"
said Captain Kelvin. "It's ugly work."
Whitevan blanched. "Have you really --"
"Yes. Last year. His name was Toby.
We didn't get to him in time. He tried,
but he'd taken too much damage in life,"
Captain Kelvin said. "I hope that he
found some peace in death."
"Oh. I didn't know that,"
Whitevan said in a low voice.
"Now you do," said Captain Kelvin.
"It's a sad truth about dealing with
people in grave situations: you're
always going to lose some of them,
no matter how hard you try, and
it rips your heart out every time."
Whitevan looked away.
"I guess ... that's not good."
"It is not, but things are getting
better. We reach more of them
in time than we used to, and that is
thanks to the Triton Teen Centers,"
said Captain Kelvin. "Specifically,
we're reaching the kids SPOON
doesn't want, who don't like
your sugar-coated worldview."
"Superheroes aren't sugar-coated!"
Whitevan protested. "I work hard."
"Maybe you do, but not everyone
wants to be a superhero, or is
remotely suited to becoming
one," said Captain Kelvin. "We
offer options, not railroading."
"SPOON doesn't railroad
people," said Whitevan.
"We just teach how to use
your superpowers for good."
"I'm sure that's more appealing
to those who led a sheltered life,"
said Captain Kelvin. "Our teens
come to us for survival needs,
not for rainbows and fairy farts."
"Oh, like what?" said Whitevan.
"SPOON teaches classes, not just
at the bases but in schools too. We
connect new soups with mentors,
and they can register if they want
official support. There are even jobs.
What can you possibly offer them?"
"Besides the educational and
recreational opportunities of
the center itself, I'll point out that
Thalassia has total health coverage,
total education, total employment
for those willing and able to work,
and total pension," said Captain Kelvin.
"Tell SPOON to top that if they can."
"That's, um ... how would anyone
even pay for that?" said Whitevan.
Captain Kelvin chuckled. "When
you can invent the future, money
really isn't a problem," he said.
"What about the problems
around here?" Whitevan said.
"Thalassia has no hunger,
poverty, or homelessness,"
said Captain Kelvin. "You'd be
amazed how many minions are
in it for three hots and a cot."
"Why would you want people
like that?" Whitevan said.
He just didn't understand
those who had been in the well.
"My teens will be reassured
that your school didn't teach you
everything either," said Captain Kelvin.
"When you get home, look up the poem
on the base of the Statue of Liberty.
I think you'll see why a few folks
have suggested 'liberating' it,
since it's a bit out of date here."
"Whatever," said Whitevan. "I
didn't come to argue about poetry."
"No, you came to disrupt our day and
intimidate us into abandoning the teens
in our care," said Captain Kelvin.
"That's not going to happen."
"You're just going to wind up
arguing with the big guys,"
Whitevan said, shaking his head.
"So let me be crystal: When you
can provide a list of benefits that
equal or exceed ours, then you
can argue that your system should
replace ours," said Captain Kelvin.
"You don't sound unhappy at
the prospect of that," Whitevan said.
"I'm not," said Captain Kelvin. "After all,
we never set out to become a refuge for
troubled youth, they just keep finding us.
We would be happy to let someone else
take that responsibility, if they can do
a better job of it. Until then, get out of
the way, because I have work to do."
Whitevan shuffled in place, but
he did not actually give way.
Fortunately, that was when
the band students poured onto
the patio with instruments in hand.
Without prompting, they began
to play "Fifty Feet and Climbing."
Whitevan finally broke and fled,
his superpower sounding like
tires peeling out of the parking lot.
Captain Kelvin was so proud of his kids.
* * *
Notes:
This poem is long, so the notes appear separately.
Oh, I needed this today!
Date: 2020-07-13 04:23 am (UTC)Re: Oh, I needed this today!
Date: 2020-07-13 05:13 am (UTC)Agreed.
It was obviously going to piss people off, when they found out that a supervillain organization was involved in everything from desalination plants to board games to youth centers. But Kraken won't back down. Anyone wanting to dislodge them will have to take them to court, against some of the best lawyers in the world backed by very deep pockets, and then all Kraken has to do is pull out their "top this" list. That's going to be very embarrassing. Also expensive, because while a judge might rule in favor of removing supervillains from vulnerable youth -- at least until the kids run riot -- an honest one would require the plaintiff to match the resources.
>> Even the incident as is was probably traumatizing for several teens, especially because the implication is that SPOON doesn't want them to have ANY resources, since they're trying to shut down the teen center without accepting the kids as they are.<<
That is exactly what happens here, things go away and don't get replaced because people don't really want to help, the want to get rid of some facility they dislike.
In Terramagne, Kel is going to spend his day trying to talk kids out of hitting back.
Now I've got work to do
Date: 2020-07-13 04:35 am (UTC)Now, it looks like once I get that done, it looks like an arrangement for marching band would be on the menu. I remember hearing similar things done with popular songs during my high school days, so that should work. Will keep it in mind.
Re: Now I've got work to do
Date: 2020-07-13 05:09 am (UTC)Yay! That would be so awesome. :D
>> but that was on hold until I got some idea of what bands characterized as "industrial" sounded like. (That seemed like the right flavor for the song.) <<
I could see that.
Some of the industrial stuff is clangy to the point of sounding like a factory, but some just has an echo like the sound is bouncing off concrete. (My partner Doug pointed out that the original "heavy metal" was inspired by Detroit auto factories: literally, the sound of stamping machines going KA-CHUNK KA-CHUNK as they made car parts.)
>> Now, it looks like once I get that done, it looks like an arrangement for marching band would be on the menu. I remember hearing similar things done with popular songs during my high school days, so that should work. Will keep it in mind.<<
Also promising.
I think this would work well as a filk song, because both giant robots and bullying are familiar motifs, even if the audience doesn't know the specific setting.
Re: Now I've got work to do
Date: 2020-07-13 05:52 am (UTC)Yeah, that's something I'm going to have to sort out. Also see what I can do to sequence quitar sounds with the sorts of distortion that fit the music.
A suitable arrangement will probably cover a good chunk of the range from clangy to echoy. And I'm going to have a fair amount to figure out before I'm ready to attack that. It's well outside my experience and comfort zone. But then what I did for "Ghost Colors" was new territory, too.
>> I think this would work well as a filk song, because both giant robots and bullying are familiar motifs, even if the audience doesn't know the specific setting. <<
Exactly why I'm interested. I'm hoping it will eventually be Coming Soon To A Filk Circle Near You.
Re: Now I've got work to do
Date: 2020-07-13 08:07 am (UTC)Okay ...
>> A suitable arrangement will probably cover a good chunk of the range from clangy to echoy. <<
Consider things that give a metallic sound, like cowbells, for scenes where the robot is moving. *ponder* I wonder if you could find "locker room" sound effects for the school.
>>And I'm going to have a fair amount to figure out before I'm ready to attack that. It's well outside my experience and comfort zone. But then what I did for "Ghost Colors" was new territory, too.<<
:D I'm glad I could encourage you to stretch.
Re: Now I've got work to do
Date: 2020-07-14 04:44 am (UTC)My personal preference is for suggestions rather than explicit sound effects -- booming and clanging, rather than actual sounds. And focusing on the robot, rather than its targets.
>> :D I'm glad I could encourage you to stretch. <<
Just putting things out so I can play with them is all I need. The main thing you provide is a plentiful supply of stuff just far enough outside my current reach to be worth reaching for. In addition to this one, I've got a musical setting for "The Gilded Stones" in mind, but I'm still researching Arabian instruments and musical approaches for that one.
Re: Now I've got work to do
Date: 2020-07-14 04:17 am (UTC)Be sure and ping me when you do that,
I hadda go look up "Fifty Feet and Climbing" to get the joke, but I just hee-hawed... yes, you goody-two-shoes, that was ME... now *git!*
(The song must hold the same place in T-America that Daniel Glasser's "Close Your Eyes" holds here... a song of warning...)
(There is an alternate ending... rearrange the verses slightly, and instead of ending with a chorus:
o/~ That is not a blanket... o/~
(spoken:) Good night! )
Re: Now I've got work to do
Date: 2020-07-14 04:34 am (UTC)Precisely. That's why I wanna do it. And do it in a circle. And do it in a concert.
>> (there's already one about a pint-sized robot with laser eyes, <<
And a comprehensive assortment of other death-dealing devices.
>> to the tune of Tom Paxton's "The Marvelous Toy"... I believe Frank's version is called The Murderous Toy, or sommat?) <<
That is correct. It is attributed to Mike Roberts. And there are more filks of that tune circulating. Heck, I've even used the tune for one of mine.
>> Be sure and ping me when you do that,
Oh you will. Next year, Conflikt's going virtual, but RainbowCon and Westercon are still awaiting developments. And if I get it done sooner than that, I will probably post one or both versions here first.
Hmmm... wonder if I could talk Toyboat into covering it if it comes out good enough. That would really be something.
Re: Now I've got work to do
Date: 2020-07-14 04:54 am (UTC):D
>> And a comprehensive assortment of other death-dealing devices.<<
Hee! That was fun.
>>Hmmm... wonder if I could talk Toyboat into covering it if it comes out good enough. That would really be something.<<
That sounds good too.
Re: Now I've got work to do
Date: 2020-07-14 05:24 am (UTC)Impressed if you'd actually heard (of) them. But this is why I think they'd be a good match. Especially the part about "there is no safe minimum distance." They would be able to do it justice in a way that my electronic musical assistant and I could never hope to match. And I'll still get to arrange it for marching band.
*fantasizes about a marching band forming a robot figure and animating it down the field at the halftime show...*
Re: Now I've got work to do
Date: 2020-07-14 05:43 am (UTC)It sounded vaguely familiar. Other friends have probably mentioned them.
>>But this is why I think they'd be a good match. Especially the part about "there is no safe minimum distance." They would be able to do it justice in a way that my electronic musical assistant and I could never hope to match. And I'll still get to arrange it for marching band.<<
LOL yes.
>> *fantasizes about a marching band forming a robot figure and animating it down the field at the halftime show...* <<
That would be so awesome.
Re: Now I've got work to do
Date: 2020-07-14 05:55 am (UTC)and if RainbowCon doesn't go off on schedule I'm gonna be pissed... and I may go all H.L. Mencken on principle.
Re: Now I've got work to do
Date: 2020-07-14 04:43 am (UTC)I meant it would work at a filk concert, out of context from the rest of the series.
>> It's a song about a fifty foot robot with laser eyes. (there's already one about a pint-sized robot with laser eyes, to the tune ofTom Paxton's "The Marvelous Toy"... I believe Frank's version is called The Murderous Toy, or sommat?)<<
Cute.
>> I hadda go look up "Fifty Feet and Climbing" to get the joke, but I just hee-hawed... yes, you goody-two-shoes, that was ME... now *git!* <<
Yeah, Whitevan really picked on the wrong person there. Okay, a lot of staff at Triton could've backed up their stance with personal stories, but that one is literally world-famous.
>> (The song must hold the same place in T-America that Daniel Glasser's "Close Your Eyes" holds here... a song of warning...) <<
There's a higher-resolution version of that one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpjoarVG8jY
And yeah, this is a protest song meant to warn people about the consequences of abusing superkids.
Re: Now I've got work to do
Date: 2020-07-14 05:54 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2020-07-13 12:36 pm (UTC)Besides, super-villains are more interesting.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-07-13 06:19 pm (UTC)Bonus for: "Wow, I can never find people who want to work out biochemistry for Illensans! Can I come back next week?"
(no subject)
Date: 2020-07-13 02:43 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2020-07-13 07:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2020-07-14 01:56 am (UTC)Yay!
Date: 2020-07-14 02:01 am (UTC)Feel free to ask for more during any relevant prompt call. Kraken decloaking has really shaken up the status quo.
>> Providing resources to kids who need them is a GOOD thing.<<
I agree. Triton has helped a lot, especially in reaching out to kids that other people have largely given up on or never cared about.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-07-19 04:43 am (UTC)> like that?" Whitevan said.
This really sums up the entire poem, & the entire problem with SPOON.
Well ...
Date: 2020-07-19 05:01 am (UTC)Re: Well ...
Date: 2020-07-19 05:11 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-03 07:37 pm (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2026-02-03 08:42 pm (UTC)