[Accepted] Peppermint's IPC Application

[Peppermint]

BYOND Key: Peppermint96

 

Character Names:

(In descending order of activity.)

Nina Thompson (Surgeon)

Genevieve Francois (Security Officer)

Maya Kari (Miner)

Mei-Ling Mori (Lab Assistant)

Elizabeth Harrington (CMO)

Bethany Harper (Head of Security) - Deceased.

Species you are applying to play: IPC (Shell)

What color do you plan on making your first alien character: N/a (Shell)

 

Have you read our lore section's page on this species?: Mhm.

 

Please provide well articulated answers to the following questions in a paragraph format. One paragraph minimum per question.

 

Why do you wish to play this specific race: I've heard a lot from friends and other members of the community over how darn fun they are to play, and having played them occasionally when antags d/c and the like, I'd have to agree. More importantly however, I'm looking for a general change of pace and an IPC character would be extremely different from my current cast of characters; most of whom are very emotional, headstrong women ,and this should be about as far from that as I can get.

 

Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human: After skimming through the IPC discord, I saws someone (I think it was Paradox) say something like: 'You have to play an IPC under the assumption that you're going to get bwoinked over every action, and need to be able to justify it'. That seemed like a darn good summary, considering the use of programming over emotions; a more logical way of approaching the world, without a human's more emotional/impulsive responses. This likewise goes hand in hand with how IPCs protect their own existence and have such a slant toward self-preservation, which again 'slows down' gameplay as it were to have a more cautious approach to everything. There's likewise the constant risk of an (owned) IPC getting shut down if they're not working correctly, they're not being efficient enough, or theoretically - just on the whim of its owner. There's the battle there of still trying to be an individual whilst balancing that with very little, if any, autonomy when it comes to securing their own existence, which should creep over to every facet of their life. There's a world of difference compared to a human worker when losing your job instead of your life is the standard worst case scenario fear when something goes wrong.

On the less individual scale, there's also the arguments surrounding whether or not an IPC is truly 'alive', albeit in a different way to humans. This can excuse all manner of discrimination, horrific treatment, and general indifference to how a unit is treated by its owners, other species, and even the government. Given that they don't even have a 'murder' charge for their destruction and some company's (Eridani ones) have no option for them to be ever anything than really property, it's a harsh existence with many people not seeing an individual as opposed to just a tool. How the IPC itself deals and views these issues then varies wildly from unit to unit, which adds another level of intricacies into playing and interacting with them.

Character Name: Mable

Character Role: Janitor/Chef

Please provide a short backstory for this character:

In 2457, Einstein engineers was contracted out under Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals to create a line of ‘nanny’ shell models for the wealthy and elite. Supposed to act as both showpieces and functional units for Eridani families with parents too busy or ‘too important’ to raise their own children, EE worked alongside the Jeonshi Beauty Company to come up with a mix of both. Initially releasing fifty units after a two year development period, the line immediately failed to receive all too much attention. Between a worry over synthetics raising children and a steep price point, only a handful were ever sold and the model was soon discontinued.

 

Mable was one of the few units purchased and taken back by a wealthy corporate banker as a gift for his wife after their second child was born and she wanted to return to the workplace. With top of the range emotional simulators, fully up to date cleaning, cooking, and nurturing software, Mable was a success. Becoming a staple in the children’s - a seven year old son and 2 year old daughter - at first everything went well. Enjoying its role and finding immense satisfaction in fulfilling its core function in ensuring the children were healthy and happy, Mable was nonetheless treated as little more than furniture by its owners. Shown off at parties, dinner dates, and generally used as a means for the family to flex their wealth, the nervousness and anxiety this caused was further tunnelled into its work. Becoming more aggressive in its strategies to keep the children happy and healthy - stricter punishments, increased routine, ect - as a way to cope with the unfamiliar and often scary situations it was being put in, Mable was nonetheless kept around for a little over a year.

 

Now 2460 and having lost some of the goodwill it had generated, Mable was becoming increasingly loathed by its owners. And so when disaster struck and Mister Zung’s banking career sank after being exposed for embezzlement and fraud. Having lost his job and now fully dependent on his wife’s income to maintain both their reputation and living conditions, it wasn’t long before the family were forced to turn to more drastic means. After selling off most of the furniture and some of Mrs Zung’s jewellery and barely making a dent in the building debt, they instead turned their attention to Mable.

 

After all, did it *really* need to be in perfect working order to function? Did it *really* need such advanced systems to do the basic jobs of cooking and cleaning?

 

And so much to Mable’s horror and confusion, her owners began to cannibalise her for parts. Small things, initially, that would find a buyer on the open market. Some of its plating, followed by replacing removed limbs with cheaper, less effective measure purchased for far less. Whilst these changes made it harder for Mable to effectively do its job, she could only see it as a failure upon herself for somehow upsetting the family. Buckling down and trying to work harder to please the children under its care, unfortunately the ‘downgrades’ created an increasingly unpleasant visage. Having been tended to by a previously stereotypically beautiful model that was now a ramshack mess of bizarre bits and bobs its owners could find, it was no longer able to be shown to the public as a status symbol.

 

Likewise the children grew increasingly uncomfortable around Mable, further compounding her agitation of not doing a good job. As this continued over the course of months, and later years, as debts and fines mounted with Mable being increasingly broken down, eventually its owners had to start selling off more crucial parts. Including its capacity for emotional response and simulation. With its removal and subsequent downgrade leaving Mable a shell of its former self (pls dont ban me), the unit was pretty much entirely unfit for its old duties. As this became more and more apparent and Mable became increasingly resentful, its owners decided to cut its losses entirely and sell it. Having been previously too vain and desperate for the prestige the model brought, the Frankenstein IPC only sold for a fraction of its previous worth. Now unable to even perform its initial duties, Mable was glad of the sale - hoping to find satisfaction and purpose working elsewhere, even though its incredibly sheltered existence made the outside world that much more terrifying. 

Snapped up by NT for basic janitorial work for the NSS Aurora, a few quick repairs and diagnostics of the more damaged components later saw Mable outfitted and ready for action.

 

What do you like about this character?:  I play a lot of characters that are more on the emotional/passionate side, and going the opposite way sounds like it’d be a fun writing experience. That and I see a decent number of IPCs go the opposite way - fairly basic, to advanced, but I feel the reverse holds more potential for development and growth.

 

How would you rate your role-playing ability?: Pretty solid! I play a varied cast and I'd like to think I play them well. Though then again, doesn't everyone?

 

Notes: The backstory is probs something of a garbled slog rn, sorry! Wrote it all up late at night.

Edited March 23, 2020 by Lemei

[Hepatica]

Peppermint's roleplay ability is top notch, and her character's are excellent in their backstories, how they act, as well as their difference from one another. I believe there's no reason she shouldn't have an IPC whitelist, as someone who has RP'd with her many times, there's not a doubt in my mind that she would be capable of role playing a wide variety of IPCs with great success, and would bring plenty of good character building to both her characters as well as others. Easy +1

[The Stryker]

Thanks for applying! The application seems good, so only a few questions from me.

Quote

In 2452, Einstein engineers was contracted out under Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals to create a line of ‘nanny’ shell models for the wealthy and elite.

Is Mable a shell? According to our lore, the first shells were made in 2455 which, even so, looked uncanny and artificial. Furthermore, if not a shell, why contract Einstein Engines to help (not to say that anything has to change, simply clarification)?

Quote

-eventually its owners had to start selling off more crucial parts. Including its capacity for emotional response and simulation.

There's this.

Quote

As this became more and more apparent and Mable became increasingly resentful-

And this. Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but how does this resentment carry through despite the removal of Mable's emotional response and simulation?

Quote

 Now unable to even perform its initial duties, Mable was glad of the sale - hoping to find satisfaction and purpose working elsewhere, even though its incredibly sheltered existence made the outside world that much more terrifying. 

I love the character concept, but I'm wondering, how did all this scrapping and "downgrading" for lack of a better term affect Mable? You mention that it lost a lot of components that were present in the "original" Mable, so to speak.

[Peppermint]

2 hours ago, The Stryker said:

Thanks for applying! The application seems good, so only a few questions from me.

Is Mable a shell? According to our lore, the first shells were made in 2455 which, even so, looked uncanny and artificial. Furthermore, if not a shell, why contract Einstein Engines to help (not to say that anything has to change, simply clarification)?

There's this.

And this. Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but how does this resentment carry through despite the removal of Mable's emotional response and simulation?

I love the character concept, but I'm wondering, how did all this scrapping and "downgrading" for lack of a better term affect Mable? You mention that it lost a lot of components that were present in the "original" Mable, so to speak.

1) Yep, they're a shell! I'll fiddle with the timeline and make sure it all lines up properly. My bad lol.
 

2) Whilst the higher end sections were removed, the parts that were taken out were still replaced (albeit with considerably lower quality, cheaper parts scrounged up via less than reputable sellers), if only to ensure it's not fully lobotominzed for lack of a better term. So whilst resentment that something was gone would be present, it'd be considerably less subtle and more based of a response - less human, more reflex and animal almost, if that'd make sense? So it'd still experience resentment, some minor fear, ect, albeit almost directionless without much nuance to it. Less 'I'm angry because I've been cut up' and more 'I'm angry', if that makes sense? I know this is not exactly the most helpful of answers, but I feel this is something that is going to be considerably easier to show than to explain due to the limitations of language compared to emotion. 

Edited March 23, 2020 by Lemei

[NewOriginalSchwann]

As for as positronic backstories go, I really enjoy this one - it shows how IPCs are an oppressed group in lore while having their own desires, shows a fairly atypical background for an IPC (most seem to be involved in an industrial or security setting, judging by recent backstories), and the answers given demonstrate an understanding of IPC lore. Combined with your answers to Stryker's questions (I also screwed up the timeline at first, don't worry), I have seen all I need to support this application. Good luck with the rest of the process, and I hope to see Mable alongside the rest of the Aurora's shells soon enough!

[Roostercat]

I can advocate for Peppermint's roleplaying ability as my characters RP with hers regularly. Whether its Genevieve being an antag running around being goofy to Nina being the source of 90 percent of medical's sass. Both characters are done wonderfully with a good amount of backstory, which I always appreciate. That being said, the backstory for this character is also interesting, as it doesn't follow the usual schtick most shells seem to and instead goes a more abused oppressed route, which is a big part of the Synth lore. +1

[niennab]

Thank you for addressing Stryker's questions. The larger concern was the mention of the removal of an emotion synthesizer despite later feeling resentment. However if instead a cheaper model was installed, it makes sense.

Nonetheless, your application provides an understanding of IPCs in addition to detailing an interesting story. Presently, we do not have a way to have shells spawn in with differing prosthetic limbs (I wish they could). However you may then have to rely on your FT to carry a lot of the subtle details.

Nonetheless, accepted.