Firefly Nerdery OOC Brainstorm [CLOSED]

[thestruggle]

We're brainstorming up a Firefly thread in here. If we don't know you or if you can't write, please PLEASE let us hash this out. Thaaaaanks.

CHARACTER SHEETS

PICTURE:
NAME:
AGE:
SHIP POSITION:
SKILLS:
LIMITS:
BIO:



CAST

Vail - Captain
Tigress - Pilot
Tess - Medic
LCN - Engineer
M13 - Ambassador
Luna - Muscle
Lily - Fighter

PLOT

​

Now, for the story, here is a brief summary of what we're working with so far:

A post-Serenity Firefly universe, please refer to M13's post regarding this. Our crew, captained by Vail, will be heading to Miranda for a very high paying job. That post is just an idea: the purpose can be discussed, and there are other details that we need to hammer out.

* The ship they are flying.
* Their purpose, are they smugglers/fighters/what?
* Refining the relationships between each crew member and how they interact. Remember, one of the most important parts of Whedon's approach that most of us love (seemingly) is how the characters interact. Communication and proper connection writing pre-thread is going to be important, and why I have already posted asking for character sheets.

Any other points thought up will be hashed out. Now, as for the start of the thread, we have discussed beginning with a reaver run-in, or perhaps even a first attempt at the Miranda mission. Beginning this way allows for an action sequence that shows the element of each crew member, and how they are useful/how they act. In this first "chapter", our crew will lose their engineer. My character, the medic, will fail to patch up his wounds. This allows for excellent tension and guilt going in, creating complex layers (obviously). Everyone will have many opportunities to react/shoot/freak out/be happy, whatever. Our pilot, Tigress, has enough engineering skills (and probably Vail as well) to patch up the ship and get it to port, where we enlist LCN and pick up M13. As we go from there to our mission on Miranda, the crew will feel their way out of the previous trauma and have many different chances to pursue different strategies/character arcs/interaction.

For the most part everyone has seemed to really like that idea for a start, so I think we should go with it. I will continue adding to this summary as things come up!

EDITED: FOLLOWING IS THE PLOT AS WE HAVE PLANNED IT. THIS SEEMS TO BE WHAT SETS UP OUR STORY IN THE BEST AND MOST REALISTIC WAY. EVERYONE IS, OF COURSE, FREE TO AMEND THEIR CHARACTER BACKGROUND/PLOT LINES--THIS PARTICULAR APPROACH GIVES A LOT OF FREEDOM FOR THAT. WE WILL FLESH THIS OUT MORE AS WELL.​

- Captain/Pilot as Alliance, go to resisting settlement, settlement gets practically wiped out
- They are horrified, disillusioned, whatever, rescue who they can
- Three of those rescued choose to stay with the cpt/pilot, thus forming basis of the crew (me, Lily, engineer)
- Steal a ship? get a ship? stuck on this one.
- Crew is now outside of the law, have to smuggle to make ends meet, "mercenary aspect"
- Hire Luna as muscle, who probably would like the idea of being able to come or go
- M13 is figured in somehow, he has close relationship with NPC engineer?
- First attempt at Miranda mission or perhaps just encounter with reavers, leaves crew battered and engineer dead
- Cobble together ship and head to port to pick up M13 who was taking his yearly qualifications as a companion
- Pick up LCN
- Head out on mission

 

[tigerlilyxx]

It's perfect!

 

[thestruggle]

dances!

 

[IvoryTigress]

dances!

Leans shoulder against wall, enjoys dancing


Now then...where were we?

 

[thestruggle]

Leans shoulder against wall, enjoys dancing


Now then...where were we?

OK, back. Well, about the reavers idea and then post Serenity? I think that post would be better, I mean, no overlap. And that stuff really would be a mess, I'll bite about that. Now... what about our crew idea?

 

[tigerlilyxx]

This post is just to keep everything particularly important under one roof, so it's easy to find if you missed things. (If I missed things, let me know.) It's temporary.

I'm gonna quote Vail's points, because they were good ones, and should be here.

But here's what we want to consider...
There are really a few aspects to doing a thread like this:
1. The characters
2. The dynamic
3. The themes
4. The universe
You really have to decide which of these (or parts of these) you want to use from the show. And, also at some point, you have to decide if you are using enough of the show to warrant any relation to the show.
Or, in other words, "Do we want to do a Firefly thread, or do we want to do a galloping space-adventure rogue thread?"

The Format:

SO: let's follow a format here, just for the early birds who love reading this thread but need a more linear focus...

PLOT:
SETTING:
CREW IDEA:
CONFLICT:
SHIP NAME:
CHARACTER CHOICE:

The Plot (This is all somewhat tentative):

I do not have a quote for this, because it was partly decided off Lit and in bits and pieces, but the current plot idea is as follows:

The crew is making their way to Miranda for... something. Yet to be decided. As M13 said "A few spoke of raids to Miranda to reclaim a wealth of items that have been lying around untouched due to the overwhelming numbers of Reavers, who had now been culled somewhat." So we're going with this idea, a raid to Miranda for some reason or another.

They all (or most of them, at least) have one common goal for going, thought that goal hasn't been chosen yet, but they may also each have their own individual side goals going on.


Setting: Not completely decided, as of yet. However, I think the Universe falls under this category.

The Universe (I believe this is less tentative):

Firefly 'Verse - Post Miranda

The broadcast of the last of the survey team across the cortex, uncensored and unrestricted, sent huge shock waves through the entire population. How that population reacted to it, differed greatly on where the population was located.

The Core Worlds, the reaction was mixed. The people were shocked that the government failed so dramatically in what they were doing. Not that they tried. Still, there were people who disagreed with the plan in total, and argued hard for those responsible to be censured, and new people elevated to positions of power to clean up the mess left by the incumbents. Others, argued it was a complete fabrication, or a gross manipulation of the truth meant to destabilize the government for someone's political gains. Protests of various natures occurred through the Core worlds, with the population generally take one of two sides; supporting the incumbents, or seeking their removal.

Outside the core worlds, the anger was stronger, furious in the worlds and moons that suffered Reaver raids. That the government they didn't want had created the monsters, then denied their existence was too much much for some. Local garrisons came under attack from insurgents, a few smaller units destroyed by troops wearing Brown Coats had a lot of people worried, excited or both. With the military assets devoted to keeping control over the core worlds, the outer territories started feeling the effects of increased banditry, piracy, Reaver raids and general lawlessness.

The gains seen in the Unification War were slowly disappearing, and opportunities for those with the courage, skills and assets to do what was needed, or gain from the opportunities presented, saw many small groups move to fill all manner of niches. Some worked to aid a greater cause; repairing the fractures of the Miranda Scandal, throwing off the oppressive rule of a hated government. A few spoke of raids to Miranda to reclaim a wealth of items that have been lying around untouched due to the overwhelming numbers of Reavers, who had now been culled somewhat.

Alliance Loyalists have walked from their previous posts, most not wanting anything to do with them anymore. Others sickened by what they know join the various groups that seek to overthrow the Government. Others who were neutral have cast their lot with one side or the other, while others have openly shown their deep held allegiances. Chaos threatens to break free everywhere, and make the Unification War look like children playing make believe soldiers.

~||~​

Crew Idea: Assuming this is different than the characters, this hasn't quite been worked out yet. However, a few ideas are being tossed around.

• Lily's character and Tess's character may have a Kaylee/River like bond. Sisters are a possibility.

(That's a short list, but it's all I know about, at the moment.)

Conflict: Er... don't know about this... So... moving on...

Ship Name: I believe "Mike" was proposed, although very possibly as a joke. No conclusions have been made.

Character Choice:

The Characters (tentatively):

Ok, so far here is what we're looking at:

Vail - Captain
Tigress - Pilot
Tess - Medic
LCN - Engineer
M13 - Ambassador
Luna - Muscle
Lily - Fighter

------------​

Like I said, this is temporary. However, if I missed something or got something wrong, please let me know. Even for something temporary, accuracy is helpful.

 

[thestruggle]

I'm gonna quote Vail's points, because they were good ones, and should be here.

Yeah, thanks, I was thinking how annoying it was to tab back and forth. I'm an idiot.

 

[IvoryTigress]

OK, back. Well, about the reavers idea and then post Serenity? I think that post would be better, I mean, no overlap. And that stuff really would be a mess, I'll bite about that. Now... what about our crew idea?

A crew could be done, yes. But we would need a reason for everyone to be there. We could play it as they don't start off as a crew, but maybe end up drawn together while they ran from the alliance. Or maybe they already found each other but have a common goal....which would need to be set up

 

[tigerlilyxx]

A crew could be done, yes. But we would need a reason for everyone to be there. We could play it as they don't start off as a crew, but maybe end up drawn together while they ran from the alliance. Or maybe they already found each other but have a common goal....which would need to be set up

I like the idea of having a crew that already has bonds, although I recognize that it'd be harder to create, it seems more enjoyable. I'm open to not, though.

 

[thestruggle]

A crew could be done, yes. But we would need a reason for everyone to be there. We could play it as they don't start off as a crew, but maybe end up drawn together while they ran from the alliance. Or maybe they already found each other but have a common goal....which would need to be set up

Okay, now I'm back on track, was distracted by somebody sending me Firefly GIFs... Lily makes a good point that the goal should come after the crew, so the crew, regardless of how they've met, identifies their common purpose after banding up.

 

[thestruggle]

I like the idea of having a crew that already has bonds, although I recognize that it'd be harder to create, it seems more enjoyable. I'm open to not, though.

I do really like that idea too, but I wonder how we'd pull it off. I mean, obviously we'd discuss it first but there is a lot more room for us to interact as writers if they don't have previous relationships. You can never tell what kind of chemistry you're going to be getting.

 

[IvoryTigress]

Okay, now I'm back on track, was distracted by somebody sending me Firefly GIFs... Lily makes a good point that the goal should come after the crew, so the crew, regardless of how they've met, identifies their common purpose after banding up.

I like the idea of there already being a crew, even if it requires more planning. I'm okay with fleshing things out for a fair amount of time.

 

[tigerlilyxx]

I do really like that idea too, but I wonder how we'd pull it off. I mean, obviously we'd discuss it first but there is a lot more room for us to interact as writers if they don't have previous relationships. You can never tell what kind of chemistry you're going to be getting.

True. It creates restrictions.

 

[thestruggle]

I like the idea of there already being a crew, even if it requires more planning. I'm okay with fleshing things out for a fair amount of time.

That's a good point. I'm okay with that too, as I hope that we could almost do a kind of chapter format or something. Something where it's a really cohesive line. Hmm. I hate to say this but I almost want to wait until I can rewatch and get some more ideas, maybe next weekend (ahhh so long! so far away!) and see what we can come up with. And also who, too, because I feel like other people might get to be interested.

 

[tigerlilyxx]

That's a good point. I'm okay with that too, as I hope that we could almost do a kind of chapter format or something. Something where it's a really cohesive line. Hmm. I hate to say this but I almost want to wait until I can rewatch and get some more ideas, maybe next weekend (ahhh so long! so far away!) and see what we can come up with. And also who, too, because I feel like other people might get to be interested.

Yeh... but... so far away...

 

[thestruggle]

Yeh... but... so far away...

I KNOW. ARGH. But my brain isn't working right, I need to get back in the zone.

 

[IvoryTigress]

That's a good point. I'm okay with that too, as I hope that we could almost do a kind of chapter format or something. Something where it's a really cohesive line. Hmm. I hate to say this but I almost want to wait until I can rewatch and get some more ideas, maybe next weekend (ahhh so long! so far away!) and see what we can come up with. And also who, too, because I feel like other people might get to be interested.

I know at least one other person who might be interested.

A slow smirk touches her lips.

But I think most of us are willing to wait for something good. I know I am. I'd rather not rush something we are all very much interested in. Because if we rush and botch it, all of us would be sad if it died.

 

[IvoryTigress]

Annnd I apologize for the delays.....I"m extremely tired lol. Like passing out at the keyboard.

 

[thestruggle]

Annnd I apologize for the delays.....I"m extremely tired lol. Like passing out at the keyboard.

Go to bed, beautiful. This will keep, for sure. I agree, I don't want to rush and botch it. It's too good to fuck up!

 

[tigerlilyxx]

I know at least one other person who might be interested.

A slow smirk touches her lips.

But I think most of us are willing to wait for something good. I know I am. I'd rather not rush something we are all very much interested in. Because if we rush and botch it, all of us would be sad if it died.

Very true. But I don't want the idea to die while we wait, either.

Annnd I apologize for the delays.....I"m extremely tired lol. Like passing out at the keyboard.

Go to sleep, silly.

 

[thestruggle]

Very true. But I don't want the idea to die while we wait, either.



Go to sleep, silly.

Well it won't, we keep posting on here as it comes to us. I keep thinking of the "...and if we're very, very lucky, they'll do it in that order." Yeeeeeeesh!

 

[tigerlilyxx]

Well it won't, we keep posting on here as it comes to us. I keep thinking of the "...and if we're very, very lucky, they'll do it in that order." Yeeeeeeesh!

That's coming up in about... 3 minutes.

 

[tigerlilyxx]

That's coming up in about... 3 minutes.

and by three minutes, I apparently mean 30 seconds...

 

[thestruggle]

That's coming up in about... 3 minutes.

Fucking awful! I had nightmares about those things. I probably will again when I start watching. What I want to know is if we have any sadistic characters, how are they supposed to outscare reavers?

 

[tigerlilyxx]

Fucking awful! I had nightmares about those things. I probably will again when I start watching. What I want to know is if we have any sadistic characters, how are they supposed to outscare reavers?

I guess we'll leave that up to them. They've got a lot to live up to.