Main discussion thread

[Adell]

Guys... Didn't that Sound Like A Good Idea At The Time?
Also, it was totally my suggestion. I only didn't post it because it was Out Of Character for my chatspeak-persona.

Won't that actually make him more open to discussion, if we think about it? It puts him on the same terms as us, and, well, now it's our Troper knowledge against his. Now we can apply trope logic in his arguments. I think that's awesome.

Also, Adell, for some reason your new avatar gives off a similar vibe.

Kind of the intention, is that a problem? Also stay on topic.

[Dryunya]

Oh, I forgot what I actually wanted to say before that. He mentions that he doesn't want Juliet to die, AGAIN. I know he'll say "we're friends" and stuff if we ask him, but I think we should totally push this line and make him admit that he cares about her. If I'm in any way Genre Savvy, he'll make up his mind Just In Time.
Unless Reality Ensues, in which case we're all screwed. I hate it when it happens. Reality sucks.

[ToMorning]

I think we might be thinking about this the wrong way. Romeo had that link for ages - since before even the Vanessa thing happened. So when exactly did he find out about his and Juliet's page?

[Qara-Xuan Zenith]

It's not the tvtropes link that told him about his story. I think he got that from a fairly recent comment on Juliet's blog.

[WackyMeetsPractical]

I think we might be thinking about this the wrong way. Romeo had that link for ages - since before even the Vanessa thing happened. So when exactly did he find out about his and Juliet's page?

That's probably when he saw it. That's probably WHY the Vanessa thing happened. He knew that if him and Juliet stayed together and were returned, then the story repeats itself. If he can do something stupid and split them up, then the tragic ending can never happen. Kind of a genius plan if that's the case. I'm not willing to give him THAT much credit though. But who knows?

In either case, we could definitely use this information for our advantage. We now know that we can alter their stories, and are in fact encouraged to write them happy endings. We should just tell Romeo this and, VOILA! Problem solved! Though there's no way it can be that easy, but we could at least try.

[Qara-Xuan Zenith]

Well... looks like we poked him enough to get confirmation of the I Want My Beloved To Be Happy (and alive) theory.

Edit: NEW PLAN, spawned in the chatroom.
And I'm going to throw all caution to the wind and repeat it here, because... it's super complicated, and I don't want to have to type out the whole thing a million times in private chats.

This plan involves a 3-pronged attack.

1. Sicon (or someone, but Si's been giving him fairly regular updates) tells Romeo some more about our refictionalization stuff, and without actually lying fails to clarify that we can totally change (or leave open) their endings.
2. I continue building up Romeo's trust with my comments.
3. Others (people who post a lot for her, I guess) poke Juliet VERY GENTLY AND GRADUALLY to get her to admit that she still has feelings for Romeo (this should be dragged out for as long as possible, so as not to rush the plan)
4. Once we're nearing the end (i.e., maybe have another echo for them?), Sicon clarifies to Romeo that their ending will NOT be a problem.
5. At the very last minute, I tell Romeo that I just found out that Juliet still loves him and wants to be with him, backing this up with the information that step 3 has produced on her blog.
6. If necessary, as many people as he'd actually trust chime in, encouraging him to go for it and chase after her before it's too late.
7. Last-Minute Hookup ensues, and Romeo and Juliet will be successfully refic'd.

[Dryunya]

Romeo had that link for ages - since before even the Vanessa thing happened.

That's probably WHY the Vanessa thing happened. He knew that if him and Juliet stayed together and were returned, then the story repeats itself. If he can do something stupid and split them up, then the tragic ending can never happen.

My exact thought when I was reading the chat logs. If that's the case, our task becomes even easier, because there will be no need to make him choose between Juliet and Vanessa.

Others (people who post a lot for her, I guess) poke Juliet VERY GENTLY AND GRADUALLY to get her to admit that she still has feelings for Romeo (this should be dragged out for as long as possible, so as not to rush the plan)

I have no idea how it's done, but I can take this role because my inner shipper demands.
...oh wait. I'll be leaving for several days soon. I guess I can't.

[Qara-Xuan Zenith]

...oh wait. I'll be leaving for several days soon. I guess I can't.

It should still be waiting when you come back. The Juliet part of the plan is NOT a priority atm, and it shouldn't start too early or go too fast.

[Genndy Oda C.O.G.]

I like this plan. How can I help?

[Victin]

I like this plan. How can I help?

Me too. Say and I wil do it.

[H22]

So, someone called 'Ariadne' has been posting... distinctly unhelpfully on Romeo's blog. E.g. 'most selfish fool', 'you will all die', &c. She's probably just a troll, but if she isn't, we might have GMs and Broken Bases before long.... On a separate note, it continues with the classical theme of Julius, Nero et al. I won't over-interpret this (hell, it might just be her name) but they might be trying to make a reference there. Jester, do you know our Minotaur-vanquishing friend?

[WackyMeetsPractical]

First of all, I'd like to apologize for my latest comment on his blog, even though I felt we were on the same page with telling Romeo about how we can change his story, since right after I suggested it on this thread, Qara posted a slightly more complicated plan that basically started with my own plan, but apparently my interpretation of the plan was not correct.

I'd also like to say that I don't entirely agree with this plan. For one, it's somewhat risky. Waiting for the last minute to enact a very crucial part of the plan doesn't make sense to me. Also, I don't feel comfortable playing matchmaker and toying with these kid's emotions. I feel like the best course of action is giving the both of them the best information we have available, and then letting them decide for themselves what the best decision is. That's what I've done for Romeo.

I honestly don't think that my one comment alone is enough to convince him to dump Vanessa and go straight back to Juliet. But maybe the information I've given him may be enough to convince him to make the smart decision when the time calls for it. Otherwise, he may continue to stubbornly fight us when he has no real reason to. I don't see what I did was so bad. And I don't know what I was supposed to say and what I wasn't supposed to say. But I do not regret what I did, but I do apologize if it feels like I was stepping on anybody's toes. I honestly thought that what I did was what you were all planning anyway.

[Sicon112]

First of all, I'd like to apologize for my latest comment on his blog, even though I felt we were on the same page with telling Romeo about how we can change his story, since right after I suggested it on this thread, Qara posted a slightly more complicated plan that basically started with my own plan, but apparently my interpretation of the plan was not correct.

I'd also like to say that I don't entirely agree with this plan. For one, it's somewhat risky. Waiting for the last minute to enact a very crucial part of the plan doesn't make sense to me. Also, I don't feel comfortable playing matchmaker and toying with these kid's emotions. I feel like the best course of action is giving the both of them the best information we have available, and then letting them decide for themselves what the best decision is. That's what I've done for Romeo.

I honestly don't think that my one comment alone is enough to convince him to dump Vanessa and go straight back to Juliet. But maybe the information I've given him may be enough to convince him to make the smart decision when the time calls for it. Otherwise, he may continue to stubbornly fight us when he has no real reason to. I don't see what I did was so bad. And I don't know what I was supposed to say and what I wasn't supposed to say. But I do not regret what I did, but I do apologize if it feels like I was stepping on anybody's toes. I honestly thought that what I did was what you were all planning anyway.

Not a big deal Wacky. I'm just winging things here. Since you commented, I just rolled with it. The idea behind the last moment plan, I believe, was to use tropes and story conventions for our own gain. I suspect it will be what happens anyhow. I'll be working towards it anyway regardless, or at least not trying to stop it.

We will just all keep working towards the goal we all share. No need to make a big deal over this for now.

[Dryunya]

No harm done, really. The Last Minute Hookup would only give us bonsus trope points, but other than that, we might as well act now.
Also, I don't really like how our plan sounds like "toying with emotions". I have a pretty vague idea of others' emotions anyway. But I think it's not toying if they do love each other still (and if our theory that Vanessa is just an excuse to leave Juliet is correct, Bromeo does). So we need to make Bromeo make a move. Or make Juliet realize that she still loves him. With elephants.

[Genndy Oda C.O.G.]

Still, I would like an assignment. I feel as though I've contributed little to this ARG, and I'd like to be of some use.

[Qara-Xuan Zenith]

People who want direction in the R&J plan--
the most useful thing would be to ask Juliet VERY SUBTLY at first, and remember to let this plan go as SLOW AS POSSIBLE, but to try to prompt her to state her true feelings about Romeo.
Thanks.

[Genndy Oda C.O.G.]

Can I have a different task? I'm not exactly... subtle.

[Qara-Xuan Zenith]

Then wait for her to prove unresponsive to someone else's prompting, then jump in to be more blatant if she needs it! Everybody wins!

[Genndy Oda C.O.G.]

I'm on it.

[Victin]

I'm on it.

Me too

[Dryunya]

EDIT2: Never mind, Julius is Jester being himself. We still need to counteract him, though.

Guys... Have you seen the latest comments?
This one comes from Julius.

...Apparently, we now know those donkeyholes' identities. (Spoiler: Cabal)
If you get any confirmation, update the timeline with it. I won't be around.

EDIT: Julius is trying to convince Juliet, too. If we are going to act, we should do it now.
Also, it seems like the Cabal has embraced the term "Metaguards". That's nice.

[TheJester]

Edited for being a stupid post...

[Sicon112]

Edited for being a stupid post...

Jester, I gotta give you a little info real fast that I don't think anyone has mentioned to you. It may clear up a few things. I sent you a PM in the chatbox.

No, this isn't some secret plan, I'm just gonna get Jester up-to-date so he doesn't do stuff like this again... I hope.

[Sicon112]

Romeo and Juliet front is now stable. Jester will be aiding me with damage control in the morning.

[Dryunya]

WMG: The PM contained Jester's physical address and a link about medieval torture techniques.