The next few weeks and months are going to be choc-full of announcements and reveals. In a matter of DAYS, for example, you'll be finding out more about this "270914" thing, and after that you'll be getting all kinds of juicy goodness. But TODAY, my Minions, is the day I announce something that has been in my head for YEARS.
I am proud, excited and absolutely delighted to announce that a special, exclusive gathering will take place in London on publication day, August 28th. I give you...
The Requiem Ball.
This is an invitation only get-together — a party, if you will — with 120 places up for grabs in very special competitions for Ireland and UK readers. You'll get the details of these competitions and other ways to nab yourself an invitation over the next few weeks, so keep an eye on this blog.
But you know I'd never leave the rest of you out of the action COMPLETELY, so we're going to have 250 party packs, jammed full of goodies, ready to send to you so that you can throw your own simultaneous Requiem Ball Parties at home. There'll be loads of stuff to download, whichever far-off country you're in, be it Ame-rica (am I pronouncing that right?) or Burkina Faso (yes, we notice EVERYTHING).
The Requiem Ball is basically my thank you to all of my Minions, for creating such a fun, creative, and frankly down-right crazy community around these books. I want to bring everyone together for one almighty celebration for the final book, and it's going to be EPIC.
Posts
4,268 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 2401 – 2600 of 4268 Newer› Newest»(I am depressed. Yourself?)
(What do you mean, Xanadu?)
(I'm ok thanks Soph)
(*flicks Xan on his nose* does this count?)
(Why would I do that?)
(I do not think so. Then again my sense of humour is practically non-existent. I do not wish to participate and would advise you not to, either.)
(at least what i did made me laugh)
(Xan i have an idea, turf Erica out of the bed)
*is reading rp while walking home*
*...in the rain*
@Tia: -_- That sucks.
@Star It's over now. How are you?
(Star, I have an asexual ship. Just let me get home.)
@Tia: Fine, thanks. :) Doing homework . . . -_-
Ah, cool!!! :)
Well, it's not a ship for you, but rather just a ship.
I know. But it's still very cool. :) :)
(Everything seems to have gone quiet.)
(Yup.)
Ok, here it is:
Master Chief x Cortana
I know what you're thinking (that's a lie) - but this ship works because it is mostly canon.
And it's asexual. Asexuality is not being sexually attracted to anyone, and it fits here because Chief has been changed, or augmented and because of this he does not have a sex drive, he simply cannot be sexually attracted to anyone.
And Cortana is an A.I. - lines of code that make up an artificial life. She does not have a body, so she isn't sexually attracted to Chief either.
And yet they would do literally anything for each other, as they're much more than best friends, and they're naturally intimate with each other because they have to, in order to survive.
Just look at what Cortana's death did to Chief...
(Weird ship, but I don't discriminate.)
@Tia: :)
That's great. :)
(I disagree with the artificial life point. It would be possible for an artificial intelligence to feel sexual attraction. All we are, effectively, is chemicals and electrical impulses. All it would take would be a similar electrical impulse and code which would come together to form a synthetic equivalent of a chemical and then the artificial intelligence would be able to feel sexual attraction.)
*hops in*
*grins show his pointed teeth*
*croaks*
Hello
Hello.
(I would have to disagree there. You see, the only way that sexual attraction would be recreated in an AI is if that AI had hardware that allowed it to reproduce sexually. You would have to create AIs specifically capable of feeling that for them to feel sexual attraction.)
(Effectively, a bog standard AI would not be capable of that.)
@Trip: Oui.
Although they might develop sexual attraction by accident. But y'know.
*hops on Sophia's, Star's, and Trip's heads*
*stops on Trips to scratch behind his ear before hopping back into the ground*
True, AIs are known for that sort of thing.
Yet still, an AI that runs a spaceship probably won't.
(There can be sexual attraction without sexual reproduction? It is entirely possible.
An unshackled AI would be. An ordinary AI would have behavioural restraints to prevent it from going rogue. But if they were to malfunction or not be created in the first place, the AI could feel sexual attraction, potentially.)
Heh, hello there little frog.
*he points to the picture of himself*
*cough*frogshaveteeth*cough*
*grins up at Trip*
*jumps onto his face*
There was this Swiss experiment where robots learned to lie even if it wasn't in their original programming. I read about it awhile ago...
Not completely sure it's relevant here, though, and I don't remember the details...
(Well, the A.I. does not have a body at all. Furthermore, the A.I. was made from the brain of Dr Halsey, who led the Spartan 2 programme which made Chief into the soldier he is. And Halsey never showed signs of sexual attraction, and if Cortana felt what Halsey felt towards Chief, it would be more of a Mother/Son relationship. But that's just details, I understand what you are saying about AI's in general.
And maybe you're right. In fact, you're most likely right. But I don't think they would ever act upon those feelings.
@Sophia: Yes. *nods*
I think most minority sexualities are kind of a malfunction, tbh. So. Y'know. Sometimes creations do a bit astray.
*waves at little webbed foot at Fabi*
Hullo.
(But sexual attraction requires more than just a mind to come into being. It requires certain hormones and such that only exist in creatures with reproductive organs. As such, unless you were to create an AI that specifically received the synthetic equivalent of this, it would not feel sexual attraction.)
*nods at Lantern* *hugs*
Yeah . . . we are talking about AIs in general. :P
And just because they don't have a body that can reproduce doesn't mean they feel sexual attraction, like how people with bodies that can reproduce don't necessarily feel sexual attraction.
@Trip: IT'S ALL ELECTRICAL IMPULSES, TRIP. :)
Good morning, afternoon, evening, or other time of day, Blogland.
*waves his other foot at Tia and then loses his balance, falling off of Trip's face*
*hops over to Sir*
*hops onto his head*
Hullo!
Why if mwere a fwog on my fafe?
Herrow Sir. How are you?
(Aye, Trip. So whatever attraction this ship has, it's too complicated to define.
In her last moments of life, Cortana made a body so she could touch Chief. Again, not sexual but...
Halo 4 - Legendary Ending: http://youtu.be/vUfykd5YmFg
:/)
*from on top of Sir's face he croaks*
I'm not mwere!
(Hello, Sir! How are you today?)
(You are confusing organics and synthetics, Trip. An AI would not need reproductive organs to reproduce, because AIs, in effect, cannot reproduce by the organic definition of the word. They can produce another AI via digital means, and that is as close as they could potentially get - that is, if they didn't have behavioural restraints.
In an AI, everything is controlled effectively via code. It wouldn't have hormones because it is run by code. Hormones would be of no use to it. You cannot apply organic logic to synthetics. What the AI could have is code which would allow it to feel sexual attraction in the same manner hormones do to organics - it would be the synthetic equivalent.)
And now I'm going to get warts...
Unless I use my DEFUNGUSINATOR! *lightening cracks as the camera pulls back, displaying a massive laser painted purple*
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
(Who am I talking to here?)
*glares indignantly at Trip*
I will NOT give you warts!
Greetings, Mr. Castalan, Mr. Halycon, Mr... Foggy, Commander Keating, and Ms. Inkbright.
For those of you that asked, I feel fairly tired, but still more well than usual.
If you insist, Mr. Foggy.
Ms. Inkbright, that is a fairly simple way of looking at it. During the eugenics craze in the 1920's and 1930's, plenty of people were rendered sexually "neutralized" due to the removal of certain... Organs and glands. Henceforth, next to none of these people felt any sort of sexual desire.
Commander Keating, I must agree with Mr. Castalan, here. Unless that Artificial Intelligence was explicitly coded to allow for code that replicates sexual attraction, or was allowed to code itself to feel it, it is doubtful that the Intelligence would ever feel that sort of attraction.
I have to go, dinner, I think.
(Ms. Dugglyn Carzainia at your service!
*salutes*)
*croaks*
Fly!
(Sir - artificial intelligences are designed to adapt and learn. They are designed to go from their core programming into something different. As the name suggests, an artificial INTELLIGENCE.
An artificial intelligence could potentially adapt enough or become so advanced, as long as it didn't have behavioural restraints, to feel sexual attraction. It is theoretically possible. Sure, in 98% of cases that wouldn't happen. But it is theoretically possible for an AI to feel sexual attraction.)
(Shit. *tries to think of a dedication*)
(*coughfrogswithteethcough*)
Adios!
*hops away*
(*hugs Silente back*)
*can't feel
@Sir: Woah. O_O
. . .
I feel like saying that's cool, but I have a feeling that would be rather heartless.
If AIs can feel emotions, why can't they feel sexual attraction? :/
*nods at Sophia*
Because, again, Ms. Inkbright, they would have to be explicitly coded to feel in such a way. No AI "comes" with the ability to be sexually attracted to something.
Commander Keating, adapt implies that the new ability would be an advantage to the Intelligence. Frankly, I cannot think of a situation in which having sexual attraction would be advantageous, but I suppose that is firmly in the land of the theoretical.
(I'm here my darlings ^^)
@Sir: Well, they could, in theory, be explicitly coded. Or something could go wrong.
Hi Inky. :)
(How art thou star?)
(You guys need to play Halo 1-4 to feel the love. Or at least 4. Cortana is slowly going insane from all the information she has and cannot contain. Chief is looking for a way to save her.
They both know she'll die soon.
But they struggle, and they fight.
And it's not enough, but they can't give up.
...
It's not sexual attraction, guys, if they can't have sex.
(Hello, Chloe!)
(Oh joy I'm home alone let's cook something!)
(Hey Tia and Sil! How art thou ?
(Hey, Sil!)
((Cooking so distant. Let's hope I don't burn everything down.))
Fine, thanks, Inky. :) You?
@Tia: :( :O . . . That's beautiful.
ACTUALLY
NO
You can feel sexual attraction without having sex. Obviously. I imagine very few Directioners will get to have sex with 1D, but they're sexually attracted to them anyway.
(Hey Xan ^^
I'm good ^_^)
(Soooo what ya doin?)
@Xan: But that doesn't mean it's sexual attraction.
-_-
And that's why it's an asexual SHIP.
(I'm relaxing )
(I'm relaxing )
(Star, Xan, that's what I mean. It's not sexual attraction, but it's attraction and a ship.)
(Moving on...)
@Xan: As stated, by Tia and by the argument, it is very, very unlikely that either of them feel sexual attraction.
Maybe it's just me being asexual, but I love the idea of asexual relationships . . .
Adding to the whole robot thing:
This is a movie, but STILL. :P
There's a Bollywood movie (oh, joy) and I forgot what it was called. But it was about this guy who made a robot, and he wanted to program it with enough intelligence about emotions to function as an average human in society.
But then this robot dude starts "feeling" emotions a bit too realistically for the creator's liking. The creator then realises that somehow, the robot's feeling actual emotion.
Andthenavillainshowsupandplantsthismicrochipintherobotthereforemakingitevilandtherobotcrushesaguy'sheadlikeaneggandtriestogetthecreator'sgirlfriendpregnantandshiz.
*breathes*
There is a reason I added that last part.
I know it's a movie, but I feel like the robot wanted to do that not out of sexual attraction to the girlfriend, but out of trying to torment the creator as much as possible. In no other instance did it show any sign of being attracted to anybody or anything. It's a movie. I know. And it *is* just *one* movie. But goshdarnit, I just wanted to ramble, okay? It's past midnight and I have nothing better to do. xD
If this had any point, it's now gone. Sorry.
*leaves because sleep*
*nods at Tia*
*nods at Emerald* :) *hugs*
(I am back.)
(Welcomes Soph ^^)
(*hugs Silente back*)
(*takes pics of Soph and Sil hugging *)
-_-
*hugs Star*
*whispers* Our hug is superior to theirs.
*laughs* XD
*doesn't really think it is, but still*
(I know I do. It is just a case of figuring out what to dedicate to. I already have two things but I am searching for more.)
(Sorry, being passive-aggressive)
*warms up Star*
(I wouldn't say so.)
:) :)
Going slightly off-track, but isn't it annoying in the summer when you can't cuddle up in blankets without feeling too warm . . . ? I imagine it's the same with cuddling people, although I don't make a habit of cuddling people so I wouldn't know.
*nods back at Silente*
(I will be back soon.)
(Yes, it's super-annoying!)
(There's a lot of nodding going on *nods like Churchill dog*)
(Reminds me of that time I wrote Churchill fanfiction.)
(I bought a fecking planner today to keep my homework in order. A bloody disaster -_-)
*nods at Tia, too :/*
*nods at Inky :P*
Churchill fanfiction? O_O
@Inky: Disaster?
I still pronouce 'disaster' like a southern person . . .
And 'master'. :)
And sometimes 'paragraph' or 'craft', but that depends.
I think I tend to say 'paragraaph' in my head and 'paragraph' out loud.
(I just think I'm not the planning type... I'm the lat minute type)
(Oh yeah, weirdest thing I've ever written.)
@Inky: SAME! I'm a total last minute-er. :P
My school has made me have a school planner for the past five years or so though, and I write down my homework and the due date in it, and it's really good because I remember what homework I have and I know when it all has to be in for.
But yeah.
If I don't do my homework the night before I'm less likely to remember it, anyway, so. :P
HOWEVER, I've been keeping remarkably on top of my homework recently . . .
@Tia: :P It sounds cool.
(I was the same in school XD)
(I am back.)
(Welcomes Soph ^_^)
(Thank you, you two.)
(*smiles* how are you?)
(I am depressed. Yourself?)
(Do you mean a Palindrome?)
(I'm doing sodding Biology so I'm not ok)
(I see. I'm afraid I cannot help you. Physics was my kind of thing. Not biology.)
(Well I'm not totally not okay, I'm messaging gar so that's good)
(I suppose they are, Silente. Do you wish to continue with the roleplay?
Chloe - perhaps the internet may help?)
(Hello, Soph! How are you today?)
(Star, I always forget about homework until it's too late.)
(Maybe it will ^_^)
(I am depressed. Yourself?
Silente - I believe that Claire and Silente walked from the house and Claire got on her motorbike.)
(right okay.)
*gets on the motor bike behind her*
*activates a hologram over her, making her look like a tall person with tanned skin, hazel eyes and red hair*
Claire: *tilts head, but starts the engine regardless* *revs the motorbike and accelerates down the road*
What? You think I want to be seen?
Claire: I could have given you a helmet or a mask. I have shelves full of them.
You might want to hold on.
*shrugs* this works too. *tilts head* I'm a vampire. I have amazing balance. I could be stood up right now and be fine.
Claire: Suit yourself. *pushes a button on the handlebars of her motorbike, and the wheel arch folds up to become a pair of machine guns* *pulls a trigger and the machine guns fire, destroying the supports of a wall, causing it to land on a skip and effectively creating a ramp* *revs the engine of the motorbike and pulls a wheelie, driving up the ramp* *lands on the roof of a building, and skids to a stop*
*laughs, just about managing to keep her balance* I have got to get me one of these..
Claire: They're hardly available in shops. *revs the engine again and shoots off the edge of the rooftop, landing on the next*
Sorry, I meanf to come on and do my thing but my asshole parents decided to jump down my throat on what I do in school. If I wanted to study at the exact moment I would, if I wanted to do extra credit at that exact second I would have, obviously I had no desire as I was not in a wonderful mood to waste my life on extra credit, so the asshole father I have screams at me for being lazy and how I'll never get anywhere in life. I do work when I want to if I dont want to study when they think I should I won't study because that's not what I set out to do. I told them to fuck off because I am sick of them stalking my grades, I do fine without their nosing in everything. Why do you think I said I needed to get out of my geometry class because the teacher casually hands a test back with no help as to what I did wrong and the 'study your notes' did shit as I have a low average in that class but no I'm lazy because I decided that I wasn't sailing. Hmmph.
-Zaf
(Hello, Zafira.)
(Hey Zaf ^^ how art thou?)
(hey Zaf)
*grins* shame. They should do.
(Hello?)
Claire: Definitely. *stops at the edge of the building, switching off the engine* *climbs off her bike, making sure her cape is straight* *looks down at the alley below* *whispers to Silente* We're here. Follow my lead.
(Ell eddy boy
How art thou?)
(Hello Chloe. Not so good, you?)
Annoyed.-Zaf
*eyes her cape*
Sure. One sec. I need to mock you.
*the hologram grows a cape and superhero mask*
*it smirks*
(I'm ok
What's the matter?)
(Just stuff)
(Want to talk about it?)
Claire: *tilts her head* You mock me because I wear a cape?
(Not really, sorry I might leave. Bye)
(Byii Ed... *huggles*)
I'm watching the race so...-Zaf
*hugs Zaf*
...
(I don't forget to do homework because I have a PLANNERRR. Forgetting to hand stuff in, on the other hand . . .:P)
Yes. I do.
(*appears in a flash of darkness* Hello everyone how be you all?)
(*glomps* hey tiger. I'm great ^_^ you?)
(*glomps* hey tiger. I'm great ^_^ you?)
Claire: Why, exactly? You're just jealous you don't have cape.
*looks back over the edge* Twelve men, all armed with Beretta M9 pistols except for one who appears to have a Sig Sauer P226. They appear to be selling cocaine. Six sellers, six buyers.
I never forget because I know what I need done, I will do it but if its not due until Monday and I decide Sunday to do it I will get it done, I just prefer to do things I need when I want I don't forget things its stupid I hate being annoyed over grades if I was fine last year I dont need someone stalking my grades and discussing them, I don't discuss grades. If I want to I will.-Zaf
(Welcomes Xan! How art thou?)
(I'm great ^.^ thanks)
(It seems everything has descended into silence.)
(*accepts glomping* I'm great thanks Inks *smiles*)
(*smiles* that's great)
(Hello everyone!)
(Hello Chi how be you?)
(I be good Gar! how about you?)
(Hey Khi, how art thou?)
(Hello, Chione.)
(Of course. That's fine.)
(i am great thank you *offers a friendly huggle*)
(*offers a friendly huggle to anyone else who wants one and a high five to anyone who doesn't hug*)
(I'm in a huggy mood right now, don't judge)
(I'm fine Inky, what about you?
Hey Sophia
Hey Sil! *hugs*
Hey Xan!)
(I'm co fuddled over my biology homework, but I'm great.
*huggles Gar* I am in that mood too)
Hey...
*Tacklehugs Chi*
Hey beautiful!
(Hey Dug and Blake! How art thou ?)
Horrible, thanks for asking.
How are you?
(*huggles Dug* what's up Bach? )
(Hey Dugglyn! *hugs*
*hugs Blake tightly and kisses him*)
*looks At Artemis*
Where in Blogland is the monster we're hunting, My Lady?
I'm not sure Khione... I've lost it. It must be hiding it's true nature.
*nods and looks at the other hunters around the forest clearing*
(Hello again, back for some reason)
(*huggles Ed* you can tell me if anything is wrong... That is if you want)
(I know, just a really bad day you know. Bound to happen at some point
(I know that feeling. *mushes Eds fce into a smile* even forcing a smile can help improve your mood)
*hug everyone back*
Meh.
I'm sick.
(Sil *huggles)
(*Forced to smile* Thank you)
(Sil, are you ok?)
(Oh dug! Everyone seems to be having a bad day *goves everyone waffles*)
*huggles Sil*
*hugs Silente*
If you need to talk, I'm here, and if you do't, I'm still here, okay?
Sil?
(*hugs Silente*)
(Silente what's wrong?! D: Sis! *hugs tightly*)
*Artemis looks around, everything is silent in the clearing*
I found it. Its at the bottom of the lake. Khione, this is a job for you. Show us what you have learned these past 100 years.
*nods and leads the Hunters towards the lake*
(*gives Sil a puppy to cuddle*)
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