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The genderbend, the reversed sexual orientations, or both?

To be honest, I was assuming it would work the same way it did in the mission--the agents all seemed to have retained their orientations there.

~Neshomeh

Lou claimed to have done it herself in their case. Which implies coincidence on a massive scale... although with her around, that doesn't mean much.

hS

...the effect doesn't appear to be limited to agents actually in HQ, though that one case could be a blip in the data.

Two cases. Narto and Louise were also bent, and are also outside HQ. Lou wasn't even with the PPC in this timeline, so that makes no sense.

In addition, it seems to have affected children (or at least I think Molly was...), in and possibly out of HQ (although no one ever checked Tanfin to be sure). It may or may not have affected animal companions, ie fire lizards.

Is sexual orientation affected? [...] No, but best to be sure.

I would say, in fact, yes. It's been reversed, at least in some cases. Lou and Narto, specifically, seem to be attracted to one another as things stand. Whether the effect is a reversal, or merely an overlaying of attraction to the opposite gender to your current form (as I think the TF gun does), I don't know. I can't remember what Drake's sexuality's like normally, and I think she's the only one who's done anything else romanticish.

The question of whether it affects Flowers is, as you say, currently unanswered, but would be very interesting to see, since it would resolve the Gender And Flowers debate once and for all. It would also be interesting to find out what, if any, effect it has on the following:

-Asexual lifeforms with a neutral persona
-Asexual lifeforms with either male or female personalities
-Robots (eg, CAL-9000)
-Anyone with multiple personalities (would the multiples be changed too?)

I'm not sure whether any other than robots actually exist in HQ, though.

hS

... I've never actually seen that movie.

Anyway! It seems we have an epidemic on our hands, people. What do we think? What do we know? What can we prove?

We know that Agents of the PPC have been genderbent and that the effect doesn't appear to be limited to agents actually in HQ, though that one case could be a blip in the data. We don't know if all of HQ has been affected. Have agents on missions suddenly found themselves with a different set of parts? What about Flowers with a known gender? What about minis? Further investigations must be done in these areas.

We think this epidemic is linked to contaminated technology brought back from a mission by Agents Laburnum and Foxglove, with support from Agents Stormsong, Skyfire, and Drake, as well as Makes-Things and Dr. Fitzgerald. We also think Drake is probably to blame for spreading this contamination to the rest of the affected population. We can't prove this yet, as we don't know exactly what triggered the genderbend. We also don't know how to reverse the effect.

Further, we have yet to determine the extent of the effect. Is it just biology that gets switched? Is there an associated change in personality/behavior? In attire? Is sexual orientation affected? So far it seems the answers to these questions are Mainly Yes, Only insofar as hormones regulate personality/behavior, Yes, and No, but best to be sure.

Discuss.

~Neshomeh, who is taking an epidemiology class this term.

Being abruptly yanked onto the floor didn't really do much to encourage him to start, especially with his partner in a snit. He turned, looking for her, and bumped into someone. Probably because he hadn't been looking right- up, and even if it was Christmas no one was going to teach her to fly, so- what was that on the ceiling?

He glanced at the person he'd bumped into, then back up at the mistletoe, then down again. "Oh, dear," he said. "Um, is it okay?"

(Sorry if it's not okay. I just didn't like it dangling like that.)

(We can say your post was set before the party broke up.)

"For the last time, this is not going to be an excuse for a brawl!" sotto voce "Or at least I hope not."
"Sixdammit. Tha's no fun."
"Besides, you're drunk already."
"I'm no'- not drunk!"
A sigh. "Yes. Yes, you are."
"'m not."
"Then would you care to explain the bottle of gin in your coat pocket?"
"'s for emergencies."

Archer rolled his eye and pushed open the door, blinking somewhat at the decorations. Back home, solstice celebrations were...well, somewhat more low-key. Ah well, when in Rome... (Although he had to admit to not knowing exactly where Rome was)

Sabbat pushed past him, heading for the table of Bleep products. Why he was doing this wasn't entirely clear, as he'd far rather drink something he knew the provenance of than trust something from an unknown source, but he'd probably decided that if there was going to be a brawl, that was where it would start.

Archer watched him go, then rolled his eye again (this was beginning to give him a headache) and started to make his way across the room to the snacks, careful not to bump into anyone. If there was going to be a brawl, he wasn't going to be the one to start it.

She giggled and sauntered over, still on a sugar high. "What song is that?" she asked.


In a remote corner, Lori Starrett and Bill Fallis were snogging under the mistletoe.

"Yes, paranoia does no one good," said a slightly tipsy Christianne. "Mm, this is goooood wine, very gooooood wine."

...chance." With that said, he broke off from the group to search for his partner, sure that the Ork had gotten himself in trouble somewhere. He eventually found Zodfang near one of the speakers, very intoxicated and bantering loudly with agent Troy, who was also quite inebriated.

"So...you're settin' up a...League team?" Troy asked, occasionally hiccupping.

"Yeah! Da Floatas sed dey wuz all full, so I figured, I's gonna make me own team, an' STOMP 'em all!"

"Hehehe...sounds interesting, Zod, c-can count me in when I'm sober."

"Ahem," Marcus cut in, interrupting their intoxicated chatting. "The DIA's breaking the party up, arresting Cassie for something."

"Ya mean da Agent you wuz snoggin?"

"Shut up. Anyway, they're breaking the party up, we have to get going to our RCs. You loons able to stand up straight, or am I gonna have to drag you?"

"Nah, we're good..." Troy promptly stumbled, but Marcus was able to catch him, using his body to support the drunk Agent.

"Come on, Zodfang and I'll get you to your RC, you're gonna need a boatload of Purple Stuff to shake off the hangover you look like you have comin'."

"Yeah, don't wanna miss da WAAAGH! Do ya, Troy?" Marcus replied to this with a what-the-hell look, only for Zodfang to give him a toothy grin. "Me new team."

"Whatever, let's just go."

With that, Marcus and Zodfang made their way through the disgruntled and cursing crowd of former partygoers, each at one of Troy's sides to hold him up. It'd be a very long while before this party faded from mind.

with no small amount of confusion. She didn't seem to surprised by the DIA's appearance though, especially after her conversation with Kelvin just a few minutes ago. "Well, that was fun while it lasted," she muttered. "Anyone seen my partner?"


Actually, Georgia wasn't too far away, having come over to inspect the commotion herself. "Awww, no more party?"

Kumori grabbed her by the back of her collar. "No more party. Come on, let's get you back to the RC."

"Bleh. Not cool."

She rounded on her partner, who looked like he was about to fall asleep on his feet.

"Lightweight," she chuckled, gently grabbing his arm. "C'mon, let's get you somewhere where you can crash." She turned back to Marcus. "Hey, you should come and visit sometime. RC 825. Promise we won't blow you up." Then she led Zach through the DIA Agents and away.

"He kind of started it, really. We were just having a bit of a laugh, but I think his drink got spiked with something. He started acting a bit odd." She shrugged. "Then he legged it."

She was about to say more, but at that moment the main doors were thrown open and several Agents, all in black with no flashpatches, entered, a businesslike air about them. They made straight for the small group. Cassie gulped as the Agent at the head of the group grabbed her shoulder. "Agent Young, you are coming with us. No, you do not have a choice."

As she was surrounded and handcuffed, Nat butted in. "Oi! What's this about?"

A rather shorter, stockier woman turned and looked up at her. "This is about your partner's little escapade during your last mission. Just be thankful you're not under arrest yourself, Agent Freidar. Or your other partner. Now, if you'll excuse us."

Cassie was led away, but Nat wasn't giving up that easily. She grabbed Kelvin and followed, casting a hasty, "Sorry about this, guys, see you later," over her shoulder.

The handful of DIA Agents who had remained behind began to shoo the partying Agents out of the room. "All right, the party's over now. Everyone back to your RCs."

stepping back just out of reflex when she ended up putting her face way too close to his. That was partly due to her startling him a little, and partly due to not being inclined to deal with being accidentally headbutted or whatever. When Kelvin showed up with a glass he took it gratefully, nodding in appreciation before quickly downing all the contents.

"Eh," he said in response to Zach's apology, seemingly not actually caring that much. "I'm just getting a bit sick of random people trying to knock me over. Why were they poking you to begin with? And who are you, anyway?"

Even though he seemed a bit short when speaking, Marcus' tone carried an amount of humour, as if amused by Zach's plight. He couldn't help but remember being in the other agent's shoes a good few times back in university so long ago.

"Didn't mean don't want sorry!" he babbled.

Sara emerged from the crowd, looking both slightly amused and a little worried. She carried a cup of steaming liquid, which she handed to Zach.

"Drink," she ordered, and he obeyed.

"I'm so sorry," he apologized to Marcus when the cup was empty. "I was being chased by these crazy poking ladies and...well...yeah," he finished unhappily and oddly triumphantly, considering he could now speak in complete sentences. Sara tensed, ready to diffuse another fight.

Cassie and Nat arrived about a second later. They heard Marcus' little speech and hauled the younger man upright very quickly. Nat pulled him a little distance away, while Cassie helped Marcus upright, though she nearly tripped and her face got uncomfortably close to his for a moment, making her blush furiously.

Kelvin, who had spotted the problem, excused himself hurriedly and came hurrying over. "Can I help at all?"

Cassie nodded. "Maybe get another drink for him? Zach seems to have spilled the last one." Kelvin nodded and zipped off, returning moments later with a full glass, which he handed over quickly.

Nearby, Nat was trying to get Zach, who was acting very oddly, to calm down.

Marcus had been minding his own business, thirst mostly satisfied and drink in hand, moving through the party while occasionally dancing or otherwise enjoying himself, though he focused more on getting back to where he'd left Kumori and Kelvin than much else.

Of course, when someone came out of bloody nowhere and smashed into him, knocking him over and landing on top of him, it sort of dampened his mood. If he'd been prepared he might've been able to avoid being knocked to the floor with the other person. However, he'd been taken by surprise, causing him to fall to the floor and the drink to go flying out of his hand, landing on the floor a short distance away and spilling its contents.

That was the third time all party he'd been knocked into and/or bowled over, and once he regained his bearings (though failing to recognise the Agent on top of him) he found his hands clenching into fists.

"I dunno who the hell you are," he said to the Agent, a threatening edge to his voice. "But you have exactly three seconds to get off me, before I kick your arse so badly you'll be in Medical for a month!"

If he'd been thinking a little more clearly, he would've realised this reaction might not have been entirely reasonable, but he wasn't thinking clearly. Instead, all he could think of was that if this person didn't let him up he was going to headbutt them until their teeth fell out. He'd simply had enough of random people knocking him around, whatever he'd said about fighting at the party earlier be damned.

Besides, this guy made me spill my drink.

...frantically trying to escape the two evil pokers that were hard on his heels.

"'Scuse pardon my sorry oops!" he muttered as he dodged other agents. He chanced a glance back over his shoulder.

"Oof!" he yelped as he ran straight into someone. He flailed as he tried to regain his balance, but failed, taking the person down with him.

"S'ry Marcus."

"Did... that make any sense to you?" Nat asked Cassie.

"Um. No?"

They stared at Zach, who seemed to be using the opportunity to escape. They dashed after him. Although they were having fun, they didn't want him to end up getting hurt.

"Not fair tickle poke monkeys drink spiked partner WHY?!" Zach howled through laughter, struggling to break free of the women.

...and then looked at each other for a moment, identical grins spreading across their faces.

"Get him!" Cassie yelled, and charged Zach. Nat was only a moment behind. They pinned him between them and began poking and tickling mercilessly.

...and began poking Cassie as well.

"Two hands for something!" he chortled, but the other two managed to understand his broken sentence.

He backed away from Nat's and Cassie's retaliating pokes, trying to block them and attack them at the same time.

"Bugger barrel two attack not fair!" he laughed, and the two stopped.

"What?"

Zach used their momentary distraction to poke them squarely in the stomach.

...then glared at him. This quickly turned into a giggle as she dodged another poke, and then she attempted to poke back.

However, Cassie had spotted Zach's move, and thought it seemed like a good idea. Nat looked like she was about to get mysteriously angsty again. Grinning her thanks to the young man, she poked the lanky girl herself.

Nat squealed again and tried to bat them both away, giggling.

...Zach was no longer annoyed at his partner for having spiked his drink. In fact, he was having a fantastic time. He noticed Nat seemed a bit forced in her cheer, though, and so did the only thing his loopy brain could think of. He let go of her hand for a moment, then poked her in the side.

"You. Cheer. Happy. Yay?" he chuckled, amused by his own inability to speak in complete sentences.