do we need to exist after doing our job?

AASBufferFix/AASBufferHelper.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+using ABI_RC.Core.Player;
+using UnityEngine;
+
+namespace NAK.Melons.AASBufferFix;
+
+public class AASBufferHelper : MonoBehaviour
+{
+    public bool isAcceptingAAS = true;
+
+    internal PuppetMaster puppetMaster;
+
+    //outside buffers that dont get nuked on avatar load
+    private float[] aasBufferFloat = new float[0];
+    private int[] aasBufferInt = new int[0];
+    private byte[] aasBufferByte = new byte[0];
+
+    //footprint is each parameter bit type count multiplied together
+    private int aasFootprint = -1;
+    private int avatarFootprint = 0;
+
+    public void Start()
+    {
+        puppetMaster = GetComponent<PuppetMaster>();
+    }
+
+    public void OnAvatarInstantiated(Animator animator)
+    {
+        //create the loaded avatar footprint
+        avatarFootprint = Utils.GenerateAnimatorAASFootprint(animator);
+
+        //previous "bad data" now matches, apply buffered data
+        if (SyncDataMatchesExpected())
+        {
+            ApplyExternalAASBuffer();
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void OnAvatarDestroyed()
+    {
+        aasFootprint = -1;
+        avatarFootprint = 0;
+        isAcceptingAAS = false;
+    }
+
+    public void OnApplyAAS(float[] settingsFloat, int[] settingsInt, byte[] settingsByte)
+    {
+        //create the synced data footprint
+        aasFootprint = (settingsFloat.Length + 1) * ((settingsInt.Length) + 1) * ((settingsByte.Length) + 1);
+
+        if (!SyncDataMatchesExpected())
+        {
+            if (avatarFootprint == 0)
+            {
+                //we are receiving synced data, but the avatar has not loaded on our end
+                //we can only assume the data is correct, and store it for later
+                StoreExternalAASBuffer(settingsFloat, settingsInt, settingsByte);
+                return;
+            }
+
+            //avatar is loaded on our screen, but wearer is syncing bad data
+            //we will need to wait until it has loaded on their end
+
+            //there is also a chance the avatar is hidden, so the animator returned 1 on initialization
+            //(this was only one encounter during testing, someone being hidden by safety on world load)
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            //synced data matches what we expect
+            ApplyExternalAAS(settingsFloat, settingsInt, settingsByte);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void ApplyExternalAASBuffer()
+    {
+        isAcceptingAAS = true;
+        puppetMaster?.ApplyAdvancedAvatarSettings(aasBufferFloat, aasBufferInt, aasBufferByte);
+        Destroy(this);
+    }
+
+    public void ApplyExternalAAS(float[] settingsFloat, int[] settingsInt, byte[] settingsByte)
+    {
+        isAcceptingAAS = true;
+        puppetMaster?.ApplyAdvancedAvatarSettings(settingsFloat, settingsInt, settingsByte);
+        Destroy(this);
+    }
+
+    public void StoreExternalAASBuffer(float[] settingsFloat, int[] settingsInt, byte[] settingsByte)
+    {
+        Array.Resize(ref aasBufferFloat, settingsFloat.Length);
+        Array.Resize(ref aasBufferInt, settingsInt.Length);
+        Array.Resize(ref aasBufferByte, settingsByte.Length);
+        Array.Copy(settingsFloat, aasBufferFloat, settingsFloat.Length);
+        Array.Copy(settingsInt, aasBufferInt, settingsInt.Length);
+        Array.Copy(settingsByte, aasBufferByte, settingsByte.Length);
+    }
+
+    public bool SyncDataMatchesExpected()
+    {
+        return aasFootprint == avatarFootprint;
+    }
+}