From:        Takashima Ishido, geist@holly.colostate.edu

On Sat, 10 Aug 1996, Monica Dobrey wrote:

How much more could the Dirty Pair "Grow Up"?  They're already adults in
thier late twenties / early thirties.  And with the exception of the MASS
DESTRUCTION that seems to follow where ever they go or Kei's gun fetish,
they seem to be pretty level headed (or as level headed as two opposites
like them could ever get).  What more could you want?

Having spoken with the man himself on this subject, I can say that he
*does* have a good line on this, IMHO.  You see...in his POV (Prof, sorry
if I'm steppin' on your toes here, :) the MASS DESTRUCTION that follows is
one of those things which they never take accounting for.  Imean...yeah... 
they get some bad press...but nothing *serious* ever happens because of
that bad press. And as such..it continues..and continues. Just 'cause
someone's got the years, doesn't mean they've got the wisdom, too.

That's pretty much it. There are two aspects, really, as I see it: from 
outside, they never have to face anything stronger than a few people who 
are scared by their reputation; and from inside, they rarely seem to show 
any sadness or remorse for the people who get caught in the crossfire. 
(Their reaction to Deitrich's death in _Flight 005_ is about the only 
example I can think of in the movies, which are the only DP I've had a 
chance to see -- other than one or two of the fansubbed TV episodes, at a 
convention 8 to 10 years ago.) In short, they almost never have to face 
the consequences of their missions. I mean, even if they *are* always 
cleared of responsibility by the Central Computer, I find it hard to 
believe that they don't face some public pressure to tone things down -- 
and there have been a few cases (like their leaving the bomb behind to go 
off, in the opening sequence of _Project Eden_) where they haven't done 
all they could have done to prevent catastrophe. 

So, part of the idea for my story is forcing them to face those 
consequences. Make them see the results of their actions, and bring it 
home to them in a way they can't ignore. I just hope I can pull it off. 
<nervous look>

With apologies to The Professor. :)

None necessary. I think. :)



Travis Butler
(The Professor, formerly of Myth and Magick!, Lawrence, KS;
 tbutler@tfs.net, now from the Wandering Powerbook;
 <http://www.tfs.net/personal/tbutler/>;
 Mac page <http://www.tfs.net/business/tbutler/>)

...Cats are the proof of a higher purpose to the universe.