On Sat, 26 Oct 1996, Mike W. Loader wrote:

  The thought of Ukyo being cast out into the dark, or worse, burnt at
the stake like a daughter of Satan, as it has been recommended to me
should be done to Shampoo, does not give me pleasure, as it seems to to a
few; but it is hard to see how it might be reasonably avoided. It is not
always appreciated that her desire for Ranma's happiness is not all that
rives her, and that alone will at last bring her down.

"Burnt at the stake like a daughter of Satan"? O.o

   Oh dear...look, let me explain a bit better...
   It has been suggested to me by an anti-fan of Shampoo I am afraid to 
name that she be burnt at the stake. I thought that slightly extreme, as 
I prefer not to believe that Shampoo has sold her soul to the devil, 
though perhaps Cologne has. ( :) ) Nobody, anywhere, suggested burning 
Ukyo, least of all _me_, and whatever Shampoo might be, strike me if I 
ever so so much as suggest that _Ukyo_ is a daughter of Satan.
   Listen; Shampoo and especially Ukyo are many things, but they are 
not monsters (no matter what Miss Seawright says). Both Ukyo and Shampoo are 
meant to invoke our sympathy and do so, and I empathically would _not_ 
wish horrific death or hellfire or hell on earth on either of them in a 
million years. Shampoo is really just a child; she knows not what she 
does. I *LIKE* Ukyo, very much as a matter of fact, and sympathize with 
her a great deal. To see her unhappy (in fan fiction, especially) never 
fails to sadden me.
   But let's face it; the actions of both characters are in the end going 
to drive Ranma away from them, if they continue as they do. They might have 
already done so by their role in the wedding fiasco. For Ukyo's 
inordinate sense of honor and pride (as well as her desire for Ranma) to 
lead her into stupidity and sheer cruelty is perfectly possible, and it 
has happened. It is an occasion like this that might be the last straw. 
Ranma is forgiving, yes, but how forgiving is he? Ukyo cannot count on it 
forever. She has only two options in the end, repentance and reform or 
losing Ranma forever; it may be hoped she chooses the first, but it's not 
at all certain. This is not to say she would anything but heartbroken to 
lose him for good--her whole life has revolved around him in some way, 
after all--but if she insists on having him completely she will soon not 
have him at all. 
   That would indeed be sad. But I sometimes wonder to myself: is there 
any avoiding it in the end? After all, before they marry, it is the 
custom for a couple like Ranma and Akane to dissolve all other 
entanglements that might be interferences, like other lovers.

O.o o.o o.O

-----------------
Coming soon, "The Scarlet Letter"
starring Kuonji Ukyo as Hester Prynne
-----------------

   Hey, I'd buy tickets, if only for the leading lady...:)

*shudder*

Sorry....whole thing sounds a bit steeped in religious oratory....wot with
the sins and pride and lust and all...right up to the stake burning
bit...then it turns into a Nate Hawthorne story....;)

   For the last time, I DON'T WANT TO BURN ANYBODY! :)
   Actually, I must admit that I have a friend, a very devout Christian, 
who wishes me to convert and has encouraged me to read the Bible; much of 
that rubbed off there, and not so much Hawthorne.
   ('Sides, what's _wrong_ with the Old Testament? The old Jewish God is 
much more fun. He certainly has more life; now and again, for instance, 
he gets ANGRY...:) )
   I suddenly thought of Kuno quoting Job or Lamentations at Ukyo, much 
to her annoyance...

Paul Corrigan
budgie@insomnia3.dorms.utoledo.edu
Now, Mr. Biles, you know Ukyo can't go on like she does forever. If you 
didn't you wouldn't have written DnR 19...