At 02:51 AM 6/15/97 GMT, you wrote:

That is the thing about rape: It's the kind of thoughtless, violent act
that can transform someone's life into a living nightmare. It's not a
pleasant reality to face, but it happens. More in the US than in Japan I
would think, but it's reality for all too many people. That makes it a
story worth telling.

I have to disagree with you, Gary, with apologies to Mike Noakes, and
*whatever* track he decides to take with his story.

Mike has set up over 150K of *really* good character development for
both Ranma and Akane, with, IMO, incredible imagery and prose. Yes, 
the story is fairly carefree as serious fics go, but it sets up a very 
strong tension between all the characters. Line after line, Mike delves 
into Ranma's innermost fears and desires. Then, he goes on and does the 
same thing for Akane and Hiroshi to a lesser degree.

After creating this tension between all the characters, he inserts Ranma
and Akane's 'break-up' scene. Ranma, after delving into places he'd rather
not, confronts Akane with *his* wants, rather than just trying to appease
her wrath.

*This* is the story I want to see! What ever Mike decides to do, I would
*much* rather read about the consequences of Ranma's treatment of Akane,
and the changes it forces on Takahashi's story, and his changed
perceptions, than a story about Ranma overcoming a rape or the possibility
of having been raped.

The relatively carefree atmosphere of this story
could be there to show us what was lost.

I just can't see this. I'll allude back to Zen's 'The Bitter End'. Regardless
of the dismal outcome of the story, it's a hell of a read. The difference
between the agony in that, and the agony that I fear happening here is that
the pain and suffering in 'The Bitter End' is implicit in the whole story.
It is the theme of the story. When something like a rape or murder 'just
happens' I feel like it's an 'angst-bomb' thrown on the character for no
reason. Personally, it turns me off of a story. 

No, I'm not asking for a happy ending. You'll have to forgive me for making
guesses about your story, Mike, but I don't *think* that the theme of the
story is going to be rape survival. If not, I don't think a rape is necessary
to the plot. I really do think it's that simple.

If I have ranted, please forgive me.

Chris
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Chris Jones                      hamster@arn.net
The Hamster House of Animation   http://users.arn.net/~hamster
The Ranma 1/2 Gallery            http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/6413
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What do you mean, 'The water heater's broken again'???