Private replies only!  ^_^

Well, okay.  I've posted two chapters of Muyami Academy, and the third
is in the hands of my two clever prereaders, but...

I've recieve a lot of comments from people who just can't swallow the
idea that Ranma has avoided hot water for four weeks.  Really, it
doesn't seem unreasonable to me... aside from a hot shower in the
morning, I don't encounter hot water in any amount during the day, and
when you're out camping or hiking, as Ranma and his father were doing in
China, you just don't have a lot of hot water handy.  I think if I were
writing anyone other than Ranma, this wouldn't be an issue.

Still, whether I find it realistic or not, it's becoming increasingly
clear to me that quite a few readers don't, even when they like the rest
of the fic.

I was going to bug my prereaders about this, but they've suffered enough
in the last week, so I thought I'd waste everyone's time by begging for
help right on the FFML.

I DID mention to reply privately, didn't I?  ^_^

Option 1:  I could probably ignore the problem, since the whole thing is
resolved by chapter three, and most people, if they read that far, will
probably forget about it by the fourth or fifth chapter.

On the other hand, it wouldn't take a lot of rewriting to insert some
alternate explanation for how the curse works, or why hot water hasn't
worked so far.  It would only take some foreshadowing in the first two
chapters, and then rewriting some scenes in Chapter three, which I guess
I'm going to rewrite anyway, thanks to T.H. Tiger.  ^_^

Anyway, I've only posted two chapters, and if I'm going to change
things, now would be the time.  That's what the FFML is for, after
all -- to get feedback on how to make your story better.

Option 2:  Redefine the curse.  The problem is that no particular ideas
spring to mind.  Since I have yet to show anybody transforming back from
a Jusenkyo curse, I can redefine it however I want -- but I don't want
to make it permanent, and I do want it to be something that can happen
by accident.  I'm still pretty partial to water, really -- it makes
things easy on the author, and allows for a lot of different situations.

Option 3:  Insert some condition which keeps Ranma from transforming
right away.  I guess that would have to extend to Genma as well,
although it's probably easier to believe that a panda, living outdoors,
has yet to encounter hot water.  I have no ideas here, either, but it
would definately have to be foreshadowed in the first chapter.  It would
be nifty if it were something that links in with the Tenchi Muyou mythos
or, or the Mamano Hunter mythos, or even the Inu-Yasha mythos.  Is it
too much of a cliche, thought?  I mean, a ring or hair ornament,
something to tie back the pigtail, or possibly a mark, tattoo, or other
such mystic symbol/relic picked up in China... or even something Ranma
ate, or something out of the old pressure point lore... any ideas?  What
would be most believable?  I don't want to alter the story too
drastically.




On a completely different note:

I will introduce Ryoga and Ukyo to the story in the next couple of
chapters.  Ryoga, in this universe, did not follow Ranma to China, and
was not knocked into the pool of drowned pig.  However, it's still
possible that he and/or Ukyo have both been to Jusenkyo, and may be
cursed.

Question:  Would you rather see Ryoga still turn into a pig?  If not,
what would be a good alternate?

If Ukyo transformed, what do you think she might become?


I'll give credit if I use your idea.  Thanks.


And PLEASE!  Private replies only!  ^_^

Miko!

On the field, Kasumi and Akane were sitting up. Their father hovered
over them, tears rolling down his cheeks and dripping from his chin.
"Kasumi!" He exclaimed. "My poor Kasumi! Tell them you'll forfeit!
Please!"
"Dad?" Akane asked. She glanced over at Kasumi, and froze.
The person next to her wasn't Kasumi. It was a young girl with short,
dark hair in a page cut. She wore a light yellow dress, and she was
looking very confused.
Akane glanced down at herself. She was wearing a red silk Chinese-style
top, and black pants. Her chest was flat and muscular. She reached
behind her head, and found the pigtail that she knew was there.
She glanced back at the girl next to her... at herself... at Kasumi, in
her body.
With Akane's voice, Kasumi said, "Oh, my!"
(Ranma 1/2:  Monkey Head Butting)

Nausicaa@sprynet.com  Belldandy@angelic.com
Anime RPG at http://come.to/akane/
Fan Fiction at http://listen.to/bell/