On Wed, 5 May 1999, Sebastion Fitsroy wrote:

    "That's my name.  Caravan."  She sat up and stretched.  Kenji 
turned before his eye completely filled with the view.

[Bastion: Okay, Caravan.  Cool.  But if I see her brother Assembly, and 
her parents Crowd and Nomad, I'm outta here.]

(grin) Good call.

    "Very funny," Kenji grumbled.  "Well then, how's 'I've lost 
my mind' sound?"
    Caravan wrinkled her nose.  "Blech.  Too bland."

[Bastion: Welcome to C&C 101 with Matt Johnston everybody. <grin>]

(grin) Once again, good call.

    "Umm..." Kenji looked to the door.  His mother's footsteps 
grew closer.  "Sure.  You're a friend from class, 'kay?"

[Bastion: -who just happens to wearing my clothes and has dishovelled
hair and somehow snuck into my room sometime during the night.  
Innocent enough.]
 

Riiiight.  Suuuure.

The story's inspirations are a fairly obvious, but I think that 
the combination is original enough.  Plus, it's a blast to write, 
and the first thing of quality I've written in two months.

[Bastion: Take Matt C&Cing and cross it with a cute anime female....<wink>]

Ouch. ^_^  But, I (and any author,really) should admit to a bit of SI --
every character has a little bit of me in the mix...

Caravan:  (looking shocked, stepping back)  That's GROSS!
Kenji:  I think he actually meant... never mind.

 Anyway, on to the serious commentary, if you want to call it that.

Sure, why not?

On the whole, I *really* like this.  Having talked to Matt and shared C&C
with him (no bodily fluids, I swear), I am humbled that Matt took the energy
that frustration drains from you and turn it into an intriquing story.  

(blush)  Thank you!  It was a situation I had been recently familliar with
(the writer's block, not the muse falling from the sky thing), and the
story just kind of came.

I must admit, though, Matt has a distinct style of writing which is unique
to him, which I already like anyway, sooooo....

Again, thanks.  Hoepfully my style isn't just a stagnation of progress.

Dialog is excellent as always.
Caravan is overtly cute as she should.
Kenji is as Matt as one could possibly stand <wink>.

Kenji:  Hey!  I don't think I like what you're insinuating...
Matt:  Don't flatter yourself.  You're me.  Kinda.  I mean, as much as any
character.  I mean... IT'S  NOT AN S.I!  HONEST!!
Caravan:  Riiiiight.  Suuuuuure.

My only problem is with Kenji's mother, she seems a little too accepting
and I mean, for cripes sake, there's a girl in his room!  Wouldn't she be
a little curious?

Who says she isn't?  But she's a mother and he's a son, and you know how
it is...  Maybe there was a bad experience she's avoiding repeating.

Either way, it will be interesting to see what happens when Kenji gets into
a love triangle with Tanako (<muttering> Damn it!) and his muse.  Sounds
like Jerry Springer material to me!

<snip!>

It'll be one heck of a ride, believe you me.  Last night, I figured out
the mechanics of muses.  And, to quote cheezy UPN commercials, "you won't
believe how it's going to end!"

Bwa.  Bwa ha ha.

And thank you for MST -- it had me rolling.  Ya yuu betcha. ^_^

--Matt


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   "When I was in school, I cheated on my metaphysics exam: I looked
    into the soul of the boy sitting next to me."  -- Woody Allen
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