On Wed, 16 Feb 2000, Donovan A Willett wrote:
This is directed at the series in general since much had been writen
long before I logged onto ffml.
Fine with me. :)
Overall, I've really enjoyed this series, and there is little I
would say to change things. But I do have some thoughts/questions about
3 of the cast.
Shampoo:
Any chance of seeing a return, if even for one chapter. Could be
interesting to see how she's changed after Ranma nearly killed her.
Had I been more ambitious when I wrote Taming, I might not have written
Shampoo out quite so abruptly, because I like the character and I miss
writing her. I actually have plans to get Shampoo and the Joketsuzoku
involved in the story again, by having Ranma and Akane go to China; that
tale is taking shape in my head, but it's a long one that I'm not yet
skilled enough to write to my satisfaction.
Perhaps she could be trying to stop one of her tribe-mates who ignores
Colonge's proclamation.
Not a bad idea. Pink and Link also come to mind as an example of what
sort of Chinese influence could make itself felt. I'll brood on that and
see if anything sprouts from the mulchpile of my imagination.
Ryoga:
When are we gonna catch up with the 'epilogue' and see him. Or is
this deliberate?
So far, Centaur chapters have taken place between chapter 10 and the
epilogue of Taming (the epilogue is at the beginning of summer break), but
in a few more chapters (already plotted) Centaur will pass the epilogue,
and then Ryoga will figure into the plots again. Ryoga didn't figure into
Taming at all, but had I known there would be a sequel when I wrote the
epilogue, I wouldn't have excluded him so thoroughly. Retroactive
continuity changes are right out, though. :/
Nabiki:
In your 'alt-future' story Transistions, you hinted that she is in
effect irredeamable as she takes off and forgets her family. I hope
this ain't true, but then again, I am a Nabiki fan. I just think she
needs something to crack through the ice she formed in reaction to her
mother's death. (Yes, I do subscribe to the school that the behaviors
of the Tendo girls are all reflections of how they reacted to their
Mom's death. Nabiki in effect became a bit of a control freak. But
that's just me.)
Actually, my thinking is pretty close to that. Nabiki is still around,
and will be featured in an upcoming chapter. In this timeline, she WANTS
to move out (not least so that she can stop wearing earplugs to bed :),
but there are obstacles... and therein lies a tale. :)
Donovan Willett
btw: One last thing. Kasumi has access to one thing that Taro could
accept happily as a dowery. While Japanesse naming conventions don't
match those of his villige, I'm sure he would be willing to bend a bit
if he were to become 'Tendo Taro.' Not that I'm endorcing or condemning
the match...
I haven't decided about Kasumi and Taro yet either, but that situation is
about to get... um... complicated.
A name that Happosai doesn't have any control over would certainly be an
incentive for him, yes. Even though "Pantyhose" doesn't seem to be his
family name, if he were to be named "Tendo Pantyhose-taro" he would be
addressed by most people (well, the ones who weren't addressing him as
"Hideous-tentacled-monster-san", anyway :) as "Tendo-san", and I think
he'd consider that a distinct improvement.
"Opinions are like.... well, you know the rest."
In this case, they're like seeds, not like fertilizer. :) Thanks for the
comments!
Vince Seifert Fanfic Analyst FFIRC Frog
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Ideas are worth their weight in gold.