At 01:10 AM 11/19/97 -0600, you wrote:
So far, I like how it looks. There's one big pitfall (actually, a pair of
pitfalls) I would worry about, though. When you set up a character as
potentially powerful as this one is, you've got to tread carefully or
else you're going to upset the balance of the established world and
characters -- and that's especially true when you try to bring him into
the universe shortly before or during the events covered in the actual
series. For example, if he's given a vision of the future's important
events, why didn't he see Galus's motives in getting the Eye unsealed...
or if he did see them, why didn't he alert the Princesses? That sort of
thing. It's the kind of line you'll have to tread carefully (IMHO) if the
story's going to succeed.
Actually, I think (hope?) I have that bit figured out. One, his power is
currently erratic, and I'm currently changing a vision or two of his so that
he has to figure them out. Two, each of his dreams involve him, he can't see
events that he won't be around when they occur (thus he would not see Gallus'
plotting).
Also, who's to say that he didn't know about certain events occurring,
but chose not to reveal them, or perhaps helped move them along (if Gallus
doesn't screw around with the Eye of God, then Ifurita won't come to Earth
and send everyone to El Hazard, so he wouldn't then be able to stop Gallus.
Result: paradox [and I don't mean some shoes here])....
Then there comes the time when his power gets boosted/altered, which
puts him under even more limitations if anything. I think (in my hubris)
that I have a good grip on keeping Hayashi from becoming too powerful.
I still think you have to
tread carefully with trying to weave a character like that into the
already-shown plotline; there's a lot of places where one could trip up.)
That's the part I have to worry about, making sure anything I write
doesn't contradict the series (more than that though, for it to fully work,
it should actually complement the series, enlarging the background of the
world).
The real hard part is classifying it. ;-) Is it a new character 'fic?
In a way yes, and in a way no. Alternate universe? Only if I screw up.
Doesn't fit in the series either really, since most of it takes place
outside of the OAV's (once I get to the time where Makoto and co.
arrive in El Hazard, there's maybe one or two scenes left really. After
all, the basis for this character were only referred to in the beginning,
never seen at all.
I have to walk the line between life and death on this one. Only
then can I perform the Amekakeru ryu no Hirameki!
(Sorry, watched the Kenshin vs. Soujiro episodes again, and can't get
them out of my mind. Rurounin Kenshin=good! watch it! now! now!)
Apologies, it is late, and I should leave sleep soon.
I would like to thank you for your comments, which I find helpful,
and for the reply-- always encouraging.
As a side-note, I'm about one third of the way through a re-write now, and
if it continues as it is, should add on another 50% to the length.
Matthew "Shortfics are a way of life" Lewis
maybeso@ican.net
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The Second Question:
What happens when you win?
When your enemies are at your mercy: how will
you act then? Compromise is the temptation of the
weak; this is the test for the strong.
What are you going to do?
-Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses
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