The series you are using was, quite clearly, either AMG or a similiar series
that utilizes many of the same overall devices. I've been told you are
using Greek mythos, but frankly, I don't see any of it thus far. But, I
really don't see how knowing that suddenly makes Nodoka's string of logic
make sense. In fact, I really can't understand the relevance of that to
anything outside of my comment that too much of Nodoka's 'changes' are
revealed too quickly without real reason for it. Stuff like her kendo style
and mastery of it didn't need to be trotted out right at the start. Too
many revealations(sp) in too short a time frame pushes it solidly into
annoying. It ruins our caring for this character named Nodoka when she's
suddenly revealed to have a billion extra facets that are trotted out one
after another with very little breather between them.
Your logic with the manga characterizations has a few holes in it.
A)Almost every case of mis-conceptions that occur in the manga fall almost
solely under humourous misconceptions. They are done in context of
slapstick humor which lends them an extra range of leeway to get done in.
They are easily ignorable as being stupid actions as they contribute to the
overall humor of it. The ones you are referring to do not fall into this
category at all (at least how you've portrayed them thus far). They instead
just make the character seem completely idiotic. A general rule of thumb
with these sort of misconceptions is that they never amount to anything more
than embarassament and some annoyance. If they do result in something more
serious, than an average reader will analyze the events preceeding it in a
more serious light and will generally find such slapstick logic failing in
context.
B)There's a significant difference from saying: "Hey, in this day/week/maybe
few months a misconception was not cleared up." and saying: "Well, I
somehow have these misconceptions despite marrying him and staying married
to him for 16+ years." One can be played without necessarily casting the
person as an illogical idiot. The other cannot. We simply can't apply the
same misconception rules for Nodoka and Genma as for most of canon. No more
than we'd apply them for Nabiki and Kasumi. They've known each other too
long to make it plausible.
Really, I'd recommend just dropping it. I can't possibly see the overt Evil
Genma as being necessary to the fic at all. Just having Nodoka being
disillusioned with how he's changed would fit it and not require your
readers to swallow this deep and abiding "Genma is a bastard". The
misconception/leap whatever of having relationship troubles with Akane to
evil genma is totally unnecessary and doesn't add anything to the fic that
wasn't already being laid out. A rule of thumb for you: If having a
misconception occur adds nothing to your fic, don't bother with it. Save
the confusion for something that actively benefits the plot and story.
Your cultural analysis is very interesting but it fails one point, Ranma
doesn't treat those trying to 'kill' him that way either and doesn't really
indicate any real concern about it. So bringing attention to something
Ranma really doesn't show much caring about in such a fashion is a bit
silly. And without any setup, it just falls right into feeling like idle
kuno bashing. You could quite easily provide the setup, put a bit of
introspection in with Ranma taking the first instance (the wedding) as an
indication of Kuno being a serious danger. But without any setup, it just
falls flat. Since we have no real indication of Ranma taking one threat to
his life as more significant than another (even with real weapons and just
fists involved), the attention given to it feels awkward at best.
Anyhow, is it important to the story at large to just ramble off moves that
Ranma is doing to brutally send Kuno flying? I somehow doubt it is.
Dracos
A very interesting set of comments, and ones that forces me to conclude
that you have yet to discern which series this story is crossed over with.
If this is truly the case, it is a good reminder to me that even if
something seems painfully obvious to one set of readers, it doesn't
necessarily follow that it will be that obvious to others.
The Ranma 1/2 basis of the story uses the manga characterizations, in which
the cast are all generally fairly balanced with one or more obviously
glaring faults. However, one general characteristic of virtually all manga
characters is their ability to jump immediately to exactly the wrong
conclusion based on a quick initial impression or mistaken idea. I have
used this tendency and strengthening it where needed based upon the
character's actual background or identity in the story.
The Nodoka in this story is a perfect example of this. You have already
noted that her own perception of Ranma does not match the actual portrayal
of Ranma in the first couple of chapters. Does this also not strongly imply
that her perception of Genma is equally skewed? Notice that a scene with
Genma actually in it has yet to take place, and that the story hasn't
portrayed Genma in any light except by his absence or through the
perception of others.
I would suggest you review the section in chapter 1 where Nodoka talks to
Father on the phone. This contains about the broadest hint as to which
major series is used for the crossover. I've made no secret in the writing
that both Nodoka and Mukanjou/Happosai are crossover characters. I'll add
that Nodoka is playing a part just as much as Mukanjou is, and that both
their Japanese names are simply nom de guerres. Furthermore, the meanings
of the Japanese names can be taken as something of a bad joke.
All of your concerns and confusions regarding Nodoka should disappear once
you are able to puzzle out her true identity. She is probably the most
extreme character in the story, but she is actually acting very much in
accordance with her real nature. There are numerous hints as to who she
really is (as well as a few misdirections) and I've taken liberties in
defining Nodoka's family tree, but no more so than was done in the series
the character uses as an origin.
I'll address the issue of Ranma's reaction to Kuno's sword directly,
because this brings up an interesting cultural point. To my understanding,
there is a major difference in attacking someone with a katana as opposed
to a bokken. The amount of physical damage the wielder can actually do with
either is irrelevant, because we're dealing with intent.
When Kuno attacks Ranma (or whomever) with a bokken, he is trying to defeat
him in a Martial Arts fight. How badly Ranma might get hurt as a result is
unimportant, what the intent Kuno is showing is to challenge and defeat his
opponent using his Art. However, when Kuno attacks Ranma with a katana, it
means something else entirely. Attacking with a katana (or other live
blade) shows an intent to kill from the very start. Kuno is no longer
simply trying to defeat Ranma, he's trying to kill him, period.
This is analogous to someone - who normally tried to beat you up with his
fists - suddenly pulling out a gun and start shooting at you. He might or
might not have been trying to kill you with his hands, but you know damn
well he's after your life with the gun.
Does this help explain Ranma's reactions here? Kuno has just added himself
to the list of opponents who are actively trying to kill him - something he
hasn't had to worry about from Kuno before. I'd be rather pissed off
myself in a similar situation.
Thanks for the comments!
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