In the interest of saving bandwidth and my own sanity, I've combined 
several messages about my fanfic and replied to them all here.
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From: gaffney@iconn.net

Seriously, you seemed to have misnamed the character of Ryouga
in your fanfic, who bears no resemblance to Ryouga in any Ranma
story by Miss Takahashi.

True enough. My only defense is "I did warn you before the story started."
But if you pause to think about it isn't *that far* from the way 
Takahashi characterized Ryouga. I was interested in exploring only one 
or two aspects of Ryouga's character so I exaggerated those and ignored 
the rest. You'll notice that no mention of curses, fiances, pigs, etc are 
mentioned. Ryouga's depression and his problems with women are the only 
aspects from the Takahashi version of Ryouga left, and those are blown way 
out of proportion. I have a hard time thinking of Ryouga as a sexual 
predator too, but ...<shrug>

Its also interesting to note that I did exactly the same thing with 
Ranma's character in 'Dropping Anchor.' I exaggerated his need for 
freedom and fear of being trapped into something and ignored the rest of 
his character. Completely OOC but interesting none the less.


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From: "Kergma, The Chaotic Trickster" <kergma@sv.net.au>

The story appears to happen after Ranma is married (to Akane?), a point 
where most authors assume that all the petty rivalrys die down.  Heck, 
hes friends with Kuno.

Ranma and Akane are married in the story. I believe I mentioned somewhere 
in the message before the fic that this story took place in the same 
world as my other story, 'Dropping Anchor.'  Read that one if you want to 
learn why they got married and the consequences that results. Its a dark 
story too, much like this one where characters are OOC and act like 
assholes. Don't say I didn't warn ya. 'Dropping Anchor' is on the remailer.

It is a *possible* interpretation of Ryouga's personality, esp given the 
spectre of AIDS (which ain't a pleasant subject period).  I'm quite sure 
that someone could quote a section of Ranma 1/2 where Ryouga acts in a 
similar, shall we say, spiteful method.

I'd like to see it if anyone could come up with proof of Ryouga acting as 
extreme in the manga/anime as he does in this fic. For some reason I just 
can't see it.


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From: "Mr. the Rutsch" <jdrutsch@ucdavis.edu>

Ms. Takahashi makes Ryouga petty, irresponsible, and spiteful.  He's 
tried to kill Ranma innumerable times, and he initially tried to kill 
Ukyou just for being Ranma's friend.  Mr. Crewson makes Ryouga petty, 
irresponsible, and spiteful.  He's tried to kill a number of girls (or at 
least give them AIDS), and he almost kills Miyuki for giving him AIDS.

Petty, irresponsibe, spiteful, and I might add extremely depressed, are 
exactly the things I took from the Takahashi verson of Ryouga, but you must 
admit that in this story those characteristics are blown WAY out of 
proportion. 

The darkness and the differences from RT's Ranma didn't come from poor 
characterization, it came from taking things seriously.  Perhaps treating 
the violence as real, rather than cartoonish, is non-canon...but it's 
not bad, it's just another perspective.

Now that I think about it, you're probably right about this. I didn't 
plan it this way, but it definitely ended up. Treating it seriously is 
really the only way to handle kind of subject and it does effect the way 
the characters are portrayed.

...my gripe is that 
Ryouga seems too base to do something as subtle as sleep with girls 
after breaking the condom...

I dunno. Maybe to subtle but it definitely makes for a more interesting 
story, I think.

Not one to review.

I disagree, as with most of the "Classic Reviews" choices, but 
unfortunately other people have different opinions than me ^_^.

And I disagree with you... :-)  I'm hoping that the story will just be 
quickly forgotten and not brought up again. But that's just my opinion...


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Only other comment Zen has to make is that he's glad that Kun-chan is on
holiday...  Zen doesn't want to be in the same -star system- when she reads
this!  ^_^

I know. I know. It was pure coincidence that I wrote and posted this story 
while she is away, but I'm not complaining. With any luck the discussion 
on this fic will have died down and everyone will have forgotten about it 
by the time she returns. If no one spills the beans, so-ta-speak, I'll be 
safe.... :-)

Go. Write something lght now, eh?

Oui. I think thats exactly what the doctor ordered...

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
  Mark Crewson <mcrewson@mts.net>            http://www.mts.net/~mcrewson