Date forwarded:   Sun, 15 Jun 1997 19:17:59 -0400

From:             JLGauntt@aol.com
Date sent:        Sun, 15 Jun 1997 19:03:05 -0400 (EDT)
To:               fanfic@fanfic.com
Subject:          Re: [FFML] [Fanfic][Ranma] Choices: The Party
(Complete Draft) Forwarded by:     fanfic@fanfic.com

No, I'm not asking for a happy ending. You'll have to forgive me for
making guesses about your story, Mike, but I don't *think* that the
theme of the story is going to be rape survival. If not, I don't
think a rape is necessary to the plot. I really do think it's that
simple.

Even if he does decide to take the story ahead in that
direction, given what he's written so far, the theme would not
really be rape survival as such.  The classic rape victim has to
contend with feelings of helplessness and permanent uncertainty in
the nature and intentions of those around them.   For quite some
time, the rape victim's perception of all interactions with people
will be affected by the mass of negative experience gained from that
single explosive incident.

But... from the description presented thus far, any sex that occurred
(and the description was nebulous enough that I'm not sure it
necessarily occurred) was not brutal and Ranma was not placed in a
situation of helplessness that was not of his own making.  So, the
result would not necessarily be that Ranma would begin to be
frightened of the people around him. The more likely outcome here is
not an 'angst-bomb', but rather the further chipping away of Ranma's
sexual identity (already nicely explained thus far through Ranma's
gradual revelations to his classmates as his inhibitions were eroded
away by the alcohol).

I think you've hit the nail on the head here with your analysis. I'm
pretty sure that Mike's story does deal with rape.  However,
considering how he's handled the theme of the story so far -- which,
as you pointed out, is Ranma struggling with his insecurities over his
sexual identity -- and taking into account the depth and sensitivity
Mike has displayed in portraying the story thus far, I think it's safe
to say that the continuing theme of the story is not going to be about
the rape itself, but rather with Ranma's continuing struggle with
further infringements and violations on his masculinity.  Now I don't
know if this qualifies as an "angst-bomb," but that doesn't really
matter.  

As it stands, and as I see it so far, this whole story is full of
angst.  This story shows Ranma in a different light than he's usually
portrayed.  At this party, he is completely surrounded by "normal"
people.  There is nary a shape-changing martial artist among them.  No
squabbling fiancees vying for his attention, no rivals trying to kill
him...  This factor in itself magnifies the inherent strangeness of
his existence.  Ranma is an oddity among his peers, and as such can
never truly fit in.

This is definately not a happy fic.  The main theme seems to be
Ranma's angst and insecurity over his masculinity, emphasised by
the viscious fight scene between him and Akane.  If Ranma was
raped, and I believe this to be the case, then it is an occurance that
fits with the theme of the fic.  I wonder how will Ranma deal with
this -- if he even realizes what happened, that is, since he was
pretty far gone.  His inhibitions may have been lowered while he was
drunk, but once he's in full possession of his faculties again, I
think his macho arrogance will return with interest, since that's his
usual defense mechanism to any perceived threat to his masculinity. 
And what about his relationship with Akane?  I think Akane may suspect
what happened, considering the state she found him in.  How is she
going to handle this, with her anger towards Ranma over the fight
warring with her ever-present underlying concern?

Anyway, I can't wait to see where Mike takes this story, rape or
no rape.  He certainly has shown the ability to portray the Ranma
characters with depth, compassion, and realism.  So if he does decide
to tackle the sensitive subject of rape, I'm sure he will do it in a
manner that will probably surprise all of us.  "Ranma gets raped"
stories may have been done before, but, in my
never-to-be-humble-opinion, they've never been done with Ranma's
character so well-developed.  And I wanna see where this goes.

Krista