On Tue, 17 Jun 1997, Mike Noakes wrote:

	Well... this is a fairly old debate, I think, and I never really 
intended to start it up again.

Sorry.  I didn't mean to bring it up, either.

I agree - in some ways, the more serious, 
or darker if you prefer, themes feel alien when applied to the Ranma 
universe.  That's why I really enjoy a good, funny fic like The Nameless 
Sequel or the classic Life's Dulse Moments.

Although the light hearted and funny ones can be very enjoyable, I have
noticed that dark ones have also been just as enjoyable.  It is just the
manner in which it proceeds that sometimes seems to be, for lack of a
better term, OOC.  Both charcter-wise and universe-wise.  For instance,
"Bitter End" was a very nicely done fanfic that dealt with very sadly real
situations.  It depended upon certain character developments that,
philosophically, were very possible although many might say that Akane's
character was OOC.  It _was_ OOC with regards to Takahashi-sensei's design
of the Ranma universe.  It might not be OOC with regards to real life.

	However.  That doesn't mean these topics should just be ignored.  
I'm kinda glad Takahashi never addressed them in Ranma 1/2 - but I can't 
agree with the second half of her famed quote.  Maybe that's why I poked 
fun at it <shrug>.  But the way the story - the world - the characters 
are set up, it's almost impossible not to consider some of the further 
possibilities, from a character dying to, yes, the possibility of rape.  
Serious themes are at times hinted at in both the manga and anime - some 
of them were bound to arise in fanfiction.

I agree that there are many events that can happen.  Death - a certainty
for all of them, regardless of the timespan they live.  Marriage and
progeny - very likely.  Murder - possible; retaliation - very likely.
Suicide - possible depending upon who and why.  Rape - possible.
Accidental death - possible.  etc.

It just seems that rape and certain other... events are more a violation 
of the characters that we have come to know and love (or despise, 
depending upon who it is) than a development of the characters themselves.
While it is true that there can be much character development as a result,
such an event is harder to... accept.

So, while I will respect your right to create and write what you will I,
like Jospeh Palmer, will just choose to not continue to read the rest of
this otherwise excellent fanfic if it continues down the current road.

	All I can say is that I have no intention to stop the character 
introspection and interaction, which, judging by the response, is what 
most people prefered.  I'm glad!  That's what I like writing.  For all 
it's worth, I don't consider myself a writer of darkfics...

I am very happy that you will continue to write.  The introspection and
interaction was very nicely done and I like them very much.

Best of luck!


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