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>While the rest of this chapter is exceptional,
>the section where Ranma &
>Tsunami talk feels like it could use some work.
>Shifting the responsibility
>for the assimilation to Sasami was ok, but
>judging by her words you are
>saying that Sasami forced Tsunami to do what she
>feared the most in the
>first place?
>Throughout the section you repeatedly mentioned
>how she was afraid of
>merging, afraid of its consequences. Then BOOM
>she wanted it all along? It
>just sounds wrong.
>Tsunami has had years to think about what
>happened. I think her explaination
>could have been better.
It could be clearer most likely, but after rereading the
passage in question, I think you've skimmed past one
critical point: Sasami didn't want an early assimilation all
along. Sasami didn't frontally think this through that far
and bring pressure to bear on Tsunami -- my impression of
that situation from the OAV's is that Tsunami would know
when the time was right and everyone would have to live with
that. However, Tsunami felt compelled to act just by Sasami
being depressed and by projecting forward to a possible
future state for Sasami.
The idea flow is straightforward:
Sasami as future assimilated goddess was afraid of
being alone because no one would see a "person".
Sasami already knew of one who could see through
that: Tenchi.
Aeka and Ryouko were starting to make some
time in terms of a relationship, and it looked
as though Tenchi would soon be off the market.
Ergo, Sasami wanted Tenchi, too, but was fairly
certain he wouldn't be available once she'd
grown up/assimilated. This was beginning to
depress her. (Note: This does not state nor
imply that she was pressuring Tsunami for
an early assimilation.)
Tsunami grew worried over the depression,
understood Sasami's reasons, and then
decided to forestall any further mental/
emotional anguish (and any attendant
problems that might have caused for both
of them in the future) by giving Sasami
the opportunity to pursue Tenchi through
assimilating with her earlier than
expected. To assimilate early was purely
Tsunami's decision, but one, given Sasami's
state, she felt compelled to make.
The way I see it, Tsunami was in a bind. Sasami was growing
depressed over the possibility of not having a chance at the
one man she felt could love her for herself, and the
depression was slowly increasing, even if not readily
apparent to those around her. Since they are joined,
Sasami's needs have considerable clout, and Tsunami felt she
couldn't ignore what this might do to Sasami.
I'll grant you, Tsunami only laid out the bones of the
situation, but I don't think the scene would have tolerated
a lengthy discourse. Also, I sense from your comments that
you feel something was left out of the explanation. What?
Thanks for the public commentary, CWL.
Yours,
*******************************************
D.F. Roeder
FanFiction - http://home.flash.net/~dfroeder/index.html