David Andersson wrote:

Avenging
   

Act II, Chapter 8
Dating Professional Wrestlers is Like
Porcupines Mating

'...is like trying to copulate with a porcupine'
instead perhaps? 
 

% If it's two porcpines mating, it's even more potentially painful. :)

Then again given that I did some wrestling myself I
might have to get offended. :D

It should be noted though that champion (real)
wrestlers are some of the most dangerous one-on-one
fighters on the planet. Easily eclipsing Karate or
Judo and even coming out ahead against boxers in their
own weight class.

Btw: Come to think of it, if you can create a truly
horrible fanclub team called 'The Offenders',
comprised of goofy characters, like the Great Lakes
Avengers, Speedball, Grizzly and Gibbon that'd be kind
of fun. :)
 

% Gibbon the Monkey Boy shall be appearing next chapter.

Midnight had fallen at the Tendou household, but the
   

darkness held no terror for Nabiki Tendou, who was
having difficulty sleeping. Insomnia was a problem she
suffered from occasionally, but the solution of a
little warm milk was only a refrigerator away. That
was why she was on her way to the kitchen in the dead
of night.

The above column might be a tiny bit convoluted, but
I'm not very finicky. 
 

% It needed rewriting.

It was also why she spotted the intruder. She only
   

caught a fleeting glance of the person silhouetted in
the doorway of the bathroom before she entered it,
darting out of sight, but that was all Nabiki needed.
No redheaded girls had any business intruding in her
domicile. 

If she only glimpsed the silhouette Nabiki would
likely not notice a red shade of hair. Our colour
vision is virtually non-existent in dim
light/near-darkness. It may be better to simply note
that she saw a small female body frame. If not now, it
should be shortly obvious that it's Ranma anyway.
 

% Yeah, Will modify.

The little thief would learn what it meant to try
   

and poach on Nabiki Tendou's turf. While she might
have hated martial arts, she wasn't above using them
when the situation called for it. 

She should usually go to lengths in trying to make
someone else bleed for her in handling it though.
Nothing gets her in a good mood as much as watching
some personally set-up potential bloodbath from the
sidelines.
 

% But she might steal something of Nabiki's, or something valuable. And 
she has enough confidence in her abilities that the fight shouldn't take 
much effort.

Kicking the crap out of sneak thieves breaking into
   

one's home was an ideal time to employ them.

Well, the thing is, Nabiki only gets into personally
threatening situations when she's made a planning
mistake. Othervise never. It's 'beneath' her. Then
again she may not think an ordinary thief would pose
enough of a challenge to be a threat. Overconfidence
is another of her vices.
 

% That and Nabiki is territorial in this.

Using her inherent sneakiness, in combination with
   

her martial arts talent, Nabiki skulked silently to
the door. 

I'm not sure she's sneaky in the ninja way as much as
the underhanded one. They're different things. 'Her
inherent predatory bloodlust' instead perhaps? Like a
large feline which 'play-stalks' some helpless prey.
 

% Turns out when she applies herself, she can be quiet sneaky as well. :)

She pressed her ear against it. It wasn't as good as
   

using a glass, but it would do in a pinch. It wouldn't
do to walk into a trap, even if she could fight her
way out of it.

Yup, this is very in-character, though she recurrently
makes serious miscalculations as well. Being a
psychopath doesn't make you a genius, it makes you a
manipulative, sadistic, back-stabbing, underhanded
cheater. 

It makes you more ice cold-blooded 'rational' about
the few aspects people usually handle with their
conscience, which some of them wish to tour as
'enlightened visionary genius' thinking, but it's
really a different thing and rather banal in itself.
 

% True, but she is only seventeen and has a high degree of confidence in 
her abilities.

Through the wood Nabiki could hear water running.
   

Perfect. If the girl was next to a faucet, it meant
her guard was down. Though what sort of intruder used
a bathroom before stealing things?

Attacking from behind when the opponent isn't ready
seems very ic as well.
 

% She mentions this later.

Ranma stood there, tilted bucket held over his head,
   

dripping wet. As one would assume, since he was in the
process of cleaning himself, he was naked. Very naked.
And facing Nabiki, giving her an ideal view of
everything nature had provided the very, very perfect
specimen of the male of the species.

You may do an unconscious pick-up from fanon
Mary-Sueisms here. Ranma was neither supposed to be an
epitome of virility nor particularly attractive
(beyond being fit) in the actual manga. Then again the
heavy character distortions swarm the place so much
that it's hard for most to keep track of what's 'real'
and what isn't anymore. Then again, he did get that
'super-soldier' serum, which would create an awfully
bad pun if you wish to use it. ;)
 

% Yeah, the SSS is what makes him so big and physically perfect. Not so 
much drop dead gorgeous but very physcially healthy.

Her eyes were still widened in disbelief as she
   

headed to her room. Ranma was a hunk of beef in every
sense of the word. Every derogatory term about endowed
men went through her mind. She decided none of them
really did Ranma justice.

'Derogatory term'?
 

% Should have said vulger.

When Nabiki eventually drifted off to sleep, she had
   

very pleasant dreams indeed.

But Nabiki was explicitly shown to be too much of a
cold fish to have any natural interest in romantic or
erotic pursuits, except to heavily use her extreme
attractiveness (and possibly sexual favours since she
was intended to reflect the nastiest aspects of
japanese youth and this is a specific common trait to
their culture) to exploit others. 'Nabiki Tendou has
no maidenly feelings' I believe Takahashi said in the
Kasha-Oh story... 

Then again, that quality in itself would make her an
exceptionally suitable and sexy version of Mystique.
It'd be fun to see the sheer manipulative havok she'd
gleefully wreak if she woke up and discovered that her
mutant ability had activated. It's supposed to happen
in their teenage years so why not? :) 
 

% Here she has some romantic feelings, as mentioned the first time she 
saw Ranma. Not they control her, though.

The now clean Ranma flopped onto his mat. "I beat up
   

some idiot called the Gamecock. He was dressed like a
deranged chicken. I recommended that when he
eventually gets out of jail he should go after
Daredevil, since most loser super villains seem to
gravitate to him."

Touch�. Then again you could introduce Bullseye to
compensate somewhat. Is there any suitable anime or
manga character who's good at aiming?
 

% Bullseye will appear early in Act III.

"No, I'd say that's something fairly unique that's
   

happened only to you," Genma admitted.

Well, there's the Spider-Man/Aunt May situation. That
should come close.
 

% Aunt May wasn't vehement enough to form an organization bent on 
driving Spidey out of the business, though.

how. And he had to come up with something. He wasn't
certain going to Nodoka and admitting failure was
better than her actively trying to smear Ranma's name.

Why do I have the feeling Genma's version of a
solution will be to organise a kidnapping of or other
'threatening situation' for Nodoka, which Captain
Japan can 'save' her out of?
 

% Heh. It's an idea he would come up with all right

 


night snack. I thought I heard an intruder and ended
up accidentally barging in on Ranma in the bath. Let
me tell you something, he could have a great career in
the porn industry. Most mules would be envious of
him."

Trying to make the other sisters interested or played
as an unexpected impulse to talk openly?
 

% Little bit of both.

"It was probably bigger. That was him at
   

'half-mast'," Nabiki clarified, placing the zucchini
to her lips and began playing with it.

'Super-soldier' or no (Wouldn't it be fun if that was
the originally intended use of the serum and the other
enchancements were side-effects?) he'd have a really
hard time to do battle without a heavy suspensoar if
it was _that_ big. Then again. it'd make a fun
explanation for why Nodoka and parts of the public
hates him if he runs around with an large, unavoidably
lewd, armour piece apparent at the crotch section of
his costume. I dare you to use that explanation. ;D
 

% Heh.

Kasumi answered. "Good news, Father. Nabiki is
   

showing an interest in Ranma."

Kasumi may be very observant (going by the 'New
Fianc�e' story) but as far as I'm aware she's morally
far above outright manipulation.
 

% She's had whole new doors open with her. For one thing, she now enjoys 
the idea of inflicting violence on deserving people.

about there being more to men than their physical
attributes. Of course your mother used to be very
impressed with my own--."

Eww
 

% The girls reaction as well.

 


saying you have to make a decision now, though you
would do the family a great honor if you did," he said
in a filial way. "But it's only fair that you go out
with him since your sisters already did."

True, which sort of makes it odd that this scene would
be neccessary to force her into it. Or am I forgetting
something?
 

% She doesn't really want to be fair, else she wouldn't have forced her 
sisters to go out with Ranma in the first place.

"There are no buts," Soun said in the same tone he
   

had when it came to Nabiki learning the art.

Which I still think she should be considerably less
skilled at. Akane was the surprisingly big talent of
the family (world class until the inhuman guys came
along all at once) not Nabiki. Having some knack for
thinking stategically in manipulative ventures doesn't
automatically extend to fighting. 
 

% True, it doesn't mean she's bad at it either.

Not to mention, no matter how good an expert you are,
in most fights it's very hard to do anything else than
just trying to avoid getting killed by straight
avoiding and attacking (agility, reflexes, body mass,
leverage, strength and skill vs. that of the opponent)
when you only have milliseconds to spare. Possibly you
can try to get the high ground or a tool if you get
the time. Real life street fighting isn't Street
Fighter the game after all. 

Espionage, infiltration, chaos-mongering, subtle
thievery, manipulation and seduction would suit her
really well though, so I still really like the
Mystique idea. :)
 

% No. She's not Mystique.

"Done," Soun said. "I'm certain once you've spent
   

some time with him, you'll discover he's a nice young
man."

She shouldn't care if he's nice or not, except that
it's usually easier to abuse good people than evil
ones.
 

% But he thinks if she finds him nice she'll change her mind and want to 
marry him. This is Soun we're talking about.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Nabiki shot her sisters mutual
   

glares that promised revenge at some point in their
lives. Neither backed down, returning the stares,
indicating there were no neutrals in the fianc� war.

Akane more glowers than stares and frequently sizzles
and smolders on top of it. Likevise Kasumi doesn't
stare, she radiates tranquility, flowers, kindness and
good intentions. ;)
 

% Since her transformation she's lost a good bit of that, enough that 
Happi had no problem attaching himself to her.

 


concentrate solely on the object of her own
affections. Kasumi was a bit of a problem, of course,
and it would be preferable if Ranma chose her, but it
had gotten to the point where Akane would take any
victory she could have.

I don't think she'd be deluded enough to believe
Nabiki and Ranma would actually hit it off. She should
at least know her sister better than that, but then
again she's a bit desperate.
 

% Hopes springs eternal, and as long as Ranma ends up with someone else, 
that's what matters.

Isn't it about time she gave up on the doctor anyway?
 

% No, she's more fixated on him here due to her injury and that she gets 
to be his nurse/receptionist.

"So, my dear, what are your feelings about Hydra?"
   

If she were truly perceptive enough to read people's
inner character she wouldn't think Akane was Hydra
material in the first place. It seems incongruous to
her objective, so you may wish to scrap the 'as though
she were looking into her very soul' bit and replace
it with something in the vein of 'thoroughly
scrutinising her appearance at a very discomfortable
level'.
 

% She's not actually reading her soul, it just seems like it.

A shift to current events? The woman was a strange
   

one. "The terrorist group?"

What, no suspicions?
 

% No. This is a humor oriented bit.

Mrs. Ono drew back, horrified. "Bah, that's just
   

mindless propaganda spouted off by corrupt
organizations like SHIELD that are run by
anachronistic fossils like Nick Fury, who should be
assassinated immediately!" Mrs. Ono's calmed down and
composed herself. "What I mean to say is Hydra has
done many good things, such as empowering third 
world nations."

 

Akane stared at her in bewilderment. "Empowerment?
   

They sell arms to dictatorships and terrorists."

Well, technically so have goverments of the US,
France, Russia, China etc, sometimes setting up
dictatorships in the first place or starting wars and
serious unrest if it was of some personal financial or
political interest, so it's not like they're much
better. Still, isn't Hydra supposed to be a
neo-fascist organisation? By Ms.Ono's description they
sound more like crazed anarchists.
 

% The ulitmate goal is world domination, and destablizing the world is a 
step in that direction.

"Fledgling governments often go through a brief
   

period of civic unrest after overthrowing corrupt
regimes that are established under the guise of 'free
elections.' 

Heh. I liked that bit. Nice way of saying 'We didn't
like who they elected so let's call anyone anathema to
our personal agenda corrupt and put our own 'virtous'
man in place.'
 

% Actually it's more like we want the most disruptive elements we can 
find in charge.

 


it in the first place.

 

Mrs. Ono continued watching Akane closely. "What
   

about the inroads in bio-technology Hydra has
accomplished?"

...In the name of warfare against innocents. Never
mind that any major researcher will tell you that most
major new scientific breakthroughs can't be forced,
they have to be nurtured and inspired. They can
however be helped by heavy financing, which wartime is
'great' for.

 

Akane's bewilderment doubled. "Like what? The Death
   

Spore Bomb?"

Ditto
 

% She's not making a good case for Hydra, no. Civic improvements they 
are not known for. No matter the spin she puts on it.

"The Death Spore had many practical applications. And
   

it wasn't like they didn't have the cure as well."

*Facefault*...I'm sure all the victims will be very
relieved that the instigators of their deaths had all
vaccinated themselves...
 

% Ditto above.

Akane couldn't come up with a response to that, since
   

the only practical application it had been used for
was for Hydra attempting to blackmail the world with
it. Luckily all the existing material on it had been
destroyed with Hydra Island, or so SHIELD claimed.

Is this an indication that all WMD research papers had
been confiscated for use by SHIELD? That could be an
interesting development later on.
 

% They destroyed the island it was located on. Luckily it was shielded, 
so the explosion consumed everything inside the dome.

world by overriding every computer system on the
planet."

Did this happen during a chapter of your story I've
forgotten or was it off-page?
 

% Off page. Also some of Hydra's more notable accomplishments, though 
Quasimodo was actually the Mad Thinker's creation in Marvel mainstream.

 


man,

...Which is awfully thick-headed of her, with all the
above clues.
 

% Again, this is for humorous effect. Hydra is not the effective 
organisation it was. Neither is the Hand under Onosakmaru.

That seemed to please the old woman. "I see, I see.
   

Tell me, what are your feelings regarding the
organization known as Hydra?"

Oh come on! Akane has to catch it now. :D Then again
she never caught P-Chan, but at least Kasumi was shown
as observant, if rather passive. 
 

% COuld be the old bag is senile as well. :)

"The terrorists?" Kasumi said with excitement in her
   

voice. "They deserve to be blasted powerfully and
repeatedly for their numerous crimes. The Avengers
should be the one's to take them down, especially 
the Wasp. She'd enjoy stinging all of those bad people
as punishment for the awful things they've done."

...and Akane doesn't notice this either of course.
She's turning annoying. :D
 

% Not likely Akane would accuse her sister of being the Wasp. It's silly. :)

"It better not take too long. We have a match for the
   

tag titles tonight at the Tokyo Dome and I don't want
to be late," Mio said.

Shouldn't famous wrestlers be hard to use without
people recognising them? Also, from which anime(s) are
you picking the Grapplers? I'm not recognising the
names.
 

% Air Master. Mio and Kai were the women's tag champs. The original 
Grapplers were wrestlers that operated without masks as well and it 
didn't bother them.:)

Titania snarled, "Just because Kai and I are
   

professional wrestlers that take long showers
together, washing each other's nubile bodies, 
lathering each other up, especially our breasts, does
not make us lesbians!"

Well, it might make you bi- at least... ;) Seriously
though is it my imagination or is there a recurrent
theme of homo- or bisexual people in denial in your
stories?
 

% It's all a misunderstanding. :)

Btw: Just how young is Letha supposed to be? Is
Titania supposed to have pedophilia-tendencies or does
her colleague just look younger than she is?
 

% Kai was in her early twenties late teens. About Maki's age in AM. Mio 
was noticably older, and her mentor in the ring. Kai was also the far 
better of the pair.

"Nope, no luck with men lately either," Poundcakes
   

finished.

Were they afraid of getting killed in bed?
 

% Heh

"I won the Miss Big Hips contest last year,"
   

Poundcakes said proudly.

Why would anyone hold that kind of contest? :D
 

% Hey, it was in the anime. :)

"Who do I have to kill?" Poundcakes was all but
   

frothing at the mouth.

Desperate is she?
 

% Just a wee bit.

"Makes me want to switch back, or it would if I was a
   

lesbian. Which I'm not. I'm just in touch with my
masculinity," Titania said.

Heh
 

% But she is straight. Really.

"Excellent," the Imperial Hydra said again. "I'll
   

arrange an omiai. He must not discover your
affiliation with Hydra. Tell him you're a personal
physical trainer for Multi Headed Serpent
international. That way he won't suspect a thing."

Funny :D
 

% I actually mentioned them using the MHSI name in the first chapter of 
Act II. Legally a connection has never been proven, but everyone knows 
who's reallly running the show there.

"I hear he's been doing that a lot lately," Titania
   

said. "Probably getting old."

Given that even the ordinary members notice weakness
of leadership will we ever see a takeover attempt by
Viper, Von Strucker, Zola, Zemo or the like?
 

% Von Strucker is on Hydra's 'To Kill' list since he was overthrown. I'm 
thinking of having a running gag of Madame Hydra's constantly being 
killed as they attempt to overthrown the organization. usually in an 
offhand manner despite their competance.

Tofu held his hands to his head in misery. Kasumi had
   

come by yet again, which would have ordinarily sent
him into a joyous delirium. Only the problem was she
had come to 'talk shop'. Superhero talk, to be
specific, a topic he wanted nothing to do with. She
had even shrunk down to Wasp size, which she felt was
more 'in tune' with the nature of the conversation.

It's all like a little woodland adventure to her...
 

% Heh. Sort of.

 


she ever did was talk about superheroing, 
fighting tactics, which villain she hoped they would
fight next, and what costume she should wear to their
next Avengers meeting. It was troublesome, and heaped
a world of pressure on his shoulders. He wanted
nothing to do with dressing gaudily and beating up
people that needed therapy, not bludgeoning.

Well, the delirious and confused ones do (though in
worst case they may need some hitting before being
sent to the psych yard). Others are just plain bad
seeds. There's a strong difference between out of 
control madness and true callous, calculated,
egoistic, sadistic and malevolent evil. 
 

% In his eyes, people are just misunderstood of have issues: true 'evil' 
doesn't exist.

% Hey, some people are very big proponents of that perspective.

 


off liquor for the rest of his life, only to repeat
the actions the very next weekend. Still, he had 
chosen to stop his drinking after graduation, only
occasionally tying one on from time to time. It was
periodic, and he hadn't touched a drop in well over a
year. In fact, he had only kept the flask around out
of habit. But now� Well, one drink wouldn't really
hurt.

Are you pulling a Tony Stark on us? ;)
 

% Could be. Pressure is starting to build on the poor boy.

For a moment Tofu almost snapped back, then he caught
   

himself and his temper. He bowed his head
apologetically. "Please forgive me, Mother. It's been
a long day."

Very proper upbringing or fear of some specific
repercussion?
 

% Proper upbringing.

ke throwing up, despite only having three
   

drinks. It was a child's worst nightmare, the meddling
parent who thought they could arrange their
offspring's life for them. He had to act fast before
it was too late. "I don't need--"

As I nderstand it, in Japan they're actually not
neccessarily seen as something negative for the
involved parties. More like a series of active dates
for trying to find someone compatible, with family
helping to weed out unsuitables. Couples often end up
very happy through them as far as I'm informed and
given that only 23% or so of our weddings hold out,
who are we to tell them our way is always working
better?
 

% True, but he has his eyes on someone and doesn't want the interference.

 



away everything he bought her right before his eyes.
She could make him see a bunch of 'chick flicks'. She
could fake being a lesbian. No, that wouldn't work.
He'd probably ask if he could watch 
her with another woman.

I'm not sure Nabiki could do �ber-kawai. The 'Why are
you so mean? - Do you hate me so? - I've always loved
you - Please be nice' angle yeah, but Azusa- or
Mihoshi-style... Oh well, I remember some scenes from
the fianc�e arc, so perhaps it's within her
repertoire?
 

% She's going through the possibilites, not necessarily saying they are 
good ideas, just that she's considering her options.

Nabiki returned the cold glare. "Since no one else
   

has ever thought about me, I guess the task falls on
my shoulders. So yes, I do."

Not true originally and the spiral in that direction
is due to her own doing after people learn to know
just how twisted she really is. She doesn't care about
being evil though. She sees it as practical, so well
played ic here.
 

% But she sees it that way due to having to learn the art and being 
considered marriage material for Ranma.

Akane hadn't thought her sister would be so unabashed
   

in admitting it. 

Truly irredeemably evil people frequently tend to
become extremely proud of those qualities, so why not?
 

% But it was just an admission of self-centeredness on her part due to a 
feeling of alienation. Quite normal for many teenagers.

 


teach him, but his physical superiority in every other
aspect made up for that difference.

Actually I think Genma would kill Ranma in seconds if
he ever used his Yamazen-ken, Umisen-ken and
Happosai-level skyscraper-sized battle aura completely
seriously. Though those are mostly killing techniques
far beyond Ranma's personal power-level so Genma can't
use them in sparring for fear of his son's safety (and
an inate severe laziness for original Genma).
 

% Something I might not have made clear early on is that we're using the 
Marvel level of martial arts. Meaning Shang-Chi and Iron Fist (sans his 
Iron Fist) are near the top of the game when it comes to that. Herb 
could use chi because he was part dragon. Otherwise IF's fist would be a 
high level chi technique, and even then only brought out due to slaying 
a dragon.

 


ister so she doesn't do anything she'll regret later
on in life." She looked Ranma up and down for a
moment, then a grin crept across her face. "Why don't
you come along?"

Why would she be concerned about anything Akane does?
How does she figure this might mess up her plans?
 

% Because she does care about her sister, as much as she denies it.

Poundcakes began sweating profusely. She wasn't used
   

to undercover work. Stomping on things with the
cybernetically implanted vibratory devices in her legs
was more her style. She decided to change the subject
before she ruined everything. "Did you know I can
crack coconuts with my thighs?"

Making men fear for singing soprano is not the best
way for a woman to get into a guy's pants. :D
 

% No. She's not good at this at all.

 


etting Ranma know Akane was interested in someone
else. He might suddenly get some stupid 'noble' idea
about standing aside and leaving the fianc�e matter
down to her and Kasumi, and Nabiki would have none 
of that.

...Since Kasumi has a history of instantly seeing
through her schemes and thus turns much harder to
cheat, fool and manipulate to her advantage.
 

% True.

"Akane is perseverance personified once she fixates
   

on something."

Well she gave up on Tofu in the manga, but yeah she
maintained the very stressful 'Achieve perfect grades,
become a martial artist father will be proud of and
try to simulate Kasumi as a higher ideal, all at the
same time!' philosophy for many years, so she has
endurance that's for sure.
 

% Yep.

"Been on lots of stakeouts," Ranma said
   

absentmindedly.

Just stakeouts for potential criminals or helping his
father with thievery as well?
 

% Actually Genma remained pretty on the up-and-up in this universe due 
to the little promise Nodoka extracted from him.

"I'm Cap--." Ranma bit his tongue. "Ranma Saotome,
   

and I'm cohabitating with that girl."

Bad choice of words. :D
 

% Yep. There's a lot of that going on.

Nabiki brushed her hands casually. "Geez, Ranma, who
   

taught you to fight? Always go for the cheap shot when
it presents itself. Letting someone know you're around
like that is practically begging to get your 
ass kicked."

Well, it doesn't risk to qualify as outright
assault&battery and is considerably more honourable
than just hitting someone with an iron bar from
behind. It's unwise to let the bad guys get free licks
in on the other hand. You'll have to make an
evaluation depending on the situation. In this
particular case I'd say Nabiki made the wise choice.
 

% Yes, but not for long.

Offended, Ranma said, "Sometimes you can defuse a
   

situation with words instead of resorting to
violence."

Yes, about half the time. I've managed it quite a few
times myself, but Ranma's got too bad luck with timing
and isn't good enough with words to accomplish it.
 

% Yep

"Well� I� that is." Once Ranma thought about it, he
   

realized he could never remember a time when he had
defused a situation with talk. It always ended up
becoming a fight.

See?
 

% But he's a good guy. He's supposed to try and talk them out of it. It 
says so in the Hero's Handbook. :)

Nabiki smirked, openly confronting her opponent. "Now
   

that you've stepped into better lighting, I see you're
a lot older than I originally thought."

...Baaad choice of words. I realise you may be using
the 'Get them so mad to make them careless' clich�e,
but in a pure fist fight you're usually just giving
the opponent an advantage by making them less
restrained, more motivated and adrenaline boosted
strength, speed & reflexes. Also if the provocational
party looses they might get crippled or even die. 

Also, Nabiki only gets into personally threatening
situations when she's made a planning mistake.
Othervise never. It's 'beneath' her. This seems even
extremely ooc for the manga Nabiki, even with some
ongoing unenthusiastic martial arts training. You
might want to tone down the headless bravery angle.
That's more fanon than canon.
 

% She couldn't let Akane get the crap kicked out of her, though.

Nabiki's smirk doubled. "Looks like that outfit has
   

some pretty good push up action, old lady. You can
hardly detect that sag."

Get prepared to have your own boobs pounded into putty
after she's through with you...
 

% Well, she does win in the beginning.

Letha held a hand to her head. "Try not to kill her.
   

It would draw unwanted attention to us."

How about torture?
 

Letha: That too.

 


e's finished with you," Letha explained. "You're
getting off lucky. She had a thirty once for someone
that was a lot less offensive than you. Of course that
was from a guy. She really hates it when guys rub her
wrong."

Militant lesbian?
 

% No. She's straight. She just doesn't do a good job of broadcasting it.

Titania rubbed at the spot Nabiki had kicked,
   

surprised to see her still moving on the ground. "Not
bad, kid. Not many can stay conscious after receiving
the most lethal clothesline in the business. I
developed it after getting hit on by one too many
drunks at a bar. They *never* get up. And now." She
lifted the nearly unconscious Nabiki up by the back 
of her neck holding her high up in the air. "Let's see
how many bones I can break with the 'Mortuary Slam'."

Her neck? Ah one can hope at least. ;)
 

% Face actually.

Just before she could bring Nabiki down into the
   

concrete Ranma grabbed her by the arm that held the
middle Tendou girl. Using his superior strength, he
forced Titania to release Nabiki, who was barely able
to break her fall. She crumpled into a ball on the
ground, holding her neck and gasping for breath.

Too bad.
 

% Now, now. She's self-centered, not evil.

nma could feel the joints starting to give. He only
   

had seconds before this deceptively strong, and
durable girl, did dislocate, and maybe break, his arm.
Using every ounce of strength he had Ranma once again
brought the girl up off the ground, the move hurting
doubly so since he had to use the arm she was in the
process of breaking. Rather than bringing her up over
his head, he swung her back, then forward.

Well, he gave her free time to maintain the pressure.

 

This time he swung her like a bat headfirst into a
   

telephone pole. 

Well, finally.
 

% And there you have it. It just took time for him to resort to it.

Yes, Tofu knew exactly what she meant, and it was all
   

he could do to keep from throwing up. Instead he took
another drink. Six total in the last hour, and he was
starting to feel it, though not enough to 
eradicate the annoying cow before him.

Well, he was always friendly towards the tomboyish and
rather violent Akane, so I'd think he'd be a little
more tolerant towards unfeminine women. 
 

% He wasn't forced to go on a date with Akane because of his mother and 
had a lot to drink on top of it.

 


in the side. A blow like that delivered from an
ordinary person would have been annoying, but since it
was backed my cybernetic vibratory circuitry, he was
hurled through the air, and then a wall. He went
sailing into the kitchen where he wiped out ten
dinners about to be served up, as well as a souffl�
that the chef had cooked to show his staff how one was
properly done. He didn't get up.

If Ranma's as weak as Captain America in your world he
should probably be dead.
 

% Cap has taken blows from superhumans before and bounced back. And 
Poundcakes isn't in the bench press 50 tons or anything the way Mr. Hyde is.

There was resentment in Tofu's voice as he spoke. "I
   

just can't respect someone whose first response is
violence. I want a girl who's gentle and nice. Who can
remain calm and levelheaded through any crisis. One
who would try to solve things peacefully. Frankly, you
aren't even remotely the sort of person I'm interested
in. You're more suited to be some 
senseless super-villainic brute."

Rather perceptive for a character in this story ;)
 

% If inadvertent.

Now tears flowed freely down Poundcakes' face.
   

Bawling her eyes out, she ran through the opening made
my Letha and Ranma, never looking back.

Why so sad? It's not like she didn't know her career
choice previously.
 

% Her date publically rejected her. And he was good looking too.

"Never!" Akane said. "He was on a date with Nabiki
   

and I sort of ran into them and we made it a
threesome."

There are lots of slips of tongue going on :D
 

% Heh

"I was in a threesome on college once," Tofu said
   

dreamily. "Fraternity prank. Although I wasn't in the
fraternity. It was one played on me. My ass was sore
afterwards."

Ewww

 

"I got drunk and rolled down a hill, ending up with a
   

bunch of scrapes with cinders in my backside. It's a
long story. I'd better go help Ranma."

Aha, but then why did he mention a threesome?
 

% He's deleting a lot of information due to his drunken state. It would 
make sense otherwise. Really. :)

"I hope I don't. She hits hard for an old hag."
   

How old is Titania anyway? 28-35?
 

% Hard to say, other than an adult who was older than most of the cast.

 



Pretty good chapter. About average for this series,
but imho a little better than the last. I'm looking
forward to reading more of them. :)
 

% This one was a little slower than the others, but necessary to 
continue things. Next one is the all out battle chapter that ends the 
arc. Should get started on it next week, I hope.

%Thanks for all the help. It's appreciated.

DB Sommer

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