Family Matters Poll (3): OCs

[akk]

With chapter 15 (after the upcoming Interregnum 5) Family Matters is going into the final hot phase, collecting and -hopefully- tieing all the lose story threats and building starting platforms for sequels and sidefics. I'm admittedly curious what my readers think about the cast of original characters Family Matters acquired so far. Please let me know. :)


[I consider any character not directly part of Tokyo Babylon or X/1999 an original character in this context, even if he or she stars in a different Clamp work.]
[Poll #1151]

Comments

[ranalore.insanejournal.com]

My explanation got too long, and also I wanted ticky boxes for the first question, because I'm crap at total ordering, and I find several of the OCs interesting in different ways. Focusing simply on background for the rivalry between the Sumeragi and Sakurazukamori, however, I decided to go with Chen Yue. It helps that he has such a vivid personality and he's well-rounded.

Especially in comparison, the Emperor's Murderer suffers. Right now, he comes across as very plot-devicey to me, and especially with the revelations of Seishirou's own complex motivations and personality, I can't help but feel we're not getting the whole character when he comes across as flatly evil. I recognize the limitations of the narrative format mean it's unlikely we'll ever get the kind of insight into him that we do into Chen Yue, but it does give me pause and make me feel like I'm being pushed to view the Sumeragi as somehow "lesser" than the Sakurazuka, a blatant manipulation I, as a reader, both resist and resent.

[akk.insanejournal.com]

Interesting. Thank you for answering. :)

No, the EM is not supposed to be flatout evil, but somebody reaching for (and meddling in) power in very unruly times when spiritualists had less of a frame for ethics and more power over the worldly people than they have today. But it's right that he wasn't explained much when he showed up in 36°, due to context limitations mostly.
Actually, I hesitated including him in the OC list at this stage, because his issue hasn't been addressed in FM yet (aside from some quips from the Tree; but the Sakura is hardly an unbiased source when it comes to him) and it's still some time until his case is addressed (either in chapter 19 or 20). I hope the setup I have for him will redeem some of the shortcomings so far. I'd hate to have the fic disbalanced in such an important detail.

[ranalore.insanejournal.com]

I'm relieved to hear you say the EM will be addressed again, because I think you've demonstrated very well that you can flesh him out satisfactorily. The main reason I mentioned him was because I wasn't sure he'd crop up again, and as he stands, he's a weak spot in the story. Knowing his part isn't finished, I'm happy to see how things develop.

[akk.insanejournal.com]

I just hope it won't be too frustrating for everybody to have him resurface after almost 20 chapters and I've got kind of a "bad conscience" for not touching on him at least briefly in between, but there was just no place for him to make an appearance except in a passing thought or casual quip here and there.

One of the reasons for him still "being stored" is that he's going to be a vital proof for the upcoming changes in the way the Sumeragi & Sakurazuka business is going to be conducted; without him, it would be nearly impossible to make certain people see the necessity.

[ranalore.insanejournal.com]

Now that I know you're bringing him back, I can see where you've built up the expectation that he'll become significant in making both clans see some semblance of reason. The Sumeragi, I suspect, will need evidence of their own less than stellar origins in order to stop viewing Seishirou as evil incarnate. The Mori...well, I suspect they're less interested in reason and balance than in keeping control of the power the Sakurazukamori gives them.

I'll have to wait to see if my suppositions are correct, however. *G*

[akk.insanejournal.com]

...if my suppositions are correct

...not quite. The Sumeragi getting a reminder of not being "Clan Perfect" is an extra-bonus, but it is by far not the most important thing to prove at that point. But it needs the events in chapter 15-17 for installing that "thing". ;)

sorry, bad tease author mode auto-activated

[ranalore.insanejournal.com]

Well, I have to assume you're keeping something back, so I can only speculate on what I know, usually focused on which parts of the currently known plot elements are of most interest to me at the moment (it changes ;-).

[akk.insanejournal.com]

Yes, I keep something back. Chapter 15 will have a critical element - the final piece for the puzzle, so to speak - which will serve as a catalyst for all the bits and pieces to come together and form a new complete picture with some dramatical changes for both Sumeragi and Sakurazuka clan / business. But it's a development I can't tell any detail about without making huge spoilers and taking the thrill out of the story conclusion. I don't want to spoil anyone's fun - or the opportunity to go cross-eyed and telling me "now you've gone nuts; that's completely OOC / impossible / moronic / whatever" - with it.

And at the moment, I have another one of those times in which I'm 100% sure that I'll never be able to pull that off, but that's just nerves; so ignore it (I try to do the same).

[corbeaun.insanejournal.com]

I'm not sure myself why I find the same character both the most interesting and annoying. One of the most engaging (to me) part about the story is the underlying back-stabbing office politics that is going on in the Sakurazuka Corp - and it seems obvious given the setup you have for the Corp that Seichan would have someone like Romiro eyeing his back. But there is something about the characterization of Romiro that really gets to me. Perhaps it's the passive-aggressiveness of the man - he's really not all that admirable, even without the evisceration and sacrificial-victim magic. And since I think you didn't write him to be admired, I say your job here is done. :)

[akk.insanejournal.com]

Hm. I wonder if we are talking about the same thing. With "annoying OC" I meant a character who disturbs the reading experience for you and whom you'd like to either have gone or at least decidedly different; I didn't mean an unpleasant or unlikable character per se, since a fic has to have its villains and crooked types.
Since you tell me that Romiro works in that respect - even if you wouldn't invite him for coffee & cookies - I don't see in which way you'd like to have him different. :)

LJ counting - sakurakira

[akk.insanejournal.com]

Most interesting:
Omi Tono

Most annoying:
Sumeragi Hamamatsu - "like a sheep"