Thoughts on the OCC-Assertion

[llybian]

By and large, fanfiction authors try to keep characters well… in character (there has to be a less dumb-sounding way to say that). Sometimes their efforts fail, sometimes they end up basing this “in-character-ness” on other fanfiction which causes character decay, sometimes they don’t even care, sometimes they’re twelve-year-old fangirls who just

Comments

[dqbunny]

Exactly. You write to what you know. My earliest Slayers pieces were done with just seeing the anime. It wasn't until a few months later that I had read the first four novels and saw scans of Aqualord, translating it out for myself. As I've read/seen more stuff, what I know has changed, and so does the interpretation of the characters.

To me, I write based off what the story calls for. There's several pieces that are ground in just the anime canon, and a few more that go off just the novel canon. What the gang knows and how they react are two separate things.

But, I have always found your interpretation of Gourry to be pretty spot on, and it's one of the things that made me like your work to begin with. ^_~

And, yeah, I don't get the nobility thing. There's several stories floating around with that particular line, and it doesn't fit the character at all. I think Gourry has a classic knight's education - he's very chivalrous, good with weapons and knows how to read and write. Beyond that, there's really nothing that points to him being anywhere near say Amelia's class. The Sword of Light would have brought some recognition to the household as a family heirloom - enough to elevate them just above peasants/merchant class - and it was fought over, but yeah, my mind kind of shorts out when it comes to anything high class. Not to say there aren't members of the Gabriev family who aspired for more, but Gourry never struck me as one of them.

[llybian]

True. I think you end up having to do a little picking and choosing to fill in the gaps that either the novel or the anime leaves. And yeah, that definitely changes with the story.

I'm really glad to hear that from a Gourry-fan, because I got paranoid that I was totally off @_@ Maybe that means I can get myself going on writing more Lina/Gourry stuff in the future.

Yeah, that definitely makes more sense to me. I wish there was more of an actual backstory though. I always feel weird trying to ascribe one of my own to him. It's like it never quite sticks.

[dqbunny]

Did you ever read the Slayers Special story "The Things He Sees Beyond the Point of His Sword"? QP-Diana translated it from the Japanese a few years back. It gives a little bit of a back story to Gourry at least. I love all the little pieces done for the cast. Amelia and Zel got their own short stories as well.

And, I understand trying to come up with a backstory and never quite sticking. Even with this theorizing and guessing from interviews and the like, I worry that the one I developed isn't plausible enough.

You're one of the best out there right now, and it's hard to find good Gourry writers that treat the character well. I think you'll be fine writing Lina/Gourry pieces. I look forward to reading them. (And, you got me in the mood to write as well!)

[llybian]

I've heard the summary, but I'd never actually read it. Thanks for the link.

It seems to be easier with some than others. Some characters just seem to defy backstory additions.

Thank you *so* much. I really appreciate that :) (And that's awesome too! Gotta share the inspiration!)