FMP: A Dancing Very Merry Christmas Discussion *Spoilers*

[Geshron Tyler]

How far Gatoh takes the series depends of course on how large a scope he
wants the series to eventually have. We haven't really seen much of what's
going on in the backround, reaction from the world at large to the incidents
we've been a witness too. We don't know how large Mithril actually is, and how it might fit into the geopolitical structure of the world that it takes place in, or if the author even intends to develope the story to the point that it matters. I mean, for one thing, we never saw any reaction of Kaname's family to the highjacking incident- It might be believable for japanese readers to assume that her father is so tied up with his job that he'd only make a phone call (if that) off screen, to find out if she's okay, but certainly hard to comprehend otherwise. Also, the fact that Behemoth recently (only a few weeks or months must have passed, storywise) stomped through parts of Tokyo hasn't had any noticeable effect beyond that. Certainly, we've seen the story mostly through Kaname's, and Sousuke's eyes, and they wouldn't necessarily have been in a position to notice anything going on at the governmental/military levels. We have gotten glimpses of the Mithril high command, and the liason trip Kalinin took to the american task force at the time of Danaan's sea-jacking, so it's
possible we'll get to see Kaname's adventures playing out some on the world stage.

[pseudo-chan]

What is crucial to remember is that Gatou is in love with his own characters; that’s why he’s doing tons of spinoffs. He can’t write enough about Sousuke&Kaname. If we suppose that they started off with some kind of relationship, he would be able to explore a whole new set of spinoffs, set after this incident.

Well said.

Sometimes, I can't help but think that Gatou himself is writing fanfics about Sousuke & Kaname when he writes his novels (i.e., the novels ARE the fanfics). Like his stories have this sort of fanfic-ish quality to them. (Not that it's a bad thing!)

Either that, or there's just a lot of good writers in this fandom.

[AEmer]

Precisely Pseudo-Chan! - it's like he's just sitting there, having the time of his life as he's writing it. That is perhaps part of the reason I brought up Mark Brandis - his novels have that same quality.

It's as if the both of them have these vivid imaginations where they just capture the most classy parts within little bubbles, and then try to build stories with that. It results in an unusual but really cool sort of 'drive'..

In reply to Geshron Tyler

Quote:
"
How far Gatoh takes the series depends of course on how large a scope he wants the series to eventually have. We haven't really seen much of what's going on in the backround, reaction from the world at large to the incidents we've been a witness too
"
You have a point - if he wants to continue the story, he'll have to keep providing background information, and the story just won't be nearly as believable if he doesn't eventually answer some of these questions... So that may eventually be what limits him from taking it further, but I don't think so. I think he'll keep on coming up with believable solutions to these questions; he doesn't _have_ to create an epic universe right from the get-go, he can just make up some parts as he goes along.
Like I said before, my biggest fear is that he goes in to over his head - he's still very much developing his writing style, the difference between DHMC and ODBD quite visible. I've confidence in him, though.

Honestly, what's important about fmp isn't the backstory, it's the characters and their settings, so I believe that will be his main focus point untill the end of it; IOW, I don't expect him to go Tolkien on us and create several novels of pure background information.
But we'll see.

[Weltall Elite]

I suspect that this Leonard arc will probably end with a kiss. Maybe not them becoming a couple, but probably a kiss.

In ODbD I picked up on some foreboding. Not so much Leonard kissing her, but what happened after that. Kaname dwelled for a bit on her regret over passing up the opportunity to make something happen with Sousuke and how things might have been different if she'd kissed him when she was cutting his hair.

She tried to make up for that lost chance by going after Sousuke, but then chickened out again. I felt that the author intentionally created an issue to be resolved later on. And I think it's one that, in terms of climactic developments I think he'd want it resolved while Leonard is in the picture (or immediately after he leaves it) since he was the one who spurred the issue in the first place. Call it my sensitivity for balance in the universe. :p

Now she's been kidnapped and yet another opportunity has been lost. If this is the final showdown, I don't think she'll miss this opportunity.

Anyway, that's my personal speculation.

[AEmer]

Yeah, that sounds fairly probable.

There are numerous times in these past 4 novels(eg: the last of the anime, where Sousuke makes her cry) where it's obvious she's caring for him - and then, there are all the times where her thoughts are never written out completely, thusly indicating something remains hidden...

It's only truly revealed as she's punching the water-tank and thinking to herself 'If only I'd used that oppertunity to say 'Sousuke, let's kiss'' - but now, that had been forever stolen from her by Leonard'.. It's definately unfinished business.

[sj4iy]

The end of DVMC, all of chapter 5, has been released in Boku-tachi's channel.

[Weltall Elite]

SWEET!

[Weltall Elite]

SPOILERS!

Aw, Sousuke. So close, and yet so very, very far. He chickened out at the last minute EXACTLY the same way she did in the last story. Oh well. At least we know that both you AND Kaname are bumbling cowards. Better luck next time. :p

Nice gift though. Unforunately, he didn't have it mounted as a piece of jewelry or anything, so it's basically a big rock. She won't be able to take it anywhere or do anything with it. But somehow I'm thinking it'll factor into the plot later. Maybe she can use one of her hardcore softball pitches to hit Leonard in the head with it. I think that'd be something of a poetic irony.

He is starting to loosen up though. Thumbs up, and making jokes, and almost getting his groove on. Now we just need to get him to laugh and do the Hustle.

[Rhys]

Bah, my comp doesn't seem to like IRC for some reason. Can't get it to allow me to use it
I hope it's not much longer before I'm able to read it. Weltall Elite's spoiler has got me excited to finish the novel.

Ah, but then, the sooner I DO finish DVMC, the longer I'll have to wait until my next FMP novel fix. ><

[Geshron Tyler]

Spoilers

What the heck is Kalinin meeting with Leonard in the bar supposed to mean? Kalnin seems to have been on a covert Internal Affairs mission (they got Mr. Zinc, an aide for a Mithril (?) Admiral while the Pacific Christmas thing was going down. He remarks that Leonard could have prevented Mr. Zinc from being taken out, whereupon Leonard says, this way they didn't have to try to kill each other. And then they toast each other. Okay.... I'm full blown gonzo confused. Anyone else? It looks like Leonard may be playing his own game, ie. using Almagam for his own purposes. Maybe he's on a deep undercover mission? Harris gives us to believe that Almagam is large, and has more resources than Mithril. That could mean that Mithril was created after Almagam came into existence, indeed as a counter to it.

It certainly is also quite a coincidence that Kaname and Tessa have the same birthday. Now we need to know what Leonard's birthday is, and that of the whispered we saw briefely, getting rescued in Russia. Certainly, it appears that Almagam has a set of characteristics they can use to target potential whispered, or else the Pacific Christmas wouldn't have been used as a mobile laboratory.

Another thought- Tessa's father was involved in the commercial maritime industry (probably responsible for DeDanaan's construction, or at least the inception of the program), and I wonder if there was some contact with Almagam then, which could have lead then to Mithril.

If Sousuke couldn't tell Kaname of his true feelings, he certainly told Tessa
(poor girl), so unless the Captain is going to be stubborn about it, Kaname
won hands down. It was interesting, how Tessa mentioned how drawn she was herself to the life that Kaname represented the key to- being able to step out of the regimentation of military life and duties, and be free for a while. It's a shame that from what we know of the next novel, Tessa won't be crossing paths with Kaname for a while. I would love to see a sort of sister-in-arms relationship develop between them.

[pseudo-chan]

*impatiently waits for an HTTP version, and flops around like a little kid wanting to use the bathroom*

I love how Sousuke is hiding behind that tree in the forum banner. XD

[sj4iy]

Leonard and Tessa are twins, so I would assume they have the same birthday.

[Weltall Elite]

Twins? I was always under the impression that he was older. Hmm...

But I guess I shouldn't speculate on age anymore. It seems that Kalinin really IS in his mid-40s, but just looks like a grizzly old man.

As I said before, Tessa really got screwed in this story. I felt bad for her. But that's how it goes, I guess. She should have seen it coming, being the supporting cast and all.

[Geshron Tyler]

I always thought Leonard was older?? I somehow got that impression, but if they are twins, then of course he and Tessa have the same b-day. It could still be a strange coincidence, with Kaname's b-day. It does look like the story is getting some more esoteric tones though, if the 24th is significant.


@Pseudo-chan

http link to the .pdf file
here http://www.ruinevil.com/boku-tachi/

[Weltall Elite]

Well, I hope the whole Christmas Eve date doesn't become TOO crucial to the plot since the manga already used the date and has moved on.

If Sousuke arrived in April, and the story is now at late December, I wonder if Gatoh has plans for Valentine's and White Day. Or maybe even New Year's.