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INTRODUCTION
This is more of an essay-type thingy then anything else, and it includes spoilers for the first three acts of Sainan no Kekka, philosophies on Gundam Wing, inside the writer's head (be afraid) and some general kookiness. I'm insane- please don't hold that against me. ^_~ Nothing in this is required reading for fans of SNK, but I've always found it interesting to get into the writer's mind and see how their creative process works.
While writing this epic, I've discovered some interesting things about myself as a writer, and about Ger as well. Ger seems to think primarily through music (he uses it to structure a lot of the story around- evidence by how the Acts are named, and the excerpts from song that begin each scene). When I write, I see the plot as a tapestry, and each of the characters as individual threads- HOW do they all fit together is the question I most frequently ask.
This contains my POV, and no one may agree with it- primarily Ger! We have some VERY different opinions on the characters, which is why some of the plotlines are compromises. I welcome commentary from other people.
HOW THIS WHOLE MESS BEGAN
*points at Gerald* HE started it!
Actually, I did.
Gerald and I met through Fushigi Yuugi fandom a while ago, particularly through Moonsong, who we each affectionately call "neesan". Aside from the fact that I rather frightened Gerald with my naturally mercurial nature, we got along well, and it we began to toy with the idea of writing a fic together.
But what?
Both of us were moving out of the FY fandom. One day we got into a discussion on the lack of GW fanfics that had wanted we wanted- namely, a serious fanfic that was non-yaoi, non-romantic and cannon. A fanfic that explored the series after the end, but ignored the fluff that people call Endless Waltz (yes, I've seen it, but then I've also seen Star Wars Episode I- doesn't mean I'm proud of it).
I mentioned a concept I've been toying with- throughout the entire series, nothing is really known about how the common man views the pilots- we get a tantalizing glint when Noventa's shuttle is destroyed, but aside from that, little is done. All you get is "Gundam da!" and the fear-filled faces of whatever faction the pilot is up against.
So what happens when the truth is revealed?
As SNK proves, very little good. Sometimes secrets are meant to be kept.
HOW WE WORK
Ger and I have pretty much split up the characters- he writes for Heero, Wufei, Zechs, Noin, and Relena, while I write for Duo, Quatre, Trowa, Sally, and Hilde. We've each taken turns with the others... Keep this in mind when you read this essay-type-thingy.
Together we IM each other every evening, sometimes about SNK, often not, Still, we bounce ideas off each other, and have a rough plot sketched. We couldn't tell you EXACTLY what will happen when, but we have an idea. When a new idea presents itself we have enough freedom to explore it...
It's fairly easy to tell who writes what if you know Ger and myself- Ger is the angsty one, and I can't RESIST going for the sarcastic joke. Yes, I think Rukimo Takahashi is one of the funniest people to walk the planet, and sometimes that all-out bizarre humor shines through.
THE POLITICAL SITUATION OF AC 197
Ger for military, me for politics.
That's basically the breakdown of the SNK storylines.
In AC 197, the World Nation is the leading force- consider it like a strengthened United Nations. Underneath the world Nation exists many original countries, each sovereign. The Cinq Kindom is there, and we're going to assume that Luxembourg is as well, and possible the remnaints of Great Britain (the Prince of Wales is mentioned as an attendee of Cliffside Heights). Aside from that, very few actual COUNTRIES have been defined. Many of the countries are starting to be fused into this world-collective, and losing their sense of cultural identity- this will be important later on.
The factions of the war- Romefeller, White Fang, the Federation and Oz have all been disbanded, but the people remain. Some of them even remain in power. The names change but the faces remain the same, and all that. The Colonies themselves are currently self-governing, and while they are not part of the World Nation, they ARE involved in a very loose confederation. The Colonies lack strong leadership, much like Earth. Most of the leaders were killed during the war, along with some of those with those young men and women with the greatest potential.
THE CHARACTERS OF GUNDAM WING IN SAINAN NO KEKKA
Have I told people that I don't think any of the SNK characters are completely all there? Some of their insanity is more blatant then others, but...
Heero Yuy/Wing
Heero is one of the most complex characters in a show that specializes in them.
One of our readers called Heero a "kamikaze", and I really think that's appropriate. Aside from the suicide pilots that Western minds immediately think of, "kamikaze" refers to the "heaven sent winds" that have protected Japan in the times of war. He is a force of nature, a creation that is not entirely of this world- he descends from heaven.
Now wasn't that rather poetic?
Heero is a study in extremes- always has been, always will be. No matter what he does, he's driven by a perfectionist streak. If he can't be the perfect soldier, then he's going to go to another extreme. Many soldiers burn themselves out after a war (statistically speaking, most manage to adapt, but the ones that are screwed up are REALLY screwed up), and Heero has followed that route. He can't cope with his memories- he got royally screwed up by the Zero System. The others believe he mastered it, but that's not true. No one ever completely masters their nightmares, and that's EXACTLY what the Zero system is. The creation of nightmares.
Heero's fried. What brain he had is so shorted out from drug overuse that his memories aren't there anymore. He can't even remember anything beyond being "Wing".
And yes, minna-san, there IS a story behind the scar- it ain't just paint.
Relena Darlian Peacecraft
Relena still hasn't grown up.
Period. End of sentence. That's all she wrote.
Actually, it's not. The Relena of Gundam Wing fanfiction is portrayed as immature psycho bitch stalker. We acknowledge that she is immature, but she's not a psycho... well, no more than any of the other GW character.
Relena has always had things go her way... aside from the death of her surrogate father. She's never really had any situation NOT turn out to her satisfaction (with the exception of Heero- but I'll get to that in a minute). She gets to keep her much-beloved ideals of absolute pacifism (only through the intervention of warriors), she gets her brother back, she gets her Kingdom to grow the way she wants to, and she's one of the most beloved rulers in the world. She has POWER, baby, and knows how to use it.
Heero is the one factor she cannot control- and it infuriates her. Like a child, she wants what she cannot have, and it shows that she hasn't yet gotten to the point where the real world has dawned on her- the harsh realities of life haven't come home to rest.
Duo Maxwell
Duo is my favorite character to write for- not necessarily my favorite character, but he's fun and I understand him the best. How frightening.
Can someone please contact the nearest Mental Health office on my behalf?
Duo is the pilot who has moved beyond the war most, with the possible exception of Trowa. He has started a new life, though not entirely of his own free will.
The things that tie him most to the past are memories of Hilde, of the war, and the sense that he's never quite found a place to call home. The three months he spent with Hilde had a profound effect on him, but he doesn't understand exactly what that effect was. He loves her, but cannot be with her. Hilde and Duo's relationship is an interesting parallel to the Noin/Zechs relationship.
Duo went to the trouble of finally setting up a real identity, which is how he opens the act. He obviously believes that the war is over, as he uses his real name. Interestingly, this is the first time "Duo Maxwell" has ever been found in any record.
Hilde Schbeiker
Hilde, too, wistfully remembers the past, but is a strong woman in spite of it. She's very much in love with Duo, knows it, but continues to move on with her life in spite of that fact. She's much like the Noin we knew through the series, a strong woman who will do what is best for the man she loves, no matter what it costs her. Hilde does not depend on anyone, and I think she's the strongest character (at present) in the whole story. She has her ghosts, but she's coped with them. She remains hopeful for the future, yet is willing to roll with the punches. She's the best-adjusted character.
Needless to say, I'm fond of her.
Trowa Barton
Of all the pilots, I think that Trowa is both the most predictable and unpredictable- at the same time.
Trowa, like his sister, is exactly where he wants to be. For the first time in his life, he knows contentment, and he has no desire to look back. Trowa has always been able to move beyond what had past. He lives very much in the "now", and that's important.
More so then Heero, Trowa deserves the title of "perfect soldier". He has little room for creativity (evidenced by his refusal to try anything truly new in the circus, something which infuriates Catherine), and follows orders to a T. He's exchanged the scientists for Catherine and the ringmaster. He's finally learning who he is, and if the secret was maintained better, even if only for a few more years, he would have handled it better, rather then returning to his old war-time habit of disappearing without a word.
Catherine Bloom
Catherine, to no one's surprise, is still with the circus.
Of all the characters, she is the one who has undergone the least amount of change- she's gotten exactly what she's wanted. She has her brother, the circus, and the damn Ozzies/Federation/Romefeller/White Fang have finally gotten out of her life. So why should she be unhappy?
I can't think of any reason.
Cat is very rudely awakened when Trowa disappears- this time, though, she has learned enough about how the world works to take matters in her own hands- like Utena (I'm coming off of a SKU kick), she refuses to be a princess locked away in a tower. This time she will be there for Trowa. She recognizes that this battle is a different kind of fight, one that Trowa is ill-prepared to deal with.
Her decision to go to Une is questionable, but it's the only logical thing she can do. She has no other leads where her brother might be heading.
Of all the original GW characters, she's the least developed by SnK (and possibly the series). That will change- Cat is on the move, determined to show them that THIS time, she won't take things lying down.
Quatre Raberba Winner
Quatre is a prime example of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. He's not a businessman, knows it, but has no other choice. He's caught well and truly in the trap of a heritage he doesn't want, with few of the benefits. His closest two sisters, Lilah and Reeshya, have deserted him, his father is dead, and those who are suppose to be closest to him really don't like him.
What a joyous life.
Quatre, though, is burdened by his sense of duty- this time, to the memory of his father. He's always been groomed to take over the family business, and since Raberba Abdul Winner (his father) died, he's stuck with it. Also, the fact that he never reconciled with his father will always be a primary sorrow, which is part of the reason he puts up with Bartlett. Bartlett has always been his father's shadow, and if he can gain Bartlett's approval, he can reconcile himself to his father. The subconscious is a wonderful thing.
In a way, Quatre is relieved when the news breaks- he doesn't have to hide who he really is from anyone anymore. He gets his sister Reeshya back, finds his family supportive, and finally gets out of the corporate world.
Dorothy Catalonia
Dorothy is a favorite of both mine and Ger's. Her philosophies are.... interesting to say the least, and she has so much POTENTIAL that is rarely used in fanfic.
Dorothy has stagnated since the war, very much like an elderly person. She lives in memories of her glorious past, and is one of the few who looks back to the war with longing. She remembers excitement, and longs for it again. She's not happy with her life, though she begins to show some signs of spark when there's a chance for her to enter the political arena on an issue that inspires her.
Someone should warn the world.
Dorothy's early interactions in the story show her for what she is- a woman of Quality who is rebelling against the role society has set for her.
Yes, she believes herself in love with Zechs...she wants a man who is strong, and so far she's only found him. Each of the Gundam pilots is lacking in some respect (or she doesn't know them), and she wants a strong man, one she sees as stronger then herself. Zechs is the only one who can measure up to the standards of Treize and Dermail, at least in her mind.
Chang Wufei
Ah, Wufei.
What can I say about Wufei?
Wufei, like Heero, dwells upon the past, rather then moving beyond it. Interestingly, I wouldn't bet you $1 on how sane Wufei actually is. He's not very well grounded in reality, and much of his scenes have a sense of the surreal and timelessness.
He's haunted by the past, especially Treize, the destruction of his colony, Meilan, and about everything else that went wrong. He had very few true victories during the war- at least, none that he can be proud of. In his one true attempt (his sword battle with Treize), he came out wanting.
How pathetic.
Wufei has retreated to China to lick his wounds- however, it's probably doing him more harm then good. I think he's going quietly insane- not that he was that sane to begin with. He has a very black and white perspective on the world, and he's having a hard time reconciling much of what happened during the war.
Sally Po
Sally, much like Quatre, is stuck in a job that she feels highly uncomfortable with. She's not a General- she's a Doctor, but circumstances beyond her control have forced her into a role she does not want. She resents Une for this, yet remains Une's trusted confidant. Une sends Sally in when the situation requires a touch of the higher ups, and relies heavily on Sally's good sense.
Sally is a good foil for Une- she's everything Une isn't.
Of all the characters, she is the one who has changed least. She's still a soldier, and will do what she sees as her duty.
Zechs Merquise/Milliard Peacecraft
Oi vay.
Milliard gives me a headache. He spins me around in circles.
Oh, I sound like a fangirl, don't I? I'm not.
The first time I wrote this section, I sent Ger ballistic (he can't stand character bashing). Zechs...I don't like. Everything I do with him (or DON'T do with him) is colored by this.
Zechs is indecisive. His motivations are murky, he's wishy-washy and I just want to THWAP him a few times with a mallet and knock some sense into that head. He's the type of character who makes me want to start telling blonde jokes. Throughout his entire career, he never has a firm grasp on who he is. He's always allowing himself to be shaped by what others want (much to his dislike), and I can't see why Dorothy, Noin, and Relena circle around him as a focus.
What annoys me most is the potential he has, but the fact is, he makes no USE of it.
Needless to say, I'm not really the author you should be asking about Zechs.
Lucrezia Noin
Noin has been broken by Zechs' apparent death, but no one realizes it.
She is a pale shadow of herself, floating through life.
She's another character who's lost her sanity...less obviously then Fei and Heero, but...unlike Une, she wasn't able to cope with the loss of the man she adored.
Treize Khushrenada
Treize is dead, long live Treize.
Treize has been elevated to the status of a legend in the minds of many people, and he still casts a long shadow. Une, Zechs and Wufei, in particular, are haunted by the memory of him. His policies are still there, and he will likely be canonized by the soldiers who served under him.
It's a terrible thing when a demagogue dies. But like a true martyr, Treize recognized that his death would do more good for the world more good then his life. Or so he thinks.
The world lacks strong leaders, and I believe it would be better served had he allowed himself to live.
Something to note: I actually think he committed suicide, using Wufei as the means.
Lady Une
The Une of the actual Gundam Wing series is my favorite character.
The Une of AFTER GW is a tragically diminished figure- she lacks some of the depth that I found so fascinating. She, too, is overshadowed by a figure of an extremely charismatic man, like many of the other females. However, unlike Noin, who broke, Treize's death seems to have healed her of her split personality- she no longer feels the pull of her dual natures. Still, she loses a facet of the Une we came to know and adore (or loath). She doesn't have to fight within herself, so she is no free to take that fight outside.
Une is not a natural leader of men- unlike the much lamented Treize, she does not inspire loyalty in her underlings. People respect her, but do not love her. She's ok with this, but would MUCH rather be the second in command. Ideally, she wants Milliard to take over the Preventers so she can once again fade into the background, where she feels she belongs.
THE CONCEPT OF TIME
The pilots each have their own tones to their scenes.
Much of this has to deal with how the view time- each has a different perspective.
Heero lives in the past, obliterating it. Unlike Trowa, he becomes a "now" person through artificial means, rather then natural ones.
Duo is perhaps the most grounded in conventional time. He remembers the past, enjoys the present, and looks to the future.
Trowa is a "now" person, unable to see beyond the immediate moment.
Quatre, too, is trapped by the past, but as a businessman, he is forced to deal with the present and future.
Wufei's concept of time is skewed- he lives in the past, which has BECOME the present for him.
THE ORIGINAL CHARACTERS
Sainan no Kekka was originally supposed to focus on the surviving thirteen (significant number, ain't it?) characters, with the addiction of Banks, who was going to blow the whole story sky-high.
What do they say about the best laid plans?
Anyway, SNK has become not only a story of the main characters, but of the new characters as well. Atsuki and Banks have already have scenes of their own, and Helena and Reeshya have had sides- and this is just the beginning.
Frances Bartlett
Yes, I know "Frances" is usually spelled with an "i" for a guy, but my Grandfather (whom the character was named for) spells it with an "e".
Bartlett is a link to the past for Quatre, the shadow of his father. Bartlett does not approve of Quatre, and, if Quatre was a touch less guilty about his father's death, probably would have been fired a while ago.
Bartlett's heart attack in act three shows the disbelief the world has- after all, Quatre is a CHILD. Look into those sweet blue eyes- he HONESTLY can't be a wanted terrorist... can he?
Muhammad Ali Banks
Banks is a hotshot who, like many young people, believes fervently in the concepts of right and wrong. In a way, he's similar to Wufei. He sees the world as black and white, and he sees himself as a crusader.
The is nothing scarier then a man with a cause. Focused. Fanatic. Obsessed. All of those describe Banks.
Aside from his zealous nature, Banks remains a flat character. He's going to most likely going to stay out of SnK for a while (he's locked in jail, there's little he CAN do). He really isn't as important as he likes to think himself.
Christopher Johnsen
Chris is a laid-back character who hasn't shown much depth yet. He will later on show a different aspect- between Chris, Ilene, and Helena, we will see the complete gammit of opinions on the war.
Ilene Keets
Ger's summed up Ilene pretty well- she's shallow, and a teenager. Her brother's death is the only thing that alerts us to the fact that she isn't a Mary Sue who is just glomping onto Duo.
Helena Rosenbaum
Helena is a golden girl- the perfect student who is an ideal. She's the kind of person your mother always held up as an example. Not much else on her- she's still non-dimensional.
Reeshya Winner
Reeshya is Quatre's youngest sister, and much like Quatre would have been had he never entered the war. She's innocent, though a touch of bitterness has invaded her life. She represents the Winner family (as does Jaffa, but Jaffa is more of a maternal figure, and not a confidant). Many of the Winner sisters will appear in this story, as family relationships (Zechs/Relena, Trowa/Cat, and Quatre and his sisters) will be explored further.
Incidently, Reeshya is named for a friend of Ger's and mine.
ABOUT THE REVELATIONS ARC
The Revelations arc is named so for the fact that it contains the immediate impact of the release of the news of the pilots. The end of this arc is signaled by the complete revelation of the pilots identities.
WHERE WE'RE GOING
13 Acts. 3 down, 10 to go.
Next up is the Relics Arc... and we begin to see things are a little more complicated then anyone has guessed.
Ger and I are STILL fighting out the details.... I'm a sappy romantic, he... isn't.
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