The big one: Character discussions!

[Anastasia]

Notes: If this game ever ends up in L territory again, I'm half fooling with her having some college experiences to play off Hotaru. I had that inkling for a long time - maybe I'm just projecting from the Persona 2 template, but there's something a tiny bit queer about Yuko.

This just plain made me snicker. >_>

Overall, I liked Yuko a lot, one of the more 'normal' influences on Hotaru I'd probably like to see more of. (No, Reiko isn't normal, she's a cynical politic. This doesn't subtract from my immense love for mom, though!)

She didn't take part much in the second one, though she might get another appearance with the reunions (I hope?)?

It's not every day your child comes back from saving two worlds!

Note: Yes, I thought she and Ami's dad were going out or something for a moment or three. It was back when I had an overactive sense of paranoia. Though it did resurface when I heard she had a fiance! Only for a moment, though! *hides from Ami*

I like her, too. I'm thinking she'll live again at some point; some point soon. Bi curious or not, as the Hotaru-chan said.

[Anastasia]

Entry #12

Maya

Source Material(s): SM canon. In the early episodes there's a hefty girl as one of Usagi's generic classmates. I don't remember if her name IS Maya offhand, but she's who I used for this.

General: Maya's pretty normal - sure, she's gotta be around 200 pounds or so. Girl's fat, no nice way to say it. Because of that she's a little twitchy and quiet, especially if her bitchy side gets gong. Loyal to her friends despite all this.

That's really it - she's worked off of a basic premise. Fat girl, slightly insecure but nice enough. Insecurity leads her down bad roads sometimes. She's the sort I hope grows up and slims down in high school - mature all around.

Notes: I like Maya. I just don't have a ton to say about her. What you see is what you get, she's not a deep NPC. She showed her nastier side in a few omakes, as I remember.

[Ebiris]

Maya Stuff

I remember she got pretty nasty in that one omake where I had silver hair, for some reason.

She's an okay friend, but I don't see Usagi spilling any big secrets to her any time soon - she's just not close enough. She works as a generic classmate/friend, and at least serves as proof that not all anime girls could pass for models.

Naru and I should take her along when we go boy hunting to make ourselves look better...

[Anastasia]

As I recall, the silver hair omake had something or other to do with Balder's influence there. I can't recall for the life of me what. Sorry. Anyway, you're dead on - she's an average school mate friend. The sort to be in groups with and go over to each other's houses for birthdays, but that's it. That's how it should be - not every friend has to be razor close.

Good idea with boy hunting, though! Just watch the ego if she gets lucky and you don't?

[Anastasia]

Character entry #13

Miss Haruna

Source Material(s): SM canon yet again. Surprise!

General: Miss Haruna serves a very basic purpose in canon and in game - to goad Usagi on while not being heartless. She's pretty much the avatar of all of Usagi's classes and teachers. She's easy to play, fun if used sparingly and overall cute, too.

Speaking of, she's had a few notable flesh outs from omake land. She was on the swimming/diving team in college. This came out of Usagi's trip to the nudist camp omake if I remember right. I liked the detail enough to attach it onto her main game persona, even if I haven't been able to use it yet. The L Usagi omake also added to this - she drives a small car, knows several nice restaurants and is generally comfortable in adult settings.

The lesbian part didn't translate over, at least, since it's fun to occasinally play up her passed or failed dates. Unless Usagi really wants a lesbian teacher to se-er, talk to? <_<

Notes: Mostly unchanged from SM1 Haruna. There's not too much room to work with unless I go deeper into the character. Circumstances aren't favorable for that, so I'm happy keeping her as so. I had plans to use her out of school one or twice but they never got a chance to go. Ah well.

[Ebiris]

Miss H Stuff

I like to consider the less outrageous omake stuff canon for minor characters as well - it gives them definition that we can't always get into in the main game.

Anyway, Miss H is fun to play with - she and Ikkuko are a lot alike when it comes to hassling Usagi over schoolwork - it's a pity I haven't been able to be present for any of the numerous parent/teacher conferences, since I don't think we've ever seen Miss H and Ikkuko interact together, and for some reason it appeals to me.

Miss H is Usagi's favourite teacher, for all that she's the only one ever really gotten into (occasional references to Miss Makana notwithstanding). Sure, she drives Usagi hard, but when she's not doing that she's easy to relate to for a young teenage girl - if Usagi had a personal problem she had to take to an adult and couldn't tell her mother for whatever reason, she'd likely go straight to Miss Haruna. (Well, I suppose there's Queenie as well, now that she's alive... regardless, Usagi does trust and like her homeroom teacher, and would be comfortable confiding in her if necessary)

Besides which, Usagi has picked up a small knack for manipulating Miss H during classes (this was really emphasised at the start of the lesbian omake, but it's shone through occasionally in the main game) to get her into discussing her love life rather than educating, which is always a more beneficial learning experience in her opinion!

[Anastasia]

I like to consider the less outrageous omake stuff canon for minor characters as well - it gives them definition that we can't always get into in the main game.

While it's a case by case basis for myself, I often do the same. If nothing else, the image of a naked Miss H freediving is...aah, compelling?

Anyway, Miss H is fun to play with - she and Ikkuko are a lot alike when it comes to hassling Usagi over schoolwork - it's a pity I haven't been able to be present for any of the numerous parent/teacher conferences, since I don't think we've ever seen Miss H and Ikkuko interact together, and for some reason it appeals to me.

I can't believe I've never thoughts of this. Seriously, that sounds like pure platinum. *Notes it down*. That said, you're right about the first part. They do act somewhat similiar, yes? Interesting.

Besides which, Usagi has picked up a small knack for manipulating Miss H during classes (this was really emphasised at the start of the lesbian omake, but it's shone through occasionally in the main game) to get her into discussing her love life rather than educating, which is always a more beneficial learning experience in her opinion!

It is! Mmm, that lesbian omake has to be up there on the best omake list. So many awesome little things. But heh.

[Anastasia]

Character entry #14

Setsuna Mei'oh.

Source Material(s): SM canon. Hal's NPC of Megumi had a few cameos around Setsuna, so he'll get a bit of credit as well. That's about it, though this will be gotten into below.

General: Oi.

Setsuna had a long and turbulent history in Redux. At first she was going to be played by Hal as a PC. This went far enough to have a beta warm up RP session(Still in the logs here) and to draw up a full character sheet. So Setsuna wasn't a concern of mine until Hal dropped out of the game and the OOC room.

So I got the entire portfolio of Sailor Pluto dumped into my lap. At first I really wasn't sure what to do with it - I'd had some vague plot integrating plans for Hal's Setsuna, of course, but they were painfully crippled. So as the Kensuke arc developed, I put in a lot of OOC thought into her. First of all, did I still want to use her? Porting Pluto to another NPC or PC and just dropping Setsuna felt like the logical choice, after all. It would've been easier to let Set-chan rest after all the attached drama soured me on her.

Why I didn't drop Setsuna is something I've never been entirely clear of. She migrated from being on the fence into having plans made for her. It was casual and gradual, but rather strong once it started. Her visions provide an excellent motif for inserting her into pretty much any situation, so much so that I made them a focus all their own. Having Setsuna run around a few times laid out options - as a mysterious save if things went utterly fubar due to no fault of the PCs, or as an option on Earth if the PCs got stuck on Gaia early. So I started to play her up - she had little apperances, starting to do her thing of showing up, changing the future, and fleeing.

This was also a very slow burn. Set-chan showed just enough to set her myserious personality and tease, but not long enough to have much pumped out of her. She also had to studiously avoid Artemis and Luna, but this was an easy caveat since I controlled all three. Yes, a bit of a contrivance, but a needed once since I hadn't made up my mind yet. This begs the question, where were Setsuna's visions going and why? I had a few ideas:

a) Setsuna was coming into her power. She was trying to do good with it, but wasn't proficient. More like a strong pyschic making sense of what she could do and eventually falling into the Sailor Senshi in some dramatic way.

b) As an appendix to a), if the Senshi got crippled or stuck on Gaia or whatever, Sailor Pluto could emerge by herself. This was part of the point of Hotaru and Makoto transforming without pens at first(This set a bit of an overall mess up in retrospect, but easily enough solved. Further, this makes a lot more sense in game now with other elements.). In other words, she was also an insurance policy.

There's a c), also, and this is what I ultimately went with. However, some backtext is needed here. For awhile I didn't use Setsuna quite enough. I had enough on my plate with other matters, and it was easy tos lacken off with her. As this happened, it led to a vague uneasiness with her. I needed to pick her up and run with the ball soon - but I was still waffling ever so slightly. Also as this happened, something amazing began to occur; Kotono Sarashima. I've never quite fallen in with an NPC as I did her. I grew to love every time I could get her on camera - but I was at an impasse. A non Sailor Senshi could only do so much, really.

Then one and one became two. Setsuna knew Kotono as a member of the Supernatural Club(Even if absent to play up her myseriousness and to keep her clear of the Beast Lord mess.), and...I realised something. I wasn't sure I wanted to play Setsuna even now. I have nothing against her and I wanted to do good with her, really I did. But Kotono was growing stronger and capturing my heart swifter and swifter. As I pondered, a plot grew in my mind.

Setsuna didn't like her powers. She loathed what seeing the future did to her, and came to dread what she saw ahead. Her destiny as Sailor Pluto repelled her the more she saw; her fears became visions of her failure. Desperate she threw all her energy into what she could see - and she eventually saw the Silver Crystal's shard. It could do anything at a price. This is a price Setsuna was willing to pay. So who? The answer came close to home; Kotono loves everything Supernatural. She'd throw herself into Pluto with full abandon and be damn good at it, she was sure.

---

At this point we need a digression. One of the more observant and paranoid commented that this was beginning to feel like a commentary on Hal leaving the group and Setsuna. Was it? No, it was more of Kotono becoming strong and capturing my interest. I do freely concede there are similiarities in retrospect. These are sincerely unintentional, my only motivation was that I fell in love with Kot-chan.

Still, apologies to those of you that noted it.

---

This lead to what Setsuna did and our last Sailor Senshi being found.  For the record? Hotaru got dead close to getting Setsuna to buckle and break - really, she got creamed several times verbally. It's funny, one more good push after the girls decided to just go with it would've gotten her to break and really reconsider. I was doing my damnest to play it neutrally - I was vested in both characters for good, so I left it entirely in the PCs hands.

Am I happy with how it turned out? In the end, yes. While I wanted to tell a better story with Set-chan, I'm not ashamed of this one. It's a new take on being a Sailor Senshi and one that makes you think. If you had a real choice about it, would have chosen this road? As for Kotono's end of it? This isn't the post for it, but all you need to do is look at my sometimes IRC name, isn't it?

Notes: Setsuna is achingly hot with glasses. Doubly so if she can get a lighter pair - but the Crystal's price isn't cheap. I was proud of all you girls that you wouldn't let only some of you bear the price for this; no matter your disagreements you wouldn't sentance any of your friends to that. Setsuna's omake apperances vary; the Master PC one was essentially fun fanservice. She showed in the L omake - it kinda didn't work out because of bad communication, but it was nice to play with. Now that she's finally found peace, I imagine she'll at least show up once more. For better and fo worse, she took the debt to choose her own path again. Where that will take her is something I'm still not sure on. But it's good that way, it's her choice.

Megumi was the only real carryover from Hal's sheet. I might've used a little more, but he deleted the copy on SR at some point. Oddly that NPC stuck with me despite it all. Go figure, but a tiny fragment of Hal's ideas still live in Redux.

If Setsuna had gotten into the Sailor Senshi? She was going to compete with Makoto for the tall and busty crown. I had some vague, amusing ideas on playing that up. I also had plans for her to get closer to Usagi - cracking the quiet nut, so to speak. Her focus would have been time for sure, which makes Kotono's space focus a nice contrast. I'm not sure how stronger and more frequent visions would've gone on Gaia, since you PCs have a way of utterly cracking them wide open. If she'd gotten to the last powerups, I was considering giving her a gimped but still awesome version of Time Stop depending on game power levels.

Not gay for Hotaru. Really. <_<

[Asrana]

I keep debating to myself--should I be proud that I got so close, or disappointed that I didn't push quite hard enough?

I leave myself and Ana a note here--Toy with a Setsuna Stays Pluto omake sometime, amidst other omakeness, just for kicks, and to maybe get that nagging feeling out of the back of my head.

Setsuna...I didn't honestly like her until the end, but I enjoyed playing off against her. She was the real refinement of Hotaru's personality and psychology. The raw paranoia and hostility she sometimes showed with Usagi was brought together with Setsuna's more refrained and sharp opposition to help create the sarcastic biting girl we all know today, who still has her moments of immature rawness. But it really gave her reason, between the Beast Lord and Setsuna, the friends she was gaining, those were the most important things to her, and she's violently protective of what she considers their inviolate nature. Setsuna and Balder both crossed the line or thjreatened it massively, and she really tried to bring them to their knees verbally, and in Balder's case, physically. (She was preparing to provoke him when Serenity got involved, just so she could annihilate him)

Anyway, that was Setsuna's huge chain reaction contirbution to Hotaru's character development, and why I like her. >_>

Added to that, Hotaru wants to draw Setsuna out some more. Having succesfully torn her to shreds, she seriously thinks Setsuna needs a few more people around her to live right.

As an end note: Are you positive, Dune? Because she was pretty head over heels last time I met her... >_>

[Ebiris]

Setsuna Stuff

The Setsuna/Kotono plot was a good opportunity for Usagi to show off her main consideration in decision making at that point in the game - free choice. The same reason she was somewhat reluctant to purify Misuki (and the triplets) without first talking to them to convince them Jadeite was bad news.

While for most people the Pluto mess caused angst, for Usagi it was simplicity itself - Setsuna didn't want to be Pluto, and Kotono did. What more could there be to it?

That said, Setsuna's comment about her plan to grab the Crystal shard involving breaking a pot over the guy's head really had me wishing I'd at least tried to convince her being a senshi could suit her...

Besides that, Usagi hasn't really had much to do with Setsuna - which does hurt a little. They all sacrificed for her sake, and it was a pretty emotional scene with Setsuna openly realising they were all good friends... and now we never see her. It's understandable that she doesn't want reminders of the live she just dodged, but it's hard to escape a feeling of being used and discarded.

Also, I'm surprised at the 'Setsuna with glasses = hotness' comment. I always figured she was now stuck with Umino style googly glasses. Part of why Usagi was so eager to divest her of them in the lesbian omake (that keeps coming up, doesn't it?).

[Anastasia]

I keep debating to myself--should I be proud that I got so close, or disappointed that I didn't push quite hard enough?

Well, let's put it this way - are you happy with how Pluto has turned out, Setsuna and Kotono aside?

I leave myself and Ana a note here--Toy with a Setsuna Stays Pluto omake sometime, amidst other omakeness, just for kicks, and to maybe get that nagging feeling out of the back of my head.

Sure. That's worth a shot and I'll toss it onto the omake heap.

Setsuna...I didn't honestly like her until the end, but I enjoyed playing off against her. She was the real refinement of Hotaru's personality and psychology. The raw paranoia and hostility she sometimes showed with Usagi was brought together with Setsuna's more refrained and sharp opposition to help create the sarcastic biting girl we all know today, who still has her moments of immature rawness. But it really gave her reason, between the Beast Lord and Setsuna, the friends she was gaining, those were the most important things to her, and she's violently protective of what she considers their inviolate nature. Setsuna and Balder both crossed the line or thjreatened it massively, and she really tried to bring them to their knees verbally, and in Balder's case, physically. (She was preparing to provoke him when Serenity got involved, just so she could annihilate him)

Mmm. That is an interesting bit of ruminations. It's nice to see that Setsuna had such an impact with her considerations. I remember Hotaru saying something along the lines that she didn't want Kotono mixed up in all of this after she'd saved her life once. Does this extend all the way to the other girls?

Added to that, Hotaru wants to draw Setsuna out some more. Having succesfully torn her to shreds, she seriously thinks Setsuna needs a few more people around her to live right.

She's due to finally seriously reappear. She was backburned in favor of Gaia and the fact that I didn't need another heavy NPC on my hands. But I agree with both yours and Usagi's sentiments on the matter.

Fuck, you girls need to get home!

As an end note: Are you positive, Dune? Because she was pretty head over heels last time I met her... >_>

OMAKELAND DOESN'T COUNT! Ahem. Do you just wanna, y'know, put your tongue into her vagina or something? I'm cool with that, just wonderin'.[/quote]

[Anastasia]

The Setsuna/Kotono plot was a good opportunity for Usagi to show off her main consideration in decision making at that point in the game - free choice. The same reason she was somewhat reluctant to purify Misuki (and the triplets) without first talking to them to convince them Jadeite was bad news.

*Nods*

All the difference in the world between choosing to do so or having a vast government scooping you up, eh? This aspect was shown off as well, it full solidified it for me.

That said, Setsuna's comment about her plan to grab the Crystal shard involving breaking a pot over the guy's head really had me wishing I'd at least tried to convince her being a senshi could suit her...

Oh? I'm going to snicker here and let you elaborate, Usa-chan.

Besides that, Usagi hasn't really had much to do with Setsuna - which does hurt a little. They all sacrificed for her sake, and it was a pretty emotional scene with Setsuna openly realising they were all good friends... and now we never see her. It's understandable that she doesn't want reminders of the live she just dodged, but it's hard to escape a feeling of being used and discarded.

Yeah. As I just said in Hotaru's post, it's more a matter of NPC balance as well as letting that stick cool down. These sentiments are ensuring she'll at least show again now that the great struggle is done with. It's over, she's forgotten and put it behind her. All that's left is those that are her friends, be it by the Supernatural Club or a great sacrifice they made for her.

Also, I'm surprised at the 'Setsuna with glasses = hotness' comment. I always figured she was now stuck with Umino style googly glasses. Part of why Usagi was so eager to divest her of them in the lesbian omake (that keeps coming up, doesn't it?).

I tend to imagine considerably thinner glasses with her. If you've ever seen Quistis from Final Fantasy 8, that's about where I'm batting at.  While in game you're correct, the mind is a far more malleable place. (Yay!)

It does keep coming back to that, doesn't it? Usagi-chan, Ahem. Do you just wanna, y'know, put your tongue into her vagina or something? I'm cool with that, just wonderin'!

[Ebiris]

Oh? I'm going to snicker here and let you elaborate, Usa-chan.

It was a very simple and blunt plan, and Usagi does abhor violence, but at the same time... it was also very sneaky, and Usagi really approves of sneakiness. Plus the mental image of that guy sitting over the table and polishing his crystal while Setsuna creeps up behind him with a priceless antique vase over her head is just priceless.

I tend to imagine considerably thinner glasses with her. If you've ever seen Quistis from Final Fantasy 8, that's about where I'm batting at. While in game you're correct, the mind is a far more malleable place. (Yay!)

It does keep coming back to that, doesn't it? Usagi-chan, Ahem. Do you just wanna, y'know, put your tongue into her vagina or something? I'm cool with that, just wonderin'!

Yes, those style glasses would look very nice on her. Maybe she can borrow Rei's magic glasses since she never uses them?

And I really can't help coming back to that omake a lot - HLS aside, it was a wonderful character exploration thing - there wasn't even a hint of combat, it was just pure personal interactions, and almost all of it was gold.

[Anastasia]

Yes, those style glasses would look very nice on her. Maybe she can borrow Rei's magic glasses since she never uses them?

And I really can't help coming back to that omake a lot - HLS aside, it was a wonderful character exploration thing - there wasn't even a hint of combat, it was just pure personal interactions, and almost all of it was gold.

That's a good thought on the first. May as well get some use outta them.

Yeah, the L omake was gold for all of that. It's also my only real complaint with said omake - Setsuna fell apart. On the other hand, Miss H, Mom, Kotono, Rei, (Makoto and Hotaru in side scenes), Ami, and more sparkled brightly.

[Asrana]

"Well, let's put it this way - are you happy with how Pluto has turned out, Setsuna and Kotono aside?"

The 'aside' is what I can't really do. It's just a wondering of how things would've gone that keeps bugging me.

"Mmm. That is an interesting bit of ruminations. It's nice to see that Setsuna had such an impact with her considerations. I remember Hotaru saying something along the lines that she didn't want Kotono mixed up in all of this after she'd saved her life once. Does this extend all the way to the other girls?"

To one degree or another, yes. She couldn't stop Rei from being a senshi, it just happened spontaneously. But along side Serenity's order to do whatever she thought necessary, it's built up a stark belief that attacks or threats to her friends are injury, insult, and debasement of her reason for living all at once. It gives her a measure of focus and a way to keep a hold on her own emotions and problems, and so additionally, it's an affront to that which keeps her world sane.

So she's a little violent when it comes to the topic.