[KeithXZ]

DarkPhoenix, I'm unclear which story to start with.  You said we should be familiar with the "Buff & Blur, the Bear Sisters" series first, but on DtV the other "Buff & Blur, the Bear Sisters" story says to read this one first.

http://www.thevalkyrie.com/stories/darkphoenix/newyears2008.htm
"Celebrations with Sonic the Hedgehog and friends including Buff & Blur, the Bear Sisters".

DarkPhoenix's bookshelf at DtV is here: http://www.thevalkyrie.com/stories/darkphoenix/

Thanks.

– Keith

[KeithXZ]

In general I think you'd want to be guided by what your character would do.  If you are writing for adults, even in a morality play you want the characters to be realistic.

If your character is consumed with concerns of health, strength and endurance, consider:
a) "Would a person like that smoke?" 
b) "Would a person that use a particular kind of drug?"

So generally:

They won't smoke tobacco, unless they are really dumb. 

They won't do drugs that they believe are harmful to the body. 

If they are diabetic they will take their insulin. 

They probably will take a ASA or acetaminophen if they have a headache. 

They might take steroids, because they are thinking about short term benefit, not potential long harm. 

They won't take crack or heroin because those drugs are quickly harmful to the body.  Any short term bliss is quickly outweighed, in their value system, by the damage to the body.

I go along with the "heroes for children and teens should be squeaky clean" principle. 

One could take morality even further:  Superheros should have to earn their powers in some way. 

Having superpowers arbitrarily granted discourages children and teens from the principle that achievements are the rewards for effort.  (In the bodybuilding industry: no pain no gain.)

Buffy TVS is part way towards this.  As a slayer, she is born with the potential, but you frequently see her training to turn that potential into reality.  To me this is more moral than the original 1960s squeaky clean superman, who is super-powered simply by the accidental good fortune of being born Kryptonian.  He didn't do anything to earn his superpowers. 

Same deal with intelligence and money.  Although a lot of the wealth in the world is inherited, if you are trying to promote morality, it is more moral to have your heroes earn for their wealth.  Villains can inherit wealth.

I agree that it would require a lot of thought and a long plot to have a write a morality play describing some character putting in the effort to earn superpowers.

Of course the stories here are seldom morality plays, so this point about earning superpowers doesn't really matter.

Anyway, those are my opinions.

In the old days (pre-1970s), tobacco companies ensured that most heroes in films smoked.  I've even seen characters smoking in submarines in the cheapest old WWII films.  This was part of tobacco marketing.  It drew away from making the character realistic.

[KeithXZ]

So, exposure to the "right" mix of deadly radiation and toxic chemicals will turn a neocon American into a giant version of a typical Canadian???

I find that hard to believe.  😉

Great story!  Well done!

[KeithXZ]

Great story Wachsende. I'm looking forward to reading more!

[KeithXZ]

Okay, we'll wait if we must.  😉

I know writing well is very very time consuming:  We, your fans, just want to make sure you know your effort [glow=lightblue,2,300]really[/glow] is appreciated.

(The same feeling is true for the other authors here.)

[KeithXZ]

I thought that was a good start to a potentially great story line.

It has been a while since I've read it, but I believe the "site standard" was no sex and no severe violence with minors or animals — or something like that.  If that is still the standard, this story is clearly okay as far as that goes.

As far as my personal opinion, I didn't find the sex too graphic at all. 

In fact, if you'd wanted to, you could have gone into more visual detail, and you could have created a few situations/complications to reveal even more about Betty's emotions in dealing with her changes.

It all depends on what kind of story you want to write.  If you make it slower and more detailed to please people like me, other people will may start to complain about it dragging on too slowly.

I've heard it said, and I agree, that mainstream US culture is much more tolerant of graphic violence than most western European cultures, but much less tolerant of graphic sex.  And of course there are differences depending on where in the US or where in Europe one is talking about.  Of course different individual people have different tastes, and our tastes can change from one day to the next.

Here in Canada, generally, we are close to the USA, maybe 1/3 of the way towards Western Europe. 

Returning to this story, it is a good story, and I think the story line has a lot of potential for further development.

Thank you for the story Prophet Tenebrae!

[KeithXZ]

Yes, this is a very good start, it has lots of possibilities.  I also would love to read more.

[KeithXZ]

Terrific story Draw4Wild.  I too liked the changes of viewpoint.

[KeithXZ]

Excellent work so far Izdubarr.  I am really enjoying the story!

I can hardly wait till you have the next installment ready for us.  😉

[KeithXZ]

Hi Crazyfck, great story, as usual from you !

I hope you have time soon to continue it.

Thanks for what you have written for us so far.

– Keith

[Author]

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