a strange idea that occurred to me while answering e-mail
re:FB's tale.

Fanfic writer/fanboy/nice guy just dumped rents a video
MACHINE from SRU/the video shop from Video Girl Ai. Watches
a tape of ________ when one of the characters breaks
character to talk to the viewer. "Well, i don't get
(Ranma/Tenchi/whoever) ANYWAY, so I don't see any reason to
stick around here. Why don't I come live with you?" If
Kiyone, adds a statement about at least she'll get away from
Mihoshi this way. Anime character then pulls an Urd and
comes through the screen. Heheheh. Ok, it's otaku wish
fulfillment, but so was Video Girl Ai and it could be
cute...

hmmm. now who would YOU want to see cut out of the
situation? Picture something like this happening, and
someone (say Shampoo instead of going back to her village to
get the cat curse) says "to heck with all this" and comes
out of the TV, clicking the picture off before Mousse or
anyone can follow her...

the characters back in the series start reacting to this. If
they have some awareness of their script, then Shampoo isn't
available for her scenes, they try to muddle on but it isn't
quite the same. If not, the characters have just noted that
Shampoo opened a hole in midair and climbed out?!

or a secondary char who is somewhat sympathetic (Makoto Kino
or Minako Aino from SM, Kiyone from
TM, any number of marionettes from SMJ, (or even a primary
character like Akane) who suddenly declares their
dissatisfaction and pops out of the series. The effect of
the character vanishing on the series they just left (the
Tendo household without Kasumi, the Masaki household without
Sasami, Evangelion where Rei or Misato decides they ain't
gonna ride this train to Hell) as things quietly go nuts
behind them. For the Senshi, this could be bitter - with
them realizing that they had an important role even if they
would be continually stuck with heartbreak and a
second-string role).

Or... Rei or Misato come through, then want you to show them
how their series ended. On a SAFE non-magical VCR...

if you knew the VCR was acting like that, what would you
play on it? Dirty Pair? House Of Horrors? Lensman? Galaxy
Fraulien Yuna? Overfiend? Love Potion #9?

   Only, WHO is going to do it? You? Certainly not
me, as I don't like writing self-insertion fics.

well, you could always insert the generic, or maybe someone
else.

Kunchan (as an example) watches the End Of Evangelion, only
Shinji shows enough sense to leave that series and comes to
visit.

SKJAM (inventor of Revengefics therefore a likely
"volunteer") sets down to rewatch an early episode of Ranma
to write his current fic, only Akane declares that she is
NOT going to spend the next year in an abusive spiral with a
crossdressing baka and climbs out of his set.

Another possibility is where the disaffected character goes
next.  What if Nabiki decided to pop that tape out and put
another one in, then go into THAT tape. Nabs decides to be
heroic, so she goes off into Evangelion to head off the
Third Impact. Kasumi wants some peace and quiet, so she
finds your Deep Space Nine tape (pre-Dominion) and hits the
promenade. etc.

They could *all* make a jailbreak. Kuno decides he wants
respect and goes to Ruroni Kenshin, possibly running afoul
of the Disarmament.

Ranma heads off to Oh My Goddess to see if they can help
with his curse, or maybe just see if he can finagle a wish
to end his fiancee mess.

Akane  chooses a tape at random or something and ends up in
La Blue Girl, Urotsukidoji (Overfiend) or something along
those lines. More interesting, as she starts doing the hero
routine and is beating the snot of demons right and left as
they assault her. With cries of "Etchi" and "Hentai" and
"Baka" all the way.

There's one scene in the anime where a customer is asking
Shampoo out on a date. Until Mousse interrupts, Shamps looks
like she's actively considering it. i think it was one of
the recent releases where Mousse decides to go back to China
but waffles and keeps muddling on instead. Having her decide
she wants a REQUITED love affair with someone who's not
mistaking inanimate objects for her, she decides to go after
Gourry (Slayers). Or maybe one of the warriors in Kenshin.
Or even some halfway nice character in
another anime/series.

"Shampoo really want to snuggle," said the Amazon, looking
over the tape collection. "Aiyah. Many many comedies, many
many combats, where character Shampoo can arrange to catch?
Ahhh. Fuchigi Yugi. Miaka go after Tamahome, so Shampoo
catch - Chichiri! Is good, he no have crossdresser or anyone
else pursue. Is helpful and kind. Shampoo take!"

Now a nasty thought is having these characters take a hike,
but the SI or OI or generic fanboy has to convince the
characters to come back to their original series. Problem:
Kuno is having fun and getting respect in Ruroni Kenshin, or
Akane is having a blast being the hero who pummels perverts
in Overfiend,  etc. They don't *want* to leave.

-----------------------------------------
http://metroanime.home.mindspring.com/

"Chinese Amazon Space Marines? Bwahahahaha
hahaha- gurk!"
     -last words of the dreaded Space Pirate Astergan

ja ne, gregg