Chameleon outtake

[velvet_mace]

This isn't really part of the Chameleon story. It's a backstory scene I couldn't figure out how to fit in. Anyway, I'm putting it up for funsies and to hold people over until I get the next chapter out

Comments

[ecarnation]

I love this outtake.I had to laugh at their frustration though. It's interesting to see Moran's side. I actually like him, or at least don't hate him. Can't wait for the next updates of your stories.

[velvet_mace]

Well, I'm trying to make Moran a bad guy whose motivations at least make sense. I really loathe bad guys who do bad things because they are bad. That seems like circular logic to me. I love it when bad guys do bad things because from their perspective it is what will make the world a better place. They don't even see themselves as bad. They see themselves as being entitled to what they want.

[ecarnation]

No mustache twirling villains for you, then? Haha. I really love the way you write. Especially in Moran's case. He wants companionship and to cherish a Guide but he's kind of going about it the wrong way and doesn't even realize because that's the way their world is and it hasn't occurred to him to think any deeper about whether the way things are are just or not. To him everything is as it should be.

[velvet_mace]

It's even more fundamental than that. He's going about it the only way that's open to him. If he's noble and rejects John because John doesn't want him, that just means that John will just be foisted on another Sentinel with less scruples. Plus, he'd be less likely to even be offered a chance at a Guide in the future, since the Tower will assume he's really not that interested.

[lenap_trap]

ohh) thanks))
good insight in.. emm nature of Sentinels

[velvet_mace]

Thank you!

[swanpride]

I'm surprised that so many seemed to think that Moran is somewhat symphatic in this outtake. I was mostly struck by his hypocrisy. So it's okay to rape an unwilling guide, but gang bang, that's a horrible thing? And not because of the guide and his feelings, but because real Sentinel's would never share their territory? And rape is okay as long as the guide is passive and comfortable? Urgh!

[yeomanrand]

I have to admit that on finishing this my first thought was "Damn, Moran's a piece of work."

[velvet_mace]

Oh he isn't being hypocritical at all. Moran always approaches a situation from the perspective of himself: What will make his world better. He doesn't see himself as raping an unwilling guide (John) because he knows by the time any sex will be happening, John will be all for it.

He doesn't have any problem scenting an unwilling John, because from his point of view, John's the one in the wrong. Moran signed up when his powers came on line. He's put up with tons of crap he didn't particularly want to do. He's taken orders, and put his wants and dreams on hold plenty. It's not like he gets to decide where he lives and works, either. He does it because it's the way things work. Everyone has to pitch in and do their part.

Obviously, John doesn't have any real problem with Moran (from Moran's POV) because there is nothing wrong with Moran from his own POV. Besides, it's not like Moran has any choice in Guides, either. It's John or nothing for who knows how long.

[only_po]

I wonder . . . how much research and experimentation did the Tower et al do to create new Guides after WWII?

(ie, could normals be mutated into Guides? Could mutes be unmuted? Is it possible to alter genetics so that the child born would be a guaranteed guide? Can Guides be cloned? Are Guides *ahem* "strong encouraged" to procreate in hopes of breeding more Guides? What about IVF and multiples? eesh, I'm starting to get all squicked out now.)

[laurie_ky]

The world building was interesting. I liked seeing the authority the Tower has over the sentinels, and how they accept that authority. I mean, they could have ditched staying in, but instead they were all good sentinels and did as they were told, in case they were needed to protect their people. That's a strong aspect of being a sentinel, seeing themselves as protectors, that was shown without beating it over our heads

[velvet_mace]

The tower is pretty strongly heirarchical -- as they'd have to be to keep the Sentinels in line. If there weren't any guide crisis, they would simply trust to the Guides to keep the the Sentinels doing their duty -- the Sentinels would have their territory to keep safe and sound, and the control from the top would be mainly for the purposes of making sure that disputes were solved without bloodshed and Guides and Sentinels would have a centralized place to meet.

But now they have a bunch of unbonded Sentinels, some of whom have gone unbonded for more than 10 years after coming on line, and the Tower has to step in and do the job that Guides used to do: Make sure that the Sentinels aren't going crazy and just reacting on instinct. Drugs work as a stop gap, but there's really no solution other than getting more guides, and making sure what guides they have are used to the greatest effect.

The last thing they want is the normals to think the institution of Sentinels is more work than it's worth, so they keep everything pretty

[pati1979]

I love this, but.... ahem.. *hesitates*
I really REALLY REALLY need the main story to continue! It is at a very ansgty stage!
Please don't make us suffer :(

[velvet_mace]

I am working on the main story too! This was mostly written out a while ago. For a while I was figuring how to shoe horn it in, but I just couldn't shrink it down enough to make it fit smoothly.

Oh, thank God!!!

[pati1979]

I added both your stories to the list of WIPs I'm following and I recommended them to all the people who follow me. One of my Tumblr friends berated me today because she read Chameleon in one go and then she noticed the last chapter had been posted a month ago and she panicked! I told her I had noticed that you updated about once a month so the next chapter was surely due in the next days and then you did update, but (and here I joined her) we almost died when it was not the actual next chapter!!!
Sorry to sound disappointed. I should make a point of how good both your stories are. I admit (again) I never thought they would be my cup of tea, how wrong I was!
I'll let you write then!
Kisses from Buenos Aires, Argentina!!!
Pati
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