The Lunatics are not (all) OCs. · 6:10am Jun 11th, 2014
I was absolutely delighted to find out that Lunatics had been reviewed by Seattle's Angels. The people at SA know their stuff and it was a privilege to see what they had to say about my story.
Mostly, very nice things.
I do have to take slight issue with the description of The Lunatics as having a cast of OCs.
I like OCs. There are some thoroughly gorgeous stories with all-OC casts. That all being said, Lunatics isn't "one of these powered-OC-cast fics".
Full disclosure: I would give any number of nonessential organs to write something like Romancing The Clouds.
Lunatics is, instead, intended to explore some of the corners of canon that are less well-traveled. Well, at least as far as the characters go.
Luna, Soarin, and Caballeron are all side characters with significant onscreen presence, at least in the episodes where they appear. I make up Caballeron's expertise with the changelings, but it's hardly implausible for an archeologist. Soarin's presence on the mission makes sense; the Wonderbolts are clearly a quasi-military organization, as we saw in Secret of My Excess.
Side note: Caballeron is, hands-down, the best part about Daring Don't. He just radiates "badass" in all directions. It's a scandal he doesn't have his own character tag.
Colgate, I'll admit, is a little bit of a reach. I have, after all, written her as an intense time-warping ex-spy instead of her usual fanon portrayal as a dentist.
Good grief, Colgate. Toothpaste isn't that interesting.
Why she's not written as a dancer or singer or musician (her official name is Minuette) I have no idea.
But in any case, Colgate would be a completely blank slate, as are most background characters.
Except that she actually has one speaking line in canon.
"You're not going anywhere."
So clearly our lovely Minuette Colgate has some history with the changelings. This gives me at least some canonical backing for my characterization of her.
The reason she's also an intense time-warping ex-spy is, admittedly, my invention, but it's not wholly implausible. I'll get to that in the next chapter of The Lunatics.
Moonshine is the only character without a scrap of canonicity. Originally, she wasn't supposed to be a main part of the story at all. I borrowed the name, clipboard, and nervousness from a story I've done a bit of editing work on, and dropped her into one of the first scenes I wrote for Lunatics:
“I did send inquiries to all of the ministries asking if they had any personnel who fit your request, but as far as I can tell, they haven’t been able to respond yet,” Moonshine said, flipping through her clipboard. “And I do mean all the ministries, just like you asked.”
I tossed the scene at Einhander, who was prereading for me, and he said something to the effect of "Moonshine is adorable: I want to see more of her."
So Moonshine got roped along into this little yarn.
I do plan to develop all these characters and my own take on them, but it's a pretty far stretch to call them OCs.
So basically the "cast of OCs" is... one OC
? Hmm...
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Seems legit.
Good. Gooood.
Well poo, I haven't been reading this story (having been bus-excuses) but now I am kinda excited about picking it up. I look forward to reading.
I've never thought of Caballeron as a BA, but now that I try to see it your way...
I do like the concept.
(and I agree, Moonshine sounds adorable)
I prefer this fanon to all other renditions of the blue mare.
I thought it was a good review of your story, but yeah, the whole characterization as a "cast full of OCs" isn't exactly accurate when all of your characters, save one, have actually appeared, been named, and have had speaking lines in the show.
Why not call it a cast full of background ponies? That would do a lot better. You know my opinion of OCs. In a show that has dozens and dozens of named characters, there's plenty to work with. I only use OCs rarely, and even then if there's no other ponies I can find for what I need.
Moonshine is probably my least favorite character. Not because she's an OC, and not because she sucks, but because the other characters are all really well done and it tends to overshadow her.
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Likewise.