OOC Thread for "Mr. Rodgers Held Hostage..."

[sallythescorpian]

by the way, we had previously tossed the idea around of tying in some connection between the FBI guys, and the criminals - obviously further into the story. I know wyld wasn't as keen on the idea as the rest of us, but maybe we could tease it out a bit, perhaps a connection between whoever the gang are going to stay with and one of the agents? Maybe something like that could be used to tip the gang off? Or how about maybe some much older connection - Darla for example is supposed to be a preachers daughter, how about if one of the agents had gone to school with her? Or maybe billy could've hung out with one of the agents in his teens before they went totally seperate paths? Or maybe it could be one of the guys they had scammed before, Darla sleeping with a guy, then extorting money from him, maybe they still have photos or images of the guy that he'd like to keep quiet?

Maybe everyone else has other ideas, but i do think its worth trying to tease out something that could be a credible connection, and that would also help tie the sub plot in a little better.

Yeah or Nay??

 

[Wyld52771]

My initial thought would be nay, simply because it would all seem way to coincidental to come off as believable...that and the fact that adding that to the story may overcomplicate things. Just to show what we all have going on at the moment, let me list.

*****

1) We have Billy and Darla holding Evan and Brianna hostage. Aside from the physical and psychological torture and rape, we have a story in mind where they are possibly thinking of forcing Evan to do crimes by threatening his daughter later on.

2) We have a side story where Cassie has run off, and is more than likely going to be discovered by the authorities. Which will probably end up tying James into the story better, and also the agents, once she is discovered, basically intensifying the manhunt.

3) We have the side story of the conflicted FBI agents, Oliver and Jennifer, who are having an affair that could jeapordize their jobs, and break their whole team up, while on a very serious kidnapping case..

4) Although it hasn't started yet, we had a discussion about possibly ending up having Billings end up having an affair with Evan's wife Sarah, while she's traumatized and intoxicated, possibly throwing herself at him and him being a bit too weak-willed to resist, which again, could jeapordize the team and the case.

5) We'll soon be adding another mystery character...Billy's "mentor," who will be someone even scarier than Billy and Darla, by our discussion...someone Billy fears and wouldn't dare cross, but someone who he trusts...which will open up a whole new series of events, more than likely.


*****
Personally, I think adding more would be overkill, to tell you the truth. We still haven't fully developed the relationships with the characters we already HAVE, to my way of thinking. Still, this isn't just MY thread, we're all in this together...these are just my own personal views.

We can do it democratically, and if this is something everyone wants, I can try to go with it, as long as it doesn't interfere with the main story. But I want to hear from everyone involved in thread before we make the decision. Right now, Powerdog and Sally seem for it, I am against it....if Sfaigon or Maiden agree with you, I'll go with majority and give it a go...but I'd like their viewpoints first, before anything is set in stone.


~Wyld

 

[sfaigon]

I just want you to know that I am not for it. I agree with Wyld when he says that it will complicate matters too much!

 

[sallythescorpian]

Ok- that's fair enough!

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Hi all,

I'm reading along, but am lost on the sub plots - especially this affair between agents!?!?!


I'll post my next for Cassie then you can decide whether to sideline her as a character and I'll bow out, or you can write her character to push the story on ... or ... she can continue with her story in the background.

I personally couldn't follow any further complications.
Personally, the action in the cabin definitely doesn't appeal to my sensitilibities, but that's for you three to work out. I took myself out of there, fortunately.

After my next post just let me know what you want to do with Cassie.

DM

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Billy is a born again bad guy. He has never gotten a break ever in his life save for not being caught at doing some of the most heinous acts he has every committed. He is a killer and understands that Darla is not. It is actually quite fun logging this bad guy. I have far more fun logging as a bad guy than a good guy...

Billy is a killer by heart though not cold blooded. He kills with passion. His anger is normally released by beating people, hitting walls, or shooting people if it somes to it. It was only with Darla did she filter that anger towards her in extremely rough and violent sex which both of them needed. That is where and how I think they became so dependent on each other. They need each other to keep themselves in check.

In regards to he tortures and hurts people, I do feel like it is somewhat accurate of his character, though he does not and will not push an incest situation. He may threaten it, use it for leverage, but he would not actually do it. He won't... because I won't.

Bottom line. Though Darla is the one to worry about when it comes to pain, Billy is not nearly as creative. Piss him off too much and he will pull out a gun and shoot. That is why Darla, as she already has a time or two, has to step in and protect them in order to protect herself.

Out of curiosity, how does Cassie fit into this character profile?
What does he see in her / why was he with her?

DM

 

[Powerdog16]

There are too kinds of girls in life... speaking metaphorically of course. There are the homey calm, quiet relaxed women that men all want to marry. Cassie is this to him. He knows she can't ride as hard as he can and always expects that one day, when his wild oats have been sown, he would settle down with Cassie, have children, live a long and happy life. Cassie has the most important part of Billy, his heart. If the situation were slightly different in the story and he would not have wound up leaving Darla alone with them both, he would have chased her to the ends of the earth to find her. As it is, he is on the run from the law and is more afraid of going to jail right now that he is of finding her.

THat is how I see it anyways...

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Cassie Posting Fest!

Hiya all,

Just caught up on Cassie's storyline.

Hope you didn't mind my putting Officer Carson waiting to interview her.

Added a twist to explain Cassie's earlier silence, withdrawn mood etc.
Of course neither Darla, nor Jimmy would have been aware of her "condition".

Who is writing James Carson btw? (or any other officer sent to deal with her)

Let me know how you want to deal with this sub-plot from now on.
I'm open to writing Cassie or letting her slip into the background or to be written by other rpers.

Let me know what you think?

DM

 

[Wyld52771]

I liked the miscarriage idea...that was a stroke of genius. Made Cassie seem very real, although I do have one question....did she know she was pregnant before she miscarried?

If she did, between that, and the escalating chaos that Billy and Darla have been exhibiting, that would be a great motivator for her to leave them...not wanting a baby around such a dangerous and out of control environment.

As far as Deputy James Carson, I've been playing him thus far.



~Wyld

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Yes, she knew. She was scared of telling Billy. Had then thought Darla would help her ... make it right or tell him somehow, but when they started planning the robbery things all went wrong.

Back story is, everything blew up at home. The money she has is from her parents. She made the mistake of telling them, but they insisted she get an abortion. She agreed and went off with the money intending to have the baby with Billy and Darla to help ... or even set up on her own.
She never considered getting rid of Billy's baby.

She's obviously distraught now an though she could go back to her family and claim to have had the abortion and hold onto the money, she's not yet realised that that is an option. Besides after what they've said about Billy she wouldn't want to ... though seeing him and Darla during this kidnapping is making her rethink things ...

Key point is - that the money trace will come back clean - ie. not linked to the robbery as it is cash given her by parents to deal with the problem.

I figured it would add to the believeability of why she's acted so out of character rather than one of the three.
She's unsure how far gone pregnancy wise she is but she would be some way on. Her pregnancy wasn't showing as she's such a slender girl and most likely not eating as well as she should whilst with Darla and Billy, but she would have ensured she concealed any tell-tale signs, perhaps encouraging Billy with Darla fearing he'd realise or that sex with him might harm the baby.

Of course neither or her friends would have a clue.
Maybe they were so wrapped up in things that they didn't look?
Or maybe Billy felt rejected and turned more to Darla?
Maybe the two thought her even more ok with Billy pursuing Darla sexually than she actually did.
Either way, they never asked or choose to notice she was beginning to act differently before this all escalated.
Her running out of this situation is understandable and a natural consequenceis of being unable to bring herself to speak to either of them or get them to help or support her ...

Just my thinking re: the twist.

Hope you like?

I'm hoping that Jimmy will be expecting some hard aggressive bitch type to interrogate and that the sight of Cassie will throw him somewhat ...

 

[sfaigon]

My first thought was... confusion... My second was...


OMG!!! GENIUS!

Sorry about that... but seriously though, this little side plot brings the reader's focus back to Cassie and they can actually empathize with what she's going through, losing her child, especially an unborn child. And who knows? Maybe she and James might hit it off.

Anyways... great work

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Thankyou sfaigon ...

I've had the idea in mind for some time ... I hoped it wasn't too implausible ...

I think it explains alot about Cassie ... and explains that difficult beginning when she was silent ...

*huggs*

DM

 

[sfaigon]

It's not implausible at all!

I loved this idea and can only hope that I can make Brianna's background progressively deeper as the story goes on, drawing out more and more of her character. I've even added a little something about her mind blanking out their abduction. But of course it has to all rush back and ruin a good night's sleep.

 

[sfaigon]

I just have to ask...

Is Sarah in my most recent post believable? I just have to know.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

She seems so to me!

DM

 

[Wyld52771]

Yup...I'm really liking the direction you took Cassie, Maiden. It seemed to tie in everything very nicely, and made everything that happened thus far, as far as her reactions, make total sense.

Sarah seemed fine to me, as far as believability goes, Sfaigon...very nice post.
Hope James seems believable enough, thus far. I've had a bit harder time writing his character thus far, but even though he's only a side character at the moment, I still want him to seem "real" i guess.

I'm really looking forward to seeing where our thread is going to head...what happens to Evan and Brianna when Billy and Darla wake up...what happens as Cassie is interrogated...Jennifer's reaction to Oliver's admission...the interaction between Sarah and Sam Billings....all of it should be very interesting. *smiles*


~Wyld

 

[Wyld52771]

Just to let you know...my posts are at the very least going to be somewhat spordaic for the next few days, if not cut off altogether. My daughter is in the hospital right now...took her in and her blood sugar was 625, and she's been diagnosed as Type 1 Diabetic. I'll be over at the hosptial alot for the next couple days, until she gets her blood sugar stablized and released.

Talk to ya'll soon.


~Wyld

 

[sallythescorpian]

Wyld, sorry to hear that! Take care and mind yourself, and I sincerely hope she's okay!

 

[Powerdog16]

OH dude! Sorry to hear that buddy! I will light a candle for her. Hope she gets better...!

 

[sallythescorpian]

While billings and Sarah complete their scene, we'd want to decide where the gang are going. They're due to go in the morning. We sort of said it should be some sort of friend / acquaintance of Billy / Darla - someone a little higher in the food chain. Maybe that person could have a calming influence - more a serious / organized criminal, but less into the torture of the hostages??

What sort of setting for the safehouse?? It should be a bit away from their current location - either remote or a city ? Any other details we need worked out?

Any post of main story should wait till the current scene is finalised and do we have someone to do the friend/acquaintance??

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

As an aside we still have the Cassie/Carson sub-plot to keep going ... assuming you want that to continue ...

DM

 

[Wyld52771]

As an aside we still have the Cassie/Carson sub-plot to keep going ... assuming you want that to continue ...

DM

Yup...that is actually going to be my next installment. *smiles*

I don't mind jumping around a little bit, as long as we can keep it straight in our heads what is going on where, so we don't need to necessarily wait, per se...maybe at the top of the post in the title, add which character you're writing, and maybe where they're located, so we can keep things straight...sound good?

So if I was writing about Billings, I'd put in the Title, "FBI Agent Billlings, at Rodgers Residence," or something to that effect, just to clarify who we're writing about, and where they are currently located, so as not to make things hard to follow for whoever is reading along.

Also, have to keep in mind that the side stories, while important and very fun to write, can't overshadow the main TOO much. We will want to keep the side stories compelling, and fun to read, and I think the side stories are good because it shows that time continues on outside the bubble that the main characters are in, giving it more realism, but the main story has to remain the driving force...the glue that binds the other parts of the story together.


~Wyld

 

[sallythescorpian]

Guys, we seem to be jumping around all over the shop with the story. Would it be an idea to deal with say the main story, then when scene completes, post one of the side stories, maybe lited to say four posts, then another section of the main story, then another side story. As it is, it's hopping around and hard to follow. Wuld's suggestion of name and situ on the top helps, but otherwise I think it's very confusing. If you look, a very significant portion of the last 25 posts are not the main story.

Does anyone else agree with me, or am I being pedantic?

 

[Wyld52771]

I don't disagree with you, but think it will be hard to do...we have a lot of compelling aspects to the story going on.

The way I see it, priority at the moment will be these two elements...

1) Obviously, the main story....Evan, Brianna, Billy, and Darla. At the moment, that should be the driving force...the glue that binds all the rest together, and influences elements of the side stories too.

2) The action between Cassie and James...this is important too, because Cassie is a major player as well, and events dealing with her are probably going to become very important as what she does is going to influence the main story as well.

The other events, dealing with the FBI agents are not as important, as far as driving the story, but are good for background and adding depth and fun...and also help to make it so we don't exhaust ourselves on the main themes.

The events going on at the Rodgers' house between Sarah and Billings don't effect the main story whatsoever, but it is an interesting aspect of the story, adding depth, and realism, has far as how Sarah is dealing with the situation.

The relationship between Oliver and Jennifer...well, this of course has already been put on the back burner, as it is probably the least important to the story, but i think it adds a bit of a human element to the agents, so they don't totally come off like cold robots. *shrugs*

Anyway, I'm open to ideas as to how to make the story more cohesive...i think you raise a good point....think we should all share our input to get on the same page. *smiles*


~Wyld

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Hi ... for what it's worth ...

I think if we stuck with just the main plot it would become a depressive series of aggressive and violent acts ... the sub-plots temper that and I think help us to understand a bit about Billy/Darla to some extent via there backgrounds and dealings with Cassie ...

I'm actually managing to follow it all, though the Sarah-Billings sub-plot seems to me a bit ... gratuitous ...

We can write Cassie out if you want ... but whilst she's in ... I think she has a role to play ..

Just my thoughts ...

DM