Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
THE BIONIC PROJECT
Welcome to The Bionic Project. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Story question - How violent would Steve be?; Canon question for a story I'm writing. How violent might Steve get in order to protect a child?
Topic Started: Nov 28 2015, 12:24 PM (217 Views)
PineappleAngel
Member Avatar
Bionic Ultra-Agent
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Ok, I have a canon question about Steve for a story I'm writing. So here's the scenario in a non-spoilery way..

There's a constantly drunk mean father who constantly roughs up his 5(ish) year old son. Steve has been aware of what's going on, from a distance, for a while, but is unable to really prevent anything based on the celebrity status of the father - and because that guy has some pull in the OSI, etc. But one time, Steve comes in, shocked to find that the father has cluelessly hurt his son so bad that Steve fears he might die. Before taking the boy away, Steve pauses to tell off/threaten the man. He tells him that if he ever finds out that the man has hurt the boy again, the man will "regret it". And then, Steve adds that if the boy does die "I will...."

My first instinct for dramatic flare is to have him say something like "If he dies, you'd better be nowhere nearby, cause I'll kill you..." but would Steve be that violent?

There's my question. Regarding this line (and how Steve bodily reacts upon seeing the man hurting his son), how would Steve react. Would he just settle for a bionic shove and then leave the man, or would he totally tear him apart..? What is too OOC for Steve to say?

Other thoughts here are like "I'll tear you limb from limb" or "I'll beat you within an inch of your life" or just another "you'll regret it" or something more poignant like "you'll have to build your own bionics once I'm through with you" or something.

Sooo, kind of an odd question. But I wanted to draw upon your bionic experience and see what you guys think! Examples of similar situations from the show(s) would be great - If anyone could think of one.

Basically: how violent does (Or would) Steve get?
More simply: Would he kill to protect a child?
Sitting in front of the TV, watching an old rerun of The Big Valley, eating a Heath bar, while wearing a pair of sturdy Lee Jeans, a NASA baseball cap, and a "Colt's" hoodie; all while a paperback copy of "Cyborg" lays nearby...ah...the perfect image of a true fangirl of the great Lee Majors....
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Bionika
Member Avatar
International Goodwill Ambassador
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Hello PineappleAngel

What a big question...and an interesting story in progress.

As you are speaking of "Steve canon behaviour", no I don't think that he kills someone even in this situation except if you place your story during the period of the three pilots episodes because in theses films Steve was more violent. This is the first answer I had in my head while reading your answer. So either you have the kid living or you can have Steve saying : "I will kick you to the Moon/into orbit " or like you said : "another you'll regret it" because he will take care that the an would be jailed and never have his son's custody.

But as you said: "examples of similar situations from the show(s) would be great" and it would be great excuses for watching again some episodes.

Bionika
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
PineappleAngel
Member Avatar
Bionic Ultra-Agent
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Bionika
Nov 28 2015, 04:42 PM
As you are speaking of "Steve canon behaviour", no I don't think that he kills someone even in this situation except if you place your story during the period of the three pilots episodes because in theses films Steve was more violent. This is the first answer I had in my head while reading your answer. So either you have the kid living or you can have Steve saying : "I will kick you to the Moon/into orbit " or like you said : "another you'll regret it" because he will take care that the an would be jailed and never have his son's custody.
A little more detail, my story is an Alternate Universe Crossover of the origin of Steve's bionics (with this whole kid story line). However, despite it being earlier in his "bionic life" I am going to make him a bit nicer at the beginning (not so angry about his situation etc). I do like that idea about "kick you into the moon" or something.. In my story the "man" is the one who makes Steve's bionics (sorry, no Rudy in my universe) So perhaps something like... "If he dies, I'm going to use these new bionics you gave me and throw you so far, that NASA will have to come find you".
Sitting in front of the TV, watching an old rerun of The Big Valley, eating a Heath bar, while wearing a pair of sturdy Lee Jeans, a NASA baseball cap, and a "Colt's" hoodie; all while a paperback copy of "Cyborg" lays nearby...ah...the perfect image of a true fangirl of the great Lee Majors....
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
LuvNvrNds
Member Avatar
Bionic Ultra-Agent
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
PineappleAngel
Nov 28 2015, 05:57 PM
Bionika
Nov 28 2015, 04:42 PM
As you are speaking of "Steve canon behaviour", no I don't think that he kills someone even in this situation except if you place your story during the period of the three pilots episodes because in theses films Steve was more violent. This is the first answer I had in my head while reading your answer. So either you have the kid living or you can have Steve saying : "I will kick you to the Moon/into orbit " or like you said : "another you'll regret it" because he will take care that the an would be jailed and never have his son's custody.
A little more detail, my story is an Alternate Universe Crossover of the origin of Steve's bionics (with this whole kid story line). However, despite it being earlier in his "bionic life" I am going to make him a bit nicer at the beginning (not so angry about his situation etc). I do like that idea about "kick you into the moon" or something.. In my story the "man" is the one who makes Steve's bionics (sorry, no Rudy in my universe) So perhaps something like... "If he dies, I'm going to use these new bionics you gave me and throw you so far, that NASA will have to come find you".
Hi PA,

I think, as Bionika wrote, that the canonical version of Steve Austin in the weekly TV series could never act on his anger. Perhaps the version in the pre-series movies was a bit different, as also mentioned by Bionika. The version of Steve Austin from the Cyborg books, by Martin Caiden, was a lot more violent if I remember correctly.

While Steve, in the episode, Return of the Bionic Woman, threatens to use his bionics to throw Oscar and Rudy through the walls to get the real scoop on Jaime's death/resurrection, Steve never gets to deliver here as emotional as he is - because Oscar and Rudy relent. And Steve WAS emotional. I think Steve in this moment is absolutely capable of using great force in an emotional situation such as this one but the writers and so forth could never allow such a display on TV. (I like to call the network, the censors, the 1970's executives making decisions, "The Powers That Be"). In a 1970's weekly television series, a show like this had become popular with kids and showing any real violence was a no-go. "The Powers That Be" displayed a kinder gentler Steve Austin, especially after that first 1/2 season.

But I think your idea, that a scientist/doctor who has transformed Steve, and one who also hurts a child may emotionally touch Steve in a powerful way. I could easily see Steve use the line, "If he dies, I'm going to use these new bionics you gave me and throw you so far..." I think if pushed hard enough, Steve Austin is capable of hurting this kind of perpetrator. I don't think he would intentionally kill. But that's my personal opinion on a canonical Steve Austin (that is the Canonical Steve Austin that I perceive with no "Powers That Be" involved). This is the Steve Austin that I see in my mind's eye. Do you get me???

It is an Alternate Universe and one that plays out in your own mind's eye, so you, of course have total discretion of how it all plays out. I respond only to share how I envision the canonical Steve Austin and how it may have been different due to the mores of the 1970's. I think the "how violent" question is an interesting and valid subject to contemplate. I'm curious as to the responses of others...
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Inanna
Member Avatar
Bionic Ultra-Agent
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Okay, the only episode in the SMDM series were I remember people dying is the first season's "Dr. Wells is Missing", so you might want to rewatch that to see what violence Steve is capable and when. IIRC, though, Steve truly violent actions were in self defense, as in he was going to be run over by a car, so he defended himself. I think in a situation like this, what might be most effective is not all out force (beating the guy to a bloody pulp) but merely a demonstration of force to let the guy know exactly what he would be dealing with as far as consequences go. You could always have Steve finish the scene saying something along the lines of "And you know I'm a man of my word..." or "And you know I don't make idle threats..."

Usually when I write, I sometimes think of scenes in books, tv series, or movies that I can reference (besides the fandom source) and then put my own spin on the scene I'm writing, so I'm going to refer to a few below that you could reference. None of the scenes involve a beatdown (meaning nothing where there's belief that the antagonist's life is truly in danger) I think the reason why I have some of these suggestions in mind is because I think if confronted, the abuser would attempt to bully Steve because the abuser is, in fact, a bully. The abusive father preys upon his smaller, weaker son, that's a bully in my book.

You might be able to access the scenes I've referred to directly off of YouTube.

The situation you describe makes me recall the movie "Kindergarten Cop" with Arnold (or Ahnuld :)) Schwarzenegger. There is a boy in Kimble's (Schwarzenegger) class that is getting physically abused by his father. The boy shows up late one day to class, Kimble notices a large bruise on the boy and goes out to confront the father, who is still in the parking lot. Kimble warns him not to touch the kid again or he, Kimble, will press charges. The father then (stupidly, because come on -- this is Schwarzenegger and who do you think is going to win that fight?) tries to take Kimble on and Kimble clocks him. Kimble is about to clock the father again, sees the kid looking at him and says to the dad, "You're not worth it" and let's him go. Dad crumples to the ground.

Another example, though I think it would be a bit more, hmm, vengeful?, than Steve usually is. Imagine Steve punching the guy in place of the sword. The scene is from the Firefly episode "Shindig". The character Mal has been forced into a sword duel by a man that is referred to as an expert swordsman. The man has pretty much every intention of killing Mal. Mal, miraculously, gets the upper hand, but does not kill his opponent, saying 'Having to lie there while the better man refuses to spill your blood. Mercy is the mark of a great man.' However, Mal is still quite P.O'd about the whole situation and wants his opponent to know it, so the rest of the scene goes as follows --

[lightly stabs opponent with the sword]

Mal: Guess I'm just a good man.

[stabs him again]

Mal: Well, I'm all right.


The last scene is from the third season Criminal Minds episode 'Damaged'. A condemned serial killer challenges Hotch to a fight, which Hotch accepts with the statement 'But, unfortunately for you, I'm not a 5 foot, 100 pound girl. All your life, you've gone after victims that couldn't fight back.' Reid ends up defusing the situation by talking the condemned man down. You could use a scenario like this if someone else was present like Jaime or perhaps Rudy Wells.

Hope this has helped.
Edited by Inanna, Nov 30 2015, 12:05 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
PineappleAngel
Member Avatar
Bionic Ultra-Agent
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Wow! So many suggestions!! Thank you -all!! These are great example- and I love the other fandom examples - it's good to visualize it comparatively. Thanks so much you guys! I will definitely be working on my mysterious story and will share it with you soon!! :)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · The Writers' Room · Next Topic »
Add Reply

Play Trivia and Quizzes at FunTrivia.com

Skin Created by Xarina of Rapture & Zathyus Networks Resources.
This theme is best viewed in firefox.