[@JunkMail][@Lord Wraith][@Hillan]

The whole CS—the entire character concept—is based on a [i]struggle.[/i] It is a struggle with what psychologists today would call a disorder. When you do things without control, like one with an eating disorder. You can tell them to stop, but they’ll keep eating for various reasons and sometimes those reasons involve how good it feels and how it takes their mind away from the actual pain they are going through whether that be physical, mental, or both. Similarly, how do you stop something you like? How do you stop an addiction that is self-destructive? You have to get help and Victor does this by seeing a psychologist regularly.

As for the history, there are several American historical events that I probably could have written a novel about in the back story (like the Berlin Wall), but I chose not to. I only focused on the major events that occurred in his life that revealed when his ability first emerged to how he got to America. I wasn’t planning on writing a novel if that’s what you were wondering. Now there are several philosophical concepts I based this CS on. If you ever studied International Relations, the major concept that this CS is based on is called [i]Realism.[/i] It is the idea that humans are always at conflict in pursuit of power. Hans Morgenthau goes deeper with [i]Neorealism[/i], saying that it is because of human nature. Throughout history, violence has always been awarded in the military (from Spartan warriors to Knights and I can’t say entirely now because we are in a more humanitarian movement) with awards and promotions. The SS were a violent and despicable group that needs no further elaboration.

As for surgery, surgery is violent. When you are going into someone that requires you to cut them open. The intention of the doctor is not the same as a criminal—that is a doctor with a healthy moral psychology—but the act is still intrusive and scares people at times. And doctors have to find the least intrusive route to go about conducting surgery because someone’s life is in their hands. When you’re cutting away at scar tissue, tumors, or sawing through bone, it is all violent and graphic. But the intention isn’t. It is the act of violence that my character’s power works.

Now that you have given your constructive criticism, what recommendations do you have?