Elements/Humours of the Nerima Wrecking Crew

[SpaceKnight of Chaos]

I wasn't too sure if I was supposed to post this here or in Fic Research, so tell me if this is in the wrong place. I was intending to write a Ranma fanfiction where a character would introduce the basics of "Elemental Style", where the practitioner learns to 'adjust' their ki to match the 'ki signature' of the element to which the practitioner is most attuned and thus gain techniques based around the manipulation of that element. The thing is, I'm not too sure which elements the Nerima Wrecking Crew could be considered to have the greatest affinity. Ranma, for instance, could be seen as having an affinity for Air, Water or even Fire.

On a closely related topic, which may assist with my first question, I recently stumbled across something about the ancient belief in "humours", where bodily fluids have an effect on ones personality and temperment, and so I began wondering what sort of "humour" one could consider the NWC members to have. For those of you who aren't familiar with the principle, I'll make a basic explanation of each humour below.

Choler: based on yellow bile, Choler is seen as being warm and dry in composition and is associated with the element of Fire and the season of Summer. Choler affects a person's ego, and thus choleric personalities are confident and ambitious. An overly choleric personality results in domineering or outright violent behaviour- to the extent that a choleric personality is commonly associated with an explosive temper.

Melancholer/Melancholy: based on black bile, Melancholer is seen as being cool and dry in composition and is associated with the element of Earth and the season of Autumn. Regulating a person's awareness and sense of self-control, melancholic people are temperate of actions and straight-foreward in thought. As the common usage of the term suggests, however, those with overly melancholic personalities are depressed and apathetic.

Phlegm: seen as being cool and moist, associated with the element of Water and the season of Winter, this humour measures intellect. Phlegmatic types are thoughtful and meticulous, but can become self-involved and slothful.

Sanguis: the humour of blood, warm and moist in composition, associated with Air and Spring, corresponds to social abilities. Sanguine types tend to make friends easily and to be good leaders, but the overly sanguine can be too friendly and prone to overindulgence.

So, now that I've gotten that off my chest... can anyone help me? What, in your opinion, is the element and/or humour most associable with the Nerima Wrecking Crew?

[Daniel Jess Gibson]

The Greeks actually had 5 elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Quintessence.

The first 4 were material and corruptible, the fifth being ideas/aether and incorruptible.

Also don't forget the 5 Japanese elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water

http://www.biom.net/5_element_theory.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_element

for a good good rundown. Also all the Humors you give involve dry, something I don't associate with most of the Ranma cast, except Akane. Even Nabiki seems to like liquidity.

Making the NWC elemental has been done in a fic, where Ukyo, Kasumi, Nabiki, Kodachi and Akane become elementals. It's on Deviantart.com, but I can't remember the name (or find it in my archives) at the moment.

You might make the twist of having them typify a Japanese and a Greek element
to add to their often conflicted natures. (J: Fire with G: Water)

[Cyber_Skaarj]

Magical Guardian Ranma has a similar concept, with the girls of the NWC receiving elemental based powers. So far only Water (Nabiki), Fire (Akane) and Earth (Shampoo) have been shown, but unfortunately the fic looks to be dead.

[lwf58]

Yes, this is fic research. I've moved it to the right folder. Anytime you say "I want to write a fic, and need to know this first", this is where it belongs.

[Jester_of_doom]

I'd prolly say Ranma is air, hes fast and agile among other things. Also he has the hiryushotenha (sp?) and the vacuum blades.

Ryouga is earth. strength and toughness. also he has the breaking point.

Akane is fire. she has a bad temper and i think she sometimes has fire drawn around when angry... i forget. also water is her natural enemy (cant swim)

Happosai is fire. hes runs on desire. also hes got the happo fire burst.

those are the only ones i have decent reasons for

[bissek]

Using the elements in a fic would make sense, but I wouldn't use humours. At least not in a part of the story where they were explained out loud to the characters. If you're capable of having a member of the NWC get
described as having a high affinity with spit, urine or feces (phlegm, yellow bile and black bile, respectively) and have them take it well without getting ridiculously OOC, you're a much better writer than I am.