Edison Estes

@MagpieGD I haven't really read any cyberpunk, but I find most of the "punk" genres fascinating (huge steampunk fan here). I sorta wanna say leave it cyberpunk just so I can check it out in its original form...
            
            However, if it's for a fantasy contest, you may need to tweak it in order to adhere to the qualifications. The fantasy handbook I read has dieselpunk and steampunk listed as subgenres, but not cyberpunk.
            
            Whatever you decide to do, it sounds like an interesting story.

@MagpieGD I could also submit the story for @wattpunk  most recent contest, but that would mean cutting it down from 3500 words to 2000

@Arveliot No problem. The premise you start off with is really intriguing.  Looking forward to reading more!

@MagpieGD Don't you just love it when a character pushes their way into the story? That's how my main antagonist came into the spotlight.
            
            If you really don't want to kill them, change it. Or write two different versions, read them over, and decide which you like better.
            
            I'm a horrible person, and I always prefer to kill the character off. It may make me sad, but it adds realism to the story. And I like to do my best to make my readers cry.
            
            Because I'm a jerk.

@MagpieGD Yea, I hadn't even intended for this character to be in the story at first, it just kinda happened. The thing is that while the death would progress the plot, to do so it is dependent on a single rule I set up earlier in the story that may or may not be arbitrary, I'm not sure. If I changed that rule, I could change the direction of the story enough that the character doesn't die, but it might make slightly less sense.

@MagpieGD Ugh, so hard to do this. I just killed off a character in a story I'm working on, and it was heartbreaking. I reread the scene, and I actually got teary-eyed.
            
            Is the death needed in order to progress the plot? If so, I say go for it. Tragic events can often spur a character on to do things or become someone they wouldn't have dreamed of had it not been for what happened.
            
            If it's more for the emotional impact and won't change the direction of the plot, then don't off them. If you like them enough and don't wanna see them go, don't do it.
            
            Of course, you could change the original direction of the plot to keep them in it. You're the writer. You call the shots. All right, we writers think we call the shots, but we know it's really the characters in charge >_>

@MagpieGD awesome! I love going dark. Sometimes people think it's too dark but . . . it's what I like!

@dcompbooks I really did! It has the kind of dark, evil twist that I really enjoy reading and writing. It was great!