Second Chances Interview #4 — Eli & Dylan
Callie: Welcome to our celebration of Second Chances leading up to the premiere of Changes: Transitions. This is your host, Callie Solanen, and joining me today for interview number four are Eli and Dylan Moray, stars of the mod Eli & Dylan. Thank you both for taking time out of your days to speak with me.
Eli: Oh, not a problem! Always glad to hang out with you, Cal.
Callie: So, you’re the new kids on the block, so to speak, as far as Second Chances goes. What was it like joining a cast that had already worked together for years?
Eli: Aw, it wasn’t so bad as all that. They’re an incredibly welcoming group of people.
Dylan: Like I said—terrifying.
Eli: Mia made a point to help integrate us into the rest of the cast, and of course, Cal, you and Emily did as well.
Callie: We tried, at least. Did you have any hiccups in the beginning?
Eli: A few. It took a month or so before I really clicked with Caelwynn.
Eli: Just had a hard time getting her to hear my voice whenever the story shifted to my point of view.
Dylan: At least until she gave you someone to riff off of.
Callie: Someone to riff of of?
Eli: [laughter] Yeah, that’s one of the bigger changes made from the original mod.
Callie: Care to elaborate?
Eli: Mostly, Cae took a few random lines of my dialogue concerning the pendant I wear and invented a new way of tormenting me.
Dylan: You mean, she figured out a way to make you focus.
Eli: Like I said, tormenting me. [laughter] She decided to give me a demon that makes snarky comments and sings annoying children’s songs.
Callie: Wait, really? The Voidling is a demon?
Eli: Technically? No. But…. [nervous laughter]
Callie: Is it the only major change?
Eli: Because our mod didn’t officially release until Choices had nearly finished posting, Cae obviously couldn’t include us in your first year. However, in our mod, we’ve lived in the valley for a year prior to the farmer arriving.
Callie: How did she square that circle?
Dylan: She’s letting certain events relayed after the fact play out on-page.
Callie: Like the Flower Dance?
Eli: Look, we don’t have to go into all the gory details—
Dylan: Emily and Elliott will eventually forgive you—
Callie: It seems like that would be a particular challenge for you, Dylan, considering your reserved nature.
Dylan: It’s true. In the mod, I already have certain… I wouldn’t, eh, go so far as to say friendships, but certainly acquaintanceships already established. Unfortunately, the readers will see how atrocious I am at socializing.
Eli: I wouldn’t say that. If anything, you develop your friendships far faster, as our heart events also play out in conjunction with the backstory events.
Callie: Speaking of heart events, how closely does your story follow them in Second Chances?
Dylan: In my case, fairly closely. A few things are tweaked here and there, but certainly not to the extent that June’s were.
Eli: [laughter] There are some significant changes that happen, including combining one of my heart events with another character’s heart event. Which, to be honest, I found pretty fun. It’s a character that I only interact with in passing in the game proper, but she’s a delight to work with.
Dylan: I will say that’s something I’ve enjoyed. Our mod already does a fantastic job of letting us interact with characters outside of vanilla and East Scarp—
Eli: Like randomly visiting Ridgeside!
Dylan: —but this story gives us more opportunities to crossover. I especially enjoyed the chance to befriend Sophia from SVE. Though, I think we all would’ve been happier to keep Eli and Lance separated.
Eli: Now, what does that mean? We get along just fine. We have to considering Ster—
Dylan: You know we can’t talk about that!
Callie: We have time for one final question. What was the most emotional moment for you in the fic?
Dylan: For us, personally?
Callie: Yes. Or, barring that, what was the funniest?
Eli: For me… there’s this scene that happens in the first third of the story. We’ve lived in East Scarp for barely a month, and someone mentions how they want to be my friend, and it just… completely blindsided me.
Dylan: He started crying.
Callie: Pretty sure you did get a little teary-eyed in that scene.
Callie: Just want to make sure our listeners get an accurate picture. [clears throat] Anyway, what about you, Dylan? Any particularly emotional or funny moments?
Dylan: Not especially that I can think of.
Eli: Just wait until the Bears finally show up.
Callie: Please don’t kill one another. Fratricide, while great for ratings, would put an incredible pall over this week’s celebration.
[indistinguishable grumbles]
Callie: Thank you both once again for joining me today.
Dylan: Thank you for having us.
Callie: And thanks to our listeners at home. We’ll be back tomorrow with one last interview. Remember, Changes: Transitions opens at an Ao3 near you on June 15th. We hope to see you there!
Other Interviews:
Shane & Alex
June & Elliott
Jas & Mr. Ginger
