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Finally managed to find time to read chapter 9 and I have to, once again, say that I absolutely adored this chapter. Admittedly Knuxouge isn't really my thing, but for what it's worth I really enjoyed reading their banter and learning more about their relationship.

Something I've noticed in this chapter and in previous chapters is just how long you manage to make parts where you talk about the characters feelings, thoughts and relationships without repeating yourself. To me that implies a deep understanding of the characters and their relationships. I was wondering just how you do that? How much planning goes into a chapter like this?

(oh and a follow up from my last ask where I said that it felt like chapter 8 lost steam toward the end, I don't feel that for chapter 9)

(Youre good man, DW. I didn't even notice tbf until you corrected it xD)

I'm so glad you enjoyed Chapter 8 and the Knuxouge stuff despite it not being for you, that makes me super happy. Also really pleased that you didn't feel it lost steam, I really did try to tie things up neatly with this chapter, but the fact that it stood alone as it's own thing kinda leant towards that a bit more. It was definitely a challenge though, cuz it was more like writing a clean short story rather than the typical chapter with a more open ending.

That's a really interesting question btw and I'm gonna do my best to answer it because I think half the stuff you're asking about isn't always a super conscious decision for me, so I'll try to be more analytical about my process. But thank you! I do try to get really into details with their characters and relationships (this is a drama afterall, so thats important) And i think thats where all this stems from is wanting to really portray exactly who these guys are and the depths of their relationships and why thats important.

(Actual answer below but I realised it was very long so if I were to give a TL;DR; I write out the scene, then I dive into the character's actions and dialogue within the scene, and explain why it reflects their character and relationships to each other, using themes and symbols to emphasise :') tho sometimes the reflection comes first and I write the actions around that too! Most of the time its not that linear, sometimes it flows out and i switch between, sometimes i go back and add things, either dialogue/actions or emotional reflections/description.)

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I'm kind of a waffler anyway, its pretty obvious at this point that i like to info dump, and im sure thats not for everyone but people seem to like it. I actively try to tone it down and fine-tune it as best as I can, but I just really like getting deep into things.

So in general, there are themes that I want to cover, headcanons I want to share, emotional details I want to explain, and there's a lot of subtext underneath every scene and because I'm trying to give you my versions/headcanons of these characters, I'm trying to explain and show that subtext so that they feel believable.

The biggest thing I'm thinking about when I'm writing a relationship (romantic, platonic, familiar, whatever) Is what they mean to each other, what do they represent to each other? And in order to understand what they mean to each other, I gotta think about what they lack as individuals (or maybe not LACK, but what are they missing/need that the other person fulfils in their life just from what that person has in their personality or character), and then I go deeper into why that matters.

I also like to work a lot with themes and symbols and metaphor. There are concrete themes in TDWM that are kind of the groundwork for everything else, and to express how important these characters are to each other, i like to go into what they symbolise to each other.

And because no-one ever does anything on accident (we all make decisions based on our character), I'm looking at why a character says or does something and then I explain it.

Once I've sneezed it all out onto the document, I go back and refine from it sounding like waffle to it having some kind of flow xD

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So with the Rouge and Knuckles chapter for example; There is a lot of 'telling' initially, because I wanted to give context throughout the showing, so that when we get to the flashback scenes you have all the information you need to fill in the blanks and understand why every decision they've made has brought them to this present relationship. At least that was my intention, but I still have a habit of waffling too hard sometimes.

In a way, i kind of treat it like 'doing the math' lol

So for them, the thought process goes like this (and a lot of this is headcanon building on headcanon based on what I take from the media) :

What does Knuckles represent to Rouge? -> Home, security, comfort, stability, predictability. -> Why? Because he was raised to care about tradition, because he knows the importance of commitment and duty (why? because he's spent the first part of his life guarding an important artefact without question or applause) -> Why does this matter to Rouge? Because 1 we know she respects competence (based on how she acts and who she associates herself with and the self-respect she has for her own capabilities) and Because 2 Rouge lacks that stable predictability in her own life (why? because shes a government spy/treasure hunter who is all over the place fulfilling her job and goals.)

So then how is this shown in the chapter -> Rouge comes home from work and Knuckles is already making dinner, making her tea, taking care of her, doing domestic things like reinforcing pre-established predictable house rules. How does Rouge respond to this? Throughout the chapter she visibly relaxes, she banters back about house rules because she's aware of their established routine, she physically disrobes to get comfortable, she cuddles him and rests against him for support, she falls asleep in the bedroom knowing that she's safe and loved and is being taken care of.

Then what are the symbols? -> Mountain's being unshakable, flying creatures are in constant motion and without the ground they'll keep falling, birds needing somewhere to perch etc, the dragonfly finding a tulip to settle on, the bee wearing the pollen of a flower so it can return to it, lighthouse on an island for ships in a storm.

For Knuckles, his symbolism is more obvious because he's consistently comparing her to an angel even in his own words, (and I like that it contrasts with how Rouge has seen herself and has been seen in the past, even by him.)

So do it again. What does Rouge represent to Knuckles -> hope, freedom, liberation, his bridge from isolation, someone who descended into his lonely world. Why? Because Rouge lives by her own rules (why? because she can physically go anywhere in the open air as a flying creature, shows up to him uninvited and leaves on her own terms. She completes government missons and treasure hunts all around the world) -> Why does this matter to Knuckles? Because he spent his life being tethered to one spot and bound by duty (and completely alone with limited access to his friends).

How is this shown in the chapter? -> She makes it possible for him to live away from the Emerald and build his own life (because she handles the modern world for them). She offers to reach out to his friends for him because he can't do it alone. She gives active solutions to the Sonic situation because Knuckles struggles to reach out. (why? because he's been conditioned to accept isolation.) He waits for her on Angel Island because he learns from her company that he's actually very lonely, and her presence makes him feel less trapped in his duty. All of this is forms of liberation.

What are the symbols? -> There's physical angelic symbolism in the way she's floating and descending to him to hug him while she's helping to untangle his concerns. The freedom of flying and jealousy over it- In some ways I put in tradition/religion being oppressive, and the bitterness that can come from seeing someone live freely in a way that feels inaccessible under strict order. Burrowing animals being led into the light. Being crushed by tombs. Being trapped under the earth. Just liberation imagery.

And because this is a healthy relationship, I like to mention how they notice the cues of each other, and actively fulfil those needs. Like Rouge noticing that Knuckles might need her to text Cream for him -> thats her understanding her partner on a deep level. Knuckles realising that he spoke a little to harsh about shadow and later being nice about it -> that's him understanding Rouge and tending to her emotionally.

And I'm trying to work all of that in together, between context/subtext, actions and dialogue in the scene, and symbolism. And sometimes that comes from writing out the scene first and then thinking 'ah, this action happened because this character is feeling this way' so then I explain that. OR its the other way around where I want to write about why they matter to each other, and then i think 'i can show this by having them do/say this in the scene'. And i just figure out where that works.

So for example, the moment with them bantering about each other having an attitude, I think 'thats a good place to dive into their banter, and then their personalities, and the fact that Rouge likes a guy who is willing to play with her, but how she also likes a man she can fluster- so then I explain how knuckles is that perfect middle ground- and zing, theres the attraction! But not just that, here is how their compatibility works on a deeper level too...' And that all came from them arguing over a wash basket lol,

because the wash basket moment shows a bit of everything- from their chemistry to their domestic routine, which easily leads into me explaining what they want when it comes to engaging with a partner (why they're attracted to each other beyond aesthetically) and why their values align on a deeper level (shared competence + stability and predictability vs freedom to build a life)

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NOW FOR SHADOW AND SONIC it works the same way.

So if we look at the scene from Chapter 2 where Sonic and Shadow are having their conversation at the table, theres also a lot going on that im trying to show, because why is Sonic even in that situation in the first place and WHY is his relationship with Shadow so important? I do the math.

Shadow represents a feeling of safety that no-one else can give Sonic -> Why? Because Sonic is the worlds hero and Shadow is his rival -> why does that matter? Because that means only Shadow can match him, and that means that if Sonic were to fail then at least someone could catch him and finish the job = Sonic feels less pressure on him when Shadow is around, he's allowed to be vulnerable because vulnerability no longer means that people die (because someone else can do his job too). -> So what happens when that's gone? It means that Sonic, without that invisible safety net, is unable to be vulnerable when things go wrong. -> And what are the consequences of that? When things go wrong (like a divorce) he can't reach out to his friends, he can't admit he's struggling, he cries on his own, be berates himself for struggling and he constantly feels alone. And when he finds himself homeless and struggling with money, he can't ask for help -> Until Shadow comes back.

I've sort of explained that by working backwards there, but if it was reversed and i asked first 'why is sonic in this position' instead, doing the math the other way still makes sense to me how things transpired by Shadow disappearing, and why he was so desperate to see Shadow and stay with him when he came back.

I do the exact thought process with how his relationship with amy fell apart, and how I write Shadows internal thoughts with the 'maria voice'.

Usually when there's an emotional/character/relationship point I want to make, I'll write a list out for that beat (exactly how I've just shown you here, but less detailed), or I'll put in a note while I'm writing just to be like 'mention Shadow in conversation here- then explain Knuckles' history with him, initial relationship jealous but shadow mega gay lol, then why hes pissed that he left rouge on her own for a decade.'

This was a long response but I wanted to go into detail and I hope that helps, I've never thought about it in concrete terms before haha xD

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