starsofcassiopeia replied to your post: “So, in a totally safe-for-work way, let's discuss power dynamics between characters? Because holy crap yeah.”:
IDK but I always default back to Kisho/Zaiden on this one, hahahaha. But like. Am curious about friendships, I guess? In the workplace there's usually a hierarchy established, so the basis is either 'run with it' or 'switch it up' w/added nuances.
Kisho/Zaiden will always be our default. (whispers softly o.. t... p.....)
Workplace is pretty easy to map out power dynamics, yeah. Like there are the obvious overt ones where you may have a boss, and then middle managers, and then subordinates, and there's the clear hierarchy, but I think my favorite thing with workplace struggles are when you get to see the interpersonal politics between everyone who is on the same "tier" of influence within an infrastructure. I'm also kind of fond of "underlings" finding ways to leverage their superiors against each other to advance their personal position. It's bullshit in the real world but in fiction I eat interpersonal politics UP.
With friendships, that's different. I think stuff like this with the workplace is very adversarial. With friendships, sometimes you do have power dynamics, but I think then you get more of a checks and balances system, rather than outright subtle combat. I'd give cool friendship power dynamic examples, but I think that one's a lot harder for me unless I take specific characters to quibble over.