Hello! Thank you so much for making this blog! I have a question about characterization. What kind of arguments or disagreements might the protagonists of a forbidden love have? If for example they come from two cities that hate each other how can I make it so that the conflict isn't just the worry of being caught, but also trying to make it work even though they are very different. (One of them is a magical being if it helps). I don't want to just make it a perfect relationship with all opposition coming from the outside without any conflict between them, as I think it wouldn't make sense.
Hello anon! Thank you so much for asking me a question, I love a writing chat.
I have to say that I'm very fond of this question and the entire thought process around it. We definitely see the perfect love with outside influences pushing them apart Romeo/Juliet trope a lot. It has its place in literature but also letting the relationship have internal conflict is brilliant.
There is literally so much to argue about:
Unquestioned biases - your side doesn't like music, your side is naturally aggressive, women in your city are second rate citizens, etc etc. This has so many possibilities because being raised in opposite cultures like that.
Where to meet up // when to meet up. Are there sacred/safe/unsafe/forbidden spaces? Are there times that are special and/or more dangerous? We can meet in the garden on Friday but not Saturday. We can go to the ruins after 8pm but we have to leave before midnight. If you don't grow up with this and/or have experience with it, sometimes these things seem silly.
For that matter, whether or not their cultural stories are silly are not. Whether or not superstitions and whatnot make sense. These probably won't be as serious but if you make someone feel self-conscious or silly or embarrassed about something they grew up with even if it is silly objectively, they might feel insulted.
Their future. Are they running away? Joining a rebellion? Living in one city or another?
Is one of them more invested in the future than the other?
Telling loved ones about the affair. Can they be trusted? Are their lives are in danger? etc.
Specific political moves made by the cities can cause issues because it makes it more or less dangerous to be together and/or one side agrees with it but the other doesn't.
Basically anything that affects one side more than the other but isn't met with the amount of concern the people think it should. Like, your city imposed a tariff on mine so now my family barely has enough to eat and the other person is like, anyway lets make out. Or they're like: oh I'll bring you food I've got plenty.
If one is magic and one is not, then distrust or obsession with magic. And/or an inability to fully grasp the rules and restrictions of magic.
If they have a common language than how to pronounce words/what idioms mean what. This is a silly argument not as serious, but it could be fun to see them laughing at each other's weird sayings.
I feel like this list could go on indefinitely because cultural differences have so many angles to investigate, then you add in the enemy angle and the magical angle? Amazing. If anyone else has things to add feel free to leave a reply or reblog.
