I saw this “Platonic Relationship Meme“ on Tumblr. And I decided to try it with Murray and Penelope. I have plans to try this with other BFF pairs. So feel free to toss out suggestions (fyi, I only plan to tackle characters I’m already familiar with). Thanks to sonicsora for the great idea!
Sly4 AU where Penelope really was hypnotized and Bentley doesn't lose her.
More Sly Cooper doodles I forgot to post...
Neyla, Carmelita & Penelope Inked sketches. Lol these are pretty old too. (2019)
“Who needs kisses when you’ve got fully consensual love and affection?”
reuploading for valentines day and because i'm being very slow drawing new things. also because i'm incredibly starved for Content of these two
You may recall from your literature classes that characters can be “flat” or “round,” and likewise, “minor” or “major.”
A character also may be a protagonist or antagonist.
Look at F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby for examples of character types.
Note that the characters in the novel are more complex than what is stated here, and that Gatsby faces other antagonists—such as class, bourgeois snobbery, and the progression of time itself.
Protagonist: the main or central character, the hero (Gatsby)
Antagonist: opponent or enemy of the protagonist (Tom Buchanan)
Flat/Minor: a character(s) who helps readers better understand another character, usually the protagonist. Also, “a static and undeveloped character of two dimensions” (Knorr and Schell 165). (Nick Carraway)
While Gatsby is our protagonist, the one who we want to succeed, his success would mean ousting his beloved Daisy’s husband, Tom Buchanan.
An idea can also function as an antagonist: Gatsby is also fighting against the bourgeois prejudice of elite 1920s New York City, where “old money”—such as the Buchanans—is worth more than new money, as exemplified by the divide between East Egg and West Egg.
Usually, the protagonist is also a Round character, “a developing three-dimensional character” (Knorr and Schell 165).
In other words, the protagonist must be a character that grows and changes during the story; it is the progress of this change that keeps the reader interested and cheering for the character.
Part of why The Great Gatsby has endured in American literature is because the characters are complex, rather than being simple archetypes.
You are already aware of many archetypes; you can recognize them in the movies you watch, such as the Reluctant Hero (Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games series).
Using an archetype is a kind of shorthand; if you put in a character like The Lonely Old Lady With A Dog, the reader recognizes the character and knows what to expect from them.
This may be helpful when populating your world with minor/flat characters, because it is reassuring and comforting to your reader; your reader knows these archetypal characters already.
Unfortunately, that also means that archetypal characters may be clichéd. Once you put your character down into their world, they can react in various ways to the setting and reality of their lives.
In Mooring Against the Tide: Writing Fiction and Poetry, Knorr and Schell write:
…your characters may react to the world in one of four ways. They may see this society and its values and assimilate by adopting those values as their own; they may accommodate in that they do not like those values but will adopt them anyway if only to get along; they may rebel against those values in any number of ways; or, they may take flight from that society and, as did Huck Finn, head out to the new territories.
In other words, just as our choices in life determine where we go, the plot of your story is determined by the nature of your characters.
These four choices might not seem to offer many different plot options, but in reality, they can play out in an infinite number of ways. Think about your favorite novel or short story—it’s likely that the main character is faced with a choice and has to pick one of the four routes described above.
Otherwise, there may not be much conflict in your story.
Source Writing References: Worldbuilding ⚜ Plot ⚜ Character
And here's what I've been focusing on...
I don't know. You tell me how to write anything that goes on in that geisha house. And Rioichi's dialogue.
My solution is to find stuff for Penelope to do in the background so I don't have to worry about anything Rioichi does. And it's perfect because at this point in the story, Penelope's not exactly going to be a team player yet.
I don't dislike Rioichi. I just don't want to write for him.
Definition: Affection is a feeling of fondness or love towards someone or something. It typically involves a warm attachment, a caring attitude, and a desire to show kindness and tenderness.
When you want to write the emotion affection, it's important to "show" the emotion your character is experiencing through their physical reactions and dialogue, rather than "tell" it.
Physical signs:
Hugs: Characters wrapping their arms around each other.
Kisses: Gentle or passionate lip contact between characters.
Hand-holding: Characters clasping each other's hands.
Cuddling: Characters snuggling closely together.
Caresses: Gentle touches or strokes on the face, arms, or back.
Smiling: Warm, genuine smiles directed at each other.
Eye contact: Prolonged gazes or meaningful looks.
Leaning in: Characters moving closer to each other.
Playfulness: Light teasing or playful physical interactions.
Body language: Open and relaxed posture, facing each other.
Resting heads: Characters resting their heads on each other's shoulders or laps.
Arm around shoulder: One character placing their arm around the shoulders of another.
Squeezing hands: Characters giving a reassuring squeeze to each other's hands.
Nuzzling: Characters pressing their nose or forehead against each other affectionately.
Sharing personal space: Characters standing or sitting closely together.
Whispering: Characters leaning in to share intimate or secretive words.
Back rubs: Characters giving gentle massages to each other's backs.
Gentle touches: Characters brushing away hair from each other's face.
Playful nudges: Light nudges or bumps with elbows or shoulders.
Shared laughter: Characters laughing together, often with touching or holding each other.
Internal sensations:
A sense of inner warmth or comfort when thinking about or being near the person they care for.
A fluttery feeling in the stomach or chest when they see or think about their loved one.
A general feeling of happiness or contentment when in the presence of their loved one.
A heightened sense of excitement or anticipation before seeing their loved one.
A calm and peaceful feeling when thinking about their relationship or when spending time together.
A subtle ache or longing when apart from their loved one.
A sense of security or safety when they are with their loved one.
A feeling of being valued and appreciated by their loved one.
A deep affection and fondness when remembering shared moments or qualities of their loved one.
A sense of gratitude for having their loved one in their life.
Mental Responses:
Longing for their presence
Comfort in their words
Excitement at hearing from them
Gratitude for their kindness
Eagerness to reciprocate
Nostalgia for past moments together
Anticipation of future connections
Affectionate memories surfacing
Sense of belonging
Telling Affection Examples to Avoid:
Try avoiding things like this:
John felt an overwhelming affection for his wife.
Sarah was filled with affection for her newborn baby.
The old man's eyes were filled with affection as he watched his grandchildren play.
Despite their rocky past, Mary still felt a deep affection for her ex-husband.
The dog's tail wagged with affection as his owner petted him.
Practical Examples of Showing Affection:
Some examples of showing affection in a sentence:
She hugged her friend tightly, feeling her warmth and comfort after a long day.
He smiled at his daughter and tousled her hair, glad to see her growing up so fast.
She rested her head on her partner's shoulder, sighing contentedly and feeling at ease in their embrace.
He placed a gentle kiss on his wife's forehead, silently communicating his love and support for her.
'Dynamic Duo' is a decent mission in an otherwise lacklustre episode, but what i really love about it is how much it develops Penelope's character. from giving her a cutie health metre (and by extent establishing lavender purple as her signature colour. iconic) to having the targets look like pieces of cheese because y'know she's a mouse
yo are we going to just ignore the fact that penelope has years of training in boxing??