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Q&A Writing a very complex relationship

The simplest answer is that there has to be something which bridges the divide between master and slave and allows them to see and respect one another as equals. Does she show mercy to the slave wh...

posted 12y ago by Lauren Ipsum‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Answer
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-13T12:00:12Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/6523
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T02:33:26Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/6523
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T02:33:26Z (almost 5 years ago)
The simplest answer is that there has to be something which bridges the divide between master and slave and allows them to see and respect one another as equals. Does she show mercy to the slave whom her slave has defeated? Does he disable rather than kill his opponents, or dispatch them quickly and without pain? Did she acquire him and thereby save him from execution? Does he love fighting and was slotted for something quiet and boring, and she rescued him from a worse fate?

Once you've established how they get past the initial barrier, the falling in love bit is like any other pairing.

I can suggest some homework. These are similar relationships, and you can see how they develop to figure out how to draw parallels with your own characters:

[_Transformation_](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0451457951) by Carol Berg: The two men don't fall in love, but they form a powerful friendship.

[_The Morgaine Saga_](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0886778778) by CJ Cherryh: The warrior isn't exactly the sorceress's slave, but he is bound to her service.

If you want to stretch it a bit, the title character of the BBC's "Merlin" is Arthur's servant but they decidedly do not have a servant-master relationship.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2012-10-21T21:15:43Z (about 12 years ago)
Original score: 7