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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/7114
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

The following unedited dialogue is from a novel I'm writing (which is based on a short story I wrote a while ago):

> "I hope it's not an inappropriate question," Icaro said, after hesitating for a moment. "But is it true that you don't have a soul?"
> 
> Ling stared down at her shoes, and then gave a slight nod.
> 
> Icaro's eyes widened, as if he had just seen a ghost. "How did that happen? Did you lose it somewhere?"
> 
> Ling shook her head. "I was born without one."
> 
> "But then how can you, like, be alive without a soul?"
> 
> "Mmm, to be honest, I'm not quiet sure myself." Ling said, "I just know that my body managed to keep itself functioning without one."
> 
> "But there're still some sort of physical problems, right? Is that the reason you came to the hospital?"
> 
> Ling shook her head once again. "I'm perfectly healthy. The reason I'm here is that, well, I kind of work here."
> 
> "You work in the hospital?"
> 
> Ling nodded. "Well, I guess I can't really call it a job, since I don't do much. I just sit in a room while doctors run tests on me. Nothing crazy, of course. Just simple things like blood, motor, and psychological tests. In return, they give me a monthly salary, and provide me with accommodation inside the hospital. A little room that was meant to be used by emergency doctors."
> 
> Even thought it was a bit hard to believe, it somehow made sense to Icaro. Many doctors would be very interested in a case like hers.
> 
> "The pay isn't much," Ling continued. "But since I have a place to sleep, and since I can eat at the cafeteria for free, I don't really spend that much. And the tests are mostly done in the morning. So, I have the whole afternoon, evening, and night for myself."
> 
> "Sounds like a good deal," Icaro said after giving it a thought. "But I don't know, aren't you tired of spending so much time at the hospital? You know, watching sick people all the time. The smell of hospital."
> 
> "Mmm, I think I'm used to it," Ling said. "I guess everything is tolerable once you get used to it."

Each characters has his/her own story and motivations, and I tried to keep them present while writing the dialogue.

I wonder if both characters sound the same. If so, how can I do to make them sound more "different"?

Original score: 6