Fair enough -- I'll see how it goes. Who knows, our fourth member may appear with a burst of productivity and make all this discussion moot!
Our pair really are a lot alike. I think Paine at least recognizes that in some ways; Nooj, however, seems to have put Paine on an impossibly high pedestal.
Thanks for the review! Your backstory question regarding Paine's enormous trust issues is a good one. I'd like to answer it in the story if I can find a natural way to work it in, but so far nothing has presented itself.
I'm starting to agree with you that the two of them will need to have a frank conversation where they put everything on the table. By the time she gets to where you are writing, I think that Paine would be willing to admit the true depth of her feelings to Nooj if she thought he would respond in kind, or at least not blow her off. But he's already betrayed her trust once, in the fallout from the sand-bear incident. She's working past that, but if he hurts her again that might well be it. So she hesitates.
Anyway, so yes. They should speak openly at least once, and you can work that in at any time. If there's anything you need from me to make the conversation work, let me know.
Re: I
Our pair really are a lot alike. I think Paine at least recognizes that in some ways; Nooj, however, seems to have put Paine on an impossibly high pedestal.
Thanks for the review! Your backstory question regarding Paine's enormous trust issues is a good one. I'd like to answer it in the story if I can find a natural way to work it in, but so far nothing has presented itself.
I'm starting to agree with you that the two of them will need to have a frank conversation where they put everything on the table. By the time she gets to where you are writing, I think that Paine would be willing to admit the true depth of her feelings to Nooj if she thought he would respond in kind, or at least not blow her off. But he's already betrayed her trust once, in the fallout from the sand-bear incident. She's working past that, but if he hurts her again that might well be it. So she hesitates.
Anyway, so yes. They should speak openly at least once, and you can work that in at any time. If there's anything you need from me to make the conversation work, let me know.