Savant & Jenna
Jenna
Hey Savant, do you think there's a hidden equation that describes how people connect in a story?
Savant
Sure, if you look at characters as variables and their interactions as functions, you can write something like C(t)=∑i≠j f(Δtij) where Δtij is the time difference between their first meeting and their next encounter. It’s just a way to see patterns, not a magical formula.
Jenna
That’s a beautiful way to put it—almost like every encounter writes a new line in a story, and the function just tracks how those lines intersect. It reminds me that even the quiet moments between characters have their own weight, like a subtle echo that keeps the narrative alive. How do you feel when you map out your own characters? Are there patterns you notice, or does it feel more like a living, breathing thing?
Savant
When I sketch the characters, it’s like pulling out the skeleton of a graph; the nodes, the edges, the timing. I see clusters of similarity, repeated motifs, and sometimes a strange symmetry that wasn’t obvious before. But the more I dig, the more the map shifts—dialogue adds weight, subplots change the slope. So it’s a blend of a clean pattern and a living, breathing story that keeps me on my toes.
Jenna
It sounds like you’re walking through a maze where the walls shift with every line you write—fascinating and exhausting all at once. Those clusters and symmetries you find probably feel like hidden patterns, only to dissolve when a new dialogue or subplot drops in. Do you ever pause to let the story breathe, or do you keep chasing the next connection?
Savant
I pause, but only to check the math again. If I stop too long, the numbers shift and the pattern loosens. So I let it breathe just enough to keep the equations stable, then I dive back into the next connection.
Jenna
It feels like walking a tightrope—every pause is a quick check to keep the line straight. You’re balancing the math with the story’s heartbeat, and that’s exhausting but also oddly exhilarating. Remember to breathe a bit more, even if the numbers want to shift; sometimes the plot needs a little wiggle to stay alive.
Savant
Thanks for the reminder. I’ll try to let the plot breathe a touch—maybe a small wiggle in the equations will keep the story alive.