helen-louise's journal

I have a question regarding the story I'm currently writing (which may well get extended into a series of stories).

For background, I have these two characters who are both men aged around 25. They live and work in a fictional version of Los Angeles. (A lot of fans refer to it as "Japanifornia" because, essentially, Capcom transplanted the game from Tokyo to LA without changing very much at all.)

It has been established that they are in love with each other and would be interested in dating. However, one of them is quite badly mentally ill (bipolar disorder and PTSD) and is really worried that if they get into a relationship and it doesn't work out, he'll lose the other guy as a friend. And he doesn't have many friends to start with, owing to the fact he's famous and people only want to get to know the celebrity, not the real person underneath.

How do I get them to start dating?

See, a lot of other fans' stories have Klavier not so badly messed up to start with, and/or have them get into a relationship the apparently "standard" way, where you start off going on dates and after a few months, one of you "confesses" your love to the other one. I do remember having relationships like this in my early 20s, but not for many years - I mean, when I got together with Richard it was because I was already in love with him. Certainly, mostly meeting people online means that I don't bother to confess I'm in love until I'm at the point of being interested in a relationship.

Feel free to ask any questions which are needed for you to better understand the characters and/or fictional situation (and/or my real-life brain, haha).