One thing that makes it easier is to have your friend come to you if their character has less reason to be sticking around to one general area or anything like that. Beyond that detail, not being against the RP being somewhat loosely related to your story could make it more flexible since your character's motivation would be there. In the story, what does your character need at the moment? Would it be justified for their character to be one that yours would go to for help with that need? They may not necessarily succeed in being extremely helpful but it will make RP happen either way. That isn’t to say they’ll outright fail at what you ask, it may just turn out that what you ask for isn’t as helpful as you may have hoped, which may work out if you already know how this need will be resolved in the story. It's completely feasible that our characters may go through several connections or resources before a break through, whether we wrote them prior or had them happen to RP with a friend.
Â
If no specific reason works, thinking general and working back to specifics could help you think of something. Using that may often make the need something you think of on the spot to help get the RP going. This could still loosely pertain to your story but may not be something that needed to happen, especially if it just ends up being a fruitless endeavor like I mentioned before. Some general categories and examples could be:Â
Trade, which may lead me to determining that Eddard needs his crafter friend to fix up his armor before pursuing the dangers his story holds; Information, which may lead to me determining that Eddard seeks out a scholar friend to see if he can learn more about his enemy only to find out his friend has no new information; Support, which may lead to Eddard asking a conjurer/medic friend the favor of helping the wounded recover when they return from the doubtlessly taxing mission that faces them.
I'm working off imaginary partners in these examples but knowing the traits of your friend's character could make the thought process easier. Keep in mind that this can work both ways. If your character could find no reason to seek out your friend's character, perhaps your friend's character could find reason to seek yours out.Â
This sort of thought process works a bit easier if you're able to justify your character having a bit of free time somewhere in their day that isn't taken up by their story/stories but I can understand if that isn't the case since I've been there myself. I hope this was helpful and hope you find some compromises!
Â
If no specific reason works, thinking general and working back to specifics could help you think of something. Using that may often make the need something you think of on the spot to help get the RP going. This could still loosely pertain to your story but may not be something that needed to happen, especially if it just ends up being a fruitless endeavor like I mentioned before. Some general categories and examples could be:Â
Trade, which may lead me to determining that Eddard needs his crafter friend to fix up his armor before pursuing the dangers his story holds; Information, which may lead to me determining that Eddard seeks out a scholar friend to see if he can learn more about his enemy only to find out his friend has no new information; Support, which may lead to Eddard asking a conjurer/medic friend the favor of helping the wounded recover when they return from the doubtlessly taxing mission that faces them.
I'm working off imaginary partners in these examples but knowing the traits of your friend's character could make the thought process easier. Keep in mind that this can work both ways. If your character could find no reason to seek out your friend's character, perhaps your friend's character could find reason to seek yours out.Â
This sort of thought process works a bit easier if you're able to justify your character having a bit of free time somewhere in their day that isn't taken up by their story/stories but I can understand if that isn't the case since I've been there myself. I hope this was helpful and hope you find some compromises!
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." -Jimi Hendrix
