Let's talk about Pauline

I was determined to finish chapter 10 quickly. It was difficult content to write, and a break didn't really help. Probably I didn't put some details well, maybe I will try to catch them up in further chapters. 

Because chapter 10 was mostly about Pauline. It shows how she reacts and how she builds relations.

The concept of Pauline was and remains the greatest challenge for me. Most of TG fiction more or less purposely leaves the main character proxy and flat. The laws of gender-bending in fiction focus on the acceptance and keeping the changed gender, so they weren't an inspiration for me. But I felt that I need a deep character, not a "victim" of the curse of endless sex. And I needed to try to accomplish that in the 2nd person narrative in the interactive fiction in which the player needs to have control.

The concept was quite simple - let's start with a transformation and the dangers which would show Pauline in her best. She has friends and a supportive family, she's smart and competent. And I think there are those moments - Martha's path for example, especially after chapter 10 - when we can see Pauline who can build the romantic relationship and melt the ice of Martha's doubts. 

As long as the story focused on the transformation and threads, we didn't see how Pauline is self-centered. Of course, we knew that she criticizes a lot of Olivier's ideas and that he's constantly surprised when she supports him. And we know that the breaking-up with Dorothy didn't go smoothly. But Pauline was a victim of Robert's plot and she expected the support.

I tried to show her darker side in chapter 10. She could be ruthless and manipulative. I don't know of course if you play Pauline that way - but I think that she has the potential to play dirty.

With chapter 10 completed, the story has 240k words. So, with the next one, it would be as long as the first three Harry Potter books. The characters got some autonomy, quite often I change my previous plans about the dialogues and actions.  

In chapter 11 the action will slow down a little. There will be more everyday situations and time for a little relaxation. Then, in chapters 12-13 will be some resolutions in Carl/David/Robert's path.

And my question for today is: how do you play Pauline? What kind of person she is? And maybe you have some expectations about the further challenges for her?

(You can choose many answers :) )