Let's talk about Olivia/Olivier
Added 2021-03-17 08:51:47 +0000 UTCI think there is a time to start discussing some characters/paths. I will start with Olivia/Olivier, as you didn't see Martha in her relations with other divers (but chapter 7 and chapter 8 are about it, so she would be the second one in our discussion).
I like to think about "The Parity" as the opportunity to play with the usual TG tropes. The story is long already (and will be much longer :v ), so I can make the characters more complex and make them act more like real people.
"The best friend to the lover" is a popular trope in TG fiction, but usually you can name this "best friend" everything but not a best friend. Usually, that character doesn't care about the main character and the struggle he/she's going through and just wants to have sex with him/her.
We get to know Olivia as the closest person in Paul's life. He broke up with Dorothy (or Dorothy broke up with him), Justin moved out. They go together to the cursed school. There is some tension between them, as Olivia acts recklessly and impulsively (however, Paul is a normal teenager, so you could still be as impulsive as her and still blame her, but this how being a teenager works :P). She has a stronger personality than Paul, and however you probably know the couples of similar people, they establish rather after high school. Paul's masculinity would be too challenged by Olivia to be her boyfriend.
The tables turn as they both are transformed. Olivier is far more helpful than Olivia was. And, as probably most of you tried, there is a chance that Pauline has her first sexual experiences with him. Even as a girl, Olivier had a soft spot for people in need - she helped Dorothy, for example, even though she's the most annoying character in the story. ;) Olivia saw Paul as a careless rich kid - he had everything she didn't have. Olivier sees Pauline differently, however, he thinks that the transformation helps her to show her real personality. Being stronger and more dominant restores some balance in their relationship.
There's a struggle in Olivier. Of course, as Martha would say if you went with her for a date in chapter 6, the Parity makes some wishes happened to make its victim accept the transformation. Olivia wouldn't make a deal with Auntie for herself, she rationalized her decision. Olivier by claiming himself a victim of Martha's treachery (however they don't like each other and Martha acted exactly the way Olivia knew she would) tries to take off the responsibility. He didn't alter most of his appearance (but made his voice better to sing and fingers longer to play guitar). He tries to convince himself that he didn't commit any sin, because, however, he keeps snorting and sneering, he has a bond with Catholic beliefs. There will be a chance for him to turn back into a girl during the story, and I'm quite interested in how it would work. :)
I didn't mean Olivier to be a steady boyfriend for Pauline, but this request appeared in some comments. After 6 chapters I think that there is a way to make that happened, however, it won't be the main path for him.
What do you think about Olivier? Do you have some expectations about his path? Are there any scenes with him you want to see?