So, out of 17 characters in my new series, seven are male, seven are female, one is trans-to-female, and two are ambiguously gendered.
One is an elf king, one is an elf knight, one is a cliche elf who is also a bard, mage, and former assassin, one is just a regular[albeit orphaned] elf who also happens to be a thief, one is a werefruitbat, one is a cliche damsel with a berserker side, one is a transgender werehorse paladin, two are physical gods [a soul listener and a healer] and are technically the same person, four are also physical gods but in a different way and become the other two gods through reincarnation, one is a goddess of love, one is a goddess of harmony, one is a goddess of rainbows and puddles, and one is a Dark Lord and the main and only villain of the series [and all of the above characters have personal vendettas against him].
Fourteen characters get relationships, two characters have unrequited love, and the Dark Lord doesn't fall in love with anyone.
Of course, if the two single characters fell in love [which is what one of them wants], everyone but the Dark Lord would be in a relationship. He might be jealous that everyone save two characters have happy, committed relationships and tries to thwart them.
I experimented and tried to see how the plot would be affected by removing one or any of the characters, and the plot fell apart, so that's hopefully a good sign.
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Quote:
"A memory is something that has to be consciously recalled, right? But it's different from a memory locked deep within your heart. Words aren't the only way to tell someone how you feel...As long as I'm with you, as long as you're by my side, I won't give up even if I'm scared." Tifa Lockheart, Final Fantasy VII