Often times in our writing, we will have a scene where two characters are getting to know each other or figure each other out. However, how do we do that and make it interesting? Hopefully, this prompt will serve as some practice for us. As well, since this prompt is pretty broad, feel free to apply it to fiction or nonfiction.
Prompt #9: Write dialogue between two characters trying to size each other up.
Claudia’s dance partner from the East of Rakar was far too informal for her liking, his breath hot in her ear and his hand straying far too low. His steps were jerky and irregular: whether he was simply inexperienced to the dance or did not care for convention, she did not know. The man grinned from ear to ear.
“Things are getting interesting. Can’t you feel it?” he asked.
“Oh, yes, I’m sure. Werewolves and trolls and faeries, oh my.” Her voice wavered with doubt.
“Nervous are we?” he asked He couldn’t possibly know she had done, could he? She remembered how earlier her sister had taken a bite of the poison apple. Later, her sister was gone, her book crumpled with its spine broken, and the apple discarded only half-eaten.
Claudia’s eyes met his. His eyes, a shade of baby blue in this light, gave nothing away.
“Nosy are we?” She snapped back.
“You are quite uptight, princess. Perhaps, you should loosen that corset a bit and enjoy yourself. This ceremony is for you, after all.”
“That is none of your business, Grimm,” Claudia whispered, hoping to cut this conversation at the knees.
“Have some humor; if you act as stiff and humorless as the dead, you might as well be one.”
She rose her hand to slap him. He caught it and twirled her around so that her back faced him, her arms tied around herself like a straight-jacket. Her face burned with anger.
“Want to hear the end of your story, princess?” He chuckled and started humming to himself. She shivered.
Notes: I found it’s quite hard to write a scene that doesn’t seem purposely vague or withholding when you have two characters that are trying to figure each other out. Since Claudia distrusts Grimm and Grimm wants to mess with Claudia, it naturally leads into a lot of questions, but I hope it was easy enough to follow. As well, it would be nice to know if ya’ll could tell me if you were able to get a sense for who these characters are since this is a scene out of context.
Thoughts? Responses? Leave them down below!
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