The rules of Cupids: Themes, World-Building

Hey guys. I've been working on my Western Cartoon style of art recently, and this lead to the creation of a new story idea. I have a few good ideas of what it's about, but I need some help thinking up a few things:

• The theme(s)
• The rules of the universe the characters live in
• Character relationships
• Characterization

So far, what I have is a cupid with a bad attitude named Terrance Dock. He was forced to become a cupid as a punishment (for what, I'm not sure yet, I was hoping to connect that to the theme), which is marked by a heart tattoo on his cheek. He works with his cupid partner, Dave Martin, who is a calm, cool, and collected ace. They're sent on missions down on earth to assist people with falling in love. They also fight Anti-Cupids (working name, considering calling them "Discords" or "Bad Apples"), who create unnecessary disputes and breakups. Aside from fighting enemies and helping people fall in love, Terrance is mostly trying to avoid romantic advances from Dave.

Here are tropes I associate with this story:

• Boys' Love Genre: But with a cartoon style. Not sure if this has been done before, so I thought I'd do it.
• Bishōnen: Dave Martin is quite the pretty boy.
• Revolvers Are Just Better: Terrance's weapon of choice. Actually, it's what he uses instead of the traditional cupid's bow and arrow
• Mooks: What I was thinking the Anti-Cupids/Discords/Bad Apples would be, working for a potential Big Bad.
• Buddy Cop Show: The story and Dave and Terrance's relationship is basically like this.

I'm sure there's more, but I'll have to do some more searching. I'll add more tropes as I keep looking! Any help I can get with this story would be greatly appreciated!

edited 11th Jul '12 4:09:21 PM by ArtieDrawings

Bumping because any help would be appreciated.

I think the reason you haven't got any replies is that people aren't really sure what you want. What, exactly, do you need help with?

Sorry I wasn't very specific in my first post. >_< Anyway, What I need help with is thinking of a theme for this story, as well as thinking of rules for the world the characters live in. I really want the theme to connect with the goals and intentions of the main characters. As for the universe, I need suggestions for restrictions and rules, I have zero inspiration for that. I have a few ideas, but no reasoning behind them. For example: Once you become a cupid, you cannot be a regular human again.

I'm sorry if I still sound unclear.

I highly suggest reading up on Brandon Sanderson's first and second laws of magic systems.

edited 1st Aug '12 11:59:40 PM by Vyctorian

I think themes are something that ought to grow organically from what the work means to you, or what you're trying to say with the work. I don't think they're something that you can just ask strangers to give to you, and then insert it into the half-formed story. The theme will determine the plot and vice versa.