A Star Wars Nerd
Bumping because it's been several weeks, I still have these issues, and I don't think this needs a new thread. I checked the rules, and I didn't see that bumping wasn't allowed, but please let me know if it isn't.
Also, I didn't mention in the op that if someone is familiar with the game, and wants more specific details, I can post them in spoiler tags.
Situation 1 is relatively straight forward, although you may find it difficult to write well, because it requires some degree of nuance (not being snarky, I just dont want to make any assumptions regarding your experience as a writer). Before the guy makes contact with the woman, there will be an opportunity for you to reveal to the readers what he is thinking. Just make it clear that his motivation isnt to score with her, but rather to follow up and perhaps bring some closure to their friendship. Perhaps he feels that he owes her an apology. That done, it becomes reasonable that her rejection of him does not cause any hard feelings (he wasnt really expecting anything). You can have them continue to bump into each other for any number of reasons, perhaps they are in similar professions? Know some of the same people. In a position to do each other a favor of some kind? It helps that this sort of thing happens in real life all the time.
Situation 2: It isnt clear from your description whether or not he was the actual person in control of her mind. If so, I dont see how you can pull it off without some sort of epic-level character transformation on his part, and even then she might never forgive him. But if he isnt, then the best way to bring them back together would be for her to approach him with the intent of recruiting him as a mole for the other side. She would be good for that- their previous acquaintence gives her a good cover story for approaching him again. She would then become his "control" agent (which carries some irony- the challenge for him is to determine if she is being honest with him, or just manipulating him). An added bonus is that this situation gives her the initiative, which preserves her sense of agency as a character. As they learn to trust each other, they can deepen their relationship.
"Last Situation" is the trickiest- I think it all depends on the difference in their ages, actually. If he is only a few years older than her, it should be ok, since according to your description they did not begin their relationship until after he quit being her teacher. "Problem 2" is tough, and without knowing more about the scenario I dont know if I can answer it. You just have to think of some reason to throw the two of them together, and create a context within which it would make sense for them to share sincere views. Perhaps one of them catches the other in an act of minor resistance?
I know this is sort of a vague title, but I'm hoping to get a little help with some nuts-and-bolts stuff for a few couples I'm working with. Also, feel free to post your own unusual romantic problems.
So, I'm writing some stuff, and I'm having some trouble with a few situations, all of which involve romance and possible Unfortunate Implications.
This is fan-fiction for Star Wars: The Old Republic, but I'll describe in generic terms for people who aren't familiar with the game.
Situation 1: Setup: Before the story started, guy and girl used to date. She wasn't ready to settle down yet, and he was kind of a jerk (although not evil), so they broke up and parted ways. Several years later, she becomes famous for re-discovering a pirate's lost treasure and, seeing her name, he decides to get in contact with her again. She, however, has moved on and has a new boyfriend. Although she doesn't say she never wants to see him again or anything, she does make it very clear that she's not interested in revisiting their relationship.
Problems: First, how do I make it clear that this guy, while kind of a jerk who often cares more about money than people, really does want to get back together with her because he liked her? I need to avoid making him seem like a Gold Digger.
Second, after she rejects him, why would he continue to hang around/be involved in her life when he wasn't before that? He becomes plot-important for an unrelated reason later, but for him to just keep hanging around his ex until the plot demands that he be there borders on Stalker with a Crush behavior.
Situation 2: Setup: Heel–Face Turn for love. Girl is being mind controlled into working for the Evil Empire, but is Fighting from the Inside. Her "real" self starts to fall for one of the guys she is working with, who's more reasonable and merciful than some of the others, and also secretly has doubts that he's on the right side. Meanwhile, he rather likes the glimpses of her real personality that he sees.
Finally, she manages to break free and returns to her own people, but neither of them forget each other.
Problems: First, how would their relationship progress from there? The eventual goal is for him to decide that he's on the wrong side and agree to be The Mole, and for the two of them to become lovers. I can come up with situations for them to meet again, but I'm having a hard time getting from "you were better than the rest of them/you weren't how I thought you'd be/I would have been your friend if things had been different" to "we should start meeting in secret". Particularly since she's only there for a few months.
Second, how do I avoid it looking like combination Stockholm Syndrome and Lima Syndrome?
Last situation: Setup: A teacher/student romance. He attended the Academyof Evil several years before she did, and had a Heel Realization shortly before graduation. Instead of fleeing, he accepted an offer of a teaching position there, hoping to influence and protect the next generation of students. She was one of his favorite students, in a platonic sense, because she had both a moral compass (albeit a bit of a rusty one) and the power and determination to succeed.
After that class graduated, he quit his job, realizing that the emotional and moral toll of working there was just too much for him. She went on to finish her training. The two meet several more times, and gradually realize that they both hold the same views: the order they serve is irredeemably corrupt, and must be brought down. They also begin to have feelings for each other and eventually start La Résistance and become lovers.
Problem 1: Just any general tips for avoiding Squick?
Problem 2: How would they both realize that each other holds these views, since they're obviously not something you would spread around?
Thanks for your help!