Neil wrote:

Isn't that what a lot of fanfic is aimed at doing - getting them to 'come out and talk to each other'? Whereas what makes the characters feel convincing is the fact that nine times out of ten they do anything but?

I would say yes to both. Which is why it's such a delicate balancing act. It can be a real challenge to have the characters address personal and emotional issues while still keeping the characters in-character as their unforthcoming selves. But when it's done well, it's a great joy to read.

-- Betty Ragan ** bragan@nrao.edu ** http://www.aoc.nrao.edu/~bragan Not speaking for my employers, officially or otherwise. "Seeing a rotten picture for the special effects is like eating a tough steak for the smothered onions..." -- Isaac Asimov