Romance has always been a present plot point in Star Trek. Whether it’s Kirk’s famous lust, Riker & Troi’s slow burn, Jadzia & Worf’s relationship, or a subtle flirtation between Garek & Bashir, Trek fans are invested in the love lives of their favorite characters. Thus, it’s quite logical that here at SB118, writing an in character romance can be a big part of a character’s development. With so many new members joining, and even for veteran writers who haven’t explored that side of their character yet, this article series aims to shed some light on the experience.
In this interview, I’ve asked newlyweds Connor & Ayemet Dewitt to join me and share stories and insights from their own writing process. Don’t worry though, I’ll try to get a bit of gossip to share with you as well.Through this interview series, perhaps you’ll gain a better understanding of what goes into writing a safe, healthy and engaging relationship inside of SB118. After all, “Love is the universal language” according to Captain James T. Kirk.
Harford: Before we begin, I’d just like to say congratulations. It’s one thing to write an IC relationship, but to make it down the aisle with those characters is impressive. I may have taken a few sneak peeks at the wedding sims over there on the Khitomer and I must say, I really enjoyed what I read. So tell us, what went into planning an IC wedding? How much OOC work and discussion did you have leading up to the big event and did you write any of the wedding planning in character through sims or JPs or did it all happen “off screen”?
Connor: Thanks, it has been quite a journey. Jumping into a wedding during shore leave sometimes felt like organizing a small mission for the crew. We spent some time defining the acts we want to go through. We had a series of sims to give the crew some insight of the structure the wedding would have. But to be honest, real life hit me and I could not orchestrate a lot of ideas I had so we stayed with the rough outline. In the end, we have a terrific crew who made this wedding come to life with tremendous success without so much planning needed – the rough outline was enough.
Ayemet: Thank you! It’s been a blast to write the sims, which although they were about Ayemet and Connor, managed to involve all the crew. I think it was important that it wasn’t simply the Ayemet and Connor show but an opportunity to show how the crew have all come together.
As for prep as Tim had mentioned there was a little OOC work between us as to what sort of direction we wanted the occasion to be heading in but not so much that it strangled creativity from all the writers involved.
Harford: Tell us your story. How did your characters meet? Was it love at first sight or more of a slow burn?
Connor: It was Connor’s first away mission. He was full of fears and doubts and Ayemet managed to keep him from freaking out with her flirty jokes. I guess for Connor it might have been love at first sight, but he did not realize back then. I recently read that sim again – it was among my first ten on the USS Arrow after joining SB118. And, boy, has Connor evolved as a character since then. And not that I am a good writer today, but, boy, was my writing different back then. It was fun to take this wedding as an opportunity to look at that journey again and flashback to important milestones in Connor’s career and shine a light on how the relationship has made him a better person.
Ayemet: They met over a console! lol. It was a mission where the two characters just happened to end up trapped together and as Ayemet so often does she used humour to deflect the fear and to reassure Connor. I don’t think for Ayemet it was love at first sight but there was absolutely something there that she responded to and felt drawn to. Ayemet has always been a character full of doubt over herself and her place in the world and she found Connor to be an anchor to a peaceful mind. I think things developed from there really.
Harford: When did you become writing partners? How do you write together? How much OOC time and communication goes into planning Connor & Jacin’s relationship?
Connor: I don’t know exactly, to be honest. We usually try to have one plot for the two lovebirds per shore leave and it started pretty early during my first year at SB118. I remember that Connor took Ayemet to meet his parents without being sure what his intentions with her were – just to spend an afternoon with a happy family.
Ayemet: Yes, it just kind of evolved I think. We just clicked in terms of writing for and with each other. I think it’s important in any simming that it isn’t just ‘what can this writer do for my character?’. You pick up on threads left by others and take them to interesting places, and we are, I think, pretty good at doing that.
Connor: Our first JP was on the night Connor was promoted Lt JG. We started it off with the intention to have Connor and Ayemet celebrate – that was about all the planning we had. And it started as a flirty evening developing into one of the most important JPs in their relationship where Ayemet showed Connor a very special lake on Bajor on the holodeck. To this day, I regularly keep referencing that sim. And I think that’s pretty characteristic for the way we write together. Starting plots or JPs usually is a one-line pitch by one of us and everything evolves from there without much planning. It makes things more exciting for the two of us while writing, I guess.
Ayemet: Yes, I think that absolutely was a key moment. Ayemet had spent time there with a previous love (before she joined Starfleet). To show Connor that and share it with him was a sign that she was allowing him into a part of her life that she had previously shut off. For her it was showing trust in someone else and taking a leap of faith.
Harford: Are there any Star Trek couples that you draw inspiration from as you write your IC relationship? What other external influences have gone into making your romance story feel genuine?
Connor: While every relationship needs some drama to be exciting, I tried to keep asking myself how the relationship influences Connor and how it helps him overcome his weaknesses to develop as a character. While I have not gotten any feedback on the results, I think that it kept him as a character engaged and it contributed to forging a deep relationship between the two. Connor would not be where he is without Ayemet – she’s an integral part of his last three years.
Ayemet: This is true! Ayemet is the goat (joking!!). I think I draw from both aspects of my life and things that have inspired me. Certainly other Trek couples come into play. I’m a huge DS9 fan so Odo and Kira and Worf and Dax both are sources for me, but I do think it’s important to write something original and not simply copy other things, as that soon becomes stale and derivative and I think with Connor I’ve the perfect foil to keep things fresh and hopefully enjoyable for others to read and contribute to.
Harford: Now that Connor & Ayemet are married, what’s next for them as a couple? Will they start a family or focus on their careers? Do you see their service to Starfleet causing problems for them down the road?
Connor: That’s a good question. There is a reason why happy couples are broken up in movie sequels. I don’t think we’re planning such a thing ::eyeing Emma::. I think you touched on the two things that could cause friction down the line. The two have not talked about children or a family in depth. Additionally, Starfleet has a habit of throwing a spanner in the works. Also, Ayemet still has some unresolved family issues that could spice things up. However, we hadn’t planned for them to get married, so I think we won’t plan what happens next. Just go with the flow – we can start planning when things get boring for us.
Ayemet: Mwahahaha! Draaaama! Of course, Tim is so right that couples are broken up in media for dramatic reasons. I’ve zero plans to do that but one of us could be promoted to another ship (looks at Tim) or real life issues could intervene so you can never be 100% sure but I really hope not!!
Personally, I’d like to see how they fit a ‘domestic’ life into a Starfleet career. Is it even possible? We tend to do one sim a shore leave and very rarely do we serve on the same away mission teams. I would love for them to just make ‘cameo’ appearances in each other’s sims just to show them as a couple and yes to serve together. Then there are the issues with Ayemet and family.
However in the end it’s enjoying writing with a fabulous writer, you’re welcome Tim..JOKE! Seriously he’s great to write with and I hope that continues for a long long time.
Harford: What advice would you like to give members of the fleet who may be considering developing an IC romance for their character?
Connor: Don’t plan it out, I think. What made it exciting for me is that I did not know where it would go or how it would influence Connor. We were not just telling a story. We all love cooperative writing, not knowing what the other people bring to the table. For me, it is as important to keep that aspect alive in a romance as it is in a mission.
Ayemet: 100% agree. Planning can be helpful for sure but if you micro manage every aspect it takes the fun out of the sim, stifles creativity and ends up being a checklist rather than something which is truly creative. I think we did a fabulous sim about a weird shared dream which I so enjoyed as it showcased both characters and their growing relationship but was also surprising .
Harford: Okay, now for the question everyone really wants answered. Have you chosen a honeymoon destination for the newlyweds? How do they plan to celebrate their nuptials?
Connor: If I know Captain Shayne and Connor, I guess he’ll be staying in Engineering and complaining a lot about why he is not on Risa with his wife. But if I had to choose a destination, it would be somewhere on Bajor. That’s where I see the two of them retiring one day and they could only visit the place on the holodeck so far. It’s time for Ayemet to show Connor some of her home planet.
Ayemet: Yes, Ayemet wants a honeymoon. The wedding was on Earth so it makes sense to head to Bajor for the honeymoon and maybe a visit to DS9. Or maybe Ayemet could fly off to Risa by herself!
Harford: Thanks so much for joining us today and once again Congratulations on making it down the aisle. We all look forward to seeing where you two take the story from here.
