What sorts of non-lovemaking activities and such did your characters bond over?
Zap: They enjoy the same type of comedy and share similar senses of humor, they worked closely together for the past year on work that they both love, they have tons of single-parenthood wisdom and experiences they bonded over. Nate: Work, work, work. Nathaniel became Eva's guide into the world of mystic arts, after she brought him back from the snap. He quickly realized how special Eva was and attached himself to her, they became incredibly close during his time as her adviser, even before their relationship turned romantic.
What sorts of non-lovemaking activities do they do together?
Zap: Bicker/tease, have work dates, theorize, they spend time with their sons together, go on walks (when and wherever). She gives him raises and promotions a lot. It's a whole thing. Nate: Research, training, practice, long walks with long conversations. That was in the beginning and hasn't changed, but they have long conversations over their pillows now too.
What kinds of things do they talk about when they're together?
Zap: Everything. Usually current events in their lives. Their work, their love, their families, their lives, Asgard and beyond, Brooklyn 99, potatoes, sex... Nate: The kids, Asgard/Helheim... but really anything. Nate can tell Eva anything and he believes she feels the same. The pair spends hours talking about everything: politics, fashion, reality tv, or even which new flavor of Diet Coke is the best. Even if they disagree, it's stimulating.
What dreams and goals do they share?
Zap: They both want to see each other happy. Staying inside her wifely and queenly duties concerning Asgard, Zap would do everything she could to make sure Nate's happy and fulfilled, whatever that means. They're both ambitious and confident, and so far they've accomplished all of their to-do lists, goal-wise. She has a feeling more personal agendas are on the horizon. Nate: Bringing Asgard and Helheim into harmony. Getting their children through this crazy thing called life. Being together, not separated by worlds.
What dreams and goals do they have that they do not share?
Zap: She wants to spend more time focused on Asgard and her marriage to Thor, currently. She's sure Nate's annoyed that things didn't go as planned, though. Nate: Nathaniel wants Eva to be his queen as well, he knows Eva has postponed that goal, he hopes not for good. The God of Darkness dreams of molding Helheim into a living (sort of) sculpture/tribute to Eva. She'll figure it out eventually.
How many children does each partner want? Have they discussed this? If not, why?
Zap: She has three, he has one, they raise them together like a pack of wolves and they haven't talked about making their own children. In her mind, that's something that would just happen and not be discussed. In reality, it should probably be discussed between her, Nate and Thor. Nate: Nate's alright with the one, he loves his son. He knows that the Goddess of Motherhood would be happy with more children and Nate will love any child she has or adopts. Whether or not they would have a child, they haven't spoken much about it, but they also aren't actively avoiding it.
What other plans do they have for the future? Which ones have they discussed? Why and/or why not?
Zap: The plan was for her to announce her relationship and love for him after he became the God of Darkness, then announce that she was going to be queen of Helheim after he became king. But that all seems lofty and tiring now. So it's on the backburner. Secretly, she hopes it happens someday, but she has to cling to her dedication to her current kingdom and follow through. Nate: Nathaniel wants to reform Helheim and find his way back into Eva's everyday life. She knows about both of these plans. He also plans on assisting with her daily issues as much as possible, whether or not she realizes.
What are the most difficult situations they have faced together so far? How did they overcome them?
Zap: They co-parent. Boom. Not an exaggeration. But really, they've solved many mysteries and helped people together. They do it with confidence-boosting and support and trust, and mutual respect. They crave each other's approval, in some ways. The hardest, Zap thinks, is when Brayden's health failed. They were quietly, intimately supportive of each other, and Nate let his vulnerability show. Nate: Baldr's return and retaking of Helheim. With patience, careful thought, teamwork, and earned/unearned confidence they both cling to.
What are some of their best memories together so far that have nothing to do with sex or the development of the relationship?
Zap: She loved that he practiced (though he'll never admit it) the waltz just so he could dance with her at Jol. She was happy to surprise him and Brayden with titles at dinner with their families. When he attempted to shun her away from him at her own wedding because even he had to admit she was working too much... then jumped right in himself and started working. She loved it. Nate: The family dinner Eva forced him to attend. Long hours alone in her office, nothing but their wits and light flirting to protect themselves.
What things do they do that get on each others' nerves?
Zap: They see each other as keyboards... all the buttons for the pushing. He nags her too much, she thinks. You can't push a bear. She probably nags him too much too, in the opposite direction. FYI: She usually wins. Nate: Eva knows more of his secrets than anyone, it's infuriating. He's antisocial to a fault, she had to force him out into the light before he was the God of Darkness. He's stubborn even compared to her.
What little personal quirks and unusual tastes do each have that the other is aware of? How did they learn about them?
Zap: Nate is not an Idahoan potato farmer, but an Iowan rancher, and she chose to forget that fact time and again, resulting in the nickname 'Potato' for Nate. He doesn't like to show emotion in public (or in private, most of the time), and he doesn't like to be interrupted when he's working. He loves his son but has a hard time showing it. He keeps sweets in his jacket/desk now for Minor. They sometimes quote their TV shows in front of other people and pretend as if the words are new and independent thoughts. Nate: Nate watches far too much TV, listens to mostly pop/rap music, and studies on vacation. Eva knows these things because she destroyed his walls and he rebuilt them with her inside. Zap collects people and he admires that.
What views do your characters disagree on? How do they reconcile their differences in opinions?
Zap: Both overly confident, they each have a hard time admitting they need help. So the other pushes them to seek out help. Sometimes help happens. Usually, though, when they were simply friends and associates, they would eventually come to terms and accept each other's points of view. One would (slightly) yield, and they could move on. It was usually Nate, FYI. Nate: Sometimes they disagree on where she should go pregnant, or when she should become Queen of Helheim. And honestly, they have dozens of minor disagreements a day, but they know when to relent. They might fight, but they have each other's back until the end. They cool down, listen, and pull articles of clothes off one piece at a time.
What sorts of things did they or do they get into arguments or fights over?
Zap: They each think they know better. Sometimes Zap has to aggressively encourage Nate to spend time with his son instead of his studies or work. Nate thinks Zap's clothes and such are too flashy and a waste of time. General bickering. Nate: Usually dumb things. Sometimes just to spar conversationally and sometimes just to hear his belt buckle undo.
How do they reconcile after arguments or fights?
Zap: Fairly smoothly, tapering off into a mutual chill. They rarely, if ever, have gotten truly angry with the other. Zap likes to rub Nate's ears to calm them both down. Nate: See belt buckle. No, they remember how in love they are and embrace each other.
How do they each react when the other is in pain or is troubled? What do they do to help the other?
Zap: They work well together and use frank conversation and help fix their issues together (now). Sometimes they feel so much that they retreat into themselves and the other has to use a butter knife to pry them back out (with love!). Nate: With a fiery vengeance. Don't test them. Honestly, they support the Helheim out of each other. But when the threat doesn't involve violence, each always seems to have the best advice for the other.
What is the biggest potential threat to their relationship? What is the most likely threat?
Zap: Distance? Thor? A metaphorical explosion? She doesn't think there's a threat. Nate: Distance? Something unforeseen. Nothing would keep Nate away from Eva.
What would each partner be willing to change about themselves for the other? What wouldn't they be willing to change for each other?
Zap: He's perfect just the way he is. As for her, she'd give up her glitz and facades and parties and whatever other superfluous things he doesn't care for, if he asked. But she can't abandon her duties. There's a tiny, tiny, itsy-bitsy part of her that thrills at the thought of running away with Nate and being with him, alone, ruling over Helheim together. She knows where she belongs, though, and she's staying there. Nate: Nathaniel became a god and a king to be the best person possible for Eva, and he'd do more. She'd never ask him to change the important things, but the only thing 'off the table' is his son.