#also I like the idea that Kiya absolutely would not judge Dan on his living form

[nebbychan]

So when I first started planning out the fic, originally the dynamic I’d intended for Dan and Kiya was going to be the rivals to lovers trope. I also liked the idea of Kiya being fairly aggressive in contrast to Dan’s chivalry, which would’ve made it harder for them to cooperate in the beginning, then gradually soften up as they went on their quest. However, I didn’t go with it as not only did I prefer them as being kindred spirits, but also because I couldn’t find any good reason for them to dislike each other at the start.