# Relationships Relationships define connections between characters, institutions, and other entities. They capture social bonds, power dynamics, emotional ties, and interactive patterns. Relationships can be symmetric (friendship) or asymmetric (parent-child), and support bidirectional perspectives where each participant has different fields. ## What is a Relationship? A relationship connects two or more participants and describes: - **Participants**: The entities involved (characters, institutions) - **Roles**: Optional labels (parent, employer, spouse) - **Shared fields**: Properties of the relationship itself (bond strength, duration) - **Perspective fields**: How each participant views the relationship (`self`/`other` blocks) ``` Relationship: ParentChild ├─ Participant: Martha (as parent) │ ├─ self: { responsibility: 1.0, protective: 0.9 } │ └─ other: { dependent: 0.8 } ├─ Participant: Tommy (as child) └─ Shared: { bond: 0.9, years_together: 8 } ``` ## Syntax ```bnf ::= "relationship" ::= "{" + * "}" ::=

? ? ::= "as"

::= "self" "{" * "}" "other" "{" * "}" | "self" "{" * "}" | "other" "{" * "}" ::= ":" ``` ## Basic Relationships ### Simple Two-Party Relationship ```storybook relationship Friendship { Martha Gregory bond: 0.8 years_known: 15 } ``` **Semantics:** - Two participants: Martha and Gregory - Shared field: `bond` (strength of friendship) - Shared field: `years_known` (duration) ### Multi-Party Relationship ```storybook relationship Family { Martha David Tommy Elena household: "Baker Residence" family_bond: 0.95 } ``` Relationships can have any number of participants. ## Roles Roles label a participant's function in the relationship. ### Syntax ```storybook ParticipantName as role_name ``` ### Examples ```storybook relationship Marriage { Martha as spouse David as spouse bond: 0.9 anniversary: "2015-06-20" } ``` ```storybook relationship ParentChild { Martha as parent Tommy as child bond: 0.95 guardianship: true } ``` ```storybook relationship EmployerEmployee { Martha as employer Elena as employee workplace: "Martha's Bakery" salary: 45000 } ``` ### Role Semantics - **Labels**: Roles are descriptive labels, not types - **Multiple roles**: Same person can have different roles in different relationships - **Optional**: Roles are optional—participants can be unnamed - **Flexibility**: No predefined role vocabulary—use what makes sense ## Perspective Fields (Self/Other Blocks) Perspective fields specify how each participant views the relationship. They enable asymmetric, bidirectional relationships. ### Syntax ```storybook ParticipantName as role self { // Fields describing this participant's perspective } other { // Fields describing how this participant views others } ``` ### Self Block The `self` block contains fields about how the participant experiences the relationship: ```storybook relationship ParentChild { Martha as parent self { responsibility: 1.0 protective: 0.9 anxiety_level: 0.6 } Tommy as child } ``` **Martha's perspective:** - `responsibility`: She feels 100% responsible - `protective`: She's highly protective (90%) - `anxiety_level`: Moderate anxiety about parenting ### Other Block The `other` block contains fields about how the participant views the other participants: ```storybook relationship ParentChild { Martha as parent self { responsibility: 1.0 } other { dependent: 0.8 // She sees Tommy as 80% dependent mature_for_age: 0.7 // She thinks he's fairly mature } Tommy as child } ``` ### Both Blocks ```storybook relationship EmployerEmployee { Martha as employer self { authority: 0.9 stress: 0.6 } other { respect: 0.8 trust: 0.85 } Elena as employee } ``` **Martha's perspective:** - **Self**: She has high authority (90%), moderate stress (60%) - **Other**: She respects Elena (80%), trusts her (85%) ### Asymmetric Relationships Different participants can have different perspective fields: ```storybook relationship TeacherStudent { Gandalf as teacher self { patience: 0.8 wisdom_to_impart: 1.0 } other { potential: 0.9 ready_to_learn: 0.6 } Frodo as student self { eager_to_learn: 0.7 overwhelmed: 0.5 } other { admiration: 0.95 intimidated: 0.4 } bond: 0.85 } ``` **Gandalf's view:** - He's patient (80%), has much wisdom to share - Sees Frodo as having high potential but only moderately ready **Frodo's view:** - He's eager but overwhelmed - Deeply admires Gandalf, slightly intimidated ## Shared Fields Fields declared at the relationship level (not in `self`/`other` blocks) are **shared** among all participants. ```storybook relationship Friendship { Martha Gregory bond: 0.8 // Shared: mutual bond strength years_known: 15 // Shared: how long they've known each other shared_routines: 3 // Shared: number of daily routines } ``` **Common shared fields:** - `bond`: Relationship strength (0.0 to 1.0) - `years_known`: Duration of relationship - `trust`: Mutual trust level - `commitment`: Commitment to the relationship - `compatibility`: How well they get along ## Prose Blocks Relationships can include prose blocks for narrative context. ```storybook relationship MarthaAndGregory { Martha { role: shopkeeper values_loyalty: 0.9 ---perspective Martha appreciates Gregory's unwavering loyalty. He has been buying her sourdough loaf every morning for fifteen years. Their brief daily exchanges about the weather and local gossip are a comforting routine. --- } Gregory { role: regular_customer always_orders: "sourdough_loaf" ---perspective Gregory considers Martha's bakery a cornerstone of his daily routine. The bread is excellent, but it is the brief human connection that keeps him coming back. --- } } ``` **Common prose tags:** - `---perspective`: How a participant views the relationship - `---history`: Background of the relationship - `---dynamics`: How the relationship functions - `---notes`: Design or development notes Note: In this syntax, perspective fields are inside participant blocks (not separate `self`/`other` blocks). ## Complete Examples ### Simple Friendship ```storybook relationship Friendship { Martha NeighborBaker bond: 0.6 years_known: 10 } ``` ### Marriage with Roles ```storybook relationship Marriage { Martha as spouse David as spouse bond: 0.9 anniversary: "2015-06-20" children: 2 } ``` ### Parent-Child with Perspectives ```storybook relationship ParentChild { Martha as parent self { responsibility: 1.0 protective: 0.9 anxiety_level: 0.6 } other { dependent: 0.8 mature_for_age: 0.7 } Tommy as child self { seeks_independence: 0.7 appreciates_parent: 0.9 } other { feels_understood: 0.6 wants_more_freedom: 0.8 } bond: 0.95 years_together: 8 } ``` ### Employer-Employee ```storybook relationship EmployerEmployee { Martha as employer self { authority: 0.9 satisfaction_with_employee: 0.85 } other { respect: 0.8 trust: 0.85 } Elena as employee self { job_satisfaction: 0.8 career_growth: 0.7 } other { respects_boss: 0.9 appreciates_flexibility: 0.95 } workplace: "Martha's Bakery" salary: 45000 employment_start: "2023-01-15" } ``` ### Complex Multi-Perspective ```storybook relationship MentorApprentice { Martha { role: mentor teaching_style: "patient" investment: 0.9 ---perspective Martha sees Elena as the daughter she might have had in the trade. She recognizes the same passion she felt at that age and pushes Elena harder because she knows the talent is there. Every correction comes from love. --- } Elena { role: apprentice dedication: 0.9 anxiety: 0.4 ---perspective Elena idolizes Martha's skill but fears disappointing her. Every morning she arrives thirty minutes early to practice techniques before Martha gets in. She keeps a notebook of every correction, reviewing them each night. "I want to be half as good as her someday" -- this quiet ambition drives everything Elena does. --- } bond: 0.85 } ``` ### Business Rivalry ```storybook relationship BakeryRivalry { Martha { role: established_baker aware_of_competition: true respects_rival: 0.6 ---perspective Martha views the new bakery across town as healthy competition. She respects their pastry work but knows her sourdough is unmatched. The rivalry pushes her to keep innovating. --- } RivalBaker { role: newcomer wants_to_surpass: true studies_martha: 0.8 ---perspective The rival baker moved to town specifically because of Martha's reputation. They study her techniques, buy her bread to analyze it, and dream of the day a customer chooses their loaf over Martha's sourdough. --- } bond: 0.3 } ``` ### Multi-Party Family ```storybook relationship BakerFamily { Martha as parent David as parent Tommy as child Elena as child household: "Baker Residence" family_bond: 0.95 dinner_time: 18:00 ---dynamics A loving queer family running a bakery together. Martha and David met at culinary school, married, and adopted Tommy and Elena. The whole family works at the bakery on weekends. --- } ``` ### Co-Owners Partnership ```storybook relationship BakeryPartnership { Martha { role: co_owner specialty: "bread" handles_finances: true ---perspective Martha and Jane complement each other perfectly. Martha handles the bread and business side while Jane creates the pastries that draw customers in. Together they have built something neither could alone. --- } Jane { role: co_owner specialty: "pastries" handles_creativity: true ---perspective Jane considers Martha the steady foundation of their partnership. While Jane experiments and creates, Martha ensures the bakery runs like clockwork. Their different strengths make the bakery stronger. --- } bond: 0.9 } ``` ## Participant Types Participants can be: 1. **Characters**: Most common 2. **Institutions**: Organizations in relationships 3. **Locations**: Less common, but valid (e.g., "GuardianOfPlace") ```storybook relationship GuildMembership { Elena as member BakersGuild as organization membership_since: "2023-01-01" standing: "good" dues_paid: true } ``` ## Field Resolution When a relationship is resolved, fields are merged: 1. **Relationship shared fields** apply to all participants 2. **Participant `self` blocks** apply to that participant 3. **Participant `other` blocks** describe how that participant views others **Example:** ```storybook relationship Example { Martha as friend self { loyalty: 0.9 } other { trust: 0.8 } Gregory as friend bond: 0.85 } ``` **Resolution:** - Martha gets: `loyalty: 0.9` (from self), `trust: 0.8` (towards Gregory, from other), `bond: 0.85` (shared) - Gregory gets: `bond: 0.85` (shared) - Relationship gets: `bond: 0.85` ## Validation Rules 1. **At least two participants**: Relationships require ≥2 participants 2. **Participants exist**: All participant names must reference defined entities 3. **Unique participant names**: Each participant appears at most once 4. **Field type consistency**: Fields must have valid value types 5. **No circular relationships**: Avoid infinite relationship chains (warning) 6. **Self/other completeness**: If using `self`/`other`, both blocks should be present (best practice) ## Use Cases ### Social Networks ```storybook relationship BakerFriendship { Martha Gregory bond: 0.8 } relationship SupplierPartnership { Martha Farmer_Jenkins bond: 0.7 } relationship BakeryRivalry { Martha RivalBaker bond: 0.2 competitive: true } ``` ### Family Structures ```storybook relationship ParentChild { Martha as parent Tommy as child bond: 0.95 } relationship Siblings { Tommy as older_sibling Elena as younger_sibling bond: 0.85 rivalry: 0.3 } ``` ### Power Dynamics ```storybook relationship Vassalage { King as lord self { grants: "protection" expects: "loyalty" } other { trusts: 0.6 } Knight as vassal self { swears: "fealty" expects: "land" } other { respects: 0.9 } oath_date: "1205-03-15" } ``` ### Asymmetric Awareness ```storybook relationship StalkingVictim { Stalker as pursuer self { obsession: 0.95 distance_maintained: 50 // meters } other { believes_unnoticed: true } Victim as unaware_target self { awareness: 0.0 } danger_level: 0.8 } ``` ## Best Practices ### 1. Use Descriptive Relationship Names **Avoid:** ```storybook relationship R1 { ... } relationship MarthaGregory { ... } ``` **Prefer:** ```storybook relationship Friendship { ... } relationship ParentChild { ... } relationship MentorApprentice { ... } ``` ### 2. Use Roles for Clarity ```storybook relationship Marriage { Martha as spouse David as spouse } ``` Better than: ```storybook relationship Marriage { Martha David } ``` ### 3. Shared Fields for Mutual Properties ```storybook relationship Partnership { Martha Jane bond: 0.9 // Mutual bond years_together: 5 // Shared history } ``` ### 4. Self/Other for Perspectives ```storybook relationship TeacherStudent { Teacher as mentor self { patience: 0.8 } other { potential: 0.9 } Student as learner self { motivation: 0.7 } other { admiration: 0.95 } } ``` ### 5. Prose Blocks for Rich Context ```storybook relationship ComplexDynamic { Martha { ... } Jane { ... } ---dynamics Their relationship is characterized by mutual respect but divergent goals. Martha focuses on traditional bread while Jane pushes for experimental pastries, creating creative tension. --- } ``` ## Cross-References - [Characters](./10-characters.md) - Participants are typically characters - [Institutions](./16-other-declarations.md#institutions) - Institutions can participate - [Value Types](./18-value-types.md) - Field value types - [Expression Language](./17-expressions.md) - Querying relationships ## Related Concepts - **Bidirectional modeling**: `self`/`other` blocks enable asymmetric perspectives - **Social simulation**: Relationships drive character interactions - **Narrative depth**: Prose blocks embed storytelling in relationship data - **Power dynamics**: Roles and perspective fields model hierarchies - **Emotional bonds**: Bond strength and trust metrics quantify connections