Work Text:
It takes a while to get everything right. He has at least three different reference documents up. He's planned out whole timelines and has a list of important references and notes. A thesaurus is at the ready to ensure he doesn't use the same word too many times. And most importantly, he knows when to wrap up his work because it won't get any better than it needs to be for a draft.
Then the draft is submitted for review and things get changed. Some words are swapped for synonyms because they match the mood or the character better. Entire conversations are shifted to new locations, and then details have to change to match the new context. Sometimes the entire ending is scrapped because it doesn't sound as good now as it did at two in the morning.
And he'll go back to exploring options for the story. He'll look at the situations unfolding and ask how each character would react to them. What is the most expected way for them to act? What would cause them to do something else? What message woudl it send in the story, both for the other characters and for the readers? It's a lot of careful thought and consideration.
But Marc revels in it. He writes because he wants to make something. That much is shown from the level of attention to detail he has for his projects. Every character is properly flawed in a way that feels human. Every chapter carries on the mood from the previous, leading it on a journey until it passes the torch at the end for the next chapter to continue. Every word is carefully selected, by himself or his partner.
And when the final draft is complete, he checks over it one more time. Just in case a random misspelled word is left in by accident.
Getting to hand over something he made that made him feel genuinely proud, and watching the delight in his partner's face is worth all the care in the world.
There's some healthy back and forth with his writer, making sure that every detail is all necessary. Some dialogue is changed for better flow, or because the speech bubble couldn't possibly hold any more big words. They get new ideas from reading the draft, which makes them want to take the story down an entirely new path.
But once the final draft hits his desk, he begins his work in earnest. He has drawing guides, wooden figuines, 3D projection software, and an entire pad of scrap paper at the ready. And most improtantly, one fresh cup of coffee.
The characters are sketched out first. Getting the feel of them correct for the chapter, and making note of any changes that had happened in the script. Maybe one of them puts on different clothes for some reason, and a proper reference is needed to ensure all the characters are consistently drawn. Nathaniel takes his time doing this; adding every frill to a costume, every freckle to a face, every curl to a hairstyle. These sketches are sent back to Marc for review, so the characters are always what they want. And once the draft is accepted it's time to ink. The finished character references feel alive, and radiate their character's personality from the page.
There's still a lot to do from here. The pages needs to be laid out, scenes need to be planned, and every important note from the script needs to be covered and expressed. Storyboards are sketched and erased, pieces of paper laid out and shuffled on a desk. It's very meticulous work, everything down to the positions of weeds growing through cracks in the pavement is considered.
Nathaniel truly shines here. He's in his element transcribing stories into visual art. His mind already has the entire chapter visualised; he just needs to get it down onto paper. And sometimes he needs a bit of help, by setting up scale models, practicing expressions in a mirror, or even walking away to have a few sips of coffee. But it's all worth it in the end as the stories written by his partner, that have become vibrant murals in his brain, are laid out into panels and every person who sees it can share the amazing work they made.
Together.