CONFLICT THESAURUS

BEING PRESSURED TO COVER FOR A FRIEND



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HELPFUL TIP:

Conflict is your story’s secret sauce, supplying tension, relationship friction, and complications to a character’s journey. It comes in a million different forms, so identify the obstacles and problems that will hit your character the hardest by using the Character Builder to uncover their primary insecurities, fears , and desires. Don’t forget to include everyday conflict scenarios that will frustrate them and keep the pressure high.
CATEGORY:
Moral dilemmas and temptations, relationship friction, duty and responsibility, power struggles

EXAMPLES:
Being asked to lie by providing a glowing character reference or referral for a friend 
Being pressured to claim responsibility for a friend's misdeeds at work
A friend wanting the character to provide an alibi for their whereabouts
Being asked to be someone's backup in a dangerous situation (accompanying them on a drug buy, coming with them to collect a debt, driving a getaway car, etc.)
A co-worker asking the character to cover their shift so they can do something they're not supposed to do
A student being bullied into completing a school assignment for someone else
Being coerced to lie under oath 
Being asked to take a drug test for a friend
Being encouraged to loan money to someone who is always mismanaging their funds
Discovering a friend has hidden something illegal or questionable (drugs, a stolen item, a fake ID) in the character's house

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Having to create a cover story and lie to people
Putting oneself out financially to help a friend
Having to nudge the friend to pay the money back
Being scolded for something the character didn't do
Having to work a friend's shift or cancel personal plans to accommodate them
Having to avoid getting caught (cheating, lying, etc.) to cover for the friend
Upsetting the friend by refusing to cover for them
Putting oneself on the line and the friend not showing proper appreciation
Inconveniencing family members by covering the friend's work shifts
Upsetting a spouse for showing up late time and again because the friend needed rescuing

POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS RESULTS:
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RESULTING EMOTIONS:
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POSSIBLE INTERNAL STRUGGLES:
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PEOPLE WHO COULD BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED:
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NEGATIVE TRAITS THAT COULD MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE:
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IMPACT ON BASIC NEEDS:
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WOUNDS THIS COULD LEAD TO:
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POSITIVE TRAITS TO HELP THE CHARACTER COPE:
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POSITIVE OUTCOMES:
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