I'm trying to tailor Elizabeth's character into the kind of person who believably doesn't make new friends easily, so she's down to just a few by the "first job" point in her life. I think that the harmful emotional coping/controlling habit of self-harm is psychologically more likely in someone who doesn't have a good social support network, whether because of quality or quantity.
However, Elizabeth needs a confidante so that the script can have dialog mixed in with the action of Elizabeth acting mildly manic-depressive because she cuts and can somehow pretend to be normal when she "empties out" her depressive feelings. So, should I bring in a best friend who has doggedly maintained the friendship through things that most other friends melted away because of, like moving and getting full-time careers? Or should Elizabeth's confidante be a sister?
And if sister: older, younger? Is the sister prettier, higher achieving, both? I wrote Elizabeth's bio so she had two sisters, one prettier, one "smarter," but she doesn't need two, as long as there's one around to make her secretly feel inferior while she expresses pride in her sister; one whom her parents seem to love more, even though parents really love all their kids the same amount.
Right so: are we going for a super-friend, or a sister? Should I show reasons why Elizabeth is messed up inside, or should I give her a best friend/foil with a really social friend who makes damn sure to maintain their college or high school friendship?
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