Familiar People Who Don't Exist

The other day Cody and I were having a conversation about a serial killer Cody likes, and I wondered aloud if an ex-spy we both know rather well would get along with him. We determined that they wouldn't get along at all, but the ex-spy would probably be best friends with a CIA operative we're both fond of who's currently on a long-term babysitting mission.

Of course, I'm talking about characters in TV shows and books, not real people we know. This is actually one of my current favorite mental games: guessing if different characters we're both familiar with would get along, who would instantly like who, and who would be instant enemies. Once I started thinking about it, there are a surprising number of people that Cody and I talk about on a daily or weekly basis who don't really exist. They are fleshed-out fantasies of someone's creation who have stepped into our lives and captured our imaginations.

Here's the few that I could come up with off the top of my head (in no particular order):

• Michael Weston (and Fiona)
• Richard Cypher (and Kahlan, Zedd, and Cara)
• Stephanie Plum
• Serge A. Storms
• Mack Bolan
• Rachel Morgan
• Anita Blake
• Meredith Gentry
• Sookie Stackhouse
• Harry Dresden (and Bob and Karrin)
• Tess and Claire McLeod (and Jodi, Meg, Stevie, Kate, Nick, and Alex)
• Buffy Summers (yeah, we've finally decided to watch season 6)
• Jack Reacher
• Booth and Bones
• Ted Mosby (and Marshall, Lily, Robin, and Barney)
• Chuck Bartowski (and Morgan, Sarah, and Casey)
• Richard Castle (and Beckett)
• Phedre no Delaunay
• Aisling Grey (and May and Jim)
• Westley
• Captain Jack Harkness (and Gwen)
• Dr. Who (and Rose, Martha, and Donna)
• Charlie (and Dee, Dennis, and Mac)

Perhaps we're an abnormal couple, mainly because I actively dissect other people's characters as a hobby, often involving Cody in the process. Or maybe everyone has their own clique of fictional characters that populate their daily lives. I hope so!