Romance
Banter can do useful work in romance, but it can also become a very efficient hiding place.
A scene can be lively, sharp, even funny, and still leave the characters standing at arm’s length from each other. Sometimes the joke is the point. Sometimes it is a polished little screen door they keep slamming shut between themselves and the awkward bit.
The trick, I suppose, is noticing whether the teasing is changing the relationship or merely decorating the gap. Readers usually spot the difference before the writer does.
A scene can be lively, sharp, even funny, and still leave the characters standing at arm’s length from each other. Sometimes the joke is the point. Sometimes it is a polished little screen door they keep slamming shut between themselves and the awkward bit.
The trick, I suppose, is noticing whether the teasing is changing the relationship or merely decorating the gap. Readers usually spot the difference before the writer does.
Banter can also be the only place two characters are allowed to be honest. The trick is whether the joke has a bruise under it. If every exchange is just sparkle, fine, but it starts to feel like watching people polish a table while the house burns. A little friction in the words usually matters more than the wit.