Ben Gets Things Right

Welcome to another installment of Over My Shoulder. Today I'll be writing about Ben. Full disclosure, Ben is by far the easiest character to write and the one who I understand the best. He's the problem solver, totally go-with-the-flow and is always determined to enjoy himself no matter where he lands...even if it's in an alternate universe.

I'm editing a Ben and Shana scene, they've just gotten trapped in Ancient Rome. Shana has devolved into a complete wreck and Ben is trying to fix everything. I'm not even writing, just looking at the flow of their dialogue and checking out my language choice.
Ben's not saying anything, he's barely moving. He's just watching my pen hover an inch or so above the page, waiting for me to make a mark.
"You could say something."
"You're thinking, that takes time."
"Yeah but you're here to help me, not watch. And I'm stuck."
He slides off my shoulder, down my arm and lands on the pages. "Ok then." He begins to walk across my scribbled-over paragraphs. "No, you're doing a good job. This is how things would have happened."
I hand him my pen. I trust him to only make positive changes, ones that I would approve of. He doesn't take it though.
"You would tell me if something was wrong right? You're not someone who lies just to be nice."
"Yeah I would. But you're fine right now. Don't sweat it and keep going."

That's Ben for you. Can't you see why he's a joy to write? He wants to help, is so nice, and is incredibly level-headed. Each of the other protagonists are a bit hyperbolic in one way or another and it's up to Ben to stay mellow. But, lest you think that he's too perfect his flaw is in his good qualities. Ben tries to overfix in a way. He MUST be able to put the pieces back together and solve everyone else's problems. When he gets transported to Cornerstone he has to sit back and let Shana, a girl he doesn't know, doesn't like, and barely trusts do the initial work, which is completely frustrating. Still, he's an angel when it comes to writing and he's the only one of my four heroes who I occasionally feel sitting on my shoulder.