IC and OOC are ranges, for sure, and it's not necessary for someone else's characterization to precisely overlap mine in order to fall within the IC range. Though for me the IC <--> OOC ranges are often pretty inextricable from OTPing. XD; Like, the other day I read this gen Spirited Away futurefic in which Haku had no place of significance in Chihiro's life or memory or subconscious or worldview or...or anything. In a sense it was the ultimate anti-ship fic. Didn't hold water for me obv because the author didn't account for Haku's non-importance, she just sort of took it as a given, whereas I assume a Chihiro for whom Haku is significant in some way, romance negotiable. ...Sry for tangent but I've been needing to get that off my chest ahaha.