As soon as the Main Character faces his Impact Character, a skirmish results at a personal level amid the battle as a whole. The two characters close in on each other in a theatrical "game of chicken," each hoping the other will give in.

The Main Character shouts at his Impact to get out of the way. The Impact Character stands fast, insisting the Main Character change course and even pointing toward the fork in the road. As they approach one another, the exchange becomes more heated until the two are engaged in heart-to-heart combat.

While the Overall Story battle rages all around, the Main and Impact Characters fight their private engagement. The Subjective Story Throughline describes the course this passionate battle takes. This is the first person, familiar, plural, "We" perspective.

Other names for this throughline include the MC/IC Throughline, the Relationship Throughline, the "heart" line, the "B" story line, and others. Though the Main Character and Impact Character take part as characters in this throughline, the subject of this throughline is their relationship, not them as individuals.