Hiya Ducky!

Hiya Ducky!

How about 💀 for the OC questions tag game? I love learning about characters' fears, I think its one of the most fundamental characterising traits that everyone has a deep fear of something.

Hi, Trance! Thank you so much for the ask!

(The OC Ask Game)

That is a really great question, and I totally agree - a character's fear is very important to their arc, especially when it comes to growth and development! I'll talk about some OCs from my WIP Realms of Loss.

Realms of Loss:

Prince Archyvel of Sarythea: Archyvel's worst fear is being a failure or proving to be utterly incapable and worthless. He was raised at the height of luxury, in an environment where he never had to try too hard or prove himself/attempt to improve, and, while on the surface he was comfortable, that life led him to develop some serious insecurities - especially when he compared himself to his older brother, the great hero and King of Sarythea, or saw how the court's advisors whispered about him being "the Royal family's weak link". To counter that insecurity, for a long while, Archyvel indulged himself with more and more luxury, parties, and gold galore - but when that mask is taken from him and he is forced into exile, he is left with nothing and forced to confront his fear face to face in the real "fight or die" world where his brother wasn't there to intervene. His story arc in the book is very much about what it means to be a true, worthy leader and strive for growth and improvement instead of hiding from his life's challenges.

Nesrynna Alorai: Nesrynna's worst fear is being corrupt or evil - like her aunt was- she also fears being unable to continue her father's interrupted quest. Growing up, Nesrynna definitely had the best example of the worst possible person imaginable one could be and witnessed firsthand the extent of the cruelty and injustice people like her aunt were capable of dishing out in the name of greed, something that cost her father's life, who was her hero and only parent. Having such a dreadful set of events happen to her so early in her life impacted her heavily, making Nesrynna a person who takes her morality and being a righteous/good person very seriously - constantly second-guessing herself, being untrusting of herself and being reminded that her background could one day define her. This, while being a core root of her current personality, is also her weakness, and she must learn to trust herself again, finding certainty in her own choices.

Gwain Vytris: Gwain's worst fear is being weak, and failing to be strong enough to make sure he and his siblings survive - he is also afraid of being used or manipulated by others, especially more powerful people. Growing up as a street urchin in the dreadfully neglected slums of the Outer Cities of the kingdom of Avillore forced Gwain into a protector role for his younger siblings very early on, making him have to grow up fast and make unfair choices in the name of survival. This, paired with some of his specific traumas, turned Gwain into a very jaded, cold, and skeptical young adult who considers emotions/vulnerability as a weakness that could potentially lead to death, which impacted his relationship with the younger siblings he raised as well. His arc throughout the book is centered around coming to terms with the gruesome unfairness of his past and learning to let go of all that hatred in the name of trying to give himself a chance at a better, happier future by opening up to the people who truly cared about him.

Viktoras Aeravi - Viktoras' worst fear is being nothing more than the illegitimate bastard that brought shame to his family, being considered worthless or meaningless. Born into a stern noble family to whom honor and tradition were everything, Viktoras was never given a choice - his illegitimate birth seemed to already define his destiny and his chances. He spent most of his life trying to prove himself to a household where he felt he never would truly belong, constantly longing for the sense of family and belonging he was deprived of by blood. This influenced many of his choices and his behavior, trying to always be flawless and honorable at all times, which, while a noble goal, was born out of his insecurity and anxiety. Viktoras main story arc is about finding that belonging and realizing that family isn't always defined by blood, while also showing his true worth to those who denied him so long ago.

Gwinnifer - Her fear is being unable to bring about change and thus being unable to save her kingdom from being caught in a war that was none of their making. A wild spirit and a peacemaker by heart, Gwinnifer wanted nothing more than a better, more just world and to protect her kingdom, the Izuhyn People, from the wars of their neighboring realms. She was an outsider, a child lost in the woods of the Lost Lands, unexpectedly found by royal Izuhyn scouts and taken in as their own despite her not being one of them. She wants to be able to "repay" this kindness by changing her kingdom's fate in the war, and thus sets out to make sure the forbidden prophecy doesn't come to pass. Her arc centers around healthily using that fear for the improvement of the world around her, while realizing she didn't need to be a hero or peacemaker out of a sense of desperate duty, as she would always belong amongst the people who chose her regardless of her choice, but choosing to persevere and bring peace because that was her heart's calling.

OC in 3 Tag!

Thanks for the Tag, @tabswrites!

Tagging (gently, with no pressure): @oh-no-another-idea, @sm-writes-chaos, @writernopal, @clairelsonao3, @rickie-the-storyteller and @steh-lar-uh-nuhs

Rules - Post three pictures that represent your OC

I chose three pictures that represent my OC Rylisan from Tales of Wilted Flowers because I've been obsessed with developing the backstory of this sad, traumatized, adorable elf boy these past few days.

Alone, bound and pain for the OC(s) of your choice?

~ @tabswrites

(The OC Ask Game)

Thank you for the Ask, @tabswrites!

✨Spoilers for Realms of Loss and Enchanted Illusions Below the Cut✨

Alone: (OC - Adaria Vytris, WIP Realms of Loss)

How does your OC deal with loneliness?

This is a perfect question for my OC, Adaria Vytris, from Realms of Loss, whose worst fear is, coincidentally, ending up completely alone.

As such, she does not deal very well with loneliness, and despite being an awkward introvert with the social skills of a little gremlin, she still 100% prefers to be around other people - even if they're just close by and she's the weird one lurking on the edge of the room. When she's completely alone, Adaria usually keeps herself busy in some way, anything to avoid feeling that empty void of loneliness that creeps up in the back of her mind when she's not busy protecting other people or just talking.

Have they ever been completely alone before?

Yes, Adaria has been completely alone before, a few years before the main story, when she ended up separated from all her older siblings because of the ongoing wars of the continent and thought they were all dead. It was really traumatic for her and is by far the worst time of her entire life.

How do they act when there's no one around to see them?

Very nervous. Usually, she has a very aggressive/blunt persona when she's around people, as she takes up a "protector" role in her friendship group and mimics her older brother's jaded challenging behavior towards all authority figures because it's all she's known (and because their kingdom literally lives in a very oppressive absolutist/theocratic monarchy-style government, so it's obvious she resents following rules).

She rarely ever shows the more vulnerable side of her personality to others, because she finds solace in being the shield that keeps them safe. When that role is taken from her for some reason and she's left completely alone, especially if against her will, her anxieties creep up on the back of her mind and she starts to question her worth - because she fears not being able to make it in the world by herself. She's at her most vulnerable when she's alone, much different from her assertive self she takes up in the company of others.

Bound: (OC - Julia Kyllians, WIP Enchanted Illusions)

Has your OC ever been imprisoned or captured? What happened?

At the beginning of the book, it is implied that Julia's just been released from jail, having been wrongfully imprisoned two years before due to lies spread by her young father's corrupt employer as a way to silence her - after she found out the millionaire wanted to illegally prolong her father's contract. This is the inciting incident for her character arc, which leads her to join Thaddeus Lockhill's revolutionary movement in hopes of clearing her name and breaking that contract.

How did they get out?

It is unclear at the start of the book whether she was actually released, bailed out (which is highly unlikely), or if she broke out of prison (whether by herself or with some help).

Did the experience leave any scars?

Mostly emotional ones - which lead to a deep desire for justice and the tiniest bit of wishing for revenge.

Pain: (OC - Teivel, WIP Realms of Loss)

What's the worst pain your OC has ever felt?

Teivel is a young Izuhyn being held prisoner of war in the Fortress of Avillore. Aside from the emotional pain and trauma of being forcibly locked in a filthy, freezing dungeon in an unknown, enemy country, after being ripped from everyone and everything he knew and loved, while having his magic constantly suppressed, he's also spent the past years before the main story of the book (before being freed by Lucian Dhaeras) being experimented on by Avillorian alchemists and interrogated for information about his people. Which, in a medieval-ish world without a great grasp of human rights - especially when it comes to someone dubbed "the enemy" - can only mean horrifyingly painful things. He's been through pretty much every torture that would cause him pain but not kill him.

Do they have a high pain tolerance?

After everything he's been put through, it's safe to say that he kind of has to have developed a high pain tolerance, or he would've gone utterly batshit insane by now.

OC in 3 Tag

Tagged by @kaiusvnoir here!

Gently tagging: @mysticstarlightduck @writingmaidenwarrior @acertainmoshke

Three pics that represent Adrin, because he’s making me sad today:

He was the first character I created for ToL and I made this long before I understood him. It still fits. (He has problems with bears).

Incorrect Quotes Tag!

Thank you so much for the tag, @saintedseraph!

I really love this generator, lmao, so I'll do this one for my WIPs Enchanted Illusions and Realms of Loss! I adjusted some of the quotes to fit the characters better but here it goes:

(Enchanted Illusions)

Evangeline - We should normalize not loving family members, and maybe, just maybe... plotting their accidental murders. Ambrose - Or you can just say: “I hate my dumbfuck step-mom” or whatever. You know. Talk like a normal person!

Vincent - *on the phone* Just threaten him with bankruptcy - or snap his kneecaps, I don't care - and he’ll talk, I’m at a parent-teacher conference. Everyone - ... Vincent -  Anyways, you said Harriet is enjoying finger painting! That's great.

Marcus - *sharpens knife* We've got ways of making people talk. Marcus - *cuts a piece of cake* Liam -  ...Can I have some? Marcus - *pulls away the cake* Nuh-uh, cake is for talkers.

Agatha - You have your weirdly sincere humility. Caileain -  I prefer the term "self-loathing", actually.

Valentine - *ferally sarcastic, with the intention to annoy* Oh, fiddlesticks! That really ruffles my feathers! Thaddeus - *near tears* Please, just say fuck

Julia, grinning - I have a knife! Thaddeus - Put it down, Julia. Julia - Make me! *sprints away*

(Realms of Loss)

Random Avillorian Soldier - You have an impressive pain tolerance. Teivel - Thanks, it's the trauma.

Sara - And what did we learn, Drystan? Drystan - *bored, almost reciting the words* Tackling and stabbing someone isn’t the correct response to being asked a simple question

Prince Archyvel - I think I need a hug... Mehri - Good thing I'm hug-shaped! *45 minutes later* Prince Archyvel - You... you can let go now. Mehri - *tightens his hug, smiles* No, I absolutely cannot.

Kassien - I love you. Adaria - *blushes*  How many people have you said that to? Kassien - Everyone. Adaria - ... What? Kassien - I told everyone that I love you.

Oryon - Let's bury the hatchet, Gwain. Gwain - Oh, don't worry, I won't be burying any hatchet unless I get a clear shot at your groin! Oryon - *runs away*

Nesrynna - Why are you guys acting like this? Viktoras, dead serious - Oh, we're not acting. Delyan - We really are like this.

Lucian, handing out popsicles - Which flavor do you want? Mehri - Blue flavor! Lucian - Uh, you mean Blue Raspberry...? Mehri - Blue flavor! Blue flavor! Lucian, concerned - Blue is not a flavor! Mehri, eyes glow -  BLUE FLAVOR!

Tagging (gently, no pressure) - @tabswrites, @ashen-crest, @gummybugg, @doublegoblin, @oh-no-another-idea, @sm-writes-chaos, @writernopal, @sam-glade and @clairelsonao3

Happy STS, Claire!

What is easier for you in a first draft of a WIP: expressing the emotions/feelings of your characters or describing the setting's details?

Happy STS and thanks for the ask!

So the answer is actually a secret third thing: dialogue. Generally, my Draft Zero reads like a screenplay. Every draft after that sketches more of what is happening around that dialogue. This is partially because just enjoy writing dialogue, but I think it's also because I tend toward hyperphantasia, so I can see where the characters are, what they look like, and every other visual thing around them in my head to be able to write what they're saying. That means that for my own purposes, I don't necessarily need it to be spelled out on the page at that point. (Obviously, the reader does, though!)

Of the two you mentioned, emotions and feelings would definitely come first, or second after dialogue. Descriptions of settings and other details are usually the last thing that gets added (not surprisingly, it's also what I enjoy writing the least). 😂