Six Sentence 'Monday'!

Six Sentence 'Monday'!

This was supposed to be a Six Sentence Sunday post, but since I missed the tag yesterday, here goes "Six Sentence Monday" instead! Thank you for tagging me, @pluttskutt!

This snippet is also what I like to call: Augustus snaps and shows their pursuers precisely why he was once called the Soulsnatcher (It's slightly more than 6 sentences, I think, but it wouldn't make sense without context!)

[...] Augustus laughed, frustrated, nearly manic with rage, as the thugs surrounded them yet again. This mercenary had just hurt the only person Augustus truly cared about, and now still had the gall to try and mock them - this was the final straw over an already hellish week, and it was really, quite absurd.

He whirled backward, so fast that Harriet was surprised she didn't hear anything snap in his neck. He glanced at her injured arm for a moment, worry written in his features, before steeling himself and walking slowly towards the approaching mercenaries, despite them scrambling to reload their pistols.

When Augustus spoke again, his voice was much deeper, and garbled, and the sarcastic smile on his lips looked more than slightly off "Well, I'm going to enjoy this - it seems it's been a while since someone taught you the proper meaning of bloodshed!" The summoning mark shone around his wrist and the mercenaries fired, only for the bullets to stop mid-air. The necromancer glared at them, expression turning deathly serious. "You should've left us alone when she gave you the chance" [...]

Tagging (gently): @little-peril-stories, @oh-no-another-idea, @rickie-the-storyteller, @illarian-rambling, @i-can-even-burn-salad, @clairelsonao3, @doublegoblin, @talesofsorrowandofruin, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams, @kaylinalexanderbooks and OPEN TAG

OC Smash or Pass!

I was tagged by @kaylinalexanderbooks for this one a while back! Thank you so much for the tag!

Elias Mavven (from Of Starlight and Beasts)

Description: Elias is a tall young man with sun-tanned skin from his years at sea, and long, sand-blond hair (there is always a braid on his hair, no matter if the rest of it is untied or in a ponytail). His eyes are dark brown. Elias wears a white puff-sleeve shirt, with black trousers, and leather booths, with purple and gold fabric bands around his waist as a makeshift belt - he may or may not occasionally wear a long pastel blue overcoat with intricate embroidering (his attire is very pirate-coded, which, given that he is a pirate, is not surprising). He wears a lot of jewelry, including many rings, two necklaces and golden bracelets - most notably, Elias wears either a choker-style necklace or a fabric bandana at all times (for backstory/spoiler reasons). He is very handsome - caring a lot about his appearance and making sure he makes a powerful impression. He also has some tattoos that he is very proud of - usually in the color blue (especially turquoise), and usually either sea-themed or star/moon-themed. Is rather cocky and confident, though he has an overwhelmingly mysterious, secretive vibe.

Basic Facts:

Height - 6,3 ft

Age - 24

Gender - Male

Pronouns - He/Him

Occupation - Pirate Captain (a former aspiring sailor for their kingdom's Royal Navy)

Sexuality - Homosexual

OC Soundtrack - Elias Mavven OC Playlist

Pros -

Will absolutely make sure you take care of yourself - self-care is a very important thing for him - and will not let you spiral too far into negative/self-deprecating self-talk. Is the "mother friend" of the group, subtly, without being overwhelming - he knows how to give people space while also telling them the truths they need to hear, and absolutely loves using humor to cheer up his friends and crew.

The fun-loving life of the party - due to his confident personality (and partially due to his reputation, which impresses people and makes him beloved by most common folk), people usually gravitate to him in social settings. He knows how to have a good time in any situation - be it at a rowdy party in a tavern or while sailing the high seas - to him, any moment is an invitation to live life to the fullest and have fun.

Is very good at cooking, (though terrible at baking lmao), and knows how to perfectly make a variety of rare dishes and adores spicy food - though sometimes his taste when it comes to "how much spicy" can be a bit too much for most.

Elias is a very talented fighter and knows how to win most fights with ease - and in an increasingly dangerous and unpredictable world such as the setting of this novel, these talents often come in handy (and are often life-saving). Although he is one of the best fighters in the realm - in both land and sea - he prefers to solve things diplomatically/through deals and only resorts to fighting as a last resort.

Cares a lot. He makes emotional connections quickly, though he'd hate to admit it, and cares a lot about the well-being of his friends and crew. If he is in love with someone, that tendency creases tenfold, and he will try to make sure that person stays as happy and safe as can be. He is very romantic, in unusual ways, and is more loyal than he gives himself credit for. The well being of his friends and crew are always his priority.

Determined, brave, and witty. Elias has enough determination to last two lifetimes and is not someone to give up on things easily, while also being willing to take risks (both in battle and in normal daily life) without much hesitation. One of his greatest strengths also includes being a great team worker and leader. If you're adventuring together, you would definitely be quite the power couple - unbeatable together, while incredibly soft and in sync with each other.

Badass - knows how to make quite an impression, and is a master at "dramatic entrance", very little fazes him, and he usually remains calm, unstressed, and chill even in the middle of chaotic or potentially stressful situations. If an enemy is actually dreadful enough to manage to get this easygoing, smooth-talking, calm pirate to lose his temper/patience, then they will need one heck of a lot of good luck, because they've just unleashed a tidal wave that will crush them after this feat (as the saying goes, "fear the wrath of a good man").

Normally, he is very carefree, funny, and relaxed - to the point of being slightly reckless. He definitely is the definition of YOLO ("you only live once") in all the best possible ways. Despite this, he knows when to be serious and responsible, especially if it comes to dangerous situations.

Knows a lot of constellations and the stories/tales behind them, and loves to show off this knowledge to someone he cares about. He also has an extensive array of knowledge about sea monsters and the like, a knowledge mostly comprised of encounters that did not go so well.

Neutral Facts -

Elias is the oldest (adoptive) brother to two younger siblings, and it was just the "three of them against the world" for a really long time during his childhood and teen years. This has affected greatly his view of the world and has created some walls when it comes to trusting strangers (he's a bit distrusting/jaded).

His love languages are Quality Time and Receiving Giving Gifts. He likes to make every moment count and make things as memorable as he can in any given moment but also loves simple moments of daily intimacy and love.

Dramatic - likes to put on a show/make a scene. If he wants the last cookie in the cookie jar he will make you reconsider your life choices with how pouty and dramatic he can get to achieve said cookie. The same applies to most situations.

Uses unusual/rare swear words, in the very select occasions he actually swears.

Cons:

Bottles up and internalizes his emotions/feelings like nobody else in the world. He will definitely deflect any questions about how he is truly feeling, when he is upset, with the classic "[chuckle] I'm fine!". Given that he has some serious trauma in his past, this is just a ticking time bomb waiting to explode - and when (not if) those feelings do resurface, it definitely won't be a nice time for him (a panic attack is bound to happen, and most likely in the worst moment possible for it to happen).

Can get "carried away" during battles/fights, like he is in a fighting trance, especially if his enemy has done something to truly piss him off. While this means absolutely no danger for his friends and crew, it does mean he'll become dangerously more reckless (a.k.a. he'll likely get a serious wound and keep fighting like it's just another Tuesday, until he either passes out or someone stops him) and dig himself into a metaphorical hole by provoking more and more enemies.

Wants to handle things by himself all of the time, and has a hard time accepting that even he sometimes needs help.

Gets defensive/temperamental about his past when someone bluntly tries to find out more about it or unintentionally triggers him, which can get him in a really bad mood/sad (which he deals with by isolating himself in his quarters until he's back to his cheery self again).

Tagging (gently, no pressure): @lassiesandiego, @oh-no-another-idea, @writernopal, @tabswrites, @rickie-the-storyteller, @steh-lar-uh-nuhs, @little-peril-stories, @clairelsonao3, @jasperygrace, @jay-avian, @forthesanityofstorytellers, @aziz-reads, @doublegoblin, @gummybugg, @autumnalwalker, @olivescales3, @junypr-camus, @ashen-crest, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams, @bardicbeetle @talesofsorrowandofruin, @mitchell-nihil, @pluttskutt, @saltysupercomputer, and @dreaminggoblin

“If they won’t write the kind of books we like to read we shall have to write them ourselves.”

— C. S. Lewis

A character flaw is only a flaw until it becomes useful.

Is your protagonist overprotective? That sucks... until someone they love is in danger.

Is your protagonist manipulative? Well, that's awful... until they manipulate the antagonist into making a decision that saves the lives of their friends.

Is your protagonist a skeptic? Well, that's not good... until someone tries to lie to them.

Is your protagonist remorseless? Well, that makes them pretty unlikeable... until a hard decision has to be made.

Hello hello

8 Oldest WIP

25 Favourite part of writing

42 How do you feel about love triangles?

Hello! Thank you so much for the ask, @i-can-even-burn-salad!

8. Oldest WIP

My oldest WIP that I'm currently still working on, is The Last Wrath, a book series that I started around 3-4 years ago. It's a story that I'm very excited about seeing published, though it is currently on a small hiatus as I am focusing on my other WIPs (mainly Enchanted Illusions and Of Starlight and Beasts)!

As for the oldest story that I ever created (and am no longer working on) that could be considered an actual WIP was a book I started - and never finished lmao - when I was 10 years old, if I recall it correctly the book was a story about three sisters who were rebel princesses trying to save their kingdom from their uncle, or something along those lines! I had created many, many, many stories before that one (ever since I first learned how to write I was already creating fictional worlds and stories), but that one was the first I can consider an actual "book" or WIP, even if it never got finished!

25 Favourite part of writing

Creating backstories! That is my all-time favorite part of writing any book or creating any character. For me, backstories are especially fun to write because they're the moment the character finally "clicks" in my mind, that's the moment where I truly understand a character's history, motives, beliefs, and what made them into who they are in the current events of the book! It's like a puzzle piece finally coming into place, and it's a really satisfying part of any first draft or outline for me! Plus, backstories are the heart of most of the main internal conflict a character can have - every misbelief, fear or insecurity always has a starting point, and that starting point is almost always hidden somewhere in the backstory.

42 How do you feel about love triangles?

Hmm. Tough question! For starters, I would say that the traditional "love triangles" (where, for example, two guys are in love with the same girl and she is in love with them but "can't choose which one". The typical YA Romance Trope. It feels very awkward, IMO, on both ends and a bit objectifying, both for the girl and the boys - it's more of a "love corner" than a love triangle) are one of my personally least favorite tropes, and it's one I never write and don't think I ever will.

HOWEVER!!!! A variation of a "love triangle" (I don't know if it can even be considered that, but bear with me) that I do adore writing, is when, for example: Person B is in love with Person A, and Person C is in love with Person A too, but the love between Person B and A is actually requited and mutual (Person A is in love with Person B too), while Person C's infatuation with A is more of an obsessive, unhealthy crush than anything, and surely is not mutual (Person A doesn't love Person C in any way, shape or form). Person B and A end up together, while C usually spirals into a villain that eventually defeats themself.

For a better example: In my WIP, Enchanted Illusions, Augustus and Harriet are very much in love with one another, and clearly in a relationship (think of them as Person B and Person A in that scenario). However, Liam has been pining for Harriet since they were teens, and despite her explaining many times that she isn't interested in a relationship with him, Liam still harbors an unhealthy "love" for Harriet - believing that one day he can get her hand in marriage through political arrangements. (In this case, Liam is Person C). Harriet loves Augustus, not Liam, but Liam is obsessively in love with her. Throughout the story, Augustus and Harriet must deal with the threat of Liam's increasingly dangerous attempts to ruin their relationship so that he can marry Harriet. When that fails, Liam becomes an antagonist who is hellbent on having his revenge on the Sharppe family.

Another example of this would be the movie Megamind, where Roxanne and Megamind fall in love, but Hal Stewart (holding an obsessive love for Roxanne) thinks she needs to be his girlfriend. Or Beauty and the Beast, where Adam and Belle are in love and Gaston is just obsessed with Belle.

I don't know if this is even a variation of the Love Triangle (since one side of the triangle is two characters who are indeed in love and the other is just unrequited pining by someone more obsessive than they should be) trope, but it is infinitely more interesting for me than the actual original trope. Like, there's more room for growth, conflict and tensions there - how do Person B and Person A respond to the constant pressure of C's pining for one of them? does this affect their relationship or do they remain as close as ever? how far will the misguided Person C go to achieve their goal? would they lose themself in the process or understand that they were in the wrong? SO MANY OPTIONS!

I hope I can explain this jumbled mess of a thought in one post! But that was a great question (: