Hey! I'm an indie author and illustrator. I love all things creative and will fall down rabbit holes for any fandom I'm currently in. Stay tuned for story updates and writing topics! (You can also check out my works by "Sarnai Briar" on Amazon.)
1014 members, 2084 posts about #writeblr #booklr #books and reading ⢠A bookstore run by the authors
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Now, you might be asking, "Why would this interest me?" Well, here's why.
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Below is some information about my own works.
I'm an avid writer, so I normally have an ongoing project. Topics/elements to expect in my books are hurt/comfort, research, respectful leads, action/intense scenes, and a splash of comedy.
Link to sign-up for a free EPUB of Changing Waters: Jiol!
Here is the master post for the concept/character art from my pirate novel.
Link to order the book!
Books2read link for my YA, action-fantasy trilogy, Changing Waters
Amazon link for the second book, Changing Waters: War
Books2read link for my anthology Greek comedy, Greek Skits-ology
Character Playlist post for the Changing Waters Crew
this goes for a lot of other fandoms too bc I always see them pop up. If you see a work that youâve definitely liked before with a malicious link thatâs like âCLICK HEREâ block them
Which comic idea seems more interesting to you (more details on both ideas below)
A gay romance in a medieval fantasy world. ~250 300 pages.
A shorter queer tragedy with fantasy creatures and magic. ~100 pages (I hope)
Remaining time: 6 days 6 hours
Idea 1 : A fool's game:
Gabriel is a spy for the kingdom of Attrer. He is sent to the kingdom of Edrelic kingdom to ease the alliance between the two nations. He tries to get close to the Queen's advisor and begins a relationship with one scholar, Renan, to get more information. While Gabriel only pretends at first he quickly falls for Renan and is torn between his love and his duty. But as his heart guide him, an assassination attempt is made on the queen and Renan past is revealed. Because of that Renan is abducted and Gabriel is accused. Gabriel as to prove is innocence and rescue is lover before it's too late.
Idea 2 (not named at the moment):
MMC is a werewolf and an heretic hunter. His order hunts heretics, runaway mages and pagan-creatures. While he is himself considered "Unholy" because of his lycanthropy, he is accepted by the order thanks to his complete devotion. His faith is shaken when he meets a runaway mage who opposes his order and tries to save magical creatures. The mage introduced him to their way of life (they live with fantasy creatures, hidden, in a free and loving society) The mage tried to get the MMC to switch side and accept his "wolf" side, the MMC fall for the mage and want to be with them. Unable to council his love and his faith, the MMC betrays the mage, reveals the hidden society to his order and cause its destruction. The mage "lock" the werewolf in his "human" form and want to flee, but a final argument start between the two. This give enough time to the order to find them and the mage is killed infront of the MMC.
Understanding only too late the horror of his action, MMC flee the order. But what he does next is unknown.
You know the drill, and if you don't, it's simple: you get a free e-book, I get an honest review somewhere public (Goodreads, the Storygraph, Tumblr, Instagram), everybody's a winner!
And in this case, the book you are getting is a literary short novel (51K words) about vampires in the Netherlands, 2023:
Anna never wanted to be a vampire. After seven years in hiding, she is finally safeâbut safety isnât the same as having a life.
When she visits her prospective friend Henk and his blood father AloĂŻsius at their isolated house in the Dutch forest, she finds herself confronted with unsettling truths about life on the edge of moral catastrophe.
What disturbs Anna most is AloĂŻsius himself: a practicing Catholic who seeks Godâs grace while living as a serial killer, openly admitting he exists in âa state of mortal sin.â And Henk, who lost his faith decades ago, seems content remaining for nearly a century with the man who murdered him. The longer she stays, the less she understands the household around her, or herself.
Grounded in Dutch landscape and culture, This Body, This Blood is a literary vampire novel about sin, survival, and what we make of the lives we never chose.
Go to the link in the picture, or to my website (link in bio), and sign up now! ARCs will remain open until September 9.
Ook beschikbaar in het Nederlands! Check de website of DM me!
(not your favourite topic or no time to read? A reblog is worth a thousand likes!)
To the surprise of no one who's been regularly following my blog, it's been brought to my attention that Signature Sarnai Strangeness (S cubed, as some people [I] call it) has struck again đ¤Ł.
Normally, people write in 1st-person. [E.g. I did this.], 2nd-person [you do this], 3rd-person [they did this], or 4th-person which is rising in popularity [we did this].
The lovely 3rd option wants to have 2 subcategories: Omniscient or limited. A fork in the road, implying that you have to go right or left. So, I have to pick, don't I?
NOPE.
đ¤ŁNot sure if I'm alone in this, but I apparently do both.
I'm planning to call it Limited Omniscience.
I like the omniscient style for opening chapters and transitioning scenes. I feel like this makes it easier for me to set the stage, then delve into characters. At this point, I write it like I'm telling somebody a story around a fireplace.
Then I get into limited. I enjoy (especially when writing dialogue) showing how a character is processing the world around them. Here, I'm including details that are almost like you're in the character's mind, seeing them doubt others or get emotional.
So...not really sure if this is what you're supposed to do, but I have fun doing itđ¤Ł.
(Out of curiosity, do any of you do this too? Beforehand, I used to just combine limited and omniscient 3rd person in my head, so now, I have to reassess everything I've read to know the styles people use.)
What would you do if the rules that were supposed to keep you safe were actually keeping you from your destiny?
Shouting about my book is hardâŚ
Iâm crowdfunding a queer normative fantasy romance trilogy on BackerKit this fall!
Pre-launch followers will get a special bonus when they back the project, so it would be cool if you considered giving my project a follow. >.>
If this isnât your thing, it would mean a lot to me if you shared with someone you know who would love to read about an aspec girl following a stranger into the faerie realm to find her mother, but finding secrets, magic, and her fated mate instead.
Iâm currently writing the final book right now, and have my editor already booked~
Get notified when The Kingdoms of Kaelum - Romantic Fantasy with LGBTQ Rep launches on BackerKit!
âYou exist. By virtue of a god, or gods, you exist because they made you.â
âAnd I should thank them? Donât you understand how fragile we are? Weâre nothing but an idea, a spark as you say, a manifestation of the godsâ thoughts and dreams. They made us. They can unmake us. We have no freedom beyond what they give us.â
âThey gave you free will to think that.â
âThey punish us for exerting our free will. Who owns your thoughts, Quen?â
The crack of his belt seared across my back, marking me for the sinner I was.
To scream was to confess.
To bleed was to repent.
To cry was an absolution I did not deserve.
[The Book Bazaar: A Crowdfunding Project for authors, Coming October 29th, 2026!]
Browse Books by Genre
[https://www.backerkit.com/c/collec
I can't believe what people have been saying about Darkling!
"Totally worth the wait and i have definitely been eagerly awaiting this one. I fell in love with the characters in the first book and it only grew with this one.
I loved the resolutions and the questions answered from the first book. The characters have grown and the writing is even better than the first one in the fact that as you read you can feel the authors growth in her storytelling and world building.
Great series and i will be eagerly awaiting the next book! Oh and the cover is gorgeous!!"
Goodreads Review, June 26th 2026
First off, I want to commend Holmes. To me, it was very obvious that she has been writing a lot since book 1. Something that I think is really fun about book series in general is how you can almost watch someoneâs improvement and my goodness, that happened here. I loved this story so much! Starting with the characters, I feel like everyone got an upgrade here. Lizzy is coming into her own more. Sheâs still hot-headed, but it feels like a coping mechanism in a wild world and doesnât take away from how much she loves those around her (or how much sheâs willing to fight for them). Bookerâs character gets a lot of depth in this book too. You feel the impact of whatâs gone on in his life and how that impacts the fey he is now. Also, I couldnât have this review without mentioning my favorite from last time: Andric! Heâs still number 1 for me, but I really adored the entire cast. (The new characters who come in are so loveable.) For Andric, though, thereâs a wonderful blend of noble love interest who puts others first and also someone who wants to sing at the top of his lungs that he adores Lizzy. Exploring more of his vampire side also made for a lot of fun and intrigue.
I actually want to just use this paragraph to talk briefly about character dynamics. I wonât go into spoilers, but the interactions here feel real. We see characters who have known each other for years and it feels that way. They know how to get through to one another, even when the communication is non-verbal, it feels like youâre looking at âpeopleâ who know how to reach one another. For the core group, itâs also fun to be on the other side of this. We see Lizzy and Bookerâs sibling dynamic and how they can simultaneously know each other so well and also go through a lot of drama; however, itâs great seeing Andric become part of this. Thereâs a moment when he and Booker were bonding and that stood out to me. It wouldâve been easy to just have Andric and Lizzy have all the chemistry, but Booker is family. It would matter to Lizzy that her two favorite guys get along, so seeing that was nice.
The action has gotten even better since last time too! There were some scenes that I could not get out of my head. I wonât say when or what happens. Just know that it is cool and I remain very happy that I donât live in the world of Darkling. I wouldnât last two seconds around a kavian.
I seriously recommend this. If you like fantasy, romance (without it being the only thing thatâs going on), and really feeling for characters, then this is the story for you! Iâll be sad to see this trilogy end, but Iâm also hooked! I canât wait to see what our heroes get into next time.
Goodreads Review, June 29th 2026
Changeling and Darkling
Books 1 and 2 of the Fey Touched Trilogy available now, everywhere books are sold!
Series Content Warnings; Strong language, mild blood & gore, broken bones, shoulder dislocation, throwing up/nausea (unrelated to pregnancy)
But the End Times for Akert city have to get through the world's most stubborn shapeshifter.
Back its physical release on BackerKit & get a physical copy of one of the best hidden gems of last year!
Originally released as an ebook last May, now it's time to bring this 500+ page novel to the physical world with a print run! NO slop touches my work, EVER; so if you're looking for professionally edited, self-published work that exceeds current industry standards, if you're eager to scratch an itch with something like Alan Wake, What Moves the Dead, or the Dresden Files, & if you want something neurodiverse & queer written by the same, come take a look at my BackerKit campaign set to launch as part of the yearly Book Bazaar and don't miss out on stickers and other goodies!
From Cian Verati - Echo Sight Physical Release
Want a taste before you follow? Check out those Goodreads reviews on it & see the praise other readers gave! And then head on over to my Patreon for the first three chapters free (without my in-character notes, unfortunately).
Your adventure with Enaka awaits!
Get more from VeratiArt on Patreon. Join for free or become a member for just $1/month. I'm Verati, an early-career writer/artist with a str
curious, would anyone like to read an 8k fantasy short story about a mysterious monk tasked to travel across a country to stop a budding war, full of nature-born magical monsters and nature that creeps into people, for better or worse?
It's that time of day my darlings! Tell us some wonderful little details for your original writing project or work in progress my dears! (No fanfiction please- it's a wonderful medium but not the focus of this blog post.)
TODAY'S QUESTION:
Let us now speak of one of my favorite things! Archetypes! Next let's do Dungeons and Dragons Alignment Charts, my doves. Which suits an any of your characters?
I have many Lawful Good characters! Carlos is Lawful Good because he believes people have a responsibility to do what is right even when it requires painful sacrifice. Anella is Lawful Good because she sincerely believes there is one morally correct future and dedicates herself to protecting it regardless of the personal cost. And Minneresckt is Lawful Good because he and Anella share a morality, or maybe Neutral Good because protecting Anella and the people she cares about matters more to him than following rules or pursuing power for its own sake.
Franklyn is Chaotic Good because he rejects authority that he believes is unjust and fights for the freedom of others to choose their own path.
Tempest is Lawful Neutral because duty and obligation guide her decisions more strongly than her personal feelings or desires.
Raoul is True Neutral because he has no morality of his own and instead exists to support the purpose and unity of the team he serves. This is actually the most perfect fit!
My villains are on a range as well, but many of the villains are spoilers so I don't want to go into them quite yet my doves!
Love these! Thanks for the tag too! (Also, now that I'm reading Gespenst, I am feeling very nervous about that 3rd bullet point...Here are some of mine (my casts get too big, so here are a few from each):
Changing Waters
"Charmingly violent teenager gets to take out a bunch of evil soldiers with his family."
"Single mom realizes that moving to a new home would be easier than fighting literal soldiers every day."
"Young girl slowly comes to terms with the fact that she's extremely ruthless...and that's okay."
"Evil vizier decides to be a great sorcerer too because he's not causing enough harm."
Greek Skits-ology
"An inventor-dad regrets 'bring your son to work' day."
"A god of war can go into battle but can't just ask out his crush on a date, so he involves his sister."
Mind of a Pirate
"Totally okay pirate captain ignores her rapidly declining mental health to run a psychiatric facility."
"Tiny, angry, young man learns to ask first, punch second."
"The embodiment of bad old asylums comes back it town."
War Siblings
"A very book smart and inexperienced girl has to dismantle Olympus."
"A boy toes the line between being a sweetie pie and actively destroying everything he's around."
Rumpel Story
"Legally blind woman knows just enough magic to get herself killed."
"Adopted imp dad loves his daughter as much as he loves pranks (and this definitely doesn't cause any tension with people who aren't her)"
Open tags for whoever wants to chime in with these!
For my moots on Tumblr (and whomever wants to join the party) that are also on Instagram, I started a bookstagram a few days ago.
I'll be sharing my Arc reviews, indie spotlights and other book related stuff, there, on top of my bookish Tumblr blog Tales and Teacups from now on. Will be fanfic friendly too (of course đ).
Tagged by @willtheweaver over yonder - thanks, and sorry it's taken so long to respond. The tag-backlog never ends!
Passing the tag onto @starboard-writes @alinacapellabooks @the-golden-comet @oh-no-another-idea @beeonaspiderweb and leaving an open tag to tell me more about an OC of your choosing!
Thanks to some awesome feedback, I realised that I need to flesh out Florentia Dragoni a little bit more.
Questions and answers under the cut:
Whatâs your favorite thing to do to avoid responsibility?
"I don't avoid my responsibilities. If I have a task that needs to be completed, then I do it. Procrastination just leads to more work in the longer term- why would I make life more difficult for myself?"
If you could choose anyone in the world to be your sibling who would it be?
"Countess Elizabeth BĂĄthory and I should really have been sisters. We have so much in common, we could easily have been related."
What is the most sublime thing you have ever eaten and why?
"Beluga caviar. To have a food that has come from so many miles away, and is so rare...it is difficult to explain. It is exquisite, and if I could, I would eat it every day."
What was the worst day of your life and why?
"The day that I realised Arnauld Beaufort had betrayed everything we were working towards. We promised to burn the world down, to spit in the eye of every authority in the realms of mortals, celestials and infernals. And instead, he became weak and soft. He chose to build a family and surround himself with mortals.
We had enough power and wealth to rule the world, and instead, he chose to hide. He turned his back on me, so I decided to stab him there."
Whatâs your worst nightmare?
"To be weak and powerless, reliant on a man."
If a monster asked you your worst nightmare what would you tell them and why?
"Many would say that I am the monster." She shrugs in an offhanded manner. "Any knowledge can be used against you. Be careful who you tell your secrets to."
Would you give secret information if tortured? Be honest.
"Torture does not gain you valuable information. Torture only gives you information to make the pain stop. I've been tortured a few times in my long lifetime, and I have said whatever needed to be said to gain respite from my captors."
Who could you trust most with a secret?
"Until recently, Arnauld."
You have been caught somewhere you shouldnât be! Quick, what is your excuse?
"I've found over the centuries, that most people are willing to turn a blind eye for the right price. On the odd occasion I meet someone with conviction who cannot be bribed, I have no choice but to end their life."
How good is your sleep schedule?
"I have no problem sleeping."
Do you have any siblings? If so, is your relationship good?
"I am an only child; my mother bore no other children after me."
Whatâs the toughest time you had to endure growing up?
"The Spanish Inquisition and European witch trails were a strain for several centuries."
Whatâs your relationship with your family like?
"My biological family are long dead, although, I suppose, I have some very distant cousins as descendants. I had thought I had made my own family, with Arnauld. But he had betrayed everything that we stood for, so you could say that we're not getting along very well at the moment."
Do you have any hobbies? If so what ones?
"I enjoy playing the harpsichord when I have some time on my hands."
Do you dream often? What do you dream about?
"I dream of burning those who have wronged me at the stake. It is very satisfying, and I always waken freshened from my slumber!"
Have you ever been in love?
"Romantically? Never. I have taken many a man to my bed however. I daresay, they have all fallen for me, but I have felt nothing but physical desire for them, if even that."
What is your least favorite thing in the world?
"At present, Arnauld Beaufort. But he is not going to be in this world for much longer."
What is your pet peeve?
"People who insist on speaking when their mouth is full of food, or who chew with their mouths open. Disgusting."
Would you consider yourself different?
"I am neither of mortal blood, or infernal. I am a chambion and therefore, I do not belong anywhere."
How far would you go to save a loved one?
"As far as I needed to. There is no blood I would not spill, no law I would not break..."
Would you team up with your worst enemy if it were your only option?
"I would rather die than work with Arnauld again."
What is the worst insult you can give?
"Although it has lost a lot of power over the centuries, I have always enjoyed porco Dio as an insult."
What is the nicest thing someone could say to you?
"How beautiful I look."
Are you a jealous person?
"Yes; I want what is best for me, and if someone has something that I want, then I must have it."
Have you ever committed a crime?
"I believe that the idiom 'rules are meant to be broken' was created to be applied to me."
Are you neat or messy?
"Everything has its place. A messy room creates a messy mind. I am very neat and precise in everything that I do."
How do you feel about crying? Let it out or hold it in?
"Weeping solves nothing. Other than make you look weak. It is pointless, and I see no benefit in it."
Who do you live for? Why?
"I live for myself. Who else would I live for? What kind of imbecile asks these questions?!"
Who has betrayed you the most?
"Arnauld."
What style of accessories do you wear? Is it willingly?
"I am partial to gold. I have a beautiful set of pearl earrings that I was given for my sixteenth birthday that I enjoy wearing. The only thing from my mother that I have kept over the centuries."
Thanks for the tag! Today, I think Iâll do this with Ariel, the MC of the Blue Moon series!
Whatâs your favourite thing to do to avoid responsibility?
Avoid responsibility? Iâm a champion of the gods, and a smash hit game developer, I donât have the luxury of avoiding responsibility. Not that I would want to, anyway.
If you could choose anyone in the world to be your sibling, who would it be?
My best friend, Raphael. Everyone thinks that weâre twins when they see us together, even though Iâm half Greek, and heâs from New Orleans. Heâs miserable there during the summer because of his POTS. I wonder if he would be better off living in a cold, wet countryâŚ
What is the most sublime thing you have ever eaten and why?
Matcha choux au craquelin from Sugar Berry, a patisserie in my city. I like choux pastry, matcha, and crème patissier, so needless to say I was over the moon when I found out that there was a dessert that had all of my favourite things in it.
Whatâs your worst nightmare?
Orpheus winning against us, and Brooklyn Steadman being brought back to life. He doesnât deserve to live, not after what he did to me, and to SolanaâŚ
If a monster asked you your worst nightmare, what would you tell them and why?
I wouldnât tell them anything. You think Iâm stupid enough to give a monster that information?
Would you give away secret information if tortured? Be honest.
I would not. And if they threatened to kill me, Iâd tell them to just do it. I donât fear death, not when Iâve already seen the Underworld. Itâs actually pretty nice down thereâŚ
What was the worst day of your life and why?
October 31st, three years ago. My ex-girlfriend dragged me to a stupid Halloween party, then she ditched me to make out with some girl in a stupid sexy nurse costume, and then I was raped by Brooklyn Steadman. His daddy is a billionaire, so he got away with it.
Who could you trust most with a secret?
Which secret? Because Iâve got a few. Though if I had to pick, my girlfriend and partner in fighting crime, Solana. The things she knows about me are between us and the gods.
You have been caught somewhere you shouldnât be! Quick, whatâs your excuse?
I go a lot of places Iâm not supposed to when Iâm Blue Moon. People donât usually question my appearances when they realise who I am, and if they do, itâs because theyâre villains, and itâs my job to take them out.
How good is your sleep schedule?
Held together by energy drinks and protein shakes. Or at least, it was until my girlfriend started forcing me to go to bed, and eat proper meals instead of eating instant ramen, and blacking out in front of my computer at 3AMâŚ
Do you have any siblings? If so, is your relationship good?
No, Iâm an only child. My parents were already sick of each other by the time I was born.
Whatâs the toughest time you had to endure growing up?
Probably when I dropped out of university. I wanted to be a police officer, but I couldnât become one when I realised that the police in this country donât stand for justice. Those cowards pressured me to keep quiet because Brooklynâs dad owned the university, and heâd cut funding to it if I got his son convicted for what he did to me.
Whatâs your relationship with your family like?
My father wasnât around much during my childhood, so I spent most of my time with my mother. Needless to say, my relationship with her is far better than the one I have with my father. I only saw him once or twice a year, and I donât get along with his family at all. My grandmother is a hysterical, god fearing woman who screamed and cried when she found out that I was a lesbian. I wouldnât wish a hysterical Greek grandmother on anyoneâŚ
Do you have any hobbies? If so, what ones?
Iâve done ballet all my life, and given that I am a game developer, Iâm also a very avid gamer. I like JRPGs, visual novels, and horror games.
Do you dream often? If so, what do you dream about?
My mind is forever filled with dreams of magic and fantasy. Up until recently, I hated living in the real world, and I longed for a life filled with magic and adventuresâŚAnd then I got exactly what I wanted.
Have you ever been in love?
A few times, but not now, because Iâm certain that I love Solana, not that Iâm just âin loveâ with her. Love and being in love are two very different things.
What is your least favourite thing in the world?
Greed. Iâve killed three billionaires, but I wish I could kill more. Billionaires shouldnât exist.
What is your pet peeve?
People who gossip about themselves and others. They give away information far too easily, and they cannot be resisted.
Would you consider yourself different?
Iâve been chosen by the gods to wield Phoebeâs power, and stop a supervillain from bringing my rapist back to life, so yes, I would consider myself different from the average person. Most humans donât know or believe that the gods really exist.
How far would you go to save a loved one?
Iâd go to the Underworld again, if I had to. Iâm not afraid of death.
Would you team up with your worst enemy if it was your only option?
Iâd rather die. Orpheus deserves no oneâs help, especially not mine.
What is the worst insult you can give?
I told Orpheus that his dead son didnât deserve to live right after he all but begged me for mercy. Hades says that we canât afford to show our enemies mercyâŚ.
What is the nicest thing someone could say to you?
That Iâm a hero. Thatâs all Iâve ever wanted to be.
Are you a jealous person?
Not really, though I do envy people whose fathers werenât Disney dads (Not that my father ever took me to Disneyland, but the point is, he was only there for me when it suited him)
Have you ever committed a crime?
Yes. Three murders, a home invasion, and countless amounts of property damage from the crossfire between me and the villains I fight.
Are you neat or messy?
I donât have the time to clean. Any schmuck can have a clean apartment, but not everyone can create smash-hit games.
How do you feel about crying? Let it out or hold it in?
I only cry at anime or games, most of the time. Otherwise, I hold it in.
Who do you live for?
I only know who I would die for (Solana).
Who has betrayed you the most?
Tori. Itâs her fault that I got raped at that stupid party.
What style of accessories do you wear? Is it willingly?
I wear Phoebeâs circlet. If I didnât wear it, I wouldnât have my powers.
Thank you for the tag! These are cool! (That crime list for Ariel probably shouldn't amuse me as much as it does. Morbid sense of humor activates at bad times. I feel so bad for her going to that party though!)
I'll do this for Kostas, the lead from my Changing Waters Trilogy. (I'm blending books 1 and 2 in whichever way answers the questions best without causing spoilers. Stay tuned for book 3 this January!)
Whatâs your favorite thing to do to avoid responsibility?
Avoid responsibility? I can't really do that. The villagers will die if I'm not there to defend them. If I didn't NEED to be responsible, I'd really like to learn how to play more songs on the nerĂłsiki. It's a magical instrument we have in the kingdom.
If you could choose anyone in the world to be your sibling who would it be?
Hmm, good question. I'm so used to being an only child. I think I'd go with Jael. She's a little older than I am and is already a big sister, so it wouldn't be much of an adjustment for her. Plus, she's a really good friend of mine (and a great cook, so I'd try to see if I could sample the foods early).
What is the most sublime thing you have ever eaten and why?
Mr. Vangelis visited once when I was a kid and had this sampling tray of different dishes that he was going to prepare for the king the next day. That was almost enough to start a revolution over!
What was the worst day of your life and why?
...I think it's a better use of time to focus on the good days. In short, a battle was lost.
Whatâs your worst nightmare?
My worst nightmare is Leander and the rest of the palace winning. He'll kill or torture everyone I love. If I'm not strong enough to protect them, that could happen, so I can't let it.
If a monster asked you your worst nightmare what would you tell them and why?
That monster would probably be Leander, so I'd lie and say something like, 'My worst nightmare is being captured by the Patrollers." He thinks so lowly of mutated Jiolans, he'd believe that I'd care more about that than my family and friends. If he captures me, I could find a way to escape. Even if I couldn't, they'd be safe, so I'd be fine with that.
Would you give secret information if tortured? Be honest.
No. This really is me being honest. [chuckles sheepishly] I've been a little more aggressive with my training lately, so...I'm used to pain. That's not to say that it wouldn't hurt, but I'd rather be the one getting tortured than any of them.
Who could you trust most with a secret?
Adara. She's been my best friend for my whole life. I just trust her in general. She could tell me that the ocean was really made of glue and I'd believe it. She's never given me a reason to doubt her.
You have been caught somewhere you shouldnât be! Quick, what is your excuse?
I had to be here. The villagers would've died otherwise. (Unfortunately, that excuse only works with certain individuals.)
How good is your sleep schedule?
Sleep schedule? As long as I don't pass out from exhaustion, I'm okay.
Whatâs the toughest time you had to endure growing up?
I mean, I've lived my entire life practically on the frontlines of a war. You'd think that you get used to it, but you never get used to seeing innocent people die.
Whatâs your relationship with your family like?
Great! I get along with my mom really well. I've never met my dad, though. Something happened between him and the palace before I was born, but I'm proud of him. Everyone seems to have loved him. Otherwise, we've got a pretty small family, but I have an adopted grandma on his side and an honorary great-aunt and an honorary uncle!
Do you have any hobbies? If so what ones?
I really don't have time for hobbies. I'd play more of that instrument, though, if I could.
Do you dream often? What do you dream about?
I dream a bit too often nowadays. I used to never remember them. Now...[stiffens] yeah, I don't like what I dream about.
Have you ever been in love?
[Grins] I'm still in love. That best friend I mentioned. We're dating now! I was really worried that she wouldn't feel the same way, but it's been amazing. When the war calms down, we're going to go on an actual date. Right now, our dates have mostly been training sessions.
What is your least favorite thing in the world?
Telling families that there's been another death. You can see the hope fade out of their eyes and no matter how gently you word it or say it, you can't change what's been done.
What is your pet peeve?
Mistreating others just because you can. I hate that. Don't we all have better things to do than be cruel for the sake of being cruel.
Would you consider yourself different?
Different? Not really. I'm nobody special. Some of the villagers think I am because of how I was raised, but that's it. Any of them could've been in this position and I could've been like any of them. The 'difference' is that MY parents were the ones who became leaders in the village. They worked for it and it's my responsibility to keep the village safe too.
How far would you go to save a loved one?
I...hmm, Adara asked me that recently. I wouldn't torture someone. I think that's too far for me, but I'd kill and I'd sacrifice my own life.
Would you team up with your worst enemy if it were your only option?
[Chuckles] Do I have to? I guess if there's literally nothing else, but I can't say that I love the idea of being on Team Leander.
What is the worst insult you can give?
You're as useless as King Nikolaus. That might not sound too bad, but trust me, he does nothing for the kingdom. That's basically the same as me saying that someone could be dead and it wouldn't matter.
What is the nicest thing someone could say to you?
You give me hope. Now, this one might sound corny, but hope's hard to come by in the village. There's so much death and destruction everywhere. If I could make someone really, REALLY believe in the future that we're fighting for, that would mean the world to me.
Are you a jealous person?
Not at all. I guess I haven't been in a situation where that would happen, though. Luckily, it's just been me and Adara, so there aren't any romantic rivals for either of us. I don't mind Mom spending time with the other youths and like to share things, so I think I can safely say that I'm not a jealous person.
Have you ever committed a crime?
We classify crimes differently in Jiol than people do in the surface world. There, a crime would be treason, so technically yes. Also yes if we're going off surface world rules because I have killed a lot of soldiers. There comes a point when it's not self-defense anymore and I'm okay with that.
Are you neat or messy?
I've never really thought about it. I think neat. I'm not in my room too much to notice.
How do you feel about crying? Let it out or hold it in?
This is another thing that's different in Jiol. We're underwater, so we can't really cry the normal way that other people do. We sort of sob dryly. [Grins crookedly] I'm a bit of a hypocrite. I think that people should let it out, so they can express themselves. At the same time, I hold it in. I don't want to worry the others. If I seem like I'm devastated, then they could be too. So, let it out, but I probably won't personally.
Who do you live for? Why?
I live for the villagers. They're all I've ever had and known. It still breaks my heart to see so many of them live in fear. It's up to me to keep them safe.
Who has betrayed you the most?
...I won't say who exactly, but I trusted someone and it didn't work out. The plan would've been perfect if they hadn't done what they did. I still haven't forgiven them. I don't know if I ever will.
What style of accessories do you wear? Is it willingly?
I'm not really into fashion, but Jael's younger sister, Hannele, would love that question!
Thanks for this interview! It was really fun. I have to go check in on the village, so have a good day!
I know I've literally got another au in the works already but i don't care man I love mythology and now they're gods >:)))))
Some info!
Katara and Sokka's face markings are based on the Painted Lady and Warrior makeup (respectively)-- on top of giving Sokka some winged eyeliner to resemble a wolf's markings (as the master of wolves), and a semi-circle on Katara's forehead as a symbol of equality (as the goddess of justice).
Gods don't technically "die" in this AU-- it doesn't happen often, but when it does, they usually become one with their domain. When Gyatso died, as the god of the wind, he turned into the wind and could only communicate through wind chimes (small signs/yes/no-- he can't communicate complex thoughts).
When Kya died, she turned into the starry sky. Hakoda, grieving his wife, would often study her form in the sky and learned to use the patterns of her stars to navigate, which made him become god of navigators.
When Kya died, people started praying to Sokka and Katara for matters of family and home-- it's not actually their domain, but they gratefully accept the duties that come with taking over for their mother.
Katara's necklace has sharp points in this to relate to her mother's star domain.
Katara's cloak is a sealskin (as the matron of sealife)
Yes, Sokka's leg is still hurt in this (still trying to figure out the story behind that, but I love when characters get permanent injuries in media and I'm KEEPING IT) he has a cane-- doesn't always need to use it but he has it!
Sokka's cloak is a polar bear dog's hide (as the god of hunting)
