1, 4, 10, 12, and 27 for all of your new book characters!
(The gang is sitting on barstools in a row. From left to right: Red, Eliza, Avner, Ahava. This is the best arrangement for everyone’s safety. Red is fidgeting and continually whispering to Eliza about how uncomfortable these chairs are.)
1. What does you feel most ashamed of and/or guilty about? Why?
“What, we– we’re going to do this now?” Red laughs and runs a hand through his hair, looking at the others. “We’re not going to wait for the book?”
There’s a long pause. Avner simultaneously shrugs and remains completely still.
“That’s fine with me,” Ahava says, actually shrugging. She changes position on her chair; Avner offers to lower it for her and she hisses at him that she’s fine.
“Answer the question,” Eliza says, now looking at her nails.
“I– what? Oh.” Red sits up straight and adjusts his shirtsleeves. “Right. I’m first. I guess–”
He exchanges a glance with Avner. Avner clasps his hands and pointedly looks away.
“I’m officially asking that Ahava be removed from the room,” Red says. Ahava is promptly removed. “Right– I do feel guilty that I don’t care about her. Which means I do care about her, I guess. But if I’m part of her court, she should be–” he waves his hand ineffectually. “The center of my existence. I don’t know. So it’s very– it’s not good. I don’t know.”
“A surprising answer,” Avner says, quietly. Pettily? You can’t tell.
“Avner, why don’t you go next?” Red says, pretending he heard what Avner said.
“I– what– oh, no, I haven’t– I didn’t think of–” Avner’s fingers go frosty. “Can I have a moment? I–”
“I wish I worked harder,” Eliza interrupts, and Avner collapses in relief. “In the real world. I don’t think I took advantage of what I had enough. It’s never really a good time to disappear, but this was kind of– worse. I guess. And it sucks that I don’t have my camera anymore.”
Ahava is let back into the room.
“I wish that I did more things for people,” Avner says quietly, and a riot breaks out on Red and Eliza’s end. You don’t catch much, but most of it is about how Avner should stand up for himself and he does more than enough for everyone already and he’s never done anything wrong in his life. “I don’t– I regret not working harder at home, too! I’m ashamed to– can you please–”
Red lets go of him, then comes back to kiss his cheek. Avner loses his train of thought.
“I regret not coming sooner,” Ahava says, tossing her head. “If I knew being the queen here was an option, I would have done everything possible to come before.”
“Can you choose when you come?” Avner asks, turning his head. “I didn’t know–”
“You can’t,” Red says, very flatly. You hurry to move on before a fight breaks out.
4. How would you like/prefer to die?
“Oh, fuck,” Red says, and laughs. He composes himself, looks at you, and starts laughing again. Avner looks in his direction worriedly.
“I’d like to die of old age,” Avner says. “If that’s an option.”
“I’ll second that,” Eliza adds.
“Stab wound,” Red says, completely seriously. Avner gasps, and makes several hand gestures across Eliza’s lap.
“Can I– if he’s going to die in battle, can I change my answer to dying with him?”
“What about me?” Eliza asks, crossing her arms. “You want me to be the last to die?”
“No, not– can I change his answer for him?” Avner presses. You shrug; this isn’t really how you expected this to go. “I don’t know; I want to die satisfied. Can I say that?”
Sure, he can say that. You don’t have a lot of control here. Ahava crosses her arms and blows a length of hair out of her eyes; you decide to power through.
10. What are your weaknesses?
“The area under the fifth rib,” Red says, looking fairly serious about it.
“He’s a selfish brat who does what he wants,” Eliza corrects. “I think my weakness would probably be a lack of knowledge of this place. And, uh, not wanting to figure shit out on my own.”
“I’m too passive,” Avner says, and looks to Ahava.
“I have no weakness,” Ahava says, and Eliza mutters something about wrath and envy under her breath.
12. Are comfortable in a position of power, or would you prefer to be the one following orders?
“Spoilers?” Red says. You glare at him. “I like power,” he amends. “In the right context.”
“Power is cool and I want all of it; I just don’t want responsibility,” Eliza agrees. At least, she thinks she’s agreeing.
“Please take my crown,” Avner begs.
“I would if I could,” Ahava says sweetly; you can’t be both the White and Red Queen at once. Unless you defeat the other ruler in a proper sword fight, which is considerably difficult.
27. If you had a daemon, what shape would it take and why?
“Hm.” Red thinks about this for a moment. “Stupid question. Moving on.”
“An otter,” Eliza says immediately. “I fucking love otters.”
“I think A– um– Red’s… daemon… we’re talking about a Patronus sort of thing, yes?” Avner asks. He seems very nervous; you reassure him that you are just talking about animal familiars and the like. “Then a cat. Definitely a cat. And mine would be– a mouse?” He thinks. “Or maybe also a cat. I like cats.”
Ahava waits for him to continue, then jumps in when he doesn’t.
“A horse,” she says. “They can run fast, and also kick people’s heads in.”
Red looks mildly terrified.
