New Music Friday is quite the phenomenon. If you, like me, subscribe to a number of musician mailing lists, you’ve no doubt seen the deluge of emails hitting your inbox informing you of various releases going out into the world, accompanied often by images of happy band members delighted to be seeing years of labour finally realised in a finished project, holding up the CDs, the vinyl sleeves, the physical manifestations of their souls being poured out and presented for the whole world to judge, often with a twang of relief too, to finally see their work come to fruition.
Personally, it always brightened up a dull morning/afternoon routine work meeting to have a quick, cheeky scroll through all the music I can look forward to sinking my teeth into post-work, and in my case, given that I present a new music show on Sunday evenings, properly get the ball rolling on preparing the material for my show.
Throw in the added excitement of events like the (sort of) bimonthly Bandcamp Fridays, where Bandcamp waives the 10-15% cut of sales made through their platform on artists’ music or merch, and the coordinated weekly music release calendar begins to feel like one of the last few pieces of shared culture in an online environment that can find you the niche-est interest your heart desires, but at the cost of splintering us into a thousand fragmented sub communities that have no idea what is going on with each other.
A fact that might seem surprising is that Friday being the chosen day for releases is a relatively recent phenomenon, in fact, the practice of having releases all over the world on a Friday just turned 10 years old this week. It is also a whole separate article going into the mechanics of record shops, the music charts and patterns in how we listen to music, and is one I will dedicate a future article to.
In the meanwhile, to make sure you aren’t missing the flood of excited Bandcamp and mailing list emails cascading out of your inbox, here are some releases we are looking forward to this Friday, 11 July 2025. These aren’t reviews, per se. I’m writing this stupidly late on a Thursday night.
Wet Leg – moisturizer
Isle of Wight indie rockers Wet Leg became one of the most celebrated causes of indie music’s rise in cultural significance when their self-titled debut album became one of the most successful independent albums of 2022, appearing on the Billboard charts in the US and topping the UK albums charts for months, winning multiple Grammys and BRIT awards. The days of ‘landfill indie’ were truly over when their debut single ‘Chaise Longue’ enchanted first YouTube and then took the music world by storm. The curse of the sophomore album looms large over most artists even when they don’t release one of the biggest albums of the decade, and no doubt the pressure was on Wet Leg.
Three years from their debut album, the band launched their comeback single in the only way Wet Leg could have: with playful, catchy absurdist indie in the form of ‘catch these fists’. The band were barrelling forward from their mega-hit debut by not taking themselves too seriously. But latest single ‘davina mccall’ and the song ‘11:21’ performed during their NPR Tiny Desk set revealed an underlying depth of sincerity, love and hope over sweet indie guitars, which promises to make moisturizer an interesting, three-dimensional, fully fleshed out indie delight.
Read further: Wet Leg make Tiny Desk debut ahead of Moisturizer
Kokoroko – Tuff Times Never Last
The London jazz outfit have been releasing singles that blend summery jazz and RnB and revel in joy, collaboration and celebration, all in the lead up to their next album, Tuff Times Never Last. Perhaps a much-needed ray of sunshine and carefreeness in today’s world.
Wolf Alice – ‘The Sofa’
This is the second single from the band’s upcoming album The Clearing, following on from ‘Bloom, Baby Bloom’, which revealed the band’s sharp change in direction towards a bolder, superstar image and a much more extroverted sound than their last album Blue Weekend. But first singles are meant to shock us into registering an act’s return. Perhaps ‘The Sofa’ will tell us what the new album will truly sound like.
Calva Louise – Edge of the Abyss
The Manchester-based multilingual hard rock trio comprised of members from countries all over the world are releasing their sixth studio album on Friday, co-produced by Australian electronic group Pendulum’s Gareth McGrillen, promising to lend a glitzy electro touch to the band’s riffs and chugging, as seen on the last single off the album, ‘Impeccable’. Further, the trio have taken a conceptual approach to the album, with the video to ‘Impeccable’ set in 1994 and being a horror sequel to the previous single, ‘W.T.F.’.
Africa Express – Africa Express Presents… Bahidorá
The Damon Albarn-led collective return with their first new music since 2019 album Egoli. The latest effort from the global musical congregation takes them to Mexico’s Bahidorá festival, and working with the Mexico Institute of Sound. This time, Africa Express’ signature genre-transcending collaborative spirit combines Afrobeats, traditional singing, Spanish laments, ballads, pop, rock, jazz, rave, electronic, hip hop, dance music and much more in delightfully catchy songs.
Singles have been dropping since May of this year, bringing together familiar faces and past collaborators in both Africa Express and Gorillaz like Fatoumata Diawara, Moonchild Sanelly, Seye Adelekan, Bootie Brown, Joan as Policewoman, and bringing in new faces from the world of pop music, like Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Nick Zinner, renown DJ Bonobo, Mexican indie artist Louisa Almaguer and Tom Excell of UK funk jazz outfit Nubiyan Twist and London/Ghana Afrofuturist project Onipa, amongst many, many others.
Bahidorá promises to be a journey for the ears, and Africa Express have recently been on tour supporting the album that comes out this Friday.
JayWood – SUN BABY
The Manitoban multigenre artist Jeremy Haywood-Smith, known professionally as JayWood began his musical journey writing ‘sad songs’ before discovering funk music, which led to delightfully catchy, synth-layered albums like his 2019 debut Time and 2022 album Slingshot, which was long listed for the Polaris Music Prize the following year. In the intervening time since his last album, Jeremy has moved base from Winnipeg to Montreal and is busy with his third album Leo Negro, set for release on 5 September. The album is to take a much more expansive and experimental approach to his music, lyrically a journal exploring the different sides to himself, and musically drawing from some of the softer influences on his past work. After releasing ‘BIG TINGS’ with the band Tune-Yards, JayWood released the latest single from the upcoming album on Thursday, ‘SUN BABY’. It is the most spacey and experimental of the album so far, drenched in layered harmonies, acoustic guitars and pianos. “It’s me at my most honest,” Jeremy says. “But to approach the album like this I needed to write from different versions of myself. I’ve intentionally split the brain through each song which has made it more cohesive than my scatterbrain music mentality of just writing everything I’m into and expecting it to make sense.”
Gwenno – Utopia
Cornish-Welsh musician Gwenno has almost singlehandedly been reviving and modernising the canon of Cornish-language music with her synth pop, post punk work on solo albums Y Dydd Olaf (The Last Day in Welsh) (2015), Le Kov (The Place of Memory in Cornish) (2018) and 2022’s Mercury Prize-nominated Tresor (Treasure, Cornish), the last being the first and so far only Cornish language album to be nominated for the prestigious British music award. But when the pioneering Cardiff-based musician began her career as a teenager, it wasn’t as a musician at all: she was an Irish dancer in Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance production, which took her out to Las Vegas for two years as a seventeen-year-old. Then followed a stint in the wildly popular 00s girl group The Pipettes. All these experiences, particularly her stint in Vegas, where her group of dancers would frequent a nightclub called Utopia and where Gwenno got into techno music for the first time, form the basis for Gwenno’s fourth solo studio album Utopia. Her first English language venture in her solo discography, this is an album telling a 25-year story of Gwenno’s journey to today: North America, Irish dancing, the London music industry, returning to Wales, Cornish music, motherhood and more. It’s driven by more traditional instruments: pianos, harps and guitars shine on tracks like the latest single and title track ‘Utopia’, although her trademark synths are ever-present, for an album of ballads and beautiful pop songs like ‘Dancing On Volcanoes’.
Barry Can’t Swim – Loner
Edinburgh producer and DJ Barry Can’t Swim first rose to fame for his infectious blend of house music and various other genres like RnB and pop music throughout lockdown. His debut album When Will We Land? was released in 2023 and saw Barry, real name Joshua Mainnie, grow as an enthralling live act, bringing along a live band including a drummer, synth player and strings, offering up a unique show somewhere between the work of Jungle, jazz and dance music, and was nominated for the 2024 Mercury Prize, becoming one of the key artists placing electronic music at the centre of the award last year, with Nia Archives reintroducing jungle music to the awards for the first time in nearly three decades, and Charli XCX bringing dance music into both the critical focus and the mainstream.
Barry Can’t Swim’s second album Loner promises to push the boundaries of electronic music further. The five singles released so far have incorporated elements of soul, gospel, RnB, rave, rap and even indie, while still being perfectly capable of moving large festival crowds in unison to the beat. Paving the way forward for IDM, Barry says Loner, out this Friday, is “the most authentic expression I could offer of myself and my life over the past year”.
DC Dolls – ‘Blame Me’
DC Dolls are an emerging punk rock spark in the Dublin music scene. Their debut EP Into The Empty Blue came out last June, touching on feminist themes and history. After taking some time off to sit their school leaving exams, the five piece are back and fierce as ever on their comeback single ‘Blame Me’, a charged up punk rock tracker sure to generate moshpits. (This one I have actually had a chance to hear already because I spoke to the band for radio recently— and you can hear that this Sunday.)
Read also: Releases you may have missed this month
@cynicaljapanophile @thereluctantherosrose @catherinestark-hphm @anonymous-crazy-girl @bluerosesburnblue @batgirl-87 @zoeysandersofslytherin (i tagged anyone who may enjoy this, if you don’t, please forgive me <3)
🌟 When your OC loses all hope, who do they turn to first? What helps make them feel better? What calms them down and reassures them? Why?
Hard question, When David loses all hope is like a dead man walking, what he re-light his hopes is thinking about the worst-case scenario so he will be like “This is not the worst-case scenario, there is still hope, I can still do something!”. He feels generally better during peaceful situation(who doesn’t?). He feels generally reassured when he can talk with someone who doesn’t mind his odd way to talk(that is similar to Midoriya's way of mumbling when he explains something)
☀️ What makes your OC genuinely happy? A person, an item, their hobby? Where is the place they’re happiest, or most at home? What is the happiest they’ve ever been?
David is basically happy every time he shares his time with Penny. That aside he likes nature, it’s his happy place(maybe in a past life he was an elf from another world/dimension, *wink wink* or he was Snow White XD). He loves animals and creatures, even the colours of nature helps him to relax. Every kind of activity made in the woods makes everything nice and peaceful for him(even a lesson of Potions in the woods would be heaven for him). He loves working for the Magical Creatures Reserve(i headcanon that the Magical Creature Reserve, actually hired him as part-time worker and David gets money from that), even if those creatures can kill anyone(we have Chimeras and Dragons after all), in his opinion they’re way less problematic than anything inside Hogwarts(including people).
🌙 If your OC could have one wish come true what would it be and why? Would there be consequences to this wish or would they regret it once they get what they want? What would they give in return for this wish to come true?
Jacob never trapped in the vaults.
What will change(for the better):
David’s memories will be unsealed sooner
David will never suffer from that depressing feeling of loneliness that brings him to try to resurrect his mother
This will bring David to not lose his sense of touch, never met God/Truth, never had a panic attack over his letter for Hogwarts, Jacob would be the classic “proud big brother” for the last two years(Jacob at least the one in the game, IF he is the real one knows how to apparate and Apparition is a lesson you can take only in Sixth or Seventh year)
David never met Minerva and had an agreement about her paying for his education...Dumbledore would do it instead.
David probably would have been sorted in Hufflepuff or Slytherin(with his brother)
IF the vaults were still a thing going on, Jacob would have a change of mind about over-protecting David, and instead, he would teach them the most advanced spells he knows and give him a strict training-menù, or have his Alchemy-tattoos way sooner
DavidxPenny would look like Hinny rather than a Romione with a “Beauty and the Beast” trope
David and Merula (aside opinions on her racism/elitism) they would be healthy rival(until she screws up everything at least...not implying it, just saying that it may happen, based on what we know about her in the canon game)
David wouldn’t have all those problems related to anger issues, stress, PTSD and depression, and thanks to his brother’s presence he would have someone to truly talk without feeling judged or dismissed(because Jacob dealt with a big part of the Vaults and actually understands him) so David would have mentally “grown” more healthy and without that feeling of “being hiding part of his personality for the sake of being loved” that actually has in the canon HPHM
David would be a better fighter, wizard and he would be more smooth with talking because he dealt with his mental problems way better and actually he doesn’t get triggered by almost everything related to Hogwarts and as consequence(with the secret wish of destroying the institution of Hogwarts like dismantling the staff, like forcing the Ministry to change everything about Hogwarts for the sake of making it a safer place), he would have more time to learn new things...
David would be way less shy about sharing PDA with Penny
❄️ What makes your OC sad, so sad that they can’t help but cry all day? How do they cheer themselves up? Does their sadness upset any of their loved ones too?
With everything happening in HPHM? Only someone dying would make him sad enough to cry, like the 12 students eaten alive by the Acromantula, he cried a lot and was also angry to Dumbledore, enough angry to try to punch him multiple times. He needed to vent for a while with Penny and/or Rowan(at first is supposed to be a PennyxDavid moment but JC is literally removing Rowan from the game...so I want to compensate) helping him to calm down.
🔥 If your OC is known for having temper tantrums? If not, what gets them really angry? What makes their blood BOIL? Is there any way to calm them down or are they unstoppable? What are they like when they’re angry? Do they take it out on their loved ones?
David main reason for a tantrum is when someone explains something but in David’s mind, that explanation sounds so stupid to actually get angry about it. David actual rage usually is extremely violent and sometimes cruel/sadistic, like against Merula for bullying Ben, against Fenrir for assaulting Penny, David going crazy against the chimaera who cut his left arm. David (and Jacob) is a walking natural disaster, you don’t see people stopping hurricanes with the power of friendship or their own strength. David can be calmed down by a couple of people (Penny by calming him down with kindness and love, Rowan by forcing him to use some logic and reason). David hates himself for feeling so angry like a beast, even though he never being violent with the people who care about...if he did, it means that either he never really cared for them or they did something so awful to ruin their relationship with David.
❤️ What would your OC’s ideal lover be like? Appearance, personality, voice? Would their family approve or would it be a civil war?
(I'm gonna be hated by @cynicaljapanophile for this and I deserve her hate)
David’s ideal woman would be either brunette or a redhead like him...someone who knows when push him and when it’s the case to let him reason…..if Merula wasn’t an ungrateful racist, bully(and a criminal, because between trying to kill MC twice and stealing other people’s things...she should be in Azkaban with her parents since the very beginning) she would be a cute potential love interest with a “Rivals to Lovers” trope(KILL ME NOW, HANA!); instead David fell in love with Penny, who is less daring but she knows him, understands him, and she is more of a supporter, more like Leliana or Liara(From DA and ME) but during their relationship is Penny the one who starts every passionate act of love(David needs time to understand what is appropriate to do and what is not, which it’s like living in a world where the political fairness mixed with religious bigotry won so much that even thinking about holding hands with someone is treated like sexual assault...so you can imagine what kind of panic has David when he wants to begin a common kiss without knowing if it’s okay or without having her consent or without reading her mind first).
David’s biological family wouldn’t approve(Father doesn’t care, Mother is a ghost who embraced the same ideals of death eaters, and Jacob thinks that David deserves someone stronger and more trustworthy)
David’s foster-family(Badea’s family) is happy as long David is happy and smiling.
Penny’s family, is pretty much okay, her father is like super happy, her mother is quite a sceptic because she knew David’s mother(and when she changed ideals from not-racist to pureblood supremacist, their friendship went to hell) while Bea...i think she would be conflicted like “Oh my god, my hero is related to us! David is my brother(in-law)” and at the same time “of course, my perfect sister got the strongest, the nicest student and hero of Hogwarts! It’s the cherry on the cake of her perfect life!”
🕊️ Would your OC ever get married or are they already wed? If they’re married, describe what their wedding was like! If not, describe their ideal wedding (or do this if you feel like it anyway!)
in Auror!AU, David and Penny get married during late spring, a place with flowers everywhere, a peaceful atmosphere, and as a “gift” their friends invited Metallica to play at the wedding(including David’s favourite song: Nothing Else Matters), everything is fine, it’s like a huge reunion of friends celebrating just one couple.
in Cursebreaker!AU(and by extension DA!AU, that is a route of Cursebreakers!AU) they never get married but they’re always being a couple, you can’t have one of them without the other, they would love the wedding like Auror!AU, but they’re busy, constantly travelling around the world, that for their wedding they’ll wait for their retirement...but they share a couple of enchanted rings and they’re their own engagement rings.
🍼 Does your OC have any children or want children? What names would they pick? Are they good with kids or a complete disaster?
In both AUs David and Penny want and will have kids, but it’s still a WIP idea and in general I’m not into the fan kids-thing(especially with a game still going and without its ending), so I don’t think I will ever talk about their kids directly(aside some random mentions, if it happens).
In general David and Penny as parents are nice, they don’t spoil their kids but they’re there for helping them, trying the most diplomatic approach with them, teaching them their specialities like CQC combat, magic, cooking and giving them hints about aspects of life but without going too far, in fear of spoiling them(and by extension making harder for them to be independent or learn things by themselves)
☕ Give us one (or more if you feel like it) of your OCs deep dark secrets! Why do they keep it hidden? Spill the tea!
It’s not a secret, simply a hidden complex of David, the reason why such a kind but at the same time violent, never truly killed anyone is because he is scared(not enough to be a boggart) that if he will be discovered, even if he will kill a very bad guy(like Voldemort or something) he would be hated forever by anyone. Actually, this secret fear/complex makes his cynicism lighter.
🍂 What are their opinions on the different seasons? Which one do they hate and which one do they love and why?
Spring: Quidditch season begins! Yuhu! Also, Winter is over, I can take some rest from panicking over the fear of getting frostbites and chilblains because of my metallic limb! Hooray!
Summer: I wish I have my left arm back...at least I could refresh myself with a nice swim...i also must avoid every very hot place like Africa...so I can avoid to burn myself because my metallic arm can be extremely hot to actually being able to cook bacon on it.
Autumn: Best Season! Like Spring but without risk for allergies, but way more humid... I hate humidity!
Winter: Frostbites, chilblains...no quidditch and not enough clothes to keep myself warm, I hate my automail in winter! Will I ever be happy with the weather? At least I can enjoy every single PDA from Penny, or dating in Jacob’s room, with the excuse that is the cosiest and warm room in Hogwarts, and that is totally accessible anytime we want...not the best date idea, but at least we don’t freeze, YAY!
🦋 If your OC could change everything (or just something) about their life would they? What would they change? What do they think would happen if they did? What would their loved ones think?
in the question about wishing something I explained what David wanted to change(through a wish, probably something with a genie XD)
Here I will say what David would change and why he would want to change that thing:
David would totally change his friends’ addiction to him.
Why? I have a headcanon where at some point Jacob, would use the connection they both have to each other to discover something about David’s social life and learning that David is so reliable that his friends are addicted to him to the point to seek for help surprisingly often even for being friends.
David will be forced to talk with Jacob, and Jacob brings up the matter, disappointed (like a parent discovering that their kid is hanging out with a bad company) after a long talk where David tries everything to defend them...he had to admit that Jacob is right: His friends are needy and addicted to his help.
So, David would change his friends’ addiction/neediness to him...for the sake of learning if they love him because he is reliable(and by extension they need someone who helps them) or because they really care about him…
It’s not about what would change, or what he thinks would happen if his friends change or what someone else would think...it’s about David insecure about his friends and his mixed feelings about the fear that maybe his friends care about him because they’re taking care of who is basically the solution to all their problems.
💐 Does your OC like flowers? What are their favourites? Do they keep a garden of some sort? What flowers would they use in a flower crown? (and if you like, research the meanings behind those flowers!)
David loves flowers, just not enough to have a garden(mostly because with his schedule of being in Hogwarts for 7 years and then either being a busy Auror or a nomad/wanderer curse breaker). In a flower crown meant for himself, he would use: Genisteae, Columbine/Aquilegia, Amaryllis and Gardenia…those flowers are what would describe David much as possible(but in general, David is not the person who messes with flowers, for him are just nice to watch them and smelling them).
In a flower crown that he would give to Penny, he would choose Agrimony, white Clover, Tillia(also known as linden in Europe or basswood in North America), and red Tulip.
PS: all the meanings of these flowers were found on Wikipedia(i don’t know how trustworthy is Wikipedia, everyone is telling me that is the wrongest website ever for this kind of things)
🌼 Write a short drabble from your OCs POV meeting their LI (or if they don’t have a love interest, their best friend. If you don’t want to do a drabble, describe their first meeting instead!)
“What a day...it’s the weekend but God said no! Snowstorm!
That jerk...it’s not enough removing my sense of touch for almost five years?!”
What a day... I supposed to hang out with my friends during this quiet period where for some reason or another, the Stone Curse took some weeks off but this bloody snowstorm came in and ruined my plans together with Barnaby’s flu…
[Flashback] This Morning...
< David! Thank god! You’re here! Where’s Barnaby? > yelled my boss at the Reserve for Magical Creatures while he is fast-walking to me, with his face that showed all his worries…
< Barny got flu...what’s happening? > I asked quietly while my hands were freezing in the pockets of my red coat.
< THIS BLOODY SNOWSTORM! EVERYTHING IS HELL! I NEED HELP AT THE RESERVE AND TODAY IS YOUR FRIEND’S TURN! > he kept yelling at me while grabbing me…
[End of Flashback]
“And before I knew it, I was kidnapped by my boss, during my day-off, ready to enjoy some hot soup at the Inn...and I spent it by repairing barns, lighting fires and lamps, and cooking soup for the creatures while I was starving and freezing...and now is late evening, still hungry and freezing...Barnaby, you owe me a day!”
< You’re too kind David...> I said, trying to verbally pat my own shoulder…
< As a matter of fact, this is what people expect from the Hero of Hogwarts...but people should learn to be grateful first... > said a voice while actually patting on my right shoulder
I happily turn so I can see her, blessed and feeling reassured to listen to her voice but then I remember in what situation I left…
< Sorry for... > I got interrupted before finishing the sentence by her index finger gently pressing on my lips...
< Like it was your fault for being dragged to work at the Reserve during your day-off, or for Barnaby having a flu…it was funny though, a big guy like you, being taken and pulled by the collar of your coat to work, it was like watching a baby walking a dragon on a leash! > she smiles and laughs a little while she covers her mouth during that short laugh
I smile scratching the back of my head, and checking around before meeting her breathtaking blue eyes, I still can’t believe how can she deal with these situations where I end to postponing our dates...and still choosing to stay with me: She could have anyone and she chose me over everyone, Penny Haywood your existence fuels my happiness!
< Wake up, love! > she snaps her fingers a couple of times laughing joyful
<Ehg! Sorry, I was thinking if I did everything at the reserve...> what an excuse, now she will think you’re a workaholic! You Moron!
<...and even if you didn’t, it’s your boss’ problem now...unless he begins to pay you in days-off from work...and in that case, I’ll be happy to help you to negotiate with him > another laugh but this time I actually laugh a little
< Only if I could spend all of them with you and nobody else... > Fantastic, now she’ll surely think that you’re jealous and possessive... I can’t believe I said it!
She blushes a little < It sounds like heaven > she simply caress my right cheek for a couple of seconds <...but first: let’s go to dinner! You worked hard during a snowstorm since this morning and you deserve a meal...this time it’s on me, my love! > and suddenly she begins to push me to the Three Broomsticks Inn until I start to walk and only then she grabs my right arm smiling while walking next to me...
“Dear ungrateful annoying Truth/God, I’m busy with my absolutely magnificent, wonderful, beautiful, mesmerizing girlfriend, until Monday...mind your goddamn business!”
🥀 Has your OC ever been hurt by someone they love? Ever been betrayed? Abused? Attacked? Give me the angst! (if you’d like, write a short drabble about it!)
David? Everything can hurt him, he doesn’t fear monsters/beasts or criminals, he fears words and the emotions you can put in those words; many people used the wrong words in the wrong moments(aside from the basic game):
We have his father saying multiple times that David is only a future sidekick for Jacob and explaining that he’ll only be a feral boy unable to truly be civil or humane destined to be on a leash forever. His ghost-mother being disappointed in him for not being a pureblood supremacist and befriending everyone without really caring about their family’s status.
We have David’s friends every time they say that he is obsessed with the vaults/his brother and the same exact friends asking for something meaningless in exchange of something important for the sake of Hogwarts’ safety.
We have Dumbledore being the worst counsellor ever always bringing out the rage repressed inside David with his words like at the end of the fourth year, a dozen of students died along the year but Dumbledore focus in punishing David first...their conversation went violent...David’s right knuckles were bleeding trying to destroy Dumbledore’s barrier and actually punish him for those hurtful words.
We have Jacob, arguing with David about how dependent his friends are and even more depressing...David agreeing with him at the end of the conversation, admitting that his presence(with his selflessness and kindness) made them addicted to his help admitting that for most of them he doesn’t feel he cares for them in a “we’re friendly and we got each other’s back” way but more “these guys are one of the few THINGS I have, and I’ll take care of them” with a little bit of “I’m so independent that I can’t even find a way for them to be helpful for me...aside be my eyes and ears and gather Infos for me...”
🏞️ If your OC could travel to anywhere in their world where would they go? Why? If they could live there would they?
David loves places near the sea/ocean(like the Philippines and its many islands), or with a great view from above(like Hogwarts) and yeah he would totally live in this kind of places, and he would love every second of it.
🏡 Describe your OCs ideal house! Give us a tour around! What’s their garden like? Their bedroom? Kitchen? Where is it and how many people live there?
David ideal house(it doesn’t mean he will ever have it though) it’s on the countryside, he loves big open spaces, pretty much like the movie version of the Burrow, big house with a lot of space inside and outside, not much else. The bedroom is actually small but cosy, it must give the “finally I can rest” vibe. The kitchen is quite a punch in eye to see, it’s like a spaceship trying to look classic but it’s quite organized, after all, it’s David’s kingdom.
The house is occupied by David, Penny, their two kids, but he can handle at least other 5 guests...if the guest doesn’t mind to sleep on the couch or sleeping in the same room together, we can arrive at 8 total guests.
🔪 Has your OC ever killed someone? Ever had to defend themselves against violence? How did this make them feel? Or, alternatively, has your OC ever attacked someone? Seen someone die?
HPHM? Is basically a constant fight to the death with almost everything and everyone, David is born in a family that values strength, speed, and power in general, you either survive or you don’t...also he is bound to violence(sadly) because his biological mother cursed him by triggering murder instincts(towards anything that David thinks it’s filthy/unworthy to live) when someone says his second name(Jager). David never killed(during HPHM) because he is scared to lose himself while in curse breakers!AU(with DA!AU and TW!AU) he kills quite much, dark spawns, dragons, bandits, ANDERS, a bunch of Qunari in Kirkwall...he is never proud of it, but usually when he doesn’t think that a person may change for the better...he rather kills...
💎 Does your OC collect anything? Is there a reason? When did they start and is it beginning to turn into a little bit of a hoarding issue? What do they do with their collection?
Before going to Egypt to learn the transmutation of Ice/water, he was used to collecting knives for the sake of having many throwing knives, so he collected knives for the sake of using them(then he got the ability to transmute weapons from using the humidity in the air or water spells as materials). Meanwhile, he discovers his talent in cooking and begins to collect in a huge book his favourite recipes. After that is not much about collecting unless it’s a weird item or something funny.
In the Cursebreakers!AU (Witcher!AU the one where David and Penny end in the Witcher-universe) David goes nuts for Gwent and begins to collects cards for the sake of having nice pictures of people(like Geralt, Ciri, Yen and etcetera), he basically plays Gwent only with Penny and their adopted daughter Alexandria Elen Riannon Haywood.
In general, David doesn’t collect much, unless it’s something that may be useful or some magical(but quite uncommon/unique) artefact.
📚 If your OC was given some kind of forbidden knowledge, what would they do with it? Would they tell anyone? Use it for evil or good? How would it change their outlook on life, if at all?
David knows how to make a Philosopher's stone...he simply tries to send Nicholas Flamel in jail for his crimes(mass murder for the sake of creating the Stone). He never personally use this knowledge(but connected to the 🔪 question, sometimes he transforms people in the Philosopher’s stone and uses the stone for healing extreme wounds either on himself, the people he cares or innocents...it’s his way to transforming a bad guy in a decent guy even in death...not exactly ethical and in fact he lives conflicted...but he didn’t find other solutions in lawless places...or where the laws are blurry(like in Dragon Age or the Witcher).
🌗 Early mornings or late nights? What do they spend their time doing during these hours?
He is a morning person...but he suffers from insomnia...and Penny loves to keep him awake at night ;) (if you know what I mean...and I mean cuddles mostly u.u)
👑 If your OC was made royal (or is royal) how would they use their power? Are they a good leader or bad? Do their subjects like them or is it ‘off with their head’? Do they enjoy being royal?
David hates politics, he likes to be influential but not having full political power, maybe for fear of doing something bad for the sake of a good cause, or the fear of being corrupted by power...but if he is destined anyway to be a royal, he would be a forgiving(but not stupid) king who always will take care of his nation/city first like in the song Cost of the Crown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMbbbopeVfc
💕 How is your OC like with physical affection? What are their boundaries? Do they enjoy being touched or is that a no-go? Is there any reason behind this?
David express love with his body! He rather shows love through actions rather than words. He loves hugs and kisses. It’s basically the most common way for him to actually communicate his feelings without feeling embarrassed or shy.
☁️ What’s something your OC wishes they could forget? Why is this? Or, what is something that your OC has forgotten? (or do both!)
Absolutely Nothing, he wants to remember correctly everything happened in his life. Jacob sealed his memories for a while and I wrote a lot about what kind of consequences it brings
David feeling like the last boy in the whole universe(between an absent father, a dead mother, a brother trapped in a vault, and the inability of living at Badea’s house) feeling alone and thinking he is an only child, tried to resurrect his mother, failed and got punished by God by losing his sense of touch….
Yeah, David learned the lesson of having a bad memory/forgetting things...
👀 Describe your OC through the eyes of another person! (bonus + specify who)
I’ll try a thing:
< No shit! I swear he was that big! > he said still not believing to what he saw
< Bullshit....> she answered with a sceptical tone with her arms folded under her chest
< I swear Rivaini! I just saw a guy tall almost like a Statue of a Paragon, with shoulders large enough that you could build a house on him, he was walking in the Hanged Man! >
< Oh-ho! > gasped the woman
< What? > he comes closer to the pirate with his voice filled my curiosity
< Did you see his face? > she asks meeting his gaze
< He was wearing a red hood but by the smell of it; either he was dead or he eats dark spawns for breakfast, I was scared myself: that guy was enormous! > he laughed at the end
Again Isabela gulped when the dwarf mentioned the hood when surprisingly a more joyful voice joined the conversation...
< He was walking with a pretty blond lady that smelled like herbs and flowers? >
< How do you know it, Daisy? >an answer clearly shocked came out the mouth of Varric.
< I don’t see why Isabela looks so pale then...probably it’s just David and Penny..and he is not scary, he is like a mabari, big but with puppy eyes >
< I guess we didn’t meet the same guys, Kitten, I was in Denerim when I met them...when some thugs were walking to me, one of them grabbed that blonde's juicy ass...that red hooded man kill all of them...BAREHANDED, destroying half of the furniture of the Pearl! Trust me, Kitten, when I say that his gold eyes were like the eyes of an angry high dragon who just decided that you’re his next meal > she gulped like only remembering that bloodbath was enough to fuel some kind of nightmares
< The David I met, spent a month playing with the kids of my clan, telling them funny stories of the place he came from while Penny was helping Marethari...He is like Hawke, you should be afraid him only if you’re his enemy...but he is cool, funny and reliable > narrated with her gentle voice
< Now I’m curious! Imagine what kind of stories could tell a dude that big! > commented the dwarf thing to hide his smile
< Mostly stories about in his adventures, like the time he rode a Griffin! That was a good story! > clapped her hands a couple of times joyful like she is asking for an encore.
< Ehm guys...less talking more survive-the-dungeoning! > coldly said Hawke while scratching his head.
❓ A random fact or short drabble! Or make up your own question to ask the OC!
He likes to Sing? What are his favourite songs? People like listening to him? Does he play some instrument?
He likes to sing, he memorized a lot of songs, he prefers songs with a slow rhythm but he is good with ABBA’s songs, between Badea’s mother, Penny and Ben, he literally learned from them to sing them while he dances(badly but in a funny way), mostly during his adulthood you can listening to him singing Nothing Else Matter by Metallica or some MJ’s songs like “They don’t care about us” or “Dirty Diana”. Thanks to the Weird Sisters and Jae Kim, got an odd interest in learning to play the bass and bagpipes, he rocks with the bass but the bagpipes...he still needs some practice. Good or not, someone who sings brings some joy in Hogwarts, so it’s appreciated anyways.
The Manitoban multigenre artist Jeremy Haywood-Smith, known professionally as JayWood began his musical journey writing ‘sad songs’ before discovering funk music, which led to delightfully catchy, synth-layered albums like his 2019 debut Time and 2022 album Slingshot, which was long listed for the Polaris Music Prize the following year.
In the intervening time since his last album, Jeremy has moved base from Winnipeg to Montreal and is busy with his third album Leo Negro, set for release on 5 September. The album is to take a much more expansive and experimental approach to his music, lyrically a journal exploring the different sides to himself, and musically drawing from some of the softer influences on his past work.
After releasing ‘BIG TINGS’ with the band Tune-Yards, JayWood released the latest single from the upcoming album on Thursday, ‘SUN BABY’. It is the most spacey and experimental of the album so far, drenched in layered harmonies, acoustic guitars and pianos. “It’s me at my most honest,” Jeremy says. “But to approach the album like this I needed to write from different versions of myself. I’ve intentionally split the brain through each song which has made it more cohesive than my scatterbrain music mentality of just writing everything I’m into and expecting it to make sense.”
More releases from that week (cut up into smaller posts bc everyone complains about scrolling long posts)
@thereluctantherosrose @cynicaljapanophile @weasleywood (you may be interested in this) ^_^
For the couple:
1. What drew your character to their LI and vice versa?
All began with Penny’s interest in adventures(like in the game), but what really started the relationship was Penny noticing that even if David acted like he didn’t care about anyone, he still does nice things for people, even he gets mad, tries to only to point out the facts about the problems people is bringing to him. He may be cynical, blunt, straightforward with his criticism but still tries to be nice, and aside from his seniors, the younger students are quite fond of him(but still slightly intimidated because his scarred face but they admire him) mostly because he explains things straight to the point, not like he read the notions in a book i mean and simply repeat them like a parrot. By David side i can say that David began to notice her more when he learned about Scarlet, which may sound weird and creepy, but David was dealing with nightmares and with “I’m the most depressed person in the whole universe” kind of mentality, so knowing about Scarlett, and how Penny was shocked about her, put David in a new mentality, less self-centered, and with time they both noticed nice/lovely things that both do during the lessons or clubs and the love just sparked and those little cute moments bringed to the point of asking to each other to be their date to the Celestial Ball and the date to Madam Puddifoot.
2. What was the first moment that they knew they were in love with their LI?
David was kinda crushing Penny around forth year, there are a few moment during the year where he thinks things like “Penny is nice, i enjoy her presence” but around the end of the year(around the Celestial Ball SQ that for me and various other reasons happens around the end of the year) when he slowly loses his coolness around her(the classic ”My love interest is soo close to me” panic), he was sure, she got him.
Penny felt the first bit of love/crush for David probably sooner than David(in general David had soo much to deal in Hogwarts that i’m surprised myself that he was able to have a relationship), It’s stated that she was interested in David/MC because she finds parties and that kind of social activities quite boring, that she is searching for something exciting like getting the Runner’s High
(that awesome feeling that you get while you’re doing your favorite extreme-sport)
, probably in my ship that moment happens around her depression with Scarlett and the werewolves side-quest
(to me both of them happen in almost the same period of the third year).
I mean if someone would basically leap on the scary thing that i fear most, with a knife in one hand and a magic wand in the other, basically facing death for me i would be singing songs in their name or at least showing some interest in the person who saved me.
3. When they are having a fight, what is it about and how do they deal with it?
During school the main reason for each of them to fight is basically a strong interest in each other’s health(physical and mental).
Here an example:
Penny: David! Did you even sleep?
David: I have to do [insert an important activity here, like saving hogwarts or helping someone in danger or dealing with a super urgent issue]
Penny: Well, by your tired face,i dare to say that you’re too tired for it! You’re walking like a zombie! For the next 8 hours, the only activities we’re going to do is eating, having a shower and then sleeping, LET THE PEOPLE HANDLE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS! ARE WE CLEAR?!
David: *silently nods*
Change the names but that’s the most common argument they have, out of love and interest in each other’s health(like i said) they both just quite obsessive over helping people and they both usually have a tight schedule, to the point to forget to fully rest. Basically they need each other to take care of each other, otherwise they kinda forget about their own healthiness.
4. Their favorite physical feature on each other?
David’s favorite feature: The fact that Penny isn’t Merula! AHAHAH just joking, (okay but seriously) he loves her all(every part of her makes her beautiful and sexy in David’s opinion), but if he is forced to choose he would say her abdomen, he just find it perfect, there is not real reason like a cute birthmark or how toned she is..he would watch her abdomen and just be in awe for hours.
Penny’s favorite feature: When your boyfriend/husband looks like Geralt of Rivia(but with red hair) since then end of year five(of Hogwarts of course), it’s hard to find a single favorite feature, Penny really likes his scars, or his trained body but her favorite feature is David’s right arm(remember the left one is an automail because i’m a lazy ass who makes a wizards who loves knives and close-combatting magical creatures who also is like inspired by Edward Elric XD) because she loooooves being hugged by that arm(and from its owner XD) while she is slepping after a tiring day of school/work.
Just as a reference: Geralt and his scars(that in my mind David has almost the same number of scars and a few more burn-marks)
5. How do they comfort each other when they are sad?
Like their favorite date activity. they let the other one to stay alone for some hours so they can be sad but also letting their mind processing everything is making them sad, then after those hours they try to talk a little, usually with no friends around so they can both vent how much they want, drinking something warm and very sweet and after the sadness fade away they can work together to find something funny to do.
PS: I’m talking about something very sad, not just a random bad mood because they got a bad grade in a test, something like a meltdown because stress or shit happening.
6. Who is the big spoon?
David but only because he is bigger but they favorite sleeping position is “The Nuzzle”(and their similar variations), with an special about being the smaller spoon if you’re really tired(so yeah sometimes David is the smaller spoon but usually he is the big one)
The Nuzzle
7. Favorite date activity?
With all they’re going through(During HPHM), they both need to chill, so their favorite date activity is anything that sounds lazy, from lazily studying together, to just having a meal in Jacob’s room away from anyone but each other, or going to Madam Puddifoot for drinking something sweet(tea or chamomile)(and this time without Tonks and Charlie around), basically for Penny and David, anything unrelated to school and done together counts as a date.
8. What are their most prominent memories of each other?
David’s: When she entered in the main hall during the celestial ball, she was so beautiful, cute and breathtaking, the first of many times where David really wanted to waltz with her.
Penny’s: See him fight and struggle and after that still being able to have social interactions, and acing his OWLs and NEWTs. Fighting selflessly against the most dangerous creatures of the wizarding-world, risking to die in so many occasions for a selfless purpose. There are a lot of prominent memories of David being great but Penny’s favorite kind of memories about David is when he is showing emotions(either happiness or sadness or anger) not because she loves seeing him suffer, but because David did/does a lot of things labelled as impossible and yet he is a human like everyone else.
9. How open are they with their feelings?
Quite open, they know that communication is important, time to time they need some time alone, but that aside they’re quite communicative even though David is not comfortable to talk at all, but Penny takes what she can(because David sometimes has a weird way to explain things...so he rather not talking)
If you mean without talking...David is the perfect hugging machine, he is quite happy to show his love for her...shyly(because he is more scared about what’s appropriate and what is not...but still)
10. Do they have pet names for each other?
Penny likes to call him “Boy”(like “Good Boy”) when she wants to joke about David’s animagus form(a german shepherd) but she prefers calling him “Love” or “Darling”, David just call her “honey” or “angel”, when he is in a “Penny is hugging me while she is pushing her face against my chest” mood he calls her “Kitty”.
11. Do they have any inside jokes?
Well David refuses to define himself as a human(after a huge tantrum against Dumbledore at the end of year four after the acromantula), mostly because he feels more like a beast, is not arrogance more like “why i feel so aggressive, i don’t feel like i’m human, what’s happening to me? I can barely remember what my personality was before being obsessed with saving Jacob, not even knowing what happened to him and how i will react to his presence..” After a while of consideration even with Dumbledore saying to him that he is the most human because he cares so much to feel destroyed by the idea of friends and classmates in danger, David will keep saying that he is a Class-5(XXXXX) beast(like Chimaeras and Dragons and Werewolves). After he breaks the curse of the Portrait Vault, between people who call him hero, there is also people who listened him defining himself as a beast and they choose to call him GBoH(Guardian Beast of Hogwarts)
So the inside joke is that when Penny just be herself in presence of a David in a bad mood(because shits happens often at hogwarts) she likes to joke about how “She is the only known witch to tame a Class 5 David”
On Penny-side: every-time(David is in a mood of making jokes) Penny mentions the Kew Gardens David usually comments with “I know, it’s not like Kew Garden, but at least here you’re encouraged to interact with plants”
I add that there are many inside jokes about David and dogs(David’s animagus form is a german shepherd), like being called Good Boy or throwing him things so he can catch them with the mouth.
12. Do they have similar goals? If they clash, how do they deal?
Well in Auror!AU, David(and Jacob) are working hard to be aurors, while Penny wants to be a substitute for Snape(so like when he is ill or not in the “mood” for teaching, she will teach Potions in his place). So in this case their similar goal is spending more time together and they work hard to achieve it.
In Cursebreakers!AU(but an edited version but the concept was born from @Lycopenedishere fanfic) They both work hard for being cursebreakers(with or without Rakepick) but mostly David already used(to cursebreaking), focus on learning new languages(magical and common) and spells while Penny focus on learn new potions’ recipes and more important(inspired by David) learning how big is the world(magic and not-magic)(it’s like “i want to travel a little, be independent, and learn more”).
In general they have similar goals but their goals aren’t exclusive and most of the times they can achieve them together and in the unusual situation where they may clash for them…they usually are in good terms like “May be the best one win and good luck honey”
13. How do they react at being away from each other?
Are talking about away in a “they’re at work or on a trip for a few days”? or away in a “they’re dead” way?Don't care! i choose the first option(not in a mood for angst and sadness XD)
David just tries to keep himself busy(with cooking or cleaning or anything else) until Penny comes back, trying to not thinking about it, until at some point you can hear him singing love songs in a sad voice until Penny comes back. (Tonks jokes that he has this reaction because his animagus form is a dog and he is quite affectionate…she is right)
Penny pretty much the same but the difference is in what they do, and Penny could choose to spend some time with Tonks and Chiara, or if they’re both busy, visiting her family.14. Is there anything they associate with each other?
14. Is there anything they associate with each other?
Well David associates Penny with the ocean, mostly because her blue eyes but also he quite reminds him how really deep is Penny’s personality(because before the Scarlet mini-saga, David was sure that Penny was only like a clichè of a cheerleader with a thing for dangerous things)
Penny associates David with the sky, huge, and watching it, brings hope, in a different way deep and majestic like ocean, but if you watch decently you can see where is the storm but at the same time the sky embrace earth and oceans(= things that David loves or cares about). (i’m very bad in explaining this kind of things in english, please forgive me)
15. Does their view of themselves differ from their partner’s view?
Quite complicated question, but keep in mind that i’m writing about them during HPHM(not after or before):
David’s view of himself: Someone unable to achieve everything he wants, like really saving his brother, or taking care of his friends and everyone he loves by keeping them away from dangers(R. Vaults, Etc…), Someone who saw his own family falling into pieces and being unable to save them all. A disgusting being who refuses his own humanity because the people who hates and was most disappointed define themselves as humans. Someone unable to truly be honest to the people around him because is too scared of their reaction to his most deeper thoughts. Someone who has friends willing to help him not because it’s the right thing to do but because he already helped them with something meaningless like a prank or going to places(unrelated to his main purpose of saving Hogwarts) and still not being brave enough to quit on them because he doesn’t have anyone else..even while he knows that this kind of relationship is destroying every joy and desire of hanging out with them...
Penny’s view of David: Someone you can truly count on, trustworthy, honest, someone who saved her from dangers including herself(in form of depression and stress) multiple times, someone who is always ready to share a laugh with people, kinda a braggart just for making people laugh even with his scary and scarred face. Someone who is adored by people like the big brother of every student in Hogwarts because even while he faces hell almost by himself with minimum help from people who define themselves as a friends, he still finds time to be a decent prefect who teaches to the younger generations funny but useful spells(like aquamenti). Someone who doesn’t like talking about his feelings because after what he experienced, she understands that words are now overrated and chooses to show his love through actions. That someone she would miss most if he would disappear: That unique funny and caring guy those big but gentle hands that he uses to protects everyone even those people who are mean to him for no real and logical reasons.
Penny’s view of herself: Someone unable to really cope with her own mental health in a healthy way, someone popular only because the beauty standards and her naturally selfless personality. Someone who watched her best friend dying in front of her and was unable to save her and trying to forget her with potions. Someone good only with potions and not much else. Someone so bored by parties to be in need to have some rush of adrenaline and joined a guy in his quest to save his brother just for the fun of dealing with dangerous things and getting that rush of adrenaline but pretty much quit after a few real “live or die” situations. Good only with gathering intel for the sake of helping the Hero of Hogwarts.
David’s view on Penny: The person he would miss most(Don’t tell Rowan he would put up a scene because he is jealous), the nicest girl in his group of friends, the most comprehensive, the one who even when she listen some weird and dark confession from David, she still accept him for what he is. The real Potion teacher(he learned more from Penny than Snape himself). The first person who actually showed interest not in David as that infamous guy named David, but the guy under that thick film of rumors. The beautiful hands that indirectly saved him multiple times by brewing useful potions. The only person who is able to truly understand his dark humor(Bill Burr kind of humor, harmless but darkish). The only girl he wanted to date. The only girl and woman he loves. The mother of their kids. The (real) Best Witch(or MVP) of Hogwarts.
16. Jealous at all?
Their jealousy is more about wanting to spend more time intimately together rather being actually jealous, i mean that they’re a little possessive to each other, but we shouldn’t blame them, David/MC has to deal with the Vaults, R, his brother, his needy friends, and school, while all he wants is quiet place where he can relax a little. Penny almost like David, has to deal with her tight schedule, and with David, she must find time for staying together…
By re-reading this, i feel like it shouldn’t count as an answer…but this is what they feel, they’re jealous of each other’s tight schedule that makes hard to stay together.
17. Their ways of expressing their love.
Physically, with David words are meaningless, he learned to trust actions and facts instead of words, nothing says i love you more than a quiet date, where David and Penny can say a silent “Fuck Y’all” by enjoying time together, some cuddle, some private nsfw moments(they’re sixteen and seventeen at this point, it’s fair and easy to imagine that, considering how emotionally passionate they both are.)
18. Is there any way they disappoint each other?
When they’re overprotective on each other, David hates the idea of Penny in danger, even thinking about it, fuels his obsession to become stronger and stronger, and during the beginning of their relationship Penny was disappointed because she thought that he doesn’t believe in her powers/talents but at the same time this behaviour is the same that Penny has during year fifth and sixth(in the game), overprotective and enough obsessive to being annoying(for the ones that she wants to protect), their solution is help each other in “controlling/limiting their own behaviour”
19. Describe how they communicate
They talk, plain and easy, but the main rule is honesty.
20. Did either person change at all, to be with their partner?
David has to work on his repressed emotions and working on being a little more self-centered(that’s how selfless he is, to the point that he has to begin to be more selfish) so he can take care of himself decently
Penny will work on using less potions for artificially fixing her emotions and talk more to David when she needs.
Together they have to work on saying “No” more often, but seriously they adult-relationship is quite healthy and quiet.
For the creator
21. Personally, do you think they are a good couple?
I could go over and over ranting and arguing about how from David’s point of view(straight male, with tons of repressed stress as hell during HPHM, with anger issues because of that said stress[important: he never punched or hitted Penny or his friends, just saying], with mood swings and stuff) anyone like Merula is the wrong choice for David, but at the same time both Penny and (more important) David needs time for really elaborate their personal emotional problems but even during their relationship during HPHM, yeah they’re a good couple, i like them, otherwise i wouldn’t ship my David “Jager” Denneth with Penny “Cinnamon Roll” Haywood.
But i want make the extra mile and explain why the other characters aren’t fitted for David:
Let’s remove all the boys(David is straight but in a “i simply don’t feel attracted to boys/men” way not because he is homophobic or something) where the best case scenario is a bromance full Jojo-style(Araki is a god in making the best bromances)
Merula: Miss 7%(of people who dated her, and yet there is a whole fandom who is dreaming of having a love life with her -.-), Why Merula Snyde is not good for David? Because with all she did to David and his friends, this girl has a room in Azkaban with her name on it! If i meet a creepy girl who tries to kill me i call the police! i don’t fall in love with her, i won’t save her from herself, is not my job! If Society agreed that women aren’t a tool for men to save themselves so can we please agree that men aren’t a tool/accessory for women? Why there is this disgusting double standard? Why a woman shouldn’t save me but i should(and must) save a woman? Seriously no one talks about men used by women! Back on topic, Merula is not stupid, she actually knows how she should treat people, the same way she wanted to be treated, she basically wants only to receive good things, merits and rewards without making the effort for them because those good things are meant to be hers just because she exist! I listened Merula apologists agreeing that Merula doesn’t have to be sorry or apologize for been forgiven! They used some infos about my past(that i shared with them) for exploiting the fact that bully victims are the real bullies if they don’t forgive! Dude! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK! I HAVE SCARS IN MY MIND NAMED AFTER MY BULLIES! I would forgiven them if they were sorry, if they worked their asses off in being decent humans beings, but they didn’t and i can’t forget(i wish tho) because what they did to me was so horrible, so scarring that is part of me now. You don’t see me going around with a knife and cutting people, i’m still a decent human being...not functional but i think i’m a decent, civil person(with my flaws but humans aren’t perfect). So if the best case scenario David and Merula are together how their relationship would be? The classic trope of the hyper jealous girl who checks his boyfriend’s phone, takes every girl numbers, and call them to warn them to stay away from David. Canon Merula is clingy(for the wrong reason like stalking MC) and too much jealous, in a toxic way. David is patient and comprehensive but he has his limits, not mentioning that David is quite a braggart but for fun, when he tells his ridiculous(but funny) stories, he does it for the sake of sharing a laugh not because he is arrogant, and in reality he is someone who needs to chill, to enjoy peaceful moments, Merula as a girlfriend would be like pouring gasoline on a forest already on fire! FanonMerula maybe is a sweetheart but here we’re talking of Canon-Characters...and i have even ignored all the horrible things she did(one indirect attempted murder, one instigated murder, stealing potion from Penny, trying to get the merits, tons of racist speech and hate speech in general, disrespectful, she never really showed her friendly/warm side, so she isn’t a tsundere and even if she is a tsundere, she is the worst example of being a tsundere).
Chiara: My second favorite girl, a ship with her would work smoothly, they both have empathy and they know how to really treat other people. Even with her condition of being a werewolf, David(and MC in general) already showed that he is able to deal with her condition, and because my David is basically a witcher(without mutations) in the HP-universe, it’s even easier for him to take care of her, to protect her from people too blind to see that she is a victim of the circumstances, she didn’t choose to be a werewolf, she got bitten and she doesn’t want to harm anyone.
Tonks: I stick with the canon, so Remadora(but i think she is bi but she just loves Remus and we’re okay with it), for David a relationship with Tonks would feel weird “It’s like the cool and funny sister of my dreams, but still my sister, no one wants that!”
Tulip: Not enough time on screen to have a full opinion on her, she is nice, but i would want to see her when is not busy with pranks and she is in a more serious situation before saying anything, sorry.
Liz/Lizard: I don’t want to say that she is AroAce, not because i have problems but mostly because we don’t see her on screen enough to feel like she is, i want to learn more about her before saying anything, for now David and Lizard are only a “we share an interest but we have some divergences “trope.
Badea: She is actually David’s step/foster-sister! They like to spend time together as siblings or childhood friends, like doing two different things but quietly near to each other, for a MaleMC i dare to say that she is like FemRowan but with different interests. Her parents took care of David like he is part of the family, they developed the automail that David has(combining magic knowledge with muggle technology, so it’s like having a sci-fi arm but in the 1980s) also the red coat that David usually wears is a gift from Badea’s mother.
22. From the outside looking in, what is their dynamic like?
A remixed version of the Beauty and the Beast trope:
David: Scary face(because the scars) and wild approach to his enemies(like fighting close-ranged, using his instincts to choose which attack he should use) but secretly a sweetheart, he isn’t stupid, but his emotions and instincts kick in before his rationality in a combat-situation to the point that he trained himself to prepare items, small weapons and potions while he is still “rational” to the point that we can say that he shaped his own “fighting pattern” with training and studies.
Penny: Already a sweetheart (but with a hint of slytherin traits), smart, cute, polite, more diplomatic, her approach to a duel is rational(after HPHM she will learn close combat fighting from David but without his instinctive flaws, so she would be more like a martial artist and more accurate), capable of obtaining any kind of information easily.
23. Did you tailor your OC for the other in the romance?
As matter of fact no...i made a character that would fit what i like...and i just noticed how he would be happy with Penny around.
24. Is their any moment that happens between them that you know happens and just makes you melt?
Mostly is a concept of moments they share:
They’re having a rough day, both of them, they’re about to punch someone in the face, that’s how stressed they are. Soon enough they meet after their different lessons, they see in each other eyes, (you can also say that they’re spent so much time together that they can feel it) they need a break, away from everyone, and if it’s a weekday there is Jacob’s room(also known as “David’s club room, where he can do whatever he wants”) and they’re mostly together maybe skipping a lesson or two, but their minds and souls needed that, it’s either a warm tea, or being on a sofa drowning in sheets and pillows and just snuggling and cuddling, or being passionate to each other.
25. Share any headcanons about their relationship.
David and Penny’s father are actually great friends...but David and Penny’s mother are like in a turf war because Penny’s mother knew David’s biological mother, she knows that she became a pureblood supremacist soon as she was pregnant with David, and she judges him as she judged his mother...David is just salty for being treated badly because some reputation that doesn’t involve him directly.
26. How important is the romance in your OC’s overall story?
David is basically on the verge of insanity everyday, everytime someone ask him to do something first for them(in exchange of their help for saving hogwarts) is a small step towards a mental breakdown. What prevent those meltdowns are quiet people(Rowan, Penny, Badea) people who likes to either doing something quietly or are good in listening him or knows him enough to help him to chill. Penny is meets all the three requirements. I dare to say that their relationship(either a friendly or romantic) is crucial for David. Without Penny(or if she dies) David will lose his self-control and just be like a Chimaera(just primal instincts and ultraviolence)
27. What makes you excited about their relationship?
The fact that for one time is the trope “opposites attract each other” can’t be used here, as a matter of fact, David and Penny are quite similar, they shared similar experiences but from slightly different points of view. I love the idea of being there for each other, knowing what each other needs because they know what they need, it may sounds boring or predictable, but i find it cute, they both need the same things for feeling good but they’re both so workaholics that they don’t think about their own health until the other one(because they’re both quite selfless and kind) takes them to rest. There is a lot that makes me excited about David and Penny being in love, like how during year 1 to 4 ressemble the slow burn of Romione, and from the end of year 4 to 6(maybe seven, we’ll see) ressemble Hinny, but their adult relationship could be quite Geralt and Yennefer from The Witcher but more affectionate(and less drama XD).
28. Is there any similarities to your OC and LI’s relationship to one you have had IRL?
I don’t have a relationship and never had one...never had an actual friend(or someone truly worthy of being called friend), so it’s more based on ideas and dreams.
29. What are your favorite moments that happen between them?
It’s more like based on my Cursebreaker!WhatIf, where David and Penny are travelling in the Sahara Desert, they’re just walking, they’re covered in clothes so you can’t really say who is who, but they’re walking close facing the burning climate, they’re not suffering for the water(aguamenti is the solution), just the air burning in their throats but they’re still close like they’re more in need of feel each other close than the actual need of some fresh air or a refreshing shower. You can say that is boring or meaningless but truth is that they love so much each other to rather melt for the burning hot weather rather than not being close or share some physical contact.
In the game my favorite moment is:
30. How does their love change as they get older?
By the time they’re older the love doesn’t change but their way to express it is more domestic, i don’t wanna involve AUs/What Ifs but in some aspects it can be similar to Izumi and Shigu(FMA), but still with a “young mentality” kinda like an eternal honeymoon, they’re both quite passionate so people insist that is just a phase, but even during their 90s they will be daring and affectionate(but i’ve headcanon that a spell for anti-aging purposes will be invented or re-discovered in some ruins, so wizards and witches will look like they’re back in their 30s or 40s).
31. Share anything you would like about the couple!
I’m not into the fankids but still in the Auror!AU:
David and Penny have a daughter named Scarlet “Dora” Haywood, she is a quiet girl but she has a thing for puns like her father and her godmother and not to mention that there is a rumor that Scarlet and Teddy are into each other. Mama and Papa are quite liberal and (secretly super happy to the idea of being in laws with the Tonks Family)
in the Cursebreakers!What Ifs their daughter is in fact adopted in Alexandria(Egypt) after a complicate situation(where they were sent in The Witcher 3 universe, and spent time with Geralt&Co.) they find this little girl, with no parents, no name, and a weak memory about her past so they choose to take care of her while they’re searching for her actual parents, but the time pass(the whole summer between Harry’s second year and the beginning of his third year) and nothing, after that, they need to go back to Great Britain for some jobs(that involves spending a year in Hogwarts and being Harry’s bodyguards while Jacob and other aurors are searching for Sirius Black) so they take with her while using contacts in Egypt to keep “alive” the researches of this girl’s parents, but meanwhile they gave her a name Alexandria(so she will grow up attached to her origins), Elen Riannon(a reference to complete name of Ciri) Haywood and let her stay with David’s foster parents so she can go to muggle schools and not risking her life in a dangerous place like Hogwarts(even though she will be there for Christmas so they can celebrate all together).
i finished the date side-quest, i was able to make enough screenshots(sometimes i clicked by mistake) but here some of my favorite parts; Also the song is one of the songs that can actually describe my MCxPenny, the other ones are:
- Over and Done by Amaranthe is for Cursebreaker!AU described by @lycopeneishere ‘s fanfiction
- Nothing Else Matters by Metallica is for Cursebreaker!AU but without Patricia and where MC and Penny get involved in the Witcher3’s world...(thanks Capcom for giving me the idea) @witcher3--m-jd ;)
- Endlessly by Amaranthe for the OhMyGodTheyWereRoommate!AU
Seriosly, we got lucky to have you...and even then people worship Merula(basically a baby-criminal) you sweet angel ç_ç
I like the idea that both MC and Penny panicked enough to change(or try) different outfit(s) multple times, it’s cute, they both are so nervous, they have both had clear fantasies about this date going perfectly because they think the other one is awesome and nice and then just panic and anxiety trying to reach each other level (feels like the build-up of Romione). ALSO she looks so mature and awesome with that hairstyle ç_ç Give me Penny with those hair 24/7 ç_ç please Jam City!
Yeah between Cursebreaking, Potion-brewing, we don’t talk much, both too busy to have actual hobbies and a constant social life, huh?
And David now is looking serious but inside his mind is probably partying like during the New Year, dancing and yelling happily.
David and Penny also known as “The couple who think a lot“
David: just slightly, i wouldn’t told Tonks and Charlie when it was our date, but at the same time, thanks to them we’re here, over the curfew...together(breaking at least 2 rules for our night-date)
Moon is beautiful and all but for astronomy is just a giant beautiful mirror i prefer Polaris/Ursae Minoris alpha...so at least we can orient ourselves and move north/foward together *///*
In general, i loved this side-quest, i’m sad that we couldn’t date(Charlie, Tonks and the fifth year’s group of friends, not because i wanted to date them but because I am in solidarity with those who wanted date them). Penny feels something like Romione and for some reason my idea of how Geralt and Yennefer would be if they met during their teenhood(don’t ask me why is just a feeling). My David/MC and Penny, are just sublime, I’m not bragging but they’re similar in many ways but even if they’re popular(is stated, they’re both popular but for very different reasons[also the literal meaning of popular is: commonly liked or approved], and while MC is not the kind of person that receives invites to partie unlike Penny, but she stated that she finds them boring and prefers death-defying adventures) they have this quiet-side that comes up when they’re alone or someone they really care about, at this moment we don’t see David“ The Cursed Kid/the little sibling of a troublemaker“ Denneth or Penny “The most popular girl of our generation“ Haywood, just David “Finally having some time for theirselves“ Denneth and Penny “I’m finally alone with the person i love“ Haywood, they don’t need to wear their masks like in front of other people, they can have their own fun with each other, by talking and making puns or who knows...dancing in the night and just being together, no lies or masks or potential interferences.
I headcanon this date during the end of year fifth, because okay in year four we have the Celestial Ball but, i don’t know for the other MCs, but my David in the end of the fourth year(until the end of the Fifth year) his mind is kinda elsewhere with thoughts and arguments with Dumbledore, so in the fourth year David has (with Penny) more like “Let’s walk and talk about our impressions about this whole Sleepwalking Vault“ (yeah is a weird kind of date, because is mostly David ranting for like 25 minutes with Penny mostly agreeing with him). So yeah for me this happens between the penultimate chapter(Bill’s Farewell party) and the last chapter of Year 5
BTW(just to piss them off): I’ve read how the date is with Merula, i didn’t liked how a criminal(already stated in a reblog-post what i think about Merula, and what she did for having me think her as a criminal) yet-to-be friend(remember it’s the fourth year, not fifth) teasing and mocking you before discovering that she IS MC’S DATE(for those who have chosen her) the rest is good, not perfect but what should i expect from an arrogant criminal who didn’t say sorry yet(i repeat, is decent, not perfect but good)?...eh eh
2, 7, 10, and 27 for the romance asks! (im not sure which ones you answered already so im sorry if there are any repeats!)
Thanks for Asking and Please Enjoy <3
2. What was the first moment that they knew they were in love with their LI?
Here for David Part
Penny felt the first bit of love/crush for David probably sooner than David(in general David has soo much to deal in Hogwarts that i’m surprised myself that he can have a decent relationship), It’s stated that she was interested in David/MC because she finds parties and that kind of social activities quite boring, that she is searching for something exciting like getting the Runner’s High(that awesome feeling that you get while you’re doing your favorit extreme-sport), probably in my ship that moment happens around her depression with Scarlett and the werewolves side-quest(to me both of them happen in almost the same period of the third year). I mean if someone would basically leap on a scary thing that i fear most, with a knife in one hand and a magic wand in the other, basically facing death for me i would be singing songs in their name or at least showing some interest in the person who saved me.
7. Favorite date activity?
Here ^_^
10. Do they have pet names for each other?
Penny likes to call him “Boy”(like “Good Boy”) when she wants to joke about David’s animagus form(a german shepherd) but she prefers calling him “Love” or “Darling”, David just call her “honey” or “angel”, when he is in a “Penny is hugging me while she is pushing her face against my chest” mood he calls her “Kitty”.
27. What makes you excited about their relationship?
The fact that for one time is the trope “opposites attract each other” can’t be used here, as a matter of fact, David and Penny are quite similar, they shared similar experiences but from slightly different points of view. I love the idea of being there for each other, knowing what each other needs because they know what they need, it may sounds boring or predictable, but i find it cute, they both need the same things for feeling good but they’re both so workaholics that they don’t think about their own health until the other one(because they’re both quite selfless and kind) takes them to rest. There is a lot that makes me excited about David and Penny being in love, like how during year 1 to 4 ressemble the slow burn of Romione, and from the end of year 4 to 6(maybe seven, we’ll see) ressemble Hinny, but their adult relationship could be quite Geralt and Yennefer from The Witcher but more affectionate(and less drama XD) maybe also like Morticia and Gomez Addams(because they both have a weird humor based on what they have faced during Hogwarts).
24If they move in together, when does it happen? What’s that transition like?
in the Auror!AU, soon as David(and his whole generation) graduates he tries to find a decent place near the Ministry because he is applying for being Auror and Penny of course is going to join him thanks to the Floo Network she can basically enjoy her job as substitute teacher in Potion(so Harry’s generation can have, time to time, a few weeks without Snape during their school year). The place is in Muggle London, so they can enjoy movies, documentaries and tv-shows in general. The transition is not worth mention, David always was quite independent during summers, he could take a journey on foot alone around Great Britain(mostly because the education from his father is quite like a survivalist, so he can hunt or find some part-time job for money, quite brutal education but it made him free and self-responsible for his own actions…obviously he doesn’t travel alone during summers…but if he wanted he could do it at that time) so the transition problem was the coexisting with Penny and her routine(/work schedule) while while he tries to have his routine(work-schedule).
In the Cursebreaker!AU(based on @lycopenedishere ‘s fanfic but remixed because the recent events in the main story), David will basically quit on Great Britain and everything related to Hogwarts, so he chooses a job that makes him travel a lot so he could work on his traumas, Penny joins him mostly because she loves him and really wanted to understand how big is the world magic community(something related to some stories David told her). In this AU their relationship evolves faster than in Auror!AU because they usually shares more adventures and more occasions to bond. Even in the AU written by lycopenedishere(where Rakepick is their mentor/senior cursebreaker) they always share small rooms with small beds for saving money because they travel a lot all around the world. So at the end in Cursebreaker!AU they’re moving place to place so often that they’re used quite soon and there is no transition at all because they don’t have the time to enter in the mentality of “This is MY place now and it will be for a looong time”, they just do their own things.
30.Do they participate in the Second Wizarding War? Or do they keep to themselves? How do they each feel about it?
In Auror!AU, David and Jacob are mostly there, Penny is more like their healer, not that is needed(because i suck and decided that David+Jacob = Apocalypse). David feels like it’s just his job, not much different from the usual mood during the years in Hogwarts, constantly on edge, stressed, angry, but cold, a cold rage, someone who is silent but is freezing with rage(remember, Young/Teen-David was the classic angry and loud boy, Adult Auror David is like the classic war-veteran who knows how to hide his fangs), Penny before the final war is quite like her mother, casting defensive charms and spells, enchanting clothes, quite nevrotic but understandable, after all we’re talking about Voldemort and after the first war he left a huge scar in the mind of everyone…so while David is “in the frontlines” of the war, Penny will use her talents to brew potions and heal people, for a while their house it’s like a small secret hospital. Truth is, David can fight because he knows that his marvelous divine Wife(Penny) has his back and she can focus on help and heal people because she knows that David is doing his very best for solving the situation. They show us to the final battle but mostly they’re both busy dealing with death eaters and Greyback(David will inflict the death sentence on the werewolf, because you know…because the side-quest David has a grudge over Greyback for scarring him on his body and his face…) the real problem…is Tonks a part of them quite died with her….
In the Cursebreakers!AUs, they’re more like sending infos(like new spells, or omens about the war) and by making allies in preparation for the actual war. Always travelling all around the world, learning together so many things, a lot of them labelled as “forbidden” and yet they use that forbidden knowledge to help by any means necessary. David in this AU doesn’t really care about Great Britain or the war in general(in this AU, at the end of HPHM most of the canon characters discovered that David did something quite controversial but still saved Hogwarts and disowned/denied him because they think he was/is insane, most of the OCs like Rowan, Winger, Liz and Badea and of course Penny, believe in David’s version of the story but not the Weasleys or Tonks), he cares for those 20-30 people (family and friends) who refused to listen to him and choose to not leave GB. Their job in GB and in the war, is mostly supportive, like preparing escape plans, enchanting items, brewing potions, producing and selling magic traps(enchanted in a way that if you believe in in any form of racism or you’re a deatheater they backfire, like exploding while they’re touching them) or ancient but powerful defensive spells. In this AU, their presence is barely known by their families, and in the battle of hogwarts they were using the portkey to the portrait vault for bringing more innocents possible in a safe place. Their friends weren’t nice to them(mostly Bill and Tonks…both felt betrayed by Penny agreeing with David’s version of the story) and yet they asked them to save them(more like “David be the horrible killer you were in the past…this time for us!”) in exchange of their forgiveness….David felt insulted and almost tried to fight them back, Penny was disappointed in their childish request…and yet they did everything they can, they also saved Tonks and Remus, cursed and defeated Greyback and many allies of Voldemort…but not for the reward they promised…
Hi! I was wondering what's Daniel take on the new characters from the latest quidditch update?
If we assume that all the quidditch side-quest happens during Year 2(that’s the requirement for accessing to this side-quest: being in year 2 and completed chapter 6), here the situation of David(then i’ll answer your actual question ^^):
- Because he tried(and failed) to resurrect his mother with FMA-alchemy, he doesn’t have the sense of touch(so for him, even walking needs his concentration because he doesn’t feel the ground under him)
- Depressed because the ghost of his mother, tries to force him to befriend Merula(even though, she knows that she tried to kill him the during the first year) because her parents are deatheaters.
- At the same time the situation is not even near to the absolute shitstorm he will face during and after Year 4, so he is slowly being involved in nice activities that Hogwarts may offer, and enjoying them(like the flying lessons)
- Since the first Flying Lesson, he tries every excuse to fly a little, he doesn’t feel nothing, but the idea of flying around, free like a bird, helps to not thinking about his absent father, his grandfather who lives not far from Hogsmeade(and obsess him over studying more Alchemy) his crazy ghost-mother and Jacob being imprisoned in the vaults
Now the actual answer:
He is shying a lot about Penny being a super Quidditch-fan(unexpected, to the point that i had to change my mental headcanons about since when, David is interested in Penny) but pretty much pumped up with confidence thanks to her.
Then the is Face Paint Kid, David is annoyed by him, not for the quiz but because his nickname is soooo long, and also the officialism of the quiz, he asked himself if someone nominated him to be the “Quidditch-quiz guy” like a teacher nominates a prefect.
He agrees with Skye, and as a matter of fact, after the Quidditch Side-quest, David will work on improving her training-menù, and after that he will do it every day of the week, to the point to wake up at the dawn and asking to his foster-mother(Badea’s mom) to send him some weights and extra protections for quidditch, so we can say that Skye had a big impact on David, also she shares a little bit of guilt for making David more cynical.
MCNully/The Commentator and the team’s leader…well i did’t come to that part yet…but The Commentator will also leave some important trait on/in David: when you’re talking…go straight to the point or you will annoy people around you…
They’re both have different disabilities, David doesn’t judge or insults McNully, even after David regains his sense of touch, he still judges people for who they’re on a personality level, rather than race/religion/disabilities/gender&sexuality, the only real prejudice he has it’s about either you’re Merula Snyde/Emily Tyler…he hates Merula(for many reasons), and he mocks Emily for being a gold digger/social climber who is too much attached to the idea of being rich or politically-powerful, who will never truly love or being loved.
Sorry but i low on coins in the game, so i didn’t reached the Team Leader(or whom else is left) yet…sorry for the incomplete answer ç_ç
