#lavali

[wordsmithic]

Hey, where in India are you from?

A lake.

*roll credits*

Okay okay, no more bad jokes.

So, in kindergarten they told us a tale about how we were born from the wrath of Durga when she was slaying the Mahishasura. In elementary school they told us we were born when a Human and a soul sucking alien ehm... "m a d e l o v e" (ew).

I don't know where this puts my species in terms of nationality but we do feel patriotic! So, I say I am from Rajasthan, Jodhpur specifically. ("Padharo Mhare Desh" and all that!) My family and other Isior live in a building complex in the banks of Balsamand lake - hence the lake joke, which I have yet to feel bad about.

Stereotype list check:

Do I live in the desert? Nope.

Have I ridden a camel? Yup! But it's not like they are our pets or something.

Am I Marwadi? Nope.

Do I have royal ancestry? Nope.

Do I, at least, live in a haveli? No but I wish!

Do I eat dal baati churma every week? Nope. (But I kinda wish I did).

Do I look like I am from Rajasthan? I think so? I am a businesseswoman, dark and beautiful! I am not that graceful in dancing but I make it up with my natural mustache/mucchi (how authentic of me 🤣)

[wordsmithic]

Hey Lavali! As a Human Eater do you specifically consume humans only or other animals and veggies too??

Hey, how are you? I am half human so my digestive system is similar to a human one. That means I can eat everything! (Of course what I eat is never enough for my aunties but that's another story). Wine and tea are also in the menu! I know teas because [insert Indian experience here] and wines because they help me deal with reality.

I eat with my family every day and we include artificial human meet in our (mostly local) dishes! Laal maas with human legs??? *Chef's kiss*

We can also eat any other meat but if you want to keep your supernatural muscle, speed and strength human meat does the trick.

But I don't usually hunt. This is the 21st century and if my money can buy me something it is delivered human meat and no trouble with the police. If no human meat is available I will go for regular animal meat first, since it's more readily available - and not a crime to eat it. But if I am starving and only humans are around... I am going to remind them they are under me in the food chain 😘

[wordsmithic]

Lavali and Flowers  

@ellakay69 OK LISTEN you made a GREAT suggestion because Lavali LOVES flowers! When I read your message it was like she jumped alive in my head and went “YEAH FLOWERS, MY BABIES, PUT THEM ALL IIIIN”.  Her name is ALSO the name of a plant! (And she started researching flowers because of her name). Lavalī (लवली) is a Sanskrit word for Phyllanthus acidus (West India gooseberry), otherwise named as Harfarevadi. This tree is mentioned as bearing good fruits. It is very nutritional and can be used medically. 

There are no specific flowers I connect her with in terms of flower symbolism but I made a moodboard with the flowers she has around her (in her room and her office).

From left to right, top to bottom: 

Begonia Elatior 

(Golden) Devil’s Ivy

African Violets

Clivia Miniata

Geranium 'Lord Bute’ 

Cyclamen

Begonia Escargot

Azalea* (in general)

*Azaleas were once so infamous for their toxicity that to receive a bouquet of their flowers in a black vase was a well-known death threat! This kinda sums Lavali up, because she is sweet and kind but if you piss her off, a ticket to the Other World is guaranteed for you!

[wordsmithic]

THE XXI SERIES - MAIN OCS | More moodboads for the XXI Series here (x)  | What is the XXI Series? (x) | Cassandra Yannu (x)

[wordsmithic]

Ok, I think I have settled on what the voices of my two OCs will be...

Raphael: Serious Sassy

Lavali: The happy girl who becomes creepy in 0.01 seconds

AND MAY THE GODS OF WRITING HELP ME NOT TO CHANGE THAT TOO

[wordsmithic]

OC Tag Game!

@thevajunglebook thanks for tagging me :D 

1. List five basic facts about your OC.

I will chose one of two! This time is...

******Lavali!******

a little encyclopedia of strange historical facts and the properties of plants

tall and intimidating but can be very sweet

wants order but she is amused by chaos

loves blood pies 

super anxious

2. If your OC could have any superpower, which would it be and why?

Infinite memory, probably! She researches too much for her own good and she wishes she wouldn’t have to read something again, in order to keep it in her mind, amongst the other tons of info she has there. 

3. Post a picture or gif that describes your OC.

Lavali may be young, but her mind is constantly at work - analyzing, comparing, conspiring. You know she has plans, but you won’t know what she is up to, if she doesn’t want to tell you about it. She is ambitious and aims for power. 

4. Summarize your WIP in 10 words or less.

“Hungry sirens vs Grim Reapers, Life vs Death.” 

(Ugh. That sounded weird :P You can find more valid info here: https://xxiseries.wordpress.com/aboutthexxiseries/ )

5. Do you have any villains in your story?

Everyone is a villain and everyone is a good guy ;) Good luck figuring out who is going to make a mess! 

6.  What’s easier for you to write, dialogue or description?

Dialogue! It just plays in my head when I do random tasks :P

7. Do you have a favorite writing-related quote?

“ A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity.” — Franz Kafka 

So, write, my babies, write!

8. If you could assign your story one song, what would it be?

Son Lux - Cage Of Bones

Let's be anyone but us, tonight Trade this heavy cage of bones, for flight Oh what a noise we'll make Drowning out our mistakes, we can't erase This is the chance we take We shout until our bones break, we can't replace Are we now what we'll be? Are we fixed or free? Are we now what we'll be? Are we fixed or free? Let's be anyone but you and me, today Trade this heavy cage of bones, for flight And when the sirens reach out for us We'll be far away And when the sirens reach out for us We'll be far away Oh what a noise we'll make Drowning out our mistakes, we can't erase This is the chance we take We shout until our bones break, we can't replace Are we now what we'll be? Are we fixed or free? Are we now what we'll be? Are we fixed or free?

9.  Where do you get inspiration from?

Usually myths, movies and songs! Many times inspiration strikes me when I am doing random tasks.

10.  Do you tend to underwrite or overwrite in a first draft?

I Overwrite. I confess, okey? :’( Fortunatelly, I love editing, so I can fix stuff later :o 

Tagging a bunch of followers: @m-s-harris @gloriawriting @celstefani @writerthatwritesstuff @toboldlywrite @byjillianmaria @vjhanson @intj-writer

[wordsmithic]

What alignment are you?

Neutral good! I am happy at least "good" is included in the title because ooooh boy the things I have done... Maybe it's because I answered the questions on the quiz and I see myself in a more favourable light

[wordsmithic]

Do you enjoy cannibalism? Or would you take away your desired taste for humans if you could?

The question is interesting but, unfortunately, doesn't apply to me - my creator failed to mention I am only half human! In the story I am considered a different species so it's not cannibalism - I guess? I do look similar to my food, that I will admit. It's a bit awkward but that's nature. Wait till you learn about the species on the top of the food chain - they eat souls.

The desire for human meat can be troubling since humans have made hunting them illegal. I don't blame them. Most humans die because other humans are assholes. (Excusez mon français). So, I would give my diet up for convenience and less trouble with the police. Many of my kind do that (they manage to salvage some meat from hospitals only on special occasions) but then they feel generally weak.

On terms of taste, though, it's the best thing that ever happened to me.