Fun fact about Titus: He is prince only in name. His mother was given to Arlendi Dominius IV in political marriage, and they discovered after the wedding that she arrived pregnant. Titus's biological father is a mere guard back in his mother's home country. The poor man was sent to the front lines for disgracing the princess. Titus was known as the "bastard prince" up till he is crowned King, so people must be polite around him now.
First of all, I’m SO HYPE that you’re working on an original story!! I love that Titus became king even though he wasn’t born of the political marriage. I need to know more! Does he have any siblings? Did Arlendi actually name him the heir, or does he end up inheriting the throne unexpectedly? And what happened to his poor father after being sent to the front lines?? Does Titus ever meet his father, or even know who he was?
My main character in Elder Scrolls Online is Radjakhar, or Radja for short, a Khajiit necromancer. (If you’ve never played an Elder Scrolls game, the Khajiit are anthro cat-people. Some are bipedal and more humanoid, while others are quadrupedal and more feline. Radja is a bipedal Khajiit with dark grey fur and markings that resemble a clouded leopard.)
During the course of his story, Radja learns that he’s the descendant of Khunzar-ri, a legendary Khajiit hero. Following in his ancestor’s footsteps, he defends his homeland against a horde of raging dragons, aids a rebellion to overthrow a human usurper, and weds the newly crowned Queen Khamira to become the King of Anequina.
Let’s just say none of this was in Radja’s plans, and he has a lot of learning to do before he can grow into the leader his people need him to be!
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Send me a fact about your OC and I’ll reply with a related fact about mine!
For the WIP: “You’re gonna-? Why? What, did he do something? Did he hurt you?” Malina narrowed her eyes, ready to go give that hairy nug a chat with her skillet.
UH OH, whoever make the mistake of rousing Malina’s ire had better watch out! xD I would LOVE to know who this “hairy nug” is and who Malina is talking to, hahahah.
Here’s an excerpt from a WIP of Thalon visiting the Val Royeaux alienage that I started YEARS ago and never finished. I rediscovered it recently and have been poking at it here and there, so perhaps something will come of it eventually.
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They turned left into a narrow passage between two shopfronts, and emerged in a kind of accidental courtyard surrounded on all sides by five- and six-story buildings ringed with balconies. Washing lines crisscrossed overhead, strung with laundry put out to dry, but the tenements were stacked so high that sunlight wouldn’t reach the crowded courtyard until midday.
And everywhere, there were elves -- a pair of women chatting on a balcony as they scrubbed at their washboards, a man bent in concentration over the meticulous work of mending a shirt with needle and thread, a mother and her sons peeling a basket of chestnuts while their grandfather watched from the stoop. A small flock of chickens scuttled, squawking, behind a smaller flock of children, fighting for the crumbs that fell from their hands. In the center of the yard, a few tables had been set up with the tile game that was so popular among city elves in Val Royeaux, especially the old aunties who liked to play against their husbands and scold them for cheating, or so Sera had once told him.
When Thalon appeared in the courtyard, all movement stopped, and it was as if the world itself had abruptly paused to hold its breath.
“Créateur...c’est le Héraut.”
“C’est pas possible!”
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Send me a line or two from your current WIP and I’ll share one of mine!
TMI Tuesday for Telhara: What is something you really like but would be a bit embarrassed to admit?
You mean, other than Zevran's ass? xD
Okay, okay, but seriously...she'd be embarrassed to admit she has a weakness for the comforts of human society in places like Orlais and Antiva. Soft beds and down comforters. Savory meats and sumptuous desserts. Sturdy walls to keep out the cold and roofs that don't leak when it rains. As someone who spends a lot of time on the road and has had to earn the respect of her Wardens, she prides herself on her toughness and her ability to endure hardship and deprivation. But, hey, who wouldn't relish the chance to sleep on a pile of feather pillows every now and then?
3, 17 and 20 for Emma! And Lux too, if you want. :D
What does their safe space look like?
Emma needs a particular level of certainty and preparedness to feel safe, so any such space would have to satisfy those requirements. A quiet place with observable entrances and exits, weapons nearby, potential threats, problems, or situations that may arise anticipated and understood, and a plan in place for dealing with them. This is really the extent of it if she's alone, as she has no doubt in her capability to defend herself, but she's far less likely to feel safe enough to not be constantly on guard if others are with her. She sleeps little enough as it is, but a trusted friend or partner being close by - or, even better, snuggled up right next to her - is one of her favorite places to be.
Lux isn't quite so concerned with these things. He just wants somewhere warm and soft, something good to drink and snack on, a good pair of socks, and lots to do. Preferably, Emma is also there, for the aforementioned requirements for her to feel safe, but at her insistence he's learning not to rely on her so much for that.
Who are they soft for? Do they find being soft easy or difficult?
Lux. Her love interest. Her half-brother. Her dads (all three of them). Friends, the few she keeps. Tranquil, current and former. Part of her, she supposes, will always be a little soft for Rexus, however much she knows she shouldn't be, and she isn't particularly thrilled with any of it. Being soft for someone makes them a priority, whether she likes it or not, and her priorities are not something she likes to be out of her control. She's very, "unfortunately, I do not want you to die, which means I have to keep you alive at all costs" about it.
Lux, on the other hand, is pretty much just soft. He loves people and love and being generous and happy and making other people happy.
He abhors suffering, with a pointed exception for people he believes are objectively terrible - people who cause and perpetuate suffering and don't care because they benefit from it, or even enjoy it. If someone like that isn't already suffering, he's more than happy to make sure they will be.
Does your character have a comfort item?
Emma generally will make use of or carry with her things she's been given as gifts, but it's more to comfort the people who gave them to her that she likes and appreciates the gifts than it is to comfort her. Rather, she finds comfort in repetitive activities that calm her mind and train skills and knowledge.
Lux will get irrationally attached to textile items - clothes, towels, blankets, rucksacks, what have you - that he finds especially comfortable or good-looking, and will get pretty distressed when the time comes for them to be washed or repaired. He feels like they're once-in-a-lifetime finds, and that if they leave him even for those reasons, he might not get them back.
“Our love came unannounced in the middle of the night. Our love came when we’d given up on asking love to come. I think that has to be part of its miracle.” (x)
A holiday present for @thefluffynug, commissioned from the brilliant and awesome @sunshinemage. You’ve been a friend to me like few people have been a friend. Thank you for being everything you are, and for loving my characters the way you do. <3
Third smooch up for @becausedragonage‘s ockissweek featuring the wonderful Cathaire ( @thefluffynug ) and a very sly Atreus haha
There was a musty old familiarity Atreus found whenever he entered a bookstore no matter where his travels brought him. From Antiva to his home in Starkhaven to even Val Royeaux which is where he was currently overseeing the small estate he had. There was always a sense of calm within a bookstore—framed by high shelves ladened with knowledge yet to be descovered. This time Atreus had chosen a store close to the University—with students and scholars alike so nearby there were bound to be some rare tomes hidden away.
Cane clicked against the dark wood floor, breaking the silence gently as the old Templar walked further into the pursuit of knowledge. Head was dipped in greeting to the clerk, a young plain masked woman who offered him a ghost of smile in return from underneath the shadow of her half mask.
With the formalities out the way he was free to browse the shelves to his hearts content. There were several large volumes of the history of the Free Marches on one shelf, then crammed underneath it a rather tattered copy of one of Brother Genitivi's works—these were ignored as a slender finger traced along the spines. Many of the common books Atreus was interested in he owned already or he didn't really want them that badly. No what he came in mind this time was several rarer tomes—perhaps if not here then he could try the Orlesian Black Market..then again last time he'd tried there instead of tomes of knowledge Atreus ended up with several more mature books that his husband proceeded to steal off him and never even got the chance to read yet.
Out the corner of his eye Atreus spotted a dark red leather bound book gold lettering embossed down the spine that he had to squint at to read the title—he'd left his reading glasses in Starkhaven but his eyesight wasn't that bad.
It was one of the books he'd been searching for but before Atreus had even got the chance to let out the smallest of triumphant noises a hand had reached for the very same volume and pulled it off the shelf. Atreus cursed, peering around the edge of the bookcase to see the book thief. It was a man, dressed in Orlesian finery, long dark hair and a mask that obscured his features. Perhaps he would put it back, perhaps he wasn't that interested.
No.. no he was walking towards the clerk!
Not to be deterred Atreus moved forward, a low noise rumbling as he cleared his throat.
“Ah excusez-moi..” Atreus' Orlesian was fluent, however marred it was by his thick Starkhaven brogue. It had worked and got the man's attention and Atreus quickly hurried on, gesturing with his free hand towards the other's coat.
“Would that happen t'be this seasons black embroidered brocade?”
If there was one thing you could often count on from a well dressed Orlesian was they were either very fashionable or liked to be complimented and as if on cue the man straightened a little, rolling his shoulders in a manner that a peacock might preen his feathers.
“Why yes.” Came the reply, it sounded like he was smiling beneath his mask. “It was tailor made just this week actually.”
Atreus smiled—genuinely despite his ulterior motive—and he glanced over the fabric once more in an appreciative manner.
“Ah was thinkin', yer see, of gettin' perhaps a suit out of the material myself. But ah was concerned that the fabric might be a wee bit too rough... may ah...Ser...?” Once more Atreus gestured a little towards his arm.
Dubious for a moment there was a pause before arm moved and allowed Atreus to touch the fabric.
“Cathaire.”
“Atreus.”
Slender fingers traced up and down the brocade a few times, a low hum of approval escaping Atreus as he did—in fact—admire the fabric.
“C'est magnifique! It's so soft, even the embroidery on the wrist. Was concerned about it scratchin'...” He was getting off target, curse Orlesian finery, and Atreus let his hand trail down to the hem of Cathaire's sleeve.
“May ah.. “
Gently coerced into spreading his fingers slightly by a gentle trace of Atreus' fingers against the back of Cathaire's hand the book had become rather loose in his grasp.
“Ah there are some wonderful rings that ah know would go perfectly wit' this outfit. There's a wee little stall 'round the back of the market that sells absolutely divine black opals and onyx jewellery. Yes.. ah think..” He trailed off a moment, studying...“ a silver band, nae too thick...hmm let me jus'.. let's get this out the way..” The book was nudged a little more, as Atreus reached up with his other hand to gently hold it to keep it from falling.
“Forgive me, ah seem t'be ramblin'... ah should let ye get back t'yer browsin'” Atreus let out a sheepish laugh before leaning forward, brushing his lips against the back of Cathaire's hand—and it was the final nudge needed for the book to be all but forgotten and left in Atreus' grasp.
“For yer time an' yer company.” Grey hues tinged with the most sharp blue glanced up briefly, trying to catch Cathaire's eyes under the shadow of his mask and Atreus smiled warmly before straightening and stepping back.
“Have a nice day, Serah.”
And with that Atreus swept towards the clerk before Cathaire had even noticed the book had been swiped.
TMI Tuesday for Rinna: What attracted you to Carver, and he seems really, really tall. Does he ever tease you with his big height?
Carver, huh? Well I mean… he’s pretty?
[Rinna chuckles nervously]
We just have a lot in common. More than I’d have thought. It feels great to have someone to talk to. Someone who understands what you’re feeling, you know?
And yes! Damn, is the man tall! But I mean, it’s not as if I was very tall myself. He does tease me about it, but so does everyone. Even Oghren, and he’s shorter than me! But he doesn’t count. Dwarves don’t count. Do they?
He can tease me about my height all he likes. My sword is way bigger than his.
