Void | 26 | Home to many unfinished WIPs, and my friends’ amazing WIPs, and anything else I find. Adult content has been reassigned to @void-after-hours
so i made a bluesky for no good reason other than that i wanna ditch the insta doomscrolling cuz i’m starting to turn into an ipad kid lmao.
plus probably gonna make another tumblr, like a more um presentable writing account? one that’s not a random dump lmao. cuz this is my safe place. don’t want much people to find it lol. probably gonna change my header name then soon.
more on writing muslim characters from a hijabi muslim girl
- hijabis get really excited over pretty scarves
- they also like to collect pins and brooches
- we get asked a lot of questions and it can be annoying or it can be amusing, just depends on our mood and personality and how the question is phrased
- common questions include:
- “not even water?” (referring to fasting)
- hijabis hear a lot of “do you sleep in that?” (we don’t) and “where is your hair?” (in a bun or a braid, usually)
- “is it mooze-slim or mozzlem?” (the answer is neither, it’s muslim, with a soft s and accent on the first syllable)
- “ee-slam or iz-lamb?” (it’s iss-laam, accent on the first syllable)
- “hee-job?” (heh-jahb, accent on the second syllable)
- “kor-an?” (no. quran. say it like koor-annn, accent on the second syllable)
- people tend to mess up our names really badly and you just get a sigh and a resigned nod or an awkward smile, maybe a nickname instead
- long hair is easy to hide, short hair is harder to wrap up
- hijab isn’t just covering hair, it’s also showing as little skin as possible with the exception of face, hands, and feet, and not wearing tight/sheer clothing
- that applies to men too, people just don’t like to mention it ( i wonder why)
- henna/mehendi isn’t just for special occasions, you’ll see people wearing it for fun
- henna/mehendi isn’t just for muslims, either, it’s not a religious thing
- henna/mehendi is not just for women, men also wear it, especially on their weddings
- there are big mehendi parties in the couple of nights before eid where people (usually just women and kids) gather and do each other’s mehendi, usually just hands and feet
- five daily prayers
- most muslim kids can stutter through a couple verses of quran in the original arabic text by the age of seven or eight, it does not matter where they live or where they’re from or what language they speak natively
- muslim families tend to have multiple copies of the quran
- there are no “versions” of the quran, there has only ever been one. all muslims follow the exact same book
- muslims have no concept of taking God’s name in vain, we call on God at every little inconvenience
- don’t use islamic phrases if you don’t know what they mean or how to use them. we use them often, inside and outside of religious settings. in islam, it is encouraged to mention God often and we say these things very casually, but we take them very seriously
- Allahu Akbar means “God is Greatest” (often said when something shocks or surprises us, or if we’re scared or daunted, or when something amazing happens, whether it be good or bad; it’s like saying “oh my god”)
- Subhan Allah means “Glory be to God” (i say subhan Allah at the sky, at babies, at trees, whatever strikes me as pleasant, especially if it’s in nature)
- Bismillah means “in the name of God” and it’s just something you say before you start something like eating or doing your homework
- In Shaa Allah means “if God wills” (example: you’ll be famous, in shaa Allah) (it’s a reminder that the future is in God’s hands, so be humble and be hopeful)
- Astaghfirullah means “i seek forgiveness from Allah” and it’s like “god forgive me”
- Alhamdulillah means “all thanks and praise belong to God” and it’s just a little bit more serious than saying “thank god” (example: i passed my exams, alhamdulillah; i made it home okay, alhamdulillah)
- when i say we use them casually, i really mean it
- teacher forgot to assign homework? Alhamdulillah
- our version of “amen” is “ameen”
- muslims greet each other with “assalamu alaikum” which just means “peace be on you” and it’s like saying hi
- the proper response is “walaikum assalam” which means “and on you be peace” and it’s like saying “you too”
As a Muslim this post is so very important and it makes me so happy that it gives the small facts and details that one might be unaware of or confused about.
y'all this sucks. i'm probably not moving much, only if it gets unforgivingly bad (not that i'd be so active here recently but yk, still checking every other day the feed so), but in any case, here's my pillowfort and instagram.
Tears are powerful, but do you know what's more impactful? The struggle to hold them back. This post is for all your hard-hearted stoic characters who'd never shed a tear before another, and aims to help you make them breakdown realistically.
The Physical Signs of Holding Back Tears
Heavy Eyelids, Heavy Heart
Your character's eyelids feel weighted, as if the tears themselves are dragging them down. Their vision blurs—not quite enough to spill over, but enough to remind them of the dam threatening to break.
The Involuntary Sniffle
They sniffle, not because their nose is running, but because their body is desperately trying to regulate itself, to suppress the wave of emotion threatening to take over.
Burning Eyes
Their eyes sting from the effort of restraint, from the battle between pride and vulnerability. If they try too hard to hold back, the whites of their eyes start turning red, a telltale sign of the tears they've refused to let go.
The Trembling Lips
Like a child struggling not to cry, their lips quiver. The shame of it fuels their determination to stay composed, leading them to clench their fists, grip their sleeves, or dig their nails into the nearest surface—anything to regain control.
The Fear of Blinking
Closing their eyes means surrender. The second their lashes meet, the memories, the pain, the heartbreak will surge forward, and the tears will follow. So they force themselves to keep staring—at the floor, at a blank wall, at anything that won’t remind them of why they’re breaking.
The Coping Mechanisms: Pretending It’s Fine
A Steady Gaze & A Deep Breath
To mask the turmoil, they focus on a neutral object, inhale slowly, and steel themselves. If they can get through this one breath, they can get through the next.
Turning Away to Swipe at Their Eyes
When they do need to wipe their eyes, they do it quickly, casually, as if brushing off a speck of dust rather than wiping away the proof of their emotions.
Masking the Pain with a Different Emotion
Anger, sarcasm, even laughter—any strong emotion can serve as a shield. A snappy response, a bitter chuckle, a sharp inhale—each is a carefully chosen defence against vulnerability.
Why This Matters
Letting your character fight their tears instead of immediately breaking down makes the scene hit harder. It shows their internal struggle, their resistance, and their need to stay composed even when they’re crumbling.
This is written based off of personal experience as someone who goes through this cycle a lot (emotional vulnerability who?) and some inspo from other books/articles
Happy Blorbo Blursday! What was your OCs education like? What were the primary things they were learning? How did they do in their education?
Hey friend!!
Let's go with the Royal Siblings for this one!!
DAUGHTER HEIR ELAYNA & PRINCE LOUIS
As children: they have a Private Tutor
So the education of Oracean royal kids is put to private tutors, who are also High Priests! And, for them, it was Eames since he was a high priest when they were growing up.
Oracean Royal Kids have a biiiig focus on Oracean history, and religion. That includes the story of the Prophets, and the Gods that gave them magic. And then how their children became leaders of their respective kingdoms. But they don't learn much details of each kingdom, just vague stuff. Some of it is probably fear mongering to encourage Oracea to not get too close with other places.
Music is huge to Oracea, too. So they each learn to sing and each learns an instrument. The heir specializes in an Ocarina. Then, the rest learn what they like. Elayna loved the violin, and Louis learned the piano. But they can easily switch. Astrea also learned to sing with them, and drifted towards a Pyrian instrument, the lyre.
They would also learn literature, poetry, philosophy, sciences, and local languages of neighboring kingdoms. Daesron is north, so they would both learn Daesronian. Astrea didn't love those lessons and would much rather cause a fuss and speak Pyrian to them until they kicked her out. (With Edrei's encouragement, Antor made her grow up on Pyrian so she never lost that part of herself).
Transition from Tutoring:
I haven't developed this much yet but Edrei would have them go to some boarding school with just the noble kids.
I want to say since the war started, the senators would want them to have military training, too. But Oracea has never been at war, besides border disputes the military wouldn't bother the royals with. But I do think Louis, at least would have oversat some military training given Eames wants him to be heir, and definitely left Elayna out of that
But where Louis has more military observations, I think Elayna would see l how the immigrants are treated, and then focus more on specialized training in politics, world history, international relations, and diplomacy. But she would have to find people willing to help her learn, since not many would approve of this education.
I want Elayna to have been at the top of her class, and excelled at her own studies, and even wrote an equivalent of a thesis. I want her to be a renowned scholar, or, at least becoming one, and the scholars in Oracea all know this. Unsure the education system on this tho. The old university Edrei learned at was definitely a place Elayna could learn, too. But with the New University teaching new magic, I think it became less popular, but Elayna would still gravitate there.
Both have different focuses on public life: education would incorporate public service and training for royal duties. Eames would teach him how to make public appearances to improve public opinion of him. Elayna...wouldn't. No one to teach her, and no desire for it.
Anyways that's what I'm thinking so far! Since Edrei passed away, there's no one really to supervise Astrea's education, so Elayna takes it upon herself to at least teach her what she's learning. But Astrea would still much rather leave, and go to Blackthorn, much to her sister's chagrin.
media trope that makes me want to throw up and cry is when a character realises there's no way they're making it out of a situation in one piece. and in a single moment they accept it and turn to their distraught loved ones with The Smile. you know The Smile. sickening
Because it’s almost Valentine’s Day and I want to ramble about these characters for a bit lol
Couple One - Val, Cyrus, and Tristan
The main trio— the historian, the immortal lord, and the detective. Cyrus has waited centuries to find people who love and understand him as deeply as these two do, who don’t run from the monster he sees. Val finally has confidence around them, a sense of self that they had been numb to for years. Tristan has the relationship he’s always wanted, two people who love him equally and accept his desires, as well as his past. When a man like Cyrus fights for them and inspires them to live, eternity starts to look pretty good.
Couple Two - Freya and Kristine
Cyrus’ maids and, essentially, maternal figures. One mischievous and tender, the other timid but learning to assert herself. These two women helped each other survive the grief of losing their families, and were soon faced with feelings that the outer world condemned. Hawthorn gave them acceptance, as well as eternity, and now they’re free to live and love.
Couple Three - Kale and Penelope
A gruff, introverted construction worker and a flower shop owner, both of whom rely on each other for sanity in this cruel world. They both lost an appendage in the Massacre, but it hasn’t destroyed their determination. Kale would still crush mountains for his wife, and Penelope would split the earth itself for her husband.
Couple Four - Viktor and Holly
The Lockhart valet and their pastry chef. Viktor was almost lost to his depression until Holly arrived, and her family loved him the way his first family should have. When she grew ill, Viktor devoted every bit of himself to accommodating for her. They were young, sweet, silly, and ready to spend the rest of time with each other. When Viktor loses Holly, he believes he’s lost the last good half of himself.
Bonus ones under the cut because they’re a tad spoilery:
Couple Five - Eva and Viktor
A woman who’s been hurt by love many times before, and a man who believes love will never find him again. When Eva ends up in the hospital, Viktor helps her recover from her injuries and learn to walk again. Their loneliness begs them to reach out to one another, and their friendship blossoms into something that neither of them are ready for, but both want deep down. Eva can’t believe that any man could be so kind to her and still think himself a monster.
Couple(?) Six - Cyrus and Viktor
Two childhood friends and their insane situationship. Viktor has an admiration and reverence for his lord which borders on a crush that’s obvious to everyone but himself. And poor Cyrus is flattered and wants nothing but to feel loved for once. When they’re both at their lowest, those feelings start to brew, until the guilt eats at Viktor and pushes him back into darkness.
What is your favorite romantic relationship that exists within your cast (main characters or otherwise). What is it like and why do you love it so much?
Bonus: will it work long term, or is it destined to end in tragedy?
My answers always change depending on my mood and where I'm at but right now Antor and Edrei lol.
It's because I want readers to read them like "I know how this will end (in tragedy) but maybe if I read again it'll end differently."
I don't know yet if I'll be able to pull it off but I want them to be so memorable, desperate and gripping that, despite wanting them to have a better ending, you know they can't. The story won't happen. The other characters won't develop, won't be happy. Because these two need to have their tragedy so others don't.
That's why they're my favourite right now lol. They itch my brain right that wants tragedy, but also itches the part in my brain that wants a happy ending. Who they are and they do serve both and I like it lol.
Okay, here it is on the right blog!! XD Happy blorbo blursday!!!! With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I thought I would try to think of something more related to relationships! What is the most important relationship(s) in your character's life? Doesn't have to be romantic, but it can be!
Happy Blorbsday!! Sorry about that btw, my fault for asking for the ask on the wrong blog 🤣
I think for Antor and Astrea, it's each other. They have a co-dependent familial dynamic where they are the only person left of their past lives, and they latch onto each other like they latch onto what they could have had in life. They both do it for different reasons.
Antor is an over protective father figure who would tear apart anyone who harmed her. But he also trusts that he's taught her enough to protect herself. That still doesn't mean he won't go out of his way to protect the one person of his old life he has left, and to make sure she has a future worth living.
And to Astrea, she knows his grief, knows how he expresses himself, and how he doesn't. He listens and communicates in ways she has needed to adapt to, and she does. She knows he's always going to be there as a protective familial force, and she finds refuge in it, especially when she's lost and afraid.
They've braved a lot of tragedy together, and they've found security in each other through it all.
Again, it's familial, and they're not as physically affectionate as some families, but it's like finding comfort in returning home to a hearth that never dies. A hearth you know can never die.
But that's a problem isn't it? Because everyone dies. And when the time comes for her hearth, well, that's going to be its own tragedy that she too will go above and beyond to prevent. And it'll be up to her and her character to learn what her limits are in doing that.
Because it’s almost Valentine’s Day and I want to ramble about these characters for a bit lol
Couple One - Val, Cyrus, and Tristan
The main trio— the historian, the immortal lord, and the detective. Cyrus has waited centuries to find people who love and understand him as deeply as these two do, who don’t run from the monster he sees. Val finally has confidence around them, a sense of self that they had been numb to for years. Tristan has the relationship he’s always wanted, two people who love him equally and accept his desires, as well as his past. When a man like Cyrus fights for them and inspires them to live, eternity starts to look pretty good.
Couple Two - Freya and Kristine
Cyrus’ maids and, essentially, maternal figures. One mischievous and tender, the other timid but learning to assert herself. These two women helped each other survive the grief of losing their families, and were soon faced with feelings that the outer world condemned. Hawthorn gave them acceptance, as well as eternity, and now they’re free to live and love.
Couple Three - Kale and Penelope
A gruff, introverted construction worker and a flower shop owner, both of whom rely on each other for sanity in this cruel world. They both lost an appendage in the Massacre, but it hasn’t destroyed their determination. Kale would still crush mountains for his wife, and Penelope would split the earth itself for her husband.
Couple Four - Viktor and Holly
The Lockhart valet and their pastry chef. Viktor was almost lost to his depression until Holly arrived, and her family loved him the way his first family should have. When she grew ill, Viktor devoted every bit of himself to accommodating for her. They were young, sweet, silly, and ready to spend the rest of time with each other. When Viktor loses Holly, he believes he’s lost the last good half of himself.
Bonus ones under the cut because they’re a tad spoilery:
Couple Five - Eva and Viktor
A woman who’s been hurt by love many times before, and a man who believes love will never find him again. When Eva ends up in the hospital, Viktor helps her recover from her injuries and learn to walk again. Their loneliness begs them to reach out to one another, and their friendship blossoms into something that neither of them are ready for, but both want deep down. Eva can’t believe that any man could be so kind to her and still think himself a monster.
Couple(?) Six - Cyrus and Viktor
Two childhood friends and their insane situationship. Viktor has an admiration and reverence for his lord which borders on a crush that’s obvious to everyone but himself. And poor Cyrus is flattered and wants nothing but to feel loved for once. When they’re both at their lowest, those feelings start to brew, until the guilt eats at Viktor and pushes him back into darkness.
Hello lovely, a Cupid is here! What are your characters' ideal futures? Either something they knowingly want or alternatively, what might they be doing that would give them a revelation that 'this is what life should be like'?
Hello!!
ANTOR
He knows he can't have his old life back. Though, it would have been ideal if he grew old with what he had. But now, with Astrea, god there are so many futures that would have been ideal. Raising her in the Palace with Edrei, and being accepted as her partner, helping her raise all of her kids, too. Or even just being allowed to leave it all with her. Leaving. Going north. Secluded. Away from everything. Raising her with no idea the shadow over her, letting her be a kid, letting her be happy. Anything to just give her a happy life would be ideal.
ASTREA
A life where she can be accepted. Loved by her community. With a family that loves her. In a world that wants to see her thrive. With people that compliment her. Where there are no expectations on her. Where she can discover herself. Where she knows herself. And loves herself.
GALHAD
He wants a family. He wants to give his children something he never had. Security. Love. Acceptance.
ELIJAH
He wants to go back home. To Pyria. To return to a nation unburdened by war. To find his mother, and his coast side home. He knows his father would never love him, not with how they last faced eachother, but there's a part of him that still seeks a father love. A father's hand. A father's acceptance. He knows he only needs his mother's. She's wanting for him back home.
And he knows once he returns, getting back to his family is all he needs. He wants to introduce him to his crew, to his life, and especially, to Astrea. An ideal future is to be loved and allowed to return home.
ELAYNA
for her brother to step into the role of king, but also, for him to learn how to accept Astrea again. Her ideal future is allowing her brother to rule, and helping him do so. To pursue her own ambitions peacefully. She wants a future where she does not need to worry about Astrea. A future she does not need to worry about her family, or her nation.
LOUIS
for his sister to step into the role of Queen, but also, for her to learn how to rule to keep their nation safe from war, no matter how ruthless she needs to be. he wants his sister to be what the nation needs to survive what's to come. His ideal future is not to have one. He wants to be with his family, his lost family. His ideal future is leaving the nation in his sister's hands, so he can go where she cannot follow.
Hello lovely, a Cupid is here! What are your characters' ideal futures? Either something they knowingly want or alternatively, what might they be doing that would give them a revelation that 'this is what life should be like'?
Ooooooooo, wait, this is such a good question. Some of the answers are really easy and some of them are really hard. Thank you so much for the question, Cupid :D
Let's start with the easy ones.
Nate: I know its cliche, but truly, he just wants a family. He wants a partner to share a life with and kids to make new traditions with. Tbh, he is too busy with the plot to really think about this, though. Committed to the narrative lmao.
Oh! Also, almost forgot: on a big picture level, he wants to see social change in his lifetime. Protections, rights, and laws that support paragon and, well, really any marginalized group. You said ideal, and he's dreaming big lmao.
Reese: Honestly, his ideal future looks a lot like his present. He loves living with his friends in the woods, close enough to town that its not completely abandoned lmao. His only real goals are more professional - he hopes to use his experience to design and create a more advanced and efficient prosthetic for people. One with functionality he has only been able to achieve through his element so far.
Okay, I have discovered that the rest all fall under the "hard" category lmao.
Kay: Hm... she just wants to find some place where she belongs. She sort of had a pseudo feeling of belonging growing up, but the story starts with that getting shot to hell. She doesn't really know what that looks like, but luckily that is the whole point of her character arc :)
Sky: All she wants is to be able to use her element on her own terms. At home, in public, whenever. Especially because her element isn't inherently dangerous or volatile, it feels like its not too much to ask lol
Nic: Mmmmm, her ideal future is probably being a recluse who continues doing research. No one hears from her for years and then every decade or so she releases a breakthrough in the medical devices field and then disappears again. No one knows where she lives. She becomes an urban legend while she radicalizes the medical field. Nothing too crazy (sarcasm) XD
Shaun: Oh, okay, I'm shifting into like... dream scenarios rather than realism here. Shaun's true ideal future would involve being in a band. Unable to do that, I think he would settle for traveling around a lot more with his friends :)
Matt: You know, I don't think Matt would really care what the circumstances were, as long as the whole team was together by the end of it all he would be happy. And being in a band would be pretty cool for him, too, like, if that were possible lmao (it's not).
Day of Valentine's be upon ye'! I would love to learn more about Inseo and Fang's relationship. How long have they known each other? What is their dynamic like? How do they best communicate?
-- hmmmmmmm, maybe secretly not your valentine?
Hi, love and Perhaps Valentine!
I really love this question because those two are my favourites, tbh. I'll break it down into sections, because I had a lot to explain. I hope it’s understandable, though I’m not sure I answered the questions, lol. I’m sorry in advance if I didn’t. Got too into it at one point.
YOUTH AND HOW THEY BECOME FRIENDS
They have known each other for ages. Given that both of them were living in the centre of the clan, and came from important families within, they were around one another constantly like you're around the people you live with in an apartment complex. But they didn't really meet or sought out the other. They were part of two very different groups.
Inseo was and still is an old soul, and a daugther of a high ranked/respected family within the clan, who mostly focused on the duties of such (cultivating her arranged relationship, studying hard, learning to manage the community around them), so she was moving around high society, and important people constantly. She was well educated, hard working, and a fierce conversation partner. Though, rarely got along with her peers.
On the other hand, Fang was always a force of an another kind. She is the daugther of a Burner family, yet had not inherited the gift, so she was mostly in the shadow of her little sister. Which she didn't tolerate in her youth. She rebelled constantly, and clawed a name out for herself in the clan early. While Inseo insisted on earning what she could alongside the laws of their life, Fang took whatever she wanted without compromise. Rules applied to her too, and she got punished when she stepped over, but after a while, it became evident that it doesn't matter. She'll keep living as she wants.
One thing was in common in them, though. None of them could stand injustice. Inseo worked inside the hierarchy and their system to weed that out, especially towards the Demons who were suffering the superstitious ideals. While Fang just smothered any kind of discrimination on the spot, mostly with, but sometimes without a fight. None of them were perfect and they had their own prejudices, but they never stood silent or idle when they witnessed these.
Both of them became a certain master in their craft, also.
Fang could use her Blessing's strengthening aspect on an exceptional level, while Inseo was outstanding in using it in a way that made her the fastest person within the clan in her twenties. Fang was and still is one of a kind in fighting, but Inseo is a close second beacuse of the excellent technical use and her unique way of using their Blessing. They knew about each other, but they didn't care about each other for a long time.
They truly came into each other's orbit when they started to train, and they had been in the same class, and assigned beside each other on assigments, or missions. Turned out, they can’t win against each other in fighting, so that built a base for mutual respect. Fang got a liking to Inseo because she was, among the many, the one who truly had no bullshit. She not just handled what others found “difficult” in Fang, no, Inseo enjoyed playing into it. They argue a lot, but for them, that was and is a kind of bonding, and playing. However, this only laid down a base for liking being around the other.
Inseo was not giving away her trust easily, ever, though. So, for her, they weren’t friends from that much.
Fang, however, was content with seeing Inseo’s reliable and true nature when she spoke up about any injustice without a second thought, even went into fist fights when it was needed. She wasn’t afraid of dirtying her hands, or facing someone with more authority, rank, or anything. Inseo was just as fearless as Fang, although in a different way. Fang found stuff she couldn’t stand in Inseo, or what bothered her in Inseo’s worldview, as they clashed with her own, but still. She earned Fang’s respect, and trust.
Inseo’s was trickier though, because for a long while, she saw Fang a brute, even though she had a kind of respect for her. But that “going against the wall head first so it breaks and problem solved” method Fang usually used, made her unreliable in Inseo’s eyes. Or the least, it was a severe flaw in her eyes that made her wary.
Until one mission, where Inseo got too much into her head, thinking she knew everything better, and ended up losing her temper when things got sideways. Which resulted in getting herself in a situation where her life hung in the balance. Didn’t flesh it out yet, but it was something along the lines of trying to strike a deal with the other country’s underworld gang, but not knowing enough about their workings. Anyway, the point is that Fang without hesitation, went and saved Inseo’s life when shit went down. Because that’s just what she does. She doesn’t think, she just does it. That mission caused Fang to lose the ability to bear children, because of an injury she got there. (not common knowledge) Inseo’s whole view of Fang shifted, she owes her life to her, and her undying loyalty, respect and trust is Fang’s after that.
Their friendship solidified for both of them from that point on.
DYNAMIC
They would, quite literally, die for each other. No questions asked. No hesitation. Which they prove, but I am not detailing that part as one of that is a key thing in the story, lmao. (that might be in itself a spoiler if someone’s really paying attention or a mastermind) Anyway, they can only be 100% honest with each other, because that’s a part of why they’re drawn to the other anyway. They don’t let the other have illusions about themselves, where they at, what’s hurting them or the such. They force it out if needed, but they will have each other face themselves, good or bad, and they will be there to hold the parts until the other can put themself together if it’s a breaking point.
But they are also harsh with each other, just like with everyone else. When they’re beefing, then it’s nasty, at least in the beginning. With age, though, they cool down, and have their differences sorted in a much calmer, less “getting at each other’s most hurtful points” way. Although they can still step on each other’s toes, when tensions are way too high (like in chapter 14, if you’d like an example).
They’re not always around the other, though. Never were. They always liked their individual spaces, and would not cling to the other. Don’t need to. They just simply know that they can count on each other if a need arises.
I didn’t flesh out any conflict between them in the past, although probably had many. But there will be a bit in the story, actually. I’d say a more serious, or relatively long-winded conflict between them would affect them strangely. They would pull back in their shell of not trusting immediately, keeping things ‘professional’. They would execute whatever task they would need together, work together, but they would not joke around, or hang around. They would just go, do, and leave.
But that’s an unimaginable point for both of them. At this point, they literally can’t imagine anything that the other can do that would snap that bond completely. It might tangle it, because betrayal by the other, they do feel at times, given that they still have different views on a lot of stuff. But it would not change the depth or the quality of their friendship significantly. It would take a very deliberate vile act to turn there, probably.
Anyway, yeah, they grew up with the other on their side, so they mostly learnt and grew together. Inseo learnt to be a bit less in her head all the time, letting go some of her perfectionism and self-hating, which Fang taught her, directly or just being herself, by believing in herself and that she, in that moment, with all the information provided in the moment, knows best and makes the right decision, even if later turns out it was the wrong one. Doing her best, in short. And that doing her best is enough. She doesn’t need to beat herself up for mistakes, because it’s only natural. She won’t be left alone just becuase of that. While Fang learnt to stop before she’d run head first into life, think and plan a bit, listen and care for others sincerely and truly. To not be afraid of connecting to them, and open up to them. That hurting is being human. It’s not a weakness, and it’s not the end of the world. That it will pass, but until then, she is needed, and loved, and Inseo will be there. Always.
