A Mess

Updates twice a year /j

[trashbinbackyard]

Sven romancer arisen in r/relationshipadvice like

”My (20s F) mother in law (40s F) once drugged me, erased my memories and sent me to a prison labour camp and refuses to apologize, while my boyfriend (20s M) assures me she has changed”

[trashbinbackyard]

It’s the way that you fake it, I know it’s too late

[trashbinbackyard]

Elem: why do you always wear joggers to work? Isn’t it a little unprofessional?

Enrique: in the ER you never know when you need to climb onto the gurney and perform wwe moves to realign a hip

[trashbinbackyard]

Some non-conventional romantic/platonic/familial relationships with Ode/Kerim, Bakar/Rosanna and Nico/Selka

How did they meet and what were their first impressions of each other?

They were first officially introduced in a court meeting, shortly after the arrival of Odesa’s mercenaries. Odessa has heard of Kerim, the 20-something savant serving the kings and she was really curious of him, he met her expectations too, short and timid. Kerim didn’t really pay attention to Ode at first, military movements not being his responsibility, but he did catch himself snorting at some of her jokes

They met face-to-face a couple of years before their wedding. Rosanna was new to the city and quite anxious, and Bakar picked up on that, but he understood, he’d be terrified if he was shipped off somewhere with only a couple of handmaidens, so he thought she was handling it pretty admirably. Rosanna thought Bakar was very polite and good company

Nico found Selka in a massacred caravan. She was still a kid, barely 10 and already traumatized. He took her with him back to the city and tried to hand her off to an orphanage but she got very attached to him and would start screaming. For Selka Nico was the first safe person after her family got slaughtered by monsters

What kind of dynamic do they have with each other?

Casual-but-not-really romantic relationship. They love each other a lot but they’re very lowkey about it, don’t make it a huge deal, they’re really good friends and they jive together well

They’re married and best friends. There’s a hint of romance there that both are unsure about if it’s genuine or just born from expectation

Selka was old enough to actually remember her parents, and Nico never wanted to overstep in that regard, but he does consider Selka like a child to him, and Selka regards him as a father figure

What do others think of them?

They’re both very competent at what they do and up there in intelligence, so while some people in the court were kind of taken aback at first when they officially got together, no one was surprised, if Ode hanging around in Kerim’s room gets him to sleep and Ode relax, it’s time well spent

They are the picture courtly elegance, while others are not privy to their “we’re actually just besties” they think they make a handsome pair, they do their noble duties well and are liked by nobles and commoners alike

They seem like an odd pair, but then again  everyone in the Erneak is more or less weird to wider public, so no surprises there

How close are they physically?

Very, since their relationship started on the basis of blowing off steam and cracking jokes. But they do keep a respectful distance when outside, and when they’re parallel playing they’re rarely touching

They used to have sex every now and then, but since then they’re agreed not to, mostly because Bakar’s body is rapidly failing him. They still hold hands, hug and cuddle often

They hug whenever they meet, Selka leans her head on Nico’s shoulder during wagon rides, Nico constantly pats Selka on the back/shoulders

Do they prefer being alone, together, or with others?

Kerim prefers to be alone, Ode prefers to be together but doesn’t mind being shooed out, she’ll just hang out with her men then

They prefer to spend time together, good to unwind together after long days of meetings

Both prefer to be alone, Nico meditates a lot and Selka cares for the horses despite there being a designated stableboy

Do they laugh at each other?

Kerim can laugh at Odesa all he likes. She’s a little more careful because Kerim can be a little sensitive to that

Yes, all the time, Bakar takes his condition with good humor since he can’t do anything about it. Rosanna is constantly reminded of her two hour skincare routine “I’m withering away while you’re powdering your arms”

Absolutely, in good humor of course. Nico will never stop hearing about his age and Selka get poked fun at for her lack of observational skills

Who would win in a fight?

Ode, it would be pretty embarrassing if she didn’t

Bakar's body is failing and Rosanna is a noble lady through and through. Bakar does have some minor magical abilities

They’re very equally matched, Nico is talented swordsman and has year and years under his belt, but Selka is younger and faster despite not having the cleanest technique

Who is a better liar?

Ode does it for a job

Both are really good at… embellishing the truth. Though Bakar wearing a mask 90% of the time makes it so he has less tells

Nico, he’s dealt with nobles for so long and Selka is just a very straightforward person

Who is a better caregiver?

Who is a better dancer?

Technique? Kerim. Vibe and energy? Ode

Both are good, unfortunately Bakar doesn’t have it in him anymore, so swaying together it is

Nico, purely based on that fact he’s trained in ballroom dances. Selka is usually at the corner arm crossed unless she’s five pints down, then she’s stumbling away on top of tables

Who is a better cook?

Kerim eats like max 4 different meals but he preps them very well. Ode doesn’t cook anything she’d be comfortable serving to other people

Neither cooks lmao, they have staff for that

Nico, from experience, he’s got some good on-the-trail tricks. 

Who loses their temper fastest?

Ode’s the more temperamental. Kerim doesn’t lose his temper but goes blank instead when emotions are high

Rosanna, she has slightly more freedom in letting her emotions be known

Selka, youthful temperament. Nico’s already witnessed enough bs he’s pretty hard to shake

What's the worst thing about them teaming up?

Both are kinda reckless when it comes to their physical wellbeing

Both have their own ideas on how to approach things, though they’ve never fought about it, it just takes them a moment to talk it through and agree on something

They’re strong in the same areas so there’s a skill void. Also their need to protect the other winds up as that one meme

What's the best thing about them teaming up

With their brainpower and Ode’s bow no challenge is too big to overcome

They truly are the powercouple of the city

On the battlefield they are so in sync

What's something they'd find surprising about each other?

How Kerim never half-assess anything, romance included. How caring and sensitive Ode is at the end of the day

How deeply they came care for each other even when they were arranged

How thoughtful Selka is under that abrasive layer. 

What's something that makes them proud of each other?

Odesa’s so hyped about everything Kerim invents or perfects. 

Rosanna is very proud of how Bakar is handling the very tender political situation. Bakar 

Nico’s very proud of the woman Selka’s grown into, she’s tough, kind, and resourceful. 

What do they find embarrassing about each other?

Kerim thinks Odesa’s too loud and obnoxious and gets secondhand embarrassment sometimes. Ode doesn’t think Kerim has anything to be embarrassed about

Nothing really, they see the best and worst of each other but feel there’s nothing to feel embarrassed about

Selka more often than not smells like horse, go wash up

If they had to spend a month apart, how would they fare?

Pretty well, they got tons of stuff on their plates so they have their hands full and not enough time to Yearn. Though Odesa doesn’t get as much rest like she does with Kerim so her health might take a slight hit

They’d write each other every week, keep the other updated on things, remind them to do x thing

Selka sometimes leaves for missions that might take a month, Nico is secretly anxious but doesn’t let it show. Selka’s just fully focused on what she needs to do (kill extraplanar monsters)

If one of them was in trouble, what would the other do?

Well Kerim did once get stuck in the eldritch library and the gold court got worried so Odesa volunteered to go fetch him. She wouldn’t admit it, but she 100% would drop everything and run to his rescue every time, gods know he has very little self-preservation skills. Kerim would first be hesitant bc it’s Ode and she has a knack for surviving all sorts of bullshit, but would do anything within his limited power to help her

They rarely have a chance to be in physical trouble, but in court words and rumors can be even worse. Bakar always stands at Rosanna's side and will make it known that her dignity is not up for debate. Rosanna also does her best to nip any nasty rumors at the bud and make sure whoever spread them is going to have difficult time

Selka would go feral and ride day and night to Nico’s aid. Nico would scramble and go to Selka’s aid or at least send the best to help her

If they had to solve a complex puzzle together, how would it go?

That thing would be solved in record time. The only conflict that would arise would be from them arguing who gets to do the final piece

They both would stare at it for a solid 10 minutes and come up with a plan, then get to it

Selka doing the work and Nicodamus being a backseat driver. “If you move that piece there and-”, “oh my GOD shut up”. They would get it done without major damage to their relationship

[trashbinbackyard]

Site manager: hey Nico, i hate to bother you but there’s an issue at the construction site

Nicodamus: did you find another veil hole and now there’s demons climbing out?

Sm: we found another veil hole and the demons ate the the six pm shift

[trashbinbackyard]

Juggles at you menacingly

[trashbinbackyard]

Nicodamus: is this a joke to you

Midnight: very much so

[trashbinbackyard]

*Throws this into the void and leaves*

Vitfors shenanigans starring Emil and Sif the disastrous downward spiral of love and borderline furries

Eha and Stanya, two girls who went looking for past ghosts

Pernilla and Sebastian, an aristocrat and a spy get stuck in the same social circles and later a boat, and well, forced proximity go brr

First meeting 

The most romantic milieu of them all: a church basement with the threat of death looming over both of them and baby’s first manslaughter. It was miserable for everyone involved

At a graveyard, how gothic and romantic. Eha was looking for clues who the mysterious man in her dreams is and Stanya was looking a for a snack of less than fresh blood

At some sort of soiree arranged by a visiting noble, Pernilla who is part of Kalmanportti’s city council was invited, and Sebastian was part of the noble’s retinue. They were sat next to each other

First impression of each other 

Emil was scared of Sif, and a hint of hate, but mostly scared. He’d been told stories of witches and the supernatural and the corruption they bring. Sif was also scared of Emil, a man that deep in faith doctrine would usually not hesitate to take her out (as in killing, not bakery date).

Eha was wary of Stanya, like does an honest person walk around the graveyard at night (nevermind her doing the exact same thing), but then she got sososo curious about her like “i know i’m doing sketchy things here but what sketchy thing is she doing”. Stanya was taken aback and slightly annoyed at a potential witness to grave desecration.

Pernilla simply thought “oh hey, a visiting important person” and acted accordingly, polite, nice small talk, getting to know each other, she has it down to a routine and didn’t think much of it. Sebastian however was the reason they were sat next to each other, he was investigating for the Medrein golden order and wanted to know more of these Vitforses, he thought Pernilla was very comfortable being surrounded by so many big names (kinda being one herself too), and was impressed how much she talked without giving him anything to work with, and so the chase was on.

First physical contact (handshake? hug? something else?) 

Emil hauling an injured Sif through a forest, dragging her on his side by her waist and then later just straight princess carrying her

A fistfight probably, before realizing hey, why are we doing this, i know we’re hella sus right now

A cheek kiss from Sebastian, perfectly casual greeting

First kiss 

A quick peck on Emil’s lips after he helped Sif power up a ward, and then she turned into ptarmigan and flew off, leaving Emil the shade of a tomato 

A very tender and shaky breath’ed in Eha’s bedroom after their grand adventure

The cheek kiss in greeting doesn’t count. Pernilla kissed the corner of Sebastian’s lips when he decoded a letter sent to her as a thanks

First time seeing the other one sick/injured 

Pretty much soon after their first meeting. Sif had a bullet in her gut when she got locked away and the wound opened when Emil and Arvid were hauling her off. Emil was mentally not doing great either that day/evening. And first time Emil got sick was when he was processing that days events and spent an entire afternoon emptying his stomach the upper way, which kept Arvid busy and Sif thinking he’s a bit a wimp for a templar

Technically Stanya was sick from hunger when they first met, but first time they saw each other injured was from the same event. Eha started getting increasingly nasty cases of night terrors the closer they got to the place where Emil and Sif died

Sebastian got stabbed in Kalmanportti due to all the Snooping, ended up in Arvid’s clinic where Pernilla was having an order meeting with him and the cat was out of the bag. Pernilla got seasick and hurled, very ladylike

First time seeing the other all dressed up 

I don’t think they ever got the chance to all dolled up, so Emil’s templar gear was the fanciest he had, and Sif saw it a lot during their first days. And Sif’s nicest clothes are her winter getup, a woolen dress with bronze clasps and a huge shawl with embroidery, which Emil saw when the snow started to fall

Stanya’s yet to “dress up”, but Eha has taken part in some gala dinners the university Arvid work for. Stanya thinks dresses suit her

First meeting, soiree is up there in the “level of effort” they needed to put into their looks. So they really came for each other with the best foot forward eh. There’s one more level of dressed up and it’s their wedding.

First act of non-sexual intimacy (e.g. washing the other's hair, taking a bath together, sharing food) 

They went to wash their clothes and themselves at a lake, Sif ever the pragmatist got herself clean in no time but Emil was being bashful so she took him by the shoulders and pushed him under the water

Eha helped Stanya put on her armor when they set out to travel to the old Convent (the one where Emil grew up). It was a lot of fiddling but still less so than if Stanya had done it herself

Having a very cramped and intimate candlelit dinner on the ship they travelled to Medrein on. Pernilla (correctly) suspected Sebastian was scheming something (nothing nefarious)

First time sharing a bed (non-sexual) 

Sif’s hut get pretty cold in the winter. Emil had remained very respectful and had been sleeping on the floor in front of the fireplace his entire stay there but one night Sif decided he looks too sad and pathetic there and offered a spot in her bed for him, which he took after some convincing

Camping in a tent on their way to the convent. Share bedroll and huddle for warmth

The ship to medreeeein, limited cabins, you two are travelling together, they only had one bed. *gasp*

First time sleeping together (sexual) 

Sif came onto Emil. Caught him slightly offguard and being inexperienced he was just happy to be led

The idea got floated around with both kinda uncertain what to do about it. Eha let Stanya initiate as with all physical touch and affection

Sebastian is demiace, which meant them sleeping together had a lot of buildup, and eventually Pernilla just came clean in lines of “ok here’s where I’m at, I would like this happen” and then leave the ball in his court, he came around after couple of days of tension

First time they realized their relationship is endgame... or isn't 

When Emil went through with the ritual to make him a werewolf. Sif warned him that there’s no going back and he’ll become a pariah but he said nah, those people never cared for him and he lives for her now and he wants to experience even a glimpse of her power.

Confronting their Horrors Together: Eha finding Emil and Sif’s graves and having a breakdown. And then later Stanya found her parents after so many years, after being brutally taken away from them.

I don’t know what their Big Moment is but it happens in Medrein. Maybe a carnival or some other folk event that Sebastian took Pernilla to

Who is the most affectionate?

Emil, if given the chance, will stick to Sif like thistle. He just find certainty and comfort with physical touch with anyone but Sif happens to be there for him to cling to more than anyone else

Eha, Stanya is quite.. Not scared per say, but hesitant about affection, verbal or physical. Eha was raised with plenty of affection so she’s a natural at it, so she has be mindful and see if Stanya is willing to receive anything

Sebastian, he just wants to show up for his girl, bird style. Pernilla is more reserved in all manner of things so Sebastian by comparing will seem over the top.

Big spoon/Little spoon?

They switch, usually Emil is the big spoon due to his sheer size but he also likes to be held.

Eha is the big spoon and Stanya the small spoon. Is Eha backpacking? Yes? Does her traumatized girlfriend need to be held? Also yes

Also switching, though they do settle on Pernilla being the small spoon more often

What is their favorite feature of their partner's?

Physical traits, Sif adores Emil’s freckles, the secret redhead that he is, Emil is fond of Sif’s little feathers, they’re unusual and what makes Sif in his eyes. Personality traits-wise Sif loves Emil’s devotion to everyone around him and in everything he does. Emil’s favourite trait of Sif’s is her resourcefulness, basically getting everything she needs with only a handful of tools at her disposal

Eha admires Stanya’s resilience and her physical protectiveness over her, and her biceps. Stanya appreciates Eha’s emotional protectiveness and round cheeks

Sebastian admirer Pernilla’s ability to have so many spoons in all the soups, she’s councilwoman for the city, practically a minister of trade, runs the Vitfors household and cares for her ailing mother, as well as watching over Eha from afar, also very eloquently and respectfully would say her chest is nice to look at (if he wasn’t demisexual, that off the shoulder ballgown during their first meeting would’ve made him act unwise). Loved (and at first frustrating) trait of Sebastian for Pernilla was his ability to pick up little clues and keep track of everything being said, physically? his nose

Nicknames? & if so, how did they originate?

Their names are already short and easy to say, so they call each other that among with pet names

Also just their names. Though sometimes Eha would try something with Stanya’s name, so far the best received name is Stina, and the worst Nya

Pernilla became Päron really fast after Sebastian learned the E is pronounced like Ä (also because she's curvy and he’s cheeky like that), and will earn a lighthearted smack on the arm from her. Sebastian is just Seb and Bas, faster to say.

Who initiates kisses?

Emil, like with any affection, he just yearns more

They go at Stanya’s pace, so she gets decide

Pernilla, she has to grab him by the chin sometimes

Who reaches for the other's hand first?

Emil, same reason as the above

Stanya, ditto

Sebastian, acts the proper gentleman, c’mon darling, hold onto my hand/elbow/shoulder as we 

What do their family/friends think of their relationship? (aka the Arvid vibe check)

Arvid was… concerned at first, to say the least, but he came around after seeing how Emil actually thrived away from the church and how Sif had more eyes to look after her. Did NOT approve of Emil’s woowoo lifepath but hey, let the kid fuck around and find out (with a regrettable end)

Arvid was very suspicious of Stanya, he knew about vampires, being the head of the golden order in Kalmanportti, and all his alarm bells were going off. Gently trying to let Eha know that hey… You might be in dangerous territory here, but she wouldn’t hear it. He and Stanya still don’t get along but Eha is an adult now so he can’t really do anything about it.

In Arvid’s opinion, Sebastian, out every partner he’s had the misfortune to witness, is the most put together, he’s nice polite and educated company, but he also is a spy for his home country, which is not ideal, but then he learns his real loyalty is to the golden order and Arvid sighs of relief

Who is more likely to start dancing with the other?

Sif, Emil’s too shy to initiate something big like that

Eha, she’s joyous like that and will drag Stanya away from the dark corner where she was brooding

Sebastian, once again, gentleman, “may I have this dance my lady?” and all that

Who needs more assurance?

Emil, coming from a background of constantly feeling like a failure and burden he needs Sif to tell him he’s doing good

Stanya, she acts more confident and brash than she actually is as a defense mechanism, so Eha noticed that she needs more assurance when Stanya is acting brave

By a very small margin: Pernilla. She didn’t gain Dimos’ sight by being a completely fine person, but then again, Sebastian is also part of the golden order so they both have their baggage, Pernila is handling it well but dips happen, especially now that Eha is dealing with her own hauntings

Who would sing to their child back to sleep?

Emil, he has a lovely singing voice and he would be all up in the parenting business if he was allowed to live long enough. And he still kinda does? Straight into Eha’s dreams

Both, Stanya knows a lot of folk songs and Eha just loves to fill in the silence with anything, singing included

IF they were to have kids (still undecided) they’d settle in Kalmanportti, Sebastian would sing in his native language to keep something of his own home there, Pernilla would just hum

[trashbinbackyard]

The father the aunt and the girl who bagged the most goth of goths

[trashbinbackyard]

Lift up your clouded eyes, and look at me your unmasked home Listen to my lament, come lay down in my blue embrace

[trashbinbackyard]

Pyry: so this…father of yours, the one who got my darling Sif. How did he die again?

Eha: he burned at the stake

Pyry: … skill issue

[trashbinbackyard]

Arvid: Eha! can you try and reel in your morfar, he's attacking my dreams again

[trashbinbackyard]

Im throwing this in bc i spent too much time on it, got interrupted and lost the flow(tm)

Silver and gold as 7 types of love but its actually three

Gold court: Odesa, Kerim, Naveen, Nahla

From silver court: Bakar, Rosanna, Nicodamus

Eros – Romantic, Passionate Love.

Is your OC romantic in the traditional sense? Do they enjoy giving or receiving gifts of flowers or confectionery? Or are there other courtship traditions from their culture of origin that are important to them?

Odesa is not really romantic, so Kerim kinda being romantic catches her off guard each time. She doesn’t know how to react.

Kerim is lowkey romantic. He’s very observant and matches whatever energy Odesa is giving but deep down he’s planning on how to treat her well the next time he gets the chance, be it a custom made bow, finding very specific blueprints to stuff, secretly making sure no one will bother her next time she drops by in Qyt’Veter

Nahla is a true romantic. She enjoys lavish gifts, poetry written for her, romantic outings and all the like shamelessly (Also whoever is courting her also needs to impress king Samalan). She also loves giving her significant other the same lavish treatment, she’s really good at poetry and probably has books worth of poems about Simin, her husband.

Naveen is also openly romantic, like he wants to spoil his partner, but in a lowkey way that doesn’t draw too much attention, like peeling pomegranates, leaving little treats for them to find.

Bakar is secretly a romantic. He never really got to court Rosanna properly because their engagement was arranged when they were teens and they married as soon as both had turned 20, so he makes it up by arranging fresh flowers for her on a weekly basis. He also enjoys receiving flowers and pastries. Where his family comes from dance is a big part of courtship so he’s pretty good at it (or at least used to)

Rosanna is also a romantic in secret. She greatly appreciates the flowers her husband gifts her, so she will reciprocate. She enjoys the idea of courting and wooing, the silent walks in a garden, writing poetry and the like, but she doesn’t have the time to do it with Bakar so good knight Berenika’s filling in fort him

Nicodamus is not really a romantic, i’d say he teeters on the edge of aromantic.

How do they feel about public displays of romantic affection? Does it make them uncomfortable? How do they feel if a romantic partner kisses them in public?

Odesa’s not into PDA, she likes to keep her personal and professional life separate, and unfortunately her professional life begins whenever she exits the safety of her room. It’s not uncomfortable if someone points her and Kerim out, it's more of “mind your business” thing. Kerim would never kiss her in public tho, but if he would she’d slap him in the back of the head

Kerim, just like Odesa, isn't big on PDA because he’s a very private person. Sure, everyone knows he’s hooking up with her and maybe even caught feelings, but he’s not gonna explicitly state that by his actions

Nahla would try to keep it modest as the diplomat with a very public presence, but she cant help it, her husband is so kissable and she also loves being on the receiving end

Naveen would be lowkey, a quick kiss on the cheek/lips before riding off, hugs turning into lifts and twirls.

Bakar engages in some PDA, he tends to greet Rosanna in public by taking her hand, bringing it to the lips of his mask, and sometimes holding her hand when they need to address the people.

Rosanna also does some modest PDA. But he real affections are shown behind closed doors

Nicodamus doesn’t date, guys, there’s bigass veil hole in the bottom of this city, we gotta focus on that, stop kissing and pick up those blessed blades and don your black cloaks

How closely is their opinion of their own beauty (or lack thereof) linked to their confidence? Do they see themselves as more or less worthy of love or sex based on how attractive they feel?

Odesa doesn’t think she’s particularly beautiful, her confidence stems purely from her intellectual and physical abilities. Despite it she has a weird relationship with her self worth and part of it spans to her romantic life as well, she’s no stranger to a hookup but romance is something she kinda feels unworthy of

Kerim doesn’t pay much attention to his looks, he thinks he’s alright, despite lacking height. Doesn’t affect her affections either, he’s just very particular about what he likes and who he wants to let close.

Nahla knows she’s beautiful, she’s confident about it, and doest admit it’s part of her self-esteem but it really is

Naveen also takes good care of himself, despite often riding off and getting covered in muck. Does feel like it plays a big role in how often he’s courted but doesn’t feel more or less deserving

Bakar is half rotting from the inside, he used to be quite handsome so the deterioration of his face and body hits him harder than he’s willing to admit. In public he’s always wearing his silver mask, and even private he has a veil on his face. He does feel undeserving of romantic affection as he and Rosana sort of teeter the line of platonic/romantic affection

Rosanna feels she’s pretty enough (author correction, she’s gorgeous) but it only slightly affects her opinion of her self worth as a romantic partner, she feels her status and intellect are the bigger forces at play

Nicodamus, just no, he’s been told he’s attractive, 40 year ago, but it was met with an eyeroll even back then

Philia – Affectionate, Platonic Love.

Does your OC have a Best Friend? If they do then how long have they known each other and how did they meet? If they don't then do they have a close group of friends they love equally? Or are they more of a loner?

Odesa latched onto Naveen in a span of a year, their roles just had them interacting with each other all the time. Their jokes and ambitions match and have similar roles. She’s also really close with the men and women under her command, she fancies herself a fun captain and regularly goes out and parties with them

Kerim doesn’t have close friends. He likes Odesa and Samalan, kinda respects the others wizards at university, and tolerates the rest.

Nahla, she has her circle of close friends, that aren’t his brothers’ circles of friends.

Naveen, unlike Nahla, shares his friends with his siblings. Also friendly with the soldiers under his command, but not as close and casual as Odesa is with hers.

Bakar genuinely considers Rosanna his best friend, whatever blurry romance they may or may not have going on, they’re ride or die platonically. First time they met was when he was 15 and Rosanna 17 and were pen pals till the day of their wedding. He doesn’t have other close friends in the court though

Rosanna’s number one is Bakar. Despite them being in arranged marriage they learned to love each other platonically and she really enjoys spending time with him, discussing politics and books, playing chess, having dinner etc.. She’s also close with some of the knights, Berenika, Nicdamus, Anatol, Selka (a new addition, they’re part of Nicodamus’ order of the golden light) 

Nicodamus’ closest friends are the people of Erneak (order of the golden light, aka Dimos’ ghostbusters), with the monarchs, he’s close with Bakar but in a more professional way, with Rosanna a bit more personal.

Is your OC able to build close friendships with people very different from themselves? Perhaps in terms of culture, age or personality?

Odesa’s a people person, she can be friends with anyone, case in point: lil princess Nahla is a good friend, loner Kerim is a dear friend and little more. And she comes from whole other culture too

Kerim he’s bad at making friends period, so he needs a lot of similarities, or someone  with a sledgehammer ready to make space for herself 

Nahla is very open and nice, but it’s difficult to become close friends with her, just from sheer amount of people she deals with, she can hold only so many close

Naveen, despite knowing a lot of people and being in the inner circle, he’s more reserved 

Bakar need to be careful who he lets close, he’s cordial and polite with people but does understand he needs to stay an arms length from most people due to the delicate state his court is in, so he puts his duty first

Rosanna, very similar to Bakar, but she’s more open to the possibility of close friends

Nicodamus is old enough to be like “eh, i like the amount of close friends i have” and responsible enough to be like “the only close friends I have are of the order”

Storge – Unconditional, Familial Love.

Did your OC's parents love them unconditionally? If so then has this helped them feel confident as an adult? If not then how has this affected them? What were the conditions their family attached to their relationship?

Odesa’s parents were surprisingly doting for a family of mercenaries. She got all the support she needed and she feels great about her childhood, they really set her up for success. She later does feel like it wasn’t as unconditional as it seemed, if she wanted to something else she’s not sure her family would’ve approved

Kerim’s parents also doted on him, worked really hard for him to be able to do what he does today, he feels loved and still writes a lot to his parents

Nahla is the third of three children so she’s the family baby. By the time she came around her parents knew what was up and all the family roles and responsibilities were already given to Samalan and Naveen so she got to do what she wanted

Naveen, the middle child, but he and Nahla have a big age gap for he got to be just the younger brother for a while and got full attention from his parents, (well as much as you can get from king and queen too busy trying to retake one city from), he got the best tutors for both intellectual and martial affairs. He’s was close with his parents but Nahla was the favourite

Bakar, like any royal, enjoyed the limited attention of his parents. 

Rosanna is one of five children of a noble family. The attention she got from her parents was mostly about setting her up to be a queen to a distant city state. She wasn’t that close to them, but never raised their ire either

Nicodamus’ parents travelled a lot with baby Nicodamus in tow, so he became very cultured and worldly, so he’s forever grateful to them. He feels they formed the foundations of who he is today and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

How far does parental approval (imagined or expressed) impact upon their current sense of self-worth? What might they sacrifice or attempt to achieve in order to ensure the approval of their parents?

Odesa very much bathes in parental approval, but the situation could be the opposite if she had decided that nah, i dont want to be mercenary. In a way she did choose parental approval over her own happiness, because she is not as happy as she seems to be. Sure, she’s good at what she does, but her parents meant so much to her she just wanted to make them proud without thinking what she herself might want to do

Kerim gets more pride about his parents being proud of him than he would like to admit, he’s like “yeah my parents are proud of me and they should be, i’ve done great”

Nahla needed to work for that parental approval. Because for the longest time Samalan and Naveen got to be accomplished children she felt like she needed to prove herself, she could’ve chosen an easy princess life or marry some noble but she decided to make her own name an important one.

Naveen, the middle child, of course wanted to make his parents proud, be a worthy successor should the worst happen to Samalan and all that. He wasn’t as burdened by his parent’s expectations so it was pretty easy to get their approval.

Bakar is happy his parents approved of him, he feels like he was prepared well for the life he’s supposed to live and knowing his parents died proud of him is one of the pillars that hold his mental health together

Rosanna doesn’t really think about what her parents think of her, to them she was a bargaining chip and in that sense she did them proud but she doesn’t want to claim it

Nicodamus' parents would be disappointed in him to be honest, disciple of the old gods (he was raised in the white flame faith), pledging allegiance to a king, not marrying and having kids of his own. Yeah, his parents can lay in the ground uneasy, he doesn’t care

Does your OC have any siblings? If so then did their parents have a favourite growing up? Has their relationship with their sibling changed in adulthood? If they don't have any siblings then do they perhaps feel they have missed out on an important relationship? Do they have any especially close friends who go some way towards filling that role?

Odesa’s not an only child, i’d say she might be the oldest in fact. She was the cool older sister for sure, and got the brunt of her parent’s discipline while also being the golden child. 

Kerim’s an only child, sees the dynamics between Samalan, Naveen and Nahla and concluded he might’ve missed out on something but there’s not really anything he can about it now

Nahla is the youngest, the absolute apple of her brothers’ eyes. They were good brothers even though Samalan was 13 years older and naveen 10. She might’ve been a little too coddled by her brothers, she wouldn’t change it for anything though, and the three are doing a good job running a country

Naveen is the middle child, got to enjoy 10 years of being the youngest, and enjoy the lack of responsibility because Samalan was the crown prince, so he was chill, he was good. 

Bakar is the eldest child, his sister Sorne is about 5 years younger. He always felt like his somewhat resented him, for being the heir and not her, and they lived very separate lives. He was being trained to become a leader and it consumed all his waking hours when he was a kid so he never spent much time with her either, which he does feel bad about

Rosanna is middle child, oldest daughter though, what she lacked in parental attention she had in sibling bonds. She loved spending time with her brothers and sisters, and the sibling outing frequency increased after it was said she was to be married off to secure an alliance. They visit when they can and write often

Nicodamus is also an only child, sees Bakar and Sorne’s quarreling and goes “yeah, didn’t miss on much”

[trashbinbackyard]

Odesa, trying to be romantic: have you wver been to Medrein?

Kerim: no

Odesa, remembering the city is so bright you cant see the stars: you’d hate it there

[trashbinbackyard]

Forest creatures playlist

[trashbinbackyard]

Songs for immortals

Lucien - Used to the darkness

Maya - Carrion comfort

Viessa - The space between

Dimos - Firelights

Nemeli - My body is not mine

Temüülen - The rider

Sääksi - Lanternlight

[trashbinbackyard]

general for emil n sif and domestic for mirad n jack bc they had their anniversary a month ago

oops took me way longer than i expcted

Sif n Emil

Who initiated the relationship, and how did they go about it?

It just kind of happened? Neither intended to get feelings but Emil did fall first but was too scared to do anything about it, and when Sif caught wind of it she still wasn’t 100% sure about him, but thought: “Hey, a strong templar trained man at my heel, better keep him around so I won’t be caught again”, so for her it was convenience at first, feeling came later, she kinda did lead him on though, but she did initiate it.

Did they have an official first date? If so, what was it like?

Not really? What I would consider their first “date” was Sif letting him tag along while she went to check on her wards

What was their first kiss like?

Very quick and hesitant on Emil’s part, Sif let him lead to get a baseline of him. Emil, having never kissed anyone before, was unsure and it was over in a blink of an eye. Sif was surprised how tender he was

Were they each other's first anything (kiss, relationship, etc.)?

Sif’s experienced, though she’s never been in a long term commitment. Emil was new to everything

What is their height difference? Age difference? Do either matter to them?

Emil has 15 centimeters on her (180 and 165(, and Sif has 5 years on him 29 and 24). It doesn’t matter to them (well the age gap bothered Emil at first, fueling his “am i good enough for her” complex)

How do their personalities complement each other? How do they clash?

Both are quiet, aaaand that's about it for similarities. Emil is timid and needs to lead or have purpose, Sif is quite comfortable with herself and is not afraid to take up space, she’s also very sure of herself and her purpose. She’s the guiding hand Emil yearns for

What is their relationship with each other's families like?

Emil knows who his parents are, has met his mom occasionally, his father and half siblings refuse to acknowledge him. Sif was really close to her parents but her mom passed away from illness and her father got hunted down, so…. non-existent

Who takes the lead in social situations? How are they around each other's friends?

Sif mostly, she is assertive and opinionated, Emil is watching and learning. Sif’s contacts and friends learn to include Emil in their circle but he’s still the quiet one. With Arvid they make a good trio

Who gets jealous easier?

They both have a jealous streak, Emil about what others (including Sif) have, confidence, assurance, power. Sif about how “easy” Emil has it being a man and of noble birth (only at the beginning though, and both were super misguided about it). About other people approaching the other? Sif, she’s territorial. Emil just gets sad when someone approaches Sif with flirty intentions bc half the time thinks she’s gonna dump his ass

What are their parallels, whether in their personalities or their histories?

They both want what's best for the common good, they just initially had the opposite ways of going about it. They both appreciate and treasure the small things in life because for both of them growing up nothing was guaranteed. They’re both quiet and mild tempered unless given plenty of reason to get violent.

Who whispers inappropriate things in the other's ear in public?

Sif would, Emil either turns into a tomato or excuses himself and wanders into the forest

Do they hide anything from each other, big or small?

They pretty much revealed all their cards on their first meeting, Sif was locked up for witchcraft and Emil was ready to skewer her before Arvid convinced him (it didn’t take that much effort) to help her escape instead. Sif learned two things: Emil wants to be pious, and is easily manipulated. Emil learned that Sif, in fact, is a witch and a murderer

Which one thinks they aren't good enough for the other, if at all?

Emil is helplessly just comparing himself to everyone ever and thinks he doesn’t measure up at all, and used to think he’s no good for anyone. After his confidence boost (warewoof time) he still feels lesser to Sif sometimes

What are some songs that apply to their relationship, in-universe or otherwise?

Ooh boy, i have a full playlist that I will condense down to 10 at some point but Sleep Token’s “Take me back to Eden” and “Rain”, Swallow the Sun’s “All Hallows grieve”, and Insomniums “The unrest” and “The rapids”

What is their most common argument about?

Sif insists that Emil needs to stand up for himself more. Emil think Sif is too harsh on some people

Jack n Mirad

When they move in together, who gets the most say in decorations? What do they each have to have in the house?

Jack pretty much moved to Mirad’s place even though he still has his studio shack near his workshop. Mirad has made the space his and Jack doesn’t want to overstep, and truth be told Mirad has better taste than Jack. Jack does bring his little welding sculptures in.

If they get married, who proposes, and how do they do it? Would they change their surnames?

I think it was Mirad who proposed and Jack went like “oh shit forreal?”, though Mirad would’ve made it super romantic and over the top and Jack didn’t get the hint at first even though it was like flashing red neon sign. They kept their own surnames

What is the wedding like? Who attends?

Super intimate with only the closest people, something better than a courthouse but nothing over the top, they’re old so no need for all the pomp and circumstance.

How many kids do they have, if any? What are they like as parents? What are the kids like?

Nah, they have their nieces and they’re lovely

Are either of them the "breadwinner"? Who cooks? Who cleans?

They both work, though Jack’s is less fulltime and more gig based. Mirad makes more and generally takes care of the household. Jack only cooks for himself bc Mirad’s carefully curated diet would be destroyed otherwise. Both clean, though Mirad is more thorough, Jack learns to be up to Mirad’s standards (he’s lucky Mirad thinks he’s hot)

Do they have any pets?

Nope

Who worries the most?

Jack is generally the more anxious one, he doesn’t need a reason, it’s just mental illness. Mirad worries more about the concrete stuff

Who kills the bugs in the house?

Both do if needed, though cup + paper is preffered

How do they celebrate holidays?

Wth the families that also celebrate the holidays (double the cultures = double to holidays), introduce the other to their respective traditions and stuff and just have a great time

Who is more likely to convince the other to come back to sleep in the morning?

Jack tried a dozen times but got shut down everytime and now respects Mirad’s Routine. But Mirad will catch on that Jack wants to cuddle and will clear his schedule just to do that

Who hogs the blankets or takes up more than their fair share of the bed? Who puts their cold feet on the other? Who are the big and little spoons?

Mirad’s cold blooded and Jack is a human space heater, they act accordingly. They have their own blankets but Jacks will be found on the floor in the morning. Neither conquers the bed but Mirad sticks to Jack to hog his warmth, and is the big spoon naturally.

Who likes to dance with, or sing for, the other?

Both, Mirad is just a thousand times better at it, but there’s a charm in dancing and singing badly Jack has, and Mirad fell for it

Do they have any "couple traditions", or family traditions?

Bath routines, weekly date nights, weekly catching up with Ellen, things to look forward to

Who is the one who always says "I don't know" when the other asks where they want to eat?

I don't think either does, Mirad is assertive and knows what he wants and Jack eats literally anything so when deciding on a dinner place it goes like 

Mirad: “We’re eating at [place]” / Jack: “ok yay!”

Who would drive, and who would give directions?

I don't think either is legally allowed to drive