Malice

Don't Fear the Reaper (shy and Malice)

For the record, this is next on my list of responses, if you're still interested. <3

⌘Exit, Pursued By A Bear⌘ {//OPEN}

Ba-bump.

⌘Exit, Pursued By A Bear⌘ {//OPEN}

Bump?

...

Bump.

⌘Exit, Pursued By A Bear⌘ {//OPEN}

Should I bump this?

Probably not given that I have replies I need to write.

But whatever, here we are.

A Royal's New War - EntertainMe & Malice

Lyra’s fingers were both soft and warm; her touch was gentle as she fixed the bracelet around August’s wrist and the prince found himself smiling. The delicate metal was cool against his skin and the weight of it was reassuring and comfortable. Surprisingly, the fit was perfect; it was as if it had been crafted specifically for him. Perhaps the fates had intervened when Lyra had crafted the item; perhaps the world somehow knew what its inhabitants could not.

The princess stepped back then, baring her nape. August moved his hands in front of her so that he could drape the delicate chain of the timepiece about her neck. Drawing his hands back, August fiddled with the clasp, fingers brushing against Lyra’s exposed skin, before securing the necklace in place. August’s fingers hesitated at Lyra’s neck, as if he had something to say but thought better of it; he pulled away, his good hand feeling cold at the sudden absence of Lyra’s warmth.

“Aye the house, our home,” August began, the words feeling peculiar in his mouth, speaking of the life they were to share from here on, “will be full of surprises for us both, no doubt.” He eyed the electric lights, of Angevin design, that framed the front door and wondered just what else lay within. Things that would confuse him, things that would seem so common place and yet confuse her. Lyra’s response to the car, and August’s to her magic, was only a small indication of the things to come when living in such a juxtaposing home.

“Our first adventure, hmm?” August said with a grin, pulling a finely wrought set of keys from his coat pocket. He offered the princess his arm, the one made of flesh and bone, “come, let us explore and see what our Kingdoms have put together for us.”

The Doors of Janus [ Malice / Vox ]

Aeris listened quietly and as intently as she could muster. It was not that Lokkir’s words bored her, but she was both physically and emotionally exhausted by the day. Aeris had never particularly been one for politics, enduring only as much as was necessary for her position, and she had little desire to engage in such talks now when all she wanted to do was curl up under the sheets and sleep until the sun was high.

However, Aeris understood the importance of what Lokkir was telling her and that, in this matter, time was of the essence. Unfortunately, some things needed to be spoken about, right here, right now. It was just one more duty that befell being heir apparent.

Aeris shifted her position on the bed. The air in the room was crisp and she could feel the prickle of a chill on her skin, gooseflesh and hairs standing on end. It was a kind of comforting, however, and Aeris made no move to pull the sheets around her to block out the cool.

As Lokkir spoke, Aeris could not help but notice how his gaze flickered to her prosthetic. She felt indignity bubble in her chest, unbidden. Aeris felt no shame in her loss of limbs, of the scars that criss-crossed across her body, but the way in which Lokkir looked at her arm, or rather, in the way in which he tried not to look at it, suggested it made him uncomfortable, that he felt it was something she ought to be ashamed of. Aeris bit the inside of her cheek, quelling the feeling inside; it was hypocritical of her to feel ire at Lokkir when her outburst at his body had been so much more aggressive.

“There are certainly enemies in the Qaeltine Kingdom; those who oppose Hudvalr and those who oppose the Volinix family for their supposed weakness in agreeing to peace rather than outright destruction,” the princess sighed wearily. Although the war was over, there were still many battles to be fought, those with words and politics than swords and flame. At least out on the field, Aeris knew she was competent; she knew how to secure a victory, whatever the cost in blood. Here, in the shadows of the courts, Aeris felt far more vulnerable and out of her depth than she ever had during even the grimmest of sieges.

“At some point, when my brain is more willing to process new information, you will have to list the members of the Hudvalr court who I need to be cautious of, and I shall do the same for you of those in Qaeltine. Although, fortunately for us both, my immediate family are all in agreement with entering peace, and with this union,” she paused then, a slight smile quirking at the corner of lips as she thought of Aerin, “at least diplomatically, if not personally.” Aerin wanted peace for the kingdoms as much as his twin and, begrudgingly, accepted her fate in this marriage; Aerin just wanted Aeris to be happy and, however unlikely, to have been able to marry for love.

Aerin was lucky; although his wife had been chosen for him, arranged for reasons much as Lokkir had for Aeris, the pair had grown exceptionally close. Their relationship was peaceful, caring and, somehow, they had managed to find a devotion for one another. In these circles, however, Aerin’s marriage was the exception and far from the rule.

As Lokkir continued to speak of the future heir, of their future child, Aeris could not help but become contemplative. Subconsciously, she ran her fingers across her stomach, feeling the gelid edges of metal against her skin. Aeris had never given much serious thought to motherhood, although she had always known that, being heir, it was going to be an inevitability. Yet, it was not something she could honestly say she was looking forward too, less so now given the covertness that would shroud her pregnancy.

Then Lokkir made another offer, one that was clearly distressing and uncomfortable on his behalf. Aeris swallowed, unable to meet her husband’s eye. Regretfully, the first thought that had come to her mind was that yes, let someone else do it. It was unfair though, and she knew it. Pregnancy would be traumatic for them both, but more so no doubt for Lokkir. There was a certain irony, too, that the very thing she had accused Lokkir of using to mock Qaeltine, his biological sex, was the ame thing that gave her the option of avoiding motherhood.

Lokkir was right, however; it should be a last resort. Had Lokkir been biologically male, as Aeris and everyone had been led to believe, then there would be no alternative to Aeris carrying his child. It made no difference, then, if the child she carried was not technically his; her role in continuing both bloodlines was to remain the same.

“I must confess that I did not spend much time admiring the Hudvalri men today; I was otherwise preoccupied,” she said with a wry grin, “besides, it would be despicable form for me to be making eyes at other men during my own wedding.” She laughed then, in part at the absurdity of the entire situation, at how she had known this morning that her life would be changed by the end of the day, but had never envisioned it would be changed like this, dancing with mysteries and state secrets. “I assume that the Hudvalri, much like the Qaeltine courtiers, will be staying for the festivities in the coming days? I shall endeavour to…” Aeris hesitated, trying to find the find words, but fell short of anything both polite and appropriate. She shrugged, gesturing with her hands in discomfiture, “to fuck about. Wildly and with great fervour, in the name of Qaeltine and Hudvalr.” Aeris gave a short, exasperated laugh, placing one hand to her face and rubbing at her eyes; she was trying to make light of a situation she still did not fully comprehend. This entire day felt much like a dream and that tomorrow morning she would wake up once more in a sodden trench, screams echoing through the air blood splattering the ground.

Truthfully, Aeris could not say which reality she hoped to wake up to.

After a reprise, gathering her thoughts, Aeris continued,

“As for you carrying our child,” the words felt foreign on her tongue, discussing starting a family with a man she had met only hours before, “it is… Not something I would wish to burden you with. However, should it come to that, I can guarantee that both of my brothers would honour your discretion.” Aerin did not trust the Hudvalri as far as he could throw them, but he did trust his sister; if she asked him for this favour, he would do it and never speak a word. Xeriph, conversely, was always a man of his word and knew the importance of protecting secrets, regardless of whether they were Qaeltine, Hudvalri, royalty or commoner. There were things that Xeriph knew that even threats of death would not convince him to let them slip from his lips. “My mother… Not so much. She would react much the same way as I did, although in a far greater magnitude.” Aeris looked away then, ashamed of her earlier response, drawing her knees up to her chest, wrapping her good arm about them, “I am sorry for that.”

Although Aeris had been antagonistic, Kelis would have acted with far more hostility. While she might not use the knowledge to outright engineer a second war, she would certainly use it to renegotiate the peace treaty so that Qaeltine was favoured in the outcome. Kelis was ruthless in the courts and had no qualms in using Hudvalri secrets against them. Of course, if her blackmail failed, then it would place the two kingdoms in an extremely volatile situation once more.

No, it was best if Kelis never caught wind of this.

“Aerin… He would be the more willing of my two brothers to aid us, if necessary. The only issue is that he would not wish to lay with anyone other than his wife; I cannot fault him for that, their marriage is harmonious, and I would never wish to risk damaging that for him. However, there are… Ways around that. Qaeltine medicine has developed ways in which to artificially create pregnancy, of sorts. They would be able to take his seed and plant it within you, without the pair of you ever needing physical contact let alone physical intimacy.” Aeris frowned in thought, adding, “although Xeriph bears a greater resemblance to me; he might be the better choice if we wanted to avoid accusations of a bastard child.”

Aeris cleared her throat then, patting the sheets next to her.

“No matter, Lokkir. I will do what I can and, if I cannot, we shall discuss the alternatives if and when they arise. For now, sit. It would be nice to get to know you, my husband, rather than simply the Prince of Hudvalr.” Aeris glanced down at her prosthetic, running organic fingers across the join of flesh and metal, “I, ah… I noticed this makes you uncomfortable. I can remove it for the time being, if you would prefer.”

Don't Fear the Reaper (shy and Malice)

Hah, I just have this image of them doing a double take at a window, banging on it and waving madly all 'heyhey, remember me? Oh wait...'

Don't Fear the Reaper (shy and Malice)

@shylarah yep, I'd agree with the scene coming to a close. For some reason I had it in my head that it would be an accidental encounter after they become human? And they just sort of latch on to Lee out of curiosity to see what's happening to her given she should be dead.

Don't Fear the Reaper (shy and Malice)

死̵̪͕̯̊̂̈́̇̚͝神̵̺͖͈̦̝̳̈̆͌͛́̋̅͘ hummed softly in thought, although it was more like a feeling that reverberated through their body than an audible sound.

“Quite curious,” they responded, resting their chin on the palm of their hand. While ever 死̵̪͕̯̊̂̈́̇̚͝神̵̺͖͈̦̝̳̈̆͌͛́̋̅͘ was around Lee, their ‘mark’, they seemed to hold a vaguely humanoid form; two arms, two legs, presumably the one head. But as they held their free hand out in front of them, all they could see was the undulating plasma, black and purple, gold and red. Amorphous and ethereal.

Of course, no human other than Lee could see 死̵̪͕̯̊̂̈́̇̚͝神̵̺͖͈̦̝̳̈̆͌͛́̋̅͘ right now, and even that was debateable due to her blindness.

死̵̪͕̯̊̂̈́̇̚͝神̵̺͖͈̦̝̳̈̆͌͛́̋̅͘ dropped their hand back in to their lap and returned their full attention back to Lee. “Life sounds… Fascinating. Confusing and tiring, but fascinating none the less.” 死̵̪͕̯̊̂̈́̇̚͝神̵̺͖͈̦̝̳̈̆͌͛́̋̅͘ gave what amounted to a smile.

死̵̪͕̯̊̂̈́̇̚͝神̵̺͖͈̦̝̳̈̆͌͛́̋̅͘ tilted their head, taking in the ambient sounds of the city; the blowing week, the cars in the distance, the chatter of people.

It was odd, perhaps, that after Lee’s accident no-one had rushed to her aid; was that not what humans normally did when they saw another of their kind in pain? Or did they see no reason to flock to her side as she had crawled her way to the pavement by herself? Humans were such bizarre creatures, with their contradictory morals and their inconsistent interactions.

“Come now,” 死̵̪͕̯̊̂̈́̇̚͝神̵̺͖͈̦̝̳̈̆͌͛́̋̅͘ spoke, pushing themselves to stand and holding a hand out to Lee to support her in climbing to her feet, “you are not hurt. You should take this opportunity to go feel that rush. You will be fine.”

死̵̪͕̯̊̂̈́̇̚͝神̵̺͖͈̦̝̳̈̆͌͛́̋̅͘ hesitated then because, despite their claims, they simply did not know. Not for a fact. Anything was possible if you defied death.

“I think.”

Persistent Characters vs "One-and-Done" Characters

I do believe there are merits to both and, ultimately, it's whatever the writer finds most interesting/convenient/important to them. Some people think it is lazy to reuse a character, but others find it too bothersome to invest in character creation when writing isn't guaranteed.

For me, it is whatever I feel currently suits the situation I am in. I have some characters who I just adore writing and I would rather tweak them to fit a setting than create a new character who just might not enjoy writing in the long run. On the other hand, character creation is fun and different settings allow me to create a diverse range of characters that I might not otherwise have devised had I simply been reusing.

Writing is creative and the same way that I would have no qualms about redrawing a piece of artwork with a different composition, I have no worries about rewriting characters. Some characters are kind of in between 'reuse' and 'one and gone'; I pour love and soul into creating them only for the roleplay to never take off the ground; these characters, if I am invested in their design enough and want to see the stories they have to tell, I pull in to another roleplay until I find somewhere they can call home. Sometimes they end up in roleplays where they have nothing new to tell me, so I will discard it from what I consider their 'canon' experiences. Sometimes I will tweak a character for a certain roleplay and consider what I am writing to be essentially 'fanfic' of my own character; I'm still writing it, enjoying it, there is nothing wrong with it, but it has no impact on their real story.

As a writer, something that interests me is seeing how minor changes can have a vast impact. That means I do sometimes deliberately run the same plot with the same character with multiple people; I am interested to see how different partners with different things to bring to the table, impact the characters I write. I don't feel this negates the experiences of my character at all and I do believe it helps me develop and better understand the motivations of my characters.

As I said, it's all about what any individual writer is interested in writing. For me, that often means keeping the same characters, who I know and love, and bringing them with me on new journeys. Sometimes it means creating new characters to explore new scenarios with. I both reuse and create and I enjoy both; personally I don't see one as being more beneficial than the other, as long as my interest is maintained and my writing and creativity are allowed to develop.