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Elodie Yung as Elektra Natchios in Daredevil (Season 2)

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Daredevil x Hadestown

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Splendidly selfish, charmingly helpless

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A GUIDE TO BECOME BETTER AT PLOTTING & PLOTTING ETIQUETTE.

So, one thing I hear over and over again in my time in the RP community, is the sentence “I suck at plotting.” Understandably, plotting can be difficult. Maybe you don’t know much about the other person’s muse, that muse’s fandom or universe. Maybe you’ve already used all your ideas on other plots and can’t think of any new ones. Maybe you don’t have much practice with plotting or you just automatically default to winging things because it’s easier, so you’ve gotten a bit rusty. Regardless of the reason why you think you suck at plotting though, I definitely believe there are some tips and tricks to learn how to become a better plotter or refresh your plotting skills, and I want to share some of those tips and tricks in this post.

                                          TIPS AND TRICKS.

1) ASK QUESTIONS. This is probably the most important part of plotting if you’re stuck and can’t think of any ideas. If you don’t have any ideas, ask questions. Some examples of questions you can ask: 

“What kind of theme are you interested in writing? (angst, fluff, ships, etc.)” or “What kind of dynamics would you be interested in? (romantic, friendships, enemies, frenemies, family, etc.)” or “Should we do a first interaction or something pre-established?”

The above are some questions that can narrow down on the millions of opportunities for plots that is only limited by your imagination, and instead give you a set direction when you try to come up with ideas. Think of it like a painter looking at a blank canvas. Staring a painting is always the most difficult because you have to figure out what to draw, and there are endless opportunities, which can be intimidating. But once you’ve figured out what to draw (for example a flower) it becomes a lot easier to put that painting brush down on that canvas and start painting.

If you’re still stuck after asking these questions, you can also ask questions directly about the other mun’s muse. Some examples: “How would your muse react to x, y,z?” or “.”

Some other questions you can ask. “Would you be up for doing an AU? / Would you be up for making a crossover verse for x,y,z fandom?” (If asking for the other mun to make a crossover verse for their muse, you can also offer to give information about said universe in case the other mun isn’t familiar with it.)

2) DON’T BE AFRAID TO SHARE YOUR IDEAS. If you have an idea, or even a part of an idea, don’t be afraid to share it. Even if the other mun isn’t interested in that particular idea, maybe that idea can spark an idea for them and they’ll probably tell you something akin to “I’m not sure my muse would fit in that setting, but I could see them x, y, z.” Oftentimes, even ideas that don’t work or interest your RP partner can help spark new ideas, maybe in the same direction or maybe in an entirely different, but just as much fun direction. It also shows your RP partner that you’re at least willing to make some effort with coming up with ideas, which will in turn, make them more interested in coming up with ideas of their own.

3) SOMETIMES, LESS IS MORE. A part of why some people seem to fear plotting is because they think they have to come up with intricate plots with lots of details and planning. And while that can definitely be fun, a lot of the time, LESS IS MORE. And by that, I mean, if you can just come up with the most basic of settings, sometimes, that’s more than enough to go on. Maybe that setting is something as simple as figuring out how your muses should meet. After all, if you plot out everything from how they should meet, to how their relationship should form, all the way to the end, there isn’t really a lot left to explore when you are going to actually sit down and write threads together and that can take away from the fun. It can also be that you plot out all these things, and when you start writing, you feel forced to take it in that direction when it just doesn’t flow naturally. So yeah, sometimes less is, in fact, more, and you shouldn’t ever be worried that you have to come up with big, detailed plots.

4) BACK-AND-FORTH / EXCITEMENT. Also what I like to call “Yelling about our muses to each other.” This can be a great way to plot without even thinking about plotting. It usually requires some good chemistry with the other mun, but if you are both excited about your muses and the potential for them interacting together from the beginning and show that excitement in your ooc messages, sometimes, just yelling those excitements at each other can spark a lot of ideas. Just a simple “I can see our muses becoming really good friends!!” will set in motion that back-and-forth yelling about your muses type of conversation that leads to ideas just spilling out naturally. Just the excitement in the messages themselves makes the plotting more fun and makes it come more naturally.

                             ETIQUETTE / DON’TS.

1) IF YOU’RE THE ONE ASKING TO PLOT / INTERACT. If you’re the one who approaches the other mun about plotting and / or interacting, DON’T leave the job of coming up with ideas to the other mun. If you’ve approached someone for plotting, chances are their muse caught your interest for some reason, and you could see an interaction between that muse and yours. Instead of putting all the job on them, express from the beginning why you could see an interaction between their muse and yours. Trust me, it makes the plotting so much more easier, not just for you, but for the mother mun, too. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is to be asked to plot, and then the person asking never actually contributes to any ideas.

2) PLOTTING IS A GROUP-PROJECT. Kind of connected with the above, but if one mun alone ends up coming up with all the ideas, it can make that mun feel like you’re not really as excited or as willing to put in the work as they are. No one likes to feel like they’re the only one in a group project doing all the work.

3) IF PLOTTING WITH A MULTIMUSE BLOG… Help the mumu-mun out by telling them which of their muses you’re the most interested in interacting with from the get-go. Even if you are interested in all of their muses, it’s usually very helpful for a mumu-mun to have some options to choose between. Or at the very least, you can ask them which of their muses they are having the most inspiration for lately.

4) NON-CONTRIBUTING RESPONSES. If someone writes you multiple sentences with ideas when you’re plotting ooc, don’t just reply with one word sentences like “Yes!”, or non-contributing sentences like “Sounds good to me!” or “I’m fine with anything!” I’ll admit, this is something I’ve been guilty of, and I think pretty much all of us has at some point, and while I do think it’s something you can get away with if you only do it on occasion, if you give these types of responses multiple times to the same person throughout the same plotting session, it can get frustrating to the other mun after a while. It kind of ties in with #1 and #2, that you’re leaving the other mun to do all the work. At the very least, if you feel like you don’t have any IDEAS to contribute with, you can still show your excitement over the idea. For example “That sounds like so much fun! I can’t wait to write that out!” Maybe even ask something akin to “Is there anything else you think we should plot out, or do you want to start with what we’ve got so far?”

There are probably a lot more tips and tricks and do’s and don’ts that could be added to this list, but this is what I can think of at the top of my mind. Feel free to reblog if you feel like this was helpful and/or could be helpful to someone else!

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Black Widow dir. Cate Shortland | 2021

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While Elektra's features remained largely impassive, there was no question of her listening. The strict attention of her steady gaze sizing up each piece of information like a jewel for its merits and flaws.

A picture began to form. As vigilante or doctor, Relta found herself under the wing of Nelson & Murdock. And Matt would have determined this is the type of person he'd represent. Sympathetic, in some way. A conflict between the two, or a correct assumption on Relta's part that whatever she was pursuing he would not involve himself in... but where did Elektra come in? It was not as though Matthew would recommend her for a partnership. Not on a normal day.

Elektra took the phone mechanically to study the prints. A string tugged at the proposition, one she resented, but felt all the same. "You're awfully chipper for someone asking me to do her dirty work." She tossed the phone back with a little too much force.

Gaining access to a high security building like that would be no easy feat, especially with no prep time. She also assumed this was the one night all of these guys were going to be in the same place at the same time. Hence, her. Great. Messy. The media coverage of a massacre like that would be Morocco all over again.

This woman could be an Angel of Death, or a psycho ex-girlfriend to one of the accused — or more realistically, some absolutely normal person with one big bad grand idea in her head about retributive justice and enough free cash to get a costume. And what was the plan if Elektra said no? Would she follow through? Had she ever killed someone before?

Her moment of agitation settled through a burn of an exhale, and then she posed the only questions that really matter. "How do you know?" Her chin lifted, tone detaching with a cold curiosity. "And even if it's true, what do I need you for?"

Relta brushed off the way Elektra was looking at her, despite knowing fully well what Elektra could do to her to finish her off. “Thanks for watching my 6, and your front,” Relta responded as she finished dressing, standing upward and brushing her dirtied knees off.

”I…I’m Matt’s client, lawyer client,” Relta finally explained, Matt having ‘warned’ her about Elektra’s violent streak. It didn’t intimidate her, but rather impressed her — she was more like Elektra and Frank Castle morally than Matt would admit to himself. Even Karen and Foggy could tell Relta was more trouble for Daredevil and The Punisher.

“Also…I’m impressed by your resume, much as it was like pulling teeth to find it,” Relta told her, offering a smile. She meant it — she’d had to torture some of the Hand to get information on Elektra, and it’d been harder than she expected despite her strength.

“A group — high up CEOs of a company involved in, you guessed it, sex trafficking,” Relta groaned, disgusted by the practice. “I’m hoping the two of us can take out the six of them without alerting their security until after their exit. Graphic violence welcomed,” Relta further explained, taking her burner phone out and passing it to Elektra with the blueprints of a building a block over.

”I’m as big a klutz as Captain America before his dance lessons, so you’re in charge of the stealth aspect,” Relta requested, awaiting Elektra to be done with the building blueprints.

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She looks over with a sharp turn of her head, the faint impression of a smile edging her lips. "I think I run the gamut, don't you?" Elektra volleys. The hand resting on his knee gives a flex. "But I'll be sure to stash some silverware in my bag before we leave." And it would be so easy to fit in some backhanded compliment over the wine pairing... perhaps this would be more fun that she originally thought.

In fact, though she'd be slow to admit it, getting out and doing this kind of normal thing with Matt is good for her. When the alternative is being alone, clinging to shadows and drowning in misery... it helps to feel grounded in her own skin, to touch the light and mundane.

Her tone prods a little more in earnest. "What about this case, anything I should know?"

He chuckled lightly at her question. He can't tell if she's serious or not, but he appreciates the effort regardless. He knows this part of his life is a little on the boring side to her, and normally, he wouldn't have dragged her along if she didn't want to come. He wants her to be a part of this half of his life, though— the same way he wants to be a part of hers.

"Well, if you really want to, you can be a little mean to Madison. He's the host. And the whole dinner party was his idea, so you can take it out on him." Madison is a lawyer from a fancy firm that Matt and Foggy have to collaborate with for a case. He pretty much insisted on the dinner party so they could all get to know each other outside of work. "He's a bit of a rich asshole. Isn't that your specialty?"

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my favorite trope is when someone believes they’re hard to love and someone who loves them like it’s breathing.

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*feels nothing* mmm, don’t like that *feels something but like, too much* mmm not a fan of that either

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There are a million reasons to put down her swords, hop on a plane, and live out her days in the sun on family money. Instead she's in a city she hates and going out on hot, humid summer nights chasing trouble.

"Sure. Loads of times." But Elektra would never say it's easy. Abandon family and friends. Never come back to face judgment from them. Go by a different name. It'd work for a while.

"Then someone tries to kill me. Or recruit me. Or..." Or the bartender at the hotel restaurant starts wearing bruises to work. And there's a tug. Much like there's an invisible tug that draws her into the orbit of people like Buffy. Elektra has kept her tone blithe, but honest. It forms a point. "Or I find out there may be a "demon" posing as a dean at Columbia."

Buffy catches the look. That held-second-too-long kind of eye contact that says more than it wants to. She doesn’t call it out, doesn’t need to. There’s enough unsaid between them already to fill a graveyard. Her fingers curl lightly around the edge of her sleeve, grounding.

"Yeah." She says, voice low, "Or you stop, and it all catches up at once." Her mouth twitches. Not a smile, more like a reflex. "And suddenly it’s Tuesday and you’re crying because the grocery store’s out of your brand of cereal." She shrugs, casual like it didn’t actually happen. "Leaving sounds easy. It never is." A pause. "You ever try?"

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Couldn't go to the hotel, couldn't go to Matt's dorm. She really should get her own place on the side, like Faith has... would've, before, if she ever thought she'd find herself wanting a safehouse this year. "Wrong alley," she tosses as she comes in. She keeps her tone casual, if a little quick as her heart begins to relax, and her tender hands stay in pockets. "Spare a dress for me?"

'I need to come in.' ---- Faith's got fricking cold cream on her face. Her hair is in rag curls and the silk kimono she's using for a dressing gown is short and would be obscenely sheer if not for the slip beneath it. Now is not the time, seriously, but she doesn't ask Elektra to repeat herself. Just backs her door open and holds it there with her shoulder blades to let the woman in, muttering, "God damn, Astor... what, were you tired of livin'?"

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Elektra's scrutinizing glare stayed with the unfamiliar woman, though she glanced up as Relta changed outfits in a brief scan for threats on the fire escapes, figures in the hospital windows. Her keen spatial awareness stretched behind her, too, prickly with the potential of ambush.

She squinted a little. Being coy about Daredevil but cavalier about murder? Alluding to researching Elektra— fair enough, but bold to admit— and presuming she'd draw her blade for a random vigilante bent on bloodshed? Elektra bristled inside.

And so the hand went ignored. But she wasn't walking away, yet. She had questions, after surmising Relta had come to her for something Matt wasn't willing to do. "Who is it that needs killing?" An ear that wanted to hear this as a yes from a cold-blooded assassin, might.

Relta didn’t miss Elektra’s instinctual reaction to the name Murdock being said but simply took note of it rather than making a ‘thing’ about it. She only had a purely platonic relationship with the lawyer/vigilante, him having helped her — legally — out of some scrapes her siblings had gotten into when younger. “I wish I was the hope we need,” Relta scoffed, shaking her head as she stripped down, pulling a suit out of her duffle bag before tossing it into a dumpster. She put it on, not caring if Elektra saw her in her undergarments, sans Elektra seeing the scars around her neck that were barely visible even in the best light.

“I’m thinking hope could be a collaboration, an alliance, of sorts. And our friend in a different shade of red than you doesn’t have the cojones to kill who he needs to — we do not, based on your work that I’m privy to,” Relta informed Elektra as she put her stealth suit on. It was sleek and all black, sans some dark purple accents. “Gotta look the part, right?” she jested as she finished zipping her suit up to her chin.

“Truly, though, Elektra — I think we could make a change in your battle if we work together,” Relta offered a smile to the dark haired woman and extending her hand in peace.

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TV PROMPTS // accepting // @potensreginae sent for Relta — “It’s hard to recognize hope, even when it’s right in front of us,” Relta commented before shaking her head. “Fuck I sound like Murdock.”

Her head turns at the mention of Matt, and she instantly regrets the reaction, but otherwise her features are cool stone. Matt and his nurse friends. That's none of her business. And unwise to assume he's come to her for patching up, as opposed to any number of possibilities. "And what," her eyes flick with a downward slice of derision, voice flat skepticism. "You're hope?"

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Elektra finishes the plate, then drinks all her water in one go, returning it to the coffee table with an indelicate clink. She stands and turns while Karen goes about the kitchen, discarding the arm wraps. It's not a thought, really. It just doesn't feel natural to be low and have her back to Karen. Feels better to pace on opposite sides of an imaginary circle.

The mention of the gun gets an eyebrow, and a glance to where Karen's purse sits. Too far away to make a difference in a confrontation. Elektra wonders if she really knows how to use it. Or if she's ever shot someone? Doesn't seem the type.

Her hands wring at her sides like fighting off aches. "He's probably dead," she says, blunt as a sledgehammer. "I tried to kill him, and I rarely fail at that." Almost as steady, except for a trace of self-disappointment, a flex in her features. A barefaced shouldering of responsibility.

But Karen didn't know what it was like down there. Even now, the pieces of memory feel confused, freedom and love warring to mutual destruction. How in the end, it was too late. Alive without him now, it seems freedom won, unless...

Obligation flickers. Pesky, like a piece of clothing snagging unexpectedly.

Karen is filling in for Matt too much it seems: talking around a topic instead of addressing it directly. They’ve concluded neither of them know where he is. Leaving Elektra alone in whatever . . . Regenerative cycle she’s in feels wrong. She may have died again – what if the process is different this time? Will Black Sky break free or did Matt break through to the woman he wanted to save?

She sneaks a glance to see how the crackers are going. Elektra is perfectly capable of taking care of herself, Foggy reminded Karen when she told him she was handling Jessica’s message. Maybe it’s the vulnerability sleep painted a person in or Elektra’s bedraggled fashion, but Karen doesn’t want to abandon her just yet. She knows how it feels to be alone with every known aspect ripped out from under her.

“I don’t really know how to answer that.” She answers honestly. She finishes stacking the fruit in a bowl on the counter then grabs the water filter pitcher out of the fridge to refill. “As for surprises . . .” Karen replaces the pitcher and leans her weight on her palms, pressing along the rim on the counter. “I keep a gun in my purse, but I’m not going to shoot you.”

Elektra might not have been phased by the gun had she come across it herself, living such a violent life as she does, but Karen doesn’t need an assassin thinking she’s hiding a weapon from her.

Maybe Elektra will feel more at ease if Karen isn’t standing around staring at her like something is supposed to happen. It’s hard not to, considering Elektra has always been someone with an agenda. A kill list, an objective, a mission. What did a weapon become with nothing to aim at?

“Look – I’d like to help Matt. Or at least find him. I think we both want that.” She sliced a pear and carried the sections in hand to eat while sitting at the small table. She wasn’t really hungry, but if they did adjacent things maybe they’d be more adjacent in general.

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Cocky and smug Matthew is a top tier genre of Matthew 😩

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Daredevil ‘Kinbaku’ (2.05)

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Elektra

Art by Jeff Dekal