artofseries

[artofseries]

Fuck that one anon, Mara is perfect 😤 (no, my weakness for redheads/blondes has nothing to do with this post, why would you even ask?)

I mean I'm always down for criticism but I wasn't even sure if that was supposed to be any lol

(it's okay I fully understand and support it <3)

[artofseries]

I'm working on finishing up the general outlining and plotting, but I want to start putting out some little snippets and background info :)

planned already are info on the setting, the artist whose painting gets stolen and maybe some background info on mc!

I'd love to expand on this list though, so if there are any other things you'd like to read, please lmk! this can also just include writing prompts or headcanons etc

[artofseries]

Imagine a MC who loves to draw and gives their drawings as gifts to A 🥺

I cannot believe I haven't thought of this before omg

thing about A is, they love classical art and obviously feel some kind of connection with it (I think everyone that likes art can relate to this), but it's never really anything personal

so when you give them your drawings, that would mean the absolute world to them, art from the person they love??

you can absolutely expect to see anything you draw get framed and hung up a few days later, even if it's just a sketch or something (mom putting your drawings on fridge-core)

they honestly would be your biggest fan and buy you the nicest art supplies ever, build you your own studio, whatever helps support you in your art ventures they WILL find a way to do it

this is the cutest fcking image ever and I love it so much and maybe I now have to write out a whole scenario for this

[artofseries]

Could you please tell us about the painting that the MC is risking their life for

absolutely! I will, once again, give a shortened version to avoid giving away the whole premise 🫶🏻

some background info first:

MC currently only has their mother left in their family and she is and always has been very sickly. their father died mysteriously many years before.

so, onto the reasons:

1. this is one of [Artist]'s (more on this person in a separate post soon, I promise) most well-known and beloved paintings, so obviously having it be the centerpiece of an exhibition would be groundbreaking

2. this painting is one thing tying MC's dad to them and their mother; he used to love it and after his death, MC's mother became kind of obsessed with it. since she is very sickly, MC really put their everything into getting this painting and displaying it. having all of these other people and the press see it was secondary; their ultimate goal was to make it for their mother!

3. the risking-their-life part only became very evident when it was... kind of too late to back out-- therefore, they didn't really have a choice in the end (this had the potential to spoil everything so I'll stop here)

I hope this answers some of those questions! I really don't want this story to be too unbelievable and I am very well aware that risking one's life for a painting is dumb, so there will be plenty of reasons to make it make sense 🙏🏻💙

thank you so much for asking!

[artofseries]

he prefers to come out on top, only when fighting? 😏

let's just say he is open to suggestions 🙏🏻

[artofseries]

How would Mara react if the MC tells her

“soooo the whole femme fatale thief thing you got going on here tell are you just a big fan of the troupe or are you just too stupid to come up with something original”

okay this has been sitting in my inbox for a hot second bc I genuinely don't know if it's an actual question or a roast of my character creation lmao

if it is a genuine question: she'd probably slip you poison or sth

if it's a read: congratulations, you really occupied my mind for a long time

[artofseries]

🔧 WRENCH - are they good at fixing relationships? or do they tend to avoid doing so?

Dante:

Even though he is not the most open book, communication, however hard it might be for him, is still really important to Dante. If he notices you acting weirdly around him or any tension in the relationship, he will make it his mission to clear the air immediately. In his line of work, miscommunications can cost him a whole case, so he makes sure not to repeat those mistakes in his relationship with you.

A:

I honestly think A might struggle a little when faced with an obstacle in their relationship. Usually things go their way and if they don't, they make them go their way by force. A knows that they can't and won't force you to do anything, but that only leaves open communication and that is entirely new and foreign to them. You might need to take the first steps here.

Mara:

She is one to abandon people at the first sign of struggle or discourse, so being in a committed relationship and actually taking the time to try and work on it will take a bit to get used to. Her love is pretty damn strong however, so you can be sure that she will do whatever she can to get you to stay, even if talking isn't the first thing that comes to mind.

J:

They struggle with reading other people's emotions and behavior, so it takes a while for them to notice something is wrong. This can lead to even higher tensions in the relationship, at which point it might already be too late to fix it. If they do notice however, they will do everything in their power to patch things up and apologize for being a little emotionally dense.

[artofseries]

I'm not sure this has been asked, or if you had considered it. But what are your ideas for the possible heights for MC?

I just enjoy the idea of playing kind friendly giants on all IFs, you see. So I love when my MCs are taller than everyone else. Yet, still kind of submissive when it comes to bed, if you get what I mean.

Also, I love the idea of a 6'0+ MC being all shy and obedient with a 5'7" Jasper. Or making Dante a bit annoyed (or surprised) that they have to look up at MC.

Of course, if you don't care about height at all, it's okay too. After all, including flavour text based on MC's height is extra work not all writers want to take for themselves.

I would really like to make it so your decisions matter! So, here and there, I think adding flavour text like this is a perfect way to do just that. And things like these are, imo, not as difficult really because there are no branching consequences.

For example (like you said) there are ROs who would absolutely feel the need to comment on or react to different heights! Dante is so used to being the tallest guy in a room to where an even taller MC would for sure annoy him.

I really want you guys to feel like your voice here counts too, because it does! Sending asks like these is a great way to lmk what you guys would like to see/read, so thank you a lot! Also thanks for being so sweet about it, I appreciate you <3

Edit: I forgot to say, but I want MC to be however tall you want! I will add a few height options that you can choose from :) I'll be checking the average US heights as a guideline and go from there, so that everyone can feel included and seen

[artofseries]

You know I can’t help but think that Mara would specifically be a smug badstard to a smol MC

ohh 100% she would love poking fun at them sm

[artofseries]

Care to share some facts about the ROs?

Dante:

he is oddly good at keeping houseplants alive and healthy

he's been offered more than one promotion, but he has always turned them down

he has a serious caffeine problem

A:

they are so good at card games (of any kind really) that no one dares going up against them anymore

they really like classical art and are very well-versed in the topic

Mara and they know each other

Mara:

her nails are always painted

she is not keen on physical touch (unless she really trusts you)

she, surprisingly, does not like alcohol at all (she does drink it occasionally and if needed)

J:

they are a terrible liar

they're really close with their family and especially their mom

they're a really good singer but don't like to sing in front of others

[artofseries]

What are the ROs love languages?

How they express/show their love

Dante:

Quality Time

Dante struggles with expressing his emotions and thoughts, which means you will have to read between the lines sometimes. His one obvious tell is the way his shoulders relax when the two of you are simply sitting in silence together or the way he seeks your company, even if the two of you don't have any exciting things planned together. Being with you is the most important thing.

A:

Giving Gifts

They love spoiling you, even if you tell them not to. No amount of money is too much if they get to spend it on you. You can be sure you will find random gifts strewn around your house, things they found while out and about which reminded them of you, things you mentioned you wanted off-handedly and just small gestures to show you how much they care about you.

Mara:

Words of Affirmation

Mara, as opposed to Dante, has no issues with saying exactly what she thinks. If she sees something (or someone) she likes, she will let them know. So it's no wonder that anytime you do anything she approves of, she will praise you for it. Random compliments and other affectionate statements are a daily thing and she will make sure to never let you forget how amazing she thinks you really are. If you decide to fight her on it, she will only double down until you have no coice but to accept that she is right.

J:

Physical Touch

If you told anyone else that this is how J shows you they love you, they would laugh in your face. But after this much time spent with them, you are sure it is easily their favorite thing to do: Hug you from behind, hold your hand, play with your fingers, stroke your cheek or kiss you. They always make sure you're comfortable with it and in the mood, but if you give them the green light, all bets are off. Even though they are less touchy in public, behind closed doors is a whole different story.

I took this as how they show you love, I'm sorry if you meant it the other way around! Lmk if you want the receiving side of things as well 🙏🏻

[artofseries]

I'm working through my asks right now! If you asked me something about the ROs that solicits a longer response, I am not ignoring you, I just want to give every ask the time it deserves! :)

Thanks so much for all the engagement and feedback, you guys are the coolest 🙏🏻😭

[artofseries]

I wonder would the MC be able to get payback on Mara for stealing the centerpiece like say ruining any plans for a future heist that would have no doubt had taken months of planning

I don't want to give away too much, but I'll try to answer still; you can definitely decide on which terms you want to be with all the ROs!

I honestly would love to give you the option as the reader to go fully good guy and abandon the two less good options or the other way around but I'm unsure if my coding talent is that good and/or how that would work out if I decide to add onto the first book.

Now, no spoilers, but you can make Mara's life a living hell if you want to, just like you can with everyone else! Is Mara responsible for what happened to the art piece or is she just a morally very gray character? Guess you'll have to find out 🫶🏻

[artofseries]

Not gonna lie I am simping for Mara and her enemies to lovers Troupe



I do love a good enemies to lovers story as well-- I'm glad you like her, because I'm really excited to write her ❣️

i bet she's excited to finally start bullying you guys too

[artofseries]

Who are the big spoons and who are the little spoons out of the ROs?

Dante: Big spoon, 100%. 1. He is super tall, so it's just what he has always seen himself as, 2. he just prefers holding you. He was built to be the big spoon and he prefers it that way.

A: Depends, but I see them as more receptive to being the little spoon. People usually do what they ask of them, so they are used to 'getting their way' -- which means you're being big spoon. If you ask them nicely and they like you enough, they are willing to spoon you for a change though.

Mara: She is not super comfortable with people being behind her, so she will always default to being big spoon. Once she really really trusts you she will slowly adjust to things like these, but for now you're getting spooned.

J: Also depends on the mood. They will definitely check how you are feeling and then decide. You need comfort? They're the big spoon without complaining. They need comfort? They absolutely won't say no to you being the big spoon. They just want you to be happy.

Thanks so much for asking! This is the fluffiest and cutest shit you will ever see these people do <3

[artofseries]

Mara is an enigma, a master thief for hire whose beauty and danger intertwine like a finely woven tapestry.  A burning hatred for the rich and elite has turned her into a cynic, something she is not keen on hiding. Meeting her and being around her feels like a test of your patience, as her sarcasm and cutting comments never run out.

She makes fun of you, your job and the people you associate with, but she is your best option for finding out what happened to the centerpiece of your exhibition, so you have to get along with her somehow. Her reputation in the underworld precedes her, she is well respected and feared, making her an invaluable asset.

Her recklessness and general lack of care for her own safety puts her in danger more often than not, but is it just part of her job or something more? And will your persistent presence in her life change things for her?

Character:

Mara is charming, confident and dangerous, holding up her femme fatale attitude around her like armor and lashing out with it like a weapon. She has lured many into her finely woven trap of sweet words, sultry voices and fluttered lashes and struck them once their guard was down.

Her facade does not allow any cracks or imperfections, which makes getting past it almost impossible. Her modus operandi is meticulous and clean, but reckless and dangerous. She does things others would only shy away from, making her both a formidable ally and a dangerous adversary.

With her past shrouded in mystery, it would take a strong connection to be able to get her to open up about any personal matters.

Appearance:

Mara has wavy strawberry blonde hair, which she keeps long and open, only tying it up when on a job. Her skin is fair and looks to be free of any serious scars or injuries, but she tends to keep anything besides her face, arms and legs hidden. Her eyes are a deep and clear green.

Her physique is lean and athletic, due to many years of doing what she does. Slender enough to slip in and out of places undetected but strong enough to lift impressive amounts of weight. She carries herself with grace and certainty and does not shy away from using her body to her own advantages.

Height:

5'6'' / 1.71 m

[artofseries]

Have you forgotten Mara's character profile?

life just came at me full force, I am so sorry! I will upload that today :) thanks sm for asking