dusolane-blog

[dusolane-blog]

knivesofpippa:

Chuckling lightly, she flashed him a bright smile. “That’s good at least, because now I know what she’d say, so this won’t be so difficult,” she explained. She was a very kind person if you let her be. Making friends was never difficult, because she was always full of so much energy, so why not spend an entire day looking for a building that may contain some of the hottest dancers they could possibly find. 

As they walked, Pippa smiled. She missed her father more than she had the words to explain. He made her whom she was and she knew she wouldn’t be here without him. She wanted to write to him, but she knew it wouldn’t matter. For months, she’d said she was going to, knowing that at least, it’d get to his house even if he couldn’t read it. “Yeah, he was. I miss him more than I can explain and I still send him letters, even though he ain’t gonna get them,” she said. “I still talk about ‘im like he’s…” she shook her head and pushed a strand of hair away from her face. “So, what do ya plan on don’ when we get there?” the small brunette asked, trying to change the subject.

Lane nodded along, listening to Pippa’s words. There was no room for one of those polite grunts one usually makes, to indicate paid attention, let alone their own personal anecdote—not they’d have anything to say, anyway. The most they knew was that he’d found another family, and that’s all they cared to.

Their shoulders sagged as the conversation veered and, as they thought about their plan, their lips spread. “Well,” they began, “I was thinking about doing something like this:” Quickening their step, they got ahead of Pippa, before moving into her path; they bent their knees and splayed out their arms, like the building was their own Jada Pinkett Smith.

[dusolane-blog]

64

What do you think about babies?

“Oh. Uh... there’s only one baby that I actually like, and that’s my nephew, Frodo (I still can’t believe that’s what they named him—I mean, I shouldn’t expect any less from my brother, who’s, arguably, the world’s biggest Lord of the Rings fan. But still, it’s a weird name for a kid... right?). Otherwise, I don’t want anything to do with them. I’d never be able to shake that fear of dropping them, if asked to hold one, and they generally tend to be gross, squirmy things. If your kid’s under the age of about ten, I want nothing to do with them, sorry.”

[dusolane-blog]

43

Do you have any scars?

“Oh, yeah; of course! Who doesn’t? Most of them you can’t tell, unless I explicitly point them out—like this one, here, on my hairline, or the gnash on my left knee. There’s some that I have no idea where they came from—must’ve been drunk—but the ones I do, they’re all from fights. If some bell-end’s going to take a swing at me, because he doesn’t like how I’ve painted my nails, I’m going to fight back, y’know?”

[dusolane-blog]

39

What type of music do you like?

“My taste is heavily rooted in the indie-pop scene—Imagine Dragons, The Neighbourhood, The 1975 (s edit: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ), and other stuff like that. I also have a fondness for all the old bands we used to listen to, last decade, even if I don’t go out of my way for them, anymore. My Chemical Romance, as cliche as it is, will always be one of my favourite bands.”

[dusolane-blog]

45

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

“You’d think that everyone has at least one thing they’d change about themselves, like the colour of their eyes, or the texture of their hair—you know, just a little thing that, in the grand scheme of things, doesn’t matter too much, yet is still out of their control. I don’t think I’d change anything about me. My appearance is heavily rooted in where, and who, I came from, so that’s staying put. There might be some not-nice memories, tucked in my brain, but they’re things I’ve learned lessons from—I wouldn’t know what I do, without that. Guess this means I’m effin’ perfect, baby.”

[dusolane-blog]

53

What has been you worst haircut/style?

“It’s got to be the one I have now, right? I haven’t cut my hair in years—I can’t, because that goes against my heritage; what it means to be an Archer. My brother takes a lot of pride in his hair and, by extension, I do too. He refuses to cut his hair and, by extension, so do I.”

[dusolane-blog]

65 Questions You Aren't Used To

1. Do you ever doubt the existence of others than you?

2. On a scale of 1-5, how afraid of the dark are you?

3. The person you would never want to meet?

4. What is your favorite word?

5. If you were a type of tree, what would you be?

6. When you looked in the mirror this morning what was the first thing you thought?

7. What shirt are you wearing?

8. What do you label yourself as?

9. Bright room or dark room?

10. What were you doing at midnight last night?

11. Favorite age you’ve been so far?

12. Who told you they loved you last?

13. Your worst enemy?

14. What is your current desktop picture?

15. Do you like someone?

16. The last song you listened to?

17. You can press a button that will make any one person explode. Who would you blow up?

18. Who would you really like to just punch in the face?

19. If anyone could be your slave for a day, who would it be and what would they have to do?

20. What is your best physical attribute? (showing said attribute is optional)

21. If you were the opposite sex for one day, what would you look like and what would you do?

22. Do you have a secret talent? If yes, what is it?

23. What is one unique thing you’re afraid of?

24. You can only have one kind of sandwich. Every sandwich ingredient known to humankind is at your disposal.

25. You just found $100! How are you going to spend it?

26. You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere in the world, but you have to leave immediately. Where are you going to go?

27. An angel appears out of Heaven and offers you a lifetime supply of the alcoholic beverage of your choice. “Be brand-specific” it says. Man! What are you gonna say about that? Even if you don’t drink booze there’s something you can figure out… so what’s it gonna be?

28. You discover a beautiful island upon which you may build your own society. You make the rules. What is the first rule you put into place? 

29. What is your favorite expletive?

30. Your house is on fire, holy shit! You have just enough time to run in there and grab ONE inanimate object. Don’t worry, your loved ones and pets have already made it out safely. So what’s the one thing you’re going to save from that blazing inferno?

31. You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?

32. You got kicked out of the country for being a time-traveling heathen who sleeps with celebrities and has super-powers. But check out this cool shit… you can move to anywhere else in the world!

33. The Celestial Gates Of Beyond have opened, much to your surprise because you didn’t think such a thing existed. Death appears. As it turns out, Death is actually a pretty cool entity, and happens to be in a fantastic mood. Death offers to return the friend/family-member/person/etc. of your choice to the living world. Who will you bring back?

34. What was your last dream about?

35. Are you a good….[insert anything you’d like here]?

36. Have you ever been admitted to the hospital?

37. Have you ever built a snowman?

38. What is the color of your socks?

39. What type of music do you like?

40. Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?

41. What is your favorite milkshake flavor?

42. What football team do you support? (I will answer in terms of American football as well as soccer)

43. Do you have any scars?

44. What do you want to be when you graduate?

45. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

46. Are you reliable?

47. If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?

48. Do you hold grudges?

49. If you could breed two animals together to defy the laws of nature, what new animal would you create?

50. What is the most unusual conversation you’ve ever had?

51. Are you a good liar?

52. How long could you go without talking?

53. What has been you worst haircut/style?

54. Have you ever baked your own cake?

55. Can you do any accents other than your own?

56. What do you like on your toast?

57. What is the last thing you drew a picture of?

58. What would be you dream car?

59. Do you sing in the shower? Or do anything unusual in the shower? Explain.

60. Do you believe in aliens?

61. Do you often read your horoscope?

62. What is your favorite letter of the alphabet?

63. Which is cooler: dinosaurs or dragons?

64. What do you think about babies?

65. Freebie! Ask anything interesting you can think of.

[dusolane-blog]

“Nah, it’s cool. I like loud; it can be good, sometimes.”

Company, Lane learned (and was, in some respects, still adjusting to), changed nightly. Sure, there were slight variations of the same kind of people—young women, with chokers around their necks and blinding highlights; dude-bros in man buns, and with beards Lane could only dream of; old couples who, somehow, act like they’re in a new relationship; a frustrated wife with children and an equally-depressed husband in tow (that last group always had them thinking of their brother, and his wife, and how Lane expects them to end up). Their actions, though, were always different.

All kids looked the same, in their eyes, yet there were well behaved children, and others that were less so. Fran, it seemed, to have encountered the other. “Kids, am I right?” They shrugged, an unsaid ‘what can you do?’

Standing outside one of the smaller tents, Fran kicked one boot against the other and took a long drag from her cigarette. She was still in full costume, considering her act had only just ended. The sweat accumulation from the adrenaline rush was cooling rapidly, becoming tiny bullets of chilled water against her skin. It was kind of relaxing, actually. At least it was, until she heard the screaming of kids and the sound of a half dozen or more bang snaps igniting against the pavement just behind her. “[Hey! Put that shit away before I haul you back to your parents on a stretcher!]” Her Polish was rough-sounding and rapid-fire, and the kids looked momentarily terrified before running back to wherever it is they came from. Huffing, Franciszka turned to leave, nearly running head-first into another circus-goer. “[I’m sorry, I was leaving,]” she began before clearing her throat and switching to hesitant English. “Sorry for loud. I go.”

[dusolane-blog]

knivesofpippa:

Pippa couldn’t help but laugh. “Hey, I’m just checkin’. I’ve befriended people that haven’t and that’s somethin’ that’s gotta be rectified. It’s such a classic,” she stated, sighing, happily. Moulin Rouge really was one of her favorite movies and she could watch it all the time. “I hope it’s still open. I wanna see them perform. I bet I could learn a little somethin’ about ways to move my hips durin’ my act.” Tilting her head to the side, she looked at them, slightly confused. She’d never thought about doing that or that people actually did bring other people along on the dates. But then again, she hadn’t been on very many dates. She’d had boyfriends, but never really went anywhere fancy.

“My dad owns a farm in South Carolina. I helped him out with the cows, chickens and anythin’ else and in turn, he taught me how to throw knives. He wanted me to shoot, but I took a likin’ to knives,” she said, remembering everything, realizing how much she missed her dad.

“You and Violet would be the best of friends,” they quipped, “because she’d say the exact same thing—just with less of a Southern accent, and more of a British one.” When she’d found out that Lane hadn’t seen it, she took then by the wrist, dragged him to the couch and, for the next hour and a half, refused to let them stand.

Violet, too, would probably work on a farm, if her father asked her to (they didn’t own one, though). They weren’t too familiar with their sister-in-law’s  family—except for one joint vacation that they’d never, ever talk about, ever—but they seemed a lot closer than Lane and their parents. “That’s cool. You must be very close to him.” Without any similar experiences, they weren’t sure how to respond. Eventually, with a shrug, they confessed that they weren’t “close to mine.”

[dusolane-blog]

badandbijou:

Bii hadn’t been herself since France. She felt like nothing more than a spirit trapped inside of a foreign shell, when she felt anything at all- it was her way of protecting herself from the feelings she wasn’t ready to feel. Although that was a feeling she had grown used to over the years she yearned to move on from it, move on from the past. Oktoberfest seemed to be the place to do that. Drink beer, have fun, let go, feel something- anything. It was her best chance at a moment of normality.

The fest was set up much like the cirque was with large colorful tents and loud, jolly patrons. Although instead of the smell of popcorn and whimsical face paint, Oktoberfest smelled of yeast and vomit, and the mass produced lederhosen made Bii cringe. Her discomfort and disconnection only grew as she was left alone in the search of a good stein. The boisterous voices that filled the tent soon became white noise as the mixture of familiar and foreign languages blurred together, and the colorful tent blurred to gray in Bii’s peripheral vision as her eyes rested on the wooden table in front of her. 

In her mind it was snowing, and she was alone in the white wonderland of her own creation. It was always snowing, snowing so hard she couldn’t see her own hands in front of her. One second she would be in whatever new and exciting city the cirque had taken her to, and the next she was alone in the snow all over again. It wasn’t until she heard a familiar voice that the blizzard began to break and Bii’s nostrils were once again filled with the smell of sweat and lager. 

Blinking back to reality Bii looked at Lane as they spoke studying their face as if that would tell her what was going on, nodding along as if she was capable of listening in that moment. Picking up the stein Bijou began to drink quickly the warmth of the ale grounding her once again in the present. “You look uncomfortable.” She noticed between gulps as everything came into focus. “Are we already in trouble?” She asked standing up on her stool foot rest to see the commotion happening near the bar, a mischievous smile licking at the corner of her lips. “Because I could drink approximately thirteen more beers before we leave.”

A final drink of amber liquid and her brain finished processing the words Lane had said to her earlier. They stole the beer. The feeling of needles pushed through Bijou’s feet as she grew restless. She nibbled at her bottom lip, eyes darting around the tent as she thought of a plan. If the law had already been broken there was no reason not to break it a little more. “I’m getting my thirteen beers.” She said her eyes lighting up as they landed on an unguarded keg across the tent.

Quickly, they brought the glass to their lips, tilting it as far as the liquid allowed. It passed their teeth and down their throat, before they could swallow. Lane, though, didn’t need to breathe—they couldn’t, not until the evidence was gone; half in their stomach and half mixing with everything else in their veins.

After handing Bijou her’s, they almost forgot their own drink, and they both needed to hurry. Without warning, a hand would fall on Lane’s shoulder, and they’d be forced to turn around, to greet a burly man dressed in all black and with a lanyard, reading ‘security,’ in thick, black letters, draped around their neck. They’d be made to walk or, even worse, be thrown over a shoulder, and kicked out of Oktoberfest… or perhaps even Munich, or Germany entirely. They’d either have to learn of the circus’ next location, and meet them there, or hand in their resignation.

They’d find themselves on their brother’s doorstep, again, just because they stole a couple pints of beer. Lane would have to face James’ disappointment, and his wife’s contempt, and who knew whose opinion Lane’s nephew had inherited. Frodo’s still an infant, though, so not all hope is lost—

Bijou appeared to have a better grip. Still (were their words sinking in?), she also seemed to be losing focus, herself. Lane, unsure what was best to do, followed her gaze; their eyes settled on whatever her’s did, but was a few seconds behind—too soon, her she’d moved on from something else. When they both found a keg of beer that, surprisingly, wasn’t surrounded, everything became final. In that general direction, there wasn’t a single authority figure in sight. “Are we going all in?” It posed as a question, but was more of an acceptance—of course they were. It was clear, in how firm their voice came out.

drink and dash (lane + bijou)

[dusolane-blog]

knivesofpippa:

Pippa smiled brightly and tried to remember if she ever knew how to get there. She liked to think she had a good sense of direction but honestly wasn’t too sure about it. “Have you never seen the movie?” she asked, tilting her head to the side. Chuckling softly, she turned to face them, waiting patiently for the answer. “If you ask anyone, they’ll probably most definitely be able to tell you.” The movie was one of her favorites. It was so beautiful and full of love and beautiful amazing colors and exciting music.

Her outfits were completely and ridiculously Southern and she really didn’t care. They were comfortable and what she was used to. Besides, they reminded her of her father and she missed him quite a lot. Pippa made a note to write him a letter that night and tell him of her adventures. “Thank you! It was easy to throw on when I helped my dad out and now, it’s just comfy. Besides, there are so many colors and it’s so simple!”

“Have I—have I seen the movie?” Their eyes blinked wide, like it was an absurd question, but a scoff was quick to follow. “Yeah, I’ve seen it. The amount of times, I’ve truly lost count.” Lane explained how it’s “my sister-in-law’s favourite. My brother’s first date with her was going over to her place to watch it, because he’d never seen it, and she refused to date him until he had... and somehow, I got roped into it too—on a different day, though. It’s awkward to bring your sibling along on a first date.”

It’s also awkward on the second, there was that stupid voice, again, and on the third, and the tenth, and the twenty-seventh. That’s so inappropriate; no wonder he—

“Oh! What did you help your dad out, with?” Lane didn’t help out there’s with hardly anything, at all, but that’s not what kept them up at night.

[dusolane-blog]

alisavilkuna:

“Oh no I don’t like Nickleback,they really aren’t my cup of tea. That is an indication,Imagine Dragons are quite a good band I tend to listen to them sometimes.”

“How does Nickelback keep getting hits?” They shouldn’t have mentioned it in the first place. They weren’t just falling into a rabbit hole, they were swan diving into it. “They’ve got all these songs that keep popping up on the radio from time to time, but I swear I’ve never met anyone who’s like—” clearing their throat, Lane adopted an accent (they didn’t have anything particular in mind; it somehow came out Australian), “—’oh, yeah, Nickelback’s my favourite band!’” They shook their head, hair flying everywhere, and a laugh escaped from between their teeth.

[dusolane-blog]

9, 10

Is your character’s current socioeconomic status different than it was when they were growing up?

Money-wise, there wasn’t been much change; they’re still very ‘in-the-middle’ and that’s where they feel most secure (if they acted on their computer science degree, perhaps they’d be making a lot more, but money’s never equaled happiness). Socially? Well, that’s a different story. They may have grown up in a city that houses eight million people, but Lane didn’t have many people in their life, growing up—there was their mother (who, in later years, wasn’t as supportive as they needed her to be) and brother, but that was it. Now, they’re surrounded by a great group of people; a new set of family and friends they wouldn’t ever give up.

Does your character feel more comfortable with more clothing, or with less clothing?

Lane generally feels better with more fabric; they’re a huge fan of long sleeves and something lapping around their feet. However, they usually just go with what they’re ‘feeling’ at the time and, occasionally, that means that cute crop-top and high-waisted shorts they found in Forever 21. Simply, it depends on the day.

[dusolane-blog]

28

How quick or slow is your character to resort to physical violence in a confrontation?

It’s difficult for Lane to anger, but once someone does, they’re often horrified to learn just how short their fuse is. Avoiding confrontation just doesn’t work for them—if anything, in their experience, it makes things worse. They may appear delicate, and times, but they need everyone to know that they’re the prettiest person at this party, and they can prove it with a solid right hook.

[dusolane-blog]

20

In what ways does your character compare themselves to others? Do they do this for the sake of self-validation, or self-criticism?

One of the best things about the Cirque, to Lane, is that everyone appears equal—unfortunately, it’s not like that in the outside world, and that’s something he’s always struggled with. Having not taken the ‘traditional’ development route, they find themselves constantly comparing their accomplishments to others, and they rarely find themselves coming on top. That sort of self-criticism has nearly destroyed them, before.

[dusolane-blog]

drink and dash (lane + bijou)

@badandbijou

A hive swarmed, like the bar sold honey and not beer and, after being caught in the thick of it, Lane didn’t care what was on offer, so long as they left with something in their hand. Oktoberfest wasn’t a new festival, by any means, yet how could they have got the ratio between counter space and people trying to get to it so wrong? Anyone who couldn’t make it came together, to form clusters, as if Lane was the only person who’d heard of ‘forming a line.’ Whenever they spotted an opening in the crowd, someone else was already fighting to fill it. It took several attempts to nudge to the front and by then, there eyes were as sharp as their elbows.

Unfortunately, though, that wasn’t the end of it: their voice was barely heard over everyone else, when they went to give their order, or they’d butcher the foreign name of the drink so much they had to try again. Their windpipe couldn’t keep up—and then someone else managed to squeeze beside them, speak with the proper inflection, and the bartender’s attention was lost.

Lane sighed, mumbled what they hoped (it was the only thing they cared to learn in language lessons, yet they still weren’t confident) was a German curse word, and pressed their hands again the counter. Once the air had left them, they added one in English—“Fuck,” soon followed by ���it,”—and pushed their palms into the counter, lifting their entire weight off the ground and shimmying their way onto it... with too many languages, each shout blurred together, although the security guards forcing their way through didn’t; by the time they’d reached where Lane’d been, though, they were already back in the crowd, with their hands close to their chest and a pint of beer in each of them.

Quick on their feet (the best solution for all problems, they’d learned from their brother’s actions, was to run away), and even quicker to speak, they encouraged Bijou to start drinking as soon as they re-joined her. “You either need to drink that all in thirty seconds, or you need to sip while you walk, because I may have stolen that beer.” They forced a cheesy grin, to make it appear serious, yet Lane kept turning to look over their shoulder, and they couldn’t decide which leg to put their weight on.

[dusolane-blog]

Character Development Questions: Hard Mode

Does your character have siblings or family members in their age group? Which one are they closest with?

What is/was your character’s relationship with their mother like?

What is/was your character’s relationship with their father like?

Has your character ever witnessed something that fundamentally changed them? If so, does anyone else know?

On an average day, what can be found in your character’s pockets?

Does your character have recurring themes in their dreams?

Does your character have recurring themes in their nightmares?

Has your character ever fired a gun? If so, what was their first target?

Is your character’s current socioeconomic status different than it was when they were growing up?

Does your character feel more comfortable with more clothing, or with less clothing?

In what situation was your character the most afraid they’ve ever been?

In what situation was your character the most calm they’ve ever been?

Is your character bothered by the sight of blood? If so, in what way?

Does your character remember names or faces easier?

Is your character preoccupied with money or material possession? Why or why not?

Which does your character idealize most: happiness or success?

What was your character’s favorite toy as a child?

Is your character more likely to admire wisdom, or ambition in others?

What is your character’s biggest relationship flaw? Has this flaw destroyed relationships for them before?

In what ways does your character compare themselves to others? Do they do this for the sake of self-validation, or self-criticism?

If something tragic or negative happens to your character, do they believe they may have caused or deserved it, or are they quick to blame others?

What does your character like in other people?

What does your character dislike in other people?

How quick is your character to trust someone else?

How quick is your character to suspect someone else? Does this change if they are close with that person?

How does your character behave around children?

How does your character normally deal with confrontation?

How quick or slow is your character to resort to physical violence in a confrontation?

What did your character dream of being or doing as a child? Did that dream come true?

What does your character find repulsive or disgusting?

Describe a scenario in which your character feels most comfortable.

Describe a scenario in which your character feels most uncomfortable.

In the face of criticism, is your character defensive, self-deprecating, or willing to improve?

Is your character more likely to keep trying a solution/method that didn’t work the first time, or immediately move on to a different solution/method?

How does your character behave around people they like?

How does your character behave around people they dislike?

Is your character more concerned with defending their honor, or protecting their status?

Is your character more likely to remove a problem/threat, or remove themselves from a problem/threat?

Has your character ever been bitten by an animal? How were they affected (or unaffected)?

How does your character treat people in service jobs?

Does your character feel that they deserve to have what they want, whether it be material or abstract, or do they feel they must earn it first?

Has your character ever had a parental figure who was not related to them?

Has your character ever had a dependent figure who was not related to them?

How easy or difficult is it for your character to say “I love you?” Can they say it without meaning it?

What does your character believe will happen to them after they die? Does this belief scare them?