#JoannaBaxter

[kjscottwrites]

just trying to coalesce all the inspo images I have on pinterest into some digestible graphics... here's the girls <3

Joanna / Carmen / Irina

[kjscottwrites]

Into Touch Thursday

Thanks for the tag @emelkae !

Let's talk about how our OCs express their affection:

0k I'm not gonna do everyone but I will do the characters I've posted intros for so far - will maybe revist in the future w/everyone else!

Joanna

Joanna's all about affection through physical touch - notorious for her reflex to always be reaching out and grabbing someones hand, or shoulder, or playfully nudging, or sitting in laps, or letting people sit in her lap, etc. The more casual touch - the more she likes you.

Carmen

Carmen is too shy to make a first move or prompt someone with too many questions, but when she's with someone she likes she'll never want the conversation to end, so she'll just chatter endlessly.

Irina

Irina uses physical touch as a way to leverage control in a situation moreso then she uses it to show actual affection - you'd know she's fond of you if she picks out a singular repetitive bit to neg you about on a regular basis. This is a habit she saves only for those closest to her.

Stacker

Stacker is a close listener, even if he seems a bit aloof - he shows affection by paying attention. He'll pick tiny details out of a conversation and remember them forever.

Mikah

Mikah fancies himself a poet ~ if he likes you? He'll tell you. Probably with a sonnet or a ballad. A hundred times a day. Effusively. With the most dramatic flattery.

~~

I'll tag: @stormbrightwriter @redotter @writting-in-blood @kiaraintheforest @flowerprose and open tag for anyone else!

[kjscottwrites]

💌 and 💐 for the hot OC ask! OC of your choice :D

💌 : How would they plan a romantic evening for a significant other?

I'll do this one for Carmen since she's easy! She'd plan a surf day with a sunset picnic, a romantic playlist, maybe a bottle of wine, keep it simple. She's a real "love long walks on the beach" type of girl.

💐 : What is their courting style? How would they woo someone?

Well Joanna's all about trying to look impressive. She's a hands-on flirter, really assertive, and likes to be doted after. She'll bust out party tricks that show off her climber's physique and has no problem being a little boastful about her career or lifestyle or hobbies. Getting oohs and ahs and "omg can I feel your biceps" from a potential date is typically the goal w/her.

ty for the question!!

Ask game here

[kjscottwrites]

Happy STS!

What is usually the last thing your OC/s does before they go to bed?

Thanks for the question!!

I've never thought about this one tbh - though I definitely know my guys' morning routines. I think Joanna is a late-night one-last-cup-of-coffee sort of person who likes to check off to-do list items or run to the corner store in her slippers before bed.

Irina would have *no* nighttime routine because she's opposed to routines generally, but I do think she's the type who would never ever fall asleep wearing clothes. Even if it's 4am after a night out and she can't even manage to wash her makeup off. Clothes are still coming off. Always. She doesn't own pjs. Can't understand why anyone would wear them.

Meanwhile Carmen's got a 6-step skincare routine and a bedtime playlist and one of those cooling neoprene eye masks and a night guard etc etc - has the nighttime routine down to a science and would feel lost without it lmao

[kjscottwrites]

"Ten's But" Tag Game

@elijahrichardwrites & @inkingfireplace both tagged me in this, thanks!!

Rules: List your ocs as "tens but" to give us a not at all comprehensive scope of their characters.

~~~

Joanna: She's a 10 but when she says she wants to take you on "a nature walk" she means a seven mile summit hike.

Irina: She's a 10 but she thinks it's funny to tell you your fly is down in public when it's not.

Carmen: She's a 10 but she went to BYU :/

Stacker: He's a 10 but he won't tell you his last name.

Kairus: He's a 10 but he's unironically pro-monarchy??

Mikah: He's a 10 but he'll serenade you in length on the first date.

Pritta: She's a 10. Full stop.

Oliver: He's... well, a solid 6.

Tati: She's a 10 but she's up at 5:45 and in bed by 8:00.

Luka: He's a 10 but he cries in his car to the 90's rock radio station.

~~~

Open tag y'all!

[kjscottwrites]

Heads up 7 up

Rules: Share the last 7 lines you wrote and tag 7 people

Thanks for the tag @stormbrightwriter !

Tragically...... I cannot share like.... whole chapters of recent writing without being egregiously spoilery and/or wildly nsfw (!! we are just in that part of the book lol) but here's a recent passage I'm fond of !

Irina glanced over at Joanna. She wasn’t even watching - just staring out at the dark water settling back into mirrored flatness. There were a few boats, just tiny rectangles far out in the water, not moving quick enough to disturb the surface aside from the faintest ebb. 

Anywhere else, Irina would have taken the quiet moment as an opportunity to nudge Joanna into opening up, but she didn’t dare here. Not with the prince only a few paces off. Instead, she reached out and grabbed Joanna’s hand, pulling it over to hold it emphatically in her lap. She could at least do that. 

They stared off across the water together while the others shrieked and romped around the beach. The far side of the cavern sea, even with the bioluminescent glow reflecting glistening pinpricks across it, wasn't visible. It disappeared utterly into the black, far-off recesses of the cave. Every few minutes, a salagtite would drip with a fint plink, the ripples radiating out in perfect, undisturbed circles. Thinking about what might lie under the dark surface, wondering just how deep the cold water plummeted… It left Irina feeling queasy. She tried not to dwell on it. 

I'll tag: @gailynovelry @thepixiediaries @happystarfishnightmare @char-writes and open tag for anyone else who wants to hop on!

[kjscottwrites]

Cavernous WIP: Meet the cast!

Joanna / Irina / Carmen

Stacker / Mikah / Kairus / Pritta

Oliver / Tatiana / Luka

Taglist: @ultimatecryptid , @kainablue , @asher-writes, @saraheadriance, @maxgraybooks, @thelaughingstag, @artbyeloquent, @ellierenae, @calico-fiction @wildswrites @galaxy-writer @crazybunchwriting

[kjscottwrites]

OC Picrew Collage: Joanna Baxter

Here she is!! I think these do a good job capturing her put altogether. Honestly obsessed with the lemon moment in the bottom left... 

She’s a very ✨citrus ✨type of character. 

~ meet her here ~

Picrews used: [1] [2] [3] [4]

[kjscottwrites]

Meet the Cavernous WIP Cast: Joanna

Joanna Baxter

She/Her // 27 // Sagittarius // Main POV Character

Joanna doesn't mind if you refer to her as "granola" even if you mean it in an unflattering way.

She's Chicago-raised but wilderness-destined, with a storied spelunking career and a near-complete PhD in petrology. When she's not spending her summers in perpetual adventure-road-trip mode, she's thrifting for hiking gear, treating the climbing gym like a second home, or out on the town with her closer-than-a-sister bestie slash coworker slash roommate Irina.

After weathering an upbringing under the thumb of controlling parents and only recently coming out on the better end of a toxic relationship, Joanna's poised to focus on herself no matter how delusionally optimistic she has to be to do it. She's all sunshine vibes, chill music, post-workout edibles, and no drama… just as long as you don't try to tell her what she can or can't do.

"Joanna had paired a black henley with her signature cargo pants that morning - her usual ensemble, but with the bottom of her shirt rolled up so that her enviably toned abs were out for the world to see. Like she had dozens of times before, Carmen found herself puzzling over how Joanna made such basic, backwoods, blah outfits look so good. It didn’t seem to make a difference what she was up to or where she was. Even on days they were out doing surveys under the hot sun, sweating buckets, Joanna radiated such effortless magnetism. It helped, of course, that she was so completely muscled and statuesque. Carmen did her best not to stare."

🍄 Character Tag: #JoannaBaxter 🍄 Meet the Rest of the Cast Here

Taglist under the cut!

Taglist: @ultimatecryptid @kainablue @asher-writes @saraheadriance @thelaughingstag @artbyeloquent @ellierenae @calico-fiction @wildswrites @galaxy-writer @raisapathy @astridmayewrites @antique-symbolism-main @crazybunchwriting @elijahrichardwrites @rainbowsnowflake<3

[kjscottwrites]

Favorite Things OC Tag game ~

Had an idea for a new tag game! Idk if there’s a similar one like it out there but here’s this anyway -- 

Rules: Share photos of your OC’s favorite flower, favorite beverage, favorite type of shoes, and favorite animal. Then tag four people and change up any one of the four favorite thing categories for the next round. 

I’ll start with Joanna! 

California poppy // fruity kombucha // trail shoes // American river otter

I’m tagging a few more than four to get the ball rolling - no pressure though! 

@sleepyowlwrites​​ @avrablake​​ @tc-doherty​​ @asher-writes​​ @albatris​​ @ashen-crest​​ @oh-no-another-idea​​ @vellichor-virgo​​ @mecharose​​​ @mr-writes​​ @kainablue​​ @maxgraybooks​​ @artbyeloquent​​ @wildswrites​​ @galaxy-writer​​ @acoffinwrites​​ @nectargrapes​​ @kimerical-scribe​​ @penspiration-writing​​​ @fadedprose​ @antique-symbolism​​​

And open tag for anyone else who wants to participate!​​

And for you guys, instead of favorite animal - put your OC’s favorite type of weather! 

[kjscottwrites]

UM so i didn't write today but i DID make an official height chart for the main CavernousWIP cast

Taglist (bc I have not given y'all anything in a while so heres this 😭): @ultimatecryptid , @kainablue , @alcwrites, @saraheadriance, @maxgraybooks, @thelaughingstag, @artbyeloquent, @ellierenae, @calico-fiction @wildswrites @galaxy-writer @crazybunchwriting @rainbowsnowflake

[kjscottwrites]

WIP intro / Characters

Current progress:

Chapter 15 Editing Pass ~ Done!

Chapter 15 is largely a continuation of the previous chapter, it just switches to Joanna's POV to wrap the little talent show up... (but like a lot of scenes with Irina in them, she kind of still dominates the situation. So I'll put two little excerpts to make sure Joanna's part in this chapter gets highlighted.)

“Who’s next?” Kairus asked, “How about someone who already put on a little show for us today?”

He looked directly across the sitting area at Irina.

Joanna’s heart skipped. She took a deep breath and tried to poise herself for the possibility that Irina’s road would end here, sputtering out in an over-competitive, under-prepared flash.

“Look at you, come here,” Kairus said, urging her over, “You’re sopping wet, still.”

Irina’s eyes narrowed and flashed, half flirtatious, half vicious, as she used Joanna’s shoulder to push herself up to her feet. The wine stain down the front of her gown indeed hadn’t dried. She looked a mess - the sort of mess Irina was good at taking ownership of. The kind that made sleazy men in nightclubs flock to her like moths to a flame.

“I have a poem, your highness,” she chirped, slowly unthreading the ties at the front of her gown, “But you’re right. I should get out of these soaked clothes first.”

Joanna forbade herself from acknowledging the twinge of jealousy rising in her chest. Or from watching too closely, the way the Prince beckoned Irina over to take the spot by his side, moving his hands along along her shoulders as she settled in. Admitting any sort of real attraction to him seemed out of the question, yet here she was, annoyed that he hadn't called her up yet. Annoyed that he hadn’t looked her way all day. Annoyed that she wasn’t sitting where Irina was right now.

The lulling presence of stewards bearing wine and canapés and the light of the glittering lanterns dancing across the shadowy veranda only softened him further. No matter how boorish, unpredictable, calculating - none of it diminished his strange, stark beauty. The sudden intensity with which she wanted to be the most interesting person in the world to him… it was humiliating. She couldn’t face it.

Joanna turned to look and as if he had read her mind, the prince was suddenly waving her up, without a word, eyebrows raised, impatient.

Taglist: @ultimatecryptid , @kainablue , @asher-writes, @saraheadriance, @maxgraybooks, @thelaughingstag, @artbyeloquent, @ellierenae, @calico-fiction @wildswrites @galaxy-writer @raisapathy @astridmayewrites @antique-symbolism-main @crazybunchwriting @elijahrichardwrites @rainbowsnowflake

[kjscottwrites]

Idk what it is about this particular picrew but it really captures everyone in my ensemble more than others. It’s got so many perf options !! Anyway here’s the cast of Cavernous looking CUTE.

Taglist: @ultimatecryptid , @kainablue , @alcwrites, @saraheadriance, @maxgraybooks, @thelaughingstag, @artbyeloquent, @ellierenae, @calico-fiction @wildswrites @galaxy-writer @crazybunchwriting @elijahrichardwrites @rainbowsnowflake

[kjscottwrites]

Trying to decide on a hairstyle/texture for Joanna's character portrait.... 🥲cannot settle on ANYTHING plz help which one compels u

[kjscottwrites]

WIP intro / Characters

Current progress:

Chapter 13 Editing Pass ~ Done!

This chapter sees the girls settling in at Kairus' estate just before the tournament begins. We meet a bunch of side characters in this chapter, like Nanoah and Hackett, who are twins themselves and something of town gossips - in the competition moreso for the social connections and the inside scoop over anything else ~

“You’re the colony girl?” Someone asked her, before she could quite get her bearings. Joanna looked for the voice and spotted the woman who had been at the table beside them in the ballroom, submerged up to her collarbones in the bath, raising a finger in the air in acknowledgement towards her. Joanna pointed to herself inquisitively. “Of course you,” the woman said, “Your sisters aren’t here anyway.” “Cousins,” Joanna corrected, approaching the edge of the pool. “I’m Nanoah,” the woman said, then gestured to the man sitting on the edge of the pool beside her wrapped in a linen, “He’s Hackett. My brother. I presume you wouldn’t know.” Hackett’s dark chin-length hair clung to his face, and steam rolled off his shoulders, while Nanoah kept her curls pulled up into a wild topknot out of the water. Without the dark eye makeup she had worn the day prior, she looked rather unguarded, face flushed and eyelashes damp. “We haven’t spent much time in the central city,” Joanna tried, dipping a toe in the water. “Well you’ll be needing help then. Don’t ask for it from me,” Nanoah said bluntly, gesturing for her to get in the bath, “Come on then.” Joanna took a sharp, deep breath and slipped her nightgown off over her head, then lowered herself into the steaming turquoise water - hot enough to sting. The warm, enveloping sensation soaked deep into her bones. She’d almost forgotten what it felt like to have a real, hot bath instead of a lukewarm rinse in the basin at the back of Stacker’s storeroom. Every muscle in her body coiled up and then released into ribbons as she settled in.

Taglist: @ultimatecryptid , @kainablue , @asher-writes, @saraheadriance, @maxgraybooks, @thelaughingstag, @artbyeloquent, @ellierenae, @calico-fiction @wildswrites @galaxy-writer @raisapathy @astridmayewrites @antique-symbolism-main @crazybunchwriting @elijahrichardwrites

[kjscottwrites]

Tag: Word Find

Thanks @zmlorenz for the tag!

My words are: lie, believe, jump, and throw

OPEN TAG for this so have at! (Tag me if you do!) Here are the words for anyone who wants to participate:

shell, compete, butter, & rough

Lie

When Tatiana returned, Joanna felt, somehow, that no time had passed at all. The “3:23 PM” time on her phone felt like a lie. They all thanked the owner of the hostel as they filed out to the van, but barely spoke to one another. Joanna chalked it up to the eight hour drive that lay ahead of them, and the feeling of dread it no-doubt inspired in them all.

Believe

Everyone turned to Stacker. He said nothing, only raised his eyebrows. “I believe him,” Carmen said, trying to sound firm. “Perfect, okay,” Irina said, throwing her arms up in defeat. No one said anything for a long, tense moment, each of them milling in private, aggravated consideration, trying not to make eye contact.

Jump

The gardens of Mikah’s estate lay wedged in the narrow grottos of the low, southernmost districts of the cavern. Carved into an immense face of rock, the home nestled beneath a cavern pocket, where a constellation of pointed calcite chandeliers hung down over the winding pathways, cobblestone walls, and bubbling fountains of his rooftop terrace. The pocketed, fungi-spotted ceiling was low enough here in places that one could jump to touch it.

Throw

“Yes, my lord,” Irina said, her eyes flashing with deviousness as he handed her her bell. The moment Kairus turned his attention away, Irina cast the tiniest flick of a confrontational glance towards Pritta and it took all Joanna had in her not to throw something across the table at her