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#maybe because it was a fad and sort of died or maybe im just not in the places that id see it so much anymore like twitter
rainyjackalope · 1 year
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kinda wanna join a zine again
did it once and it was really neat but idk where to even begin and I know finding people that are comfy managing putting one together is hard. it's a lot of work! but damn it's really fun having one of my art pieces in a little book that I physically own (digital zines are good too)
I'd love to join one about queerness or specific aspects of it I'm part of or general furry ones or something
I'll have to look into it after this month
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macklives · 4 years
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alright, im actually kind of in the mood to unpack some stuff regarding karkat's character and the way alternia works actually, so i dont mind giving this a go. and while act 5 isnt completely finished yet (so this is an analysis post for act 5 up until page 2305), there is still more to explore, and im pretty sure i have a lot more to read regarding both karkat AND alternia. until then, i will give a general layout as to what i know so far and how i can expand this in a psychological way (especially considering i did my psych exam so my mind is FRESH from studying)
alright, starting with what seems to be the deal with the hemospectrum, theres a total of 12 blood colors. HOWEVER, one of those blood colors is a "mutant" blood which is unwanted in troll culture as it is, well, "mutant", meaning whoever has this blood will get brutally slaughtered. hurrayyy. im guessing it is even lower than aradia's rust blood, as she is allowed to live but is the lowest on the hierarchy triangle. meaning karkats blood is not even ON the hierarchy triangle and simply buried underground where they hope he stays. so its not exactly pleasant to be living in a society where everyone is trying to KILL you or at least keep you away from everything.
from what i remember, troll reproduction is a vital aspect in their culture, that everyone is forced to mate and drones will come by each house to collect the genetic material. this is mandatory apparently, and if someone were to object, they will be “culled" as quickly as they could say no. alternia seems to be really keen on the whole "blood and carnage" thing, which means their probable solution to anybody breaking the law, is to kill them on sight and just leave them there to rot - regardless of who they are and what families they comes from or have. trolls are free to kill whenever or whoever they please without any governmental repercussions. which means revenge upon revenge happens without any policy.
however this is very important when looking at karkat, because karkat may not be able to do the whole reproduction process (not that we necessarily want him to, im saying this in terms of how its mandatory for every troll and there will be a time when the drones WILL come for karkat). but as he is already a mutant and if they were to "collect" from him, they would find out his blood regardless of how he hides it. they will either cull him for saying no, or cull him for his blood. karkat, in this sense, is doomed regardless. which makes his character much more interesting.
and keep in mind alternia kind of sucks, because from the looks of it, trolls are constantly tested throughout their lives to prove themselves to society that they are allowed to live and survive. but ONLY if they are the strongest among them. alternia wants to become this fearful planet where the weak die off and only those proven worthy can stay to grow up and slaughter more of their kind until the world is nothing but blood thirsty strong murderers. im not too sure who is governing alternia but they can suck a dick if they think this is how good morals work. alternia only really has one way to solve things which is to kill those who question/fight back, OR to kill those who CANNOT fight back essentially. which puts all the trolls through a double edged sword where they cannot do anything but follow the guidelines given to them by troll's society and government, and try to survive as much as they can until then.
if i remember correctly, when it comes to the law side of things. if you look at it from terezi's introduction where she explains prosecutions with her plushies (lemonsnout ect ect i forgot the term for them lol), she said "you are guilty until proven innocent" which is the polar opposite of "innocent until proven guilty” used in OUR own society today (tho i guess we are by far the "good guys" in this situation, but we are far different than how trolls live their lives). anyways, what this means is that everyone dies regardless unless theres literal proof that they have not done the crime. even so i wouldnt put it past them to do nothing about their case even WITH proof. terezi even goes to say that technically there is no way to deal with the law on alternia, and most of crimes get solved through death. she even demonstrates this by how easily she hung the "suspect" and flipped a coin to determine his fate. however, even with the coin landing on the side of safety, where the suspect were to be released, she said "im blind remember i cannot see this coin" and essentially "killed" him. while terezi may have just been playing with her plushies, theres something we can take from this which dictates how their actual court cases are actually solved.
NOW, vriska (yes ik pls bare with me here, i will not make it about vriska but i do have a point here), from the last few pages i saw, can basically kill her friends in an instant, without any remorse. i can tell she sees this as the most "necessary" solution for her problems. i wouldnt say its for survival, but she does do it as a way to provide some sort of safety on alternia. she is a higher blood, and apparently the high bloods are known to kill whoever they please as long as its convenient. and since trolls have this whole fad of "killing the ones who cause you trouble so the problem is out of the way", she is wired to think its the only solution when threatened or when you dislike a person. 
god, she killed aradia because she wanted "revenge", because she wanted to get back at aradia for tormenting her with ghosts EVEN IF aradia did so because she threw tavros off a cliff in the first place. this may have worsened their friendship, KEEP IN MIND THEY WERE FRIENDS, but NEITHER, and i mean neither terezi/vriska/aradia, had any remorse if the other dies as long as there was a reason. in the story, vriska didnt care what happened to tavros because she disliked him, therefore becoming pretty bias over his fate. because of this attempt at killing, aradia didnt care what happened to vriska either, and neither did terezi. terezi sold her out to one of the most powerful beings on their planet, solely because of their revenge cycle. as long as the troll in question did something "malicious”, then that plays a factor in their morals. vriska gave no second thought to killing both of her friends (or at least attempt to with tavros), terezi also tormented john in act 4 which led to his “doomed timeline death” and sold vriska out after she realized vriska wouldnt change. so no fucking WONDER karkat tries to hide who he is, he's overly cautious to not let it slip out because even the people he calls friends could backstab him at any given time considering theres LITERAL EXAMPLES OF THESE TROLLS HAVING DONE SO.
to karkat, he sees this as dangerous, which is why he even CALLS vriska dangerous to begin with. she might not even hesitate to kill him herself or maybe sell him out to the drones, because 1. she may not want to be a witness to something society actively seeks to destroy and 2. she cares more for her survival than karkats. EVEN if they were friends (re: aradia and vriska and terezi). so it just shows. 
on that note, i find it funny how karkat indirectly distracted vriska after she baited him with the question of his blood in a past conversation, which prompted karkat to monologue about troll romance. he was, yes, VERY interested in this topic to start with, but it was a nice little bonus for karkat as to not be found out by the one person who would most likely kill him even if it wasnt on purpose. however, we do not know how this will play out IF she does find out, we just know karkat is in the right to be scared of the theory.
and, alright i do have to mention this, while karkat may have been an angry fucker to START with, who spites the world and throws out insults every chance he gets, i feel he does this as more of a survival instinct as well. he doesnt care what he says to people no matter what they rank on the hemospectrum. they dont know his blood color so he feels he has some sort of immunity, but he just needs to keep it hidden. it also may just be his personality, as he IS a character who was given specific traits and andrew went along with it without so much thinking about plot. yet if you look at this from more of the metaphorical route, think about it with uhhhh lets say the perspective of how dogs work. for example, when you put a chihuahua next to a doberman, a doberman is more of an excited, energetic dog whereas a chihuahua will rain hell down on anybody who so goes near them. sometimes this is to make up for their size, to seem as menacing as the larger doberman, as they have nothing else to fend themselves with. another way to look at it is, if you see a bear (i forget if its black/brown or grizzly) you make yourself seem like the bigger person by scaring it off with sounds and eventually it will leave you alone. these sort of tactics work in the sense of survival. this is sort of what karkat could be doing, he uses insults and a defensive shouting to not really "hide" himself, but to have some sort of way as to not be found out if people start to question. someone asks him "hey karkat whats your blood" he goes "FUCK YOU, FUCK OFF, END OF STORY" which could make a person go "yo sorry dude forget i ever asked". so this could be a factor as to why he is so crabby, however on the other hand, he is crabby because that is also his character. andrew probably thought yo cancer = crab = crabby. however i do like how he is perceived and the whole "mutant blood" really made me do a double take on how he views life himself. he has to always hide who he is or he will get physically killed. alternia would take joy in finding out he does not belong there because lets face it, alternia is a bitch of a planet.
this also brought me to ask the question, why does karkat want to be a leader if hes so scared of what would happen to him if he were to be found out? which then, at first i said lol this is just karkat, he wants to a leader because he just wants to be the leader, he likes when things go to plan and that he the most say in their sburb plans considering he thinks everyone else is a "dumbass". to which, i then thought about it more and went ouch what if hes a leader because he knows hes not valued enough in society, that he somehow wants to feel some sort of importance in the world, so he wants to become a leader. i imagine younger karkat, not knowing why his blood is so undermined, finding out he is not wanted and suddenly on the most wanted list without having even DONE anything. even TAVROS said he was on that list, but only because he was weak and had no back-bone, here karkat may have been strong but no matter what, he was to be culled BECAUSE of his blood. something he cannot change no matter what. imagine a little kid knowing he will die at any point because of who he is (rlly sounds familiar if you think about it). so of course, he hides himself from the world, but do you think for an instant, little angry karkat wants to simply be FORGOTTEN about? i doubt that, he wants to be heard, he doesnt necessarily want to be rejected as he knows he will be, so while he does hide his blood, he wants to have a voice no matter what. when being a leader, people dont reject you, they LISTEN. they all may not want to because karkat is just a fucking ticking time bomb, who can lash out at any second, but i feel theres now a reason why he has this superiority complex. he wants to sort of become the person he knows he never will become (if you put it into that perspective). so thats kind of why im giving him the benefit of the doubt here.
i would also like to point out a sort of.... comparison?? not with the dogs but with unwanted children in a family household. this doesnt necessarily apply to karkat, but sub in family household with society and it might as well. (on that note, a warning/viewer discretion, if you have any problem with this kind of discussion, i wouldnt read further into this paragraph and skip to the next one) alright, the unwanted child psychology basically deals with the process of a child which is neglected by their parents, and/or know that they were never wanted in the family. i read an article a while back when we were discussing this in a lecture, we were browsing multiple people's perspective on the matter, and one said "An affective relationship may be suffocating to [the unwanted/neglected child]: it’s a defense against intimacy of which they know nothing. Normally they fluctuate between egotism and deep feelings of inferiority. They don’t understand what a balanced and healthy self-esteem looks like." it explains how the child who grows up in an unwanted home admits great emotion deprivation, because the child's bonds of affection are extremely fragile, and this can lead to both egotism and feeling like they are inadequate. and it really strongly shows karkats personality. we havent gotten that much from him in general, but considering how he uses this egotism to cover up the fact that he may be doomed, really shows the similarity. i liked this short article so i want to give some points to take into consideration, specifically this part: "It will be very difficult for unwanted children to build healthy relationships of affection in their adult life. Love is a foreign language to them. They don’t know how to decipher the codes and much less how to build them. It’s very hard for them to need and to be needed. That’s why, more often than not, they completely shirk their conflicts with peers and superiors, or do nothing but generate them. They speak incessantly about the broken relationship that marked their arrival in the world. A person with such a background will need help to get through those abysses of love that live in their heart. The most important step is that they recognize that their discomfort doesn’t depend on who they are, but the circumstances that led to their being." it may not be 100% tru for karkat but theres a small portion of it that can link back to karkats view on life and how being this mutant can really change who he is as a person. and i hope you can see the similarity between karkats character and this form of psychology. yet i also do not fully know the depth of karkat vantas. however i do hope it continues to build up in this way, as it would be both interesting and make us feel more for him as a person.
alright, i think if i write any more i will never stop aghjsk, which is a bit too much for a sunday afternoon, basically to sum up this post, trolls are violent and karkat will be killed if hes found out, even by his friends if it comes down to it. so karkat cannot really trust anybody, hes alone and imagine the thrill he had when he saw jack cut his hand to show the bright red blood? that he finally has someone LIKE HIM. imagine when he finds out about the kids. so i believe in his growth, while he needs to get a better vocabulary, i do get why hes so defensive all the time. because hes both scared and unwanted. and he wants to make up for it.
and i guess with all that being said, you can tell i now have a slight soft spot for the kid lmao
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hm it's A Lot so u can skip questions but abc's for lael !!
i did all of this out of hubris and pride so here u go enjoy
A: Aptitude1. what are your oc’s natural abilities, things they’ve been doing since young?
they’ve had a little scientist’s/engineer’s instincts from a young age! they’ve always been very smart and had a good eye for figuring out how systems and mechanical things function, through observation and taking them apart
2. what activities have they participated in?
this is so vague but like. a lot of magitech stuff? and robot fighting when they were in school. and as a kid a lot of running around in nature, exploring and observing and messing with everything. 
3. what abilities do they have that they’ve worked for?
they have a natural knack for it, but all their knowledge of robotics, magic, and nature is stuff they took upon themself to study
4. what things are they bad at?
they’re not terrible athletic, and they really havent put much effort into developing people skills. 
5. what is their most impressive talent?
probably to other people the fact that they do magitech
B: Basics1. what is their hair color?
black
2. what is their eye color?
dark brown
3. how tall are they?
about 5′7″
4. how old are they?
31
5. how much do they weigh?
no clue! im bad at figuring this stuff out. body type wise tho, they’re on the leaner side bc elf heritage but also. very squishy.
C: Comfort1. how do they sit in a chair?
almost never with both feet on the ground, at least with one leg up or crossed, sometimes with feet on the seat, but generally with limbs going wherever, one arm hooked over the seatback, etc. there is no order here
2. in what position do they sleep?
they can sleep anywhere and tend to either splay out with limbs everywhere or curl up tight around a pillow
3. what is their ideal comfort day?
hang out at home, read some books, eat their childhood favorites, and hang out with their parents, maybe fuck around out in nature for a bit
4. what is their major comfort food? why?
this chicken and vegetable soup that their dad would make for them when they were sick, it’s heavy and comforting and magically makes them feel a little bit better
5. who is the best at comforting them when down?
their parents, but in different ways– their mom does more of the physical ‘taking care of them’ stuff when comforting, and their dad gets more into the emotional comfort stuff
D: Decoration1. how would they decorate a house if they had one under their name?
they do have a house! although it’s also first and foremost a lab, but that’s pretty on brand for them anyway. it’s a lot of tools and practical stuff, and a lot of the furniture is based off of personal comfort or use rather than style. for decoration though there’s some blueprints and pictures pasted to the walls. the colors in general are warmer ones, and the place overall gives the impression of not being necessarily Nice but comfortable and lived in. it’s very much Lael’s Space
2. how would they decorate their child’s room?
they. would not have children. 
3. how do they decorate their own room?
same with the house– very comfortable and useful, pictures and diagrams pasted on the walls, and lots of space for books and knick-knacks along with work room
4. what type of clothes and accessories do they wear?
they have sort of a Style but it’s also pretty chill and comfortable, made to be moving around in their workroom or working outdoors. lots of basic light-weight short sleeve shirts or button-ups, pants w lots of pocket space, overalls, tool belts, etc. if they dress fancier it’s pretty basic and streamlined, look-wise, nothing very flashy or fancy unless it’s the holidays and someone makes them.
5. do they like makeup/nail/beauty trends?
not at all, that’s a lot of extraneous effort they’re not willing to put in, esp since they dont necessarily see a lot of other people regularly
E: External Personality1. does the way they do things portray their internal personality?
pretty much, yeah. lael doesn’t see the point in trying to put on a nice face for anyone else. they’re a little softer than they appear on the outside tho.
2. do they do things that conform to the norm?
they dont care much about the norm, but they’ll go along with some stuff for the sake if it being easier (although it’s not common for them). they always tend to grate against norms a little bit in general tho
3. do they follow trends or do their own thing?
do their own thing. they’ve always been something of an outsider, even in their own community, so they don’t see the value in trying to follow what others are doing.
4. are they up-to-date on the internet fads?
the internet doesnt exist but. no. they dont really follow fads or trends outside of their own fields, where they keep up with trends but ultimately follow their own ideas.
5. do they portray their personality intentionally or let people figure it out on their own?
in some ways, yes-- they tend to broadcast their own aggressiveness and weirdness so that people know what they’re about and stay away if they’re not interested. other stuff they let people find out on their own, esp emotional soft spots and their occasional gentleness, etc
F: Fun1. what do they do for fun?
science! studying bugs and stuff. and they like gardening a lot, and doing science on the plants. when they were younger they went out more and also participated in some robot-fighting circles in their spare time.
2. what is their ideal party?
they’d think back to the days when they lived in gelt and there were some wild parties with fellow magitechnicians their age– nowadays they’d like something a bit more chill, but a good party for them would entail hanging out and drinking with other people/friends in their field
3. who would they have the most fun with?
mostly old school friends
4. can they have fun while conforming to rules?
not really, no– they dont have to break the law, but they’re always going to rub up against restrictions. everything is more fun when you have room to explore and make a little bit of trouble
5. do they go out a lot?
nope, they live out in the country and spend a lot of time working. they went out more often when they were young, though
G: Gorgeous1. what is their most attractive external feature?
those high cheekbones!!
2. what is the most attractive part of their personality?
their passion! when they care about something they Care, and it can be a little bit infectious
3. what benefits come with being their friend?
long intellectual conversations & having a friend that will 100% fight for you if you’re close enough
4. what parts of them do they like and dislike?
this is... not something they think about a lot, i’m not sure they are terribly introspective. but i think they like their own curiosity and novel approaches to problems, and dislike some of the issues they have interacting w others (but they dont think about it too hard)
5. what parts of others do they envy?
they’ll never admit it, but they’re jealous of people who can move through social situations with a ton of ease.
H: Heat1. do they rather a hot or cold room?
cold, they’re not a big fan of the heat
2. do they prefer summer or winter?
neither, but summer slightly more just because nature is much more active
3. do they like the snow?
it’s fine. pretty but also a pain in the ass
4. do they have a favorite summer activity?
bug huntin’! exploring nature! looking at plants and wildlife! taking notes!
5. do they have a favorite winter activity?
staying inside where it’s warm and working on projects. and they complain but they don’t entirely hate the rituals of going to see family during winter holidays
I: In-the-closet1. what is their sexuality?
bi/pan, idk if they have a preference label-wise
2. have they ever questioned their sexuality?
i’m not sure if they had a lot of expectations imposed on them in terms of what’s ‘normal’ sexuality-wise, but they def came to the realization of being not-straight at some point
3. have they ever questioned their gender?
im not sure they ever had a time where they didnt see themselves as non-binary, they maybe messed around w gender as a kid but fairly quickly settled on their current state of not giving a shit
4. would/was their family be okay with them being LGBT?
what’s homophobia this is fantasy land
5. how long would/did it take for them to come out?
idk if they actually came out ever, everyone just sorta knows
J: Joy1. what makes them happy?
magitech, exploring nature, weird bugs, learning new things
2. who makes them happy?
their family, their mentor, other magitechnicians who they can talk to and share ideas w
3. are there any songs that bring them joy?
songs that their parents would sing when they were young– either as lullabies or songs their father would sing while working
4. are they happy often?
lael’s emotions go all over the place, and i don’t know if they’re truly happy super often, but they’re overall content with the shape of their life right now
5. what brings them the most joy in the world?
those moments when they’re working and finally Get something or know exactly how something needs to work
K: Kill1. have they ever thought about suicide?
not really, no
2. have they ever thought about homicide?
…..yes, but more fantasizing than intent to act on it
3. if they could kill anyone without punishment, would they? who?
they would at least seriously consider it, and it’d be either their ex or whoever fucked gil up so badly
4. who would miss them if they died?
their family, a few friends
5. who would be happy they died, anyone?
hopefully no one? lael is not someone with a few friends, but while they certainly have people who dislike them, they have very few, if any, outright enemies. (to their knowledge?)
L: Lemons1. what is their favorite fruit?
they enjoy citrus but rarely get their hands on it, living in a more temperate climate. otherwise they like sour apples a lot! and blackberries
2. what is their least favorite fruit?
not a fan of pears (it’s a texture thing + they’re a bit too sweet)
3. are there any foods they hate?
not really, most of their food-dislikes are pretty mild. 
4. do they have any food intolerances?
lael is lactose-intolerant! this does not stop them from consuming dairy products.
5. what is their favorite food?
they really like the beef stew the had when they were younger! they dont get it as often now tho, only when they get home
M: Maternal1. would they want a daughter or a son?
they don’t want kids
2. how many children do they want?
zero
3. would they be a good parent?
no, they’re too obsessed with work to take care of anyone else
4. what would they name a son? what would they name a daughter?
not only do they not want kids but they are notoriously bad at naming anything and should not be allowed to do so to an actual child.
 5. would they adopt?
nope.
N: Never Have I Ever1. what would they never do? 
i don’t think they could ever like.... willingly submit to someone else? whether that be a god or a ruler or a boss. they might go along with them in some circumstances but they could never be truly devoted to someone above them
2. what have they never done that they want to do?
3. is there anything they absolutely can’t believe people do?
kind of related to #1, they think it’s wild that people follow others w/o any questioning or thinking about it for themself. even w stuff as small as w/ reading a science book-- if lael has the ability to test something out for themself they will before they trust someone else’s perspective
4. what is the most embarrassing thing they’ve done?
once tried to impress a crush by giving them a bug. it did not go well.also that one time that they got a drunken tattoo (altho i dont think they regret it-- they just don’t show it off)
5. have they done anything they thought they’d never do?
lael never really thought of themself as the type to be a teacher, so the fact that they want to and are going to try to teach some stuff to arabella is unexpected for them, even if they themself suggested the idea
O: Optimism1. are they optimistic or pessimistic?
i think they alternate depending on the situation? they tend to be pessimistic when it comes to people and their motives, but optimistic in regards to progress/science/their own work
2. are they openly optimistic, throwing it on others?
they aren’t very openly optimistic, it only really shines through when they start talking about the future of magitech or some shit
3. are they good at giving advice?
not at all! unless it’s help with a project, then maybe. dont go them to them for personal advice though-- most of the good advice they have is just verbatim from other people
4. is there anyone in their life that throws optimism on them?
their parents, esp their dad, are much more optimistic about things
5. were they always optimistic?
they’ve always been pretty optimistic about certain things, like magitech. but they learned pretty young to not be optimistic about others, and they became even more pessimistic in that area as time has gone on
P: Personality1. what is their best personality trait?
their intense love of knowledge and passion for their work
2. what is their worst personality trait?
they’re kind of an asshole and care very little about what others think of them, for better or worse. 
3. what of their personality do others love?
dm quote: “Other magitechnicians admire their ingenuity and focus, Gil and their parents love their quiet dedication and the joy they take in their passions”
4. what of their personality do others envy?
the fact that they seem to care very little of others’ opinions of them
5. do they hate anything about their personality/about other’s personalities?
they tend to dislike others who are ‘fake’ and not straightforward with their intentions. as for themself, the fact that they do not have a lot of self control, ESPECIALLY when it comes to their shit taste in romantic partners
Q: Questions1. do they ask for help?
not often, if they can avoid it, but at the end of the day they’re more concerned w progress than pride
2. do they ask questions in class?
they’re the type of kid to ask too many questions in class, actually
3. do they answer questions that make them a little uncomfortable?
they might, but they’ll generally call out the other person for asking uncomfortable questions as well
4. do they ask weird questions?
very! they did moreso as a kid, they’ve developed SOME tact now
5. are they curious?
oh yeah they’re SUPER curious about stuff, but only when it’s in their field of interest (ex: they dont care much about gossip at all, not when cool bugs exist)
R: Rules1. do they follow rules?
only when it benefits them or it aligns with their own beliefs.
2. would they be a strict or laid-back parent?
they would… not be a parent. but if they were, a fairly distant and laid back one.
3. have they ever been consequenced for breaking a rule?
almost definitely, but mostly stuff like “taking worms inside the house” or “getting in fights w others” (rarely) or generally being a weird chaotic shit as a kid. they break less rules now but mostly bc they care about keeping their job
4. have they broken any rules they now regret breaking?
hm. i don’t think so. they’re not the type to have many regrets.
5. do they find any rules they/others follow absolutely ridiculous?
they have Thoughts about some Taliare rules that limit magitechnicians and impede progress. they also have issues w bureaucracy in general
S: Streets1. are they street-smart?
they are generally pretty good at reading others and judging their intentions, but they’ve def focused more attention on book-smarts
2. would they give money to someone on the streets?
honestly? probably not, but more out of not wanting to interact with strangers than any sort of malice
3. have they ever gotten in a fight on the streets?
realistically absolutely yes, once as a kid and one or two times when they were going through their first round of magitech school.
4. has anything happened to them on the streets?
they probably got pickpocketed once or twice in gelt
5. are they cautious when out?
only a bit, but they’re very capable of protecting themself if it comes down to it (they’ve got a knife! and magic!)
T: Truth1. are they honest?
on principle, and sometimes to a fault
2. can they tell if someone is lying?
usually yeah, they can get a good read on others
3. is it obvious when they’re lying?
they rarely lie they, so they don’t have a ton of practice at it, and i think someone who knows them well or is pretty intuitive they’d be able to pick up on it
4. have they lied about anything they regret lying about?
i don’t think they lie enough for this to be the case? it’s mostly white lies if anything
5. have they told truths that have been spread against their will?
nope, not really.
U: Underdog1. have they been bullied?
when they were younger, yes. partially bc of being a half elf in an almost entirely human town (which made them a very easy target) and partially bc they were just a weird fucking kid
2. have they bullied anyone?
they’ve been MEAN to people but not actively bullied anyone. they did break a kid’s nose once but he deserved it.
3. have they been physically attacked by a bully?
i dont think so, i think it was more teasing and ostracism. any physical attacks were pretty mild or on their possessions. i think once someone tried to get physical but they were scared off by the only other non-human in town (besides lael’s dad), an older half-orc boy named Cyrus, and they never tried to attack lael again.
4. have they ever been doubted?
i mean, yes almost definitely, altho i cant give u an example
5. have they surprised people with being good at something?
i feel like when they were young and first showed talent w magitech they surprised some ppl. also, when they lived in gelt i think the fact they knew so much about nature and medicine was unexpected to ppl who just met them, but for anyone who knew them well it wouldnt be surprising at all
V: Vomit1. do they vomit often?
not really, unless they’re sick
2. do they get lots of stomach aches?
not really, they dont eat particularly out-there food and their stomach isnt overly sensitive
3. are they good at comforting someone ill?
lael isn’t good at comforting period, they’re more the type to just go through necessary medical stuff but they do not have very good bedside manner.
4. what do they like as far as comfort goes?
they like to be in a place they’re comfortable, like home, and with people that Get them, w like a nice blanket, and more physical affection than usual.
5. do they burp, cough, or hiccup most when nauseous? when vomiting?
i do not know or care
W: Water1. do they drink enough water?
they probably forget while they’re working. their mom gets on them about this when they come home tho
2. have they learned to swim?
probably only the very basics, they dont live around any large bodies of water so they’re not super proficient
3. do they like to swim?
not really
4. can they dive?
o def not
5. can they swim without holding their nose?
i would hope so?
X: Xylophone1. what is their favorite genre of music?
i don’t know if they’re super up to date on music? in a modern day setting they’d be into all sorts of electronic music tho
2. do they have a favorite song?
again, not modern day so idk
3. do they have a favorite band/artist/singer?
not in-game, but they’d probably be very into all sorts of weird electronic music and lo-fi stuff that mixes ‘real’ sounds, like snail’s house
4. can they sing well?
oh no they’re not very good at it at all
5. can they rap?
….probably not
Y: You1. how old were you when you created them?
21! i made them this year
2. what inspired you to create them?
i figured if i was gonna play a character in a magitech universe i wanted them to be related to that in some way. basically they were created with the idea of “i want to play a character with a robot arm” and literally their entire backstory and personality is descended from that fact. 
the other thing is that i was learning about biomimicry-technology in german class and i thought it’d be cool to have an engineer character that very much loved and was influenced by nature
3. were they different when they were first created?
oh i first thought that their personality would be more stoic and distant, but in reality the most core thing about their personality is how fucking passionate they are about things
4. do you enjoy writing them more than other characters?
again, i dont really love playing one character more than others, i just love them for different reasons! but lael is particularly fun to play because it’s fun to not worry much about coming off as “nice” to others, and also I Love Magic. it’s also fun to play someone so passionate about their studies and work bc i can channel myself into that!
5. what’s your favorite thing about them?
man honestly it’s that aforementioned passion that they have for what they do, and their endless curiosity about how things work and how to make them better
Z: Zebra1. what’s their favorite animal?
spiders!!! they love creepy crawlys and bugs in general though
2. do they like animals?
yes but more in a scientific way than a ‘wants to have a lot of pets’ way. and it’s generally more reptiles/insects/arachnids than furry animals
3. cats or dogs?
cats
4. what’s their dream pet?
a tarantula! or a cool lizard
5. do they have any pets at the moment?
nah, but they have plants
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