#oc in 15

[amaiguri]

OC in 15 Tag Game

Thanks to the @the-down-upside-finch for the tag! It was forever ago and I think I need to redo my Tumblr intro to warn people that I do all my replies in bursts and I still love you all...

Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

I will, of course, be honoring my beloved Arlasaire today with a combo of spoken dialogue and narration. That being said, I don't really write good out-of-context bangers lines lol -- everything only barely works because of the context. (I wish I was. I'm not that cool though.)

"And it was my fault! Because I wasn’t enough!"

"You don’t care about me."

"You don’t know me."

"Nesa… I warned Zal so I’ll warn you too: I’m not very good at relationships."

"…I’m not a lady. The Aftokratoria has stripped away our titles, remember?"

"I was just House d’Magnia’s ward. They took me in after a Dragonstorm burnt down my village. Fed me. Trained me. Gave me purpose."

On that first day after they found me, — back before I was “Arlasaire”— I’d been the one to kill the spider crabs chasing Lord Einharde’s second lieutenant.

"Lord Einharde embodied the House words with all his heart. “Eshew Axiom for Ascendancy.” This made him cold, but he was good to me."

His name rotted in my memory now.

"…The Arlasaire you knew a year ago would not have slaughtered anyone, if YOU had asked."

I felt the familiar knife twist in my chest. I stifled laughter. Euphoria. What a beautiful liar…

The Burned Maiden bled from the body and it was just the girl. Just me.

"And then… I fell for this priestess lady. We kissed. And then… she also tried to kill me."

"It is too cold and dark to be kind. Spring is not like this in the North. You have to actually wear clothes."

"You… like me? Are we… a thing?"

...Guys, Arlasaire's so edgy and angsty, omg. I swear, she's actually a huge softie underneath, she's just not feeling safe in the narrative... And familiar toxicity feels safe...

So YEAH! I'd like to gently tag @maiemorrae @spideronthesun @marigold-clouds @words-after-midnight @wordswrittenbynight @nemaliwrites @cee-grice @zebee-nyx @junypr-camus and @dragonprincedawn -- and if you've done this already, feel free to just link me to the thing. Or do it again! Whatever!

[space-writes]

oc in 15

tagged by @loopyhoopywrites, thank you! today im doing the man who loves the sound of his own voice far too much, my beloved Prince Sorrow

Rules: share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

“Don’t worry, my Lord. I will send you the bill when it’s done.”

“I am inherently likeable.”

“I am not changing our plans for one dragon. If it becomes a problem, well, I’m certain there are plenty of mighty heroes in Invereid who can go off and fight it and die nobly or something equally ridiculous.”

“What is the point of being the boss if I can’t use whatever money I like?”

“I had very little desire to be transformed into a toad this evening.”

“Wraith!” Prince Sorrow’s voice was furious. “What are you doing here, you wretched little assassin?”

“I’m also quite terrible, but I at least have the decency to look good doing it.”

“Well, I didn’t want anything until you said that,” Sorrow said. “Here’s a free lesson for you – don’t ask people that. They’ll only think of things for you to do.”

“You didn’t die, either time, so stop complaining.”

“We get paid and we put down roots where nobody wants us and everyone needs us. We toy with the Houses and do their dirty work and take their coin and make something worthwhile from it.”

“I shall endeavour to find some way of grievously wounding you after the dragon is dead.”

“Now, are you going to come home like a good boy or are you going to insist on playing out past your bedtime?”

“Infernii choose their names. My name is mine by my own claim.”

“Are you agreeing with everything I say in the vain hope that I’ll eventually stop talking?”

“Just as planned,” he mumbled. And then he passed out.

no-pressure tagging @nightwardenminthara @sam-glade @ceph-the-ghost-writer and @talesofsorrowandruin

Valloroth taglist: @cherrybombfangirlwrites @reininginthefirewriting @memento-morri-writes @foxboyclit @lawful-evil-novelist @at-thezenith @morganwriteblr @fayeiswriting @serenanymph @sam-glade @viscerawrites (ask to be +/-)

[little-peril-stories]

OC in Fifteen (or less)

I was tagged by @mysticstarlightduck (here) to play this game. Let's meet a different character today! The first time, I did Constable Baden Hatchett.

Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

Gently tagging: @space-writes @cryptidwritings @starlit-hopes-and-dreams @clairelsonao3 + open tag

From The Prince of Thieves:

Colette Haris

“Luck? Don’t need it. But thanks.”

“They don’t dare argue [with me]. They took their assignments and ran.”

“Drink your water and just rest a bit longer. I don’t want to look at the spectre of death in your face anymore.”

“Who picks my pocket and thinks they’re getting away with it?”

“We need a plan!”

“What kind of monster do you think I am? We have to go look for him.”

“Then we’ll fix him up, and I’ll be kind enough to wait until he’s feeling better before I knock him on his ass myself.”

“Both of you. Stop being morons.”

“I promise you. I promise I will come back.”

“What the fuck have you two done?”

“Can I come closer? I’m sorry to say it, but you look rough.”

“I have some questions, and you’re going to answer them for me. Now.”

“Look at me. Listen. It’s all right. He’s all right.”

“I can hear you two jackasses in there. Did I ever pester you about your life before? Do you want me to know everything about your damn childhood? Hmm? No? Then shut the fuck up.”

“You look like a shaggy dog.”

[dontjudgemeimawriter]

OC in 15

Tagged byy @thegreatobsesso (through my main)

Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

1.

(to Raymond) “Your careful and my careful are different things.”

2.

(to Mika, about Raymond) "He might end up hating me, but what keeps him safe and alive is none of what he’s told you getting out. To the police or the Syndicate.”

3.

(to Raymond) "I know you don’t like the spell, but I don’t even know who [I am without the focus spell] okay? I’ve been focusing since I let you go. You don’t want the person from before that.” 

4.

Context: Raymond and Terran are talking about why Terran let Jesse live, and also why Terran had in the past let Raymond live/saved his life.

Raymond: “Everyone’s real.”

“Yeah, but you taught me that. Everyone who did feel real to me back then saw everyone else the same way I had. Maybe it was partially because you seemed to care, unlike anyone else did, but ultimately, I think that was it. You were real. So maybe all it took was talking to Jesse for him to be real to me. And I don’t know if that helps, because maybe you’re right that it should be everyone, or maybe it would be better if it’d come from something you said or did…”

5.

(to Raymond) “Focusing isn’t why I worry about things. Do you just not like me telling you what to do?” 

6.

(I'm going to count this as dialogue. It's a thought passed from Terran to Raymond that, as thoughts are, is a little jumbled:)

Tried to (can’t move) found Jodi, tried to free her (stuck) caught— failed— (The Judge) Mika was here, gave them something— mistake— Judge using me to bargain (care about me?)— can’t move— don’t do what they want.

7.

(to Mika) "You and Raymond were so good at knowing what the right thing to do is. I watch you do all this and see how much you hate it, because you know it’s wrong. But I’ve only known that based on you guys’s example.”

8.

(The actual dialogue here is 100% not true. But him lying here imo is a big part of his character. Basically, Terran needs to convince Alex that he isn't a threat, and recently Zachary advised Terran that Alex would exploit him caring about people. His denial here, him lying, in a way, really is about how much he does care. Also, I think it says a lot about him that he can and will solidly deny things like this in order to protect those he cares about. He's basically claiming that he doesn't care if Raymond lives, it was more about rebelling against Zachary than anything else. He ha also stated recently, in his thoughts, that to him, "freedom" is just being with Raymond)

“I want to leave. I want to quit.” I said, turning back to [Alex]. “Disobeying Zachary by letting Raymond live wasn’t the best way to go about it, I admit. But now he’s gotten me what I wanted. And you get what you want out of him. That was the deal you guys had, right? I’m not a threat to you because once this transaction is finished, I have what I wanted. Freedom.”

9.

(to Mika) “I already know enough [about my parents' death]. I appreciate learning about them in the journal, I’d be willing to learn more about who they were, but not this. I don’t want to know how they died. Zachary has taught me a million way to kill someone and he knows a million more. I don’t want to know which one it was.”

10.

(to Rayymond) “I’m constantly disappointing you. I’m always doing the wrong thing, the only difference is lately I’m finding excuses. I’m terrified of Alex paralyzing me again. But when I say you should leave without me, it’s what I owe not just you, but everyone— because I’ve always been sacrificing others for myself, haven’t I? Not even for my own life, just for…approval. The only difference lately is that you’ve become a part of who I’ll sacrifice others for, except you don’t want me to do that, and even if I try I don’t know how to do it. Even if I was ever able to leave, I can’t escape myself— everything I’ve done and everything I still want to do. And maybe we’ll all better off if you and Mika can escape and I’ll no longer be able to—“

I'll leave it there, since it said 15 of fewer, many of these are long, and I'm catching up to where I am. This was a lot of fun, and I definitely want to do this again for Raymond and Mika. I kinda wonder if I can even do it with Zachary. Please feel free to tag me again on this XD.

It's definitely difficult doing a POV character who's so often hiding things. I knew going in that this would most show up when he's talking to Raymond. But going through I saw some Very Raymond lines and Very Mika lines, and I think I talk more about Terran's character here, but I would like to pick out the lines that show the other characters whose only ways of showing their character is their dialogue (and actions).

Tagging @sleepy-night-child @squarebracket-trick @enbydragon02 (ik you might not be far enough in anything for this so you can just look XD) and @drippingmoon

[the-down-upside-finch]

OC in 15 (Tag Game)

I was tagged by @aziz-reads in this post! I'm excited to try this one for the first time, so thanks for tagging me!

Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

I think for this one, I'm going to share dialogue spoken by Sterling from Minding Q's, mostly because it's going to be really funny to me at least (CW: strong language)

“I wasn’t sure if it was gonna be warm or cold today, since it’s s’posed to rain later or whatever, so I just went with layers like usual. I think I made a mistake wearing pants, though. Damn, it’s hot out here.”

“Don’t die in there!”

“Wow—okay, stalker.”

“Okay, I should actually start heading back so I don’t get struck by lightning. Uh, but thanks for talking!”

“You’re not my real mom!”

“I don’t have a Pilea yet, actually. But-- I mean, if you want, we could swap. Not the whole plant! Just, like, a cutting. Or a leaf. I’d give you a cutting from one of my plants that you like. Maybe not the albo, though. Just ’cuz-- Sorry, I just sell cuttings from him, so I dunno if I could give you one for free. I could if I didn’t have to pay rent—but unfortunately, capitalism exists! And I have to buy groceries. Whiiiiich I totally forgot to do yesterday. Fuck—why does adulting have to be so hard?”

“Can you just let me deal with the consequences of my actions in peace?”

“Wait—oh my god, you’re right. It’s already Wednesday today. Ugh! I hate Labor Day! Not having classes on Mondays always fucks me up. I mean-- Sorry, you don’t mind swearing, right?”

“What! That’s lame. Seriously, why does being an adult have to be so lame?”

“Oh, sweet! They have grilled cheese sandwiches! I fucking love grilled cheese.”

“Sure! My class gets done at... Hang on. I literally just checked this. It ends at... No, not that button. That’s also the wrong button. Can I just-- Can I-- Oh my god—can I please open the right tab? There we go. That should not have been that hard. Uh... Thursday... Thursday... Where the hell did it go? Wait, I’m stupid—it’s right there. Jeez. Okay, it ends at two fifteen.”

“Yeah, I definitely was not paying attention.”

“That’s another thing I don’t like! Fucking roller coasters!”

“Huh? Oh. Oh, wait. Shit! I forgot—I’m super angry at you and never want to speak to you ever again!”

“Yeah, that’s prob’ly a good idea. I’m not really in the mood to die today.”

Yes I put those entire paragraphs in there on purpose. It’s just who he is.

I'm going to gently tag @mary-is-writing, @veneritia, @maddstermind, @asablehart, @amaiguri, @macabremoons, and anyone else that managed to scroll all the way down here!

[thewritingautisticat]

Tag Game: OC in 15

Thank you @late-to-the-fandom ! This was a ton of fun and gave me an excuse to skim my WIP again!

Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you’re free to include those as well!

This is for my character Caldren, specifically from The Flames of Revolution since that's the one I've written the most on and he has some character development that makes him somewhat different in the later books in the series.

"So I lose everything, or I get killed by the people who murdered my parents in cold blood? Yeah, that seems fair and just!"

"It won't fix anything, but it would make me very, very happy. So tell me. What do you have that would convince me to let you live a little longer?"

“Didn't you hear? Caldren Deschamps died in a fire.”

“If they take another step closer, I could kill you before they reached me.”

"I'm willing to learn, if someone'll teach me."

“It’s alright. I’m going to get justice for them. And then, at least things will be a little better. I’ll be able to go back and try to get back to a normal life.”

“Call him a ‘thing’ again and I will end you."

“We’re about to show the government they can’t go around hurting innocent people anymore. Stick with me, bud. We’re gonna show them what trouble looks like.”

“It's too late. It was always too late. When I left… I thought if I killed Ricaurd, I could fix everything. But… that's not going to fix it. I left, and I burned down that garrison, and I burned down everything I had with Madreline with it. And now… everything with the Revolution… I could never face her after that. I... I can't go back.”

"It's quite simple. Anyone looks at him wrong, I'll stab your eye out. Anyone speaks to him wrong, I'll cut your tongue out. And if you ever lay a hand on him..." Caldren lowered his voice to a growl. "I'll slice you to shreds and feed you to the street dogs."

“Listen. As long as you're still waiting for me, you can know I'll be back for you.”

“Everybody wants something.”

"I'm in training to avenge my parents' murder. If I have to take some jobs to keep going, so be it. But I have more honor than those cutthroats at Scatterwag's. I'm doing this all for justice."

(sung) “I'll hold you close, til the morning comes. I'll sing my song. Soon the sun will rise, it won't be long. Whatever comes, know you're in my heart. Hear my song. And even though I have to go, it won't be long. It won't be long.”

"Caldren is gone. That is, the Caldren who was angry and foolish and bloodthirsty, he's dead."

Gently tagging: @sparkles-rule-4eva @tildeathiwillwrite @themswritinwords @agirlandherquill @ryns-ramblings and anyone else who wants to join!

[jmhwritesstuff]

OC in 15

tagged by @space-writes - thanks!

Rules: share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

I'm gonna go with Aira for this!

"When all you've ever had is nothing, it's impossible to imagine having anything at all."

"Fine. But if you grab my arm like that again, I'll break yours."

"My line of work requires discretion. Not murder."

"They were ... dark. They were inside my head. I could feel them. I could feel everything."

"I was trying to find a way to get out of being a Lightsworn!"

"It doesn't seem to matter what I want. I'm not sure it ever mattered."

"Oh, it's just you. For a second there I thought I was in trouble."

"Don't you understand, Nyick? I can't do this. I was never built for this. This is not my life."

"Well, maybe you're stealthier than I gave you credit for. Are you following me?"

"I wouldn't leave without an explanation unless it was really important. But this is my problem, and I'm going to fix it. And then I'm going to come right back. I promise."

"Are you coming in? Or is whatever you have to say just as important from out there?"

"That wasn't a fight so much as getting socked in the jaw."

"I don't want an apology. I know what you think of me. I just didn't realise it went that far."

"It would be my best option. We both know you can't catch me."

"You should probably let me know now if you plan to stab me with that."

[mt07131]

OC in 15: Ghost

Rules: share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

I was tagged by @grapecaseschoices and I’m finally feeling brave enough to share some og ghost dialogue

Tagging @allrelativefiction @voloslobotomyservice @sevlawless @cerbin-aen-feainn @dragonsplague (I could only think of five lmaoooo no pressure tho <3)

——

1) She got about halfway down before looking back up at him, unimpressed. “I don’t have all day, you know. Are you coming or not?”

2) “You have an awful lot of questions, and an ass load of audacity to assume that I’m going to answer them all when we’ve just met. Knowledge will come with time, when I know I can trust you.”

3) At his reaction, she raised a brow. “We’re the only two people here, you’re going to have to stop being scared of me.” Ghost drawled.

4) “Oh no, I will continue to kick your ass. It’s the best way to keep an eye on your improvement.” Ghost responded, entirely too cheerfully for his liking. “Is that you saying you want to go another round?” She challenged, cracking her knuckles.

5) “Don’t worry about me, you’re the one who got shot!” Ghost hissed back.

6) “Just a graze, my ass.” Ghost muttered, removing the cloth again to examine the wound. “You’re damn lucky it was just a graze. It’s still gonna need to be stitched up.”

7) “Did you know you sleep with your mouth open?” She teased gently.

8) “You’re too good for a wretched thing like me.” She whispered, her own hands finding his in their wrapped position.

9) “If you would let me finish, that would be helpful.”

10) Ghost rolled her eyes. “Keep acting like that and I’m going back down and leaving you to wallow in misery all by yourself.”

11) “I figured it was implied. Don’t think you’re getting away from getting down in the dirt with me, Andy.” He gave her a different kind of look, and she groaned. “You are terrible.”

12) Ghost finally dropped her pencil, turning to him with a raised brow. “You must be so very proud of yourself, Prophet, for being able to state the obvious. Do continue.”

13) “I… you’d think I’d be afraid of a lot more with what we’re doing, with what I started but… I’ve come to realize that the thing I am most afraid of is losing you.”

14) She shook her head, a small smile on her face. “You know me entirely too well, huh? Guess I need to start being more mysterious and enigmatic.”

15) Besides,” She laid the gun across her lap. “If I wanted to threaten you, I would’ve already done so. You can ask Prophet about that one.”

[deanwax]

OC in Fifteen

Cheers for the tag, @mrbexwrites!

Gonna leave this as an open tag for anyone who wants to play :)

Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

Deerfoot from my current WIP Cycle's End is uhhhhhh not talkative so I'm just gonna throw back to Roksana, the protag from an old work called You Missed Me at the Start.

===

“Fuck you!” I snap. “You make me bleed, you shackle me… why would I want you close, huh?”

“I never said I was clean,” I sneer. “No one is. Not even you, despite your… hrm .”

“Wings are for angels. You don’t seem so holy to me.”

“Stars,” I whisper truthfully. “And crystals that are not for me.”

“No,” I disagree immediately, remembering the mattress on the ground. “No, I don’t belong here. I didn’t live here.”

“You’re wasting money, you know.”

“Go home, dogs.” I spit on the ground as I step around her, putting myself between them. “There is no meat for you here.”

"Men piss in the street every day," I tell her gruffly.

“Don’t touch me,” I say, but the words come out weak.

“I said your mother was a whore!” I round on her, balling my fists.

“Shit!” I curse. “That is bullshit! I didn’t want this!”

“S-shut up,” I fluster. “It’s not so easy for me.”

“No,” I promise. “I don’t hear the voices. Only ‘holy’.”

“It was the only way I could get to her, by dressing as a man and telling them this thing. So what if they think I am scum? They think I am scum anyway. There is no difference.”

“Rich girl,” I chuckle, playing with the hair just behind her ear. “You think everyone thinks like you.”

[betweenthetimeandsound]

OC in 15 (Tag Game)

I found this tag game via @the-down-upside-finch, and figured it might be a little bit of fun to try this for Iodine!

Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

“Then you wouldn’t mind me having a little smoke. Enna hasn’t, and we’ve known each other for years now!”

“She already knows that Enna is dead; I don’t think she would volunteer if she had been the one to find out. Like me.”

“It was a Tuesday for her, something so that we could get a pound cake from a grocery store.” 

“I’m not sure, actually. I just had a strange dream where I was all alone, with nobody to guide me. It was really cold, and there were echoes all around.” 

“With you...? I’m not in a good state right now, so no thanks. Now fuck right out of the shower so you could find someone who’s more willing to do so.” 

“Are you saving it for anybody? Because dinnertime would only last twenty more minutes at this pace.”

“Do you have...any partners?”

“A cigarette—I'm not an arsonist, thank you.”

“As long as I can get a ride home, I’m okay.”

"Then again, I wouldn’t be surprised if any form of luxury was suppressed because of what happened over the last decade.”

“Would you abandon your theory for mine if I said yes?” 

“Yes, I have. I’ve seen people die, and it’s not as funny or innocent as I’ve seen. My mentor took me in and basically cared for me when there was nobody else in Seattle, and I couldn’t save her. Don’t mention to that to me again, especially as…” 

“Because I like it, of course. I don’t usually go out in the night other than for theater performances; my classmates would usually hang around and find some good shit to eat. One person would bring a bong...”

“Well, I took theater classes in high school and thought about becoming an actress. I got a few roles in school productions, so you could tell where that came from."

“My name is not Natalie Mizrahi. You came here by mistake to claim something you wished you had. My name is Iodine, and this is my home.” 

How about you @andromedaexists, @lexiklecksi, @memento-morri-writes, @simkarta333, @phantomnations?

What other characters would you like to know?

[winterandwords]

OC in 15

Thanks to @duckingwriting for the tag!

Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

These are for Noah my contract killer with a midlife crisis from November Breaks (complete and available as a free download from winterandwords.com)

01

“There aren’t people who do what I did. There are people who have the same job, but they don’t do what I did.”

02

“Fine. I promise to spend more time staring at numbers on a screen and worrying about them, so you can unclench now. All right?”

03

“I don’t own any clothes appropriate for somewhere that’s one step above having sawdust on the floor.”

04

"People should clean up after themselves.”

05

“I’m not sure what part of our acquaintance gave you the impression that I work well with others, but I don’t.”

06

“Listen. I do what I do, the way I do it. I don’t want to work for you and I don’t want anyone working for me. It would not go as well as you think.”

07

“What do I pay you for if I still have to come here and try to stay awake while people in suits talk about money?”

08

“Say please again. Just like that. Go on.”

09

“There but for the grace of god, my recently deceased acquaintance. Or the grace of someone, anyway.”

10

“I’m getting my shit together, like you keep telling me to do. You don’t get to be difficult about it.”

11

“I have no rules and a lot of exceptions."

12

“Shot in the shoulder, stabbed in the thigh, both occupational hazards. No tragedy here either.”

13

“You’re going to get hypothermia. You won’t even drown. There’ll be no romance or drama to it. You’ll just freeze and die. It’ll be painfully dull.”

14

“I dreamed about the tide coming in, rising too high, right up to the house. It wasn’t dark, but it wasn’t daylight either. The light switches didn’t work and the doors wouldn’t stay locked. Outside, there was water everywhere. Huge waves, swelling and covering everything. All that water, but it felt like home and I walked right into it.”

15

“How dare you? It’s not spaghetti anything. It’s bucatini.”

Tagging @sparrow-orion-writes, @k--havok and @reininginthefirewriting if you'd like to do it, with an open tag for anyone else who wants to join in 💙

[space-writes]

OC in 15

tagged by @nightwardenminthara thank you!

Rules: share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

time to do my grumpiest boy, Mohaade’s worst export: Vren aka the Wraith

[ID - a green and black decorative divider]

“Don’t make me ask twice, Johar. You know what happens when I have to ask twice.”

“Did you not think,” he said, coldly, calmly, “that the knowledge that Naazgarash’s most notorious mercenary was hunting the same prey might be useful to me?”

“I don’t normally kill for free but for you I’d make an exception.”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re conscious or not when I take you with me,” he said. “Easier for you if you are – easier for me if you’re not.”

“No, please, continue to lecture me. I have literally nothing else I’d rather be doing.”

“Call me that one more time and I’m going to cut your tongue out and feed it to you.”

“I want the rest of my money. That’s all.”

“If he is eaten, our contract is void.”

“You don’t want me mutilated? How nice.”

“If you die, I don’t get paid.”

“I am not putting anything else on a dragon.”

“I don’t care if you live or die. Right now the one holding my purse-strings wants you alive, so alive you’ll stay, even if I have to knock you unconscious to keep you that way.”

“I just want a drink,” he said as she drew up in front of him. “That’s all you want me to have tonight, trust me.”

“Everything is on fire, you’re in my way, and I nearly died. I’d say this is exactly like Willowtown.”

“I’ll do it,” the Wraith said. “But my price just doubled.”

[ID - a green and black decorative divider]

no-pressure tagging @jmhwritesstuff @ashen-crest @stesierra and @pens-swords-stuff

Valloroth taglist: @cherrybombfangirlwrites @reininginthefirewriting @memento-morri-writes @foxboyclit @lawful-evil-novelist

@at-thezenith @morganwriteblr @fayeiswriting @serenanymph

@sam-glade @viscerawrites @thegreatobsesso (ask to be +/-)

[lexiklecksi]

OC in 15 quotes (tag game)

Thanks for tagging me @betweenthetimeandsound (her entry is here) this was so much fun to search for good quotes in my WIP! I chose my main character Enya for this and realized she has more inner monologue than actual dialogue, she's not naturally talkative. I included an edited DeepL translation under the cut, but it is neither reflective of my writing style nor do the word plays make sense.

Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

„Du wirst niemals mehr als eine Schande für deine Familie sein“, provoziere ich ihn.

 “Praktisch. Ich schätze, meiner Lunge würde es bedeutend besser gehen, wenn ich nicht darüber atmen müsste, mit all dem Rauch darin“, stellt sie trocken fest und hustet.

“Ich werde nicht mehr davonfliegen. Ich werde mich von meiner Angst befreien!“

“Mein Aussehen ist nicht der Fluch. So wurde ich geboren; halb Mensch, halb Drache”, erklärt sie leise.

“Du bist nur ein dahergelaufenes Unglück und ein Mörder noch dazu. Lass mich endlich in Ruhe!“, fauche ich ihn an und zeige ihm die Krallen. 

„Ich habe dich nicht darum gebeten, mich zu retten!“, blaffe ich ihn an. 

„Sei weiter so frech und ich grille dich am lebendigen Leib!“, drohe ich und wir brechen beide in Gelächter aus.

„Mich kann man nicht lieben“, schnauzt sie mich an. 

 „Zu schade, dass du so luftscheu bist“, schnappe ich zurück und bereue meinen scharfen Tonfall.

“Nein, Meara, du verstehst mich nicht. Mein ganzes Leben lang habe ich Angst gehabt! Nun ist endgültig Schluss damit. Ich bin schon zu lange auf der Flucht. Auf der Flucht vor allen anderen, auf der Flucht vor der Welt, auf der Flucht vor mir selbst!“

I'm tagging @innocentlymacabre @writinglyra @the-down-upside-finch @writingbyricochet

“You will never be more than a disgrace to your family,” I provoke him.

“Practical. I guess my lungs would feel a lot better if I didn't have to breathe with all that smoke in them,” she states dryly and coughs.

“I'm not going to fly away anymore. I'm going to rid myself of my fear!”

“My appearance is not the curse. I was born like this; half human, half dragon,” she explains quietly.

“You're just a run-of-the-mill misfortune and a murderer to boot. Leave me alone!”, I hiss at him and show him my claws.

“I didn't ask you to save me!” I bark at him.

“Keep being cheeky, and I'll grill you alive!” I threaten, but we both burst out laughing.

“You can't love me,” she snaps at me.

“Too bad you're so afraid of the sky,” I snap back, regretting my sharp tone.

“No, Meara, you don't understand me. I have been afraid my whole life! Now it's over for good. I have been on the run for too long. On the run from everyone else, on the run from the world, on the run from myself!”

[little-peril-stories]

OC in Fifteen (or less)

I was tagged by @cowboybrunch (here) to play this game. Thanks for the tag!

Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

Gently tagging: @sharkblizzardblogs @jessicagailwrites @i-can-even-burn-salad + open tag

Contains: death/execution mention. sexism. infantilizing dialogue. generally just an evil man.

Baden Hatchett

“I can do as I please. I will do as I please. How else will the miserable wretches of this town know to obey the law if they don’t have an example to look to?”

“You are going to stand and witness the fate to which you’ve condemned this wretched soul. You will see how justice served when I am the one meting it out.”

“You think you can refuse me? Give me orders? Make demands? Me? You think you have any right? Any authority? Any claim to my mercy and good will?”

“Bloody cowardly woman. Open your eyes and watch.”

“Marvellous job, Miss Cooper. That wasn’t so hard, was it? Listening? Doing as you’re told?”

“You will learn some respect before the end. Perhaps you’ll even beg our forgiveness before you hang.”

“Perhaps they do not realize how thoroughly beaten they are at this game. But it will be amusing, no doubt, to watch them play. And since pain doesn’t seem to work on the thief, I wish to know what will drive him to spill his secrets in the end.”

“As you well know, fox-thief, I can do what I deem appropriate in my prison. And interestingly enough, as I listened to your request, I did not hear the word please. If you truly wanted me to take this matter seriously, you might at least pretend to be a civilized human being for a few precious minutes.”

“You had best control that impertinent mouth of yours, Miss Cooper. Perhaps you ought to choose your words a little more carefully.”

“You do not get to call me by my name. We’re not friends. I’m not on your side. You gave up your right to my given name the night you—”

“Seems like more than just two thieves passing in the night. You’re practically throwing yourself at my feet to save his life, are you not? Such devotion, such futile risk, is surely warranted by more than just the incidental acquaintance of two criminals.”

“My prison, my rules, Miss Cooper. You will speak first.”

“You will die when I permit you to die.”

“Dim-witted cretins, both of you. You tried so valiantly, but you never had a chance at winning. You didn’t even know what game you were playing.”

“Bold assumptions, Miss Cooper. I kept you around because you were stupid enough to let your insipid feelings for the boy show. Not unlike you, I saw an opportunity and grasped it. Nothing more.”

I only pulled from The Prince of Thieves for this, nothing from The Queen of Lies.

[dontjudgemeimawriter]

OC in Fifteen

Tagged by @pertinax--loculos thank you! I wanted to do there for other characters after doing Terran

(Edit: This has been sitting in my drafts fully done for ages. Whoopsies.)

Raymond's up next!

Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

"But if I hadn’t convinced Jesse that you were capable of being a decent person, you would’ve— [killed him], and you know what? That doesn’t make any sense.”

2.

“You’re trying to control everything and I don’t like that stupid spell, I can’t talk to you. You think it makes you so good at things but it just makes you a controlling jerk,” Raymond yelled back. “This is why I don’t trust you! Why I didn’t tell you!”

3.

“I want everyone alive. You just want me alive.”

4.

[Raymond] smiled slightly. “When you cast that spell you heighten the level of resources your brain has dedicated to a specific task. It’s heightening of a psychological phenomena. All I had to do was split up the resources.”

I thought that over. “I didn't know Nyps could do that,” I said, and somehow when he explained it it made so much sense. Like it was simple.

“I didn't know I could either. It was a theory. Until just now. But I shouldn’t’ve tried it. I wanted you to unfocus but I shouldn’t’ve forced it.”

5.

“I want the person who let me go. You weren’t focused then. Look. I know that spell is useful. I know we might not’ve pulled this off without it. That’s kind of the point of this, though. I want to get to know you. And if even you don’t know who that is… maybe you should.” 

6.

(Context: Raymond shared that he makes and sells Nyp whispers, which is like selling a mental health spell)

“It’s like going in blind. And because it’s freaking illegal we can’t do it right, y’know? Even if it’d be fine to tell people, no one wants a Nyp going into their mind, they’d much rather take a whisper because it doesn’t give access. But everyone’s different, everyone’s brain is different. I’ve seen these not work on some people, or even make things worse, and I hate it. If I could go in, if we could do research on these spells, I could find a way to actually help instead of giving this thing that works for some people. And it’s worse because like, sometimes I’m selling it to someone, and like, I don’t need much to get in, y’know? I’m giving them a memory-whisper and I’m like, I can sense how your mind works and I know this won’t work for you, but I can’t say anything, and if people would be okay with it maybe I could actually help them. But maybe I’m not helping, because there’s no research on Nyp magic, and honestly, I have no freaking idea if there's side effects to anything, or if I could do more harm. I hate it.”

7.

“There was just—” he paused.

“There was what?” I urged. Something was there, something he wanted to talk about, I could feel it.

“Some fear?”

“Of?”

He sighed. “You? Like I know you wouldn't hurt me and I trust you. But it—made it a little hard to sleep, I guess.”

8.

“Because you’re always so invested in my existence being secret, right? I’d convinced myself that if you came looking for me it was because you had to control everything again, make sure I was being safe and all.” The corner of his mouth tugged up in a slight smirk. “But you missed me, didn’t you?”

Was that really a reveal? Sure, I hadn’t thought about the implication of calling out his name (and fuck he was right, that had been risky), but… “Of course I missed you.”

“That’s not an ‘of course,’ okay? You’re hiding 90% of the time. I have no idea how you feel. I have no idea if you—no idea why you saved me. I have to trust that you won’t kill other people that matter to me but I don’t even know what guided that decision in the first place.”

9.

“Sorry,” I took a deep breath. 

He nodded. “Thanks.” he didn’t meet my eye for a moment, then asked, “Should I not try to touch you?”

My wincing had been my fault, not his.  “It’s fine.”

“Is it actually?” he asked, concern in his voice.

10.

“I know I was just insisting I go,” Raymond said. “And I’m still going to. But that doesn't mean I’m not scared. And the truth is…you are better at this. Maybe I’ve been stubborn, and maybe you’ve been right this whole time. Maybe if I hadn’t come back to go to Dante, then both you and Jodi would be safe. I don’t have any ideas, any solutions, and I’m terrified, and you’ve gotten me out of this before and I can’t do this myself. I’m not leaving Jodi. And I think you can figure out a solution.”

11.

“Yes, I understand how a hostage negotiation works, Abigail."

12.

“Understand now?” He asked, speaking up after a second, and his voice still had the bite, but I sensed some strain. “You’re going to give me access to a lot of people who have reason not to like you. You’re going to need me in their heads. I do that all for you, but my friends are safe, guaranteed. And I won’t kill for you. That’s the deal. You will not use them to get to me ever again.”

13.

“Not cocoa. Chocolate.” Raymond leaned against the arm of the couch, facing me. He gave me a smile.

“What’s the difference?"

“Cocoa is powder and hot water. This,” he took a sip, closing his eyes as he did, an expression of deep satisfaction coming over him, topped with a whipped-cream mustache. “Is hot chocolate.”

14.

“Did you leave a window open, too?” I remembered, vaguely, him opening it earlier.

“No, I—“ he hesitated as he unwrapped his damp scarf and looked around, just as both of us saw that I’d been right. There was a window open, just a crack, but enough to be contributing. He ran over to it and shut it. “Definitely no windows left open,” he smiled sheepishly.

15.

“That feeling? You know how you said you can’t escape yourself?” I nodded again. “That’s why I went into a burning building. I realized what I was doing faster, sure. But you were there your whole life, and it’s all you were taught. And still, you showed me compassion. You risked yourself so I could live when I didn’t want to and I didn’t even think you liked me. I forgave you then.”

My boy!

Tagging @crushedmodule @rosesonneptune @bookish-karina @thegreatobsesso @wildswrites & @blind-the-winds

[asterhaze]

OC In 15

Thank you for the tag @rmgrey-author! I'm very excited to do this one again. Going to go ahead and tag @veetvoojagigthemagnificent and @doublegoblin for this one, leaving it an open tag for anyone else who'd like to do this. I know you've both done this before or are working on it, but if I don't tag you both then my post is worthless.

Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

Snatching up Ska, OC Sexypants, for this one since it's been a minute since I've talked about him.

Whoever sent you on this quest will feel my wrath, right after you little vampire.

"When I call your name, you will respond. And when I command you, you will move as I say."

"Words are not enough for your kind?"

“A hundred years ago, I was perfect. Now, I am so unrecognizable that I am forgotten.”

“I have no intention of leaving this plane until I finish Samael’s work.”

“But is the Sunniva really destroyed if one member remains? Or have I kept my father’s word?”

“But if you think I am satisfied, you are wrong. The moment I find out that your kindred forgets these rules is the moment I will make sure your kindred never forgets them again.” 

"My presence makes your kindred nervous and I want to keep it that way.“

"You are picking your words very carefully. I am too busy for you to take your time picking words. Speak freely and we will sort out the details later."

"Interesting. A human that captured small moments permanently on canvas, only to become permanent himself."

"No one ever knows they are in the throws of a terrific romance until they find themselves in someone else’s arms."

"You owe me for keeping this a secret. I’d better not regret it."

"You are no man. You’re Willow."

I am Ska, Son of Samael, and Grandson of War. The fact of the matter is that I do not want this vampire [redacted] and I’m willing to kill all of you to keep it from happening.

"Your favor is going to be gigantic after this."