#polyamoury romance

[blam-marie]

One Selkie. Two strangers. Three murders.

The small town of St. Adalbert Sur Mer is hiding a dark secret.

Three times during the summer, the lifeless body of a Selkie was dumped into the river. Naked, and with a missing pelt.

Louison is sent by her clan to investigate these murders and catch the killer, but her mission derails when she meets two charming strangers whom everyone in town seems to be falling in love with - including herself. Torn between her rising attraction towards Gabrielle and Adrien and keeping the secret of her origins, Louison must dodge tourists, deadly poachers and wildlife protection agents in a wild quest to find her sibling’s murderer - before he kills again.

Skin Deep is a queer polyamorous story where everyone is hiding something and nothing is as simple as it seems. 

Now available for pre-orders in both ENGLISH and FRENCH

[threadsun]

My other thought for the night is that. I miss oc x canon fics.

Like, I know there's still some people writing them, but mostly they're either gone or filtered through so many layers of irony or scrubbing clean that they don't actually land.

I personally have no interest in reading canon x canon or cannon x reader, and it's really sad to me how much oc x canon has declined in popularity since I was a kid. I remember reading all those stories about the main character's long lost twin sister from [random other country] who was super cool and powerful and special and different (like the main character often was in the source material) and some random side character who the fandom fell in love with would fall in love with her, and I loved them so much!!

But now even when you search specifically for fics with original characters, they're never the main character and they're never given the attention and love they deserve. And a large part of that was because of the bullying and whatnot around "Mary-Sue"s and oc x canon and just... idk fandom being shitty and obsessed with the idea of "good" vs "bad" stories rather than acknowledging personal tastes and the fact that fanfic is supposed to fill a different creative niche than professionally published works.

Idk I just miss reading those fics because they're the only kind of fic I'm actually interested in. And I remember not long before that change really came about, a lot more oc x canon fics involved trans/nonbinary/otherwise queer ocs, polyamoury, and more representation in general that clearly came from authors writing about their own experiences! We were so close to having a great thing! And then it just dropped off pretty much. No more unironic, unapologetic, self-indulgent oc x canon fic. So I stopped reading fic for a long time, and even now I don't read much of it tbh.

And it's not that people aren't interested in writing it!! I talk to people all the time who want to write oc x canon but are scared no one wants to read it. And it makes me so sad cause it's the only thing I want to read!!!! I don't give a shit about canon x canon, and I don't really care for reader x canon because it makes assumptions about the reader that frequently aren't accurate to me.

I'm definitely gonna try to move more towards writing oc x canon (and oc x oc, and even oc x reader) fic more because it's what I want to see. I want none of the irony or pushing ocs into side roles only. I want self indulgence and "overpowered" (read: main characters) ocs and oc x canon romance! I want ocs that are hyperspecific to the author, who live out the life the author wishes they could if they were in that world. I wanna read something and know the author had a blast writing it! I wanna get deeply invested in shipping someone else's oc with canon characters! I want it so bad, please give it back to me, please...

[perkeleen-lavellan]

Rowan-Shepard-Harper-Moreau - Commission for @sephraem

Her words are whispered- if it wasn’t for the warm air, Jack would think he’s dreaming. “How far down do your modifications go?”

Listen. This space opera didn't have enough romance with the villains, science-fiction body horror and polyamoury. Sephraem is here to fix that.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/46586077

[purplemoths]

for anyone playing I Was a Teenage Exocolonist - this is your sign to start a new life when you finish your first playthrough!

Every time you think you've discovered the final secret, it gets more insane, complex, and interesting, and you learn a whole different side to a story.

If you haven't heard of the game, please go check it out! If the engaging main plots, incredible writing, and gorgeous artwork aren't enough to pull you in, the interesting characters (most of which are romance-able) should be! The premise is a narrative-driven deckbuilder focused on a group of humans trying to get by in the first 10 years on a new planet and only each other to survive.

It's also worth noting the game features multiple disabled characters, characters of colour, queer characters (including ace/demi), trans characters (including nb), fat characters (without any fatphobia), and different types of polyamoury.

I don't want to give spoilers, but thankfully all content warnings are accessible from the main menu if you have any topics you might not want to interact with. From the storylines I've seen so far, all situations have been treated very respectfully and none have impacted my enjoyment of the game.

If you do play it, or have played, feel free to say hi, I'd love to know your thoughts!

[jerzwriter]

Thank you for answering.

4. Is your oc's environment supportive about their identity? How does this impact them?

11. Is your oc open about their identity? Are they more lowkey or more blunt about it? Why or why not?

13. Would your oc be open to a poly relationship? Why or why not?

Hey Nonnie, Thanks for sending these in! From this list.

4. Is your OC's environment supportive of their identity? How does this impact them?

Currently? Yes, they are all in environments that are very supportive. In OH land, Casey has a supportive partner, her friends are either queer or allies, and even her workplace is supportive - even if the last one is just for PR reasons. But it wasn't always that way. She chooses not to speak with most of her mother's side of the family because of their queerphobia (among other things).

Trystan and Carolina are both bisexual, and they absolutely love having a partner who "gets it." While Trystan is the opposite of demiro, he's always been very respectful of Carolina's boundaries.

Their friends and the family they choose to surround themselves with are supportive, but there are people in both of their families who would not be. In Trystan's case, even though some of his younger siblings were out, no one cared as much because they were further down the line of secession. Carolina also has some old-school Catholic family, but they're distant relatives, and she keeps her circle small.

11. Is your OC open about their identity? Are they more lowkey or more blunt about it? Why or why not?

So Casey is 100% open. If you google her name, you're going to see her activism pop to the top of your search, and that includes articles and interviews where she is loud and proud. That said, her end-game romance is with a man, so her relationship is straight presenting. And when it comes to clothing/style, especially at work, she is rather conventional. So, some people are surprised to learn she is bi. This hasn't always been liked in the fandom, but I don't care. Because trust me when I tell you, there are plenty of people who fit that very description in the community. But she's 100% open. Her children know she's bisexual from the time they're young and it's nothing she ever hides.

Carolina is also open and always has been. She really has had an "IDGAF, this is who I am." attitude from the time she was in her teens. But her identity is part of who she is. It's not all that she is. So it's not like she introduces herself by saying, "Hi, I'm Carolina, and I'm queer." But she's definitely not hiding it.

Trystan is also out, but I don't think he's "as" out. This stems from him being a public figure and in the media. Everyone in his personal life/realm knows, but he doesn't make much about it publicly. Now, people know he's dated men and women, so it's obviously known, but he doesn't focus on it publicly simply because he feels his private life is his private life.

13. Would your OC be open to a poly relationship? Why or why not?

I recently answered this, I think for you, actually lol! But here is my answer again:

Tobias & Casey (OH) : At one point in their lives, they might have considered this, likely with other partners (not each other). While Casey may have been willing to try, I don't think it would have worked well for her. She might have been OK with having an open sexual relationship, but love? No. Deep down, she has some security issues, and she would not be able to accept her partner being in love with someone other than her. Prior to Casey, I don't think Tobias even wanted the level of commitment he'd have to have in polyamoury. He was just having fun, no strings attached, and he never cared enough about anyone to really go beyond that. But, like, if he met Casey and she was poly, would he have given it a go? Hmmm. Never really thought about it, but I don't know. I honestly don't think he'd be keen on sharing her. Now, this is all in HC, I do have some AUs in WIP folder where they have an open/poly relationship, so I may explore it that way in the future.

Ethan & Kaycee (OH): Nope. That's the answer. lol He is 100% not wired for a poly relationship and she is 99% not wired for it.

Trystan & Carolina (COP): No. Trystan is a one-person kind of guy. Once he commits, he commits. As for Carolina, while it is possible to be demiro and poly, it's not possible for her. She has very little interest in getting to know anyone in a romantic love sort of way. Trystan was almost a fluke (one she's really happy about, but a fluke nevertheless). Plus, they just get each other so much, and they don't really have any desire to go outside of their relationship.

Eli & Zoe (WTD): Truthfully, I've toyed with the idea of them being poly. Mostly because I think being polyamorous in their world actually makes sense - it's practical. You don't know who will live to see the next day, so having a strong polycule could actually be a wonderful thing for the individual and for children should they come in the future. But with that said, I don't see them as poly. But again... maybe in an AU. :)

Thanks for asking!

[touch-starved-lurker]

ok really?? tell me wgy tf im listening to sad romance songs but im in a happy, satisfying, wonderful relationship also. its the polyamoury isnt it.

[solitarysketcher]

TELL ME BOUT HOMESTUCK!

yes chef.

ok so we'll go with my favourite parts, the quadrant system and the hemospectrum. Both of these are part of troll society (trolls are grey, yellow eyes, black hair, orange horns), and play very important roles in reproduction (quadrants), and societal roles (hemospectrum).

First, the quadrant system: There are four, each representing a different kind of emotion. We'll go left -> right, top to bottom. (note: no quadrants have set pronunciations, say them however you like.)

<3 The first quadrant is the red or flushed quadrant, more typically known as Matespritship. It is represented by a red heart. It is the most familiar to humans, being a typical romantic/sexual relationship built on positive feelings. Not much else to explain, except that the sexual part is not required unless going by canon alternian rules, which have a very strict system and requires all trolls to reproduce.

<> Next is the pale quadrant, also known as Moiraillegience (Singular: Moirail), or a palemate. This is represented by a pale pink diamond, and is built on positive feelings. Sexuality is not a part of this quadrant, instead it is more necessary for keeping two trolls grounded instead of doing some sort of acrobatic fucking pirouette off the handle. It is usually more one-sided, but both need eachother to some degree. One of my good friends describes it as a 'platonic soulmate', though in troll society it is considered a form of romance, being judged in the same way if cheated as if a 'normal' relationship had a cheating partner.

<3< Next is the black, or caliginous quadrant, also known as Kismesissitude (singular: kismesis). It is represented by a black spade, and is built on negative feelings. It is the second of the two sexual quadrants, and in canon is described as a 'very potent arch-rivalry'. The two (or more, if open to polyamoury) people in the relationship must hate eachother just as passionately as the other (very). Despite the absolute hatred they must have for eachother, a certain amount of respect must be held. A kismesis, just like a matesprit, shines light on traits about yourself you may not want to acknowledge, or even know that they're there. A healthy kismesis relationship will always have some level of respect for the other, if not an Auspistice is needed.

o8< The final quadrant, called the ashen quadrant, known formally as Auspisticism, requires atleast three people. It is represented by a grey club. In canon, it is when one troll steps in to an abusive/disloyal kismesissitude to try getting things back on track. Essentially, relationship therapists. I personally enjoy the idea that it can apply to all quadrants, and can also double as a matchmaker. This idea is very uncanon. If the auspistice doesn't care enough, the relationship will crumble.

The next part of my essay is the Hemospectrum. It is the caste system that troll society lives by. It is determined by blood colour, since trolls come in different blood colours. The lowest caste is rust, and the highest caste is fuchsia. The exact lineup is Rust, Bronze, Gold, Lime*, Olive, Jade, Teal, Cerulean, Indigo, Purple, Violet, and Fuchsia. Lower castes have higher psychic powers, but higher castes live longer, with fuchsias possibly living millions of years. Most trolls wear their blood colour prominently, with the exception of trolls outside the hemospectrum (aka mutants) (because they would be culled if their blood colour was discovered)

*Limebloods are extinct in canon; due to their psychic abilities to pacify highbloods they were all culled.

Rustbloods have dark red blood, and the strongest psychic capabilities (commonly telekinesis). They only live about a dozen or two sweeps (one sweep equals about 2.16 years), or about 25-50 years.

Bronzebloods have dark orange-ish blood, and commonly have the power to communicate with animals. Their lives are slightly shorter than an average human life.

Goldbloods have dark yellow blood, and often have strange eyes, being one or two flat colours with no pupils. They also often have more than two horns. Their psychic powers most commonly are associated with technology, and their lifespans are comparable to that of a human.

Not much is known of limes, because they were all culled before the events of homestuck. It is known that they had some unusual names, and the ability to pacify highbloods through their psychic power. One of the signs in the lime caste, Cancer, transcends the hemospectrum entirely, and is the religious symbol of what is basically troll jesus.

Olive blood is a dark green colour. Nothing is said about any psychic powers they may have. Their lifespans are comparable to that of a human, most likely more. Troll Will Smith is an oliveblood.

Jadebloods have greenish-blue blood. Jades are especially important in troll society, being the caretakers of the Mother Grub (The giant monster that births all trolls). Jades typically live longer than a century. They are said to probably have the smallest caste population apart from fuchsias. The Jades who care for the Mother Grub are also tasked with culling off any grubs (troll babies) that are deemed 'too weak' or have some sort of imperfection (disability, mutant blood, etc.). Jades are also able to become Rainbow Drinkers (troll vampires), though it is suggested that becoming a rainbow drinker is sacrilegious.

Tealbloods have teal blood. They often work as legislacerators, aka lawyers. Not much else to be said about them, except for the fact that they have the best character in the series: Terezi Pyrope. i love her (platonically).

Ceruleanbloods have cobalt blue blood, and are sometimes called Cobalt because of this. They often have strange eyes (Vriska has 8 pupils in her left eye, my fantroll has four in his right eye, and one from hiveswap has a third eye under their right eye). They also often have asymmetrical horns. Some ceruleans have the ability to read/control minds, and this can be very dangerous if abused. The trolls with more pupils/eyes often have much better vision, and can see through surfaces that would appear opaque to anyone else.

Indigobloods have electric blue blood. They often have horns resembling arrows, and sometimes have terrifying physical strength.

Purplebloods have cool purple blood. They are the highest of the land-dwelling castes, and most all of them participate in a clown-based religion, wearing juggalo-like makeup to show their affiliation. A few purplebloods are selected to rule as both religious and political leaders, the religious bit only applying to those who are part of the religion. In canon, only one of these 'Grand Highbloods' is mentioned, though i choose to believe that there are multiple who govern in different parts of the Alternian empire.

Now we move onto the seadwelling castes, the royalty of trollkind.

Violetbloods have warm purple blood, and more aquatic features (they still have legs tho). Not much to say about them other than i like their blood colour.

Fuchsiabloods have magenta blood, and also have aquatic features. There are only ever two at a time, The Imperious Condescension, and the heir to the throne. TIC is in control of the entire alternian empire, and can possibly live up to millions of years. Both Fuchsiabloods are connected to the gl'bgolyb, a giant monster of tentacles that can release a scream that kills all the trolls in the universe. To prevent it from doing this without a command, it must be fed other troll's guardian monsters (aka Lusii, sing. Lusus). The control of the gl'bgolyb is why TIC is feared and able to keep such a grip on all of trollkind.

Mutants are trolls who are outside of the hemospectrum, and thus are almost always culled when they hatch. The ones that manage to sneak through hide their blood colour, because they'll also be culled if found out later. Troll Jesus was a mutant, having bright red blood.

And that's my infodump! hope you don't regret telling me to do this :)

[timeladyjamie]

Inquisitor Faith Trevelyan - Dragon Age OC

Character Name: Faith Trevelyan

Race / Class / Specialisation: Human, Rogue, Artificer

Gender: Female

Age: 20

Extras: She wanted to be a Bard (Minstrel), but of course her family wouldn’t allow it. So she studied, becoming a self-taught rogue and still sings songs on the side. It’s the only way she knows how to convey her emotions properly. 

Love Interest: Cole

Codex Entry: “The Trevelyans are nobility from Ostwick, a city-state on the southern coast of the Free Marches. It is an old and distinguished family, in good standing among its peers, and with strong ties to the Chantry. Its youngest sons and daughters—those third- or fourth-born children with little chance of becoming heirs—often join the Chantry to become templars or clerics. As the youngest child, Lady Faith Trevelyan was expected to follow suit... until the disaster at the Conclave.

Faith was present at the Temple of Sacred Ashes as a representative of her family's interests, along with other distant relatives in the Chantry. He/She was the only survivor at the temple after the explosion. Rumors that the mysterious mark on his/her hand is a sign of the Maker's favor were spread by those who claim they saw the divine prophet, Andraste herself, lead Lady Faith out of the Fade.

- From Codex Entry: Trevelyan, the Free Marcher

(If personal quest is done)

“Lady Faith Trevelyan is the youngest born of House Trevelyan, a noble house noted for their piety and connections within the Chantry and the Templar Order. Younger members of the family are often expected to follow a career in service of the Chantry either as a member of the Chantry itself or as a Templar, regardless of their personal feelings or motivations. Many members of the family presently serve as members of the chantry and the Trevelyans are reliably on a first name basis with most of the Chantry in Ostwick.

However, Faith wasn’t going to follow tradition. She noticed the flaws and hypocrisy in the Templar Order and the Chantry, and how it not only affected the people part of those factions, but also everyone else in Theads. It angered her parents and caused tension with her family who finally had the last straw with her, planning for her to follow what’s expected of her...at least until the incident at the Conclave.

Now as Inquisitor of the Inquisition, a weight bestowed upon Faith, something she takes seriously, but isn’t sure she should be doing, she tries to help everyone in her own way, even if her family snidely tries to send her letters, telling her she is following the path she was meant to all along. Faith isn’t following the expectations of her family or Andraste as Inquisitor, she is just a normal girl trying to help ALL in Theads and determined to make the world a better place.”

- From Codex Entry: Faith Trevelyan, the Free Marcher

What would their companion card look like? Faith holding a rose with obvious thorns in her hand, causing her to bleed from it’s sharp edges.

Where they would be in Skyhold / Haven: Hearld’s Rest

How to get their approval: Working with the mages. Setting unrealistic expectations on others. Trying to change them from something they are not. Free Will.

How to get their disapproval: Treating Mages terribly. Supporting the use of Lyrium, especially Red Lyrium. Complete Obedience. Talking rudely about Cole or Spirits. 

Are they romanceable? Yes. 

Are they open to polyamoury? N/A

If they can be romanced and are not, will they begin a relationship / relationships with other character(s)? Yes.

Who are they friendly with? 

Cole - When they first met and he was discovered to be a Spirit of Compassion, Faith was weary of him, but accepted the help he offered by letting him join the Inquisition. However, as she got to know him more, she found herself enjoying his company and admire how he helped others earnestly without expecting anything back in return. Cole is entirely drawn to her, mostly because of the heavy turmoil inside her heart, which only grows with becoming the Inquisitor. Because of her rough past, especially with the expectations from House Trevelyan and her family treating her like a Black Sheep, Cole knows she needs him to help offer her the compassion she didn’t get and to help heal her emotional wounds she hides behind a cold & tough exterior. She is amazed how he can look past her facade and see her kind and caring soul underneath, feeling he is the only being to ever truly understand, or at least take the time to get to know her for who she is instead of trying to change her into something she isn’t. Eventually, she finds herself falling in love with him, which only complicates matters because of him being a Spirit of Compassion, leaving her with a tough decision when it comes to either giving into her selfish desires to make him a human or let him go and help him continue with his purpose as a Spirit of Compassion. Cole, on the other hand, can see how selfless, kind, and caring she is and admires her, even as she tries to help others throughout the Inquisition. He spies on her from a distance when she sings her songs. It’s the only time her pain isn’t so bad. Maybe that’s the solution? She listens to him speak about his friends Rhys, Evangeline, and the original Cole. It surprises him that she starts thanking him out of the blue at times. 

(if he becomes more Human) Cole has started to explore all the new feelings that come with being human. Varric and Faith help him through it. He finds himself drawn towards Faith, wanting to hold her hand, be near her, listen to her songs, and kiss her lips. Varric and Dorian help explain to him that he has fallen for Faith and to tell her how he feels. Not long after, they begin a relationship together. 

Dorian– Besides being possible relatives in someway, they find kindred spirits in each other because of being the son/daughter of a famous wealthy family and completely rejecting everything about it, making their own path in life. Faith is the sibling he’s always wanted, and Dorian is the older sibling she wishes she had instead of the ones she got. However, they didn’t get along too well at first because of the wall Faith puts up around others at first, but obviously this changes once she knows she can trust him and finds someone else who understands her. All they want is to make things better for others. Faith also plays matchmaker, encouraging him to flirt with some guys around Skyhold, while he helps her and listens to her speak about Cole. 

Sera- Although she doesn’t like how the rogue may treat Cole at times, Faith understands exactly where Sera is coming from and how she’s trying to make things better for the poor. In fact, she admires it, even if she may take extreme measures at times. It was really hard for them to get along with each other at first, especially because of the fact Faith came from a wealthy family, but once Sera realized she wasn’t anything like her family and wanted to help those in need, a friendship started to blossom between them, plus a knack for loving cookies. 

Who do they dislike? 

Vivienne- Mostly because of how she picks on Cole and plays along with the game. Faith also doesn’t like her need for fashion. Vivienne doesn’t like how the noble daughter of a great house acts so honest, bold, and dresses like a commoner. But there is a mutual respect between one another for following their own ways in life.

Cassandra - It’s mostly because Faith see’s Cassandra as the ‘perfect’ version of what she could have been for her family; the perfect daughter, warrior, Templar. But she doesn’t hate her. 

Opinions on mages / templars / how the world is going to shit? “It shouldn’t have happened in the first place. Neither are entirely perfect or superior to the other.”

Something guaranteed to make them leave the party: She’s the Inquisitor...so no. She’s staying, no matter what.

Cole’s reflection on their thoughts: [First Meeting] “She feels out of place, the wrong song. Their words cut deep like a knife. Keep at a distance. Cold. Rough. Gasping for air. Her warmth and light, stuffed inside, under lock and key like a prisoner. Who would care? But the silence is loud.”

[Once romanced as he helps her] “He sees her for who she is and helps her shine. Freedom. Acceptance. Sweet words ring in her ears like music. She can’t imagine life without him and it only causes him to- *pause* Don’t worry, you still need my help, Faith. I’m not going anywhere.”

Comment(s) on Mages:  “They know what they choose to do and they choose to do it. It already flows in their veins and they don’t deny it. They learn to control it or it controls them. I don’t think they are entirely evil or should be controlled. In fact...I think everything would be better if the Templars and Mages worked together. But of course, with things like The Right of Annulment existing, I can’t blame them for their views with Templars. Then again, Mages aren’t exactly perfect themselves. Neither are the Templars. But if I have to chose one side, it will always be the Mages, because at least they are honest and don’t hide the truth. Even if they take Lyrium.”

Comment(s) on Templars: “Sure, they say that what they do is for the good of the people against magic, but yet, what they do to their own is twisted; getting them addicted to Lyrium until they lose themselves and become nothing more than the perfect killing machines, throwing all their said values out the window like perfect, obedient soldiers. Don’t even get me started on The Right of Annulment. It’s hypocrisy at it’s finest, alongside the Chantry, trying to force a pill down your throat, telling you it will all be alright before it’s too late for you to realize it was poison and it all fades to black.”

When looking for something: “Hmm...keep your eyes sharp.”

When finding a campsite: “Let’s rest here and gather our senses.”

When they are low on Health: “Falling back! Send help!”

When they see a Dragon: “Hello you gorgeous beast!”

Travel Banter with Canon Companions of your choice: 

Cole: Heart pounding, bursting. He’s sweet like honey, so she must be bitterness. It isn’t meant to be. They are from different worlds, and yet, she feels drawn towards him like a magnet. Fingers gliding through hair, longing.

Dorian: *chuckles, glancing over to Faith knowingly* 

Faith: *glaring at him, blushing* Dorian-

Dorian: I wasn’t the one who spoke.

Faith: You didn’t have to. 

Dorian: Oh...are you a mind reader now too?

__________________________________

Cole: Nice warm cookies. Barking laughter. They don’t match up, but for some reason, they still find friendship in each other.

Sera: Ehhh...stop being a creep!

Faith: Sera...

Sera: I don’t see what you see in it. It’s-

Cole: Faith isn’t an ‘it.’ She’s a beautiful woman and soul. 

Faith: [ Inquisitor.exe has stopped working ] 

___________________________________

[foreverpuzzling]

💮 - Is your muse the possessive or super jealous type?

Let's talk about romance! Muse questions

💮 - Is your muse the possessive or super jealous type?

Eddie is a super jealous person. I'd say possessive to some degree, but if his partner was to show interest in someone else he might not outright voice discomfort but would be pretty malicious to the other person his partner is interested in.

Despite this he is okay with polyamoury, it just has to be very open to discussion and very well planned out. Otherwise, you got one pouty bitch who will steal your credit card information.

[sainamoonshine]

My straight normie friends, asking me about my upcoming novels: so what are you working on?

Me, desperately trying to think of a WIP that isn’t queer or queer-adjacent: huuuuuuuuuh. Short stories????

For reference, my published books are:

- MC is explicitely aromantic and says so on the page

- supernatural polyamoury

- found family feat. old married couple (gay edition)

And the books I’m working on are like:

- wlw mlm solidarity (in space)

- explicit polyamoury (dark romance style)

- nonbinary superhero

- dnd inspired het romance but all elves are honourary lgbtq I don’t make the rules

[penig]

Reblogging The Conquering Nose is one thing, but reblogging Heartocalypse: Silver’s College Diary is a trip. I had forgotten how much sheer fun it was, playing and writing as Silver, who is probably the character most unlike me (and that includes villains I’ve felt obliged to write through and whose POVs I ditched the first moment I could) I’ve ever written.

You will be familiar with the truism that, in order to create a character, a writer (or, presumably, actor) must put some of themself into it. This is inevitable and necessary. Our experiences, our fears, our hopes, our ways of thinking give us a basis for understanding other human beings and their actions in real life, and for portraying them in our creative work. But the necessary correlate that is generally undiscussed and appears to go unnoticed is, that in order to create any range of characters (as opposed to a series of alternate versions of ourselves), with three dimensions, voice, and agency, we must also use elements that are very much not us. 

I have seen people who do not go around engaging in creative character work appear genuinely puzzled by even such superficial differences as, for instance, my writing a character who likes olives when I consider them to have one of the vilest tastes I have ever had to expel precipitately from my mouth, which has got to be one of the lowest levels of empathy there can be. All I have to do is imagine that someone who likes olives reacts to them as I do to, say, a cherry, the gush of flavor and the texture between the teeth and on the tongue and the lingering aftertaste pressing against the membranes of my mouth urging me to have another. Heck, if the olive and the character’s enjoyment of it are not part of something I’m developing in the scene, I don’t even have to imagine all that; I can just say: “Maryjohn made a beeline for the olive dish and divided her attention between Johnmary’s exposition and popping them into her mouth,” and use the business incidental to consuming olives to break up Johnmary’s exposition into consumable databursts. 

This is easy, and so is a good opening wedge for developing Maryjohn into someone distinct from me, to her getting her own voice and agency and being capable of responding to the events of the story effectively so that the story happens and resolves in a satisfying way and she has an essential role in it. And maybe Johnmary reacts to Maryjohn’s olive business in a way that begins developing him and whatever relationship lies between them, too - reaching for an olive himself, frowning at her for eating so many, rolling his eyes and passing her a fresh lemonade when the brine makes her thirsty. Maybe Johnmary is a secret villain and feels the same way I do about olives, giving me an in to understanding and developing him. Get the ball rolling and there’s no telling how big the snowball will get or where it will end up.

I have always written most effectively by character immersion: by placing myself behind their imaginary eyes and temporarily becoming them enough to know what they will do or think or say next, retaining only enough of my conscious self to put down their experience in writing. So much of this goes on my backbrain that it’s difficult to talk about, but I rely on it absolutely and no matter what else is going on I can trust it to happen, whether I’m writing or playing a tabletop RPG or simming. 

Simming, for the most part, is the least immersive of these processes because I am observing and interpreting behavior before I am vicariously experiencing it. This is one of the reasons i like simming so much. It gives me easy access to characters it would normally be a strain to write because I have so little in common with them. Extroverts weird me out and I can’t be with them for long at a time, but extroverted sims delight me. I am monogamous, but Romance sims who, even if I don’t allow them polyamoury, are programmed for roving eyes add a lot of interest to my games by creating drama I prefer to avoid in real life. They can be stupid without me having to work out in what way this person is stupid, and they can be smart without input from me. They create their own storylines without my going to the effort of digging into their heads,  even before I know them well enough to hear their voices.

So when I started documenting the challenge in first person, writing as Rhett was an interesting change from my normal writing process, but I still had rules to follow and a plot to shape. it was work as well as play and that was all good fun, but then Silver went to college and I decided on the diary conceit and - wow!

It was straight-up ordinary college play - no plot, a few simple rules, LTWs and want panels, the game mechanics, my understanding of the characters involved - but instead of me I was Silver, trauma-free but not issue-free, goal-oriented, confident to the point of hubris, constitutionally incapable of minding his own business, with no responsibilities except those he imposed upon himself, guided both by his impulses and by the weirdass Hart moral code that developed over the course of play and which neither he nor any other Hart could articulate effectively, intelligent in a completely different way than I am but wise and unwise in ways I vibe with effortlessly. Rhett wrote simple songs that I could hear and transcribe to a certain extent; Silver, somewhere in the depths of the limitations of the game’s sound files and my absolutely unmusical brain, was thinking in music in ways that I couldn’t, nor could I convey more than the barest echoes of it. And something is going on with his olfactory senses - the moment he spotted Mikki in his first hour on campus, I could smell those sunlit tomato vines, and he had some kind of direct connection between his purely theoretical nose and whatever pixelated organs male sims woohoo with, because all his potential partners became associated with smells.

Obviously this was all going on inside my brain somehow, but a lot of it was stuff all my experience indicates that my brain can’t do, so - it was wild. It was a vacation from being me. I don’t expect to ever have such an experience again, but I am glad to have had it, and to be able to re-experience it, in however limited a fashion, by reading back through the archive.

Also, I don’t listen to live music often, but when I do, I hear it differently now. The instrumental solos that used to lose me, don’t. I don’t think I experience them the way Silver would, or the way the music lovers and regular concert-goers around me do, but I am accessing something that I never could before channeling Silver. So. You never know, when you start a project, what it’s going to do to you, down the road.

Isn’t it marvelous?

[blam-marie]

Adrien is a very relatable man lmao

Reminder that SKIN DEEP comes out on March 18th! It's a book about a Selkie who investigates a murder and falls in love with a polyamorous couple ;)

[Image ID:  Book quote on a blue waves background. It says: "It reminds me of my own student years," continued Gabrielle. "Every summer, I would go visit a different national park, to do some hiking. Just me and my backpack, out in the wild... And you, Adrien? Did you travel a lot when you were young?" Adrien raised an eyebrow at her. "I was poor," he said. "So no."]

[threadsun]

Ian Comes Home poll 11/?

He fucked up. He knows he fucked up. But he still pays the rent, and his room is still there. So maybe if he moves in, he can win them back over? Maybe he can make up for what he did? Maybe… just maybe… he can have a second chance. But they’re not going to make it easy for him.

[mandragora-tea]

Box Status: OPEN

Inbox Count: 2

Draft Count: 1

This blog is for gender neutral (or male) readers. I DO NOT write fem/afab reader here. As I myself am Non-Binary, I feel as though there isn’t enough GN content so I’m here to change that! I do have some qualms about what I write though:

✦ RULES ✦

No:

↠ OCs

↠ Content such as non-con, necrophilia, etc

↠ Anything that is hateful, such as homophobia, transphobia, ableism, etc.

↠ Character x Character

↠ Romance with Luke

-

Depending on Severity:

↠ Topics such as Mental Illness, Eating Disorders, Abuse, etc.

-

Yes:

↠ Gore and Injury

↠ Polyamoury

↠ Yandere Content and anything it implies (minus noncon)

↠ Comfort asks

↠ Angst (i.e, MCD, Unrequited Love, etc.)

↠ Platonic

If you have any questions or feel as though anything was vague then please feel free to ask me.

-

Content Identifying Tags

❌ Triggering Content

💚 Fluff

💙 Angst

💛 NSFW {Minors block this tag}

💜 SFW

🖤 Shitpost

-

Masterlist

[lindwyrmrelinquished]

How do you think Lyaria and James react to Hubert’s pining? And would they reciprocate?

Cause I imagine Lyaria either knowing but not reciprocating, or Lyaria not realizing Hubert’s trying to flirt and doesn’t assume any romance in their friendship.

And for James, I imagine he very much knows about it, and doesn’t know how to approach it. Cause Hubert’s not ugly, he’s a very pretty person and he’s a nervous sweetheart, like c’mon that’d make anyone flustered. James doesn’t know if he reciprocates those feelings of if he’s just amused by it.

Butler and Billiam laugh about it but they support Hubert being a flustered disaster XD

Liaria Knows, she definitely knows, and Hubert knows she knows and so do Billiam and Butler. They all have a quiet laugh about it when Hubert's going "woughghogugogugh,,,, woman 😳" and he's definitely caught them doing that a few times. She's also seen him looking at James the same way(cause even if his face is covered by a mask, his body language betrays everything if you know how to read it), so she never says anything about Hubert's feelings, assuming they're either the same or stronger for James than for her. And really, he's a nice guy in his own way, she'd hate to make him sad(or to dirty her own reoutation) by being with him and therefore preventing him from being with James. (Polyamoury ain't really a Thing at this point in time)

James, meanwhile, also knows, but he's sad and depressed and also drunk half the time so he thinks he's either imagining it or he starts talking down to himself and never says anything about it either unless he's really drunk. Hubert's gotten a few offhanded comments from him saying he should "find someone better" and it "wouldn't work anyway." He just pats James on the back and gives him some water. James does find it amusing, when he's not constantly drunk or sad about himself, how Hubert's wings will flutter and how his hands go weak when he's pining hard over him. He is mostly unaware of Hubert's pining towards Liaria and everyone's agreed to not tell him until he figures it out on his own. (He never does, and after enough times seeing their dead bodies, Hubert kind of forces his crush to break.)

[confusion-doodle]

Me: i despise love triangles, introduce polyamoury cowards, also general distaste for romance

Also me: yh no i genuiely enjoy the drama and stupidity of love triangles its thrilling and fun