codeikah

[codeikah]

writing tip #3869:

i asked my fiancée what she thought today's writing tip should be and she said, "you should write your fucking novel," and well, she got me there

[codeikah]

may all the people who see this finish their current wip this year

[codeikah]

honestly my main motivation to write one scene from the prequel to the hero’s protege is a specific song. and god help me when that song gets old for me.

[codeikah]

DAENERYS TARGARYEN Game of Thrones • 5.09 The Dance of Dragons

[codeikah]

AYO EDEBIRI as Ariel Ecton in Opus 2025, dir. Mark Anthony Green

[codeikah]

THE HERO’S PROTÉGÉ; a queer dark fantasy novel by @codeikah

“But you saw his body.” Rhyes said. “I don’t understand.” The frost was seeping into his fingers, leaving them numb and grey, until Zira took them between his own pale ones, coaxing a flame from his fingers. Warmth blossomed inside him amidst the unease; Rhyes’ gaze flickered to his mentor, and watched the grim line that Zira’s mouth made. “I’d feel it if he was dead.” Zira’s voice was level, carefully measured. He met Rhyes’ gaze, and a memory passed between them. A wave of fire. The sizzle of flesh. Zira’s hands tightened around Rhyes’, until they swallowed his completely. “I’d know.”

READ MORE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION - REBLOG TO HELP SPREAD THIS :)

SYNOPSIS.

A hero. A villain. A choice.

When Rhyes and Zira kill the Viper, Rhyes had expected to feel relief. But the 'what comes next' is much worse than he'd expected: how to move forward after accomplishment your life's mission?

As the city recovers from the Viper's reign of terror, Rhyes and Zira have to confront the understanding that someone as slippery as the Viper will always find a way beyond the veil. With dissent growing around them, and the kingdom of Arzule on the brink of disaster, Rhyes begins to realise that not all is as it seems.

Zira is hiding something from him. The kingdom is hiding something from him.

And the only person with answers is the girl he rescues from the graveyard, with damning secrets of her own.

Who is Kineh, and why does she cry when she first sees him?

-

GENRE & FEATURES.

an all-queer cast of superheroes & villains; the realization that your heroes have skeletons in their closets too; the amnesia trope with a twist; self-fulfilling prophecies; secrets with devastating outcomes; proud trans identity; powerhungry men & their victim complexes; stubborn women who refuse to die on anyone's terms except their own; unhappy endings, for some.

-

CHARACTERS.

RHYES BRECCH has been followed by tragedy and mystery from long before his encounter with venom, that left him needing deprogrammed. as the kingdom's first openly trans superhero, he is eager to serve his city in the fight for peace, and values his friends above almost all else. he doesn't want to change the world - unfortunately for him, others have already decided his part.

ZIRA XAROSEN is arzule kingdom's golden boy. the prophecised hero to bring an end to the city's chaos, he is rhyes' best friend and mentor, the one who saved him from venom: a fate worse than death. his desire to kill the viper sustains him above all else, and he begins to crumble after his arch-enemy's supposed death. how do you remain a hero when you've killed all the villains?

IMALIA XAROSEN has been married to zira for five years, and in that time has become the city's most valuable defence line against evil. tasked with royal and heroic duties, she runs herself ragged between her jobs and her loyalty to her husband, best friend, and child. her hands are bloodier than they seem, and imalia has no qualms about dirtying them again to protect herself and her interests.

THE VIPER is the last bastion of evil from the remains of the old kingdom, before the arzule cleanse. vicious and ruthless, he's always been one step ahead - until now, or so it seems. it's not long after his 'death' that rhyes begins to question the viper's motives, and his relationship to zira. after all, the viper hadn't always been a killer. had he?

"KINEH." A young woman who should not exist, and has never liked to listen to what she should be.

TAG LIST.

@redclovertea

Ask to be added to the taglist to find out more about this novel, including updates & more graphics!

[codeikah]

you’re inspiring me to work on a book…

OMG???????/ PLS tell me more :eyes: what book..........

[codeikah]

soooo excited about the hero’s protégé !!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!!!!!! ME TOO !!!!!!!!!!!!! it's been SUCH a long time since i've worked on it properly ajsdbjh, but i've got so many pieces of work that i'm procrastinating right now that it weirdly put me in the headspace to bring it back hahah :DD i love all these characters dearly, even if the plot is v different from what it used to be !

[codeikah]

also ink is such a cool name !!!

THANK U SO MUCH ILY............. it's a play on my initial so i kinda like it ksdbfjd, god forbid a girl (me) uses her actual name online.... i am incapable

[codeikah]

also PLS feel free to send me asks about my writing - i'll return the favour & do the same for you !! :D

[codeikah]

THE HERO’S PROTÉGÉ; a queer dark fantasy novel by @codeikah

“But you saw his body.” Rhyes said. “I don’t understand.” The frost was seeping into his fingers, leaving them numb and grey, until Zira took them between his own pale ones, coaxing a flame from his fingers. Warmth blossomed inside him amidst the unease; Rhyes’ gaze flickered to his mentor, and watched the grim line that Zira’s mouth made. “I’d feel it if he was dead.” Zira’s voice was level, carefully measured. He met Rhyes’ gaze, and a memory passed between them. A wave of fire. The sizzle of flesh. Zira’s hands tightened around Rhyes’, until they swallowed his completely. “I’d know.”

READ MORE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION - REBLOG TO HELP SPREAD THIS :)

SYNOPSIS.

A hero. A villain. A choice.

When Rhyes and Zira kill the Viper, Rhyes had expected to feel relief. But the 'what comes next' is much worse than he'd expected: how to move forward after accomplishment your life's mission?

As the city recovers from the Viper's reign of terror, Rhyes and Zira have to confront the understanding that someone as slippery as the Viper will always find a way beyond the veil. With dissent growing around them, and the kingdom of Arzule on the brink of disaster, Rhyes begins to realise that not all is as it seems.

Zira is hiding something from him. The kingdom is hiding something from him.

And the only person with answers is the girl he rescues from the graveyard, with damning secrets of her own.

Who is Kineh, and why does she cry when she first sees him?

-

GENRE & FEATURES.

an all-queer cast of superheroes & villains; the realization that your heroes have skeletons in their closets too; the amnesia trope with a twist; self-fulfilling prophecies; secrets with devastating outcomes; proud trans identity; powerhungry men & their victim complexes; stubborn women who refuse to die on anyone's terms except their own; unhappy endings, for some.

-

CHARACTERS.

RHYES BRECCH has been followed by tragedy and mystery from long before his encounter with venom, that left him needing deprogrammed. as the kingdom's first openly trans superhero, he is eager to serve his city in the fight for peace, and values his friends above almost all else. he doesn't want to change the world - unfortunately for him, others have already decided his part.

ZIRA XAROSEN is arzule kingdom's golden boy. the prophecised hero to bring an end to the city's chaos, he is rhyes' best friend and mentor, the one who saved him from venom: a fate worse than death. his desire to kill the viper sustains him above all else, and he begins to crumble after his arch-enemy's supposed death. how do you remain a hero when you've killed all the villains?

IMALIA XAROSEN has been married to zira for five years, and in that time has become the city's most valuable defence line against evil. tasked with royal and heroic duties, she runs herself ragged between her jobs and her loyalty to her husband, best friend, and child. her hands are bloodier than they seem, and imalia has no qualms about dirtying them again to protect herself and her interests.

THE VIPER is the last bastion of evil from the remains of the old kingdom, before the arzule cleanse. vicious and ruthless, he's always been one step ahead - until now, or so it seems. it's not long after his 'death' that rhyes begins to question the viper's motives, and his relationship to zira. after all, the viper hadn't always been a killer. had he?

"KINEH." A young woman who should not exist, and has never liked to listen to what she should be.

TAG LIST.

@redclovertea

Ask to be added to the taglist to find out more about this novel, including updates & more graphics!

[codeikah]

An Edible Flowers List

Angelica: tastes like licorice Anise hyssop: anise or licorice flavor Apple blossoms: like apples Chive flowers: taste like chives Bee Balm: tastes somewhat like oregano or mint Borage: somewhat cucumber-like Carnation: sweet flavor, good for desserts Chamomile: somewhat like apples Chervil: anise Chrysanthemums: tangy, bitter Citrus blossoms: taste like the fruit Clover: sweet, somewhat anise Cornflower: usually spicy, somewhat like cloves Dandelion: sweet, honey-like Day Lily: somewhat sweet, reminiscent of vegetables Garden Sorrel: tart, lemony Gladiolas: lettuce-like, mild, but pretty as a serving vessel Hibiscus: tart, like cranberries Honeysuckle: sweet Jasmine: strong, good for use in tea Johnny Jump-Ups: mild, wintergreen Lavender: sweet, floral Lemon verbena: lemon Lilac: flowery, a little bitter Linden: similar to honeysuckle Marigold: usually peppery, can be somewhat bitter Nasturtium: peppery, good in salads Okra: nutty, somewhat like asparagus when cooked Pansy: mild, slightly sweet Pineapple Guava: sweet, melon-like Primrose: slightly sweet Queen Anne’s Lace: light, like a carrot Rose: different varieties have different flavors, but mostly sweet; even if you do not want to eat them, consider using them to decorate cakes and pastries Squash blossoms: taste like the squash they would have grown into Sunflower: young flowers taste like artichokes, older flowers are bitter Sweet Woodruff: sweet, somewhat nutty Tulip: mild lettuce or cucumber flavor

[codeikah]

Hunter Schafer as Gretchen Cuckoo (2024) dir. Tilman Singer

[codeikah]

WE WERE LIARS (2025-)

[codeikah]

Joseph Zada as Johnny Sinclair Dennis — WE WERE LIARS 1.03 "The Ties Were Black, the Lies Were White"

[codeikah]

WE WERE LIARS 1.01・Tell Me Sweet Little Lies

[codeikah]

unique things you can give your characters to make them stand out that are not tattoos or scars:

multiple ear piercings (especially for male characters)

visible body piercings (nose piercing, etc.)

lots of jewelry (layered necklaces, rings on every finger, etc.)

or no jewelry at all (bonus: a character that doesn't wear any in a culture that is jewelry focused)

a signature color (ex. a character that always wears blue, or only wears gold rings)

extra descriptive hair or eye color (ex. curly, red hair down to the waist, amber eyes with flecks of green, cropped silver-blonde hair)

freckles (bonus: body freckles, not just face)

a nervous habit (ex. picking at their skin, biting their nails, checking a watch, fiddling with jewelry)

a limp or any other unusual gait (bonus: describe it! is it from a horseback riding accident, were they born that way, is it from aging, etc.?)

an accent or lisp (use cautiously and with respect)

unique teeth (tooth gaps, missing teeth, gold/silver teeth, crowded teeth, etc.)

a signature hairstyle (a braided coronet, a bun, etc.)

noticeable facial features: ruddy cheeks, a prominent nose, very thin/thick eyebrows, moles, birthmarks, etc.)