#Lovisa Ersdotter

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🖊🖊 for each of your rdr2 bbs?? 😊

🖊 - Evaline has never seen the ocean, never really seen much of anything, so when she and Charles ride back into Clemens Point, the first thing she sees is all that water. She asks Charles if that’s the ocean, but he has to explain that the ocean is even bigger. Mind. Blown.

🖊 - Like everyone else taken under the brooding hens that are Dutch and Hosea, Evaline views Hosea as something of a father figure - and he starts to teach her how to read and write - but she spends the most time with Strauss. He’s prickly and standoffish, but so is she. She can’t say she views him in the same lens she views Hosea through, but they share a kinship.

🖊 - Jessie loves Arthur’s loyalty and bemoans it in the same breath. By the end, it’s not exactly a secret that lines are being drawn in the gang. Jessie can see that it’s a powder keg so rife with paranoia and suspicion that it could go off at any second, but she can’t leave because she knows that’s one less person who has Arthur’s back.

🖊 - Jessie’s been on her own, more or less, since she was sixteen. There are three things she can do to perfection: she can make a damn fine cup of joe, bake some decent skillet biscuits, and she can shoot a shot glass off a bar using a peacemaker from 25 yards.

🖊 - Lovisa does not know how to cook and has no plans on learning, despite all the best efforts of the concerned mamas in her community who worry about her ability to feed her hypothetical future husband. Lovisa thinks that her hypothetical future husband can feed himself.

🖊 - Speaking of hypothetical future husbands, Lovisa and Kieran both move slower than turtles in bifocals. Mary-Beth ships them hardcore and is having a difficult time getting them to even talk to each other in multi-word sentences. All of her hints are either being ignored or going right over their heads. She can’t really tell which, but it’s driving her crazy.

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🖊🖊🖊 surprise me!

Surprise, it’s gonna be my RDO ladies!

🖊 - Jessie likes fishing, hates eating fish. She and her sister once got super drunk and decided to try shooting the fish with a pistol. Turns out, when you’re seeing double, the odds of hitting anything - let alone a swimming, moving, tiny little fish - are not great. While sober and bored, she decided to throw a chunk of dynamite into the lake. It was effective, but...messy. Very messy.

🖊 - Evaline is illiterate, but keenly numerate. She never learned to read or write, but god help you if you try to slip one over on her moneywise. The gang learns this when she leans over Strauss’ shoulder and tells him that he got the sum in one of his columns wrong.

🖊 - Lovisa wants a pet so badly, and the closest she gets to one is the feral tom that eats rats in the alley behind her little apartment. She tries leaving saucers of cream to tempt him closer, but it never works. She also tried to feed it a little smoked salmon, and it kind of worked. She got close enough to try and pat it, but it swatted at her hand and ran away. It honestly hurt her feelings.

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Even numbers for the muse questions, for any of your rdr2 girls?? 🤠

Yaaaaaaaaaay! I love talking about my girls. I’m very excited for this.

Fun fact, they’re all named after ancestors of mine.

2. What was the best thing in your character’s life?

Presumable, this is aside from family and s/os and such.

Jessie has a horse that is her pride and joy. His name is Coffee and she babies the hell out of him. He’s more like a puppy than a thoroughbred. He gets the best food, the best stabling, and in return, he takes the best care of her, too.

Lovisa has a gold filigree locket that used to be her mother’s. There is a picture of her father and mother on one side and her maternal grandparents on the other. It’s much too fine and expensive to be worn in public, because she would definitely be mugged for it. It rests in tissue paper, tucked between the pages of her family bible.

Evaline hasn’t had much in the way of physical comforts in her life, nothing you could write home about, anyway. But the roof of the bathhouse she works in is easily accessible from the eaves, and she likes to climb out and look at the stars. Her dreams of escape are the best thing she has right now. That, and the small sack of cash she keeps hidden in a hole under her mattress.

4. What seemingly insignificant memories stuck with your character?

Jessie remembers winter nights with her sisters, all of them cuddled under bed clothes and telling secrets and giggling. It was a happier time, a more innocent time.

Lovisa remembers that her father always smelled slightly of the sickroom, and hopes that she doesn’t.

Evaline doesn’t remember much of life beyond the fact that she was left at a train station in West Elizabeth. But she remembers waking up under a bench and the first thing she saw was the polished black shoes of the station master. 

6.  What is your character reluctant to tell people?

Jessie will never say just how easy killing comes. It’s hard the first time, and gets steadily easier after that. It’s like swatting flies. She doesn’t enjoy it, will only do it for money and she tries to make it quick. It’s like a chore - something that has to be done - but there’s a sense of satisfaction after a job well done.

Lovisa has a hard time telling people that she can’t help them - not that she won’t, just when there is nothing she can do for them. Nothing anyone can do for them.

Evaline doesn’t like to talk about her past. It’s over and done, and no business of anyone else.

8.  How many friends does your character have?

Jessie has her family and her posse (generally made up of family). Lenny, Sean, and Kieran have been adopted as little brothers.

Lovisa is a friend to everyone - usually because they want something - but doesn’t actually have, like, any friends.

Evaline views the other girls as competition, and the men? Well, they don’t have friendship in mind.

10. What would your character make a scene about in public?

Jessie would make a scene as a distraction.

Lovisa would only make a scene if she thought someone was being mistreated.

Evaline would not make a scene, full stop.

12. What are your character’s major flaws?

Jessie has a hair trigger temper and will fight or rob anybody.

Lovisa is a timid little thing, on the prudish side, with a slightly holier than thou attitude. Can be a bit of a martyr.

Evaline just doesn’t care. She’s very apathetic about just about everything that doesn’t personally involve her.

14. How does the image your character tries to project differ from the image they actually project?

Jessie tries to project the image of a total badass, but what she actually comes off looking like is one of those kittens who puff up and hiss. She’s pretty tiny. People laugh, right up until she holds a knife to their throat and walks away with their life savings and the last laugh.

Lovisa tries to project cool professionalism and a friendly demeanor. She ends up putting people in mind of a porcelain doll (or turn of the century doctor barbie) but she doesn’t care if all the fancy doctors up on nob hill don’t take her seriously, because she still has a line of patients circling the block.

Evaline tries to project an air of callous indifference to the world around her, and she largely succeeds.

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2, 11, 48, 67, 86 for Del and Lovisa!

2. Do they have a fear of an animal? If so, what animal?

Del is slightly afraid of turkeys, but looking at their behavior, who wouldn’t be? Like, she’s not going to stop eating turkey or anything, but she’s going to run like hell if she’s ever alone with one.

Lovisa hates rats. She hates them. They’re disease ridden vermin and she loathes the fact that she’s living in a city rife with them. She might shudder when she sees one, but she once screamed and climbed on top of a table when one ran over her foot.

11. Do they believe in luck?

Del absolutely does. She is very superstitious. She has a horseshoe near the door (she never got around to hanging it up) and won’t walk under ladders or open umbrellas indoors. She also regularly throws salt over her shoulder (sorry Staci and Joseph) and never steps on cracks in the pavement. The one thing she doesn’t believe is that black cats are bad luck. How could anything so cute be unlucky?

Lovisa, on the other hand, does not. She believes that if there is any luck, we make our own luck. She’s the kind of person who deliberately walks under ladders, because she is a woman of science - and so what if a bucket of paint fell on her once. It was purely coincidence!

48. What does their room look like?

Del doesn’t have a room, it was eaten by a blob monster made out of equal piles of washed laundry that she dumped on the bed - and then pushed off when she needed space to sleep - and unwashed laundry that never made it out of her room.

Lovisa’s room is just that. It’s a single room with a bed and armoire (that’s bigger than the bed) against one wall, and a tiny little wood fired furnace in the middle of the room. There’s a sink against another wall with a little shelf that holds all two of her plates and cups, and a bookshelf and chair against the third. The fourth has the entry door from the hall.

67. What is something that is simple, but always makes them smile?

Del is easy that way, she was born smiling. Her kitties, rainbows, clouds in funny shapes, her favorite song coming on the radio. Pretty much anything.

Lovisa is similar in that respect. Life is easier with a smile on your face, so she does it often. She likes hearing cicadas, the sound of rain on the window, the smell of spices, hearing jazz on the gramophone.

86. What is something they can’t leave home without?

Del never leaves home without her phone, her wallet, her sunglasses, a protein bar in case she gets snacky, her earphones, her keys, some hand sanitizer (that she never actually uses, it’s just one of those things that everyone has in their purse just because), a couple of pens; two chapsticks in case she leaves one in her car; and some feminine products, just in case. She leaves all of these things in her purse, then leaves her purse in her locker. But it’s the thought that counts.

Lovisa usually never leaves home without her medical bag. Only, in her case, she doesn’t use the standard leather bag. Hers is a rather prettily patterned carpet bag, because she prefers not to attract attention and a woman with a doctor’s satchel is bound to get comments. Leading to number two: she never leaves home without a nice long hatpin. She’s never had to use it, but it’s always nice to have.

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🖊🖊 Del and 🖊🖊 Lovisa!

🖊 - We’ve talked about how much she loves pineapple on pizza, but I do have to admit, she’s also the kind of person who dips pizza in ranch. I’m sorry, she’s a gremlin. She’s an agent of chaos and cannot be controlled.

🖊 - Del’s fight or flight response is firmly on fight. She’s never actually hit anyone, but anyone tapping her on the shoulder without her being aware should prepare for her to turn around karate chopping. She doesn’t know why, but it’s always karate chopping.

🖊 - Lovisa’s first run in with the VDL gang is still in the WIP stage, but basically goes down like this: John sticks a gun in her face in a kidnapping attempt to get her to come with them, she stabs him with a hat pin, and Charles and Arthur can barely stop laughing long enough to stop her from running. Once she hears that someone is hurt, she comes with them willingly, and then also stitches up John’s hand. He highkey hates it when Arthur pokes fun about being taken down by a little lady with a pin.

🖊 - She becomes great friends with Mary-Beth and Tilly, and it’s the first time in her life that she’s ever really had friends. She went from the schoolroom, to the sickroom, with barely any time between. She loves visiting tearooms in St. Denis with them, gossiping and giggling over cucumber sandwiches and watery earl grey.

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Multiples of 3 for Lovisa?

You’re the first person to ask about my girl! I’m so excited to share.

Behind a cut for length.

3. How tall is your OC? 

Fairly tall for a woman of the time, around 5′6. 5′7 in boots.

6. What is one word you would use to describe your OC’s appearances?

Fragile.

9. What does your OC’s bedroom look like?  His/her living area? 

She lives in a tiny, one room apartment in a St. Denis slum. The wallpaper is soot stained, the furniture old, but obviously well made and kept clean and in good repair. Her bed is a single, brass frame, with an old mattress that has molded to her her sleep position. The quilt is black on one side, white on the other, with flowers quilted into it.

12. What is your OC’s relationship with her father?

Lovisa was daddy’s little princess. She was his pride and joy, his crown jewel, his little angel. Her mother died when she was eleven, and Lovisa basically became the lady of the house at that point. Her father was a doctor in Stockholm, and she became the hostess, receptionist, and nurse all in one. Nothing changed when they emigrated to America, except that she took on more of a medical role as he got older. His dream was for her to go to medical school and become a doctor herself.

15. What was your OC’s childhood like?

It was happy. There never seemed to be a lot of time for playing, but reading was encouraged, and reading is her greatest joy.

18. How many times did your OC move as a child?  Which area was his/her favorite?

Once that she can remember, but that was the big one. She was miserably sick the entire journey from Sweden to America, and she could barely step food on deck without vomiting. She was very excited to see everything up until they got to St. Denis. Then it was just a city, like all other cities. People spoke funny, but they were just the same kinds of people as before.

21. Who are your OC’s closest relatives?

She has some aunts and uncles, and a few cousins, back home. They write occasionally.

24. Who are the people your OC dislikes/hates?

She hates bullies. They are thieves of the worst kind, because they steal people’s humanity, with a look, or a word, or a fist. She can’t stand it.

27. What are some things your OC admires about his/her soulmate?

He’s kind. He’s so kind.

30. Did your OC participate in extracurricular activities, and if so, what were they?

Ehh, not really.

33. What subjects interested your OC?

Medicine! She wants to be a doctor so badly.

36. What are your OC’s thoughts/opinions of his/her current profession?

She likes helping people, it makes her happy.

39. How does your OC handle anger?

One brief explosion, and then it’s over and forgotten.

42. What makes your OC happy?

Rainy mornings, hot coffee, walks along the waterfront. She is a woman of simple pleasures.

45. What are some things that annoy your OC?

St. Denis. Seriously, she hates it there. People are packed in like sardines, everyone is so grumpy, no one ever smiles. She really doesn’t like it when people don’t smile back when she smiles at them.

48. What are some of your OC’s vices?

She’s a cinnamon roll, she doesn’t have any.

51. What are some of your OC’s morals?

She is generosity itself with her time and her skills. She’s always there to lend a helping hand.

54. Does your OC think with his/her head or heart?

Heart, she’s all heart.

57. What are some of your OC’s weaknesses?

She’s a little timid, a little passive, very content to go with the flow. Stuck in a rut.

60. If your OC could change one thing about him/herself, what would it be?

She wouldn’t mind being a little more aggressive. She can be a pushover, but only when it comes to herself. When it’s a “patient” or a friend, then she gets the mom-friend override.

63. How does your OC display love?

Quality time and physical touch are Lovisa’s love language.

66. What is your OC’s favorite food?

Risgrynsgröt. It was always served at Christmas, and it reminds her of home and family.

69. What is your OC’s favorite kind of weather?

Lovisa loves the rain. She loves the patter on the roof, and the way it pushes down all the soot and pollution in the air.

72. What is your OC’s favorite kind music (and song if there is one)?

Whatever it is her neighbors play on the gramophone. It comes through the walls, and she likes the ambience.

75. What is your OC’s favorite scent?

She likes the smell of grass and trees, because it means she’s not in the city. She’s also very fond of rosewater in her baths.

78. What is your OC’s favorite time of day?

Sunrise or sunset. When the sun paints the sky in different shades of pink and purple. It’s glorious.

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🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

Del denies it, but she’s superstitious as hell. She reads her horoscope every day, throws salt over her shoulder, never crosses under ladders or opens umbrellas in doors, and knocks on wood. She draws the line at black cats, though, because she loves black cats.

Uli really loved the woman he was with when he met John, but more as a friend than a lover. She was mainly to keep his ultraconservative coworkers from finding out he is bisexual. He was completely honest with her about his preferences, because he knew she wouldn’t say anything, but it still hurt her when they broke up. He regrets that. A lot. 

April’s oldest son is in the Hope County Sheriff’s Department - Nancy wasn’t the only spy in the office. When the Reaping begins, he joins Jacob at the Veteran’s Center as one of his Chosen, and everyone is none the wiser.

There is no room in Mavra’s life for normal people (or as normal as anyone can be post-Collapse). That’s why her only friends are damaged souls (like the Judge). She tends to befriend people who are so preoccupied by their own inner demons that they don’t force her to confront her own. She’s afraid to open up to people, because that makes her vulnerable, and there’s nothing more terrifying.  

Jessie likes to play hooky with Arthur. She’ll say they’re going out to scout for a robbery, or because she heard of a house with pots of money around, when really she just wants to take him to this spot she found. There’s a bend in the river, and a willow tree with the fronds almost touching the ground for shade, and she really wants to take a nap there with him.

Evaline is used to people believing that she’s a sex worker because she used to work in a bath house, but she never bothers correcting them. People believe what they want to believe. And anyway, sticks and stones, etc. It’s only when Micah propositions her, saying that “she’s a whore anyway, what’s one more man?” that she loses her temper. He’s lucky the scratches didn’t scar.

Lovisa walks the nighttime streets of St. Denis without fear or incident, because she’s never had an incident before. She thinks it’s because of the innate goodness of the human soul, but really, it’s that the gang leaders know that she’s a valuable resource and don’t want any harm to come to her. Not until she loses her usefulness, anyway.

Mailys is fascinated by the Nauts, to the despair of her tutors who quickly tire of the endless questions. As a child, her mother said that if she didn’t behave, she would be given to the Nauts. To the princess’ considerable shock, Mailys came down from her room later with her bags packed, ready to go. Imagine her considerable excitement when she is appointed Legate and they make ready to travel to the island, only for the excitement to be quickly overtaken by nausea. Seasickness was not a feature in her very romantic daydreams about ship life.