#Nameer Khatri

[author-a-holmes]

Height Comparison Tag Game

Thank you @winglesswriter for the tag! (HERE)

Tagging forward, with no pressure, to; @jasmineinthenight, @tyne-sharrow, @rumeysawrites, @world-of-fire-and-flight-admin,

@cycleofash, @innocentlymacabre, @aalinaaaaaa, and anyone else who wants to play, consider this an open tag <3

Link to the Height Comparison Website

How To Play: List the heights of your OCs, add any notes you'd like, and make a chart

Lizzy Hail; 5'3 or 160CM

Lizzy's small, but mighty. Her mum's short too, so not knowing who her father is, she assumes she gets it from her mum.

Booker Reed; 5'10 or 177CM

Booker is in the upper end of height for a Fey. When he shot up in his early teens, he enjoyed lording it over Lizzy for a while, and it's where the habit of slinging his arm around her shoulders originated.

Nameer Khatri; 6'0 or 182CM

Nameer is exactly one inch shorter than his best friend, Andric, and it pisses him off. I think he'd have tolerated it better if there had been a bigger gap, but that one inch is so negligable, it irritates him.

Andric Roche; 6'1 or 185CM

Andric doesn't really think about his heigh much. It is what it is. It's why Nameer's only brought up his irritation once. The genuine look of confusion on Andric's face had been enough to deflate Nameer's whining.

Cara Evelyn; 5'6 or 170CM

Cara wishes she was taller. Mainly because she hates being forced to look up at people. She's fought long and hard to be respected in her kavian training classes, and she thinks if she were more imposing she wouldn't be underestimated or dismissed as easily.

You can meet Lizzy, Booker, Andric, Nameer, and Cara in Changeling.

[author-a-holmes]

I'm utterly delighted you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for the lovely review <3

[Changeling Spoilers Beneath the Cut]

I vividly remember writing the scene betweeen Lizzy and Nameer. I knew they needed to have that conversation, but as I was writing it I kept wondering how I was going to get her out of said conversation.

The moment I realised what Lizzy was going to have to do I physically winced and had to walk away from the keyboard for a few minutes lol!

Just finished @author-a-holmes's Changeling and I am not okay.

Some thoughts, because my Goodreads review wasn't enough and I need to keep talking about this in the one place that doesn't mind incoherent rambling: Tumblr.

Don't read on if you haven't read the book though, because there are massive spoilers ahead.

SERIOUSLY, MASSIVE SPOILERS AHEAD

You've been warned.

Kavians regaining their senses? Something that nobody believes is possible. Okay, sure. I was desperately waiting for Lizzy and Booker to mention that Raine could speak when Lizzy encountered Alex though. That definitely felt like it took longer than it should've. But when you're surrounded by people who don't believe you, it makes sense to keep some things to yourself.

I adored Hilda Gladstone, and it hurt to see her turn. And human blood could emaciate her that quickly? And the forest? Ouch. I wasn't ready for that to be her end. That one genuinely made me sad.

Poor Nameer! I literally gasped when he had his neck snapped. Bloody hell, Lizzy.

And Logan! I definitely understand why Nameer killed him; putting Lizzy at risk was not an acceptable option, and keeping him alive would yield no other result once the council found out. But damn.

I am SO ready for book 2!

[indecentpause]

A blorbo from your stories you want to talk about?

I could talk about all of them endlessly, but I have to pick just one or this message will be even more ridiculously long than it already is.

Nameer Khatri is the character in Changeling that has surprised me the most. I needed a "best friend" for my male lead, Andric Roche, to bounce off.

Nameer and Andric have been friends forever, grew up together, and I expected him to be similar to Andric. Serious, and studious, since they're both skilled kavian hunters... but no.

He's a taunting, teasing, practical joker, and he rarely gives Andric a moment's peace.

It's hilarious, and perfect, and he's so hard to write because I am not that funny!

5/6

I love Nameer even more than I did with the excerpt :D ah, the difficulties of having to write a character who is better at something than you are. I've been there. but he sounds like a delight to write!

[author-a-holmes]

Random Headcanon Generator Tag Game

Thank you @rumeysawrites for the tag (HERE)

Tagging forward, with no pressure, to; @duckingwriting, @oh-no-another-idea, @faelanvance, @elliottsbigstrongboyarms,

@mr-writes, @pluttskutt, @thatfunkylilfey, and anyone else that wants to play, consider this an open tag <3

How To Play: Use this headcanon generator to make headcanons for your OCs! Then talk about how accurate they are.

Lizzy Hail

"Lizzy drank an almost toxic amount of coffee once"

While this isn't actually true, I could believe it to be true. She is not a morning person. She relies on coffee to move from conscious to awake. I could believe it.

Booker Reed

"Booker is a horrible liar."

Untrue! Booker is actually a really GOOD liar. The fact that he doesn't like to, is probably his saving grace, but Booker could excell the two-talking, double-speak, that is natural within the Fey Court.

Cara Evelyn

"Cara will remind others in the midst of chaos how good they're being."

I can see it. Cara's quite a naturally sweet person. If she thought someone needed to hear it, to get them up and fighting again in the midst of said chaos, the words would come easily to her.

Andric Roche

"Andric can drive."

This one is so simple it feels like a cheat. Yes, Andric can drive. It's seen in the first book, and it's important to the plot in book two as Andric's car is the only way Lizzy and Booker can get to all the places they need to be.

Nameer Khatri

"Nameer has chronic nightmares."

Not something I'd thought about but, again, I can see it. Nameer is a kavian hunter. He's very good at his job. But that does mean he's witnessed, and done, some truly horrendous things. But Nameer's also a genuinely good soul, so I think they could definitely weigh heavy on his mind. Might also explain why he's so often laughing and joking, and taking those small pleasures where he can.

Mia Harris

"Mia does not know what sleep is"

This is an interesting one. It's true. Sort of. Mia does work herself to the bone, but it's not entirely willingly. She has a lot of demands and expectations placed on her from her home life. So she pushes, and she should sleep more than she does. And while her attitude isn't naturally the friendliest, all those sharp edges are only eenhanced by the pressure she's under, and the drastic lack of sleep she operates on.

Connorbar Moore

"If Connorbar was presented with an intergalactic portal, they would enter it without question."

If 'Intergalactic' was 'portal to Arbaon', then the answer is yes. 1000%. Without question or hesitation. Unfortunately for you all reading this, the reasons why are spoiler territory.

Olwen Pryce

"Olwen has fallen asleep at their desk while working in the middle of the night."

Another easy one to end on. Yes. Olwen is Connorbar's right hand, and she takes it very seriously. She's absolutely fallen asleep trying to keep on top of work, and Connor has absolutely ordered her to bed when he's found her.

[author-a-holmes]

If it's wrong, we're wrong together!

I have two main characters, and two secondary main character... and then there's Nameer.

He was a character added in the second draft because one of my main characters needed a best friend, and frankly he steals every scene he's in.

Even my editor loved him.

Plus, he's just so much fun to write!

Is it wrong if my favorite oc of mine is not my main character?

[author-a-holmes]

OC Profile Tag Game

Thank you for the tag @storycraftcafe

Tagging forward, with no pressure; @authoralexharvey @sleepyowlwrites @amewinterswriting

@talesofsorrowandofruin @isabellebissonrouthier @afoolandathief

A blank copy is beneath the cut, at the end <3

Name: Andric Roche

Nickname: None

Kind of Being: Vampire

Age: 23

Gender: Male

Appearance: 6'2 or 188cm

Occupation: Kavian Hunter, currently on a leave of absence.

Family members: Mother, Penelope Roche. Father, Jeremiah Roche. Brother, Isaak Roche.

Pets: None.

Best friend: Nameer Khatri

Describe their room: Andric considers his room a bit of a sactuary. Between his rigorous hunters training growing up, and a younger brother, it became somewhere he could shut himself away and unwind.

There's lots of dark, muted colours, mostly wooden furniture, and lots of bookshelves, but there technilogical comforts too such as a sound system for music, and a laptop for doomscrolling mindlessly.

Way of speaking: The way Andric speaks depends on the enviroment he's in. He prefers the natural, casual, way he speaks when hanging out with Nameer, but his mother is a highly respected hunter who works closely with members of the European Vampire Council, and so he can be formal, when required.

Physical characteristics (posture, gestures, attitude): Andric, as most trained hunters, has a habit of standing with his hands clasped loosely at the small of his back (Similar to parade rest). It ends up being an ingrained habit for the majority of full time hunters.

Andric has fairly good posture, but the more stressed he is, the more it deteriorates, and if he's slouching against a wall, fingers linked around the back of his neck, then Nameer knows he needs to get Andric out of his own head.

Items in their pocket/purse: Keys to his flat, and his parents house, Wallet with his drivers license and bank cards. Cash. Mobile phone. Miniature notepad, and a pen or pencil. And although they're not usually in his pockets, Andric's rarely without a blade or two on him, in case of Kavians.

Hobbies: Listening to music, reading books. Andric wouldn't call it a hobby, but he does occasionally mediate too.

Favorite sports: Krav Maga. Although not strictly a sport, the combat training undergone by kavian hunters was based on Krav Maga, and then additionally developed to cater to a vampires skill and speed. Andric enjoys the original/traditional human form as well, however.

Abilities/Talents/Powers: Nothing above and beyond any other vampire. Andric is fast, strong, and can smell blood. Rapid ability to heal most injuries, unless he's actively bleeding out. He can also use blood in his system to enhance his senses; Sight, Hearing, Taste, Touch, and Smell.

Relationships (how they are with other people): Naturally, Andric is fairly outgoing. He likes people, and he likes making connections. His training as a kavian hunter forces him to be cautious on approach of strangers however, constantly on the lookout for signs of kavianism. It's the main aspect of his job that wears on him the most.

Fears: Andric's biggest fear is letting down, failing, or disappointing the people closest to him. Those he loves and cares about. Right now, he's beating himself up about his brother becoming a kavian, half convinced that if he hadn't been working so much he'd have seen the signs, but he's also distracting himself from that by trying to help Lizzy find her mother.

Faults: Andric tries to take on too much. Or take responsibility for things that aren't his fault. He has a guilt complex the size of the Grand Canyon, but he's also aware of that. Nameer helps him see perspective when he starts beating himself up too much. It probably spawns from his mum's exceedingly high standards for success as a child.

Good points: Andric is honest, and steadfast. If he dedicates himself to something, he does so fully and with his whole ass heart.

What they want more than anything else: It's not something Andric is consciously aware of, but what they NEED more than anything is to not be judged. It's why he and Nameer work so well, Nameer accepts him as he is, flaws and faults and all, and Andric needs that desperately.

What he THINKS he wants, is an exemplary career as a kavian hunter, to make his mother proud.

Name:

Nickname:

Kind of Being:

Age:

Gender:

Appearance:

Occupation:

Family members:

Pets:

Best friend:

Describe their room:

Way of speaking:

Physical characteristics (posture, gestures, attitude):

Items in their pocket/purse:

Hobbies:

Favorite sports:

Abilities/Talents/Powers:

Relationships (how they are with other people):

Fears:

Faults:

Good points:

What they want more than anything else:

[author-a-holmes]

Indie Ink Awards Nominations...

With a small part, but a big presence, how many times did Nameer Khatri make you laugh?

Do you feel like taking a few minutes to nominate Changeling for an award?

The Indie Ink Awards are open for book nominations throughout november. All it takes is a few minutes to sign up for an account on https://indiestorygeek.com/

Once you have an account, you can search for your favourite indie books, and click the banner at the top of the book's page and then nominate it in up to FIVE (5) categories. It's just that simple!

If you'd like to learn more about the Indie Ink Awards, or even apply to be a judge, you can head on over to their dedicated website; https://indieinkawards.com/

[author-a-holmes]

Hi detective

Attempting to do blorbsday again. Which of your ocs have the most vibes over anything? They have less traits than things that you feel about them. They're a mood more than a person. (I love vibe ocs.)

Hello Sleepy, darling. Thank you for your patience on these asks <3

I also love Vibe OC's :D This is a tough one for me though because once I start writing a character, I usually know a lot about them and their backstory, even if it develops AS I'm writing.

I think the closest character in my active project to "Just Vibes" is Nameer Khatri. He gives me very Belgium Malinois vibes. A very good boy. Loyal. Energentic. Playful.

Backstory? Never heard of her :D

But most vibe-based character out of all of my OC's is, at the moment, Krysis from my Faith of the Grim project.

I know what I want her to be, but.... I don't know a lot of the why's about her so far, so all the elements of her character and personality is stuff I just know, but I don't know the stories behind it all yet.

And honestly, in terms of vibes, Krysis is just this image.

[fey-touched-trilogy]

Reblog for Archive...

WTW Ghost Gala October 25th

Which character has a secret that they would take to the grave?

I mean... I have several characters who have secrets that they would LIKE to take to the grave.

But... I’m not going to let them do that sooo....

Okay, joking aside, probably my best non-spoilery answer for this would be Nameer Khatri.

He and Andric have been friends since childhood, and I’m about 90% certain that at some point in their teens, Andric was Nameer’s teen-crush.

It was never spoken about or acted on, and I’m about 75% sure Andric doesn’t know about it.

And Nameer will never ever tell.

[author-a-holmes]

Question of the Day...

"There should always be one old maid in a family." Jo March, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Question of the Day:

What is one character Archetype that you consistently add to your stories? Tell us about this particular character in your current WIP.

Feel free to answer for yourself, or your characters!

The Best Friend Who Might As Well Be A Sibling.

I think this reflects the relationships I have with my own friends, I tend to adopt people into my little family once I trust them enough to call them a friend and that reflects strongling in all my works.

The Fey Touch Trilogy actually has two of these characters, just to hammer in how much weight I place on this particular character Archetype, and it comes in the form of Lizzy's best friend, Booker Reed and Andric's best friend, Nameer Khatri.

In the first draft of Changeling, Nameer didn't even exist, but I found there were scenes where I didn't have anyone for Andric to bounce off. When I wrote a whole chapter of introspection, where Andric simply stood alone, in a hall, with his thoughts swirling around in his head, I knew I needed to give him someone to confide in, so I had to restructure my plot to add in another character.

I'm so glad I did because Nameer's now such an integral part of the plot, I feel like the books would be lacking without his particular shade of sass.

[author-a-holmes]

Find The Word Tag Game

Thank you @oh-no-another-idea for the Tag. My words are: Swim, Fly, Race, Wander, and Swagger.

Tagging forward, with no pressure to; @blind-the-winds, @ashen-crest, @acertainmoshke, @kaiusvnoir, @charlesjosephwrites, @cwritesfiction and @faelanvance but also please consider this an open tag.

YOUR Words are; Moon, Shadows, Mind, Thoughts and Scars.

Changeling Snippets Beneath the Cut, so I'm Tagging the Taglists;

@faelanvance @noirepersonal @queen-kass-the-writer @athenswrites @thelaughingstag @minamoroz @bardic-tales @outpost51 @talesfromaurea @ettawritesnstudies

Swim

 "You're not going to help me, Andric, so just leave."

"I'm not leaving you out here to be torn apart by—"

"But why?!" Lizzy forced out, and despite her best efforts, Nameers words were swimming around her mind as she watched Andric grit his teeth at her question, "I'm not your responsibility, I'm not—"

"You are," Andric growled, and Lizzy fell silent, eyes narrowing...

Fly

"This would be so much easier if you didn't fight it every time," came the quiet voice in her mind, and she shook her head.

"I wouldn't fight it if it didn't feel like a fly buzzing against my ear," she grumbled, glancing back at the sentinel again before adding, "what are we going to do about her?"

Race

 He could probably force one of them to Walcott's office, but not both. And he couldn't leave either of them undefended. Not now.

His mind raced ahead, mapping the familiar paths through the school. Considering weak points and defendable positions, before he scowled and turned back to the two fey.

Wander

"Lizzy?" Booker whispered. The questions hovering behind her name were unspoken, but still clear enough for her to understand.

Was she alright? Could he help? Did she want him in her mind?

Lizzy forced a brief, tight smile onto her lips, but didn't let her eyes wander to meet Bookers. Fingers tangling in the pearl pendant strung around her neck, she lifted it to run soothingly across her bottom lip and tried to focus on the teacher at the front of the classroom, muttering a soft, "I'll be fine."

Swagger

I didn't have Swagger. I tried Strut and Saunter too, but neither of those showed up. I settled on sharing a particular scene however, because the attitude conveyed by Swagger is very much one inherent to Mia Harris...

"What possessed you to do something as stupid as ambush a trained hunter?" he demanded instead, and Mia pushed off the bookshelf, advancing on him with a pleased smile still dancing around her face.

"I wanted to warn you, but I thought a little time alone wouldn't do any harm either."

"Warn me?"

"I saw you and Hunter Khatri talking at lunch," she said, her smile widening, "he couldn't seem to take his eyes off me; care to tell me what the two of you might have been discussing?" she teased, leaning towards him as her grin widened further, and Andric scowled.

[author-a-holmes]

I'm on desktop, but the falling leaves emoji for the october ask game! <3

Thank you for the ask, lovely ^_^

🍂 Leaves Part One: How does your wip typically change as you work on it?

The way a WIP changes depends on the story, but It usually doesn't deviate a huge amount from my outline. The only time I tend to make huge structural changes to the story is if I find I'm missing an element I need to tie the whole thing together. For example, Nameer Khatri didn't exist in the first outline for Changeling. I found I needed someone for Andric to bounce off in scenes without Lizzy, so that's why I added him, but once I began adding him in, I realised his character was integral to the plot.

Then I went back to my outline to see where else I could use him and realised that if I hadn't added this character, I wouldn't have been able to get Lizzy where she needs to go in the third book.

So I don't often change huge structural things after the outlining stage, but sometimes I'll add a smaller thing that becomes a new support beam, for lack of a better word, that I didn't previously realise I needed. 🍂 Leaves Part Two: What does your editing process look like?

My editing process is multi-layered, and takes me aproximately twice the time as it takes to write the book...

1) I write my drafts in 4thewords, a website that Gameify's writing, as this keeps me motivated. So my first step is I copy/paste the completed draft into a Googledoc and run it's basic spellchecker across the whole document.

2) Then I edit ONE chapter at a time. So I'll take Chapter One and I'll copy it into the HemmingwayApp. While the chapter is still in the HemmingwayApp I'll do a CTRL+F and search for each of my own personally "overused" words, and also a common list of "overused" words. (Common words: Suddenly/Then/Very/Really/Is/Was/Started/Start to/Just/Somewhat/Slightly/Somehow/Seem/Definitely) (My personal list of overused words; That/Own/Quickly/Though/Eyes) Then I check their context I decide whether I want to leave them in or rewrite the sentence to remove them.

3)Once I've finished with Overused words, I check the highlighted sections that the HemmingwayApp is showing. The HemmingwayApp highlights passages of passive voice, complex sentences and adverbs. I have a blindspot for adverbs and passive voice so having it highlighted helps me decide if I want to keep it or if I want to rewrite these sections as well.

4) Once I've finished going over all the instances of Adverbs, Complex Sentences, and Passive Voice, I'll copy/paste the Chapter into Grammarly. I don't have GrammarlyPro, I bought 1-months worth but didn't find the premium version worth the cost. Like the other stages, I look over each suggestion and make a decision based on context of the scene.

5) After I'm finished in Grammarly, I'll then Copy/Paste it into Natural Voices. This website has "natural" sounding voices that will read text aloud. Natural Voices offers 20 minutes of their plus voices for free a day, and 10 minutes of their premium voices, but I do purchase a 1 month subscription every time I'm working on editing, because it's worth it to me.

Hearing the writing read aloud helps me determine flow, natural sounding speech, and I pick up on echoed words easier when I hear it spoken too. This could be a skipped step if I was able to read my own work aloud, but I live with other people and can't quite bring myself to do that :D

Natural Readers does make it difficult to edit the words in-app, if you make changes then it will have to re-render the audio, so I tend to listen to it in Natural Readers, and make edites/changes in the Grammarly screen.

6) Once I've run the chapter through Natural Readers, made all the changes I can hear are needed, and then run the tweaked chapter BACK through natural readers, I'll copy the final version from Grammarly, and put it into a fresh, new, Googledoc. Then I'll run the spellchecker from the Googledoc again.

7) Once I've done ALL that for Chapter One, then I do the same process on Chapter Two. This process takes anywhere from 2-6 hours per chapter.

8) When I get to the end of the manuscript, I have a final version in a Fresh Googledoc, and that's the version that I'll then send off to my paid, professional, editor for a Copy/Line Edit. She usually takes a week or two to edit the googledoc, and once I get the go-ahead from her I'll go back into the googledoc and either accept the changes she's made, or I'll discuss the changes she's made over email if I'm not sure about the why, or if it's the right change for the manuscript. (Bless my editor to the sky, she actually spotted a little plothole in Changeling that I'd entirely overlooked! She's a godsend, and I adore her)

9) Once the Copy/Line edit is completed, I move onto formatting. (Ideally, in the future, I'd like to pay for a final Proofread after the formatting section is done, but for the moment my mum and ARC team act as my Proofreaders!)

[author-a-holmes]

Self Reblog

What part of your wip(s) are you the most excited about? Is there a particular scene that you've been eager to get to? Are there any characters you're super hyped to be able to write about?

-with love and ✨Good Vibes✨ from a friend

Hello darling Anon <3 Thank you for the good vibes! They're much appreciated ^_^

I'm going to answer these for Darkling, because if I include Stolen or Chronicles of Verald in here, this is going to end up being a super long reply (But if you're curious about those specifically, feel free to drop another ask in my inbox :D)

What part of your wip(s) are you the most excited about?

I'm most excited about exploring the way Lizzy is coming out of from behind her walls more now that she's beginning to settle and find her feet in the mortal realm.

Many people noticed that Lizzy is quick to anger, and a large part of that is because the Fey tend to be pascifists. Anger was an easy defence when she was in Arbaon, but it doesn't serve her quite as well in the Mortal Realm.

Is there a particular scene that you've been eager to get to?

For Darkling, I have a few! Some of them are super spoilery so I can't mention them but I cannot wait for the first time Lizzy comes face-to-face with Sethan Blackwood. I won't say more but if you've read Changeling you'll know why this might be an important moment for Lizzy!

There's also a specific moment in the Climax of Darkling that I'm excited to get to. That will reveal more about Lizzy to the readers and to Lizzy herself, that may hint at how she'd going to become further embroiled within the mortal realm throughout Book Three.

Are there any characters you're super hyped to be able to write about?

Sethan Blackwood. I actually have written him a little bit in the free Reader Magnet Novellette, "Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail?" and he's just so much fun to get into the mindset of.

He's completely insane, of course, but so much fun :D

I'm also missing Mia Harris and Nameer Khatri a little bit. This may change in the final draft but as of right now neither of them are due to make an appearance in Darkling, although both should be returning for Fey Touched. Mia is a delight to write because she's absolutely a stereotypical "Queen Bee Bitch" but there's more going on beneath her surface that I'm excited to dive back into.

As for Nameer, he unexpectly became my favourite character to write in Changeling, so I'm missing his light-hearted humor right now. And I had a discussion with mum yesterday that's given me some interesting potential twists and idea's for his character that I'm itching to explore!

[author-a-holmes]

WTW Ghost Gala October 12th

Tell us the meaning behind your character’s names?

Sometimes a name is just because I like the sound of it, or it clicks in my head for the character.

Lila Isabelle Hail, I wanted names that meant beauty or beautiful which both Lila and Isabelle do. But I also knew the character wouldn’t let anyone call her by her full name, for her it’s a sign of closeness and trust.

Lizzy is intended to be a contraction/combination is Lila and Izzy (a shortening of Isabelle) but it’s also a nod to my mum’s middle name, Elizabeth.

Booker’s name came about because I just loved the name “Booker De Whitt” in the game Bioshock Infinite. I loved the way it tripped off the tongue when you said it.

Reed, his surname, came about when I decided that a common family name amongst fey should be focussed around nature and natural things. Reed, Hail, Storm, Pond, etc.

It’s a rare family in Arbaon that has a surname of another type. Such as the Fey Queen who has the surname ‘Elestov���.

As for some of the other names, they really came down to some literal meanings.

Andric means Warrior.

Cara means Friend, but can also mean “beloved” or “loved one”.

And Nameer means Pure. Which is less literal than the other two, but a very good indicator of his character. I wanted Nameer to be very openly kind, and I really loved the sound of the name, again. His surname, Khatri, also means ‘Member of the warrior class’, which also reflects his status as a hunter.

[author-a-holmes]

🍎 for the October asks

Thank you for the ask! And friendhips? Oh yes!

Do you have any favorite friend/platonic dynamics? Any friendships gone sour?

The big friendship in Changeling is, of course, the friendship between Booker and Lizzy. They've been friends so long, and are so close, they might as well be siblings.

They do, in fact, often think of themselves as such.

They bicker like siblings too, and on more than one occassion they'll go weeks without speaking, before one or both of them backs down, and quietly reinitiates conversation.

But, their friendship isn't actually my favourite in the book. So, when I took a break from Changeling, and then went back, I realised a big part of why I'd stalled is that Andric didn't have a character to bounce off. I had several chapters where the whole thing was him just standing and thinking about recent events to himself.

So I gave him a friend. Nameer Khatri. I'd like to reiterate that Nameer what's planned to be a big role, I just needed something for Andric to bounce off, but oh my god. I have no idea how I'd have written this book without this character, in hindsight.

No only is he a fantastic foil for Andric, but he ended up being quite integral to my main plot, too!

My favourite part about Nameer though, is that his friendship with Andric doesn't look like it should work, but it does. Andric's very serious, and concerned with things, whereas Nameer's greatest joy in life is pranking and teasing his best friend. He's often Andric's conscience, or guide, and I really, really, adore their whole dynamic.

And it was pure chance. I wish I could take credit for this, but 100% pure chance lol.

As for friendship's gone sour...? Well. That may or may not be a theme for Darkling, book two. So I don't want to spoil too much about that, just yet.

Andric and Nameer Scene below the Read More...

"What are you even doing here?" Andric demanded, "Shouldn't you be sleeping, or preparing the next round of torture for your students?"

"And let you skitter off into the unknown without an explanation?" his oldest friend asked. A black eyebrow arched over warm brown eyes that were still glimmering with open amusement, and his dark clothes and umber skin almost let him disappear into the shadows of the windowless office.

Then his lips parted into a familiar, cheeky smile, flashing sharp, white teeth at Andric playfully. "Not bloody likely."

Andric stared at Nameer for a long moment, holding the other man's gaze, before he let a wide grin spread across his features. It was mirrored by Nameer, the other vampire's smile widening as Andric paced across the room. The two came together easily, hands clasping around each other's forearms, while they tugged each other into a hug, laughing.

"Ah, I have missed you," Andric sighed when they stepped back, and Nameer's mirth quietened in response.

[author-a-holmes]

Find The Word Tag Game

Thank you @world-of-fire-and-flight for tagging me HERE!

My words to find were; ghost, door, light, and from

Spoilers for Changeling under the cut <3

Open Tag; Your words are -> Once, Only, Outside, and Opened.

Ghost

Lizzy didn't know what she expected from a school of vampires, but she didn't expect the car to drift around a gentle curve in the road, only to reveal a large stone building emerging, ghost-like, from amongst the trees.

Door

"Oh, my friend. I'd say I'm sorry for startling you, but the look on your face just now was entirely worth any retribution you bring down upon me at a later date," Nameer said laughing, leaning against the door that led back to the rest of the school with his ankles and arms casually crossed.

Light

In the nocturnal peace of Lizzy's bedroom, lit only by the dim shards of light from a newly risen crescent moon, the thud of her jewellery box snapping open as it hit the hard wooden floor, seemed amplified.

From

It was a pendant formed from four inky black pearls, and held in place with frames of delicate goldwork, to form the shape of rounded fey wings. She couldn't make out the intricate pattern of veins carved across them, the nights' shadows blended against the green-black of the pearl's surface, and muted the shine of the gold that framed them, but Lizzy didn't need to see them to know they were there.

She knew the intricate design of swirling metal, carved veins, and silky pearls as intimately as her own face.