#Reilya will come next but I was in Ferron headspace when I wrote this out so it came out very naturally lol

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Uncommon Questions for OCs and their creators: Ferron Rift

in response to @bright-witch‘s ask. There was just so many questions per character so I decided to break them down by character so it’s easier to read/tag. Thanks for asking! : )

(Under a cut so I’m not clogging up anyone’s dash!)

QUESTIONS FOR YOUR OCs

What’s the maximum amount of time your character can sit still with nothing to do? Quite some time. The longest he’s ever held still was for a job he did back in Hammerfell-- stealing a trinket back for a wealthy noblewoman spurned by a former lover. He stayed hidden in the attic without moving for nearly an entire day.  He does enjoy the feeling of stretching his legs, though.

How easy is it for your character to laugh? He doesn’t laugh that much unprompted. He appreciated a well crafted joke, but he’s not like Reilya (She likes to fill silences with habit. He prefers solitude.) 

How do they put themselves to bed at night (reading, singing, thinking?) He likes to think and plan out his next day before going to bed. Being prepared makes him feel more secure.

How easy is it to earn their trust? Very, very difficult. There are only a handful of people in his entire life that he has trusted. If you think you earned his trust; you’re probably wrong and he’s lying to you.

How easy is it to earn their mistrust? He pretty much distrusts you upon the first meeting. You have to earn his trust, and it’s not an easy feat. 

Do they consider laws flexible, or immovable? Laws are pretty much meaningless if they get in the way of his (and Reilya, by extension) survival.

What triggers nostalgia for them, most often? Do they enjoy that feeling? Certain foods. Flaky pastries usually do the trick. Nostalgia makes him sad and he tends to get lost in it.

What were they told to stop/start doing most often as a child He is born under the Thief and has natural born affinities for stealth and other sneaky thief things. It made him sort of a pariah even when he was young. Both of his parents were fearful he was going to go down a path that a future heir of a noble family shouldn’t be involved in. So he was encouraged pretty strongly by his parents to train into knighthood-- against his own wishes. Like Reilya, he also has the affinity for magic, however his skills lie in the restoration arts rather than destruction. He would’ve liked to have become a healer rather than a knight, but I guess his parents had other plans. The joke’s on them I suppose, because his natural talents in thievery AND the healing arts is what has kept both him and Reilya alive for all of these years.

Do they swear? Do they remember their first swear word? He doesn’t curse, like ever. 

What lie do they most frequently remember telling? Does it haunt them? There are too many to count now. 

How do they cope with confusion (seek clarification, pretend they understand, etc)? Ferron has an inquisitive mind and he’s always trying to piece together all the puzzle pieces. He will either ask for clarification or start reading between the lines and look for clues elsewhere. 

How do they deal with an itch found in a place they can’t quite reach? Interesting question. He’d probably scratch it himself with something he found, I suppose. He doesn’t like to ask for help xP

What color do they think they look best in? Do they actually look best in that color? Black, brown, dark greens. I think he does, but he also looks pretty great in bright red too, I think. His complexion and dusty brown hair make it pop.

What animal do they fear most? I can’t really say he outright fears many animals. He’s hunted so many times and he feels like once you understand an animal’s nature there’s nothing left to fear. One animal he really doesn’t like to tangle with are wildcats.

How do they speak? Is what they say usually thought of on the spot, or do they rehearse it in their mind first? Ferron is on the shy side, and speaks a little awkwardly at times. He’s either too blunt or struggles to be assertive when he needs to be.

What makes their stomach turn? Thalmor. Big cities. Guards. Pretty much anything involving the possibility of being noticed. He really doesn’t like standing out in a crowd and does what he can to blend into his surroundings. 

Are they easily embarrassed? Sometimes-- usually only when it concerns sex and romance.

What embarrasses them? Besides the above? Anything that points out his feelings of inadequacy. 

What is their favorite number? 13. 

If they were asked to explain the difference between romantic and platonic or familial love, how would they do so? Similar to Reilya; both forms of love are irreplaceable, precious things, that must be protected at all costs. 

Why do they get up in the morning? The most practical of reasons -- to survive. Over staying your welcome in any place leads to trouble.  Philosophically -- to see justice be served for his namesake.

How does jealousy manifest itself in them (they become possessive, they become aloof, etc)? He’s already pretty aloof. It gets magnified x10 and he gets really quiet. He doesn’t like admitting weakness so good luck getting him to talk about it.

How does envy manifest itself in them (they take what they want, they become resentful, etc)? He gets very bitter, sad, and angry all rolled into one ball and gets distant and sometimes even a little mean. He’s really quite sensitive about all things that remind him of all he’s lost. 

Is sex something that they’re comfortable speaking about? To whom? He’s not super comfortable with just outright talking about it with just anybody. He still doesn’t get Reilya’s candor in that regard. 

What are their thoughts on marriage? It’s not something he’s thought a lot about. The idea of marrying someone seems so far off to him. Who would want to marry an outlaw anyway? Someone who has very little to offer a partner?  There’s too many complications. He’s much more interested in salvaging his family’s name and getting revenge for all the crap the Thalmor has put him and his sister through. It would be a disservice to any potential lover to be tied to him.

What is their preferred mode of transportation? By foot, but for long distances horses are a must. 

What causes them to feel dread? When things don’t go according to his plans. He doesn’t like surprises.

Would they prefer a lie over an unpleasant truth? A lie works just as well as the truth in his opinion, unless he knows the person very well. He’s gotten so good at lying it’s become second nature to him.

Do they usually live up to their own ideals? Not quite. He wants to do good but has gotten so wrapped up in what he’s lost and he’s so willing to fight to win that back that he would do just about anything to get there. 

Who do they most regret meeting? So many people, but no one in particular.

Who are they the most glad to have met? Bauther. Bauther is another OC of mine; He’s a former Imperial solider who fought during the Great War. After the signing of The White-Gold Concordat, he remained critical of The Aldmeri Dominion and eventually left the Imperial army just a few years after the treaty was signed, deciding to remain in his home of Hammerfell, where he used his skills he learned in the army as a Mercenary-for-hire. They met after Ferron attempted (and failed) to pick his pocket. He’s a really gentle-hearted guy, and after realizing the kind of situation Ferron and his little sister were in, he decided to take the boy under his wing. First he helped Ferron find more respectable work, and they eventually become partners for a time whilist helping them stay under the radar. Bauther became somewhat of a role model for Ferron; Bauther and his Argonian wife Grisha are one of the very few people he places trust in.

Do they have a go-to story in conversation? Or a joke? He will talk your ear off about Reilya like a proud parent. Otherwise he’s really not one for idle conversation. 

Could they be considered lazy? Not at all. He trains with his bow just about every day.

How hard is it for them to shake a sense of guilt? My friends, Ferron is nothing but a bundle of guilt and regrets. 

How do they treat the things their friends come to them excited about? Are they supportive? He is silently happy, but doesn’t usually get involved unless asked. He likes to sit back and let his friends/companions do their own thing. He doesn’t want to get in the way. 

Do they actively seek romance, or do they wait for it to fall into their lap? He will insist he’s too busy for love. I’m sure when it happens, he won’t be expecting it and he won’t know how to handle it. 

Do they have a system for remembering names, long lists of numbers, things that need to go in a certain order (like anagrams, putting things to melodies, etc)? I guess if I had to pinpoint a method, he’d probable use the Keyword method. It’s simple but effective.

What memory do they revisit the most often? He has two: the night his parents “mysteriously” died, and the night his family home burned to the ground. Both are very painful memories for him. 

How easy is it for them to ignore flaws in other people? Easy, if those flaws are beneficial to him; difficult if they prevent him from accomplishing what he’s set out to do.

How sensitive are they to their own flaws? Painfully so. 

How do they feel about children? He adores children. Can’t get enough, actually. They’re so cute, and say some really goofy stuff. It’s hard not to smile around them.

How badly do they want to reach their end goal? To see the Aldmeri Dominion pay for everything they have done to his family: for the death of his parents, for using his own uncle against him and his sister before they could barely comprehend politics, for branding them both as criminals and denying them their birthright; he would do just about anything. And honestly, despite the fact that Ferron is shy and soft-spoken, that is why he can be terrifying. 

If someone asked them to explain their sexuality, how would they do so? He’d shrug. Say something along the lines of, “Why do you care?” and probably never answer the question because he’d find it amusing to keep you guessing.

QUESTIONS FOR CREATORS

A) Why are you excited about this character? I find his struggles super relatable. He has sacrificed so much to keep his sister safe and would go to the ends of the earth for the people he cares about. He’s always fighting his upbringing of feeling like the black sheep of the family, trying so hard to do his parents proud while also staying true to himself. It’s a hard balancing act and even though he doesn’t quite get it right, it’s still kind of admirable that he’s trying. It’s also just fun to write a complete and total Edgelord character once in a while. 

B) What inspired you to create them? When I was creating Reilya’s TES backstory, I realized it was super unrealistic for a 12 year old sheltered child to be able to survive on her own while on the run from a tyrannical government. So the idea of Ferron was born through that.   C) Did you have trouble figuring out where they fit in their own story? For the reason above, yes. It took a while for me to craft him his own voice and narrative, I guess.  D) Have they always had the same physical appearance, or have you had to edit how they look? Ehhhh.. a little bit I suppose. He’s basically the same in essence though. But now, with freckles! E) Are they someone you would get along with? Would they get along with you? I think we’d get along really well. We both like the quiet and we're both night owls :^) F) What do you feel when you think of your OC (pride, excitement, frustration, etc)? I want to protect him and I want him to be okay. G) What trait of theirs bothers you the most? His martyrdom and low self-esteem. I wish he could value himself more and not be so quick to sacrifice himself for others. : [  H) What trait do you admire most? Haha, I guess all of the things I said in answer A!!!!  I) Do you prefer to keep them in their canon universe? Yes, he’s always been canon to the TES: Skyrim universe. J) Did you have to manipulate or exclude canon factors to allow them to create their character? Besides small details regarding political affairs in High Rock, not too much .  There is some changes I have made to Dawnguard canon, but the vampire clan in that expansion isn’t really that fleshed out anyway, so I don’t think it’s a big deal.