#aelinor (ahys)

[meroif]

Character art of A Hundred Years of Sleep

Riel Rosenquartz (he/him, or she/her, or they/them), the last heir of the royal line of Vaeravel, never ascended to the throne. A kind, moderate and diligent person, deeply saddened by the loss of the planet they once meant to rule.

Aelinor (he/him, or she/her), your neighbor and friend since you were a kid. Bubbly, caring and protective, they always like to act like an older sibling to those around them, although you're sure you're the same age.

art by @/strwbrmlk (on instagram)

Nathaniel, Khael

DEMO | Patreon

[meroif]

Meroooo you really aren't being fair tho.

Like make it easier dammit. I love the childhood friend trope so much but then the prince sounds adorable as hell... and then the stubborn part of my brain wants to romance the grumpy cat 😒 not gonna even mention captain flirtsalot

It's very hard to choose a first playthrough 😭

Well, isn't it fortunate that IF makes for multiple playthroughs? 💙 Haha!

Alright, to make you forgive me, here's what I'm going to do! Let me add an extra something, so to help you decide who might become your first love.

Riel has been taught how to ballroom dance, and has always found it void of all meaning. A series of steps, a set of rules, enough etiquette to drown in. That is, until the both of you find yourselves alone in the ballroom of the ship. It's quaint compared to the baroque of the royal grounds, but it's perfect. As they guide you and twirl you around, they can't look away from your face, illuminated by the crystals hanging down from the ceiling. They know then, they'll ask you to dance again, and again, and again...

Being with Khael means getting welcomed into their rowdy, mischievous, loyal to the death found family, the crew of the ship. They will interrupt, they will snitch, they will supply you with many, many embarrassing stories regarding their captain. They will also care for you, and make you laugh when you're sad. They will knock some sense into the both of you when you get into a fight. They will be the unstoppable force they know themselves to be. And, if you and Khael ever decide to get married, they will celebrate like this side of the universe has never seen before.

Nat writes all their annotations in a script that no one seems to know anything of, almost like it's theirs and theirs alone. At first, they won't even let you glimpse at it, but once they decide you're it for them, they'll teach you how to read it, and how to write it. Nat is a very patient teacher, and once you've more or less learnt the basics, they won't hesitate to leave you syrupy sweet notes that only you can decipher where they know you'll find them. If anyone else asks, they'll deny everything.

When Aeli was a kid, they were torn between giving your name to their favorite flowers, and not, simply because they couldn't bare to then harvest them, or see them wilt. Part of them was afraid for you, when that happened, like your name would carry over the same fate. But they couldn't help themselves, as that one was your favorite color, that one would look so pretty in your hair, that one had petals as soft as the back of your hand. So they wouldn't say it, but they would think it, greeting the flowers good morning and good night, hoping that at least that much, your name would carry over to you.

Hope that helps 🌷

[meroif]

Character Playlists (A Hundred Years of Sleep)

Riel

Gang Of Youths: Achilles Come Down

Bon Iver & St. Vincent: Roslyn

Duncan Laurence: Arcade

Seafret: Atlantis

Billie Eilish: What Was I Made For?

rhianne: Somewhere Only We Know

Aelinor

5 Seconds of Summer: Want you back (acoustic ver)

Florence & The Machine: Never Let Me Go

Lana Del Rey: Chemtrails Over The Country Club

Imagine Dragons: Bleeding out

The Crane Wives: Not the Ghost

Panic! At The Disco: Always

Nathaniel

Florence & The Machine: Drumming Song

Of Monsters And Men: Black Water

Florence & The Machine: No Light, No Light

Billie Eilish: Ocean Eyes

sapientdream: Past Lives

Cults: Gilded Lily

Khael

5 Seconds of Summer: Teeth

Thirty Seconds to Mars: Closer to the Edge

Thirty Seconds to Mars: Kings and Queens

COIN: Talk Too Much

OneRepublic: Everybody Loves Me

The Crane Wives: Curses

bonus:

MC

Ramsey: Goodbye

AURORA: Runaway

Florence & The Machine: Cosmic Love

Florence & The Machine: Wish That You Were Here

5 Seconds of Summer: Ghost Of You

[meroif]

The Past Holding Your Hand

Aelinor (he/him or she/her), a young resident of a local village fallen to disaster. Syrupy, caring, lover of the humble ways of life, Aelinor seems to be the only friendly face around in recent times. But although marching on, they aren't sure they can endure staring at the bare bones of what has been left behind.

Whether you remember Aeli as your neighbor, friend or family, they will always find you special. Is it alright if they comfort you? Is it alright if they tuck you away in a dream? Devotion and desperation meet on a bridge you can't burn.

But which shore are you trying to reach?

[meroif]

what kind of romance do we get with each ro?

I try not to rely on tropes too much, so please don't think of the romances too linearly. Even their premises are a bit warped given the structure of the story. Let's say the concepts they stem from are:

Khael: power imbalance

Riel: royal romance

Nathaniel: enemies to lovers

Aelinor: childhood friends to lovers

[meroif]

thought experiment: if you had to use a word/phrase to describe your characters…which would it be?

RIEL: "Be careful what you wish for."

NAT: "Be careful what you wish for."

KHAEL: "Be careful what you wish for."

AELI: "Be careful what you wish for."

MC: "Be careful what you wish for."

Joking, joking! (Am I?) Alternatively, if we're talking objects...

RIEL: An echo

NAT: A necklace, underwater

KHAEL: The golden apple of discord

AELI: A moth and a flame

MC: A flower's last day

[meroif]

ROs heights?

The ROs appearance has been described here before, but to recap:

Riel: 6'1 (she/her: 5'8)

Khael: 6' (she/her: 5'9)

Nat: 5'11 (she/her: 5'10)

Aeli: 5'10 (she/her: 5'6)

((Note that Riel's they/them appearance can take the characteristics of their he/him or she/her version according to personal preference))

[meroif]

thank you!! for making the love interests gender selectable! so i (transfem) get to have the friends to lovers sweet baking lesbian girl of my dreams aelinor!!!

there’s a lot of fierce women in ifs atm and i love that for them don’t get me wrong but my sweet sweet baby girl is perfect for me we can take care of each other adopt a cat and grow old together 😭😭😭😭

This warms my heart, thank you so much for sharing. 💙

The main reason I wanted the ROs to be gender selectable was to make sure queer relationships were possible with any of them. The romance genre in games, as well as literature and general media, tends to target cis women, which is fine, but limiting. Interactive fiction is easy to immerse yourself into, and I find it's pleasing when the romantic paths aid the process.

It's obviously a more complex discussion than this, but I'd hate to be too verbose. Please enjoy your friends to lovers sweet baking romance of your dreams 🌷Aeli would absolutely be on board with your plan to adopt a cat and grow old together, I foresee many many tears of joy at the prospect.

[meroif]

I'm most interested in Aelinor so far, but I'm also biased because I love the childhood friend to lovers trope! I find characters that share a past with the MC more intriguing in general.

I really get it! I try not to be biased towards any of the ROs but the bittersweet memories Aeli and the MC share have a special place in my heart. Have you ever felt nostalgic towards something you haven't actually experienced? That's how Vaeravel feels to me. (You can laugh, it's alright.)

That said, the fact that there is a past between Aeli and the MC can act as a double-edged sword. Please tread carefully.

Aah, now I'm really curious as to who's the most popular RO so far...

[meroif]

you can say what you want (@/khael anon im looking at you) but i’m on my knee(s) for the childhood friend. they sound SO sweet my heart is melting

Oh, please do tell me everything 💙 I'm really curious about what you guys think of the ROs, let's chat more!

Aelinor is indeed very sweet. They enjoy cooking for others as a way of taking care of them. If the MC also likes cooking, that means the two of them as kids will have goofed around in the kitchen quite a bit. Something Aunt Moira wasn't happy about, with all the resulting mess, but what's a little bit of flour in your hair? And maybe on the floor...the counter...the cabinets...haha!

That said, I also think Khael and Aelinor are not total opposites, they just have different charms. Their values can line up a surprising amount of times.

[meroif]

What do the characters voices sound like?

Oh, what an interesting question, thank you! It is...somewhat difficult to explain, please bear with me.

Khael and Nathaniel have deeper voices, while Aelinor and Riel speak in milder tones.

Khael's laugh sounds like a cello, while Riel's resembles chimes. Aelinor's smile is ever-present in their words, but they unconsciously get quiet when they're feeling shy. Nathaniel tends to speak slow, as they often ponder as they speak, and their voice carries a somber quality to it.

Khael's voice is as charming as they are, rich and alluring. Nathaniel's, in comparison, is more monotone. Aelinor snorts if they laugh too much, and Riel took classes as a child to avoid tumbling into a too-nasal speech.

Would this suffice? I'm sorry if it's too dispersive...

[meroif]

ROs personality sneak peak? 👀

(Kind reminder that you can already meet the ROs in the extended demo on my Patreon.)

Riel is gentle, in both mind and mannerism. They're thoughtful and just, but being young at heart can prove to be a double-edged sword. Riel occasionally lacks the bigger picture, but is skilled in reading others as well as adapting to the flow of any conversation. They were raised as the sole heir of the kingdom, and never let themselves forget it, for better or worse.

Khael is hard to read, and they like to keep it that way. They're over the top, charming, and good at distracting others. They're knowledgable in vast and various fields, and are very, very good at spotting liars. But Khael isn't as confident as they seem, and have a tendency of dealing with problems later, rather than sooner.

Nathaniel doesn't trust easily. They used to be a calm person, but something dark now lurks beneath placid waters. They're reserved, critical and surprisingly stubborn. They're also curious like a child, and are always seen with a book under their arm. Nathaniel wields logic like a weapon, but all they truly want is make sure their soft center is as protected as it once should have been.

Aelinor is a sunny person. They grew up surrounded by love, and learned young that they possess plenty to give themself. They know what they are and know what's important, so they tell themself there is no need to focus on details. Aelinor has a soft spot for cute animals, and is fond of humming while they work.

[meroif]

ROs MBTI types?

I'm not an MBTI expert, but after some research I'd say that:

Riel: ESFJ

Khael: ENTJ

Nathaniel: ISTJ

Aelinor: INFP

[meroif]

What do the ROs looks like?

Here are some short, raw descriptions for you while we wait together for the character art to be polished.

Riel (he/him, or she/her, or they/them): stormy gray hair, short but covering the nape, not perfect, a little overgrown, locks that fall nicely around the face, pale, void-black sparkly eyes, long lashes, contagious smile, gives the impression of 'a beautiful person', elegant in mannerism but sorta clumsy with new things; dresses simple, mostly ivory and pearl gray; 6’1 ft tall and lithe, not visibly muscular but core strong; melodic/joyous laugh (she/her ((they/them as well if you wish)) variations: 5’8 ft tall, shoulder-length hair, with overgrown layers)

Khael (he/him, or she/her): deep bronze skin, chest-length brown curls, occasionally keeps it in a bun, dark amber eyes, sultry lashes, charming voice, hypnotic timbre, speaks slow but intentional, keeps a straight face while joking (hilarious), impossible to lie to, is capable of the most annoying smirk you've ever seen, mostly dresses in royal blues and coppers, strong arms, 6’ ft tall (she/her variations: 5’9 ft tall, with shorter, curlier, just about shoulder length hair)

Nathaniel (he/him, or she/her): black hair, messy, sorta wavy, chin-length, bad habit of running their hands through it, locks almost falling in their eyes, wears wire-framed glasses, ocean blue eyes, fair skin, a lone mole on his cheek, a serious case of resting bitch-face, dresses in all black, fitting clothing, light fabrics; 5’11 ft tall, strong thighs; deep voice, speaks slow and mellow, good at sounding unimpressed (she/her variations: 5’10 ft tall, with a more visibly athletic physique)

Aelinor (he/him, or she/her): deep ginger untamable hair, sometimes almost gravity defining, freckles all over their face, arms chest and shoulders, gray eyes, strong brows, tanned, wide set of shoulders+abs (from helping out in farms!), 5’10 ft tall, smiles whenever your eyes meet, always willing to lend a helping hand, a good listener, gives the Best hugs, soothing voice, dresses in creams and/or linens, rolled sleeves; (she/her variations: 5’6 ft tall, with a very messy bob cut)

[meroif]

🍎, 🍓,🍆?

🍎 [RED APPLE] Who does your OC value above all else?

I'll be brief, to avoid spoiling too much. If I may though, a side note: it might seem redundant, but while the MC can become the most important person in their lives, this isn't necessarily true in all endings. Your actions will have consequences.

Riel: All Vaeravellians.

Nat: Someone long lost.

Aeli: Their mother, the MC.

Khael: Their crew.

🍓 [STRAWBERRY] How do they feel about 'cute' things?

It's been answered, here.

🍆 [EGGPLANT] How are they used by others? How easily are they tricked into this?

While Riel can be naive, they're also knowledgeable. The heir of a kingdom isn't easily tricked, even if said kingdom is no more. Having experienced real tragedy, they won't be fooled by anyone who might try to call for compassion for personal gain. On the other hand, Riel is quite defenseless when it comes to trusted allies.

Nat has carefully crafted themself an alcove from which others won't gain much, and is therefore mostly left alone when it comes to favors, malicious or not. While suspicious of other's intentions by nature, they occasionally judge a situation incorrectly. They can be blind to slow, methodic planning of ruin, until it's too late.

Aeli will let themself get advantage of willingly. This can happen for one of two reasons. One, the "request" isn't even remotely morally gray, just a matter of time, laziness, the need of a helping hand. Two, it comes from Aeli's beloveds, be it their family, the MC, or the MC's own family. In any other case, Aeli is, somewhat surprisingly, an immovable object.

Khael is impossible to take advantage of, just give up.

[meroif]

🍈(melon)????

🍈 [MELON] If they had to be put into a box, what box would it be and why?

Ah, is it alright if I don't interpret this literally? Otherwise it'd feel a bit uhm, constricting. Maybe let me just match them with pretty boxes...

Riel: an ornate carillons, in pearl silver and blue, with a dark gem on top. Inside, flowers, and rust.

Aeli: a well-loved shoebox, the kind you hide under your bed. Inside, coffee stained pictures, a scribbled off letter.

Nat: a puzzle box, black wood mechanism. Inside, a single chime connected to a string.

Khael: a red velvet jewelry box under lock and key. Inside, seashells, and a second key.