#also yes Lonan’s name is not a word in my document

[coffeeandcalligraphy]

“A favour” - Seventh Virtue

Sharing this because it’s super gay I was re-reading some of this book for funsies and I’m now losing it over this interaction & need to scream into a void!

An excerpt from Seventh Virtue. Adult contemporary fantasy.

Is this a reversal of “Is this why you needed me?” PERHAPS.

Text transcript under the cut!

Harrison nods, clutching the pliant trim of his jacket. “Do me a favour,” he says, trying to find the best way to phrase his request. Then he finds Lonan’s eyes again, and nothing about him is nervous, but determined. “The next time you’re feeling unsteady, tell me. I don’t care if it’s a look, if it’s a word, if it’s a paragraph. Just tell me. We can talk if you want to talk or not talk if you don’t want to. But if you need me, I want to know.”

Lonan considers this for a moment, and then drops his face into his palms. Instinctively, Harrison takes another step closer, like he might’ve done when they were still a couple, when they still slow danced to no music in Lonan’s cramped bathroom, when in dewy morning light, the most certain thing in each of their lives was each other. Something pangs in his chest, and it takes him a moment to identify the emotion as the same grief he experienced in the infirmary hallway. How terrible, to be in front of a stranger you recognize.

Harrison lifts his fingers to his mouth, chews on his nails. The bathroom is beginning to strangle with heat, and despite his attempts at also being steady, he’s ready to flee this room, this property, this life, all of it as easy to destroy as a bleak line of dominoes. He turns.

“I need you,” comes Lonan’s voice.

Harrison spins back around.

This time, when their eyes meet, there’s something aflame there, something cerulean, exposed, urgent.

“I need you.”

[coffeeandcalligraphy]

OC Tag Game!

Thanks @owen-with-dashes​ for tagging me!

Rules: Share inspiration for your characters’ names and tag some other writers!

FOSTERED

Reeve Aldaine

Actual meaning: steward, bailiff

Does the meaning connect with her character? No, hahhaha

Reeve went through a couple of names, actually (Nell was her original name, changed to Glynne I think? until I settled with Reeve). Don’t really know why I chose it, I think I was just waiting for a name that clicked! Pretty sure I didn’t actually like her name though, just grew on me over time (I like it now!). As for her last name, I chose it based on how it fit with her first name!

Harrison Frost

Actual meaning: son of harry

Does the meaning connect with his character? lol also no loool

Harrison’s name has an interesting history actually (sort of). I came up with his nickname first (Ris) after finding the name Rhys (obviously not pronounced RHIS but), and gathered inspo from there. I wanted to name a character Ris, but never made the connection between the two. I found the name Harrison, thought it was a win, and realized Ris could be a nickname. Hence, Harrison’s uncommon nickname, lol. (This in theory, should’ve been simple but alas.)Though I do prefer his full name now, pretty sure my intention was just to call him Ris throughout the series, but that’s definitely not the case now! And for his last name it’s a tragedy and I wish I could change it lol (nothing wrong with the name just think there could’ve been a better fit). 

Foster Creed

Actual meaning: Of the woods, forest

Does the meaning connect with his character? It’s his actual aesthetic tho smol forest nymph boi (not purposeful but it works)

Ha, Foster’s name has an interesting backstory too! I initially named him Foster because I just liked the name, but his name literally created the main plot. I realized Foster isn’t a *super* common name, and wanted to explain it, and 13-year-old me thought it was a great idea to say his name rep’d his experience in foster homes (and was a nickname). That basically helped me create the base plot of the foster homes, so while his name didn’t come from anything special, it did drive the plot (but no the books aren’t named after him tbh harrison is more important than him oops). Also his real name is August as in August Rush and I have no regrets. (again with the last name thing, nothing wrong with it, I just ehh.)

here’s the explanation of his name in book one ft. some very old horrible writing but he info dumps his whole life story:

“Foster, huh?” I ask, curious.

“Yeah.” He replies, shaking his head with a laugh.

“What’s the story behind it?” He sighs, as if he’s told this story one too many times.

“Ever since I was a kid, I had no clue what my name was. You see, I was put into those foster homes, well I don’t know for what reason, but anyway my parents never said anything about me, not my name, or my age, not anything. I wasn’t the greatest kid around, always making trouble, so they kept switching the foster homes I was in. Once when I was in a home with three other boys, Ris befriended me and started calling me Foster when I told him I’d switched homes seventeen times.” I blink back at him, shock overcoming me.        

*shock overcoming me*

(also the lies in what Foster says yo he’s a cinnamon roll boi u ain’t no suave boi)

Lonan Clark

Actual meaning: blackbird

Does the meaning connect with his character? yuppers cuz he flies away from all his problems

(this also leads to beautiful fanart such as:)

All by the amaaaaaazing @sarahkelsiwrites​ :) (so good!)

Lonan’s first name doesn't have much of a story, just found the name through Magic Baby Names I think, and rolled with it (magic baby names is blessed). His last name on the other hand was created because I was driving to New York, had no internet, needed a last name ASAP, saw a street sign, and the rest is history. Though I am thrilled that his name means blackbird, lol the beatles boi in me was like queeeeen yeesssss.

Darren Peterson

Actual meaning: great

Does the meaning connect with his character? So much yes very many yes

Pretty sure his name was going to be Dennis, lol. I think I was making his brother a character profile, and was using @sarahkelsiwrites​’ profile of her character Delilah for formatting inspo, saw the name Darren somewhere in there, stole it, and here we areeee. Also stole the last name Peterson from her, ooooops. 

Lincoln Mayhew

Actual meaning: From the settlement by the pool.

Does the meaning connect with his character? Sounds just about as pretentious as him. 

I’m pretty sure I took his name from a list, not that interesting, but tis my space to say yuppers Lincoln and Lonan are basically the same name oops I know. (I get really attached to things easily hence why I didn’t change it lol ooooops.)

Christiane “Double” Aldaine

Actual meaning: Follower of Christ

Does the meaning connect with her character? Not really heh

I decided to explain this one because it’s kind of weird, lol. Christiane “Double” Aldaine is Reeve’s younger sister, and the name backstory is *so* ?? I just ? Basically, Reeve has an older sister named Christiane too who died, so her mom named her youngest daughter after her, so Reeve (who isn’t a fan) and also to differentiate between the two, nicknames her sister Double (because she’s a double of the original name). Double is also known as ‘Chris’ in the spinoff, because she obviously doesn't know her sister calls her this. So many naaames. oof.

I’M DISAPPOINTED

Clifford Wright

Actual meaning: ford by a cliff

Does the meaning connect with his character? No, but Sarah calls him ford by a cliff a lot lol

It took me a bit to find Clifford’s name, but when I found it, typed out CLIFFORD in all caps in my document, lol. His last name didn’t stem from anything but has led to many jokes like this:

“My name’s Clifford Wright.” I start hesitantly, reading off the words Julian wrote about me with pure caution. “Which is stupid, because I know everyone thinks I’m Clifford Wrong. You know why? Because I never do anything that makes sense.”

im deceased.

“pure caution”

Ben “Benjamin” Wright and Gracelyn “Grace” Wright

Actual meaning (Ben): Son of my right hand

Does the meaning connect with his character? Ben is always your right hand man stillllll

Actual meaning (Grace): Goodness and generosity.

Does the meaning connect with her character? Grace is more like the opposite of goodness and generosity

Grouping Ben and Grace together because they share the same backstory. In 2015, I was driving back down from New York and really needed names. I found Gracelyn in my name list doc, and came up with Ben on the spot (the creativityyy)

So this was fun! Thanks again @owen-with-dashes​ for tagging me! I’m going to tag @sssoto​, @sarahkelsiwrites​, @shaelinwrites​, and @alliewritesbooks​ to do this!

--Rachel