#bbc verse tag tba.

[bohemain]

▉ ――   “             The criterion by which you measure the similarities between your pastries and Mrs. Hudson’s doesn’t follow,             ”             and he’s brisk to enter the apartment downstairs once given the invitation to.   She does look awful ––   in a non-judgmental albeit perhaps seemingly judgmental way,   eyes keep their attention on her while big strides take him into the kitchen.   The question is taken very literally as Sherlock rummages for the best possible tea bag and fills the kettle with fresh water,          “           Wasn't a problem,  actually ––   but breakfast was more expensive and slightly less delightful.   And I enjoy keeping things as they are,   routine makes life so much simpler.            ”          The smile he shoots over his shoulder back at Ellie is just a little too wide ;   that he goes through her cupboard with a near-insolent taken-for-grantedness until he’s picked out a mug,   he seems little concerned with.              “            Do you have eggs?   I used to make a soup for my sister whenever she was sick.   It works wonders ––   but I do need some eggs.            ”

☾ ─── ⋆ mrs. hudson had told ellie to take the day. that she would be able to handle things up stairs for however long ellie needed to get better. and who was ellie to argue with mrs. hudson. the woman had been running baker street long before the australian had even shown up on their door step. but by the sounds of the incessant knocking on her front door - mrs hudson may not have had everything under control. ellie didn't think that not being up stairs for the first time in however long she's been there would have been something sherlock would have noticed. but of course it was something he had noticed. with a mild groan and a sniff , ellie bundles herself up in her cardigan and shuffles to the door. she hasn't even looked at herself in the mirror all morning. pulling it open , she's certainly not surprised to see sherlock standing in the door way , her head droops and a sigh leaves her. yes she looked awful , don't remind her. brows furrowed. ❛ hey , mrs hudson's pastries are just as good. ❜ she mumbled , not even bothering to argue that he should stay on that side of her door , lord knows she doesn't need him getting sick - but she just steps aside , allowing him inside. ❛ how'd you ever survive before me ? ❜

[interact-if]

Day 4 of our Arab Heritage Month Featured Author Interviews, with Thanina!

Thanina, author of The Royal Pretender.

The Royal Pretender is a low-fantasy interactive fiction game filled with high-stakes political intrigue.

You are a servant in Highreave Castle, heart of the Mercilonian Kingdom. When peace talks between Mercilon and the neighboring Kingdom of Bourgeaux are halted in wake of the King’s assassination, you unwittingly find yourself in the midst of a thrilling power struggle. How will you handle your rise to power; and who with?

Read more about The Royal Pretender here. Demo TBA Tags: Fantasy, Historical, Royalty.

[INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT UNDER THE CUT!]

Q1. Tell us about yourself and project(s)?

I’m Thanina (she/her) and The Royal Pretender is a low-fantasy rags-to-riches story, in which you play as a former servant in the Kingdom of Mercilon and become heir to the throne. I’ve been a huge fan of fantasy for years now, ever since tuning into BBC’s Merlin whenever I was around eight, and my taste for it has only grown in recent years. My idea for The Royal Pretender actually grew from my love for the genre (as well as a need for some kind of escapism, as I’m sure a lot of other people can relate) and I’m super excited to finally make my vision for the story a reality.

Q2. What excites you most about using interactive fiction? What are some of the biggest challenges?

The thing that excites me most about using interactive fiction as a medium for storytelling is the constant feedback from my readers! Whenever I write for classes and/or recreationally, I’m always seeking out a second opinion. With interactive fiction, second-opinions are always readily available. I will admit that it can be a double-edged sword; as a people-pleaser I subconsciously prioritize writing stories that others want to read rather than stories that I want to write, but I think that if I remind myself that writing is supposed to be fun for me and everybody else, then I’ll be able to overcome this tendency.

Q3. Do you use your identity/heritage as inspiration? How is it reflected in your project?

I tend to use my identity/heritage as inspiration in a lot of my work, although it might not shine through as much in The Royal Pretender, as the story takes place in a very eurocentric low-fantasy setting. That being said, I do have other projects in the works (hehe) that deal heavily in Amazigh mythology and North-African culture, so stay tuned?

Q4. What aspect of your identity would you like to explore further in your project?

In media, representation for SWANA people is enormously lacking, and I think as a result of this, the SWANA representation that we do see is completely inaccurate and/or offensive. One of the characters in The Royal Pretender, Faiz(a), is from a fictional/fantasy version of Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age and I hope that through this character I can imbue readers with a non-orientalist interpretation of how Arab people and societies really operate.

Q5. What is something about your project that you love or make you excited?

Throughout the pre-development stage for my project, the characterization of much of the cast was very loose, but now that I’ve actually begun writing, I think I have a much firmer grasp as to who most of my characters are (and the MC could be.) Now that I have the characterization down, I think I’m really going to enjoy writing the interactions that take place between the cast and the world.

Q7. Do you have any advice for your fellow authors?

Don’t be afraid to represent cultures or identities that you initially aren’t well-versed on, but be ready to do your absolute best in researching and representing them. And if you feel you’re not up to the task, don’t sweat it! But at the same time don’t stop learning.