#idk speaking as a bullied kid there is something gratifying about like

[transpanda-1]

omg did they make an anime about that one manga about the new kid in school who doesn't realize that everyone is bullying this one girl because he misinterprets everyone's negatives and insults as the coolest hypest shit ever? Yess

[a-merman-not-a-guppy]

BDRP Questionnaire

Your Name: Lena Characters: Arthur, Ashley, Clarion, Dot, Finn, Louie, Sora/Roxas, Tad, Wilbur

Pick one of your characters and talk about their growth (we recommend choosing an older character, but it’s up to you!): To be honest I’m most proud of Finn and how the progression of his story and being bullied has been, as well as the slow but steady regaining of confidence. I think that’s been especially gratifying for me. It’s great to have that story build and see the way in which it played out. I didn’t know exactly how his confidence would grow, but it’s still beautiful to see how he’s starting to try new things in choir, and he doesn’t cower in fear of people the same way that he did in the beginning. There are still set backs of course but it’s honestly so refershing to have these little moments that show how he’s grown. Even an interaction with someone like Pip might have made him cower a lot more in the past. These days he thinks Pip is kind of funny and intense but he can handle it. I just think that’s neat. 

I’d also like to honorable mention Celia and Anthony. Celia in particular because she was my first muse back. I got her in September of 2018 and she left town in July of 2020, and it’s honestly such a thrill to have been able to properly close a character like I did with her. She was one of the ones that I thought would be more timid like Finn but actually ended up a lot more confident and sure of herself as time went on too. I loved that about her, and how she was quiet but she was very aware of herself and others and so so so smart. Her breaking the curse and being able to leave is my joy. It’s awesome to have a character end happy like that.

And Anthony also I’m proud of for sticking the evil route to the end, finding a chaotic method to destroy and going for it. I’m really glad I got to accomplish a good villain arc.

Pick another character (or the same character if you only have one) and talk a little about where you WANT them to go. What are your plans for them going into the new year? So I’ll go with my new babe Tad since he’s still fresh and exciting. But I want to see him get more in the drug scene and explore that a little more. I wanted to do that with one of my other characters before but it just didn’t work as well story wise. With Tad I’m really looking forward to seeing where he goes with that and what kind of trouble he can stir up. We do love chaotic idiots. Also with Ashley my plan is to have her figure out the motherhood thing but also have her try to start college by september of the following year. I think it’d be cool to see if/when she could figure all that out. I want to explore more of Dot’s trauma. I haven’t really touched on it that much because she’s been burying it so I’m looking forward to bringing that to light a little bit more.

Pick a thread or a plot that you’re proud of and talk about why you loved it: So I know I’ve said this somewhere before, but one of my favorites was Nemo nearly drowning in the lake and finding out that Finn was a merman. It was just such an important moment in both of their stories, and I feel like that was some of my best writing because it was so pivotal. It was a really powerful time for them both, and they shared who they were with each other. I loved it.

Another that I’m really proud of is the whole knights plot. I have generally known what I’ve wanted to do with Arthur since I got him, and it’s taken a great deal of time to get him and other characters where they are today. It’s still ongoing obviously, but I really loved writing the search for Excalibur with Arthur and John and how Arthur came into his own and realized just who he was in truth. It’s a plot that I’m both proud I got to start, and excited to see how it develops in the future.

In terms of your own writing, identify 1-3 strengths and talk about why you think it’s one of your strengths.: boy do I hate these questions. I’m always very self-critical with myself and my writing. I will say that one of my strengths I think is really being able to express a character’s voice and sort of showcase the kind of energy they have with some dialogue or whatever. I think I’m good about making each of my muses very distinct. Another thing that was not my strength in the past but I think that I have made it one is being able to properly progress a story and have a focus for it. I used to have a hard time maintaining characters cause ideas would fizzle and I wouldn’t know where to take my muses. These days I’m happy to say I do know the general direction for all my characters and it’s allowed me to plot a lot better and tell more compelling stories I think.

In terms of your own writing, identify 1-3 areas of improvement.: So I think this might be a similar weakness that I’ve said before but I’m bad about action. I think I need to do better about driving things forward. I think sometimes I still rely too much on the other person to do that and that’s not great. I try to keep in mind at least one action among the thoughts and words and I think I do that, but I still feel like I should improve on that. I don’t want to go too deep on weaknesses either cause it just makes me linger and fret over it.

Pick one of your plots, or even just a character, and come up with a list of 3-5 “mentor texts” where you can look for inspiration or research, then write a short (2-4 sentences) why you picked those texts. (They don’t have to be books, either!)

For Tad:

The Good Place (Character study of Jason): I like looking to shows and movies for inspo where I can, and there is a great deal about Jason that I can draw things from. Honestly the general sort of energy is kind of a helpful guiding point. It’s not necessarily every sort of way he speaks, but it does give suggestions, and helps me sort of develop my muse more.

For Dot:

Never Have I Ever: this was inspo for my muse from the beginning, when she was in development. It was why I got the brain blast on what I wanted to do with Dot’s wings. The whole psychosomatic thing in this show inspired me a great deal when it comes to Dot. So this is great. Also the show does a really good job addressing grief, and I want to go back and study it again so I can kind of see how to tell Dot’s story even better. For Ashley:

Gossip Girl/Mean Girls/Heathers: not gonna lie, Ashley has had a myriad of things that has helped inspire her and helped me get her character. I would say Heathers and Mean Girls are definitely more referenced to than Gossip Girl, but there’s still elements of that and the wealthy elite energy.  And now, a wishlist!: -a heroic rescue. be Sora’s damsel/guy in distress. I feel like I thought of this plot and things got hectic and I haven’t been able to do it. I want him to do some rescuing. -a simple little romance for Arthur. I want him to find something soft and cute and just vibe a bit. He’s always so into the work I wish for him to have a steady date. -exploring grief! i said it with Dot, I want to explore that more with her -more dates for my muses. I really like cute romantic things or even little flings so I want to get them out there and toy with those types of relationships. Doesn’t have to last, can most definitely be a hot mess. I just want more. teen romances are especially flimsy at points and i want to toy with that. -a fey’s gold plot with Tad. Someone get in trouble and stoned with him -more police things with Arthur. feel like i’ve dropped the ball a little, but if any of you want him involved in a thing, lmk. -revive the VFD. bring in more cops. I just want a cool buddy cop comedy -get in another fight. missing the fights some of my muses have gotten into. Let’s have some more -shenanigans. more pranks and stuff. where are all the teen prank wars and why aren’t they happening? i’m just saying. general pranking too is just not as present as it should be -someday again i’d like to tackle a adult parent. maybe a single dad energy is fun. idk switch it up from my last one. I also kind of want the married vibes though cause I do think that’d be a different kind of fun. like Baloo and Bagheera or idk maybe like Flora and Fauna as a promised fairy duo. i truly dunno. these are thoughts -chip and dale. ok but think about it two dumb RAS agents stirring up trouble. admittedly i got a lot of dumbass energy, but i wouldn’t be opposed to more -also that emotions as demons thing is a seriously sick idea and i kind of want to be in on that but also time -i think it’d be kind of fun if the uni and secondary did like a mentor mentee program like for kids who are thinking about college. buddy up. extra credits for the uni student or idk. could be a fun thing to do -own a business again. had it for a brief time but the character wasn’t quite right for me. would love to have a character do that. not sure if/when i could do that but i’d love to find a way. -get a villain again someday. not a soon goal cause i’m content with my last one, but one day =] -utilize the lake more for threads. i want it. i feel like certain locations are go tos and i want to switch things up more. - i feel like i have more things but i’m forgetting them. and often get inspired when i see other people’s wants.

OPTIONAL: Why do you RP? It makes me happy. I love the storytelling and the community we build together. It’s also like...I feel like I’ve been writing for half my life now which is kind of crazy, but it’s just one of those things I love doing. I love the friendships I’ve made with this, and the different things that I definitely wouldn’t have discovered if I was on my own. RP brings in a lot of other people’s perspectives and I think that’s so cool. It’s thanks to RP that my music interests changed and I got to find a very good place to find comfort and I am so so so grateful for that. Truly I am. So yeah, I RP because it’s fun and fulfilling and it brings all these opportunities.