#nikalas greyson

[author-a-holmes]

Good Lines Tag

Thank you @avrablake for the Tag. I've not seen this one before but I love it, so I'm going to pass it onto a few people...

Tagging forward, with no pressure, to; @faelanvance @charlesjosephwrites @authoralexharvey @acertainmoshke @queen-kass-the-writer @sylhorn @ashen-crest @world-of-fire-and-flight-admin @afoolandathief @fictionalbullshitter @artbyeloquent @ettawritesnstudies @sleepyowlwrites @duckingwriting @kaiusvnoir and @tisiphonewolfe. Also anyone else who wants to play, consider this an open tag.

Rules

What's a line that you're tremendously proud of writing, and what's a line that's just out-of-context ridiculous?

CW for the snippets: One talks about death and dying. The other talks about womens monthlies.

Line I'm Proud Of

It's a line Andric Roche says to Lizzy in Changeling, and I remember writing it, pausing and going. "Wow. Where did that come from?". It's stuck with me as a very quoteable line, and it's one of my favourites in Changeling.

"Survival is always about chance, Lizzy. Everything in the world wants to kill us. Even time."

Out-of-Context Ridiculous

I wasn't sure what to share for this one, but then earlier this evening (May 9th) I was doing a bit of writing practice with some characters from a future book and one of them spat out a line that's just perfect.

"Are you asking me to... to speed up my moonflow?!" she hissed out, and something on her face or in her voice must have warned Nik how close he was to igniting her fury because his hands raised fully, palms out, as he shook his head.

[verald-chronicles]

Nik: We all know which of us is more invested in this relationship. Mallory: Don't be ridiculous. I confessed how I felt before you did. Nik: Ah, but I was attracted to you first. Mallory: Well, that— Nik: And I pursued a relationship with you first. Mallory: That's not— Nik: And— Mallory: And which of us was the first to say 'I love you'? Me, that's who! Nik: I proposed first! (Pulls out a ring) Mallory: Well, I— Wait… What?!

@faelanvance

[author-a-holmes]

Belated OC Kiss Week

I was sick when Kiss Week was on this year, and I was very VERY much looking forward to those prompts.

So I'm taking advantage of the fact that I need some promotional posts next week across all my socials, and completing the prompts a month late.

And I'm loving some of these prompt fills I've come up with tonight.

My favourite part about OCKissWeek is that I get to play with characters that are either on the back burner, or who don't always have POV scenes of their own within the main books I'm working on.

[author-a-holmes]

Belated OCKiss24; #7

Prompt: "Dare"

Nikalas Greyson & Mallory Forbane

“So tell me to run. Or dare to sit and watch what we’ll become.” — Ivy by Taylor Swift

His hands were shaking.

Clenched into fists so tight, Nik could feel his nails tearing into his palms, the pain allowing him to focus past the burning desire to tear her heart from her chest.

“Get. Out.”

It was a growl. A warning. All he could manage, but she never took orders from without a fight and her blue eyes sparked with indignation that made him want to groan.

She was stunning when she was angry, but if she didn’t listen to him...

Nik had never faced the full power of his mothers’ curse. To kill that which you love. But the madness creeping into his mind now...

“Oh no. I don’t know what ridiculous idea you’ve gotten into your head now, but I’m not—”

Her gasp as he slammed her backwards nearly broke him. Fists crashing against the stone wall on either side of Mallory’s body was the only restraint he could summon.

“For once in your life, could you listen to me?” he snarled. Begged. Snarled.

This weak little human had brought him to his knees, and while there were any number of creatures he could protect her from, Nik couldn’t protect her from himself.

“You idiot,” she muttered, and he snapped his gaze up from her booted feet in time to watch her roll her eyes. No fear. No disgust. Just exasperation.

“Mallory...” he growled, but the woman silenced him with a kiss. Soft and light and unlike any kiss she’d bestowed on him before.

“You won’t hurt me,” she promised, pulling back, and he could feel her power leaking out into the room as her eyes began to glow and the pull of the curse faded. “Magic won’t let you."

Hey there!

Do you like my writing? Feel like supporting me so I can write some more? Check out my debut fantasy novel ‘Changeling’.

It’s available in Ebook at all your favourite online retailers, and in Paperback, and Hardcover from Amazon.

Changeling’s Ebook is 50% off between March 16th-22nd 2024, so grab your copy today!

Would you like to check out some more of my writing for free?

You can grab the prequel novella to Changeling, “Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail?” by signing up for my newsletter.

I also send out Flash Fiction pieces exclusive to my newsletter subscribers, and you’ll be the first to hear about sale prices, cover reveals and blurbs for all my future book releases.

[verald-chronicles]

.... *Nervous Laughter*

@faelanvance - Nikalas Greyson with Mallory? 'Kalas with Mallory!

[author-a-holmes]

🌙 and 👻 for the October ask game!

Thank you for the ask hun! (Link to the Ask Game; Here)

🌙 Moon: Do any of your OCs have dark backstories or secrets they’re trying to keep?

I had to give this one a bit of a think because I have such a cast of characters now across several projects lol.

No one in the Fey Touched Trilogy has a dark backstory, and I don't think they're keeping any huge secrets. Everyone HAS secrets, of course, but nothing earth shattering...

I think the biggest "secret", that's no longer really a secret for anyone who has read Changeling, if Lizzy's mixed parentage. But even that wasn't neccessarily something that her mum, Madeline, was intending to keep from her forever.

👻 Ghost: Can you tease some wip ideas that have been haunting you/something you want to write in the future?

The Chronicles of Verald.

I've described this project to my best friend as "The idea that is standing behind me, in the shadows at the corner of the room, grinning widely, while holding a baseball bat."

It's so freaking intimidating to me, but I've just got this GUT feeling it's going to be ridiculously fun to write.

It's going to be a series of Romantic Fantasy books, a minimum of nine, possibly as many as 12, that follow a character called Mallory Forbane who is a Viken. Vikens are rare and the only people who have the ability to manipulate and edit curses cast by Volvar, the spell-casters of the world.

The other lead character, Nikalas Greyson, is a Draugr, cursed to immortality, his curse is mutating and he requires the help of a Viken every few centuries to manipulate the curse back into a bareable state.

Nik's going to be a Morally Grey character on the darker side of that spectrum, and I really want to lean heavily on the rivals-to-lovers trope between him and Mallory over the course of the series.

But this beast is such a monster, I'm not even letting myself work on the outline properly under Fey Touched is complete. I have a metric tonne of worldbuilding for this already, and character outlines, and backstories, and plot details, and original cursed creatures/monsters. I've even outlined book one, because I was doing something different with my outlines and wanted to see if the idea was even viable... but then I've put it away, but it's constantly on my mind.

I have a dedicated sideblog for this project, and I just reblog stuff that makes me think of the story or gives me vibes or idea's, so it's definitely what I'd call an active project, even though I'm not currently working on it in any meaningful way.

[author-a-holmes]

Belated OCKiss24; #7

Prompt: "Dare"

Nikalas Greyson & Mallory Forbane

“So tell me to run. Or dare to sit and watch what we’ll become.” — Ivy by Taylor Swift

His hands were shaking.

Clenched into fists so tight, Nik could feel his nails tearing into his palms, the pain allowing him to focus past the burning desire to tear her heart from her chest.

“Get. Out.”

It was a growl. A warning. All he could manage, but she never took orders from without a fight and her blue eyes sparked with indignation that made him want to groan.

She was stunning when she was angry, but if she didn’t listen to him...

Nik had never faced the full power of his mothers’ curse. To kill that which you love. But the madness creeping into his mind now...

“Oh no. I don’t know what ridiculous idea you’ve gotten into your head now, but I’m not—”

Her gasp as he slammed her backwards nearly broke him. Fists crashing against the stone wall on either side of Mallory’s body was the only restraint he could summon.

“For once in your life, could you listen to me?” he snarled. Begged. Snarled.

This weak little human had brought him to his knees, and while there were any number of creatures he could protect her from, Nik couldn’t protect her from himself.

“You idiot,” she muttered, and he snapped his gaze up from her booted feet in time to watch her roll her eyes. No fear. No disgust. Just exasperation.

“Mallory...” he growled, but the woman silenced him with a kiss. Soft and light and unlike any kiss she’d bestowed on him before.

“You won’t hurt me,” she promised, pulling back, and he could feel her power leaking out into the room as her eyes began to glow and the pull of the curse faded. “Magic won’t let you."

Hey there!

Do you like my writing? Feel like supporting me so I can write some more? Check out my debut fantasy novel ‘Changeling’.

It’s available in Ebook at all your favourite online retailers, and in Paperback, and Hardcover from Amazon.

Changeling’s Ebook is 50% off between March 16th-22nd 2024, so grab your copy today!

Would you like to check out some more of my writing for free?

You can grab the prequel novella to Changeling, “Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail?” by signing up for my newsletter.

I also send out Flash Fiction pieces exclusive to my newsletter subscribers, and you’ll be the first to hear about sale prices, cover reveals and blurbs for all my future book releases.

[author-a-holmes]

Belated OCKiss24; #6

Prompt: "Reach"

Nikalas Greyson & Mallory Forbane

“I reached for you, but you were gone. I knew I had to go back home. You searched the world for something else, to make you feel like what we had. And in the end, in Wonderland, we both went mad.” — Wonderland by Taylor Swift

He’d been teasing her.

How he’d found her childhood journal, Mallory would probably never know. What had possessed the creature over a thousand years old to read her childhood journal, Mallory was certain she’d never understand.

All she cared about, in that moment, was making sure he didn’t read any more of it. Especially aloud!

The thing about Nikalas was that he didn’t have all that much on her in height. An inch. Maybe two. So when she lunged for the bound papers, his only option was to lean back.

She stretched up onto her toes. He curved his spine. And suddenly they were nose to nose, breath mingling, laughter still on their lips as she chased him.

She chased him. For once the tables had turned and he seemed to realise it the same moment she did.

He’d made her laugh. On one of the worst days of her life. And despite the way she could see desire glimmering in his gaze, Mallory got the distinct impression he’d done so without any pre-mediated ulterior motive.

And a few pebbles crumbled off the wall she’d placed around her heart. More fell when she realised he hadn’t taken advantage of the way she was pressed against him. His free hand hadn’t fallen to her hip, and his stance didn’t soften, didn’t bring his lips to hers.

No. Mallory did that.

And as the kiss exploded across both their senses, the childhood journal was quickly tossed aside and left forgotten. Lost amongst the leaves scattered across the forest floor.

Hey there!

Do you like my writing? Feel like supporting me so I can write some more? Check out my debut fantasy novel ‘Changeling’.

It’s available in Ebook at all your favourite online retailers, and in Paperback, and Hardcover from Amazon.

Changeling’s Ebook is 50% off between March 16th-22nd 2024, so grab your copy today!

Would you like to check out some more of my writing for free?

You can grab the prequel novella to Changeling, “Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail?” by signing up for my newsletter.

I also send out Flash Fiction pieces exclusive to my newsletter subscribers, and you’ll be the first to hear about sale prices, cover reveals and blurbs for all my future book releases.

[verald-chronicles]

That's it. That's the one. @faelanvance

I cannot stress enough the importance of transformations that are not necessarily redemptive.

- Cold and misanthropic villains who learn to care for the people close to them

- Coerced villains/minions running away–not to help the heroes, but to help themselves

- Villains who have dedicated their life and existence to The Cause who develop agency, who begin making their own decisions for their own reasons, whether or not they are GoodTM decisions 

- Bigoted villains who learn to stop being a dick in that specific area

- Villains otherwise driven by hate who reevaluate their motives if not their purpose

- Heroes so dedicated to The Cause that they stop caring for the people around them

- Heroes who stop caring in a healthy way, who become jealous or excessively competitive 

- Characters on all sides with trust issues who learn to trust, if only one or two individuals

- Selfish characters who learn self-sacrifice, even if it's only for fellow team members instead of a hero team or a Noble CauseTM 

- Characters who stand up to their abusers/refuse to be taken advantage of anymore in their interpersonal relationships outside the context of switching sides

There seems to be a growing expectation and even demand in fandom that villains be redeemed/redeemable, that heroes only become more GoodTM, and that anything else is somehow shortsighted or glorifying bad behavior. But people don't only grow in one direction, and personal progress doesn't have moral requirememts. Personal change doesn't have moral requirements. 

People can learn to love, to trust, to grow, to think for themselves without experiencing a major paradigm shift, and people don't always experience major paradigm shifts for the better. The fight for GoodTM and its necessity can actually be highlighted by a hero who goes bad and must then be defeated by former allies. Agency can actually be more profound if it doesn't conform to expectations or tropes within the story, because it becomes twofold: the character in question liberates themselves not only from the restrictions imposed on them by their circumstances/leaders but from those imposed by the reader/viewer as well.

[author-a-holmes]

Belated OCKiss24; #6

Prompt: "Reach"

Nikalas Greyson & Mallory Forbane

“I reached for you, but you were gone. I knew I had to go back home. You searched the world for something else, to make you feel like what we had. And in the end, in Wonderland, we both went mad.” — Wonderland by Taylor Swift

He’d been teasing her.

How he’d found her childhood journal, Mallory would probably never know. What had possessed the creature over a thousand years old to read her childhood journal, Mallory was certain she’d never understand.

All she cared about, in that moment, was making sure he didn’t read any more of it. Especially aloud!

The thing about Nikalas was that he didn’t have all that much on her in height. An inch. Maybe two. So when she lunged for the bound papers, his only option was to lean back.

She stretched up onto her toes. He curved his spine. And suddenly they were nose to nose, breath mingling, laughter still on their lips as she chased him.

She chased him. For once the tables had turned and he seemed to realise it the same moment she did.

He’d made her laugh. On one of the worst days of her life. And despite the way she could see desire glimmering in his gaze, Mallory got the distinct impression he’d done so without any pre-mediated ulterior motive.

And a few pebbles crumbled off the wall she’d placed around her heart. More fell when she realised he hadn’t taken advantage of the way she was pressed against him. His free hand hadn’t fallen to her hip, and his stance didn’t soften, didn’t bring his lips to hers.

No. Mallory did that.

And as the kiss exploded across both their senses, the childhood journal was quickly tossed aside and left forgotten. Lost amongst the leaves scattered across the forest floor.

Hey there!

Do you like my writing? Feel like supporting me so I can write some more? Check out my debut fantasy novel ‘Changeling’.

It’s available in Ebook at all your favourite online retailers, and in Paperback, and Hardcover from Amazon.

Changeling’s Ebook is 50% off between March 16th-22nd 2024, so grab your copy today!

Would you like to check out some more of my writing for free?

You can grab the prequel novella to Changeling, “Whatever Happened To Madeline Hail?” by signing up for my newsletter.

I also send out Flash Fiction pieces exclusive to my newsletter subscribers, and you’ll be the first to hear about sale prices, cover reveals and blurbs for all my future book releases.

[verald-chronicles]

Picture by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

15 Minute Writing Exercise

Prompt: Fight

He was so irritating.

She was incredibly frustrating.

If only he would listen to her, instead of demanding that she adhered to his whims!

If only she would be silent on occasion, and realise that he knew best.

Mallory aimed a furious kick at a pile of leaves, and her foot slipped as the wet mud gave way beneath her feet. Her back hit the ground and her head spun as a sharp "Ooof!" was forced from her lungs.

She could hear Nik's own furious steps halt at her fall, and bit her lip with mortification. He'd been ahead of her, leading the way out of the forest she'd gotten herself lost within. Sher words and angry retorts had been spat from both their lips.

He had better things to do than look for her.

She hadn't needed the help of a monster.

She'd still, reluctantly, been following him home. He'd, reluctantly, kept his speed to that of a human, unwilling to let her out of his sight.

She waited for the taunts, the teasing, as she slowly pushed herself onto her elbows, blonde hair falling around her shoulders and clumping together with wet mud. She knew she looked a state, and after their fight it would be in character for Nik to proffer up a fresh taunt.

Instead, she heard him sigh wearily. She didn't hear the furious stomp of his feet against the ground, but a moment later he was crouched beside her.

"Are you alright?" he asked, and when Mallory braved glancing at him, he kept his blue gaze away from hers. Sharp eyes were scanning the forest, as though seeking to hunt down that which had hurt her, despite it being the pile of leaves she'd attacked in a temper.

She considered spitting his concern back in his face, but bit back the acidic words, swallowing them down hard. He was trying. He could kill her with no more effort than it took her to crush a spider, and he hadn't. He wasn't. Despite her pettiness and temper, and their blazing fights, Nik had never hurt her, and he tried very hard not to scare her.

"I could do with a hand up," she offered quietly, eyes on her knees when his head snapped around to stare at her.

It was an offer, an olive branch, and the surprise on his face hurt. He'd continuously reached out to her, but this was the first time she'd returned the offer and slowly Nik stood up.

For a heart-stopping moment she thought he was going to walk away. To stalk off and leave her, tossing her soft words back at her feet as she had done to him countless times already, but he didn't.

His feet didn't move from her side, and when she glanced up, his hand was held out to her. Patiently waiting for her to notice.

And wasn't that just a metaphor for their entire relationship.

Clearing her throat, Mallory lifted her own hand and grasped his arm. His fingers mirrored her own pressing against the skin just below her elbow. Firm, grasping… gentle.

Nik tugged her to her feet with ease, and didn't release her until he was sure she had her feet firmly beneath her. Then he lingered for a heartbeat longer when he met his eyes.

It was his turn to clear his throat nervously, releasing her and stepping back.

"Come on. We should attempt to return to civilization before the moon rises," he said simply, their earlier fight dissipating into the evening air, and Mallory shivered at the reminder of the monsters that resided within the woods.

They turned together, and walked side-by-side and neither commented on the tenuous peace that settled between them.

[ideas-and-inpo]

Character A: Mallory Forbane

Character B: Nikalas Greyson

one of my absolute favourite tropes is where character A asks character B "why are you doing this for me? why do you care so much? what do you get out of this?" and B just gives them a sad smile and says "isn't it obvious?" with THE MOST affection possible, just so obviously head over heels in love that it's almost ridiculous that A hasn't realised it yet. just fuck me up why don't you

[ideas-and-inpo]

Nikalas Greyson/Mallory Forbane Inspiration

When days are dark darling, remember, my love for you won’t go away…

David Ramirez

[verald-chronicles]

*Stares at Nik Greyson*

This is how I feel describing most of my personal favorite characters.

[author-a-holmes]

Accurate for...

Lizzy/Andric

Stella/Reilly

Mallory/Nik

Probably Krysis and Jack too, looking at this pattern.

Me? Have a Type? No idea what you're talking about lol...

I am a WHORE for “the love is requited, they’re both just idiots”

[verald-chronicles]

@faelanvance

villains who are so desperate to be loved yet have no idea how to act or react when someone does love them ...