#oc; enoch volkov

[achilleid]

Why are all the male love interests in these booktok "spicy" books so... Incredibly boring?

They all are some dark haired guy with golden tan skin and some vibrant eye color who is oh so witty and charming and so utterly 2 dimensional. They are broody, tall and wildly devoted to the LI immediately (even if they deny it) and their character development is usually just 'oh I can tell her I love her o so much now~'

I think that's why I made Enoch a 5'11" cringe malewife fail-son. And HE is the oh so pale, oh so lithe one and also the healbitch. While my heroine is fuckin stacked. Talking RIPPED. Stealth? Subterfuge? Don't know bout that. Fist to face.

[achilleid]

Shio: Defecting.

Enoch: Deflecting.

How is your OC handling their trauma?

[achilleid]

0 draft!Enoch: I will destroy everything you love.

2nd draft!Shio: Start with yourself.

2nd draft!Enoch, behind 0: 🔪 anything for you Beyoncé

[achilleid]

House of the Dragon is really helping me get into Irina’s head space. She had Enoch very young— young even by the fantasy-realm standards of Epyllion (she was fifteen). So seeing Alicent’s relationship with Aegon is really helping me decode even more how they feel.

There is love, but there is resentment. A bond, but a kind of lack of true familial relationship. But there is love. Oh goodness there is love. Not the soft kind, but a feral love with a mouth full of teeth for any who would hurt her child.

The idea that her hands could more easily kill for him than they could ever hold him.

[achilleid]

Wanted to do one of these edits showing some aesthetics for my main three. The top two of the inspiration characters are the ones who I was most inspired by when writing them and the bottom three just have similar ~vibes~, appearances or some character traits.

[achilleid]

“Nice smile. Very cute. Her enthusiasm made me want to vomit.” Enoch says wistfully. Shio looks horribly unimpressed.

“I was twelve.”

“And adorable.”

“I don’t remember that meeting,” Shio shrugs, “So my first impression was from when we were older.”

“And?” Enoch leans forward.

“I thought, ‘Does he not have pupils?’”

The disappointed is rife in Enoch’s expression.

“Really? First time meeting me? The infamous bastard son to the Emperor in all my splendor and you were staring at my eyes?”

“We weren’t supposed to know you were his son, much less acknowledge it.” She pauses, “And you had very... noticeable eyes.”

Enoch raises an eyebrow.

“You also looked exhausted.“

“I probably was. The palace was so quiet compared to the bawd house... I’ve never slept easy alone.”

Shio nods, “Also you laughed at me. When some sanguis kid encircled me and made me punch myself in the arm half a dozen times until an instructor stopped him.”

Enoch rolls his lips together. “... I don’t remember that.”

“I do. I remember thinking, ‘they are all the same’. I thought since you were older you might be different.”

Enoch shifts several times, unable to get comfortable.

“I don’t remember...” He repeats, his eyes adverted, “... I’m sorry.”

“I guess we shouldn’t have expected this question to be a delightful one given our history.”

“I— no. I suppose not.”

Shio reaches out and takes his hand.

“First impressions are derived from baseless value judgments and are impermanent.”

Enoch snorts, “Is that meant to be a comfort?”

“Just a fact,” Shio says, “proven true in your case.”

He smiles faintly and squeezes her hand back.

when they first met, what was your ocs first impression of their significant other?

[achilleid]

“All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.”

- Richard Adams, Watership Down

[achilleid]

—Epyllion Excerpt—

Beneath the veneer of power and pride, I was a creature with a heart made of savage thorns.

Ashamed. Afraid. Alone.

Who would want such a thing? Who could love such a thing?

And then Enoch had showed me hands, open and willing to bleed.

[achilleid]

I too could have easily fallen into that trope of an ancient wise magic man who falls in love with the heroine but instead I made Enoch a twenty-something hot mess with no idea what tf he is doing.

[achilleid]

Shio gives off low key unhinged rich girl gone feral vibes. Like the luster is gone, the nice clothes are torn and she is ready to snatch what she can, elbow deep in mud and blood. And the thing is, it fits her better than privilege ever did.

Enoch gives off high key chaotic vibes. Like he might shoot you a smile or shoot you in the foot. Break past that facade tho and suddenly he’s just a kid from the wrong side of the tracks who never felt like he belonged. And if he couldn’t make them love him he’d be damn sure they feared him.

What vibes do your OC give off?

[achilleid]

Enoch Volkov ♚ original character, wip; Epyllion

[achilleid]

oH nO tHeRe Is OnLy OnE bEd: Epyllion edition ( @ladywithalamp @wickerring @bebewrites )

“I’ll take the sofa,” Enoch said, standing and draining the last dregs of his drink, “You are injured too. She didn’t see the work I put into your hands. You’ll need the rest. Such a high level of healing like that will wear you out.”

“I feel fine.” I said, surprisingly jittery even.

“That’s the adrenaline talking,” Enoch said, “You’ll realize as soon as you lay down.”

I looked at him and then I looked at the bed. It was large. Spacious even.

“… we could— it’s big enough we need not even touch at all.”

Enoch looked up at me, an eyebrow raised.

“We could both fit.” I said, my jaw set, my eyes daring him to say something cruel or lewd or otherwise mock me.

To my surprise, he did not. Enoch simply nodded.

“Okay.”

I nodded in turn and headed over to sit on the edge of the bed, the fabric soft and inviting. Enoch joined me after a moment, the faint sinking of the mattress something I was trying desperately to ignore as I undid the scarf around my neck and pulled off my jacket and vest. I could sleep in my pants and shirt without issue. I left both on as I slipped under the covers.

Enoch was already shirtless, but he left on his trousers. I was grateful there was no need for discussion on the point. He propped the pillows up and attempted to arrange himself in a way that was somehow comfortable… a feat not easily managed with half an ear missing.

Finally, all was quiet, except for the crackling of the fire place and the faint shifting of sheets. There was easily a few inches between us, but I felt the heat of his back upon my own like a furnace. The presence of his weight, of the sound of his breathing. Every nerve in my body felt taunt, the jittery feeling from before twice as strong now. Enoch shifted, the sudden movement making my heart kick.

I have never shared a bed with a man before, the thought came suddenly to me and I shut my eyes tight as if this would ward it off. Enoch had been right though. After only a few moments, exhaustion flooded its ways through my body and I felt my face relax and my eyelids close more gently.

My sleep was heavy, dreamless, I awoke with a start, disoriented for only a moment as I found myself in the dark room, the fire barely embers. I was vaguely aware of the passing of the evening. There were no windows in this room, but I could tell by my own feeling of restfulness it was early morning at least. Not quite dawn. There was time still to linger, so I nuzzled my face back into the warm, solid form in front of me.

I felt my heart stutter to near a stop in my chest. That warm solid weight, the soft skin, the faint scent of sweat and soap... in my sleep, I had curled up tight against Enoch’s back, burrowed up against him, my curled knees pressed behind his.

I prayed to whatever gods were listening— let him be asleep. Let him have been so tired he didn’t know I was there. I slowly drew away, as if his warm back were a viper ready to strike. Enoch didn’t stir, his breathing slow and even.

In the faint light I stared at the back of his neck, my face hot with embarrassment. I had not slept so sounding in days... the healing must have been as draining as Enoch said. That was all. I told myself, not even trusting myself to blink. That was all.

[achilleid]

I was trying to think if they were born in our world what Star sign my Epyllion cast would have and have settled upon:

Shio; Capricorn. Level-headed, rational, prefers order and structure. Slow to change and switches from moody to cold on a moments notice.

Enoch; Cancer. Intuitive and emotional, often moves “as a crab does”— sideways. Avoiding discussing his deeper and more personal thoughts with people he does not trust.

Nell; Aries. Fearless and enthusiastic, but prone to being impulsive and short-tempered. Honest— sometimes too honest.

Sascha; Gemini. Mercurial and charming, but prone to indecisiveness and unreliability. Likes to always be on the move and experience new things.

Mira; Taurus. Enjoys the finer things, sensuous yet unwaveringly determined and doggedly tenacious. Stubborn to a fault.

[achilleid]

Main Cast; Aesthetics

SHIO MORAVEK

Red silk drawn against your skin. The flicker of bright steel and faded stars. An edge so sharp it cuts without pain. The sound of an erhu. The crunch of snow. The feeling of crisp winter air on your face. The lurch in your chest when you’ve suddenly changed your mind. The faint, barely there scent of jasmine

LEONORES MORAVEK

The sensation of biting into a lemon. Sour, sharp and bitter. Screaming song lyrics. Screaming in general. That rush when you break something on purpose— an object, a rule, a heart. The feeling of speeding in a car at night, all the windows down, the music loud, the wind cold.

ENOCH VOLKOV

Bloody, sore knuckles. The gnawing of hunger pains. The ache in your arms from wanting to hold someone— and from having held on too long. The rush of stepping off a ledge into open air. The burn of fresh hot coffee, the smoothness of dark chocolate. The scent of musk and leather.

MIRA KAUR

An aroma of spice. Deep, rich and welcoming reds. A plush couch and a warm cup of tea. The soft heat of fresh baked bread in your mouth. That feeling of familiarity and comfort sleeping alongside friends. The exhausted catharsis in your chest after a good long cry.

SASCHA HEIDRICK

The taste of salt water on your lips, the rough grainy touch of sand. The creaking of masts, of ribs in laughter. The cool spray of water beneath a hot pale sun. Gold— coins, liquor, honey— honey so sweet and so thick it intoxicates with each spoonful. The sting of a sunburn. The rush of instant attraction.

[achilleid]

Four times Enoch wanted to Kiss Shio and One Time She Did - Excerpts from Epyllion

One

At the sight of her, encircled, powerless and entirely at his mercy a dark thought crept into the foreground of his mind. His eyes flickered to her lips, parting his own in anticipation of the taste of them. He wants to tell Ires to make her kiss him. Kiss him and mean it. His heart hammers so hard in his chest at the thought he has to take in a steadying breath before he speaks. For now, he says instead, “Get on your knees. Bow to me and say, ‘Please forgive me, my prince.’”

Two

“If I had known you were such a skilled drinker, I would have brought two glasses.”

“You have.”

She plucks his own glass from his hands so quickly he hasn’t the time nor the inclination to stop her. She tips the rim of the crystal against her lips and drains the champagne to the dregs. Her cheeks flush, rose against the warm beige of her skin, her bottom lip wet with moisture. Enoch is grateful when she passes the empty flute back into his hand. He needs something in both. Something to anchor him and keep him from leaning down and licking the champagne from her mouth.

“Now you can go back to the Emperor, tell him we’ve made our peace, and leave me alone.”

She turned and left and with every step Enoch felt his heart seize in time.

Three

“Doesn’t everyone want their father dead?”

“I didn’t.”

Enoch feels a pain so keenly in his chest that it takes him several seconds to recognize it as regret. Her voice had trembled on the last word, the lovely amber of her eyes shimmering with forming tears. One overflowed and then another, falling down her cheek and something in his chest spasmed so fiercely he rose up his hand to her face and wiped them away.

She was staring, silent. Stunned. An expression he felt upon his own face, even as he brought his hand up again and traced his knuckles against her skin. He traced down her jaw, feeling the heat of her, the warmth. He caught her chin under his index finger and tilted her face up to his, searching for resistance. For any sign she wished him to stop.

Her eyes fell to his lips as her own parted. Stars. Stars above she wanted him to. And finally it seemed, Enoch would get to find out what that kiss tasted like— until a sudden rapid knocking broke the spell, Shio lurching away from him like he had burned her.

Four

His chest burned, from water, for air. He took in gulps of it, coughing out the salt and sea and clung to her shoulders for steadiness among the rocking of the storm. He’d nearly died. He’d nearly died, but Shio had dove in after him and drug him to the surface.

Shio had saved him.

"Missed your chance to be rid of me, Moravek.” He croaked, trying to force a smile unto his face even as his body trembled in her grasp.

"I don't want to be rid of you.”

Stars, he could have kissed her then. He could have kissed her and blamed it on the shock or the lurching of the boat or any number of things and he knew she would forgive him for it. But then the captain was shouting to get him below deck and Shio slid from his grasp and the words that thrummed in his heart refused then to be spoken.

Five

She was lovely against the pure white of the Heng landscape, snowflakes like stars speckled in the dark sky of her hair. Her face was flushed, her hands like ice in his own. He rubbed them, brought them to his mouth and huffed hot puffs of breath against them. When had it become like this? That his heart raced, but also was calmed when she was near? He let his sphere slip from within his chest, enveloping her and encouraging her own heart with gentle nudges to beat faster, to warm her quicker.

“Better?” He asked quietly. He felt like he was melting. He felt like his insides had gone soft and weightless, threatening to escape from his mouth in words his mind knew he should not speak.

And then she kissed him.

And it was a relief. It was the setting down of a weight, held too long in one’s arms. It was the rush of the plunge, of stepping from one rooftop to the next, nothing but air and the street below beneath his feet. She had done this before, that he could tell by how easily she slipped from one kiss to the next and a silent burning jealousy singed in his chest at the thought. When he put his hands on her, held her crushingly close against his body, it was with the intent of banishing all thought of the kisses from before until it was only him. Until he was the only thing she thought of, the only thing she felt.

He wanted to ruin her so thoroughly that she would never again be able to feel the touch of someone’s lips without thinking of him. Without wishing it were him.

He left a bruise upon her neck, high up. Dark and red. Something for him to admire at a distance.

Something to make her remember him.

[achilleid]

“I’m not moody.” He grumbled.

And that’s the whole character in a nutshell.