#shiny guardian deities edits

[shiny-poke-edits]

the guardian deities

[seamusings]

Character Creation Tag

Thank you @tinybastardwriting​ for the tag! I’ll do this one for our good friend Soo-ah.

1) What was the first element of your OC that you remember considering (name, appearance, backstory, etc.)?

I think I first started considering her personality and backstory. While her backstory is more or less the same, she’s changed a lot from the first concept of her, so I’m very glad that she had time to really grow into herself.

2) Did you design them with any other characters/OCs from their universe in mind?

Soo-ah was the last of the main cast to be fully realized, so she was designed in part to balance out the other main characters. She’s blessed by her family’s guardian, a point of tension between her and Bom. And at this point I knew that I didn’t want Jisoo to be powerful, so I also chose Soo-ah’s blessing to be on the slightly more powerful end of the spectrum.

3) How did you choose their name?

So basically my mom and I talked through names, and she suggested Soo-ah. It has kind of an elegant feel, with Soo meaning “superior” and -ah meaning “child.” The last name Yoon means “shining” or “shiny.” Her character has evolved wayyy past what I intended with that name, though. Looking back I would’ve probably given this name to Hayoon, but I’m attached to the concept of Soo-ah being Soo-ah now.

4) In developing their backstory, what elements of the world that they live in played the most influential parts?

Definitely proximity to the ocean. I debated between Busan and Jeju for a while, but finally decided Busan because I decided that Busan was really the place for the more “noble,” benevolent creatures. It’s where you get most of your yong, your haetae, and many of your deities. Therefore Soo-ah has a very good childhood -- she has a powerful family guardian, she’s blessed by them, and she grows up with this good perception of Korean mythological creatures.

5) Is there any significance behind their hair color?

Not really. She just has black hair.

6) Is there any significance behind their eye color?

I describe it somewhere as being the “golder side of brown.” I wanted that spark of magic to be present in her in a much more visible sense, and eyes are windows to the soul. I liked the idea of her power being so strong that it bleeds through her eyes.

7) Is there any significance behind their height?

She’s very short. I imagine that she’s one of the people who’s bothered by that fact, and it plays into how she behaves when she first meets someone.

8) What (if anything) do you relate to within their character/story?

Soo-ah represents my urge to yell a lot. I relate to her passion and the intensity with which she feels things. I can also relate to her experience when she first arrives in Seoul, with that “fish out of water” feeling.

9) Are they based off of you, in some way?

Hm, not outwardly. But some of her actions are based off of my internal reactions to things, just occurring within her own personality and motivations.

10) Did you know what the OC’s sexuality would be at the time of their creation?

Nope, and I still don’t really. I know she’s attracted to women, but I’m still waiting to see if there are any developments. Unlike Jisoo and Hayoon, which I knew to be wlw in the beginning, Soo-ah kinda just said “gorls” one day and I was like “valid.”

11) What have you found to be most difficult about creating art for your OC (any form of art: writing, drawing, edits, etc.)

Definitely writing her. I’m struggling to balance softness with her brashness, and I’m trying not to make her just an angry person. Because she’s really not. She’s actually one of the easiest to make edits for, though.

12) How far past the canon events that take place in their world have you extended their story, if at all?

How far past? Not really; I know what’ll happen to her after the conclusion of the book in a broad sense, like where she’ll work and how she’ll remember the events in the book. But finer details still have to be figured out.

13) If you had to narrow it down to 2 things that you MUST keep in mind while working with your OC, what would those things be?

First: She feels all emotions intensely and expresses them intensely. Not just anger, but joy and fear and sorrow as well.

Second: Her number one fear is losing her power.

14) What is something about your OC that can make you laugh?

How easily she gets riled up. The way she plays off of Bom, who loves to provoke her, and Hayoon, who has no visible reaction, is really fun to write.

15) What is something about your OC that can make you cry?

She’s not good with animals or other blessed OR other people. Her power manifests in such a way that it naturally puts everyone on edge, and she’s painfully aware of that. She knows it’s not her fault but the fact that she can’t help it makes her feel powerless and she knows that no one will ever be comfortable with it and I just :((((((

16) Is there some element you regret adding to your OC or their story?

I don’t think so.

17) What is the most recent thing you’ve discovered about your OC?

That she's not as confident as originally expected. A lot of her insecurities were present, looking back, but they’ve just started showing themselves.

18) What is your favorite fact about your OC?

She bakes bread for the dokkaebi. Wife goals.

Tagging: @yetmorestories​, @teacupwriter​, @juls-writes​, @ad-drew​, @writing-sky-scapes​, @baguettewriting​, and @liarede​. No pressure though, and please lmk if you don’t want to be tagged in these games!

[shiny-poke-edits]

the guardian deities