#this is awesomebutunpractical's fault

[isfjmel-phleg]

I was happy to see @awesomebutunpractical's OC Scenario Template come around again, because it's so much fun. So here's another variation with my OCs (I'll do another with five others later).

Bethira and Josiah both are in a hurry and practically bump into each other when they get to the door. What happens?

They are both very apologetic. Josiah is rather embarrassed. Bethira makes a point of asking if he's all right? Did she hurt him accidentally? No, he's fine.

Antavia and Rietta are in an argument. What could it be about? Just to smooth things out, Ayra walks in on them.

Rietta said something flippant about some form of art (a painting? a play? a book? doesn't matter) that Antavia sees as Serious Business, she took this as a Declaration of War, and she's lecturing Rietta on the artistic merit of this thing while Rietta continues to insist that it doesn't matter. Ayra walks in on this, hears what they're discussing, and turns right around and leaves. She doesn't have time for this nonsense.

Antavia needs a confidant and the options are Bethira and Josiah. Who’s it gonna be? What circumstances would cause this to switch?

Bethira is the obvious choice. They're fairly close in age, they were at the same school, and Bethira knew all the people from Antavia's past who are dead now. Antavia sees Bethira as a victim of the system like herself and would love to try to get her out of it.

Fun fact: Josiah and Antavia are second cousins (her grandmother Edella was his grandfather's sister). But I have no idea what circumstances would lead her to confide in him. He would have no interest in anything she would have to say and nothing to offer that she would want to hear.

Josiah and Ayra are stuck in a body swap and now they need to impersonate each other. What are the traits they’d overplay to sell it? Who’d do the better job?

LOL! They're siblings who aren't on great terms, so they would both do the most overblown caricatures of each other. Ayra would portray Josiah as a self-righteous spoiled brat. Josiah would portray Ayra as cold, calculating, and obsessed with politics. I doubt either of them would be overly convincing, but Ayra's got more experience wearing a mask than Josiah, so I'll give it to her.

Rietta has lost something precious. There’s a pile of circumstantial evidence that Antavia is the thief. Does Rietta decide to trust Antavia anyway? Jump on the evidence and start the blame game? Is there enough trust there to label this a betrayal? Is Antavia actually responsible?

The second Rietta would find evidence that Antavia was the thief, she would angrily confront her without hesitation or further examination. They have no particular connection or reason to trust each other, so Rietta wouldn't consider it a betrayal exactly, just extremely wrong behavior. This would be a terrible choice, because Antavia would get defensive and also angry, and there would be a whole Incident. Whoever the thief was, it wouldn't really be Antavia, who, whatever her faults, would not resort to theft.

Ayra, Antavia, and Bethira are all out in the middle of nowhere and they stumble onto a very suspicious bag of money. What does each of them think of the situation? Can they agree on what to do?

Ayra would find it suspicious but be too savvy to get involved herself; she'd figure out a way for the proper people to address the situation. Bethira would be concerned for whoever must have lost so much and outraged that someone would apparently steal like that. Antavia would think the whole thing was hilarious and make it one of her celebrated party anecdotes.

Josiah and Rietta are, for the sake of this question, arch-enemies. For reasons they care about, they have to play nice with each other for a dinner. How well does each pull it off? Does Bethira pick up on the tension in the room?

I have no idea why they would be enemies; canonically Josiah will develop a bit of a crush on her. But whatever the case, he would be painfully polite to her at this dinner, while she would be seething with rage--it's harder for her to conceal feelings, especially strong dislike. Bethira would definitely pick up on this and employ all her tact to try to defuse the situation.

There is a bug! A particularly big, spiny, potentially venom filled specimen. Bethira and Antavia are in the room with the little guy, and Josiah, Ayra, and Rietta are in the next room over. What happens?

Bethira would find the creature distasteful but conceal her disgust and calmly ring for someone to come and dispose of the bug. Antavia would probably be inspired to write a poem in which the bug is a metaphor for something.

Let’s cast Josiah as a detective and Ayra as the assistant. What could this look like? How effective would they be?

This would look awful. Both of them like to be the smartest person in the room, and Ayra wouldn't take kindly to being an assistant. She would constantly be trying to put the annoyingly smug Josiah in his place, and he would argue. They wouldn't get anything done.

Antavia is jealous of Bethira. What’s causing this? How is this expressed? How honest is Antavia about these feelings?

Is there anything for her to be jealous of? Bethira is trapped in a system that Antavia escaped, suffered through two unhappy marriages, and only has her two sons left, neither of whom seem to like her much. But Antavia truly does come to like Delclis and Elystan, so maybe she envies Bethira the opportunity to be their mother. Antavia would make no secret of her feelings--she'd be dramatic and sarcastic and spiteful to Bethira about it--but wouldn't be honest enough to address the root of the problem. It's all Bethira's fault for having amazing sons and then failing them. Antavia would never!

Say Rietta really has to hype up Bethira to Josiah. Is this going to be easy? Sincere? How convincing would this all be for Josiah? What if Bethira overheard the hype session?

Josiah canonically meets Bethira before he meets Rietta, so this wouldn't really fit, but if it were the other way around...I don't know that Rietta has particularly strong feelings one or another toward Bethira, but she can be enthusiastic when needed. Josiah would be ready to take The Most Fascinating Girl In The World at her word. And Bethira would be puzzled and embarrassed if she overheard.

Antavia and Ayra are now trapped in the Cave of ‘You’re Stuck Here Until You Resolve Some Character Conflict’. What would they need to talk about? What would they need to hear? How long will this take?

Ayra has zero tact sometimes, and she let slip some critical remark about Antavia's failing to do her duty to her country. Antavia is deeply offended (Corege failed her!). So they would need to address their different approaches to life. Ayra would need to hear that she should have been kinder and that the expectations her father raised her with are/were not especially healthy. Antavia would need to hear that she could stand to be more altruistic, even though she isn't on active royal duty anymore. Unfortunately, neither of them have the emotional intelligence and self-awareness to discuss this productively, and so they're stuck in that cave for a long time.

Gift Exchange! Rietta got Josiah in the Secret Santa. How easy will this be? How much effort is Rietta going to put into this? What will Josiah think of the gift?

Rietta would be excited to choose a gift for a child! She selects some toy that she enjoyed at Josiah's age, something that requires a lot of physical activity. She's sure he'll love it. He will thank her politely and never touch the gift again--a bit insulted that Rietta thinks of him as a kid.

Neither Josiah nor Antavia believe in ghosts, but they happen to be in a very haunted house anyway. Who would figure out what’s going on first? Who would handle it better?

Antavia has the imagination to put it together first, but Josiah would handle it more calmly. He would be interested in formulating a plan, but she would be wrapped up in the Drama of it all.

Well! It looks like a couple of no good bad guys are trying to snatch Rietta. Why on earth would they do that? How much trouble would they have? What if Bethira got involved?

Rietta, as a monarch, would be a valuable pawn to a kidnapper. They would have a lot of trouble, even if they could get past her guards, because Rietta would try to fight them off or escape at every opportunity, and she's very angry and boundlessly energetic, and who could keep up with that. She's exhausting! Bethira might get involved if Corege had some connection to the crime. She would handle the incident with authority and dignity.

Ayra and Rietta have been assigned the Those Two Guys role. Whatever part of the story they play, the other tends to be around too. Would this be a voluntary arrangement?

They don't even live in the same country, so this wouldn't be a practical arrangement. Maybe Ayra would be there for diplomatic purposes? Rietta would be thrilled to have a cousin on hand (Ayra's mother was her great aunt), but I think Ayra would get tired of her pretty quickly.

What kind of age gap is there between Antavia and Josiah? What if this was exaggerated? Switched around? What kind of dynamic would you get with an old Antavia and a young Josiah?

Antavia is nearly thirty-six years older than Josiah--old enough to be his mother. If this were exaggerated, she would be more of a great-aunt-figure. Switched around, Josiah would be a conventional and stuffy adult who finds this free-spirited little girl's antics tiresome and lectures her constantly about appropriate behavior. They would probably hate each other. They would probably be each other's nemesis. Josiah would be the sort of adult to have a ridiculous vendetta against a child.

What’s something both Bethira and Ayra find hilarious? Would they enjoy sharing it? What would Antavia think of it?

Ayra's got a hidden mischievous side, but I don't know if she and Bethira would really share a sense of humor. I have no idea what Bethira would find funny; she probably hasn't been allowed to have a sense of humor for a very long time. Antavia, however, can find anything amusing as long as it's at someone else's expense, so she would laugh.

Rietta and Ayra are in an on-going disaster together. Who’s handling it better? Is there a clear leader between them? Are they working together or cracking under the stress?

Rietta would be the quickest-acting; Ayra would be more strategic and practical. Both of them would be trying to lead, which would be a bit of a problem, and they'd end up arguing a lot.

Let’s say Josiah was leading a team built from Antavia, Rietta, and Bethira. Would this position be more likely to be earned, elected, granted by a higher authority, or self-proclaimed? How would you rank Josiah’s leadership skills? Is there anyone in the underling trio who objects? Anyone who's particularly loyal? How functional would the team be overall?

I have no idea what circumstances would lead to this; he would be the only male and might consider that his claim to authority, but Rietta is a reigning monarch, Bethira has been married to two kings and is the mother of another king, and Antavia used to be a monarch. They almost all outrank him. So we'll say that this leadership is self-proclaimed. His leadership skills are big on plans and procedures, but he's a bit too full of his own importance to really be effective. Rietta and Antavia refuse to listen to him. Bethira treats him like a child who needs her help. This would not be a functional team.

Ayra’s been left out of the day’s shenanigans. Is this taken personally? What level of solo shenanigans will they get into if left on their own?

She would not take it personally as long as the shenanigans did not involve anything she has an interest in. She probably went off by herself voluntarily and had some low-key adventures of her own, which she will never tell anyone about.

If you had to choose a babysitter between Antavia and Josiah, who would it be? Who would Ayra choose?

Honestly, I would have Josiah babysit. He has no experience, but he has a greater sense of responsibility than Antavia and would at least make an effort to perform the task well. Would he succeed? Probably not. But Antavia would be trying to palm the child off on somebody else.

Ayra would choose Josiah. Just to make him miserable.

Alright, let’s swap Ayra and Bethira’s stories for a moment. Would they get along with the other’s supporting cast? What’s one big way the stories would change?

Ayra and Bethira are both driven by a sense of duty, but circumstances would make their stories play out very differently. Bethira's looks were (unfortunately) a major factor in both Talfrin's and Andras's wanting to marry her, and Ayra is considered plain by the standards of her day. But let's say they were both still attracted to her. Andras marries her only to find out that she cannot have children (SPOILER: Ayra has a condition now known as MRKH syndrome, in which she was born without a uterus). Delclis is never born, and Andras dies disappointed at having no heir. Talfrin doesn't marry her, because she can't be of use to him. So Delclis doesn't exist, and Elystan's mother is someone else entirely. Ayra resumes a quiet, private life.

Meanwhile, Bethira is the eldest daughter of Odren and Liane and thus the chief bargaining chip for a dynastic marriage (since, unlike with Ayra, there's no concern about her ability to conceive). She is married off at the earliest opportunity--I don't know to whom. Probably not Viori, who would be a little too young for her. Is she happy? Well, that would depend. But hopefully there would be less drama in her life.

Would they get along with each other's supporting cast? Ayra probably would; Bethira probably would.

Ayra, Antavia, and Rietta have all been taken to a mysterious location, and separated. They have not seen their “hosts” yet, but have had time to think about the situation. When they are reunited, Rietta has been replaced with a slightly too friendly, but otherwise identical, impostor. Do the other two notice? Does the discussion turn to escape? If they realize Rietta is missing, what would the others do?

Ayra might notice; she's observant enough. Antavia would be too wrapped up in the Gothic Atmosphere. They might talk of escape, but Ayra is practical while Antavia lives in a fantasy world, so making plans might be difficult. Ayra probably would try to figure out what happened to Rietta; it's advantageous not to lose a significant political figure. But if worst came to worst, she wouldn't hesitate to leave Rietta behind if she felt it necessary. Antavia, meanwhile, would prefer to meet their hosts first.

What’s one goal that Josiah and Bethira could share? What would they think of each other’s methods of getting said goal?

They're both pretty onboard with her semi-adopting him during his time in Corege. Josiah probably wouldn't even realize she was doing it until he starts to get attached. She wishes he would be more upfront with his longing to have a caring parent again and more receptive to be treated like a close member of the family.

[fictionadventurer]

I can’t stop thinking about the Superman AU where Kara doesn’t get lost in the Phantom Zone so both children are raised by the Kents.

Kara’s ship was set up to teach her English (and possibly other Earth languages) during the trip, so the Kents learn the whole story of Krypton right away. Both kids keep their Kryptonian first names.

Kara’s extremely protective/possessive of Kal at first. She was sent across solar systems to take care of this kid, and it’s hard to step back and let anyone else fill that parent role.

Right away, the Kents notice that Kara’s stronger and faster and more durable than a human, but she doesn’t start developing outright superpowers for at least a few years. Kal starts showing signs of it by the time he’s in kindergarten, though extreme powers don’t really start to develop until his teenage years.

Kara’s homeschooled for a few years, but she does attend Smallville High for, yes, the socialization. (And to quell some of the rumors about the weird kids the Kents adopted).

The Kents have a swingset that’s the site of tons of terrifying acrobatic stunts from two children who are developing powers of invulnerability and flight.

Kara never quite loses her Kryptonian accent. In high school, there’s a running gag where she claims the accent is from more and more ridiculous places. Metropolis. France. Antarctica. Mars. Middle Earth.

(One time someone joked that her accent was from Alderaan, and it hit way too close to home).

(The official story from the Kents is that Kara was adopted from parents who did a lot of traveling and her mixed-up accent was worsened by a mild hearing/speech impairment).

The Kent household is bilingual. The kids are both fluent in Kryptonian, and Martha and Jon made sincere efforts to learn, though they’ll never be really adept. About half of the conversations in the house occur in a pidgin Krypt-lish.

For Kara’s sake, they try to adopt Kryptonian celebrations into their family traditions, but it’s difficult when a good chunk of Kryptonian holidays celebrate celestial events that they can no longer see or family connections that no longer exist.

Kara = Jock Girl. Kal = Nerd Boy.

Kara’s smart, but her early education on a different planet makes it harder to adapt to this world’s knowledge system, so she doesn’t put her focus toward academics.

She’s somehow both a tomboy and the girliest possible girl. She’ll be shoveling manure one minute and buying mascara the next.

She’s also got a very practical, no-nonsense personality, but she’s devoted to her carefully curated selection of stuff animals. She may have made one or two based on memories of Kryptonian animals.

Kara’s on a couple of athletic teams in high school. I could see her being on a dance team because good performance requires her to work in sync with the entire team, so her superpowers don’t give her that much of an advantage. And she’s in volleyball because she has a volleyball girl vibe.

Kal’s more introverted and sheltered (especially with two protective mother figures hovering over him), but he grows up comfortably human while fully acknowledging his Kryptonian heritage. He really does need glasses as a kid, learns to read young, and overall slots comfortably into the role of Friendly Neighborhood Nerd from his early elementary years.

(”What’s Kal short for?” people ask him. “Kaleidoscope”, he replies.)

Both kids are close with both Kents, but Kara has a particularly strong bond with Jonathan while Kal is more similar to Martha.

Kal bonds with Martha over her collection of pulp sci-fi books. (Kara finds their depictions of other worlds too unrealistic). They’re also both Star Trek fans--Kal prefers the original series, while Martha prefers Next Gen.

Kara stays on the farm after graduating high school. She still feels a strong duty to stay and care for Kal, and though she won’t say it out loud, she needs to cling to the sense of home that Smallville provides after losing her home planet.

She helps out with the farm work, and also works as a paramedic and/or firefighter. The job serves her caretaker strengths, and also provides a lot of opportunities to use her powers to rush to the rescue. It doesn’t take long for the “Smallville Angel” to become a local cryptid.

Her love interest is a down-home Smallville boy. Possibly a high school sweetheart, possibly someone she meets on the job, whether working alongside him or helping to rescue him. He has a very hands-on job, whether it’s as a firefighter, construction worker, or a farmer.

By the time Kal’s a high school freshman, he takes over the Smallville High paper and transforms it from a sports-scores-and-lunch-menus fluff page into a hard-hitting investigative paper. Within his first few months on the paper, he uncovers an embezzlement scandal at the school.

Kal is far more at home in Smallville than Kara is, but because it’s the only home he’s known, he also feels more of a drive to explore the world outside it. He does some traveling after high school, goes to Metropolis for college, and though he visits Smallville frequently, he never lives there again after leaving.

Kara gets married (to the above-mentioned love interest) around the same time that Kal graduates high school. They settle down in Smallville.

Kara has at least one biological kid, but she also becomes a stepmother/adopted mother. Could be that her love interest is a widower with children from his previous marriage. Maybe they adopt a couple of his brother’s kids. Maybe they adopt some kids from a rescue situation Kara came across. But I want Kara to have to deal with some of the “You’re not my real mom” stuff that she put Martha through.

(And it’s even more interesting from the perspective of the kids. When do you tell them? How do they deal with “my stepmother is a space alien who shoots lasers from her eyes”?)

Kal takes up hero work in Metropolis, but has a harder time keeping his identity secret with so many eyes around. With his imagination primed by pulp sci-fi, it doesn’t take long to come up with the idea of a costumed alter ego. Kara thinks it’s a bit silly, but her heart soars when she sees the costume’s focal point is the House of El crest, and she loves that it becomes a symbol of hope for this world.

It’s a big step when Kal brings Lois home to meet the parents, but the real test is when she meets Kara.

“She’s my big sister. Well, really my cousin. Also kind of my mom.”

“I didn’t think you were that kind of hick, Smallville.”

If she’s being completely honest, Lois is intimidated by the idea of meeting someone with all of Kal’s abilities and a mother-wolf instinct to protect him. But the Kents are intimidated by Kal getting involved with an investigative journalist who’s the daughter of a military general.

They hit it off great, though, and both sides quickly realize they have nothing to worry about.

There’s also a huge Kent extended family that was involved with these kids from the moment that Jon and Martha found spaceships in their cornfield. The Kents are exactly the clan you want at your back when you need to hide two alien kids from the government. Need fake identification and adoption papers? Someone to steer the Men in Black off the trail? The Kents will pitch in with enthusiasm.

Not everyone in the family knows about their abilities or secret identities, but they’re a close-knit clan anyway. They have a harder time adjusting to having city-gal Lois among their ranks than two space alien kids.

It’s a crazy, chaotic, blended and adopted family that’s growing and shifting over the years and always provides a place for Kara and Kal to belong.

[an-aspiring-jester]

So, I had some fun with the questionnaire I’ve reblogged from @awesomebutunpractical and before I knew it I filled out the first one entirely XD. I don’t usually talk about my OCs here, so people won’t be interested, but @frustratedpker, I think you’re gonna enjoy it! XD It’s for Lucas, from my superheroes story. A perpeturally overworked genius inventor.

How do they react to…

---Someone in danger who isn’t hurt yet

 "Look out!" *jumps in to help if he is able*

---Someone in pain/injured

 "Alright, just breathe. It's gonna be okay. Let's get you to the hospital, alright?" 

---School work load

 "...It's time for an all-nighter, isn’t it?" 

---Loss of a friend

 "Just, ignore the pain. Come on, you can do this. Objectively, it's not the end of the world. It'll stop hurting eventually."

---Death of a family member

 "Death is a natural part of life and there's no reason to dwell on it. (Can't afford to dwell on it) I gotta focus on the living people who depend on me now." 

---New kids in school

 "Okay, let's see what they're all about." 

---Being the new kid

 "Okay, figure out the social structure and worm my way into it!" 

---Being picked on

 Ignore it for a while, if they don't tire themselves off, fight back. 

---Being praised/complimented

[All internal] 

By semi-strangers: *side-eye* "Alright, what do you want from me?" 

By authority figures, for a well-done job: "All of this is meaningless anyway." 

By friends and family: "...What is this warm feeling inside?" 

---Unintentional physical contact

 That was accidental, therefore has no meaning, so no need to dwell on it. End of discussion. 

---People who talk in excess

internally: “Huh, is this how other people see me? That’s a lot of talking. Fascinating. I guess I have to listen till they’re finished, it’s only fair. Then I’m gonna start talking. This conversation will last a lot longer than I anticipated.”

---Being at a club

 "I'm bored. How much longer until I can slip out without being rude?" 

---Getting in trouble at school

 Looking the teacher dead in the eye: "What are you going to do, expel me?" He knows pretty well he wins them every possible competition, raising the statistics and bringing in money, he knows he won't get in trouble for breaking a few stupid rules. 

---Getting roasted by a friend

Roast them right back.

---Types of humor besides their own

 Roll his eyes. If with irritation or fondness, depends on who's making the joke. 

---People of the opposite personality type

 Okay, so I looked up old 16 personality test results I did for him some time ago, he's an ENTP, so I guess that the opposite would be ISFJ… which, coincidentally, is the result I got for Bridget, the love of his life! XD So, I'd say, he goes along with this type pretty well? XD 

Honestly, he loves meeting new people, the more different from him the better, more reasons for a good debate! Problem is, not everyone shares his enthusiasm. XD

---Mainstream type people

 "(sarcastic) Ahh, good to see the good old capitalism work as intended. (sincere) No, no, that's not your fault, this system is literally designed to appeal to you, nothing wrong with that!" 

---Memes and internet humor

Doesn’t keep up with it, but he’s all for people having fun.

---People who are needlessly lazy

 Annoy them into doing some work, probably. 

---Being pulled into a fight

 Story of his life. He grits his teeth and deals with it as quickly as possible, so he can get back to his business. 

---Really early mornings

What’s the difference??? Seriously, his internal clock is all over the place. 

---Having to be a mediator among friends

That’s just a typical Tuesday for him.

---Learning new flaws in other people

 Adding it to the mental file on this person and adjust his expectations accordingly. 

---Acquiring new physical flaws

“Sure, why shouldn’t my life be even harder, huh? Alright, let’s soldier on. I wonder what the tabloids are gonna write about that…”

---Moving into a new home

 New home, new start. It's pretty exciting to arrange everything.

---Being ignored by a crush

 Pouts. Just a little. Sees if it gets him anywhere. If not, he shrugs it off and moves on. 

---Sharing a literal bed

 He doesn’t have much use for a bed, but on the rare occasion someone actually manages to drag him into one, he's out like a light. No concern for who he might be sharing it with. 

---Their own flaws and insecurities

“Yeah, yeah, I know, I have a problem with this. I’ll work on it. Promise…”

---People’s misconceptions of them

“Eh. What else did I expect? Do I bother correcting them, or just let it be?” (Usually lets it be)

---Their crush loving someone else

 "Ouch. Uhm… sure. Alright. I guess it's for the better. I hope they're happy…" 

---Someone who wants to debate

“ALRIGHT! Let’s get this party started!!!” (He loves debating. A LOT.)

---A crabby boss at work

 Tests how cheeky he can get before getting called out on it. 

---Control freaks in their life

Malicious compliance.

---People so open minded that they agree to everything

“What do you do when someone offers you opposing ideas? What’s your thought process there? Do you flip a coin? Asking for science.”

---Day and night changes

Literally couldn’t care less. Barley notices it. 

---People who gossip

 Ignores them. There's no sense fighting them. 

---All nighter activities

 What's the difference between day and night, again? 

---Theme parks on location

"They're so tacky, I love them! Let's ride everything!"

---Couples making out publicly

“Do you think they’re being performative, trying to hide from the public eye and themselves that their relationship lacks any substance, or just genuinely so in love that the rest of the world ceases to exist and they can’t contain themselves? Discuss.”

---Going to the doctor

“Make it quick, please. I have important stuff to do, but my friends won’t let me leave without a checkup. Let’s get it over with.”

---Bad smells in the area

 Probably investigate what's causing them and if anything can be done about it. 

---Beginning a new project

 So many thoughts at once. Constantly calculating every possible outcome. It takes him a second until he can actually focus on the first step. 

---New technology item in the house

 If it's his own - probably loses interest in it right after ensuring it works properly and moves on to the next toy. If it's someone else’s - research it thoroughly (maybe taking it apart too) making sure it's not a spying device. XD 

---Being cut off from supplies

 "Time to improvise!" 

---New money to spend if they want

“Hey, I got money. Does anyone want something?”

---New students or neighbors

 Be welcoming and friendly if he comes across them, but doesn't get out of his way to greet them. 

---Friends doing something wrong

"Okay, I'm gonna stop you right here… WHAT THE HECK WERE YOU THINKING???!" 

---Getting called out on their mistake

 "Yes, I KNOW, but unless you have any brilliant ideas on how to fix it instantly, just let me work it out myself already, okay?!" 

---Optimistic kind of people

"That’s the spirit! In case it all crashes and burns around you, at least you didn’t waste time being miserable before it happens! Good for you!" 

---People who overwork themselves

*Knowing look from someone who also chronically overworks himself* “Just be sure to stop before you kill yourself, okay?” Anything short of that is fair game, if the goal is worth it.

---People with poor hygiene

Politely ignoring if it’s strangers, gentle nudging/teasing if it’s friends.

---Animals in general

Don’t bother them, so (hopefully) they won’t bother you.

---People who don’t trust anyone

“Fair, fair. Say, have you ever got takeout? Or used public transportation? I’m just wondering how far the ‘trust no-one’ rule stretches…”

---Long lectures or speeches

“You… You could literally compress it into a five-minute bullet point version. You realize no one is paying attention anymore, right? I know that stuff you’re saying is important, but it’s counterproductive if you put your audience to sleep first! At least throw in a few jokes…”

---Sleepover activities

 "Alright, let's go have some harmless childish fun! You know, for science." 

---Travelling for vacations

 "I can still work remotely on my projects, right?" 

---Board or card games

 "I honestly haven't touched any of them in years. But sure, I'm willing to try!" 

---Starting a new job

"Just tell me what you want from me and leave me alone."

---People missing limbs

 "... Do you want me to build you a new prosthetic? Free of charge. Let's talk customization!" 

---Being kissed unexpectedly

If it’s his fiancée: “NICE.”

If it’s anyone else: “I appreciate the enthusiasm, but I’m about to be married! Sorry, you’re out of luck here.”

---A sudden scream

*deep sigh* “What now?”

---The sight of fresh blood

"... That… Probably shouldn't be here. Alright, let's investigate." 

---Public wardrobe malfunctions

Likely doesn't notice. If he does, he still marches on so confidently that no one dares to say anything. 

---Sleeping in accidentally

 "...How mad will Bridget be?" (Though honestly, if it means he actually got some sleep for a change, probably not much. She can handle some bad publicity in his name.) 

---Friends of a bad influence

 Doesn't play the goody-two-shoes but doesn’t compromize his firmer morals. Can probably be some good influence while still acting "cool".

---Pessimistic kind of people

“Hey, maybe it won’t be THAT bad! Maybe we can escape with some limbs intact! That’s something to look forward to!”

---People who hate a show they like

“Piss off, let me enjoy things in peace."

---Being told they’re not good enough

If it’s some jerk who they just met: *challenging* “Oh yeah? Pray tell, WHO is good enough in your eyes? I don’t see YOU working overly hard to get your job done…”

If it’s someone close to him: “…Okay.” *proceeds to silently bend over backwards to BECOME good enough, probably destroying himself in the process*

---People with mental disorders

 Asking about what accomodations do they need and proceeds to stare down anyone who dares to say anything about it. 

---Being turned down for an invite

“Yup, okay, no problem, some other time, then!” *I shouldn’t have asked so suddenly, of course they have other plans, everyone has their own life! Stupid of me to forget.*

---People who don’t take care of their bodies

 "Look, I know I'm not the one to talk, but it really isn't healthy. You deserve to feel better than that." 

---Being told a secret

 He doesn’t have any dramatic reaction. Is silently glad to be trusted, but won't acknowledge it in any way. He probably just nods. 

---People with very little impulse control

 *Sighs and follows to do the damage control*

---People who can’t make a solid decision

 "You know you have to decide eventually. I won't help you with it, so we're stuck here until you do." Slight guilt-tripping isn't below him. 

---Intentional physical contact

 "Oh, that's… nice. Yup, makes sense, people are social creatures, it's natural for them, and I'm probably a little touch-starved, now that I think about it. Yup, let's settle on 'that's nice'." 

---People who complain

 Complains about their complaining, even harder. Give them a taste of their own medicine. 

---Being introduced to someone else

*Charming mode activated*

---Having something of theirs taken

"Are you going to give that back, or shall I start looking for a new one?" 

---Not knowing what they are doing tomorrow

 "Ahh, finally some free, unstructured time. I wonder who will try to bring about the end of the world tomorrow." 

---Their plans going awry

“Time for plan B! Or to make a plan B on the spot. Whatever.”

---Various authority figures

Act compliant enough not to get caught, do what is right regardless.

---People who can’t take care of themselves

Subtly helping them until they do. 

---Weather changes

“Oh, right. Weather exists. Probably should take that into account. I haven’t been outside in a long time.”

---People who wait for you to go to them

 He's going to make them wait a LONG time. But he's gonna cave eventually. 

---Competitive people

“Does this make you happy? This constant chase for glory? Meaningless victory after meaningless victory? It will never be fullfilling, you know. You'll never be fully satisfied."

---A very ladylike girl

“Okay, that’s an odd sight nowadays. I love it.”

---Being taken to the gym

“Sure, I guess. I’m not going to like it, but if it makes you happy. I’m not going to make a habit out of it, though. I don’t really see the point.”

---Really late nights

Time is meaningless anyway. Seriously, who cares for daylight?

---Having a room all to themselves

“More space to spread out my projects and working tools!”

---A true gentleman

“I want to study you so bad.”

---People who keep changing how they look

“It’s like having a little surprise every day! I look forward to seeing what else you come up with!”

---Being kicked out of a public place

“….That was funny.”

---Getting lost when they need to be somewhere

 "... They're gonna wait for me. They will. Still, finding my way now would be MARVELOUS. What the heck went wrong?" 

---Getting something unexpectedly free

 "Uhm, thanks, but I don’t really need that? I can pay you, you know."

---Reading someone else’s journal

 He's probably gonna mark spelling errors, automatically. And write coments on the margins.

---A friend who snaps at them

If he was being purposefully annoying: *winning smirk*

If he wasn’t: *taken aback* “Okaaay… I probably should back off now. Uhm, sorry about that? You wanna talk it out?”

---People who like a show they hate

“Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. Besides, it doesn’t really matter. Having arguments over this would be just petty.”

---Someone having a crush on them

 He doesn’t alter his behavior much, it's not his problem after all, but he hates to lead anyone on so he tries to let them down gently, while still being friendly. He also doesn’t want to embarass anybody. 

---Not knowing where to go next

 Choosing the direction at random and finding out. 

---Super mega health nuts

“I plan to get killed before any of my organs get out of warranty anyway, so I see no reason to obsess over health too much. Just remember, you can always get run over by a bus!”

---Technology geeks

“I mean, you keep me in the business, but try not to get too dependent on it, okay?”

(It’s too late, isn’t it?)

---Culture-minded culture-focused people

 Admires their dedication.

---Nature enthusiasts

 Doesn't truly share it, but whatever suits them. 

---Being given a gift they can’t use

 Probably laugh about it. 

---Being blamed for a friend’s misdeed

Honestly a pretty regular occurrence. If it caughts him unawares internally he's like "*sigh* [name], what did you do this time?" and fishes for info so he can play along accordingly. But often he just straight up takes the blame, knowing that he can usually get away with more due to his privileges. 

---Being snubbed by someone they look up to

 After a whole childhood of getting snubbed by his own parents, he tries not to let it bother him too much. Just keeps doing his job. And he generally tries to avoid putting people on the pedestals in the first place. 

---Being put on the spot to give an answer

He either knows it, or bluffs convincingly enough. No problem.

---Talking in front of a large group

Again, typical Tuesday. He’s a natural.

---Being left out of an activity

 "Alright, that's no problem. I have work to do anyway. You guys have fun without me." 

---Animal enthusiasts

“Okaaaay… That’s cute. I don’t really see the appeal, but that’s cute. Happy for you.”

---People with physical disorders

 Basically treats them like everyone else. Offers asistance when specifically asked to. 

---History enthusiasts

 "You're like a walking encyclopedia, and I want to learn from you! Honestly, infodump more, that's really interesting!" 

---Being sat on by someone else

 Just, ask them to move? He doesn’t think much of it. 

---An injured person

 Get them some medical attention. Not necessarily by himself. There are people more competent at it. 

---An unexpected grade in school

"Grades are a meaningless concept that doesn't reflect one's knowledge or skill level at all. It's all about standarized testing designed to keep a complacent society. Plus it's affected by the teacher's biases. And ultimately no one cares about them once you finish school."

---Authority figures playing favorites

"That's human nature for you. Try to work around the unjust system." 

---Segregation and prejudice

“Explain your reasoning to me NOW. I’m fully prepared to debunk every single point you make. Oh, I have time. I’ll clear my calendar just for this. I’m not letting you go until you see an error of your ways.”

---Activists who try to force their ideals

 "Yeeeeah, right. Look, I get that you feel very strongly about this topic, but have you considered the other point of view? Not that I necessarily disagree with you, but you come across a bit too aggressive, plus your understanding of the situation seems pretty simplistic, and that's not gonna work out well…" 

---Commercials on TV

"Let's see what they're trying to sell now, and how pathetic they are at it. You know, for research." 

---Learning a secret they weren’t supposed to

 Wondering how to use it without betraying he knows anything. 

---Being flirted with

 Nicely, but firmly indicating he's not interested. Confident all the time. 

---Being lied to or betrayed

 He shouldn't be surprised. Deeply disappointed if it was a friend, though. 

---Loud/rowdy/energetic people

 Observing them with slight amusement. Like a zoo display. If he's got enough, he'd retreat to his lab. 

---Tense situations

 Take it upon himself to break this tension. That's his speciality. 

---Rough tough areas of town

 Keep calm, try not to stand out too much and leave as soon as possible. 

---Situations under stress/pressure

Guess his energy level spikes up and he's a bit more snappy with people in extreme situations, but that's it. But honestly, when is he NOT stressed? It's practically his baseline. He's mostly numb to it, in moderate doses. 

---Learning or advancing a skill

 "Okay, I got that covered, so what's the next step?" Learning never stops. 

---Music of their choice

 He doesn’t care much for music. He's got to be in the mood for it. 

---Being invited out with friends

 "Cool, what are we going to do?" 

---Plans changing on the spot

 "Okay! So let's get to it!" 

---Being placed in a group project

 "So, how are we dividing the tasks? I propose we make a plan…" 

---Sharing a bedroom

 "Honestly, just tell me if you want me to clean up my stuff. I can always move with them to the garage."

[isfjmel-phleg]

Figured it would be easier to answer your OC questions this way instead of spamming your inbox, @awesomebutunpractical.

Tell me about the character that is hard to write/draw for. What kind of nonsense are you putting up with?: I don’t draw these characters (anymore), but Tamett is rather difficult to write consistently and get into his head. It’s easy to forget that he’s not a particularly emotional person while still harboring a lot of repressed anger and resentment and make him too expressive. He’s detached but not a heartless robot but not a Mike Jackson sort either (deeply sensitive but can’t express it), and it’s a hard balance to find. I suspect he’s more either completely stoic or trying too hard to emote and awkwardly going too far.

Do you have a character you love to embarrass? I do. It’s his fault for being so proud: Josiah, for the same reasons. He does tend to set himself up for being knocked off his high horse. But he’s also good at making me sorry for him, so as much as he has it coming, I can’t break him too badly.

What character do you have yet to name?: Tamett’s four sisters need names. It’s always an ordeal naming anyone because in this world most of the names are not ones that exist here, or if they do, they’re fairly obscure. But they still need to sound as if they could be real names.

Which OC needs development?: Josiah’s sisters Ayra and Ateva. They have a lot of potential, but I still haven’t figured them entirely out yet. It’s easy to fall back on conventional roles and traits, and I want them to be as distinctive as everyone else.

Which character do you like, but don’t want to write for: I don’t know if anyone qualifies for this. I’d like to write about all of them.

I recently gotten the nerve to cut a character my story had not asked for. It is still very painful. Is there a character you’ve cut or otherwise retired despite still loving them?: ...no? I’m usually pretty economical with characters and have a purpose for all of them. In early versions of the stories, Rietta had a ridiculously annoying younger cousin called Ahjosa (who was more a punching bag for all my petty teenage frustration at various children I knew than an actual character) who will not make an appearance in the current version. She probably still exists in their universe in some form but is irrelevant. But I can’t say I ever loved her.

And finally, whatcha got in your Mary Sue box? No self bashing. We’re non hostile to underbaked ideas at my BBQs: My earliest writings need to remain lost to history. But there is Rachel, (co-)heroine of The Blackberry Bushes, who is basically fourteen-year-old me. I don’t like having an author insert because it seems narcissistic, and I try not to romanticize her, but she’s easy to write and her issues (isolation, family problems, and personal flaws) fit into the plot and themes and well, they do tell you to write from experience, don’t they?