[solanelle]

@irishcelticredflowercrown Aww that makes me so happy!  I haven’t seen much of your characters yet, but I love Lorcan!  And I completely agree – I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’ve connected and related to the people in this little community (specifically this character castle!) more than I relate to people irl.

@emily-waldorf Oh that is such a relief!  Qatar’s death was way more devastating than anything I expected in this castle lol

But, I’m not looking forward to seeing the repercussions of Quin’s actions.  I mean I am looking forward to it, but my heart hurts for Quin 🙁

@rose-colored-fancy we can talk about the height difference between Saskia and Basil, or Saskia and Sasha…or Saskia and literally everyone else in the castle except maybe Quin all day, but can I just point out the height difference between Saskia and Liorah?

They are going to be an iconic duo, I can already tell lol

(@emily-waldorf how tall is Quin?  I think of him as being short and small, but maybe because that’s because I want to protect him :’)

@everyone now that things are going to settle down a little in the castle, I was thinking if we can start pairing up characters to interact with each other!  I think the castle is more fun when our characters are interacting with each other, so I was thinking that we can pair up similar or very different characters and see what dynamics pop up!  Also, that way no one gets left out of the castle dynamics.  What do you guys think?

Also, I think I’m going to pull out Misu from the castle 🙁 He was never meant to be a main POV character, and I think he functions best as a supporting character.  Also, if he’s in the castle he’s going to try solving Saskia and Basil’s problems for them (and probably Sasha’s too tbh), and we can’t have that lol

*laughs as one fey*

[Rose]

@calidris

but can I just point out the height difference between Saskia and Liorah?

Ohmygosh that’s adorable! Saskia barely reaches Liorah’s shoulder! That’s going to be hilarious XD

They are going to be an iconic duo, I can already tell lol

Oh, man, yes!

now that things are going to settle down a little in the castle, I was thinking if we can start pairing up characters to interact with each other!

That’s a good idea! I do suggest we don’t seperate them and keep them all in the same room, but we can try to match up some characters for interactions!

Also, I think I’m going to pull out Misu from the castle   He was never meant to be a main POV character, and I think he functions best as a supporting character.  Also, if he’s in the castle he’s going to try solving Saskia and Basil’s problems for them (and probably Sasha’s too tbh), and we can’t have that lol

Awww, bye Misu 🙁 I loved having him here, he’s just the best!!

He completely exists outside of the rules of reality, so he may or may not break the fourth wall an obnoxious number of times.  He would probably show up fashionably late to his own boss fight.

LOL, Shrike sure has changed a lot XD That’s fantastic though! He sounds kinda like Kongar now…

 (fun fact he and Saskia had an “enemies to lovers” dynamic that lasted all of one week)

That imagery is just *chef’s kiss*

ncluding, but not limited to concerning lack of respect for any form of danger (Is it courage?  A complete lack of any will to live?  Sheer stupidity?  You decide!), an iron will and borderline self-destructive tenacity, and a fat crush on Basil.

Oh yeah, she and Liorah are going to be  i c o n i c  together XD

@denali-christianson

I’m going to give Niarok the very last challenge…

YAYY I CAN’T WAIT!!! I’m going to go ahead and write Liorah’s introduction because I can’t wait any longer, but feel free to ignore it and write Niarok’s challenge first!

 

Without darkness, there is no light. If there was no nighttime, would the stars be as bright?

[Rose]

Liorah

The floor seemed to give way beneath me and I twisted in midair, catching the fall like a cat. I thudded onto the floor, absorbing the impact on my back and using the momentum to spring to my feet.

I had no idea what had happened, all I was certain of was that I didn’t like it and whoever was responsible wasn’t getting away with this.

I ripped my sword out of its scabbard before I stopped to assess my surroundings. I needed weapons before information. The heavy, firm grip of the sword felt familiar, the only thing that stayed by my side no matter what.

The barely healed burn blisters on my hands were still tender but I would fight. If something was going to attack me, I would drag it into death with me.

I was filled with rage and I had nothing specific to direct it at, so I hissed a strong, emphatic profanity at the entire world in general. I raised my sword into a ready, defensive position and glared around at my general surroundings.

It was a cave filled with people who looked every variation of confused and scared.

Why was this situation so familiar? I groped around in my memory, frowning as I tried to find it among the shattered memories I was either trying to forget or trying to remember. It was a mess. I had to remember to organize it later.

As soon as I found it I groaned and rolled my eyes. This, again. I thought that was a dream. It was so long ago and so much had happened in the meantime.

“What is wrong with you? Leave me alone, I already did this,” I told Lord Castle, a distinct threat in my voice.

“Welcome back! Seems nothing has changed, has it?” The metallic voice said, with a horrible cheerfulness.

Finally, I had something to be angry at.

I glared straight at the castle wall and replied, quietly.

“Oh, it has. Remember how I said I was going to rip out your wires, intestines, or other internal workings, and then strangle you with them? I came back to follow through on that.”

“Lovely bluff, my dear.”

“My omnicient friend, what makes you think I’m bluffing?” I asked, sarcastically. I had never hestiated before and I never would.

The castle was silent for a long, satisfying instant and I shot it a malicious grin, but I still felt cold inside. Cold, calculating anger.

I didn’t sheathe my sword but shot a look around the room, assessing who was here and what I was supposed to do with it.

I instantly recognized Klein and nodded a greeting, though I didn’t smile. Everyone else was replaced.

There were two tall men, one with dark, curly hair, the other with long white hair who were looking at each other with extreme astonishment, and a short girl in armor looking on.

A dark haired man knelt next to a smaller one with crutches.

Over in the shadowy corners, a man with gentle eyes was bandaging his arm. A tall girl with dark hair hovered near him and a smaller girl in tattered clothes was standing by awkwardly.

A man with bright red hair and blood seeping into a bandage around his leg was shooting me a rather confused look. I raised an eyebrow at him and tossed my long braid over my shoulder.

And then I finally caught his eye. It was none other than Lorcan. I hadn’t forgotten him and I wasn’t about to. I shot him a dark glare that could not be interpreted other than ‘Don’t think I forgot.’ Ugh, him. I wasn’t taking any of that this time. I wasn’t who I had been nine months ago.

I sheathed my sword with one swift movement.

“I’m Liorah. I’ve been here before and I’m not letting it get away with this again.” Even I recognized the resigned bitterness in my tone that hadn’t been absent since the war started.

I hadn’t been able to prevent anything before, but I was going to die trying.

_____________

Oh, gosh, she’s as bad as ever.

 

Without darkness, there is no light. If there was no nighttime, would the stars be as bright?

[Neasa]

Lorcan

No way. No – flipping – way.

A girl was standing there, wielding a sword. She looked haggard, had a tougher look about her than the last time he had seen her. But there was no mistaking who it was.

Lorcan let out a sarcastic chuckle. “Look who just arrived back into the hellhole. Our very own malicious little banshee. Can’t say I’m glad to see you.”

Lorcan believed a few seconds earlier that things couldn’t get any worse. Now – they just did.

Liorah just gave a huff. “How are you still alive?” She continued to wave her sword slightly. Lorcan had a feeling that Liorah with a sword was going to be far worse than Liorah without a sword.

Lorcan gave a long sigh and shook his head at her, tutting. “Crikey thats pathetic work.”

”Excuse me?” Liorah demanded.

”Waving your sword about like that isn’t doing you any favours. One – you frighten people into believing you’re a threat. They attack out of fear, and you are landed with several problems. Two – the enemy sees your fear and paranoia from the way you brandish it. They will take advantage of that. Three – only those who have no idea how to use a sword would wave around their blade like an idiot.”

Lorcan folded his arms and met her stormy gaze with a smirk. “Am I making sense princess?”

• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Neasa.

[Emily Waldorf]

@denali-christianson @calidris (you just introduced a girl and a guy, yes?)

what would either of you think of sparking some romance between one of the new girls (Evie or the one calidris introduced) and Qatar? He doesn’t get a chance at any romance in the canon story, so I thought it might be fun to try some out here–see how he does it. If neither of you want to, that’s OK too.

Oh, and @calidris yes, Quin is short and thin. He’s about 5′ 2″ or 5’4″. He always has been small (thin-boned, I suppose), but since his accident he has neither muscle nor fat. So…thin.

Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"
https://silverpenstrokes.wordpress.com

[Rose]

@irishcelticredflowercrown

That was hilarious to read XD Nice to see their dynamic hasn’t changed XD

Liorah

Of course, Lorcan didn’t even consider leaving me alone, as any decent person would have done.

“Look who just arrived back into the hellhole. Our very own malicious little banshee. Can’t say I’m glad to see you.”

He was as insulting as ever.

The sugar in my smile was as bitter as I’d ever tasted.

“You’re too kind. You’ve never been that complimentary about me before, has something happened?”

Honestly the situation was almost laughable. I grinned. Lorcan’s petty insults didn’t compare to what I’d faced before. This was what I did for fun.

“How are you still alive?” I asked, the faintest hint of a mocking laugh in my voice.

I gestured with the tip of my curved sword.

Lorcan tutted and shook his head deprecatingly.

“Crikey thats pathetic work.”

”Excuse me?” I said, this time barely bothering to hide the laugh. I couldn’t care less about Lorcan’s opinion.

”Waving your sword about like that isn’t doing you any favours. One – you frighten people into believing you’re a threat. They attack out of fear, and you are landed with several problems. Two – the enemy sees your fear and paranoia from the way you brandish it. They will take advantage of that. Three – only those who have no idea how to use a sword would wave around their blade like an idiot,” he  said, counting off on his fingers as though he was instructing a beginner.

I grinned again. Frightening people into believing I was a threat had taken up a lot of my energy lately. I liked to tell myself I was succeeding. And yes, the rest of my energy had indeed been taken up by paranoia. It had served me well.

Lorcan smirked at me, his arms smugly folded. I had almost forgotten just how much I hated that expression. He had a very punchable face when he did that.

“Am I making sense princess?”

I swirled my sword in an oft-practiced flow drill, whirling the blade in a carefully practiced pattern. I didn’t repeat as I usually would have when actually practicing but returned my sword to its scabbard.

It looked impressive, and I knew it was well-executed. It had just been showing off. I smirked at Lorcan.

“It’s too kind of you to be so concerned for my safety. And it’s very polite of you to use the correct title, but there’s truly no need to bother with it, I don’t see you as subordinate.”

The implication that he was subordinate and that I was just being nice about it was too strong to be ignored.

He looked delightfully furious and aghast, so I smiled again, rather too sweetly. It was just a hint of revenge, but I would save the rest for later.

_________

Tbh, I expected Liorah to just try to stab Lorcan. Apparently, there was some character development, though I don’t know if it’s positive XD She’s just sneakier and more passive-agressive XD

Without darkness, there is no light. If there was no nighttime, would the stars be as bright?

[Cathy]

Neasa wrote:

No way. No – flipping – way.

Literally burst out laughing here 🤣 This is gonna be sooo fun!!!

To be a light to the world you must shine in the darkness.

[Neasa]

@this-is-not-an-alien

Haha happy to hear it😂😂

 

Lorcan

Lorcan felt the irritation towards Liorah’s words grow – then it suddenly evaporated. And he burst out laughing.

Lorcan wasn’t sure what to make of this sudden outburst, this breaking down of his icy wall – then again, nothing was normal anymore.

Liorah looked at him like he had gone crazy. Niarok looked confused and Yila looked close to worried. Everyone else just looked amazed.

Of course. They had never seen him laugh before.

“Jeeney mackers princess,” he got out. “You’re some spastic, hi.” He slapped his thighs, still chuckling. “I can’t wait to see the day when you’re beaten to the ground. Cause with that high n’ mighty attitude of yours its gonna happen at some point.”

Deep inside, Lorcan was insulted at the indication that he was a subordinate. It shouldn’t have bothered him – he had been treated like one his whole life. But it felt like a stark reminder to him – that no matter what he did, no matter how strong he was, he was still the bastard child of a man who never wanted him to live in the first place.

He finally stopped laughing and pulled up his usual cold expression. That was his wall, always had been, ever since he was young.

 

 

[Rose]

Liorah

Lorcan scowled at me, then started to laugh, the first time I’d ever seen him do so.

The mixture of startlement and warmth was the same as the first time I’d heard Aydin laugh. My memory flitted back to that time and I smiled, slightly. I didn’t wish those days back, it had been filled with bitter heartbreak and heavy days, but that was one of the few flecks of light in the shadows.

“Jeeney mackers princess,” he got out. “You’re some spastic, hi.”

I honestly didn’t understand him but I deduced that he was making fun of me. I grinned. For some reason, it really didn’t seem to matter. I didn’t care what Lorcan thought of me, his scorn was no threat to me, and he wouldn’t outright attack me.

Even if he was only laughing at me, it made him seem marginally less stressed, and that was a relief.

“I can’t wait to see the day when you’re beaten to the ground. Cause with that high n’ mighty attitude of yours its gonna happen at some point,” he said, still snickering.

That stung, a lot. My smile faded, but I didn’t frown. The heavy bitterness filled me again, and I barely managed to swallow it down before it formed into harsh words. He didn’t know.

“Bless your heart, you’re not wrong,” I said, my words more sad than sharp.

I had been beaten to the ground. Rock bottom had scraped my hands raw and left me stranded and I was still trying to find my way out. The light at the top seemed awfully far away and the walls were so steep. It was still hard to let others come down to me.

I had been crushed into the ground until it felt that everything inside me had shattered and there was nothing left to hold myself up except stubborn pride and endless defiance, weak reeds upon which to lean.

I was so tired of fighting, but I was unfit for anything else. Everything else had fractured a long time ago. I was so tired, period.

I sighed and turned away from Lorcan. He probably wasn’t a bad person at heart, but I was going to snap if I talked to him much longer, and I really didn’t want to do that.

My gaze trailed over the others, taking in the new people. A lot had changed.

__________

I really want to write Aydin again but not much has changed and he and Liorah can’t see each other and don’t know the other is there, so it’ll have to wait a while.

Also, I’m trying out different ways that Liorah may have matured and I don’t know how any of them are working but this seems to make sense. I’m going to keep messing with that, probably XD

Without darkness, there is no light. If there was no nighttime, would the stars be as bright?

[Neasa]

He probably wasn’t a bad person at heart, but I was going to snap if I talked to him much longer, and I really didn’t want to do that.

@rose-colored-fancy I am flattered that Liorah thinks so🤣

[Rose]

@irishcelticredflowercrown

I am flattered that Liorah thinks so

I really wasn’t expecting her to say that XD She’s kind of surprising me by how much grace she can give people. I mean, yeah, that was her entire character arc for the second book but I’m still surprised she learned her lesson XD

It also struck me as very funny that Liorah would have absolutely murdered Lorcan for like half the things he’s said to her and now she just laughs it off?? There has been✨character development!!✨

Though maybe she’s just become better at directing her rage. I want to see what happens if the castle or an outside threat tries to attack them again XD (But not yet, I’m still recovering from that earlier challenge XD)

Without darkness, there is no light. If there was no nighttime, would the stars be as bright?

[Neasa]

@rose-colored-fancy

It also struck me as very funny that Liorah would have absolutely murdered Lorcan for like half the things he’s said to her and now she just laughs it off?? There has been✨character development!!✨

Hehe it seems there has! It would have been so funny to see her try to hack him to bits while he dodges out of the way smiling and saying ‘Oops you missed me’ and ‘try to work on ypur footwork darling’😂

I really like Liorah! I’d love to know how she grows emotionally and how she matured in your WIP? Without any spoilers if course. In my series Lorcan basically learns how to accept himself and how to follow his own heart rather than what is expected of him.

I’m enjoying this so much XD I can’t wait to see what happens next with these two lolll

[Rose]

@irishcelticredflowercrown

Hehe it seems there has! It would have been so funny to see her try to hack him to bits while he dodges out of the way smiling and saying ‘Oops you missed me’ and ‘try to work on ypur footwork darling’

LOL, that would be hilarious XD She totally would have done that last time XD

I really like Liorah! I’d love to know how she grows emotionally and how she matured in your WIP? Without any spoilers if course.

Thank you! Her flaws really made her fun so I’m kind of scared that character development will make her less interesting? So that’s a balance I’m trying to strike. Mostly by allowing her to still let out her gremlin side every so often XD It’s still there XD

Her story arc over the trilogy is about acceptance, and I broke that down into three facets. The first book is her family, the second are her friends, and the third is the tribe in general, and all three books are about her accepting herself.

I’m going to be very very vague because I’m trying not to spoil anything XD Also why Liorah’s introspection is kind of abstract.

Basically, Liorah starts off as you saw her first, she’s very defiant, defensive, and extremely independant because she doesn’t want to let anyone close or be vulnerable.

She gradually gets over that, and there’s a tragedy that was partially her fault, partially Aydin’s fault, partially nobody’s fault.

She comes out of it very hurt and very angry at the entire world and herself. And by the entire world I mean Aydin and the ‘enemies’ specifically.

So the second book is about her slowly learning to forgive herself and forgive the others.

In the process, she got a whole lot less proud since she doesn’t feel like she has to be. She’s okay with some people seeing her more vulnerable. She lets her kind side out a lot more and she’s quicker to forgive people.

Also, she’s been through a lot worse so she doesn’t take things as seriously XD

And the third book is going to be Liorah overachieving and trying to force herself to perfection and repeatedly failing until she realizes that she doesn’t need to try to be someone else to be accepted.

The previous books were about her rebelling against what standards were being set for her, and in this book she tries to be everything she should be to ‘earn’ her place. And failing repeatedly XD

In my series Lorcan basically learns how to accept himself and how to follow his own heart rather than what is expected of him.

That’s a cool character arc! I can see how that would really help him!

I’m enjoying this so much XD I can’t wait to see what happens next with these two lolll

Oh, SAME!!! They’re hilarious together XD

I also can’t wait until I can convince Aydin to show himself because his ex-enemy status with Liorah gives them a hilarious dynamic that is basically “I would die for you but I’m going to complain the entire time.”

Without darkness, there is no light. If there was no nighttime, would the stars be as bright?

[solanelle]

This took an incredibly long time because I’m trying out a new style with Saskia!  It took a while to get into her mindset, plus she’s not very well developed yet

Also, I wrote random portions of this kind of late, so some of it is definitely not going to be written as well lol

Saskia:

“What’s he doing here?” Sasha stabs a finger over my head, voice laced with disgust.  There’s a tall man sitting close by, knees firmly tucked under his chin.  He’s staring straight at us – big, inky eyes peeking out from soft curtains of black curls.

Basil?

And just like that, I can feel my whole chest squeeze in a knot.  He’s sitting all alone, eyes soft and forlorn, lips ever so slightly pulled to the right.  It’s a real pretty look, but I can tell he’s bored out of his mind.  Bored and lonely.  I want to feel sorry for him, but I don’t.  He’s sitting all alone and it’s definitely his own fault.  His eyes suddenly squeeze up in a tight glare.

“Good question.”  He sniffs.  “I mean, you sent me here yourself and you’re surprised to see me?  Sounds like your problem, not mine.”

Oh boy.

“Ok, Sasha.  What did you do now?”  Silence.  I whip around with a glare, but he’s gone.  “Oh, whatever,” I huff.

Not my man, not my problem.

Right now, Basil’s missing his respirator, and that’s my top priority.  I shift my pack around my waist, rooting and shuffling around the contents until my fingers close over the hard metal mask.

He’s watching me closely, eyes tracking my every move.  I almost feel scared to approach him.  Not because I think he’d hurt me  – he’s the one person I feel completely safe around.  He’s just so untouchable.

Back in the labs, I thought he was the most perfect, the most beautiful, most unattainable thing I’d ever seen – at least until I actually met him.  I’m not that naive anymore, but sometimes a little shadow of that dumb crush comes back and hits me full force. For a moment, I’ll feel like I’m that shy, smitten girl staring at him from behind so many sheets of glass, just a little bit awed.

I think this is one of those moments.

I sigh.

I’m calling it.  In the next few hours, Basil’s going to do something so rude and stupid it absolutely murders every ounce of that attraction, except not completely ’cause I always end up falling for him all over again.

That’s always how it works.

Basil watches me carefully as I approach him, eyes resting in a soft, barren gaze.  I hold out the mask, careful not to get too close.  He gets so overwhelmed by people, maybe even more than me.  My lips quirk in a faint smile.

“Here.”

Basil’s eyes shoot wide open as soon as he sees the thing.  He whips around, yanking the device out of my hands like some sort of feral animal.

“Basil!” I launch forward, lunging for the respirator.  “You’re so nasty!”  My fingers scrape his hands as I scrabble for a grip on the slick metal, and all of a sudden he’s seizing up like he’s been shot.  His eyes snap open – twin spotlights staring up at me like I’m gripping a giant assault rifle and I’m just about to blast him to oblivion.

“Sorry,” he whispers.  He loosens his grip, gently peeling the device from my fingers.  I raise my brows.  He pauses, the respirator half on his face.  “Thanks, Skia.”  I think I can see his face flush ever so slightly, but it’s hard to tell in the dim light.  Click.  The respirator’s on, now.  I can hear the gentle hiss of filtered breath in the staile air.  He looks up at me anxiously.  “I could have died.”  I cross my arms.  Called it.

“Yeah, I know.  That’s why I got upset.  ‘Cause you couldn’t have acted any more ungrate-”

“I’m sorry.”  His inky gaze quivers a little, and I melt.  I smile warmly, hoping he’ll catch on.

“You’re sitting on someone’s crutch.”  Basil’s eyes crumple into a glare.  I can practically see his lip curling under the mask.  His arms tense up, knees squeezing between his shoulders.

He’s not budging, ‘least not while I’m here.  See, moving would mean acknowledging that he was actually oblivious enough to sit on someone’s crutch and not notice, so he’s just going to keep sitting on it ’til his legs go numb.

He’s in a really bad mood now, and I don’t blame him.

“I’m just going to leave you alone,” I say.  He nods, and I catch a little hint of relief in his glance.

Somewhere in the distance, I can see Sasha hovering around an argument.  Two strangers – a tall man wearing a long coat and a tall girl with long auburn hair, and neither of them have anything to do with Sasha.

I have no idea what he’s doing, but whatever it is, it looks annoying.  I push myself up off, half running, half walking towards the group.

@irishhcelticredflowercrown Lorcan has a long coat, right?  And if I remember correctly, he’s not wearing his mask anymore.

@rose-colored-fancy so, I believe the Shrike has finally discovered Liorah, and he may or may not be rather smitten…

😉

I have no idea how flirting works irl so I’m just going to pass that one off to Liorah lol

*laughs as one fey*

[Neasa]

@calidris

Lorcan has a long coat, right?  And if I remember correctly, he’s not wearing his mask anymore.

Yes he does 🙂 and he did indeed lose it, its so very tragic that his handsome features are now on full display, unfortunately for everyone they must now endure this, especially Yila…🤣

[Author]

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