Beth Darlene

THAT’S AWFUL!

We have to do it.  That’s going to be amazingly traumatic!

Ok so now I low key want to make them refuse…

I actually agree with Cathy here – idk why but Cal always seemed just straight up gay to me?

Either way, it’s certainly going to be interesting seeing her interactions with Malcolm.  I think it’s going to be awfully hard to write, but the potential here is so good!  And it’s a really grounded, realistic struggle/trial for Malcolm, at least e…[Read more]

@this-is-not-an-alien huh.  I never knew that about Ehud!

I recently discovered that four of my characters are ace as well (five if you count Basil in the labs arc, but he doesn’t really count since the staff were deliberately messing with his hormones to get that effect…)

@inkhorn I like that drawing of Enydd!  She looks gentle, but r…[Read more]

@this-is-not-an-alien

…

Gay or trans-guyish vibes…? *Shrug* just spitballing!

Ohhh, that’s interesting! For now, she’s told me she’s bi, but goodness knows how indecisive my characters are so we’ll see if she changes her mind somewhere along the line XD

@inkhorn

I think all the characters won’t be too keen on talking about their decision. I was…

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Also I’m going to switch up the narrative style a bit because I had an idea for that and I feel like trying it out XD (Update, okay not much changed. I need practice XD)

Ophelia

So, there was nothing else left to do for now except wait for Enydd to return. Oh, speaking of which, she bounded into the room and rummaged around in her bag,…[Read more]

@rose-colored-fancy Smh of course it was, he was practically begging to do the reveal all along!

Of course I’m supportive of keeping Cal in!  Judging by people’s response to Kit, I’m assuming a lot of others will be too, but it’s always good to ask anyways.

I’m really interested to see her backstory/biggest regret (and not just because it’s…[Read more]

@calidris

I think all the characters won’t be too keen on talking about their decision. I was thinking that maybe if they refused, the castle would either tell everyone what the decision was (basically narrating it in the most sarcastic, humiliating, guilt laying tone possible), or the castle would show everyone the character making his decision,…[Read more]

Hahahaha

…

Gay or trans-guyish vibes…? *Shrug* just spitballing!

*cackles in literally over half my characters being queer/queer coated*

*including Ehud but like it’s not even relevant to the plot he’s nonbinary and asexual coated but he doesn’t do anything with that so like anybody who wants to notice it cool anybody who wants to be…[Read more]

Calliope

Anika’s face turned grim, as though a cloud had passed before the sun.

“Well, I don’t know. It was just me when I was caught and sold, but I like to think I have more now. Maybe a little sister.” She nodded toward Natalya. “She has some, though.”

I froze. Sold. Did she mean that metaphorically or– It didn’t sound like a metaphor. W…[Read more]

Also, umm… on the heels of the Kit reveal… XD (Oh gosh I’m also kinda nervous about this)

You know when characters develop without asking you first? Well, that happened again, with Calliope specifically.

A day or two ago, I realized Cal is very likely queer (I think bi as well but I’m not positive). I left that idea where it was and thought…[Read more]

Sheesh this castle moves fast XD

@e-n-leonard

 I’m the one who has never seen pas de chat spelled before; I’ve only ever heard my ballet teacher say all of these terms! Don’t tell Jade I screwed up for her. Her pride will shatter, and I’d rather have that happen according to the plot .
*shoves eavesdropping Jade back into the notebook where sh…

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Goodness that IS dreadful!

Those are some really interesting backstories for both Rosemary and Jade!

Oh don’t you love it when the castle does that?

I don’t think I’ve gotten to know Enydd well at all!  What’s the premise of her character?

Also, I have a proposal for the challenge!  I think that there should be a death penalty threatened f…[Read more]

@miller

You’re very welcome! While this topic is normally about technical or clinical subjects you don’t want showing up in your search history, it’s absolutely expected that queries will branch off into tangents as knowledge is shared. If you have more questions about world-building, history, politics, psychology, whatever random questions you…[Read more]

@calidris

goodness that is a fantastic challenge!  I can’t wait!

Thanks! Now I’m desperately trying to figure out the premise of Enydd’s decision. XD Oh goodness…this castle is doing wonders for Enydd, meaning that as an author I now have even more work to do for her.

Enydd: I couldn’t let you get away with making me a joyful, wise character wh…[Read more]

@calidris

Her backstory is still a little vague, but:

All her life, she has had extraordinary skill in ballet. She is also the daughter of two Fishers (which is a class in and of itself), and she absolutely hates that occupation. Therefore, she’s been working at her ballet skills her entire life so that on the Day of Destiny, the Benevolents w…[Read more]

@e-n-leonard yeah that does sound really nasty!  What’s Jade’s backstory?

I’m not sure you’ll have to worry about that in this castle XD

I actually really like kinda disturbing dystopian settings!  Spire used to be way more dystopian (especially before adding characters like Kit and Valencia), but one half of the story is still about super sol…[Read more]

@calidris

Definitely creepy and dystopian! Her world has a nasty class system kids get funneled into permanently at the Final Year (or they get Culled), and there’s rigid control and dreadful things I probably shouldn’t mention here, all while the leaders act like they’re the most wonderful people in the world.

Yes, it’s definitely creepy and dystopian. It’s got a very nasty and rigid class system, euthanasia, eugenics, and people who act like they’re the kindest folks ever while they do horrible things I probably shouldn’t discuss here. 😬

Also, there’s kind of a running joke here about how all of the characters seem to have some sort of insanely tragic and/or traumatic backstory, and I must admit “orphan found sleeping in garbage” is just about one of the worst XD

Definitely the worst, or best, depending on the view! Jade’s is pretty normal for her society, but it’s pretty tr…[Read more]

@e-n-leonard I’m curious, what’s the premise of Jade and Rosemary’s world?  It sounds really creepy and SUPER dystopian XD