Of Unlikely Beginnings and a Possessive Mother's Rants

Recently, yet another reader commented on the fact that my main WIP, Alomina, is almost finished. WAAAAAAAA!!!!!! And... like the possessive mother that I am, I lamented. Because I have a complex about finishing the story. I don't want to finish it because it feels like it's my baby growing up. Which I don't want to happen, naturally (again, I'm a very possessive mother. Heaven help my actual kids someday). :P But, as often happens with mothers, in thinking of my babies growing up, my thoughts reverted to memories of their beginnings...
Actually, most of my stories began absolutely nothing like they are now. Let's just say my babies changed a whole lot over the years. In fact, let me show you...

***

Alomina walked up the spiraled staircase, to her brother's room. He had been absent all day, and for days had gone out little. She finally reached Percy's room. She took a deep breath, knocked, and entered. Percy had his back to her, gazing at the window. Then he seemed to sense her presence, and he quickly turned around. Alomina nearly gasped. Her brother's usually strong face was thin and pale, and his dark brown eyes were deeply set with shadows under them. His hands were cold and thin-looking, his cheekbones were set even higher against his face than usual, and his slightly-curled dark brown hair was untidy and distraught-looking.

"Yes, what is it?" Even his voice sounded exhausted and depressed.

"It - it is time for supper", Alomina said, and then she hurried out of the room to stop herself from crying.

Percy was pining for her! - a girl he'd been with some nights ago... Alomina choked a sob and started going down the stairs. Oh, why did he have to fall in love with that girl?! He was eating less, sleeping less, speaking little, and staying in his room. Why did this have to happen?! Alomina shed another tear. She hated that lady, who had made her Percy this way. Alomina knew that she could never rest until this was ended...

***

Hahaha, and what you just read was the mostly unfiltered original idea scene for Alomina (from a little over three years ago). ;) Wanna know what happened? Celeise, cruel and heartless beauty that she was in this draft (who never actually made an appearance in what I wrote), lured Percy to her side and then broke his heart, abandoning him to the dust scornfully. Then Alomina finds out, gets furious for Percy, and she goes and secretly murders Celeise. Then chaos outbreaks, because Celeise is the princess, and then Percy finds out Alomina did it, he confronts her with angry reproach, and Alomina kills herself shortly afterwards in guilt and sorrow (with a confession), leaving Percy alone now mourning even more, and the blame is put on him for Celeise's murder and he is executed. Haha, cheerful right? And exactly like it is now, too, huh? ;) I can practically see the jaws dropping here (except that I've probably told this story a bajillion times, right?). :) Little, timid Mina, murderous? Suicidal? Celeise, a cruel despot of hearts? Haha, it's always hilarious to me when I think about it. Also, Percy's original name was Romero (because I planned on connecting the story to a play I had written, in which the main character's name was Romero). But my best friend and writing confidante - well, she didn't think it was such a good idea to connect them, and even requested that I write them separately. And, whether begrudgingly or willingly, I usually listen to her (because she is just about always right in these matters somehow), and so I changed his name to Percy and decided to write it as a separate story (which is good, because I trashed said play within the next few months of writing that first Alomina scene).

And so a new drama was born, called Alomina after the tragic (and melodramatically off) heroine. And then, somehow, as I started writing it, developing that deep bond between Percy and Alomina (to later be cultivated in her murdering someone for him, lol), it started dawning on me. These two are too good. Their bond just started coming through so brilliantly, I couldn't destroy it. I started thinking. This lady wouldn't murder anybody! This guy wouldn't allow it! These two can't get broken up! (In truth, they were actually mostly boring and void of personality characters at that time in the writing, but in my head they were much more vivid.) And so as I wrote the ball scene where the heartless beauty and Percy were supposed to meet, I broke off with all my previous plans. And I reverted to an old movie. What's the best way to bring a couple together? Make them fall apart. And so on their very first meeting, Percy and Celeise fought (mostly Celeise, though). And then I had to improvise (because I had just on a whim thrown away an entire nicely planned-out storyline). So I made Alomina meet somebody too. And he was supposed to make it still dramatic. He was the main villain who was against Percy and Alomina, and Alomina would fall in love with him and story could still be a drama. But then... I fell in love with him too somehow. So I took apart that plot as well, making a new main villain (and no weird murderous romances going on). But Montefore - as the original villain was called - remained a villain, just not the main one (which, of course, makes him more likeable). And from there, I'm sure you can see where it went. :)

And that's just Alomina.

Alagna also came from highly unlikely roots. I went out for ice-cream with my best friend/writing confidant (poor her - she was witness to all my dumb and crazy story ideas, haha). ;) And I had an idea for a poem.

Alas, she fell, to live no more -

For love a price she paid.

And all have told in ancient lore

The terror of that crimson blade.

The dramatic second-to-last stanza of a mini-epic poem. The poem - which later became a saga of long poems to be continued for a while - became an ancient Tresintan (yes, the country in Alomina) legend, called the Ellian the Fair (followed by The Tale of Ellian, Ellian's Demise, and last but not least, the Ballad of Ellian). It was a very cheesy poem, yes, but it's what Alagna takes roots from. When I played a game of "10-Page Story" (exactly what it sounds like) not long after, I used Ellian's tale again. Which was basically the tale of the most beautiful woman in the world who was desperate for true love - which no one gave her - and spurned most suitors because of this - driving one of them out of his mind - and then finally found a true love in the one man in her life that had never been her suitor before - only to be stabbed and killed by said insane suitor the night before her wedded bliss was to take place.

I know - hilarious, right? :P But there was this one adorable scene between her and King Edgar (who was said Mr. Right) when he was talking to her, and once I had trashed Ellian's story, my best friend (again right about my stories - as always) reminisced about that adorable scene lovingly. Of course, I was surprised that anything out of that story could be worthwhile, but I trusted the all-knowing oracle friend of mine once more and took that one scene. I changed the people, changed the names, and changed the background. And it was a miracle.  It was a brand-new story. So I then began the story from its proper beginning with these new characters, and it became Alagna (actually, there are several nods to Ellian's story within Alagna, which most people don't - and aren't meant to - know the back story of. For instance, there is a scene where Alagna is singing, and she sings a ballad - the Ballad of Ellian, in fact, which was the last and only one even relatively worth salvaging of the Ellian poem saga. And then Blakely's looks; he was based off of Edgar - although, unlike Edgar, is not any more than in his fancies beyond friendship with Alagna in the story). Also, in the very first prototype Alagna scene, it was spelled as a Nova-Italianization of Ellian's name, Elagna (but then my best friend took interest very vehemently in the story and insisted Alagna's name be spelled with an 'A', which I allowed and then later absolutely loved... I am lucky my best friend is so opinionated, haha). :P

And then the story of The Pain of a Memory. It started out as me cramming all my writing prompts into one story as well as I could and improvising completely other than that, but somehow it turned out as one of my neater, more put-together novels. Also, originally Rogan was going to reform and marry Anwynne. Weird. And kinda gross. :P But in defense of that, he was little younger in my head then, too. He's better as a villain, trust me. ;) Also, Angelo was going to be not that good, but then it started sounding too much like another novel of mine... *cough cough Alomina cough* Now, Angelo is pretty loveable. Can't wait for you guys to meet him! :)

Anywho. I could tell you a good few more stories about my babies, but I won't bore you so. I suppose the vague point of this rant post is that no matter how bad or weird your stories start out, they can change immensely. So don't trash them. Just... work on them. Who knows, they may be the best book you've ever written with some work! :) After all, on my side,

• Alomina de Blyrwen of Alomina was originally a suicidal murderess
• Celeise of Alomina was originally a cruel heart-collector
• Alagna was originally based off of an epic poem chronicling the assassination of a ridiculously pestered and exaggerated princess
• Blakely from Alagna originally existed because of a simple scene in which a sweet guy said "I love you" very cheesily
• Rogan from The Pain of a Memory was once a romantic interest for the person that despises him most now in the story
• Percy de Blyrwen's name was originally Romero, and he was originally Spanish (<---WEIRD)
• I used to end all my stories with everybody either committing suicide or getting murdered or being miserable for the rest of their puny lives because everyone else around them did those former two options

So! Just remember that a story can change pretty darn drastically - believe me, I know! ;) And... also remember how much a proud mother can rant about her children... :P
What did you think? Were you bored? Do you feel the same way about your characters? Am I the only one thinking that a movie (preferably containing Gary Cooper) sounds amazing right now? ;) (P.S. Yay! I just had my birthday today, and I am now convinced that my sister can make the most delicious and filling cakes on the planet - ever hear of her, you have to try her goods!) ;D

A Few Musings On Celeise

[Content Warning: Medium to high spoilers content within]

For the past couple weeks, I've been doing posts on a particular character for character interviewing. This, of course, is completely normal - just their bio and then their interview. But somehow, this one, Princess Celeise, is different. Maybe it's just because I don't think about her as much as other characters. Maybe it's because of all this posting on her. Maybe it's because my lovely audience has finally awaken me to several factors about her. But, whatever the reason, Celeise has been catching my thoughts lately. Maybe it's conceited to write a whole post just off of one of my own ink-and-paper people. But, I don't intend this post as a boast - just as a mere sharing of my thoughts as of late. Hopefully it won't bore anyone. :)  A few factors in particular I keep thinking about in accordance with Celeise.

How much she was unwittingly like me... A lot of her factors are. Her father, King Edarian, is her best friend, and she can't imagine anybody better - she even dreams that her future spouse will be like her father. Maybe it's because of my own love of my father - I truly cannot think of any better man, even in my wildest dreams. If I could just manage to fall in love with someone half as good as my dad, I'll be happy forever. Maybe it's a bit cleche to say that I can't imagine life without him, but it's true. And really, even though - unlike Celeise - I do have very close friends besides him, my dad has always been one of my first best friends, and still is one of my foremost. Maybe that's why I always liked King Edarian so much too - while he wasn't very much like my father, I could see through Celeise's eyes the same admiration for him; wanting more than anything to be like him, to measure up to him, never wanting to disappoint. The thought of any reader ever misunderstanding Edarian and disliking him always made me mad, perhaps also for this reason. I wanted everyone to love him as much as Celeise and I did - writing Edarian almost was a way for me to make the world love my dad too, I think. But in Celeise, I hoped to communicate that aridity of spirit, a sheer depression and loneliness - it could make someone fall into despair, but if they strove on, they could overcome it. I still have problems with it a lot. Celeise struggled with it without even knowing it existed before Percy came, but then afterwards she knew it and fought it - and she was better. Maybe Celeise's struggle and eventual victory over it was my way of giving all with that state hope.

*super spoilers* Another thing that I always seem to come back is the fact of Celeise's betrothal, and the contrast between the two sides of the said arrangement. Prince Lothaire - when his brother, king Lucellus, arranged it - was resentful of it. He even grew to despise his brother for it. How could a choice like that - a choice for his life - be made by someone else, even whole kingdoms? And he hated the idea, and vowed he would avenge himself -make himself superior somehow to his brother, who had thought himself powerful enough to direct Lothaire's life. Little did he know, though, that his bride faced the same fate. And what did Celeise do? She didn't resent her father for it. She didn't even resent the arrangement. She humbly submitted herself to it - even when her own heart raged against it, she chose to say, "No - not my will be done, but thine." This perhaps is the difference between Lothaire and Celeise - between the villain and the heroine. One chose to fight, the other chose to give in. And anyone who reads the story can see very well where each separate one ends up. The flip-side of the coin was all Lothaire needed to look at - maybe it would have changed him. And in their sheer contrast, perhaps this is why one ends with his resentment still nursed as well as if he were Achilles, and the other - in her plain humility - has forgiven everything done to her.  How they treat their fellow also makes them so different. Celeise loves her father more than anyone else in the world, and Lothaire never so much as said "I love you" to his brother, even before he resented him. *super spoilers end*

Maybe with all Celeise's grandeur, one might think her vain. But maybe I - like Percy - always saw through that, even from the beginning. When I described her as being beautiful, I never intended just to give all good traits to her, nor to bow to the flooding obsession with beauty. I never meant for her to have mile-long lashes and perfect bow-shaped lips that are always smeared with paint. I only meant for true beauty in her. One might note that I also describe Mina as beautiful. Perhaps a reader might think that it is too much for both heroine so be acclaimed as lovely. But, to my own mind, I think all women should be beautiful. Not in the sense I noted above - not in the flawless made-up look that is little short of a clown - but in a true sense. Women just are beautiful. Men are not beautiful by definition - there are a few that maybe women would call such, but no man would ever agree. Women are just meant to be beautiful, and even other women say so.
Perhaps I just overthink some things. But, whatever it is, somehow Celeise has caught my mind. I hope she catches yours too. :)
What do you think? Have you any characters who you ponder often? Have you anything to add? Tell me your thoughts, if you will. :)

Interview Of Princess Celeise I Of Tresinta

Bongiorno! Today I'm here with Princess Celeise I of Tresinta, from Alomina. And without further ado, here is her interview. :)

***

Belle. Hello, Celeise - er - Your Highness! Would you please answer some questions for me today?

Celeise. Like the question you just asked?

Belle. Eh... yes... *smiles sheepishly* Alright, so these questions are all from my audience, a bunch of people I tell about you and Montefore and all the other people in this story.

Celeise. *raises eyebrow* Who's Montefore?

Belle. Oops... uh, you won't find out for a while. Don't mind him. In fact, forget that because you don't even meet him until chapter thirty or so. Anyways... uh, what was I doing...?

Celeise. You had certain queries you wished me to answer.

Belle. *nods* Yes, that's right. So, the first ones are from Hope, who is one of my lovely Inkling readers of your story. What is your favorite thing about being a princess?

Celeise. *smiles a little* Being able to learn. To read and to memorize whatever beautiful thing strikes me or whatever I have trouble wrapping my mind around - that is the thing I love best about being a princess. The ability to learn and the means to do so is really all I need to happily occupy myself.

Belle. What is your least favorite thing about being a princess?

Celeise. *frowns slightly* Politics. I get wind of this and that ever and always, every single day. Lord Something did this - Peasant Someone did that - and it's all so ridiculous. What a lot of half-witted pigeons the kingdom is composed of. My father tires of it often as well, and I try to ease his mind of it when I can.

Belle. Speaking of King Edarian, what do you admire most about your father?

Celeise. *gazes off distantly for a moment* I don't know... there are so many things... I only hope that one day I can be as great a leader - and as great a friend - as he is. Maybe what I admire most is that I never even needed - much less desired - a friend as a child because he was everything to me. I never thought I would need anybody else, and I never have even now. He's so good, and he loves me so. There's nobody like him in the world. If... *blushes slightly* If my future husband has even half of what my father has - if he is even like my father in the least; as good, as loving, or as gentle - then I shall be content forever with him.

Belle. *snickers*

Celeise. *snaps back into reality and glances quizzically at Belle* What is it? Do you think this wish comical?

Belle. *shakes head, holding back a laugh* Nope, I just... nothing. *clears throat* Anyways, Do you spend time with your younger siblings? What do you typically do together?

Celeise. *smiles almost gently* Oh, yes, I do very often. Generally I'm found in the evenings lulling Alfonso to sleep myself instead of letting the nurses do it. I know it's perhaps a bit silly, but it gives me a sense that I really am doing something for him.

Not quite the right ages for Celeise's siblings, but they look enough like them.

Belle. *nods* I know how it is. If you find yourself with free time, what is the first thing you want to do?

Celeise. *cocks head thoughtfully* Go and read poetry. Or maybe even memorize some verse. I love doing it. Right now I'm working on memorizing The Ballad of Ellian.

Belle. *snickers and then raises eyebrow quizzically* Wait, you really are?

Celeise. *looks puzzled* Why is that poem of particular import?

Belle. *shakes head and shrugs* Oh, nothing. Nevermind. Anyways, next question! How do you personally feel about the betrothal?

Celeise. *gazes off distantly* I don't know... I suppose I really don't mind it, and I even helped arrange it to some extent. Maybe I was afraid for so long that I would never have someone that I rushed into saying yes... But, it doesn't matter now. And the matter really doesn't disturb me in the least. Although... *smiles a bit sadly* Sometimes I am a bit silly, and I daydream to myself about what he's like. I don't care if he's good-looking or anything like most other girls, but I want him to be a good man - just like my father, if he can be.

Belle. *nods* I can understand that. You know, I feel the exact same way. Just wish there was someone out there that was good enough.

Celeise. *smiles* Well, I suppose I'd better stop daydreaming, though, if I'm ever to get anywhere. It is absolutely ridiculous - but it's not bad to be ridiculous every so often - just so long as I can keep to myself usually.

Belle. *laughs* Well, I'm ridiculous all the time, so I can't really sympathize with that statement. If your life had been different and you weren't a princess, what would you want to be instead?

Celeise. *expression turns unreadable* I - I don't know... If I weren't a princess...? I'm not sure...

Belle. Not at all?

Celeise. *furrows brow* Well, maybe a knight's daughter. Then I could still have the opportunity of learning much and having good company without being exactly like a princess. In my kingdom, to be a knight's daughter is like the bridge between being a commoner and a noblewoman. You're still a lady, and you are in the same society as though you were a titled woman, but no scandal would arrive were you to marry someone below your rank, and no one would fret if you lived in the village instead of the city or such things.

Belle. *writing it down* Hmm... I see... very interesting! *looks back up at Celeise* Okay, what would happen if, say, you fell in love with a stranger before your betrothal was fulfilled?

Celeise. *raises brow rather cynically* I don't believe that will happen.

Belle. *swallows hard to keep from laughing* But what if it does?

Celeise. A heart is a thing that may not be controlled, Miss Belle. If it is already cold, it will remain cold. I shall never fall in love except when I am ready to. I already - in my heart - feel that I could never fall in love, therefore I will not.

Belle. That's rather flawed logic...

Celeise. *inclines head slightly* Perhaps so. But, I won't let any such thing happen. *takes breath* Any man that even tries to win my favor shall be met only with civility and no more.

Belle. But what if you fall in love with him?

Celeise. I shall take care to do no such thing. But... if it were to happen, I should merely leave it, and pretend it never happened. I don't believe that I could fall in love frankly. My own mind is far too set to ever be changed.

Belle. *shrugs* Quizas, Quizas, Quizas.

Celeise. What?

Belle. *laughs* It means 'perhaps'. Anyways, the next set of questions are from Miss Lucy Agnes. Firstly, how do you feel about animals?

Celeise. *inclines head slightly* I like them well enough. I have a fawn which roams around the palace grounds that is tame, and I sometimes go out to it. It's a sweet enough creature. I never really was a person for many animals, but I don't mind them.

Belle. Do you enjoy reading?

Celeise. *raises brow* My Lady Belle, I don't believe you have listened very well. But I shall repeat myself nonetheless. No pastime gives me greater pleasure or fulfillment than reading, especially that of poetry and verse reading.

Belle. What's your education like?

Celeise. *looks out thoughtfully* Well, until I was about four years old, my mother and father taught me by themselves, and then I had a tutor until I was sixteen, and for the past two years my father and my own interest have been the initiators of my learning.

Belle. I see. Next question: what kind of dreams do you usually tend to have? Good, bad, scary, realistic, weird, instantly fading?

Celeise. Usually fairly unmemorable, and generally concerning whatever I was thinking about when I fell asleep, I suppose. Often they fade come daybreak, but I sometimes remember them.

Belle. How would you describe your personality?

Celeise. Cold, haughty, imperious, and words of the like would be my own description. I am not known for particular sentiment or tenderness in the court.

Belle. *under breath* Yes, quite the contrary...

Celeise. What is that?

Belle. Oh, nothing. *clears throat* Alright, last question. Who did you play with growing up, and how is your relationship with him/her/them now?

Celeise. Well, when I was littler, my father and mother, and then when I was a bit older, my siblings. I would say my relationship hasn't changed much with any of those parties, except that I don't hide behind tapestries for my father to act like a bear and find me anymore.

Belle. *laughs* That's a funny mental image. *nods to Celeise* Well, that's all, Celeise. Thank you very much for cooperating!... it's more than Montefore does...

Celeise. Montefore again?

Belle. *winces* Um, like I said, Celeise, just forget anything about Montefore. You're not even supposed to know he exists yet. *waves* Bye!

Celeise. Wait, who -?

Belle. *leaves*

End Interview.

What did you think of Celeise? Did you enjoy her interview? Perhaps you are so bored that you have fallen asleep and are not even reading this question...?

I am now setting forth for vote amongst commenters the next candidates for a character interview on this blog:

Alagna Arleine, the heroine of my book, Alagna, and an independent (and rather nosy) socialite noblewoman of the royal court who seems determined not to mind her own business, even unto accidentally hearing word of a conspiracy in the court.
Jim Stevens, a rather grouchy and brooding member of  The Top-Hat Gang in the 1950's who is very rarely cooperative with anyone (...especially not me).
Captain Owain Lontrey, a knight of the realm of Elliar (from The Second Brother) who wishes to be left alone but all the same reluctantly does the right thing - even when it involves chasing over hill and dale his troublesome half-brother, Feotheire.
Sir "Echo" Torriven from The Pain of a Memory, a dutiful but sometimes child-like lesser knight who enjoys nothing more than the simplest, most commonplace delights of life, but has memories that are not so joyful or simple.
Ultimately, whichever story's character is chosen is the story I'll be steering character interviews into for a little while. The links in the characters' short descriptions are links to their stories' introductions and - in Echo's case - Beautiful People posts on them, in case you want more info before deciding. Put your vote in the comments and soon enough I will post a bio of whoever is chosen! :)



Bio Of Princess Celeise I Of Tresinta

Hello! Today I am here to continue (finally) the long-abandoned feature that maybe one or two audience members may remember - character interviews. As we stood with the last interview, the vote for this next one fell to Celeise from Alomina. So here is her bio. Put any questions for her in the comments, and I will ask her them in the next character interview post. :)

Name: Crown Princess Celeise Anatria De-Vistrina Ellette I of Tresinta (what a mouthful!). Age: 18. Nationality: Tresintan. Height: Roughly five seven. Hair Color: Goldeny blond. Eye Color: Bright blue. Title(s): Princess; Crown Princess. Family: Her father, King Edarian; her mother, Queen Constantia; four younger siblings.

Bio:
Princess Celeise was born crown heir to Tresinta, being the firstborn to King Edarian. She has been mentored by her father all her life, and is deeply devoted to him and what he's taught her. She has been prepared even more than most royalty, though, because not only will she be queen one day, but has been betrothed to the younger prince of Vellethia, Lothaire, for two years at the beginning of the story. Two years before the story, the older prince of Vellethia, Lucellus, was finally crowned king, and immediately upon gaining the throne expressed a desire to Edarian to have an alliance with Tresinta. Thus, because Lucellus's younger brother, Lothaire, was unmarried and Celeise was similarly so, the alliance was decided to be a marital one.

Celeise has nothing against her training or this arrangement - she has always been so devoted to her father that she never even thought a second time about the decision except to desire that she carried it out as well as her father wished. And Edarian - lest any dumb readers eager to hate mentoring parent characters come along - has never ordered Celeise to do anything. Anything she does on his advice is completely by her own choice - Edarian even asked her when he first made the betrothal arrangement. Really, King Edarian is the only real friend Celeise has ever had - she's never desired any other. She had gained however, before the beginning of the story, a reputation in the court for being cold and haughty, because this was her way of' shooing away' gentlemen who sought her already-taken hand. This is one behavior of hers that her father does not approve of, but he has never said anything very large on the matter to Celeise. So she has gone along treating any man who tries to get close to her this way. Perhaps it is because of this reputation that no one has ever really sought out her friendship to any great degree. So at the beginning of the story, Celeise is just fine being left alone to do her duties, until a ball one night...

Anyways, that about covers Celeise. Her bio isn't incredibly interesting, but her life before the story is really very easily summed up, so that's why this is so short. She's had a very calm, peaceful life (well.. that it, until I came along to take over her life upon paper. Mwahahahaha!). ;) Anyways, though, just leave any and all questions you can think of for her in the comments, and she'll answer every one of them when I post her interview.
What do you think of her? I know she may seem boring, but there's more to her than meets the eye, though she herself doesn't know it. Also, I have a surprise after her interview! :D This time, instead of characters strictly from Alomina in the voting polls for the next interview subject, I am going to put three different characters up for vote in a completely different story, just to shake things up (plus, I don't know about you guys, but I'm terribly bored of the characters in this story taking the spotlight!). :P Anways, though, for now, just ask plenty of questions! I look forward to seeing all the lovely questions you guys always dream up. :) Also, sometimes this month, my regular blogging will return, including the comeback of Catholicism Explained, more regular character interviews, possibly book/movie/show reviews, Beautiful People, and Meet The Books!.

Penning Tournament - The Natural Disaster Challenge's Results (And Also Miscellaneous Announcements, Such As Happy Birthday, Percy!)

Hello! Unfortunately, on another Penning Tournament Challenge, dear Lucy was unable to complete it. Aww! :( I really wish she had. However, I did complete it, on the other hand.

So here is my excerpt, form a story as of yet unintroduced on this blog (don't worry, it'll come soon!). Here is a link to the Challenge itself if you need a refresher on what it was about.

***

Owain turned to Feotheire. "Feo, you need to get a grip on yourself"

He looked at Feotheire's face. Feo seemed to be just looking over Owain's shoulder. "Feo", Owain repeated himself. "Feo?"

Feotheire looked at Owain quickly. "Owain..." He nodded behind Owain, and began to step slowly away.

What on earth was with Feo? Suddenly a loud noise broke through the air. Owain looked behind him. The mountain behind them was collecting a huge cloud of dust, almost as though... A humongous rumble sounded from it, and the cloud of dust grew greater in volume. The mountain's side then began to slide down, thundering madly. The mountain was coming down!

Owain then turned around and began to run. Soon enough, Feotheire was at his side, also running at an untold speed. And so they both fled, trying to evade the ever-collapsing mountain as it billowed behind them, neither one daring to look back.

"How in Elliar did it start?!", yelled Feotheire to Owain as they sprinted.

Owain looked briefly over at Feotheire with irritation before turning his attentions frantically ahead of him again. "Feo, do you really think I am thinking of that now?!"

There was no answer, and so the only proof Owain had that Feotheire was still right next to him was the sound of Feotheire's rushed breathing - the only sound audible aside from the roaring of the rockslide behind them.

Owain looked back quickly. The mountain was almost upon them, with only mere yards to span the distance. Owain yelled in warning to Feotheire. Feotheire looked back also, and his face paled when he saw the close vicinity of the landslide. Both Owain and Feotheire - despite their doubtless extreme exhaustion - heaved a huge breath and attempted to run faster.

Owain looked ahead The tree line was coming up close. Soon, they would run out of room to run because the tree line was so thick. And then... Well, Owain shuddered to think of what would be then. How could they avoid it, though? The deafening bellow of the falling rock behind them was not any encouragement to Owain's pondering, to be sure.

Owain looked a little to his side. The trees were already beginning to get thicker. Soon enough, they'd be as thick as armor. Wait. Owain looked more closely at the trees - or, at least, as closely as he could while still running. Once they reached the tree line, those trees would be too thick to run through... but thick enough to walk on.

Owain started heading for one of the trees. He jumped into it and climbed up. He signaled to Feotheire. "Feo!", Owain shouted, hoping Feotheire heard him.

Feotheire glanced over while still moving. His eyes widened in surprise, but nonetheless, he soon also leapt atop the tree with Owain. They both looked back, and on seeing the landslide, hastily scurried into the next tree.

The gaps in between the trees were - as of now - too wide to step over, so Owain and Feotheire jumped. They must have looked quite the ludicrous spectacle, bounding from tree to tree frantically, as an enormous cloud of dust and rock ever grew behind them. Owain grimaced to think of what their father would say... or do.

But they went on, now practically deaf to anything the other found the much-sought breath to say, due to the overpowering raging over their shoulders. The landslide had gotten slower with the short time of its existence, to be sure. But it had, however, also gotten much closer to Owain and Feotheire, due to their pause in climbing the trees. But they were getting to the tree line! Soon, they would be able to regain swiftness and get away from the pursuing mountain.

Then, suddenly, a crack issued from the tree that Owain was in. Owain looked down as he was running, right before the branch he was on gave out beneath him. In a mere split-second, Owain was plummeting to the ground, with branches hurtling above him, and scraping, hitting, and bruising him from every side. After a moment of falling blindly, Owain banged into the ground and his sight went black.

The next thing Owain was aware of was opening his eyes to Feotheire dragging him across the ground quickly. Then Feotheire stopped and looked at Owain.

Owain stood up shakily and pushed Feotheire away. "Feo, we need to go!"

He looked behind him They would be crushed if they sat here dawdling even one moment more. And they had now - because of Owain's clumsy footing - lost their best way of escape. The mountain was still coming... and fast.

Owain started to run, though a pain began to rise in his torso. Soon Feotheire ran up beside him. Owain looked ahead. The tree line was so close... They would have to just navigate their way through as swiftly as possible... and hope that the landslide halted soon.

"What about your fall? You could be injured!", Feotheire yelled to Owain over the rumbling of rocks behind them.

'Could be'?, Owain thought to himself sarcastically as another pang went through his chest.

"I'm fine!", however, was the only reply he gave Feotheire.

The mountain was almost done setting though... The question would be whether Owain and Feotheire would be able to remain out of its path until it did finish settling...

They were so close to the tree ling! They would reach it within seconds. Owain began scanning the tree line for an advantageous point of entry. He looked over at Feotheire. Feotheire seemed to be attempting to do the same thing. In all hopes, they would just make it...

After a moment that seemed like an hour, Owain and Feotheire sprinted up to the front of the tree line. Almost immediately after reaching it, both began to comb it for a good way through. The rockslide  thundered ominously, signaling its approach. Both Owain and Feotheire looked back desperately. In a moment where Owain seemed unable to breathe, the landslide rumbled up in front of them, threatening to crush them, and then halted - quite literally - just at their feet.

A large breath of relief was released sharply from Feotheire. Owain looked over at Feotheire wordlessly. Feotheire met his gaze, also silent, apparently likewise unable to speak.

Feotheire, though, after a moment, seemed to recover, and stepped forward onto the heap of rock before them. Then, as soon as Feotheire's foot touched where the rock had been, it immediately vanished, making Feotheire stumble ahead.

Owain blinked in disbelief. He looked up at the mountain. It was completely pristine. As though absolutely nothing had happened.

Feotheire regained his footing, and stood up next to Owain. He looked up at the mountain as well.

"It's as though... It was never really there...", Feotheire spoke quietly, voicing Owain's own thoughts.

That was almost exactly what it was like... But, then, how could that be...? Unless...

"It wasn't ever really there", Owain said plainly.

Feotheire looked over at Owain and furrowed his brow. Then a look of understanding dawned in his eyes. "Lucyth"

Owain looked over at Feotheire and nodded in affirmation. "Lucyth"

***

Well, that's it. :) I hope you liked it! It's from a story I hope to introduce pretty soon. But, anyways, on a different subject, I have some announcements. One of them is the recent birthday of my character, Lord Percy de Blyrwen. On the twenty-fourth, which I meant to blog about, was Percy's birthday. So, happy birthday, Percy! :D

Ahem. Anyways, though, I am also announcing a hiatus. Because I am participating in Camp NaNoWriMo this April, I will be on hiatus for the whole of that month. There may be one more post during the last remaining days of March, and then I'm done until May. I might still be answering comments, so feel free to still stop by, but I will have no new posts. This means a pause in Catholicism Explained; The Penning Tournament; Meet The Books!; character interviews; and, if worst comes to worst, even Beautiful People. Sorry! :P However, like I said, I will be back in May, and, depending on the state of Camp NaNo, and how busy I am, I may or may not be able to convince myself to do Beautiful People (because I can never bear to miss out on them!). But, like I said, probably not, so I wouldn't anticipate it or anything. Anyways, Arrivaderci! :)

What did you think of the excerpt? What do you think of Owain and Feotheire? Do you like the way I did the Natural Disaster Challenge? Do I have comrades in wishing Lucy's writing had also appeared? ;) I'm sorry for the hiatus, and I do hope that you folks can forgive the lack of CE that has already started and will continue because of this. 



Interview Of Count Charles Montefore

Yes, I know it took a while. Sowwy! But sometimes it takes a while for genius. Haha, sorry. That was not a good excuse (or a true one). :P Anyways, I'm interviewing Count Charles Montefore, from my main book, Alomina, with questions from some lovely audience members here at Worlds Of Ink And Paper. The previous interview can be found here. His bio is here. His story (up to Chapter Fifteen) can be found here.

Belle. Greetings, Count.
Montefore. *nods* Greetings.
Belle. Mind if I ask a few questions?
Montefore. I shall answer them if that is what you mean, Lady Belle.
Belle. *smiles* Good. First up are some questions from Hope. What is your favorite childhood memory?
Montefore. *any slight trace of smile fades, but he doesn't frown*  I have very few happy memories to boast of, I'm afraid. But so you do not suppose that I am in a depression or something of the like, I shall attempt to conjure one up. *thinks for a moment* The memory of my mother, I suppose. I remember her only very vaguely, but the face is enough.
Belle. *interestedly* What did she look like?
Montefore. *gazes off distantly* She looked... *breaks off from thought into expressionlessness again* She looked as any mother who is going to one day die and abandon her child does, Lady Belle. Please continue with the interview.
Belle. *crosses arms disappointedly* Fine. One day you'll tell me some more about you, though.
Montefore. The next question?
Belle. Yes, alright, alright. Do you prefer the day or the night?
Montefore. I don't know. For the thing itself, I prefer the day, I suppose. I dislike the night. Too much can occur during darkness.
Belle. Yeah... You better than most should know that. *clears throat* Anyways, oh dear...
Montefore. What is amiss, Lady Belle?
Belle. Uh... A question that I don't think you'll like to answer.
Montefore. While I cannot assure you I will like to answer it, I give you my word that I will at least try to answer it.
Belle. *shrugs* Fine. But I'll hold you to that. What's your type in terms of women? Innocent? Sweet? Charming? Good dancer?
Montefore. *keeps face expressionless* You were correct in assuming that this query would gain my disfavor, my Lady Belle. However, I have given my word I shall answer, and so I shall. I have little preference in terms of women, My Lady. I do not think I shall ever be turned by any such being, because I have little cares to spare for such things. Nor do I think any such being would be willing to spare anything for me. I may seem to them cold, forbidding, or secretive. All of these things I am as well, in some measure, so I do not think any woman would abide it, and I wouldn't urge nor pray her to, I assure you. So there it stands as a desolate situation.
Belle. *snorts with laughter* You make yourself sound like Mr. Darcy.
Montefore. *raises brow* Who?
Belle. Haha, nothing. A reference to something of a different day than yours, Count. *tries to restrain giggles* Besides, I may or may not know something you don't know about yourself and your future, Count...
Montefore. *ignores remark*

Belle. *clears throat to cover up last laugh* Alright, do you like to fence? Ride?
Montefore. No, I don't like to fence, and I don't unusually enjoy riding either. But I do not mind either one.
Belle. Do you wear lots of hats?
Montefore. *gazes up briefly at brim of large traveler's hat he's wearing* Yes.
Belle. Haha, do you realize you look like Will Turner with that hat on? By the way, that's me asking, not an audience member.
Montefore. Who?
Belle. Haha, another reference.
Montefore. I am not so sure anymore that my existence is entirely original, My Lady Belle, for you continue to compare to things of your own day.
Belle. *laughs* It's okay. I actually wrote you before I even knew about Will Turner or Mr. Darcy. And you just happen to look like Will... It's, uh... coincidence. Yeah, coincidence. *smiles guiltily* Okay, so maybe he just happened to fit your description and I thought he was handsome, so... *smiles again* But anyways, what's the name of your current horse? *bursts out laughing at question*
Montefore. What so amuses you, Lady Belle?
Belle. Um... *giggles* It's just that, because your horse was the only one in the book that didn't have an official name, my sister made up a rather ridiculous unofficial name for it that wouldn't be mentioned in the story.
Montefore. Well, then you can ask your sister my horse's name, because I didn't name him.
Belle. What? Oh, come on, he must have some name.
Montefore. He does have a name, but I didn't name him. I don't call my stallion anything. The only title he was ever called was given him by a stable boy.
Belle. What was it?
Montefore. Dertay. Apparently it meant 'courage' or something of the like in the boy's language.

Belle. That's kinda cool... Um, what's your favorite food, Count?
Montefore. I don't have a favorite food.
Belle. Oh, come on. What's something you enjoy eating?
Montefore. I enjoy venison, I suppose. At any rate, it's better than traveler's bread.
Belle. Non-favorite food?
Montefore. I don't turn down food for my own whims. But I can occasionally tire of traveler's bread.
Belle. Do you like to read?
Montefore. I suppose I do, when I have the time.
Belle. What's your current occupation at the moment? How are you supporting yourself?
Montefore. *frowns* My current occupation is a many-faced one. It could not be summed up in one word... unless the word was 'slave'. And as for my support, it is my dwindling family fortune.
Belle. Alright, these questions are from Spiderman the awesome. What's your favorite thing to occupy yourself hobby-wise?
Montefore. Perhaps thought. Or reading. I don't get a large portion of time for revels, Lady Belle, from my occupation and my attempts at restoring the hopeless bit of ruins that my castle is.
Belle. What are you best at?
Montefore. Traveling fast and remaining a stranger to other people.
Belle. That's a terrible thing to be best at.
Montefore. I don't have a choice. I cannot, at the risk of whosoever I become close to, become close to anyone. They would only be used for being associated with me.
Belle. Do you have any friends? Who?
Montefore. As I previously informed you, My Lady, I cannot have anyone close to me. I cannot marry, or have a family, or even have friends. They would only be used in the same way I am. Besides, I could not ask anyone to try and be with me in my hopeless endeavors of restoring a half-wrecked castle and running errands for slave-drivers.
Belle .Okay, okay... Eeesh... Are you anticipating any troubles at the moment?
Montefore. Yes. I will soon be traveling on another such errand, and I do not know the extent of its difficulty yet.

Belle. Do you prefer to be in Vellethia or Tresinta?
Montefore. Perhaps Tresinta. The extent of my activities in Vellethia are living alone in the ruins of Montefore Castle. In Tresinta I am still alone, but at least I don't have to look at the fallen legacy of my family's home.
Belle. Do you travel often?
Montefore. Fairly often. I travel when called, or when I am not at Montefore Castle. Is that all?
Belle. *nods* Yep. You can leave now if you want.
Montefore. Thank you. *stand up and bows, then leaving*
End Interview.
The next interview will be of
Maid Dricynnia de Blyrwen,
King Edarian II Of Tresinta,
or Princess Celeise I Of Tresinta.
Leave the vote of your choice in the comments! :)
Anyways, that wraps it up. What did you think? What do you think of Montefore? Would you read him? What did you think of the post on a whole? I am, difortunamente, sick at the moment (again!), and so, depending on how bad it is tomorrow, there may or may not be a Catholicism Explained tomorrow. The only reason I am posting this today is because I already had it typed up. I am sorry! I really do keep catching ill, though; I'm not making it up. :P It seems like I'm catching every single little tiny germ that floats around these days.

Bio Of Count Charles Montefore

So today, I am going to introduce Count Charles Montefore (or, as spell-check wants to call him after my bad typing, Coconut Charles Mount For). Ask him questions in the comments, and I will post an interview of him answering those questions later on. The previous interview can be found here.

Name: Count Charles Montefore. Age: Twenty-one (almost, that is - his birthday, though it is not mentioned, occurs during the span of the story). Nationality: He is a Vellethian. Height: About six foot one...? Hair Color: Very, very, very dark brown... almost black. Eye Color: Very light brown. Title(s): Count (hereditary title). Family: None living any more. His cousin, a certain Hugo Montefore, was the last one to die. Bio: Charles Montefore was born in the ancient, but failing line of Montefore, a line so old that it went back to the beginning of Vellethia as a kingdom. He was one of the only sons born in his generation (the only other being his uncle's son, Hugo), and so he was one of the last Montefores. Their estates as well as their line was failing, and at that time their fortune was only barely suitable for their title, and not the great thing it had once been. They were a proud line, though, and so they did not spend it much, wishing to keep their regime, and only used as was necessary to try and restore Montefore Castle. Montefore's parents were likewise some of the only Montefores in their generation. The Montefores had a long history - a long and half-abandoned history that only they ardently remembered. Montefore's parents died in a mobbing of the royal palace at Vellethia's capital when he was young, along with his uncle. This left him and Hugo as the last Montefores. When he was fourteen, he and Hugo decided to take up the hereditary task (spoilers!) that their parents had died before they could accomplish. They did not succeed in their attempt. It only resulted in the death of Hugo. Though Montefore escaped mostly unscathed, he learned a lesson that day. This attempt also led to Montefore's meeting of the youngest Vellethian prince, Lothaire, whom he would know for a very long time to come. After this for some years, Montefore merely put his energies in either traveling for unknown business or trying to restore the almost hopelessly forgotten Montefore Castle. At the beginning of the story, Montefore is away from Montefore Castle on more untold business, in the capital of Tresinta, to be exact. It is here that he is met by someone he altogether did not anticipate...

Anyways, that's Montefore. I do hope I didn't paint him too wrongly, because I let out a rather larger bit of information than I probably should have. But I was also very vague due to this. So, on a whole, it was a confusing bio, wasn't it? :P Very sorry if it was... And also sorry for how long it took for me to put this up. Ask any questions you have for Charles in the comments, and I shall put up an interview once sufficient query count is reached. :)
What do you think of him? Does he scare you? Or perhaps does he seem very likeable? What do you make of his stance in the story from what I've told? Have any particular questions for him? I can warn you now that you may need to ask a good few questions as he speaks very little and dislikes being forced to speak.

Interview Of Lady Alomina De Blyrwen

Hello! Today I am interviewing Lady Alomina, the heroine of my book, Alomina, with some lovely questions from you, my audience. Lady Mina's bio can be found here, the introduction to her story here, and the previous interview, of her brother Percy, right here. Her actual story (up to Chapter Fourteen) can also be found here. So, that being said, I'll continue with the interview.

My drawing of Mina... Unfortunately, when I downloaded it, it became very blurry.

Belle. Hello, Mina. Mind if I ask a few questions?
Alomina. No, I don't mind...
Belle. Alright, then let's get right to it! Here are some from Hope: what is your favorite book?
Alomina. *smiles brightly* There's a book of fairy-tales that Percy used to read to me all the time, and though I practically have it memorized now, it's still my favorite.
Belle. Alright, do you like to do any craft projects? Knitting, drawing, sculpting, or embroidering?
Alomina. Oh, I love to embroider! I love to sew, and I do it all the time. Very few hobbies bring me greater pleasure.
Belle. I know you love your brother, but what is one thing you can't stand about him? Maybe a bad habit of his?
Alomina. *looks shocked, and eyes go wide innocently* Oh, dear, no! There is nothing I can't abide in Percy... But he does have a few habits. I've learned to live with them, so they don't bother me, though. For instance, he runs his hands through his hair a lot when he's distressed. And he also has a habit of absent-mindedly reading aloud if he's reading in the same room as me. And he sometimes taps his foot on the ground if he's sitting down.*laughs* Actually he has quite a few habits, I suppose, it's just that none of them particularly irk me.
Belle. Really? Nothing? *grins* I have four brothers, and all of them irk me.
Alomina. *smiles* Well, there never was a brother quite like Percy.
Belle. *nods* Unfortunately true. Next question is, what is your favorite season and why?
Alomina. Oh, my favorite season is most decidedly the autumn! Percy is home so much more then, because of our country's holidays, and then he is much less worried all the time.
Belle. Do you have secrets you keep from Percy?
Alomina. *hesitantly* No... I don't keep any secrets from him, really. Sometimes I almost think  he must get exasperated with me, telling him every single news of the day, and yet, then I remember that it's Percy, and he is never cross with me or anything. I really don't know what I ever did to deserve even being born in the same country as him, much less being his sister.
Belle. Alright, what is your favorite sweet?
Alomina. Pastries, to be sure! Particularly berry ones... *laughs* Percy and I have always loved berries...

Belle. And is there some place you've always wanted to go, but never did?
Alomina. I can't think of any... I was always perfectly content being at home... It's Percy really that was always the social one. *smiles sheepishly* I probably wouldn't go out at all if Percy didn't so prompt me. Although... *smiles fades slightly* I have always wanted to visit our father's grave. He died in another country, and in the last part of a violent time there, so he was never brought back here. I have never been to Vellethia, where he is... Percy has. Percy has been there, but only once.
Belle. Yes... I actually... *stifles herself hurriedly* Uh, I wasn't going to say anything! No spoilers here! *tries to grin innocently, with very little success* Anyways, that wraps up the queries from Hope. Next, from Lucy, is this: what's one vice you can't stand in other people?
Alomina. Well, there's no vice I absolutely can't stand, but aggressiveness in people bothers me. I always wonder how anyone could fell so desolate as to behave that way, and it makes me very sorry for them.
Belle. What's one virtue you particularly admire?
Alomina. Well... I value hope greatly. I always try to give a bit of it, even if I can't have it. *looks down* I keep it in hard times, because I was never clever or able to find a real reason to not give up, I only just hoped.
Belle. Would you mind sharing one flaw of your own?
Alomina. *looks down shamefully* I'm afraid I have rather an all-too childlike disposition, and often it gets in the way of being clever or rational, or being brave. I have always been naïve, I suppose, for this nature.

Belle.  Let's say you were to become romantically involved with someone... What sort of qualities would he have to possess in order to win your heart?
Alomina. *looks up in surprise and blushes* I? I haven't any imagination for even such a situation... *blushes more*
Belle. *smiles* Yes, you have. Come on, what's one thing?
Alomina. *smiles softly* Well... I suppose he would have to be a lot like Percy... The first thing that might catch my interest in him would be innocence of person, or stability of character. *blushes even more deeply* And... and, well, if he could be content with simple things and people, like me, then I daresay nothing more could I want...
Belle. What has your education been like? What sort of subjects are your favorite, and which do you hate?
Alomina. Well, I was educated partially by mother and father... and partially by nursemaids. My favorite thing were always more home-like things, like mending and cooking, rather than history, which was Percy's favorite. I never liked reading as much, though I do now, because Percy was always willing to read to me, and at the time, I didn't see any advantage in reading myself. *blushes and smiles* I think differently now, though.

Belle. Do you like music?
Alomina. Yes, indeed I do... I particularly love dancing music, because to dance is one of Percy's, and one of my favorite things to do.
Belle. What's one thing you're afraid of?
Alomina. *smile fades* Of being alone. *voice grows very soft* If anything ever happened to Percy that took him away too long, or if anything ever happened to me that took me away... I... *straightens, and attempts to look more happy* Well, now you can see why I don't really envision myself in a courtship, Lady Belle...
Belle. *nods* Yes, I know... That's all the questions from Lucy, by the way. And she says hello.
Alomina. *smiles* And I greet her in return.
Belle. Lovely! Well - from Kayla Marie, by the way - what do you want most in the world?
Alomina. *smiles very softly* I suppose... *laughs gently* I'm not very ambitious... I suppose what I want, truly, is just for things to stay always as they are. All I want is for Percy to be happy, and Aunt to be happy, and then I would be happy. If anything in the world could I wish for, I would only wish that all of us only grow closer and better than we even are now. *blushes* I don't believe it's a very interesting wish, but it really is all I can think of...
Belle. No, it's a lovely wish! It's very contented... *under breath* Wish some of the other characters would take lessons from you... Like Mr. Grumpy-with-everything Stevens...
Alomina. *confusedly* What was that?
Belle. *brightly* Oh, nothing. Next question, if you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
Alomina. *pauses a moment in pondering* I don't know... I suppose I would try to make everybody I the world as happy as Percy and I are! *blushes* Oh dear... I can't even answer two queries in order without mentioning Percy...
Belle. *laughs* It's alright. He is pretty cool.
Alomina. *smiles slightly*

Belle. Anyways, do you have any secrets?
Alomina. Well, I suppose not... I mean, I have secrets, but none of them from Percy, so they're not really fully secrets, are they?
Belle. Well, what's one thing that nobody but you and Percy know, then? It's still kind-of a secret...?
Alomina. Well... I suppose I've never told anybody but Percy the few dislikes that I have. I really try to keep cheerful, but he knows of a few things I do rather dislike...
Belle. *lifts brow in anticipation* Such as?
Alomina. *blushes* I don't like to be asked questions. I despise - or rather - *blushes again* that is a harsh word... I very much dislike anybody asking me things, because often I feel very helpless to give any solid advice or answer. *smiles* But I've gotten a bit better about it through the years, because Percy helps me, despite his also teasing me about it.
Belle. Last question, what do you fear most?
Alomina. I... *looks down slightly* I fear having to ever be on my own - and not just being alone - but, well, truly having to look out and know whatever I'm looking at, I must face alone... To look out and not see Percy's face somewhere... It would be... *bites lip* It would be the end of any minimal spirit or bravery I had...
Belle. *smiles sadly* Well, I would like to hope that you would still have some hope... But, *clears throat* anyways, that's all, I believe. Thank you so much for cooperating, Mina... *laughs* even if you don't like being asked questions.
Alomina. *blushes* I do hope I didn't offend with that answer - I didn't mean for interviewing. And I'm afraid I must have been rather uninteresting to interview, as my answers were all so very similar...
Belle. *smiles* Not at all. I loved doing it, and eagerly look forward to the next interview... whoever it may be for...

End Interview.



Celeise.

Kinda younger-looking Dricynnia.

Well, whoever it may be for depends on the votes for one of these three candidates:

Princess Celeise Anatria de-Vistrina Ellette, the Tresintan crown princess.

King Edarian Dertan de-Carta Ellette, the Tresintan king, and Celeise's father.

Madam Dricynnia de Blyrwen, the fairly young aunt of Percy and Mina.

Okay, okay, I'll still add a fourth one, just for variety:



Agh!!! The only person I can find who looks even relatively like Edarian is Kit's dad in Cinderella! And I feel like a copycat because Percy looks like Kit!!!! AGH!!!! And I can't find any pictures of him that don't also have Kit... *sobs in childish frustration*

Count Montefore.

Count Charles Montefore, the mysterious guest whom Mina runs into at a royal palace ball in Tresinta, with an air to him intriguing and very hidden.

Vote for the candidate of your own choice! :D

What did you think of the interview? Do you like Mina? Or was Percy's better? Who will you vote for? Is anybody else having a fit of gladness and frustration at the same time over Pinterest and its picture-finding ability?!



Bio Of Lady Alomina De Blyrwen

I'm back, with more interview updates. I'm sorry it took so long.. :P I have been terribly short of attention as of late, and so have not really typed up any posts that weren't relatively clipped, and didn't feel like posting much at all. But, I am back with the voted-in interview subject, Lady Alomina (or Mina, for short) de Blyrwen. You can find an introduction of her self-titled story, Alomina, right here, and the actual story itself (up to Chapter Fourteen) here. The previous interview, of her brother, Percy, is here. Please ask her all you like in the comments so I can interview her soon! That being said, I bring you without further ado, Lady Mina.

Name: Lady Alomina de Blyrwen (known to Percy as Mina). Age: 17, almost 18. Nationality: Tresintan. Height: Five foot five (roughly). Hair Color: Chocolate brown. Eye Color: Unsure right now. I'll say brown, I suppose, because that's what I was considering changing it to (originally it was blue-green). Title(s): Lady de Blyrwen. Family: Her brother, Percy, and her aunt, Dricynnia. Bio:
Alomina was born at the de Blyrwen estates, the joyfully-received second child of the Lord and Lady de Blyrwen. She was rather frail, but thankfully not unto illness, unlike her mother. When she was born, she was greeted by an older brother - not even three years old yet - who took to her immediately. Percy and her bonded form the beginning, and growing up, she relied on him very strongly. Mina could always be capable, but never really had to be, so she depended on Percy for a good amount.

When Mina was around two, she and their mother caught the last sweep of a disease. It was a very faint one, hardly a danger at all, and so Percy and their father did not even catch it. On the other hand, Mina and their mother did. Alomina recovered eventually, and it never affected her too badly, but her mother, already weak for many years, was taken by it. Years after this heartache, the family seemed to adjust, and grew yet closer. It seemed they wouldn't be separated any further, but this would not be so. When Alomina was seven, their father - as a trusted diplomat of the king - was sent to deal with political unrest in a neighboring country, Vellethia, for the Tresintan king. The trouble seemed to be resolved soon enough, and so Percy and Mina rejoiced that they would see their father again soon, though they were quite happy with their flighty aunt, Dricynnia, in his absence. However, their joy faded when they heard the news of how the trouble had been resolved. Shortly before it had faded, a mobbing of the Vellethian royal palace took place. Few were injured before it was stopped, but two lives, those of the Vellethian queen, and Lord de Blyrwen, had been taken. Thus Percy and Mina were raised by Dricynnia from then on.

Oh, I can imagine Percy and Mina playing in the snow together! So cute! Oh, I love them soooo much...

In time, Alomina became a relatively pretty, though small, young woman, often described as 'fairy-like' for both her looks and her nature. She was always of a very subjective and quiet nature, both contrasting the more social one of Percy, and also akin to it in the strength when hard times came. She never really looked about for her own future, because the only future that seemed within her sight was the present she already owned, of her small family together in happiness. However, she was not - as it might seem for one of such childlike and shy character - secluded. She was taken out often by Percy to the social events, and he was the only one who could convince her to come out, even though she loved it once she was out. It is at one of these times, being out, that a most unexpected thing happens...

Thus is Mina's situation as the story begins. I know that this poor post is rather short, but really, I wrote almost all the backstory (that I'm allowed to tell you) for both of them on Percy's, so this is mostly just repeating. What did you think? Do you have any questions for Mina? Load her up with 'em, because she doesn't talk a whole lot on her own, unfortunately. And guess what? This is my first time interviewing her! Yay! So, we'll see whether it turns out well or not. ;)

Beautiful People February: Couple Edition

Hey! Today I am coming in with my first BP! (rather than BB., of which I did all three.) It is the lovely couple edition, so I decided to hit it off withmy very oldest couple, Lord Percy de Blyrwen and Princess Celeise Anatria De-Vistrina Ellette (yeah, I know it's a mouthful!) from Alomina. So, without further ado, Beautiful People, brought to you by Mistresses Cait and Sky. :)

1. How and why did they meet?
Haha, they met at a ball. To be precise, Percy was getting wine to take back to Mina. However, he got distracted, and he bumped right into Celeise, spilling the drinks all over her dress, and just barely catching her before she fell onto the floor. All I can say there is that Celeise was not too happy, especially being the haughty, uptight princess she is. But Percy did try to apologize... ;)
2. What were their first impressions of each other?
Well, Percy was very apologetic and he tried to be friendly, because he had just spilt wine all over the crown princess of his country. But, to be honest, though he tried to merely apologize, his first impression was being smitten. Celeise's first impression of Percy was seeing him as some throne-seeking flirt who did it on purpose to attract attention, or a clod who was half-blind and couldn't competently walk.
3. How would they prove their love for each other?

Celeise kind-of proved she liked him at least a little bit when she let him in at all, so to speak. Merely by exempting him from the usual cold shoulder she gave most potential suitors was enough to show she liked him. Percy proved it by being willing to let his stance as just a courtier humble him, without discouraging him from her love.

4. What would be an ideal date?

One where it was just them, and at his home, the De Blyrwen Estates, because then it would really feel like she was a De Blyrwen already. Unfortunately, this cannot happen for certain reasons... :(

5. Is there something they emphatically disagree on?

Not really. Although, while Percy complies to all the laws and will completely respect them, he is not a fan of politics, while Celeise basically spends her social life obeying and/or speaking her approval of some law or other in court.

6. List five food quirks they know about each other.
Well, they actually don't know things like that about each other very well at the moment. However, were Celeise to know about Percy, something she may find is

1. He doesn't like blueberries, due to an event as a child.

2. He loves juts about every other kind of berry.
3. He cannot cook for the life of him, because he's never tried, and so has very few food preferences.
4. He doesn't drink wine in any large amounts ever, and doesn't drink it at all except at parties or banquets.
5. He likes sweets.
If Percy were to know Celeise's preferences better, he may find that
1. She doesn't usually eat sweets.
2. She always takes wine, because it's more polite to the host (if you are out) to drink it rather than not drink it.
3. Her appetite is rather small, with her being trained from a very young age not to eat uncouth amounts of food.
4. She knows a bit about how to cook, merely because she reads extensively.

5. She has a great many various food preferences when asked, outwardly, but at heart is not picky at all really.

7. What's one thing they know about each other that no one else does?
Celeise is aware of Percy's deep devotion to her father, the king, a thing which few other people really realize. Percy also was one of the first people to really discover Celeise's 'human side'. She was very cold and haughty towards any strangers or non-family people until she met Percy (and even he got a bit of that treatment when they first met).
8. What's one thing they keep secret from each other?
Um, there isn't really anything. Percy's definitely not a secret-keeping type - if he trusts you, then he will confide in you. And even the many secrets Celeise has are not secret really from good ole Perce.
9. How would their lives be different without each other?

Oh... wow... Even thinking about if they'd never met is a drastic change. Woozas. Celeise would have remained a cold, haughty court princess all her life (well, until she became a cold, haughty court queen, that is). She would have never thought about her future, she probably would have just married some foreign prince, and been a rigid ruler without much life. Percy would probably have never gotten involved with anyone at all romantically. He did not really count on ever falling in love, and only the very moment he met Celeise did anything even relatively resembling romantic thoughts for his own life pop into his head. He probably would have stayed at home with Mina, a happy bachelor for the rest of his life, and Mina wouldn't have probably gotten married because he wasn't. That is so weird. Man, I never realized before how important it was just that Percy and Celeise met. :P Very vital to the story...

10. Where do they see this relationship going?

Ehh... You really want me to answer that one? Egh... Well, unfortunately, they don't see it going anywhere. They see it being separated forever, both only trying to forget the other, neither ever actually doing so, neither ever being able to let go of the memory. Frankly, if they could see each other again, they would. But, due to a certain detail in plot, they can't. Ever. Never, never, never ever, ever, ever. :'( So, well, good-day to that... Except that it won't be good day... :P

So that's my Beautiful People. What did you think? I'm sorry it was rather clipped - I was in a hurry. Plus, I was going to do it with a different couple, until I remembered that their being a couple was a plot twist, and I couldn't give spoilers, so I just reverted to an earlier couple. :P Do you like Percy and Celeise? Are you frustrated, like me, that I couldn't find any pictures of Celeise which showed a close-up of her face? Do you think that you would ship them? Or do they just sound like a failure (like a lot of my couples)? :) Hehehe, the first one to tell me in the comments that my fictional romances stink gets an award for being the most honest person here. ;)