Beautiful People - Danica

So when I asked my beta readers who I should interview, everyone said different characters. (I love you girls but you need to get better at agreeing.) Two of the characters already have painfully awkward and outdated interviews, so we're going with the other one - Danica! She is my sweet little INFJ genius made of stardust and quiet comfort, and I love her dearly.
   As usual, I'm joining Beautiful People, a linkup hosted by Cait @ Paper Fury and Sky @ Further Up and Further In, who are both wonderful people that you should follow right now. I mean it. Go follow them. I'll wait.

   So without further ado, let's get to know Danica!

1. What’s their favourite book/movie/play/etc.?
   Well, she's from a fantasy world, and her family is far too poor to own any books. But if she lived in our world...
Book: Jane Eyre, The Raven Cycle, Harry Potter(duh)
Movie: Beauty and the Beast, Labyrinth
Play: Phantom of the Opera

2. Is there anything they regret doing?
   She regrets being awkward and bad with people, because that makes it hard for her to fit in and have friends.

3. If they were sick or wounded, who would take care of them and how?
   Danica is usually the one taking care of the sick or wounded, but if she needed someone to take care of her, she'd trust Egin and/or Allorie. 

4. Is there an object they can’t bear to part with and why?
   This isn't exactly an object, but she'd hate to cut her hair. It's very long and thick, and she's able to do a lot of cool braids. She considers it her most attractive feature.

5. What are 5 ways to win their heart (or friendship)?
- Pay attention to her (she was a neglected little child)
- Have philosophical discussions with her
- Treat her ideas, thoughts, and feelings with respect
- Let her be her own person and don't try to control or confine her
- Take the initiative in social situations*

   
   *Danica is an shy introverted child and appreciates when she doesn't have to make the first move

6. Describe a typical outfit for them from top to bottom.
   Some kind of braid, a simple dress, and during the colder months, well-worn shoes.

7. What’s their favorite type of weather?
   Clear days where the sun is bright but the air is still cool. Or nights when there are no clouds and you can see all the stars.

8. What’s the worst fight they’ve ever been in?
   She's probably gotten into some nasty fights with her stepmom or her oldest half-sister. Neither of them are very fond of Danica.

9. What names or nicknames have they been called throughout their life?
   Her siblings and the mean kids from her village have probably given her some nicknames that she'd prefer not to hear again.

10. What makes their heart feel alive?
   Stars. Late-night talks about anything. Hugging the people close to her. Stars. Learning new things. Taking time to herself to just think. And did I mention stars.

   And that's all the questions! I love participating in Beautiful People and I look forward to it every month. Thanks for reading!

   What did you think of Danica? She's pretty great, isn't she? Do you have any characters like Danica, or characters she'd get along with? (hint, she has a secret weakness for "bad boys" when they aren't actually terrible human beings.)

#WIPJoy Character Takeover

   Okay, so I literally missed all of February. I've been lazy and sick and working more than normal. I'm doing my best, okay? And I have a super cool post planned for next week. Anyway, on to the post. 

   On Twitter, author Bethany A. Jennings created a hashtag for celebrating your work in progress. Every few months, she has a daily prompt so that we writers can ramble about our WIPs. Well, as much as you can ramble with a 140 character limit.

   I love participating, but I lost momentum about two weeks into January and kinda just....stopped. But there was a week I really wanted to do—the Protagonist Takeover week! So, I'm just gonna do it here.

   The thing is...I have six protagonists. So this will be interesting. I'm not sure if I'll have all of them answer each question, but they'll all answer at least one. We'll see what happens.

   (Click the links on the characters' names if you're new to Children of the Nameless or you just want a refresher.)

Describe yourself in five words

Kaleth: Courageous, strong, a good leader.

Danica: Um...quiet, thoughtful, peacemaker...tired.

Barrow: Loud. Obnoxious. An irresistible charmer. *hesitates, then winks* Recalcitrant.

Allorie: I'm gentle, selfless, and...hopeful. *feels unconfortable praising herself*

Katria: ...no.

Egin: I...um...I like trees?

One thing you'd change about your past?

Kaleth: I wish I'd known the truth about my father sooner, so I could have helped even more people.

Danica: I... *looks down* If I could, I would have my father marry someone kinder.

Barrow: *folds his arms defensively* My past is none of your business.

Favorite way to relax?

Kaleth: ....talking to Allorie or Danica, I guess.

Danica: I like going out on my own, somewhere peacful and quiet where I can just think. Maybe braid my hair or pick flowers.

Barrow: Reading. It's always been an escape for me.

Allorie: *smiles shyly* I like when Danica braids my hair.

Katria: Bein' with Conryn*. 

Egin: Being alone in the forest. Practicing my magic.

Egin spending time in the forest

*her best friend

A line you were proud to say*

Kaleth:

ah, my brave son

Danica:

technically she didn't /say/ it but it counts, man

Barrow: 

the sassy problematic fave

*I'm just including lines from the current draft. the first draft is huge and embarrassing and I am too tired to scroll through 70k+ to find good lines. You'll get snippets from the others eventually, I promise

Tell us about where you live

Kaleth: I was raised in a small village in Iyon, but now I'm traveling to world to find the other Nameless.

Danica: I lived in a village a few day's walk from Kaleth's. There are big green fields, and we're surrounded by a forest. It's beautiful.

Barrow: Most of my life was spent in the city of Reoun, a city near the edge of Frayn. But like most Fraynics, I've traveled much and spent time in other parts of the country.

Allorie: I spent my entire life in the capital city of Daglen.

Katria: Tsuki. Born an' raised. Only ever left for... *twirls knife between fingers* jobs.

Egin: I lived in the badlands between Skovia and the territories until I was six. It was just me and Lisbet* and Ma. Then she.... *trails off* Then Lisbet and I lived in Skovia.

The forest surrounding Kaleth's and Danica's villages

*Lisbet = Egin's little sister

Do you sympathize/relate to the antagonist?

Kaleth: *frowns* Absolutely not. Just because I'm Iyonian doesn't mean I agree with what my former countrymen did.

What are you self-conscious about?

Kaleth: My mistakes.

Danica: ...everything? I have all these thoughts inside my head but I can't seem to get them out. It makes me feel stupid.

Barrow: Nothing. *winks*

Allorie: *sheepishly* My hands. They're rough and calloused from working hard...I wish I could have soft hands.

Katria: No point in being self-conscious. Ain't gonna help anythin'.

Egin: I, um...not being normal.

   Well, I hope you liked this little character interview thing! I really enjoyed getting to talk about my babies. Who was your favorite/least favorite? Have you ever participated in #WIPJoy? Comment below so we can chat!

Character Interview: Allorie

   Sorry for not posting last week. I really have no excuse.



Me: Hey guys! Today I'm going to be interviewing Allorie, one of the FMCs from Children of the Nameless.

Lyrics from "Fight Song" by Rachel Platten

Allorie: *smiles shyly*

Me: So. Let's get started. What weapons have you been trained in? Which is your favorite?

Allorie: *has a soft voice and speaks with an English accent* I know sword fighting and archery, and I also know how to fight with knives, and how to wrestle. I like everything but knives, *laughs softly* but sword fighting is my favorite.

Me: What are you best at? And what's something you just can't get the hang of?

Allorie: *laughs nervously* I'm going to assume we're still talking about weapons. I'm definitely best at sword fighting. There were a few times when they taught us to use a war hammer, and... *laughs* I failed. Completely.

Me: Speaking of teachers, what are yours like?

Allorie: Well... *looks down at her hands* They work us hard. *long pause* They're not very nice, but...I suppose it must get frustrating, trying to teach incompetent children all day. *tries to laugh*

Me: What's your favorite thing to do in your spare time?

Allorie: *confused* We don't really have spare time...at least, I don't. If I'm not training, or down at the barracks, I'm...with my mother... *twists her hands in her lap*

Me: *softly* How you do feel about your mother? Really? And don't worry; no one will ever know.

Allorie: *starts and stops several times, then whispers* She scares me. She hurts me, and yells at me, and... *shakes her head*

Me: *hugs Allorie* Do you really want to be Empress?

Allorie: *blinks, confused* I don't have any choice. I'm an only child. It's my duty to become Empress.

Me: Are you getting any training for when you become Empress?

Allorie: A little bit. I learn about government and diplomacy, and I watch the Empress to see how she does things.

Me: If you could say anything to her, or ask her anything? What would it be?

Allorie: Oh...oh...that...I... *softly* I would ask her what she thinks of me. If...if she really thinks I'm a failure, like she says I am.

Me: And what would you ask your father?

Allorie: What? I can't...he's dead...

Me: I know, but just pretend.

Allorie: I...I would ask him if he was proud of me. *blushes*

Me: I bet he is. *smiles* What do you picture him being like?

Allorie: *smiles slightly* He's tall and handsome and he's always smiling. And he's very strong.

Me: *smiles* So, tell me about your friend. How did you meet him? What's he like?

Allorie: *smiles slightly* Jeth was one of the older soldiers, and one day his group was helping us train...he saw some of the soldiers in my group teasing me and...told them to stop. After that, he always made sure to keep an eye on me, and talk to me and protect me whenever he could. But then... *looks down* His [squadron] was called to battle and...he never came back. He was very tough, and a great leader, but he was also very caring and gentle. *smiles sadly* I miss him.

Me: If you could have anything or do anything you wanted, what would it be?

Allorie: *thinks* I would...I would be with someone who cared about me. We would take care of each other, and love each other. And...I want to end the war, so my people can live in peace. *sits up straighter* That's why I joined Kaleth and his friends.

Me: Do you ever dream of being someone else? If so, who would you be?

Allorie: I don't want to be someone else. I just want to be a better version of me. Someone...someone who people can care about and come to for help.

Me: How far would you go to save someone you loved.

Allorie: I think, if I found someone I truly loved, I would be willing to die for them.

Me: *softly* What do you fear the most?

Allorie: *stares down at her hands* Being alone and useless and hated forever. Never being good enough for anything.

Me: What words bother you the most to hear?

Allorie: Well, I've heard it a lost from the soldiers, so I should be used to it, but I don't like when the boys curse. And...it's silly, but I don't like when people call me "useless" or "pathetic" or things like that. *tries to laugh*

Me: Nobody does. Now tell me about your singing. Do you have a favorite type of music to sing? Do you ever perform, or is it something you just do for yourself?

Allorie: *blushes* I've never really sung in front of people. It made the Empress angry the one time she heard me, so I don't sing around her or any of the leaders, and the other soldiers would tease me about it, so I don't sing around them.  But I've been singing more, especially with Danica. *smiles*

Me: What's your favorite way to dress? What do you normally wear?

Allorie: Well, I've only worn a dress two or three times, but I loved it. *smiles* Normally, I wear a soldier's uniform: dark grey pants and a blue tunic.

Me: Is there a token that you own that means a lot to you, like a necklace or dagger or book?

Allorie: *thinks, then shakes her head* I don't think so. Unless you count my sword. I usually keep it with me because it makes me feel safe.

Me: And, that's it! Thanks for letting me talk to you, Allorie!

Allorie: *smiles* Of course.

And thank you for reading! I promise, I'll get better at posting.

Questions for Allorie

   Since I've already done painfully outdated and inaccurate interviews for Barrow, Katria, and Egin, there were only three characters I need to interview. All my betas voted for Allorie, so here she is.

   Allorie is the daughter of the Empress of Daglen. She knows very little about her father, who died before she was a year old, except for the fact that he was a soldier. Because of this, her mother forces her to live and train with the other soldiers, but still expects Allorie to become Empress one day. Despite trying her absolute hardest to live up to everyone's expectations, she is constantly criticized by everyone she knows and has only ever had one friend. But mere days before her sixteenth birthday, three strange teenagers arrive at the castle and, in front of the court, tell her that her father was a Nameless, a legendary war hero. Although her mother furiously forbids it, Allorie runs away to join them, hoping to make friends and make a difference in the war that plagues her country.
   Her MBTI is ISFJ. She is very kind and looks out for others before herself. She can always find a way to blame herself when things go wrong. She's very good at singing and loves to spar with Kaleth. She's very protective of her friends and does all she can do take care of and protect them.


   Have any questions for Allorie? Leave them in the comments, and she'll answer them next week.