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So. I’ve had a few folks ask me how to create ‘good’ characters, and honestly I wouldn’t know! What I do is make a mental list of characters/real people I like, and for what reason, and then work from there. It’s like mushing together play dough in different colors before creating your own beautiful brown clump of goo.

As artists we all borrow from each other, exchange techniques and ideas, and build upon each other, only to tear it down and rebuild in our own image. Like tiny stupid gods!

‘The Serpent Kiss’ has two MC’s one is the bitchy and slightly unhinged, Shiroin, and the other is the laidback sword-slinger, Kiel.

For Shiroin I had mainly three characters in mind when I created her.

My own long time oc (you might know her as Kai/Frilly/mrs Draven):

This is a clump of goo I keep adding to or reducing depending on her role. She is a girl who has occurred stage left in almost all my of works, and I am simultaneously deeply in love with her vibe, and entirely put off by it! She’s a blond (subconsciously autofictional?) who’s determined, tough and (usually cynically) unromantic. She is also usually the mc or the antagonist! And she never, never, gives up. Let’s call her Mary Sue Clump -inspired by my own early teen years.

Azula of the Firenation:

I was never a big Azula-AZULA fan girl, but I like her strength, pride, cunningness and her cruelty! And I like that she’s entirely unapologetic in regard to her offputting traits, to such an extend, that they become admirable! Even attractive traits. I poured a lot of that same malice in Shiroin’s tonic.

Morticia Gomez:

The Addams family in general, has some of my favorite characters of all time! But the household mother has always held my heart. Her morbid but unquestionable love to her family and her grotesque sensuality is just!! Just! So good!! And then the dry horrifying humor! That is something Shiroin has had from the very beguinning of my drafts.

Cook these three together in a big pot and you’ll have yourself a really mean and somewhat disturbing pot of Shiroin. That said, I also have a pinch of this and a snip of that in her. Contradicting traits and ambivilant emotion. She feel like a real person more so than any of my other characters in my precious works. Wheather this is do to my growth as a writer/person or do to the fact that she is the refinement of my goopygoop through years and years? No one knowes! Also. Don’t cook people. Or play dough. It’s gross.

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So yeah. Kiel was/is the same way. I have a few sources of inspiration for him as well, and if you wanna know them just let me know and I’ll do a post for him too!!

If you think this is a fun thing to do, pls tell me your sources of character inspiration!!! And then tag me so I’ll see it! ♥️🔥

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See ya

Character Questions

Uh! A little CQ after a srsly long day in heels? Yes pls. Thanks @bexminx .

What’s your character’s preference on physical touch?

S: ehh, Shiroin is a hardcore fucked up bitch masochist. She preferes bruises or nothing at all. Don’t hug her either. She might stab you for being disrespectful.

K: if we’re talking adult touching then go for it. Anything. Everything. Kiel isn’t shy. He wouldn’t mind a friendly hug either, he would just be extremely stunned that you’re not running away from him (the sawlike teeth does that to people).

Does your character have any nervous habits?

S: whenever things don’t go shriroins way, she disconnects from her emotions and becomes extremely cruel. She lashes out. It’s not a cute nervous tick. It’s full on distructive.

K: I don’t think Kiel has ever been ‘nervous’ per say. He’s been terrified, feared for his life and his loved ones. But nervous? If he has, he hasn’t shown it. Not in the least.

Does your character have one main fear or a bunch of little ones? What are they? 

S: her biggest fear is to loose control. To loose power over her own life. The ‘smaller’ one is that she’s claustrophobic.

K: he fears loosing those close to him. It has happened before and that’s why Kiel never lets anyone in. The lesser fear is the ocean. He’s a mountain guy, the sea unsettles him.

What would your character kill for?

S: power. And she has.

K: coin. And he has.

How would your character go about apologizing when they’ve done something wrong?

S: haahagagghhhaaaa. No. She’ll rather stab you, or poison you, than admit she’s in the wrong.

K: pffffffth. Like he cares.

What does your character value most about themselves?

S: her mind.

K: his skill.

What type of person does your character admire?

S: strong women and skillful people.

K: smart women and determined people.

Does your character enjoy a specific season?

S: she loves nature no matter the season.

K: he likes spring. The melting snow from the mountains makes the steams babble louder this time of year.

Does your character sing in the shower?

S: yes. Shrioin sings in the bath. It sounds beautifully haunting. It’s like hearing the ghost of the girl she once was.

K: he might hum. But music in general is not that interesting to him. Kiel likes the song of swords.

Do they have a favorite culture specific cuisine?

S: rice cake and cherry ice

K: something hot and souplike after a long cold track in the misty mounts.

What noise absolutely drives them insane?

S: senseless chitchat or old men talking about politics, like she’s not there.

K: city noise.

Who’s death would absolutely destroy your character?

S: Kiel’s.

K: Shiroin’s.

What’s a secret of theirs they’ve only told one other person?

S: Kiel was the only person Shiroin has ever told about the voice in her head. The serpent’s curse, as it were.

K: the dream witch, Farrah, dragged it out of him during her torture, but she saw how Kiel got the long scar across his lip -and it’s gruesome!!

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Aaaah that was nice. I feel almost refreshed again, and if not that, then at least my feet stopped hurting now!

That’s that! And I would LOVE to hear about these guys characters! So I tag:

@behrtimestories @pheita @moonbow-ink @contes-de-rheio 🌸💕and if you haven’t been tagged, do it anyway and then add me so I can see! I luf luf luuufff CQs!!!