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inlocusmads · 2 months

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Hey Mads! I woke up with this question in my head this morning, and as I'm pondering it, I'd love to know your thoughts.

What would have become of your Trystan if they had not met Nora? What direction would their life have taken? (Feel free to add how Nora's would have been different, too.)

Hey there, Elsa! This is such an interesting question because both Nora and Trystan were at different points in their life and though they simply might be just people and can't exactly do so much as to rearrange the other's brain molecules, their "influence" so to speak holds some gravity regardless.

(PSA- using he/him for Trystan; another PSA- this is very very long. I am so sorry. Also spoilers for Book 1 and 2)

In terms of Trystan if he hadn't met Nora, he would likely have adjusted to the merits of what an exiled royal would get. Most likely an unspecified "foreign diplomat" position, likely Drakovia's Minister Counselor for Counselor Affairs to the United States for a time period until he's called back again to be the heir (I'd like to think Trystan declined the position, but the Drakovian government ended up submitting his name anyway; so a couple of interns can file paperwork, so he can attend ribbon-cutting ceremonies). It's admittedly a very cushy life and had Trystan maintained a resume, he would not need to spend a massive portion of his time in a private detective agency in Manhattan so to speak.

A large portion of his character arc, from my perspective at the very least, comes from multiple "sources of approval" and him finally stopping that vicious cycle and doing things more earnestly. From seemingly training his whole life to be the next heir, to constantly hold himself accountable even if the situation didn't warrant his accountability. I feel like his exile as a whole contributed to taking back that "portion" of his life, but seemingly finding it impossible to let go. Prospects, jobs, etc, etc, nothing really did interest him as far as his description of "what exactly did he do in those eight years from 2014 to 2022?" goes. I feel like a massive portion comes from his fear he has for the future while simultaneously trying to remember the past and pour a bunch of alcoholic parties and midday diplomatic ceremonies at the Embassy and boom, eight years have flown by.

I'd like to think had Trystan never met Nora, he would have carried that "fear for the future" idea into the future. He'd have no idea if he actually wants the crown, suppressing his urge to ask questions, to challenge his own beliefs and instead, would be glad if someone provided him any sort of certainty on a plate. I feel like the reason why I like Trystan so much is because he gives me "hitchhiker who has no idea where they're going but likes the ride anyway and will get stabbed by 45 raccoons" vibes.

It is kind of partially explored in canon, when he struggles to remember if at all he's tied the topsail, struggles to put his word forward even though he is literally the next Guy On The Throne, in Book 2 swayed by what people want of him and is happy to take dance lessons and etiquette courses and immediately gets back into the royal groove even when he's explicitly made plenty of comments and expressed thought on how he doesn't really want to go back home.

It's a little dicier in canon, I'm ignoring Book 2 entirely for this, but I feel like his tightrope walk of "I've wanted to take you to show my home" to "Oh no, my family sucks, everything sucks, I do not want to go back there" makes me conclude that it's kind of sad that his own family, his own next-of-kin, ever-ready to give him answers (in the form of sham trials to royal decrees to emails to letters probably) are also the very people who'd take that away from him. Also why he's ready to talk about Drakovia's culture and history - the people who came before him- than the people who are right next to him and who'd gladly stab him in the back.

I feel like this whole uncertain business kind of started as "I don't think I can trust my family" to "I don't think I can trust anyone at home besides the culture that's so set in stone" and becomes this blob structure where he's just trying to figure out where he belonged and if at all he could pick and choose what to accept.

This is, say when he meets Nora. Nora doesn't have just any job, she's a private detective and PIs ask a bunch of questions. They're unashamed about it; they're not going to hold back, however "dumb" a question might be, in search for the truth. Even if it means interrogating a history Professor by shoving an ancient three-headed statue of Mahra in their face (real subtle guys) or sneaking into a spa to get into a cult and messing around with the cult people, even if their answers are just a series of grunts and "who let these guys in here?"

I feel like from the very first time Trystan saw Nora on the job and got to participate in it, he kind of felt like he was wearing HD glasses - as in he could "see" the truths being someone detached from the case. They could sniff out Madani's been having an affair all the way to Eleanor wearing her victims' hearts on her hands, encrusted into diamonds, just from subtle wordplay (actually not so subtle Elly). It kind of offered him a new perspective and a new thought process to look into Juliana's case. Especially when Nora (MC) asks him "Hey, you know it isn't your fault right?" and Trystan's just info-dumping about whether or not he tied the topsail.

It wasn't just Nora who implored him to think from different perspectives, rather the job that said so. Trystan, who willingly participated in the case- just to go "ahaha i love it when you get flustered Nora, also I'm invited to the Iverson Ball so there, you cannot stop me" and to take back that he's not so lonely in the whole "understanding the unknown" business is, fine arguably an "overnight next-to-impossible" character development, but it makes a partial sort of sense in the circumstances he was in. He was desperate to understand what happened to Sonja, and his correspondence with Nora seems to help him unravel a whole different perspective.

As for Nora herself, she was stuck in an awkward period much like Trystan, except for different reasons. In my hc, it hadn't been that long since she went from being an NYPD officer to a PI (give or take 2-4 years) and she doesn't deal with a lot of high profile cases, clearly. I'm assuming she's mostly thinking about doing a good job, not slacking off or just trying to get through one day without the PTSD weighing her down. She'd suffered intense trauma, it's surprising and actually baffling she can power through a day without any troubles. I feel like Nora was stuck in the place where she needs closure on her dad's death, unable to move on, even after so many years and at the same time dealing with the whole "what the fuck do I do" in her thirties.

She was also in this weird perspective in her life where she didn't believe in a person's redemption. Pretty fucked up, I know, but one, she doesn't forgive anyone that easily and two, she doesn't forgive herself for the most part. Kind of like a John Wick but the hatred is all internal, which kind of made her refuse second chances - both on the granting and receiving side of it. On one hand, she believed the corrupted cops in the NYPD should be killed off and on the other hand she believed she didn't deserve Mafalda's generosity when she gave her the job as PI. This kind of barrelled down into a mess where she found it impossible to simply forgive and no change in perception or environment helped her. The smallest of mistakes or screw-ups could tick her off or the smallest of disapprovals from people close to her would send her on a rampage (that's why you never EVER tell her, even as a joke "Jimmy would not be proud of that", because she will murder you)

Nora kind of learned to forgive upon meeting Trystan. Here is a guy who is clearly cocky who hides his depressing state of self pretty well, who is easy to trust her that openly and will call her out on her BS but at the same time, literally in Chapter 4 or 5, tell her her father would be super proud of her WHILE being this unhinged flawed character who learns by making errors and is no perfect by any means, but he tries. He tries to be a good person, even though he knows he doesn't deserve it. He tries to see her way and Nora had no reason to really forgive or believe his story. Nora didn't have to second-guess the murder allegations because what, it's just his word against the entire country of Drakovia. And yet, she finds it in her heart to forgive even when he isn't looking for pardon and finds it in herself to forgive even if she fucks up.

I don't think Nora would have that opportunity to address that if she didn't meet Trystan, rather she would but it would have been a difficult process for her to do so over a couple of years which would have been gruelling considering Nora's a "ey we'll cross that bridge when we get there" and ends up getting smacked in the face everyday regardless.

____

I feel like both of their development arcs would have been a lot "slower" hadn't they met the other - which isn't a wrong thing, it's just that a slow, horrifying idea to deal with constantly would be exhausting instead of using that time to solve the case from down up. Sure, it is a long process in itself. Trystan wants to get over his fear of the unknown, but it isn't overnight. Nora wants to forgive herself, but it won't happen with happy affirmations and people saying nice things to her. They both need time, but more importantly, someone to just y'know relate to. While they do come from insanely different upbringings, backgrounds and that playing like 90% of the role in how they see stuff, the other 10% is where they find comfort and solace in knowing they might not just be alone out there.

And so yeah, TLDR: While nothing really would have happened of significance, they wouldn't have been able to find a different friend who could just sit down and hear them out and go, "totally been there, you know what helps?" "Unhealthy coping mechanisms?" "No, wtf, who raised you, I meant therapy, like proper therapy, not the ones that go 'uh huh' and take notes" "Ah right."

Sorry I got a little carried away there, I'd love to talk about Nora and Trys's character development - even if it is a fucked up version of the canon and my fanon just melting into a brainrot. Thanks for the question Elsa!

#askboxed #trystan x nora #jerzwriter #thorne rose headcanons

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archivesdiveronarpg · 7 years

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Congratulations, EMILY! You’ve been accepted for the role of GONERIL. Admin Bree: This application was everything I could’ve hoped for and so much more. I’ve been waiting for someone who truly understood Grace, as nuanced and complex as she is, and Emily, you went above and beyond. Every part of your application, from the “what drew you to this character” section to your very last headcanon, screamed Grace Daly in all her blood-stained glory, and I loved every single word of it. You know her even better than I do, and for that reason, I’m so excited to place her in your hands. God bless Verona; long live the Queen. Please read over the checklist and send in your blog within 24 hours.

WELCOME TO THE MOB.

Out of Character

Alias | Emily

Age | 20

Preferred Pronouns | She/her

Activity Level | I’ve literally wanted a second character for months now – but I forced myself to wait until I had enough time to juggle both Odessa and someone else before applying. I feel as if I’ve gotten into a good groove and have enough time now! I’ll actually be home for the whole of April and although I have essays to do and exams to prep for, I’ll still be on to roleplay quite a bit! I love this roleplay, so much, so I’ll be on quite a lot – especially with the amount of muse I have! I’d say out of ten, maybe a 6/7?

Timezone | GMT

Current/Past RP Accounts | Well, here’s Odessa. And here and here are two more that I think best demonstrate my writing.

In Character

Character | Grace Valeria Daly:

GRACE: In English the meaning of the name Grace is: From the word ‘grace’, derived from the Latin 'gratia’, meaning God’s favor. Grace wasn’t named until her 45th day on this earth, more than six weeks after she was delivered. Truth be told, her parent’s hadn’t dared named her until then – terrified that to do so would be to curse her. In the beginning, the doctors had advised them to – but only so they had a name to put on the birth and death certificates they would file simultaneously. Louis and his wife had refused – believing in their daughter. As it turned out, they were right to. Grace wasn’t done with life yet, fighting through the worst odds. At 45 days, she was taken off the ventilator, her little lungs breathing all by themselves. That was when they decided to name her, drawing inspiration from the God they saw as responsible for their child’s continuing life. That would, as it turned out, be in a direct paradox to everything Grace has ever represented, for she has always been a woman who sought to ascend higher than God – and who drew inspiration from the most infamous angel of all, Lucifer. Their tricks and deeds have always been more alluring than the holy ones in God’s possession. Pay heed Morningstar, for your protégée has come to walk the earth. Truth be told, Grace cares little for her name. It makes her sound so vanilla, so plainly docile. She isn’t any of those things – and brash and vulgar as she is, she’s never cared to use it as some sort of cover to lure people into a false deception of kindness. Let all the niceties be reserved for Catherine.

VALERIA: In Italian, the name Valeria means - strength, valour. Like her first name, Grace’s parents drew inspiration for her middle name from the situation she was born into. Recognising that their daughter was a scrappy fighter, a survivor above all else, they wanted her name to resonate strength and for the world to see exactly who she was. And whilst it’s correct to assert that Grace has always been a strong woman, she’s not strong in the way they might have wanted to imagine her as, a sort of phoenix figure. No, she’s strong like a hurricane is, just before it destroys your home. She’s strong in the way that darkness is as it creeps in each night. She’s strong in the very worst way. That makes the second definition of her surname, valour, such an ironic one. It’s impossible for her to be courageous in the face of danger because she is that danger. She cannot be brave as she rides into battle – because she’s never intended on being in the middle of a war, where it’s possible to get hurt. No, she’s the sort to swoop in at the end – and claim the victory as her own. Besides, she’d always be on the winning side. To represent valour is to represent the light. And if there’s one thing all parties, her parents excepted, can agree upon – it’s that it just isn’t her.

DALY: The Daly’s are infamous throughout Verona. Theirs is an opulent family, known for its trio of daughters – each as beautiful as the one that came before. Striking elegance, they are known for their mansion that sits upon the town, both apart and away from it all. Bold and brash, every atom of it is inscribed with grandeur, no expense spared. And that’s just the outside. Should you be invited in, there’s no limit to material goods – gifts rained down upon the three daughters, given anything their mind can think of. Whereas Catherine always sought to hold herself to higher standards than that, Grace never had a problem indulging in her birth rights, seeing it as something being owed to her. Why on earth shouldn’t she take all she could? Synonymous with greed, Grace quickly followed in the footsteps of her father – carving out a reputation to rival (and indeed, she would argue it did, his). And yet, despite the perks and lifestyle her surname has offered her, she cares little for it other than as a means through which to assert herself. Whilst her parents do hold a place in her heart, it’s a rather limited one, soured by the attention they gave her sisters (really, she once asked, why did I need sisters at all?). As for her siblings, well, she cares so little for them that they rarely cross her mind. The idea of a surname signally family is…well…laughable. By the turn of the century, she will be the only Daly they remember. And really, isn’t that all it’s worth?

What drew you to this character? |

Okay so as I outlined above, I’ve been wanting to pick up a second character for some time now – and just waiting until the right one/time came to do it! The moment Grace’s teaser came out…boy was I sold. Like…I don’t think you could have written a character I loved more? Everything about her was so…it’s everything I end up being drawn to in a character tbh. Like, dark powerful women are my aesthetic. I’ve played way too many of them over the course of my time roleplaying – and I don’t think I’ll be giving up any time soon, if this application is anything to go by. Anyway, when the bio came out…I was just sold. I immediately imagined her voice in my head and really wanted to start an application right away – because I was so sure she would be snapped up immediately. However, I didn’t have the time then – and I figured that it wouldn’t exactly be fair for me to take up someone if I didn’t have the time to dedicate to her. Luckily, she’s still open (!!!!!!!!!!!) and thus, I’m filling this out. As for what specifically drew me into Grace, I would say there are two or three distinct aspects, which I’ll expand upon below.

PERSONALITY & STORYLINE: As I mentioned above, I’m so game for dark powerful women – and Grace has that down to a t. She’s a creature stolen from the shadows, an empress in the making – even if no one else around her sees it quite yet. Corrupted by ambition, she’s rotten down to the core – and in truth, she always has been. She’s quite evil – and I love it. Ruined by the attention her parents gave her – and their point blank refusal to discipline or see anything amiss in their daughter – something ugly took its place, wearing the mask of a beautiful woman. Time has made her lethal, a cruel and dangerous woman, utterly selfish and consumed by her own wants and needs – no time for anyone else. Her heart is black – and there’s no room in it for anyone who isn’t Grace Daly. And that probably makes her one of the most dangerous players on the board. She’ll stop at nothing. Her loyalty is only to herself – willing to sell and betray anyone at a moment’s notice. But, what makes her truly dangerous, is that she has such a core belief in herself. She’s put her mind to her pursuit of power – and doesn’t think there’s anything that can stand in her way. That means she won’t stop or doubt herself – ever. I truly wouldn’t want to go up against that. Someone who doesn’t want to just go down in history, but make it revolve around her and change its course entirely. Put simply, Grace fulfils the archetype of the Woman King. I have such a weakness for them – oh my god, so really, I’m just so immensely drawn to her and adore her – faults and all – already. I’d love to be able to explore her – and I’ve had fun doing so already, even within the space of this application.

THE MOBS: Like, I won’t lie, I adore the spades. They’re very much active within the plot and such a big driver of this next chapter of the roleplay and so I’d love to be a part of that. There’s so much room for richness within them, so much potential to their dynamics that’s practically gone unexplored. As I stated within the plot section, that’s definitely something I want to delve into – and I gave you a few examples of what I’d like to do/see there. I think this is definitely complicated by the fact that Grace stabbed the Caps in the back for them – and so naturally, the dynamics between those two parties are really interesting to explore – because it’ll be interesting to see if there’s animosity on their part – and how she might respond to that. Plus…she wants to see their destruction, so there’s that (and it shows how heartless she truly is). Basically, Grace is such an integral player within the mobs, which makes it so tempting to apply for her. Just in terms of what you can do with her, there’s so much, making her truly versatile.

RELATIONSHIPS: Finally, I’m a sucker for all of her dynamics – both the ones listed in her biography and those which have yet to be forged. Primarily, there’s the one between her and her sisters. Yet, despite being on different sides of the war and sharing an upbringing, there’s no pain, no angst. Grace left her sisters for years without so much as a warning, betraying their side with little thought as to how it might impact them. She never would think about it – caring so very little. That makes it incredibly interesting to explore, because the relationship becomes incredibly nuanced and multidimensional, which each sister having their unique perspective. Other than that, the one between Vivianne and Grace is incredibly compelling. In my head, I like to imagine that Vivianne was the one stopping Grace from ascending – because she occupied the position Grace would have wanted, with little sign of giving it up. There was simply no room for Grace up at the top – and in a sense, Vivianne choked her. Therefore, the hatred between them (well, hatred on Vivianne’s behalf, the spark of amusement on Grace’s) becomes all the more compelling. I like to imagine that Grace winds her up for fun, wants to be the one to stick the dagger in her back – want to see Vivianne’s face when Grace finally triumphs and beats her, for good. It’s almost a game for Grace – one she might pick up when she’s bored – and one which serves to further her ambitions, which is really what Grace is at her core. And then, finally, there’s the dynamic between Grace and Boris. I really like what you’ve done with these two – because in a sense, they come from the same place. But there’s always been a distinction between them – and with Grace’s superiority to him comes her hatred. She’ll do anything to undermine him and his authority, anything to steal what she sees as belonging to her. What unfolds between them, no matter what happens, will be to die for, I know.

I hope this section made sense? I really wanted to convey why exactly I love Grace so much – and the different aspects of her, as well as her potential, that make her so compelling for me.

What is a future plot idea you have in mind for the character? |

THEY WANNA MAKE ME THEIR QUEEN: This is just a fancy name for Grace’s ambitions. At the core of her is this desire to rule – to see the chess pieces fall and be the only one left at the table, to swoop in when people least expect it. Ambition is such an ugly thing – but she makes it look so beautiful. There isn’t anything she wouldn’t do to further her agenda – and I’d love to explore exactly how far she’s willing to go to make it happen. Spoiler: the answer is very far, possibly beyond the bounds of humanity itself. For not a very patient person, she’s known remarkable restraint here, first switching to the Spades and letting her cause fester for a few years. But now she’s back in Verona, the place where she made herself, among the mobs she once claimed to be loyal and opposed to, something might just spark inside of her, an urgent need she can no longer swallow. Having perfected both brute force and stealthy plots, it’ll be interesting to watch how Grace interacts with the Montagues and Capulets. Essentially, they need to be removed (and by they, she means that docile little slip of a girl Julianna and the new boy-king Roman) in order for her to advance her plans. Right now, she’s willing to work with the Spades to make that happen – and I definitely think she’ll be the biggest advocate of action within them. She’s remained in the shadows for too long – it’s time to embrace the burn of the night. They can outsmart them. They can beat them. So let’s get on with the game. Like a cockroach, when they bring about the end of the world, she’ll be one of the only ones left standing. I do think, that eventually, there will come a time when she ponders severing ties with them, where she can go no further. Her endgame is her ruling over the underworld of Verona – but there’s more than one path to get there. There’s no rule in the playbook that says she necessarily has to end up betraying Faron (but it’s not like she wouldn’t) but it seems likely that’s the case. But these are all details that can be fleshed out later!

BLOOD IS THICKER THAN?: If Grace were to finish that sentence, she’d purse her lips and state that it isn’t. Her family means nothing to her. Alright, she’s better than them – does that count as an opinion? She hardly sees them as family – and they’re more strangers to her than anything else. Even in the years away, she hasn’t kept up with them, caring so little to do so. I’m dying to see her interactions with them – which are bound to unfold in different ways. Catherine is still gentle enough to love Grace – even when the elder couldn’t care less. Grace doesn’t even pity her youngest sister, she isn’t even disgusted – she just doesn’t care. Catherine is no match for her in the game they both play – and she won’t hesitate to roll over her sister to get what she wants. Honestly, she’s more inclined to ignore her than anything else. With Regina is where it really gets interesting. Whilst the world basically shared the same opinion on Catherine, people have always seen something in Regina – clearly, since they now both technically hold the same position in their respective mobs. Despite that, Grace has never seen the same, always happy to write off her little sister as somewhat useless, like a tempered, mute and lesser version of herself. But I do get the feeling there’s some underlying jealousy there? Regina has equalled her in far less time and risen far faster than her. With Regina, it’s almost like an unspoken (she would never ever admit that her sister could rival her) competition between them. It would probably be foolish of Grace to underestimate Regina – but that’s what she’ll do anyway. Grace isn’t in a hurry to see her sisters by any means – and she’s not exactly going to approach them, engage with them or making any motions into bridging a divide. It suits her perfectly. And honestly, this sort of dynamic is the kind I ache for.

THE ACE OF SPADES: This is just my (not so) witty name for the spades – Grace’s place inside of them and the dynamics between them all, which I’m so weak for. As a concept, the spades don’t really make sense – they’re all drawn from different walks of life, places and experiences. But despite that, they’re lethal – and they click. I’d love to explore Grace’s place inside of that. Who does she despise? Who does she respect (if anyone)? Does she question orders handed down to her or obey? Does she seek to undermine the authority of anyone who could potentially rise up above her? Does she have any friends? These are all questions to be answered. I think, central to this discussion, are the dynamics between Grace and Faron and Grace and Boris respectively. I think with Grace and Faron, what’s really interesting is that she considers himself her equal, even though he’s technically her boss. But at the same time, she has to obey him – and her rise is limited by him. That makes for a really interesting question – when the time comes, will she step over him, or remain loyal? I’m inclined to think of the first. But before that, she has to step over someone else – Boris. She’s never despised someone quite as much as him. Part of it originates in an age-old feud – the rest of it in the fact that he’s her boss. She hates being told what to do – and especially by him, considering he isn’t worthy. A shadow of a man until he came here, he’s fallen, she never has. That makes her more qualified. But really, it’s her she’s angry at – that she wasn’t good enough to beat him in the first round. It’s a weakness – and the only mistake she’s ever made. But, sooner rather than later, Grace will figure out a way to engage in round two – perhaps challenge him for the under-boss position. And once she does, she’ll win.

PRIDE COMES BEFORE FALL: I don’t think any phrase sums Grace better up than this. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone with such an ego. She has such a high opinion of herself – and expects everyone else to follow suit, even if they have no direct reason to. Throughout, Grace is adamant that time will make them do so. Yet, having never seriously fallen, or failed, before – Grace expects everything to go her way, because it always has. I want to see what happens when that’s challenged, when she’s forced to meet someone who might be her match, or, even worse, what might happen if she makes a move and she loses. How would she deal with such consequential failure? How would it change who she is? Or the way she thinks about herself? I don’t think it would – because everything about her is too cemented in position for that ever to happen. But I do think that it’s important for this to happen, because it’ll force her into a position where she has to consider everything and in the process, it’ll make her better. She’ll fight harder, be stronger, all the more cruel for it. I’d want this to be a temporary setback and I’m not sure what form it would take yet, whether it would be as little as just losing a fight or having her put in her place by Boris or someone on the equivalent, but I do want this to happen. I think it’s important to place obstacles in your characters desires – and to see how they would react to that.

In Depth

What is your favorite place in Verona? |

Sentimentality – she had always sneered at it, in both terms of people and places. Such emotion was reserved wholly for her do-gooder little sister, or the whimsical love interest in a terrible movie. People like them saw Verona was a medieval slice of beauty, looked to the love stories written over its fabric, sighed at the history of it all. Grace’s eyes, sharpened, saw only a playground, a messy reality upon which her rule would one day be implemented upon. As she matured, she had ceased to see Verona as her home – and began to see it as an abstract, from a distance, perceiving it from the eye of a raven, flying high above. What can you offer me? That was the question forever etched upon her lips. “Once upon a time, I might have said the Cathedral.” There’s no bitterness to her tone. Unlike the other defectors (whom Grace holds herself above), she was not forced out. There is no wistful sigh when her eyes are trained towards its spires. That was her choice. Besides, she had outgrown it. She moved on up in the world. A quizzical eyebrow raised, she ponders her answer for a few more moments, it’s not worthy of any longer than that. She doesn’t mince her words. “The dark lady. I adore the name.” It’s like looking in a mirror. “The cliental can be a little…leery – but it’s nothing I can’t handle. Besides, it’s the only place that’s ours.” The Montagues could keep their puny little soup kitchen and the Capulets could have their little cafes – theirs was made from the darkness, weighted with sins. Fitting. “For the moment.”

What does your typical day look like?

“A little of this, a little of that.” She’s deliberately evasive, games dancing on her tongue. Her voice is velvet, it invites you in – daring you to guess what exactly she does. Warning: there’s danger to be found. How silly, she muses, warnings ruin everything. And they do have such a beautiful side-effect of separating the wheat from the chaff. In truth, her time is divided up equally. The first half is spent inclining her head and obeying the wishes of the one she calls boss – shaking up clients who refuse to fulfil their end of the bargain, galvanizing her (she does so like to refer to them as her own) soldiers, turning ordered streets into chaos. (There’s been less of that lately, what with their relocation to Verona and the changing dynamics of the game). And then, there’s the time she keeps to herself. Sometimes she goes off on a tangent, plays the games she used to play before joining the underworld – before she was all the more professional for it. She engages in blood and lust, all things sinful and wicked. A pressed secret between her lips, she rarely leaves a trace. I’m too good for that. Little about her can be considered mundane. She will never be the vixen at the bar, the preppy annoyance at the coffee shop or the artist who looks upon the city and paints. Her hobbies are rather more deadly. “A girl has to have her outlets. Or she’ll just go crazy.” Action streamlines her blood – it feeds her. She’s always been like that, filled with an infusible hungering that cannot be quenched. She’s found only one thing does the trick – power. “But I sense the normal is about to shift…and I for one cannot wait.”

What are your thoughts on the war between the Capulets and the Montagues?

A wolf can only smile when covered in the blood of its prey. Grace Daly can only smile at the demise of an enemy – or the awaited downfall, anyway. It’s coming. An immortal longing in her bones tugs at the organ that best resembles a heart (but doesn’t act as one should), impatient to be done with it all, for a grand masterplan to see the pawns topple and the Queen rise. Have you ever seen such a beautiful thing? No. There is no match. “Impulsive fools.” There’s a scathing judgement in her tone, the assumption being that if she was in charge, she never would have rushed in. Not without assembling a nuclear arsenal, anyway. Grace knows the most fundamental lesson of battle – you never strike until you can be sure of your victory. Why else would you enter the battlefield in the first place? “They’ve signed their own death warrants.” It’s that thought, of twitching bodies and a path to the throne, of her former comrades and adversaries lying still permanently, that forces her lips into a smile that can only be characterised as a smirk. “Oh well.” She can’t pretend to regret such a thing. The thought of her sister’s place never even crosses her mind. “Their loss – and they willboth lose – is my gain. Neither side can win, so they’ll end up destroying themselves in the process. It’s called mutually assured destruction. Or at least, weaken themselves to the extent that a third party can crush them.” Her hand, previously lying flat, is curled into a fist, hot rage fuelling her fire. Unclenching it, she leans back, but remains attentive. “How do you think I’ll look in purple? It is the colour of royals – you know.”

In-Character Para Sample:

All good stories follow a familiar format. They start with a once upon a time, they describe a delicate princess, more a wisp of a girl than anything else, she is given conditions of hardship, made the tragic hero. That’s why you root for her to overcome adversity. That’s why you beam the moment she meets the Prince. And as everyone knows, all fairy tales end with a happily ever after. They see the wicked witch defeated, the ogre without a head. The story of Grace Dally detoured long ago. She was the Princess turned monster, the greedy traitor who clawed their way up to the throne, flashing their thorns at anyone who cared to probe too deeply. They are not the hero in this tale – but the villain. And the only happily ever after will be hers.

Onyx eyes flatter those she calls comrades, soldiers who look to her for leadership, captains who share her vodka, an underboss she obeys through gritted teeth. Theirs, she muses, correcting her own monologue. For now, at least. It’s a dangerous, devious thought. But she stuck the knife in once – so if it suits her goals, why should she not again? There is, after all, room for only one Queen. Does this one need a King? The compression of time is a dangerous affair. And there is, after all, a distinct difference between now and then. Every social climber with the glint of ambition in their eye knows when to chant there’s no I in team and when to wedge the dagger firmly in the back. It’s a fine line – too soon – and you expose yourself. Too late – and you spend a lifetime wishing back your chances. Grace will not be one of those women. Her place is not as a footnote in history. She deserves manuscripts, endless volumes of her trysts and achievements. Her name will become synonymous with power, her rule the age of darkened chaos. She sees it each time she closes her eyes – a golden crown, a chain of command, everything she has ever wanted. Yes, it’s true, even the hellish creatures of nightmares dream.

Reality, by comparison, is all the more stale. Stagnation makes for a poisonous viper, all the more dangerous, for they have little to lose. Her entire life, she has been a woman in constant motion, seeking the next rung above. As a teenager, her fantasies manifested in trysts in the deviancy of her imagination, a child wearing the face of a condemned soul. Then, she had looked towards the Capulets – eyes greedy to consume it all. They exchanged sharpened knives for a gun she could fire with pinpoint accuracy, slow movements for stealth. (That’s one lesson she never bothered to keep. She wants people to know when she’s coming. She likes them scared). Soldier had been a blessing, all until it wasn’t. Too much anonymity in it. Too little recognition. Three years, with so little to show for it, what was a girl to do? Vivianne Sloane sucked all the oxygen from the room. And people had begun to prattle on about her sister as if she had been the next messiah, risen again. Screw that. Hungrily, her eyes turned outward. And they liked what they had found.

The Spades, the cog that would blast the machine, the eye of the storm, those with a penchant for change. Faron had dared her to leave, extended a hand, waved a promotion right in front of her eyes. How could she refuse? And from solider to captain, she stepped into infamy – cementing her seat at the table. Even if that table had been in Russia, far far away from the thrill of the fight. All good things come to those who wait, her father had once said that, a vain attempt to parent that he never bothered to repeat. Well Grace had done her waiting. Itching, the prospect of destiny tantalizingly close, she edged closer towards oblivion. Can you smell it Verona? Can you smell the winds of change?

Down below, two kingdoms converge, a divide ever dissipating. A lifetime ago, she called one of them home, the other a sworn enemy. Now, they both lay claim to that title, as she – and those who stand shoulder to shoulder with her – will lay waste. In each of their eyes dances excitement. Tonight, they observe. Tomorrow, they play. And in everything, in all the games she’s ever engaged, none has ever matched this. There’s nothing like the hum of a kingdom in your chest – the drums of war beating in the background.

“Is it just as you remember it?” Her boss, his Russian accent slightly compressed, turns to her, eyes glimmering with ambition.

Constructing an answer, her gaze flickers to the familiar figures cloaked below. Even now, at this distance, their faces continue to be imprinted upon her mind. The players, it seems, remain exactly the same. Vivianne, ever as bold and cloaked in irony as ever, stands tall, a protective shield around the child-turned-woman Grace can only guess to be their darling Principessa, in full bloom. Always a docile one, her weakness is going to get her killed. It isn’t so much a prediction or prophecy as it is a certainty. For a Queen to rise, the heir must fall. Grace has known killers who make the distinction between the scarlet of sin and the silver of innocence. She will show no such kindness. Standing close to their left, her eyes settle upon two figures that should be more familiar than most. Once, she would have called them sisters (through a bitter, twisted, tongue). These days, they hold the title of strangers. They may die in the Spades quest. A cold voice speaks within. That’s fine.

Her assessment is frank, a sneer cast downwards. “Nothing has changed.” Predictable. Like dominoes, they will fall – one by one. “The Montagues will prove the easier pickings.” For tonight, where one Montague falls, another rises. But he is a green boy, wet around the ears, possessing none of the cruel ruthlessness of this predecessor. Why crown a man who is not truly deserving? “But I’m confident that the Empire of the Capulets will crumble.” They always do. History was littered with examples of Empires that had come and gone – Greek, Roman, Ottoman – something ripe would always take its place. Something new.

“You’re looking forward to this, aren’t you?”

A devious smile, sharp enough to slice your skin, spreads across her face, brash in her wickedness. She’s known those who keep their impurities close to their heart, a secret used only in the moment of a strike. She’s never been one of them. Her hells are brazen, her sins boastful, brash in every intention. The mark of a Goddess,for they never shy away. How else would you be truly immortal? “I’ve been waiting a long time for this day. And I intend to squeeze every second out of it.” The air chills as she pauses, sentence drawn out in irony. “God bless Verona.”

And, she concludes, long live the Queen.

Extras:

Mockblog: X

Personality Analysis: X

Headcanons:

Lovers, like nearly everything else, are considered disposable for Grace. They have their uses, no one is denying that, but they are somewhat temporary – with Grace refusing to indulge with the same person more than a handful of times. Cliches would have the world believe she did it to protect herself, or because she was afraid of attachment – but that simply isn’t truth. If she’s being honest, five times is all it takes for her to grow weary of them – to become bored. Tricks, after all, are only good the first few times around. And an orgasm is muted as it repeats itself, time and time again. In all her years, she’s never found someone who can keep pace for longer than that – who can continue to satisfy her. In the bedroom, Grace searches for excitement – she wants a lover that surprises her, that can match her ferocity – but who allows her to dominate. It surprises men, time and time again, how she takes charge in the bedroom – where the operation from start to finish is strictly on her terms. If they can’t accept that, she’ll either force them into submission, or toss them aside. Whatever particular whim she’s feeling that day. Her appetites aren’t reserved for the opposite sex. Over the years, she’s dabbled with women too, usually those who resemble a little of her – the same spark of fire in their eyes, the same dare that invites in temptation. But even in those situations, she takes charge – and that’s unlikely to ever change.

Humans aren’t born evil. It’s a mantra that makes Grace roll her eyes, the pettiest of explanations people use to excuse the behaviour of those fallen into a life of sin. Perhaps not. But Grace feels as if she was born to be wicked – a destiny manifesting itself from the youngest of ages, when she gobbled up affection and languished in the finest riches money could buy. As she aged, excusable sins became all the more sacrilegious. After all, isn’t immortality all the less endearing on a matured adult? But it wasn’t until high school that her reign of terror began, that she found a natural talent to rule – sparking an ambition that would never die. Her first taste of power, she ruled over her dominion like a mini Queen. But where the movies would have you believe she was some blonde bombshell undermined by the first girl-next-door on the scene, her rule was a little different. She didn’t give a shit who became prom queen, or who was dating who. But what she did, however, crave, was control. She found it amusing to humiliate and shame people – for anything and everything, mocking them as she went. And high school students? Oh they fell in line all too easily. Once, it even turned violent – Grace leading the pounce upon some poor suspecting girl who had stolen praise and acclaim. That was her first taste of blood. And how she adored it.

#accepted #accepted: goneril

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