#like terran and mika
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Character Voice Tag
Tagged by @betweenthetimeandsound ty!
My line is: "How could you do this to me?"
Terran: Going to be honest, and as I write more I may be wrong, but I can't think of any iteration where he would say this in any way. He's silently hurt, reevaluating you and his trust and judgement in everything. He's think he should have known and was a fool for trusting you. But he wouldn't say it. His way of dealing with you would change, but this question isn't his style.
Raymond: (disappointed) "I can't believe you would do this. I'd hoped you would be better than this."
Mika: (snapping) "No. Fuck you. How dare you. You screwed me over, you don't get to do that." (there'd be more but it's context dependant, some rant)
Chrys: Fuck off. Get out of my life. Die. How dare you. You're a horrible person, you know that? How dare you! (going to be honest, Chrys will probably be saying this plenty)
Russell: "I trusted you! I did everything for you! How could you do this?"
Tagging @enbydragon02 @thegreatobsesso @blind-the-winds @alannaofroses and anyone else who wants to with the line:
"They (/she/he) had it coming"
And because I appreciate rules on tag games I haven't done before, I interpret this game to be: Take the line that you were given and rewrotte it in the voices of your characters. Then give a new line to the next player.
#harder with chrys and russell bc I havent written them as much#but theyre both going to be big betrayed#Syndicate characters however are somewhat less betrayed by people they wouldn't have expected it from?#like russell's going to screw Chrys over and Russell is being screwed over by people#but Mika Raymond and Terran have very high standards for trust and would expect betrrayal from anyone butt each other (and theyre not betra#ing each other. other than like. one thing.)#Syndicate#second chance#tag games#character voice tag#This was so fun tag me in in every character voice tag please. very helpful too!
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Firstly, sorry i’m replying to you in this format, since the usual ask format would be too long.
Second, I’m confused; I thought your initial inquiry was about me judging Tekkadan and McG in the same level (which I did), and so I replied as I did. But then here you’re kinda bringing in Gaelio and Iok. As far as I remember, I never actually compared Gaelio and Iok to Tekkadan members individually (unless talking about mecha fighting style). I did compare Sevenstars kids to each other (including mcg) often. I did somewhat compare eugene to takaki and shino. And I did compare Orga and Mcg since they had nearly similar origin but different output. But I never did compare the Sevenstars kids individually w/ Tekkadan.
You talked that I shouldn’t hold Tekkadan and Gjallarhorn soldiers in the same levels bcs Gjallarhorn soldiers chose to enlist by themselves, but isn’t Tekkadan the same? You said ‘tekkadan is *appealing* bcs it looks like family’, which stated that enlisting into tekkadan is still a choice. Also, Ein and Isurugi are proof that some ppl, despite knowing how prejudiced terran and Gjallarhorn are, despite knowing they’d face discrimination after they enlisted, still chose and actually stayed in Gjallarhorn till the end. I suspect there’re more ppl like them in Gjallarhorn. My point is, not all Gjallarhorn are Sevenstars, not all Gjallarhorn have had easy lives. They chose Gjallarhorn bcs they wanted to improve their lives, believing it’s worth the suffering. Is it worth it? Who knows.
Thirdly, forgive me, but it sounds to me like you were essentially blaming Orga for what happened to Tekkadan, and that the other kids were only being loyal to him by following his bad decisions and not bcs they agreed with him.
I feel like we have a misunderstanding, somewhat. You don’t need to convince me of Tekkadan’s close bond and the reason for it and how sympathetic their whole plight is; the show already did that at every opportunity – to the point Tekkadan appeared so self-involved and didn’t care about anything and anyone beyond their members.
My whole problem w/ Tekkadan is not bcs they’re orphaned children; it’s bcs they’re orphaned children who killed ppl and none ever faulted them for it. It’s not the characters so much as the show’s portrayal of them as the always right one. Kudelia says she wants justice for everybody, but she only really meant the martian – her own ppl. I’ve written a bit about her here, and my main problem with her is how she never acknowledged Tekkadan killing ppl and how these “children” are actually NOT innocent.
“The whole point of the show was demonstrating that thinking of these kids as soldiers, even on their own self-proclaimed terms, was WRONG (think Merribit @s1 finale) and that children shouldn't be forced to kill just to survive.”
You know, I actually disagree on this. I just finished watching s2 finale, and the show as well as julieta and kudelia did narrate how this is the whole point of tekkadan story, but I'm not sold bcs what they told us vs what they actually showed didn’t align imo. You’re using Merribit as an example, but I think she’s a poor choice for the point you’re trying to make. I have mentioned Merribit several times in my review, most recent is this. Merribit always got treated like an outsider in S1, and in S1 final, she and the point she was trying to make were defeated. I think that speaks aloud for the show’s attitude toward ppl who were trying to placate or advise Tekkadan.
u can't tell me they didn't face the consequences after that finale.
Yes, yes I can. Because I see them getting all the rewards with no long lasting effects, no emotional damage, no trauma no nothing. Well, except Mika’s half paralyzed body perhaps, but considering he was hailed hero, is that really a consequence? Considering when S2 started, they really have life figured out with, again, no lasting damage to show.
--perfectly logical/consistent w/their pasts. If u wanna live, kill - their world forces them to face death everyday, bc if not... well, hesitation is fatal
You talked of Mika and the kids' lack of emotional response bcs of how hard their lives were. For the other kids you could make the argument that this is their form of defense mechanism to keep themselves sane, but I truly think Mika is just apathetic to the point that he can't feel anything. He recognizes emotion, learned the proper responses, but he just doesn't seem to feel it. I called Mika a killing machine bcs of this, and also bcs he just never hesitates. AT ALL. Where's his moment of hesitation, of doubt over what he's doing? gdi but I think morality should still be a point in a gundam show, and tekkadan lacks this. Show me they’re actually human. Show me their conflicting emotions. Show me that after some time in Kudelia’s presence they finally learn to doubt their own way of life. But till the end... nothing.
TL;DR you told me it’s unfair to compare Tekkadan to Gjallarhorn. But I’m not the first one to do this. The show itself is already so unfair from the start. Consider this:
Mika killed a total of 33 people during the whole S1 (that can be seen anyway), and he got lauded a Hero, Barbatos got thought of a tool of justice, Tekkadan got their money and their new job and new status.
Ein killed a total of 2 people during the whole of S1 (both in ep25, out of self-defense since the tank shot at him first) and yet he got called mass murderer and the devil in the show.
You want a justice for Tekkadan. I want a justice for Ein.
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Mayday (open)
“Mayday mayday mayday,” He had practiced his pronunciation from the old recordings he had gotten. Granted, many of them would have been called ‘vids’ in his day and were probably false, but at least he hoped they would have some frame of reference.
“This is the Free Ship Song of the Sands, Do you copy?” He didn’t know if there were people out there, so the best he could do was aim the array at the satellites and hope he found one that broadcast it.
“Mayday mayday mayday.” He had even uploaded all the things he could find about the word from the origin from the french, to the fact that it didn’t sound like, nor could it be confused with anything else in the language, which was why they used it.
He repeated the hail twice in Terran before repeating everything but the Mayday itself in his own language. “Mayday, mayday mayday, Girati, Hesa Song of Sands Che qui?” He found it odd that in his own language instead of asking if they heard the response was more along the line of “Do you question?” Or maybe “Do you have a question?” But the best translation was more like “Do you challenge me?” (A question like that was a defensive one to prove you were not out to hurt anyone.)
Mika sighed looking down at the planet below and hoping someone would respond. “Che qui?”
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Incorrect Quotes Tag
Tagged by @aether-wasteland-s forever ago
Rules: use this quote generator & list as many quotes as you like using characters from your WIPs, then tag as many people as quotes you listed.
Tagging: @nopoodles @akindofmagictoo @splashinkling @blind-the-winds @puzzleddragon02
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Raymond: How would you like your coffee?
Terran: As dark as my soul.
Raymond: Got it, one cup of milk coming right up
Mika, shooing Terran away: Can you go be depressed over there? You’re bumming out my whole area.
Mika: Terran, I need some advice.
Terran: You need advice from ME?
Mika: Yeah, frightening, isn't it?
Terran: Mika, I screwed up, big time.
Mika: Terran, given your daily life experiences, you’re gonna have to be more specific.
Raymond: When's the last time you slept?
Terran: Uh… a few days ago, I think.
Raymond: A few- how many?!
Terran: Uh… starts counting on fingers I need more fingers…
Raymond: What you need is sleep!
#incorrect quotes tag#I feel like this generator used to give me ones that fit them much better#syndicate#terran#mika#raymond#no good sibling ones unfortunately#tag game catch up
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Flashback: Rock Climbing
Got a lot of writing done this week, including another trauma flashback. However, this one's much lighter than some other flashbacks (no fire. actually no real pertinent triggers I think?). Did something a bit different here... While I'd love people to read this regardless of knowing my WIP's plot, know that the tension in this comes a lot from the context. (Pretty short scene)
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I’m fourteen and on the edge of cliff. We’re not quite outside Calson, but up the Sarala River, after the curve around the Violet District where it turns into cliffside. My arms are aching, my eyes squinting against the sun. I can spot strong holds by instinct now and I can trust that my arms can hold me. I forget how high up I am until I glance down past my chest and the rope and see the strip of rocky beach and flowing water below me. It doesn’t scare me— it’s there, and I’m here, along the edge, connected to the rocky wall at four points— three points— four points— three—four.
I like these lessons. We’ve had to find flatter surfaces, and I’ve felt myself getting stronger at it. My arms no longer ache as much from holding me up, and I’ve stopped feeling gravity pulling on me. I’ve gotten faster. And it’s something I’m better than him at. Pride swells in my chest when I glance to the side and have to look down to Zachary. He’s said that I’ll be better, I’m younger and one day I’ll have to slow down too.
There’s a lip in the rock and I rest my foot against it, taking a second to catch my breath, my hands and feet sturdy. I rest one hand on the rope— not the best practice, but I’m steady. Zachary follows, and soon he’s next to me again. He has no rope, no safety, and it’s like he can hover.
I’m feeling bold. This is before Raymond and Mika arrived, and it’s been a long time since I’ve been burned to be taught a lesson. Zachary has taken me on missions, let me take the lead a few times. I’ve taken lives and I couldn’t be more thrilled. He’s proud of me, I can see it, I can see it when he’s caught up next to me and gives me a smile. I’m good at this— not just rock climbing, everything.
“Need me to slow down, old man?” I say with the snarkiest grin I can. I’m gunna have to keep climbing soon— climbing has an inertia thing to it, you stop for too long and suddenly you feel gravity again and forget the rhythm, and you can only hold a grip for so long before your hand starts slipping.
“Not at all,” he says, and he is proud, beaming with pride I think. He seems just as comfortable in place, settled on the wall like a spider, and I feel like I wouldn’t be surprised if he took off through the air on an invisible web. “In fact, I think you’re ready.”
I don’t quite realize what he means by that until he reaches over to me, unclipping the carabiner from my harness. I tighten the grip on the rocks as he pulls away the rope that, though hardly used, has always been there, for protection.
I always knew it would leave one day. It had to. There will not always be a way to anchor the rope, or a convenient way to use it. I’ll have to climb on my own, I know that. But the rope has always been there, just like Zachary has always been there, looking over my shoulder, making sure I do things right.
He clips it to himself—he’s not wearing a harness, so it attaches to a belt loop, but he’s not clipping it because he needs it, just to keep track of it.
“Alright?” He asks, and though I doubt I’d get a choice in the matter, I don’t want it back. I’ve been waiting for this, for him to realize I’m ready. I can do it on my own.
I give him a grin, confident. “No way you’ll keep up now,” I say, and start moving, scrambling up and off to the side, zig-zagging up. I don’t look back at him until I reach the top, roll over the edge and onto the grass, and gravity’s on my side once again, solid and under me, and only then do I lean over to look over the edge, and he’s almost at the top. I did it myself, and I look down at how high I am, how far I could have fallen, and I’m thrilled.
Taglist: @sleepy-night-child @drippingmoon @puzzleddragon02 @thegreatobsesso @athenswrites @thelaughingstag (ask to be +/-)
#syndicate#excerpt#wip excerpt#syndicate excerpt#my writing#I feel like sharing this out of its context might not be sharing it in its glory but idk I think people get it#but like#flashbacking to something that wasn't bad in the moment but now is tied up with trauma?#showing Zachary and Terran's pre- Mika/Raymond relationship and not just the worst parts?#and more
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Spinosaurus, troodon, and brachiosaurus!
(I know I didn't spell at least the last one right)
Spinosaurus - share a scene that ends a chapter/story arc/etc
This scene ends chapter 6 (Questions), and in a way ends an arc in that it sets up the next one.
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The door creaked open and I shifted my gaze to the small group that had just come in, and with a jolt, recognition flooded in and I made eye contact with Raymond.
Raymond was here—why was he here? But he was here, there, in front of me—in that moment I wasn’t thinking about the bag slung over his shoulder or the fact that he was talking to people—just relief, excitement that I was seeing him again, that it hadn’t been the end—
Raymond had seen me, too, and he’d stopped talking and taken a step backwards, cautious, waiting to see what I’d do, and without even thinking about or reading what his reaction would be, I stood up— all I was thinking about was that it was a chance to talk to him again a chance to change how we’d last left off, that I wasn’t going to lose him in the crowd again, and he’d started backing to the door, and with the whisper and my message book still in my hands, I started towards him, picking up speed not even thinking about how much running called attention to me.
Raymond bolted out the door, but I gained fast enough to catch it behind him. It didn’t occur to me until I’d followed him to the porch and was about to follow him down the stairs that I shouldn’t be chasing him, that I might've scared him, and I hesitated as my hand grazed the railing.
He’d said not to follow him, it probably looked like I had, especially if I kept chasing him— but I didn’t want him to leave, didn’t want it to be permanent, and he was gaining distance and I really wanted to talk to him again.
“Raymond!” I called after him, going down the stairs as he turned down the sidewalk, hating that I was giving a chance to disappear again.
But in a few seconds, he slowed, and as I kept down the stairs I watched him stop and turn around to face me, letting me catch up.
I slowed down, not sure what to say, and the context caught up to me. Why was he here? My relief to see him had overshadowed the fear, because I hadn’t been looking for him, I’d just run into him, and that alone scared me. And I took in the information, that he was in Lapis and had come into a dorm building with other people and had a bag over his shoulder and just how much he looked like he belonged.
He asked it first, though. “What are you doing here?” His voice was suspicious.
“Investigating something,” I said, trying to dismiss it. I didn't know if Jesse had told him anything, was tempted to ask, but that was so far from what was important right then. “I didn’t know you’d be here. Why are you here?” I tried not to sound accusatory, but he glared a little anyway.
“I don’t know if I should answer that question,” he said, crossing his arms stubbornly.
“Are you attending college? Here?” I asked, and I heard how accusatory it sounded but for god’s sake, did he not understand how dangerous that was. “In the middle of Calson where you have a regular schedule and a dorm—”
“I’m not in a dorm, actually,” he muttered.
“—and records?” I added, not really paying attention to what he’d said. “I wasn't even trying to find you. I thought you were at least being safe—”
“No, you didn’t,” he argued. “You’ve never thought I was being safe enough. I was going to tell you but then you got mad because I showed up in a candid—”
“Of course I did, he could’ve seen that—”
“I fucking know that. I know, but sometimes stuff happens, okay?”
I stepped forward. “That doesn’t mean you make it easy and sign up for classes.”
Raymond took a step backward. “You’re assuming I made it easy. Just because you didn’t set it up.”
I was replying without thinking about it. “I wouldn’t’ve let you. It’s too dangerous. Take classes in another city if you have to, which you don’t. You want to go back to a normal life so bad, but we can’t do that.”
Raymond narrowed his eyes at me, and okay fine, Raymond, you’re angry but I’m right. Instead of an argument, though, he said. “Unfocus.”
Danger! “It is too dangerous for both of us, I still don’t know if they’re testing me, meaning I could have been followed—”
“Meaning you’re mad I didn’t tell you, not that I’m in college. Unfocus.”
“No, I’m not unfocusing, that’s why I’m not more mad right now. It’s not just me being watched, it’s the whole city—”
Raymond reached a hand towards my arm, and I flinched, pulling my arm away, but in an instant of contact, the wall came crashing down.
In the few years I’d been relying on the spell, I’d never dropped it at a time like this, a time when instead of feeling relatively safe and relaxed (if stressed), I was upset. Suddenly I was a mix of angry and afraid, and the conflicting instinct to shove him away and to grab onto him so he wouldn't leave again was making me shaky.
“What did you do?’ I asked, and anger raised my voice and I wasn't thinking about who could hear me. “I’m trying to keep you safe and this is how I do that—” There was too much, I was too shaky, my mind was racing. I couldn’t even attempt the spell.
“You’re trying to control everything and I don’t like that stupid spell, I can’t talk to you. You think it makes you so good at things but it just makes you a controlling jerk,” Raymond yelled back. “This is why I don’t trust you! Why I didn’t tell you!”
“I don’t care. I don’t need you to trust me just to listen and tell me things. It’s not just you you’re risking, and it’s like you don’t even realize that it’s a risk!”
Raymond ran both hands backwards through his hair, gripping his hair. “I know it is. I know what you’re risking. That’s why I am careful, but I can’t just do nothing. You need to trust that I can—”
“I don’t need to trust you!” I snapped back.
“Because you don’t trust anyone! Everyone’s an enemy, right? You have to control the ones you can and guard against the ones you can’t.”
“Where I live, Raymond, everyone is an enemy.”
He balled his hands into fists, his eyes narrow. “Stop it. I don’t want to have this fight.”
“You’re the one who fucking opened the gates, okay? That was you in my head, right? I shouldn’t trust you.”
“I don’t want to do this, okay? I can avoid them on my own, I only talk to you because it’s because of me that you could die— I fucking know you could die, okay— but I told you not to follow me—”
“I didn’t—”
“—because this isn't working, is it? You can’t plan out everything. Why can’t you trust that I can be safe?”
“Because you walked right into a burning building!” I snapped back.
“Yeah, well, I’d do it again!” Raymond replied, and he seemed to stiffen. He looked like he was going to run, but he didn’t, and suddenly I wasn’t mad at him anymore, because all I could see was him running straight into flames, him with reddened skin from the heat, him facing Zachary, ready to die.
I stepped forward. He didn’t back away. I reached out and touched his arms— tensed, but slightly cold in the chilly air. Even if we were fighting, he was at the moment safe and alive, and I held his arms. “Don’t,” I said, and it didn’t come out angry. “I want you alive, okay?”
He didn't meet my eye. “I want everyone alive. You just want me alive.”
I swallowed. Tried to push down the instinct to argue, because now, I didn’t want to fight. “When I let you go, that was true.” I took a deep breath and it came out shaky. “But you’ve saved so many more people because you’re alive, okay? I haven’t killed anyone since then, and that’s because of you.”
He shook his head. “It shouldn’t be because of me. That shouldn’t be why.”
I paused, trying to think about that. “I’m sorry.”
He shook his head again, and I felt his arms relax under my hands. He lifted his so his hands helped by arms, gently, softly. “Don’t apologize for that.” He gave me a hint of a smile.
I wasn’t sure what it was that I’d apologized for.
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Troodon - share a scene that is really important to a character’s development
From Chapter 10 (Stealth). This realization and choice he makes here is a turning point. I don't think he realizes how much of a turn it is (but I feel like that's how it works).
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Why hadn’t they just kidnapped Raymond? I really didn’t think it’d be that difficult. It was the same question I’d voiced to Raymond, and though he hadn’t said it, I remembered our argument. Remembered him saying the point wasn’t to escape, that it didn’t matter if he survived, and that he’d walk into a burning building again if it meant saving someone. Somehow, even without hearing that argument, Abigail had realized it: Raymond would rather die than do what they wanted. But, he’d do anything to save someone.
Idiot.
No matter what I found out, it didn’t matter—as long as they had Jodi, they could get Raymond to do whatever they wanted.
I rubbed my thumb against the cold metal of the fire escape, massaging the pad of my finger. They were still speaking, continuing to discuss food and Jasmine’s experience with a hostage situation.
What could I do? If they knew about Raymond it was only a matter of time before we were both killed, I’d always known that. My heart started to race, regrets started circling in my head— I never should have stopped killing for him, never should have betrayed them, never should have—but I couldn’t go further than that. I had hardly known Raymond back then, not really, and I’d decided not to kill him. I didn’t regret that decision, especially now that I knew him. I couldn’t then and I couldn’t even more now.
He’d gone into a fucking burning house to save a stranger.
I took a slow breath— as deep as I could without making much noise. Settled myself— focus was as strong as it could be without losing the sound spell, but I didn’t think my anxiety right then came from lack of focus. That anxiety was at the core of the spell, after all.
I didn’t know for sure that I was in danger. I likely was. But Zachary definitely hadn’t known, at least, not based on how he’d acted earlier. Abigail might know, but it was possible she didn’t. I didn’t know they were after me. But I did know they were after Raymond, and they had Jodi.
If Jodi was free, Raymond could run. I was pretty sure he would this time— I’d run with him if it got him to leave for good. Get Mika to come with us.
I tuned back in to Jasmine and Abigail’s conversation. They’d stopped talking, all I heard was the turning of pages and the sound of something moving across the table as they shared snacks. I hadn’t caught the end of the conversation, if something made them go quiet. But they gave me no more information. After a little while, I heard the chair move again and Abigail announced that she was going to go downstairs to get more food for the night.
Good. They were taking turns guarding, so there wouldn’t be a perfect chance with them both gone. But Jasmine was more likely to miss any subtle, accidental noises. I listened for Abigail’s leaving footsteps, and the door opening and closing. Beyond the door, the sound was too muffled, so I couldn’t hear her leave. I waited a few minutes just to make sure if was as clear as it could, and Jasmine moved inside, but a minute later the sounds of the radio came on.
Lucky.
I leaned forward. I’d gotten a glimpse of the layout of these rooms when I’d gone through the building. The main room was what I was listening in on— kitchen, dining table, couches. The bedrooms were on either side. Jodi would be in one of them. Unfortunately for me, neither had access to the fire escape.
The window to my left was dark, but the curtains were open. To the right, a thin line of light came out from under a drawn curtain. Jodi was most likely in the room to my right.
I dropped the sound spell, needing all my energy for stealth and concentration. I moved very slowly, stood as carefully as I could. I’d been crouched for so long I had to rotate my ankle a few times to regain full dexterity, but even that I had to make sure to do quietly. It was dark, not the best for spotting strong hand and footholds, and I’d still have to get in the window. Difficult, yes. But well within my abilities.
Every movement was slow. I scouted out my path beforehand, planning where I could step and reach. The bricks weren’t bad for climbing, and an edge running along above the windows made a good handhold. Moving as slow as I could so the fire escape creaked as little as possible, I stepped up so I was standing on the railing, then reached to the edge above me, curled my fingers around it, and found a place to wedge my toe.
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Brachiosaurus - share a sad or tragic scene
*rubs hands together* mwahahaha
From a flashback in chapter 8 (A Few Truths). TW: Fire, panic attack/anxiety
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Raymond and Mika were, at that point, spending most of their time at our house, and in the car to a mission he asked for my help on, Zachary asks me how I feel about them staying over more, maybe moving in, but he’s talking in a way that I know didn’t actually mean I could give my opinion so I just grumble in response.
“Are you going to start training them, or are we still keeping that a secret?” I ask, staring out the passenger window as he drives uptown.
“Patience, Terran. This is all a part of the plan.”
I think that over and sit up straighter. “Plan?” Not that Zachary includes me in all or most of his plans, but if he’s willing to share…
“We are still keeping it secret, but I have been training them.” he says, heading down a residential street I don’t recognize. He glances at me, a confident look on his face. “Don’t think the two conflict. They’re showing a lot of promise.” He pulls over to the side of the road and parks, and I know that this is some distance away from whatever our destination is.
“What’re we doing?” I ask as I get out of the car.
“I’d like your help with a search,” he says, and leaves it at that. We cross a few blocks and through a backyard, and Zachary opens the door with a key that I don’t ask how he got.
This isn't a random house. Decorating the fridge facing me are photos of Raymond and Mika, along with a woman I don’t recognize but can assume was their mother, Ariel. I bite my lip staring at them— the three of them in bathing suits sitting on a dock with water behind them, a child Mika giving a sly smile to the camera while coloring with crayons at a table, a young Raymond holding up a trophy, Raymond napping with a cat curled next to him, Mika grinning at the camera and leaning against a tree…
“This is their house,” I say, scanning the rest of the cluttered kitchen. There’s little other evidence of them, but there is plenty of evidence of life— a water damaged recipe book sitting on the counter, a shelf of handwritten labels marking drawers of cooking whispers, word magnets creating random phrases.
“Yes,” Zachary says, pulling gloves on, reminding me to do the same. “I asked you about how you felt about them moving in for a reason— I’m removing this option.”
I tense, my attention leaving the counters. I look at him, trying not to look as nervous as I feel I knew what he means by that. House fire.
No need to get scared, though. This is about them, about the house. Not a punishment. I push down the nerves and try to relax. “Why do you need me?”
“I’d like to first make sure that nothing important gets destroyed. Documents I may need, if I can find a justification for having them. Anything they might’ve had hidden, just in case.”
Of course. Zachary may have set a house fire before, but he isn't destructive. Can’t take the risk of destroying something you may need later unless it’s riskier to search. And as implied, we have time.
I don’t have to ask how I’d know if something was important, or why he needs me. Searching for something important, even without knowing what, had been one of the first assassin skills he’d taught me.
So I search. Go through every room— Zachary starts upstairs and I start downstairs, but we’re going to look over each room twice anyway.
Was this really their life? My ability to infer who they are from what things they have fills me with information about them, things that I might know but haven't thought about, things I haven’t known, things I may be wrong about.
Most pictures displayed show them living here, in a house in the Hearth District, but the undisplayed photos tell me that they lived in a smaller apartment in the Crimson district for a while, meaning something must have changed for Ariel income-wise. Sure enough, I’m able to figure out that a combination of paying off student loans to Dante and getting a new job lined up with the move. Although there are a few pictures displayed of them as babies and a few of just Mika, I find a folder where Ariel had hidden away any pictures of Raymond looking feminine as a child, likely hidden away with his coming out. I find letters and paperwork for Raymond being moved up a grade, all set aside in favor of instead taking more advanced classes, and a reason why in Mika’s report card a while later about how she was much more well-adjusted in classes she and Raymond shared. I find hobbies that they had tried and discarded, lessons that Ariel had ensured them a chance to learn. Find the toys and supplies they’d been given, the saved awards and star-stickered tests.
Their attic is a treasure trove of information about them, very little of which Zachary takes or either of us deem important. Birth certificate, identification cards, some other papers that he tucks away before I see what they are.
We’re also checking for hidden things— moving furniture to look behind and under, tapping the floorboards and walls for hidden spaces, shuffling through piles of blankets for anything that may be hidden.
“She was very thorough,” Zachary comments in Ariel’s room, and I hover at the door, not sure if he’s done and I should take a pass or if I should move on.
“With what?” I ask.
He looks at me, and I know that he hadn’t been talking to himself because Zachary doesn’t do that, doesn’t say things unless it should be heard. “With erasing me,” he says after a moment, and gives a smile.
I don’t want to figure out what that means. I’m still on edge, as if he’s going to start the fire at any time, so I move on, going into Raymond’s room.
Zachary had already searched it, but everything was neatly pushed back into place, and though I wander the room, searching it, for a minute I stop thinking about finding important things and remember the person I know who lives here. About how Zachary’s about to destroy all of it— the wooden desk with piles of notebooks, multicolored pencils, and looseleaf. The dresser filled with clothing and topped with a calendar, a picture of him and Mika, and lotion bottles. The bed pushed against the wall with a moss-green paisley bedspread, cream-colored pillows, and a stuffed deer resting on the pillow. The bookshelf overflowing with books ranging in size and color, an alarm clock, and a flashlight. All things that are a part of his life that we’re about to set fire to.
My muscles are tight and my heart is racing and it’s probably just because this is taking a while or because I’m not used to searching a house of someone I know or just because I hadn’t cast the focus spell properly when we started searching and it’s making me jittery. I let the spell drop now, since I’m pretty sure this room was cleared anyway. But it didn’t help, because now I’m thinking about all of that plus that this room smells like him and about the stuffed animals and books and idealistic life they’re living.
I sit down on his bed. This is about to be destroyed, I remind myself. He’s about to destroy it all, that perfect life is about to end, but even that isn’t a comfort because they’d join mine, and this is all a trap that Zachary is creating but one that pushes us together, and they were what Zachary wanted, aren’t they? The kids of the love of his life, right? They weren’t his but now they would be, and my hand grasps his blankets and grips them tightly and I really want to throw something but I don't.
What am I even doing? I wait a minute, take a deep breath and tell myself that this is just some house, that it’s just an assignment. Even though there is an obvious reason why, Zachary had me join on this mission because I’m good at what he needs done, not them.
I leave the room and find Zachary. “Don’t think there’s anything else to find,” I say. He’s standing in the living room, looking around thoughtfully.
“Good,” he says, a small acknowledgement of a job well done. “Now Terran, I want your opinion.” I perk up, hopeful. “You’ve gotten a good look at the house. Best way to make a fire” (fire!) “look like an accident?”
I should be used to, prepared for this kind of question. This should be getting my mind turning and the puzzle-solving joy flowing, so why is it (fire) making my chest tighten and my skin tingle and my forehead sweaty? This (fire) should be an easy question.
“Um,” I have to (fire) think, have to remember the house and the (fire) danger points. The appliances and mechanical setup and the kitchen. Kitchen. Most fires (fire) start in the kitchen, but no one’s (fire) cooking, or using the appliances at the moment, so whatever we blame would have to be something that can happen while idle.
“The whispers,” I say after a moment. “The cooking whispers in the kitchen.” An unstable one can set off more, especially if improperly stored. We don’t use cooking whispers at home nearly as much as other households, since Zachary can create heat (fire) easily, and he pointed out before that doing it himself was far safer than keeping a drawer full of pods that created heat when broken around.
“Brilliant,” Zachary says, and walks (fire) to the kitchen, and the compliment hardly registers as I follow and he examines the drawer.
I wait for him to tell me to leave. He lifts one up, breaking it in his hand despite not needing to, and—fire!—his fingertips erupt and I startle at the crackling.
“So I should go, then?” I say, my feet wanting to leave—fire!—but I can’t run, I will be dismissed.
“Are you asking?” his attention is on the whispers in front of him, looking around, planning how to make the fire spread.
“I—” fire! fire!—“I can’t— I’m not immune to heat, I have to leave before you—” Can I leave? Is he— fire FIRE— letting me, or would leaving be—
“Right,” he says, and it’s disappointed, and he—FIRE!—reaches into the drawer and there’s a louder—FIRE!—crackling sound before the drawer—FIRE!—erupts, and I jump, step—FIRE!—backwards, I can feel the warmth coming closer to me, tell me to leave, tell me to wait outside, tell me to go— “You’d need to be Gaian to stay, wouldn’t you?”
“I’m not,” I say—FIRE!—“I’m going,” and I don't know—FIRE!—if he can hear me because the sound of fire crackling feels like it’s shattering my ears, and I’m—FIRE!—running, running, running out the door, and he wants and expects me to wait outside but the smell of—FIRE!is filling my nose and the bit of warmth feels—FIRE!—stuck to my skin and I’m running, far away from the house that will soon be engulfed.
I run, and I have to slow down—fire!—a bit because I’m breathing way too hard and my chest is so tight, I can’t breathe—fire!—and my vision is blurry, but I have to run, have to get—fire!—away, and I’m not thinking about it but I’m running—fire!—home, because of course that’s the only place to go, because at least I have a room with a lock and a bed to fall into.
But I don’t get that far. I get close to home, turning the corner that leads to our house but suddenly I can’t run anymore, and I kneel down in the grass in the yard along the side of the house and pull my knees into my chest and why can’t I—fire—breathe? This is so stupid, I should’ve waited in the car, why was I running—fire fire fire—why, why, it’s not me he was burning and it’s not me whose goddamn house was burning down.
I’m breathing hard, too hard, a sound comes out of my throat or my chest instead of air, my hands press against the ground and I can feel the cool and slightly damp grass between my fingers. I’m far away, far from the fire—fire—and anything flammable, I need to get inside why am I still outside where someone can see me, calling so much—fire—goddamn attention to myself, this is bad, dangerous, but I can’t stand, can’t move, can’t—fire—make myself—
“Terran?” I don’t even hear the voice at first over the sound of my own breathing, but when it comes again, “Terran?” I realize someone’s there and I have to quiet down, have to stop. This is so stupid, after all. What am I even doing?
A hand rests on my shoulder and—fire—I jump, pulling away and backing away, away, looking but not looking to see it’s fucking Raymond, of course of course and now I’m going to ruin everything and why is he here, and I consider getting up and running again, getting inside where I can lock him out.
“We can help,” I hear Raymond's voice and I look up through blurry eyes— was I crying? In front of them too how goddamn embarrassing. Raymond kneels down next to me, it had been his hand on my shoulder, but Mika’s hovering and looking concerned, and I remember their powers and—fire—what they might be offering and I shake my head vigorously.
“I don’t—” I can’t talk. Talking is harder than I expected. “—want your help, stay”—fire—“out of my head.”
“Okay. Not going to.” Raymond says, his voice gentle and he leans back to sit on the grass, keeping a bit of distance.
“Are you okay?” Mika asks.
I ignore her, but I’m breathing a bit better now and just lean my forehead on my knees and stare at the grass between my feet. I don’t respond. I don’t want to move, I'll just wait for them to leave and then go and die of embarrassment.
Why don’t they leave? I just searched their house and helped—fire—burn their house down, and yeah they don’t know that but this would be so much easier if they just leave, and I should leave, but in a way it isn’t worth it— I’m starting to breathe again, and they’ve already seen me, and I don’t want to move, so I just stay there, waiting for them to leave me alone.
I twirl a finger around a blade of grass, scrape at the flat edge with my nail. A breeze blows against my back, moving my hair slightly before it settles into place again. People chat in the distance— thankfully not passing by, their voices come from around the corner. The engine of a car goes by. I find a partially squished clover in the grass under me.
Mika has squatted a bit, still waiting, and I sense her move to stand. “Come on, Raymond,” she whispers, but I can easily hear her. I don’t move though, just try to keep my breathing steady. I slide just my eyes towards them, and Mika stands, taking Raymond’s hand to help him up, but he stays sitting.
Leave, Raymond. Leave me alone.
“He’s okay,” Mika says.
“Go ahead. I’ll be a minute,” Raymond says.
I stare back at the grass. Loud enough to make it obvious I can hear them, I say “You can go,” trying to sound snappy but it comes out raspy, what was that?
Quiet for a second. Then, softer, Mika: “Let him be alone. He might not want your company.”
Listen to her, Raymond. I don’t. I don’t want either of you. Leave. Can’t. They can’t. They’re sentenced to living here now, because—fire—we destroyed their—fire—home, their life. My breath gets shaky again, stop it, shut up, stop thinking—
“Go ahead,” Raymond repeats, and Mika sighs and goes inside, and he stays there, seated about three feet away from me. “Anything I can do for you?”
No. Not after what we’d done. I shake my head, but my breathing is getting better and my chest doesn’t feel as tight, and slowly I relax my legs and sit up a bit, sitting instead of curling.
Why was he staying with me?
--
From this
#Read tags for my commentary:#dino ask game#ask game#syndicate#scenes#snippet#excerpt#wip excerpt#syndicate excerpt#The third scene is tragic for so many reasons#that Zachary is doing this to trap mika & raymond with him#that he's destroying their childhood and memories of their mom#the fact that it's a flashback#how Zachary doesn't tell Terran to leave and Terran has to practically beg while being around fire is especaially traumatic for him bc of Z#that Zachary comments that Terran isn't Gaian#that raymond comforts terran after terran helped destroy him home#and that raymond doesn't know that yet#terran and raymond aren't even freinds at this point#and just the absolute emotions terran is having#oh and you could say that Ariel erasing Zachary from her life is tragic in a somewhat dramatic irony way. like it's tragic for Zachary#but it's also trragic at her trying to and failing this much#oh and also tragedy that this is a normal task for Terran to do#oh it's also tragic because this isn't just a literary flashback. Terran in the present story is reliving this#anyway now I feel I should comment on the other scenes too XD#first one: this marks a change becuase it changes from terran & raymond going with their current relationship and all its conflicts#mistrust mixed with love. control and independence and guilt#like it's the first time it's really brought to life#and is also a big change in that Raymond decides that it might be better to draw terran closer than to push him away#Leads into them spending time together and then eventually working together to try & save jodi#It's a good arguement in that there's a lot of not saying what is really true but also getting close enough that the issues comes to light.
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Tagged by @calicojackofficial to post about the OC who most deserves to be punched
Anyone who knows my WIP knows this one. It's Zachary.
Zachary isn't the only antagonist, but he is the most present and salient one. He prides himself on being the best assassin, in his thoroughness, in his ability to be subtle. Zachary is Terran's uncle and raised him after Terran's parents died (Which, spoilers: was due to Zachary). The way he raised Terran was anything but loving, his priority was to make Terran a perfect assassin loyal to him. Zachary is a Gaian (=elemental/nature magic) who specializes in fire magic. When Terran as a kid, anything he did wrong (Not just regular kid-wrong, but wrong in his training) resulted in Zachary burning him. When Zachary's love (who, at this point, was not returning his affections) died, Zachary took it upon himself to take in her kids. Them he raised with a similar purpose, though his method used much more affection and emotional manipulation. Zachary maintains a calm demeanor and his language is carefully chosen in order to maintain control, including lacing it with threats and manipulations.
I'm pretty sure everyone who reads anything form my writing that mentions Zachary instantly wants to punch him. And you're right, he deserves it... too bad he's an expert in killing you and getting away with it (not that he'd kill you just for randomly punching him, but it still wouldn't go so well for you).
Open tag, please tell me about your assholes!
#Zachary#he's fucking scary okay#He scares me to write him#Also? his character has not changed since I made him up at like 13#Other than less sadistic#but tbh he never was that sadistic just impied to be#What's actually also scary is he does care about raymond & mika. at least as much as he's capable#He cares about them more than about Terran. fun fact. and Terran knows it/feels it#It's funny because there's some things that have been part of this story since I first wrote it (like Terran's parents)#that I forget it's a spoiler in this version
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OC in 15
Tagged byy @thegreatobsesso (through my main)
Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!
1.
(to Raymond) “Your careful and my careful are different things.”
2.
(to Mika, about Raymond) "He might end up hating me, but what keeps him safe and alive is none of what he’s told you getting out. To the police or the Syndicate.”
3.
(to Raymond) "I know you don’t like the spell, but I don’t even know who [I am without the focus spell] okay? I’ve been focusing since I let you go. You don’t want the person from before that.”
4.
Context: Raymond and Terran are talking about why Terran let Jesse live, and also why Terran had in the past let Raymond live/saved his life.
Raymond: “Everyone’s real.”
“Yeah, but you taught me that. Everyone who did feel real to me back then saw everyone else the same way I had. Maybe it was partially because you seemed to care, unlike anyone else did, but ultimately, I think that was it. You were real. So maybe all it took was talking to Jesse for him to be real to me. And I don’t know if that helps, because maybe you’re right that it should be everyone, or maybe it would be better if it’d come from something you said or did…”
5.
(to Raymond) “Focusing isn’t why I worry about things. Do you just not like me telling you what to do?”
6.
(I'm going to count this as dialogue. It's a thought passed from Terran to Raymond that, as thoughts are, is a little jumbled:)
Tried to (can’t move) found Jodi, tried to free her (stuck) caught— failed— (The Judge) Mika was here, gave them something— mistake— Judge using me to bargain (care about me?)— can’t move— don’t do what they want.
7.
(to Mika) "You and Raymond were so good at knowing what the right thing to do is. I watch you do all this and see how much you hate it, because you know it’s wrong. But I’ve only known that based on you guys’s example.”
8.
(The actual dialogue here is 100% not true. But him lying here imo is a big part of his character. Basically, Terran needs to convince Alex that he isn't a threat, and recently Zachary advised Terran that Alex would exploit him caring about people. His denial here, him lying, in a way, really is about how much he does care. Also, I think it says a lot about him that he can and will solidly deny things like this in order to protect those he cares about. He's basically claiming that he doesn't care if Raymond lives, it was more about rebelling against Zachary than anything else. He ha also stated recently, in his thoughts, that to him, "freedom" is just being with Raymond)
“I want to leave. I want to quit.” I said, turning back to [Alex]. “Disobeying Zachary by letting Raymond live wasn’t the best way to go about it, I admit. But now he’s gotten me what I wanted. And you get what you want out of him. That was the deal you guys had, right? I’m not a threat to you because once this transaction is finished, I have what I wanted. Freedom.”
9.
(to Mika) “I already know enough [about my parents' death]. I appreciate learning about them in the journal, I’d be willing to learn more about who they were, but not this. I don’t want to know how they died. Zachary has taught me a million way to kill someone and he knows a million more. I don’t want to know which one it was.”
10.
(to Rayymond) “I’m constantly disappointing you. I’m always doing the wrong thing, the only difference is lately I’m finding excuses. I’m terrified of Alex paralyzing me again. But when I say you should leave without me, it’s what I owe not just you, but everyone— because I’ve always been sacrificing others for myself, haven’t I? Not even for my own life, just for…approval. The only difference lately is that you’ve become a part of who I’ll sacrifice others for, except you don’t want me to do that, and even if I try I don’t know how to do it. Even if I was ever able to leave, I can’t escape myself— everything I’ve done and everything I still want to do. And maybe we’ll all better off if you and Mika can escape and I’ll no longer be able to—“
I'll leave it there, since it said 15 of fewer, many of these are long, and I'm catching up to where I am. This was a lot of fun, and I definitely want to do this again for Raymond and Mika. I kinda wonder if I can even do it with Zachary. Please feel free to tag me again on this XD.
It's definitely difficult doing a POV character who's so often hiding things. I knew going in that this would most show up when he's talking to Raymond. But going through I saw some Very Raymond lines and Very Mika lines, and I think I talk more about Terran's character here, but I would like to pick out the lines that show the other characters whose only ways of showing their character is their dialogue (and actions).
Tagging @sleepy-night-child @squarebracket-trick @enbydragon02 (ik you might not be far enough in anything for this so you can just look XD) and @drippingmoon
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I’m Emma (she/her). This is my writeblr, I like, follow and reply from @magicmoon65. The link below has a more thorough introduction if you want to get to know me! I’m very tag game friendly so feel free to tag me in tag games!
If you're here out of interest in my resource blog for Random Things, check out @catalogofmundanity!
More about me
Interact here to be tagged in tag games
Find my collection of posted excerpts here
I write primarily New Adult modern/urban fantasy. My writing tends to be dark and character driven. Here's the quick and dirty of the main things you'll see here (under the cut)
Syndicate: What I post most about.
Terran is an assassin in Calson City, where a criminal syndicate controls the city. Raymond was working with them until he rebelled and saved someone they were going to kill, and Terran was supposed to execute him but faked R's death instead. Terran's learning morality, realizing thay he doesn't want to be in this situation anymore, learning right and wrong, but simultaneously trying to hide what he's done to avoid getting killed as a traitor himself. Conflict is mainly whether he learns real compassion and freedom from the syndicate, or if he resists this in favor of keeping up his cover. Mika is Raymond’s twin sister who doesn't know he's alive and had to take Raymond’s place as an assassin and hates it. Oh and there's also magic and gay.
Fantasy, unique powers, kind of an asshole MC with a redemption-type arc, emotional, crime, deception, mlm, new adult.
Link to full description of WIP, including other links to characters and setting posts
Add to my taglist
tag: #syndicate
Second Chance
Chrys lives every day twice. This has been her life for as long as she can remember. Nothing on the first day lasts, so she’s developed a dual persona: On the first day, she doesn’t care about any consequences, does whatever she lives. When the real day comes, she’s perfect, put-together, a good student and rule-follower.
Russell lives a life of gods and magic, and he’s landed in a version of the world that’s different from the one he knows-- In this timeline, he died before ever betraying his god.
Chrys’s wold is changed and opened to a world that makes slightly more sense: there are gods and her experience comes from the magic she holds. That magic is what Russell needs if he has any hope of a normal life. And for Chrys, this new reality changes her life, and may mean she has far more power than she ever dreamed.
Fantasy, gods, time travel, a little steampunk, wlw, some mlm, ace, nb, young adult/new adult.
tag: #second chance
You can read more about any other stories I post about here
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Hello! Just stopping by with a question about writing XD Do you have any characters who's role grew bigger than you expected? Any surprising changes your characters went through during the writing process?
I mean, way back when I wrote the story that I reclaimed to make Syndicate... Terran was just a minor character that I was inspired to Plot Twist into a bigger role. Now he's the main character.
In Syndicate itself though... Well, when I started it I intended Jasmine to have a *bigger* role but found her not as useful as I had wanted. I'd say Terran, Raymond, and Mika all play about as big a role as I expected. I think the person this most applies to, though, is Alexander, the villian. I think I intended on having Zachary be the main villian with Alex kinda coming in as a greater force later, but I wound up introducing him earlier.
I can't name any big changes, but all my characters suprise me in small ways as I write. I like uncovering deeper motives as they speak, they become more alive to me.
ty for the ask!
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hello! what's one or two things about your current/main WIP that you're exceptionally proud of?
I think I'm super proud of how developed my characters are. (Wip is Syndicate) Terran, Raymond, Mika, and even Zachary (antagonist) are characters I've had for a long time, and writing them and knowing what they'll do comes so naturally to me. I know what they're feeling and thinking. And the story itself grew out of their resistances based around their flaws. And I'm already seeing so much growth from Terran that happened naturally and felt right-- like, I knew how to challenge their flaws, and felt them grow because of it. So yeah, I'd say I'm most proud of how deep their characters are.
Second, lesser thing-- I've written like... so many words??? It doesn't feel like that long ago that I struggled to bulk my word count. Idk where I'm at currently but it's definitely over 50,000 and I'm maybe almost done with Act 2 (of 3)? Idk how I'm writing so damn much.
Ty for the ask! And hi!
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My Characters' Cafe Orders
I work as a barista and I've been thinking about what my characters would order😊
Syndicate
Terran: Coffee with cream & sugar. He would probably like a flavor shot (vanilla or hazelnut) but wouldn't think to ask for it.
Raymond: London Fog (Earl Gray tea, vanilla sweetner, & steamed milk) or Hot Chocolate
Mika: Green tea, tiny bit of sugar. Or a Chai Latte.
Zachary: He'd want to pick a specific roast of coffee, but my cafe only has one (though the other location has death wish coffee & I wouldn't put it past him to like that) so black coffee it is
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Second Chance
Chrys: Limeade with boba, the type of boba changes daily.
Russell: Iced tea, probably our pineapple tea
Joce: Joce really likes to try unique drinks, so I think her go-to at my cafe would be the Elden Zing: vanilla syrup, orange syrup, lemon juice, and chai tea.
Ava: Latte, with a different flavor shot every day. Caramel, vanilla, & lavender being her favorites
I feel like this could be a tag game? Idk. If you think it sounds good go ahead & tag me 😊 (of course I based this off my cafe's menu XD). If not just enjoy my characters orders @puzzleddragon02
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Hi Nevertwice
I challenge you to list chapters/scenes/the timeline of events of your wip using the "in which this thing happens" format
I think I'm interpreting this right XD
Chapter 1, in which Terran edits the newspaper
Chapter 2, in which Terran works on a puzzle that may or may not end in death
Chapter 3, in which Terran gets more paranoid than normal about people who are not the enemy
Chapter 4, in which Terran loses his target on purpose
Chapter 5, in which Mika learns that the abuse here isn't just emotional
Chapter 6, in which a college visit gets interrupted
Chapter 7, in which Terran experiences happiness
Chapter 8, in which Terran doesn't like strawberries
Chapter 9, in which there is an imaginary corkboard
Chapter 10, in which Terran does some wall-climbing
Chapter 11, in which we meet an even worse villian
Chapter 12, in which Raymond puts someone to sleep
Chapter 13, in which Mika is still mad for some reason
Chapter 14, in which Terran can't sleep
Chapter 15, in which Terran learns he has parents
Chapter 16, in which Terran and Raymond have a date (don't tell Terran)
Chapter 17, in which Terran has 2 anxiety attacks
That was really fun! Thanks so much for asking. For funsies I'm gunna add my syndicate taglist because I feel like it's most fun if you know a little bit of what's happened (no pressure to interact or anything)
@puzzleddragon02 @sleepy-night-child @drippingmoon @thegreatobsesso @athenswrites @charlesjosephwrites @wildswrites @cljordan-imperium @andromeda-grace @iris-words @unclevladscorner
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Whenever I see anything about Syndicate on my dash I get excited since we both have syndicate wips. But I don’t actually know much about your wip.
So please tell me 5 fun facts about it and also your favorite thing about your MC (asshole MCs with a redemption arc my beloved)
Gladly!
1. Terran (MC) was put under his uncle Zachary’s care when he was 3 and was trained to be an assassin his whole childhood. Zachary brought Raymond and Mika into his life when he was a preteen, and at the time Terran hated both of them.
2. When Terran spared Raymond’s life after Raymond protested the Syndicate, Raymond already had a crush on him, but his feelings for Terran changed dramatically in that moment. Raymond doesn't know what parts are genuine and what is gratitude for being alive. (Terran had no romantic feelings for Raymond at this point, but has no idea when they turned into that).
3. While it’s commonly thought of as there being 5 distinct types of magic, they do overlap. Terran's signature focusing spell is a Nance spell, but Raymond, a Nyp (mental magic), has been able to undo it. Vival (healing/body) spells may overlap with Nyp spells. Nance magic is hard to define partially because in some ways, it can overlap with pretty much any spell. But since most Nance spells are minor or low-range, it's not necessarily that powerful.
4. From the characters in this story, the first one I ever made was actually Mika. She was the secondary main character to a character that no longer exists, from when this story was very different. Raymond was created off of her, and Terran was created as a minor character later, before I developed him further. He became the most interesting character I'd ever made, so when I returned to that draft, I decided to focus on him. That said, Mika being the oldest does hold a very special place in my heart, and though Terran doesn't understand her very well, I know her extremely well.
5. Terran has 2 intense phobias that are explored. Pyrophobia is one he's had since childhood, since Zachary, who does fire magic, used it as a training tool/punishment. The other one comes up midwayish through the book, due to something Alexander does.
My favorite thing about Terran: idk if I can pick an aspect that's my favorite, but right now there's this thing happening where Zachary warned Terran that caring about people will be exploited as a weakness. Where that lesson made Zachary cold to others, Terran will deny that he cares, but it's all because he does. He might not know exactly what he wants but he always chooses protecting Raymond and Mika. And I think what I like is that even though it seems very complicated to him, the choice to protect them comes easily.
Idk if that really made sense so I guess it's just that he loves these people despite how much he's been taught to be self-concerned.
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Okay so someone I follow did a picrew thing where it was "make yourself and yoir OCs" (I wasn't tagged XD. It may have even been just that someone I follow was tagged). Regardless, I lost the post but did make picrews, and for characters I'm just starting to introduce, so I'm sharing anyway.
This is the picrew
First up here's me
Okay so the characters I'm sharing are backstory characters. They look young but that makes sense-- they're all in ttheir 20s when the backstory takes place.
First we got Terran's parents. Here's his dad (and Zachary’s brother), Nicholas:
Who looks like 80% cuter and sweeter than I actually think he is. But this picrew's just too cute for its own good.
Here's Terran's mom, Ally:
Chaotic. Rebellious. Awesome.
This is Ally's sister Michelle:
Artsy & brave. Only character of these 4 that I can say is definitely queer. (Idk Ally might be bi)
Finally we got Raymond and Mika's mom, Ariel!
Sweetest bean.
Anyway it was a tag game... sorry idk who I got this from but mmm who likes picrew tag games?
I'm just gunna mmmm tag my Syndicate taglist XD. Feel free to just enjoy the content or share your own. Also anyone else who does it feel free to tag me. @sleepy-night-child @puzzleddragon02 @drippingmoon @thegreatobsesso @athenswrites @charlesjosephwrites @wildswrites @cljordan-imperium
#these guys are legit a squad btw#also 3/4ths of tthese are dead😊#syndicate#my writing#i want a name for this squad
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hey! this is chance & here’s week 2’s prompt. pick one of your ocs. are they open to other people’s perspectives? do they go out of their way to learn new things?
Love how I asked for these and than ignored them😅
Trying to catch up so I'm gunna briefly answer for the Syndicate crew:
Terran: Nope. not at all. Other people's perspectives are more about conflicting motives or moves than ever thinking about understanding perspective.
Mika: Mika's power and instincts revolve around empathy and perspective-taking. So she's very good at it and much more open to it. I wouldn't say she goes out of her way to learn new things though.
Raymond: He’s pretty good yeah, like Mika, his magic relies on it. However, he's much more stuck in his own opinion and mindset. He does love learning new things though.
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