#oc: travis kasilag chen | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

rose-bookblood · 1 year

Note

Fireplace, night sky, soup ans sled for the winter ask game???

have a good day/night Rose!!!

(@ink-fireplace-coffee)

Hi, Carmen!

Send me a question from this winter ask.

🔥 Fireplace: what type of scene are you most comfortable writing? Emotional, action, dialogue-heavy?

Dialogue! I have a lot of fun writing banter or character interaction in general. They're a big part of all my work and, you know, the more you do something, the more comfortable at it you get.

🌟Night Sky: what are your writing goals for 2023? Or: how did you feel about your writing in 2022?

For the months of 2023, the goal is finish the second draft of RWR. Then, start revisions on book 1 of BBtS and also draft book 2. Jumping onto book 2 without even having written a second draft of book 1 seems crazy to me as well, but I decided to embrace chaos! I'm afraid if I remain hung up on book 1 for too long I'll get frustrated, and maybe this experiment will bring a new perspective, who knows.

As for my writing in 2022, I'm quite proud. I've made a ton of progress on my WIPs. Might be that I'm in a good writing and mental health phase, but the bad moments of this year don't evel feel real at the moment.

🍲 Soup: share a snippet where a character does something kind.

Here’s Travis making sure his partner gets a healthy dose of sugars during the investigation:

A cozy silence enveloped the sitting room. Wrapped in a red plaid blanket, Josephine glanced at the park outside the window. A carpet of brown and orange leaves covered the withering grass and a fine drizzle blurred the view into a leaden haze.

Travis made his entrance in the room, a charcoal curl falling on his forehead. He carried a steaming cup of hot chocolate in each hand. He sat on the sofa beside Josephine and handed her one of them. She tilted her head as a thank you and held it to savor the heat. The scent of cinnamon tickled her nostrils.

“Great idea.”

Travis smiled and clinked his mug against hers in a toast. “You have the best partner in the world.”

“And the most humble too.”

Josephine sipped her hot chocolate to hide the upward curve of her lips.

🛷 Sled: how has your writing process changed this year? Or: are you going to try anything new in your process in 2023?

I think this year my writing process consolidated. I found a method that works for me, and in 2022 I had the chance to test and develop it.

For sure, in 2023 I'll have to try revision! Going from the first to the second draft of RWR was kind of a special case, so I haven't really revised anything yet. BBtS will be the first project I actually revise.

Thanks for the ask!

@ink-fireplace-coffee

#winter writeblr ask game #winter writeblr ask #ask game #ask meme #asks #my writing #writing excerpt #blue below the surface #wip: bbts #oc: josephine roosvelt lenoir #oc: travis kasilag chen

2 notes · View notes

rose-bookblood · 2 years

Note

hii!! for tiny scene Sunday: Josephine and thunderstorm???

have a good day/night!!!

(@ink-fireplace-coffee)

Thanks for sending this prompt, Carmen! I only saw it late yesterday, but I really wanted to write this, so here's the scene, even if it's Monday. I hope you like it!

This is set a couple years before the story of BBtS and it's more Josephine and Travis than Josephine herself, but oh well ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Warning for no editing whatsoever (and maybe wonky English in some parts?).

Thunder rattled the windowpane, so sudden Josephine leapt in her chair.

She tucked a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear. Immersed in paperwork, she had not noticed the storm growing outside the office.

In front of her, her newly-acquired partner tapped a pen on the desk surface, entranced by the thick rain. Detective Kasilag sat sprawled, one arm looped over the backrest, legs spaced so he could turn the swivel armchair by forty-five degrees every two seconds. He noticed Josephine’s stare, shot her a smile and scribbled on a sheet’s corner.

A white ribbon uncoiled in the dark sky and Kasilag’s eyes followed it like a compass follows north. He was a lightningbender, after all.

“Looks like we’ll be stuck in here a while.” His thumb pointed at the window.

Rain blurred the street below and, as far as Josephine could tell, the lamplights’ halos illuminated a deserted sidewalk. Not even cars swept by.

Josephine shook her head and another strand escaped the chignon. “I’m not worried about a little thunderstorm.”

“’Little’? We’re in the heart of a hurricane.”

“The heart of the hurricane is the calm zone,” she corrected, shifting her attention back to the tablet.

“Ok, know-it-all.” Josephine glared at him, but Kasilag’s genuine smile made her irritation evaporate. “No wonder your record’s stellar.”

Do you think my record is stellar because I know trivia?, was her first thought.

“You background-checked me?” was what she asked.

Kasilag shrugged. “Why? You didn’t?”

“Of course I did.” Mid-sentence, Josephine realized the nasty underlying meaning to her words.

“So what made you think I hadn’t?”

Now she couldn’t back down, even if shame threatened to creep up her cheeks as she spoke. “You don’t seem the type.”

Instead of being offended, he scratched his nape self-consciously. “I didn’t make a great impression, huh?”

“No!” Josephine exclaimed, a tad too loud. She rubbed her temple. “I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant.”

Kasilag inclined his head. “You kinda implied I’m either lazy or disinterested enough not to look into the person who’s going to be my partner for the foreseeable future.”

A sigh flowed out of Josephine’s mouth and her shoulders slumped. “I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed you’re incompetent before seeing you on the field.”

His eyebrows quirked up. “’Incompetent’ is new.” Heat bloomed on Josephine’s face and she was about to cut the conversation short, until Kasilag smirked. “Kidding. But hey, don’t crucify yourself. It was an honest mistake. We’ve barely talked.”

Josephine regained her composure and nodded. She picked up the stylus, ready to resume her work, when Kasilag spoke.

“On that topic. Since we’re in here alone, we could seize the opportunity and get to know each other.”

“Our shift in half an hour, and I’m pretty sure you should use the remaining time to fill in those forms.” She pointed at the sheet he had kept tapping on.

“The shift may be almost over, but going out during this thunderstorm would be unsafe.” Josephine’s eyes shot to the window in reflex. The world beyond was a dark hole smudged with the lamplights’ faint white. “Plus, team bonding is essential to augment synergy and efficiency.”

Josephine examined his wide grin and the mischievous spark in his eyes. “I can’t say you made it up, but the wording makes me suspicious.”

Kasilag laughed, an unrestrained, luminous sound that had Josephine’s lips curve upward. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”

She pondered for a long second under his content look. Then, she sighed in disbelief. “Alright, detective. Lead the way.”

“No space for formality in team bonding activities.” He got up and sketched a bow. “And in this partnership in general. Please, call me Travis.”

BBtS taglist (lmk if you want to be added or removed): @tommie-hildebrandt @stormharbors @chaotic-queer-disaster @mel-writes-with-her-dragons @vellichor-virgo

#tiny scene sunday #yeah on a monday i know #blue below the surface #oc: josephine roosvelt lenoir #oc: travis kasilag chen #writing excerpt #wip: bbts #my writing

3 notes · View notes

rose-bookblood · 2 years

Note

Trick or treat! 🎃

Treat! 🍬

Here are some OC fun facts for the characters in Blue Below the Surface:

In the world of BBtS there's a sport called competitive bending (which is exactly what it sounds), and Lily used to play it. She's now part of a volleyball team.

Annabelle does ballet and has learned to make no sound when she walks. That scares the shit out of people.

As I said just today in this ask, Josephine is a fan of horror movies and almost nothing scares her.

Both Nathan and Travis are dyslexic.

Jeremy does a billion sports: paintball, bike and horse riding, rock climbing and weight lifting.

Evelyn always wanted to dye half of her hair blue, her favorite colour, but doesn't want to deal with the hassle.

Cecilia is completely unfazed by the sight of blood and volunteers in the academy's infirmary from time to time.

Serena grew up in a house with a garden and a small greenhouse, and you can see it because her room is packed with potted plants.

Both Andrew and Lily have a meticulously curated fashion aesthetic, light academia and dark academia respectively.

#writeblr trick or treat #oc: lily brennan hughes #oc: annabelle takeda yamaguchi #oc: josephine roosvelt lenoir #oc: nathan campbell strauss #oc: travis kasilag chen #oc: jeremy brown horse collins #oc: evelyn woodlock stern #oc: cecilia thorne ioveanu #oc: serena chukwu rashidi #oc: andrew lo raafat #wip: bbts #blue below the surface

0 notes

rose-bookblood · 2 years

Note

Comin back with more OC asks for STS bc you’re amazing and I love your work ❤️

Have as many OCs as you want answer these interview questions:

👑 What would you say is your best feature (personality, appearance, etc)?

🚩What's your worst feature?

🧦What's your favorite article of clothing?

(Finally answering old STS asks!)

Anna, stopp, you're too nice ❤️ You are amazing and I love your work too!

My magic mug chose Travis, Annabelle and Josephine, all from BBtS, so I'll have all three answering each question.

👑 What would you say is your best feature (personality, appearance, etc)?

Travis: I'm incredibly charming and good-looking, of course. /j But, in honesty, I'm fun and don't take myself too seriously.

Annabelle: Physically, I wouldn't know... I'm blind. *chuckles* In regards to personality, I think it's good that I'm kind but still capable of kicking people's asses if they act like dicks.

Josephine: I'm firm and assertive.

🚩 What's your worst feature?

Travis: I'm actually too funny. People die of laughter in my presence. /j Yeah, yeah, ok. I tend to be a bit airheaded and lose track of stuff.

Annabelle: I don't follow rules blindly, which I think is a good thing, but sometimes my rebellious attitude can get me into trouble.

Josephine: I admit I'm often too stern and strict.

🧦 What's your favorite article of clothing?

Travis: I wear the military uniform so much, every other article of clothing feels like my favorite in comparison. I do like informal, white blouses.

Annabelle: My fishnet stockings, I can combine them with basically anything in my closet.

Josephine: I like turtlenecks and I have nany of those, but I don't have a favorite. The dark red and blue ones are probably the one that fit me best, though.

#storyteller saturday #oc: travis kasilag chen #oc: annabelle takeda yamaguchi #oc: josephine roosvelt lenoir #oc asks #writing asks #ask game #ask meme

0 notes

rose-bookblood · 2 years

Note

Hi! Happy Blorbo Blursday!

What’s your OC’s biggest strength? Greatest flaw?

—Joy (@italiangothicwriteblr)

Happy (late) Blorbo Blursday to you, Joy! Answering this for every major character because I want to overcomplicate my life.

Blue Below the Surface

Evelyn: her heart and sense of justice / overthinker

Lily: logic / judgemental

Andrew: great actor (+ caring, but it's more a quality than a strength) / bottles up his feelings

Cecilia: analytical / communication

Nathan: patient + physical strength / easy to read

Jeremy: doesn't care about others' opinions /lack of focus

Annabelle: never gives up / rebellious

Victoria: networking / bossy

Serena: dedicated / people-pleaser

Josephine: assertive / too stern

Travis: adaptable / airheaded

RWR

Sheryl: hard-working / extreme in everything

Moren: loyalty / out of touch with reality

Cisco: charisma / can't resist a challenge

Colette: good at convincing people / overworking

Iliria: responsible / doesn't chill

1 note · View note

rose-bookblood · 2 years

Note

OK OK- Last sts ask i swear-

Which of your OCs...

Is most and least likely to dance in the rain?

Has practiced kissing their mirror?

Is neurodivergent?

Can't handle affection? Gets flustered?

Don't apologize! I love your asks!

Is most and least likely to dance in the rain?

From most to least:

Annabelle, Victoria and Travis on par

Cisco (like a .01 distance)

Colette and Moren

Serena

Nathan (his leg can be a bit of a hassle)

Andrew

Evelyn (if in public; alone or with close friends she's up there with Serena)

Cecilia

Jeremy

Josephine (has to loosen up before)

Lily (dances only in appropriate places)

Sheryl and Iliria (never dance).

Has practiced kissing their mirror?

Nathan and Serena. Evelyn practiced kissing the air because she felt too awkward seeing her reflection.

Is neurodivergent?

Evelyn has social anxiety, Cecilia is autistic and Jeremy has ADHD. Lately, Lily and Cisco have been giving off neurodivergent vibes as well, but I haven't decided anything yet.

Can't handle affection? Gets flustered?

The stuck-up squad (Josephine, Lily, Sheryl and Iliria) are all starved for affection and wouldn't know how to react, especially the last three. Cecilia isn't stuck-up but would need to get comfortable before. Evelyn, Andrew, Nathan and Serena would get flustered by big displays in public, but are otherwise fine.

#storyteller saturday #writing asks #oc asks #oc: annabelle takeda yamaguchi #oc: victoria jiménez fujihara #oc: travis kasilag chen #oc: francisco ramírez #oc: colette dubois #oc: moren adelos #oc: serena chukwu rashidi #oc: nathan campbell strauss #oc: andrew lo raafat #oc: evelyn woodlock stern #oc: cecilia thorne ioveanu #oc: jeremy brown horse collins #oc: josephine roosvelt lenoir #oc: lily brennan hughes #oc: sheryl ramírez #oc: iliria adelos

0 notes

rose-bookblood · 2 years

Text

Blue Below the Surface | Character intro #3

Hello, folks! It's finally time for the last character intro (at least for this WIP). Here are the detectives.

Josephine Roosvelt Lenoir

Pronouns: she/her

Age: 34

Race/ethnicity: white

Gender identity: cis woman

Romantic orientation: straight

Sexual orientation: straight

Element: metal

Appearance: white skin; 1.69 m; fit; grey eyes; long, straight, blonde hair

Personality: serious, stern, calm, precise, hard-working, firm, assertive, only has a handful of friends, hates superficiality

Travis Kasilag Chen

Pronouns: he/him

Age: 35

Race/ethnicity: Pacific Islander

Gender identity: demiboy

Romantic orientation: biromantic

Sexual orientation: bisexual

Element: lightning

Appearance: brown skin; 1.71 m; fit; black eyes; short, curly, black hair

Personality: chill, airhead, trusting, doesn't let stuff affect him, goes with the flow, likes novelty, easygoing, quick to adapt, good at comforting, very heart-on-his-sleeve

Finally, all character intros for this WIP are done. Took me long enough, but I'm satisfied with the result. See you soon!

— Rose

Taglist: (ask to be added or removed)

@tommie-hildebrandt @stormharbors @chaotic-queer-disaster @mel-writes-with-her-dragons @vellichor-virgo

#character intro #character introduction #my ocs #original character #blue below the surface #writeblr #writers of tumblr #writers on tumblr #writing community #oc: josephine roosvelt lenoir #oc: travis kasilag chen #wip: bbts

7 notes · View notes

rose-bookblood · 2 years

Note

i literally can't decide so here you go: everything from 1 - 17 for josephine and everything from 18 - 34 for travis. please. just tell me all the things.

Send me numbers from this ask.

Did I already say I love you?

Ok, this is gonna be looong, so I'm putting it under the cut to avoid clogging everyone's dash. Some things are already on the intros, so not boring you by repeating myself.

And yes, answering this ask took me an abysmally long time, but I think I'm justified with this one.

3. What's their zodiac sign?

I choose birthdays based on ~vibes~ and know nothing about zodiac signs. That being said, Josephine's birthday is May 17, so she's a Taurus (like me!).

4. What's their favourite activity on a rainy day?

Reading on her couch with a cup of tea in hand.

5. What's their favourite colour?

Brown.

6. What is/was their best subject in school? What was their favourite?

History and literature.

7. What are their hobbies?

In what little time she has, Josephine reads a lot and exercises. She does a bit of everything, but her favourites are running and swimming.

8. What's their favourite dessert?

Apple pie.

9. A song they like? (or band, or a type of music)

Classical music, especially for pianoforte.

10. If they were a dog breed, which one would they be?

I know literally nothing about dogs, but I'd say a shepherd breed.

11. What's their biggest pet peeve?

People who leave stuff in the sink/on the table.

12. How do they act when they have a crush?

Would rather die than show it, though she does spend more time with the person in question.

13. What Hogwarts house would they be sorted into?

Not answering this because I feel very uncomfortable with anything HP. Also the House system makes no sense, fight me on that.

14. What's the pettiest thing they've ever done?

Josephine is the most non-petty person you'll ever meet. Her concept of pettiness is drinking the last of the milk in the fridge.

15. How are they like when they cook?

Quick and efficient. Usually prefers simple meals, so not much experimentation there, and puts vegetables everywhere, since cutting them helps her relax.

16. What would they do for the birthday of someone important to them?

She would get them a well thought-out gift and spend the whole day with them. If there's a party organized, she volunteers to pick up the cake from the bakery and decorate.

17. Their idea of a perfect date?

Dinner in a moderately fancy restaurant on the riverside, enjoying the quiet chatter and the moonlight.

18. Are they right handed or left handed?

Travis is left handed.

19. Are they more of a dog or a cat person?

Dog.

20. What was their Halloween costume last year?

Changed every hour into increasingly sillier outfits. Lots of stuff that kids, rather than adults, would wear, so pumpkin, ghost, witch, etc.

21. What was their favourite show growing up?

Let's ignore a) what cartoons Travis would've logically watched as a child based on his age, and b) the fact BBtS isn't set in our world and say both The Proud Family and Kim Possible.

22. Do they have any tattoos? If not, what would they like to get tattooed, if anything?

Travis is Tagalog indigenous and has traditional tattoos on his arms.

23. Do they believe in the supernatural?

Only as a joke.

24. Do they like cheesy romantic novels/movies/shows?

Yes, he finds them accidentally hilarious but also comforting.

25. Do they prefer coffee or tea?

Coffee.

26. Any special talent of theirs?

He catches things that are falling 99% of the times. He's also quick to anticipate people's actions. If, say, someone stands up to grab their coat, Travis is already handing it out to them.

27. Something that they're really passionate about?

Tennis.

28. A secret of theirs?

Travis is a very transparent person, so there's no way he's hiding something big. I guess he's more affected by bad things than he lets show.

29. Do they have any aesthetic that they really like?

Everything naturecore.

30. A funny story they like to tell?

He loves to tell random stories, especially from his years at the military academy. He wasn't exactly a troublemaker, but he managed to find himself in odd situations, like that time he got stuck on the roof for an hour (for context, the academy is a five-floors castle).

31. Something they're really proud of?

His openness and honesty.

32. A description of their relationship with other character?

I feel like I'm obligated to talk about him and Josephine here. They're basically a married couple... despite them not even being together. They constantly banter, know literally everything about each other, often communicate through body language alone.

33. If they're a story character, a lil vague spoiler?

Both Travis and Josephine are gonna be double agents in book 3! (2/10 he would not recommend, but thinks screwing with the villains is kind of fun)

34. A random fact?

He's a night owl (which means it took him and Josephine, an early bird, an awfully long time to reconcile their schedules).

#casual character ask #ask game #ask meme #oc: josephine roosvelt lenoir #oc: travis kasilag chen

5 notes · View notes