C.N

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ they're not just shy, they're IN THEIR HEAD constantly. your character isn't quietly observing the room in a mysterious way, not really, they're running a full disaster simulation of every possible thing they could say wrong. they've already imagined 47 ways this conversation could go badly. they're not present in the moment because they're too busy narrating their own failure in real-time.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖the physical symptoms are INTENSE. it's not just butterflies. it's heart pounding so hard they think everyone can see their shirt moving. sweating in places they didn't know could sweat. hands shaking so badly they can't hold a cup. voice going weird and thin. stomach doing backflips. feeling like they're going to pass out or throw up or both. it's a full-body betrayal.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ they avoid eye contact but also panic about avoiding eye contact. your character is stuck in this horrible loop of "look at them—no that's too much—look away—wait now you look weird—look back—oh god you looked away too fast they think you hate them—" and meanwhile the other person just asked how their weekend was and they've been silent for 7 seconds.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ they rehearse EVERYTHING. phone calls are scripted in advance. text messages are rewritten 14 times. they've practiced their Pizza order in the car. they've planned conversation topics before hanging out with friends they've known for YEARS. and even with all that preparation, they still mess it up and replay it in their head for the next decade.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ leaving events early feels like both failure and relief. your character finally escapes the party and feels this RUSH of relief, then immediately feels guilty for leaving, then worries everyone noticed them leave, then convinces themselves everyone was happy they left, then feels bad about that. they're in the car having a full emotional crisis while texting "had a great time!" because lying is easier.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ they're analyzing every single thing they said. the interaction ended 4 hours ago but your character is still dissecting it. "why did I say that?" "did I laugh too loud?" "I interrupted them once, they definitely hate me" "I should have said this instead" "that joke didn't land, I'm so awkward" "they took 3 seconds to respond, I said something wrong", it's a mental highlight reel of perceived failures.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ silence is TERRIFYING. your character feels personally responsible for filling every conversational gap. if there's a pause, they panic and say something stupid just to fill the void. they can't just exist comfortably in quiet. silence feels like judgment, like everyone is noticing how weird they are, like the world is ending.

interesting character backstories

because "my parents hit me or force me to be perfect" won't cut it for every character in the cast

-characters who grew up poor. poverty is traumatizing, people. i wanna see characters who never ask for anything, count dollars and coins, freak out when the bill isn't split fairly and immediately suspect bed bugs when someone says they're itchy. and mention the ugly stuff too. smelling bad and having water stains on the walls. ice cream for dinner and not eating breakfast. lights going out and fourteen year olds supporting a family of five.

-characters who were neglected. not physically abused, neglected. who don't understand why people care when they don't show up, or seem kind of down today, or leave a party without saying goodbye. who are too independent for their own good. who can't think of anything to say when asked to describe their parents. who are okay with being lonely. who always feel lonely. who get uncomfortable if you even ask them how their day was. who does that?

-characters who were smothered. who were treated like a toddler well into their teens. who were practically stalked by their own parents, never allowed a moment of privacy. who were constantly belittled and denied their autonomy as the adults in their life made every decision for them. regardless of how loved they truly were, this is abuse. this could go in two diverging directions: end result of a very guarded, mature character feeling a constant need to prove themself, or end result of a passive, immature character who requires attention, praise and constant assistance. both have extremely low self-esteem.

-characters who are fundamentally different from their family. maybe they're queer, or adopted, or disabled, or aren't fully related to the rest of them (bonus points if they aren't the same race as their family). characters who watch like a ghost as everyone else smiles and bonds. and maybe it's their fault that they're like this, or maybe it's their fault for not reaching out to the family themself, but... nobody else had to ask for it.

James and Reggie 👬

James: Hey Barty I challenge you to a water fight

Barty: I’m in

Barty: Just hold on as I wait for the water to finish boiling

James: what

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ they're not just shy, they're IN THEIR HEAD constantly. your character isn't quietly observing the room in a mysterious way, not really, they're running a full disaster simulation of every possible thing they could say wrong. they've already imagined 47 ways this conversation could go badly. they're not present in the moment because they're too busy narrating their own failure in real-time.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖the physical symptoms are INTENSE. it's not just butterflies. it's heart pounding so hard they think everyone can see their shirt moving. sweating in places they didn't know could sweat. hands shaking so badly they can't hold a cup. voice going weird and thin. stomach doing backflips. feeling like they're going to pass out or throw up or both. it's a full-body betrayal.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ they avoid eye contact but also panic about avoiding eye contact. your character is stuck in this horrible loop of "look at them—no that's too much—look away—wait now you look weird—look back—oh god you looked away too fast they think you hate them—" and meanwhile the other person just asked how their weekend was and they've been silent for 7 seconds.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ they rehearse EVERYTHING. phone calls are scripted in advance. text messages are rewritten 14 times. they've practiced their Pizza order in the car. they've planned conversation topics before hanging out with friends they've known for YEARS. and even with all that preparation, they still mess it up and replay it in their head for the next decade.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ leaving events early feels like both failure and relief. your character finally escapes the party and feels this RUSH of relief, then immediately feels guilty for leaving, then worries everyone noticed them leave, then convinces themselves everyone was happy they left, then feels bad about that. they're in the car having a full emotional crisis while texting "had a great time!" because lying is easier.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ they're analyzing every single thing they said. the interaction ended 4 hours ago but your character is still dissecting it. "why did I say that?" "did I laugh too loud?" "I interrupted them once, they definitely hate me" "I should have said this instead" "that joke didn't land, I'm so awkward" "they took 3 seconds to respond, I said something wrong", it's a mental highlight reel of perceived failures.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ silence is TERRIFYING. your character feels personally responsible for filling every conversational gap. if there's a pause, they panic and say something stupid just to fill the void. they can't just exist comfortably in quiet. silence feels like judgment, like everyone is noticing how weird they are, like the world is ending.

harry who gets out of the shop holding —a slightly confused— regulus' hand hostage, almost screaming "pa! i found pretty boy! he was free!!"

Recently I rewatched Tinker Bell and oh my god, Silvermist is so pretty I wanted to mess with her design a bit and make a few doodles 🫠

The movie is actually full of pretty women, I don't know how I didn't notice that before