Isn't it Too Screeny?

my answers to these questions took some very technical turns, I apologize.

Margaret is my vehicle to immerse myself in Halcyon as a local and I love that. She's actually one of my first characters like that--someone who isn't a game's main protag, and that means the world to me. As a writer, I am extremely bored of the "outsider comes and fixes things" narrative, though I understand why, from a technical standpoint, they're so popular, and I'm happy for those who enjoy that kind of a character. But I'm much more interested in a local, average, human exploration of events/life, and baby--that's Margaret. Her whole story, Practice and Practicality, is about workplace shenanigans, the fear of not living up to her superiors' expectations, and how that reflects on her poorly as a woman and a Scientician. I really love the lore of The Outer Worlds and its canon, love exploring its hinky religion, love the very dystopian feel to everything, and getting to experience it through Margaret is a thrill.

On top of this, she is A Wife. Sometimes some people (in this instance me) want to indulge in, uh… let's just say kind of regressive stereotype behavior? Because once Margaret is married, she makes her life all about her husband. It's out of love, obviously, as the Halcyon definition of marriage has none of that 'obedient wife' shit in it, plus Reed basically does the same for her after he steps down as Outpost Administrator, so it's a good trade-off. But I just… I mean… she's so cute in how far she goes to provide for Reed after Edgewater falls. She marches them from Edgewater to Byzantium, saves him when he's put through Early Retirement, and then "negotiates" with someone she doesn't really like so she can get credits and passage to the Groundbreaker (it's not a big deal, sex being a commodity like everything else, and Reed is in the next room)(anyways…). 

Also, I love Margaret because it gives me a chance to gush about Reed, who I think is one of many amazing side-characters. He is such a perfect product of his environment, and has such a big heart and love for his people. Plus when writing him in P&P I got to create a lot of background for Edgewater and Stellar Bay (where he's from in my canon), and I really really like world building. Especially in Halcyon. Cuz it's an amazing place.

also Madge is so cute

Oooohkay, somehow I didn’t see this in my inbox. Daniel/Courier are my original OTP, plus I've got them on my mind, so I’ll go with them. 

14 How do their personalities compliment each other? How do they clash?

So. Daniel and my Courier, July Wells, are basically the same person. They’re both self-important, colonialist assholes (Daniel working from a religious POV, July from an NCR-cultural standpoint), they are both haunted by the loss of their homes (New Canaan/the Divide) which leads to them making poor choices (for themselves, and for those they affect), they do not back-down in a fight (even when they’re wrong), and they are desperately lonely. They clash over all this stuff on the regular. Daniel and July argue a lot over which is better for Zion and the Sorrows; they tiff over who has the higher moral ground (NCR’s ‘democracy’/freedom of choice vs. the New Canaan’s sense of love/forgiveness); they debate over what Joshua Graham deserves due to his past, and then they contend over whether or not he’s right to lead the Zion tribes into fighting the White Legs. I don’t think I have enough synonyms for ‘argue’ to describe the shit they clash over. Honestly, these two don’t really complement each other in any way except one: general knowledge. Daniel, although very self-sufficient, has been comparatively sheltered, whereas July has traveled extensively with various teaching missions, but was raised fairly spoiled/kept. So July grasps the social graces of groups beyond her own, and Daniel can cook. Put them out in the world together, and they probably won’t starve. 

22 What reminds each of their partner?

Flowers remind July of Daniel. Long before they’re together, he collects them for her to press in a book (after a misunderstanding--he does it as an apology), so, going forward, flowers remind her of him. As for Daniel… so many things remind him of July. Once they’re together, he’s very into his wife, so trinkets or jewelry remind him of her (not that he buys/makes a lot of material objects for her, he’d just like to), books remind him of her (she’s a big reader and journaler), and, of course, scraps of material, because July will turn anything into a quilt. He will see pieces of literal garbage clothing scraps and think 'ah! my wife!'

30 Your OTP gets to pick out each other's outfits; what is each wearing?

Boilerplate intro: I truly don’t have an OTP. If I try to single out one ship, another starts making angry noises in my head. Which begs the question: why do I ask for prompts on these OTP things? Without an answer, on with the show.

Went with Reed Tobson/Margaret-DeLoughrey-Jung for this one… I think these two complement and clash with each other for the same reasons. Reed has a very big heart, but a teenie, tiny brain (he wasn’t built to think, don’t blame him). Margaret, on the other hand, despite acting like the galaxy’s most sympathetic ear, is extremely calculating, as well as fairly self-centered (Halcyon’s survival-of-the-fittest ideals have not been lost on her).

You can see everything that Reed is pinned on his sleeve, but Margaret keeps her feelings—her true feelings, not her fake ones—very close. And, lastly, while Reed has the fortitude to follow-through on his actions, he lacks the creative-thinking to come up with ideas. Conversely, Margaret, ex-singer and stage performer that she is, definitely has a flair for outside-the-Board thinking, but she’s impulsive, meaning she might be too willing to try new things. 

Basically Reed and Margaret are two extreme opposites who clash for these specific reasons (especially early in their friendship), but, later, when they’re married, it leads to creating a whole, better person out of one another. They become very attached-at-the-hip following Reed’s ‘early retirement’ incident in Byzantium, and this is when they really complement each other—when they’re out and about, walking around the Groundbreaker. Reed is horrified by the disorganization, but he enjoys the sight of happy people (he’s not in the Spacer’s Choice family anymore, but he loves happy families), whereas Margaret, rejuvenated by the lights and excitement, still sees everyone else as a means of propping herself up, somehow. Reed teaches Margaret to obsess less with the OSI's Fifth Pillar (not everyone’s purpose is to serve her own ambitions), whereas Margaret tempts Reed to dabble with the Third Pillar a bit more, and experiment with new things, as well as measure for himself what he thinks is right, or enjoyable. And that means eating something that isn’t fucking saltuna.

I'm a sucker for concept art and early versions of things (along with everyone else), so I figured I'd share this... Dawn/Yummy Mummy/Big Mama, a Railroad agent. The first two are from back when I played on console, the rest are from when I moved over to PC.

Actually, here's Wick, too.

I would absolutely LOVE to tag some people for this, but I don't know who? so I'm going nuts. Basically, if you've got early pictures of a character, or even like... an early face claim which you eventually switched up, I Want To Know :)

@juniper-tree @serial-chillr @curiousartemis @paraparadigm @polymorphic-basket @i-a-w-v @schoute @fandomn00blr (this is a stretch, because you work mostly with canon characters, but.... mayhaps??), @biggreenfeet @damejudyhench @kourumi @the-laridian @lavellanvibes @smutnug @pushingsian @serial-chillr @kenshi-vakarian7 @ocean-in-my-rebel-soul and anyone else who wants to do this, tag me so I can see.

tagged by @roguelioness (thankyooooooooou). tagging @paraparadigm @serial-chillr @polypolymorph @biggreenfeet @damejudyhench @juniper-tree @kourumi

I recently sold my soul to Baldur’s Gate, so that is where this chickie hails from. I’ve cobbled together 5 OCs so far and they keep coming, but this is the one I’m playing through the new update with, SO

Fandom: Baldur’s Gate

Role: Companion

BASICS

Full Name: Dalena Maurmeril

Nickname(s): Dale, Darling Dillydoun (her stage name) -- sometimes shortened to ‘Dilly’

Pronouns: She/her

Sexuality: Bisexual

Occupation (and Titles): wanna-be world-famous musician locally-known harpist and singer/songwriter, extremely small-time thief, stay-at-home mom

Birthday: 1435 DR

Age: 57

Physical description:

5’6, 128 pounds, brown hair and hazel eyes

Half wood-elf

she slouches

Clothing Style: loves deep/dark purples, silver, green-blues and grey-blues for her skirts, vests, and various shawls. she likes layers.

BACKGROUND

Dalena was born in a barn, raised in the Lower City sprawl, and spent her young days pining after a life of beauty and song--neither of which was found in the Gate’s dark and dingier taverns, but the songstress kept searching. Marrying a human criminal, making a living off tips and lucre, the couple provided a pretty paltry up-bridging for their daughter, Lynn’an, who, about a week after her parents parted amicably, told her mother two things. Firstly, that Dalena had been a shit mother, and, secondly, that Lynn’an wanted to leave, too.

Understanding that she had sorely neglected her daughter in the pursuit of her music career, Dalena desperately wished to undo the damage. Slipping a very strong elixir of youth into the young woman’s soup, Lynn’an turned into a sweet, innocent yearling, and, presently traveling Faerûn with her do-over daughter, Dalena is burdened with the knowledge that she’s both a shitty mother and a shitty person.

COMBAT & SKILLS

Preferred fighting style: Alone and by herself, where no one can see her obliterating her enemies with some fairly chaotic magic.

Favorite weapon(s): With a bow because she’s pretty ‘meh’ about her magic these days.

Special skills: High dexterity, sleight of hand, sneakiness -- she’d make a good career thief if she wanted to.

RELATIONSHIPS

Family: Kalvin Tashe (husband--parted on good terms), Lynn’an (daughter), Lili (fake daughter she tells people about when giving anecdotes about raising Lynn’an the first time)

Love interest: Gale (cuz who can resist ‘Gale and Dale’ lololol)

Best friends: Dalena had a huge amount of friends and buddies back in Baldur’s Gate, but she was probably closest with the owner of the tavern she performed at most regularly. Zanna Adaire is a cool halfling, hawker, and drugs hook-up if you’re looking for some of the softer stuff. She's got tats and is looking for a good time ;)

PERSONALITY

Positive traits: Loyal, passionate, and exuberant

Negative traits: Short-sighted, jumps into things too quickly, and fairly jealous

Likes: Reading, music, art, good food, weed, golden jewelry with her silk scarves

Dislikes: Blank faces, being ignored, alcohol, juggling, and being told she sucks

Fears: Herself, being alone

Guilty Pleasure: She’s really not guilty about her indulgences.

some of these be copy-pasted from previous questions. merci, biggreen <3

Who initiated the relationship, and how did it go?

They came to a mutual understanding of their feelings for one another twice. The first time, they more-or-less convinced themselves that they liked each other due to their loneliness and depression (over losing the Divide/New Canaan), which got mixed up in their general admiration for each other, plus comments made by outside parties. Basically, it was “well, I’m sad, and you’re nice enough, everyone else thinks we’re into each other, so let’s get handsy.” The second time it was the same thing, minus the mourning and depression, and with some sweet nostalgia on top. While July was in the Divide, her memories of Zion and Daniel became that which got her through a pretty crappy experience, whereas Daniel’s inner monologue, always very self-deprecating, started to sound like July, so generally it was a little more forgiving than his own conscience. When they meet back up on the trail back to Zion, it’s like ‘awwwww’, but they don’t admit for a while that they’re into each other for reals this time.

Did they have an official first date? If so, what was it like?

I dunno, they probably went foraging or something together. And neither of them likely knew it was a date <.<

What was their first kiss like?

Daniel was walking with a cane, he fell and July helped him up, and they ended up getting too close somehow. It was a real oops moment. The exaggerated looking into each others’ eyes, lips hovering/brushing, and general nuzzling that followed was not so much an oops, though.

Were they each other’s first anything (kiss, relationship, etc.)?

Daniel is July’s first marriage, July is Daniel’s first marriage and fuck.

What’s their height difference? Age difference?

When they meet, July is 28 and Daniel is 35. Their height difference is 30 centimeters-ish.

What’s their relationship with each other’s families?

July’s family would have loved Daniel if they’d ever met (by the time July and Daniel are together, the NCR’s luster has tarnished, and she rather sees her family for the murdering capitalists they are). Daniel’s family tries to be civil and polite towards July, but she’s never going to be the person they want their son and Brother to be involved with.

Who takes the lead in social situations?

Both July and Daniel are pretty damned opinionated, so they’re not likely to let either take the lead. Even when they probably should (like visiting Daniel's family, or dealing with NCR merchants).

Who gets jealous easier?

Daniel. But he’s more jealous of July’s relationship with the Sorrows than anything else.

Who whispers inappropriate things in the other’s ear?

you know what's good for measuring? a cup! and when I googled 'a cup' to find a stock photo (to post, cuz my brain-fogged-at-three-PM self thought that was funny), all I got were pictures of bras. baby jebus forgive me, i hath looked upon boobies this day 😞

7 - Both July and Daniel are pretty damned opinionated, so they’re not likely to let either take the lead. Even when they probably should (like visiting Daniel's family, or dealing with NCR merchants).

9 - Daniel might be sli i i i i i ghtly more guilty of this once they’re well into their relationship.

8 - Christmas and Easter are celebrated with Daniel heading back to his family, birthdays see a nice meal and small gifts exchanged at home, and July pours one out on July the 4th (cuz I figure that’s a big day in the NCR).

thank yoooooooooooooou these are slightly helping me get out of my rut <3

7 - Quick answer: Their lives wouldn’t have been much different. Their arcs happen very much outside the scope of their relationship. Long answer: Daniel would have developed less tolerance, and July would have learned less forgiveness. It’s because of July that Waking Cloud gives Daniel such shit about Certain Decisions™, sending him into a downward spiral that happily ends in him falling off his high horse, and it’s because of a friendship with Joshua (fostered by respect for Daniel) that July learns to forgive war criminals.

10 - Daniel→ physical; July→ verbal

It's been an age since I got to use this shitty banner! Thankies <3

10. What is your character’s tone of voice weapon of choice? Are they good in a fight, whether armed or not?

July’s weapon of choice is a shotgun. It’s what she’s got the most experience with, though that’s mostly down to the many hours she spent ‘practicing’ with ‘stable hands’ outback on her daddy’s ranch (she did manage to ding a couple of cans). July is NOT good in a fight, and is usually the first one to screech, scandalized, ‘a gun!’ when cowboys start brandishing their pea-shooters in a crowd.

11. Has your character ever killed anyone purely in cold blood?

Nope. That would be undemocratic.

12. What are your character’s opinions on war? Is it something necessary or barbaric, or both? Do they believe in noble conflict or the existence of “a good war?”

Depends on who’s doing the warring. July is staunchly supportive of the NCR, so if the NCR says they’ve gotta be at war, it must be true.

31. What is your character's tone of voice does your OC sound like? What is the tone of their voice, their cadence, and their vocabulary; are they particularly profane or eloquent? Are they funny, and if so, what’s their sense of humor? Are they long-winded or do they speak little, and if it’s the latter, is that only because they’re concise or is it because they have genuine trouble speaking?

As an educator, July loves giving a good lecture, but she doesn’t talk just for the sake of filling silence. You’ll get a whole allocution if it’s on a subject she’s familiar with; otherwise, she’ll start wallflowering, mortified of looking ignorant. Her voice is sweet and soft (and just shy of being whiny). Vocab-wise, she’s pretty sophisticated, using big words because that’s how she thinks important, educated people talk.

32. Is your character a good liar, or can they manipulate people well? Are they able to conceal what they mean or what they’re feeling, or are they an open book whether they mean to be or not?

Anyone who’s known July for five minutes can see she’s got her big heart and bigger blabber-mouth right on her sleeve. When she almost lies, she admits to it almost immediately. And that’s how she tricks people. She’s sincere and open, she lies and manipulates sparingly, but she does it well when she has to because no one sees it coming.

33. What is something that could be said to your character that would be unforgivable, either by someone in general or by someone specific? How would they respond?

With all her traveling, July has seen a lot, allowing her the ability to forgive and accept once she’s cooled down. But. But. Go after her beloved NCR, and you’ll regret it. It can’t be a half-assed besmirching or insult, though--it’s got to be a well-informed argument. There are gaps in July’s understanding--clear downfalls to the NCR’s methods that July basically refuses to acknowledge. But, when met with them, she goes into denial, clinging to the one thing she has true faith in: that the Republic is Just, Good, and All That Jazz.

34. How well does your character take care of themselves in the wilderness? Do they feel most at home in the wilderness, small settlements, or densely inhabited areas? Are there any particular reasons why that is?

July was raised in the Hub’s Heights, a very affluent neighborhood. So she’s used to buying what she wants and/or needs. But she’s also spent the last 11 years traveling the less populated areas of the NCR, educating smaller communities, so she’s familiar with roughing it. Eventually she comes to prefer a small cabin, far removed from dense populations, because people suck and it makes her sad (no spoilers, here).

35. What kind of diet does your character keep? Is it more indiscriminate, or picky or particular? Are they good cooks, whether in a kitchen or by a fire? Do they think of food as simple sustenance, or do they appreciate indulgent dishes and finer flavors? Do they have a favorite food?

For July, cooking and eating became a hugely social thing when traveling with her education mission. Either she’d eat with the families she was meeting, or cook for her small caravan of NCR companions. Because of this, it’s less about the eating, and more about the act of sharing and exchanging. July has eaten some truly horrible meals which she really didn’t mind because the social setting was amicable. That said, she’s actually a good cook, and likes sweet stuff. Sweet like her *sob*

36. What keeps your character going? What is the one thing that they have that could motivate them to keep persisting if they lost literally everything else?