𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕚-𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕠

"You didn't have to thank me—" Desirée started. She may not know the other woman well, but keeping a fleet-footed cat occupied was no imposition. Besides, losing a pet sucks. Still, her hands reached out automatically to catch the jar being thrust in her direction, and a quick glance told her that it was the fresh marmalade they sold here. "Thank you, though. You don't need to get me anything else; a jar of Marjorie's marmalade is a great gift, even though it really wasn't necessary." She set it down beside her laptop before gesturing to the space in front of her. "Have a seat, if you'd like?" She quickly gathered some of her stray papers and reorganized them to make room for Aurora if she decided to take her up on the offer. "Has Diana slipped away from you since? She seems quite crafty."

A half-eaten plate of cake sat in front in front of her, slowly drooping, as fingers flew across a keyboard. A well-worn notebook with crinkled pages sat under her right arm, and a pen had made itself home in her mouth as Desirée kept typing. Images of disquiet and a quiet yearning for a home that never was began to unfold on her screen. Desirée was thankful for the burst of inspiration, but she needed to get it all out, now. Maybe, eventually, she would add a hint of something more— a street upon which dreams go to die, perhaps. She continued typing with her left hand as her right hand plucked the pen as she scrawled out the idea on the notebook, before returning it back to its previous position in her mouth. Her mug of coffee lay abandoned to her left, and she did not stop typing as she felt a person approach. If anything, she began to type faster. "If you want to use the socket, I'm so very sorry. I promise I'll be all done in a minute." It was impressive how she managed to say all this without dropping the pen in her mouth.

she approaches the table slowly, a jar in each hand with her to-go box of pie tucked carefully into her bag. ❛❛ actually, i'm not here for the socket. i'm not staying. i, uh. i wanted to thank you for the other day, with diana. it means a lot to me that you kept her safe until i got there. so. ❜❜ she pauses. ❛❛ this is for you. ❜❜ she thrusts one of the jars out awkwardly towards the other girl, mentally praying she hasn't made some sort of mistake in her offering. ❛❛ if you don't want it, i can get you something else, but i'd also rather the earth swallow me whole than go back up to the counter right now and tell them that i made the wrong choice so please like it. ❜❜

the festivities carry on without ingrid, as she is glued to the screen of her phone , awaiting an important text message. her phone dings ! near-imperceptibly as she looks at the screen , lets out an exasperated sigh, and puts the phone to her ear.

❛❛ if i had wanted for moët , i would have asked for it. i didn't ask you to cut corners, and i'm sure addie didn't either. this is a dom perignon kind of function. fix it. ❜❜ a pause before she adds ❛❛ please. and fix it tomorrow if it's not time-sensitive. you shouldn't be working right now , and i bloody well won't ask addie to get on this now, understood ? ❜❜ she hangs up , taps her phone frustratedly to her forehead, before realizing she has amassed a spectator in the form of one heiress slash actress. she shrugs apologetically, smoothing down the front of her dress which had ridden up slightly as a result of her pacing.

below are 20 character development questions, each loosely inspired by a track on taylor swift's midnights. remember to specify muse for multimuse blogs !

LAVENDER HAZE. how does your character find solace and relaxation in their daily life?

MAROON. how does your muse deal with complexity and conflict in their relationships?

ANTI-HERO. what are your character's biggest anxieties or insecurities? does it affect the way they perceive others?

SNOW ON THE BEACH. what's something unexpected or contradictory about your character's personality or interests?

YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN, KID: how does your character handle difficult situations or adversity without relying on others for support?

QUESTION. . . ?what is the one burning question your character has about themselves, their purpose, or the world around them?

VIGILANTE SH*T. does your character believe in taking justice into their own hands?

BEJEWELED.what is your character's most prized possession, and what does it symbolize to them?

LABYRINTH. describe a time in which your character realized they were falling in love

KARMA. does your character believe in the concept of karma? how do their actions reflect this belief?

SWEET NOTHINGS. what are some secrets or intimate details about your character that few people know?

MASTERMIND. is your character a strategic thinker or someone who excels at planning and manipulation? how do they use these skills to their advantage?

PARIS. as your character ever had a transformative experience while traveling or visiting a new place? describe the impact it had on them.

BIGGER THAN THE WHOLE SKY. what is a loss that profoundly impacted your muse?

HIGH INFIDELITY. has your character ever betrayed someone's trust? how did it affect their relationships and self-perception?

GLITCH. describe a moment when your character felt out of sync with the world or experienced a significant disruption in their life.

WOULD'VE, COULD'VE SHOULD'VE. what is something your character regrets not doing or a decision they wish they had made differently?

DEAR READER. what is a piece of advice your character would give to a loved one. is this advice they follow themselves?

HITS DIFFERENT. what is something that deeply resonates with your character? it could be a song, a quote, a piece of art, or any other form of inspiration.

❛❛ oh shit , sorry !! don't know my own strength. ❜❜ a sheepish grin as she scoots past the other person, ❛❛ you know, if the doors don't open outward, it's an OSHA violation ? that's the result of safety laws that were put into place after a massive factory fire 1911 -- that actually happened here, in the village. ❜❜ somehow , she gets the impression that this conversational tidbit has not made anything better. she winces, lets in a sharp intake of breath.

❛❛ so, now's when you pull me out of this conversational hole i'm digging for myself and throw me a bone. maybe a comment about the weather? ❜❜