#ask khleo

Ohhh. Where to begin??? (Lol thank you for asking this. It gives me a chance to nerd out and talk about my creative process!)

I would say that at her core, Khleo is the closest I could get to a literal interpretation of the Strength Tarot card. Khleo navigates her emotions and the trials that life puts before her just as the woman in the card navigates the balance between herself and the lion.

Khleo is one piece to my little OC trinity. You may have seen Ozy use the term “mind, body, and heart” in the fics from his point of view. Here he’s subconsciously referring to himself, Khleo, and Kip. Khleo makes up the Body. My interpretation of the “body” refers to our visceral desires and behaviors. Instinct. Anger/Wrath. Sexual Appetite. These are the primary forces that dominate Khleo’s character and govern her decision-making process.

Khleo isn’t new in terms of their design. I’ve written characters like them before because I’ve always been drawn to the lone ranger/wandering samurai types, typically hardened by life to the point where they are perpetually jaded, bitter, or cynical. But deep down they are compelled to trust and to surrender. When I started to think about how a character like that could be shaped by the Arcana universe, Khleo was born!

Oof. Here we go.

I browsed through some OC asks and wasn’t feeling them so I’m just gonna try a thing.

My inbox is open! Accepting any and all questions for Kipling, Khleo, and Ozy. They can be related to character design, history, personality, fluffy, flirty, embarrassing, spicy.

Some disclaimers on the flirting tip

Kip - depending on vibes and her history with your oc, she can sometimes be sweet, sometimes spicy, sometimes teasing. I don’t make the rules.

Ozy - very affectionate, but clueless at the same time. First time interactions will be very forward and platonic!

First Date HCs (Khleo)

Let’s be straight. Khleo’s primary goal is to get you alone with them. But they know that a first date is a ritual of sorts. So they’ll play by the rules for what they believe is an appropriate amount of time before they start looking for opportunities. Once they find one, they will promptly capitalize on that shit.

They’ll take you out in their work clothes. They might change into black stockings if your date with them is in the evening. Red or gold if it’s during the day.

Khleo won’t touch you much out in public, but they tend to stand very close just so everyone gets the message of who you’re spending your time with.

If there’s ever a moment for privacy, they’ll maximize it. They might tug on your hair or ear, thumb your chin, sink their finger into your pockets if you’ve got em and pull you a little closer.

Yes, they will gaze into your eyes.

No, they will not let you look away until they’re good and ready.

If Khleo is the one picking out the date, they’ll probably bring you to one of those beer gardens with the fairy lights cross-crossing over the picnic tables. Preferably one that has live music. Something folksy and traditional, but still current.

They’ll order the two of you a flight with a bunch of flavors that you’ve never tried before, make you taste them one by one and give you the breakdowns of each. They’ll ask for your honest opinion about them along the way.

Then based on your reactions, Khleo will order a sizable beer for you. No, you’re not allowed to have something you’ve had before and yes, you just have to trust them.

It’ll be the best damn beer you’ve had in your life. You won’t be able to hide it even if you try. One look at Khleo and it’s clear that they know.

Khleo will tease you while you’re drinking it. Say things like, “How’s the head on that? Hold on, you’ve got a little on your top lip.” Then they’ll lean in like they’re about to kiss you and dab your face with a napkin instead.

They’ll let you do all the talking. If you ask their opinion, they’ll be honest, but tactful. They always choose their words carefully.

Once Khleo is about halfway through their third beer, they’ll start to really loosen up. Yes, they are a lightweight. They don’t care. They’re not ashamed.

Khleo will be a little more heavy handed with the flirting. Their compliments will be straightforward and blunt. They like to be flattered as well. So don’t hold back.

When they are definitely ready to get you alone, they’ll ask if you had anywhere else in mind that you wanted to go.

They will gently dismiss your suggestions until you come up with a place that’s secluded. They’re very good at this. It won’t feel like a rejection.

If you give Khleo the reigns and ask them to choose the place, they’ll take you back to their apartment or the basement of the bar where they work.

When you arrive, they’ll ask you something like, “What do you want to do now?”

If things start to get physical, well that’s that folks. You’re spending the night!

These hcs had me dying. Thank you 💖

Kip

She would work really hard to make sure that she understands the rules of each challenge. Compulsively so.

Over the course of the competition, she’ll rank in the middle. Mostly because she sticks to tried and true recipes that allow some room for error. Things like cookies, brownies, or shortbread where the presentation is not so important as much as getting down that homestyle, comforting effect

In a group setting, she’ll volunteer to do stuff like prepare the icing or arrange the toppings. She would never want to be the leader or even second in command.

Her go-to concept is angel food cake with an interesting filling. She will repeat this concept with different fillings and ways to dress up the outside of the cake until the judges catch on and call her out for it.

Her secret weapon would be a very dense, cloying pound cake. No icing. She’ll only bring this out if she’s in danger of being eliminated. It won’t matter who she is up against. No one will see it coming and it will get her to the next round.

Ozy

Total front-runner. Makes everything look easy.

Does all the fancy, extremely delicate, technically difficult shit. Souffles, tiramisus, cheesecakes, creme brulees, layered cakes. The trickier, the better!

Is not shy about trying out ambitious recipes under the not-so-ideal time restrictions. He always finishes with time to spare without breaking a sweat.

Seriously, this kid does not sweat during challenges and it really stresses out the other contestants.

With that being said, because Ozy is always finishing early, he will help out other contestants in the competition if it’s allowed. He will even do this in the finale match.

He will still win the whole damn show.

Ozy is everyone’s biggest cheerleader, so no one can get mad at him for winning. (Except for Kipling. She can’t stand him or his annoying victories.)

Khleo

Honestly, she has no clue what she’s even doing in a baking competition, but goes along with it for the free food.

Khleo would be the one who consistently ends up in the bottom two, but absolutely slays the competition in the very pressurized do or die challenges and make it to the next episode

Because of this, the other contestants are are terrified of ending up in the bottom two against them

Constantly forgets major ingredients. Like sugar. And butter. This is only a minor inconvenience as several of the other contestants would let them borrow their ingredients. To be honest, plenty of contestants fight for the chance to save Khleo’s ass in each episode

On collaborative challenges, Khleo would work very well with the least experienced baker present. Ironically, together they would make magical baking miracles happen and end up winning the challenge.