#ask lazuli

Lazuli doesnt really like this style.

But I think she looks okay! 🌺

King of Cups - the most mature man your character knows.

◥█̆̈◤ Four of Cups - how indecisive is your character?

For Mael

★ Six of Pentacles - does your character accept help from others?

Queen of Pentacles - the most organized/chill woman your character knows.

King of Cups - the most mature man your character knows. (Lilu)

I really think it depends on how you define 'mature' in this context. Lazuli's uncle Nero is certainly the most refined man she knows, and her Luli is the most worldly and educated. Her Azza is the one who is the least likely to get offended by something, but he's also the most likely to hold a grudge, so he might be out of the running.

Ultimately, she's inclined to answer the one that she thinks has grown the most, is the most serene and compassionate: her boyfriend's father and longtime family friend, Muriel.

◥█̆̈◤ Four of Cups - how indecisive is your character? (Lilu)

I mean, poor girl is 17-18, she's not exactly at a part of her life where's she's overflowing with wisdom and purpose. Combined with her stubbornness (that's the Keshet blood), she's prone to making decisions based on her intuition and sticking to them, outcomes be damned. That's not to say she can't be convinced to have a change of heart if presented with enough evidence or circumstance, and ss she matures, she's much more prone to think things through before making a decision.

★ Six of Pentacles - does your character accept help from others?(Maël)

Naw, hell no, absolutely not. He has first son AND youngest child syndrome, and is hellbent on proving he can handle his problems himself. Learning to ask for help from those he trusts - his partner, his parents, his friends - will be his lifelong struggle.

Queen of Pentacles - the most organized/chill woman your character knows. (Maël)

Listen, Maël knows a lot of incredibly organized women in his life: his aunt Nadia, his aunt Portia, his auntie Iris. But chill? Aside from Portia, who is kinda chill about some stuff and incredibly unchill about others, he wouldn't describe any of them as chill.

👃 : Does your OC smell good? Do they have a signature scent? for Iris

💌 : How would they plan a romantic evening for a significant other? for Lazuli

💐 : What is their courting style? How would they woo someone? for Mael

👃 : Does your OC smell good? Do they have a signature scent? (Iris)

Iris smells incredible, dude. She is the type of bougie b who wakes up, washes her face, brushes her teeth, and puts on perfume no matter what kind of day she's going to have. Her signature scent is Replica's Lazy Sunday Morning (dewy florals, aldehydes, and white musk).

The reason she does this is because she's a sweaty betty, and Vesuvia is hotter than the Devil's taint 9 months of the year. Gorl's gotta stay on top of the personal scent situation, so perfume it is.

💌 : How would they plan a romantic evening for a significant other? (Lazuli)

Lazuli knows her partner isn't much for extravagant romantic gestures or big public displays of affection, so she would probably do something very intimate and private, like a picnic in the cedars with all his favorite foods, a night swim at some moonlit waterfall, or an early-morning mushroom hunting hike followed by lunch and a lazy afternoon nap together. She might also surprise him with tickets to see a musician or band that he really admires, or plan a particular scene that she knows he's been fantasizing about.

💐 : What is their courting style? How would they woo someone? (Maël)

If you asked Maël, he would say that he doesn't court, and he most certainly doesn't woo... which is to say, none of his romantic gestures are intentional, and are much more incidental to him working through and expressing his feelings for his romantic interest (he is his father's son, after all).

🍊raspberry tangerine- what do they most like about themselves?

Lazuli, being a freshly-minted 18-year-old, still struggles with a lot of the insecurities that plague a lot of teen-aged women, compounded with a lot of unresolved trauma and, um. Mommy issues? Mommy issues. In most situations, Lazuli would probably struggle to come up with things about herself that she likes.

But if you MADE Lazuli pick some things, she would probably say - she likes the art she makes. She likes that she's smart, both educated and street-smart. And she likes that she's tall. If you really pressed her, she would say - she likes her resiliency. She likes that she is loyal to her friends, and, to some extent, her family. And she likes that she sees the best in people, even when people can't look past their worst parts.

🍵 white tea and sage- is there a way for them to best focus their magical energy?

Lazuli needs regular practices of deep meditation to control and channel her magic in a productive way. When she was younger, this was, unwittingly, painting - but now she does practice meditation and finding quiet spaces within herself. Being in the forest helps, as does practicing her swordsmanship. And, of course, painting.

☀️sunshine and daffodils- what one thing about their LI(s) do they love the most?

*Wildest Dreams plays* He's so tall, and handsome as hell...

Seriously, though... what do you say you love about someone who has always been a part of your life, for as long as you can remember? Who's seen you at your worst and your best, who's seen you through all your phases and loved you without asking for anything in return? The person who, when you're with them, you can be completely yourself, completely free of all the bullshit and the expectations? Who is your best friend, and puts you before everything else, without question, not because he has to - but because that is how he loves?

3. The love song of your character and their LI.

Oh, truly, you’ve opened a can of worms with this one. I have a master list of early 300 songs for the entire Oracle, and entire playlists for the lovers in their various permutations. For the sake of not completely chewing your ear to pulp? Have two per:

Asra x Iris:

Imogen Heap - Closing In

Iron & Wine - Ressurrection Fern

Julian x Iris:

Chvrches - Down Side Of Me

Sylvan Esso - Die Young

Asra x Julian x Iris:

The National - Oblivions

Purity Ring - begin again

6. Your character’s sad song

Again, girl’s got a few. But I’m particularly fond of:

Violents, Monica Martin - How It Left

Sia - Numb

10. A wedding song (Lazuli)

The Magnetic Fields - Nothing Matters When We’re Dancing

(But it’s a daddy daughter dance, with Julian singing, Iris playing the ukulele/singing backup, and Asra dancing with Lazuli.)

11. Any other song you’d like to include! (Lazuli)

8. What are some embarrassing couple stories?

Vesuvia, being a metropolitan and multicultural city, is mostly accepting of the lovers’ arrangement - they’re certainly not the first throuple/open relationship to sit in the realm’s Chamber - but there’s always a little bit of hilarity that ensues when explaining their relationship to visiting royalty or diplomats from more conservative realms. 

“That’s her husband. And that’s her partner. Oh, and they’re lovers, too. They all have three children together.” *bug eyes ensue*

Not that that’s particularly embarrassing for them, but the chamberlain and the palace staff do sometimes get tired of explaining it. But they get even more tired of explaining that the Consul is the father of both the Seat’s and the Procurator’s children, but the Seat and the Procurator are together. But the Consul joins them in bed sometimes. Its chill, really, stop giving them that look. It’s not like it’s any of your business anyway. 

There are ‘embarrassing’ stories, too, but listen - none of these three are fairly prone to embarrassment. Julian has absolutely no shame and will probably be the first to tell you his most embarrassing stories with pride, including his very lewd relationship with Captain Chingshe, hilarious and horrifying medical tales, his most drunken adventures. Asra is unflappable - the only person who can turn him into a blushing mess is Iris, sometimes Julian. And Iris, well. She’ll definitely blush if Asra or Julian recounts a tale of them getting caught in a compromising situation or an awkward encounter with a customer or a diplomat, but she’ll laugh, too, especially if it’s at her own expense. 

14. Describe a “paid scene” with your character and their LI

With Asra, pre-plague. Enjoy.

13. Do they have an evening routine? (Lazuli)

Lazuli and her partner’s evening routine is very sacred. Unlike her mother, she chose to live her life as Oracle outside the city in the Southern forest, though she continues to sit on the Chamber - the Seats only call her in when her consul is specifically needed, though she visits her cousins frequently on an off-duty basis. 

After a long day of tending the garden and crafting spells and charms (Lazuli specializes in gemstone tinctures and water spells - she gathers waters from the Universe’s womb for her most potent charms), she and her partner will have a simple dinner together, often prepared by him, of stew and farm bread, curry, or, if they’re feeling more luxurious, a roast of something he caught hunting in the forest. They’re both a quiet sort, not the type for tons of conversation, but they will generally chat over dinner, ending with the two of them settled together on the porch with a book for her, a craft like knitting or whittling for him, watching the sun set or the rain fall.