#bassel

Characters’ aesthetic for the main trio of my WIP:

Saran

Rémi

Bassel

In a pre-dawn raid attacking a home in el-Bireh, Basil al-Araj, 31, Palestinian youth activist and writer pursued by Israel for nearly a year, was assassinated by invading Israeli occupation forces this morning.

Al-Araj, from the village of Walaja near Bethlehem, fought back and resisted the invading forces for two hours before the attacking occupation soldiers broke into the home where he was staying and executed him at close range. They then seized his body and took it to an unknown location.

The attack on the home included rocket fire as well as al-Araj’s extrajudicial execution in a hail of bullets. Al-Araj’s family home in al-Walaja had been repeatedly raided by occupation forces for months.

Al-Araj, a writer and activist involved in a wide array of Palestinian grassroots struggles for liberation, was among the Palestinian youth dedicated to reviving the Palestinian national liberation movement. One of six Palestinian youth released from Palestinian Authority prisons after nearly six months of detention when they launched a hunger strike, Al-Araj and other youth had been seized in April in what was touted as a victory for security coordination between the PA and Israel. While they were imprisoned by the PA, they were subject to torture and ill-treatment by PA security forces.

After their hunger strike and widespread attention to their case, including protests after reports of their torture, secured their release, four of the youth – Mohammed al-Salameen, Seif al-Idrissi, Haitham Siyaj, and Mohammed Harb – have been seized by Israeli occupation forces. All four have been ordered to administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial.

The extrajudicial execution of Basil al-Araj is yet another example of the ongoing use of “arrest raids” as assassination raids against Palestinian strugglers, including the killing of Abdullah Shalaldeh in the hospital and the murder of former prisoner and struggler Muataz Washaha. It also highlights once again the devastating and deadly reality of “security coordination” between the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian Authority for Palestinians struggling for their liberation, pursued and imprisoned through this coordination up to the point of their execution.

So I’ve been trying to get into music composition lately, and I finally finished an actual piece! I’m so excited, I hope you guys like it. Sorry it isn’t Undertale stuff. (It seems the music player doesn't show up on dashboard ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )

Here's the link to the piece in case the player isn't working: https://soundcloud.com/thefluffyslipper/square-skydisquiet0271

Here’s a little background for the piece:

I don’t mind at all I am deleted to be able to talk about Of Gold, Shadows, and Ashes! Thank you for asking! (and @himiko-omikami, @lescahiersdesable, @queengurako this could interest you)

3: Does your WIP have a title? If so, explain its significance. If not, what are you calling it for now?

The original title is D’Or, d’Ombres et de Cendres, that I quite literally translated to Of Gold, Shadows, and Ashes. I am terrible at title too and this WIP spend months under the auspicious title Fantasy 3. But this one finally fell on me last year, I don’t really remember how, and I really like it.

It is composed of three elements, like they are three main characters and three main POV, and each elements can refer to one person of the trio or to all three of the trio (for example gold for Bassel goes with the ‘golden prince’, for Saran it works with the fact that she is a goldsmith, for Rémi it goes with the ‘heart of gold - knight in shining armor’)… It also works with the progression of the story and the elements in it.

10: How would you describe your WIP’s narrative style? (1st person, 3rd person, multiple POVs, single POV, alternating chapters, etc.)

3rd persons limited multiple POV (with Saran being the main POV). 

Actually I am really close to only have three POV. I am thinking, considering that for now the only part which is not from the one of this 3 POV is the prologue, to put the only other fragments with other POV that I will need in special chapters that I would called ‘Intermèdes’ (intermissions).

11: Which character do you have the most in common with?

Like you I tend to put of bit of myself in all of my characters so it is quite a hard question… But after having thought about it I would go with Avit. Especially in what I called is ‘clan side’ and his disillusion/depression with the world.   

But you say: Avit is one of the main human antagonist force? And I answer: Yes I know, I know.

12: Which character do you have the least in common with?

Euhhhhhhhh… Probably Rémi because he is a really decent person with everyone, tend to not judge people, isn’t really good at reading people, thinks things are going to turn okay, and doesn’t hold grudges.

(my beautiful unproblematic son!)

13: Your characters are stranded on a deserted island. What happens?

Bassel offers them a lift out. Bassel literally can’t be trapped somewhere except if he feels (mentally) compelled to stay. He might leave some people here though, because he is a little shit.

But considering what they would do before Bassel decides to get them out of here, here we go: Avit and Saran would complain because this is so inconvenient and absolutely ruins everything they have planned. However they would help everyone settle and would do so efficiently. Rémi and Sichilde would manage to keeps everyone’s moral up and prevent anyone to ressent Avit and Saran for directing them a bit too harshly. However Rémi would be more efficient to help organise things than Sichilde. Bassel might go for a swim before bringing everyone back home. Robert would make a mess and probably be left on the island. Erdene would help discreetly but also go have a look around.

14: Have you chosen birthdays for any of your characters? If so, when are they?

Not precisely. Like I said in this post, I am thinking a chilly beginning of spring for Saran, the summer for Rémi, the last month of winter for Bassel (approximately nine months after the summer solstice).

For the other ones I didn’t think about it. I think I should say here that this is a fantasy world inspired by medieval times, most people didn’t really know what days they were born on, if it wasn’t on a special occasion. So besides Bassel and Sichilde (whose births were written down), no-one precisely knows when exactly their birthday fall.

15: Do you know your characters’ MBTI personalities?

No I don’t, sorry.

16: What would your characters be for Halloween?

In a world where all this good people can have Halloween parties and Saran isn’t worried to be recognized as a magic user:

Saran would be something simple and fun, she might not have a lot of time to spend on it but she likes making weird stuff. So probably a witch (black dress, a pointy hat) with some killer accessories.

Rémi would go as a knight, because he wants to be one so badly. He reuses his costume as much as possible.

Bassel would go as a vampire because this is the fanciest traditional monster. He always has the best and fanciest costume and every year it is slightly different. Avit makes sure that no-one outshines him, ever. His costume always costs as much as everyone else costume to make.

Sichilde would go every year as something different, probably an historical figure or a fairytale character (not the creepy kind). It is always very feminine, very well thought, and proper. She always has the second best costume and she planned it on her own.

Avit doesn’t dress up. He monitors the party. (also he doesn’t dress up because he would go as a vampire and he would make such a fine vampire that he would outshine Bassel which can’t happen)

Robert goes as dashing pirate (which mortifies Rémi, why would he go as criminal?) because he thinks it is popular with the ladies.

Erdene would only goes if his wife or daughter ask him to. In this case he would only wear a simple dark cape over his normal clothes. Whatever people’s speculation on what he is dressed as are, Erdene would answer them that they are correct. He has a drink with Avit and tells him that he is a vampire just to see Avit choke on his drink.

19: Post a picture or gif that describes your WIP.

I am hesitating between this (because I am physically incapable of not destroying and burning everything my characters held dear): 

And this when I contemplate where exactly I am leading this story:

For spoilery reason they will answer these questions as they are at the beginning of the story so the view of the characters on some questions might be different by the end of the story. But this is what they become, not what they are/were. So let’s start with who they are (so we might understand who they become)

Also people lie, to us and to themselves ;)

Bassel:

Crimson - Have you ever been in war? If so, describe how it impacted you

I have never personally been in a war. I have had the chance to be a third party witness to other’s wars and to speak directly with officiers. It is interesting and distracting; seeing men panicked and taking bad or out-of character decision for situations they more than often created. I have a particular affection for leaders capable to remember who they are and what they are supposed to do in a war and who do not shift the blame. They are not numerous.

I have however been implicated in two coups. It would be a euphemism to say that the first one completely changed my life and the second one, which was butchered, cemented those changes. I wish people who have no business dealing with power stayed away from it.

Amber - Do you wield any sort of superpower? If so, what is it?

Well technically I am perfectly normal for someone of my family but I guess this uses humans as reference? Well let’s just say that I am particularly found of flying, that I have a pretty good health, and that fire is a part of me.

Olive - What is your Greek personality type? (sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric, or melancholic)

What is a greek personality type? It sounds interesting.

(Note from Avit: He tends toward sanguine)

Brunswick - Are you a person who is often jealous? what makes you jealous most often? 

What is there to be jealous about? I am sometimes resentful of the freedom granted to others but this is a hardly jealousy. I a more than ready to share something or someone that I love if this is the only way to make sure that I can still have them.

Denim - What is your fashion style?

I have pretty expensive taste. I like rich and dark fabrics with complicated embroidery. I also love high quality thin leather. I am not overly found of fur though. A bit as a decoration can be nice but I don’t see the point in more. While I love clothes that are structured they must still be confortable to move with.

Ghost- Are you easily scared? What scares you the most? 

No I am not. I don’t think there are things that scares me particularly. However there are things that anger me.

Shadow - What is your biggest regret? 

Regrets are for things you are responsible of. I do not make choices that lead me to regrets.

Black - What is the darkest thing you’ve ever done? 

There was a time with Alpaïs… No this was an accident. 

Onyx - What are your nightmares most often about? 

Having to stay stuck on the ground in Vicis. Who would want that?

Saran

Rose - Would you consider yourself a romantic person?

If you are asking me if I am the type of person who would die of anguish on a desert moor, the answer is no. If you are asking me if I am type of person who would stupidly ruin their life in a duel, the answer is no. If you are asking me if I would built my entire life around notion such as true love, the answer is still no.

Amber - Do you wield any sort of superpower? If so, what is it?

I have absolutely no power or capacities that are out of the ordinary. None. And the people telling you that I am a too lucky for not being a bit of a witch are obviously sore losers and there is no truth in their allegations.   

Jumpsuit - Have you ever been arrested/ in trouble with authority?

I tend to avoid being noticed negatively by the authority even if I am not very convinced by how most of its representatives wield power and I will discuss it but not with anyone.

I have insulted the entire ruling council or Arcem, but in my defense I was already in trouble and they were making the situation worse.

Emerald - If you could be immortal, would you want to be? 

What would be the point of being immortal? I have nothing to accomplish that I can’t accomplish in my life-time and I do not want to be alone forever. 

Peacock - Are you a more flashy person, or do you like to blend in?

To be perfectly honest I do not tend to blend in, but I don’t really have control on that, there aren’t a lot of people whose family is from the Horde of the Blue Wolf in Écre. However I am not a flashy person either. I might be a bit to outspoken sometimes though.  

Ash - Is there something or someone from your past that you miss? 

My father and my mother.

Sichilde

Coral - Do you have a strong moral code? What are some moral things that you feel strongly about?

I think everyone should tend toward being moral. For me the core of morality is respect and I try to respect others, social expectations and decency. It makes everyone’s life easier, isn’t it?

Coconut - What would be your ideal vacation? 

I wouldn’t leave someone else to shoulder my duties and I have to be here for my father but a quiet place with a chosen like-minded people does sounds nice.

Sepia - Do you have any hobbies? If so, what are they?

I love music, playing the luth and singing. I try to write my own songs but most of the time I just put already existing story in music. I wish more artists would come to Vicis so I could learn new things from them but it is complicated. 

I enjoy embroidery too but I tend to get bored with it after some time. 

Hickory - How smart are you? Would you consider yourself more book smart or street smart?

I am not bad at navigating the court I think, but I must be lacking when it comes to reading certain people. I enjoy learning things and I try to know everything someone of my rank should strive to know but I would not pretend to the name of erudite.

Penny - If you could make a substantial living doing anything, what would you do?

I would enjoy being a court musician, of teaching music to people passionated by it, but of course it is no what I am supposed to be.

and for the all cast!

Ink - write your autobiography in one sentence 

Bassel: I am  Bassel Derkomaï Prince of Arcem, last member of the most noble line in the world, but don’t hesitate to talk to me about things I don’t know about.

Saran: I am the daughter of Bat-Erdene and Doria and I intend to become one the best goldsmith of Écre and all the West to honor their memory.  

Rémi: I come from Clerveille and I have had the chance that my mother did everything for me and that Sir Roland tutored me.

Sichilde: I am the daughter of Monseigneur Fergal, Marechal of Arcem, and a member of the Derkomaï court.

Avit: I am the Chancellor of Vicis, and please to do not think the words of his Eminency Bassel Derkomaï are an invitation to make him lose his time, or make me lose mine.

Robert: I happen to be the most promising knight and best looking one in Clerveille, I also try my best to make Rémi have a bit a fun sometimes.

Kénaël: I am supposed to deal with mostly incompetent guards and soldiers while being in a delicate cross-authority situation and my best friend is the most insufferable person on earth and my prince.

▌FACE CLAIM : Done with Rinmaru’s Mega Anime Avatar Creator (as you did, but I qm not really happy with the results, her faces isn’t round enough and her eyes look too European). I also really like Devon Aoki as a face claim, just imagine a stronger bigger nose and generally chubbier face.

▌NAME : Sarangerel (called Saran by nearly everyone)

▌AGE : 20

▌HEIGHT : 1m60 (5,25 feet apparently)

▌SPECIES : Human

▌GENDER : Female

▌BIRTHDAY : Not properly defined, probably born at the end of winter beginning of spring

▌RESIDENCE : Clerveille - Chramn’s goldsmithery workshop

▌MARITAL STATUS : Betrothed to Rémi (at the beginning of the story)

▌ALIGNMENT : Lawful Neutral

▌DRINK : almond milk (as she discovers during the story)

▌FOOD : meat pie

▌DAY OR NIGHT : day

▌SNACKS : roasted chestnuts

▌PET : None

▌COLOUR : warm color around yellow and brown 

▌FLOWER : Magnolia

▌SEXUALITY : Heterosexual

▌BODY TYPE : large shoulder, sturdier than the average girl of her height

▌EYE COLOUR : Dark 

▌HAIR COLOUR : Ash Blond

▌FACE CLAIM : None yet!

▌NAME : Rémi

▌AGE : 22

▌HEIGHT : 1m70ish (5,6ish feet)

▌SPECIES : Human

▌GENDER : Male

▌BIRTHDAY : born during the summer

▌RESIDENCE : Clerveille - has a room in Sir Roland’s house

▌MARITAL STATUS : Betrothed to Saran (at the beginning of the story)

▌ALIGNMENT : Lawful Good

▌DRINK : hard cider

▌FOOD : pâtes de fruit, that (without the added sugar obviously):

Sorry I didn’t find the English term 

▌DAY OR NIGHT : day

▌SNACKS : blackberry pâte de fruit

▌PET : None

▌COLOUR : I personally associate him with blue, he would rather goes with light blue

▌FLOWER : None 

▌SEXUALITY : Heterosexual but he isn’t really concern by this

▌BODY TYPE : quite a sturdy physic, but at the difference of Saran his comes from practice.

▌EYE COLOUR : Hazel

▌HAIR COLOUR : Brown

▌FACE CLAIM : None yet but I this art really makes me think of him (https://annedey.tumblr.com/post/170625792812#notes)

▌NAME : Bassel Derkomaï

▌AGE : 24

▌HEIGHT : 1m88 (6,17 feet)

▌SPECIES : Dragon

▌GENDER : Male

▌BIRTHDAY : During the last month of winter, approximately 9 months after the summer solstice (yes this is important)

▌RESIDENCE : Vicis, capital citadel of Arcem 

▌MARITAL STATUS : Has three concubines (at the beginning of the story)

▌ALIGNMENT : Chaotic Neutral 

▌DRINK : spiced wine

▌FOOD : stuffed pheasant 

▌DAY OR NIGHT : night

▌SNACKS : wild fruit, because it means he has found them himself and is probably currently on his own exploring

▌PET : He has several mares that have been tamed and trained personally for him - if it counts as pets.

▌COLOUR : I personally associate him with green, he would only go for dark and bright green, colors that are difficult to dye... But he also likes dark and bright red, and gold.

▌FLOWER : lilies I guess. 

▌SEXUALITY : Bisexual 

▌BODY TYPE : rather tall and lean but muscular, he is quite physically impressive for the average person (and he knowns it)

▌EYE COLOUR : Saran from the background: Creepy! Bassel: Avit told me people get use to it! Saran still from the background: That’s a lie!

Green blue, a very unnatural color with a way too thine pupil.

▌HAIR COLOUR : Chestnut