#i mean they're really the same person..sorta...

he's using his knowledge to create the greatest disaster possible for him to retire and ningguang to take over so part of it is just bad luck and the other half is him?? not understanding the game at all and attempting to have this scale model of liyue mimic the actual liyue where he's retired and it's okay. the logic here is that current liyue is thriving while he has no mora, hence the plan is that if he has no mora here liyue will do fine- unfortunately this also means losing the game, but what can you do?

zhongli: good at econs. bad at games. very Not hip with the youth. (at the side, hutao has hijacked the rex lapis figurine, no longer in use, and is poking it around the board while advertising coffins. "citizens of liyue! wangsheng gave such good funerary rites!! preorder now, second coffin half off!")

bUT you know who would probably absolutely do the whole funky chess thing????

beidou. ningguang is... so tired.

cinematic parallels and whatnot(drew a thing by accident) but also that subplot is so pretty and so clever i love it!!! your mind!!!! obsessed

archon jean,,, ehheheheheh thank you ;v;

(i have a 10% done storyboard based entirely off anemo angst jshdjsk)

COURTING PROCESS:

-When choosing a mate it's going to be different for every dragon. Some dragons prefer a mate that can equal to them in strength, some prefer a stronger mate to take care of them, some prefer a weaker mate to take care of and protect. Some don't care at all about strength and instead go for other traits such as personality comparability, looks, the wealth they have, how good of a provider they can be, or how good of a parent they can be for future young. Sometimes it's a whole mix of these things. But again it depends on the dragon and varies from dragon to dragon.

-However one thing stays the same with every dragon. All dragons are VERY picky when it comes to even considering someone a potential mate candidate. The courting process also varies from different types of dragons but most of the initial patterns are the same. When first catching a dragon's eye usually the dragon first goes through a 'platonic trial process'. By that I mean they spend time both observing and spending time with said potential mate in a strictly platonic way to see how they like them in general before considering anything romantic. This platonic process usually lasts anywhere between 1-3 years because as stated before, dragons are very picky about who they allow around their nests/thrones and potentially raising young with and want to be sure about taking things to the next level before committing to it.

-During this process, dragons are usually kinda more friendly offering platonic gifts that wouldn't mean anything in the long run in case they decide not to pursue them further. Such as the same gifts a platonic best friend would give you. Maybe buying you lunch one time or offering to help you with an errand such as picking up groceries for you on occasion or helping you weed the garden, those sorta things. They want to gauge how their potential darling reacts to their true personalities and how they are before making a choice. If they decide not to pursue or the Darling doesn't show interest, they usually leave to look elsewhere without another word. Cookies do not know a lot about the courting process of a dragon, so a dragon who they consider to be a good friend usually is a dragon in the early courting process making a lot of misunderstandings happen for dragons who decide to court a cookie for whatever reason. After all if they can like each other in a strictly platonic way, then surely you can love each other in a romantic way! That is their thinking process.

-During this platonic state usually they don't let you into their homes, meet any family they have, or really show any form of affection or actions that can be seen as romantic interest. They see things such as letting you see their throne/nest, meeting their families/clans, and letting you into their territories as things only reserved for mates/ones they're courting in a romantic way so if a dragon travels from their home alot to random places they wouldn't be usually, that's a big reason why. Usually they prefer to meet in neutral locations such as towns, forests, etc during the platonic trial part of the journey.

-If the dragon decides that yes, they indeed like you and believe the other also has shown similar interest, they will initiate the courting process by offering a 'First Courting Gift' this makes or breaks the next step of their process. They will offer something considered highly valuable to that particular dragon. It's not always something physical either and again this gift varies from dragon to dragon. Maybe a dragon who has an aversion to touch offers you out of the blue to hug them, or maybe someone like Lotus Dragon Cookies gifts you a petal from the flower on their head, maybe someone like Pitaya Dragon Cookie offers to actually let you have a turn of swinging their sword, etc. Again the First Courting Gift depends from dragon to dragon. Although the most commonly thing offered is usually a piece of their treasure hoard or a scale. If the object of their romantic desire accepts, that means they have given the dragon giving the gift permission to start romantically pursuing them. If you reject the offer or seem displeased by it, then they take that as a rejection and to seek courtship elsewhere. Again cookies aren't too knowledgeable about dragon courting rituals, so what seems like a harmless gift from a good friend is really giving them permission to start 'dating' you in their language.

-The romantic courting process is usually shorter than the platonic part of the courting process. Around 1 1/2 to 2 years at the longest but they still want to court them for a while as said, they are very picky and want to be sure they are the one/gives the other a chance to call it off if they do not feel compatible. So enough time to make sure both parties are feeling right while also giving the courtee time to call it off. Again most cookies in the past who were courted by dragons did absolutely not know about this and thus had no idea the dragon though they were dating. From the cookies' perspective, they just had a really good friend which makes it a lot more dangerous if the cookie was already in a relationship or liked someone else.

COURTSHIP BEHAVIORS:

-During this part of the process dragons want to prove themselves as good partners to their mate. So a lot of new behaviors happen during this time:

Proving they can provide for them: Prepare for bags of fruit and veggies or dead prey to be dropped off constantly at your house, this happens at least once a week. They'll go out of their way to look for the sweetest fruits, the tastiest veggies, hunt the fattiest and/or biggest prey- Sometimes they'll instead buy highly fancy meals instead. EX: Longan Dragon Cookie or Lotus Dragon Cookie are more likely to tell their personal chef to make you the most elaborate/expensive meals or to buy the nicest looking foods from bakeries/restaurants they know you like. Providing nesting materials or protection also falls under this catagory. They take your tastes into account so don't be surprised if Pitaya suddenly shows up with a cup of coffee they know you like they stole from an innocent cookie they threatened at sword point. They will also show off wealth with elaborate gifts. Want a dress you saw one day in the window at the local clothing store but didn't have enough money? Boom! It's mailed to your house the next day. Comment on liking a friend's bracelet? TADA!! A better diamond studded one is handed right over to you! Complain about how expensive it is to hire a plumber to fix the annoying drip in your bathroom sink? A plumber arrives on your doorstep not a day later paid so well that he fixes all your pipes while he's there.

Nesting behavior: They'll start offering to help cleaning up around your 'nest' house more, and bring more 'nesting materials' for it too. You'll answer a knock at the door and a dragon will be standing there with a bag of new furniture or lots of pillows and blankets for your bed. This also includes rearranging your house to their taste, painstakingly cleaning it from floor to ceiling even if you've already deep cleaned everything, throwing out something that irks them being there- Nesting instincts are VERY strong during this time so if you want them to not throw out your grandma's antique desk or try to scrub the bathtub for the millionth time, you have to tell them. This preening behavior of their environment also goes both ways. They'll want both your 'nest' to be perfect to their standards, and their own territory/home as well. So many, many, MANY days are solely dedicated to painfully go through their territories cleaning it up, making it free from intruders, and looking it's best before even considering bringing you to look at your soon-to-be home. They want to make sure you'll like your new home once you fully accept them.

Being a good partner : Showing that they have the means to be a good loyal partner(cheating is a BIG no no in dragon society), they can provide and be a good mate for any future offspring, can protect them, etc. These behaviors include showing feats of strength to prove not only can they hunt potential prey but also protect their mate and their future offspring. Sometimes they will talk another dragon into sparing with them to show off their strength (such as Pitaya talking Hollyberry into sparing with them to impress the lady cookie by showing how strong they were). More protective instincts also happens during this time. If you have any enemies or anyone causing you problems, prepare for them to either be beaten nearly to crumbling into flour to intimidation to flat out killing them. Sometimes they'll see others as threats when they really aren't. Encounter one Karen you have on the job in a passing comment? They're missing that night. Casually mention the time you and your siblings were mean to each other as dumb little kids? Expect next time for the dragon to hiss and have a talk with your family about treating you better. Mentioned how annoyed you are with the neighbor constantly letting his cake hound poop on your lawn? The cake hound is digesting in their stomach as the owner frantically looks for their missing pet. They won't even mention they did it because they assume the courting cookie already know about the process. Dragons are surprisingly good listeners and remember little things you say so be careful.

If you have a boyfriend/girlfriend/fiance already or someone you have a crush on, they'll see it as a challenge and try to one up their rival suitor. After all it wasn't uncommon back in the olden age of dragons for a dragon to have more than one suitor, so this is considered a normal part of the courting process to them. Prepare for the other boyfriend/fiance/girlfriend to be bombarded by glares, hisses, the dragons puffing up their chests and baring fangs to make themselves look bigger. Other times they'll be challenged to a duel over who gets to court you. Most of the time though, they'll be one up-ing said lover. Oh? They got you flowers? Lotus Dragon has Hydrangea Cookie gather the most beautiful flowers in Lotus Paradise and sends them to you in a much BIGGER bouquet. They took you out on a fun trip? Lychee Dragon drags you to the best shows and carnivals on earth bread FOR FREE courtesy of (threatening-) bribing the carnival owners. Oh! He brought you your favorite food? Ananas Dragon prepares the most beautiful looking, tastiest tropical island fruit Pineapple Island has to offer.

And of course being a good partner also means being a good member of the family as well. Dragons are big into family bonds and promises, as headcannoned by how Pitaya is so dedicated to keeping his word, how Ananas tried to protect his Islanders by sending them away before Longan could come back around to his isle and turn them to stone, and how much Longan placed value on seeing more of their kind. If you have any relatives be prepared for them to also receive gifts on their doorstep and a helping hand(even if reluctantly) from the dragon and for the dragon to insist on you meeting any family of theirs however you don't get to meet their family until much later into the romantic courting process. They usually meet your family first before you meet theirs, they want to leave a good impression on your family and vise versa as it's an important topic for them, especially if they're considering starting a family with you after this/allowing you near their family at all. So expect Pitaya to insist on having play dates with Snapdragon out of nowhere one day or Longan suddenly bluntly introducing you to their offspring Dragon Eye Cookie or for Ananas to finally allow you to meet the members of the Mango Tribe after so long. They will be paying VERY close attention to how you interact with their family/who they consider family. If you're of course polite and try to get along with them, they'll see that as a good sign you're the one. Or in cases like Pitaya and Longan, a good mother candidate for their child.

Looking physically/bodily pleasant : This applies both outwardly looks wise and in general health overall. Like their territories, dragons will want to look appealing for their love during this process so a lot of preening goes into making themselves look their best. Lots more baths, more time polishing their scales/removing loose scales, polishing their armor in Pitaya's case, brushing their hair out if they usually don't care about that, etc. Basically just looking as clean and pleasing to the eye as possible. After all a good looking mate usually means a mate in good health and a much better likely one to be accepted. This also is when a lot of physical feats/tricks/showing off their body come into play. Mating dances, sparring, showing off strength in ways such as lifting up heavy objects, flexing their muscles, bringing them prey/enemies bodies also applies here, serenading, etc. Showing off their powers is also a part of this showing how good they have honed their bodies to handle it- Ex: Lychee Dragon will show how they can shape shift.

THE FINAL STAGES:

-When the dragon feels enough sufficient process has been made/enough time has passed, they will offer one final gift. This IS a proposal. This IS also very dangerous for the other if they have no idea what's going on because once they say yes or accept thinking it's just another friendly present, there is absolutely NO going back!! Dragon mate for life. Or until one of them dies, even then they rarely ever take a mate after. The gift is something precious to them. Usually it's a scale from their body or in some cases something else personal such as Pitaya or Lotus will kneel before you and offer their beloved sword or mandalin waiting for your reaction. This gift is given silently as they believe actions speak louder than words, and to them this is a test FOR THEM. Not you. If you accept then that means THEY earned YOUR trust. YOUR acceptance. YOUR love. This is your LAST CHANCE to reject them and not have your life ruined. If you asks them what's going on they'll remain silent seeing it as a part of the test leaving you standing there. If you awkwardly or confusedly accept the gift, then your fate is sealed. This is literally their proposal and vows! You accepting the gift is to them the equivalent of saying "I do" at the alter.

-That's when the 'mating bond' will be set in. The last thing to do is to finally claim you, and by that I mean is that they'll bite down hard enough on your shoulder to not only drawl blood but also to scar permanently. If you kick, scream, cry, and try to hit them Prepare for the dragon to be shocked by the sudden rejection from their mate. They're confused and angry by the rejection, especially if you go running to your actual lover. Prepared for them to come after you, to bring you back to their home. In their mind you're THEIR mate now. Anyone else now is an enemy and don't be surprised if your other lover is full on killed by them. The mating bond will be strong, being drawn to you and being able to seemingly track you everywhere. Dragons are naturally yanderes once they're mated whether that be to another dragon or a cookie. There's no such thing as divorce and the only way out is if one of you passes away. If you fake your death, they will still feel you're alive through the mating bond. There's no going back once that bite is placed. There's no escape. So it's best to reject any dragon that comes across your way.

MINOR BONUS TIDBITS:

-On the light hearted side- Some lighter mating habits includes:

-Play fighting and sparring with their mates, so if the dragons suddenly start trying to pick a fight, it's not malicious but they like to sometimes spare with their mate as a form of bonding, playing, or helping to train them to protect themselves. So you fighting back after they take you might not register as you actually trying to get away at first.

-Play chase. So if you try to run away, they might see it as you playing or playing hard to get.

-Preening. Taking baths together and spending time 'preening' you, aka brushing your hair or 'sharpening your claws'(filing your nails) is also a type of bonding experience between mates often pulling loose scales from each other. Sometimes you'll have to remind them you'd prefer baths instead of them licking you.

-Physical touch. Standing close to you, touching you in someway even if it's just their tail touching your leg, cuddling, preening also falls under this, carrying you, etc. The quickest way to get them purring would be offering to massage them. They'll be in your lap purring like a cat in no time.

-Praise! Praise! Praise! ALL dragons want praise. Especially ones with big egos like Ananas or Pitaya. The want to be praised and to know they're being a good mate.

They both heavily use charm as a weapon. Beldaruit sees through it pretty easily during their conversation and calls Deanreldy out, firmly rebuffing his interest. He seems very aware of what the king wants out of him and how he's using his position as healer as leverage to get something out of a person in a vulnerable spot.

Deanreldy instantly throws that right back in his face as he holds the view that witches do the exact same: offer help disguised as control.

The whole scene is uncomfortable in the way the king shifts tactics through the conversation, trying to win Bel with charm, logic, then by being vaguely threatening when the first two don't work.

There's a menacing, creepy intimacy to the way this is presented, with Bel on the bed gripping the sheets and the king looming over him in a position of power.

Bel is constantly presented through the panels looking up at the king, being framed as smaller or having to lean himself up to engage. And when it's clear Bedaruit isn't going to give him what he wants Deanreldy jokingly dismisses him and ends the conversation.

Someone online pointed out that it also seems the king has not offered Beldaruit the use of a mundane wheelchair, essentially trapping him in bed which leads to the bedsores and his need for treatment, lending an even more sinister edge to the situation.

Later, after Silver Eve, Deanreldy is incensed when the counterclock heals the wounds of the people he'd spent all night doctoring. Here I can honestly sort of understand his upset. He's likely been laboring for hours, fighting to keep wounded people alive and lost who knows how many, when the witches just come in and appear to 'instantly' fix everything.

But in retaliation he uses his position as king to forcefully tip the balance by kneeling to Beldaruit and Lagrah in front of his subjects when they're unable to stop him. He succeeds by backing the witches into a corner and literally forcing them to retreat.

Deanreldy truly seems to want the ability to wield magic as a tool and he will use whatever means necessary to get it.

Eoleo, on the other hand, seems more interested in rekindling the old partnership between king and witch.

He first forms a connection with Tetia when they met during Silver Eve and he's hiding from his bodyguards. From her he learns that the old bond between king and witch might be possible to achieve when she's so open to a friendship with him. He even says "In speaking with you, lady witch, I see a flicker of hope for a dream I'd thought impossible."

Tetia, much like Beldaruit, clocks him pretty quickly, seeming to realize she misstepped by so easily offering him friendship and later expressing discomfort with his proposal. Tetia is a very emotionally intelligent character so it's possible she read the undertones in Eoleo's seemingly innocent request.

Eoleo later meets Riliphin, reaching out to him with empathy while he was overwhelmed in the forest after the leech attack and separated from his master.

His interest in helping Riliphin when he was having a panic attack is presented as genuine. He sees his scars and offers him a way to ask for help if he's being abused. He sits with him, doesn't mock when he expresses fear of crowds, and offers advice that helps him calm down.

When Eoleo realizes that other people might be suffering in a similar way he wants to help and instantly hops to magic as a solution, asking Riliphin if he knows Tetia and seeking his aid to find her.

And Eoleo does succeed in getting Riliphin, Tetia, and the other apprentices to help the evacuated citizens. He does so by reaching out with empathy and friendship to the young witches who are more open to reciprocating this sort of relationship than their elders, which likely only reinforces Eoleo's belief that king and witch as partners can work.

After Silver Eve is over Tetia goes home and isn't in Eoleo's immediate sphere any more. It seems he shifts targets to Riliphin who is stuck in the castle while Beldaruit recovers from his broken arm. Like Tetia he's young and kind but unlike her, at least as far as we know, he has a history of being abused by people in authority.

Eoleo and Danreldy have different tactics when it comes to trying to get what they want but their views and some of their approaches parallel each other quite closely.

They both make a point to highlight the divide between witch and non-witch, Deanreldy to point out how old-fashioned it is and Eoleo to use it to put Riliphin at ease. Both takes seek to break down that barrier with their respective target.

They both use a tactic of being overly friendly and familiar with their witches. Eoleo employs a lot of physical touch, which he can likely better get away with given his age and how well he plays innocent.

Deanreldy leans on verbal familiarity, speaking to Beldaruit in a way that's not really proper between two leaders and also sweeping him up in his bold acts, forcing Bel to participate even if it's not overly wise to do so.

Both of them speak of 'their' witch and their powers as a tool they wish to acquire or something they wish to have. In Eoleo's case he first seems to be talking about Tetia specifically but after Silver Eve he may just be open to any witch.

I found that interesting because I wasn't sure if the story was trying to set up a relationship between Tetia and Eoleo in the vein of Richeh/Eunini. But Eoleo does the same disarming, eager-for-friendship play with Riliphin, so I get the feeling he's not quite so picky.

And now we're at a point where master and apprentice are stuck in the castle with these two for the time being, as Beldaruit requires more treatment.

The discomforting isolation is back when we see a few panels of Bel in bed, surrounded exclusively by the king's staff. It's an opulent space, not a prison cell, but for all intents Deanreldy essentially has Bel at his mercy, again weaponizing his position as ruler and healer to control 'his' witch. (Bel does not look happy about this.)

With Beldaruit in this position it's unsure how much supervision or protection he can provide his apprentice, leaving Riliphin to Eoleo's attentions.

The prince has already started up with the charm and working to build a close friendship with Riliphin much in the same way he did with Tetia.

With her he appealed to her outgoing and upbeat personality, with Riliphin he seems to focus more on his desire not to upset anyone in a way that feels like a guilt-trip. Which is uncomfortable in the light of Riliphin's past abuse.

Eoleo is breaking down the barrier in a slow, personal, 'soft' way in contrast to his father who took a direct, public route that instantly put Beldaruit and Lagrah on the defensive.

There's also a costuming thing going on. Eoleo asks to try on Tetia's hat and apprentice garb when they first meet, blurring the lines between them. There are some visual elements that tie Eoleo and Riliphin together too, such as the flared cut of their sleeves and a noticeable triangle shape to their collars.

Later, Eoleo has his guards clad Riliphin in the same feathered black cape he wore when they first met, tying their visual language even closer together, in a way that feels to me like Eoleo is claiming him.

I'm both anxious and interested to see where the plot goes with these four because I don't at all think it's anywhere near done yet.

These two are just so layered and intriguing to me as characters, with their complex motivations and differing ways of using their skills and abilities to acquire what they want.

I really want to like them both but they're dangerous too and pose real threats to Beldaruit and Riliphin on a personal scale and witchdom in general.

Here's the simple answer for how to write a plural character!

Step 1: Make a character, like how you would make any other character. Give them their own thoughts, feelings, and personality.

Step 2: Make another character the same way.

Step 3: Repeat a few more times if you're feeling fancy.

Step 4: Make all of those characters share a body.

Aaand you're done! Congratulations, you've made a system! It's really as simple as that if you want it to be, as at its core, plurality is just more than one selves sharing one body!

But that's not really the most nuanced way of doing it, is it? That's how you can create a generically plural character, but what if you want to get fancier, resonate with specific plural experiences?

Well... Let's forget the simple answer for now, then!

First, you want to decide what type of system you want your character to be.

I'd say there are four primary spectrums to consider here, all of which can be decided independently of each other!

Spectrum #1: disordered to nondisordered.

A disordered system typically refers to a system that meets the criteria for a specific diagnosis with a CDD (complex dissociative disorder), such as DID (dissociative identity disorder) or OSDD (other specified dissociative disorder). The symptoms and diagnosis requirements for these can be easily accessed online from sources such as the DSM-V.

A nondisordered system refers to a system that is, well, not that! This does not mean that plurality is never a struggle for them, nor does being a disordered system mean that plurality is inherently a negative experience.

If you want to write a system with dissociative amnesia between headmates, you'll likely want to write a disordered system! If you do intend to label your character with a specific medical diagnosis, please take extra care when doing research, as DID and OSDD are both highly stigmatized and frequently misunderstood diagnoses.

Also, avoid the term "multiple personality disorder"! That is no longer a medical diagnosis, it hasn't been called that since the release of the DSM-IV, and use of this term is largely considered ableist.

And lastly, maybe they don't use this framework at all! Not all plurals choose to identify as strictly disordered or nondisordered. If your OC doesn't, why not?

Spectrum #2: system origins.

Now it's time to answer why your system is a system to begin with!

Did childhood trauma cause it? Did they become plural intentionally? Perhaps it just sorta happened, or they were born as a system! Maybe it has something to do with their religious beliefs, even!

Broadly, system origins can be split into four categories: adaptive, spontaneous, created, and spiritual. A system can also be multiple of these!

Adaptive: adaptive systems are systems which became plural in response to some kind of stressor in their life, such as extreme childhood trauma or prolonged stress. Most disordered systems are adaptive! Ask yourself how their trauma may affect the relationships between their headmates. Does it cause hostility, or are they even closer because of it? A mix of both, perhaps?

Spontaneous: spontaneous systems are systems with no especially clear cause. Sometimes plurality just happens! Some folks are systems from birth! Some might not know why they're plural at all! Maybe your system OC has a unique or silly explanation for their plurality.

Created: created systems are systems which became plural intentionally through various mental exercises. It can be a long and complicated process for some, and come quite naturally for others! I recommend actually researching methods of system creation if you want to make a character who is a created system, to get a feel for what the process may have been like for them! Also, why did your OC choose to become plural to begin with?

Spiritual: spiritual systems are systems whose plurality is tied to spiritual or religious beliefs! This is quite broad. If you want to base this around a specific real world religion, be mindful to do your research! If not, what might their specific beliefs about their system be? Do they see their headmates as having come from somewhere else, like another world? Please remember to treat all spiritual and religious beliefs with respect, even more unorthodox ones.

Mixed origins: as I said, none of the above terms are mutually exclusive! Maybe your OC's system was created intentionally for spiritual reasons! Maybe your OC's system formed spontaneously but has since been influenced heavily by trauma! Don't be afraid to mix it up!

Unlabeled origins: many systems choose not to label their origins at all! It's not something all systems care about, for one, and some systems also actively dislike the idea of putting themselves in a specific box. Some systems also just don't know their origins.

Spectrum #3: singlet to plural.

Okay, well, this one's weird, isn't it? Either you're plural or you're not, right?

Well, actually, no!

Some systems are what are called median systems, essentially in-between plural and singlet. Median systems may see their headmates more as differing facets of themselves than entirely separate people!

Median systems may identify with both plural and singlet experiences.

Separation between different headmates in a system can vary wildly from plural to plural!

Spectrum #4: headcount

Finally, how big is your plural OC's system?

There's no wrong answer here! Smaller systems may be easier to write, but if you want to write a large system, you don't necessarily need to precisely define details on every single headmate. Maybe they have more common fronters, so you can focus development on those!

Systems can be any size, from as small as two to as big as, well, infinity! Yes, you read that right, some systems actually claim to have infinite or uncountable headmates! The sky's the limit.

Please do note that duo systems, systems of two headmates, seem to be the most common in media, but are actually rather rare among systems in real life. If you make a duo system character, I recommend also making one other plural character with a higher headcount to reflect this! Obviously there are plenty of duo systems in real life, though, they're just not especially common.

I'd say a good number is about five to ten headmates. It should be manageable from a writing perspective, but it's also closer to the actual average headcount I've observed among plural peers (15-20). If you're up to the challenge, though, I absolutely recommend creating a larger system! Systems with a hundred or more headmates are actually quite common! Obviously this could be a huge writing challenge if you actually want information on every single headmate, but you don't need to be that detailed, and you can make new headmates for your OC as it comes up in the story.

Things to consider

Here are some more miscellaneous things to consider when making a plural OC!

Do they have any introjects?

Introjects are headmates that are in some way based on an external source. For example, a system might get an introject of their sibling, or a favorite fictional character! Not all systems have them, but they are very common.

Do they have introjects of real people in their life, and does that cause tension? Maybe their system has been heavily influenced by a special interest, so they have many introjects from a piece of media that's important to them!

What is their internal communication like?

Some systems can talk to each other freely in their head, while others can't communicate internally at all! And everything in between.

If they have difficulty with internal communication, what external tools might they use to talk to one another? Maybe they keep a journal, or leave each other sticky notes! Maybe they don't talk at all!

What are the relationships between headmates like?

Do they get along? Do they hate each other? Does it vary between headmates? (That last one is the best answer!)

Are any of them friends? Family? Enemies? Dating? Exes? And yes, headmates can be all of these things!

Maybe they have so little communication that they're practically strangers to one another, but one headmate has a lot of spite towards whoever keeps eating their leftover cake!

How do they feel about roles?

Many systems use a framework of roles for their headmates, as many headmates split for specific purposes! The most common fronter may call themself the host, for example! The one who takes care of the others may be the caretaker, the one who protects the others from harm may be the protector, and so on.

Some systems find role language like this helpful, others don't! What about your OC?

What ways do their headmates vary?

...And what ways might they be similar?

Do they have different genders, orientations, fashion senses, music taste, mannerisms, interests, accents, fears, hopes, or dreams? Do these differences cause tension, or do they all accept each other?

Are some of their headmates different ages? The most common terms for a child headmate are little or syskid!

Are some of them different species? If so, do they consider themselves otherkin or a therian, or do they see it as something else?

Maybe they're similar in some ways too! Maybe all of the headmates are the same gender, or the system trends towards a specific area of the gender spectrum!

Do they have a headspace?

...And if so, what's it like?

A headpsace, or innerworld, is an internally imagined space. Basically, exactly what it sounds like, and singlets can have them too! But they're more common among systems.

It can serve as a place for headmates to speak with one another, a place where headmates go when they're not fronting, and just generally a world for headmates to occupy.

Not all systems have one! Does your OC?

If so, how big is it? Is it a room? A building? A town? An island? A world? Does it even have an edge?

How detailed is it? Is it an empty void, a fully fleshed out world, or somewhere in-between?

Did they create one intentionally, or has it just sorta always been there?

What terminology do they use?

Many systems have varying idiolects when talking about their systems!

What do they call their headmates, for example? Just headmates? Alters? Members? Sysmates? Facets? Parts? Brain friends? Or something unique to them, like stars or puppies or fuckers or anything else! Does it vary between headmates?

(Note that "alters" is generally more common among disordered systems! Also, parts language is considered offensive to many systems, but many also actually prefer those terms for themselves. Always ask!)

Do they call themself a system? A collective? A plurality? Something unique, like a flock or a constellation?

How complex is their system's structure?

This can relate to headcount, the larger the system the more generally complex it is, but there's more to it than just that!

For example, maybe your OC's system also has subsystems! Those are exactly what they sound like, a system inside a system, a headmate with headmates.

Maybe their system has different layers or sidesystems! Essentially two entirely or mostly separate systems within the same brain. Sidesystems may have worse communication with headmates from other sidesystems, or they may not be able to communicate at all!

Do they have any fragments, "partially formed" headmates?

Do they know they're a system?

Maybe they don't! Maybe they found out recently! Maybe they've known for years! Maybe they've always known!

If they don't, are they going to find out during the story? What might that look like for them? What do they think is going on, if they don't know it's plurality?

Do they use external tools?

Do they keep a journal? Do they leave notes for each other?

Maybe they wear pins or bracelets to show who's fronting! Maybe they use an app to track their system and their fronting!

Plurality and magic

If you're writing a story with magic, how might magic and plurality intersect?

Maybe different headmates can use different types of magic! Maybe their magic looks different depending on the fronter!

I would caution against having your only plural character be plural from magical origins, such as possession, though. Those can very much be akin to plurality in media, and there's no reason not to explore that! However it is fundamentally disconnected from the experiences of real systems, so if you are specifically setting out to make a plural character, I'd recommend against explaining their plurality with magic. This doesn't apply if you're willing to include multiple systems in your story, like one magical in nature and one not!

Closing thoughts

Writing a plural character is much like writing any other character.

Do your research, be prepared to receive constructive criticism, but don't be afraid to try! This may all seem like a LOT to consider, but you don't have to include every single thing I mentioned here, this is all just something to get you started and give you a basic idea of what's out there!

The bottom line is, write your plural character like a person. Plurality is not a gimmick, and it's not an entire character in and of itself. It's a trait a character can have! Yes, it's quite a unique trait, and comes with a lot of implications for the character, but it's still just part of the character.

Include your plural OC in the story how you would any other. Let them be a character, with their own story, with friends, with enemies, with strengths and weaknesses.

Your old men were both coming off a week straight of work, while you and Samira were in the middle of a few days off. This resulted in the two of you electing to pamper them for a day or two before you had to go back. You'd driven, practically throwing Jack out of the drivers spot because of his chivalrous nature.

"You know, Jack, at a certain point, not letting me drive is just misogynistic."

Jack snorts, "It's not that I don't trust you. I like to be drving when I'm in the car. I don't even like Robby in the front seat."

Robby, however, had no such qualms, stretching his long legs out on the centre console while Samira rests her head in his lap. He's not paying attention to your conversation, readers on as he swipes through whatever book he downloaded onto your e-reader as his hand lightly scratches at Samira's scalp whose eyes are already closing.

"Go be passenger princess, doll," you emphasize the nickname he uses for you, "Go nap, daddy will get us to the cabin in no time."

Eventually Jack relents, walking around the car to the seat next to you. You start the engine once you hear his seatbelt click, looking back in the rearview mirror.

"How long till those two pass out?" you ask as you start to back out.

"No chance they're awake by the time we hit the freeway."

───────────────✧───────────────

Some time later, you and Samira decide to reward your old men for working so hard.

You've got Jack under you as your leaning forward, using the headboard for leverage as you spear yourself on his cock. His stubble scratches at your chest as his face is buried in your tits.

Samira is in the exact same position - sorta. The plan was to ride the ER cowboys like god intended, which you were doing grunting as Jack's fingers dug into your hips to guide you along his shaft. Except Samira hates being on top. You'd told her she didn't have to, but she'd insisted.

Now, she was whining on top of Robby, hands braced on his shoulders as she tries to bottom out.

"Fuck, Robby, I think-I think, you're too big like this," her voice is strained.

It's not the first time Robby's heard that, "Yeah, princess? Gimme a second."

Robby is always careful during vaginal sex, it's too easy for him to really end up hurting his partners. He reaches down to get a fist between their bodies, creating a barrier for Samira that prevents her from going all the way down. His cock pulses at the touch, spurred on by the sound of your moans just a few feet away.

"There, sweetheart, try that."

Samira tries again, digging her knees into the bed as she rises up with no problem, but crying out when she slides down again. She whines, still uncomfortable but she gives a few more valiant bounces that make Robby's head fall back against the pillow. Meanwhile, he know's you've had your first orgasm by the way your shouts reach a crescendo.

"Everything good over there?" Jack asks as you're catching your breath, peppering kisses over his jaw.

"Think Mira's giving up," you giggle.

"Not giving up," she groans, "Just - he's too big."

Robby leans up, kissing her pouty lips.

"Mira, it's okay. You're our princess. You wouldn't be able to do it even if it were Jack."

She looks at you, offended, "Yes I could."

Both Jack and Robby laugh at that.

"Yes I could!"

"Wanna switch?" you ask.

You watch as she bites her lip, clearly not wanting to let you all get away with making fun of her but also trying to find a way out of this.

And so you end up crawling onto Robby's lap with a smile as you grab either side of his head.

"Hi, baby," you say as you lean down to kiss him, reaching down to line his cock up with you entrance, "Miss me?"

"Always, kid," Robby responds, groaning into your mouth as you sink down.

You waste no time, grinding down on him as you grind on him. You know each others bodies well by now, hips rolling against each other in rhythm as you work yourself closer to the edge.

Meanwhile, Samira is still struggling, looking at Jack with pleading eyes but still to proud to tell Jack he was right.

Jack sighs, "C'mon, Mohan you're killing me here."

But he's nothing if not a gentleman so in one fell swoop he flips Samira over, not giving her any time to recover.

The slam of the Samira's back against the mattress in combonation with yours and Robby's aggressive thrusts is the bedframe's final straw.

You can't hear the creak over all the noises between the four of you, but your stomach drops as the bed gives way underneath you, clinging to Robby.

"Shit, you say, as you catch your breath, "You okay, Michael?"

You try to move slowly, trying to untangle yourself from him.

"I'm good, sweetheart. You okay?"

You nod, "No, I mean, like, is your penis okay? I was literally sitting on it. It's not... broken is it?"

He shakes his head, "No, no I think I'm fine."

"What about you, Jack?" you turn around, looking at the silver haired man, "Any broken weiners over there?"

"No," he grunts, "I'm good over here."

"Well," Samira says, lifting herself up on her elbows, "Looks like we get to go bed shopping

───────────────✧───────────────

"That one's nice," Robby says, pointing to one of the frames on the website.

"No Robby, that one's tacky," you respond, swiping away to look at the other options, "I'll give you a list of which ones will look good and then you get final pick."

There are fewer premade bedframe options for Alaskan kings. Jack offered to make it from scratch, but since there was currently no bedframe at the cabin, you needed something a bit quicker. Until the frame came in there would be no cabin orgies, since the double bed in the guest room barely fit two people on it anyways.

"You can stop pretending you care about my opinion," Robby says, kissing your cheek.

"I care! It's your house, you get final say."

"Our house, sweetheart," he corrects, handing you his card, "Besides whatever you pick is going to be better than my taste anyways."

───────────────✧───────────────

Of course, when the bed does arrive it means that it must be broken in. It's huge, more with than enough space for the four of you to spread out. So what better way to celebrate the new addition than four you all to spend a weekend wrapped up in the sheets?

"Jesus fucking Christ, you're trying to kill me Rob," Jack pants as Robby's hovered over him, slowly sliding his thick cock into the smaller man inch by inch, taking his time.

"You're such a baby, Jack," you laugh as you reach down and run a soothing hand along his lower belly, pushing down every so slightly. The added pressure makes Jack's back arch off the bed.

"Easy for you to say, your bodies are made for this shit," his face is turning red with exertion.

You and Samira share a look.

"We've both done it before Jack," Samira says, running her fingers through his curls, "In front of you."

"Stop talking about me like I'm not here," Robby mutters, face completely flushed.

You kiss his cheek, feeling the warmth under your lips, "Don't be embarrased of your monster cock, Mikey. We all love it. Don't we Jackie?"

Jack doesn't answer, just moans as Robby slides deeper and deeper inside him.

You reach down, gripping the top of his dick, spreading around the precum with your thumb. Finally, Robby's hips are flush with Jack's. You reach up with your other hand, scratching your fingers through his beard, making a shiver run down his spine.

"Mira," Samira eyes snap away from where she's been entranced watching where your boyfriends are joined, "Wanna go sit on Jack's face? Give him something to focus on?"

She nodes, scrambling up the large bed. She's only wearing one of Robby's shirt's, Jacks face disappearing underneath it as she kneels on top of him.

You utter the words so quietly, you don't even notice they left you. Bachira does, though, turning to you in curiosity. "What did you say?"

You suddenly feel self-concious, already shaking your head. "Um, you know. It's pretty windy, so it looks like the tree's waving at us."

Bachira stares at you with his bright, wide eyes, and for a moment you think of changing the topic to move past from the silly comment. But he looks back and forth between you and the tree, before smiling widely. "You're right! We need to wave back."

A laugh of disbelief escapes you, "It's just the wind, Bachira. The trees won't be offended if we walk past."

"But that would be rude to ignore them! Come on, let's do it now!"

Bachira makes you lift your hand with his, the two of you waving animatedly. "Hi, Mr. tree! Hello, Mrs. Tree! It's a lovely day, isn't it?"

"How do you know which are male and which are female?"

"I just know. Trust my judgement, I'm a nature expert!"

You can't help but giggle, not questioning him further.

The two of you wave to every tree you find in your way that afternoon.

❀˖ °

Another day, you're heading to the store together and notice an ice cream shop. Bachira comments something animatedly, swinging your joined hands. He always seems to want to hold your hand while you walk, and you allow him so you can keep an eye on him and stop him from running off in random directions. This time, however, you're barely listening, your pace slowing down while you stare at a cone being handed over to a child.

You sigh softly, muttering, "It's not even that good..." under your breath. And though you were thinking out loud, Bachira still listens.

"You don't like ice cream?" He asks, sorta pouting like he's waiting for you to confirm it to disagree. You shift your weight, hesitating, before responding. "It's not that... They don't make it the same way anymore."

A beat passes, before you bactrack. "I mean, it's not that deep. It's still good, but it's not the same. Does that makes sense? Forget it. We can get some if you want to."

"No, I get it." He sympathizes, to your surprise. "Some of the flavors are not the same I had when I was a kid. It sucks."

Your head lifts immediately, "Yeah! That's what I mean. The new ones are good too, but sometimes I'm craving the same flavor of ice cream I had once about ten years ago with my piggy bank money."

He laughs, "That's very specific."

"But I mean it, really. I remembered the name, but when I had it again the taste was wildly different. Some of the ice cream I used to get would have bits of fruits depending on what you got, but now you have to pay extra for it. How do I know they're making it with real food? It's hard to tell."

"That's why I sometimes prefer to just have things at home. My mom would probably make some good homemade ice cream. Actually, wanna ask her?"

"Bachira! I can't bother your mom with such a thing."

He tugs at your hand, giggling, "Come on, she'd love you. We'd help her too, she wouldn't mind!"

You hesitate some more, but his friendliness melts you. Nodding meekly, "Okay... we can try that someday."

"Yay! You'll see, maybe we'll recreate what you had as a kid."

You shake your head, laughing, "Whatever you say."

But you're already looking forward to it.

❀˖ °

Sometimes, you and Bachira get together after a long day of being busy with your own stuff. Tonight, he texted asking if you were nearby, and now you're having instant noodles in a random 7-eleven. Quiet reigns while you two remain focused on your cups, until Bachira notices you've been spacing out for a minute.

He nudges your shoulder with his, catching your attention. Leaning closer, he whispers, "You look like you're thinking something fun again."

Your eyes widen, profusely shaking your head. It's only happened a few times, yet you swear he's been paying more attention to you ever since. He never pushes you to say anything, and that won't change now. But under his relentless curiosity, you give up and whisper, "That senior lady would rock a short haircut."

Bachira snickers immediately, earning him a light slap on the arm from you. "Don't laugh, I meant it in a good way!"

"She'd look like Ellen. That's a rude thing to say!"

"Well, I was thinking of a bob cut, not a pixie!"

Bachira keeps giggling, making you sigh. You take another look at the elder woman, and after the mental image Bachira placed in your head, your burst into laughter as well.

"Gosh, you're so mean," You mutter, covering your mouth to muffle your chuckling.

"Come on, you saw the vision too." Bachira grins, before leaning close again. "Look at the cat with her, now. Doesn't it look familiar?"

You calm down enough to look over, analysing. "...Wait. That fat cat from Big Hero 6?"

"Yeah, Mochi!" Bachira holds onto your arm, "I want to pet it. Let's go over!"

"We were just laughing at her expense..."

"But she doesn't know. Come on!"

Once again, you get dragged along by Bachira, this time to talk to the older lady.

You were ashamed as hell at first, but she did let you two pet her cat. The noodles you left in the cup were cold when you remembered them, but it was worth it.

Before leaving the store, Bachira stops you, pointing at a maneki-neko with a waving paw sitting on top of the counter. "Wait, we have to say goodbye first!"

And given you waved at trees together once, it doesn't feel weird this time around.

❀˖ °

After that, you've started talking to him way more often.

Pointing at every little thing, only for him to double down each time and continue the conversation.

"There's an unusual amount of ants in the area." "Wanna investigate what brought them here?"

"...Have you ever seen a cow swimming?" "No. let's look it up!"

"Look at that tit." "Excuse me...?!" "The bird, that's how they're called!" "No one calls them that!"

"Do you think a kiwi and passionfruit smoothie would taste nice?" "I think I've made something like that with my mom before. You should come home and make more stuff with us someday!"

When you're not yapping about random stuff, you're people watching while you walk, trying to guess what strangers do with their lives. The amount of times you've gone from 'hippie working at a laundromat' to 'international spy stealing secrets form the government' is concerning. It never gets old (despite your newly acquired paranoia).

Sometimes it's nice to sit down in a bench when you've walked a while, though laying down in green areas is your favored choice. Like now, feeling the park's grass against your skin while you watch the clouds. You keep spotting the most random things in them, exhaustion filtering from your body.

You exhale softly, lost in thought. There are still moments of quiet between you two, that hasn't changed. Your eyes slowly dart towards Bachira's face, and he catches you staring. And though you look away swiftly, once again, he notices.

"Penny for your thoughts?" He asks lightheartedly, as usual.

And before you can talk yourself out of it, you whisper, "...Thank you for listening to me."

Bachira processes your words for a second, before chuckling lightly. "You don't have to thank me. It's always fun to talk to you!"

You suppress the urge to roll your eyes, smiling thinly. "Well, it's because you always know what to say. If you didn't reply with something fun each time, the conversation would die and it'd be nothing but a boring moment."

"What? No..." He retorts, his usual smile tinged with a certain sadness. He rolls over to his side, taking your hand and pushing gently to make you do the same. You follow suit, now facing him directly. Once he's sure you're looking at him, he resumes speaking.

"It's nice to hear you talk, I love everything you say. Sometimes you think of things I would never have thought of, and that doesn't happen every day!" He laughs to himself. "I love talking, but I like it more when you do it instead. So never stop in my account, okay?"

It takes you a moment to fully take in his words, emotion overwhelming you and leaving you speechless for a moment. You can't conjure up anything to say, giving him a nod and hoping that'll do the trick.

Bachira giggles once more, and god, his laughter has always been contagious. Holding your hand from force of habit, he looks back at the sky, while you actively fight the awe in your chest.

You've never felt so seen, not in such a pure way. However, when it comes to Bachira... It's always been his nature to treat you this way.

It makes you realize, maybe you've underestimated yourself. There's an ache that comes with that realization, but it melts into something fond the more you get used to it.

You take a deep breath, focusing in your environment again. His palm's warm where it rests on top of yours, grounding you until you follow his gaze to the sky.

"Hey Megs..." You break the silence, and immediately after you feel his gaze on you.

"Yeah?" He asks softly, waiting patiently.

"So, I haven't watched the movies in years, but maybe you have..." He's already grinning. "...If you were to write the script for a sixth Descendants movie, what would you make it about?"

Bachira sits up abruptly, beaming in excitement. "Actually, I have a lot to say."

You mirror his movement, sitting up as well.

The melody of his voice fills the air around you again, while you prepare to give your commentary.

And while the park's always been relaxing, now you know it's Bachira that's always made you feel lighter.