#saccade

oc be upon thee

I'm going to answer these for Saccade, Potentate Zephyr and Cerebellum, because I feel like I've ignored Cerebellum and Saccade and Zephyr have been in my head a lot recently :3

😍 Do they like romance? Have they always hated the idea, or are they a swooning hopeless romantic?

Saccade never really considered herself romantic even during her marriage, and certainly doesn't now; her version of being practical and realistic means she has zero space for that. She does have the capacity for it, but you have to break down a lot of her walls to get to that point. I hesitate to say that she isn't a romantic at all though because she's a lot more game for a midnight walk on the beach or whatever than she maybe lets on.

Zephyr is not romantic at all. He hates the very notion of it, because he lives in such a heavily religious, puritan culture that the idea of love feels so warped and bastardised he has no interest in it. The relationships in the Potentate family are specifically extremely political in nature, or very cynical and for a very clear purpose, and that has warped his view of the concept irreparably.

Cerebellum is a romantic, yeah. Not quite swooning, but certainly hopeless. He loves to love! And he gets quite intense about the people he cares for and loves. You have an argument with him, a few hours later he's out in the rain with a boombox outside your window. Red roses, late night dinners, you name it, he's a fan. He almost likes the act of being in love and the performance of it more than the actual feelings that come with it.

📱Have they ever tried dating apps? How did it go?

N/A, this project doesn't have dating apps :( I do think Saccade would use them intermittently for hookups, Cerebellum would use them seriously, and Zephyr would not touch that with a 10 foot pole.

💯 What is their idea of a perfect date?

Saccade's idea of a perfect date is a place with live music, preferably traditional stuff but anything will do really. She might not be able to dance like she used to but she still likes to be part of that kind of atmosphere, and sharing that with someone is her ideal. She wouldn't say no to a nice walk either, when her leg lets her.

Zephyr's perfect date is a nice, expensive but understated dinner as far away from the city center as possible, probably seafood, with some drinks and possibly some darts or snooker. Somewhere that doesn't have a lot of churches; he doesn't need to be seeing his father's face everywhere while on a date.

Cerebellum is up for almost everything at a date, to be honest, but if it's up to him he will default to a late night drive on his motorcycle, walking around the cityscape of Old Rhapsody and taking them through the sights. He's not someone who has a lot of expectations about a "perfect" date, to be honest; going to get a half decent burger together would be more than perfect for him.

Rules: Rate your OCs based on how they handle cuddling/being cuddled on a scale of 0-10

Many thanks to @noblebs for tagging me! This thing looks so cute and fun I absolutely have to participate! I have a lot of OCs so we might be here for a while but it's a very fun exercise to go through.

Saccade: 6/10

She's got biceps like cantaloupes, and is pretty tall, so you'd think she'd be great at it but she's pretty hesitant around touch for the most part, and so usually is pretty tense and awkward. She prefers to give people a handshake or a slap on the back rather than hugging them, and that hesitation comes through.

Vítor Cadogan: 2/10

You'd think a man whose occupation is looking after emotionally damaged children would be well used to giving hugs, but nope! He tends to leave that side of things to Apricity, preferring to be more of a steadfast emotionally dependent rock as opposed to a warm, nurturing personality. He's extremely awkward about it, and he's rather lanky physically, and isn't big on touch as a rule, so the whole thing doesn't suit him.

Ucalegon: 6/10

She's very sinewy, very thin, lots of bones and edges and hard muscle. Despite this, she does put her all into it, and often rocks the people she hugs gently in her arms. She doesn't much like being hugged, but doesn't mind hugging her friends and loved ones, of which there are many. She's also pretty strong and could lift most people, if you're into that.

Cerebellum: 8/10

Muscular, a little on the boney side but he makes it up with sheer enthusiasm. A hug from Cerebellum gets you lifted in the air and twirled around in excitement. He likes to hug his friends! But it can be a bit overwhelming for people not into that, alas.

Diomede: 5/10

He's bonier and thinner than he used to be these days, and is a lot more touch-starved than he ever was with the Vagor. So very hesitant and awkward for the most part, up until his desperation for human contact hits and then he's extremely clingy until you let go.

Hendrix: 2/10

Hendrix is thin, bony, very angular, slightly wet and cold, and has a number of very hard shell growths all over his body that can and do dig into the skin. The only reason why he's not 0/10 is because he does properly try to give you a bear hug if you ask (he's not large enough to really make it work but it's the thought that counts) and he's just about tall enough for most people to snuggle in nicely, it's just that you're snuggling into what feels like rocks.

Imperator V: 9/10

V is a gentle giant in every sense of the word (except for all the murders). He's very large, both muscular and with a healthy layer of fat on him, and while he is somewhat starved for real gentle human contact he's not socially aware enough to feel awkward about it when it is initiated. If you get his shirt off him, he's also pretty hairy. He'd make a great human blanket, if you asked. One mark deducted for the very real risk that you might get blood stains on you from hugging him. On account of all the murders.

Imperator III: 0/10

Sorry babe the armour that singes the flesh of the sinners and nonbelievers of the Empyrean's doctrine stays on during hugs.

Ed Edwards: 8/10

The man is over 7 feet all, and is a former boxer who has put on a lot of healthy weight in his sporting retirement. He is also, despite his bitter attitude and constant pissed off attitude, is someone who does quite like physical contact. He is touch starved also, which I'm coming to realise is pretty standard in this project, especially Bronze Eden. What intense cultural puritanism and Catholicism does to a motherfucker I guess. Anyway points deducted because he still doesn't quite know his own strength and will squeeze you a little too hard.

Sal Solomon: 1/10

Like hugging an unwashed porcupine.

Sylvester Praeceptor: 5/10

Probably the only person on this list that gets hugged somewhat regularly, by his favourite sibling and proverbial twin Jules. However he's not really big on physical contact outside of that, and rarely lingers in someone's embrace. He's fairly tall but quite thin, although his shoulders which are deceptively broad are probably nice to rest your head against if you want. All in all, fairly middle of the road hugger.

Potentate Magnus: 1/10

He's an emaciated 105 year old man with a very literal God complex. He doesn't hug and if he did it would be like hugging a skin-clad skeleton who actively thinks you are lesser than him. Also wouldn't take off his mask so you'd get stabbed by his horns.

Potentate Augustus: 1/10

He would think you were attacking him and would have a heart attack and die.

Potentate Boris: 6/10

Quite warm, very gentle and pleasant, but points deducted because he would start crying and make it awkward for everyone.

Potentate Salvatore: 7/10

He's more of a kiss on the cheek guy rather than a hug guy but he can and will do it, and is fairly warm and cozy, probably the most normal Potentate to hug. I wouldn't linger though, he gets creepy if you stay around him for too long.

Potentate Felipe: 0/10

Would get a stiffy, potentially cream his pants. Bad idea for everyone involved.

Potentate Clymene: 10/10

Warm, soft, smaller than you but properly wraps her arms around you and all around is a very comforting person to hug. Smells nice too, on account on all the floral perfumes she uses. And she won't tell you off for having bad manners for wanting a hug as others might do.

Potentate Zephyr: 3/10

Clymene took all the good hugging genes 😔 he is tall, lanky, and usually is awkward, tense and uncomfortable, but is much more open and warm around Clymene, who is the main person he's hugging. Again, they're probably the only siblings in this miserable family who genuinely like each other.

Potentate Louis: 2/10

Like his uncle Zephyr, he is awkward, tense and uncomfortable, and has the same lankiness Zephyr has (although isn't as tall). He is also chronically touch starved, but will snuggle nicely given the opportunity. Unfortunately you might get hair gel on you, nothing we can do about that.

I'm gonna answer these for Vítor and Saccade! Thank you for sending the ask <3

15) Do they trust each other? Why or why not?

Saccade – definitely doesn't trust Vítor at first, partially because she just doesn't trust anyone by the time they meet as a rule, but also because Vítor is a wealthy stranger a long way out of his home turf, which would be suspicious even to the most understanding and open version of Saccade. She will eventually come around, but it takes a while. Vítor – trusted Saccade more upon their first meeting, primarily because of the person that vouched for her, and later because she came back to help him after he was kidnapped. He is, however, a very closely guarded person, and certainly didn't trust her in the sense of being someone he'd ever want to be vulnerable around or be fully honest with, but that has less to do with Saccade and more with the kind of person he is.

18) Do they view their relationship as temporary or permanent?

Both of them view their relationship as temporary; Vítor is a client, paying her to do the work he doesn't have the time or the expertise to do. They will eventually admit a more permanent rapport and dynamic, but given how stubborn these two are it'll be a long time before they make it there.

22) When were they the most vulnerable with each other?

Can't say Vítor's because it's a fairly big spoiler, but for Saccade, probably when she first talks about her dead spouse, as those memories are exceedingly tender still, and acknowledging that to anyone is something she very rarely does. Diomede is probably the only other person she's ever mentioned her too, to give you an idea. Honourable mentions to when she talks about having once been a good dancer in detail, as really anything to do with her past is a sore subject and something she rarely shares with others.

I was tagged by @ace-malarky! Thank you so much!

Ace's character: Halliel is very sociable and loves a night out, rly likes looking her best and putting the time and care into that. She can be quick to follow through on a snap judgement and has been known to challenge duels both in jest and serious. She's loyal as all hell, isn't afraid to call your bullshit, but will stick by you as best she can

My (Brieuc's) OC: Saccade is a tough-as-nails older woman, living in a post-apocalyptic hellscape and she has exactly the grumpy, bitter, curmudgeonly attitude you'd expect from that. She's rude, blunt, but not necessarily antagonistic–as a disabled woman she doesn't want to get into fights when it isn't necessary. Despite her best efforts to stomp out any soft or kind part of her though, she maintains a vague code of ethics and is particularly sweet on younger people, especially younger women she perceives as being in over their heads or in a difficult situation. You wouldn't necessarily know it if you were on the receiving end of it though.

How I think they would interact: Saccade would definitely appreciate the traits of being straight to the point and not beating around the bush! I think there would potentially be an element of slight jealousy, as Saccade doesn't have the resources, time or luxury of looking nice on the regular, and she did use to enjoy getting dolled up when it was an option. I honestly think Saccade would quite like Halliel, although unless you know her very well you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between her liking and not liking you 😅 I'm not sure if Halliel would like her as much back, as Saccade is a very rough personality, but I think she'd respect her at the very least?