#sage asks

8. Aster: Is your character considered charming or lacking in social tact?

Absolutely lacking in social tact! Lola was raised in a very sheltered environment where intellect and athletics were prioritized over "frivolous" social engagements. Basically, she has no filter and EQ. For example, when her cellmate, Björn, asked if he was the only stupid one who didn't get a particular quote, she replied rather matter-of-factly, "Yes, I guess it's just you."

With research or deciphering hidden meanings, she obsesses over details, retreating into her own world to the point where it caused her other cellmate, Carl, to worry about whether she had been "possessed." As you can see, her social skills, or lack thereof, aren't doing her any favors.

9. Cosmos: Does your character value order and structure, or prefer a life of chaos?

Lola has known a life of order and structure under the hierarchical Lucifuge conspiracy, but tends to steer in the opposite direction these days, due to disillusionment and the desire to push boundaries. I also built her up as a hunter who knows the Castigation rituals of Calling Forth the Pit and Hellfire, but with no follow-up rituals to contain the demon or flames she has summoned. Imagine Carrie on steroids. That's Lola.

11. Gardenia: Does your character enjoy having crushes, if they have any at all?

Completely off-limits under her parents' house! If Lola has time to think about a boy it means she's not studying hard enough. Someone called to ask her on a date? She's grounded. (And the suitor gets a good scolding and tirade of threats on the phone).

This affected her, so she doesn't usually realize she has a crush until it’s too late. The only time it worked out was when Lola saw Aidan zooming along the street on his motorized scooter, chav music blasting on his portable speaker, shouting a bunch of obscenities at passersby. She thought, "That's the guy I want to take home to meet my parents."

Sage

1. Lotus: What is or what will be the darkest place your character will save themselves from?

Literally, the Dark Place. Even though Sage doesn’t know it yet. How far will she go to get her friend back and will something break in the process? She can have the tendency to spiral, which might explain why she prefers staying in the office to returning to an empty apartment.

3. Pink Azalea: Does your character value family?

There’s a sense of distance and ambivalence when it comes to Sage’s feelings on family. They weren’t exactly close. After her father passed away, her mother’s mental state deteriorated. One day, Sage received a phone call from her incoherently rambling about the “Odessa Room” and visiting her father in it. Then, her mother went missing, the house left as if the life in it had been abruptly interrupted. Sage’s estranged twin didn’t seem to care. Eventually, Sage moved on with her cat, Belle, as her surrogate family.

5. Tansy: Is your character a fighter, or do they flee from conflict?

Sage is a fighter, even if she’s not physically trained like an investigator or ranger. She’ll fight through words, intellect, and cunning. Never one to shy away from unorthodox methods, nor is she the type to give up so easily.

9. Cosmos: Does your character value order and structure, or prefer a life of chaos?

Dark is simultaneously my perfect narrative foil, my ugly little scrumblo, my dumbass a can, and the smartest character in the entire story. He's the only one who sees the whole plot from start to finish for what it is, and yet Time has his head so far up his own ass that Dark couldn't clue him in even if he wanted to. But really, can you blame Time? Their reintroduction in this story didn't go so hot.

“Well well well! If it isn’t the legend himself." [...] Dark moved to set his boot on the tabletop next to Time. The cuff of his jeans rode up to display the chunky plastic bracelet around his ankle. “Say, how’s that cute little redhead of yours? What was her name, Molly?” Time stared at the tabletop directly in front of him. The air pressure in the room seemed to drop. Dark leaned in close so that the others wouldn’t hear. “Does she still do that incredible thing with her—”

I mean, aside from running his mouth like a moron, Dark has zero concept of personal space.

Many things changed throughout writing that story, from focusing on Twilight's relationship with Midna to realizing that Champion's emergence would be a more interesting major arc to follow. But Dark's importance to the narrative remained, especially as an antagonist-turned-ally. He's surprisingly trustworthy, as proven when he and the Deity eventually have their throwdown and Dark doesn't hurt him once he has Time restrained, although he has plenty of valid reasons to want to.

“Do you think I always looked like this,” [Dark] went on, “that I was born looking like this??” Time tilted his face away slightly as Dark leaned in further, lifting his chin. From this angle, he could appreciate the pale lines beneath Dark’s nostrils and at the point of his chin.  Scars. “I hate having your fucking nose,” Dark spat, finally backing off.

The most fun I have with Dark, though, is how much his characterization opposes Time's. Where Time has to answer to others and keep up appearances for the sake of his work, Dark lives by his own rules. Where Time stretches himself thin looking after others, Dark has a self-centered philosophy on life. As soon as he can get the hell out of this whole circus, Dark is gone, and he has the personal freedom to do so.