2, 5, 11 & 26 for both Tamar and Martín. :)
@poetic-emptiness-fanfic Sorry this took so long! I got lost in the lore.
2. How does your apprentice feel when they are called a witch? (Offended? Shrugs it off? Likes it?)
Tamar: It offends her. The term confirms everything she hates about herself. She’ll try not to let her displeasure show, choosing to civilly back down if someone calls her this. Depending on who utters the slur, however, the temptation to prove them right is almost too much to bear.
Martín: It doesn’t bother him too much. If it comes from someone who doesn’t know the difference between “magician” and “witch,” he’ll either let it slide or quickly clarify before moving on (you can’t learn if you’re not taught). If someone’s trying to offend him and they catch him on a bad day, he'll adopt a quick face glimmer and change his voice to a haggard old woman’s before laughing maniacally and throwing sparks their way. People usually leave him alone after that.
5. What is their opinion of each of the courtiers?
T: She was hoping he'd be more courteous than his contemporaries, but since their first meeting she doesn't care to be near him. She admires how he can say what he thinks with no repercussions, but that's it.
M: Stuffy. Uptight. Everything he hates about Palace life. You wouldn't catch him near Valerius unless it was to pull a prank.
T: ….the worms aren't really his children, are they? She doesn't care to find out. Ever.
M: Something about his man seems off and Martín Does Not Care For It.
T: Poor thing, Tamar really does feel bad for her. But her pity only lasts until Volta starts eyeing her like her next meal. Some days she caves and hands over the dogs' chamomile cakes. It keeps the peace.
M: How can someone so cute be so unnerving? If he had to choose a courtier to befriend, though, it's Volta. He'll send a botched cake or two to her manor every so often-- meaning he'll hear all about it the next day.
T: Loud, brash, hot-tempered-- everything Tamar is not. She tends to keep her distance from people like them, but they always manage to try and pick a fight with her at least once a visit. She's become an expert deflecter because of it.
M: Martín has a running bet with some servants on how long it takes them to get fired up about random things. He wins every time.
T: Because of her magic, Valdemar literally stinks of death to her. She avoids them as much as possible, as well.
M: They are at the top of his list of Things To Avoid When Portia Isn't Around. They're never shaken by any of his antics-- he learned that quickly. He feels like he's being mentally dissected every time they watch him.
11. How do they get along with all the animals in the game? (Faust, Malak, Chandra, Pepi, Inanna, Camio, Melchior and Mercedes)
T: Tamar loves Faust! She lets her rest on her shoulders as she goes about her daily tasks. Since things are strained between her and Asra, Faust is a welcome middleman. On rough nights, Faust will slither into her bed and rest on her back. It’s the only physical affection she gets for a while.
M: Martín is a bit weirded out at first, but he thinks Faust is cute enough. He’s not a fan of reptiles, but when he sees the kind of mischief Faust is capable of, he softens toward her.
T: Tamar likes him well enough. She’ll leave a snack on the windowsill for him every so often. He loves to hear her sing, and will pay for a performance with random trinkets (which may or may not be Julian’s-- Tamar always checks with him before she keeps anything).
M: Malak is protective of Martín, just like he is with Julian. He’ll accompany him on his errands in town. Malak will pay Martín to stop singing. He never takes the hint.
T: Chandra has a more calming energy than Malak, and Tamar loves spending time with her while she’s at the Palace. She will roost in the Library when Tamar comes to browse, and when she’s in the mood for a poetry reading, she’ll perch on Tamar’s chair. They spend hours together like this.
M: Chandra thinks Martín is a bit loud, but she always stops by Portia’s cottage whenever he’s around. After her cordial greeting, however, she usually takes off. Martín is determined to win her over with a special treat someday.
T: These two cuddlebugs wish they could adopt each other. Tamar doesn’t avoid Portia’s cottage, but she never makes it out there as often as she’d like. Which means that every time she’s able, Pepi is in her arms, on her lap, or underfoot. Portia swears that one time, she heard both of them purring.
M: Pepi has already adopted Martín. His constant presence and playful demeanor make for the perfect cuddle buddy. She loves him as much as Portia does, if not more. She’ll tend to scratch his cheeks from licking him too much, but that’s just because she cares.
T: Being a wolf mother to Muriel means being a wolf mother to Tamar. Inanna instantly took to her. Besides her connection to Muriel, Nana deeply cares about Tamar as an individual. It’s not uncommon for her to accompany Tamar in the shop or about town, earning a lot of confused and troubled glances. If Muriel’s not fast enough, Inanna will take his place as her bedtime snuggle buddy. They’re so cute, he hardly minds.
M: Martín also has a wolf mother, but he gets more discipline than affection. Nana keeps Martín in check, especially when they’re first getting to know each other. They don’t snuggle, but she’ll let him pet her on a good day. He’s over the moon each time.
T: She wants to like them. She really does. But Tamar can’t help but feel unsettled around them. Maybe it’s the fact that they’re the Count’s pets. Or maybe it’s because they look like someone tried to dress two horses in dog costumes. They keep a respectful distance from one another (but that doesn’t stop Tamar from leaving treats each time she visits).
M: Oh man-- Martín, Mercedes, and Melchior? The Palace had better watch out. This trio is rowdy and rambunctious when they get together. Nadia has very politely suggested that Martín help them work off extra energy outside. While he understood, it never stops him from tearing through the halls and causing An Absolute Ruckus.
26. Do they have nightmares? Will it continue/develop after recent events?
T: No nightmares, but she will experience panic attacks during thunderstorms. Her resurrection left her traumatized, and every time it storms she's taken back to the night she woke up. For now, it's something she still lives with. She and Muriel are learning how to best comfort each other when they have their respective episodes.
M: No nightmares per se, but he'll have bad dreams about his family. He's missing some memories, but he distinctly remembers his mother getting sick and how powerless he felt during that time. He'll also hear his Uncle chastising him, calling him "selfish," "immature," and a slew of other things because of how he reacted at the time. He's working through it with Portia.
