Xolinn, Tyria!Will, and Strix with 5, 17, 26, 36, 44
5. On an average day, what can be found in your characterâs pockets?
Xolinn: Some interesting plant or fungus that she plans to do something with later. Some form of writing implement (Xekken has definitely made her at least one pen, and I was going to suggest that she might leave them âsafelyâ at the Priory, but lbr they would disappear there). A small mirror
Will: A leatherworking needle + a bit of cord, a handkerchief (probably at least smudged with grease), tiny pocket versions of tools, spare change
Strix: Sand Data crystal for recording notes, a knife, some trinket that Xekken has given him because Xekken just gives people things. Sand.
17. What was your characterâs favorite toy as a child?
Xolinn: Xayann made the mistake of using illusions to entertain baby Xolinn once, and then Xolinn wouldnât leave her alone. Xayann taught her to create the pretty lights herself out of self defense. Thereâs also the general tinkering that Iâm pretty sure most asuran progeny do, but I donât know if Xolinn would have called that âplayingâ with âtoys.â
Will: Mr. Cuddles, a plush griffon. Mr. Cuddles has been patched and refurbished many times through the years. The current Mr. Cuddles probably has none of the same material pieces as the original Mr. Cuddles, but heâs still Mr. Cuddles.
Strix: As a young child, it probably was some kind of tinkering thing. Strixâs parents seem like the type to focus on ~educational toys~ and encouraging any spark of engineering interest they saw. Older child Strix starts to resent this since engineering is not his primary interest and just focuses on books (and then has to learn to hide the content of those books, because terrible awful parents do not approve and make that disapproval Known).
26. How does your character behave around children?
Xolinn: Tries to engage them in conversation, but probably comes across as one of those adults who is only asking about what the child likes to do because they have no other idea what to do with children ({mildly patronizing} âAnd what do you want to be when you grow up?â). She can get drawn into roughhousing types of play, but doesnât default to that.
Will: Tries to join whatever game the kid already has going. Probably gets dragged away before he can get to showing the kid his own toys, because Willâs toys have a tendency to be hazardous (except for Mr. Cuddles, but Mr. Cuddles isnât as interesting as engineering doodads)
Strix: Awkward silence. Strix doesnât dislike kids! He just has no idea what to do with nonasuran children, and most asuran progeny will dismiss you, start bossing you around, or start talking about something within 5 minutes, so he usually just goes along with that. Older progeny might get unsolicited advice. It isnât terrible advice, even considering the source, but what asura wants to hear extra lectures?
36. How does your character behave around people they dislike?
Xolinn: Sheâs professional, but sheâs the asura version of professional, which comes with a good deal more snide snark and condescension than other versions of professional. Sheâs less snide when the person is above or below her in a hierarchy or when other politics are involved, cause sheâs not gonna stab herself in the foot just to get off a satisfying remark.
Will: Will doesnât generally seek out the company of people he dislikes. He avoids them when he can and tolerates them when he canât. At something like a party, he just ignores them or joins the people heâs hanging out with in shit talking them if they start that.
Strix: If he doesnât need them for anything, he ignores them. He might pointedly ignore them. If he actually has to communicate with them, they get the full force of Disdainful Dignified Strix. If theyâre a student, his instincts to actually teach this idiot take precedence over his instincts to obliterate this idiot.If theyâre someone with power over him (like, say, a shitty kreweleader), he will absolutely feign politeness and interest while plotting to get out from under them one way or another.
Itâs a bit different when he actively hates them, e.g. his parents, but I need to sift through what reactions are revenge fantasies and what reactions are ways he would actually react in person before I can talk about that.
44. How easy or difficult is it for your character to say âI love you?â Can they say it without meaning it?
Xolinn: Depends on the person. In most cases, itâs easy, but then there are those people where you donât know how theyâd react to it, so the difficulty comes from wondering if it would be a terrible thing to say. She can absolutely say it without meaning it if she needs to manipulate someone that way. Our usual Xolinn doesnât usually go for that, but there is probably at least one Alternate Xolinn who makes very good use of it.
Will: Itâs easy. He probably has said it without meaning it beyond a shallow âYou arenât objectionable and just said something delightful.â I donât think heâd be able to fake loving someone to manipulate them, though. He just doesnât make a big deal out of the words themselves.
Strix: Itâs somewhat difficult due to lack of practice, since he hasnât had many opportunities to say it. Whatever past romantic relationships heâs had were based more on mutual respect and admiration (or mutual usefulness) than on deep affection. With a reason to say it, itâs fairly easy, but he still probably keeps it quiet and private. Heâd be CAPABLE of saying it without meaning it, but why would he?
