1. What was the first element of your OC that you remember considering (name, appearance, backstory, etc.)?
Cassia – I’d say that her personality was the beginning of this character. I didn’t, at first, know if I wanted a male or female for this role when I decided to give Shakarian kids. What I did know, however, was how this character would be. They’d be the exact opposite of their parents and Jane and Garrus’ more renegon natures. She isn’t exactly paragon, per se, but she is more willing to forgive and open up to people. When faced with a problem, her answer borders on choice of heart and mind. She also doesn’t bottle up her problems and emotions like her brother, but, instead, acknowledges them. She will outwardly cry or get upset, but the outburst of emotion soon dissipates and she’s all good nature and helpfulness. Perhaps her biggest flaw is her tendency to see the best in people, but Damocles is there to be the more paranoid and cynical of the two, often stopping her from falling into a dangerous situation because she trusts too easily.
Damocles – His personality was also what I remember being the first thing about his character coming to the forefront. It may just be me, but I love a good broody character and a deep thinker that, on the outside, looks like a one note character. Damocles is promiscuous and distant with everyone, but also withholds anything even close to his real self. Only his family knows who he truly is while strangers often warn each other, ‘hey, don’t go near him. He’s angry and about two seconds from punching anyone in the face’ when he’s not openly flirting and trying to get into their pants. He takes sex as a way to destress and is perhaps even more disconnected from partners than is typical of even the most ulitiarian of turians.
10. If they have an LI, how much of their character is tailored to be compatible to that person?
Alright, so first thing’s first. Arcanus and Ellie are a joint pair of creations made with a friend of mine. He first created Arcanus for his own roleplaying games, but, over the course of Parable, he has become my character as well. Ellie, on the other hand was actually made after the fact when we were looking for someone to be Arcanus’ LI. Technically, this question would work best for her, but I can give some hints of what Arcanus looks for in a mate. For starters, he doesn’t want a damsel in distress type, he wants a woman who can take care of herself. Ultimately, any sort of love comes first from respect and trust. Due to his and Ellie’s past (which I will eventually get to in Osteogenesis), their love built on that very foundation he looks for. As a confession, I also must say that he had a thing for Jane in the beginning, but got over it becuase he cared too much for his building friendship with the Vakarians that he wouldn’t even think of ‘taking another man’s mate’, so to speak. It just isn’t in his nature.
19. What is your favorite fact about your OC?
I love Arcanus to bits, but my favorite thing about him has to be his way of hiding his true self up until he trusts someone. On the outside, he seems all work and no play, but, ultimately, he is merely that way because he just doesn’t know how to loosen up. However, when his closest friends offer a way to, he will accept the chances to open up and grow into a less tense workaholic. Much to everyone’s disbelief, he likes taking breaks and more than enjoys the chance to let Jane and Garrus take a hand in leading the Wraiths. And thank Ellie and Jane that he’s starting to relax with their teasing and jokes, though I’m sure it’s mostly because they keep going until he gives in. 😉
2. Did you design them with any other characters/OCs from their universe in mind?
Ellie was designed as a sort of Jane to Arcanus. She was made both as an LI in mind for him, but also a lesson to Jane of what damage can be done when someone doesn’t let their life get in the way of their work. She’s thankful for getting a chance to be with Arcanus once again after all she’s done to him, after so much time apart, but she has to learn how to open up. She’s a spy by nature and used to keeping herself in disguise no matter what, so being around the Vakarians and Arcanus is slowly teaching her to step out of her comfort zone. In return, she wants to be there to steer Jane right. Hell, looking at it now, she’s sort of like a mother figure without intentions to be or either of them knowing.
15. What is something about your OC that can make you laugh?
What never ceases to make me grin is just how much Ellie and Jane feed off each other, much to Arcanus’ chagrin. Without Jane, Ellie probably wouldn’t know how to open up herself, but when she has probably the biggest example of not giving a damn at her side, she can work at sharing her happiness with Arcanus. Both of them have been so focused on work that they deserve happiness and the ability to loosen up and just enjoy themselves, but with Arcanus because the turian’s turian for most of his life, it comes harder to him. Thank goodness for Ellie having almost the same personality as Jane! Well, thank goodness for us readers. Arcanus? Not so much.
Thank you so much for the ask!
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