Infodump #11: From Whence They Came
I'm not sure if I've addressed this before, but I'll do it here in case. You might be wondering to yourself, where did this zany cast of characters come from? Well, I'll be happy to tell you!
Deitra is me. Or at least, a version of me I used to embody way more. Closed off, stoic, bottled up. I know you don't necessarily get to see much of her as a captain, but that's not what I wanted to write about anyway. Maybe I will in the future, stay tuned.
Aethra is who I want to be. Open with his emotions, fun-loving, social, and courageous. I found that I had a much easier time writing him as a love interest when I pictured him not as a separate person from me, but the more vulnerable underbelly of myself. It's me loving me. Coming to terms with the fact that there are parts of me I won't like, but I should love all of it anyway. I should fight for myself, not just for other people.
Pallas started out, in the very first draft of my book (2014?) as Book. That was literally their name. At the time, they were modeled after a girl I was friends with. Still very tomboy-esc, though Pallas is serving non-binary realness now. They are almost nothing like her presently, (save for alcholism, divorced parents, and sociability) so who are they? Well, that's the fun part, I'm really not sure. When I wrote them, I had a very clear feeling of what I was going for, but I'm not sure they're based on one specific or even several things. Angry, negative, feeling hopeless, sarcastic, substance-abusing, neglected. Confrontational but also scared. The paradox of existence. To be fully one thing and yet fully the opposite synonymously. Also known as living under capitalism
Callie is entirely based off of a long-time friend, and in the OG book, she was actually the leader of the royal guard! I completely forgot about that until i went through it again, of course, accompanied by tears and cringing. She's a firecracker that tends to come off as harmless and goofy, but really has a lot going on under the surface. Very loyal, very kind. Tends to sacrifice themselves a bit too much at times. She's a real theater kid at heart.
King is just kind of a goofy character to me. Like the old cartoon kings with the big-ass turkey drumstick. (like the cinderella's prince's dad) Also the complex emotion of being a father, a husband, a person, and a leader all at the same time.
Queen is a little more interesting, I like her as an example of what happens if you let your kid run wild and ignore any warning signs. She has an incorrect idea of who Aeneas is in her head and allows that to inform her decisions rather than his actions.
Aeneas. This may shock you (or not depending on how you know me) But Aeneas is based off of me as well. There's a part of me that I find a bit concerning. Manipulative, sadistic, masochistic, possessive, temperamental, vengeful, the works. He's the me that doesn't usually get much screen time. 9/17/24 - I've now realized he represents someone else who shall not be named ☠
Zoe is a very fun character to write. I see the most of myself in him, oddly enough (considering Deitra is me). He and I have the tendency to be infuriating to the people around us at times. Kill em with kindness (and sarcasm)
Theo is based off of a friend with a completely normal penchant for treasure planet
Phoebe is based on someone I used to know
Eugene is based on my sister, B, (nice but rude but nice but rude but-)
Eris is based on my other sister, L (hot-headed, strong, impatient)
