This round of questions was so good that I couldn’t decide who to shine the spotlight on. Lauren read the questions and immediately suggested Tsuki and Kiba (The Dying of the Light). A brief introduction aside from their snippet cameos – Tsuki (the Maid Marian character of the novel) is the daughter of a deceased retainer to the Emperor. When the Emperor went away to war, the Prince-Regent gave Tsuki to Matahachi (the Guy of Gisbourne character) as a house-warming gift. Matahachi would probably have preferred she come without Kiba, her bodyguard of twenty years. Tsuki is twenty-six, Kiba is forty, and his affection for her changed to a different kind of affection when she was nineteen. He has never said anything about it and never plans to. He is not only Tsuki’s bodyguard, but her confidant, partner in crime, and closest friend. I kind of adore them.

BUT ENOUGH WITH THE BACKSTORY – ON TO THE QUESTIONS!

TSUKI

1.How often do they smile? Would they smile at a stranger? Tsuki has a ready smile, but whether by nature or Kiba’s constant influence, she is very in control of her facial expressions. Her smile is not automatic.

2. What is the cruelest thing they’ve ever been told? And what was their reaction? I imagine the cruelest thing was the combination bringing news of her father’s death on top of her new living situation. It was a powerful one-two that changed her life. Her reaction was stoic; or at least until she was alone with Kiba.
3. What is the kindest thing they’ve ever been told? And what was their reaction? I’m not sure she could pick the kindest thing ever told her. I would replace this with one of Kiba’s smiles; rare, warm things that portray far more approval and pride than words could. She treasures these, and can recall each instance (as well as count them on one hand).

4.What is one strong memory that has stuck with your character from childhood? Why is it so powerful and lasting? Tsuki’s strongest memory is of the day her mother taught her how to perform hara-kiri. Having your mother carefully teach you ritual suicide would leave an impact on most children.

5.What book (a real actual published book!) do you think your character would benefit from reading? Tsuki has benefitted the most from Sun Tzu’s ‘Art of War.’ Kiba gave her a necessary reading list when she turned thirteen, and that was at the top.

6.Have they ever been seriously injured? How severely? How did they react? She was kidnapped at age six by a family who held a grudge against her father. She was not severely injured and came away with nothing more than a sprained wrist and a bruised forehead, but her father promptly hired Kiba. She also learned to ride a motorcycle with much trial and error, once gashing her arm wide open. Fortunately, she is nimble with good reflexes and has avoided intense injury…so far.

7.Do they like and get along with their neighbours? She is a secret champion to the daimyo villagers, but she and Matahachi don’t get along well. He desires Tsuki, but is gentleman enough to leave her alone. She’s very aware of her position and treats it with a very chilly air.

8.On a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being easy and 10 being difficult) how easy are they to get along with? She’s easy to get along with on a surface level. She is polite, friendly, and outgoing; but she rarely lets anyone get to truly know her. So on the surface, she’s possibly an 3; but in reality, she’s more of an 8.

9.If they could travel anywhere in the world, where would they go? She would time-travel to a free Japan, I don’t doubt. She has a desire to make things better where she is, more than a desire to wander. However, if she were to pick – say, a honeymoon destination, she would choose Bali.

10.Who was the last person they held hands with? She’s not much of a hand-holder. I doubt even she could remember – but since Kiba is the only person she’s with on a regular basis whom she likes, it was probably him.

KIBA

1.How often do they smile? Would they smile at a stranger? Honestly his smile is more like a grimace 99% of the time. Rare genuine smiles are reserved for Tsuki. Strangers and allies alike get glares.

2. What is the cruelest thing they’ve ever been told? And what was their reaction? The cruelest thing is yet to come.
3. What is the kindest thing they’ve ever been told? And what was their reaction? Tsuki once told him he was the most important person in her life, which – whether he realized it or not – set a goal in his life, to continue being that person.

4.What is one strong memory that has stuck with your character from childhood? Why is it so powerful and lasting? THAT’S FOR HIM TO KNOW AND YOU TO FIND OUT (but not here)

5.What book (a real actual published book!) do you think your character would benefit from reading? ‘The Book of Five Rings,’ by Musashi. He told Tsuki to read it, but upon reading it she discovered Kiba quoted it often enough that she already knew it.

6.Have they ever been seriously injured? How severely? How did they react? He has been seriously injured multiple times, but he’s not one to stay down. He reacts with common sense, goes to the hospital, recovers, and gets back to work.

7.Do they like and get along with their neighbours? …No.

8.On a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being easy and 10 being difficult) how easy are they to get along with? Oh, he’s a solid 8 on a good day.

9.If they could travel anywhere in the world, where would they go? He’d be happy to live in Wales. In a forest. And be a hermit. Except he won’t, because he has responsibilities (coughTsukicough) and she wouldn’t accompany him.

10.Who was the last person they held hands with? Tsuki. They were climbing over a wall. It wasn’t exactly hand-holding in a ‘sweet’ sense, but they aren’t really a ‘sweet’ team.

HOTTER

(Haka + Otter, The Dying of the Light)

1. How did they first meet? What were their first impressions of each other? They first met when Lieutenant Takuan put an advertisement in the paper, letting people know the Precinct needed someone ‘good with animals.’ Otter was delighted to discover the ‘animals’ were Mutts, genetically mutated monsters used to track and take down criminals and fugitives. She was the only applicant. Otter immediately pegged Haka as incompetent, ill-mannered, and a human wreck. (She wasn’t wrong.) Haka pegged Otter as intimidating (though she be but little, she is fierce) and certifiably insane.
2. How long have they been a couple? They aren’t technically a couple (yet. Otter is determined to change that once Haka gets his act together). However, they’ve been working together/awkwardly flirting for two years now.
3. How committed/loyal are they to each other? Would they break up over a secret or a disagreement? Could stress drive them apart? Would they die for each other? They basically live stress. They pretend not to be loyal, and since they aren’t together (technically) they can’t (technically) be driven apart. I’m fairly sure (as is the rest of the Precinct) that Haka would claw throats out, should something happen to Otter; and Otter would, without hesitation, sic every last Mutt on anyone who attempted to seriously harm Haka.
4. List “food quirks” they know about each other. (Ex: how they take their coffee, if they’re allergic to something, etc….and feel free to mention other non-food quirks!) Haka takes his coffee with copious amounts of cream and sugar, while Otter takes hers black. She also attempts to make Haka drink black coffee because it’s healthier. Because Haka is usually high on ‘stardust,’ it warps his sense of taste; hence he has a massive sweet tooth.
5. Does anyone disapprove of their relationship? Not really. Pretty much everyone acknowledges that Otter is good for Haka and he would probably be dead without her, passed out in a trash can somewhere.
6. What would be an ideal date? For Haka, any date without animals. For Otter, probably a roller-skating rink.
7. What are their personality dynamics? Similar? Contrasting? Do they fight a lot or mesh perfectly? Oh, they fight a lot. Haka is very unimpressive at first glance (also the second and third glances) – lanky, wrecked, gracefully falls over every piece of furniture in sight, demanding, irritable. Otter is fierce, kindhearted, outspoken, and doesn’t really know what rules are (unless she’s the one who made them). They contrast, but they contrast in a way that highlights the best in each of them.
8. What have been their best and worst moments together as a couple? Well, as an employee/underling, they’ve had many successful moments. As for their best and worst moments, their interactions mostly consist evenly of both.
9. Where do they see themselves and their relationship in the next few years? Otter sees herself claiming Haka in the near-ish future. Haka sees himself claimed. (He already is, but he’s not totally aware.) This is, of course, on the back burner as far as they’re concerned – they have more important things to worry about in the meantime, like doing their jobs so they aren’t beheaded by the Prince-Regent.