The awesome Sarah @ Dreams & Dragons tagged me for her original The Christmas Character Tag waaaay back when, and I didn’t get around to it at the time. But I figured, what better time to do it than now? 😉 Thanks so much for the tag, Sarah! ❤
I’m featuring the characters from my WIP The Other Half of Everything: Teague and Meridian, and Teague’s siblings (Ivan and Lulin). Because I’ve been focusing on my steampunk book and Tare lately, and these characters were feeling left out. 😉
And because I’ll take any excuse to let Teague and Meridian take over my blog. 😛 Though this time Ivan and Lulin are joining in the fun.
The first several answers are the characters answering the questions directly, and later it moves on to something more like impromptu scenes I wrote just for this post’s questions.
Consider it kind of like my little Christmas present just for you, my dear bloglings! 🙂
Enjoy!
Rules
1. Acknowledge the person who tagged you. Thanking them is nice, but not necessary. You can be annoyed at them if you like. (Though, if you’re annoyed, why are you doing the tag anyway?)
2. Pick your characters. I advise having several, though not too many. They can all be from the same story, or they can be from different stories. If they’re from different stories, make sure to specify who’s from the same story.
3. Answer the questions. This should be self-explanatory.
4. Tag people. If you want. Don’t tag more people than you have characters in the tag. If you don’t want to tag anyone, you can do that too.
5. Listen to your favorite Christmas song. Because putting the effort in to write a post deserves a reward, my friend!
About the Characters
For those joining us new or who need a quick refresher:
Teague Aurelius: 23. An extremely absentminded author of fantasy who lives in the top floor of a huge old house, where all his rooms are filled with books. May or may not travel to the worlds he writes about.
Meridian Brownley: 17. Narrator of the book The Other Half of Everything (and slightly unreliable, at that) that I’m writing. Housekeeper for Teague. Plays violin and cooks. Doesn’t care about reading. Can’t stand writers. Or fantasy. (Awkward.)
Ivan Aurelius: 21. Black sheep of the family. Doesn’t get along with Teague. Has spiky blond hair and wears black leather and spikes.
Lulin Aurelius: 19. Sometimes playful and seems younger. Other times seems far older than her age and is carrying a secret. Peace-maker between her brothers. Her hair is a white pixie-cut, because of course.
Onward to the…!
Questions
1. If any of your characters are from Earth: what are some of their Christmas traditions? If your characters aren’t from Earth: does their world have an equivalent to Christmas, and if so, how do they celebrate it?
Teague: What an interesting question. What if we do both?
Ivan: We haven’t done a lot with it here in awhile. And that’s… just fine with me. >.>
Lulin: Oh, stop pretending! Anyway, we used to do decorations and all the usual stuff. And in the other worlds there would sometimes be a sort of midwinter feast if we were there around that time — so that was nice. ^_^
Meridian: I usually bake. With Gran. But not really any traditions.
2. Which of your characters gets the most into Christmas? The least? Who gets annoyed at the commercialization, and who doesn’t care because it’s CHRISTMAS?
Lulin: CHRISTMASSSSS!!! *dances around and puts up garlands and gives everyone Christmas sweaters*
Meridian: Hmph. Commercialization. And… yeah. I’m not the hugest Christmas person. The only thing that’s the best about it is the baking.
Ivan: *folds arms and coolly pretends not to care* It’s okay. I guess. *surreptitiously steals cookies*
Teague: *reading* *bewildered* Christmas? What were we talking about? Are there books involved?
3. All the characters try to decorate a Christmas tree together. What happens?
Lulin: More tinsel!
Teague: We could build a tree out of books instead.
Ivan: Guess who can put the most ornaments on the fastest without breaking any.
Meridian: Everyone! Stop! I’m doing it. It has to be perfect.
Everyone: But you don’t care about Christmas!
Meridian: It still has to be perfect!
…
(Dear reader, we draw a veil over the remainder of this scene and leave you to imagine it, because the chaos is immeasurable.)
4. What’s each character’s favorite Christmas song?
Teague: Silent Night.
Meridian: Any of them that are pretty but played just instrumental so I can hear the melodies.
Teague: Oh. Yes. The musician. You would be like that, I suppose.
Meridian: *wrinkles her nose* At least I didn’t say “none of them.”
Lulin: Carol of the Bells! And Drummer Boy! And… All of them!
Ivan: Last Christmas.
Lulin: What??
Ivan: I’m kidding. I hate that one too. Jingle Bell Rock.
Lulin: DON’T YOU DARE.
Ivan: But with real rock.
Meridian: Why am I not surprised.
5. Can your characters agree on a Christmas movie to watch together? What happens if they try?
Lulin: Elf! Or It’s A Wonderful Life…
Meridian: I don’t really care. Maybe there’s some good cheesy Hallmark movies. Or… not.
Ivan: *groans* Spare us. I’ll be watching Die Hard.
Teague: *mildly* That’s not a Christmas movie.
Ivan: It is so!
Teague: I don’t see why anyone would watch a movie when they could be reading instead… *pulls out long list of Christmas books he intends to read*
The list unfurls and rolls across the floor. Everyone stares at it.
Meridian: Bye. I’ll be baking.
Lulin: *looks at Ivan* Muppet Christmas Carol?
Ivan: You wish.
Teague curls up on the couch to read.
Lulin turns on the Christmas Carol movie.
Ivan pretends he’s not watching but really is.
Delicious smells start wafting from the kitchen…
6. Your characters are going to a White Elephant Gift Exchange; what kind of gift does each one bring? (Or, because I had a different question here originally and forgot to change it before it started circulating, if you prefer you can answer: “Speaking of which, who cries at Christmas movies?”)
Meridian: I don’t care if the rules say not to bring food. I’m bringing stuff I bake. Or some music albums…
Lulin: Something pretty!
Ivan: What if yours goes to a guy?
Lulin: Honestly? I really don’t care. Something pretty.
Ivan: I’m not going so I’m definitely not giving anything.
Teague: There’s only one answer to this, as to most, questions: Books. Possibly one of the ones I wrote…
Ivan: *facepalms* Don’t inflict them with that.
Teague: *coolly* You already said you’re not going, so you don’t have a say in the matter.
(Alternate question “who cries at Christmas movies?” Everyone points at Lulin. She smiles weakly.)
7. What’s each character’s favorite Christmas treat?
Teague: I’m honestly not picky… But chocolate is probably the best, on general principles.
Lulin: Gingerbread! And peppermint hot cocoa.
Meridian: You’re honestly going to make me choose between foods?
Ivan: Candy-canes.
8. Who among your characters likes eggnog? Who thinks it’s disgusting?
Lulin: *wrinkles nose* Eggnog is weird.
Ivan: It’s awesome. Be quiet.
Teague: I haven’t the faintest idea how I feel about it. I’ve never noticed what it tastes like.
Meridian: How could you not notice? It’s gross!
Ivan: Fight me.
Meridian: I think I will.
Lulin: Um…
Teague: Children. Please.
Ivan: What did you just call me??
Lulin: *quickly* Who wants a candy-cane?
9. Who’s meeting who under the mistletoe? Who’s catching those people and teasing them about it forever?
Meridian eyes the mistletoe hanging in the doorway to the Teague’s living-room. “Who put that up there?”
Lulin’s innocent blue eyes stare out from her face framed in a white pixie-cut. “Nobody?”
Meridian grumbles under her breath something about plants belonging outdoors and returns a moment later lugging a ladder usually used to reach books. She pauses.
Teague leans in the doorway reading a book and apparently not paying attention to anyone.
Meridian sighs and leans it against a nearby bookcase. “Teague. Move,” she says. “I need to put a ladder there.”
“Mm?” Teague doesn’t look up.
Meridian waves a hand in his face.
Lulin walks casually behind her and “accidentally” knocks into her. Meridian crashes into Teague, who drops his book and catches her instead, looking down into her eyes.
“Oh, hello, Meridian,” he says with a smile. He looks up at the mistletoe above them and then back at her with laughter in his eyes that indicates he knew right where he was standing all along.
“No you didn’t — !” Meridian begins.
Ivan can be heard snickering around the corner and Lulin gives a peal of merry laughter.
“Fine,” Meridian relents. She pecks Teague’s cheek. “Merry Christmas. I guess.”
“Somebody needs to stop being so mushy,” Ivan calls loudly.
“Oh, shut up,” Meridian says fiercely.
Teague smiles and leaves a kiss on her forehead, murmuring, “Merry Christmas, my Meri.”
10. Who makes all the Christmas cookies and other treats? Who eats all the Christmas cookies?
“I don’t trust anyone else to do the baking,” Meridian says firmly. “I’m doing all of it. Now shoo until I finish.”
“I can help,” Lulin protests mildly.
“You’re just covering for Ivan,” Meridian says, snagging his leather-clad wrist as he reaches toward the platter of cookies.
Ivan yelps. “I was just going to taste it!”
“You can taste it when I finish.” Meridian is remorseless and continues mixing batter.
Teague wanders through the kitchen with his face in a book, grabs a cup of tea and somehow drinks it without looking at it or spilling anything.
Meridian turns around from checking in the oven and sees an empty spot where a cookie had been a moment before. “Ivan!”
“It wasn’t me! So!”
“Then is there a cookie gremlin because something took it.”
Ivan points at Teague, who is retreating with his face still in a book and doesn’t appear to realize what’s going on around him.
Meridian looks to Lulin for confirmation, but she just blinks wide-eyed at her and won’t give up either of her brothers.
“He’s far too distracted to properly steal a cookie,” Meridian accuses, hands on hips.
“Mm?” Teague puts in as he disappears around the corner and calls back, “Delicious cookies, by the way. You’ve outdone yourself.”
Meridian blinks after him.
Ivan gives a told-you-so smirk, then sighs. “How come I can’t get away with stuff like that?”
Meridian gets a dangerous gleam in her eye and starts to follow Teague. “Who said anyone’s getting away with anything?”
Ivan snags a cookie from the plate and says through munches, “Teague being an unwitting accomplice is still the best thing ever.”
Lulin pulls more cookies out of the oven and smiles innocently. “Talking of best things ever, I’m going to enjoy watching Meridian go after you in a minute.”
Ivan gives her a shifty look and grabs another cookie. He slinks quickly out, to the accompaniment of Lulin’s chuckle and Meridian somewhere in the house going off loudly at Teague whose faint murmurs are difficult to hear.
11. Who stays (or used to stay) up late waiting for Santa?
Lulin and Ivan both point at Teague.
He blinks. “What? I didn’t.”
“You always stayed up all night Christmas Eve,” Ivan says.
“Reading,” Teague protests. “And I always do that. You just don’t want to admit that the two of you used to.”
“A lot of stranger things than Father Christmas are real,” Lulin says. “I’m only saying. What about you, Meridian?”
“Nope.” The answer was a little too quick to be strictly true.
“Grinch,” Ivan says haughtily.
“Speak for yourself!”
12. What would each character say Christmas isn’t Christmas without?
“Family,” Lulin says at once.
Teague hesitates, and doesn’t look at Ivan, but agrees. “Family.”
They look at Meridian.
She coughs. “I was going to say baking but now I sound like a shallow jerk.”
Lulin smiles. “Not at all.”
“I just don’t remember having a family. Other than Gran,” Meridian says.
“No siblings like these two terrors.” Lulin throws an arm each around her two brothers.
Ivan squirms and tries to escape the hug. “Candy-canes!” he says quickly, answering the question. “Aaugh. Leggo.”
Lulin just hangs on, laughing.
Teague smiles, one arm around his sister, and reaches out his other arm to pull Meridian into the group-hug. “Now you do,” he says softly.
And Meridian smiles back at him.
Thanks for reading! ^_^ I’m not tagging anyone but feel free to steal this for your blog if you like! Sorry I haven’t been around as much (I’m afraid NaNo more or less killed me and I’ve been recovering and busy. XD) — but I do have some fun posts planned after I finish relaxing this coming week. Merry Christmas! ❤
The month started off with the Rooglewood Press announcements, putting a bookend on my first writing contest, which was definitely an interesting experience! I’m very glad I wrote The Rose and the Raven and glad I entered; and actually, now, glad I didn’t win. I’m not ready for that kind of pressure, that kind of being-edited, and it’s quite clear that my somewhat whimsical, more fantasy retelling would not have fitted with the selection that was finally made…
As far as what I actually wrote in March, I wrote a bit of The Other Half of Everything for later on in the story (Teague and Meridian are so fun to write…).
Meridian: *blinks* Ummm… Did I miss something?
Deborah O'Carroll (Road of a Writer) 