Inside the Character: Nikolai Staunton

Okay! So by request of Miss Kel Geis, I have asked my sister to do an ItC for Nikolai Staunton. She has accepted the challenge and provided answers to the questions below.

This is entirely her writing, except for anything in italics (that's my commentary/additions because I can't shut up and let someone write something by themselves).

Anywho, um, so, Nik is from The Orion series 2, the same series with Luke Vetti and Alex Staunton. With this in mind, you may continue....

1.Who would play Nik in a movie?

Quite obviously, Luke Bylik. 

He has the darky skin like Nik, and the darky hair and eyes like Nik, and when I see him it makes my heart happy and screamy. ....Because it’s Nik. No questions asked.

(She's right, it is totally Nik.)

2. What color is his hair?

You know, I always write that his hair is black like his daddy’s hair, but I always imagine it a dark brown... so it’s probably more dark brown like his mommy’s, and all spikey like sharkboy from Sharkboy and Lavagirl. Then, at the same time, very scruff worthy and adorable.

3.What color are his eyes?

Don’t get me started on those little beauties. BLACK. Like, GLINTY AMAZING BLACK. When he smiles, they glint all squinty and AAAAGH! Sorry. Like his DADDDDYYY...

(*sobbing quietly in the background*)

4. What is his body type?

He has a pretty normal build, except for his outrageous height. And he’s a bit thicker than other people. At fifteen he’s around 5’10’’ or so. Anastasia would hate me for saying it, but it’s true.

(Yeah he's tall HE'S TALLER THAN ALEX which gives me feelings I don't know why but yes and also outrageous is a bit of a stretch because Luke is outrageously tall Nik is just tall.)

5. Does he have any peircings/tattoos?

Technically, yes, but we don’t talk about that.

(...?)

6. What is the most attractive thing about him?

The adorable way he sleeps. Probably drools, too. On his tummy with one arm pinned up under him and his face squished in the pillow. Luke has been caught drawing him during his insomnia hours of the night.

(PICTURE TIME AT ANA'S CORNER)

Behold, Luke's rendition of bebe Nik sleeping :3
 (actually not sure who the artist is but shout out to u) (Sis says Viria but idk)

7.What is the ugliest thing about him?

Probabllyyyyyy his nose, sometimes it looks like someone squished it flat on his face.

(Dere is nuffing wrong wif nikowai. Nuffing.)

8. When he smiles what does it look like?

Like a baby unicorn and a balloon man at the zoo rode off into the sunset to find the baby unicorn’s mommy and when they did the unicorn family hugged and from that magical breath of sigh the mom exhaled whilst seeing her baby, Nik’s smile was born.

(Accurate.)

9. What does his laugh sound like?

Unfortunately, Nik doesn’t laugh much. Not because he’s grumpy or anything, he’s just super duper quiet. You should have seen him before Luke loosened him up. When he DOES laugh its more sarcastic than like an actual belly laugh. He usually just looks like he’s laughing at you more than laughing beside you.

10. What is his normal speech pattern?

Honestly, nothing much! Usually giving Luke weird and meaningful looks such as: “Shut up, you idiot”, “Why are you talking?”, “Are you talking to me?”, and my personal favorite that flustered red faced look when Luke’s girlfriend Melanie pinches his cheeks.

(Aw melukanie)

For reals, though, when he talks its usually a straightforward question, but he doesn’t mind a long answer. He likes listening.

11. How does he express/handle anger?

Nik doesn’t get angry very easily. He does get annoyed quite often and handles it with ignoring the problem and hoping it goes away with a really #doneface. I mean, he’s super cool headed but if he ever got ANGRY I’m not quite sure what would happen... I’m kind of scared of the potential, though, given his genes.

(We don't talk about Nik's genes. Ever.)

12. Does he cry?

What a sad question. Yes, everyone cries. And when Nik does rainclouds gather above him because his sorrow attracts them and his little baby 15 year old cry face is so pitiful some people randomly get chest pains and lay in bed writhing in sorrow.

(I think your feels are influencing your responses little one.)

13. What would make him cry?

Anastasia knows and shares that sorrow with me. She knows what death would tear him to shreds. *whispers* She knows.

“She would have loved you... she would have loved......”

(ASJFHKAJDHFKAJDFHLKJFHAKJSHFKAJDHSKJDFH)

14. How easy is it for people to read his emotions?

I’d say people who know him well enough could read him pretty well. Others not so much.

Character Beliefs

15. Is he religious?

Yessacourse. Christian like he was raised to be.

16. How does he view those of other faiths?

He doesn’t judge them, I mean he shared a room with Luke for who knows how long.

(For those of you who do not know, Luke was Catholic but not very religious....okay not religious at all.)

17. What are his core values?

He’s a hopeful little booger, and likes to believe there’s good in anyone even if they have killed and murdered people since they were 2 years old like some people he knows ahem ahem.

He’s also undyingly loyal and once he’s friends with someone or trusts someone he keeps on trusting, even if they show they are less than trust worthy. Some would say he’s wasting his faith in humanity.

18. How prepared is he to die for those beliefs?

Death has become a terrifying thought for him since he was literally brought back from the dead after being stabbed through the chest. Since then I don’t think his determination has wavered from being ready to do whatever is necessary, but there is that creeping fear...

Likes and Dislikes

19. Favorite Food?

Has to be macaroni and cheese thanks to Luke, but butterfingers are his favorite candy. Luke hates them so much, but he will literally eat them all just to make Nik mad.

(For those of you who do not know, Luke consumes approximately 14 lbs of cheese a day. Which is why Nik likes mac n' cheese, because Luke probably makes vats and force feeds it to Nik.)

20. Favorite color?

Purple. Don’t ask, he’ll just shrug.

21. What is his sleeping preferences?

Well, now he has to have a lamp on and some creepy psychopath wandering around the room to feel comfortable enough to sleep.

(Note: That creepy psychopath is Luke and the lamp is on because he likes to draw all night.)

22. What type of music does he like?

He likes listening to Corra and Alex play their cello/piano duets.

Character History

23. What is his birthday?

December 21st. His mom died three days later on Christmas Eve.

24. What family structure did he have as a child?

Oh Gosh...

Bradford Staunton adopted him when he was a baby. A year or two later Brad adopted Mikey, then Harris, then Mandy, then Lili. I think there are more but the house is huge and Nicholas and his family live with them, as well as Luke and Willow, so family is a broad term for him.

25. What is the worst thing he has ever done?

Letting Luke teach him how to be a sniper against Brad’s wishes. But that was just one time.

(Which Luke thoroughly enjoyed, mind you.)

26. What is the most significant romantic encounter of his past?

He would die if he ever liked a girl.

27. Has he ever been in love?

Recently, with a girl in his class struggling with cancer. They met during a science experiment, and when they had to study together and he brought her home to his full house, they made Nik the center of everyone’s teasing for weeks.

(That was a really awkward sentence even after I tried to fix it but okay.)

28. What is his biggest goals in life?

He’s the gentlest soul in the world and everyone thinks he should be a doctor or something, but he’s bound and determined to be some CIA agent or something I don’t even know... little boy dreams.

29. What does he believe is his greatest virtue?

His tolerance. 

30. What does he believe is his greatest failure/vice/weakness?

The fact that he is still affectionate for Ivan, after all that man has done.

31. What motivates him most?

His fam fam and his fraaaaands.

32. Is he objective oriented?

Not particularly. He’s pretty laid back.

33. Would he rather be a good person, or a GREAT person?

Right now, he just wants to get through high school.

But looking into the future, I think he would rather be a good man, someone reliable and someone people look up to and come to for help, not someone people look to and expect something great out of.

34. Would he rather be hated for who he is or loved for someone he’s not?

He’s not completely intolerant to nagging and bullying so it would hurt if people hated him for who he was but he wouldn’t change himself because of it.

35. Is he an introvert/ambivert/extrovert?

Introvert to the extreme. It’s a struggle.

36. Is he creatively expressive?

Nik doesn’t have amazing talents like Alex and Corra. He can’t draw like Luke. He’s not extremely creative, but he’s smart and witty and that usually gets his expressions out just fine.

37. What is his disorder?

He don’t got one. Except for the natural flaws of a human being.

38. Is he materialistic?

Not really. He knows he’s blessed to have a big house and a lot of things, but the time he spends away from that stuff sort of renders them unimportant in the long run.

39. What is his learning style?

Hands on. He likes learning by getting his hands dirty, its a lot funner that way.

40. I am a________. How would Nik finish this sentence?

*With blank serious face staring you right in the eye the answer is as follows from his mouth* “Person in need of a break from these deep question.”

41. Life is an act of _______.

baby steps. Just as long as you keep walking.

At least, that’s what he just told me. I’m taking that to mean he had no idea how to answer so came up with something that sounded wise and cool.




Okey dokey everyone, that's it! Kel, I hope you enjoyed, and if anyone has questions feel free to comment below. Also, I am terribly sorry for my sister's terrible grammar, I just didn't want to mess up the purity of it by changing everything too much and ahh the temptation was horrible but oh well. Sorry sis, hope you're not offended.

Anywho, have a great one. God bless ya.

2nd Liebster Award Nomination

The time has come yet again to accept a nomination from Miss Kel Giese over at A Teen's Life for the Liebster Award! I was nominated a while back by Sofia Marie, and I've been so lucky to be nominated again...thus winning TWO Liebster Awards for this blog!

The Liebster (LIEBSTER, AUTOCORRECT. NOT LOBSTER.) Award is given to relatively undiscovered blogs to promote connection and friendship between bloggers. The award is passed on to 11 bloggers at each posting.

Anyway, here are the rules! (In nifty picture form...)

Alright, so rule 1 has been applied. Now, I must answer the 11 questions that Kel has asked me in her post.

Kel's 11 Questions:
1. What is your favorite book and why?

Favorite book? Favorite book?! How am I supposed to choose? Uh......welllllll... *looking frantically through bookshelf*.........I'm gonna go with (AH WHY IS THE LINES SO FAR APART NOW AND HOW DO I FIX IT????) probably. Wow. This is way harder than I though. I'm gonna get back to this one.

2. What was your favorite book when you were a little kid?

When I was little I loved The Boxcar Children. That was probably my favorite book ever. That, and Bartleby and the Mighty Mississippi. I read that book at least 600 times.

3. Who are a few of your favorite characters and which books are they from?

Percy Jackson stands out to me first, of course. He's from Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians and subsequent sequels/series. A favorite couple of mine is Walter and Ashley from Bryan Davis's Dragons in Our Midst series (and subsequent series). Also I adore a whole lot of TV/movie characters but we won't go into that right now.

4. Where did you find the original inspiration for the last story you wrote or your WIP (work in progress)?

Well, I generally have about 5 WIPs at once (not kidding), but I'll just pick The Cycle of Time series (DUN DUN DUNNNNN). It was originally inspired by Eragon by Christopher Paolini. Really. Like, the first draft was a giant really bad fanfiction with OCs. It was really bad. Hopefully its not bad now...though it still carries a lot of influence from that book.

5. In books, do you usually like the villain better than the protagonist, or the protagonist better than the villain?

Unfortunately, I have yet to read about a truly devious villain (though movies seem to be pumping them out rather well). Thus, I tend to like the protagonist more simply because he's the hero. (Sigh...I haven't read a good book in a really long time...)

6. What is one of your favorite memories?

I have a lot, but the very first one that came to mind is swinging on the playground swings we used to have in our backyard at our old house with my sister and eating goldfish (the crackers, not the actual fish). It happened to be rather wet outside so for no particular reason and with absolutely no prodding whatsoever I just leaned over with a cracker in hand, scooped up a glob of mud with it, and ate it. Just like that. I think that says a lot about me as a person.

7. If you met a stranger on the street and they handed you a heavy black briefcase and whispered “You know what to do,” how would you react?

I would probably open the briefcase. I'm not even kidding.

8. What are a few of your favorite songs at the moment?

GET READY FOR LIST TIME BECAUSE ANA LOVES SONgS>S>.

• "Drops of Jupiter" and "Fix You" by Anthem Lights (among others... ;) )
• "Drops in the Ocean" by Hawk Nelson
• "Vanilla Twilight," "Unbelievable," and "Beautiful Times" by Owl City (AND THE OREO SONG)
• "Impossible" by Building 429
• "Run Wild," "Shoulders," and "Oh God Forgive Us" by For King & Country
• "Make It Right" by The George Twins
• "Compass" by Lady Antebellum
• "Somebody to You" by The Vamps
• "Flicker (Kayne West Remix)" by Lorde
• I have diverse tastes ok
• AMONG MANY MORE
• Don't ever get me started on songs I will never stop

9. Would you be the one pulling the prank, or the one getting pranked?

Probably puling it...

10. In your group of friends, which friend are you (the quiet one, the outgoing one, the crazy one, the smart one, the friendly one, etc…)

I'm a bit of a mix. There's the big three, you see: me, my sister, and our best friend Angie Zoe. My sis is the quiet-ish, sweet, eager, ready-for-fun one, Angie is the idea person, friendly, helpful, also sweet, also ready-for-fun one, and (literally we all agreed this was true) the mean dry-humored realistic friend who is kinda crazy and disturbed. Like, the friend who will come over to your house and want to do nothing but sit and talk all day and eat food and call that a wild time while still being a mad extrovert.

11. What is your favorite season and why?

Of what? ;) Jk. Fall, definitely, because I LOVE SWEATERS AND FALL WEATHER AND LEAVES AND FOOD AND YUMMY CINNAMON SMELLS AND CHANGE AND FALL FASHION AND PUMPKIN SPICE LATTES.

Okay, well, that finishes that part up. Now I have to give you 11 random facts about myself.

11 Random Facts about Me:

1. Sometimes I really hate giving random facts about myself because I feel like I've blurted my entire life to everyone at one point or another.

2. I cut my hair from hip length to above my shoulders in just two goes. I don't regret it but sometimes I do miss my long hair.

3. I crave popcorn constantly this month. I don't know why, I think I may be a werewolf.

4. I am not very good at applying makeup because my face isn't the makeup-y kinda face. It's just a wash it, eyeliner it, mascara it, and go kinda face.

5. Occasionally I will eat key lime pie even though it is out of date.

6. I wish I could do random things with my hair, like cut it and dye it crazy colors and stuff, but I'm too chicken.

7. I am fast running out of random facts.

8. Right this very second I am listening to Jimmy Fallon dressed in drag yelling "EW GARY GET OUT YOU'RE SO GROOOOSSS"

9. I'm 19 years old and in college. Let's just get back to basics. I am an English major with a minor in Writing (IMAGINE THAT). I have a 4.0 gpa (straight A's hollaaa), three jobs, and four finished novels. I can't seem to get past this point in my life.

10. One time I was watching One Direction audition videos and then I learned that Lois Tomlinson's name was pronounced "Louie" so I decided to make a character names "Louie" because I was so outraged by the fact that Lois Tomlinson's name wasn't pronounced "Lewis."

11. Sometimes I ask myself, "Am I cool?" and then I'm like lol of course I'm cool.

Alrighty, now for my nominations!

I don't think I know 11 bloggers but I will scour the earth for them I swear.

Nominations:

Chloe Cunningham at writing or something (I feel like I've nominated you before but oh well)

Emily at Sunshine Girl

Natalie Noel Truitt at The Hope Movement (among other authors)

Rachel Lester (bless her soul) over at Water & Pen (MY BLESSED BABY BETA READER) (bless her soul) (I feel like we're connected) (if and when she reads this she's gonna be so freaked out) (sorry Rachel)

Athelas Hale at Red Lettering

Miranda Kulig at Dreams and Dandelions

I'm tired of looking at Pinterest followers for blogs THOUGH I FOUND A BUNCH I REALLY LOVE NOW so that's all you get.

Now for the questions...

My 11 Questions to You:

1. What is one of the best characters, in your opinion, ever (that you created if you're a writer, if not from book/movie/etc)?

2. Who is your favorite villain ever? Why?

3. What is one of your darkest secrets?

4. Do you enjoy showering or is it an inconvenience?

5. What is your top 5 favorite writing blogs?

6. Do you prefer cake or ice cream? Pie or cheesecake?

7. What kind of books do you like to read the most?

8. What is your favorite fruit?

9. How lame are these questions?

10. Do you approve or disapprove of social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, etc.?

11. Long hair or short hair? Dyed or natural? Straight or curly? What do you prefer/have?

Alrighty, now to notify the nominees! Thanks again to Kel for nominating me. :) Until next time...

BYE

Ana has Joined the Twitter

Behold, I have joined the Twitter. Yet another social networking platform has been invaded by my insanity.

But there's just one problem...

I CANT FIND ANYONE ON THERE!!!

Where are you guys?!?!??!

YOU HAVE TO COME FOLLOW ME SO I CAN HAVE FRIENDS!!!

My username is @anacrossbooks so come find me so I can find all you lovely peoples. Follow backs are promised, I just want some more awesome people I can follow. :)

I promise a real post will come very very soon. Until then...

SIANARA, SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG.

How to be a Writer

So we all know that there are many many different archetypes for writers. There is, of course, the elderly scholar, the hipster, the coffeeholic, the lazy man, the passionate grammar robot, and many more. Today (for utter lack of researching for good topic abilities due to my computer being a potato [see last post since my phone apparently can't link text]) we will be examining as a whole what exactly it takes to be a writer.

1. Drink Coffee

This is an absolute must if you are truly going to be a writer. Coffee is the soul food of book nerds everywhere. Food? Drink? Soul drink? Whatever, you know what I mean. Either way, the need for caffeine is real and dangerous.

On a side note: do not get inbetween a writer and his coffee. Ever.

2. Read a lot of random (and often bad) fiction.

You simply cannot skip this step. The writer feeds off the writing of others. It spurs those necessary explosions of inspiration that writers work off of. It's just necessary.

Not only that, but reading a lot helps improve your writing and style too. As a writer, reading is an act of imbibing information. Whether you're taking notes on word usage, praising sentence rhythms, or simply busy being horrified at a lack of character development, you're learning how to better your own writing. So, basically, reading is like teaching yourself how to write.

3. Watch Netflix a lot

Writers watch Netflix a lot. Because it helps us come up with cool scene ideas and stuff. Not because procrastination. Never. Writers never procrastinate.

4. Procrastinate

A writer's number one hobby is procrastination. Writers procrastinate more than any other type of person on the planet. Why? Well, trying to plumb the depths of human condition is a daunting job and some of us are a little overwhelmed by it.

5. Murder frequently

Murder is inevitable as a writer. If you don't murder someone (fictional or non) at some point during your writing process then surely you are doing something wrong.

6. Text friends freaky facts during the www hours of the morning

This is just one of the many downfalls of being a writer.

7. Crying over old writing

8. Crying over new writing

9. Crying over thinking about writing

10. Actually hating writing

The sad truth is most writers actually hate writing. We just have an innate inability to not write.

And last but not least:

6. Never actually writing ever

The number one popular mistake people make when referring to writers is that they actually write. Wrong! Writers are notorious for their complete lack of actual writing. The number of writers who don't write far outweigh the number of writers who do. It is a sad fact of life. There is no escaping this.

So, do you too do these things? Well then, my friend, you may actually be a writer! Don't be afraid to tell your parents; I'm sure they will accept you for who you are. :)))))))))))

I Apologize for Everything

So here's the potato.

My computer has thus far been a drift in the sheltered harbor of my patience. However, recent events have forced me and m
y computer into a great and terrible quest to end each other's lives.

In short, my computer is mean.

Ever since I don't even know when, the day I upgraded my Mac from Snow Leopard or whatever cat-themed operating system was popular at the time to Maverick, my computer has been naught but a raging hell beast.

At first, it was just really slow. I was like, "Aw, how cute, my three year old computer thinks it's old haha." Then, suddenly and without warning of any kind, without necessary preparation from myself, my internet died.

"Oh," you're probably saying. "That's not a problem. That's your wifi." I'm here to tell you no, my friend. Just no. My computer, as far as I can tell, is connecting to my wifi just fine, as is my family's devices and even my own non-computer internet doodads. However, does the internet actually work on my computer? If it was I wouldn't be painstakingly typing this post out on my sticky-screened iPad. (Apparently my little brother ate a poptart and then decided that was a good moment to take a thousand pictures of nothing with it.)

My computer is showing all signs of being connected to the Internet. Five bars, green lights and all. But does it connect on safari? Can I Skype my friends? Do any of my incredibly important emails come through? I think you already know the answer to these questions.

I've tried to fix it. My computer competent brother has looked at it numerous times. I've tried virus checks and wifi settings and all the advanced coding that goes into fixing computers. I even broken-heartedly wiped my entire hard drive, deleted all my backups, and started from scratch. That worked for about a month before my computer returned to its former state.

I honestly couldn't tell you what happened to my laptop. It's a three year old Mac. In all reasoning it should be in perfect shape. But alas, the terrors of outdatedness have probably grabbed hold of it for the worse.

So, I have a system. I have a little USB drive thingy that I use to switch files between devices. It's painstaking but it works. However it really stinks to have to go on my little brothers computer to attach documents to emails and stuff.

I could use this giant post as my excuse for not posting anything for years. But that would be irresponsible. I know I am lazy. You know I am lazy. The muffin man knows I am lazy. So let's all just be lazy together.

Now I must fill out an invoice on the slowest desktop computer in the universe. Excuse me.