Beautiful People - Marigold {March 2015}

Exciting news! I’ve officially. . . *pause for dramatic effect* started writing Burning Thorns! *trumpets and cymbals* I only meant to start writing it like a month ago but life exploded and here we are. I haven’t actually written anything since the end of November. o.o I was so starved for words my brain wailed like a stray dog in a steakhouse. But I am finally, finally, finally back to writing and it feels glorious! I’ve returned to the life I love. You know, that one where I ignore real life for fictional ones and call it work. It’s a good life.

Now that I’m comfortably spilling words all over the place again, I’m quite excited to do a Beautiful People of someone in my cast. I’ve been contemplating who shall receive the spotlight for a while here and finally settled on Marigold. You guys met her a couple weeks ago. You know, the bratty sister of my main character that I inexplicably fell in love with. Yes, her. I thought these questions would be good for her.

Obviously you want in on this BP action as well to answer the questions for one of your own characters. Of course you do! So you should go visit our ever gracious hosts Sky @ Further Up & Further In and Cait @ Paper Fury or just go straight to this month’s BP posts here or here and get yourself linked up. Simple as that!

Enough babbling! Let’s get to it.

~ Marigold ~

1. What is their secret desire?
For someone, preferably her father, to think she’s better than her sisters. Or at least notice her from time to time. But she would love to be thought of as superior. . .

2. What is the best and brightest moment they experience during the story?
A certain moment right near the end where she finally receives the recognition she has so desired.

3. What are the emotional places your characters are afraid to go to?
She’s quick to admit that she feels inferior and invisible, or more like complain about it, but it scares her to think too deeply about it, to wonder if maybe it’s because no one loves her. She pushes such thoughts away immediately any time they crop up.

4. Is there a place/city/room where they will never go? Why?
Not really, other than Gylmeth which is an enemy kingdom and it’d be too dangerous. Otherwise she’d happily explore anywhere new. She enjoys daring adventures.

5. If they were permanently leaving town, what would they easily throw out? What would they refuse to part with? (Why?)
Marigold is pretty materialistic, it’s not easy making her part with anything, especially things like dresses and jewelry. But if she had to part with it all but one thing it’d be a certain gold ring, the last gift she received from her mother before her dear mother passed on. (And that totally just popped in my head but I think it works perfectly with the story. It’s moments like this that make Beautiful People so great.)

6. What do they want (consciously and tangibly)?
See #1. And maybe #3. She doesn’t want to feel inferior ever again and to always be confident that she really is loved.

7. On the other hand: what do they need (on the emotional, subconscious level)?
Probably to not only ever see what she lacks, but instead to realize her blessings. To understand that she doesn’t have to pretend to be like her older sister to be accepted. She can be loved and cherished just as she is.

8. If they could change one thing about themselves, what would it be?
Well, her wants and needs are two very different things. She would love more than anything to be a copy of her older sister Anya—regal, clever, confident, and in control of all her emotions. But as we just learned in #7, that’s not what she needs.

9. What is the most humiliating event of their life?
Probably when a certain character betrays her in the story. She gets mad at herself for allowing herself to trust them.

10. What things do they turn to when they need a bit of hope?
On the shallow end of the spectrum, she loves fixing herself up to the brim with her finest clothes and feeling as regal as possible. But on the deeper, more emotional level, memories of her mother, the one person who treated her as an equal, always calms her and helps her keep going.

Wow, I just learned way more about this character than I ever knew. Thank you, Beautiful People! Don’t forget to join in. This edition lasts through the rest of March. Seriously, you should do it. These things are so helpful!

Have a blessed week, everyone!