Live like the wind upon the water

Anybody Listening? - Queensryche

Sam over at Wuthering Life borrowed a blog idea from someone else, and since I don't seem to have much to say here these days, I thought I'd borrow it as well. I will ruminate on the following:

"If you could bring to life a character from one of your stories and hang out with him or her for a day, which one would it be? Why? What advice would you give them? (Include name, personality traits, etc.)"

Seeing as how I've written so many stories, I'm going to pick more than one.

From the Just Cause Universe, I'd like to hang out with Crackerjack (Jack) and Desert Eagle (Sondra). Both of them are mature heroes. Desert Eagle is just under and Crackerjack is just over 40. I feel I would connect with them well - Jack's sardonic wit, lopsided grin, and perpetually positive outlook on life; Sondra's capacity for love and creative approach to life - both appeal to me. Someday I intend to write a story focusing on their lasting relationship. A superhero romance? You never know what I'm liable to write next! I feel they and I would have a lot to talk about over colossal cups of coffee (I lean more towards Sondra's tarry blend than Jack's sugary, flavored mixtures). I don't know that I'd have much in the way of advice for the two of them. They're so much in love with each other and even more, they're comfortable with each others' flaws. If they were married, people would say they had a great marriage. But they're not, and although they talk about it, they never seem to get around to it. I'm okay with that, and so are they. Perhaps I'd suggest that they might think about starting a family, because with both of them such wonderful people, their kids would likely be equally wonderful.

Also from the Just Cause Universe, I'd like to hang around with Katie Malone and Tim Foster, prison guards from the Deep Six facility. As extremely low-powered parahumans, their lives are much less defined by powers than, say, Jack and Sondra. They're both single parents (until they eventually blend their families together, which I think is inevitable given the circumstances under which they met). They're both practical, responsible people, which are traits I admire. My advice to them is don't rely too much on technology, because like most prisons, when technology fails, all guards have to fall back on is their wits and training. Hopefully, that's enough when the chips are down. Also, I suggest they both learn to fly a jet (that's an inside joke).

Honestly, I don't think I'd like hanging out much with any of the characters in Troubleshooters. Camaro's too young and full of himself, Angel's too hair-trigger violent, and Haiwee's just too weird. They're awfully fun to write about, though, and despite their various damaged personalities, they make a great team when they work together. My advice would be that none of them stray too far in case I ever need to write a sequel (and I have one in mind, entitled The Sins of the Mother).

In Pariah's Moon, I'd want to hang out with Ullu, because she's just such an amazing person. I'd have no advice for her - how could I advise someone as ancient as she? Instead, I'd listen and watch and learn and try to stay out of her way, because she's wise beyond the ways of the world, kind of like Yoda but without the swamp. Faw!