#PennedPossibilities 625 — How physically fit are your characters? Does it factor into your WIP in any way?

It doesn't factor into the story, but here we go. Here's just a handful of the characters in the series.

FYI: Gang members and those in the criminal world tend to be on the thinner side, only because food with nutrition is more expensive and therefore harder to find (or afford). Cyberpunk works don't feature happy and peaceful worlds, after all.

• Dr. Death (Antagonist / Villain): He's well-toned, nice body. Everyone falls for him. (Yuck.)
• Alexios (MC): He's muscular but also on the taller side (and covered in scars and cybernetic parts).
• Noona (SC): She's scary and intimidating despite being thinner. No one f*cks with her.
• Junk (SC): He's a bit fluffy, on the chunky side, and he's adorable for it.
• Trick (SC later turned MC): He's thin and graceful.
• Dante (SC): He's tall (even taller than Alexios) and slim. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome in every way. He's in shape.
• Cosmia (SC): Short and well-toned (especially her arms). She works out. Often. Being a bar owner isn't the only thing she does at work. She's also a bouncer of sorts.

#PennedPossibilities 624 — Are there any mental health issues that run in your SC’s family?

Many complications come from bad chips and implants. It can affect the brain in the myriad of ways. Dante's family have suffered a lot in the past, and his father was one such case. The man went insane from a virus on his chip. His mother is still alive and well, though. What's more, since her husband's passing, she's done well for herself. Depression and anxiety also run in his family. Living on Citune, it's no wonder.

#PennedPossibilities 623 — In theory, what would be your SC’s weapon of choice?

Junk prefers knives. He has a set of cryo-blades and they freeze the poor soul who gets stabbed. It'll freeze, burn, and immediately "cauterize" the wound. Fantastic.

Dante is a lover, not a fighter. He's a doc, after all. He's ridiculous whenever he's somehow found himself in a fight, all long limbs and not a single ounce of grace in his body. He manages to stay alive, though. He's the type to choose a frying pan if it's the closest object he can find to defend himself.

Cosmia's a bar owner. An empty bottle works. She doesn't need a weapon, though. Her mouth is more than enough. She'll curse you on your way out of the door. You'll run for your life.

#PennedPossibilities 622 — Does your MC read? If so, what sorts of things? Do they have a preferred genre of choice?

Alexios reads. In his spare time, he likes to leaf through adventure stories. (Romance novels too, but that's something he'll NEVER tell another living soul, not even Junk.) During workdays, he spends time searching (and reading) the system database and combing through the warehouse archives for acquired books and other trinkets. It's all for black market clients, and it depends on whatever they want. Alexios' gang sell antiques and oddities to customers willing to pay for their desired items. If there's something they don't actually have, Alexios and his gang will do everything they can to find it for them. But yes, Alexios enjoys reading in his downtime. Comic books, novels, long or short stories, etc. All from the genres I mentioned as well.

#PennedPossibilities 621 — What was the bravest moment in your MC’s life? Were they known to be courageous from then on?

It was the moment Alexios chose life... He escaped slavery, becoming the sole survivor of his planet being destroyed and its people turned into slaves or experiments. He survived. It was the bravest he's ever been. Since then, courage has come easily. He's a man on the run. He's a rebel, a fugitive, a crime circuit boss, a gang leader, a salesman on the black market, etc. Bravery is a must.

#PennedPossibilities 620 — What have you enjoyed about writing your antagonist / villain?

Dr. Death is a smooth motherf*cker. His lines are excellent, but I'm biased. He isn't as much of a (noticeable) sleazeball as you would expect, honestly. It comes as a surprise, I'm sure, with the way I talk about him. He attracts women for a reason. That's the extent of it for me, though. Everything else about him is disgusting.

#PennedPossibilities 619 — What type of “accent” does your MC have? Tell us about their voice. Discuss speech patterns, vocabulary, slang, or their way of speaking, if you like.

Sorry but as a massive wrestling fan, I just have to say... "619! Booyaka, booyaka, that's my pueblo!" God, I love Rey Mysterio so much.

Alexios Jace comes from a planet that I've mentioned many times before called New Glasgow, where a group of people (Scottish families, obviously) left Earth as it was dying and claimed a habitable world for their own. That particular planet was destroyed by the Syndicate, and Alexios was the sole survivor. Now living on Citune, he's the only one with a voice quite like his. He has a distinctly Scottish accent, setting him apart from everyone else around. His slang is a mix of cyperpunk and Glaswegian. While he says "choom" like everyone else, he always throws around "mate" rather easily as well. That's just a quick example. I will say, on top of things, he's always a mardy, grumpy man, and he tends to grumble a lot. His voice is deeper, thick with an accent, and everyone automatically assumes he's pissed off. Go figure.

#PennedPossibilities 618 — Is your SC prone to jealousy? How might they handle any envious feelings?

Dr. Arcturius "Dante" Cason hates when the woman he loves is shown attention from anyone. He would never say it, would never voice the words aloud, but he'll burn with jealousy as he watches on. All of this is ridiculous, of course, because he'll never tell her how he feels... Maybe one day, if he ever gets up the nerve. Until then, he'll just suffer in silence. (Also, I've never mentioned this woman's name here. It's a big spoiler for Book 2.)

As for jealousy in any other way, Dante never experiences it. He's a fantastic doctor and others look up to /him/, not the other way around. "Workplace jealousy" never happens. Dante's Inferno is a med shop that everyone frequents.

#PennedPossibilities 616 — Name a bizarre and hyper-specific detail that you know about one of your characters but is completely irrelevant to the story.

I should have made a Marvel joke, but...

Junk is a Master (or Iron) Chef level cook. He's absolutely amazing in the kitchen, and that goes for both baking and cooking. No one makes a better crème brulée. The synthetic eggs he uses are a very high quality as well. (Not a bad idea for us struggling Americans right now.)

#PennedPossibilities 614 — SC POV: What is one phrase that you would really like to hear right now?

Dante: That everything is gonna be alright. That we'll all f*ckin' get through this. That she loves me, too. I don't know, just something. Some comfort would be nice right about now. It's been a tough year for the gang and I.

#PennedPossibilities 613 — How do you feel about the world or universe you’ve created within your WIP? Are you satisfied with it thus far?

I am, actually. I love creating different universes, and this one is no different. When it comes to anything cyberpunk, dystopian, and grungy, whether it's a book, game, film, television series, or a wonderfully-molded #TTRPG, heck yes—it's going to be something that I'll fall head over feels for. The entire SFF universe within this series of mine is a thing that I'm falling deeper and deeper in love with the more that I write it. It's been a long time coming. This book series (and the world within it) started back in about '08 or '09. The result of all that hard work is more than worth it. In short, yes, I'm so incredibly satisfied.

#PennedPossibilities 612 — Has your SC ever snooped in a friend or partner’s house?

Junk snoops around in everybody's home or place of work, not even a gang warehouse or shop. He's subtle about it. He can't help himself. But hey, that's just how he is and we love him for it. He's silly that way. Plus, honestly, as ridiculous as it sounds, he loves learning about his friends or partners.

Dante, however, respects everyone's privacy and never peeks around in any homes or workspaces. Why bother?

#PennedPossibilities 611 — Have you ever been able to relate to your antagonist / villain? If the answer is yes, then how so?

Honestly, I can't. Not even in a single way. Dr. Death is a bastard who enjoys murdering entire civilizations on planets and using "the leftovers," AKA those who somehow survived, for experiments. There's nothing to relate to there. He isn't just an antagonist. He's a true villain.

#PennedPossibilities 610 — What are the most significant sounds we hear in your WIP? For example, it could be the sounds of nature or the noises of a bustling town.

• The sounds of market vendors chatting with customers. Marketplaces are popular.
• The typical sounds of a warehouse.
• Alternatively, I also think of the gang's busy smoke shop or the downbeat of music in the nightclub as well.
• We hear chatter in many, many different languages around the Midnight City. One just gets used to it.
• Fun fact: Alexios grumbles, grunts, and groans a lot. He's grumpy, okay? Miserable choom that he is. (it kind of reminds me of Geralt of Rivia a bit, but only in that respect. LOL.)

#PennedPossibilities 609 — Can you tell us about a secret that your antagonist / villain is willing to take to the grave?

Dr. Death told no one about Alexios' escape from the ship. How could he? He had a perfect track record. It would have ruined him. To not only escape but to then disappear completely would have looked terrible for the doctor. It would have been seen as sloppy and messy. In the end, he had no choice but to keep it a secret. One day that decision might just come back to haunt him...

(For context, this happened two-hundred years ago. It's all backstory.)

#PennedPossibilities 608 — Does your MC have any nicknames?

Alexios does! They call him the Ghost because he can disappear within the Midnight City at the drop of a hat. He escapes. Everyone wonders how. He's just... /that good/. Being an experienced gang leader (among other things) does have its perks, I suppose.

#PennedPossibilities 0.43 — How does your MC best recharge their spirit?

Credit: @HeliaXyana

Early on, the answer for Alexios will always be to spend time with his friends or at private parties with them. It's how he lets loose. Later on, it'll be to spend time with his friends AND his lover (Trick). Life gets interesting for them. It's the little things that make him feel better and will recharge his depleted battery, so to speak.

#PennedPossibilities 607 — Antagonist / Villain POV: Where are you in your life right now? What are you most pleased with?

Dr. Death: My research is going well. I'm pleased with my work, as per usual, and with the connections I've formed through the work. The work is all that matters, in the end. My father was right. My alliance with the Syndicate has always been strong, and they /need/ me. I've made myself indispensable to them. I'm no pawn to be used.

#PennedPossibilities 606 — Is your MC keeping any secrets? Can you tell us more without giving away any spoilers?

It isn't a spoiler, thankfully, and it's also something that I've spoken about in various writing hashtags (including mine) in great detail. Alexios' past is the "secret" that he keeps well hidden. So few know about his past, what happened to his home world, and the loss of his people. Fewer still know that he was turned into a slave (along with the other survivors). He found a way to escape. Technically, he's still a man on the run. Only his closest friends know the truth.

#PennedPossibilities 605 — SC POV: If you had a “do-over” button, what one event in your life would you like to have a second chance at?

Dante: I couldn't save her, and I've missed her every single day since. I've replayed that one terrible moment over and over, a million times, and my mind won't let me rest. Only now do I know what I should have done. If only we could change the past...