Beautiful People - Friendship Edition - Josiah & Aileen

I put off doing this month's Beautiful People (which is friendship themed) for a while because I just didn't know which companions to feature. Luci and Aleida came to mind, but that would be somewhat repetitive in light of last month's BP post. Then there's Luci and Hadrian, but they're a romantic pair. And, erm, she doesn't really have any friends beyond those two people. So I crossed Sleeping Beauty characters off my list of candidates, and settled on the obvious choice.


You may have seen their names floating around here before: Aileen McKay and Josiah Williams, the main characters of that fantasy series spoken of in vague terms on my Writings page above. I've spent so much time with them, they've almost become real in my mind. Answering these questions will be fairly easy!


Before we continue, if you're new to the wonderfulness of Beautiful People, you can find out more from the hosts, Skye and Cait. Now: onward!


1. How long have they known each other, and how close are they?
Only a matter of weeks (although for me, they've technically known each other for seven years). Yet in those few weeks, they form a bond stronger than most. Death-defying experiences tend to encourage such bonds, you know.


2. What’s their earliest memory of being best friends?
They were distant acquaintances for a long time--knowing names and faces, passing each other in the halls at school--but the whole best friend thing is quite recent. Their first real connection was when they started talking about the disturbing visions they were both experiencing. Shaken by their most horrible waking dreams yet, they found empathy in each other.

“You mean you’ve been having dreams too?” Aileen gave a wobbly smile. “I wondered, especially since you were researching dreams in the library.” The smile disappeared. “Does that mean you had a dream like mine? About your family?”

Josiah crossed his arms in an effort to ward off the cold, both inside and out. “Yes.” In as few words as possible, he outlined the visions of the past few days, right up until the end of the latest one. As he finished, his eyes welled with tears again. Something conclusive needed to be said now, something comforting, but no suitable words came to mind. So instead, he pulled Aileen into a hug—the kind of embrace between friends who have borne the same miseries. They stood there shivering, Aileen’s head resting against his shoulder while snow swirled around.

3. Do they fight? How long do they typically fight for?
So far, they've fought only once, but it was a doozy and lasted for days. Let's just say they could have avoided some very bad things if they'd only been more open with each other. *coughs to hide evil author laugh*


4. Are their personalities similar or do they complement each other?
Josiah is more outgoing, whereas Aileen tends to be introverted. He makes snap decisions; she thinks things over, too much sometimes. Both feel very deeply. As for negative emotions, Aileen releases tiny amounts of pressure through biting, sarcastic remarks (which don't prevent the inevitable explosion later on), and Josiah processes them as they arise. Depending on what's going on, that process will either be verbal or else shown through body language.
I would say they complement each other . . . which is sometimes code for "they clash." Most of the time they mesh well, though.


5. Who is the leader of their friendship (if anyone)?
Josiah definitely is. Or at least, he leads in action. Aileen may lead more in the emotional sphere. She was the one that instigated their first connection, and she'll often be the one to bring up deep or difficult topics.


6. Do they have any secrets from each other?
Naturally--they haven't known each other long enough to know everything. But do they keep intentional secrets? Well, considering that open communication is pretty vital to staying alive in another world, no. Except for that time when tension drove them apart (see question 3).


7. How well do they know each other's quirks and habits?
What they do know, they know quite well. But it's hard to pick up on all of someone's quirks when they've been transformed into a dragon! Facial expressions just aren't the same, you understand. As for verbal mannerisms and other such things, I'd say they've got a pretty good idea of what to expect from each other.


8. What kind of things do they like to do together?
Save multiple worlds. Fly around in dragon form. Train together. Fight together. Go off on epic quests together. When life returns to normal, however, they enjoy having long talks, being in the woods outside of town, and wondering when the next adventure will turn up.


9. Describe each character's fashion style (use pictures if you'd like!). How are their styles different/similar?
In a few words . . .
Josiah: functional and comfortable. Tees and jeans will do the trick.

Not quite how I envision him, so ignore the face.
(Although the hair color is pretty close...)

Aileen: artsy in a casual, somewhat vintage way. Maybe a scarf or cute ankle boots added to a basic outfit.

Again, this picture is here only because of the clothes,
but this one's a wee bit closer to how I imagine Aileen.
Oh, oh--except her eyes should be brown. (Finding
good charrie pictures is so HARD.)

10. How would their lives be different without each other?

They would likely be dead. If not dead, then significantly less than they are now. Aileen wouldn't have gotten outside her own mind or learned to risk, fight, and forgive. Josiah wouldn't have discovered humility, sacrifice, or the uplifting strength of companionship. Together they are more than they are apart.

I'm getting excited about this series all over again! In a way, I've been missing them. Their world is sometimes an insane challenge for me as the writer of it, but I love it to bits. Keep being patient, Aileen and Josiah--I will come back to you. (Just as soon as my Sleeping Beauty novella finishes growing up, then goes on a cruel diet to lose about five thousand words in weight . . . But that's another post for another time.)