Karla, author of Danelieux de Leon

Were You Surprised To Find Out You Won?

Umm, heck yes! I'm confident in most of my entries: I have a set stream of a 10 average. However, that doesn't mean that I don't ever go up for votes. As the pool gets smaller, a 10 is nothing. Danelieux went up for votes twice during the contest, once right before semifinals, and then before finals. It was pretty hectic because I was against amazing writers for both rounds, two of my best friends (@ShayTree and @WhovianHorseLover) included. I cried so much when Corradhin and Reed died because their characters were so great, but also because the Shay(tree) got eliminated. Then the pool got even smaller and the "best of the best" were left. Everyone had an established style by then, and they were all powerful. Reading the introduction paragraph for the chapter in which the Victors were announced was one of the hardest things. I didn't want to see if Danel won or not. If he won: amazing! Go me! If he didn't: okay, it was expected. Why are you crying? Stop crying. I kind of wanted it over, but not necessarily. Garrett was with me the entire time (through Kik) when I gave up on Vengeance. I seriously didn't care (I did).

Basically: Yes.

What Was The Most Challenging Part When Writing?

Emotion. Period. I wanted him to be this really indifferent character that just cared about proving his dad, and the general Career mindset, wrong. He would occasionally sing by himself, but suck everything up. He would show emotion, but only as a reaction. Danelieux de Leon turned out nothing like that. Towards the beginning, he was fine. There was hardly any emotion; he was bored of the Capitol. He was simple minded (kind of). But he didn't click with me the way Bellona did. I know I structured him more than her, I gave him more aliveness, but when it came down to it, she was more fun to write because she cared. So I slowly started to weave some thoughts into him: some happiness, some glumness, some being. And then we ended up with a boy who cried over his mother, over Corradhin, over a girl he never met until he had to kill her (Bellona), and over a cub. Over a tiger cub. Are you kidding me? There was also the whole connecting people to their eye color and all that jazz too. We also can't forget his song: Danelieux's Song. I think that's when he clicked. (I read it every so often and cry.)

Was There Ever A Time You Were At Your Lowest?

Yeah, a couple of times. The first: his character form. It sounds outrageous, but it's true. He was going to be my first ever Career. Ever. And from District One of all places. If I had started from Four, it may have been a bit easier. I know Two would have been disastrous, so One was left. I didn't want to make an airhead that only cared about looks and money and girls. But I didn't want to make him regal and austere and just completely apathetic. So I made a mix of the two: someone attractive, that was very aware of it but never flaunted it, someone who was military set, but never ruthless, someone intelligent, but never bragging, and someone who could be relatable through singing. Then there was also Task Seven but I don't want to talk about it because I would cry...again.

Did Having Alliances Make Anything Easier?

YES, YES, YES. A MILLION TIMES, YES. Writing Danel was hard enough, but writing him made me melt down. (That probably doesn't make sense, but whatever!) If it weren't for Amani, the nicer side, the more caring side wouldn't have come out. It would have made him apathetic. If it weren't for Corradhin, Danel's playful and curious* side wouldn't have come out either. Allies are fun to incorporate because you learn about them, somehow weave them into your writing, and give life to your tribute as well!

* ;-))) @ShayTree

What Was Your Favorite Task?

TASK SEVEN FOR THE WIN!!! Everyone who knows me knows that I love bringing Bellona into any Danelieux conversation. So here it goes. I loved this. I got to bring my baby back to life in an aspect that was never seen from her. Like, she was...I don't even know. It was weird seeing them both clash because they're so different: A Career trained to kill v. a simple girl from Ten. When I was reading the task, I was like "Haha. You have no one to hurt me with." Because a) Beckett and Corradhin were a "thing" so it was obvious that was going to be paired. B) Anastasia and Amani were sister for Christ's sake, so that was expected as well. I thought I was going to get paired with like that Roxanne chick because she was so out there, and Danel was not. And then I saw "Danelieux de Leon will be hunted by Bellona Viellana" and I was like "I got this. I know her better than anyone!" But then: PLOT TWIST. THEY'RE MUTTS. THE RETURNING TRIBUTES ARE MUTTS!!! HA. But still, it was fun just giving her a last breath of life before, you know, Danelieux had to kill her.

What Was Your Least Favorite Task?

TASK SEVEN FOR THE WIN...AGAIN!!! How dare you make me kill Bellona? How dare you make me taint Danelieux's pristine hands (and tomahawks) with the purest blood in the world? How dare you inspire me to kill her the same way she was killed in Retribution, with a different weapon? How dare you inspire me to make her a friend of Night? How dare you give me her amulet as a form of bait? (I'm looking at you, Odysseus and Tender!!!)

Just kidding: it was the Bloodbath. I suck at action, but whatever.

Did Writing Your Tribute Make You Realize Anything?

I'd like to say that he taught me the secrets of the Universe. But alas, all Danel taught me was that you have to really know your tribute. I completely forgot that he was an avid singer until I reread his form. I also neglected the fact that he has a nickel as a token. So many metaphors could have come out of that, but I forgot! He also taught me Careers are fun to manipulate! Watch out One, Two, and Four. I'm coming for you. (But I can't forget Three, Seven, and Ten. Those are my fallbacks.) And I think something else is that it's okay to cry under the pressure of voting. It's perfectly fine to lower your standards because then if you do die, it was expected ☺!

One last thing: All of Shay's tributes are fuckboi's and will break your heart, along with your tribute's heart. (Okay, but what is Danel? He's not straight, but he's not gay either. Hmm, I have to look into that.)

How Many Games Have You Been In Prior To this?

Ha. Ha. I gotta go. Right now. Immediately. Sorry. Must go. Now. Ha. Goodbye.

I'll just list them and give them a short description and who they were inspired by. (Sorry, they shall be alphabetical order because that's how my mind works.)

Abitha Madison – Coven. She's a prostitute, and currently in 2nd or 3rd. One of those. Either way, she's pretty easy to write for, even if I don't know what being a prostitute is like! Inspired by that one pretty lady I always see alone on the beach while I run. She just stares at the sea and lets her clothes flutter endlessly.

Aurora Legion – Below Zero. DISTIRCT ONE FEMALE!!! She's just a star full of color, okay. And I loved her. I don't want her to die. I want to get to at least Quarter Finals with this one before I completely destroy her character through the power of having people in her alliance killed! ☺ "Aura" is inspired by Eavan M. I won't get to into this one, but I love Eavan and her eyes.

Bellona Viellana – Retribution. Sad screaming and weeping in the distance. She will always be my second favorite. My little Ham, you made it so far. I love you so much. Inspired by me, kind of, and this girl who's name I keep forgetting.

Elizabeth Chase – Builder's Games. She's a Victor but only by default. I think she was my first tribute ever, actually. It doesn't matter, I was thirteen and I sucked. I still suck now, but not as bad. Inspired by no one because I was in sixth grade and an emo.

Fran Av Solen – A Heroes Charge. I recreated my husband. Literally. He's so perfect, I love him. I love Fran. I love Fran. Inspired by Evan S., swimmer extraordinaire! I love Sassy Scales, I really do.

Gwenith Aluma – Lock and Key. Smol hippie child that must be protected at all cost. "The Forgotten One," thanks Theodore. She's my queen, honestly. Inspired by Sienna G., the coolest vegan I know and hold dear.

Lindell Aspen – Hanging Tree. Annoying, hardcore feminist that needed to shut up. Writing her got me so mad. Ironically, she's inspired by my two friends Jazmin and Melyssa who are feminists, but not annoying!

Merona Nox – Generations. Eh. It was painful to write her, but not as much as others... I think Mel and Andri kind of inspired her, I don't know, there's a bit of me too.

Nairn Cedara – Choices. One word: Fuego. I literally created my husband, AGAIN! I love Nairn Cedaddy (whoops, not meant to be a kink)! He was created through Josue, Adam, and Tom (holy shit, Tom B. is so hot)!

Natalia Uralis – A Heroes' Charge. I love you, you ignorant lesbian(?)! (Sorry, Fran) Natalia is all me and Tabatha.

Techna Screen – Cloud Nine. I think she may be my first tribute. Either way, I don't know how she got fifth, I wanted to kill myself after I knew what editing was. No one was around to inspire her for I was a sixth grade emo.

Technick Flux – Rhapsody. Oh my gosh. Another one I wanted to strangle because he wasn't that interesting. I lost all my plans for him because the games didn't start until a month after he was completed. Inspired by Jorgen D. and his insightful eye of capturing everything.

Trevor Rose – Psychopaths. So far, I'm digging the sarcastic, "give-me-my-phone," "Slimmy Jimmy / Hammy Sammy / Fallin' Collin / Chair-uh Sarah" nerd. This is all Moises M. and Bennett M.

Syencia Futura Viet – Fairytale. I don't know. She's annoying. I didn't necessarily hate her, but I didn't like her either, whoops. She was my first upon my return to Wattpad (end of ninth grade). Inspired by no one, because the trend hadn't started yet.

I think that's all! ☺

Will You Be Participating In More During The Future?

Obsessed. I am obsessed. Of course I will continue, I have three in reserved slots (Caster Morea, Gavin Cillian, and Thom Colures), and six tributes currently. There is no doubt that I will be consumed by these. Absolutely none.

Final Words:

Danelieux de Leon's story is not over. That is all I'm saying.