So, today marks the 2 year anniversary of Daenerys_Stormborn /TheSaltyStark and I's individual role play.  And what a year it has been.

Now for those who don't know Ken and have never RP'd with them, Ken is one of the most awesome people there is to make a story with. I have thrown in some pretty creepy and fucked up stuff but Ken just rolled with it. They never once told me that I couldn't do an idea because they didn't like it. They just went with it and I admire them so much as a person and as an rper. Over the year as expected, my skills at writing responses has gotten better, having multiple Rps on the go now, it means I can put WAY more effort into them and make them better. The last year hasn't been an easy time for me,  I've undergone a lot of personal stress and a lot of anxiety and some depression too and Ken never once cared if I wasn't feeling up to writing a long reply, Ken would understand that I wasn't in a great place and would let me write some crappy replies for a little bit, and I really appreciate it. RPing with Ken is like an escapism for me, I like doing it because I can completely immerse myself in our stories and the lives of our characters and it means so much that I have a safe place to do that. Like I said, I've gone through a lot in the past year and Ken has always been there for me to talk to if I needed a rant or something- they'd listen and that's what I needed and I cannot thank Ken enough. They are by far one of the best rpers I know and I'm so honoured that we've got this going for 2 years?! When I first started RPing in Thistleclan 3 years ago (yes it's been that long) I never actually thought that I'd get to have the friendship with them that I do now. Because they were an amazing rper in TC and I couldn't help but want to see if I could do an indi rp with them. I had seen that Ken had applied for an LOTR (Lord of the Rings) Rp and seeing as Tolkien is my forté I dropped them a message asking if they wanted to do an individual role play for LOTR. I am so thankful that they said yes because otherwise I wouldn't have the friend I do now nor would I have the amazing characters that I do now, or the developed ability to roleplay. I was still kind of new to it on Wattpad when I asked Ken about RP and coming from a different host site (YouTube) I actually felt kind of nervous. But here we are, 2 years on and the stories keep getting better. So I wanna look at some of the highlights.

1. Cas and Calix
Holy crap these guys have been married a full year in real time. That's insane. I don't care how old this rp is they will always be my number one OTP because they were my first OTP- they were also the characters that encouraged me to incorporate more diverse sexualities into characters, before them? I had never had a gay character before because I was scared other people wouldn't like it, now? Fuck them. My gay Elf babies are the one of the best things to come out that RP.  They are still super diverse, they are so well developed and they keep getting better. They are so in love it's unreal and I can really pour my heart into their scenes because I just adore them, I love them so much. They were the first OTP that I was incredibly invested in. Even from day 1 because I was shipping trash. (Still am) they are cute and handsome and sexy and they're just everything a character needs. They are both emotionally broad and have so many different sides and it's been amazing to develop them even more. I enjoyed their honeymoon because it was a chance to have them alone together again like they were when the RP first started and I really enjoyed that bit of nostalgia.

2. Neirion and Alcarin
These two I have to say are some of my favourites despite being fairly recent when compared to other couples in the roleplay. Their relationship and the way it developed has just been amazing. It was such a dark story to follow it was so interesting. Neirion was such an ass when he first met the clinically mad (also terrified) Alcarin who'd been abused for years and was possessed by some sort of demon that shared half his body. Watching them fall in love has been such a highlight for me, watching Alcarin grow as a person and watching Neirion fall more in love with him has just been beautiful and now they're off to their new life and I feel like a proud mother because my babies are grown up and I'm gonna cry. I'm so happy that they've turned out the way they have and I can't wait to see them grow over another year.

3. Gilophen
Now I know he's my character- but that's not what I'm assessing here. What I want to talk about is how Ken's storylines have changed Gil. Ken is notorious for heartbreaking plots and Gilophen's was no exception. Cainir was an excellent villain, or he could've been had he not gone to Sarta. He was so evil and the way he treated Gil and his father was just phenomenal. While it's a storyline that I found interesting, it was Ken's ability to portray it. I never intended for Gil to have such a major character role but the way you dealt with that narrative and the way you did that through your characters has made Gil develop in such a fascinating way. There is debate amongst characters what will happen to Gil and its also interesting to see if he'll get better too, whether he'll ever speak again. While I am in control of that, I want to make Gil's recovery from what happened as realistic as possible. And the way things are going for him are really helping with that. Without Ken's storyline, Gil wouldn't be so developed and I'm glad he's got as much character as he has now and I'm glad that there is now more to him - even if you basically tortured my poor son but then again I helped so I shouldn't be complaining but oh well you started it.

4. Indir and Alyan
While not much has changed for these two, they're engaged and that's amazing. I never thought that Alyan would get engaged but look! He is! Aahhh! I also know that they have developed- Indir is more paranoid and we see that side to him more clearly now than ever and we see Alyan as growing up into a young man who is willing to try new things and take a few risks. Yes they have their arguments but they always make up afterwards, even if it's awkward they work it out. Indir had changed so much it's been amazing to see that happen, to watch his confidence levels change and to watch him become more paranoid and more afraid, while Alyan is trying to push himself more to be mature enough for Indir. Indir and Alyan have experimented more in their physical aspects of being a couple, especially on the eve of Alyan's birthday and it strange to watch how that plays out because of their mixed reactions. Suddenly in moments like that, all Indir's paranoia is internalised, as is Alyan's attempts of confidence and we see Indir take on a more gentle dominant role again and we Alyan become very shy and very nervous. They're a couple that I want to see develop more, they still have a few obstacles such as the wedding to overcome and the night that follows as expressed through both Indir and Alyan- they're worried about backing out or disappointing the other one. Which is understandable- Indir having never been with another guy before and Alyan not ever being with anyone else. But I do love them dearly, they're one of my absolute favourites to roleplay. 

5. Cainir's family and the Mordin problem.
Mordin is going to have a more prominent role this year, he's been away far too long and he's a good villain that I want to keep around for a while. Mordin and Cainir's relationship has changed drastically- as had Cainir and Sarta's. I have very mixed feelings about Cainir as he did some horrible things both to Sarta, but Gilophen too and it's hard to try and forgive that, even as a character in a story. But at the same time, he has made this incredible turn around. He as just become this wonderful father figure to Bru and he's changed more than any character this year. He's the villain you hate to love, there's just such a softness to him now that it's hard to dislike him when he does his best to be such a good father and fiancé to his family, as well as a good older brother and a good son. I do think he and Gilophen will cross paths again, mainly because I want to see how that goes and I want to see how the reactions of each effect the other. We know that Cainir now feels incredibly guilty about his wrong doings and in a way it shows his true remorse that he came crawling back to Sarta practically on his knees begging for help and begging to help raise his son. His previous attempt of showing up with a knife was probably not the most tactile but it shows his development, the fact that he'd ditch all the the power and blood on offer to him because he wanted to be in Bru's life. Mordin will be back though- I know he will.

I cannot truly express how much I love this roleplay, or how much I've grown to love Ken as my friend. There is no one else who could have helped me create a story like Ken has and I cannot wait for what will happen this year, I cannot wait for the weddings, and I cannot wait for the dark plot lines that will ruin my life and take over my every thought. Ken is someone who I am always eager to get a reply from, I'm always on the edge of my seat, eager to know what their response will be and then I get the joy of coming up with a response. It's amazing and Ken is an amazing rper and if you haven't had the chance to rp with them? That's too bad because they're awesome. I like working with them and i feel we work well together because of how open we both are to plot devices. There isn't one thing that I would say no to, because I trust Ken and if we want to explore a new idea or plot in a story then we can go for it and know that the other person will help. I don't think I've ever had to say no to a plot because I don't want to. All the plots that we each have seem to just fit and it's amazing when you get an rp like that, where both people put the effort in to make something awesome like this.

Ken, thanks for another great year of storytelling and ranting. I really hope we can keep it up for a third year because I don't think I'm ready to give it up yet. Here's to another year!