O, S, C development

 My story feels like shit right not.  The conversation between O and S is so damn cliche and I have another character that I'm wanting to be a part of this but I can't get them all connected.  What is coming out of my fingers right now is sounding so teenage love-story hallmark movie bull shit.  

Blech.

That's why I have this page.  Shit I write when I should be writing.  It really does help me get that crap out.  My writing wiggles.  Wiggle wiggle wiggle.

I saw something on Pinterst that said "When you get stuck think about the worst thing that could happen to your characters right now.  Do that."  Well damn, that throws a wrench into things don't it?  What could happen to Cal?  Ooh her mom could finally call.  her brother.  Her ex?  Nah, that's to cheesy.  He's only a mention in her backstory.  I do need to do some character development....

Lets see, Odin.  I like Odin best right now.  he's charming and calm, soft but your wouldn't know it with is motorcycle and tan skin and leather boots.  He's in town because he runs a hunting lodge and it's slow in the summer months.  So he has his staff run it for him.  He's got an older and a younger sister, his mother passed away a few years ago and his dad died when he was young.  He likes deep discussions, sitting by a fire, a good glass of whiskey, riding his bike for long hours on long roads.  He loves women but they are each individual to him, individually brilliant, unique and worth every moment of his time.  He hass a sweet tooth, would eat an entire pan of brownies in one sitting, and makes a mean chocolate chip cookie.  His mom's recipe.  

Suzie is in her 50's had her heart broken in her 30's and was smitten over Alfred in her 20's.  Originally from Virgina, she came to Peroia for an internship at a museum in college, did so well at it she came back for a second year for the same role but actually a paid job and for Alfred.  They only ever kissed, if that.  It was a sweet, innocent love.  They both knew he was too old for her and they both were in different placecs.  She was young and vibrant and eager to learn and travel and life in general made her excited.  But when she came back after graduation to work at the museum she knew deep down that she was coming more for the love of Alfred than the job.  She worked at the museum for a few years until it decided to close and move to the next town over, bigger more tourist traffic year-round rather than just in the summer months.  But when she told Alfred how he felt, he admitted that he felt the same but it could never happen.  it was not right and he was not the one she should be with.  It broke Suzie's young heart but Alfred never stopped being her friend, offering her a snadwich when she came by the cafe and simply being a stable thing in her life.  When Tristan came to town, everyone knew he was bad.  Even Suzie.  But she was swept up in the excitement of it all and how good it felt to be with someone bad.  And when he left and took her money with him, Alfred was still the only steady thing in her life.

Suzie loves to garden.  Drink cheap wine.  Read suspense thrillers, especially if they are in a series.  She has been running the sleep house for at least 10 years, a year after Tristan left.  She is kind but curt, is no-nonsense.  She has long brown hair, often work in two braids.  She is most commonly seen in old jeans with a plaid button down or solid color t-shirt with a tiny pocket on the breast.  She wears sensible shoes, birkenstocks or cheap clogs and has one spoon ring on her right middle finger.  But when she smiles, the life she has lead shows up on her face.  Her eyes have a softness when she smiles.  And her laugh lines are deep.  Odin says it's like she only knew joy at one point in her life.  He is aiming to bring that joy back in.

Calliope is 26, was dumped by her boyfriend-hopefully-soon-to-be-fiance and lost her dream job all within one week.  She was working at a craft store when she left, hates everything about being crafty.  She loves history and books, coffee and an occassional whiskey with a touch of water.  Her hair is brown, long enough to be in a pony but uneventful.  So much so that often times people will say did you color your hair, and she never has.  It's like when they see her they forgot what it looked like last time.  Calliope Luna, her mother was really into mythology and she was born on a full moon.  She would rather listen to other talk then be the talker.  Everyone has a story and she wants to hear them all.  She has never owned a car, but does have her license.  She loves takin public tansportation.  OOOHHHH MAYBE SHE ENDS UP MOVING TO NYC AFTER THIS... ALFRED AND SUZIE BOTH HELP HER FIND A JOB IN THE PUBLISHING WORLD IN NYC.

OK, she loves taking public trasit and never wears her headphones when she does.  She feels like she misses so much of the world when she does.  She loves city living but loves the stories of how a city came to be even more.  Where people came from and why.  She wants to work in the books, book shops, publishing, editing, anything involving books. She left because there was absolutely nothing keeping her there.  Her family will always be there and they weren't that close anyway.  She didn't have many friends and they had drifted since her breakup.  

SO WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE??  

I need Alfred to offer Cal and job and for Cal to start telling Alfred her dreams.  And for Suzie to let her gaurd down enough to let Odin in.  But he doesn't stay.  He doesn't leave abruptly, he has to get back to his hunting lodge.  It's a sad but honorable goodbye.  Cal ends up applying for a job, gets a phone interview but nothing more.  She decides to move there anyway.  

The town, Alfred's bar/cafe is the most easy-going place in town.  Not best with the limited menu options but the happy hour crowd both 3 pm and 9 pm are steady regulars.  The museum Suzie used to work at is now over in the next town and there is a library in its place.  Cal works there in the day time and a few nights a week at Alfred's.  The town is about 2500 people.  It's touristy in the warmer months but only thanks to the neighboring town and its history of being a port on the river for goods and trading before the industrial revolution.  People come to Peroia for the day, for Akin Falls, for the few shops and restaurants around.  

MATILDA?!  IS SHE A THING?  I don't think so.  Maybe next book...