Hi, so, I just finishing acting in The Winter’s Tale, a Shakespeare play, and we noticed a couple of ships that he certainly didn’t intend but which we took and ran with. I ended up liking them enough that now I want to write stories about ships with the dynamics we invented, and so those characters need names. I’m not using anything from the actual plot of The Winter’s Tale that isn’t important for the specific ships (and it’s set in a fantasy world, which The Winter’s Tale. . . might be? It’s unclear, which it isn’t here). Here, I’ve detailed the entire plot for those interested, which involves some death and is very long, so there’s an abbreviated version below that’s just basic character information.
One is a beautiful princess, beloved by everyone, but especially Two, her lady-in-waiting and best friend. Two has been secretly in love with her for years, but One is oblivious (or is she. . .?). Their life in the kingdom together has been great, except for one thing: One is betrothed to Three, prince of a neighboring realm, and the wedding is imminent. Three seems like a nice enough guy most of the time, but is prone to fits of rage and paranoia. One is not at all excited about marrying him (and Two obviously isn’t happy with the prospect either), but Three’s kingdom has been threatening war over an old slight, and the only way to avoid it is for their crown princess, One, to marry Three, the third-born child, and allow him a chance for a throne. After the wedding, things start to settle into a new rhythm. One and Three get along, despite not really being in love, and Two and Three have come to a grudging mutual respect. Everything seems sort of mostly okay–until Three’s worst rage yet. He lashes out at One, which he’s never done before, and not knowing his own strength, kills her. Two, upon learning of this, rages at a horrified and deeply regretful Three, taking One’s body with her. Distraught, Two searches for a way to restore One to life, eventually turning to the dark and forbidden magic of necromancy. True necromancy requires a life for a life, so Two takes Three’s, leading him deep into the woods to pay the ultimate sacrifice for his crimes. When One is alive again, she and Two never look back, leaving Three’s corpse alone in the woods for the bears. A search is mounted for Three, which finds his body, and One and Two are never implicated because Three had always been erratic and, frankly, no one really wanted him to be a king anyway. One feels somewhat guilty about Three’s death, even though he killed her, but Two doesn’t because in her mind, anyone who hurts One is worthy of retribution. In the castle, things are really looking up, with One starting to realize her feelings for Two, but they don’t get a happy ending quite yet. Something else will happen, involving characters Four, Five, and Six!
Four, Five, and Six are minor nobility, lords in either One’s court or Three’s. The only thing I know about their plot so far is that Four and Five get sent on a quest and that that quest involves baking a cake, so here’s some information about them. Four is a mischief-maker, fun and funny to be around, and brave. Five is similarly funny, but much less intentionally, an all-around scaredy-cat who gets startled by his own shadow, and also a fashion enthusiast who’s always impeccably dressed for the occasion. Six is sarcastic and easily annoyed, but a true and loyal friend, and weird and unpredictable enough that no one quite knows what to do with him. They all met at boarding school–first Four came over to Five and somewhat forcibly befriended him, and then Six just sort of showed up, and they’ve been best friends ever since. Four and Five have also had crushes on each other for years now, but are both completely oblivious to the other, and Six is resorting to increasingly complicated methods to get them to figure it out.
Here’s some basic info about each character.
ONE
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Bisexual
Role: Crown Princess of Kingdom A
Relationships: Two’s best friend, Two’s love interest, Three’s fiancée and then wife
Appearance: Long, wavy brown hair, green eyes, freckles
Personality: Kind, gentle, intelligent
Color: Green
Notes: Attractive and charismatic
TWO
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Lesbian
Role: Lady-in-waiting to One
Relationships: One’s best friend, One’s love interest
Appearance: Undetermined
Personality: Fierce, loyal, fearless
Color: Light pink
Notes: The best friend anyone could have
THREE
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Straight
Role: Prince of Kingdom B
Relationships: One’s fiancé and then husband
Appearance: Tall and thin, with unruly, spiky-looking hair
Personality: Erratic, easily annoyed, friendly
Color: Gray
Notes: Unpredictable, often wrathful, and likely to be a terrible king
FOUR
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Gay
Role: Minor lord
Relationships: Best friend of Five and Six, Five’s love interest
Appearance: Has brown hair in a ponytail over his shoulder, otherwise undecided.
Personality: Mischievous, open, brave
Color: Blue
Notes: Orange cat vibes
FIVE
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Gay
Role: Minor lord
Relationships: Best friend of Four and Six, Four’s love interest
Appearance: Short, dark, fluffy hair that gets bits of gold in the summer, short in general, pale-skinned
Personality: Skittish, nervous, intelligent
Color: Red
Notes: If Four is a cat, Five is more like a fainting goat
SIX
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Aro/ace
Role: Minor lord
Relationships: Best friend of Four and Five
Appearance: Undetermined
Personality: Weird, kind, welcoming
Color: Yellow/gold
Notes: Some kind of bird maybe?
Sorry for the massive infodump! If I could have help with these names, that would be great!