This is one of those embarrassing things... · 9:39pm Apr 23rd, 2014
So I have a human OC. Her name is Louise Vasquez and after about a year in Appleloosa, she moves in with Braeburn. She originally had a sheep ranch (with one goat) because when she first arrived, she was declared an endangered species by Princess Twilight Sparkle and they gave her a recently foreclosed property, that still had the flock living on it, as a government sanctuary. She did okay, in spite of her initial attempt to lead the sheep by threatening to eat them if they misbehaved. The actual flock leader called her out on that one pretty quickly. She misses lamb, among other tastier meats that are hard to come by now (no griffons or easily located fishing holes in Appleloosa, at the time), but she makes due for as long as she is forced to.
Anyway, because Discord dragged her there while she was originally asleep (yes, he woke her up in the process.) She assumed everything was a dream and refused to let go of that delusion. Braeburn befriended her because he does that, but also because she asked him for some help. She was a trucker. She doesn't know anything about sheep or shearing them.
Over time, she found out that she wasn't the only human brought to Equestria, this way or other methods, and soon there is a big enough population that the Equestrian government is getting nervous about how much longer they can handle the influx of this new and apparently invasive species (Twilight Sparkle is not worried, because it doesn't seem to be Sunset Shimmer's work.) It's not a huge surge, but there are enough and evidence that more will keep arriving, so only those grandfathered in are allowed to keep what they were given. During this upheaval, someone (I am too lazy to look) has the bright idea to invent Scratchers, a restaurant chain of sorts where humans are employed to pretty much literally pet and scratch ponies who are willing to pay for the service. At the same time or later, another comes up with the not-family-friendly version, named Rubby's, which is exactly what you think it is.
Appleloosa has experienced a surprisingly growth in new arrivals, but is still fairly small and has tourism based more on the general "wild west" image than anything else, which isn't exactly a novelty since it still exists out there and in Dodge Junction. The Duke Appleloosa manages to muscle out Dodge Junction when someone shows interest in expansion by building a Scratchers there. Most of the humans who are willing sign up for the job, because it's easy and there are a lot of them who genuinely enjoy the idea. Since it's a family-friendly establishment, there are a number of rules and regulations that keep them from being exploited in that direction, making it harder to say no to such an easy task. Because humans tend to be preferential (though other species with hands could be hired), they're paid well and the restaurant also imports griffon food for those that prefer remaining omnivorous. It's a mostly win-win situation for a species without cutie marks.
The eventual revelation that whether this is a dream or not doesn't matter. That this is now Louise's mundane life finally sinks in. She cracks up, but recovers from it over time, with Braeburn's affection and other support. This is assisted by finally reuniting with a few friends and family. In the end, she has the option to return, and that option isn't really going anywhere. She decides to settle the past, then return to Appleloosa, where she gets hired at the local Scratchers. This works wonders, since she really hated telling Braeburn why she pretty much flat out refused to work in his orchard. (She kind of freaked out about that because she is not an illegal migrant worker from Mexico, thank you very much for being a jerk like that... oh, you don't know what that is? Oops. My bad.) They have an... interesting relationship and while part of her initial charm was her strange disregard for reality, Braeburn still liked her after she came down from that weird, almost drugged up high of not taking anything seriously. If anything, he adores her more for being a little more grounded and less bitter, but still the irreverent yet staunch Louise that he's always known.
I dunno. I have some things typed up, but I've since decided her actual story might be better as flashbacks or backstory to other tales set after her reassertion in Equestria.
Does she sound interesting at all? I'm always nervous, because I've never been good at creating OCs. Especially with inevitable details I don't know much about, because I almost always do that it seems. She refused to be anything but Hispanic after that came up.
Yes, I have a crap ton of WiP. I don't know; I've been thinking about her lately (she's strongly inspired by a handful of different fics I've read but throwing her into Scratchers is a recent development) and Obselescence's discussion blog post regarding The League of Humans Acting Villainous (which she isn't a member of), got me wondering if she's really worth it.
For the record, she is dating Braeburn, but since she's human and she was... quite weird before her breakdown, they have an open relationship. He is literally the only pony she would settle down with though. Sadly, he really doesn't know quite what to do with her, but he is ever the hopeful one. I have it in my head that she'd be willing to share him, if he could find a mare who would do the same. She knows having foals is important to Brae. Adoption would be possible, except I'm sure that would involve lots of paperwork and technically shipping some foals to work on an orchard (Appleloosa is too small for an orphanage proper) so... mixed results with that. Also, Louise isn't really the motherly type. She could work it out, but the problem is convincing her first. Pony babies are super duper cute, but they do need diaper changes.
I could keep them friends, but I have a weakness for pony/human. 
Moving in may involve an apartment or a house. It could vary. If it's an apartment, she visits the sheep. At least a few are her friends, most definitely. She respects the goat, but she never understood what he said and relied on sheep for translation. Then she just didn't understand his deep philosophical arguments and kind of gave up entirely on him. Yeah, they have names. I'm too lazy to look in my file for them and favorite ewe will probably get a better name anyway. Some day.
What do you think? 
Note: doesn't have to be any official "verse", but I'm definitely using Scratchers. Only "verse" I would ever consider and it's not really a "verse" so much as it is a premise, honestly.
Also, Braeburn is insistent. Do not question his presence. He will not allow Louise to go it alone. She's a strong woman; she'd get by if she never met him, but she'd be really unhappy. That's just the way it is.
Sounds like a good one shot story to me.
I like it. Would probably be better as something short, just a few chapters and not a long series.
Having offspring is also semi possible in another way. Surrogates or surrogacy, however you say it.
might be an option besides adopting.
Or a foal going to Louise and saying 'mama tickle me tickle me!' (because fingers are better at tickle fights.)
*goes to check blood sugar*
Still seems like a good idea whichever way you want to do it. Just don't go over the top with her thinking shes in a dream. It might work better if she though she was in a coma and having a dream that would last the rest of her life. Its sweet but sad.
So when she realizes its not a dream she is left even more confused on how to feel.
Edit: its also not that embarrassing. Its fun.
2039769
Awwwww...
Hrmmm. Could be interesting if they had a mixture. A human and a foal. It's pretty much one of their crucial relationship conflicts though. Even if they had them, that would never entirely go away, but it at least would not be a terrible one. I think Brae would be a better mother than she would.
2039808
Yeah, I never planned it as a series, but at the same time, I am wondering if everything I mentioned works better as a backstory to other story ideas? If that makes any sense.
I think she could work fine for more, but I'd only write as ideas came to me, really, so who knows. Does that sound okay to either of you?
At the moment, I have a story idea for one of her work shifts that leads to an afternoon meeting and conversation another day, though it's not from her POV. It's more of a look at... I'm not sure what. It's more that she misses the open road, in some ways. That is something she ultimately decided to give up, but sometimes she is unsure about that. I may be pulling stuff out of my butt though. Maybe none of that makes any sense? I feel it might not even need flashbacks exactly, depending on how the conversation goes.
Of course I can explore those themes with other characters too, and I suppose I plan on that eventually. But she doesn't seem to want to talk to Filthy Rich. She wants to talk to Flam. It's the mustache.
I don't know. I have considerable misgivings about writing humans.
Also, I don't know. I have enough junk sitting on my computer as is.
2039883
I'd say attempt to write it while you feel like writing it and see where it takes you. Maybe you won't get very far, or maybe you'll find yourself almost done before you know it. Can't hurt to try.
Most of the story does seem to work as a flash back for her. At least the part of the story of her believing this all to be a dream until she accepts that it is not one.
Why's that? You already said you have a weakness for pony/human, and it's not like if this OC was a mare would suddenly make her more popular due to the hate for OC characters most people have. Since they're going to hate anyway, I'd go ahead and write it for those who share an enjoyment for Human and Pony Relationship.
2039914
True, true. I probably would anyway. I just get nervous.
Oh, I'm worried I'll offend someone. I mean, I could offend someone with a pony anyway, but I'm not Hispanic, so... there are a lot of things for me to get wrong, given the concept that I have of her. At least if she was a pony, I could gloss over more and people don't really know ponies anyway it seems.
I know I could make her a human from EQG, but I don't think that's her world. She's too somber for that. Well, not that they can't be. I don't know.
Well, I'll ignore my misgivings and whenever I get a stronger urge to try it and the time, I will.
2039883 Oh yeah I forgot we were both Filthy Rich fans.
but it all sounds good to me. But it is still up to you as the writer.
You are the god of the universe you create and its all up to you.
Also im with 2039914
Do what makes you happy and damn the consequences.
2039969
Im Hispanic. Let me give you a hint. *leans in close and whispers* We are just like everyone else.
There's no real difference in writing people of different races. Only real differences are in how things are interpreted/ how we would say things.
Also don't write people the way you see them on Tv. Tv is now nothing but stereotypes.
Just shy away from stereotypes and you will be fine. Create a character and breathe life into them, trust your feelings and wisdom and you shall create art.
2039988
Heh heh. Yeah, I didn't forget our discussion about him. Unfortunately, Louise isn't really the one to assist Filthy Rich in the matters of child rearing. I still have no idea who that lady is. She'll come with good time, I'm sure. I or someone else will create her one day. Louise was already there (she was born from a different train of thought long before this), but she's just not likely to be the one. Hence my comment.
I've mused over her meeting the brothers for awhile though. She's actually rather tribe-ist and really only finds earth ponies "not weird", so her interest in Flim and Flam is unusual. It's not just my current devotion to Flim and Flam either. This cropped up before Leap of Faith, but that brought them all the more forward in my mind. I just hadn't combined Scratchers with it until now.
Her reasoning is mostly superficial at first, but then it just turns into whatever.
It sounds like an interesting idea. I'm... honestly not much into HiE, personally. I like my pony undiluted. Though... I have been known to read a PoE story from time to time. If done well. That's usually an interesting read if the author can make it so.
I think you should at least give it a start if it makes you happy to write it. I've got some duds on my computer still, you know. That Trixie/FlimFlam idea never really got any more ideas... It's just kinda... waiting, I suppose, for oneshot inspiration juice.
It does sound somewhat interesting. I'd like to know what changes her outlook on the world so that she understands its not a dream. Maybe something painful, like hearing news of a lost loved one or even something as mundane as stubbing a toe and feeling pain.
I know this feeling... I once made a character who refused to be anything but Sioux Indian, forcing me to do a lot of research into creation mythology, songs, lore, and language to do a halfway decent job of it. I did manage to convince her to be half English, though... American Indian mother, British father. (I do like the odd pairings)
Anyway... Good luck to ye, whatever it is that ye decide to do.
2040047 Perhaps they rent her out as a discount scratcher for a while/ have her act in their shams to fool customers or some such thing.
It is Flim and Flam were talking about.
Maybe she inspires them with tales of "Billy Mays"
2040028
That's the thing. I want to avoid stereotypes, but I'm not perfect, I'm sure I'll slip up somewhere. I guess this means I can show you this story, whenever I write it up, and get your opinion at least, to help avoid that.
But yeah, first and foremost she is just a person. I confess, she's partially inspired by Shae from Game of Thrones and partly inspired by... I know there are other influences but that's the most recent one I pinpointed, when I thought about it. Not that she's in Shae's position. That's her attitude though; calm, proud, smart, affectionate, but somewhat aloof (and a vague resemblance to her looks.)
I think the other half might be Nani from Lilo and Stitch.
I know, none of them are Hispanic. That came from somewhere else. I don't know. Discord brought her there. What more do you want from me? He just wanted to play with her and then mess with Twilight Sparkle.
2040072 Id be happy to look at your story. I even do small time work as a proofreader from time to time.
when im not writing research papers.
EDIT: Yeah im the same with my characters. XD they are all mixed and mashed until I get a personality that slowly evolved over time into something. XD like my main character Thomas Cotton was a mix of SSgt. Michael Nantz. From Battle:LA and a detective from an old mystery series I used to read as a kid.
2040061
Hah hah... She's somewhat immune to their song and dance, because frankly they're lucky she doesn't just stare at them like they're freaks. It's the horsey faces... That calms her. She knows better, just hearing them talk, although they could still potentially trick her anyway. I think Braeburn would be mighty mad if they try to vamoose with her and he suspects foul play.
2040095 Though that would be a funny scene with him chasing them down in their carriage while swinging a rope to pull her off the back seat and onto his back.
Braeburn to the rescue! (and maybe one of his Buffalo friends)
2040051
Yeah, I'm not really a huge fan of HiE. I grudgingly accept them because of the G1 humans. It could be good, but I rarely feel drawn to reading any of them. Also, I muse over weird crossover thoughts, but I'd probably not write one unless I had an idea that really grabbed me. However, I liked Louise, although I confess she was born as a smut idea, before I tried unraveling more.
And yeah, sit on that one until it's done cooking. If it ever is. Sometimes it doesn't pan out.
She talks to other humans, one by one over time, and slowly thinks it's possible, but remains firmly deluded, until one of them informs her of the way back. Then she goes. She's felt mild pain but not waken up. She basically does wonder if she's in a coma or something.
It's when she ends up in her hometown and talks to her sister for the first time in several years that she realizes she was missing. And she wants to think she'd only talk to her sister in her sleep, but the things she hears...
She can't believe she's hearing them. She never thought of it that way. She never would have imagined what her sister told her.
And she breaks because not only is she awake, but she just got her ass chewed out for fucking up big time. They thought she was dead. It tears her up inside.
She gets over it but she stays awhile. Hashes things out. She considers what she wants. They know the truth. It's slowly just becoming a reality for people to end up in Equestria.
For awhile, she considers going back to her old life and she stays with her sister for awhile. Talks to friends. In the end, she doesn't want to leave Braeburn. That's the sticking point. Since she can now come and go as she pleases, she doesn't feel bad about going back to Equestria and at least this time they know where she went.
I haven't figured out the details. I'm assuming Discord wrecked reality on a grand scale but the Princesses can't exactly make a case for turning back time or simply sealing the cracks although who knows what else might come of it. At the moment the humans are mostly harmless because Discord isn't letting in weaponry (he's not stupid; he wanted chaos, not death) and they're only appearing in pony controlled areas more or less right within town and city limits (no Everfree or right in that fire bayou.) It's a case of throwing paint splatters across the landscape. He just wanted to see what would happen. Also, umm... not gonna say what happened with Louise. Ha ha.
Yup. Research. And I'm lazy. But I do love research sometimes. Only problem is, sometimes it turns into its own rabbit hole of distraction. So we'll see. Thanky.
2040119
Pfft. Then after she lands on him, they both crash because adult humans are too tall to ride might ponies comfortably. He could keep carrying her but her legs would get in the way and she'd have a hard time staying on him without dragging her feet.
Flim and Flam pulling a carriage? All three in a carriage being driven by other ponies? Hrmmm... reminds me of The Last Roundup.
2040164
Have you heard of Infinite Worlds? It's a GURPS roleplay sourcebook that I think you really might be interested in. I get inspiration from it regularly. Though... not directly. I never seem to go in a straight line from Inspiration A to Idea B. I get Idea F first, then I think about Idea B. If ye've got the time and about 30 bucks, 'tis available on Amazon. Tons and tons of ideas...
2040176
Braeburn: Cough...Cough...Not the romantic rescue you were thinking for huh? Carino? (Spanish for sweetie/dearie/etc.)
also the N is missing the little squiggly line that makes it have Nye sound.
2040179
Noooo!
We have too many resources for games that we haven't played in quite some time as it is and we sold/traded in a bunch awhile back. (I'm pretty sure we didn't have that one though.)
Actually, I could probably find it online, or at least some details. There are a lot of forums devoted to RPGs. Also some more games out there with similar premises, though nothing is springing to mind immediately. I'm guessing that book has a lot more content anyway, since it's devoted to the concept.
Truth be told, I don't think the nitty gritty will come up too much, but it would be good to have a basic idea at any rate and then getting back and forth would necessitate a stronger theory. Hrmmm. I think initially he was just dragging people in and then later he left holes, for lack of a better term.
I thought about it for awhile and the thing that gets me is the "single human in Equestria" is one of the ideas that kind of holds the whole thing back, since there are only so many ways to take it and it skews everything towards wish-fulfillment even more. It does have some merit, it streamlines things a bit, but I think it's much better when it ends up being humanity in general, which has strengths and drawbacks as well. At least then the human is not "uber special."
I was also worried I'd end up with the lonely loser trope if I didn't bring her down a peg (she kind of falls in that category) and when I was trying to figure out what would be the best way to pull her out of the funk she was in, I decided it should be when she's forced to face people again, instead of the ponies, who act more accommodating towards her. Slowly, like a trickle, starting with the first random guy that she runs into and then eventually like a sledgehammer, later on.
Perhaps its over-dramatic of me. I'm in a bit of a funk myself right now (though I blame my period at the moment.)
2040521
Actually, one of the ideas that the book introduces fairly early on is the idea of natural pathways existing between worlds. Three trees that just happened to grow in the shape of a doorway, stones that eroded or fell in similar fashion, well travelled paths that sometimes just choose to lead someplace else at odd times of the year or century or millennia.
Then there are Reality Quakes - where a tiny piece of reality gets planeshifted from one alternate universe to another, and Time Quakes, where one timeline gets partially or completely overwritten by another due to some event or another occurring simultaneously in both worlds.
Then there's Merlin 5, an alternate world where Oppenheimer, on seeing the Trinity Atomic bomb test, uttered the phrase "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." and unknowingly finished a necromantic ritual that opened a magical vortex and ushered in the golden age of modern magic.
Yeah.
2040206
Louise: *tries standing up and almost falls over again... yup, graceful* Not really, no.
But you get a kiss for effort. 
Cariño? Awww. That sounds cute, if I'm thinking of how it would sound correctly. Cah-reen-yo?
Wouldn't it be Cariña if he was calling her that though?
I actually dunno what she would call him.
Suggestions? 
2040521
Perhaps, perhaps not. Culture shock is a very real thing. I've experienced it myself and, trust me, it's a horrible feeling. Cognitive dissonance doesn't begin to describe it. It doesn't last long (in the run of four years,) but it does really knock you for a loop while it's happening. I think I cried 1 out of four nights for a month before my hormones resettled again and I was able to think about my life rationally again. Your character is not experiencing only culture shock, but species shock. What's the look of joy on a face? What's a smile look like? What's coy look like? What's amusement look like?... on and on.. Who's young? Who's old?
These things are so ingrained in us that I cannot imagine wandering into a world where I could not tell any of these things at a glance. It's one of the reasons I dislike HiE so much... Culture shock is bad enough. Entire species shock would be devastating to the point where I probably would not be able to function. Until I begged Twilight to use that transformation spell and makea me a pony!
2040551
Hrmmmm... It could be interesting to have a variety of paths there. Then Discord could claim innocence, even if he was involved with some of them anyway.
Equestria as a fae realm... Hrmmm.
2040573
Yeah, culture shock definitely exists in our world! Make it another world entirely, and that exacerbates things too.
I think the ponies are easier to read than most animals, thankfully, but she dealt with the shock by trying to ignore it and mostly got away with it, until she found something to directly relate to. It was both a relief and a jolt to find another human and she had to put on the mask of sobriety and sense. But at the same time, it made her feel real and less dazed, which only made her more confused.
I think Braeburn probably got a bit worried but encouraged her to seek out more humans ultimately, when he saw how she changed around them. Both relaxing and tense for her (she didn't know most of the people she met; strangers after all, but still people.) Of course he got upset when she said she was going home but family and friends were left behind. He'd understand. She also didn't know for sure it'd work maybe? Depends on the where and the how. He was extremely happy when she came back.
Ha, I'd probably join you in that. Louise wouldn't.
Ironically, I think Braeburn would keel over and thank the heavens if she became a pony, since he'd assume that would just solve everything (and she'd be an earth pony for sure, but I doubt she'd have a produce cutie mark.) Louise would be cursing up a storm though. She wants to continue being a human.
2040570 Car- E- Nyooo
XD you can probably find it somewhere online being pronounced right.
D'oh! yeah your right. Carina would be the term for her since its Braeburn saying it to Louise.
She might call him:
Ponyboy?
cant be cowboy cause that would confuse him.
Clint eastwood? XD
2040654
Ahhh. I thought maybe something else in Spanish would be cute. Brae as a general nickname (and he calls her Lou) but not sure on other terms. Cowpony is cute. Dunno though... I'll try looking up something.
Or I'll just think about it. Baby comes to mind... Eh.
2040718 Well I don't know enough about her but pajarita? (little bird)
Baquera>? (never had to spell that one before: Cowgirl.)
I don't know.
the most I can say to my English speaking girl is "mi amor" and "mi estrella." and anything else would be too complex so I never say much more. So I never put much thought into pet names.
2040762
Yeah, some people aren't really into such things either so... No telling. I might look up cowboy though.
2040629 I've always disliked the tranformation copout (no offense meant) because it just feels to me like, can't you love the person for who they are and not what you want them t be?
I'm probabky describing it wrong though.
Anyway.
I'm glad I could help ot. Hope you have fun writing and your work is great. 
2041498
No, you got it right. I absolutely agree about that too, although that was one of the nifty things Shrek 2 did with Fiona. (Technically the first movie did that, but the second one proved that really was what she was like and why she accepted the complete change-over. She was already between both forms, in reality, and the end allowed her to pick who she really was inside.)
I was tempted by it, because honestly being something fuzzy and cute is a dream come true for me (so to speak; I'm sure it has its down sides.) On the other hand, I've always been human so it's a huge change. I can see the merit to both concepts, but in the end I figured Louise wasn't the sort to accept that kind of thing and honestly, Braeburn is much happier just having her happy. If he wasn't, they'd part ways. That's just how it would work. She'd never accept him being turned into a human either, unless he really wanted to be one, and I can't honestly say that he would, really. Not impossible, but highly unlikely.
Well, my portrayal of him anyway. But if I was gonna write human Braeburn, I'd be writing EQG Braeburn, because that sounds like the happy crazy town to fun right there. Louise would probably not be present because she's not really intriguing in that context and it really isn't her world.
I'm not even sure what I'd do. I'd only attempt it just to see if I could, but I'm betting there are some stories to tell there with Braeburn. I just don't have anything regarding that yet.
2042121