Eloquent Souls
This series is fantasy romance about soulmates, soulmarks, and soulbonds. These features don't solve everything, but they do make life more interesting.
In this setting, most people have soulmates. They argue over whether everyone has a soulmate, or only some people; and whether each person has only one, or multiple possibilities. The truth is somewhere in between. Most people could connect with more than one person, while some are only compatible with one or none. Physicists have suggested that this relates to cosmic strings and paired atoms. Most people just think that some souls are made for each other and/or soulmates are two halves of the same soul.
A soulbond can take various forms. It is most often sexual/romantic, but it can be platonic, sensual, and so on. The first words a soulmate will say appear on a person's skin, usually but not always in the soulmate's handwriting. These things can be welcome or unwelcome, depending on the context. Most people manage to deal with them, but sometimes things get...complicated.
In this setting, most people have soulmates. They argue over whether everyone has a soulmate, or only some people; and whether each person has only one, or multiple possibilities. The truth is somewhere in between. Most people could connect with more than one person, while some are only compatible with one or none. Physicists have suggested that this relates to cosmic strings and paired atoms. Most people just think that some souls are made for each other and/or soulmates are two halves of the same soul.
A soulbond can take various forms. It is most often sexual/romantic, but it can be platonic, sensual, and so on. The first words a soulmate will say appear on a person's skin, usually but not always in the soulmate's handwriting. These things can be welcome or unwelcome, depending on the context. Most people manage to deal with them, but sometimes things get...complicated.
"Skin Bridges" 2-20-21
Story Date: Antebellum, mid-1800s
Summary: Back in slavery days, soul marks helped some people find their way to freedom.
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and freshbakedlady and Valentines Bingo "The Language of Flowers" Card 2-1-21
Free Perk
"Bread and Roses" 8-1-23
Story Date: 1860s
Summary: After the War Between the States, two women find each other.
Characters: Ida Becker, Hilda Becker, Enid Ellis
Prompted by DW user erulisse, siliconshaman, and see_also_friend and New Adventures Bingo Card 8-1-23
Sponsored by a pool run by DW user fuzzyred
"Die Zeichen" 3-4-21
Story Date: World War II
Summary: Soul marks have a big impact on World War II.
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo "The Language of Flowers" Card 2-1-21
Sponsored by DW user janetmiles
"Souls in the Mist" 2-15-22
Story Date: 1967-1985
Summary: Dian Fossey and Digit were soulmates.
Prompted by DW user ng_moonmoth and Anonymous and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Sponsored by DW user ng_moonmoth
"Todos Tenemos..." 3-20-22 (Creative Jam)
Story Date: 1976
Summary: Maria pursues her passion for ceramics by traveling, and unexpectedly finds love along the way.
Characters: Maria Luna, Martin Arenas
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and National Crafting Month Bingo Card 3-1-22
Sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred
"Soul Song" 2-4-21
Story Date: contemporary
Summary: What does it mean when your soulmark says something depressing? Not always what you think it does.
Characters: Hadleigh Hightower, Stellan Clare
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo “Romance Book Titles" Card 2-1-21
Sponsored by DW user nsfwords
"Just to Make Everything Clear" 2-15-22
Story Date: contemporary
Summary: Linnea and Jayvee are best friends forever.
Characters: Linnea Quill, Jayvee Yates
Prompted by DW users readera, fuzzyred, librarygeek, and chanter1944, and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Sponsored by a poll with fuzzyred
"Our Song" 2-27-22
Author: nsfwords
Story Date: November 2008-2017
Summary: Arley Cooper finds love and loss and love again through music.
Characters: Arley Cooper, Rashod Harris, Charlotte Cooper, Derrell Johnson
"Let It Grow" 2-15-22
Story Date: Saturday, February 15, 2014
Summary: Bryony meets someone new at a plant party.
Characters: Bryony Lane, Heath Clifford
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Bartered by DW user nsfwords
"Like Having a Blanket All Around Your Heart" 2-19-22
Story Date: Monday, August 10, 2015
Summary: A college upset leads to something special.
Characters: Raleigh Carpenter, Cosmo, Jarom, Oonagh
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Sponsored by DW user nsfwords
"Accidental Breakage" 2-19-23 (Creative Jam 120)
Story Date: Friday, February 19, 2016
Summary: Employer malfeasance leads to employee deaths, ruptured soulbonds, and consequences for the company.
Prompted and sponsored by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-23
"First from Inside of You" 2-15-22
Story Date: June 2016
Summary: Three bodymod artists are drawn together.
Characters: Talen Sharpe, Dextera Sharpe, Brandan Sharpe
Prompted by DW user siliconshaman and librarygeek and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Sponsored by DW user fuzzyred
"Shiver in Awareness" 4-6-21
Story Date: 2016
Summary: When a happily married woman discovers a new soulmark, life gets more complicated.
Characters: Eanmund Scholler, Leta Scholler, Bern Englebrecht
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Genderplay Bingo "Aspects" Card 4-4-21
Sponsored by Anthony & Shirley Barrette
"As Much as Anybody in the Entire Universe" 2-16-22
Story Date: Fall 2016
Summary: Renichi isn't interested in the usual relationships.
Characters: Renichi Wada
Prompted by DW users fuzzyred, librarygeek, and chanter1944, and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Sponsored by DW user ng_moonmoth
"When the Soul Is Ready" 2-15-22
Story Date: January 2017
Summary: Leta, Eanmund, and Bern all wind up researching unusual bond phenomena together.
Characters: Eanmund Scholler, Leta Scholler, Bren Englebrecht
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Bartered by DW user nsfwords
"The Transmigration of Soulmarks" 4-17-21 (Creative Jam 100)
Story Date: 2017
Summary: Gender affirmation usually breaks up a pre-existing relationship, but sometimes that opens the way for new connections.
Characters: Charles Armstrong, Frank Augustin, Maeko Nylund
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Genderplay Bingo "AU" Card 4-4-21
Sponsored by DW user nsfwords
"Like Love Letters in the Sand" 8-3-21
Story Date: March 2017
Summary: A stonecarver discovers why her soulmark is so unusual.
Characters: Petra Rodin, Adriano Nicchi
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Hot Summer Writes Bingo Card 8-1-21 and August Intimacies Bingo Card 8-2-21
Sponsored by DW user nsfwords
"That Same Language of Loss" 2-15-22 (fishbowl spillover)
Story Date: Fall 2017
Summary: The Rapa Nui script isn't as forgotten as most people thought.
Characters: Darien Reyes, Tiare Miru o Kao
Prompted by DW user Siliconshaman, LJ user Zianuray, and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Sponsored by DW user janetmiles
"You Are So Busted" 2-2-22
Story Date: Saturday, April 7, 2018
Summary: Denis has always hated his soulmark.
Characters: Denis Broderick, Livia Fairfax
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Sponsored by DW user nsfwords
"Whatever Our Souls Are Made Of" 5-12-22 (fishbowl spillover)
Story Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Summary: A make-do chess meet brings two people together.
Characters: Tiana Menchick, Vladimir Kasparov, Gertrud Agrest
Prompted by DW user wyld_dandelyon and Mixed Quotes Bingo Card 5-1-22
Free Perk
"The Inner Pictures of the Soul" 6-7-22
Story Date: June 2022
Summary: Shekinah Clay paints souls.
Characters: Shekinah Clay
Prompted by DW user siliconshaman and Cottoncandy Bingo Card 6-1-22
Sponsored by DW user ng_moonmoth
"Tretår" 2-7-23
Story Date: February, 2023
Summary: Fritjof doesn't want to be a third wheel, but it turns out better than he expects.
Characters: Fritjof, Eira, Sigfrid
Prompted and sponsored by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-23
"Against All Odds" 3-19-23 (Creative Jam 121)
Story Date: Saturday, March 18, 2023
Summary: Two transpeople find each other at an ethics conference.
Characters: Sander Brandenburg, Adriana De Palma
Prompted and sponsored by DW user nsfwords
"For Every Time I Thought of You" 7-1-23 (Sunshine Challenge)
Story Date: Thursday, June 1, 2023
Summary: Two people soulbond at a festival.
Characters: Iris Nakahara, Tiger Ray Brown
Prompted by Fireworks Bingo Card 7-1-23
Free Perk
"New Beginnings" 7-5-23 (Sunshine Challenge)
Story Date: Wednesday, July 5, 2023
Summary: Two women get together.
Characters: Gladys Anderveldt, Rosita Recillos
Prompted by Fireworks Bingo Card 7-1-23
"The Rose That Grew from Concrete" 7-9-23 (Sunshine Challenge)
Story Date: Sunday, July 9, 2023
Summary: Not everyone believes in love at first sight, but that's okay.
Characters: Pavel Krupin, Hana Moore
Prompted by Fireworks Bingo Card 7-1-23
"My Own Personal Battery" 7-13-23 (Sunshine Challenge)
Story Date: Thursday, July 13, 2023
Summary: Two girls meet in a campground.
Characters: Sousanna Campbell, Joy Washington
Prompted by Fireworks Bingo Card 7-1-23
"Old Wounds That Refuse to Heal" 7-17-23 (Sunshine Challenge)
Story Date: Monday, July 17, 2023
Summary: Solidago Alejo rushes to the rescue, but things don't go as he expects.
Characters: Solidago Alejo, Jacinthe Desrosiers
Prompted by Fireworks Bingo Card 7-1-23
"Everything Is Temporary" 7-21-23 (Sunshine Challenge)
Story Date: Friday, July 21, 2023
Summary: Sometimes, a soulmark hints at what will be needed in the future.
Characters: Bowen Meliton, Jacinto Mosley
Prompted by Fireworks Bingo Card 7-1-23
"To Be Gentle and Kind" 7-25-23 (Sunshine Challenge)
Story Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Summary: Two soulmates inspire each other to be their best selves, even before they meet.
Characters: Zinnia Innis, Darry Reynolds
Prompted by Fireworks Bingo Card 7-1-23
"A Series of Daring Adventures" 2-17-22 (fishbowl spillover)
Story Date: Monday, July 1, 2024
Summary: Knowing the date when she'd meet her soulmate, Blinda filled the intervening time with exciting events to tell him later.
Characters: Blinda Nichols, Hemlock Wilson
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Bartered by DW user nsfwords
"The Relativity of Tragedy" 2-6-24
Summary: There are ways to deal with toxic relationships, even for soulmates.
Prompted by DW user anxious_songbird, Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-24, and 100quadrantedships Pitch Prompts: 11. Rotten
Free Perk
Story Date: Antebellum, mid-1800s
Summary: Back in slavery days, soul marks helped some people find their way to freedom.
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and freshbakedlady and Valentines Bingo "The Language of Flowers" Card 2-1-21
Free Perk
"Bread and Roses" 8-1-23
Story Date: 1860s
Summary: After the War Between the States, two women find each other.
Characters: Ida Becker, Hilda Becker, Enid Ellis
Prompted by DW user erulisse, siliconshaman, and see_also_friend and New Adventures Bingo Card 8-1-23
Sponsored by a pool run by DW user fuzzyred
"Die Zeichen" 3-4-21
Story Date: World War II
Summary: Soul marks have a big impact on World War II.
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo "The Language of Flowers" Card 2-1-21
Sponsored by DW user janetmiles
"Souls in the Mist" 2-15-22
Story Date: 1967-1985
Summary: Dian Fossey and Digit were soulmates.
Prompted by DW user ng_moonmoth and Anonymous and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Sponsored by DW user ng_moonmoth
"Todos Tenemos..." 3-20-22 (Creative Jam)
Story Date: 1976
Summary: Maria pursues her passion for ceramics by traveling, and unexpectedly finds love along the way.
Characters: Maria Luna, Martin Arenas
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and National Crafting Month Bingo Card 3-1-22
Sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred
"Soul Song" 2-4-21
Story Date: contemporary
Summary: What does it mean when your soulmark says something depressing? Not always what you think it does.
Characters: Hadleigh Hightower, Stellan Clare
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo “Romance Book Titles" Card 2-1-21
Sponsored by DW user nsfwords
"Just to Make Everything Clear" 2-15-22
Story Date: contemporary
Summary: Linnea and Jayvee are best friends forever.
Characters: Linnea Quill, Jayvee Yates
Prompted by DW users readera, fuzzyred, librarygeek, and chanter1944, and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Sponsored by a poll with fuzzyred
"Our Song" 2-27-22
Author: nsfwords
Story Date: November 2008-2017
Summary: Arley Cooper finds love and loss and love again through music.
Characters: Arley Cooper, Rashod Harris, Charlotte Cooper, Derrell Johnson
"Let It Grow" 2-15-22
Story Date: Saturday, February 15, 2014
Summary: Bryony meets someone new at a plant party.
Characters: Bryony Lane, Heath Clifford
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Bartered by DW user nsfwords
"Like Having a Blanket All Around Your Heart" 2-19-22
Story Date: Monday, August 10, 2015
Summary: A college upset leads to something special.
Characters: Raleigh Carpenter, Cosmo, Jarom, Oonagh
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Sponsored by DW user nsfwords
"Accidental Breakage" 2-19-23 (Creative Jam 120)
Story Date: Friday, February 19, 2016
Summary: Employer malfeasance leads to employee deaths, ruptured soulbonds, and consequences for the company.
Prompted and sponsored by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-23
"First from Inside of You" 2-15-22
Story Date: June 2016
Summary: Three bodymod artists are drawn together.
Characters: Talen Sharpe, Dextera Sharpe, Brandan Sharpe
Prompted by DW user siliconshaman and librarygeek and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Sponsored by DW user fuzzyred
"Shiver in Awareness" 4-6-21
Story Date: 2016
Summary: When a happily married woman discovers a new soulmark, life gets more complicated.
Characters: Eanmund Scholler, Leta Scholler, Bern Englebrecht
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Genderplay Bingo "Aspects" Card 4-4-21
Sponsored by Anthony & Shirley Barrette
"As Much as Anybody in the Entire Universe" 2-16-22
Story Date: Fall 2016
Summary: Renichi isn't interested in the usual relationships.
Characters: Renichi Wada
Prompted by DW users fuzzyred, librarygeek, and chanter1944, and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Sponsored by DW user ng_moonmoth
"When the Soul Is Ready" 2-15-22
Story Date: January 2017
Summary: Leta, Eanmund, and Bern all wind up researching unusual bond phenomena together.
Characters: Eanmund Scholler, Leta Scholler, Bren Englebrecht
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Bartered by DW user nsfwords
"The Transmigration of Soulmarks" 4-17-21 (Creative Jam 100)
Story Date: 2017
Summary: Gender affirmation usually breaks up a pre-existing relationship, but sometimes that opens the way for new connections.
Characters: Charles Armstrong, Frank Augustin, Maeko Nylund
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Genderplay Bingo "AU" Card 4-4-21
Sponsored by DW user nsfwords
"Like Love Letters in the Sand" 8-3-21
Story Date: March 2017
Summary: A stonecarver discovers why her soulmark is so unusual.
Characters: Petra Rodin, Adriano Nicchi
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Hot Summer Writes Bingo Card 8-1-21 and August Intimacies Bingo Card 8-2-21
Sponsored by DW user nsfwords
"That Same Language of Loss" 2-15-22 (fishbowl spillover)
Story Date: Fall 2017
Summary: The Rapa Nui script isn't as forgotten as most people thought.
Characters: Darien Reyes, Tiare Miru o Kao
Prompted by DW user Siliconshaman, LJ user Zianuray, and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Sponsored by DW user janetmiles
"You Are So Busted" 2-2-22
Story Date: Saturday, April 7, 2018
Summary: Denis has always hated his soulmark.
Characters: Denis Broderick, Livia Fairfax
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Sponsored by DW user nsfwords
"Whatever Our Souls Are Made Of" 5-12-22 (fishbowl spillover)
Story Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Summary: A make-do chess meet brings two people together.
Characters: Tiana Menchick, Vladimir Kasparov, Gertrud Agrest
Prompted by DW user wyld_dandelyon and Mixed Quotes Bingo Card 5-1-22
Free Perk
"The Inner Pictures of the Soul" 6-7-22
Story Date: June 2022
Summary: Shekinah Clay paints souls.
Characters: Shekinah Clay
Prompted by DW user siliconshaman and Cottoncandy Bingo Card 6-1-22
Sponsored by DW user ng_moonmoth
"Tretår" 2-7-23
Story Date: February, 2023
Summary: Fritjof doesn't want to be a third wheel, but it turns out better than he expects.
Characters: Fritjof, Eira, Sigfrid
Prompted and sponsored by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-23
"Against All Odds" 3-19-23 (Creative Jam 121)
Story Date: Saturday, March 18, 2023
Summary: Two transpeople find each other at an ethics conference.
Characters: Sander Brandenburg, Adriana De Palma
Prompted and sponsored by DW user nsfwords
"For Every Time I Thought of You" 7-1-23 (Sunshine Challenge)
Story Date: Thursday, June 1, 2023
Summary: Two people soulbond at a festival.
Characters: Iris Nakahara, Tiger Ray Brown
Prompted by Fireworks Bingo Card 7-1-23
Free Perk
"New Beginnings" 7-5-23 (Sunshine Challenge)
Story Date: Wednesday, July 5, 2023
Summary: Two women get together.
Characters: Gladys Anderveldt, Rosita Recillos
Prompted by Fireworks Bingo Card 7-1-23
"The Rose That Grew from Concrete" 7-9-23 (Sunshine Challenge)
Story Date: Sunday, July 9, 2023
Summary: Not everyone believes in love at first sight, but that's okay.
Characters: Pavel Krupin, Hana Moore
Prompted by Fireworks Bingo Card 7-1-23
"My Own Personal Battery" 7-13-23 (Sunshine Challenge)
Story Date: Thursday, July 13, 2023
Summary: Two girls meet in a campground.
Characters: Sousanna Campbell, Joy Washington
Prompted by Fireworks Bingo Card 7-1-23
"Old Wounds That Refuse to Heal" 7-17-23 (Sunshine Challenge)
Story Date: Monday, July 17, 2023
Summary: Solidago Alejo rushes to the rescue, but things don't go as he expects.
Characters: Solidago Alejo, Jacinthe Desrosiers
Prompted by Fireworks Bingo Card 7-1-23
"Everything Is Temporary" 7-21-23 (Sunshine Challenge)
Story Date: Friday, July 21, 2023
Summary: Sometimes, a soulmark hints at what will be needed in the future.
Characters: Bowen Meliton, Jacinto Mosley
Prompted by Fireworks Bingo Card 7-1-23
"To Be Gentle and Kind" 7-25-23 (Sunshine Challenge)
Story Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Summary: Two soulmates inspire each other to be their best selves, even before they meet.
Characters: Zinnia Innis, Darry Reynolds
Prompted by Fireworks Bingo Card 7-1-23
"A Series of Daring Adventures" 2-17-22 (fishbowl spillover)
Story Date: Monday, July 1, 2024
Summary: Knowing the date when she'd meet her soulmate, Blinda filled the intervening time with exciting events to tell him later.
Characters: Blinda Nichols, Hemlock Wilson
Prompted by DW user nsfwords and Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-22
Bartered by DW user nsfwords
"The Relativity of Tragedy" 2-6-24
Summary: There are ways to deal with toxic relationships, even for soulmates.
Prompted by DW user anxious_songbird, Valentines Bingo Card 2-1-24, and 100quadrantedships Pitch Prompts: 11. Rotten
Free Perk