Ashpaw (RC) Romance Plot [OPEN]

RiverClan characters are preferred since Ashpaw is in RiverClan and that would be less hassle, but forbidden relationships will be considered, too (we would just have to apply for forbidden relationships).

Spots will not necessarily be first-come, first-serve; they will be chosen at my discretion due to RP styles, RP activity, and family tree considerations. In terms of RP styles, I would prefer people to have at least decent spelling, grammar, capitalization, and formatting (so basically, coherent, somewhat thoughtful English wins over chat-speak English, unless only one person applies for each spot, in which case, you would be chosen automatically). For RP activity, if you come on at least ~bi-weekly (that would be every 2 weeks), that'll do. For family tree considerations, I don't want too close relatives participating in the romances, especially in Competitor #1 x Side Tom/She-cat and Ashpaw x Eventual Love pairings; anything closer than 2nd cousins or 1st cousin once removed for those two spots, or something like that, might be a bit too squicky. For other spots, we'll see.  

The Competitors all notice Ashpaw's beauty in the beginning of the plot, and they each try to woo her in a separate thread, thinking they have a chance. Ashpaw is shy and new to all of the flirtatious attention and ends each thread with demure, innocent, playing-hard-to-get, and lovable actions/ words that only endear the competitors to her more. They each think that they have Ashpaw all to themselves and are the only ones that are pursuing her. Meanwhile, Ashpaw would speak of the Competitors fondly to her Confidant, not realizing that it would soon get ugly.
[Optional but included] If Competitor #3 is implemented and is a she-cat, Ashpaw will continue to think she's just being platonically friendly until much later in the plot.

After the Competitors have each had an individual thread with Ashpaw and Ashpaw has confided in her Confidant, there will be a new thread where Ashpaw is approached by the Competitors at near the same time. Realizing that they're competing for the same girl, the Competitors become jealous and get into a brawl. Horrified, Ashpaw watches them battle for her sake. The battle system is optional; it's up to the Competitors if they want to use it or not.
[Optional] Confidant can be an onlooker in this thread if they want. Post-brawl, Ashpaw may also go to Confidant to talk about her troubles and/or ask for advice.
[Optional but included (just seriously injured, not killed)] If Competitor #3 is implemented and is a girl, Ashpaw realizes that Competitor #3 actually liked her in a romantic sense, beyond mere friendship. As Ashpaw wraps her head around that fact, though, Competitor #3 is injured, maimed, and/or killed; if Competitor #3 is implemented and is a boy, that character will still be injured, maimed, and/or killed. Ashpaw grieves for Competitor #3. A medicine cat thread will need to be made if Competitor #3 is hurt or maimed but survives. Ashpaw would visit Competitor #3 while s/he is healing in the medicine cat den, but Competitor #3 has fallen out of love with Ashpaw at that point and may begin to resent Ashpaw- s/he doesn't think Ashpaw was worth the trouble and pain in the end. Ashpaw is hurt but respects Competitor #3's wishes to be left alone- if Competitor #3's cat survives, it's up to Competitor #3's RPer if they want to make up platonically later on or continue being estranged/ cold/ distant/ angry.
[Optional but included] Ruskavelle plays Hazelkit->paw in ThunderClan, and she said she wants to kill her cat off, but without participating as a lover. The brawl would take place in a new thread at Fourtrees sometime after a Gathering thread is posted. In that thread, most cats except for a few have left the Gathering. As the situation between the Competitors escalates into an all-out fight, Hazelpaw would step in and try to stop it, as the night of the Gathering is a time of peace. One of the Competitors accidentally attacks her with a killing bite, thinking that he had managed to land a blow on the other Competitor, but it turns out that he had killed an innocent cat instead. No longer included as of February 2018 due to Ruskavelle's other plans.


Not learning from the earlier disaster, the two tom Competitors continue to vie for Ashpaw's affections (even if Hazelpaw/ Competitor #3 were killed and consequences are dealt out to the murderer(s)- the murderer(s) would still try to find a way to see Ashpaw). Ashpaw feels uncertain about their attentions, but continues to lead them on. Another fight is optional, but not necessary; it can just be heated rivalry, like with banter, over-the-top displays of love or jealousy, and/or insults if you want. Ashpaw grows into a warrior, and knows that eventually she'll have to choose one of them- Competitor #1 and Competitor #2 are too volatile together to co-exist as both of her love interests. Ash eventually chooses Competitor #1 as her mate, and for at least one thread, they're happy. Watching, Competitor #2 is taken aback and is heartbroken at Ash's declaration of love for Competitor #1; he slinks away from them to brood for a while.
[Optional] If Confidant wants, they can also be a bystander in the last thread of Phase 3.


Competitor #1 has a side-romantic relationship with Side Tom/She-cat that he tries to keep a secret from Ash. Confidant sees this and tells Ash. At first not believing Confidant, Ash gives Competitor #1 the benefit of the doubt. However, after secretly trailing Competitor #1 one day (the context may either be she wants to see what he's up to or she wants to give him some good news or a gift) and then seeing him be romantic with Side Tom/She-cat in a new thread, Ash realizes that Confidant was right. Heartbroken, Ash confronts Competitor #1 and breaks up with him. What Competitor #1 and Side Tom/She-cat do next is up to them.


Ash, thinking that she chose wrong, Ash seeks out Competitor #2 to see if he would be her mate. Competitor #2 has had time to think about his relationship troubles and has either fallen out of love with Ash or has found himself a new romantic interest. Depending on his personality, he either rejects Ash vehemently out of anger (and may cruelly mock her if she explains why she came to him), rejects her in misery, lets her down easy with the request to get to know each other as only platonic friends, and/or even offers her the choice to become his side-chick (this last one is only if he has a mate of his own already; Ash would decline since the reason she broke up with Competitor #1 is because she didn't want a disloyal mate). With this second heartbreak, Ash understands and respects his decisions, as she had hurt Competitor #2 first, but she becomes despondent and regretful.


This can go 2 ways, depending on if Confidant is also the Eventual Love.

Way 1) Confidant is the Eventual Love. Confidant comforts the sullen Ash, and Ash and the Confidant eventually fall in love, healing Ash's broken heart and paving the way for a potentially positive, stable relationship in the end.

Way 2) The Eventual Love is someone else besides the Confidant. Either the Eventual Love sees Ash on his own, takes a liking to her despite her despondency, and gradually wins her over despite her initial discomfort (would probably take at least 2-4 threads since Ash is still depressed at this point and may not think she's worthy of love) to mend her heart, or the Confidant sees a cat who would go well with Ash and introduces him to her, and they go from there.