So, exactly who are Lissa, Jenn and Erica?

Well, for the unitiated, Lissa is the wife of RenderPretender; Jenn is Lissa’s girlfriend (they are bisexual); and Erica is the surrogate for RP and his wife’s baby.  To see why RP refers to them as “The Terrible Trio,” be sure to check out these stories in RP’s gallery -- Adventures in Cosplay - Imaginary Friends, Adventures in Cosplay - Forever Young, Adventures in Cosplay - Alien, Adventures in Cosplay - Rated PG and Adventures in Cosplay - Diplomacy 

OH, ONE MORE THING . . . The timing of this interview is perfect because today is RP's Birthday.  Happy Birthday, Pal!!!

(Lissa, Jenn and Erica v. Curia-DD)

1. Let’s cut right to the chase – In the RP household, whose opinion matters most? And why did you answer that way?

L: Mine. We just pretend his opinion matters because it makes things fun and interesting.

J: Hers. RP’s is a close second though.

E: Ours (RP’s note: I think she’s in character here.)

2. A relatively easy one: What is each of your favorite RP story or moment?

L: They are all pretty good representations of things that happened even if we tolerate his spin and side of the story. My favorite is when we told him he was going to be a daddy and how we told him. Did he mention he cried? He did cry you know.

J: I’m going with her answer and yes he did cry.

E: Ours. We did cry, he did cry, they all cry (RP’s note: Yep, she’s definitely in character. Sorry.)



3. A multipart question about your live-action roleplaying activities: How did each of you become interested in vampire cosplay/roleplay? Why vampires as opposed to some other theme? We know from RP’s Scribbling Adventures in Cosplay - Imaginary Friends that you each take your vampire roleplay very seriously. Under what circumstances would you actually break character? Have any of you ever had a really bad experience during cosplay/roleplay? How much did it really irk you that RP won by changing the access code to the guest house?

L: I became first interested in vampire roleplay when I was a little girl. I wanted to be scary things for Halloween, but my family is religious and we weren’t allowed to celebrate “Satan’s Holiday”. Later in high school, I probably got away with dressing a little goth at times and I might have snuck out on Halloween and changed into vampire clothing. As for breaking character during roleplay, it happens from time to time depending on how hardcore the people you are with are. Even now, it happens multiple times a night just because sometimes you need to clarify what someone wants or expects you to do. 

I think we’ve all had bad roleplay experiences. Sometimes even with each other just because there is a lot of pressure to help the other person realize a character’s goal or a moment to advance someone’s story. Usually, if expectations are too high, people get let down one way or the other.

For the record, we let him (RP’s note: ME!!!) win that night. We could have broken character and called total bullshit, but it was fun to see him play along. It wasn’t the dramatic victory he made it out to be. (RP’s note: She’s lying! It was a VERY dramatic victory. SAD!)

J: It's probably lame, but I’m going with her answer here again. I didn’t get into vampire roleplay until I was in college and I was only exposed to it because my dorm-mate was into WOD (RP’s note: World of Darkness) and she was dating a werewolf.

E: Hehe. What’s roleplay? (RP’s note: Jesus, it never ends around here)

4. And, here’s another question about cosplay:  You want to get RP to join in the fun when you go to a cosplay event one night, and each of you gets to choose ANY costume you like which he’ll have to wear over the course of the evening. What outfit would you each choose for him?

L: He looks like James Bond in a tuxedo so any roleplay where he is forced into a form fitting tux is a win for me.

J: The man you know as RP loves the 80s and just once I would love to see him dress up as Indiana Jones. Mostly for the whip.

E: My imaginary friends roleplay naked… (RP’s note: I DEFINITELY edited the first answer to this question, sorry. Too graphic.)

5. How do you each genuinely feel about the way you’re portrayed in RP’s art and scribblings? Does he portray each of you relatively accurately or are things really exaggerated? How much actual editing (or censoring) do you get to do before he posts something that relates to you?

L: Believe it or not, his depictions of us are very accurate. Sometimes our reactions to situations are exaggerated for comedy reasons, but he stays true to the essence of what really happened. We try not to meddle too much in his writing or artwork and usually we’re disappointed he doesn’t go into more details about what he calls “sexy time”. 

J: He doesn’t act like it online or when he’s trolling little kids in Call of Duty, but RP is a gentleman and he keeps a lot of situations on the lighter side even if things do get a little dark in the bedroom from time to time (RP’s note: She’s referring to my body image issues and my insistence on turning out the lights before I get naked! I swear!)

E: We’re not blonde (RP’s note: Yes she is.)

6. Serious question for Lissa: How exactly does a woman go about getting married to a guy and asking him if her female lover/girlfriend can move into their guest house so you can keep that relationship alive and well? Isn’t RP enough?

L: Enough of what? Enough of a man? Yes he’s enough of a man. We’ve always had fun together and it isn’t like I met Jenn and instantly had this grand scheme to move her into the house. I don’t think my sexuality trumps his needs and desires, but he does understand who I am and how long I’ve been this way. Whatever we have together just works and I tried a life without him and that definitely didn’t work. 

Did he ever tell you it was his idea to move Jenn into the guest house?

7. Serious questions for Jenn: How (if at all) do you explain your living arrangements and relationship with Lissa, Erica and RP to close friends and/or family? What do they think? Did you ever consider bowing out of the relationship with Lissa after she and RP got married? Why or why not?

J: Oh they were already married when I met Lissa. I’m not sure what RP told you about how long they’ve been married, but I’m not the first woman these two have (RP’s notes: NOPE! Edited.) We’re all still young and just having fun I think and I really don’t need to explain my living situation to anyone beyond a simple truth. I rent a guest house from close friends. I would be lying if I said I haven’t thought about leaving every once in awhile because, yes, I know this situation is really weird. It has never come to more than a thought though and I can’t image it ever will unless something very drastic changes in all of our lives.

8. Serious question for Erica: What made you decide to become a surrogate for Lissa and RP? What did/do you enjoy most and least about being a surrogate? Did the decision to be a surrogate change you at all as a person and, if so, how? Did you ever feel heroic about your decision to become their surrogate? (Note: I think you should be celebrated on November 12, 2017 – Heroine Appreciation Day on DeviantArt!)

E: (RP’s note: She didn’t want to answer this question or type it out so what follows is almost word-for-word what she said as I typed it for her after Lissa and I practically begged her to answer the question.)     

I saw a chance to make two people that I care about happy. They were spending a lot of money on IVF treatments and it was really sad seeing what they were going through. I didn’t actually think about it; I just made up my mind that I was going to do it. (RP’s note: Fuck, Rob, they are both crying and Jenn is staring at me like I’m the devil. Thanks, buddy!)

I don’t feel heroic. I feel like a good friend and they’ve done so many incredible things for my family and for me that I probably owe them 10 babies. (RP’s note: 8 babies, but who’s counting?)

Jenn has done a lot for me too and really it is just a house full of everyone doing things for each other.  (RP’s note: Yeah, like a freaking hippie commune)

9.  If there was a reality TV show or cable movie made about the life and times of the RP household, who would each of you cast in the starring roles to play you and RP? What one event not covered in any of the Adventures in Cosplay scribblings would you each choose for the premiere episode?

L: That girl on that stupid Star Trek knock off show looks like me (RP’s notes: The Orville – Adrianne Palicki.) and the first episode would probably be about the time I blindfolded RP and replaced myself in bed with Jenn! 

J: Mila Kunis is hot and I guess the first episode could be about the time we took RP to the strip club and a belly dancer girl accidentally farted on him. 

E: I will be me and the best story is the one that happens tomorrow night. 

10. Let’s play Pretend – You each enter separate confessionals in a church and Father RP enters the other side of the booth to hear your confessions about something about him that you’ve never shared with him before. What do you tell him?

L: That’s easy. I kissed his sister. (RP’s notes: Divorce time)

J: So easy! I kissed his sister. (RP’s notes: I feel the C word coming on…)

E: RP, I am your sister! (RP’s notes… kill me now.)

11. Penultimate question – and repeating what someone else says is not allowed!  Who is your favorite RP villainess and why? Which DC, Marvel or DA original character do each of you like seeing RP imperil the most and why?

L: Renverse because that’s the type of girl he really wants to be with and I think it’s cute. I like watching him tip-toe around characters like White Owl and that Polish heroine too. It’s so funny when he’s careful with other people’s property. (RP’s notes: OPP reference?)




(Lissa's favorite RP villain, Renverse!)

J: I like Black Mass because she’s wicked evil and I think my favorite heroine he puts in peril is probably Wonder Woman or Denise Curia.


(Jenn's favorites -- Black Mass and Curia-DD)

E: ME!



(Erica's favorite -- herself! She has DEFINITELY been spending too much time around RP!)

12. Finally . . . What are the criteria/qualities you would each look for to turn your “Terrible Trio” into a “Frightful Foursome?”  (RP’s notes: Not gonna happen!)

L: I guess we do still have a spare room or two, don’t we? I don’t think he could handle another woman in the house and, to be honest, I don’t really have any desire for that either. 

I’m changing my answer. If RP’s sister wants to move in, she can be the fourth!

J: Definitely RP’s sister...yeah.

E: I’m going to have my own girlfriend one day and then I can share her with RP and I can be as powerful as Lissa and Jenn (RP’s notes: Ummm… okay, this scenario might change my stance on the subject.)

******
EPILOGUE:  I really want to thank Lissa, Jenn and Erica for being such good sports and doing this interview. It turned out even better than I had hoped with a great mix of humor and seriousness. But, just as he did in Adventures in Cosplay - Imaginary Friends , the last laugh goes to RenderPretender :