Character Development and ~Promo~

foxnflames 2021-05-09 22:05:28 UTC #1

This is promotion with purpose

With a lot of stories, people come for the plot but stay for the characters. So what better way to show them off than right here for everyone to see.

Also, I'm 4 subs away from 100 if some of you would like to give me a little boost

I've done these exercises with my friends and it really helped me get a better grasp of my characters' personalities and how they'd react in certain situations. So whether you base your characters on real people, archetypes, or fill out MBTI to gauge your personalities, this is a neat way to flesh them out more.

Here are five! Tell me about your main character (or side character if you prefer)

What seemingly insignificant memory has stuck with your character?
Does the image your character tries to project differ from the image they actually project?
How does your character behave around people they like?
How quick or slow is your character to resort to physical violence in a confrontation?
How easy is it for your character to say, "I love you?" Can they say it without meaning it?

Answers: (For my MC, Darzsa)

(historical not-so-fun fact and caveat for this answer: black kids in the '20s weren't allowed formal education past 6th grade in a lot of states) So Darzsa was able to go to and complete high school (McDonough 35 opened in 1917 (more fun facts), but he was bullied and his aunt would give him pep talks and let him vent. He didn't think much of it then (if you know him, he likes to brood), but in his adult life, it's helped him keep calm in a lot of situations and he's grateful that she was a shoulder to cry on.
Darzsa would like to think that he's the same in and out, but he masks a lot to seem more confident, but he tends to be a little self-conscious about how he dresses
He will be very flirty around people he likes and he's helpful. Expect copious shade.
Darzsa is a hothead, but he knows when and how to react. Sometimes you get choked, other times you get read into oblivion
Unfortunately, he is quick to fall for someone, but has learned to be slower with saying it. Now it wouldn't be easy for him, but if he felt it and someone said it to him, he'd be quick to say it back. And he'd never waste his time saying it if he didn't mean it.

EncryptedWriting 2021-05-09 22:17:30 UTC #2

This seems like fun!~

1.) It was during the Gala when Alice was younger. Her mom managed to gather a Behym Boar Meat and make it into a festive dish. She will forever savor that taste as it brings back the simpler times of working with her mom before she got older and was forced to take on more difficult tasks.

2.) Not at all, Alice is a peasant and she tries to act like a peasant. She wants to leave a simple life and work for what she has. She doesn't want anything fancy; all she needs is her mom and herself to be happy.

3.) Alice doesn't like many people as they are all in classes higher than her. However, she tends to act rather reserved and quiet. Perhaps she will let out a laugh every once in a while, but she keeps to herself for the most part.

4.) At the start of the story, Alice HATED violence. She would simply give in to any demands and do what she was told. Later in the story, after she died, she is incredibly violent and holds no mercy against enemies. It is safe to say that she is constantly out for blood, and if you piss her off, then you better start to pray she doesn't literally kill you.

5.) Nope, never, nada. Alice will only say I love you to her mom, and, in that case, she means it. On the other hand, she despises most people. She won't dare speak those three words as she knows the weight they hold and how scarring it can be if said in falsehood.

foxnflames 2021-05-09 22:29:27 UTC #3

Ah! I saw your story on another topic and meant to check it out. This is the perfect reminder.

I love these answers. I like how dying changed her resolve towards violence.

EncryptedWriting 2021-05-09 22:31:02 UTC #4

Violence is ALWAYS the answer when it comes to Alice

CodeMonkeyArts 2021-05-09 22:52:51 UTC #5

Some answers about my villain protag MC, Ira Dante!

What seemingly insignificant memory has stuck with your character?
Eating her mother's sweet delicious porridge when she was a child.

Does the image your character tries to project differ from the image they actually project?
Ira oozes confidence and boldness. Her natural charism comes from a passion. However, her passion can also ooze into aggression and rabid frenzy. It's very easy for her to cross the line between Boss Bitch and Psychopathic Murder Queen.

How does your character behave around people they like?
Eerily gentle, open, charming. If it's Ori, super gentle and sweet. If Tristan (her SO), a little tsundere at times, but still very loving and comfortable.

How quick or slow is your character to resort to physical violence in a confrontation?
Violence is her default response.

How easy is it for your character to say, "I love you?" Can they say it without meaning it?
Not at all difficult. She says it and means it and if you don't believe her she will MAKE YOU BELIEVE.

foxnflames 2021-05-09 22:54:58 UTC #6

Flexing with the picture

Characters who choose violence, my vibe.

jkb4753 2021-05-09 23:00:52 UTC #7

Darzsa is so cute. I like how "getting choked" and "getting read" are the same level of lethality. Maybe choking is more kind than the kind of stuff he has to say? I love that.
I'm gonna do Magnus, because klaus is kind of "scary assassin archetype" so its not as fun?

some kind of daddy-issue memory. Idk. I never went into detail about his issues with his father, and I regret that. I should have fleshed that out more. Maybe like, one less description of Magnus' suit so I'd have room to talk about his relationship with his father. His suits are just so fun to describe, though?

2.Does the image your character tries to project differ from the image they actually project?

He will insult you then start crying because he was so mean.

3.How does your character behave around people they like?

he's a pickup artist. That's the running joke in the series, that he's a pickup artist trying to keep a serious relationship. He has no idea what he's doing. It's like that movie "how lose a guy in 10 days" where one love interest is trying to "keep the relationship together at all costs" while the other love interest is "try to get them to break up with me." Thats it, that's the plot.

4.How quick or slow is your character to resort to physical violence in a confrontation?

talk shit get hit. lol but he's never been in a fight before so mostly just "talk shit." In the first chapter he challenges the assassin/ kidnapper. Magnus is wearing a bathrobe and drinking a fruity drink but is completely serious, "don't underestimate me."
Klaus is like "it would be hard to do that, because my estimate is already so low, bro."

5.How easy is it for your character to say, "I love you?" Can they say it without meaning it?

Magnus falls in love easily.
In the garden: "Omg this little butterfly keeps flying around me? Omg, do you have a crush on me? Are we in love? I'm not ashamed to say it back, I love you too."

If you want to read more, you can check it out here:

sxxaint 2021-05-09 23:04:00 UTC #8

For Cain, the MC of You'll be the Death of Me

1. What seemingly insignificant memory has stuck with your character?
Mostly just waking up in the morning while he was on the road to the sun rising over the desert and drinking coffee made over a fire, and knowing for the first time in his life, his past doesn't exist at all and he can be whoever he wants.

2. Does the image your character tries to project differ from the image they actually project
He tries to be very suave and intimidating, and he 100% succeeds at that right up until he gets comfortable and then ... it never seems to work anymore

3. How does your character behave around people they like?
Around people he's actually into? He's a stumbling, stuttering disaster and moon-eyes a lot

4. How quick or slow is your character to resort to physical violence in a confrontation?
Sometimes he tries not to, but if he's not trying not to then he's very quick to resort to violence.

5. How easy is it for your character to say, "I love you?" Can they say it without meaning it?
He'd never, ever say it without meaning it because if he doesn't mean it, he doesn't care. But if he does mean it, then it'll take a long time for him to say it because he doesn't want to give up control of the situation.

sxxaint 2021-05-09 23:06:30 UTC #9

omg magnus sounds like a hilarious mess, the answer to two

jkb4753 2021-05-09 23:08:39 UTC #10

Your answers cracked me up, too!
I'm like, "how have I never read this story?" Subscribed. You had me at

Mess? My type.

sxxaint 2021-05-09 23:11:54 UTC #11

thank you!! this is brand new though, i've only just posted the prologue! & i subbed too

all the best characters are total messes tho lets be real

foxnflames 2021-05-09 23:12:51 UTC #12

It's one of things that makes Darzsa a fan favorite.

I can see Magnus doing this, haha.

foxnflames 2021-05-09 23:15:46 UTC #13

Wizard Daddy being wholesome

Manyana 2021-05-09 23:51:42 UTC #15

Host: And we are back to Character Development and ~Promo~, I am your host @foxnflames! We have interviewed 5 guests already, and we will now move on to Ms. Mari, author of TALIPANDAS.
*cue clap while Mari walks on the stage to her seat
Audience: (clap)
Mari: (waves hand) Hi! Hello! Thank you!
Host: Welcome, Mari. Good morning!
Mari: Good morning. Thank you for inviting me to your show. You know, I'm so excited for today, I wasn't able to sleep well last night.
Host: Really? I hope you came prepared, though, because we'll just fire questions at you continuously.
Mari: About that. Because I am kind of exhausted, and the fact that I love you and your show, I brought an assistant with me today. (waves someone over) Iris!
*cue clap while Iris walks on the stage to her seat
Audience: (clap)
Host: Welcome! Welcome!
Iris: Thank you for letting me be here today.
Host: I will no longer dilly-dally and ask you the first question right away! What seemingly insignificant memory has stuck with you?
Iris: Probably that Ash loves strawberry, and that he is allergic to chocolates... and that one of my stepmothers is a hag. *fake coughs. Ehem. Alicia. Ehem. *fake coughs.**
Host: Does the image you try to project differ from the image you actually project?
Iris: Yes. If you know me, you'd know how I've been * beeeep * about how I wanted for people to idolize me, and how I wanna be a good influence to others. But nothing seems to go my way. My good friend even told me just a while ago that I'm nothing but an obnoxious spoiled brat. Can you believe that?
Host: Ah... I'll let our audience answer that. Next question! How do you behave around people you like?
Iris: I act like myself. I don't act pabebe or "like-gurl" or something. I don't change my attitude. I'm only five, so I don't have any romantic interests yet. But to the people I like in general, I play with them, tease them, introduce stuff to them. Pester them, something like that.
Host: Do you resort to physical violence in a confrontation?
Iris: No, at least not physical. Although I tend to shout and really drill into that person what I want to convey. For example, whenever Ash and I fight, we would always end up shouting at each other until someone walks out... it was me who always shout first, and he'll only shout if he loses temper... and I think we all know how patient that guy is, so just imagine how much of a * beeeep * I've been being? (confusedly asked) But, no. No physical violence. None yet.
Host: How easy is it for you to say, "I love you?" Can you say it without meaning it?
Iris: Ah, the L-word. I haven't said it, as far as I remember. But I think, I--ah... I might... I might say it in a most unpredictable time of event. Maybe I'd just blab and say "Ay-laah-u" or something.
Host: But will you mean it?
Iris: (nervously laughs) When I do, I think I would mean it.
Host: And that's it! All questions have been answered by Iris herself. Mari, wrap this up!
Mari: Thank you all for coming today and tuning in to Character Development and ~Promo~! Please read, like, comment, and subscribe to Talipandas; link flashed on your screens.

sxxaint 2021-05-09 23:59:13 UTC #16

Wizard daddy is eternally wholesome while the world burns behind him

MK_Wizard 2021-05-10 00:12:43 UTC #17

I have two main characters so I will go with Jekyll first;
1- The time he was in such a rush to go to work, he put his shirt on inside out by mistake.
2- Definitely. He tries to be the good quiet citizen, but deep down, his thoughts and views are progressive to the point of controversy.
3- He is very kind, affectionate and loyal though at times, hesitates to stand up for them when he ought to.
4- You have to twist his arm twice to get him to stand up for himself or others because he is such a coward and wants to save face.
5- He is so meek that he really only will say it when he means it, but always does every time.

Next up is Hyde;
1- He remembers how he got his signature outfit as it was the first item he ever stole.
2- He wants to be the big untouchable tough guy, but deep down, he cares a lot more than he lets on.
3- He's a fun guy who will always have your back.
4- He's a real ruffian so he has no trouble standing up for himself. However, emotional confrontation such as showing his vulnerable side in order to show his true feelings is something he hesitates to do because he fears being taken advantage of.
5- He has no trouble saying it casually, but has issues saying it to the woman he really does love for the reason mentioned above, but when he finally does face his fear, he really does mean it.

ShoresofAcadie 2021-05-10 00:18:44 UTC #18

Okay, I'm going to try to do this without getting too much into spoiler territory...

When Dante was 17, he ended up in the hospital after having a mental breakdown. His parents didn't come to visit him, but his grandfather did. A lot of the other details of that period are fuzzy, but he vividly remembers the image of his grandfather sitting there patting his hand while he cried. It stuck with him because it was the first time in a long time that he felt like he wasn't alone.

Dante keeps a very carefully crafted outer image, which is every inch the professional therapist: calm, collected, in control of the situation. So far, he has most people pretty well fooled into believing that this persona is who he really is; but there are a handful of people who know him well, who realize that it is a front for the feelings he tries to hide.

Snarky, sharp-tongued, and a bit of a brat (basically the exact opposite of the image he tries to maintain for everyone else).

Normally very slow. He prefers non-violent responses whenever possible.

Very, very difficult. Dante was burned once in love, very badly, and he firmly believes he is going to be celibate for the rest of his life, so he doesn't anticipate he will ever say it again. (Whether that is actually true remains to be seen...)

Pony_wearing_a_hat 2021-05-10 00:52:01 UTC #19

Agony is as close as we get to a main character in the cast, so here goes:
1. Seeing some kid McFracture his arm and being almost jealous.
2. She's pretty spot on to the image she wants to project. That of an obnoxious asshole.
3. Like a vicious loudmouthed jerk. Insults every little thing, just doesn't care.
4. She prefers to come to verbal blows, but if you really say something that strikes a nerve, she's going for the eyes.
5. I don't think she could say it. She has... other ways of showing affection.

foxnflames 2021-05-10 01:24:05 UTC #20

I love the commitment to answering and I could tell it was a reincarnation/transmigration type story from the answers

@MK_Wizard seems like you created a decent balance for them and made them as foils for your story

@ShoresofAcadie this is so sad. I take it he become a therapist as a result of that hospital stay?

@sxxaint I wonder why the world is burning

@Pony_wearing_a_hat my fave! I expected nothing less from these answers, haha

ivanskilling 2021-05-10 01:26:59 UTC #21

I'll use my main character, Sandra, since she's currently embroiled in controversy due to recent events in the novel.

What seemingly insignificant memory has stuck with your character?
High school mischief. It reminds her of a time when the world was perfect with her two best friends by her side and when she still had a chance with one of them.

Does the image your character tries to project differ from the image they actually project?
She's successful in projecting the image she wants - confident and sexy. It comes with the job. But if she's caught off-guard by something traumatic, she can be frightened and vulnerable.

How does your character behave around people they like?
Demure, sweet, still flirty.

How quick or slow is your character to resort to physical violence in a confrontation?
Quick. Honestly, this question is alluding to spoilers in next week's episodes.

How easy is it for your character to say, "I love you?" Can they say it without meaning it?
So easy to say without meaning it. She's a singer after all.