#I know that group is problematic but listen it’s extremely funny considering I work for a…

[citizen-zero]

we had a raffle at work recently as part of a charity event where the prize was $5k donated to a cause of your choice and the absolute madlad that won the raffle is giving it to The Satanic Temple 💀

[shrimpmandan]

do you mean you feel alienated around self diagnosed autistic people? (aka 99% of the online autistic community) because if so I completely agree. I'm not sure if you have access to it but I go to public therapy for disabled adulta (if you're over 18) and in my group there is a bunch of autistic/adhd people. we usually talk about medication, funny stories about therapy and experiences with growing up autistic and such. it's pretty relieving, and completely different from speaking to autistic people online, which just feels like talking to neurotypicals

No I feel alienated around autistic people. And people in general. It's for a lot of reasons tbh, not JUST being autistic, but I've definitely have had grievances with the autistic community online for some time now. This is because there's this prevalent idea that what does or doesn't work for one autistic person must be true for every autistic person, which inevitably leads to alienation. I'm considered weird and offputting even by the standards of other autistic people. This isn't an uncommon experience for me.

Also, part of my alienation comes from the general politics of the online autistic community. I call myself Asperger's and high-functioning, which while I totally get why other people don't call themselves that, it's just kinda what I grew up with and what works for me. Also being trans on top of that, and hearing so many autistic people talk about how they personally don't understand gender, whereas I didn't have much of an issue with it (I view it through a strictly neuroscientific lens; I don't do well with metaphors and vague feelings). Being told I can't say "retarded" even though I've been CALLED retarded, not to mention directly threatened (I was nearly shot lmao) over being autistic. A mixture of oppression olympics among autists, and also 'higher-functioning' autistic people speaking over 'lower-functioning' autistic people. My stims also don't get represented much (I don't really flap, I've always been more of a rocker/bouncer/vocal stimmer) and I don't fit into the "good autist" role that a lot of people-- both neurodivergent and neurotypical-- want out of me. All this to not even mention how I get alienated for my other forms of neurodivergence, with people in general being extremely ableist towards those with OCD and dissociative disorders.

All I'm saying is it's not self-diagnosed autists who make my life harder. Not when me and most of my family has had to resort to self-diagnosis due to doctors not listening to us or just a simple inability to even see a doctor due to a lack of money and time. Actually, most of the people I click with are the self-diagnosed "I think I might be neurodivergent" people-- whether that's autism, ADHD, or some other various neurodivergence. The self-diagnosed people are my immediate family, as well as my friends who had to figure out they're neurodivergent because nobody else told them, or gaslit them over it. We're pro-selfdx here, and honestly therapy is the least of my concerns right now, at least when it comes to autism. I don't need therapy for being autistic. I don't need therapy to teach me how to be normal. I need therapy to teach me how to live. Y'know, tackling my ACTUALLY problematic disorders, like my severe OCD and CPTSD and what I believe to be some form of OSDD. ADHD... yeah I just need meds for that, it is what it is. But I've been in therapy SEVERAL times for my autism, with people who were supposedly specialized in it, and even they didn't really know what to do with me. So shrug lmao.

For the record I am professionally diagnosed with autism. I'm actually self-diagnosed with most of the other mental health issues I occasionally talk about here (ADHD, OCD, OSDD, et cetera). I'd LOVE to get diagnosed but we're just not in a financial situation where we can rn. I don't like throwing self-diagnosed people under the bus-- more often than not they're just trying to understand themselves and genuinely don't have the ability to access proper resources. I don't really think of the cringe "faking disorders for attention and spreading misinformation" people when I hear about self-diagnosis, personally. I think about people who have been gaslit and told either that they're weird/bad children their whole lives, or even the reverse where they're told they're gifted, before they begin to struggle and then are promptly abandoned. I went through the latter more than the former.

[sunflowershouyou]

🏕️ Camping trip with Karasuno

requested by: @scorpiosanssexy

As summer is upon us , could you perhaps do headcanons with whatever team you want in which they go on a camping trip for some *team bonding*. Who tent collapses? Who is the camping expert? Who straight doesn’t want to be here?. I so wish we could have another haikyuu OVA. I am loving the blog so far, keep up the amazing work.

word count: 2622

The members spend a lot of time together but it’s mainly because they’re in the same team and they talk mostly about volleyball. That’s why Daichi and Sugawara came up with the idea to go camping, just the members and the managers, no teachers or coaches. They wanted to get to know each other a bit more while doing different activities. Everyone liked the idea (except for Tsukishima but he didn’t have any choice).

It was a Saturday morning when everyone got on a bus and headed to the campsite. It was a beautiful field near the forest with a little lake with crystal clear waters – like a piece of heaven. There also was a tiny waterfall and a small river nearby. Everything looked so calm and relaxing up until Karasuno came.

On their way to the campsite Hinata, Nishinoya and Tanaka were screaming of excitement. For them to stop yelling Suga suggested singing. They were extremely loud. However Kageyama was sleeping during the whole ride and Tsukishima was trying to ignore them and put on his headphones. Kiyoko was reading a book for school, Yachi and Asahi were discussing all the different animals they wanted to see during the next 24 hours in nature. Asahi even took his huge book with all the species you can find in Japan. Yamaguchi was looking through the window the whole time, delighted by the scenery. Daichi, Kinoshita, Ennoshita and Narita were playing cards and at one point they even tried to teach Hinata how to play but the poor boy didn’t understand a single thing so he gave up.

- At the campsite –

Nishinoya and Hinata ran to the lake. Yachi was right behind them ready to hand them the towels. Tanaka lifted as many bags as he could trying to impress Kiyoko which sadly didn’t work out.

Daichi saw that everyone went to a different direction and decided to end this mess:

‘Listen up everyone! We have four tents which means that there is one for the first years, one for second years, one for third years and one for the girls.’

‘Excuse me but why should I share a tent with the crazy duo? Can I exchange with someone?’ Tsukishima didn’t like the fact that he had to sleep next to Hinata and Kageyama who always had a reason to be loud.

‘I’m sorry Tsukishima but it’s already decided. Besides because of certain people’ Daichi looked and Nishinoya, Tanaka, Hinata and Kageyama ‘there should be at least someone in every tent who is responsible and mature. I’m sorry but in your case it has to be you and Yamaguchi.’

‘Hinata is the problematic one.’ Added Kageyama.

‘FIGHT ME KAGEYAMA!’ yelled Hinata at which Tsukishima sighed. He knew exactly why he had to be the responsible one.

The boys wanted to swim so bad but Daichi told everyone to set up their tents. To make things more interesting and exciting they decided to turn it into a competition.

Yachi had no clue how to do it but luckily Kiyoko knew. Their team was the one that won. The third years didn’t have many difficulties so they ended up in second place. Third place was for the second years. Their tent was almost done when Noya saw a flying moth and went crazy throwing his hands left and right. He accidentally pushed Tanaka who grabbed Narita and they both fell over the tent which caused them to start all over again. No one in the first years team knew how to set up a tent. Tsukishima couldn’t care less but Yamaguchi actually tried to learn how to do it by reading the instructions. Kageyama amd Hinata weren’t of much help because they couldn’t understand a single thing that Yamaguchi was telling them. Both of them were arguing the whole time.

‘This piece should be here!’

‘Hinata are you dumb!? It should be there!’

They were both wrong though. Tsukishima started to pity Yamaguchi for having to deal with two 7 year-olds, who share a single brain cell, and decided to help.

The losers had to collect firewood from the forest. Tsukishima was trying to ditch them but failed every time. Suddenly some bushes near them started moving. Hinata screamed and hid behind Kageyama.

‘Hey come out! It’s probably a mouse or something.’

‘Kageyama, why aren’t you scared?’ asked Hinata.

‘Nothing is more frightening than Oikawa.’ calmly replied Kageyama.

‘Ah... I guess you’re right.’

Tsukishima looked at the duo and added:

‘Nothing except the wendigo.’

Yamaguchi got goosebumps. Hinata and Kageyama were very confused:

‘What is a wendigo?’

‘Oh you don’t know? The wendigo is an evil spirit... a monster who was once a possessed human. It is hiding in forests... just like this one... and it’s waiting for someone to come visit it. Legend says that wendigos are very fast and eat human flesh.’

‘Haha Tsuki... don’t be ridiculous! There’s no such thing as wendigo!’ Yamaguchi was trying to calm himself down because he was really close to faint.

‘Yes! Tsukishima was just trying to scare us! Besides I am a very fast runner.’ said Hinata who actually believed the story.

The whole time while they were collecting firewood Kageyama, Hinata and Yamaguchi couldn’t help themselves but to look around for the wendigo.

Nishinoya saw the first years.

‘Oh they’re back! Sho come here the water is really warm!’

The boys quickly put on their swimwear and jumped into the lake. Tsukishima was resisting but Suga and Tanaka lifted him up and threw him into the water declaring he should have fun. Hinata and Kageyama were racing once again. They wanted to see who can swim faster. Tanaka and Noya were showing their swimming skills off to Kiyoko but she was too busy sunbathing and didn’t even notice them. Ennoshita, being the good swimmer he is, made sure that no one drowned. His job was extremely hard considering the fact that half of the team needed a babysitter. Sugawara was like an embarrassing mum and made everyone put on sunscreen.

It became cooler and the boys got hungry. Kiyoko and Yamaguchi started preparing food. They needed fire so Tanaka and Nishinoya once again wanted to prove to Kiyoko that they are husband material. The others were wondering why they haven’t given up already because every time they failed miserably. Nishinoya tried to start a fire using rocks but one of them flew directly to his face. Good thing that Kiyoko had first aid kit and took care of Noya. He felt extremely blessed and didn’t regret hitting himself with a rock. Hinata also wanted to try but he ended up setting Kageyama’s shorts on fire. He was afraid that Kageyama would find out so he hid them while he still could. A couple of minutes had passed and Tanaka realised that Saeko gave him a lighter earlier today just in case.

‘You had this the whole time???’ yelled Ennoshita.

‘I’m sorry okay... I totally forgot about it.’

While Kiyoko and Yamaguchi were cooking the three explorers of the group (Asahi, Yachi and Sugawara) headed to the woods searching for wild animals. Yachi took her camera and made some great photos. Asahi was reading his book while still walking deeper into the forest. Suga was dressed as if he was Bear Grylls.

‘Hey guys, I know this might sound a bit weird but if we don’t find the way back whose piss are you willing to drink?’

Yachi and Asahi looked at him in confusion wondering if he was joking or he’s actually serious. Both of them were later having a lively discussion when they realised that Sugawara was nowhere to be seen.

‘Asahi... where is Suga?’ asked Yachi very uneasily.

Both of them started screaming Suga’s name but there was no sight of him. Yachi started crying and wondered if a wild animal has eaten Sugawara.

‘No no Yachi please don’t cry. We’ll find him don’t worry.’

Suddenly a dark figure appeared in front of them. It was a few meters from them.

‘S-Suga? Is that you?’ asked Asahi.

The figure didn’t move nor said anything.

‘Come on Suga... it’s not funny anymore.’

‘Suga? Suga?’ Yachi panicked ‘Asahi I don’t think that’s him... ‘

The figure started moving towards them slowly but suddenly it got faster and faster. Everyone heard from Hinata the story about the wendigo that Tsukishima told him earlier. Asahi and Yachi were so terrified that they ran straight to the campsite while screaming their lungs out. A few seconds later they heard a laugh behind them.

‘Oh my god I can’t believe I actually got you!’

‘SUGAWARA!? IT WAS YOU ALL ALONG?’ asked Asahi still screaming.

‘You should have seen your faces! Oh god I love camping!’

‘I can’t believe you did that! Yachi and I were worried about you and you pranked us!’

‘Okay...I’m sorry but that was really funny. Wait...where is Yachi?’

Yachi was in fact still screaming and running to the campsite. When she finally reached it she told everyone that a wendigo had eaten Suga and probably Asahi. She was crying when both of them appeared in front of her. Everyone made everything they could to calm Yachi down. Her poor heart couldn’t take all this chaos.

After having dinner and Yachi got better everyone gathered around the campfire. Kinoshita had brought his ukulele and played while the others were singing. They ate marshmallows and shared stories of themselves. It was so much fun. They laughed all night long. Hinata insisted on Tsukishima to tell him more about the wendigo but Daichi forbid them after what happened in the woods.

It was time for everyone to go to bed. Yachi and Kiyoko were the first ones to go to sleep. Tanaka and Nishinoya found it impossible since their tent was near the girls’ one. Nishinoya was listening very carefully for every sound that might come out of Kiyoko and Yachi’s tent.

‘Hey Tanaka, do you think Kiyoko sleeps on her left or her right side?’ wondered Noya.

‘I don’t know man... what if she sleeps on her back?’ answered Tanaka.

‘Whatever it is she’s still very pretty.’ said Noya.

Ennoshita had a very confused look on his face. He wanted to share a tent with someone else because of the conversations Noya and Tanaka were having but he had to make sure that both of them went to sleep on time. In the tent next to theirs was the first years’.

‘Please Tsukishima tell me more about it!’ begged Hinata.

‘No! You heard Daichi!’ said Tsukishima who was already annoyed.

‘Pleaseeee I won’t tell him!’

Yamaguchi was very tired and told Hinata to just forget it.

‘But I can’t! I need to know more about it!’

‘I also want to hear it.’ said Kageyama.

‘Okay I’ll tell you... but then you’ll leave me alone!’ Tsukishima finally agreed because he also wanted to sleep. Yamaguchi wasn’t very pleased with how things turned out. He was really afraid of the wendigo.

‘Everything started in a small town. A couple moved there. The man had to go to work to the nearby town and on his way there was a dark forest. One night he finished work later than expected. He drove his car when suddenly on the side of the road he saw a hitchhiker. It was an average looking man. Since it was extremely dark and scary outside the man decided to stop the car. The man asked the other one questions but he wasn’t responding.’

‘Oh no why isn’t he responding?’ asked Hinata.

‘If you don’t interrupt me maybe you’ll find out!’ explained Tsukishima then continued with the story:

‘That man got so scared that he left the hitchhiker and headed home. A few minutes passed and he heard a weird noise coming from his car. The man went to look and there was nothing wrong. He got into his car when he saw a big figure walking towards him from the direction where he met the hitchhiker. He thought it was nothing but the figure was getting closer and closer with incredible speed. The man tried to start his car but he couldn’t. The figure was just a couple of meters away from him. He still couldn’t start it. Finally the figure was so close to him that he could see it. It was a wendigo. A giant creature with antlers and a discharged body. It looked hideous. The wendigo was about to grab the person when the car started and the man managed to escape. When he got home he told his wife what happened and she said to him that her co-workers warned her about the creature but she didn’t believe them. The next day the couple was nowhere to be seen. They have moved out.’

‘That was it?’ Kageyama asked with disappointment.

‘This is the coolest story ever! Tsukishima do you know more scary stories?’

When Hinata asked that Yamaguchi quickly suggested everyone to sleep.

‘Yes I know many more. But first I have to go brush my teeth. Yamaguchi you wanna come with me?’

‘I’ve already brushed mine. I want to sleep.’

‘No you haven’t. Come with me.’

‘Um... okay Tsuki.’

Yamaguchi and Tsukishima went out and Hinata and Kageyama were having a discussion.

‘Do you believe in the story Kageyama?’

‘Not really. As I said nothing is scarier than Oikawa and if I can beat him I can beat anyone!’

‘But this isn’t a person Kageyama... it’s evil and horrific. I’m getting goosebumps even by thinking about it.’

‘That’s why you’re the dumb one Hinata.’

‘WHAT? SAY THAT AGAIN!’

-somewhere near the tent-

‘So your plan is to scare Hinata and Kageyama... but why?’ asked Yamaguchi.

‘Come on it’s going to be fun. Besides Daichi took my mp3 player and I can’t even ignore them.’ answered Tsukishima.

‘And what’s your plan then?’

‘I’m going to pretend to be a wendigo.’

‘You shouldn’t joke about stuff like this Tsuki.’

‘Do you really believe the story? It’s fake. I read it online. Can you lift me up now?’

‘Okay Tsuki. Do you think it will work?’

‘Of course! You’ve seen their grades.’

- in the tent-

‘Kageyama did you hear that?’

‘Yes... it’s probably nothing though.’

‘I see something.’

‘Probably Tsukishima or Yamaguchi. Now sleep!’

‘Um...Kageyama... this is not Tsukishima nor Yamaguchi... it’s too big to even be Asahi... ‘

‘What? Let me see.’

Kageyama took a look and saw it! A wendigo! Huge and with antlers. The crazy duo started screaming and woke everyone up.

‘RUN! A WENDIGO! RUN!’

Sugawara came out of his tent and laughed after seeing the so called wendigo.

‘Guys your wendigo is Yamaguchi holding Tsukishima who has sticks on his head.’

Daichi was so done that he couldn’t even yell at them so he calmly said: ‘Why can’t we have a single normal day together?’

-the next morning-

‘Okay everyone time to go! Saeko should be here in a minute.’ informed Daichi.

Last night was a disaster. No one could sleep. Some of the boys were snoring, others were screaming, Asahi was even sleep walking and scared Hinata and Kageyama again. As a punishment for starting all of this Tsukishima had to take care of the loud members for a month without using his headphones.

‘Hello guys! Did you have fun? How was the camping?’ cheerfully asked Saeko.

‘Please not now... we’re not ready to talk about it yet.’ replied Tanaka which left his sister bewildered.

On their way back all of them were sleeping. No one expected that a calm camping trip with the idea of bonding would turn into an emotional roller coaster.

-at Kageyama’s home-

‘Why does my swimwear look like it’s burnt?’

Thank you for reading!

- sunflowershouyou 🌻

[07.07.2020]

[draconia-bsd]

Can I please get 7 for Oda x Yosano? (Yoda? Looooool xD)

Lmaoooo, that's it, Yoda is their ship name now. xD

Thank you for requesting this, and I'm really sorry it took so long to finish. ;-; (also I hope you don't mind me setting this in BEAST au)

7- "I've missed you" kiss:

Auburn paysages appeared to have hastily changed through the narrow glass windows, and in such an overwhelming manner it made all the more tired passengers think about the train as a cage spinning in circles, holding them in the same time and place until they finally go insane and catch fire to match the colour of their surroundings. Despite it's appearance, however, the morning itself wasn't particularly poetic, at least not to one man. Oda, just like majority of people around him, stared into the nature, but it's beauty failed to impress him as his mind was entranced by a force of a different sort. His heart ached for warmth, arms longed for tenderness and soul craved the sweet, familiar smell of a loved one. Nothing in this world did he cherish more than her, making their separation during these numerous days unbearable, and this journey, ultimately, the most vicious torture.

Habitually, Oda would reach for his phone ready to dial her number, just to be faced by the cruel reality of his current situation. The mission he and his protégé, Akutagawa Ryunosuke, were given was of extreme importance for the whole city and it's surrounding aeria as it was their job to dismantle a group of criminals coming from various organisations, calling themselves "The Midheaven Clan". What made them so dangerous was not only their access to sensitive information from their original affiliates, but their grudge against both the underworld and the goverment, making them a threat which could easily cause mayhem all around. Considering a similar event has happened in the past, it was in everyone's interest to destroy this newly formed group, but of course, that was no easy job for they had known majority of people who could be involved in their demise. Naturally, this asked for an obscure party to join in the game, and who better than an organisation whose entire existance is considered an urban legend- the "Armed Detective Agency". President Fukuzawa was seldom to accept the mission at first, but after realising it is, indeed, the best way of dealing with the situation, he decided to help for the love of his city and people within it. Not long after this, Ranpo announced a plan which consisted of their two most capable members infiltrating the problematic group and gathering information that is to be sent to the goverment. During this time, their connection to the Agency is strictly to be done through Katai as he is the only one who can protect them from being spied on or tracked. The mission started immediately leaving time for goodbyes to a bare minimum. Luckily, with meticulous study of the backstories Ranpo provided, everything turned out as planned. Both he and Ryunosuke felt a weird mix of pitty and anger towards people they had spent the past two months with, but in the end, even with all the suicides upon their capture, justice was served and the city was safe for the time being.

Gazing through the train window with a blank face, Oda remembered how horrible it was day after day on that forsaken mission. Yes, Ryunosuke is a dear person to him, like a younger brother he never had, and he did enjoy the time they spent together away from those awful people, but nothing could put his mind away from his precious Akiko. In a way, she was his biggest strength, and also his biggest weakness. Every day he would think of her to get through with his act and every night he would curl up and silently cry for her. He was well aware she will be fine, after all she is a tough person, sometimes even more so that himself, but the thought of her coming to an empty apartment, having nobody to vent her frustrations to, nobody to hug and feel her warmth...it tore him appart. Despite being aware of his role in her life, he oftentimes found himself uncontrollably exploring scenarios where she replaced him with someone else, causing him to feel like a fragile child before a wicked illness, short with air and filled with burning rage he only dared express upon himself. Those nights were the hardest, all he wanted to do was hear her voice, be reassured, or at least grab a straw and ask Katai how she is...and a few times he almost did listen to his heart, but thoughts of how disappointed she would be if he failed the mission, not because of his natural weakness or sloppy planning, but because he was lacking trust in her, of all people! Akiko's heart would undoubtedly ceumble like a fallen autumn leaf beneath his feet, and that was not allowable, he was a better human being than that.

This bitter reminiscing was soon interrupted by a flash of sunlight burning his azure eyes. Instinctively, he closed them tight, but in a way, it was a perfect indicator that they are close to home, he needed something to shake him up. Oda then woke his protégé up with gentle strokes on his sholder and the black haired man reluctantly moved his body in a straight sitting position. It was rare to see Ryunosuke this tired, but somehow dark circles around his eyes looked more natural on him than his regular rested look; probably because that was the state they first found him in before recruiting him into the Agency- a vulnerable boy with despair deep within his midnight eyes. It was in times like this that Oda wished to hug and comfort him, but his ego was still a frail one, making him still a child in many ways.

"Are you alright Ryunosuke?" Oda asked.

"Quite fine, thank you." the younger man replied while rubbing his eyes.

It was obvious something wasn't right, but before Oda could say anything, it was time to exit the train. Stepping outside, Oda thought to himself that time seems to be an insignificant variable in this place, since it was as busy as in any other part of the day, the only difference being colour and intensity of the light. Holding onto his luggage and his fellow detective, Oda frantically searched for the fastest way to distance from this mess, guided solely by desire of his heart. Ryunosuke followed with great difficulty to keep up with such energetic movements, basically jumping a few times in order not to let go of the redheads hand. To bypassers it was a funny scene, but neither of them were in the mood to laugh. When they finally came to their usual parting spot, on Oda's initiative, the two men hugged and exchanged their well wishes for the other. It will definitely take them a while to start working and see each other again, so as an elder, Oda felt the need to know his partner won't be hard on himself and will take the rest he deserved. Albeit, the hug may have been too much for his younger co-worker, but he didn't worry, kindness and tenderness were needed in that boy's life, and he was full of it, especially now.

Yet again, swiftly moving through the streets, Sakunosuke constantly checked his watch, hoping he arrives before Akiko's lectures. She never missed them, but he had to see her, at least for a few minutes, before she leaves. His lovesickness was ever-growing and had reached it's peak, if they missed each other now, he would fall asleep and remain imprisoned in sweet dreams filled with her image until the end of time. Even with his mind in a sweet mist, he managed to notice that a flowershop on the corner was opening. Accepting the risk, he quickly got in and asked if they had her favourite flowers, carnations, in the colour of red. With a smile on his face, an old gardener put down his scissors and with a snap of his fingers made a bouquet worth of a queen. Oda never saw such a graceful ability before, but he didn't think much of it at the moment- with glee in his eyes, he left a generous tip to the shopkeeper and thanked him before hurrying off again. When he came to the apartment door his hands begun shaking and throat became dry, still he unconsciously curled his mouth into a dumb smile, making him look much like an excited dog. He rang the bell, and to his surprise, the door opened immediately revealing to him a mesmerising sight. Her. Akiko was standing there only for a second before wrapping herself around his neck and locking him in a tigh hug, but he had already absorbed her appearance. Purple eyes shined with a light so bright and soft it looked like fairy dust and her skin was so mild and soothing that neither ice or fire could overpower it. Breathing out of sync, feeling each others heartbeats, their lips slowly merged into a kiss, gentle but passionate, so long they were both left out of breath. But that wasn't enough.

"Welcome." She whispered, gazing into his deep blue eyes as she dragged him inside and closed the door.

He smiled and placed a series of small kisses on her lips, cheeks and neck before officially giving her the flowers.

Akiko smelled them and smiled innocently "How wonderful of you." she exclaimed and kissed him passionately as a thankful gesture.

From this moment on words were unnecessary, all they needed was each other, and with no obstacles anymore, there was absolutely nothing that could distract them- this was a torture for far too long...

[inyournightmares97]

What about got7 made you like them so much

Oh, dear. This is a heavy question to wake up to and I will not be able to go about my day unless I do justice to this, so here you go lovely anon. GOT7 was not the reason I got into K-Pop, GOT7 was the reason I stayed and if any of this makes it sound like I’m bashing other groups, take my apology now. These are purely my personal opinions and I love EVERY single one of the groups I mention here.

(Please stop reading if you don’t want to read a long, lengthy rant about my love for GOT7 and shit.)

Here we go. Five Reasons I Love GOT7

1. Around 2016, I was at a point where everything in K-Pop was starting to seem rather boring and manufactured. The same practiced answers to the same questions, the same stupid games on every variety show, the same mildly problematic attitude towards sex, skin tone and everything else; this is something which you wouldn’t notice if you stick with a single group but when you’re multi-fandom and you watch so many groups go through the same routine… damn if it doesn’t feel staged after a while. If somebody handed me a mic, I think I could do a standard stage greeting, explain my title song and my ideal type just as well as any idol could. 

Honestly, at that point, Jackson was like a breath of fresh air. Every word that came out of his mouth was so different and I love the casual way in which he questions things the Korean industry takes for granted. If you haven’t seen Hitmaker yet, you must. Jackson tore Doni and Coni a new one, and I had a newfound respect for him. Yes, Jackson Wang is the reason I initially started following GOT7. Most foreign members of rookie groups keep their mouths carefully shut during early debut years because they’re scared of messing up but Jackson’s foray into the Korean industry as a foreigner felt so relatable because the moment something would happen to make me think… well, what was that? Jackson’s loose tongue would be asking the same question in a funnier way than I could have. 

This might sound odd because so many I-fans consider Jackson problematic, but damn, if I don’t think he is the most unproblematic thing as far as K-Pop goes. (More on this later)

2. Damn, if they’re not funny. Yes, a lot of groups are funny and have their moments, I’m pretty sure you could find any idol group saying hilarious things at some point or the other. But GOT7 are the most consistent with their humor. I’ll say it here; I’ve NEVER found a GOT7 video boring. (Let’s not count V-lives. Those drone on forever and are often awkward) These guys were made to entertain. They really were. 

Their interviews are also amazing to watch. Nobody gets MCs flustered like GOT7 does. (One of my favorites is this episode of Idol Battle Likes because the MC, Eunwoo, was a rookie idol and you can see the horror in his face as he tries to salvage the interview yet also the admiration because damn, these guys just do whatever the hell they want to). And this isn’t just Jackson anymore because there are interviews where Jackson isn’t around and they still manage to be hilariously funny. (Case in point: this episode of Global Request Show where Jackson is absent and Jaebum’s unprompted opening line is - “If we lose, Bambam is going to get hit in the forehead by all the members and the MCs” to a flustered baby Bam (who probably did something to piss JB off earlier) and also the classic JJP recreation. 

Not that there aren’t other idols who are also funny. The best example is BtoB, those guys are constantly on crack but their humor is a little different from that of GOT7s, lmao, it consists mostly of me crying at the screen - no, why are you doing that with your pretty face? GOT7, on the other hand, is extremely witty and I am constantly entertained. They couldn’t make us laugh more if their jokes were scripted. 

3. I feel like their relationship with each other is extremely honest. And by that, I don’t mean it’s perfect. I mean it’s honest. Listen, I don’t want to sound like an old veteran or something since I’ve only been into K-Pop for like 3 years or so, but groups are not as close as they seem. (Please don’t take this as me bashing other groups, I love all these guys, but I’m just pointing out examples). Did anyone forsee all the EXO members who left? No, because they all acted really close and tight and loyal until the last moment but now they pretend as if those members never existed. (Yes, I know SM is a snake and is probably making them do that. It still bothers me.) I’ve honestly never heard EXO talk about major fights they had. Infinite, who was my first and for a long time, my ultimate group? I did not see Hoya leaving. When I heard the rumors that a member wasn’t resigning, I was positive it was Sungyeol to go take on an acting career. Hoya doesn’t even seem to talk to the other members much anymore. I was wrong about their friendship, and that shows that there are so many things these idols hide so well from their fans. 

I think GOT7 is relatively one of the most honest groups, and that’s why Jackson keeps saying it. I firmly hope and believe that GOT7 will never spring something as horrifying as a member leaving without a proper explanation. (Not saying that nobody will ever leave. They might choose to take a different path. But I hope and believe it’ll be done the right way, not with radio silence and deflections of awkward questions. Like how Sistar disbanded in such a cool way, writing handwritten letters to the fans explaining their decisions and having an amazing last stage). 

I have also never heard a group talk so freely about the fights they had. I mean, dude. Mark breaking the AC and throwing a laptop at Bam? Jackson and Jaebum fighting over the chicken? I know this sounds funny right now but those were probably extremely serious fights at the time they happened and it’s a testament to their relationship that GOT7 are constantly telling stories about their past fights. I don’t see other groups that tell stories about real fights so often. I really don’t. (Except for totally veteran groups that have been around for like a decade, but guys… I think Seungri and Heechul make up half the stuff they say for entertainment, lmao). 

4. They deal with so much unnecessary hate. Raise your hands if you’re never heard the phrase GOT7 is problematic. Like, wow. There are idols out there who’ve gotten caught doing illegal drugs, have DUIs to their name, participated in financial scandals and harassing fans but GOT7 who have literally never hurt a soul or broken the law are the problematic ones, okay. Sure. 

God, I just hate when people think they’re racist. Guys, open your eyes. GOT7 are the most inclusive group out there. They might be a little stupid at times but they have their hearts in the right places. (HAS NOBODY SEEN THIS VIDEO OF WHEN THAT ASSHOLE HYUNMOO SAID NAMJOON SPEAKS BLACK ENGLISH AND JACKSON SHUT HIM DOWN IN 0.5 SECS?) Don’t get me wrong, Namjoon is my bias in BTS, but I never heard anyone bash him for how problematic he was in his early days. He apologized and people are okay with it but somehow GOT7 still gets pulled up for the dumbest shit. 

Like fuck, guys, half the people who bashed Yugyeom have probably consumed alcohol underage too. Bambam is a little stupid at times, but he’s not racist. Give Mark a break, he’s been in Korea for years, when do you think the last time he hung out with his American friends was? People change, give him the benefit of the doubt. I’m not responsible for the shit my childhood friends get up to. Jaebum was joking with his fans. You can’t say that an idol is so cool for being savage with his members and then suddenly backtrack when he gets savage with you, lmao. Just be savage back to him. It’s banter and I love it. It’s much better than hearing meaningless ‘oh you all mean so much to me’ only to find out the idol fucking leaves the group without a word 2 months later. 

So yeah, I have a protective instinct over GOT7. If one of them actually ever does something problematic then they’re getting called out for it, but come on. Let’s not just make them victims all the time. We know how that feels. I was going through a bad time when GOT7 was getting hate and I connected with them personally. 

5. Finally, GOT7 are the underdogs and I always root for them. To me, they’re that group that has amazing potential and while they’re not completely underrated, there’s this feeling that they’ve gone up to a certain point and now it’s hard to go further. It’s pretty clear from the way the members talk, especially Jackson, Jaebum and Jinyoung, that they’re worried they’ve hit their peak. (Have you guys heard of the 5-year jinx?) I think it’s extremely admirable how they’re putting in all their efforts towards making sure that doesn’t happen because listen. They have money, they have comfortable lives and they can sort of relax and do that thing idol groups do where they half-heartedly put out an album every 12-18 months just for the heck of proving they haven’t disbanded yet. But they’re not, they’re still doing multiple comebacks this year because they want recognition and that is something that resounds with me. 

It’s one thing to be stuck at dirt bottom and give up. It makes me cry to see all those idol groups from underrated companies that die out and never make it, who end up quitting and looking for other options in life. The ones who struggle despite not even making a lot of money. That’s terrible. 

But you know what else is terrible? That feeling that you haven’t lost completely. No, you’re not at the bottom, you did pretty well for yourself but you’re not there yet. You can’t turn back and quit completely, but you also have that last mile left to go and that honestly, that last mile is the hardest. I personally relate to that feeling. It’s the feeling that you’re somewhere up there but you’re not at the top and it’s not hard work or determination or talent that matters anymore, it’s just fucking luck. 

I hope and pray that GOT7 cross that last mile to reach the top in their careers and when they do, I want to be there with them so they can inspire me to cross my own barriers. 

[midnight-circus]

from danscratch

answered for Roderick, bc he could use some deeper development

What of the Meyers-Briggs personality types they most fit into? INFP, ENFT, et cetera…

ISTJ-A - the Logistician

What alignment are they? Chaotic neutral, lawful evil, et cetera…

He starts his life as Neutral Evil, but ends it Neutral Good. this is entirely due to Lukan’s influence.

Do they have any emotional or psychological conditions? Are they aware of it? Do they try to treat it?

ASPD. It goes unmanaged for much of his early- to mid-20s because it works as such an asset for him in the cut-throat business world he’s in, but when he starts up a long-term relationship with Lukan it suddenly becomes An Issue. he realises very quickly that if he wants to keep this person in his life, he can’t behave this way anymore - subsequently, he starts looking for ways to modify himself. 

Are they a pessimist or an optimist?

He doesn’t go in for that sort of thinking - if he wants something in his life to change, he changes it himself rather than sitting around thinking that it’s meant to be that way.

Are they good at handling change in their life?

Any change that takes place is generally on his own behest - the most prevalent time he felt truly out of control was after the death of his parents. Meeting Lukan takes the reins from him a little and this is difficult for him to come to terms with - it takes him a very long time to find his footing again. 

Does your OC tend to assume their interpretation of events and reality is correct, or do they question it? I.e., “I’m sure that’s what you said” versus “It’s possible I misheard you.”

His interpretation is always correct.

Is your OC confident in their reactions to life in general, or do they get embarrassed or easily shamed for it? I.e., if something startles them, do they insist it WAS scary? When they cry, do they feel like they overreacted?

He deliberately keeps his reactions on the down-low, but his temper bubbles very close to the surface - he tends to only lose it when he’s on his own, but the few times he’s had a full-blown ragefit in the office, he has later been confident in the knowledge that everyone deserved it. 

Is your OC a martyr?

No, not really - he does take responsibility for his own mistakes, if nothing else.

Does your OC make a lot of excuses? For themselves? Others?

No - neither for himself or others. If he fucks up, he will say so. If others fuck up, he will deal with them accordingly. 

Does your OC compromise easily? Too easily?

He literally does not know the meaning of the word ‘compromise’. He has to learn this the hard way.

Does your OC put others’ needs before their own?

oh god no. He is extremely selfish.

Does your OC have any addictions? If so and problematic, have they admitted it to themselves?

He’s addicted to work, if that counts - all he does with his life is work and sleep, and he doesn’t do enough of the latter. He’s too much of a health-freak to be addicted to any kind of substance. 

Does your OC have any phobias?

Death, primarily. To a lesser extent, water - he never learnt to swim. 

Is your character empathetic?

Nope.

Is your character observant?

Very - he’s always watching the people around him.

Does your OC have to go through their own trials to learn a lesson, or do they listen and learn from observation and lecture? 

He has to learn it himself - as far as he’s concerned, unless it happens to him personally, it doesn’t matter. This is partially why it’s such a wake-up call when Lukan gives him an ultimatum - it’s the first time his behaviour has impacted him in a way that he actually cares about.

What’s one of your OC’s proudest moments of themselves?

ok I thought about this for ages and tbh Roderick’s never really been proud of himself. He’s never been satisfied for long enough to feel proud. As far as he’s concerned, he can always do better, and pride is just a blockade on the way to improvement. There are always ways to do better. 

Do they get jealous easily? Do they feel bad if they do?

Only as far as Lukan’s concerned. No, he doesn’t feel all that bad about it.

Are they harsh on themselves?

Yes. He holds himself to a virtually impossible standard. Problem is, he also holds everybody who works for him to this standard too. 

Do they make excuses often?

Never, really. He owns up to his actions.

Is your OC found generally attractive? Unattractive? 

Erm. Depends on your preferences. He has a strong aesthetic and knows how to dress himself, but he’s not what one would call classically handsome - however, he appeals to a certain demographic, and people might admire the confidence with which he manages himself. He projects an aura of attractiveness, without necessarily being the best-looking person in the room. 

Does your OC place much importance on their appearance? Do they feel confident in it?

His appearance is what people are greeted with first, so he puts a lot of effort into it. He is very self-assured.

What are some of your OC’s biggest personal obstacles? This could be emotional, physical, social… Are they aware of it? Are they trying to overcome it?

He is selfish, judgemental and cares not a jot about the feelings or opinions of others - he will step on absolutely anybody at all in order to advance in his own career. In his late 20s, he goes through an intense crisis of personality - he suddenly realises that the way he behaves and the way he treats other people might very well end up with him losing the only person he’s ever really cared about. To his credit, he picks himself up and makes a strong effort to change.

Do they believe you have to give respect to get it, or get respect to give it?

He really doesn’t care too much about respect, and certainly doesn’t care if people like him or not - all he cares about is business. As long as people are doing their jobs, he could not give two shits if they respect him or not. 

Do they get frustrated when lines at places like pharmacies, check-outs, delis, banks, et cetera, are moving slowly?

you are a fool to assume that he ever waits in line. Roderick isn’t just rich - Roderick is filthy rich. he doesn’t wait in line for anything.

Under what situations would they get angry at servers, staff, customer service, et cetera?

He rarely gets angry, but he does get belittling and patronising, which is arguably much worse.

Do they tip well? How easily can they be moved to not leave a tip?

Actually yes, he tips very well, which seems rather at odds with the sort of person he is otherwise - on the other hand, tipping is an obvious way for him to show off, which is generally why he does it. 

Do they hold doors open for people?

People hold doors open for him.

Would your OC let someone ahead of them in line if your OC had a big cart and the person behind them had very few items?

again we’re back to the fact he doesn’t shop for himself and gets everything delivered anyway, but if he was the sort of person to ever be seen dead in a grocery store, he’s not letting anybody cut in front of him.

How do they respond to babies crying in public?

He ignores them, for the most part. He thinks they don’t necessarily belong in certain places, but the sound of it doesn’t drive him to total distraction.

Is your OC considered funny? Do they believe they’re funny?

He’s got an extremely sharp tongue and some people find that funny, I guess? If you have a mean sense of humour, at least. He certainly doesn’t go out of his way to be funny - he doesn’t give a shit if he is or not. 

Your OC is running late to meeting someone: Do they let the other person know? Do they lie about why they’re late?

He lets them know, but he might occasionally lie - depends on the reason. If he woke up late (which he very rarely does), he will tell them he was unavoidably delayed to save his own reputation.

Do they have a large or small group of friends?

he doesn’t have friends

Do they have people they are genuinely honest with about themselves?

Only Lukan - before him, there’s nobody. 

Does your OC enjoy social events, such as parties, clubs, et cetera..?

He loathes them, but he understands their importance in terms of networking so he’ll attend and interact nonetheless. 

Does your OC like to be the center of attention?

Hates it, but he’ll do it if need be. 

How religious is your OC? What do they practice, if anything? If they don’t associate with any religion, what do they think of religion in general?

No, he’s not religious, but as he grows to realise how badly he’s treated people in the past he does start to worry, vaguely, about the concept of an afterlife. As he gets older, he thinks about it more and more. 

Do they believe in an afterlife?

He’s undecided.

How comfortable are they with the idea of death?

Not comfortable at all - he fears death intensely. 

Would they like to be immortal? Why, why not? If they are immortal, would they rather not be?

Yes, he would - only because he’s terrified of death. 

Do they believe in ghosts? If not, why? If so, do they think they’re magical/tie into their religion, or are they scientifically plausible?

He tells people he doesn’t, but honestly I’m not sure if that’s true. I think his fear of death leads him to be kinda susceptible to the concept of ghosts, and I think the idea does disturb him. I feel like he believes reluctantly, against his better judgement.

Would you say that your OC is intelligent? In what ways?

Oh, he’s very intelligent in an academic sort of way, and is also pretty savvy with common sense. He is categorically not emotionally intelligent. 

Which of the nine types of intelligence is your OC strongest in? Weakest? (Linguistic, existential, naturalist, et cetera)

Strongest in logical-mathematical and linguistic; weakest in interpersonal and naturalist.

How many languages do they speak?

English, Scots and Python.

Did they enjoy school if they went to it?

To an extent - he enjoyed parts of it, and he enjoyed the opportunities that private school opened up for him, but he didn’t enjoy the day-to-day forced interaction.

What’s their highest education level? Do they want to continue their education?

He has a Master’s in Computer Science.

Do they enjoy learning? Do they actively seek out sources of self-education?

Sort of - he enjoys it because of the benefits and the outcomes. He would never learn for the sake of learning, unless he’s in the process of improving or working on something. There always has to be a purpose.

What’s one of your OC’s biggest regrets?

He does eventually come to regret the way he treated people for most of his life, but for the first 29 years or so regret really was’t a factor in his life at all.

What sort of home do they live in now, if at all? How did they end up there?

He has several homes - a house in LA, an apartment in Central London, a vacation home in Milan and his ancestral family manor in Scotland. It’s not excessive.

What’s their ideal home look like? Where is it?

When he thinks of ‘home’, he thinks of his London apartment - very sleek, very modern, extremely smart technology-wise and more to the point everything is sized and positioned to be comfortably within his 5′5 reach. 

Could they ever live in a “tiny home”?

depends what you mean by ‘tiny’ >:[

How clean are they overall with home upkeep?

Excessively, but having cleaners in weekly certainly does help. 

How handy are they? Can they fix appliances, cars, cabinets, et cetera?

He has absolutely no DIY knowledge whatsoever - he calls people to fix things for him, and later relies on Lukan. The only thing he is able to fix is technology and computing errrors; household appliances and cabinets are beyond him.

How much do they work? What do they do? Do they enjoy it?

Roderick works, and that’s it. He has no hobbies, he has no downtime, he has no off-switch - even when he’s at the gym, he’s studying processes remotely. He’s the CEO of a hi-tech online security company for high-range businesses, and is beginning to branch out into smart property- and home-security as well.

How often are they home?

Rarely, to be honest - he goes home to sleep, and that’s when he isn’t sleeping at the office. 

Are they homebodies and enjoy being home?

He enjoys the quiet, and the fact that no one is asking him questions when he’s at home, but he’s never fully disengaged - his phone is always keeping him connected.

Is your OC close to their family?

they dead. 

Who makes up your OC’s family, at least the more important members to them?

He was an only child, so no siblings, and his parents died when he was young. To be honest, he wasn’t, like ... massively affected by it? He was taken care of primarily by nannies and household staff, and never had a great deal of interaction with his parents outside saying the occasional ‘goodnight’ and being sent to bed before dinner parties.  

What kind of childhood did your OC have?

Extremely lonely and very isolated, even before his parents died. He wasn’t unhappy, because he didn’t know any different, but it definitely had an enormous impact on how he moves through the world as an adult. Physical contact was almost non-existent, never mind physical affection - he is dangerously touch-starved, and it’s not an exaggeration to say that the first time Lukan hugs him is probably the first physical contact he’s had outside of handshakes and unwanted shoulder-claps for an extremely long time. 

What is your OC’s orientation, romantic and/or sexual? Has it ever been a source of stress for them? Have they always been pretty sure of their orientation?

He’s gay, but he probably wouldn’t really label it himself - he’d never really had crushes before Lukan and sexual orientation had been such a minimal part of his life before then that it took him a while before he even recognised it for what it was. 

Is your OC a thoughtful partner, in whatever aspect of that you want to cover?

God. He can be. Lukan certainly wants for nothing - Roderick shows his affection with money and gifts, and is eager to shell out as much as possible as he navigates through his first and only relationship. However, he is emotionally stunted and can behave extremely thoughtlessly - not through malice, where Lukan is concerned, but through the simple fact that he has never had to think about another person before. This is a continuing area of improvement for him, and he takes it very seriously. 

Does your OC believe in love in first sight?

don’t be so ridiculous, he says.

Has your OC ever cheated on anyone or been cheated on?

no and no - he never would, and nor would he ever tolerate being cheated on.

What do they look for in partners? (Emotionally, mentally, physically..)

He’s not looking for anything specific consciously, but ironically he ends up with the exact person he needs - loyal, steady and kind, but able to tell him when he’s being an asshole and unwilling to take his nasty bullshit. Lukan is pretty much the embodiment of the only guy able to turn Roderick into a better person. It also helps that he’s 6-foot-eleven of hot ripped dad.

What are some things that your OC finds to be an instant turn-off in potential partners?

Sycophantism, neediness, poor hygiene, wilful stupidity, self-deprecation - he cannot stand the ‘oh im so dumb/fat/ugly/useless’ types, and if he hears it he’ll just nastily agree and move on. i’m telling you, he’s an asshole

What are their favorite kinds of flavors– Sweet, salty, sour, spicy, creamy, et cetera?

Salty, mainly - he dislikes sweet things and can’t handle spice. 

Do they have any eating requirements or preferences? Allergies, vegetarian, organic-only, religious restrictions…

Organic-only with celiac disease. It’s worth saying that the only meat he eats is the really fucking expensive fancy stuff, so for ease he will occasionally tell people he’s a vegetarian. 

How often do they cook? Do they order out a lot?

literally he has never cooked for himself ever. He survives off ordering in and eating in restaurants.

Could they eat the same thing they enjoy over and over and not get bored of it quickly?

God, no. Variety is necessary. 

Where does your OC stand most politically? What would they align with most?

Roderick is very fortunate to be able to say that he ‘doesn’t care about politics’, mainly because those politics will never affect him. However, he is leftist - just because he’s an asshole doesn’t mean he’s a bigot. 

How politically active are they?

Surprisingly so - he donates an awful lot to charity and offers his backing to certain parties, but it’s all for good press and accolades moreso than any real selfless desire to do it. 

How do they react to people whose political viewpoints are very opposite of theirs?

He has to get along with them, because there’s an awful lot of them in the same circles he moves in - he can’t afford to make enemies. He’ll be cordial and play the game well, whilst vilifying them in private to Lukan. 

How much interest in environmental health do they have?

Again, he puts an awful lot of money towards environmental health organisations, but mainly for the impression it gives off. He keeps the carbon footprint of his companies to as much of a minimum as possible and runs a very green ship, and he enjoys a large amount of positive clout for it. It’s literally all in the name of building his reputation. 

[chaj]

via planamag.com

Western reactions to K-pop, the acceptability of racist Asian jokes, and the perceived threat of Asians

Source: Big Hit Entertainment

This is a guest article by EC

Follow EC on Twitter at @ececlulu

The first time K-pop boy group BTS performed in America was on their show, American Hustle Life, where members “worried they wouldn’t find 200 fans to fill the venue” they were tasked to perform at in 2014 (Billboard).

Two days ago, BTS performed live at the annual Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ to millions of viewers and rang in the new year in America. Yet, Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper of CNN chose to comment on how they were “lackluster”:

“I mean…here’s the deal. We gotta get real. We just saw BTS, we think they were phoning it in.” — Andy Cohen (2:06:46 on the countdown here)

All while BTS was still performing on stage.

I wasn’t surprised. Disrespect towards Asian artists isn’t new in the United States. Unfortunately, informed by a history of devaluing and antagonizing Asian work, Western reactions to K-pop haven’t been as accepting as media outlets have made them out to be.

Creator Ethan Klein of H3H3 Productions has never been one to shy away from controversy, especially on Twitter and his H3 Podcast series.

Indeed, when Blackpink came up in “The Most Liked Music Videos” segment of YouTube Rewind 2019, Klein commented:

“I don’t like K-pop, I hate K-pop. I don’t get BTS. They look like — They’re just a bunch of — How did this become a thing in Western culture? Where all these grown men and little girls are jerking off to little k-pop boys. It’s like a little fetish. It’s like a little tw*nk gay fetish about these k-pop boys.” — Ethan Klein, H3 Podcast #164 (25:45–26:10)

#h3h3isoverparty trended on Twitter almost immediately after the episode’s release. K-pop fans criticized how Klein characterized them as “little girls,” emphasizing the diversity of the fandom. Other fans called Klein out for xenophobia and homophobia.

Klein did not take the criticism seriously. In response, he tweeted:

My message to K-pop fans: Lighten up nerds, it you can't handle your hobby being made fun of a little bit then you are really are just a bunch of little girls jerking off to kpop boys.

 — @h3h3productions

To the rest of the world, this may be easily brushed off as just fandom drama. Yet on a deeper level, Klein’s comments reflect troubling stereotypes. His comments add to a history of Western racial humor typecasting, antagonizing, and devaluing Asians — normalized by comics, presenters, and public figures.

We’ve seen it before. 2016, on the Oscars stage: Chris Rock’s tasteless skit involving Asian children, ironically after criticizing the Oscars for lacking diverse representation (Vanity Fair). 2017, from the Chainsmokers: member Alex Pall joking about not bringing his dog to China in a Chinese interview (Mashable). 2018, in a comedy podcast by then-to-be-SNL member Shane Gillis (he got fired for this segment): “Why do the fucking ch*nks live there?” when discussing reasons for disliking Chinatown and Asians (Vox). 2019, in an unaired “America’s Got Talent” segment: Jay Leno’s tired joke about Koreans eating dog meat (NBC). All perpetuate damaging, xenophobic stereotypes about Asians. All portrayed as harmless humor.

There’s a lot to criticize in K-pop. Fancam spamming, cultural appropriation, sex crimes, etc., the list goes on and on. But stereotyping groups and the industry as a whole isn’t productive.

Categorizing something as humor can be extremely effective at perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

After all, the easiest response to someone taking offense is to counter: “it’s just a joke!” It’s an easy way to absolve the speaker of responsibility. Suddenly, it’s the listener’s fault for getting offended; they’re too sensitive, or too slow, or just unable to take a joke.

Now, imagine you’re at a bar. Or in an auditorium. Or at the Oscars. Or wherever you’re among an audience where there’s more than just you listening. I don’t know how many times I’ve kept quiet because everyone else around me is laughing.

Here’s the thing, though: not everything that elicits laughter is a joke.

There are good-natured jokes, and then there’s just plain old mockery.

If we look at racial humor, Yumi Nagashima, for example, incorporates lots of stereotypes about Asian women in her acts. Hasan Minhaj bases material on his Indian family and identity all the time. Misha Han, Joel Kim Booster, and more do similar things. But these comics incorporate stereotypes effectively. Often, their jokes are funny because their punchlines subvert what the audience expects according to their preconceived notions. Or, they attest to a universal experience between them and their audience. Most importantly, their jokes effectively provoke an examination of relevant social dynamics. Take one of Hasan Minhaj’s jokes: “Americans hit on the arm and bruise the body…Indians slap on the face and bruise the soul.” This plays on the stereotype of Asian parents utilizing corporal punishment, but consider the “bruise the soul” part. The joke prompts reflection — how and why does corporeal punishment bruise the soul? There’s an implied statement on the Asian practice of corporal punishment and how it affects children’s development here.

But where’s the punchline with the Asian jokes mentioned earlier in this article? Is joking about Asians eating dogs going to make Asians and Asian Americans listening reflect upon their dog-eating habits? No, because most of us don’t. Eat. Dogs. And even if we did, why is a joke about Asians eating dogs more acceptable than a joke about Westerners eating cows or pigs? We have to acknowledge the inherent cultural bias in these hackneyed comments about Asians consuming dogs. (See a great article about the double standard here).

Cheap shots like this only serve to denigrate Asians and Asian Americans. Like Klein’s and Gillis’s segments, their comments are mere bashing. Once called out, they attempt to mitigate reactions by characterizing their comments as humor. So why did they consider their comments acceptable in the first place?

The fact that racist Asian comments are considered acceptable says something about how Asians are viewed in the United States. Think model minority. We’re meek, submissive, quiet. We’re followers, listeners, takers of what we can get. We don’t complain about what we can’t get.

First, how problematic is it that this is considered what’s “model”?

Second, this makes us an easy target. Mockery works best when it’s one-directional.

The portrayal of Asians as meek and submissive has special implications for Asian men. As Klein echoed in his comments about K-pop, Asian men are effeminate, weak, and only desirable as fetish symbols.

Now, calling a star “gay” isn’t a new comment in pop culture. Justin Bieber, One Direction, and countless other young male stars have been insulted in a similar fashion online. Once these insults are levied at stars of Asian descent, however, racial implications are emphasized. To call a man “gay” and a “tw*nk” suggests emasculation and effeminacy, reflecting Asian stereotypes perpetuated by early racial theorists. Assistant Professor at Lebanon Valley College, Julia Meszaros, sums it up well in a HuffPost article:

In order to “prove” to the world that colonialism was indeed a “civilizing” mission, Western theorists utilized discussions of others’ aberrant sexualities to justify their interventions abroad. As white Europeans colonized large swaths of Asia, white masculinity was posited as the apex that men could potentially reach. Asian men were placed on the opposite side of the spectrum and constantly portrayed as feminine and weak in the face of European conquerors. The colonial stereotypes regarding Asian men’s femininity continue to inform our current racial stereotypes. — Julia Meszaros, HuffPost

The stereotypical portrayal of Asian male stars isn’t new. Psy, when Gangnam Style became popular in the United States, received similar emasculating comments. In an analysis of Western media coverage of K-pop published by the University of Chicago, author Jenna Gibson notes that:

In addition, even supposedly positive appearances brought with them problematic stereotypes that likely colored the view of K-pop among readers or viewers. Particularly when discussing Gangnam Style and Psy, articles often described him as unattractive, chubby, and quirky, exoticizing and ultimately dismissing supposedly shallow Asian pop culture, as well as feeding into problematic stereotypes of hilarious but ultimately emasculated Asian men. — Jenna Gibson, University of Chicago

Here, we see a conflict between Western media’s desire to take advantage of the hallyu wave and its inability to tell informed, aware stories because of internalized biases. K-pop’s ability to generate buzz and conversation is undeniable. This is why there’s been a surge in news outlets covering K-pop and celebrities dropping K-pop names to attract views and clicks. And by the nature of media, there’s nothing wrong with that. What’s wrong is relying on clichéd stereotypes to frame commentary. Stereotypes that inform judgment.

Klein likely meant to generate controversy with his comments, not attack a whole racial group — he’s basked in the attention that fans on both sides have given him in the past few days. Yet no matter the intentions, the result is the same, and it again reflects upon how casually racism against Asians is accepted in the Western world today.

Furthermore, we can differentiate between standard anti-pop reactions and anti-Asian reactions by identifying an anti-Asian narrative painting Asians as alien and not belonging. About K-pop entering the US, Klein exclaims, “how did this become a thing in Western culture,” exasperated. Here, BTS and K-pop are portrayed as infringing upon “Western culture.” Subtext: they don’t belong — they shouldn’t belong. Klein’s comments, while reflecting standard anti-pop reactions combined with emasculating stereotypes against Asian males, also reflect another troubling angle on Asians: that they are somehow threatening to the Western status quo. It isn’t hard to draw a parallel between this stance and Yellow Peril, emphasizing again just how racially charged Western reactions to K-pop are.

Yellow Peril, a racist term originating from the 19th century, describes the existential threat that Asians pose to Western culture and lifestyles; it was popularized as Asian workers began to immigrate to the West. Economically, Westerners feared that Asians workers, who often worked for much lower wages, were undercutting native workers and stealing their work. Sexually, racial theorists painted Asian men as predators of white women and Asian women as hyper-sexual and submissive. Politically, Asian immigrants were seen as potential security threats and carriers of communism. These stereotypes combined built up the metaphor of Yellow Peril, which informed legislation such as the Chinese Exclusion Act and race riots such as the Chinese massacre of 1871. The depiction of Asians and Asian forces as threatening continues to exist and inform action in today’s society. White flight, when white people move out en mass out of ethnicized suburbias, often comes from fears that their children will be unable to compete with minority children in public schools. We see headlines about China encroaching on trade almost every day. And online, anti-Asian rhetoric festers in forums, posts, and social media.

Western society fears Asian improvement. It tells the Asian individual, yes, pull yourself up by the bootstraps enough so that he/she can be used as a model, an example, but never pull yourself up high enough to threaten existing power structures. Racial rhetoric places Asians as a convenient separator between white people and other minorities. The perceived success of Asians is used to delegitimize struggles faced by other ethnic groups; at the same time, Asians are still not welcomed into spaces traditionally inhabited by whites. The integration of Asians occurs when it only reinforces traditional hierarchies.

Pop music is not just a cultural export but also part of Korea’s economic engine. As K-pop songs begin to hit the US iTunes and Billboard charts, and as BTS begins to perform on shows such as New Year’s Rockin Eve, SNL, and GMA, the potential of K-pop unseating American pop (and by extension, Asian culture becoming more present in Western culture) becomes very real. This perhaps explains why as the Western music market has clamored to profit off of K-pop, they’ve carved out a niche for it instead of integrating it into the existing system. Despite high chart positions, K-pop songs are rarely played on radio. The VMAs were criticized for singling out K-pop as a category this year. Washington Post has called this “separate but equal” (Washington Post). And Klein’s comments, in an attempt to minimize the perceived threat of K-pop, infantilizes its fans and emasculates its idols.

BLACKPINK (Source: udiscovermusic)

It’s interesting to note that Klein’s first reaction, upon seeing a BLACKPINK music video, is to comment upon BTS’s entry into the US and not BLACKPINK’s. First, BTS is the representative group to Westerners right now. But beneath that, BTS is a male k-pop group, and in our examination of reactions to K-pop, we cannot ignore the implications that gender may have. Different stereotypes of Asian men and women likely inform differing reactions to K-pop groups as well. Asian women have been historically stereotyped as submissive and compliant. Yet Asian men, on the other hand, have been also stereotyped as predatory to white women: Asian men are a threat to dirtying or contaminating the purity of the white race, as perpetuated by Hollywood and WWII-era propaganda. Emasculation is a solution, as is redirection. Comments describing Asian men as asexual or gay invalidate their supposed sexual agency against white women, and these stereotypes may explain why Asian men are often seen as the least desirable type of partner. Steve Harvey utilized a punchline in 2017 based on the idea that finding Asian men attractive is amusing (Hollywood Reporter). Data from Yahoo! Personal in the 2000s showed that “more than 90% of non-Asian women said they would not date an Asian man” (Sage Journals). And 10 years later, OkCupid’s data shows Asian men rated lowest by women on their platform (OkCupid).

Pop culture has fed into this stereotype. As Eddie Huang from Fresh Off the Boat wrote in a New York Times opinion piece:

“The structural emasculation of Asian men in all forms of media became a self-fulfilling prophecy that produced an actual abhorrence to Asian men in the real world” — Eddie Huang, The New York Times.

Keeping Asian men undesirable proves beneficial to non-Asian men, as non-Asian men will never be the “most undesirable one.” An ego boost of sorts. However, K-pop’s popularity proves that Asian men can be attractive in the West, thus threatening this dynamic between Asian men and non-Asian men. Deconstruct further and we return to the concept of Yellow Peril, of restricting the spread of Asian culture, ideas, and genes. To racists, with K-pop, as masses of female, white fans begin to find Asian men worthy of idolizing, the popularization of Asian men connotes not just a cultural takeover but perhaps a racial takeover as well.

K-pop has continued to break boundaries anyways — groups playing major stadiums, BLACKPINK headlining Coachella, NCT 127 appearing on major talk shows — so I’m optimistic. Ironically, growing up, I don’t think my friends or I have ever been questioned for idolizing white pop stars as Asian Americans. Our favorites: Taylor Swift and One Direction. Neither have Western stars ever avoided the Asian music markets. Linkin Park, Beyoncé, Avril Lavigne— all have toured China in the last decade. Dua Lipa just attended MAMA 2019. And arguably, collaborations between K-pop stars and Western artists can be seen as attempts to capitalize upon K-pop’s popularity as much as they can be seen as attempts to penetrate a Western market. It’s just that Western reactions to K-pop can be informed by Western stereotypes against Asians.

I think back to when I went to Poptopia this year, when NCT 127 played last. Fans called out 99.7, the organizer, for letting NCT 127 apparently headline while other artists such as Halsey and Lizzo were not headlining.

Fans Expressing Their Discontent (Source: Facebook)

In reality, Halsey and Lizzo played the longest sets. NCT 127 only played four songs: Cherry Bomb, Regular, Superhuman, Highway to Heaven. Yet during the break between Lizzo and NCT 127, I watched as throngs of attendees streamed out of the stadium, leaving only a sea of fans holding green lanterns in front.

As a family passed by, I overheard the son asking, “Mom, is the concert over?”

“It’s over, we’re going home,” she answered decisively, while the son looked back at the fans congregating in the front.

Attendees were still streaming out as NCT 127 danced to Cherry Bomb. Less than half of the floor and 100s sections stayed. I couldn’t stop thinking about how disheartening it must be to dance to a leaving audience. Of course, not being able to finish watching the concert could be attributed to other things. Needing to rise early for work or wanting to avoid the traffic, for example. But secretly, I griped about attendees not being able to stay for just 15 more minutes out of respect for a new group. It seemed to me that they weren’t taken seriously because they were new, they were Asian, and that they were foreign. Like the CNN comments. It’s true that Cohen and Cooper might not have found the performances engaging. But to criticize on live national television, while the group was still performing in the background, conveys a fundamental level of disrespect.

Perhaps, the question isn’t if K-pop is ready for the United States, but if the United States is ready to accept K-pop as legitimate.

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CNN, H3H3, and BTS: The West’s Disrespect of Asian Artists was originally published in Plan A Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

[rpccomplaints-blog]

dear rpc,

This has been a long time coming.

I’ve got some things on my mind about the RPC that just need to be said. I’m prepared to receive hate from all you “tolerant” and “anti-drama, accepting” individuals because when someone doesn’t agree with your oh-so-open-minded viewpoint, they are wrong, yeah? I just have to get this out there.

You all need to chill the fuck out.

Roleplays are meant for fun. I have not seen a single group RP that has pre-written bios (whether fandomless or from a fandom) not receive some sort of hate. No one is fucking perfect and maybe the FCs they chose are there for a reason. 

Here are some key points that should have been said long ago:

Representation is important. HOWEVER, if someone has more cis/white characters, you really have to think about the setting to their RP. I don’t know about you, but in 17th Century England, I’m pretty sure there weren’t a ton of non-binary mixed-race people running around. 

It’s kind of hypocritical AF to tell an RP that they need to have a certain amount of trans and/or non-binary characters and then condemn them for using cis-gendered FCs to fill these roles. I’ve looked. I’ve asked around. There are not a ton of non-cis FCs with available resources. Many of these FCs are also from YouTube and a lot of RPs ban YouTube FCs. Those that aren’t from YouTube are either older than what the RPs demographic requires or lack in resources. If you’re able to make gifs/resources of these individuals, do it, and stop bitching, but many of us don’t have that talent. Let’s be real, anyway. A majority of the world is cis-gendered and heteronormative and most RP admins won’t force anyone to write a straight character. In fact, most RPs I’ve been in wind up having like 75% LGBTQ characters, which is awesome. Just keep that in mind when judging the RP main from the outside.

Again, think about the setting to the RP! I’ve had tons of hate given to me about not including certain types of characters, but one RP that I was in/ran took place in the 1970′s in the United Kingdom. Hell, I graduated high school just 10 years ago in a liberal area in a blue, progressive state and there were 0 kids that were out of the closet as gay/bi/lesbian out of the 180ish kids I graduated with, let alone out as trans or non-binary. Since graduation, I know several that have come out, but it took them time. What I’m saying is that you have to think of the times when writing a character or observing a group RP. Unless it is in some kind of AU world, we have to be real. Up until recently, and even today, being in the LGBTQ community isn’t universally accepted.

Speaking of being real- why the fuck are we so goddamn uptight about including characters that are hateful? WAKE THE FUCK UP. There are homophobic, transphobic, racist, bigoted, misogynistic people in this world and pretending they don’t exist because it might offend someone in the RPC is a little ridiculous. Pretty sure everyone I know (myself included) that is part of the LGBTQ community or that is a POC has experienced hatred because of who they are, what they look like, and how they identify. These things should be represented because it may help people to cope with situations in real life that are extremely real and can happen any time, anywhere!

About whitewashing. IT IS NOT COOL TO FUCKING WHITE WASH YOUR RP. Having 95%+ white FCs is just not acceptable. However, AGAIN, people need to keep the setting in mind when criticizing an RP. I had about 10 kids in a class of 180 that were not white. I, myself, am mixed. As a teacher, I have personally seen in different school districts how diversity can vary depending on location. One school that I taught in had a total of 3 POC children in the entire fucking school. The school I currently teach in is about 40-50% POC children. Another school that I visited had 95%+ POC children. If you are running an RP that takes place in rural Wyoming, that area is probably predominantly white with mostly closeted individuals. If you are running an RP that takes place in New York City, it is probably much more diverse. HOWEVER, I do think it is the job of an RP to offer diversity no matter where the roleplay is situated. But I swear to fucking god I’ve seen people get hate for their RPs that include about 50% POCs. Chill the fuck out. Most admins will let you change the FC, anyway, if you are so inclined.

Problematic plots. Grow up? Honestly. If someone wants to write a plot that you consider problematic, then don’t fucking read it. Maybe this person is using this sort of plot line to cope with a situation they dealt with in real life that was similar. Bad shit happens every single day and, again, pretending that it doesn’t in fear of offending someone is just stupid. Sure, some plots in group RPs should never be written and are definitely problematic- but I think, as a community, we are realizing that. These kinds of RPs are now far and few between. But indie RPs or those in group RPs that want to write plot lines that can be triggering should not be condemned because of it, especially if they tag these plots! Just blacklist the fucking tags that may trigger you and move on with your life.

Problematic FCs. FUCKING CHILL THE FUCK OUT. I’ve seen people call FCs out for being “problematic” when the evidence just isn’t there. For example, FCs that did something 5-10 years ago that was a joke and is taken way too fucking seriously. Comedians and rappers that use offensive material in a funny/creative way should not be condemned forever. Grow some fucking skin and learn the difference between real bigoted, racist individuals and those that are using “offensive” content in their work for a reason. Maybe it is to create awareness. Maybe it is to shine light on these issues. Maybe it is to mock those who really believe that way. Whatever the reason, does it fucking matter when the person has been condemned in the RPC and in real life for their “offensive” content plenty and has often times apologized. Sometimes it is just ignorance. We all make mistakes and say things that we shouldn’t. We all have done things that might offend someone. Sometimes it is just because we don’t realize it is offensive. Celebrities are people too. They make mistakes. Calm the hell down. There are more important things to worry about.

Speaking of more important things to worry about... We need to come together and grow up. We need to get thicker skin and let these things slide. We need to stop sending hate to people that have “offended” others. An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind. If you think an RP is problematic, just ignore them. Block them. You don’t need to have a vendetta against them. You don’t need to send them hate. You have no idea who the admin is, what they represent, and how they feel in real life. Your hatred and condemnation might cause them great pain, anxiety, and depression. Many of us RP to escape situations in our lives that are shitty. Some of us are dealing with things beyond comprehension and RP is a way to escape and cope. Some of us are just here to write and explore our most creative selves. Whatever the reason is, we’re here for fun. I’m not saying that some of the above mentioned is okay. White washing is not okay. Being actually bigoted in real life is not okay. Not including diversity in your RP is not okay. But no RP is going to be 100% problem-free in the eyes of everyone on Earth. The good news? There are lots of other RPs out there or, perhaps, you can create your own how you want to. Give admins a break. They work hard and, on occasion, may slip and include things that are offensive. If it is truly, honestly a problem, politely tell them and move on. 

Thanks for listening. 

[yarking]

Big Ol’ Honkin’ OC Question List-- List two! Also completed under the cut

A. Psychology

What of the Meyers-Briggs personality types they most fit into? INFP, ENFT, et cetera…

Last time I checked he was a istp, but that was before I even got to play him iirc.

What alignment are they? Chaotic neutral, lawful evil, et cetera…

Chaotic good (I tried to be neutral but I have no chill)

Do they have any emotional or psychological conditions? Are they aware of it? Do they try to treat it?

Fitz has a myriad of issues, most of which comes from his C-PTSD. He knows that he doesn’t “work” like other people do, and he wants life to be a little easier, but he’s just sorta guessing at how to do that. Mental Illness isn’t super well understood in Egra, especially stuff unrelated to warfare.

Are they a pessimist or an optimist?

an extremely anxious optimist. He hopes for the best but prepared for the worst.

Are they good at handling change in their life?

Not in the least bit

Does your OC tend to assume their interpretation of events and reality is correct, or do they question it? I.e., “I’m sure that’s what you said” versus “It’s possible I misheard you.”

A lifetime of gaslighting and being a bad judge of character (read: betrayal magnet) as lead him to seriously doubt everything but a few skills and his sense of danger.

Is your OC confident in their reactions to life in general, or do they get embarrassed or easily shamed for it? I.e., if something startles them, do they insist it WAS scary? When they cry, do they feel like they overreacted?

He will insist it was scary, but as a mask for his own embarassment. This is more about defensivness than his perception of his own reactions. I don’t think he’d think much about that, just how others will treat him for it.

Is your OC a martyr?

I guess technically, lol

Does your OC make a lot of excuses? For themselves? Others?

he’d call them “reasons”, but sometimes. Depends on what.

Does your OC compromise easily? Too easily?

Fitz is pretty terrible at compromising when it has anything to do with something he percieves as just or injust. He can think very black-and-white, but if it’s an a-moral decision he can be flexible.

Does your OC put others’ needs before their own?

yes, but more because he’s comfortable with deprivation

Does your OC have any addictions? If so and problematic, have they admitted it to themselves?

I’m not sure if you’d call hypersexuality an addiction, but I think he would if he was honest with himself. Which he’s not. He’s also an adrenaline junkie and needs a little bit of danger or else he gets too anxious waiting for something to happen.

Does your OC have any phobias? If so, where did they come from?

Fitz has tons of fears, though idk about any true phobias. He “is reasonably wary” of heights and needles “because they can be dangerous” and he’s flat-out scared of some forms of touch (especially when he’s not expecting it) and alcohol poisoning (the latter of which probably being his truest phobia. He won’t even take a drink.)

Is your character empathetic?

painfully so

Is your character observant?

+4 perception beyotch

Does your OC have to go through their own trials to learn a lesson, or do they listen and learn from observation and lecture? I.e., does your OC listen when someone tries to tell them the importance of budgeting, or do they have to go experience what happens if you don’t budget first?

When he was younger he was a bit more rebellious and disregarded advice as a means of acting out and testing his autonomy, but Fitz is usually surprisingly willing to listen and observe to learn. Whether he puts what he learns into practice or just chooses to make bad choices is a different mtter.

What’s one of your OC’s proudest moments of themselves?

When he was given his first edged greatsword, and then when he managed to use it to cut through a training dummy the first time.

Do they get jealous easily? Do they feel bad if they do?

YES VERY, and only if he recognizes that’s what’s going on. He will more likely feel guilty for trying to “keep” someone when they could be with “someone better”

What instantly irritates them or puts them in a bad mood?

Lack of empathy, especially when compassion would be at no loss to the person in question.

Are they harsh on themselves?

yup

Do they make excuses often?

he’d call it “reasons”

Is your OC intended to be found generally attractive? Unattractive? Average? Is there a reason why?

I mean, I think he’s pretty hot.

Does your OC place much importance on their appearance? Do they feel confident in it?

That’s super complicated. He’s confident until it matters.

What are some of your OC’s biggest personal obstacles? This could be emotional, physical, social… Are they aware of it? Are they trying to overcome it?

Fitz has had a rough time of it, and every time I make a choice for him IC, I make those choices through the lense of his trauma. He’s got a long way to go before he knows how to be happy, but he’s working on it.

B. Social

Do they believe you have to give respect to get it, or get respect to give it?

No. You start with respect, and you can lose it.

Do they get frustrated when lines at places like pharmacies, check-outs, delis, banks, et cetera, are moving slowly?

It depends on his mood. He can get irritated if he’s feeling anxious, and he’s anxious when he hasn’t done enough.

Under what situations would they get angry at servers, staff, customer service, et cetera?

Very obvious malicious intent, or gross apathy. It it’s something he’d be ashamed of doing himself, then he might get curt with someone.

Do they tip well? How easily can they be moved to not leave a tip?

They tip too much. Calm down Fitz

Do they hold doors open for people?

Nope, you got a working arm (in theory, even Var has at least one)

Would your OC let someone ahead of them in line if your OC had a big cart and the person behind them had very few items?

Yeah, probably regularly

How do they respond to babies crying in public?

Waving and making faces at it

Is your OC considered funny? Do they believe they’re funny?

I don’t think that’s my decision to make? I don’t know if he’d think he was funny, though. Probably not.

What kind of humor does your OC like the most? Slapstick, ironic, funny sounds, scare pranks, xD sO rAnDoM…

wordplay, sarcasm, irony

Does your OC find any “bad” or “mean” humor funny? Do they wish they didn’t?

Sometimes. He’s fine with gallows humor, but he doesn’t like man humor (unless they REALLY deserve it, such as Una).

Your OC is running late to meeting someone: Do they let the other person know? Do they lie about why they’re late?

They let them know and apologize too much.

Your OC orders something to eat and gets their order done in a pretty wrong way, something they can’t just pick off or whatnot to correct, or something major is missing. What do they do?

Eat it anyway. Fitz’ll eat anything. He might order it again and specify carefully so they get it right if it’s a specific thing he’s craving or bread

Do they have a large or small group of friends?

Fitz having friends is already assuming a lot, but probably small.

Do they have people they are genuinely honest with about themselves?

not right now, no

Does your OC enjoy social events, such as parties, clubs, et cetera..?

god no

Does your OC like to be the center of attention or more in the mix?

Fitz is more of a one-on-one kinda guy if he can help it.

C. Morality

Does your OC have a moral code? If not, how do they base their actions? If so, where does it come from, and how seriously do they take it?

Fitz has a STRONG moral center based around minimizing harm. He takes it very seriously.

Would your OC feel bad if they acted against their morals? If not, would they find a way to excuse themselves for it?

As far as Fitzs is concern, his morals are his modivation. He wouldn’t have any reason to act against them, and if he did, then he’d reason that it was to minimize his own harm.

Is it important for them to be with people (socially, intimately, whatever) whose major ideological tenets align with their own?

It can be. He can be with someone whose less interested in morality and justice, but being callous in front of him is a MAJOR turn off

Do they consider themselves superior or more important than anyone else? Lesser?

Yes and no? If you asked him he’d say no, but he does hold his moral code up as very important, and can sometimes act very self-rightously and self-important as a result. He’s also got some privillage ingrained in him from his noble origins

Do your OC’s morals and rules of common decency go out the window when it comes to those they don’t like, or when it’s inconvenient? Aka, are their morals situational?

Those he doesn’t like are usually BECAUSE they cross his moral code. In which case, he might act against them as a way he percieved to enact “justice”. However, he can also mistake dislike of someone for them ACTING unjust, IE- someone rubs him the wrong way and he’s more susceptible to thinking they’re Bad People. He’s emotionally immature like that.

What do they do when they see someone asking for money or food? If they ignore them, why? If they help, how so?

Fitz would absolutely help them. If he’s completely out of money he’d help them steal something if need be; he doesn’t believe in people going hungry.

Do they believe people change over time? If so, is it a natural process or does it take effort?

He hasn’t really thought about that. People go in and out of his life quickly enough that he’s never had the occasion to wonder, really. He hopes people can, though. He’s trying.

Is your OC more practical or ideal morally? I.e., do they hold people to high expectations of behavior even if it’s not realistic for the situation, or do they have a more realistic approach and adapt their morality to be more practical?

I feel like practicality is built into his morality; if someone is starving then it is MOST moral for them to steal, even if stealing in other instances is not.

D. Religion and Life and Death

How religious is your OC? What do they practice, if anything? If they don’t associate with any religion, what do they think of religion in general?

Fitz thinks of gods like he’d think of a powerful politician: you can follow them and hope that their favor, but it’s usually at the cost of doing what they say. Fitz is fine without a divine sugar daddy- he prefers to be untethered.

Do they believe in an afterlife?

Yeah, cos that’s canon I think?

How comfortable are they with the idea of death?

Comfortable with it, not super wanting to experience it tho lol

Would they like to be immortal? Why, why not? If they are immortal, would they rather not be?

They’d want to be. Fitz is a survivor. If he would in any circumstance want to relinquish his life just for the sake of no longer having to live, he’d have done it by now.

Do they believe in ghosts? If not, why? If so, do they think they’re magical/tie into their religion, or are they scientifically plausible?

Again, pretty sure this is a canon thing

E. Education and Intelligence

Would you say that your OC is intelligent? In what ways? Would your OC agree?

Fitz is a sharp cookie. He’s fast at making connections and noticing patterns and enjoys learning things about the world. He knows he’s pretty clever, too. It’s saved his hide more than once.

Which of the nine types of intelligence is your OC strongest in? Weakest? (Linguistic, existential, naturalist, et cetera)

Fitz is probably naturally strongest in intrapersonal intelligence. Unfortunately, his upbringing has severely stunted this growth, so it hasn’t nearly reached its potential, and so people usually notice his bodily-kenetic, logical-mathimatical and verbal-linguisting before that.

How many languages do they speak? 

Two, common and dwarvish

Did they enjoy school if they went to it? 

They enjoyed their tutoring. Fitz loves engaging his mind or body in things, otherwise he’s miserable.

What’s their highest education level? Do they want to continue their education?

Not super applicable for him, but the knights did have a good internal education.

Do they enjoy learning? Do they actively seek out sources of self-education?

He does. Fitz’ll usually keep his mind occupied when he’s resting his body, and likes logic puzzles and games as well as reading fiction and nonfiction.

Are they a good note-taker? Are they a good test-taker? Do exams make them nervous?

No to all three. Fitz has a good memory and it more of a spatial learner, but he can get aggitated if he feels like he’s being judged.

What’s one of your OC’s biggest regrets?

the civillian kid, blackmoor and not running away sooner

F. Domestic Habits, Work, and Hobbies

What sort of home do they live in now, if at all? How did they end up there?

The brick house, a communal living thingy. That was our first arc lol.

What’s their ideal home look like? Where is it?

A big self-sustaining orphanage in the country

Could they ever live in a “tiny home”?

Sure, but he wants room for kids and vagrants

How clean are they overall with home upkeep?

he’d be a fucking mess if he lived alone at this point, but he’d eventually learn how to keep his space clean. He’d prefer it that way, but it’s something he’d have to learn.

How handy are they? Can they fix appliances, cars, cabinets, et cetera?

If he can’t figure out how to fix something by looking at it, he can’t. He doesnt’ have much experience needing to, though.

How much do they work? What do they do? Do they enjoy it?

Enough to ensure room and board. He was a guard, is now resting on his ill gotten gains. He likes being busy

What’s their “dream career” or job situation?

It was a knight, but he doesn’t know now

How often are they home?

off and on, he moves around a lot

Are they homebodies and enjoy being home?

Fitz likes being comfortable. He can do that in bed with a pile of blankets or out in a nice garden, or on a safe city street.

Do they engage in any of the arts? How good do you intend them to be? Would they agree they are?

Fitz would consider swords and sex art, and he’d agree that he’s pretty good at both.

What are some of their favorite things to do for recreation? How did they get into it? What part of it do they like the most?

Fitz likes tending animals like horses (and enjoys writing) and playing games like cards, chess and other strategy things. He also enjoys physically activities (sword training, fighting, sparring, sex, etc)

Would they enjoy a theme park?

oh FUCK yes, but he’d piss himself going on the tallest roller coster cos SCARY

G. Family and Growing Up

Is your OC close to their family?

naw

Who makes up your OC’s family, at least the more important members to them?

Fitz is to his knowledge an only child. His mother is dead, he never knew anything about his biological father, and his stepfather that adopted him was Not Nice

Does your OC find their family supportive? If not, what would be an example why not?

No, his stepfather is abusive

What kind of childhood did your OC have?

not? one? A very bad one

Did they go through any typical phases growing up?

he had a pretty stark rebellious phase as soon as he went with blackmoor

Do they have any favorite childhood memories?

playing in the family garden with his mom and going to the capitol when he was older and being able to explore the city while he stepfather was in meeting. Sparring with his sword

Do they have any childhood memories they’d rather forget or be less affected by?

That’s a really tricky question. Fitz wouldn’t know who he was if he wished away what hurt growing up. He’s not quite at peace with it, but I think he’s getting to the point where he wants to move on more than he wants to forget. It’s a long proccess

H. Romance and Intimacy

What is your OC’s orientation, romantic and/or sexual? Has it ever been a source of stress for them? Have they always been pretty sure of their orientation?

Fitz doesn’t really know “romance” vs “sex” really well. He would just say he’s into everything, but he’s quoiromantic and quoisexual. It wasn’t a point of stress, but he has wondered how abuse has shaped his sexuality, though he resents the idea that that’d be wrong. 

Is your OC a thoughtful partner, in whatever aspect of that you want to cover?

Fitz is incredibly proud of giving his partner pleasure

Does your OC believe there’s only one ideal partner (or multiple ideal if not monogamous) for everyone, or that there are many people who could be right? Fitz isn’t even sure that one person could be right, but he doesn’t really think about it.

Does your OC believe in love in first sight?

he believes in infatuation and crush on first sight

Does your OC believe in marriage (or their culture’s equivalent)?

Yeah, but he’s not sure it’s for him

Has your OC ever cheated on anyone or been cheated on?

sorta? he’s probably let people think they were more exclusive than they were, but he’s never intentionally lied or misled anyone. He doesn’t want to hurt people, but he values his freedom

What do they look for in partners? (Emotionally, mentally, physically..)

Red hair, and pretty voice, nice ass and legs and a strong sense of compassion and justice

What’s your OC’s idea of a perfect date?

Eating good food, sitting someplace quiet and comfortable and just talking. Preferably while cuddling. Sex is nice too

What are some things that your OC finds to be an instant turn-off in potential partners?

Callousness

I. Food

What are their favorite kinds of flavors– Sweet, salty, sour, spicy, creamy, et cetera?

Bread, sugar and meat

Do they have any eating requirements or preferences? Allergies, vegetarian, organic-only, religious restrictions…

Non alcoholic

Are they vegan/vegetarian (if their overall culture/species generally aren’t)? If so, why? Do they think animal products are wrong in all circumstances?

He doesn’t eat veal or lamb cos he thinks it’s too sad, but he also thinks that not eating meat isn’t a really viable option for people most of the time.

How often do they cook? Do they order out a lot?

They don’t unless they have to.

Are they a good cook?

They can follow directions, but he doens’t know how otherwise

Could they eat the same thing they enjoy over and over and not get bored of it quickly?

Yes. And this is ideal. Bread all day every day

J. Politics, Current Events, Environmental Aspects

Where does your OC stand most politically? What would they align with most?

Fitz comes from a monarchy. He doesn’t really see much of a choice.

How politically aware are they?

He knows law well, as he was training to help enforce it, but he doesn’t keep up with politics as he can’t influence it

How politically active are they?

Not really active, but he works on a small scale trying to help

Is your OC the sort to fall for fake news? If not, do they ignore it or make a point to clarify that it’s wrong?

Probably not, actually, but he’d ignore it

Are they or would they protest for a cause they’re passionate about?

HELL YEAH

How do they react to people whose political viewpoints are very opposite of theirs?

Seeing as his political viewpoint is “everyone should eat and have shelter and don’t be a dick” he’d probably punch them

How much interest in environmental health do they have?

He doesn’t care. Let the druids worry about that.

In reality-based or applicable worlds, do they believe in global warming? Do they recycle? ---

K. For OCs in Reality-Based Worlds Who Are Unusual in Paranormal Ways (such as magical abilities, being another species, having a curse like lycanthropy, sci-fi abilities, being from another time, et cetera)– Also for OCs where the scenario is similar even if their universe isn’t based on reality

nawp

L. For the Writer/Owner

How have your characters changed since you created them?

He’s a lot more passionate about justice than I expected. I thought he’d be more jaded, but I think Vekti woke something up in him

What do you consider the biggest themes in your character, if any?

Healing and Survival

Did you create the character to be like yourself, did they end up being like yourself, or are they very different from you?

I created him largely based on myself

Would you hang out with your OC if you could?

I’m not sure... I don’t know if we’d like each other irl

Which OC do you think is the most decent morally or behaviorally?  AKA, which is supposed to a “good guy”? Fitz

Which OC do you think is the worst morally or behaviorally? AKA, which is supposed to be a “bad guy”? Geralt

Which OC do you think is the most attractive? Geralt

What’s the longest you’ve had an OC for? nearly a couple decades

How did you come up with your OC? fuckin magic lmao

[cchie]

Violet’s Big Ol’ Honkin’ Questionnaire

A. Psychology

What of the Meyers-Briggs personality types they most fit into? INFP, ENFT, et cetera…   Violet’s Myers-Briggs is an ISTJ - The Logistician. Dutiful, determined, logical, dependable, responsible. Basically, ISTJs love work and being responsible for their actions. This is Violet in a nutshell.

What alignment are they? Chaotic neutral, lawful evil, et cetera…   Lawful neutral - abiding by the laws and showing respect, but not blindly.

Do they have any emotional or psychological conditions? Are they aware of it? Do they try to treat it?   Violet Adams is actually diagnosed with OCD. She’s aware of it and takes medication for it, or so her mother thinks. Violet stubbornly tries to combat it herself. This is why she wears her hair on one side of her head, to combat her severe OCD, even a little bit.

Are they a pessimist or an optimist?   I hate to be that person but she is a realist. She tries to find the most real and possible solution.

Are they good at handling change in their life?  Not really, at all. Violet gets very easily shaken with change. Her mother once switched toothpaste brands and it had Violet messed up for weeks.

Does your OC tend to assume their interpretation of events and reality is correct, or do they question it? I.e., “I’m sure that’s what you said” versus “It’s possible I misheard you.”    Violet actually is pretty confident in her interpretation of events and reality due to her astuteness and eidetic memory. She will combat any counterpoints because she is just so damn sure that she’s right and has remembered correctly.

Is your OC confident in their reactions to life in general, or do they get embarrassed or easily shamed for it? I.e., if something startles them, do they insist it WAS scary? When they cry, do they feel like they overreacted?   While she battles her emotions internally, she rarely ever shows external emotions or expressions; when she does, it’s rather embarrassing. She feels shame for showing any outward emotion and finds them hindering and shameful. When she gets startled, she quickly tries to play it off and snaps that it isn’t funny, or tries to logically explain it was only natural for her to react like that.

Is your OC a martyr?   Nope! Would she be, though? That’s the question. Ultimately, yes. She would do whatever she needed to for her people.

Does your OC make a lot of excuses? For themselves? Others?   No, Violet hates excuses. She will almost always be honest.

Does your OC compromise easily? Too easily? Not necessarily. She’s quite stubborn and fights for what she believes is right. If the mass of her people think different, she will try to make them understand, but stress out and worry about them hating her for choosing differently. Nowadays, that doesn’t matter to her.

Does your OC put others’ needs before their own?  Yes, in a sense of duty. Violet lives to serve and protect her people. She doesn’t care an incredible amount about her needs but recognizes she needs to stay stable and healthy. What kind of leader would she be if she couldn’t?

Does your OC have any addictions? If so and problematic, have they admitted it to themselves?   I mean, not really? Her addiction isn’t really an addiction, it’s a disorder. She needs to clean, count tiles, turn the light switch on and off three times, etc. Actually, while just thinking of this, I can also see her being somewhere on the autism spectrum, with her social stunts and not understanding tone.

Does your OC have any phobias? If so, where did they come from?   Failure.

Is your character empathetic?   She isn’t. She tries to understand but doesn’t always get human emotions sometimes. She might actually be my least empathetic character. Logic is her primary go-to and it’s difficult for her to imagine how somebody could possibly defy it. Nowadays, she’s gotten better with it. Leaders need to have empathy.

Is your character observant?   Yes, she thinks she needs to be in order to become a good leader. She was SHSL Class President, so she kept an eye on everyone and everything.

Does your OC have to go through their own trials to learn a lesson, or do they listen and learn from observation and lecture? I.e., does your OC listen when someone tries to tell them the importance of budgeting, or do they have to go experience what happens if you don’t budget first?   Violet really values advice from authority figures and people in power, but if she’s stubborn enough, and thinks she’s right, she’ll go through her own trials.

What’s one of your OC’s proudest moments of themselves?   Founding the Future Foundation with the other survivors.

Do they get jealous easily? Do they feel bad if they do?  A pang of envy twangs in her heart every time she sees people her age hanging out. She does feel bad for feeling envious because she is harsh on herself for having a good house and SHSL talent and all that good stuff. If she had to be a sin, it would definitely be Envy.

What instantly irritates them or puts them in a bad mood?   Class clowns. Being called a “robot”.

Are they harsh on themselves?   God, yes. She’s so hard on herself. She beats herself up for not being more relatable and more social, she’s tough on herself for her OCD and how hindering it is, she’s harsh on herself for being harsh on herself.

Is your OC intended to be found generally attractive? Unattractive? Average? Is there a reason why?   Violet is above average in terms of looks but she’s always in professional clothes and looks that she doesn’t put too much effort into looking pretty, just looking like a leader. Once you take that away, she’s actually pretty.

Does your OC place much importance on their appearance? Do they feel confident in it?   Violet feels confident in her business wear but wishes she could loosen up and wear jeans and a blouse. She places importance on appearance in terms of professionalism, not attractiveness.

What are some of your OC’s biggest personal obstacles? This could be emotional, physical, social… Are they aware of it? Are they trying to overcome it?   Miss Adams’s biggest obstacles are, well, there are so many. She wants to overcome her severe OCD and that’s why she wears her hair in a side ponytail, why she tries to wear mismatching socks, etc. She also strives to relate more to people and actually ask somebody to hang out with her some time. While she can be a great leader, she’s missing the fundamentals of getting to know her peers. Overall, she’s trying to overcome her extreme loneliness and social stunt.

B. Social

Do they believe you have to give respect to get it, or get respect to give it?   Violet believes in getting respect to give it. Respect is incredibly important to her and even when somebody is disrespectful, she still continues to show it, mostly out of honor and not wanting to stoop as low as them.

Do they get frustrated when lines at places like pharmacies, check-outs, delis, banks, et cetera, are moving slowly?   If a line is moving slowly, she politely waits. She may be a bit impatient but she won’t show it and take the extra time to read up on something.

Under what situations would they get angry at servers, staff, customer service, et cetera?   Violet would get angry, but never impolite. She would get upset with them taking too long to check back on her, or getting the food wrong.

Do they tip well? How easily can they be moved to not leave a tip?   Violet generally tips at 20%, or based off of how quality the service has been. She lives to serve so when it’s somebody’s literal job and they don’t do it to her standard, she tips lower. Violet would never skip out on a tip, but she’s not above only tipping a dollar.

Do they hold doors open for people?   Yes! Violet is always respectful and polite, thus her ability and desire to hold doors open for people.

Would your OC let someone ahead of them in line if your OC had a big cart and the person behind them had very few items?   Violet would actually not offer that unless they spoke up. She would gently remind them that there are self checkout lines but if they were stubborn, she would give in.

How do they respond to babies crying in public?   Hilariously, babies annoy Violet. She has no idea how to react to them or hold them. She tries to put on an illusion that she’s good with them, but she’s actually incredibly awkward around them and holds them as if she were trying not to touch something very gross.   When babies cry, she is irked by their loud screaming and wishes they would shut up. And then feels bad for thinking so. If it disturbs the peace or people around the crying child, she will approach the person and speak up about possible disciplinary actions and- oh, why are they leaving?

Is your OC considered funny? Do they believe they’re funny?   Being a stick in the mud and being pretty serious, Violet isn’t funny. She doesn’t care very much for humor and isn’t good at it. If she does laugh at anything, it’s mainly because of manners, or history jokes.

What kind of humor does your OC like the most? Slapstick, ironic, funny sounds, scare pranks, xD sO rAnDoM…   See above question.

Does your OC find any “bad” or “mean” humor funny? Do they wish they didn’t?   Violet is very against that humor and will scold anybody she catches laughing at it and lecture them about mental trauma you can cause somebody

Your OC is running late to meeting someone: Do they let the other person know? Do they lie about why they’re late?   Violet is literally never late. She always makes sure to get there impeccably early.   If, by some crazy random happenstance, she were to be late, she would let the other person know and apologize profusely.

Your OC orders something to eat and gets their order done in a pretty wrong way, something they can’t just pick off or whatnot to correct, or something major is missing. What do they do? She flags down the waitress the immediate moment she spots her and makes them aware of the situation in a calm and respectable manner.

Do they have a large or small group of friends?   This is the saddest thing I’ve ever typed but Violet has no friends. In school, people always viewed her as an authority figure, a robot, a goody-two-shoes, etc. So they never tried to make a connection with her.   Post-Tabletonpa, she’s managed to make friends with the survivors, primarily Jack Randolph. She’s even made friends with Evan Gyles, a man she would have never dreamt she would acquaint herself with. She even wanted to kill him at one point. Violet tried to establish a friendship with Patricia, but she had passed in the timeline.

Do they have people they are genuinely honest with about themselves?   Nope. Not even entirely to herself. While she believes honesty is incredibly important, self-honesty is harder for her. She had opened up a bit to Patricia Lionheart, and even to Jack Randolph.

Does your OC enjoy social events, such as parties, clubs, et cetera..?   She is somewhere in between enjoying them and dreading them. Clubs and parties aren’t her thing, and she’s never been invited to a party. However, social gatherings and events are something she’s good at, especially when she is in charge of organizing it.

Does your OC like to be the center of attention or more in the mix?  Violet enjoys being both. It depends on the situation. Being the center of attention is more her thing when it comes to meetings, classes, and other business and academic areas. If it’s recreational, she prefers to be more in the mix.

C. Morality

Does your OC have a moral code? If not, how do they base their actions? If so, where does it come from, and how seriously do they take it?   Having a moral code is sort of strange for Violet. Her morals align more with abiding the law as long as it isn’t harming anyone innocent, you are respecting authority that is just, you’re honest, etc. It’s based off her mother being a judge and her father being a cop.

Would your OC feel bad if they acted against their morals? If not, would they find a way to excuse themselves for it?   Yes. She would feel ashamed and guilty for doing so.

Is it important for them to be with people (socially, intimately, whatever) whose major ideological tenets align with their own?   Yes. Although she thrives off of debates and having to be around open-minded people to help her in discussions about what is best for her peers.

Do they consider themselves superior or more important than anyone else? Lesser?   While Violet thinks she is academically superior and superior via business and leading, she feels inferior to everyone else due to their normalcy and human emotions.

Do your OC’s morals and rules of common decency go out the window when it comes to those they don’t like, or when it’s inconvenient? Aka, are their morals situational?   Absolutely not. Violet is very rigid with her morals and rules and hates breaking them. Even in the killing games she tried to keep order and structure. However, she was willing to kill Evan Gyles in order to protect everybody else from his harm.

What do they do when they see someone asking for money or food? If they ignore them, why? If they help, how so?   When coming across somebody asking for money or food, she’ll (with best intentions) give them a list of shelters than can help, offer to help them with interviews, etc. She’ll give whatever small change she has and whatever snacks she has. When it’s hot out, she’ll buy a water and give it to them.

Do they believe people change over time? If so, is it a natural process or does it take effort?   Change is something she knows can happen, but is very hesitant and distrusting when it comes to people. She believes in ulterior motives and holds out on her suspicion until the end.

Is your OC more practical or ideal morally? I.e., do they hold people to high expectations of behavior even if it’s not realistic for the situation, or do they have a more realistic approach and adapt their morality to be more practical?   More ideal, definitely. She’ll hold people to high expectations even if it doesn’t make sense in the situation. She was always disappointed when people killed their peers in the killing game.

D. Religion and Life and Death

How religious is your OC? What do they practice, if anything? If they don’t associate with any religion, what do they think of religion in general?   Violet is actually agnostic. She’s unsure of a god but doesn’t want to write it off just yet. Usually things with her are pretty black and white but religion is like a grey area for her.

Do they believe in an afterlife?   The afterlife is also a grey area. She doesn’t believe in it or think it’s not real.

How comfortable are they with the idea of death?   Violet accepts that it is a part of life and natural. She is saddened when somebody passes but isn’t depressed over it.

Would they like to be immortal? Why, why not? If they are immortal, would they rather not be?  Violet is very torn over this question because she would love to live and learn more over the years. But living forever is not natural, so she would feel a bit weird.

Do they believe in ghosts? If not, why? If so, do they think they’re magical/tie into their religion, or are they scientifically plausible?   Ghosts do not scare Violet in the slightest, or so she’d have you think. She is logically aware that their existence is unlikely but that doesn’t stop her from being freaked out by horror movies about ghosts.

E. Education and Intelligence

Would you say that your OC is intelligent? In what ways? Would your OC agree?    Yes! Violet is highly intelligent. She loves any and all academics and is eager to learn. She would agree that she’s exceptional and thinks highly of her smarts.

Which of the nine types of intelligence is your OC strongest in? Weakest? (Linguistic, existential, naturalist, et cetera)   Her strongest would be logical-mathematical, linguistic. Her weakest would probably be existential and interpersonal.

How many languages do they speak?   Two! English and Latin. However, she’s learning other languages to better her knowledge and leadership skills.

Did they enjoy school if they went to it?  Absolutely. She loved all of her classes and always got straight A’s. When it came to clubs, she joined any and all that she could, especially the Student Council. She could never really make any friends, though. So field trips and excursions were lonely for her.

What’s their highest education level? Do they want to continue their education?   As of Tabletonpa, high school. As of nowadays, she actually has her Doctorate’s Degree in Organizational Leadership, Criminal Justice, and Psychology.

Do they enjoy learning? Do they actively seek out sources of self-education?   Yes! Violet is a sponge who LOVES absorbing new things she can learn. She’s definitely a Ravenclaw. In her spare time, she’ll seek out courses of knowledge and read articles and essays.

Are they a good note-taker? Are they a good test-taker? Do exams make them nervous?   Yes, yes, and yes. Dutifully and always paying attention is what she‘s good at. She relies on her eidetic memory and knowledge to take tests and exams, so she doesn’t sweat it.

What’s one of your OC’s biggest regrets?   Not getting to know more people. One of her biggest flaws is her ability to lead people so well, but not actually knowing them.

F. Domestic Habits, Work, and Hobbies

What sort of home do they live in now, if at all? How did they end up there?   Her father is a cop and her mother is a judge. They live in a two story house, complete with studies, a library, etc. Her parents moved there after saving up. The rooms are neat and tidy, almost virtually no dust. Everything is organized and pristine. The color schemes are mainly white, grey, brown, and blue.

What’s their ideal home look like? Where is it?   Her ideal home is similar to the one her parents live in. Except, not quite as large. She would be happy with a 1 story house, as long as it had an office for her and a library.

Could they ever live in a “tiny home”?   Not really. It would make her feel a bit claustrophobic and trapped. She wouldn’t mind a decent sized home, but a tiny one wouldn’t allow for a sea of knowledge.

How clean are they overall with home upkeep?   Not a speck in sight. Violet loves being neat and tidy and it pains her to be messy.

How handy are they? Can they fix appliances, cars, cabinets, et cetera?   Violet is pretty handy, surprisingly enough. This is due to her reading a countless amount of manuals, encyclopedias, etc. She retains most of the important knowledge and applies it to whatever needs fixing.

How much do they work? What do they do? Do they enjoy it?   If work were a person, Violet would marry them. Dedication is her strong suit and she loves nothing more than her work. She’s SHSL Class President and loves being in charge of people. Becoming President of the United States is her dream so she’s slowly climbing the ladder.

What’s their “dream career” or job situation?   Oops, just answered it. Violet Adams would be such a nice ring to a President, wouldn’t it? She’d be the first female, bisexual President. I’d vote for her.

How often are they home?  Half of the time she’s at home, the other half of the time she’s at school. Either at clubs or the library.

Are they homebodies and enjoy being home?  She’s not a homebody, really, but she does like being at home. It’s comfortable for her.

Do they engage in any of the arts? How good do you intend them to be? Would they agree they are?   Violet has actually tried learning violin and the flute, but she’s only average at them. This frustrates her because she wants to be above average and she doesn’t understand what she’s doing wrong. She’s decent, at best. She’s accepted that she’ll never be great at art.

What are some of their favorite things to do for recreation? How did they get into it? What part of it do they like the most?   Reading, organizing, debating, learning. Anything that stimulates the mind, she’s down for. She loves puzzles and mysteries.

Would they enjoy a theme park?  Probably not. She would enjoy the connection with going with somebody but she would be terrified of riding roller coasters. She would be interested in the games, but the rides would scare her.

G. Family and Growing Up

Is your OC close to their family?  She’s close to them, but she could definitely be closer. Her mother is overbearing and intimidates her and her father is kind of distant.

Who makes up your OC’s family, at least the more important members to them?  Her and her parents.

Does your OC find their family supportive? If not, what would be an example why not?  Yes and no. Her parents are supportive of her studies and her goals, but supportive of her as a person and her OCD? Not really. Her mother is overbearing and pushes her to her limit.

What kind of childhood did your OC have?   Boring, really. She would go to school, come home, do chores, do her homework, read, go to bed, etc. She once went to Washington, DC with her parents and it was the most exciting trip to her so she could learn more about history.   The tough parts of her childhood was before she was diagnosed with OCD, when her mother just thought her child was weird for her symptoms and she would shame her for it.

Did they go through any typical phases growing up?   Violet Adams is an odd child and did not have any typical phases growing up. She mostly kept to herself and was incredibly polit and well-mannered. She never rebelled against her parents, she didn’t have a scene phase, she was never like “lol xD taco so rANDOM”. Even as a kid, she was never really a kid, she was more of an adult.

Do they have any favorite childhood memories?  That trip to Washington, DC. It was one of the only times she can remember being happy with her parents and not having a breakdown. They took her to sites she wanted to go to, and didn’t chastise her.

Do they have any childhood memories they’d rather forget or be less affected by?   When her mother would yell at her for wanting to wash her hands 6 times in a row, or turn the lights on and off three times before she entered the room, or anything else she did because of her disorder.   Her dad would come to her room afterwards and pathetically try to explain why it was so bizarre for a child to be doing and that her mom was doing it out of love.

H. Romance and Intimacy

What is your OC’s orientation, romantic and/or sexual? Has it ever been a source of stress for them? Have they always been pretty sure of their orientation?  Violet is bisexual! She’s a cis female and hasn’t ever stressed about her gender identity. She has stressed a bit about her bisexuality because if her parents ever found out, they would be incredibly unhappy. They want her to continue the Adams bloodline. Violet knew she was bisexual when she had a crush on the debate team vice president in middle school.

Is your OC a thoughtful partner, in whatever aspect of that you want to cover?   Wew laddy, I don’t know where to start with this one. Violet has a hard time being a thoughtful partner because she thinks more logically about something instead fo a heartfelt gift. She tries, though. Nowadays, she’ll ask somebody what they would like, or asks her friends for advice.   However, when it comes to their needs, she’s thoughtful. If they need alone time, she’ll give it. If they need cuddles, she’s there.

Does your OC believe there’s only one ideal partner (or multiple ideal if not monogamous) for everyone, or that there are many people who could be right?  While close-minded as she is, she may disagree with polyamory but she isn’t against people having multiple partners. She knows that it isn’t her choice and it isn’t affecting her, even if it bothers her a bit. Violet herself is monogamous.

Does your OC believe in love in first sight?  Love at first sight does not make any logical sense to Violet. You can’t love somebody you don’t know. Love takes time and practice, and if you think you love somebody after seeing them once, you’re only in love with who you imagine them to be or who they want you to think they are.

Does your OC believe in marriage (or their culture’s equivalent)?   Yes. Violet believes in marriage for the legal benefits and the binding of being together until they die.

Has your OC ever cheated on anyone or been cheated on?   Violet has never dated anybody through any of her school years due to her academic focus, social awkwardness, and strict parents. She has never cheated or been cheated on.

What do they look for in partners? (Emotionally, mentally, physically..)  Somebody who can hold up an intelligent conversation, who is patient and kind, and understands her strive for academic success and glory. Somebody who will help her with the emotional sides of things.

What’s your OC’s idea of a perfect date?   Violet would actually love to have dinner and go to the beach at sunset. It’s just so normal.

What are some things that your OC finds to be an instant turn-off in potential partners?    People who don’t know what they are talking about, judgemental people, people who make fun of mental disorders.

I. Food

What are their favorite kinds of flavors– Sweet, salty, sour, spicy, creamy, et cetera?  Sweet and clean. Her favorite food is sushi, it’s delicious and healthy and you don’t have to dirty your hands to eat it. BBQs are hard for Violet because it mainly involves finger food and messes.

Do they have any eating requirements or preferences? Allergies, vegetarian, organic-only, religious restrictions…  Violet is actually allergic to cinnamon and has to be careful around food like that. Her parents make her eat healtheir foods to keep her physique. But every once in a while, she’ll sneak fast food or junk food.

Are they vegan/vegetarian (if their overall culture/species generally aren’t)? If so, why? Do they think animal products are wrong in all circumstances?  Nope! Her parents think it’s a little ridiculous to live like that and believes meat is essential in a diet.

How often do they cook? Do they order out a lot?  Violet will cook about twice a week for her family. Her mother and father taught her how to cook so she can fend for herself. She doesn’t order out a lot because her parents are against ordering out often, but if she knows she’ll be home alone one night, every once in a while she’ll go grab a bite somewhere.

Are they a good cook?  Surprisingly, yes. She’s not marvelous by any means, but the food she makes is edible and tasty.

Could they eat the same thing they enjoy over and over and not get bored of it quickly?  Yes. Routine is her middle name, after all.

J. Politics, Current Events, Environmental Aspects

Where does your OC stand most politically? What would they align with most?  Violet is actually for the most part, independent. Her views used to be more conservative due to her parents, but her teachings and research have opened her mind a bit. 

How politically aware are they?   Very politically aware. After all, she wants to become President. She watches debates and the news very closely.

How politically active are they?  Very very active. Constantly making phone calls, campaigning for those she believes in, organizing marches and debates, etc.

Is your OC the sort to fall for fake news? If not, do they ignore it or make a point to clarify that it’s wrong?  Violet has sources handy that are reliable and factual. She’ll get to the bottom of it if something is fishy. She makes a point to clarify what is wrong and what isn’t.

Are they or would they protest for a cause they’re passionate about?   Yes! After graduating and moving out, catch Violet at LGBT+ pride marches.

How do they react to people whose political viewpoints are very opposite of theirs?  Respectful and diplomatic.

How much interest in environmental health do they have?  A moderate amount! She recycles when she can, helps pick up litter, tries saving water and energy, etc.

In reality-based or applicable worlds, do they believe in global warming? Do they recycle?  Yes and yes!

L. For the Writer/Owner

How have your characters changed since you created them?  Violet originally was going to be more of a grey character than a black and white, but the more I thought about her, the more fitting that became. I was going to make her just a “neat freak” but giving her OCD gave her more realism and complexity and I tried to handle it in a respectful and realistic manner rather than a caricature.

What do you consider the biggest themes in your character, if any?  Mental disorders, logic vs. emotions, success, growth.

Did you create the character to be like yourself, did they end up being like yourself, or are they very different from you?   Violet is essentially who I am at my job. I take leadership, I stay objective and constructive, and can be no nonsense. She struggles a lot with her own feelings and mental disorder, which is something I can relate to. I also made her a perfectionist (not really me) and had a caring father (also not related). She is a black and white thinker (me) and has an overbearing mother (also me). She’s definitely a more serious, and logical person than I am.

Would you hang out with your OC if you could?   Listen, I would, because this poor girl just needs friends.

How did you come up with your OC?   When we started the Danganronpa Tabletop game, we were allowed 3 characters. Violet was the last character I came up with, and I stole the Ultimate title from somebody who ended up not playing. They would have ruined a character like that anyways. So I took the title and molded her into somebody who wanted to succeed, but had her own issues before she could fully do that. I wanted to make her somebody who thought she had all the ingredients to success but was missing a lot of things. Out of my 3 characters, I also designed her to be the straight man who can be more serious and logical, and take leadership.   I came to love her way more than I thought I would.

[cchie]

Redd Blaze’s Big Ol’ Honkin’ Questionnaire

A. Psychology

What of the Meyers-Briggs personality types they most fit into? INFP, ENFT, et cetera…   Redd is an ESFP for sure. “The Entertainer”. Friendly, playful, enthusiastic, energetic, helpful. 

What alignment are they? Chaotic neutral, lawful evil, et cetera…   Chaotic Good. Redd isn’t super selfish so she isn’t Chaotic Neutral, and she’s not evil.

Do they have any emotional or psychological conditions? Are they aware of it? Do they try to treat it?   I’m sure Redd has ADHD and used to have anger issues. She also has depression but has been getting better about it.

Are they a pessimist or an optimist?   Optimist! She used to be a pessimist but ever since escaping her father with Ducky, she’s become a brighter person.

Are they good at handling change in their life?   She doesn’t really know how to approach it at first but eventually goes with the flow. She likes change and embraces it after the initial warm up

Does your OC tend to assume their interpretation of events and reality is correct, or do they question it? I.e., “I’m sure that’s what you said” versus “It’s possible I misheard you.”

  Oh, Redd is never wrong. She’s very certain about everythng, except for the things she’s uncertain of, in which case she will still determine something definite about it.

Is your OC confident in their reactions to life in general, or do they get embarrassed or easily shamed for it? I.e., if something startles them, do they insist it WAS scary? When they cry, do they feel like they overreacted?   Redd doesn’t get embarassed easily. She cries a lot and doesn’t think it’s an overreaction and actually believes it is a sign of strength. Redd isn’t startled easily but when she is, she’s not embarassed and rather laughs it off and thinks it was awesome.

Is your OC a martyr?   I mean, I guess? She took all of her younger brother Ducky’s beatings for him since she didn’t want him to get hurt. So in a way she did sacrifice a lot of herself for his safety.

Does your OC make a lot of excuses? For themselves? Others?   Oh, absolutely. Ms. Blaze doesn’t ever mean it in a manipulative or harmful way, she just does so to keep everyone happy.

Does your OC compromise easily? Too easily?   Hell no. Compromising with her is extremely difficult when it comes to the important things. When it comes to smaller stuff, it’s super easy to please her.

Does your OC put others’ needs before their own?   Yes. Absolutely. If she cares about you, she will do anything for you. She has a very fierce love. She’ll take a hit for you, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Does your OC have any addictions? If so and problematic, have they admitted it to themselves?   Redd gets high off adrenaline. She’s the SHSL Daredevil, so naturally, she would be. There have been times where Ducky has come to Redd about some of her stunts as he grew older, but he would reluctantly step off once Redd’s fierce determination shined way too bright.

Does your OC have any phobias? If so, where did they come from?   Redd actually has trypophobia. It’s a fear of irregular holes, cracks, etc. It freaks her out because it reminds her of the abuse her father put her through and also, it’s just plain terrifying.

Is your character empathetic?   Yes! She doesn’t always seem it though. Once she understands the exact emotion someone is feeling, it clicks in her head.

Is your character observant?   God, not really at all. She’s too busy in her own world to pay attention to details and small unimportant things.

Does your OC have to go through their own trials to learn a lesson, or do they listen and learn from observation and lecture? I.e., does your OC listen when someone tries to tell them the importance of budgeting, or do they have to go experience what happens if you don’t budget first?   Oh, she absolutely has to go through her own trials. Really, the only person she listens to is Ducky, and sometimes Reed or December. She’s too stubborn to listen to anybody else.

What’s one of your OC’s proudest moments of themselves?   Saving Ducky.

Do they get jealous easily? Do they feel bad if they do?   Not really. She’s pretty confident. She’ll only get jealous over loving parents and geniuses. Even then it’s more of a wistful jeaousy rather than a malicious jealousy.

What instantly irritates them or puts them in a bad mood?   People who are mean for no reason. Abusive parents. Being told what not to do.

Are they harsh on themselves?   It depends. Physically, yes, but she can handle it. Emotionally, sometimes. But she always finds a way to deal with it.

Do they make excuses often? I mean, I answered this question earlier.

Is your OC intended to be found generally attractive? Unattractive? Average? Is there a reason why?   Generally attractive. She’s a strong, well-figured redhead. Her confidence also helps.

Does your OC place much importance on their appearance? Do they feel confident in it?   She always feels confident no matter what she’s wearing. She could be wearing a banana suit and still feel absolutely comfortable and like she’s killing it.

What are some of your OC’s biggest personal obstacles? This could be emotional, physical, social… Are they aware of it? Are they trying to overcome it?   Redd tries to overcome being told what to do most of the time, hence her SHSL Ability. She knows she’s incredibly stubborn and wants to work on that a bit more. She also knows that she needs to get a handle on her emotions because of things she’s done in the past.

B. Social

Do they believe you have to give respect to get it, or get respect to give it?   Redd firmly believes in giving respect to get it. If you don’t show it, why should you get it? This was ahuge factor with her father and her hatred towards him, aside from all of the abuse.

Do they get frustrated when lines at places like pharmacies, check-outs, delis, banks, et cetera, are moving slowly?   Oh, most definitely. She doesn’t complain loudly about it though because she understands that the workers are trying their hardest. She’s just frustrated with the speed of things since she’s always on the move.

Under what situations would they get angry at servers, staff, customer service, et cetera?   The only time Redd would ever get mad over someone in food service was if they were blatantly discriminating against somebody, or treating children like shit. She would also say something if she noticed a manager being particularly hard on their employees.

Do they tip well? How easily can they be moved to not leave a tip?   Tipping has always confused Redd. There’s something about a rule for 20% or something? She doesn’t know. She just gives a hefty amount since she has quite a bit of money from the stunts she does. When Ducky got older, he taught her that tips are generally given based off of the quality of service. But the thing is, Redd always thinks the quality is great and continues to tip a large amount of money.

Do they hold doors open for people?   Yeah! If she sees somebody is walking her way, she’s very polite and holds open the door. Especially if it’s older people or children. She knows how rude some people are and refuses to be like that intentionally.

Would your OC let someone ahead of them in line if your OC had a big cart and the person behind them had very few items?   Hmmm, this is hard. On one hand she woudn’t want to because in fairness, she got there first, and she’s all about speed. But I think if somebody asked her if they could go in front, she would let them.

How do they respond to babies crying in public?   She runs over to try to cheer them up by making funny faces and holding them. She tries to remember that she needs to ask the child’s parents if she can hold them and throw them up in the air, but it’s hard because she just gets so excited.

Is your OC considered funny? Do they believe they’re funny?   She is considered funny! The people who played in the campaign I created her in loved her. She thinks she’s frigging hilarious. Even if her jokes don’t make any sense.

What kind of humor does your OC like the most? Slapstick, ironic, funny sounds, scare pranks, xD sO rAnDoM…   Redd finds almost everything funny. Scare pranks crack her up but she doesn’t like the ones where the person gets genuninely upset. Slapstick can be pretty hilarious to her but, really, almost anything can crack her up.

Does your OC find any “bad” or “mean” humor funny? Do they wish they didn’t?   She hates that kind of humor. It’s not funny if somebody is getting genuinely hurt.

Your OC is running late to meeting someone: Do they let the other person know? Do they lie about why they’re late?   She doesn’t really let them know unless she remembers. She’s very forgetful. She doesn’t lie about why she’s late. Redd is very blunt and open about things. “Yeah, I was late because I was too busy sleepin’! Sorry!” 

Your OC orders something to eat and gets their order done in a pretty wrong way, something they can’t just pick off or whatnot to correct, or something major is missing. What do they do?   I mean, she’ll eat it anyways. Can’t let food go to waste. Redd will eat just about anything, she’s not a picky eater.

Do they have a large or small group of friends?   Large. She makes friends wherever she goes. She has a lot of love to give and passion to show.

Do they have people they are genuinely honest with about themselves?   As of right now, occaisonally Ducky. Sometimes she’ll initially lie about how she deals with things and Ducky sees right through it, so then she’ll open up and apologize.

Does your OC enjoy social events, such as parties, clubs, et cetera..?   YES. She loves them. She gets to make more friends, be her obnoxious self, and show off. Plus, there’s almost always free food.

Does your OC like to be the center of attention or more in the mix?   Center of attention. She doesn’t mind being more in the mix, but when se does, she accidentally makes it about herself. Her loudness is a great factor to this.

C. Morality

Does your OC have a moral code? If not, how do they base their actions? If so, where does it come from, and how seriously do they take it?   Redd is a very morally grey character. She’ll drink alcohol despite being underage, but she won’t do drugs because that’s bad. Redd has a very upright moral code, but once murdered a acquaintance to save her little brother, and tried to get away with it. She also beat the shit out of her father because of his incessant abuse, believing she left him for dead. Redd believes in justice and getting what you deserve. She bases her actions off of these things: will this hurt someone, do they deserve it, will I get hurt, will this affect Ducky negatively, and what would Ducky think?

Would your OC feel bad if they acted against their morals? If not, would they find a way to excuse themselves for it?   Redd felt incredily guilty about murdering December in order to save Ducky. She confessed immediately after getting caught and regretted taking an innocent life. She knows it was wrong, but would probably do it all over again if she had to.

Is it important for them to be with people (socially, intimately, whatever) whose major ideological tenets align with their own?   Not necessarily. She doesn’t mind being friends with people who are completely different form her. Really the only basis she has for being around people is that they aren’t jerks who hurt people.

Do they consider themselves superior or more important than anyone else? Lesser?   Redd thinks she’s a god reincarnated. She knows she’s dangerous, attractive, and physically superior. She doesn’t think so in a shallow way, but more in confidence. She thinks she’s the best. Because she has to.

Do your OC’s morals and rules of common decency go out the window when it comes to those they don’t like, or when it’s inconvenient? Aka, are their morals situational?   This is tricky. But in the end, they would go out the window for her. SHe would know it isn’t right, but wants survival of the fittest.

What do they do when they see someone asking for money or food? If they ignore them, why? If they help, how so?   If she sees somebody doing this, she will immediately give them both. She always carries cash and woud go to the nearest place and buy them a meal. She knows the world can be rough.

Do they believe people change over time? If so, is it a natural process or does it take effort?   Redd believes people can change over time, but is very hesitant to believe it firsthand with people who have done wrong. She’s very hypocritical when it comes to this.

Is your OC more practical or ideal morally? I.e., do they hold people to high expectations of behavior even if it’s not realistic for the situation, or do they have a more realistic approach and adapt their morality to be more practical?   I mean, she doesn’t really give a shit. She doesn’t have too many expectations and goes with the flow.

D. Religion and Life and Death

How religious is your OC? What do they practice, if anything? If they don’t associate with any religion, what do they think of religion in general?   Redd isn’t religious. She doesn’t practice and she thinks religion is a little silly, but respects people’s beliefs and finds them pretty neat.

Do they believe in an afterlife?   She doesn’t, but she hopes it exists. It doesn’t make sense to her as a concept, but she wants to be able to continue existing somewhere, especially if her loved ones will also be there.

How comfortable are they with the idea of death?   She’s comfortable with it but doesn’t want to die until she’s ready. Redd gets sad when people she dies and she takes it hard, but she knows and understands it’s a natural thing and tries to cope via those beliefs.

Would they like to be immortal? Why, why not? If they are immortal, would they rather not be?   Redd would absolutely take that offer up. I feel like she would love to be immortal, but would only hesitate because then that meant she would have to continue to exist without her loved ones. So actually, she wouldn’t! The desire to be with her loved ones is stronger than her desire to do everything in the world there is to do.

Do they believe in ghosts? If not, why? If so, do they think they’re magical/tie into their religion, or are they scientifically plausible?   She does believe in ghosts. Everything has energy, and energy can neither be created or destroyed, so somebody’s existence has to go somewhere, right?

E. Education and Intelligence

Would you say that your OC is intelligent? In what ways? Would your OC agree?   Hahahaha, Redd is surprisingly intelligent in some aspects, but otherwise, she’s very simple, to put it plainly. She can definitely be an idiot and not understand or get a lot of things, but she’s smart in other areas.

Which of the nine types of intelligence is your OC strongest in? Weakest? (Linguistic, existential, naturalist, et cetera)   Bodily-kinesthetic is most definitely her strongest. Her weakest would probably be logical-mathematical or lingustic. She doesn’t understand math as well as she wishes she did, and she’s not great with words. Redd speaks with malapropisms.

How many languages do they speak?   A lot! Whether she gets all of the words and pronounces them correctly, is another question.

Did they enjoy school if they went to it?   Redd enjoyed Hope’s Horizon but often slept in academic classes that bored her. She was too hyper for everything else that if the class couldn’t keep her focused, she would just sleep or eat.

What’s their highest education level? Do they want to continue their education?   She eventually graduated from Hope’s Horizon, but didn’t go to college right away. She took a break for quite a few years until Ducky pushed her to attend college and get a degree. Although she wasn’t super open to it, she wanted to please Ducky. And when Ducky said, “Yeah? Well I dare you to go to college”, well, she just simply couldn’t refuse.

Do they enjoy learning? Do they actively seek out sources of self-education?   Redd loves learning about different things as long as they excite her. If they don’t, she doesn’t seek it out. If someone starts teaching her about something boring, she’ll try her best to get out of it or loudly proclaim “SNOOZEEE” if it’s a snore-fest.

Are they a good note-taker? Are they a good test-taker? Do exams make them nervous?   No, no, and yes. Taking tests has never been her strong suit and she’ll just goof around and guess.

What’s one of your OC’s biggest regrets?   Leaving her father alive, but also letting her emotions control her in that moment.

F. Domestic Habits, Work, and Hobbies

What sort of home do they live in now, if at all? How did they end up there?   After escaping her abusive father, Redd purchased a mansion to accomodate to her and Ducky. She ran away and looked for an abandoned house to stay at for just a day or two. Luckily, she found a giant, red mansion. She contacted the agent and bought it off.

What’s their ideal home look like? Where is it?   The home she has right now is her ideal home. It’s in a large secluded area so that her and Ducky can have some peace and quiet for once.

Could they ever live in a “tiny home”?   Nope. Redd takes up to much room and needs the space to run, move about, stretch, etc.

How clean are they overall with home upkeep?   Not very clean at all. When she remembers to clean, she tries realy hard, but it ends up still looking very messy. Her idea of cleaning is putting things into “organized” piles.

How handy are they? Can they fix appliances, cars, cabinets, et cetera?   Redd can be pretty handy, but she usually is the one accidentally breaking whatever needs fixing. She’ll usually come to Piper or Ducky if something needs fixing. If neither are available, she’ll resort to Google and epically fail at the instructions and somehow create something entirely new. Or get it to work but in a very bizarre and unrecedented way.

How much do they work? What do they do? Do they enjoy it?   Redd’s full time job is as the SHSL Daredevil. She loves doing action-y things, stunts, dares, etc. It’s her life.

What’s their “dream career” or job situation?   She has it! Travelling the world, meeting people, eating good food, and doing dangerous things.

How often are they home?   As often as she can be. She likes coming home because it’s the first place that feels like home. But for the most part, she’s out and about.

Are they homebodies and enjoy being home?   Not a homebody, but does enjoy being at home. She loves spending time with Ducky and inviting friends over to her mansion to play games, work out, swim, etc.

Do they engage in any of the arts? How good do you intend them to be? Would they agree they are?   Redd doesn’t do art! She thinks art is beautiful and music is too, but she doesn’t know how to do either of them. She’ll participate when she feels like it but gets just a little dscouraged when it doesn’t come out as great as she wanted it to.

What are some of their favorite things to do for recreation? How did they get into it? What part of it do they like the most?   Anything extreme? Redd will love. Skateboarding, shark tanks, skydiving. But she secretly likes spending time doing what Ducky likes the most.

Would they enjoy a theme park?   She would LOVE theme parks, but kicked out of some of them for reacting certain ways and trying to do dangerous things.

G. Family and Growing Up

Is your OC close to their family?   Only Ducky. Her father was a real piece of shit and her mother left when she was very young, never to be seen again. Ducky is her life. She protects him and wants to make sure he grows up normally.

Who makes up your OC’s family, at least the more important members to them?   Her and her little brother Ducky.

Does your OC find their family supportive? If not, what would be an example why not?   She finds Ducky very supportive! She relies on him a lot.

What kind of childhood did your OC have?   A very terrible one. Her father would get drunk and beat her. When Ducky was born, she had to take care of him because herfather would just drink and watch tv and go to work. When Ducky was a toddler, her father realized he had somebody else he could take his anger out on. When he first swung his fist at Ducky, Redd’s eyes widened in fear and anger and she jumped in front of Ducky, taking the hit for him. Ever since then, she made sure Ducky was never home alone with him and took every hit and blow intended for him.

Did they go through any typical phases growing up?   Not really. Redd didn’t get to have any typeof typical childhood she she grew up very differently.

Do they have any favorite childhood memories?   When she took Ducky to the movies for the first time. He was so excited and she was so happy she could treat him to it.

Do they have any childhood memories they’d rather forget or be less affected by?   LOL. Redd wishes she could forget all the times her father scarred and burned her. She has long scars and burn marks from the abuse all over her back, arms, legs, stomach, etc. Most places where people can’t see. She used to wear long sleeves and jeans so nobody would notice. Once she ran away, she started becoming more comfortable in shorts and short sleeved shirts. She wishes she could forget her father, but uses her scars and marks to remind herself of her dedication and protectiveness.

H. Romance and Intimacy

What is your OC’s orientation, romantic and/or sexual? Has it ever been a source of stress for them? Have they always been pretty sure of their orientation?   Redd is pansexual and panromantic. She’s always been sure of having all types of love but was initially confused as to why her father hated gay people. She thought it was a bad thing. She soon realized it wasn’t and came to grips with it. Redd is also polyamorous but doesn’t mind being monogamous if her partner is.

Is your OC a thoughtful partner, in whatever aspect of that you want to cover?   Yes! Redd is very thoughtful, but a bit awkward at first. She’ll always try and make sure her and her partner(s) have fun and feel loved. In the beginning she’ll forget things and events but eventually she’ll start traingin herself to set reminders.

Does your OC believe there’s only one ideal partner (or multiple ideal if not monogamous) for everyone, or that there are many people who could be right?   No! She’s polyamorous and believes that whatever feels right to the person, that’s how it is. If someone feels there’s only 1 person for them, then there is! If someone believes there are 3 people for them, then there is!

Does your OC believe in love in first sight?   She does. She loves love.

Does your OC believe in marriage (or their culture’s equivalent)?   In a way, not really. She believes in the legal advantages of marriage but doesn’t believe marriage is the be-all end-all. Although, a wedding would allow for good food, loud music, and loved ones.

Has your OC ever cheated on anyone or been cheated on?   She has never cheated on anybody and she has not ben cheated on. You better pray you don’t cheat on her.

What do they look for in partners? (Emotionally, mentally, physically..)   Someone who is fun and appreciates her for who she is. If they are cool with her, then she’s down.

What’s your OC’s idea of a perfect date?   She doesn’t really have one. She’s perfectly content with whatever they do together. But I guess if I had to say something, good food and an adventure of some kind.

What are some things that your OC finds to be an instant turn-off in potential partners?   Abusive and intentionally mean people.

I. Food

What are their favorite kinds of flavors– Sweet, salty, sour, spicy, creamy, et cetera?   Redd loves salty and spicy foods. Creamy weirds her out a little bit, but she loves food and is willing to eat anything.

Do they have any eating requirements or preferences? Allergies, vegetarian, organic-only, religious restrictions…   Nope! Redd requires meat in every meal just because of preference but she’s not allergic to anything.

Are they vegan/vegetarian (if their overall culture/species generally aren’t)? If so, why? Do they think animal products are wrong in all circumstances?   She could never. Meat is like oxygen to her. She thinks it’s wrong but doesn’t think about it too much.

How often do they cook? Do they order out a lot?   Redd is never allowed to cook. She’s too attention defecit and forgetful and bad with directions. She orders out A LOT.

Are they a good cook?   See above.

Could they eat the same thing they enjoy over and over and not get bored of it quickly?   Absolutely. She eats steak and bacon almost every day.

J. Politics, Current Events, Environmental Aspects

Where does your OC stand most politically? What would they align with most?   Redd is more on the left side of the spectrum. 

How politically aware are they?   Redd is surprisingly politically aware. She used to pay no attention to things like that becase she didn’t think it affected her. But traveling has opened her eyes and now she is more open to it.

How politically active are they?   Redd will absolutely fight for rights and take place in marches. She’ll go to protests and be the loudest one there.

Is your OC the sort to fall for fake news? If not, do they ignore it or make a point to clarify that it’s wrong?   Ducky is her source of correct information, and Violet and Jack as well. In fact, there’s a group chat dedicaed just to Redd linking articles to them asking about teir credibility.

Are they or would they protest for a cause they’re passionate about?   Absolutely. Redd is a very passionate woman and won’t back down for what she believes in. She would have certainly marched in the Women’s March.

How do they react to people whose political viewpoints are very opposite of theirs?   Not well. She’s not very open-minded in that aspect and will get in their face about if they even show ANY sign of agression.

How much interest in environmental health do they have?   She is interested but not as interested as she could be.

In reality-based or applicable worlds, do they believe in global warming? Do they recycle?   Yes! She tries to be aware but often forgets. She does indeed believe in global warming.

L. For the Writer/Owner

How have your characters changed since you created them?   Originally, I was going to have Redd be a little more serious. But then I decided to make her this lovable ginat goofball. I really love the archetype of dangerous girls who could kill you, but have a big heart and are dorks.

What do you consider the biggest themes in your character, if any?   My biggest themes with her are action, overcoming abuse, and love.

Did you create the character to be like yourself, did they end up being like yourself, or are they very different from you?   This is hilarious because me and Redd have a lot in common. Each OC of mine takes parts of myself and I create and add things to them. Redd takes my passion and what I wish I could be. She’s like an extroverted me. She has my dedication and stubbornness as well. However, she’s more blunt, more extroverted, more active, etc.

Would you hang out with your OC if you could?   PLEASE. I would love to hang out with her. She would be great.

How did you come up with your OC?   @thores came up with a tabletop RPG for a Danganronpa type game. We had to create three characters, and so Redd was the first character I came up with. I wanted to play a more physical character since most of mine reflect my on physical abilities and comforts. I decided SHSL Daredevil would be pretty cool. I then came up with her personality, found a reference picture, and built her background from there.