Rue (
odiles_love) wrote2010-05-08 11:25 pm
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Rue's Character Survey [WIP]
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is she heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
Rue is of average height and quite lean, though she does have some curves. She is a dancer, and it is apparent in her physique.
2. How old is she?
Rue’s canon age is unknown, but I estimate it to be about fifteen or sixteen. Of course, in Atia she has been aged up to eighteen.
3. Describe her posture. Does she carry herself well or does she slouch?
Rue has excellent posture, trained into her from years of ballet and supported by her intense pride. If she is slouching, something is definitely wrong.
4. How is her health? Is she fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
Rue is healthy and rather fit, as she is a dancer and gets constant exercise, though her stamina leaves something to be desired. Whether the Raven’s blood should be considered an illness or condition could be the subject of a college thesis, but in Atia it only affects her during powers events anyway, and not in a physical way beyond her costume change.
5. How does she move? Is she clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
Rue is quite graceful, something else which her years of dedication to ballet have trained into her, and which her pride compels her to uphold. Exceptions are when she is running, or very distressed.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does she perceive herself in the mirror?
Rue is quite attractive, considered a beauty by many. She takes pride in her appearance, but underneath that is a deep insecurity brought on by having the Raven tell her all her life that the form she was born into is that of an ugly human when she should be a crow.
7. Describe her complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
She is rather pale, and her skin is delicate and clear.
8. Describe her hair: color, texture, style.
Her hair is black, having been described as “like crows’ feathers.” It is rather curly and bushy, but she works to keep it under control. For dancing, she pins it up, and it remains a mystery to the mun how she keeps that mass of hair so smooth and neat against her head. Lots of hairspray?
9. What color are her eyes?
Rue’s eyes are a dark red, reminiscent of red wine. It is never stated, but the mun assumes her eyes are this color because of the Raven’s blood she was fed upon since infancy.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
Besides her eyes, none. Her features are delicate and feminine.
11. What are her chief tension centers?
... She dances en pointe. Her feet hurt.
12. What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does she have six of the same suit?
Rue dresses well. She likes dressing up when she has reason to, but even her casual clothes are always quite feminine and flattering. She does not wear any kind of pants ever, the closest thing being tights--only skirts and dresses for her. For ballet practice, she has tights and a dark red leotard. There is a lot of red in her wardrobe, as well as black and violet.
13. Do her clothes fit well? Does she seem comfortable in them?
She wouldn’t choose clothes that didn’t fit her well and look flattering on her. If she is ever uncomfortable in her clothes, she wouldn’t let anyone see it--one occasional exception being her toe shoes.
14. Does she dress the same on the job as she does in her free time? If not, what are the differences?
She works at 7th Heaven, and wears the standard maid costume they offer their waitresses.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Rue has very nice, lacy lingerie.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
Rue’s voice is on the higher end of the spectrum, though not anywhere near squeaky. It is clear and usually cool.
2. How does she normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does she talk easily, or does she hesitate?
She normally speaks evenly, her volume depending on her mood--softer when she is sad or hesitant, louder when she is angry or making a point. She is composed and talks easily most of the time, so when she hesitates it stands out.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
She speaks Japanese or English that is supposed to be German, in canon. In Atia, she speaks English. The mun is too confused by this to determine what kind of accent she would have if she had one. Her speech tends to be rather refined, though.
4. What language/s does she speak, and with how much fluency?
In canon she’s supposedly speaking German, fluently, though in Atia she speaks English just as fluently. She doesn’t seem to need any special language to speak to the crows.
5. Does she switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
No, unless ballet mimes are to be counted as a language, though she usually also speaks aloud when she uses them for reasons besides dance. She is also usually Kraehe when she does this.
6. Is she a good impromptu speaker, or does she have to think about her words?
Rue is prepared for most situations, and so seems as though she knows what to say. This does not apply to social situations in which she is with people who are supposed to be her friends, in which case she is often awkward, though she usually masks it well.
7. Is she eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
She is usually eloquent. This changes sometimes when she is very agitated, and sometimes when she is in awkward situations.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is she book-smart or street-smart?
Rue is quite intelligent. She is well-studied in the arts and was a favorite of her teachers at Kinkan Academy for more than her skill in ballet. More than that, she can be quite sharp and perceptive; she is very adept at using people, when she chooses to.
2. Does she think on her feet, or does she need time to deliberate?
She will do either, depending on how much time she has to make a choice. She likes to form strategies and will mull over her problems for ages, but she can also think in the moment very well.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is she more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
Rue tends to be more intuitive, though she will use logic to support her intuitions and help her form strategies.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
She enrolled in Kinkan Academy in her preteens, and has received a classical education in the arts. Before that, she apparently wandered the streets when she wasn’t with the Raven. Mun assumes her education at that stage consisted of whatever Papa Crow wanted to teach her. This may be where her manipulation skills come from. She also probably knows a lot about birds.
5. What are her areas of expertise? What, if anything, is she interested in learning more about?
Ballet, both in technique and history. She also knows quite a bit about classical music and fairy tales. She is dedicated to her study of ballet.
6. Is she an introvert or an extrovert?
Though she is an excellent performer and very comfortable in the spotlight, Rue is at heart an introvert. She is not used to having friends so much as admirers or people she can use, and she distances herself from most people.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is she even-tempered or does she have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
Rue endeavors to be calm and collected, and usually she is able to at least seem so, if also aloof. She is not difficult to annoy, however, and rarely hides her irritation; annoying her is likely to bring out her snark. Rue accepts pain and sorrow in a rather unique way. Rather than trying to deny her pain, Rue embraces it readily and bears it with pride. This is not a masochistic response; she does not like her pain, she merely recognizes it as her own and keeps going, bearing the load. If she has a goal, she is very driven, and will pursue it intently, in some cases mercilessly.
8. How does she respond to new people or situations? Is she suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
Rue is awkward meeting new people if she is expected to put herself on a level with them. As such, she tends to be aloof and distant.
9. Is she more likely to act, or to react?
Rue does not like change, particularly when she is already content with what she has. Unless there is something she wants that is not brought on by change, she reacts. In her reactions, she is liable to do everything she can to take charge of a situation.
10. Which is her default: fight or flight?
Fight. She is not likely to back down from a challenge issued to her, and in fact is not unlikely to be the one issuing challenges in the first place. Matters of emotion can be more complex, however; if she feels someone is getting too close before she is ready, she will likely retreat.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does she appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
Rue is not a fan of jokes, but she does appreciate wit and can be quite snarky and teasing.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does she deal with them?
See reference to Raven’s blood in the Body and Appearance section.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined her as a person?
Being kidnapped by the Raven as an infant, meeting Mytho as a child, remembering Kraehe, giving up Kraehe, giving up herself to the Raven in Mytho’s place, Mytho coming to rescue her and asking her to be his princess.
14. What does she fear?
Hurting the ones she loves and being helpless.
15. What are her hopes or aspirations?
Rue wants a peaceful, happy life with her prince, and to always be a true prima donna and princess.
16. What is something she doesn't want anyone to find out about her?
Her past as Kraehe.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with her parents.
Rue does not know who her real parents are, as she was kidnapped by the Raven in her infancy. She thought he was her father, and she cared for and feared him. He instilled in her the belief that she was really a crow born into the ugly form of a human, and that she would never be loved by anyone except himself and the Prince Who Loves Everyone, and she would especially never be loved enough for someone to die for her. Learning that he was not her father and she was not who she thought she was allowed Rue to finally give up Kraehe.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
Rue doesn’t know who her family is.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom she is close? Are there ones she can't stand?
See previous question.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom she considers part of her family? What are her relationships with them?
She thinks of Ahiru in a sisterly way.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Ahiru is Rue’s best friend, and her first true friend. They met in school, where Ahiru was in a class lower than Rue’s. Ahiru was the first to approach Rue as a friend rather than an admirer, and though Rue had trouble understanding and accepting it at first, and then came to think of her as an enemy when she learned that she was Princess Tutu, at the end she found the friend she’d had in Ahiru all along.
6. Does she have other close friends?
In Atia, she has become rather close to Sasame, Miki, and Doll.
7. Does she make friends easily, or does she have trouble getting along with people?
She is still learning how to be a friend. Rue is aloof and distant, and it isn’t unusual for her to be rude and dismissive if she is rubbed the wrong way--and it is easy to rub her the wrong way.
8. Which does she consider more important: family or friends?
Friends, as she doesn’t have a family in any traditional sense of the word. She has rejected the Raven as her father.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has she been married more than once?
Rue never actually married Mytho (though she did try to, as Kraehe), but she is all-but engaged to him. She has never had or wanted anyone else (except during certain curses).
10. Is she currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
She is not involved with anyone other than Mytho.
11. Who was her first crush? Who is her latest?
She’s loved Mytho since she was a child.
12. What does she look for in a romantic partner?
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does she relate to them? If no, does she want any?
Rue currently isn’t sure whether she wants children, though as Mytho’s princess she will likely be expected to produce heirs. She will probably want Mytho to herself for a few years, and then would be happy to have a few children. She’s never had a real family, and being in one is something that she would cherish, though she would be intimidated by the prospect at first.
14. Does she have any rivals or enemies?
She considered Princess Tutu her enemy, but now she loves Ahiru as a friend. If Tutu were to somehow return, Rue would likely be wary and uneasy, but not go against her unless she felt threatened.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does she fall on the Kinsey scale?
16. How does she feel about sex? How important is it to her?
17. What are her turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does she fit type?
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in her life?
3. Does this character have a personal code of morals or ethics? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it?
4. How does she regard beliefs that differ from hers? Is she tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
5. What prejudices does she hold? Are they irrational or does she have a good reason for them?
Rue is prejudiced about anything having to do with crows. As she spent her childhood being harassed, demeaned, and instilled with complexes by the Raven and his crows, this is pretty reasonable.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is she rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
2. What is her social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected her?
3. Where does she live? House, apartment, trailer? Is her home her castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does she share it with others?
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does she spend her money on?
5. What does she do for a living? Is she good at it? Does she enjoy it, or would she rather be doing something else?
6. What are her interests or hobbies? How does she spend her free time?
7. What are her eating habits? Does she skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is her favorite:
1. Color? Dark red
2. Smell?
3. Time of day? Dusk
4. Season? Winter
5. Book?
6. Music?
7. Place?
8. Substance?
9. Plant?
10. Animal?
END
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That's what I've always assumed, particularly since we see that Mytho's eyes change color when influenced by the Raven's blood.
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