Fantome de l'opera

JUMP TO: ▶ appearance & body perception ▷ speech ▶ emotional & mental ▷ relationships ▶ beliefs ▷ daily life ▶ associations ▷ ratings APPEARANCE AND BODY PERCEPTION ① Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy? Skeletal and tall. Long, thin arms with long thin hands and fingers. Sinewy. ② How old is he? ??? Under normal circumstances I'd say around 50 because cannon. But if I were being honest, I write him quite a bit younger. ③ Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well, or does he slouch? Stiff, tall, upright. He's been known to slouch and bend over his work, hunching for long periods. ④ How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities? Fit in body and his hobbies keep him in shape. Due to misshapen nasal passages and sinuses, consistent sinus problems and infections. ⑤ How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid? In the past, when slinking in shadows, a master of his element, he was fluid and graceful. But now that he's finally given himself the opportunity to "live the normal life" that he always wanted, Erik is pretty tense. Not quite clumsy, though. ⑥ How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror? .....Um. See Cannon. ⑦ Describe his complexion: dark, light, clear, scarred? Yellowing parchment-like skin. Still some scarring from a circus fire when he was young and everything that the plastic surgery couldn't fix. ⑧ Describe his hair: color, texture, style. A few locks of dark hair cling to his scalp in the back. ⑨ What color are his eyes? Amber. ⑩ Does the character have any other noteworthy features? sharp cheekbones, upturned nose and oversized nostrils, upturned upper lip and gawd-awful teeth. ⑪ What are his chief tension centers? Neck, shoulders, sinuses. ⑫ What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does he have six of the same suit? Lots of black. Formal and semi-formal. He enjoyed the draping clothing customary to the middle east, especially since it allowed him to cover his face easily. He does own some of the most magnificent costumes but doesn't get much of a chance to wear them. In general more of a six of the same suit kinda guy. ⑬ Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them? Erik appreciates fine tailoring. ⑭ Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences? The same. He might don some kind of Persian smoking jacket at home. ⑮ You knew it was coming: what kind of underwear does he wear, if any? Drawers. Boxers in a pinch but he's not a fan. >> top SPEECH ① What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse? Sonorous and practiced. A thick and rich timbre. Versatile. ② How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate? Elegantly composed is Erik's preference. He enjoys knowing what he will say long in advance and having time to practice. Steady, fluid, evenly. .............and in your left ear from across the room. ③ Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any verbal tics? Erik frequently refers to himself in third person. ④ What language(s) does he speak and with how much fluency? Erik is a polyglot and fluent in French, Italian, English, Arabic, Spanish, Roma. Conversational in German, Hungarian, Polish, Czech, Russian. He knows bits and pieces of Mandarin, Hindi, Turkish. ⑤ Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations? oh hell yes. Especially if he can gain new information by taking on a new voice. ⑥ Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words? If Erik doesn't have a chance to think about his words, it becomes immediately apparent. ⑦ Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change? Erik manages to be both extremes at any given speaking moment. When flustered (not angry so much as shocked) he is known to start and stop sentences, change tense mid thought, repeat turns of phrases. When composed, each of his words are carefully chosen. Erik finds music and poetry in the words he uses. >> top EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL ① How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart? Very book smart. Erik's street smarts aren't bad, but they're focused on immediate survivability, they are not socially oriented. ② Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate? Erik prefers to take time to carefully design a web of solutions to any given problem. But he doesn't freeze in a crisis, and is good at changing plans quickly. ③ Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical? Erik is intuitive and emotional. He likes to think of himself as logical and practical because he's so smart, but it's just not true. Erik's passions are what guide him. ④ What kind of education has the character had? There was never any formal education. For ease of whatever we HAVE definitely decided that he has managed some kind of honorary doctorate by now. It just makes sense. Erik is self-educated. He learned from books and from various mentors he met in his travels. ⑤ What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about? At John Dee University, the idea that magic and alchemy are being taught is of extreme interest. ⑥ Is he an introvert or an extrovert? This is actually complicated. Erik has spent so much time in isolation that being out and about with people is a very draining experience. However, he's a bit of an attention whore---when its on his terms. This is why he's frequently doing thing unseen or taking on a persona an hiding behind it (The Opera Ghost, The Voice, The Red Death). Erik needs to have regular impact on people but its got to be within his control for him to be comfortable. ⑦ Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered, or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholic? Laid-back or driven? Moody, melancholic and driven. Erik doesn't do anything halfway. ⑧ How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic? Suspicious, on his guard, hiding and observing if possible. ⑨ Is he more likely to act or to react? Erik is mostly reactionary. He does act in the sense that he uses his personal power to create his environment to suit him, but usually he's dancing around the actions that others make. The notable exceptions are the locus of plot: The move to Iran, singing to Christine when she first heard him, taking the job at John Dee. ⑩ Which is his default: fight or flight? Flight. ⑪ Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks? Things that are curious and humorous to Erik are rarely humorous to anyone else. Gallows humor. Complex wit. Though I could definitely see him pulling some great pranks once he got comfortable enough. ⑫ Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If so, how does he deal with them? Without a doubt. Probably PTSD and some dissociative disorders (the only hint of the latter I have is that he references himself in third and his attraction to taking on various personas) Maybe Sociopathy. ⑬ What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person? Being forced to wear a mask by his own mother. Leaving home. Singing in a church. Leaving the church for the circus. The abuses of the circus. Going East and working in Iran as a spy and engineer. Having to escape for knowing too much And finally: Christine. ⑭ What does he fear? Not being able to control a situation that effects him. ⑮ What are his hopes or aspirations? For a long time, Erik's greatest wish was to "live like ordinary people." Now that he's got that wish, He's a little beside himself. ⑯ What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him? Probably the Happy Pills. >> top RELATIONSHIPS ① Describe this character's relationship with his parents. According to cannon, his father was an architect (but Erik never met him) and his mother was exceedingly distressed. She famously put a mask on him as a baby and bade him keep it on. Erik's got some undressed may issues. ② Does the character have any siblings? What is their relationship like? In the fanfic that I wrote when I was 14, I had thought that in his loneliness, Erik might have an imaginary friend who is a big sister. Her name is Jeanette and she's followed along with him, taking up space in his brain, embodying his innocence, a sense of fun, curiosity. ③ Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand? None known. ④ Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them? Not really. Not at present. There were times in the past when he found himself close to one person or another, but distance always managed to avail itself. ⑤ Who is the character's best friend? How did they meet? The Daroga was probably his only friend for some time. They met in Iran while doing the work that would later get Erik nearly killed. The Daroga saved his life. Maybe Madame Giry, depending. I like to think that the canon just scratches the surface of their relationship, but that's also a big part of the fan fiction I was writing as a 14 year old. ⑥ Does he have other close friends? Not really. ⑦ Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people? Erik hasn't had much practice in communication. He never trusts. ⑧ Which does he consider more important: family or friends? There is literally no answer that will make any sense. ⑨ Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once? Erik may have performed some ritual (in the midst of an opiate-induced episode, perhaps) wherein he married himself to a dead woman. Canon is vague on this issue. ⑩ Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse? No. ⑪ Who was his first crush? Who is his latest? Probably a character from a book. Latest crush.... its going to be difficult to dethrone Christine. ⑫ What does he look for in a romantic partner? Erik never *looks*.... Love absolutely arrests Erik and takes him by surprise. He is forever a victim to his own passions, like a teenager. He is attracted to those that are both strange and kind. ⑬ Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If so, how does he relate to them? If not, does he want any? No, and the idea of procreating is existentially terrifying to him at present. ⑭ Does he have any rivals or enemies? Anyone in charge who is mismanaging the things he holds dear. ⑮ What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey Scale? Erik has had so little chance to explore sexuality outside of the confines of his own mind, that it's difficult to know where he lands. If the right man were to be genuine, kind and trustworthy, I can see how Erik might fall for him. But he's got this visceral weakness for women...... ⑯How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him? Sex is such a complicated subject for Erik to begin with, its difficult for me to formulate a clear-cut answer about the idea of sexuality at all. Not that he doesn't have one, I just think it might not look very human from the outside vantage point. Erik is so sexual and so passionate and has had to live in such an incredible isolation for so long that I kind of feel like the normal ways we talk about sex just aren't going to be fruitful here. He doesn't care how other people get their rocks off. He knows that they do, and he knows how they do, but for the most part he just doesn't care. ⑰ What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits? Ons: Soft voices, viols, lonesome sounds. Shadows or dappled light, the moon, the stars. Silks, furs. Riddles and poems. Music in general. Offs: Shrill noises, banal speech. Things that could be good but they're awful because of a couple of things that are wrong. Synthetics. Weird bedroom habits? Well, his bedroom is dressed like a funeral parlor and fairly soundproofed. He used to sleep in a coffin, but has recently moved to a real bed (though he's actually considering a coffin again because the confines are comforting). Weird sexual habits? Well. Erik's relationship to sensuality is divorced from knowledge of how real humans interact with one another. The difference between physical pleasure and physical pain are slim when applied by another human. Everything he experiences as far as touch or intimacy is concerned is so seething, searing and new that Erik can't really grasp it. There's a lot that happens to Erik (or that he performs to himself) that are very akin to synesthesia in nature... sound becomes sight becomes sensation. >> top BELIEFS ① Do you know your character's astrological sign? How well does he fit the type? It is extremely unlikely that he knows his own birthdate. But Erik is without a doubt a Scorpio. Or, at least he probably thinks he's a Scorpio. ② Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life? Erik was raised in a mostly Abrahamic culture in one way or another, but hasn't really taken on the mantle of any religion. Mostly, he's in for the music. As far as any personal spirituality goes, Erik acknowledges that there are strange forces at work in the universe, and he sometimes feels that he brushes near them, but for the most part they do not concern his conscious actions. ③ Does this character have a personal code of ethics or morals? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it? Erik has developed some daily rituals and personal superstitions over the years. He's unlikely to forget a kindness, or forgive an affront. None of these things are what I'd call a code-- nothing so formal as that. These are just the habits he's built over time for survival. ④ How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent? He's pretty intolerant on the beliefs that matter to him--music, patronage, the arts... ⑤ What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational, or does he have a good reason for them? Erik has some pretty backward ideas about women, but he hasn't had much of a chance to learn otherwise. >> top DAILY LIFE ① What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt? Erik has lived all over the social structure-- dirt poor and stealing to eat to the lap of luxury. At present, in Werebox, he's living on a professor's salary. ② What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him? Once again, Erik has been rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief. This is the second time that he's enjoyed any kind of real status in his life, and the first time where the status has been ordinary. It has been a huge adjustment. ③ Where does he live? House, apartment, trailer? Is his home his castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does he share it with others? In Werebox, Erik has a flat all his own. The first like it in his life. In the past he's lived in everything from circus trailers to marble halls and--of course--the Opera Cellar. Erik's home is carefully cultured. ④ Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend her money on? Erik enjoys the finer things in life. He would fill his home with exquisite comforts. He wears tailored clothing. Drinks fine wines. ⑤ What does he do for a living? Is he good at it? Does he enjoy it, or would he rather be doing something else? In Werebox, he is the music chair at John Dee University. Its nerve-wracking. ⑥ What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time? Humans and their habits. Languages. Medicine/biology. Palmistry and horoscopes. He still loves to build mazes. ⑦ What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods? Due to Erik's messed up sinuses and nasal passages, he's gone long periods in his life where his sense of taste was particularly dull. Sometimes Erik will treat himself to rich foods if he's feeling particularly well, but on a day-to-day basis, food holds little meaning for him beyond sustenance. >> top ASSOCIATIONS ① Color ➠ Burgundy. ② Smell ➠ Dust. ③ Time of day ➠ The Witching Hour. ④ Season ➠ Deep Autumn. ⑤ Book ➠ Songs of Innocence and of Experience by William Blake. ⑥ Music ➠ Violin or pipe organ. ⑦ Place ➠ Hiding spots. ⑧ Substance ➠ Mercury. ⑨ Plant ➠ Rose. ⑩ Animal ➠ Red Winged Black Bird. >> top

RATINGS

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none poor below average average above average excellent what the fuck

rate your character's...

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★★☆☆☆☆ Strength ★★★☆☆☆ Speed ★★★★★★ Intelligence ★★★★★☆ Willpower ★★★☆☆☆ Charisma ★★★☆☆☆ Endurance ★★☆☆☆☆ Luck ☆☆☆☆☆☆ Mental Stability ☆☆☆☆☆☆ Emotional stability ★★★★☆☆ Physical stability

rate your character's abilities in…

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★★★★★★ CLOSE-range combat ★★★★★★ CLOSE-range weapons ★★☆☆☆☆ mid/long-range weapons ☆☆☆☆☆☆ communication ★★★★★☆ Survival skills ★★★★★☆ Sciences ★★★★★★ ENGINEERING ★★★★☆☆ Medicine ★★★★★★ MECHANICS ★☆☆☆☆☆ Leadership ★★☆☆☆☆ Politics ★★☆☆☆☆ Technology ★★☆☆☆☆ Trade ★★★★★★ THE ARTS ★★★☆☆☆ Alcohol ☆☆☆☆☆☆ dating ★☆☆☆☆☆ intimacy and sex is anyone's guess....

>> top All questions, provided with HTML, can be found here. Adapted from here.

This one will be much more difficult because some of these questions just. Don't. work with Erik. Or are obvious because: Cannon...

 1. Who was the first person this character fell in love with?
Probably a character in a book he read...
2. What brings tears to this character's eyes? Do they cry when sad? When angry? When in pain?
Erik cries all the damn time, but only alone if possible. Sad, yes, Angry, less often. In pain? Always.
3. Has this character had any past lovers? Who, if anyone in particular, and what happened?
Synopsis of Phantom of the Opera: Erik stalks a very young singer named Christine (who is probably a touch crazy herself) and convinces her that he is the Angel of Music. He gives her singing lessons and Paris goes ga-ga over her. Eventually he kidnaps her to his underground lair beneath the opera house. Shit gets awkward and then weird. Eventually he lets her go back to the surface world but she returns from time to time. In the meantime, her childhood sweetheart (who is way out of her league) is falling for her hardcore, but its okay because he'll be going on an Arctic expedition soon. Unfortunately, Erik starts to lose his shit just about the time that sweetheart decides maybe he won't leave Paris after all. Christine is caught in the middle, and decides that its too dangerous for her to stay there anymore. But Erik is totally stalking her ass, and he discovers that she plans to escape. He abducts her very dramatically, in the middle of the performance of Faust. Neither of them get any sleep for the next couple of days while he threatens to blow up the whole opera house unless she marries him. Foppy sweetheart and Exotic Ethnic Dude try to save the day and instead get themselves nearly killed. Christine saves everyone by promising to marry Erik, but after she consents, Erik loses his grip and lets everyone go and live happily ever after without him. 
4. Sexual orientation? And, regardless of own orientation, thoughts on sexual orientation in general?
I know a lot of people have Erik and the Daroga be lovers, but I just can't make my brain go there. Sex is such a complicated subject for Erik to begin with, its difficult for me to formulate a clear-cut answer about the idea of sexuality at all. Not that he doesn't have one, I just think it might not look very human from the outside vantage point. Erik is so sexual and passionate and has had to live in an incredible isolation for so long that I kind of feel like the normal ways we talk about sex just aren't going to be fruitful here. He doesn't care how other people get their rocks off. He knows that they do, and he knows how they do, but for the most part he just doesn't care.
5. Favorite beverage?
Burgundy
6. Physical abnormalities? (Both visible and not, including injuries, disabilities, long-term illnesses, food-intolerances, etc.)
It would actually be kind of great to just have an Erik face here going... "you're kidding right?"
Something not enough people have thought about, (and some of those who have have, have thought wrong) his sense of smell and taste might be a little affected, not because of a missing olfactory gland (because its just the cartilage that is missing) but because he constantly has to deal with sinus infections. Shit is getting trapped in his sinuses all day and all night. Plus he lives on a subterranean lake? WTF Erik.
7. How far did they get in formal education?
There was never any formal education. For ease of whatever we HAVE definitely decided that he has managed some kind of honorary doctorate by now. It just makes sense.
8. What is their favorite book genre?
Poetry or nonfiction.
9. What is their biggest regret?
fucking up the whole Christine thing. Maybe if He'd been just a teensy bit less insane, they would have bought a place out in the country and lived in solitude in the summers. Who knows.
10. Who do they see as their best friend? Their worst enemy?
The Daroga was probably his only friend for some time. Maybe Madame Giry, depending. Worst enemy? Usually someone in power who isn't running things as they ought.
11. Are they in love right now? Is it unrequited, or are their feelings returned?
He's....... taking a break after Christine
12. Is anyone in love with them? Do they know this, and is it requited?
I'm......... gonna go with no.
13. Given a blank piece of paper, a pencil, and nothing to do, what would happen?
Blueprints for a maze or house
14. Turn-ons? Turn-offs?
Ons: Soft voices, viols, lonesome sounds. Shadows or dappled light, the moon, the stars. Silks, furs. Riddles and poems. Music in general. 
Offs: Shrill noises, banal speech. Things that could be good but they're awful because of a couple of things that are wrong. Synthetics.
15. What does their bedroom look like?
he has currently eschewed the coffin, but is seriously reconsidering it as he prefers to sleep where he feels secure on all sides. He still likes the heavy drapery for blocking out any light and for sound muffling-- he needs to have the option to yell and scream and not be heard
16. Do they wear any makeup or fashion accessories on a regular basis?
Erik has a lot of experience with cosmetics, both from his background in the circus and in trying various putties to build his face up. Nowadays he probably just follows whatever dermatologist advice he's been given
17. How do they prefer to dress?
Elegant
18. If they were to have children, what kind of a parent would they be?
Terrified.
19. Do they have any daily rituals?
If every day isn't built of rituals, life becomes a long, winding dream. He keeps a specified schedule.
20. Addictions or bad habits?
the occasional happy pill. Not sure which one yet, although an opium derivative might make sense.
21. Hobbies?
Humans. Languages. Medicine/biology. Palmistry and horoscopes.
22. Religion, and how religious are they (if at all)?
Erik was raised in a mostly Abrahamic culture in one way or another, but hasn't really taken on the mantle of any religion. Mostly, he's in for the music.
23. Most cherished possession?
Violin that he grew up playing
24. How does this person express love?
Mostly by stalking...
25. Superstitions?
Hell yes. But they would be personal superstitions, rather than run-of-the mill black cats or whistling backstage or some nonsense.
26. Are they more analytical or more emotional in their decision-making?
Emotional. But he likes to think he's analytical because he's so smart.
27. Do they exercise, and if so, what so they do? How often?
He's got to. Climbing. Every night to spy on people or to get to some roof for fresh air.
28. What are their eating habits, and what's a sample daily menu of what they might eat in a day?
Erik isn't a great cook and never learned good table manners. he hasn't necessarily had ready access to good ingredients on a regular basis, either, so his meals are simple and probably over-sauced and over-seasoned. Also, you know. Sinus infections.... :-P
29. Are there any activities that they enjoy, but consider a waste of time?
Its hard for me to imagine Erik wasting his time. Like, this guy could turn candy crush saga into a complex practice engine.... So, I'm going with no.
30. Would you say that they have a superiority-complex? Inferiority complex? Neither?
Superiority
31. Is this person afraid of dying? Why or why not?
He's starting to wonder if he even can die. No, I can't say he's afraid. Erik has lived so close to death for so long its lost its horror
32. Is there anyone they admire? Who, and why?
Artists like (Vincent vanGogh or Antonio Gesualdo) who allowed their art to take priority over their sanity. Ascetics and some of the saints.
33. How would they choose to make a living (regardless of actual careers)?
Composer
34. How long would they last without human contact?
Decades
35. Do they want children? If they have children already, do they want any more?
Terror
36. Do they excel in any particular fields of study?
Some organic chemistry, lots of physics and engineering. Music, language
37. Is there anyone they miss or wish to reconcile with? Is there something they desperately want to ask?
If reconciliation were possible with Christine I think he'd die just thinking about it. What would he ask....? I don't know if he really has anything to ask her, actually.
38. If they had to, which of the five main senses (sight, smell, sound, taste, touch) would they give up?
As I said, smell and taste are already hindered a little
39. Do they have any soft spots?
Women, admittedly. (mommy issues)
40. Who would they want to have their last meal with?
All things considered, probably still Christine. Maybe Daroga.
41. What do they look for in a lover?
Erik never *looks*....  Love absolutely arrests Erik and takes him by surprise. He is forever a victim to his own passions, like a teenager. He is attracted to those that are both strange and kind.
42. Thoughts on privacy? (Are they a private person, or are they prone to "TMI"?)
omg so private. And a little paranoid. He covers all of his tracks and wonders why no one else does...
43. Above everything else, what is their worst fear?
Not being in control of a situation
44. What was their childhood like? Did they have a good childhood, or was it more traumatic?
TWAUMA
45. Do they express their thoughts through words or through actions?
Actions. He's kinda bad with words at the best of times.
46. What do they think of themselves?
Simultaneously righteous in thought and wrong in the world.
47. Do they keep any pets, and what is their favorite animal?
He once stole the Paris Opera's best horse. That was fun.
48. Who were their parents, or who raised them?
um, apparently the only thing he remembers of his mother was that she gave him his first mask. 
49. Do others listen to them, and how do they react when disobeyed?
I think that one of the reasons that Erik has consistently adopted a stalker personality is because he has serious trouble being taken seriously. If something is really special about the voice that is speaking... whether in encrypted notes or disembodied singing or subtly reminding you that he knows everything there is to know about you.
50. If this person were to get into a fist fight, what would their fighting style be like?
Punjab lasso comes to mind.  A lot of dodging and retreating to shadows, waiting to pounce.