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Meme : The Survey of Doom
Welcome to The Survey of Doom
This is a writing exercise that will get you thinking about a character in great detail. Following completion, you may find that you have cleaned up some of that dust that's been coating a stored-away muse, mustered up some headcanon, and/or learned something new about your character.
[ Please edit each question to suit the pronoun that best refers to your character. ]
____
- Body and Appearance -
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is she heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
Rikku's pocket-sized. She stands at 5'2" with small bones and a toned build.
2. How old is she?
I take her freshly off of Final Fantasy X-2: The Last Mission, so 18 and a half.
3. Describe her posture. Does she carry herself well or does she slouch?
Naturally, her posture sits at a pretty healthy stance, but you'd definitely catch her slouching every now and then.
4. How is her health? Is she fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
Healthy as a horse! Both physically and mentally and is always in good spirits.
5. How does she move? Is she clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
Ohman. Rikku's got a lot of energy that she'll release in her movements. She likes to play up the clumsy way of carrying herself, loose limbs, and all.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does she perceive herself in the mirror?
She's a cutie patootie and she knows it. Rikku's very confident in herself in all aspects of what makes Rikku Rikku, and that extends outwardly. She doesn't place value on that kind of thing though. Looking good and feeling good as a result of that is nice, but that's where that begins and ends.
7. Describe her complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Her complexion is on the lighter side and is evenly-toned. She comes from a long line of desert folk, but being Al Bhed doesn't grant her immunity from the harshness of the sun's rays and I think Al Bhed fashion reflects that.
8. Describe her hair: color, texture, style.
Al Bhed have blonde hair. But if you want to delve into specifics, I'd say their colour falls somewhere between fair amber and strawberry blonde. Rikku's got a thick head of long hair and she hardly knows what to do with it.
9. What color are her eyes?
A solid green with swirly pupils, strictly an Al Bhed trait. (one, two)
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
Dimples!
11. What are her chief tension centers?
Neck and shoulders.
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?
She favors bright colours and lots of texture. Rikku's got moxie and it's evident from the get-go. Her personality pours out into her style and she doesn't shy away from showing a lot of skin.
13. Do her clothes fit well? Does she seem comfortable in them?
Rikku definitely will wear something two sizes too small to accentuate her... assets. The fashion throughout Spira's history has always been questionable though, so it wouldn't surprise me if everything fit the way it was supposed to!
14. Does she dress the same on the job as she does in her free time? If not, what are the differences?
You bet she does. She dresses for no one but herself.
15. You knew it was coming: boxers, briefs, or commando?
I'll give you three guesses...
- Speech -
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
The lovely Tara Strong provided her talents for this one! It's a high-pitched, bubbly tone with a dash of aggression.
2. How does she normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does she talk easily, or does she hesitate?
Loud and clear with ease.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any verbal tics?
Not really. Tara's work on Rikku is one-of-a-kind though, and I personally find Rikku (especially X-2 battle quotes) to be her best work. I imagine anyone who knows Rikku knows her voice.
4. What language(s) does she speak, and with how much fluency?
Rikku can speak Al Bhed fluently! She is also able to read and write in Al Bhed.
5. Does she switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
There are definitely situations where she'll switch to Al Bhed, if only for a brief statement. Feeling scared, frustrated, or going through some kind of cuteness overload will prompt a switch. She'll speak Al Bhed to make snide remarks, too! But since the Al Bhed have been discriminated against in Spira for ages, she's learned to only really let it come out around people she's comfortable with — or, more accurately, around people who are comfortable with her.
6. Is she a good impromptu speaker, or does she have to think about her words?
A bit of both, leaning more towards the latter.
7. Is she eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
It depends. She tends to trip over her words in heated conversations, but she'll retain a good flow of words when speaking from the heart.
- Mental and Emotional -
1. How intelligent is this character? Is she book-smart or street-smart?
Very street smart, but she doesn't have bubbles for brains. She's a techie, fairly decent with machinery, and is a fast learner.
2. Does she think on her feet, or does she need time to deliberate?
Rikku thinks on her feet, but she appreciates time to think when she has it!
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is she more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
A fine mixture of all of the above. Rikku is a firm believer in following the heart and setting goals that have been tailored to personal wants and needs, but she doesn't chase clouds.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
From what I've gathered, the people of Spira don't really drift far from their surroundings; if you were born and raised on Besaid Island, you'd probably learn to carry out the ancient practices of a monk, become skilled at sewing, or learn how to operate a ship that transports goods and passengers from Besaid to Kilika. There doesn't seem to be a set education system in place. Rikku was born on Bikanel desert, surrounded by Al Bhed technology and culture, so any education she's had was centered around that.
5. What are her areas of expertise? What, if anything, is she interested in learning more about?
I mentioned before that her skillset covers technological/mechanical areas, but she's also quite proficient in combat! You can give her nearly any weapon and the odds are she'll know how to use it. Any other interests are already being tackled; she's really into event management and singing right now.
6. Is she an introvert or an extrovert?
Extrovert, but she keeps a lot of personal feelings to herself.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is she even-tempered or does she have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
She's pretty much made up of highs and lows. She can go from bubbly to annoyed in record time, but she's normally got a smile on her face and is ready for anything.
8. How does she respond to new people or situations? Is she suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
Rikku doesn't get antsy when it comes to meeting new people. She can relax around just about anyone who doesn't give her the creeps.
9. Is she more likely to act, or to react?
React, but 'act' is never too far behind.
10. Which is her default: fight or flight?
Fight! But she knows her limits.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does she appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
Most of those! She enjoys seeing people's reactions when she pokes fun at them. She doesn't enjoy getting picked on herself though, and I'm sure growing up with an older brother has a lot to do with that.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does she deal with them?
Nah.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined her as a person?
Serving as Yuna's guardian at 15 years old definitely shaped her into who she is today. She willingly went against everything she believed in — in terms of Yevon and the summoners' pilgrimage — to put her life at risk for Yuna's safety. All this while trying to find a way to save her from a sacrifice summoners have been making for a thousand years.
Yuna is still a priority for Rikku to this day. They haven't seen much of eachother by the time the events of The Last Mission are carried out, and she's been a little lost and filling her void with a busy schedule. I think, in a sense, she will always be Yuna's guardian whether either of them likes it or not, and she's having difficulties waning from that.
14. What does she fear?
Taking life for granted.
15. What are her hopes or aspirations?
She has a lot on her plate right now. I'm not so sure even she knows the answer to this question. Not now, anyway.
16. What is something she doesn't want anyone to find out about her?
That she doesn't have it all together. She has a lot of doubts that she keeps inside.
- Relationships -
1. Describe this character's relationship with her parents.
Her mother died a long time ago and her father, Cid, is unreasonably old-fashioned. He clings onto frayed traditions, viewing them as a set way of life that should be upheld. Rikku, on the other hand, isn't one for tradition. Her actions rebel against what her father preaches, and the gap between their values often fills itself with heated arguments.
Rikku loves her father, but she's lost a handful of respect for him over the years.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom s/he is close? Are there ones s/he can't stand?
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom s/he considers part of his/her family? What are his/her relationships with them?
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
6. Does s/he have other close friends?
7. Does s/he make friends easily, or does s/he have trouble getting along with people?
8. Which does s/he consider more important: family or friends?
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has s/he been married more than once?
10. Is s/he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
11. Who was his/her first crush? Who is his/her latest?
12. What does s/he look for in a romantic partner?
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does s/he relate to them? If no, does s/he want any?
14. Does s/he have any rivals or enemies?
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does s/he fall on the Kinsey scale?
16. How does s/he feel about sex? How important is it to him/her?
17. What are his/her turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
- Beliefs -
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does s/he fit the type?
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his/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 s/he regard beliefs that differ from his/her own? Is s/he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
5. What prejudices does s/he hold? Are they irrational or does s/he have a good reason for them?
- Daily Life -
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is s/he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
2. What is his/her social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him/her?
3. Where does s/he live? House, apartment, trailer? Is his/her home his/her castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does s/he share it with others?
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does s/he spend her money on?
5. What does s/he do for a living? Is s/he good at it? Does s/he enjoy it, or would s/he rather be doing something else?
6. What are his/her interests or hobbies? How does s/he spend his/her free time?
7. What are his/her eating habits? Does s/he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
- Associations -
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his/her favorite:
1. Color?
2. Smell?
3. Time of day?
4. Season?
5. Book?
6. Music?
7. Place?
8. Substance?
9. Plant?
10. Animal?
FIN
This is a writing exercise that will get you thinking about a character in great detail. Following completion, you may find that you have cleaned up some of that dust that's been coating a stored-away muse, mustered up some headcanon, and/or learned something new about your character.
[ Please edit each question to suit the pronoun that best refers to your character. ]
____
- Body and Appearance -
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is she heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
Rikku's pocket-sized. She stands at 5'2" with small bones and a toned build.
2. How old is she?
I take her freshly off of Final Fantasy X-2: The Last Mission, so 18 and a half.
3. Describe her posture. Does she carry herself well or does she slouch?
Naturally, her posture sits at a pretty healthy stance, but you'd definitely catch her slouching every now and then.
4. How is her health? Is she fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
Healthy as a horse! Both physically and mentally and is always in good spirits.
5. How does she move? Is she clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
Ohman. Rikku's got a lot of energy that she'll release in her movements. She likes to play up the clumsy way of carrying herself, loose limbs, and all.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does she perceive herself in the mirror?
She's a cutie patootie and she knows it. Rikku's very confident in herself in all aspects of what makes Rikku Rikku, and that extends outwardly. She doesn't place value on that kind of thing though. Looking good and feeling good as a result of that is nice, but that's where that begins and ends.
7. Describe her complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Her complexion is on the lighter side and is evenly-toned. She comes from a long line of desert folk, but being Al Bhed doesn't grant her immunity from the harshness of the sun's rays and I think Al Bhed fashion reflects that.
8. Describe her hair: color, texture, style.
Al Bhed have blonde hair. But if you want to delve into specifics, I'd say their colour falls somewhere between fair amber and strawberry blonde. Rikku's got a thick head of long hair and she hardly knows what to do with it.
9. What color are her eyes?
A solid green with swirly pupils, strictly an Al Bhed trait. (one, two)
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
Dimples!
11. What are her chief tension centers?
Neck and shoulders.
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?
She favors bright colours and lots of texture. Rikku's got moxie and it's evident from the get-go. Her personality pours out into her style and she doesn't shy away from showing a lot of skin.
13. Do her clothes fit well? Does she seem comfortable in them?
Rikku definitely will wear something two sizes too small to accentuate her... assets. The fashion throughout Spira's history has always been questionable though, so it wouldn't surprise me if everything fit the way it was supposed to!
14. Does she dress the same on the job as she does in her free time? If not, what are the differences?
You bet she does. She dresses for no one but herself.
15. You knew it was coming: boxers, briefs, or commando?
I'll give you three guesses...
- Speech -
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
The lovely Tara Strong provided her talents for this one! It's a high-pitched, bubbly tone with a dash of aggression.
2. How does she normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does she talk easily, or does she hesitate?
Loud and clear with ease.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any verbal tics?
Not really. Tara's work on Rikku is one-of-a-kind though, and I personally find Rikku (especially X-2 battle quotes) to be her best work. I imagine anyone who knows Rikku knows her voice.
4. What language(s) does she speak, and with how much fluency?
Rikku can speak Al Bhed fluently! She is also able to read and write in Al Bhed.
5. Does she switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
There are definitely situations where she'll switch to Al Bhed, if only for a brief statement. Feeling scared, frustrated, or going through some kind of cuteness overload will prompt a switch. She'll speak Al Bhed to make snide remarks, too! But since the Al Bhed have been discriminated against in Spira for ages, she's learned to only really let it come out around people she's comfortable with — or, more accurately, around people who are comfortable with her.
6. Is she a good impromptu speaker, or does she have to think about her words?
A bit of both, leaning more towards the latter.
7. Is she eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
It depends. She tends to trip over her words in heated conversations, but she'll retain a good flow of words when speaking from the heart.
- Mental and Emotional -
1. How intelligent is this character? Is she book-smart or street-smart?
Very street smart, but she doesn't have bubbles for brains. She's a techie, fairly decent with machinery, and is a fast learner.
2. Does she think on her feet, or does she need time to deliberate?
Rikku thinks on her feet, but she appreciates time to think when she has it!
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is she more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
A fine mixture of all of the above. Rikku is a firm believer in following the heart and setting goals that have been tailored to personal wants and needs, but she doesn't chase clouds.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
From what I've gathered, the people of Spira don't really drift far from their surroundings; if you were born and raised on Besaid Island, you'd probably learn to carry out the ancient practices of a monk, become skilled at sewing, or learn how to operate a ship that transports goods and passengers from Besaid to Kilika. There doesn't seem to be a set education system in place. Rikku was born on Bikanel desert, surrounded by Al Bhed technology and culture, so any education she's had was centered around that.
5. What are her areas of expertise? What, if anything, is she interested in learning more about?
I mentioned before that her skillset covers technological/mechanical areas, but she's also quite proficient in combat! You can give her nearly any weapon and the odds are she'll know how to use it. Any other interests are already being tackled; she's really into event management and singing right now.
6. Is she an introvert or an extrovert?
Extrovert, but she keeps a lot of personal feelings to herself.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is she even-tempered or does she have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
She's pretty much made up of highs and lows. She can go from bubbly to annoyed in record time, but she's normally got a smile on her face and is ready for anything.
8. How does she respond to new people or situations? Is she suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
Rikku doesn't get antsy when it comes to meeting new people. She can relax around just about anyone who doesn't give her the creeps.
9. Is she more likely to act, or to react?
React, but 'act' is never too far behind.
10. Which is her default: fight or flight?
Fight! But she knows her limits.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does she appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
Most of those! She enjoys seeing people's reactions when she pokes fun at them. She doesn't enjoy getting picked on herself though, and I'm sure growing up with an older brother has a lot to do with that.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does she deal with them?
Nah.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined her as a person?
Serving as Yuna's guardian at 15 years old definitely shaped her into who she is today. She willingly went against everything she believed in — in terms of Yevon and the summoners' pilgrimage — to put her life at risk for Yuna's safety. All this while trying to find a way to save her from a sacrifice summoners have been making for a thousand years.
Yuna is still a priority for Rikku to this day. They haven't seen much of eachother by the time the events of The Last Mission are carried out, and she's been a little lost and filling her void with a busy schedule. I think, in a sense, she will always be Yuna's guardian whether either of them likes it or not, and she's having difficulties waning from that.
14. What does she fear?
Taking life for granted.
15. What are her hopes or aspirations?
She has a lot on her plate right now. I'm not so sure even she knows the answer to this question. Not now, anyway.
16. What is something she doesn't want anyone to find out about her?
That she doesn't have it all together. She has a lot of doubts that she keeps inside.
- Relationships -
1. Describe this character's relationship with her parents.
Her mother died a long time ago and her father, Cid, is unreasonably old-fashioned. He clings onto frayed traditions, viewing them as a set way of life that should be upheld. Rikku, on the other hand, isn't one for tradition. Her actions rebel against what her father preaches, and the gap between their values often fills itself with heated arguments.
Rikku loves her father, but she's lost a handful of respect for him over the years.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom s/he is close? Are there ones s/he can't stand?
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom s/he considers part of his/her family? What are his/her relationships with them?
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
6. Does s/he have other close friends?
7. Does s/he make friends easily, or does s/he have trouble getting along with people?
8. Which does s/he consider more important: family or friends?
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has s/he been married more than once?
10. Is s/he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
11. Who was his/her first crush? Who is his/her latest?
12. What does s/he look for in a romantic partner?
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does s/he relate to them? If no, does s/he want any?
14. Does s/he have any rivals or enemies?
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does s/he fall on the Kinsey scale?
16. How does s/he feel about sex? How important is it to him/her?
17. What are his/her turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
- Beliefs -
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does s/he fit the type?
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his/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 s/he regard beliefs that differ from his/her own? Is s/he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
5. What prejudices does s/he hold? Are they irrational or does s/he have a good reason for them?
- Daily Life -
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is s/he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
2. What is his/her social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him/her?
3. Where does s/he live? House, apartment, trailer? Is his/her home his/her castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does s/he share it with others?
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does s/he spend her money on?
5. What does s/he do for a living? Is s/he good at it? Does s/he enjoy it, or would s/he rather be doing something else?
6. What are his/her interests or hobbies? How does s/he spend his/her free time?
7. What are his/her eating habits? Does s/he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
- Associations -
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his/her favorite:
1. Color?
2. Smell?
3. Time of day?
4. Season?
5. Book?
6. Music?
7. Place?
8. Substance?
9. Plant?
10. Animal?
FIN