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Canon: Romeo et Juliette by Gérard Presgurvic (specifically 2010 Takarazuka version)
Character: Tybalt Capulet
Timeline: Immediately post "本当の俺じゃない" (It's Not the Real Me) after the masked ball
Personality: The most obvious thing anyone may notice about Tybalt is that he has a bit of an anger problem. Maybe quite a bit of an anger problem. He's quick to take offense, quick to assume people are attacking him, and in general quick to assume the worst of situations. And he's very quick to pull his knife if he feels he's threatened or insulted. Or because he likes the feel of it in his hand. He might have a bit of an unreasonable attachment to the thing.
Thing is, deep down, most of Tybalt's anger is born of frustration. He's taken his family's hatred of the Montagues and truly made it his own, to much greater degree than even Lord Capulet himself. But that is how Tybalt is. He feels things very strongly and to extremes. The problem is, there's little outlet for his hatred. Oh sure, there are street brawls with the Montague scum, and those help, but it never seems quite enough. He always feels like there should be something more, if he could just actually kill a Montague (preferably Benvolio, or Romeo), things would somehow be right. But someone always breaks up the brawls before it gets to that point, and so it becomes a cycle of anger fermenting into simmering frustration before breaking out again in anger.
It doesn't help that he's currently being thwarted in his greatest desire - to marry his younger cousin Juliet. He loves her, or at least he thinks his does, but Tybalt can't feel anything in moderation, so his love for her is more in line with what most people would consider obsession. And yet despite his obvious (to him) devotion to her, her parents wish her betrothed to Paris instead! But he can't lash out in anger, because there is no one to lash out at. He's not fool enough to lash out at Lord Capulet, or Paris for that matter. So once again, his frustration just simmers, and he works to keep Juliet in the dark about the intensity of his feeling for her.
Mind you, his obsessive love for Juliet has not stopped him from bedding many of the other girls of the Capulet household, up to and including Lady Capulet herself. Granted, his affair with Lady Capulet had been with the intention of getting her support regarding marrying Juliet, but that seems to have backfired, and he's long since tired of her charms. To be fair, no woman's charms really hold his interest, but he has a certain animal magnetism and attractiveness that has never failed to get him bed partners even though more or less everyone (sans Juliet, and perhaps her mother) knows he's just using them. Then again, he never pretends it's anything else, so perhaps the honesty is refreshing.
Background: There is little mention in canon of Tybalt's background. His mother was Lady Capulet's sister, thus making him first cousins with Juliet, though he is a few years older than she is. It's mentioned that he's her 'favorite cousin', so it's likely they were raised together, with his love/obsession developing most likely sometime during puberty. The only other background information given is that he has "taken the family's hatred into himself", regarding the Montagues, and that his father took him to a brothel when he was fifteen.
At the beginning of the musical, he's an enthusiastic participant in the opening street brawl, mocking and fighting with the Montagues, especially Benvolio. The Prince refers to Tybalt as the Capulet leader, though it's obvious he means in regards to the brawl rather than of the family as a whole. And the moment the Prince leaves, he spits at Benvolio's feet to prove that even if the Prince has decreed no more bloodshed between the families, Tybalt sure as hell isn't going to respect the Montagues. But then he turns his attentions to Lady Capulet, who had gotten shoved to the ground by her husband in the resulting fray. He helps her up and even half-way listens to her pleading for an end to the hatred. But his attentions are far more on his desires to marry Juliet and that Lady Capulet can help in that matter for him to really care what she's saying.
But then, he walks into the house to see Paris of all people asking Lord Capulet for Juliet's hand in marriage, and worse, Lord Capulet all but agreeing! And then Lord Capulet has the nerve to reprimand him for being testy with Paris? Surly he could see that Juliet deserved better than a fop like Paris. She deserved someone strong, someone who would be dedicated to her, and who was already on the Capulet's side. Someone like himself! But no, Lord Capulet dismissed him and his concerns entirely. And Lady Capulet was no help. Worse, she seemed to approve of the match. Why then had he been carrying on the affair, which had long since become boring in his mind, if she wouldn't help him get Juliet?
The only consolation was that at the masked ball that night, Juliet seemed to have as little interest in a marriage to Paris as he did. And he was all too happy to help her stay away from him, but it was a big party and she managed to slip away from him as well. So he focused his attentions on finding her. It was a big ball after all, and who knew what sort of disreputable men might be there trying to corrupt his perfect Juliet? And of course, because he's pretty sure the universe is out to get him, Tybalt did finally catch sight of her, across the room, standing far too close and laughing a bit too much with a young man Tybalt did not immediately recognize. By the time he'd managed to make his way across the room, it was obvious the young man was being far too familiar with Juliet, and worse, she was letting him! And then the cad had the indecency to try to run when Tybalt insisted to know who he was! A quick scuffle ripped the other man's mask off, and even Tybalt was surprised to discover it was Romeo Montague! Tybalt immediately pulled his knife, intent on making Romeo pay for his insult in blood there and then. But Lord Capulet said no, and before Tybalt could press his case, Romeo - and his two friends who'd also managed to sneak in without Tybalt noticing - fled.
Worse, Lord Capulet reprimanded him again, publicly this time, when all he'd wanted to do was protect Juliet and the family's honor from the hated Montagues. And Juliet had foolishly set her eyes on someone even worse than Paris!
Abilities/Additional Notes: Tybalt is one of the characters most changed in the musical versus Shakespeare's original text. In the original play, he's little more than a plot device, someone to take offense to Romeo's presence at the ball enough to force the confrontation that leads to Mercutio and then his death, and Romeo's banishment. While this still holds true in the musical, he's given a lot more character, and adds the love/obsession for Juliet. Granted, she's his first cousin, but in the time period its set, that's not unusual or remarkable.
The musical, especially the 2010 Takarazuka version only hints at the affair between Tybalt and Lady Capulet. I've chosen to make it fact, based on the fact that he does treat Lady Capulet with far more affection than he shows to anyone else. This could be a side effect of the overall romanticism of the Takarazuka version versus the original French production. There, Tybalt has something closer to a Madonna-Whore complex regarding woman, where as in the Takarazuka version he's mostly just a user who saves his true affections for Juliet (and possibly Lady Capulet).
Sample Journal Post:
[Video]
[It's obviously taken Tybalt a few minutes to figure out how the PCD works, and when the video flicks on, he starts back with surprise which is quickly replaced by an expression of suspicious anger. He draws his dagger and points it at the camera]
The fool who handed this to me said it could be used to talk to people. So someone talk! What the hell is going on here, since this is certainly not Verona. If it's some sort of prank I am going to kill whoever is responsible.
[He kicks at a shard of wood on the ground and sheaths his dagger with obvious reluctance.]
Listen, I'm not messing around. Whoever's responsible, it ends now!
Sample RP: Tybalt paced the halls of the Capulet mansion like a caged animal. He couldn't sleep. How could anyone expect him to sleep after what had happened? A Montague, hell, several Montagues had crashed the ball. Worse yet, that pathetic fool Romeo had been taking liberties with Juliet! And yet when he'd tried to set things right, tried to avenge the Capulet honor with Montague blood, it had been Lord Capulet himself who'd stopped him.
"Old fool's balls have shriveled to nothing" he snarled under his breath as he continued to pace. The man was more concerned with maintaining appearances in front of that fop Paris than protecting his own daughter's honor! He was of half a mind to simply leave the house now and hunt Romeo down, and to hell with Lord Capulet, and the Prince's order for that matter. None of that should matter when it was Juliet's honor at stake!
"Tybalt!" Well, there was no mistaking that particular hissed whisper. He sighed and turned, unsurprised to find Lady Capulet behind him. "Come to bed" she said, taking his hand, and tugging slightly back the way he had come. She obviously didn't have sleep in mind either, and he was slightly tempted. For all that the Lady's charms had long since lost all novelty for him, a good hard roll in the sheets would help relieve at least some of the tension coiling in him. No! He thought she was on his side, but she'd turned traitor the moment Paris and his fat purse had shown up. Typical woman!
"Leave me alone" he growled, yanking his arm out of her grip, though he didn't stalk off the way he would have if it had been any other woman. She was due that consideration at least.
"Tybalt" she said again, pressing up against him. "Don't go after them. It's late. Come to bed"
He looked around, a touch surprised to find he was halfway across the entry hall. His pacings had taken him further than he'd realized. "So I should just let those Montague scum think they can get away with this?" he said.
"Let it go Tybalt. There was no harm done"
No harm? She had obviously not seen the way that damned Romeo had looked at Juliet. Or worse the way she'd looked at him. Poor girl was still so young and innocent, of course she'd be easily taken in by some silky Montague lies. But why should he expect a woman to understand? He sighed. No one seemed to understand anymore. The Lady tugged lightly on his arm again. He looked from the temptingly close front door to her admittedly attractive cleavage and sighed again. "All right my lady" he said, letting her lead him back towards her bedchamber. Tomorrow would be plenty of time to hunt down that damned Romeo, and hopefully his friends as well. No harm in passing the night with another form of enjoyment. What could possibly happen in a single night?