OOC - Incredibly long Character Survey (In Progress)
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
He’s about 5‘8“ tall -not too tall, not too short- and built strong but solid. Despite the fact that he usually sits behind a desk during the day, he maintains an athletic build and is heavier than he looks, which means he takes time out of his day for physical exercise. For a general idea of what he'd put himself through, check out the basic physical fitness requirements of the US Army here.
...no, really. Arakawa herself states that her men were to be built and the women va-VOOM because otherwise, they looked like they weren't being fed.
2. How old is he?
Upon arrival in Anatole, he’s 30 years old.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
There are times when he slouches or otherwise changes his posture, but they’re few and far between, and almost always when he’s being scolded or falling asleep on his feet/in his chair. Those aside, he’s a soldier through and through and carries himself as such.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
He’s in very good health with no preexisting medical or physical disabilities to speak of, and the military life has kept him in peak physical condition.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
The only thing that really comes to mind is “commanding yet subtle”. He has a tendency to move as though he owns the space he’s occupying, taking it and making it his, making others take notice of him. Not being of a very tall stature like many of the others under and around him, he makes up for it by being very there. Much like his personality, he can be commanding and in-your-face, but he can also take a step back and let others run the show.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
He’s actually rather attractive, with a face that belies his age. His looks are one of his more defining characteristics, and he knows well what people think of him, but he doesn’t seem to take much stock in his appearance. This doesn’t mean he thinks he’s ugly or that he slacks off on things like basic hygiene, but he doesn’t necessarily go out of his way to look a certain way. He grew up with an aunt who owned and operated a hostess bar, so he’s been surrounded by women most of his life, and through them knows what works for him and what doesn’t. Minimal work for maximum gain, as it were. Because of Ishbal, though, there are times where he can't stand the sight of himself as all he'll see are the faces of those who died at his hand.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Light and clear, with a small, thin scar across his right cheekbone parallel to his eye that he got from Lust.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
Very black, stick straight, thick but layered, a bit on the coarser side, and cut in a more boyish style with his bangs hanging in his eyes. He has a little bit of a cowlick in one spot along his hairline which makes his bangs look like they‘re ‘poofed’ up a bit, lending to the boyish look. He also has a slight widows peak that’s only visible when his hair is slicked back, and his hair splits at that peak, falling to the sides but never straight down the bridge of his nose unless sopping wet.
9. What color are his eyes?
Blackity black black, just like his hair.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
He has a faint scar on the back of his right hand in the shape of his alchemic array and a large self-inflicted burn scar that wraps around his left side, starting near the center of his stomach and wrapping around to the middle of his back. If one looks closely enough, one may be able to find the two matching (front/back) wounds where he was impaled on Lust’s fingers which necessitated the burn. He also has scars that run vertically through the palm of each of his hands between his middle and ring fingers from where Bradley skewered him to pin him down.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
If he is angry or stressed in a face to face situation and the cause of said anger or stress is nearby, the tension is visible in his hands. He has the tendency to ball his hands into fists if it's not something that's incredibly trying, but when it's something that has him furious, he'll press his index and middle fingers against his thumb in the position to snap his fingers to the point where his knuckles go white. Usually, he's able to back out of it, but there are those rare moments (such as confronting Envy) where the anger takes control and he actually does release the tension by snapping his fingers. If it isn't enough to warrant that sort of reaction, the tension manifests itself in his expression and demeanor, and can be generally translated as a "headache". The stronger the tension, the more it shows -namely around his eyes and in the set of his jaw.
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?
Aside from his uniform, his general wardrobe is “casual dressy” as befits the style of the time period (in this case, 1915 AUish). Basically dress shirts, trousers, waistcoat and tie in some form or fashion. He has a distinct preference for dark colors such as black, grey, brown, and blue with minimal whites and creams, seeming to prefer the lighter ones for shirts or accent colors. When out and about, the combination of these is accompanied by a black overcoat which falls to about knee length and a cream scarf. On occasion, the overcoat is replaced by a dark colored blazer, and when not wearing a tie, the top button of his shirt is left undone. The only time he’s shown in an un-tucked standard collar dress shirt is when he’s being chased by Gluttony, and at that time, he was recuperating from injuries. Any other time, it’s generally a light-colored wing-collar shirt, dark vest, trousers, dark shoes, and a black narrow four-in-hand tie. All of his shirts are long-sleeved, though he will roll the sleeves up if needed.
*Note: the only reason I use "AUish" in describing the time period is because I'm looking at it in terms of OUR 1915, not Amestrian 1915. This being the case, FMA-verse would be an AUish 1915 in comparison to 'real world'.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
As he was raised by a woman who runs a hostess bar, he’d have learned at a young age to dress the part of a respectable gentleman in order to both be taken seriously and look presentable. This translates over into both the fit and comfort of his clothes, as he seems just as at home in his casual attire as he does in his uniform.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
Most of Roy’s “free time” isn’t free time at all, spent on 'dates’ in which he’s actually gathering information from various informants and sources around Amestris. To that effect, his state of dress between work and “free time” is dependent upon whether or not he’s in the office. His clothing changes between two things: his military uniform and his more casual “out of the office" attire, described above in Question 12.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
OKAY! Given that we’re talking about a guy whose country is a militant nation and who is a part of said military, as well as the fact that the time frame is a sort of AUish 1915 era... and the mun is a freak who spent a good while reading up on/researching things...
Definitely boxers. Briefs can ride up at the wrong times or be too tight and restricting, and commando... um NO. Can’t play the lady-killer (or be out in public) if he’s gotta constantly worry about what’s where and what’s getting stuck in the zipper! Also, while there isn't anything in canon that says one over the other, especially as the reason boxers were popular in our world during that time was that the elastic was being repurposed for military use, Roy's world is very militaristic so who's to say that boxers weren't a part of the "military attire"?
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
4. What kind of education has the character had?
He's been to school, though for how long and whether he was still in attendance when he began studying under Berthold Hawkeye is in question. Obviously he's able to read, write, and is intelligent enough to decipher the nuances of alchemy.
Aside from a basic education, he's also had tutelage in the basics of alchemy via Master Hawkeye -but no more than the basics as he ran off to join the military and thus he was deemed unworthy of learning anything more as Berthold believed that those who would stoop to the level of military service were unfit to learn even the basics. What he learned about Flame Alchemy was deciphered from the "text" tattooed on the back of Berthold's daughter, Riza. Evidently he has the intelligence and patience needed to crack her father's code and learn the secrets within.
His time in the military academy taught him the history of the country, the laws, the principals of warfare, and the standard military aspects such as first aid, basic combat, and proper firearms technique.
In addition to all of these, he was educated from a very, very young age in the art of information gathering and espionage. His aunt was part of an incredibly convoluted information network that spanned the entire country, and so he learned from the very best.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
His expertise lies in alchemy in general and flame alchemy in particular. Unlike its name suggests, it isn’t so much fire as it is the creation of the proper environment for ignition through the manipulation of the oxygen concentration in an area or path. By adjusting the concentration of oxygen, he can effectively feed or choke a flame. In terms of what he’d like to learn more about, he takes to heart something told to him by his mentor, Berthold Hawkeye: “Alchemists are living beings who, as long as they are alive, cannot go on without seeking truth. When they stop their thinking, the “alchemist” would die.” To this end, even when it doesn’t seem like he’s doing anything at all, he’s never stopped trying to learn, even if it’s something that others might think mundane because in everything, there’s a truth to be gained. It’s part of the reason he wanted the dog -because pets are something he’s never had so every day is a learning experience.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
Perhaps the best analogy I can think of is an M&M: he’s an introvert wrapped in a bright and loud extroverted shell. Beneath that shell, though, there are layers to him, each marked by a differing level of trust and closeness. On the surface, he’s very much an extrovert: he’ll laugh, joke, and talk with just about anybody with little provocation, and seems to be very much the thrill-seeker. He comes across as outgoing, a bit spontaneous in his action at times, a little lazy, and a total lady-killer. That’s where the extroverted shell ends.
In actuality, he’s incredibly secretive and doesn’t keep many people close to him -very few people know him for who he really is. This isn’t because it’s something he wants to do so much as it is a necessity for him due to his position and habits created for the purpose of keeping unwanted attention directed elsewhere. There are various layers with him, each consisting of their own trust level and familiarity with the individuals.
The first and outermost layer is those people he knows well enough to engage in conversation with as well as an outing or two -these people know him on varying levels. Within this layer seems to be informants and others in the military whom he feels he can trust on a slightly-more-than-surface level (ie Major Armstrong, Rebecca (also an informant), and Sheska) -the majority of individuals are in this tier. The second layer is more of his “inner circle”, comprised of people who know him very well and whom he places a good amount of trust in. In this group falls Breda, Falman, Fuery, Havoc, and even Major General Armstrong. The last layer is made up of a very select few whom he trusts above and beyond others. They range from those who know him much better than most (General Grumman) to those who can see through all of his defenses to who he really is (Hughes, Madame Christmas and Riza). These are the people who he feels most comfortable around and doesn’t hesitate to show his true colors to. This isn’t to say he keeps himself hidden from his inner circle, because he doesn’t to an extent, but what differentiates the two is the level of trust.
All of this said, there are things that even the ones who know him best still aren’t privy to. There is nobody that he trusts with everything, nobody that he feels he can really be 100% open with. Riza is the closest he has, and even then, there are some things he doesn’t feel comfortable enough around her to do (such as cry or show affection).
Even in his choice of occupation, he’s very introverted. While he joined the Amestrian military which could be seen as wanting to be a part of a bigger picture and wanting to belong to something on a broader scale, his goals and achievements aren’t social ones. He climbs the ranks quickly, seeking out a higher place where there are fewer people. His ultimate goal of becoming Fuhrer would leave him with no peers at all and nobody to challenge him. It’s essentially a place of utter solitude in which only those he allows close to him would be able to stand alongside him.
In his choice of haunts, one place stands out: a bar in Central owned and operated by one Madame Christmas. Obviously, this is because the booze is amazing and the company is superb, right? Or is it because sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name? Actually, it’s because Madame is his foster mother and one of his information hubs. The “company” -that is, the girls she employs- are various informants. It’s a place he feels comfortable and safe, a place that he can run to when he doesn’t want to be alone, but also wants to steer clear of the prying eyes of strangers. Roy is only ever out and about in public when it can best benefit him, not because it’s what he wants to do.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
He's generally even-tempered and level-headed, though if certain conditions are met, he has a rather nasty temper. Said conditions generally revolve around hurting/killing one of his own, and as evidenced with Envy, he internalizes his anger and hatred until it hits a boiling point at which "the shit hits the fan" and he explodes. He's not driven to many visible bouts of melancholy, but it doesn't mean he doesn't have them. He has quite the wicked guilt complex which stems from his actions in Ishbal, but tries his best to keep it under wraps. Only those who know him best get to see him at his worst, if that. All this said, he walks the line between laid-back and driven. He is incredibly driven but at the same time, he isn't afraid to take a back seat and relax when things are going smoothly.
He's human, though, and no human has ever not experienced a twinge of jealousy at some point in their lives... and Roy is no exception to this. Taking or attempting to take from him something which he perceives as "his", be it on a broad scale (ie. his country, his people), on a closer scale (ie. his position, his ability to move freely), or on a personal scale (ie. his family, his friends) will find one on the opposite side of a personality that can be very deceptive. On the surface, he'll appear congenial, and if it's an individual who is the cause, he'll be willing to engage in small talk and the like. However, his real attitude toward it/them is not one of congeniality. He gets jealous just like anyone else, and will bide his time until the situation either a) fixes itself; or b) requires that he intervene to put an end to it.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
New people and situations are regarded with caution until he's able to get a feel for them. He's a rather private person where his own life is concerned, and he's been raised to be polite yet cautious since one never knows who is or isn't in your corner. Everything and everyone is taken with a grain of salt and a degree of suspicion until he can clearly ascertain that there is nothing to be wary of.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
The first and foremost moment would be the death of his parents. While we're never told how old he was at the time, we do know he was rather young when it happened. Another would be his being taken in and raised by his aunt who runs a hostess bar and acts as an information hub for the goings on in Amestris. She is the one who got him into that part of his work, and the one he runs to when in need.
His joining the military marked the beginning of a new path for him. His receiving of Berthold Hawkeye's secrets from Riza gave him the means by which to make his dreams unfold. The war in Ishbal taught him the cruelty of humankind as well as what it takes to stay alive in a world where nothing is certain, and that life in and of itself is precious. The death of his best friend proved that one man's sacrifices, while sad, can bring about the winds of change. The near loss of Havoc and later Riza solidified the idea that there is value in every man's life, and that the only way one can hope to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles is by finding strength in those around oneself and pulling together in times of need.
Every moment of his life is a learning experience in some way, shape, and form, and it would be difficult to list them all without re-writing the story itself.
Go read it! It is beautiful! And if you already have, then you know what I'm talking about!
14. What does he fear?
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
He has dreams of becoming Fuhrer, but more to the point, he wants a better life for the people of Amestris and the country itself. So long as this comes to pass, he is happy with whatever becomes of him -he knows that in the event of the country achieving peace, there is the possibility of those who participated in genocide and other crimes under Fuhrer Bradley's regime being brought to trial and having judgement passed upon them, himself included, yet he accepts it so long as others can have the peace they deserve.
If asked about his goals for his own personal future -marriage, children, etc- he would be hard pressed to come up with any. This isn't that he doesn't want to marry, have children, or anything of the sort, it's that he doesn't put himself before the rest of Amestris. If he goes to trial and is either incarcerated or executed, what good would it do to have a wife and/or children whom he would be leaving behind? To this effect, Roy doesn't have any real personal goals or aspirations.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
As much of a relationship as one can have with a stone slab. They died when he was little, so what memories he has of them are colored by the views of a child.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
As far as Arakawa has released, he has none, and I don’t really headcanon him with any.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
The only blood relative who is ever mentioned is his aunt, Chris Mustang, who goes by Madame Christmas and runs the hostess bar that he frequents.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
Yes. They’re the members of his unit. Also quite possibly the girls at the bar if there’s any he’s known for a good while. As far as relationships are concerned, it’s complicated.
Havoc, Falman, Fuery, Breda: These four are a part of his impromptu family in that family members look out for one another, stand up for one another, and take care of one another. They work well as a team and as friends, and they go out of their way to support each other. Even when scattered across the country, they keep in contact and manage to work together despite the difficulties each of them faces.
Riza: She is his world. See this post for more information.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
His best friend is Maes Hughes. They met in the military academy.
6. Does he have other close friends?
Yes. They’re the members of his unit. See Question 4 for more elaboration.
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
He makes acquaintances easily, but not friends as he’s incredibly selective and has to know he can trust somebody before he’ll befriend them.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
They’re equally important because his friends are his family.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
Surprisingly enough, he’s single. He’s considered marriage before -like when he was much younger- but because being single suited his job as information-whore, marriage will have to take a backseat until such time that it could prove more beneficial to him than not.
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
No, but given his current relationship with Riza in Anatole, there’s a possibility that could someday change.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
There has to be a mutual attraction, though whether that attraction is physical, emotional, or intellectual doesn't matter. It just has to be there. There also has to be a good level of mutual trust. He's selective about who he gets close to and unless he feels that he can trust the person, a romantic relationship is out of the question. Also, they can't be squicked by heavy scars since he has a rather nasty burn scar just above his hip at the waist that wraps around his left side from navel to spine.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
Nope. Maybe someday, but he really doesn't expect to live long enough to have any -not that he expects to die, but more that in the world he’s working toward, he could very well end up imprisoned or executed, and that would kind of put a damper on having kids. Needless to say, the idea of having children isn't a high priority for him because he's more concerned about everyone else than he is with bringing a child he might not even be around to watch grow up into the world.
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
Not in Anatole, but absolutely in Amestris. From where he was taken, he’s got most of the military against him, and Major General Armstrong is probably his biggest rival in the power game.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
Roy is... himself. His public life is built around deception and his private life is his and his alone. Because of this, it wouldn't be entirely unbelievable for him to take an interest in the same sex, but the other would have to be comfortable with the fact that they weren't a public item -that the relationship is a purely private affair. He's also grown up surrounded by women and has more than likely heard (or over-heard as the case may be) everything from stories of abusive relationships to stories of sexism which would have colored his views toward his own gender. Keep in mind that he was raised "to be a fine gentleman" -which means those men who weren't "fine gentlemen" would have been used as an example for what NOT to do. That, as well as the possible scandal which could potentially derail his dreams, might be more inclined to place him around a 1 or 2 because depending on how colored his views toward his own sex are, he may or may not be willing to consider a same-sex partner.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
He's rather indifferent about sex, actually. He's not a virgin, but he doesn't sleep around. Past experiences (not necessarily his own, but those he’s seen of others) have taught him that sex doesn’t necessarily come hand in hand with love, and that sex can be anything but an act of love. That said, its importance to him is severely lessened when there isn’t any positive emotional connection, and he’ll gladly wait until that connection exists for both parties involved before engaging in anything of the sort.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
Roy only has a year to go by and not a month or day, so we’ll start with what that gives us, which is the Eastern zodiac. Born in 1885, this would make him a wood rooster (or chicken... or cock depending on the site). It fits fairly well, though depending on what site you look at, there are some traits which are a bit hit-or-miss.
As for Western astrology, I really don’t headcanon any particular date for him, but I really can’t see him as being anything but a Leo. Whether it’s Sun, Moon, Mars, Venus, Mercury, or Ascending, the outcome is virtually the same.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
He’s technically neither spiritual nor religious, and these elements have no bearing on his life. He does, however, believe in equivalent exchange as it is the principle that rules his life as an alchemist -nothing can be gained without giving up something of equal value. He doesn’t buy into the trappings of religion, as that has a basis in believing in a higher power through which everything goes and who is not beholden by the law of equivalent exchange, as a god has no need of giving up something in order to create or gain. Spirituality also holds a belief in a “higher power”: the Spirit. To someone who is spiritual, there is still a governing body of some sort who is able to thwart the law of equivalent exchange.
He does throw around the term “god”, but that doesn’t mean he believes in one.
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 he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
In Amestris, he's richly comfortable in debt (not that he's actually in debt because his bank account is never mentioned, but what he has saved is probably set aside and not touched). He owes his aunt a new bar, he rents his place of residence, and he drops cash on his “dates” like it's water. In Anatole, he’s thrilled to death that he managed to get a job that won't bore him to tears so that he can make ends meet.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
He's never been among the affluent in society and his social status has never mattered much to him. When he goes from being a high-ranking military officer to a potential traitor, he lets it roll off his back and goes about what he feels is right. For him, it isn't about what you have or "who you are", it's about who you are as a person.
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 Central, it’s a narrow rent house where he owns little more than a couch in his living room, the clothes on his back, and his car. It’s not any place he frequents for more than a break between working at the office and playing the information broker. In Anatole, it’s not much better than that. He’s got a little one-bedroom apartment in the Outlander Community Block that he shares with Allison, his puppy. He spends more time at home in Anatole because of Allison than he did in Central when he was by himself. He’s not the tidiest person in the world, but since the puppy came along, his apartment has become near-immaculate. Gotta puppy-proof the place lest she destroy everything she can sink her baby teeth into!
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Rent, clothing (though it’s rare he’ll blow cash on clothes), dog food, dog toys. The rest is stashed away.
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?
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
His eating habits would probably make a nutritionist cringe, as cookies are a perfectly acceptable form of breakfast when in need of a quick fix, and alcohol is an acceptable beverage when it’s the only thing nearby and he doesn’t feel like getting up to find something else. His own cooking leaves a lot to be desired (he’d rather eat somebody else’s than his own) so he’s one to munch on a sandwich, eat out, or mooch off of someone else’s plate. Anything that can be consumed without cooking is always a plus, so apples are love.
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color? Blue. No particular shade, just blue
2. Smell? Smoke and spring rains. Also Lapsang Souchong tea :3
3. Time of day?
4. Season?
5. Book?
6. Music?
7. Place?
8. Substance? Cinders
9. Plant? Madagascar lace plant. Pretty to look at with a hint of the exotic, but incredibly difficult to cultivate unless one has experience with them. They also can't avoid getting wet (it's an aquatic plant).
10. Animal? Dog. Probably a Husky/Alsatian mix. He's got the husky's flighty tendencies and hardiness with the Alsatian's workaholic drive.
END
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