9: Would your OC enjoy fake Haunted Houses/Mazes? What about real haunted places? Do they believe in supernatural activity?
Yes, yes, and (ironically) no!
Tempe is always a little nervous about haunted houses/mazes before going into them. Tempe loves Halloween and all things creepy, but they startle easily. Once they're actually in the house/maze, though, they usually end up giggling. It's exciting to get scared! They love looking at the props, they love the smell of smoke machines, and they love scary costumes. If Tempe wasn't so shy, they'd probably really enjoy working in that kind of place.
As for "real" haunted houses and their opinion on the supernatural, they are kind of a mixed bag. They've always loved researching hauntings and the paranormal, but they don't really believe that those things exist. Their family was super adamant about the existence of ghosts/demons, but Tempe has never experienced anything unexplainable themselves. Still, they keep an open mind. They're a skeptic, but a skeptic that could be convinced with legitimate, solid evidence.
What's funny (or maybe not) is that Tempe still abides by a lot of superstitions around ghosts, a combination of their OCD and the way they were raised. They don't believe in ghosts, but they're always worried that they'll be proven wrong in the worst way if they do something "disrespectful." They would be willing to go to a supposedly haunted location, but they won't touch things like ouija boards or do "rituals" in haunted places. When they encounter old, creepy dolls, they're always very polite to them, just in case the doll is haunted...
13: What was your OC like as a kid? How much have they changed? For better or worse?
As a very young child (think <11), Tempe was actually quite chatty and bossy. Adults liked them, because they're so smart and generally well behaved, but they had a difficult time with other children. Tempe has always struggled to connect with other people. When they did manage to make friends, they were very controlling and overbearing, insisting that everyone had to play the way they wanted to. Tempe preferred to play alone over having to deal with the wants and needs of other children.
As a teenager, they were worse. Their anxiety, insecurities, and crippling inferiority complex made them prone to lashing out. They have a naturally short temper, which definitely didn't help. People who didn't know Tempe avoided them for being creepy and weird looking, and people who did avoided them because they knew Tempe could be really fucking mean.
Tempe was very lonely for their entire childhood and into their adult life. When I say their relationship with William is the only meaningful connection they've ever had outside of their family, I really mean it. Keeping friends was difficult, between their inability to connect with other people, their standoffish personality, and the fact that they moved around so much as a kid.
Tempe eventually matured into a more palatable person, but not for the right reasons. Their inferiority complex led them to becoming a dead-silent pushover, a total people pleaser. Their distaste for other people only worsened, now that they were an adult and had to suppress their bad attitude. Underneath their perpetual customer service facade, Temperance was still the same nasty, angry person.
Ironically, William entering their life actually made them a better person... In some ways, at least. His insistence on forcing them to take care of themselves and leave their comfort zone has given them more self confidence. Plus, he makes them genuinely happy, so they aren't walking around absolutely miserable all the time. It's easier for them to interact with people in normal ways now, without being bitter and without being afraid of them. If they were interested, and if William would allow it, they could probably even make some friends! But that's... out of the question. They don't need anyone else but him.
🌳: What is your OC's favorite plant? Any connection to nature in general?
Tempe is not great with plants. They're a nerd, but mostly about animals.
If they had to pick a favorite plant... It would probably be roses. Very basic, but they just love the way roses look, and that earthy smell they tend to have. Rose scented things are very enjoyable to Temperance.
I think William probably picks up on the fact that Temperance likes roses very quickly. He isn't the gift giving kind, but sometimes he picks up bouquets for them on Valentine's day or just, if he's shopping and happens to see bouquets on display. He figures out that the roses are their favorite, and from then on, the only bouquets he buys for them are red, pink, or yellow roses. He prefers the yellow ones though...
[Fun Fact about me, Re: Haunted Places and the Supernatural - My family was featured on one of those paranormal reenactment shows. You know the ones where real people tell their stories, and actors reenact the events? I wasn't in the episode (because, like Tempe, I've never experienced anything unexplainable myself) but my mother, sister, and my sister's best friend were! I gotta say, that show really butchered their story... They made it waaay less scary than the "actual" events were. Real haunting or not, I'll never be sure, but that show totally dropped the ball!]
