do you have any headcanons for may? june too actually, but i know you’re mainly a may fan. i’m trying to get a better gauge on these characters :)
I do! I have plenty I’ve developed over the half decade since her debut. And yes, I do favour May, but I love them both and I have just as many headcanons for June as well. Also, everyone has different headcanons for characters, especially these two. I’ve seen many interpretations from way before I started posting on Tumblr all with very interesting takes, so how I see them is just as valid as yours will be or anyone else’s.
Anyway, I’ll give a few bullet points starting with traits that I think defines their characters before going into some details. (I sure hope you don’t mind long responses and I apologize in advance.)
May:
+ Intelligent - Has learned a lot at F.O.W.L. Absorbs information and is a great problem solver. She adapts quickly to high stress situations. Is a great manipulator when she needs to be. Very pragmatic. Likes reading.
+ Protective - Is extremely protective of June specifically, but becomes protective of the other kids as well once she gets to know them. F.O.W.L. never treated them the best, and so May took the brunt any punishment and sharing her small rewards with June.
+ Alexithymia (also known as “emotional blindness”) - May has difficulty understanding her own and others emotions. She can’t properly process or express her emotions, like whether or not she’s feeling sad or mad or both about something. Has a hard time understanding and empathizing with other’s express their feelings. Due to being at F.O.W.L., was never taught what most kids learn about emotional development and regulation. And while she can manipulate people, not usually with their emotions in mind but rather behaviour, thoughts, and values.
+ Mistrustful - Her time at F.O.W.L. had taught her that everyone can be an enemy. Trust is not freely given. Everyone in the family had to at some point earn her trust, with some taking longer than others. Specific examples include Scrooge, Mrs. Beakley, and Lena. They were always told to be cautious about Scrooge and Beakley, being told of all the bad things they did by F.O.W.L., and so May had a very warped perception of them from the start. Lena is the one with magic, something F.O.W.L. had always said was bad, and she was the one who lashed out at June. Break her trust when she does give it, you will never get it back the same way again. The only one who May trusts wholeheartedly is June.
+ Anxious - Most of the time, she is on her toes, staying vigilant even when she doesn’t have to. This mostly started at F.O.W.L. She rarely truly relaxes. Being told she’s safe with her family, only for a monster or something magical causing chaos and destruction everywhere really makes it difficult to believe that. With the Duck family, danger is always around the corner, and it contributes to a sense of anxiety and urgency. Not just for herself, but for June too. However, this makes her great on adventures. And with characters like Louie, May slowly learns to relax more.
+ Loving - When you really get to know her, when you really take the time to understand her, not just her weakness or the face she puts on as a defence, when you truly gain her trust, she is the most sweetest, most precious, and devoted person you will ever meet.
June:
+ Optimistic - Being able to explore the world to its fullest now, she is generally more happy and cheerful than May is. Often lightly encouraging May to see what she sees. She giggles and smiles and people see her as a true sweetie. Although she is not always happy and has her own worries and challenges.
+ Empathetic - June is an empath. Being behind May all the time at F.O.W.L., she quietly observed the people around her. From that, she learned about other’s behaviour and how emotions tend to affect people and their actions. Is often seen as “too sensitive” but it’s just because June tends to absorb others emotions as if it was her own. Her empathy is her greatest strength. And she can use it against people if she so chooses. But of course, after being free from F.O.W.L. she only wants to help people with it now. When the family realized just how heightened her emotional awareness was, they tend to go to her for emotional advice. June is always happy to help in any way she can.
+ Gentle - Yes, she is optimistic. But unlike Webby, who is optimistic in her high energy enthusiasm, June is a lot more down to earth in her approach to optimism. A kind of positive energy that makes you appreciate the smaller things. June is very kind, hopeful, and sincere.
+ Shy - June was really enthusiastic about starting their new life. However, the more regular day-to-day people she met, she became more nervous and shy around them. Often standing behind someone when meeting someone new. A shyness that can be overcome when you get to know her. She can also get a bit self-conscious when talking about the things she enjoys.
+ Childlike - Being freed from F.O.W.L. she finally embraces the child side of her. She loves doing activities that the other kids might think they grew out of. Colouring, playgrounds, arts and crafts (stuff with pipe cleaners and googly eyes), pillow forts, any and all of it she enjoys doing. Has great imagination.
+ Smart - She may not be the smartest, but she is clever in her own way. She is not as naive as people think nor is she an airhead. She may have a more fantastical view of the world, but it’s out of sincere hope rather than a misunderstanding of reality. The family tend to talk down to her like a little kid, which she doesn’t mind often, but can get on her nerves when it causes the others to outright dismiss her. She has a more simple approach to solving problems which can be useful when everyone overthinks the situation.
Things that apply to them both:
+ After being determined as a failed experiment, Black Heron trained them to be real agents. They went on small missions to prepare them for the big mission in The Last Adventure. Both are skilled fighters due to their training, although May is the stronger and more experienced one.
+ Adjusting to normal life was very difficult and harder than the family realizes, although each handled it differently.
+ They tend to stick together most of the time and share a room both in Donald’s houseboat and in the mansion. They are each other’s favourite person.
+ Their social development is stunted, although it manifests differently for each. (May being standoffish and distant. June being shy and awkward.)
+ Both enjoy art, although they enjoy different art mediums. (May likes sketching, drawing, digital painting. June likes painting, sculpting, baking.) May uses art to express the emotions she doesn’t understand. June uses art to convey how she sees the world around her.
+ Both are very feminine, although in a slightly different way. (May having the more elegant, subtle sophistication style. June having the more cute, “kawaii” style.)
+ They’re princesses and angels.
These are some of the personally headcanons I have for them! I focused on their main personality traits since you said you want to get a better gauge on them. If you’re curious about my other headcanons, like relationship between characters, their interests and favourite things, possibly what I think they would be like as adults, feel free to ask any time.
I want to go on and on about them, but my anxiety is telling me I said too much, no one cares, and to shut up.
Anyway, thank you for the ask!
And here’s a screenshot of them that I like. As a treat.
