#aop character development

[samira-kehmet]

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE 8: WHAT IF

What If Samira Decided Not to Become A Doctor?

Alternate life path: Instead of steering away from her family’s greedy pharmaceutical empire, Samira was successfully brainwashed by her father to instead join it. She ended up inheriting the company - not directly from her father but through shady means.

After her father passed away, she received word that her siblings were plotting her demise after it was revealed she would be given most of their parents’ inheritance. She in turn acted quickly and had them all killed before they had a chance.

She then usurped the company, which was immediately challenged by other members of the Kehmet family as she was not a Kehmet by blood.

Any Kehmet family members who attempted to take action either mysteriously passed away or got into serious accidents, until eventually she stopped being challenged.

She married a member of another elite Kraysha family, though it was more of a marriage for business opportunities and not about love. She continued this pattern each time a wife passed away. She had a total of three wives over her lifetime.

Kehmet Holdings began to partake in unethical experiments to more quickly put new products on the market. Prices on drugs also increased substantially to the point where often only the elite on Kraysha could afford many of the widely used medications. This had a huge impact on the quality of life on Erkuss and hybrids of lower classes on Kraysha.

Kehmet Holdings grew so largely that they were able to get away with the above because Samira had successfully absorbed competing pharmaceutical companies until Kehmet Holdings was the one left standing.

Similar to her parents, she paid high sums of money to have Djayyar children of her own whom she could shape into taking over the company, thereby guaranteeing Kehmet Holdings would continue to be run by Djayyar for the foreseeable future.

She still maintained her passion for collecting more knowledge on the Djayyar, and did so by pouring in large sums of money into a research facility and offering money to Djayyar willing to be screened and tested on (with NDAs signed of course).

After her passing, the cycle would continue with her children, and their children, and so forth.

[beck-derringer]

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE 8: WHAT IF

What If Beck Wasn’t Dishonorably Discharged from the Military?

Alternate life path: On that mission many years ago, she did not cause her partner’s starfighter to crash. Instead, he reacted at the perfect time (barely) and was spared the crash. The mission proved to be a success.

Teddy (Beck’s wingman) ended up pissed about Beck almost getting him killed and the trust between the two was permanently broken.

However, because Beck successfully neutralized the threat in their mission, the starfleet once again looked past Beck’s recklessness.

Beck ended up getting assigned another wingman, one that was more of the submissive type and did whatever Beck wanted.

Every single mission Beck was assigned, she successfully completed, and was one of the most decorated pilots at the time.

She rose the ranks and became a lieutenant, becoming the leader of her very own squadron.

However, the self-absorbed Beck proved to be a poor leader, and ended up getting herself as well most of her squadron killed in combat during one mission.

She was only 29 when she passed.

While her record proved she was the best pilot the Kraysha starfleet had ever seen at the time of her death, she would go down in the starfleet’s history as one of its worst leaders.

[laurie-vexen]

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE 8: WHAT IF

What if Laurie Didn’t Run Away from Home?

Alternate life path: After the traumatic experience of her parents locking her up in the basement and killing someone from bloodlust, Laurie finally accepted her parents’ doctrine that natural blood was the only way to go.

Laurie became more like her mother, who saw hunting as a necessity, and not her father who treated it more like a sadistic sport.

She eventually accepted who she was completely, and her personality shifted from the closed off introvert who was afraid to make friends due to her self-hatred, into a charming but cunning young Umbra who befriended others in order to use them later on.

She and her parents moved around the galaxy ever decade or so after she turned twenty-five to avoid suspicion about their slow aging.

She became a successful video game programmer, though as years went by she had to do so under different alias to avoid suspicion.

When she was in her nineties, her parents set her up with a young Umbra around her age, named Jamie. She didn’t particularly love Jamie but married him to appease her parents.

Like many married Umbra, they had an open marriage.

She and Jamie had two Umbra kids, whom they raised to be natural blood drinkers like their parents before them.

She lived eight centuries peacefully, thought not completely satisfied with her life. It always felt like something was missing, though she could never figure out what.

[daphnerux]

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE 8: WHAT IF

The Bad Ending: Earth Date 8 July, 2046

Content warning for death

Daphne crossed her ankles and glanced away for a moment, not wanting to watch the legal representative chosen as the executor explain the details of Daphne’s mother’s will. Daphne’s father had passed several years prior, and Daphne had inherited very little at that time because they had been inherited by her mother.. Now, though... As Daphne had assumed, the majority of her mother’s assets were to fall to her, but there were complications. “In essence, to inherit your shares in Rux Enterprises, you will need to act as the chief executive and member of the board for at least three years- unless you have a spouse to take on one of those two roles for you. And if in those three years should the company become insolvent- which, as you know, the company’s assets are quite healthy- the chairperson of the board will be able to remove you from the board and from your position as chief executive.”

This wasn’t a massive surprise, but it didn’t mean that was what Daphne liked to hear. “There’s no way that I can appoint an acting executive? That I can’t appoint a team to run the company better than I could?” Daphne watched the executor shake his head. “And if I don’t take it, then most of the shares will be split between my cousins and the vice presidents?” The executor nodded slowly. “Of course, should you decline the positions, you will inherit the rest of your mother’s not-insignificant estate, with a small amount of shares in Rux Enterprises. If you were to invest appropriately, you would be able to retire comfortably for the rest of your days even without the controlling interest.” Daphne sighed, and drummed her fingers on the tabletop. “Fine, then. I’ll take the positions. May I have some time to make arrangements to adjust my current lifestyle before I assume the roles?” The lawyer nodded. “By the terms of the will, you have two months from the time you receive this information to officially take on the roles. Until then, this office is yours, as are the rest of the estate that does not come with conditions.”

Two months? Well, that wasn’t very much time. Without demonstrating a great amount of emotion, she thanked the executor, and dismissed him from the room.

She should tell her crew. She should feel something more than annoyance at her parents for this shitty situation. She should probably have cried at least once over her parents at some point in the last few years. But she couldn’t, really. Their love had come with conditions even before they passed. Daphne had tried to make her parents understand the gravity of their past actions- tried to make them understand how many lives they had ruined in their own selfishness.

Daphne remembered that time in 2024 when she went to her parents’ home for dinner and Makhaira Espionage was there as if the conversation on the KBW had never happened. Her mother had pulled her aside and suggested that it wasn’t too late to settle down, and she had a wonderful array of pre-qualified sperm donors on both sides of the family (as if Daphne had married Makhaira already) because it wasn’t too late to have a child. She had left the dinner abruptly after that. She called up Muffy in tears, and sang sad drunken karaoke at a dive bar all night before going home with a one night stand.

Needless to say, Daphne was thoroughly irritated enough at age 65 in 2046 after a lifetime of bullshit.

Fine. The first mate could have her ship as a gift. Daphne wouldn't need it anymore- not when her parents had their own personal ship. She’d move into her parents’ old house, but sell it for a less ostentatious place as soon as she found a better one. She would take on her parents’ empire built on lies and schemes to build something better. Of course Daphne would always be a pirate at heart, and the Galactic Union would probably want to pick a fight with Rux Enterprises as always, but at least she would be able to figure out how to make that stupid company run in a way that didn’t hurt people. And maybe she could lobby for those humans and their descendants from Tarryville to get to go home somehow.

As much as she had chosen to sacrifice to get this far, Daphne had done it all on as close to her own terms as she could. And she didn’t regret it. She didn’t regret forgoing her love life. She didn’t regret ‘failing’ to honor her parents.

Nobody had asked her to do it, but she knew it was what she had to do to make things right.

[sarasvatistella]

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE 4: DOSSIER

general

Name: Stella Sarasvati Nicknames: Donna the gerbil Gender: Female Pronouns: she/her Birthday: The equivalent of August 25, 1882 5:47 AM in GMT. She knows exactly how old she is at any given moment.

appearance

Faceclaim: Lulu Antariksa Height: 5′4″ Build: Slim; rather pear-shaped Hair Color: Medium brown Hairstyle: Choppy waves hitting just at her shoulders which she has considered growing out. Eye Color: Hazel green Scars/Markings/Tattoos: None; she’s uncannily blemish-less Fashion Sense: She favors sturdy and long-lasting materials. A lot of neutral tones (gray, brown, navy, black white) paired with vibrant but highly saturated colors (such as indigo, olive green, burgundy). She favors conservative hemlines for clothing that goes on the bottom half of her body, with closer-fitting clothing on top.

background

Hometown: N/A. She considers Earth her home planet even though she was born between the orbits of Earth and Venus. Romantic/Sexual Orientation: Bisexual/Biromantic, but she has a preference for women Relationship Status: Single and determinedly searching to change this Occupation: Communications (trainee) on the ship Prosperity Hobbies: Anything and everything about the weather, reading whatever she can get her hands on, learning languages

traits

Strengths: Attentive, good-intentioned, loving, capable Weaknesses: Self-sacrificing, naive, gullible, immature Temperament: Polite and anxious, but subtly attention-seeking Neutral Traits: Analytical, observant of physical surroundings, people-pleaser, intelligent Dominant Hand: Right

persona

Life Philosophy: The bonds that tie people together are meaningful even if only one party is aware of such. People are inherently good; however, people also have free will, and can make the choice or be pushed my circumstance to be cruel. Values: Kindness, personal space, romance, the bonds that last beyond a conversation Ambitions: To find her soulmate, to see the galaxy and learn as much information as possible Religion Affiliation/spirituality: Unsure, but she likes the idea of there being something larger than herself- especially if she can figure out how to prove its existence. Favorite Time of Day: It depends on whenever the the weather or sky in the area has something interesting to show her, to be honest. Pet Peeves: Surprising lewdness (when she catches the references), poorly designed website interfaces Quirks: Her accent when speaking English is incredibly difficult to place; the closest is a Mid-Atlantic Accent; she feels about 26 years old in human years; she behaves about as well as one would expect from an extrovert that didn’t have anyone to talk to for the majority of her life.

[samira-kehmet]

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE 2: JAM SESSION

A collection of jams for anyone who’s as deep in grieving as Samira is.

(PLAY HERE)

Under the cut for song explanations. (TW: Depression, Suicidal Thoughts)

01. Ordinary World - Duran Duran

But I won't cry for yesterday There's an ordinary world Somehow I have to find And as I try to make my way To the ordinary world I will learn to survive

Samira knows she has to move on like her daughter wanted, and to find a new normal in a world without her family.

02. When We Were Young - Adele

Let me photograph you in this light In case it is the last time That we might be exactly like we were Before we realized We were scared of getting old It made us restless

This entire song is Samira remembering when she and her deceased wife were younger.

03. My Immortal - Evanescence

You used to captivate me by your resonating light Now, I'm bound by the life you left behind Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me

Another song about her wife. There was a time where her wife brought her so much joy, and now her absence haunts her.

04. Big Girls Cry - Sia

I may cry ruinin' my makeup Wash away all the things you've taken And I don't care if I don't look pretty Big girls cry when their hearts are breaking

Perfectly reasonable for someone who lost her entire family to cry.

05. My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion

Near, far, wherever you are I believe that the heart does go on Once more, you open the door And you're here in my heart And my heart will go on and on

This entire song applies to her wife and their daughters.

06. Heaven - Beyonce 

I fought for you The hardest, it made me the strongest So tell me your secrets I just can't stand to see you leaving But Heaven couldn't wait for you

This is specifically about her last daughter to pass away, Ellexa. At that point, Samira was only holding on for her, but eventually Ellexa’s time came as well.

07. Lay Me Down - Sam Smith

Told me not to cry when you were gone But the feeling's overwhelming, it's much too strong Can I lay by your side, next to you? You And make sure you're alright I'll take care of you And I don't want to be here if I can't be with you tonight

The pain is too much to bear many times for Samira, and all she wants to do is be by her family’s side again. She doesn’t want to live without them.

08. Asleep - The Smith

Don't feel bad for me I want you to know Deep in the cell of my heart I will feel so glad to go

Samira wants to “sleep” once and for all. And she believes she will be happy when she finally does.

[samira-kehmet]

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE 1: BATTERY OF TESTS

Enneagram Type 6 - The Skeptic

Sixes are preoccupied with security, seek safety, and like to be prepared for problems. For the Type Six, the greatest fear is being unprepared and unable to defend themselves from danger.

Moral Alignment - Neutral Good

A neutral good character typically acts altruistically, without regard for or against lawful precepts such as rules or tradition. A neutral good character has no problems with cooperating with lawful officials, but does not feel beholden to them. 

16 Personalities - Logistician (ISTJ)

Logisticians pride themselves on their integrity. People with this personality type mean what they say, and when they commit to doing something, they make sure to follow through. This personality type makes up a good portion of the overall population, and while Logisticians may not be particularly flashy or attention-seeking, they do more than their share to keep society on a sturdy, stable foundation. In their families and their communities, Logisticians often earn respect for their reliability, their practicality, and their ability to stay grounded and logical, even in the most stressful situations.

Sorting Hat Chats - Burned Bird Primary / Bird Secondary

Burned Bird primaries are still drawn to the moral center of their primary, but they're too tired, world-weary, practical, or resigned to believe those lofty ideals can be lived by. A burned primary still values the ideals and moralities of its unburned counterpart-- they just might not believe that those ideals are achievable or liveable in the real world. Burned primaries are tired and practical-- they are realists.

Bird secondaries are collectors. Dedicated to knowledge, to facts, systems, tools, or skills, the things they have already learned are what they call on when things get tough. They can collect useful skills, build complex clever systems, invent vitally useful things, or just learn everything there is to know about the large cats of South America.

Four Temperaments - Melancholic

A melancholic personality leads to self-reliant individuals who are thoughtful, reserved, and often anxious. They often strive for perfection within themselves and their surroundings, which leads to tidy and detail-oriented behavior.

Statistical Which Character

Dana Scully (The X-Files): 93%

Dr. Jennifer Melfi (The Sopranos): 93%

Dr. Wendy Carr (Mindhunter): 93%

Kurisu Makise (Steins;Gate): 93%

DISC - C Style

The C DISC personality brings perspective to groups and tends to be the "anchor of reality" in the team thought. When something is proposed, the C will think through every detail of how it works and the process. They will make realistic estimates and voice any problems they see with the plan or the already existing system. The C is conscientious and even-tempered. They will complete tasks they've committed to and will be very thorough. They take great pride in doing their work accurately and are excellent analysts, researchers, or information testers.

[beck-derringer]

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE 1: BATTERY OF TESTS

Enneagram Type 7 - The Enthusiast

Sevens want to have as much fun and adventure as possible and are easily bored. Type Sevens fear experiencing emotional pain, especially sadness, and actively seek to avoid it by staying busy.

Moral Alignment - Chaotic Neutral

A chaotic neutral character is an individualist who follows their own heart and generally shirks rules and traditions. Although chaotic neutral characters promote the ideals of freedom, it is their own freedom that comes first; good and evil come second to their need to be free.

16 Personalities - Entrepreneur (ESTP)

Entrepreneurs always have an impact on their immediate surroundings – the best way to spot them at a party is to look for the whirling eddy of people flitting about them as they move from group to group. Laughing and entertaining with a blunt and earthy humor, Entrepreneur personalities love to be the center of attention. If an audience member is asked to come on stage, Entrepreneurs volunteer – or volunteer a shy friend.

Sorting Hat Chats - Gryffindor Primary / Slytherin Secondary

Gryffindor primaries trust their moral intuitions and have a need and a drive to live by them. They feel what’s right in their gut, and that matters and guides them. If they don’t listen to and act on that, it feels immoral.

A Slytherin Secondary’s defining constant is to change. They adapt to the situation, going with the flow and making use of advantages as they come. They are good at spotting unexpected opportunities and rapidly shifting their aim and approach in order to snatch up the possibilities in front of them. Sometimes this leads them to appear lucky where they are actually better described as opportunistic.

Four Temperaments - Sanguine

The sanguine temperament is fundamentally spontaneous and pleasure-seeking; sanguine people are sociable and charismatic. They tend to enjoy social gatherings, making new friends and tend to be boisterous. They are usually quite creative and often daydream. However, some alone time is crucial for those of this temperament. Sanguine can also mean sensitive, compassionate and thoughtful. Sanguine personalities generally struggle with following tasks all the way through, are chronically late, and tend to be forgetful and sometimes a little sarcastic. Often, when they pursue a new hobby, they lose interest as soon as it ceases to be engaging or fun. They are very much people persons. They are talkative and not shy. Sanguines generally have an almost shameless nature, certain that what they are doing is right. They have no lack of confidence.

Statistical Which Character

Connor Walsh (How To Get Away With Murder): 93%

Bender (Futurama): 93%

Han Solo (Star Wars): 92%

Damon Salvatore (The Vampire Diaries): 92%

DISC - I Style

The I Personality Style in the DISC model by Dr. William Marston is not afraid to be the center of attention. They are enthusiastic, optimistic, talkative, persuasive, impulsive, and emotional. This DISC type will trust others naturally, truly enjoys being around others, and function best when around people and working in teams. You can find the I style in the active and people-oriented section of the DISC quadrant.