Maritess Q&A Part One
What is your character’s patronus? A Mama Duck. No lie. I know you can’t tell a patronus is a mother and all since they fly solo but Maritess’ just feels 100% like a slightly harried mother set on corralling her flock of over-curious ducklings. Technically speaking, her patronus is a Northern Pintail.
How does your character react to sudden and unexpected hugs? Frankly, sudden hugs are an unwritten part of her job description. If you are small (or at least shorter than she is), Maritess automatically hugs back, crouching if necessary to expend maximum comfort and welcome. If you are her height or an adult, the hug-back is still automatic but it will vary wildly on levels of enthusiasm and warmth. Family gets the biggest, most enthusiastic hugs. Close friends, likewise. Co-workers and random friends, somewhat less. Strangers? You are getting a hug but she almost immediately has a look on her face like she regrets the action once you release her. Which is a shame because Maritess is an AWESOME GRADE A HUGGER and who doesn’t want more of that in their life?
What incredibly dorky thing does your character do while thinking that it’s actually super cool? Maritess is convinced her day-planners are awesome and cool. Do not be fooled by the bright colors and the tendency they have to be covered by pictures of birds. These things are not cool. They are the epitome of a mind caught between its natural desire for order and its deep-seated calling to deal with small humans who have no respect for order.
She also hangs up pictures the kids give her on her fridge at the apartment which is both dorky and adorable, really.
What is the craziest thing your character has done? It might not seem crazy to others but she dabbled her toes pretty well in international volunteer work during her last summer in college and the summer before she got her Big Girl Job. Maritess went through the International Volunteer HQ and spent a few weeks teaching English in Morocco, a month in Sri Lanka renovating a temple and setting up a youth center, and working with health clinics and orphanages in Guatemala for another month and change. The crazy part for her was, each time, she acted without much preparation or forethought, signing up with only a couple weeks of lead-time.
What are some of your character’s weaknesses? She overthinks and overplans and feels the need (almost the IMPERATIVE) to stay in control of all situations. She expects unthinking cooperation. She has more than a little streak of “I know best so do it BECAUSE.” She feels really guilty if she spoils herself and so doesn’t do that nearly as much as she should.
What’s your character’s biggest secret? Maritess is mostly an open book to her family and close friends. Even to strangers, she is usually easy to read and peg for what she is - a young woman devoted and delighted with her job, happy with her family, content with her small sphere of influence. But, if you dig deeper (or get her maudlin and drunk), you can find out that she actually, secretly wants to meet The One and fall crazy in love and have a white picket fence and a dog and 2.5 kids. Since this is such a tame secret, I have no idea why she even keeps it.
