@lauranis sent questions inspired by the Twelve
Bukh’kumun
2. How stubborn is your character?
Rather stubborn, though he’s rather selective on what he’s stubborn about. While he’s pretty malleable in terms of social norms and the finer details of interactions, you can be sure as anything that he won’t ever leave defense to anyone else. He’s a big boy and it’s his job to protect his friends, damn it.
...Also you can forget about trying to get him away from a nice juicy slab of meat. Especially if you put it in front of him.
6. How romantic is your character?
Having only recently been crash-coursed into society and extended peer interaction, to say that Ayanga is romantic in the conventional sense is a very long stretch. Even after three years of civil exposure, he still has trouble with the finer details of interpersonal relationships, and thus the concept of romance evades him completely. He does, however, have ways of showing affection: leaving gifts (of... admittedly questionable taste; the palate of a pet cat or dog would most accurately describe his mentality of good gifts), being protective, staying by a person’s side constantly.
10. Does your character believe in fate?
Fate is far too philosophical a concept for a bestial mind to grasp.
13. Is there a place they haven’t seen that they wish to see before they die?
Not particularly; four years later Ayanga’s still having trouble just wrapping his mind around the idea that there’s an entire world full of colours and smells and sounds he’s never seen inside his cave systems.
18. Most influential place in their life they ‘wandered into’?
"Wandered out of”, would be more accurate. Ayanga spent almost 18 years of his life living in near-solitude in the extensive and labyrinthine deep-cave systems of the Uyagir tribes, so stumbling out of those dark stone tunnels was the biggest thing to happen to him.
20. Does your character enjoy the arts? If so, what kind?
Before stumbling out of his caves, Ayanga used rudimentary paints to record events and objects he considered special in a particular tunnel system specifically designated for it. Used by other Bukh’kumun before him, one could consider it the “hidden” history of the Uyagir.
24. Would your character sink a ship if it meant dragging their enemies down with them?
Only if Ark told him to and no one he knew was on the ship. Though he has developed a sense of ally and foe, Ayanga ultimately relies on Ark for such decisions; not only is he aware that he is stupid by civil standards, he also trusts Ark’s sense of timing and cunning completely.
27. Describe a situation where curiosity got them in trouble.
The previous Bukh’kumun once warned him never to swim too far out into their bathing pool. Ayanga found out the hard way why, by almost drowning to an attack by an aquatic hunter.
30. Is there something they’d trade anything for? If so, what?
Ark. Ark saved him from a band of Ixals when he first arrived in Gridania, and has been a constant companion, teacher, and friend since. If not for him, Ayanga would not be who he is today, and he knows this. For Ayanga, no one is more important than Ark; while he would stop at giving his life (because if he’s dead, who’s going to look out for Ark?), he would most certainly be willing to give up and do most anything else.
31. How connected is your character to nature?
As connected as any wild beast is. While exposure to civilization has allowed him to blend in better with “normal” people, Ayanga has largely retained much of his naturally-inclined senses, as they have proven useful in protecting Ark and his friends from harm.
36. How does your character kill time?
Not much, really. Ayanga was bred to be a predator, and patience is one of his bestial virtues. He does enjoy sleeping under the sun, though.
