Everything you never wanted to know about Delmar Rendón
I. THE BASICS:LIFESTYLE & PREFERENCES
1. Given your character’s rank and station and where they’re currently at in life, which career do you think they’d be best suited for?
Delmar is, for the most part, well suited for where he currently is. The only other place that he could likely fit just as easily should it be possible would actually be a member of the King's Navy or a palace guard.
However, he would never be content to live on land for an extended period so a palace guard is ruled out and his past likely forbids him from the joining of the King's Navy, so he is content and pleased to stay where he is.
2. If your character was stranded on a desert island and could take any piece of classic literature with them,which would they choose? What’s the significance?
Paradise Lost by John Milton or The Divine Comedy by Dante.
While not a religious man in the traditional sense, Paradise Lost is a book that draws him in for it's lyrical verse and deep messages. Divine Comedy, while also employing some of the same styles as Paradise Lost, is attractive to him for another reason. One could not really call Delmar a sentimental man, and he's far from 'mushy' when it comes to the idea of love, but the romance that propels the story of the Divine Comedy is impossible to dislike.
3. Is your character more suited for life under the sea, on a boat, strapped onland, or in the heart of the castle? Note that your character’s current title and birth rank do not have to factor into your answer.
Delmar would prefer to be at sea for as long as possible. It's the one place that grants him a true feeling of freedom.
4. Your character finally gets a peaceful afternoon to themselves: how do they choose to spend it?
Reading, likely, or on the deck of the ship simply watching the ocean. For as many times as one can sit and enjoy the sight of the water, it never gets old; always shifting and always changing.
II. DIGGING DEEP: PERSONALITY & SELF-IMAGE
1. Is your character the hero of their own story, the villain, or do they serve more as a sidekick? Try and explain, if possible.
There are times, Delmar would say, that he has been both the hero and the villain. But, in the end, he would say that he is neither, nor is anyone else. His story is not a fairy tale and there is no one plotting for his victory or his demise. He lives, and that is all.
2. How does your character feel about themselves? Do they idolize their decisions, consistently berate themselves for their mistakes, or fall in a very steady middle ground? Why do you think that is?
Delmar has a body that will do as he tells it. It's a tool that he can wield. In that matter, he doesn't think negatively or positively of himself so much. As far as who he is, Delmar is content in who he is. Not an overly inflated ego, by any means, but enough that he doesn't seek ways to destroy himself.
3. Think of a song that would perfectly describe your character’s personality. Think about aspects like lyrics, song meaning/metaphors, genre, etc. Here’s the catch: you can choose only one song.
The Cave by Mumford and Sons.
So make your siren's call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say
‘Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it's meant to be
4. Think of all the colors in the world. Now, try and think of a specific color that you believe describes your character’s personality. Explain your thinking below.
OOC Fun fact, I was going to say brown and then decided to take a 'what color is your personality' quiz for Delmar and this is what it said.
First off, you're an honest, down-to-earth and wholesome, salt of the earth kind of person that everyone can trust and depend on. You're genuine and friendly, making you one of the easiest kinds of people to relate to. You take your obligations and responsibilities very seriously, and you can't stand letting people down. You're grounded and your warmth towards others is down right impressive. Put simply, the world couldn't work without people like you.
I've decided to leave it at that.
III. SKIN DEEP: AESTHETICS
1. Imagine your character standing in front of a mirror: what do they see? Pleased with themselves for what they look like? Rejection? Bitter physical resemblance to a family member they loathe? Something else? Explain below.
Delmar simply sees himself, with little extra thought. He knows what he looks like and it rarely holds his interest. He isn't changing any time soon, and he's quite pleased with who he is.
2. Does your character have any scars or birthmarks? Anything about their physical being that could spark an interesting memory or story?
There are quite a few over Delmar's body, many that hold more meaning than not. We'll go through them chronologically.
Back and right forearm - Whip marks. Age eleven. (Several occasions following to reopen scars and add more.) A simple mistake had his master turning the sting of the whip from the horse to the young boy, and it cut skin easily. With little time to heal, the scars are not clean and have, over the years, been reopened a few times to leave jagged marks down his back and several on his forearm from where he had attempted to protect himself and his face.
Left bicep - Crude spiral brand / burn scar. Age thirteen. When he was sold to a new master, a farmer, the man knew he'd be using Delmar for running errands and doing tasks that he didn't do himself. Rather than risk the young boy running off, he drew from a familiar practice and branded his property so he wouldn't have to worry about it.
Right side, below ribs - Slash from a sword. Age sixteen. It was the first time that Delmar realized, despite no longer being a slave, he would be viewed as one on more than one occasion. A member of the king's navy had attempted to stop him, thinking him a runaway, and before Delmar could explain the man had drawn his sword on the boy. The cut was, for the most part, accidental--Delmar has no doubts that he would have been dead, otherwise--but it was enough to break the skin and leave it's mark for years to come.
Left side, lower abdomen - Dagger. Age twenty-four. With Delmar's fighting style requiring him to be closer to his enemy, it's only natural that there would be times for him to be the unlucky one. He caught the tip of a dagger into his stomach during a fight and the other man got the edge of Delmar's sickle across his neck. Delmar recovered, the other did not.
3. If your character could change absolutely anything about their physical appearance, what would it be and why?
Because he knows there's little chance of change, he sees no reason to worry about it. Even though he finds that many of his scars give others the wrong view of him, he knows they are a part of his story. They fuel him, in a way, towards the goals he wants to accomplish and they are largely the base for how he views himself and others.
No; there's nothing he'd change. He is who he is.
4. On a scale of one to ten (one being as slovenly as possible and ten being impossibly vain), how much does your character enjoy preening and making themselves presentable and/or fashionable to the general public? Do they enjoy dressing up? Getting ready for events? Or would they rather stay home and avoid primping at all costs?
Four, though hygiene is important. He doesn't 'preen' and there's little time spent on making himself look good, but he isn't an animal and he does make sure he is clean if possible.
IV. ORIGINS: FAMILY TIES
1. As concisely as you can manage to, explain your character’s relationship with their biological family: good, bad, somewhere in between? How do they feel about their family? Their parents, siblings, grandparents?
Delmar remembers none of his extended family outside of his parents, and even with that he barely remembers more than how his mother looked. His father, however, he remembers in vivid detail. He can see, to this day, his father walking away and leaving him in the hands of a stranger.
There is no good feelings between Delmar and his parents, where ever they may be. They are not his family and there is little that could be done to make it so again.
2. Do you think your character’s familial situation has had a strong impact on who they are today as a person? Do you think that the situation in life they find themselves placed in—their class, rank, and job—are owed to their family? Do you think their personality was molded by the abuse, neglect, or love they received from their parents?
Delmar's life was incredibly influenced by his parents' decision. Not so much in their personal dealings with him, but in the act that they made when selling him to pay debts. It changed the entire course of his life though, in what ways, Delmar cannot be sure. He has never had the opportunity to see what or who he would have become had he not lived through what he did.
3. If your character received the opportunity to erase all of the bad memories directly connected to their family away from their minds, would they jump at the chance? If so, why? If not, how come?
Delmar would happily forget his family, but not his past. While his story is not a pleasant one and not one he finds reason to sit and reflect on often, it is what made him who he currently is. He wouldn't want to forget where he came from, because it's shaped him. But to remember the few memories he has of his parents? No. Those he does not need.
4. Does your character work better as a lone wolf or in a pack? Figuratively speaking, of course.
Though not entirely a lone wolf, Delmar works best in a small group of people and specifically when he is in charge of them. He's spent a large portion of his time taking orders from others and now, with the exception of Dimitri, he doesn't allow many to tell him what he is to do. In this respect, he works well in a pack if he calls the shot and better on his own if he doesn't.
V: BONDS: FRIENDSHIP
1. Does your character have any strong pre-existing non-familial relationships with characters prior to the opening of La Mer Noire? Do you wish to explore said relationships more fully?
The two people that have strong connections to Delmar are Camille Newcastle and Dimitri Fortunato, both of whom have been discussed in length. I'm quite excited for both because they show different sides of Delmar, though his ease and humor and also his ability to lead and his loyalty to those he cares for.
2. Is your character overly-trusting of their friends, wary, or harshly judgmental of the people in their life?
Delmar is wary of most. He's not led a life that harbors trust, but neither is he jaded to the point of thinking that everyone is out to get him. He doesn't think of himself highly enough to believe that, anyway. But he is cautious, especially in meeting of new people, before sharing anything overly personal. He's reserved, as is, and it takes a solid understanding of other people to really be able to open up to them.
3. What would be your character’s definition of a best friend? What traits in a person do they value the most? Abhor the most? Think of your character’s own personality traits when answering this question.
For a best friend, Delmar looks for someone that is loyal and trustworthy. In many ways, one that he can feel a closeness to that he doesn't have with others. He doesn't share things with others easily and to have a comfortable enough relationship with someone that he could do that would be nice.
As such, he cannot stand inconsistency. He cannot trust someone that doesn't have integrity of character. They don't have to share his goals or even his morals, but if they are firmly themselves and not easily swayed, he's more likely to be drawn to them. Unapologetic comfort in who they are.
4. Be honest: do you think your character makes a reliable friend? Are they loyal and trustworthy, or are they only out to better themselves? Would you be friends with your character?
Yes, Delmar is an incredibly loyal friend. For those he cares about, he would be one that would put himself in harms way. While he does look out for himself as well, the people that have managed to make it onto the list of close friends can know they have someone that will not only listen if they need it but also someone that will stand up and defend them when they cannot do it themselves.
Christmas never stops, it just loses it's intensity. And right around now it picks up again. But due to hormones and stress, it's picking up rather... Violently. So therefore with pleasure I do have to say I'M LITERSLLY FUCKING READY RIGHT NOW FOR CHRISTMAS AND ALL ITS AFFILIATED ACTIVITES, SNOW, HOT CHOCOLATE, BEING IGNORED BY LOVED ONES, BRINGG THAT SHIT ON WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
