so_out_of_ideas (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
so_out_of_ideas) wrote2008-05-15 06:10 pm
so_out_of_ideas) wrote2008-05-15 06:10 pm
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Why I love Steve Riley in 100 questions or less
Okay, Steve's interview format is a little different.
One, there are more questions. I made some up since I wanted things that focused more on the family dynamics and his views of parenting, then I found some really interesting complex ones that he hated online. I'll have to go back and ask Gurad those later.
The problem with Steve is that he doesn't like to talk about himself. Like at ALL. So, in order to get him to cooperate,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cha_aka volunteered to have one of her characters do the interviewing. Steve and Calvin have a unique relationship that would take far too long to explain.
100 Character Development Questions
These 100 Character Development questions, written by my friend Rich Taylor, have come in handy so many times for me as a writer! I put Michael through these questions as I was working on his character development, way back when he was brand new to me and we knew nothing about each other. I learned a ton of stuff about who he was, and also I learned a lot about how I wanted to approach telling his story.
My advice is to do the questions a bit a time so you don't burn out on them. Just when you have some quiet time, sit down with your character (perhaps over a cup of tea) and let them answer the questions naturally. Skip any that do not apply to your character or world setting.
I think this is really how Michael 'came to life', through this character interview. If you are not in the habit of talking to your characters and find this whole process quite silly, suspend your disbelief. Even if you are not writing the story in first person, you will still learn so many things about your character and how to write them. It's well worth the time invested.
When I wrote my novel, I was pressed for time so I didn't complete all of the questions. You can choose a few at random, even. You'll be surprised what you learn!
If anyone is curious, I can post Michael's character interview as a separate post to show you what it turned out like.
THE 100+ QUESTIONS
Welcome to over one hundred of the dumbest questions about your character. These are things that, if someone were to ask you in real life, you could answer without giving it any thought whatsoever. Most characters, however, can't answer this because authors never think about it - it's unimportant. Well, these things are going to help you define you character more.
Some tips: Answer these in character, but only in a situation where your character would be 100% honest with themselves and with the person asking the question. Otherwise, answer as an author, and still be 100% honest.
Mandatory Questions
1. What about you is heroic?
Steve: *eyerolls to ceiling* I'm not a hero. Just a guy with silver bullets in my gun and some good toys.
Cal: It just asked about heroic, not about actual heroness.
Steve: What's the difference?
Cal: If you won't admit to being a hero you might admit to being hero-esque?
Steve: Did you just say "hero-ESQUE?"
Cal: *innocent*
Steve: I don't have to admit to being a hero. I'm no kind of hero, and nothing about what I do, how I do it, or who I am is heroic.
2. What about you is social? What do you like about people?
Steve: Everything about me is social pretty much. I like being around people. My friends and family are important to me, and so are the other people I meet. I guess what I like about people is that most of them can teach you something if you give them the chance.
3. Of what benefit could you be to the current group?
Steve: Which one?
Me: The Elderkin.
Steve: Well, I'm the guy with the database. I'm usually the one who knows what's going on first, and if somebody's hurt or sick or something I'm usually the one who knows how to fix it.
4. Why would you choose to join the current group?
Steve: It's my family. Besides, my wife is hot.
5. Invent an adventure/plot that your character would actively undertake (as opposed to just tagging along)?
Me: Usually it involves rescuing and then helping emotionally damaged former slaves.
Personal Questions
1. What is your real, birth name? What name do you use?
Steve: Steven Edward Riley, and I usually go by Steve or Riley depending on the situation.
2. Do you have a nickname? What is it, and where did you get it?
Steve: People call me Stevie. I don't know where I got it, really. Probably my mom.
3. What do you look like? (Include height, weight, hair, eyes, skin, apparent age, and distinguishing features)
Steve: I look like Ewan McGregor. *beams and bats eyelashes*
4. How do you dress most of the time?
Steve: Jeans. T-shirt. *shrugs*
5. How do you "dress up?"
Steve: Jeans and a sport coat.
6. How do you "dress down?"
Steve: Old baggy gray sweats and socks with holes in them.
7. What do you wear when you go to sleep?
Steve: Different old baggy gray sweats.
8. Do you wear any jewelry?
Steve: My wedding ring, and sometimes a blood necklace.
9. In your opinion, what is your best feature?
Steve: Uh. My...hands, I guess. I don't know.
10. What's your real birth date?
Steve: August third 1988.
Me: As a note, the first book begins in summer 2010.
11. Where do you live? Describe it: Is it messy, neat, avant-garde, sparse, etc.?
Steve: I live in this big old stone house that used to be a Bed and Breakfast. It's huge because my father-in-law keeps building additions, and it's always clean because my kid is a full-blown, neurotic neat freak.
12. Do you own a car? Describe it.
Steve: My car. is MADE of awesome.
Cal: *laughs*
Steve: Okay, seriously. It's a black custom Trans Am with a big fat list of mods that appear in fic and would take eight hours to explain.
Cal: *nods* And is made of awesome.
13. What is your most prized mundane possession? Why do you value it so much?
Steve: The cross my father gave me when I joined the family business. I guess I value it because it was the first thing I had that kind of said I belonged to something.
14. What one word best describes you?
Steve: Pain in the ass. Wait that's four words.
Cal: That's what hyphens are for.
Steve: Oh, right. Pain-hyphen-in-hyphen-the-hyphen-ass.
Familial Questions
1. What was your family like?
Me: I'm just answering these because this is a major painful topic for Steve and I don't like it when he's traumatized. His mother was a young hunter named Judy who got in over head with a guy who's soul was not his own. His family life was rough, and he was pretty much the primary caretaker of his siblings until his parents were killed.
2. Who was your father, and what was he like?
Me: His biological father's name was Max Riley and by the time Steve was born, what was left his mind was completely without compassion or empathy for other humans.
3. Who was your mother, and what was she like?
Me: Steve doesn't know this, but his mother was related to a family that was once the chief organized rival of the Cantlings. She was a capable hunter, although not the best in her social circle, a good person, and extremely intelligent despite the circumstances that she found herself in. She loved her children very much, and she did everything humanly possible to protect them.
4. What was your parents marriage like? Were they married? Did they remain married?
Me: I wouldn't even call it a marriage.
5. What were your siblings names? What were they like?
Me: Steve has a twin sister named Cassandra who goes by Cass and a half-brother named Matthew that they call Matty. Cass is a quiet girl. She doesn't make close friends easily but most people like her. She's practical, caring, and a sucker for an animal in trouble. Matty's also quiet, but more reserved than Cass. He can seem withdrawn sometimes, but mainly that's because he's worried about what might happen to anyone who got close to him. He's the most intellectual of the three, and he can't always relate to Steve, but they love each other very much.
6. What's the worst thing one of your siblings ever did to you? What's the worst thing you've done to one of your siblings?
Me: Due to the nature of their childhood, the Riley kids didn't really engage in most of the typical kinds of sibling warfare. I have a hard time seeing Matt or Cass doing anything to Steve and I know he'd have shot anybody who tried to do something bad to them.
7. When's the last time you saw any member of your family? Where are they now?
Me: Steve and Cass see each other pretty much every day or every other day. He sees Matt maybe a couple times a month.
8. Did you ever meet any other family members? Who were they? What did you think of them?
Me: Steve actually met his son, Tommy, when Tommy had gone back in time once. Steve was about twelve, and Tommy was in his thirties. So, it was an interesting experience.
Childhood Questions
1. What is your first memory?
Steve: I went to the movies with my mother and sister. It was the two-dollar theater, back before it closed and we were the only ones there. I think Cass and I were like three or four. It was spooky. I have no idea what we saw.
Me/Fate: Oooh...
2. What was your favorite toy?
Steve: My yo-yo.
3. What was your favorite game?
Steve: Parcheesi. Was the only one we had.
4. Any non-family member adults stick out in your mind? Who were they, and how did you know them? Why do they stick out?
Steve: *opens mouth* *shuts* *thinks* Tommy doesn't count, does he?
Me: *facepalm* I don't know.
Cal: I think he counts.
Steve: Well, there are two who actually stick out in a good way. Weezie was this beggar lady I met when I was on the street after my parents died. Guess she sticks out because she showed how to take care of myself out there. Tommy... *laughs* was this weird guy I met in the subway one night. Taught me to play guitar.
5. Who was your best friend when you were growing up?
Steve: My sister. We're twins. It's kind of...funky/weird/complicated/creepy depending on your perspective.
Cal: *nods* I get it.
6. What is your fondest, childhood memory?
Steve: Any time my biological father was gone or passed out.
7. What is your worst childhood memory?
Me: Killing his father to protect his sister.
Adolescent Questions
1. How old were you when you went on your first date?
Steve: Fourteen.
2. It is common for one's view of authority to develop in their adolescent years. What is your view of authority, and what event most affected it?
Steve: It depends. I have a hard time with most arbitrary authority figures but I'll listen to and respect any person in authority who proves they deserve that position. Probably has to do with being a survivor of various kinds of trauma as a kid.
3. What were you like in high school? What "clique" did you best fit in with?
Steve: I was the kid who hated high school. I was putting in my time. I didn't get in as much trouble as I might have because my father made it clear to me that hunting depended on school performance. I wasn't exactly known for getting along with the teachers though. Is there a clique for badass loners now? I mean, real ones, not the kids who're trying to be that way.
4. What were your high school goals?
Steve: To pass Geometry
5. Who was your idol when you were growing up? Who did you first fantasize about in your life?
Steve: The Judge. And...I guess if I fantasized at all it was about having my mom and brother back. I didn't have much energy left for that though.
6. What is your favorite memory from adolescence?
Steve: Hunting an old vampire named Tammuz with Tom. We tracked him for almost two years. I made the kill. Tom probably could have taken him down earlier but he let me have the shot anyway.
7. What is your worst memory from adolescence?
Me: Having to kill his girlfriend, Chloe.
Occupational Questions
1. Do you have a job? What is it? Do you like it? If no job, where does your money come from?
Steve: I have two jobs. Most of my personal money comes from a managerial position at a local franchise resteraunt. I'm also a vampire hunter, and the money to support my hunting comes from raids on wealthy preternaturals.
Me: *DIES LAUGHING* --"Local franchise" How to avoid saying "I work at Wendy's" by Steve Riley.
2. What is your boss or employer like? (Or publisher, or agent, or whatever.)
Steve: I don't have one, really. Self employed. Unless you count Tom.
3. What are your co-workers like? Do you get along with them? Any in particular? Which ones don't you get along with?
Steve: My coworkers at my day job are mostly teenagers. They're okay. They sort of see me as like this cross between the cool older brother and the really weird guy nobody can quite figure out. In the hunt, my coworkers are my wife and kids, which leads to some pretty intense workplace dynamics.
4. What is something you had to learn that you hated?
Steve: Gonna get smacked for this, but reading.
Me: As a note, Steve didn't actually start to learn to read until he was twelve, and it's a credit to his intelligence that he still managed to graduate with his highschool class despite how difficult he had it in school and the fact that he also spent most of his nights training for the hunt.
Steve: *eyeroll*
5. Do you tend to save or spend your money? Why?
Steve: I tend to spend it but mostly because I have kids.
Likes & Dislikes Questions
1. What hobbies do you have?
Steve: I play guitar, do yo-yo tricks, and I know about music.
2. Who is your closest mundane friend? Describe them and how you relate to them.
Cal: I don't really know what "mundane" is supposed to mean...
Steve: In this context it refers to someone like me. Human, with no funky powers or esoteric knowledge of ancient rites or magic spells. And I don't even know if I have a close friend that fits that description. *facepalm* How did my life get so weird? Uh. I guess Tom. He's my father, my mentor. We usually get along pretty well. Butt heads once in a while, but we respect each other so it's not a big deal.
3. Who is your worst mundane enemy? Describe them and why you don't get along.
Steve: Does the paperboy count?
Me: *Headdesk*
Steve: *pats me* Nevermind. Uh, you know, I don't really have mundane enemies. If I did, my father-in-law would like kill them.
4. What bands do you like? Do you even pay attention?
Steve: ...You're kidding me.
Cal: *meek*
Steve: If I tried to list them all, the internet would experience a worldwide crash.
Cal: *laughs*
Steve: Well, Clapton obviously. The man is my guitar idol. John Mayer. dc Talk. The rest really changes depending on what's going on in my life.
5. What tape or CD hasn't left your player since your purchased it? Why?
Steve: Honestly? There isn't one. I love all kinds of music, and I'm always looking for stuff I haven't heard before.
6. What song is "your song?" Why?
Steve: Deliver Me by Enya and Sarah Brightman. It's just pretty much the story of my life.
7. What's been your favorite movie of all time?
Steve: Lethal Weapon.
8. Read any good books? What were they?
Steve: I don't really read much, but I got stuck in an elevator once with this book I love now called A Time To Kill.
Me: Addendum. He reads all the time, but it's mostly work related, which is really difficult for him because he has trouble with reading comprehension.
Steve: ...Thank you. *raises eyes to ceiling and sighs*
9. What do you watch on the Television?
Steve: MASH and Scooby Doo, mostly. Movies with my kids sometimes. Nilla likes Stargate so I'll watch that with her.
10. When it comes to mundane politics, do you care? If so, which way do you tend to vote? If not, why don't you care?
Steve: Yes, I care, but I think they're all basically a bunch of elitist liars with too much money anyway. I usually end up voting for Independant candidates with no real hope of getting elected anyway.
11. What type of places do you hang out in with your mundane friends?
Steve: In view of the fact that we've established I don't have any except Tom, I guess my house.
12. What type of places do you hang out in with your normal friends?
Steve: Yeah. Usually the Eye. Or my house. Or occassionally motorcycle trips through Europe.
13. What annoys you more than anything else?
Steve: Brains!
14. What would be the perfect gift for you?
Steve: Tickets to see Clapton, back stage passes, a meet and greet, and a chance to jam with the man. Oh, wait. That was my Christmas present last year. And now, I think perhaps a resounding chorus of "I love Nilla" would be appropriate.
Me: ROFL.
15. What's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?
Steve: My kids doing Pancho and Lefty.
16. What time of day is your favorite?
Steve: Any time I get to be alone with my wife without some stupid interuption. I didn't mean romantically, I just meant to sit there and do crossword puzzles or flick cereal at each other or listen to her talk about her wacky stories.
17. What kind of weather is your favorite?
Steve: Rain. I know, I'm crazy, I like rain.
18. What is your favorite food? What is your least favorite food?
Steve: Spaghetti and meatballs. With GARLIC BREAD. *sighs* and eggs. I hate eggs.
19. What is your favorite drink? (Coffee, Coke, Juice, Beer, Wine, etc.)
Steve: Apple juice with lots of crushed ice.
20. What's your favorite animal? Why?
Steve: I don't have one. I'm not really an animal guy. Judge used to have a dog that I loved, but overall there isn't like some type of animal I'm infatuated with.
21. Do you have any pets? Do you want any pets? What kind?
Steve: No.
22. What do you find most relaxing? (Not as in stress relief, but as something that actually calms you down.)
Steve: Having my wife rub my back.
23. What habit that others have annoys you most?
Steve: Driving. too. slow.
24. What kind of things embarrass you? Why?
Steve: I guess people making a huge deal about what I do like I'm some kind of paragon or something. I do what I do because I'm called to it, and if I can help somebody that's great, but I'm not doing it in my own strength, so...I don't know. It just makes me uncomfortable when somebody wants to hand me medal.
25. What don't you like about yourself?
Steve: I lecture my kids too much.
26. How would you like to look?
Steve: Like Ewan McGregor.
Sex & Intimacy Questions
1. Would you consider yourself straight, gay, bi, or something else? Why?
Steve: Straight. I was born that way.
2. Who was the first person you had sex with? When did it happen? What was it like? How well did it go?
Steve: Nilla, before we were married, she didn't laugh at me, so I assume it went find, and it was nice.
3. Have you ever had a same-sex experience? Who with, what was it like, and how did it go?
Steve: No.
4. What is your deepest, most well-hidden sexual fantasy? Would you ever try it?
Steve: I don't know. It's hidden. *eyeroll*
5. What was the wildest thing you've ever done, sexually? Who was it with and when did it happen?
Steve: I'm very repressed. *eyeroll*
6. Is there any sexual activity that you enjoy and/or practice regularly that can be considered non-standard? (Bondage, Fantasy Play, etc.) Why do you like it?
Steve: The Kiss. And I can't really explain why I like it, you have to be Mortal Beloved or vampiric to understand what it is.
7. Is there any sexual activity that you will not, under any circumstances, do?
Me: Gurad's answers to this question apply to Steve.
8. Do you currently have a lover? What is their name, and what is your relationship like? What are they like? Why are you attracted to them?
Steve: My wife, Nilla. Our relationship is not perfect. It's sometimes very rocky, but we're committed to each other no matter what and we're both too stubborn and too much in love to ever quit. Um. I'm attracted to her because she's hot, obviously, but I love her because she's real.
9. What is the perfect romantic date?
Steve: Probably a night game. Nilla and I like to watch baseball together. Amsterdam's got a Minor League team called The Rush. We sit behind home plate, get hotdogs and roasted peanuts because she's crazy about them. Team wins, we watch the fireworks, and then we leave and go for a cruise in the car for a while. Make out. Go home, and pickup where we left off.
10. Describe the perfect romantic partner for you.
Steve: Nilla.
Me: Care to elaborate?
Steve: What, you don't know who Nilla is now?
Me: *sigh*
11. Do you ever want to get married and have children? When do you see this happening?
Steve: I'd have to get a divorce first. My wife might object.
12. What is more important - sex or intimacy? Why?
Steve: Sex. Cause I like sex. A lot.
Me: *smacks*
Steve: Oh, was I supposed to say intimacy?
Me: He's kidding.
Steve: He is?
Me: Yes. *glares*
Steve: *laughs!*
Me: Characters! *headdesk*
13. What was your most recent relationship like? Who was it with? (Does not need to be sexual, merely romantic.)
Steve: Nilla.
Me: Care to elaborate yet?
Steve: Dar. Seriously. How can you not know who Nilla is?
Me: *sigh*
14. What's the worst thing you've done to someone you loved?
Me: He's had to kill more than one. It's very hard for him to talk about.
Drug & Alcohol Questions
1. How old were you when you first got drunk? What was the experience like?
Did anything good come out of it? Did anything bad come out of it?
Steve: I was eleven, it was at this old warehouse where a bunch of kids were crashing. At the time I thought it ws fun. The only bad thing that I guess came out of it was that I learned to like being drunk and high. I got over it.
2. Do you drink on any kind of regular basis?
Steve: Not really.
3. What kind of alcohol do you prefer?
Steve: Homemade beer from this place on Market Street in Amsterdam.
4. Have you ever tried any other kind of "mood altering" substance? Which one(s)? What did you think of each?
Steve: I used to smoke a lot of pot. I liked it. Dropped acid a few times but it made me see things. I mean...not the normal things. So. Yeah.
5. What do you think of drugs and alcohol? Are there any people should not do? Why or why not?
Steve: I think there's nothing inherently evil about them. The problem is that people either won't or can't use them in moderation, and addiction is dangerous, so they're really better off left alone unless you know for a fact that you can't become addicted to them.
Morality Questions
1. What one act in your past are you most ashamed of? What one act in your past are you most proud of?
Steve: Trying to kill Gurad, and oddly enough, NOT killing Gurad.
2. Have you ever been in an argument before? Over what, with who, and who won?
Steve: Yes, lots of things, lots people, sometimes I've won and sometimes I've lost. Both.
3. What do you feel most strongly about?
Steve: That parents have a responsibility to protect and love their children.
4. What do you pretend to feel strongly about, just to impress people?
Steve: Honestly? I pretend to feel strongly about not wanting my socks folded one inside the other just because I heard that that's what smart people do. *nods*
Me: ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5. What trait do you find most admirable, and how often do you find it?
Steve: Integrity. I guess I don't find it as often as I like, but I think it's probably there anyway.
6. Is there anything you think should not be incorporated into the media or art (sex, violence, greed, etc.,)? If so, what and why, and if not, why not?
Steve: I think a lot of what people try to define as art today is really just stuff they're doing for shock value, and the same is true for the way the media works. I believe in free speech, and I don't think trying to restrict those things with random rules is going to do any good, but I also think that it would be a good idea for people to re-examine the role of the media and their definition of art.
Me: o.O
Fate: O.o
Cal: *looks at us* He's not stupid, writers…
Me: He's probably one of--if not THE-- the single most intelligent characters I have. He also doesn't pontificate on the role of art and the media.
7. Do you have any feelings in general that you are disturbed by? What are they? Why do they disturb you?
Steve: I still have some emotional baggage from the things I went through as a kid. It makes me a little crazy sometimes and I do things that freak myself out.
8. What is your religious view of things? What religion, if any, do you call your own?
Steve: *waves hand* Whatever Gurad said. He got it from me anyway.
Me: *headdesk*
9. Do you think the future is hopeful? Why?
Steve: Sure. Because I know how the story ends.
10. Is an ounce of prevention really worth a pound of cure? Which is more valuable? Why do you feel this way?
Steve: I don't know. I've never really measured prevention or cure, but if an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure then logically prevention is more valuable. Because that's how math works.
Me: ROFL
12. What's the worst thing that can be done to another person? Why?
Steve: To take away someone's innocence, because it's fleeting enough and everyone has the right to experience it and leave it behind when they choose and not before.
13. What's the worst thing you could actually do to someone you hated?
Steve: Nothing. Exacting vengence isn't my job.
14. Are you a better leader or follower? Why do you think that? If you think the whole leader-follower archetype is a crock of shit, say so, and explain why?
Steve: Neither. I'm a horrible follower. I break the rules every chance I get and enjoy doing it. I'm a rotten leader because I don't respect hierarchy and I don't think people should follow a guy who can't be a follower when it's appropriate.
15. What is your responsibility to the world, if any? Why do you think that?
Steve: I really wish I could figure that out. It would make my life a lot less stressful.
16. Do you think redemption is possible? If so, can anyone be redeemed, or are there only certain circumstances that can be? If not, why do you think nothing can redeem itself?
Steve: Gurad probably stole my spiel on that too. Damn him! *pause* Wait.
Cal: *smurfles*
Me: *hugs Steve*
Fate: *does too*
Steve: *sighs at writers* So, yeah, whatever Gurad said, Dar, just type it over and put in contractions.
Me: *DIES LAUGHING*
Gurad--*poofs* I am quite capable of using contractions *poofs*
Me: *face.palm*
17. Is it okay for you to cry? When was the last time you cried?
Steve: *gasps in mock-horror* NO! It is NOT okay for me to cry. Ever. Except when I feel like it. Which was the last time I did. I think. Yeah. *nods*
Me: ROFL!!!!!!!!
Fate-ROFL !!!!!
Cal: *laughs*
Steve: No, seriously, uh. I cried last night. It was the episode where Margaret found out her creepy husband Donald was cheating on her. Gets me every time.
Me: ROFL
Fate: ROFL
18. What do you think is wrong with MOST people, overall?
Steve: They have all these hang ups about crying. It makes them really really repressed. If they could just have a good cry once in a while everything would be so much better.
Post-Supernatural Awareness Questions
1. When did you go through whatever made you supernatural? What was it like (in your opinion)?
Steve: I got bitten by a radioactive spider and--er…no.
2. What do you think now of being supernatural? Is it cool, or have you been screwed?
Steve: It's really cool. Especially when I use my supernatural power of not-having-any-powers-but-managing-to-kill-vampires-all-by-myself. Dar, add the hyphens for me, okay?
Me: *dies*
3. Do you have a mentor? Who are they? How did you become their student?
Steve: Yes, Tom, and he adopted me when I was like twelve.
4. Do you have any magical items? Where did you get them?
Steve: No.
5. What do you think of the other denizens of the World of Darkness? Why for each? (If you haven't met something, do you think it exists, and if it does, is that bad or good?)
Steve: Other wha…?
Me: He's met pretty much everything that exists in Bloodkinverse and his opinion varies on an individual basis.
Steve: Oh. Right.
6. Think of a major event that happened during your training/initiation. What was it?
Steve: Well, we went to this thing called The Lilith Fair, and Lilith was there. She was singing all these angsty female-empowerment songs and it really helped me get in touch with my feminine side. So then I chased her offstage but instead of shooting her, I asked her if she wanted to make a salad.
Me: STEVE!!!!!!!!!
Steve: *deadpan* What, Dar?
Me: *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh* He's kidding. They have this running joke thing about how Lilith's been turned into this cultural icon for female empowerment and they all just want to go "Have you MET her?"
Steve: Anway. No. Seriously. One time, I was undercover pretending to be a vampire. I thought I was all cool and invincible and I went like this: *bares fangs and hisses* and my fake fang popped out.
Cal: *laughs*
Steve: So I'm like, "Oh, man! I really gotta get to a dentist!" and Tom's talking to me through the wire I'm wearing and he's like "What? Steve! What? What are you talking about dentist!" and he had to come in and pull me out. I blew the whole operation. But I never thought I was invincible again.
Cal: *laughs!*
Steve: Yeah, everybody loves that story.
Cal: It's a good story.
7. What is something you had to learn during your training that you hated? Why did you hate it?
Steve: How to milk a vampire for venom. It's seriously disgusting.
Cal: o.O Bleeeeurgh...
Steve: You know that stuff I use on you when you're bleeding?
Cal: *nod*
Steve: Vamp juice.
Cal: *nods* Bleeeeh...
Miscellaneous Questions
1. What is the thing that has frightened you most? Do you think there is anything out there that's scarier than that? What do you think that would be?
Steve: I thought I lost Nilla once. Scarier is losing one of my kids.
2. Has anyone or anything you've ever cared about died? How did you feel about it? What happened?
Me: We've covered this.
3. What was the worst injury you've ever received? How did it happen?
Steve: I blew up once. Saving Cliff and Claude Crandall. I was in the ICU for weeks.
Me: Technically, the bomb blew up while he was still in the cave, but yeah.
4. How ticklish are you? Where are you ticklish?
Steve: Ask Nilla. She knows.
Nilla--*poofs* Ribs, armpits and the backs of the knees are pretty easy. Stomach, not so much. Feet if you can get to them, but it's not usually worth it.
Steve: Payback's a bitch, babe.
Nilla--*bats eyelashes and poofs*
5. What is your current long term goal?
Steve: To finish reading my book.
6. What is your current short term goal?
Steve: Clean the shed before Nilla kills me.
7. Do you have any bad habits? If so, what are they, and do you plan to get rid of them?
Steve: Not that I know of, but you might want to check with Nilla.
8. If you were a mundane person, what would you do with your life? What occupation would you want, and how would you spend all your time?
Steve: I am one. But whatever. If I wasn't a monster-hunter, I'd probably go live in Franconia and teach guitar lessons.
9. What time period do you wish you had lived in? Why? (Looking at this as an attempt to change history doesn't count.) What appeals to you about this era?
Steve: I like the present. My wife is there.
10. How private of a person are you? Why?
Steve: Very. And I can't tell you. It's private.
11. If you were to gain an obscenely large sum of money (via an inhertiance, a lawsuit, a lottery, or anything else) what would you do with it?
Steve: I'd pay Gurad back.
12. What would you wish for if you found a genie?
Steve: That's the dumbest question I've ever heard.
13. What do you do when you are bored?
Steve: Practice my yo-yo.
14. What is the most frightening potential handicap or disfigurement you can conceive of? What makes it so frightening?
Steve: A traumatic brain injury because chances are even if I recovered, my mind would be permanently altered.
---
This is a couple of new sets. The first group was made up by me because they seemed rather obvious but I hadn't been able to find them anywhere. The second set is from a website for character building and I can't remember which one. The questions themselves come from The Book of Questions
1. Who Are the most important people in your life and why?
Steve: Jesus, my wife, my kids, the rest of my family, Calvin, and Curt. Because those are the people I know I can trust.
2. Describe your best friend in detail and tell me what you like best and least about him/her. Why are you friends with him/her? If you could change anything about this person, what would it be and why?
Steve: *flicks glance at Brain* That's just your excuse to get me to give some big "Fangs and Steve" speech isn't it?
Brain: *innocent*
Steve: My best friend is Gurad Fayne. He's an ancient, unkillable vampire who likes to cook, has a million relatives and really, really doesn't like it when people mess with his family. What I like best about him is that I can tell him anything without fear of judment. What I like least is that he's too fricking perfect. I'm friends with him because he's a man of honor and integrity and because we have a good time together. Also he's a very smart person to have at your back in a fight. If I could change something, I would get him to stop thinking that Alexandra's death was his fault.
3. Do you have children, and if so what are they like?
Steve: They're pains in the ass.
Me: *headdesk*
4. How has having children changed your view of yourself?
Steve: I guess they have made me realize that I don't know as much as I'd like to know, or as much as I used to think I knew.
5. How has it changed your view of the world?
Steve: Well, in some ways, having them makes me see the world as more hopeful. I've gotten to see them discover all kinds of things, a lot of which I took for granted before. In other ways, I think I've become more guarded because I worry about the ways they can get hurt out there and what might happen to them if I haven't done a good enough job.
6. Do you have a favorite child? Why or why not?
Steve: *bites lip* Well, I'm not really supposed to, but... *holds up thumb and forefinger pinched together* Maybe a little. I've only got one girl, and she's a lot younger than my two boys. That's probably why. And I mean she's so...in some ways totally like her mother and then in other ways she's this little girly thing that's so cute I can't help it. And she's always like "I wanna marry my daddy when I grow up" and stuff. Never repeat that. To anybody.
Cal: I won't.
7. Describe your favorite memory involving each child.
Steve: *hmms* Well. One time Nilla had taken Tommy someplace for the day. I don't know where it was, but Alex and I were at the house all day by ourselves. I asked him what he wanted for breakfast and he said pizza, so I ordered a pizza, and then he wanted to eat in bed watching TV, which is against the rules in the house so we took the pizza upstairs and got in Nilla and my bed and just ate pizza and watched TV all morning and then he wanted to read me a story so he goes to his room to get a book and comes back dragging the whole bookshelf.
Let's see. When Tommy was little he used to play the drums. He used to sit in with the band when Gurad was playing the cello. So one night, we played some high school gym and it was pouring out, but we had a packed house anyway. So, these kids in leather jackets and crap all came up to Tommy and asked for his autograph after the show. The kid didn't stop smiling for a week.
One time, Nilla and I took Jazzy with us and we went back to the park where we met. Played on the swings with her and stuff and told her the whole story. Then we all hotdogs and Oreos for lunch.
8. Least favorite?
Steve: Oh, geez. Uh. Well, I don't really have one with Jazzy yet, but the boys. They don't get sick very easily but there was this genetically engineered vampire flu one time, and both Tommy and Alex were very, very bad off. Nilla and Gurad gave them restoratives as much as they could, but their immune systems were affected too. The whole thing was just a nightmare.
9. Do your children like you? Do they respect you? Why or why not?
Steve: They act like they do. I don't know, you'd really have to ask them.
10. How do you feel about them?
Steve: Uh...? I love them. I respect them as human beings. Don't always like them, but hey I don't always like my best friend, either.
11. What are the most important things you have learned from your children?
Steve: When to shut up and how to relax.
12. What have you taught them?
Steve: To think for themselves and make their own decisions. Except Jazzy. I taught her how to blow bubbles in milk.
13. Do you regret having children?
Steve: No.
14. How would you react if one of your children adopted a religion or political views that were different from your own?
Steve: Refer to "think for themselves and make their own decisions." I'm obviously not going to agree with every decision they make, and some of those decisions will disappoint me, but I can't tell them to make their own choices and then get tyrannical when they do what I wanted.
15. How would you respond if one of your children intended to marry a person of whom you did not approve? Even if that person was the same gender as your child?
Steve: Yes. The alternative would be to reject my kid and lose my relationship with them. As long as the person isn't somehow a danger to my child, anyone they love is welcome in my family. As far as the gender issue, same answer. The alternative would be to reject my kid and lose my relationship with them. As long as the person isn't somehow a danger to my child, anyone they love is welcome in my family.
16. How would you respond if one of your children was found guilty of murder?
Steve: *facepalm!*
Cal: *meek*
Steve: *Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh* My kid is still my kid. I would visit them in jail and do whatever I could to help them, but I would expect them to pay the consequences for their actions.
17. What hopes did you have for your children when they were born?
Steve: I had this little tiny baseball cap and I really hoped it would fit Alex's little tiny head. No, seriously. I really just hoped they'd live and grow up healthy and happy.
18. What hopes do you have for them now?
Steve: Well, I hope Jazzy does good in Preschool next year and she doesn't turn out to like Barney. I hope Tommy keeps doing what he's doing now with being less of a loose canon, and I hope Alex will actually write his book and get out of hunting because it's what he wants.
19. Would you kill an innocent person to save the life of your child? Why or why not?
Steve: What is this, Steve's moral inventory? No, I wouldn't. First of all, because I have no right whatsoever to decide that one life is more important or valuable than any other. Second of all, I took a vow to protect innocent life.
20. What are you most afraid of when it comes to your children?
Steve: That they won't be prepared to handle the hunt when I'm gone.
21. Is it ever okay for a parent to search a child's bedroom? If so, when?
Steve: It depends. First of all, on the age of the child. If you've got a three year old, there are times you have to do stuff like that, but once their older, you have to be willing to give them space, and respect their privacy unless you suspect they're doing something dangerous or illegal. And if that's the case you'd better be sure you're right, because if not you're going to lose your kid's trust. And even if you get it back, you won't have the relationship you did before.
22. What are your views on spanking and other forms of discipline? What methods of discipline do you regularly use and why?
Steve: I won't ever hit my kids. It's too easy to lose control, first off. Secondly, it's humiliating, and third it doesn't teach the kids anything. With Jazzy we use time-outs or taking away things she likes. When the boys were still young enough to be disciplined by us we made sure they knew what our expectations were and what the consequences would be if they made other choices.
23. Do they work?
Steve: *laughs* They haven't killed anybody yet.
24. What is your least favorite aspect of parenting.
Steve: Cleaning up puke.
26. How important to you is your children's education?
Steve: Extremely.
27. How would you react if your children quit high school or did not want to go to college?
Steve: We've had this talk. I told them if they don't want to finish high school they'd better have a job before they quit because I expect them to be paying rent the same week they leave school. If they don't want to go to college, they've got two months to either find a job or find another place to live.
29. What would you do if your teenage daughter was pregnant?
Steve: *lets out breath* Well. After Nilla stopped me from killing the father of my grandchild, I would ask my teenage daughter where she's working because I don't intend to support her and her baby. Then I'd buy a t-shirt that said Grandpa
30. Which of your children are you closest to and why?
Steve: Tommy. Because we went through this whole crazy thing where he saved my life and carried me on his back through miles and miles underground tunnel and subway fighting monsters.
------------------------------------------------------------------
A. If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven't you told them yet?
Steve: *thinks for a long time* Not telling my brother-in-law I was wrong about the stuff I said to him in his office that time when Sofia was messing with us, and I was sorry I said it, and that I was glad he'd proven me wrong and been there for my sister and my niece. I don't really know why I haven't told him yet. I know he knows, but neither one of us are really like the heart to heart type.
B. Would you accept $1,000,000 to leave the county and never set foot in it again?
Steve: No.
C. You are given the power to kill people simply by thinking of their deaths and twice repeating the word "good-bye." People would die a natural death and no one would suspect them. Are there any situations in which you would use this power? [If you can imagine you killing someone indirectly, could you still see doing it if you had to look into the person's eyes and stab the person to death? Have you ever genuinely wanted to kill someone or wished them dead?]
Steve: Nope. Something like that is a recipe for corruption. You start out saying okay I'm a hunter, so I'm just gonna use this on the vampires I'd hunt anyway. But it's too easy, and you start to think maybe it'd be okay to use it on some really really bad people you couldn't get to any other way. The longer your do that, the more blurred the line becomes between killing to protect the innocent and killing just because. I'm a human being, and I know how where that would take me. I hunt monsters for a living. I know what it is to kill, and I don't like doing it. I never want to kill somebody, and if I start to like it, I hope I have the sense enough to get out of the business before I get someone else in trouble.
D. What would constitute a "perfect" evening for you?
Steve: Having spaghetti and meatballs with GARLIC BREAD for dinner, catching a couple of movies downstairs, singing my daughter to sleep, and then going out to kill a few corpses before sunrise.
Me: I'm sensing garlic deprivation, Stevie.
Steve: Oh yeah.
E. Would you rather be extremely successful professionally and have a tolerable yet unexciting private life, or have an extremely happy private life and only a tolerable and uninspiring professional life? [Since so many people place great emphasis on a happy private life, why do people often wind up putting more energy into their professional lives? If you feel that your private life is more important to you, do priorities support this? Are you simply unwilling to admit that work is more important? Do you use work as a substitute? Do you hope professional success will somehow magically lead to personal happiness?]
Steve: If you don't have a happy life at home, there's no point in professional success anyway. And I think that answers all that secondary babbling crap, Dar. Geez.
Me: Sorry.
F. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one ability or quality, what would it be?
Steve: The ability to poof.
Me: In normal English, that's teleportation.
Steve: I don't see why it can't just be called poofing. That's what you do. You're one place, and then you go POOF and you're another place.
Me: *facepalm*
G. You are given the chance to meet someone with whom you can have the most satisfying love imaginable - the stuff of dreams. Sadly, they know that in six months the person will die. Knowing that pain that would follow, would you still want to meet that person and fall in love? What if you knew your lover would not die, but instead would betray you? [In love, is intensity or permanence more important to them? How much do you expect from someone who loves them? What would make them feel betrayed by their mate - indifference? Dishonesty? Infidelity?
Steve: No. Because I already have everything I could possibly want or need in a relationship. If I didn't have everything I wanted in a relationship already, I still wouldn't, because I'm sick and tired of people dying on me or walking out of my life, and since I don't know this hypothetical person yet, I'm not losing anything by not meeting them. I'm not much of a romantic. In answer to the betrayal stuff, if this supposed lover was going to betray me, the relationship wouldn't be love in the first place. Well, okay, yeah, there's such a thing as one-sided love, but it's by nature unsatisfying, so if the person was capable of betraying me the whole question becomes moot. As to whether intensity or permanence is more important, I think that if you're going to have a genuine permanent love relationship, you need to cultivate intensity of emotion. It's not all candy and flowers and romantic whatever. You have to have two people who are willing to work at being in love. When you do have that, the intensity is there--just in a different way.
H. Do you prefer being around men or women? Do your closest friends tend to be men or women?
Steve: I don't really have a preference, but I don't understand women. And I guess my closest friends are male.
I. Would you be willing to murder an innocent person if it would end hunger in the world? [Would it torment you more to have the blood of an innocent person on your hands or to know you let millions of people die? What do you think of people who achieve great things by compromising their principles? Many are will to give their own lives but not to take the life of another; is anything so important you would sacrifice your very soul for it?]
Steve: As mentioned, I took a vow. I can't do that. No, honestly, it wouldn't torment me because the responsibility for world hunger was never mine in the first place. I'm just a guy, and I have no right to play God. People who achieve great things by compromising their principles will get what's coming to them eventually. *shrug* There are some things I'd sacrifice my life for. My soul isn't mine to give, though.
Me: I love you.
Steve: I know.
J. What is your most treasured memory?
Steve: The day I met Nilla.
K. If you knew there would be a nuclear war in one week, what would you do?
Steve: Find a way to stop it.
L. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life? Is there anything you hope to do that is even better?
Steve: The fact that my kids are relatively normal, happy, well-adjusted, and sane. And no, I don't think so.
M. One would be the one material item you would save during a fire?
Steve: The scrapbook I gave Nilla about her mother.
N. You are offered $1,000,000 for the following act: before you are ten pistols - only one of which is loaded. You must pick up one of the pistols, point it at their forehead, and pull the trigger. If you can walk away they do so a millionaire. Would they accept the risk?
Steve: A million dollars is what my father-in-law puts in Christmas cards.
O. If you could choose the manner of you death, what would it be? [Would you die a hero's death, die a martyr to some great cause, die in a natural catastrophe, or die peacefully? Why is it so tempting to have death catch us in our sleep?]
Steve: I'd die doing something worthwhile that my family could be proud of. And I have no idea why it's so tempting to die in one's sleep. I guess because people are afraid if they don't know what to expect.
P. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
Steve: The fact that my kids are relatively normal, happy, well-adjusted, and sane.
Q. How forgiving are you?
Steve: As forgiving as humanly possible.
R. When your character tells a story, do they often exaggerate or embellish it? If so, why?
Steve: No, I don't. My stories don't need it.
S. How much do you feel in control of the course of your life?
Steve: Not at all. But I don't see that as a bad thing.
T. Is it easy for you to ask for help when they need it? Will you ask for help?
Steve: No, but I do it anyway.
U. Would you like to be famous? In what way?
Steve: Oh yes. Please. I'd love to get requests for interviews all the time.
V. What are your most compulsive habits? Do youregularly struggle to break those habits?
Steve: I guess yo-yoing. And no?
W. What do you strive for most in their life: accomplishment, security, love, power, excitement, knowledge, or something else?
Steve: *chuckles* Something else.
Cal: What?
Steve: Take a wild guess.
Cal: Um... to avoid interviews?
Steve: *grins* That too.
X. How easily embarrassed are you?
Steve: *laughs!* Only when asked to talk about Steve.
Y. Would the fact that you have never done something before increase or decrease its appeal?
Steve: Definite increase. Unless it involves something gross.
Z. How many different sexual partners have you had in your life? Would you prefer to have had more or fewer?
Steve: Definite increase. Unless it involves something gross. *dramatic pause* Oh, wait! No, I got mixed up!
Me: *Headdesk!*
Steve: *smirks* Sorry, couldn't resist. I've had one, and she's all I want or need.
One, there are more questions. I made some up since I wanted things that focused more on the family dynamics and his views of parenting, then I found some really interesting complex ones that he hated online. I'll have to go back and ask Gurad those later.
The problem with Steve is that he doesn't like to talk about himself. Like at ALL. So, in order to get him to cooperate,
cha_aka volunteered to have one of her characters do the interviewing. Steve and Calvin have a unique relationship that would take far too long to explain.100 Character Development Questions
These 100 Character Development questions, written by my friend Rich Taylor, have come in handy so many times for me as a writer! I put Michael through these questions as I was working on his character development, way back when he was brand new to me and we knew nothing about each other. I learned a ton of stuff about who he was, and also I learned a lot about how I wanted to approach telling his story.
My advice is to do the questions a bit a time so you don't burn out on them. Just when you have some quiet time, sit down with your character (perhaps over a cup of tea) and let them answer the questions naturally. Skip any that do not apply to your character or world setting.
I think this is really how Michael 'came to life', through this character interview. If you are not in the habit of talking to your characters and find this whole process quite silly, suspend your disbelief. Even if you are not writing the story in first person, you will still learn so many things about your character and how to write them. It's well worth the time invested.
When I wrote my novel, I was pressed for time so I didn't complete all of the questions. You can choose a few at random, even. You'll be surprised what you learn!
If anyone is curious, I can post Michael's character interview as a separate post to show you what it turned out like.
THE 100+ QUESTIONS
Welcome to over one hundred of the dumbest questions about your character. These are things that, if someone were to ask you in real life, you could answer without giving it any thought whatsoever. Most characters, however, can't answer this because authors never think about it - it's unimportant. Well, these things are going to help you define you character more.
Some tips: Answer these in character, but only in a situation where your character would be 100% honest with themselves and with the person asking the question. Otherwise, answer as an author, and still be 100% honest.
Mandatory Questions
1. What about you is heroic?
Steve: *eyerolls to ceiling* I'm not a hero. Just a guy with silver bullets in my gun and some good toys.
Cal: It just asked about heroic, not about actual heroness.
Steve: What's the difference?
Cal: If you won't admit to being a hero you might admit to being hero-esque?
Steve: Did you just say "hero-ESQUE?"
Cal: *innocent*
Steve: I don't have to admit to being a hero. I'm no kind of hero, and nothing about what I do, how I do it, or who I am is heroic.
2. What about you is social? What do you like about people?
Steve: Everything about me is social pretty much. I like being around people. My friends and family are important to me, and so are the other people I meet. I guess what I like about people is that most of them can teach you something if you give them the chance.
3. Of what benefit could you be to the current group?
Steve: Which one?
Me: The Elderkin.
Steve: Well, I'm the guy with the database. I'm usually the one who knows what's going on first, and if somebody's hurt or sick or something I'm usually the one who knows how to fix it.
4. Why would you choose to join the current group?
Steve: It's my family. Besides, my wife is hot.
5. Invent an adventure/plot that your character would actively undertake (as opposed to just tagging along)?
Me: Usually it involves rescuing and then helping emotionally damaged former slaves.
Personal Questions
1. What is your real, birth name? What name do you use?
Steve: Steven Edward Riley, and I usually go by Steve or Riley depending on the situation.
2. Do you have a nickname? What is it, and where did you get it?
Steve: People call me Stevie. I don't know where I got it, really. Probably my mom.
3. What do you look like? (Include height, weight, hair, eyes, skin, apparent age, and distinguishing features)
Steve: I look like Ewan McGregor. *beams and bats eyelashes*
4. How do you dress most of the time?
Steve: Jeans. T-shirt. *shrugs*
5. How do you "dress up?"
Steve: Jeans and a sport coat.
6. How do you "dress down?"
Steve: Old baggy gray sweats and socks with holes in them.
7. What do you wear when you go to sleep?
Steve: Different old baggy gray sweats.
8. Do you wear any jewelry?
Steve: My wedding ring, and sometimes a blood necklace.
9. In your opinion, what is your best feature?
Steve: Uh. My...hands, I guess. I don't know.
10. What's your real birth date?
Steve: August third 1988.
Me: As a note, the first book begins in summer 2010.
11. Where do you live? Describe it: Is it messy, neat, avant-garde, sparse, etc.?
Steve: I live in this big old stone house that used to be a Bed and Breakfast. It's huge because my father-in-law keeps building additions, and it's always clean because my kid is a full-blown, neurotic neat freak.
12. Do you own a car? Describe it.
Steve: My car. is MADE of awesome.
Cal: *laughs*
Steve: Okay, seriously. It's a black custom Trans Am with a big fat list of mods that appear in fic and would take eight hours to explain.
Cal: *nods* And is made of awesome.
13. What is your most prized mundane possession? Why do you value it so much?
Steve: The cross my father gave me when I joined the family business. I guess I value it because it was the first thing I had that kind of said I belonged to something.
14. What one word best describes you?
Steve: Pain in the ass. Wait that's four words.
Cal: That's what hyphens are for.
Steve: Oh, right. Pain-hyphen-in-hyphen-the-hyphen-ass.
Familial Questions
1. What was your family like?
Me: I'm just answering these because this is a major painful topic for Steve and I don't like it when he's traumatized. His mother was a young hunter named Judy who got in over head with a guy who's soul was not his own. His family life was rough, and he was pretty much the primary caretaker of his siblings until his parents were killed.
2. Who was your father, and what was he like?
Me: His biological father's name was Max Riley and by the time Steve was born, what was left his mind was completely without compassion or empathy for other humans.
3. Who was your mother, and what was she like?
Me: Steve doesn't know this, but his mother was related to a family that was once the chief organized rival of the Cantlings. She was a capable hunter, although not the best in her social circle, a good person, and extremely intelligent despite the circumstances that she found herself in. She loved her children very much, and she did everything humanly possible to protect them.
4. What was your parents marriage like? Were they married? Did they remain married?
Me: I wouldn't even call it a marriage.
5. What were your siblings names? What were they like?
Me: Steve has a twin sister named Cassandra who goes by Cass and a half-brother named Matthew that they call Matty. Cass is a quiet girl. She doesn't make close friends easily but most people like her. She's practical, caring, and a sucker for an animal in trouble. Matty's also quiet, but more reserved than Cass. He can seem withdrawn sometimes, but mainly that's because he's worried about what might happen to anyone who got close to him. He's the most intellectual of the three, and he can't always relate to Steve, but they love each other very much.
6. What's the worst thing one of your siblings ever did to you? What's the worst thing you've done to one of your siblings?
Me: Due to the nature of their childhood, the Riley kids didn't really engage in most of the typical kinds of sibling warfare. I have a hard time seeing Matt or Cass doing anything to Steve and I know he'd have shot anybody who tried to do something bad to them.
7. When's the last time you saw any member of your family? Where are they now?
Me: Steve and Cass see each other pretty much every day or every other day. He sees Matt maybe a couple times a month.
8. Did you ever meet any other family members? Who were they? What did you think of them?
Me: Steve actually met his son, Tommy, when Tommy had gone back in time once. Steve was about twelve, and Tommy was in his thirties. So, it was an interesting experience.
Childhood Questions
1. What is your first memory?
Steve: I went to the movies with my mother and sister. It was the two-dollar theater, back before it closed and we were the only ones there. I think Cass and I were like three or four. It was spooky. I have no idea what we saw.
Me/Fate: Oooh...
2. What was your favorite toy?
Steve: My yo-yo.
3. What was your favorite game?
Steve: Parcheesi. Was the only one we had.
4. Any non-family member adults stick out in your mind? Who were they, and how did you know them? Why do they stick out?
Steve: *opens mouth* *shuts* *thinks* Tommy doesn't count, does he?
Me: *facepalm* I don't know.
Cal: I think he counts.
Steve: Well, there are two who actually stick out in a good way. Weezie was this beggar lady I met when I was on the street after my parents died. Guess she sticks out because she showed how to take care of myself out there. Tommy... *laughs* was this weird guy I met in the subway one night. Taught me to play guitar.
5. Who was your best friend when you were growing up?
Steve: My sister. We're twins. It's kind of...funky/weird/complicated/creepy depending on your perspective.
Cal: *nods* I get it.
6. What is your fondest, childhood memory?
Steve: Any time my biological father was gone or passed out.
7. What is your worst childhood memory?
Me: Killing his father to protect his sister.
Adolescent Questions
1. How old were you when you went on your first date?
Steve: Fourteen.
2. It is common for one's view of authority to develop in their adolescent years. What is your view of authority, and what event most affected it?
Steve: It depends. I have a hard time with most arbitrary authority figures but I'll listen to and respect any person in authority who proves they deserve that position. Probably has to do with being a survivor of various kinds of trauma as a kid.
3. What were you like in high school? What "clique" did you best fit in with?
Steve: I was the kid who hated high school. I was putting in my time. I didn't get in as much trouble as I might have because my father made it clear to me that hunting depended on school performance. I wasn't exactly known for getting along with the teachers though. Is there a clique for badass loners now? I mean, real ones, not the kids who're trying to be that way.
4. What were your high school goals?
Steve: To pass Geometry
5. Who was your idol when you were growing up? Who did you first fantasize about in your life?
Steve: The Judge. And...I guess if I fantasized at all it was about having my mom and brother back. I didn't have much energy left for that though.
6. What is your favorite memory from adolescence?
Steve: Hunting an old vampire named Tammuz with Tom. We tracked him for almost two years. I made the kill. Tom probably could have taken him down earlier but he let me have the shot anyway.
7. What is your worst memory from adolescence?
Me: Having to kill his girlfriend, Chloe.
Occupational Questions
1. Do you have a job? What is it? Do you like it? If no job, where does your money come from?
Steve: I have two jobs. Most of my personal money comes from a managerial position at a local franchise resteraunt. I'm also a vampire hunter, and the money to support my hunting comes from raids on wealthy preternaturals.
Me: *DIES LAUGHING* --"Local franchise" How to avoid saying "I work at Wendy's" by Steve Riley.
2. What is your boss or employer like? (Or publisher, or agent, or whatever.)
Steve: I don't have one, really. Self employed. Unless you count Tom.
3. What are your co-workers like? Do you get along with them? Any in particular? Which ones don't you get along with?
Steve: My coworkers at my day job are mostly teenagers. They're okay. They sort of see me as like this cross between the cool older brother and the really weird guy nobody can quite figure out. In the hunt, my coworkers are my wife and kids, which leads to some pretty intense workplace dynamics.
4. What is something you had to learn that you hated?
Steve: Gonna get smacked for this, but reading.
Me: As a note, Steve didn't actually start to learn to read until he was twelve, and it's a credit to his intelligence that he still managed to graduate with his highschool class despite how difficult he had it in school and the fact that he also spent most of his nights training for the hunt.
Steve: *eyeroll*
5. Do you tend to save or spend your money? Why?
Steve: I tend to spend it but mostly because I have kids.
Likes & Dislikes Questions
1. What hobbies do you have?
Steve: I play guitar, do yo-yo tricks, and I know about music.
2. Who is your closest mundane friend? Describe them and how you relate to them.
Cal: I don't really know what "mundane" is supposed to mean...
Steve: In this context it refers to someone like me. Human, with no funky powers or esoteric knowledge of ancient rites or magic spells. And I don't even know if I have a close friend that fits that description. *facepalm* How did my life get so weird? Uh. I guess Tom. He's my father, my mentor. We usually get along pretty well. Butt heads once in a while, but we respect each other so it's not a big deal.
3. Who is your worst mundane enemy? Describe them and why you don't get along.
Steve: Does the paperboy count?
Me: *Headdesk*
Steve: *pats me* Nevermind. Uh, you know, I don't really have mundane enemies. If I did, my father-in-law would like kill them.
4. What bands do you like? Do you even pay attention?
Steve: ...You're kidding me.
Cal: *meek*
Steve: If I tried to list them all, the internet would experience a worldwide crash.
Cal: *laughs*
Steve: Well, Clapton obviously. The man is my guitar idol. John Mayer. dc Talk. The rest really changes depending on what's going on in my life.
5. What tape or CD hasn't left your player since your purchased it? Why?
Steve: Honestly? There isn't one. I love all kinds of music, and I'm always looking for stuff I haven't heard before.
6. What song is "your song?" Why?
Steve: Deliver Me by Enya and Sarah Brightman. It's just pretty much the story of my life.
7. What's been your favorite movie of all time?
Steve: Lethal Weapon.
8. Read any good books? What were they?
Steve: I don't really read much, but I got stuck in an elevator once with this book I love now called A Time To Kill.
Me: Addendum. He reads all the time, but it's mostly work related, which is really difficult for him because he has trouble with reading comprehension.
Steve: ...Thank you. *raises eyes to ceiling and sighs*
9. What do you watch on the Television?
Steve: MASH and Scooby Doo, mostly. Movies with my kids sometimes. Nilla likes Stargate so I'll watch that with her.
10. When it comes to mundane politics, do you care? If so, which way do you tend to vote? If not, why don't you care?
Steve: Yes, I care, but I think they're all basically a bunch of elitist liars with too much money anyway. I usually end up voting for Independant candidates with no real hope of getting elected anyway.
11. What type of places do you hang out in with your mundane friends?
Steve: In view of the fact that we've established I don't have any except Tom, I guess my house.
12. What type of places do you hang out in with your normal friends?
Steve: Yeah. Usually the Eye. Or my house. Or occassionally motorcycle trips through Europe.
13. What annoys you more than anything else?
Steve: Brains!
14. What would be the perfect gift for you?
Steve: Tickets to see Clapton, back stage passes, a meet and greet, and a chance to jam with the man. Oh, wait. That was my Christmas present last year. And now, I think perhaps a resounding chorus of "I love Nilla" would be appropriate.
Me: ROFL.
15. What's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?
Steve: My kids doing Pancho and Lefty.
16. What time of day is your favorite?
Steve: Any time I get to be alone with my wife without some stupid interuption. I didn't mean romantically, I just meant to sit there and do crossword puzzles or flick cereal at each other or listen to her talk about her wacky stories.
17. What kind of weather is your favorite?
Steve: Rain. I know, I'm crazy, I like rain.
18. What is your favorite food? What is your least favorite food?
Steve: Spaghetti and meatballs. With GARLIC BREAD. *sighs* and eggs. I hate eggs.
19. What is your favorite drink? (Coffee, Coke, Juice, Beer, Wine, etc.)
Steve: Apple juice with lots of crushed ice.
20. What's your favorite animal? Why?
Steve: I don't have one. I'm not really an animal guy. Judge used to have a dog that I loved, but overall there isn't like some type of animal I'm infatuated with.
21. Do you have any pets? Do you want any pets? What kind?
Steve: No.
22. What do you find most relaxing? (Not as in stress relief, but as something that actually calms you down.)
Steve: Having my wife rub my back.
23. What habit that others have annoys you most?
Steve: Driving. too. slow.
24. What kind of things embarrass you? Why?
Steve: I guess people making a huge deal about what I do like I'm some kind of paragon or something. I do what I do because I'm called to it, and if I can help somebody that's great, but I'm not doing it in my own strength, so...I don't know. It just makes me uncomfortable when somebody wants to hand me medal.
25. What don't you like about yourself?
Steve: I lecture my kids too much.
26. How would you like to look?
Steve: Like Ewan McGregor.
Sex & Intimacy Questions
1. Would you consider yourself straight, gay, bi, or something else? Why?
Steve: Straight. I was born that way.
2. Who was the first person you had sex with? When did it happen? What was it like? How well did it go?
Steve: Nilla, before we were married, she didn't laugh at me, so I assume it went find, and it was nice.
3. Have you ever had a same-sex experience? Who with, what was it like, and how did it go?
Steve: No.
4. What is your deepest, most well-hidden sexual fantasy? Would you ever try it?
Steve: I don't know. It's hidden. *eyeroll*
5. What was the wildest thing you've ever done, sexually? Who was it with and when did it happen?
Steve: I'm very repressed. *eyeroll*
6. Is there any sexual activity that you enjoy and/or practice regularly that can be considered non-standard? (Bondage, Fantasy Play, etc.) Why do you like it?
Steve: The Kiss. And I can't really explain why I like it, you have to be Mortal Beloved or vampiric to understand what it is.
7. Is there any sexual activity that you will not, under any circumstances, do?
Me: Gurad's answers to this question apply to Steve.
8. Do you currently have a lover? What is their name, and what is your relationship like? What are they like? Why are you attracted to them?
Steve: My wife, Nilla. Our relationship is not perfect. It's sometimes very rocky, but we're committed to each other no matter what and we're both too stubborn and too much in love to ever quit. Um. I'm attracted to her because she's hot, obviously, but I love her because she's real.
9. What is the perfect romantic date?
Steve: Probably a night game. Nilla and I like to watch baseball together. Amsterdam's got a Minor League team called The Rush. We sit behind home plate, get hotdogs and roasted peanuts because she's crazy about them. Team wins, we watch the fireworks, and then we leave and go for a cruise in the car for a while. Make out. Go home, and pickup where we left off.
10. Describe the perfect romantic partner for you.
Steve: Nilla.
Me: Care to elaborate?
Steve: What, you don't know who Nilla is now?
Me: *sigh*
11. Do you ever want to get married and have children? When do you see this happening?
Steve: I'd have to get a divorce first. My wife might object.
12. What is more important - sex or intimacy? Why?
Steve: Sex. Cause I like sex. A lot.
Me: *smacks*
Steve: Oh, was I supposed to say intimacy?
Me: He's kidding.
Steve: He is?
Me: Yes. *glares*
Steve: *laughs!*
Me: Characters! *headdesk*
13. What was your most recent relationship like? Who was it with? (Does not need to be sexual, merely romantic.)
Steve: Nilla.
Me: Care to elaborate yet?
Steve: Dar. Seriously. How can you not know who Nilla is?
Me: *sigh*
14. What's the worst thing you've done to someone you loved?
Me: He's had to kill more than one. It's very hard for him to talk about.
Drug & Alcohol Questions
1. How old were you when you first got drunk? What was the experience like?
Did anything good come out of it? Did anything bad come out of it?
Steve: I was eleven, it was at this old warehouse where a bunch of kids were crashing. At the time I thought it ws fun. The only bad thing that I guess came out of it was that I learned to like being drunk and high. I got over it.
2. Do you drink on any kind of regular basis?
Steve: Not really.
3. What kind of alcohol do you prefer?
Steve: Homemade beer from this place on Market Street in Amsterdam.
4. Have you ever tried any other kind of "mood altering" substance? Which one(s)? What did you think of each?
Steve: I used to smoke a lot of pot. I liked it. Dropped acid a few times but it made me see things. I mean...not the normal things. So. Yeah.
5. What do you think of drugs and alcohol? Are there any people should not do? Why or why not?
Steve: I think there's nothing inherently evil about them. The problem is that people either won't or can't use them in moderation, and addiction is dangerous, so they're really better off left alone unless you know for a fact that you can't become addicted to them.
Morality Questions
1. What one act in your past are you most ashamed of? What one act in your past are you most proud of?
Steve: Trying to kill Gurad, and oddly enough, NOT killing Gurad.
2. Have you ever been in an argument before? Over what, with who, and who won?
Steve: Yes, lots of things, lots people, sometimes I've won and sometimes I've lost. Both.
3. What do you feel most strongly about?
Steve: That parents have a responsibility to protect and love their children.
4. What do you pretend to feel strongly about, just to impress people?
Steve: Honestly? I pretend to feel strongly about not wanting my socks folded one inside the other just because I heard that that's what smart people do. *nods*
Me: ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5. What trait do you find most admirable, and how often do you find it?
Steve: Integrity. I guess I don't find it as often as I like, but I think it's probably there anyway.
6. Is there anything you think should not be incorporated into the media or art (sex, violence, greed, etc.,)? If so, what and why, and if not, why not?
Steve: I think a lot of what people try to define as art today is really just stuff they're doing for shock value, and the same is true for the way the media works. I believe in free speech, and I don't think trying to restrict those things with random rules is going to do any good, but I also think that it would be a good idea for people to re-examine the role of the media and their definition of art.
Me: o.O
Fate: O.o
Cal: *looks at us* He's not stupid, writers…
Me: He's probably one of--if not THE-- the single most intelligent characters I have. He also doesn't pontificate on the role of art and the media.
7. Do you have any feelings in general that you are disturbed by? What are they? Why do they disturb you?
Steve: I still have some emotional baggage from the things I went through as a kid. It makes me a little crazy sometimes and I do things that freak myself out.
8. What is your religious view of things? What religion, if any, do you call your own?
Steve: *waves hand* Whatever Gurad said. He got it from me anyway.
Me: *headdesk*
9. Do you think the future is hopeful? Why?
Steve: Sure. Because I know how the story ends.
10. Is an ounce of prevention really worth a pound of cure? Which is more valuable? Why do you feel this way?
Steve: I don't know. I've never really measured prevention or cure, but if an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure then logically prevention is more valuable. Because that's how math works.
Me: ROFL
12. What's the worst thing that can be done to another person? Why?
Steve: To take away someone's innocence, because it's fleeting enough and everyone has the right to experience it and leave it behind when they choose and not before.
13. What's the worst thing you could actually do to someone you hated?
Steve: Nothing. Exacting vengence isn't my job.
14. Are you a better leader or follower? Why do you think that? If you think the whole leader-follower archetype is a crock of shit, say so, and explain why?
Steve: Neither. I'm a horrible follower. I break the rules every chance I get and enjoy doing it. I'm a rotten leader because I don't respect hierarchy and I don't think people should follow a guy who can't be a follower when it's appropriate.
15. What is your responsibility to the world, if any? Why do you think that?
Steve: I really wish I could figure that out. It would make my life a lot less stressful.
16. Do you think redemption is possible? If so, can anyone be redeemed, or are there only certain circumstances that can be? If not, why do you think nothing can redeem itself?
Steve: Gurad probably stole my spiel on that too. Damn him! *pause* Wait.
Cal: *smurfles*
Me: *hugs Steve*
Fate: *does too*
Steve: *sighs at writers* So, yeah, whatever Gurad said, Dar, just type it over and put in contractions.
Me: *DIES LAUGHING*
Gurad--*poofs* I am quite capable of using contractions *poofs*
Me: *face.palm*
17. Is it okay for you to cry? When was the last time you cried?
Steve: *gasps in mock-horror* NO! It is NOT okay for me to cry. Ever. Except when I feel like it. Which was the last time I did. I think. Yeah. *nods*
Me: ROFL!!!!!!!!
Fate-ROFL !!!!!
Cal: *laughs*
Steve: No, seriously, uh. I cried last night. It was the episode where Margaret found out her creepy husband Donald was cheating on her. Gets me every time.
Me: ROFL
Fate: ROFL
18. What do you think is wrong with MOST people, overall?
Steve: They have all these hang ups about crying. It makes them really really repressed. If they could just have a good cry once in a while everything would be so much better.
Post-Supernatural Awareness Questions
1. When did you go through whatever made you supernatural? What was it like (in your opinion)?
Steve: I got bitten by a radioactive spider and--er…no.
2. What do you think now of being supernatural? Is it cool, or have you been screwed?
Steve: It's really cool. Especially when I use my supernatural power of not-having-any-powers-but-managing-to-kill-vampires-all-by-myself. Dar, add the hyphens for me, okay?
Me: *dies*
3. Do you have a mentor? Who are they? How did you become their student?
Steve: Yes, Tom, and he adopted me when I was like twelve.
4. Do you have any magical items? Where did you get them?
Steve: No.
5. What do you think of the other denizens of the World of Darkness? Why for each? (If you haven't met something, do you think it exists, and if it does, is that bad or good?)
Steve: Other wha…?
Me: He's met pretty much everything that exists in Bloodkinverse and his opinion varies on an individual basis.
Steve: Oh. Right.
6. Think of a major event that happened during your training/initiation. What was it?
Steve: Well, we went to this thing called The Lilith Fair, and Lilith was there. She was singing all these angsty female-empowerment songs and it really helped me get in touch with my feminine side. So then I chased her offstage but instead of shooting her, I asked her if she wanted to make a salad.
Me: STEVE!!!!!!!!!
Steve: *deadpan* What, Dar?
Me: *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh* He's kidding. They have this running joke thing about how Lilith's been turned into this cultural icon for female empowerment and they all just want to go "Have you MET her?"
Steve: Anway. No. Seriously. One time, I was undercover pretending to be a vampire. I thought I was all cool and invincible and I went like this: *bares fangs and hisses* and my fake fang popped out.
Cal: *laughs*
Steve: So I'm like, "Oh, man! I really gotta get to a dentist!" and Tom's talking to me through the wire I'm wearing and he's like "What? Steve! What? What are you talking about dentist!" and he had to come in and pull me out. I blew the whole operation. But I never thought I was invincible again.
Cal: *laughs!*
Steve: Yeah, everybody loves that story.
Cal: It's a good story.
7. What is something you had to learn during your training that you hated? Why did you hate it?
Steve: How to milk a vampire for venom. It's seriously disgusting.
Cal: o.O Bleeeeurgh...
Steve: You know that stuff I use on you when you're bleeding?
Cal: *nod*
Steve: Vamp juice.
Cal: *nods* Bleeeeh...
Miscellaneous Questions
1. What is the thing that has frightened you most? Do you think there is anything out there that's scarier than that? What do you think that would be?
Steve: I thought I lost Nilla once. Scarier is losing one of my kids.
2. Has anyone or anything you've ever cared about died? How did you feel about it? What happened?
Me: We've covered this.
3. What was the worst injury you've ever received? How did it happen?
Steve: I blew up once. Saving Cliff and Claude Crandall. I was in the ICU for weeks.
Me: Technically, the bomb blew up while he was still in the cave, but yeah.
4. How ticklish are you? Where are you ticklish?
Steve: Ask Nilla. She knows.
Nilla--*poofs* Ribs, armpits and the backs of the knees are pretty easy. Stomach, not so much. Feet if you can get to them, but it's not usually worth it.
Steve: Payback's a bitch, babe.
Nilla--*bats eyelashes and poofs*
5. What is your current long term goal?
Steve: To finish reading my book.
6. What is your current short term goal?
Steve: Clean the shed before Nilla kills me.
7. Do you have any bad habits? If so, what are they, and do you plan to get rid of them?
Steve: Not that I know of, but you might want to check with Nilla.
8. If you were a mundane person, what would you do with your life? What occupation would you want, and how would you spend all your time?
Steve: I am one. But whatever. If I wasn't a monster-hunter, I'd probably go live in Franconia and teach guitar lessons.
9. What time period do you wish you had lived in? Why? (Looking at this as an attempt to change history doesn't count.) What appeals to you about this era?
Steve: I like the present. My wife is there.
10. How private of a person are you? Why?
Steve: Very. And I can't tell you. It's private.
11. If you were to gain an obscenely large sum of money (via an inhertiance, a lawsuit, a lottery, or anything else) what would you do with it?
Steve: I'd pay Gurad back.
12. What would you wish for if you found a genie?
Steve: That's the dumbest question I've ever heard.
13. What do you do when you are bored?
Steve: Practice my yo-yo.
14. What is the most frightening potential handicap or disfigurement you can conceive of? What makes it so frightening?
Steve: A traumatic brain injury because chances are even if I recovered, my mind would be permanently altered.
---
This is a couple of new sets. The first group was made up by me because they seemed rather obvious but I hadn't been able to find them anywhere. The second set is from a website for character building and I can't remember which one. The questions themselves come from The Book of Questions
1. Who Are the most important people in your life and why?
Steve: Jesus, my wife, my kids, the rest of my family, Calvin, and Curt. Because those are the people I know I can trust.
2. Describe your best friend in detail and tell me what you like best and least about him/her. Why are you friends with him/her? If you could change anything about this person, what would it be and why?
Steve: *flicks glance at Brain* That's just your excuse to get me to give some big "Fangs and Steve" speech isn't it?
Brain: *innocent*
Steve: My best friend is Gurad Fayne. He's an ancient, unkillable vampire who likes to cook, has a million relatives and really, really doesn't like it when people mess with his family. What I like best about him is that I can tell him anything without fear of judment. What I like least is that he's too fricking perfect. I'm friends with him because he's a man of honor and integrity and because we have a good time together. Also he's a very smart person to have at your back in a fight. If I could change something, I would get him to stop thinking that Alexandra's death was his fault.
3. Do you have children, and if so what are they like?
Steve: They're pains in the ass.
Me: *headdesk*
4. How has having children changed your view of yourself?
Steve: I guess they have made me realize that I don't know as much as I'd like to know, or as much as I used to think I knew.
5. How has it changed your view of the world?
Steve: Well, in some ways, having them makes me see the world as more hopeful. I've gotten to see them discover all kinds of things, a lot of which I took for granted before. In other ways, I think I've become more guarded because I worry about the ways they can get hurt out there and what might happen to them if I haven't done a good enough job.
6. Do you have a favorite child? Why or why not?
Steve: *bites lip* Well, I'm not really supposed to, but... *holds up thumb and forefinger pinched together* Maybe a little. I've only got one girl, and she's a lot younger than my two boys. That's probably why. And I mean she's so...in some ways totally like her mother and then in other ways she's this little girly thing that's so cute I can't help it. And she's always like "I wanna marry my daddy when I grow up" and stuff. Never repeat that. To anybody.
Cal: I won't.
7. Describe your favorite memory involving each child.
Steve: *hmms* Well. One time Nilla had taken Tommy someplace for the day. I don't know where it was, but Alex and I were at the house all day by ourselves. I asked him what he wanted for breakfast and he said pizza, so I ordered a pizza, and then he wanted to eat in bed watching TV, which is against the rules in the house so we took the pizza upstairs and got in Nilla and my bed and just ate pizza and watched TV all morning and then he wanted to read me a story so he goes to his room to get a book and comes back dragging the whole bookshelf.
Let's see. When Tommy was little he used to play the drums. He used to sit in with the band when Gurad was playing the cello. So one night, we played some high school gym and it was pouring out, but we had a packed house anyway. So, these kids in leather jackets and crap all came up to Tommy and asked for his autograph after the show. The kid didn't stop smiling for a week.
One time, Nilla and I took Jazzy with us and we went back to the park where we met. Played on the swings with her and stuff and told her the whole story. Then we all hotdogs and Oreos for lunch.
8. Least favorite?
Steve: Oh, geez. Uh. Well, I don't really have one with Jazzy yet, but the boys. They don't get sick very easily but there was this genetically engineered vampire flu one time, and both Tommy and Alex were very, very bad off. Nilla and Gurad gave them restoratives as much as they could, but their immune systems were affected too. The whole thing was just a nightmare.
9. Do your children like you? Do they respect you? Why or why not?
Steve: They act like they do. I don't know, you'd really have to ask them.
10. How do you feel about them?
Steve: Uh...? I love them. I respect them as human beings. Don't always like them, but hey I don't always like my best friend, either.
11. What are the most important things you have learned from your children?
Steve: When to shut up and how to relax.
12. What have you taught them?
Steve: To think for themselves and make their own decisions. Except Jazzy. I taught her how to blow bubbles in milk.
13. Do you regret having children?
Steve: No.
14. How would you react if one of your children adopted a religion or political views that were different from your own?
Steve: Refer to "think for themselves and make their own decisions." I'm obviously not going to agree with every decision they make, and some of those decisions will disappoint me, but I can't tell them to make their own choices and then get tyrannical when they do what I wanted.
15. How would you respond if one of your children intended to marry a person of whom you did not approve? Even if that person was the same gender as your child?
Steve: Yes. The alternative would be to reject my kid and lose my relationship with them. As long as the person isn't somehow a danger to my child, anyone they love is welcome in my family. As far as the gender issue, same answer. The alternative would be to reject my kid and lose my relationship with them. As long as the person isn't somehow a danger to my child, anyone they love is welcome in my family.
16. How would you respond if one of your children was found guilty of murder?
Steve: *facepalm!*
Cal: *meek*
Steve: *Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh* My kid is still my kid. I would visit them in jail and do whatever I could to help them, but I would expect them to pay the consequences for their actions.
17. What hopes did you have for your children when they were born?
Steve: I had this little tiny baseball cap and I really hoped it would fit Alex's little tiny head. No, seriously. I really just hoped they'd live and grow up healthy and happy.
18. What hopes do you have for them now?
Steve: Well, I hope Jazzy does good in Preschool next year and she doesn't turn out to like Barney. I hope Tommy keeps doing what he's doing now with being less of a loose canon, and I hope Alex will actually write his book and get out of hunting because it's what he wants.
19. Would you kill an innocent person to save the life of your child? Why or why not?
Steve: What is this, Steve's moral inventory? No, I wouldn't. First of all, because I have no right whatsoever to decide that one life is more important or valuable than any other. Second of all, I took a vow to protect innocent life.
20. What are you most afraid of when it comes to your children?
Steve: That they won't be prepared to handle the hunt when I'm gone.
21. Is it ever okay for a parent to search a child's bedroom? If so, when?
Steve: It depends. First of all, on the age of the child. If you've got a three year old, there are times you have to do stuff like that, but once their older, you have to be willing to give them space, and respect their privacy unless you suspect they're doing something dangerous or illegal. And if that's the case you'd better be sure you're right, because if not you're going to lose your kid's trust. And even if you get it back, you won't have the relationship you did before.
22. What are your views on spanking and other forms of discipline? What methods of discipline do you regularly use and why?
Steve: I won't ever hit my kids. It's too easy to lose control, first off. Secondly, it's humiliating, and third it doesn't teach the kids anything. With Jazzy we use time-outs or taking away things she likes. When the boys were still young enough to be disciplined by us we made sure they knew what our expectations were and what the consequences would be if they made other choices.
23. Do they work?
Steve: *laughs* They haven't killed anybody yet.
24. What is your least favorite aspect of parenting.
Steve: Cleaning up puke.
26. How important to you is your children's education?
Steve: Extremely.
27. How would you react if your children quit high school or did not want to go to college?
Steve: We've had this talk. I told them if they don't want to finish high school they'd better have a job before they quit because I expect them to be paying rent the same week they leave school. If they don't want to go to college, they've got two months to either find a job or find another place to live.
29. What would you do if your teenage daughter was pregnant?
Steve: *lets out breath* Well. After Nilla stopped me from killing the father of my grandchild, I would ask my teenage daughter where she's working because I don't intend to support her and her baby. Then I'd buy a t-shirt that said Grandpa
30. Which of your children are you closest to and why?
Steve: Tommy. Because we went through this whole crazy thing where he saved my life and carried me on his back through miles and miles underground tunnel and subway fighting monsters.
------------------------------------------------------------------
A. If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven't you told them yet?
Steve: *thinks for a long time* Not telling my brother-in-law I was wrong about the stuff I said to him in his office that time when Sofia was messing with us, and I was sorry I said it, and that I was glad he'd proven me wrong and been there for my sister and my niece. I don't really know why I haven't told him yet. I know he knows, but neither one of us are really like the heart to heart type.
B. Would you accept $1,000,000 to leave the county and never set foot in it again?
Steve: No.
C. You are given the power to kill people simply by thinking of their deaths and twice repeating the word "good-bye." People would die a natural death and no one would suspect them. Are there any situations in which you would use this power? [If you can imagine you killing someone indirectly, could you still see doing it if you had to look into the person's eyes and stab the person to death? Have you ever genuinely wanted to kill someone or wished them dead?]
Steve: Nope. Something like that is a recipe for corruption. You start out saying okay I'm a hunter, so I'm just gonna use this on the vampires I'd hunt anyway. But it's too easy, and you start to think maybe it'd be okay to use it on some really really bad people you couldn't get to any other way. The longer your do that, the more blurred the line becomes between killing to protect the innocent and killing just because. I'm a human being, and I know how where that would take me. I hunt monsters for a living. I know what it is to kill, and I don't like doing it. I never want to kill somebody, and if I start to like it, I hope I have the sense enough to get out of the business before I get someone else in trouble.
D. What would constitute a "perfect" evening for you?
Steve: Having spaghetti and meatballs with GARLIC BREAD for dinner, catching a couple of movies downstairs, singing my daughter to sleep, and then going out to kill a few corpses before sunrise.
Me: I'm sensing garlic deprivation, Stevie.
Steve: Oh yeah.
E. Would you rather be extremely successful professionally and have a tolerable yet unexciting private life, or have an extremely happy private life and only a tolerable and uninspiring professional life? [Since so many people place great emphasis on a happy private life, why do people often wind up putting more energy into their professional lives? If you feel that your private life is more important to you, do priorities support this? Are you simply unwilling to admit that work is more important? Do you use work as a substitute? Do you hope professional success will somehow magically lead to personal happiness?]
Steve: If you don't have a happy life at home, there's no point in professional success anyway. And I think that answers all that secondary babbling crap, Dar. Geez.
Me: Sorry.
F. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one ability or quality, what would it be?
Steve: The ability to poof.
Me: In normal English, that's teleportation.
Steve: I don't see why it can't just be called poofing. That's what you do. You're one place, and then you go POOF and you're another place.
Me: *facepalm*
G. You are given the chance to meet someone with whom you can have the most satisfying love imaginable - the stuff of dreams. Sadly, they know that in six months the person will die. Knowing that pain that would follow, would you still want to meet that person and fall in love? What if you knew your lover would not die, but instead would betray you? [In love, is intensity or permanence more important to them? How much do you expect from someone who loves them? What would make them feel betrayed by their mate - indifference? Dishonesty? Infidelity?
Steve: No. Because I already have everything I could possibly want or need in a relationship. If I didn't have everything I wanted in a relationship already, I still wouldn't, because I'm sick and tired of people dying on me or walking out of my life, and since I don't know this hypothetical person yet, I'm not losing anything by not meeting them. I'm not much of a romantic. In answer to the betrayal stuff, if this supposed lover was going to betray me, the relationship wouldn't be love in the first place. Well, okay, yeah, there's such a thing as one-sided love, but it's by nature unsatisfying, so if the person was capable of betraying me the whole question becomes moot. As to whether intensity or permanence is more important, I think that if you're going to have a genuine permanent love relationship, you need to cultivate intensity of emotion. It's not all candy and flowers and romantic whatever. You have to have two people who are willing to work at being in love. When you do have that, the intensity is there--just in a different way.
H. Do you prefer being around men or women? Do your closest friends tend to be men or women?
Steve: I don't really have a preference, but I don't understand women. And I guess my closest friends are male.
I. Would you be willing to murder an innocent person if it would end hunger in the world? [Would it torment you more to have the blood of an innocent person on your hands or to know you let millions of people die? What do you think of people who achieve great things by compromising their principles? Many are will to give their own lives but not to take the life of another; is anything so important you would sacrifice your very soul for it?]
Steve: As mentioned, I took a vow. I can't do that. No, honestly, it wouldn't torment me because the responsibility for world hunger was never mine in the first place. I'm just a guy, and I have no right to play God. People who achieve great things by compromising their principles will get what's coming to them eventually. *shrug* There are some things I'd sacrifice my life for. My soul isn't mine to give, though.
Me: I love you.
Steve: I know.
J. What is your most treasured memory?
Steve: The day I met Nilla.
K. If you knew there would be a nuclear war in one week, what would you do?
Steve: Find a way to stop it.
L. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life? Is there anything you hope to do that is even better?
Steve: The fact that my kids are relatively normal, happy, well-adjusted, and sane. And no, I don't think so.
M. One would be the one material item you would save during a fire?
Steve: The scrapbook I gave Nilla about her mother.
N. You are offered $1,000,000 for the following act: before you are ten pistols - only one of which is loaded. You must pick up one of the pistols, point it at their forehead, and pull the trigger. If you can walk away they do so a millionaire. Would they accept the risk?
Steve: A million dollars is what my father-in-law puts in Christmas cards.
O. If you could choose the manner of you death, what would it be? [Would you die a hero's death, die a martyr to some great cause, die in a natural catastrophe, or die peacefully? Why is it so tempting to have death catch us in our sleep?]
Steve: I'd die doing something worthwhile that my family could be proud of. And I have no idea why it's so tempting to die in one's sleep. I guess because people are afraid if they don't know what to expect.
P. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
Steve: The fact that my kids are relatively normal, happy, well-adjusted, and sane.
Q. How forgiving are you?
Steve: As forgiving as humanly possible.
R. When your character tells a story, do they often exaggerate or embellish it? If so, why?
Steve: No, I don't. My stories don't need it.
S. How much do you feel in control of the course of your life?
Steve: Not at all. But I don't see that as a bad thing.
T. Is it easy for you to ask for help when they need it? Will you ask for help?
Steve: No, but I do it anyway.
U. Would you like to be famous? In what way?
Steve: Oh yes. Please. I'd love to get requests for interviews all the time.
V. What are your most compulsive habits? Do youregularly struggle to break those habits?
Steve: I guess yo-yoing. And no?
W. What do you strive for most in their life: accomplishment, security, love, power, excitement, knowledge, or something else?
Steve: *chuckles* Something else.
Cal: What?
Steve: Take a wild guess.
Cal: Um... to avoid interviews?
Steve: *grins* That too.
X. How easily embarrassed are you?
Steve: *laughs!* Only when asked to talk about Steve.
Y. Would the fact that you have never done something before increase or decrease its appeal?
Steve: Definite increase. Unless it involves something gross.
Z. How many different sexual partners have you had in your life? Would you prefer to have had more or fewer?
Steve: Definite increase. Unless it involves something gross. *dramatic pause* Oh, wait! No, I got mixed up!
Me: *Headdesk!*
Steve: *smirks* Sorry, couldn't resist. I've had one, and she's all I want or need.