enormous character meme
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
Tall, at 6'1"; he's slender, everything tight to the bone. He has muscle, due to running about on a variety of dangerous errands, but it's not anything spectacular.
2. How old is he?
38
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
He is straight-backed and never slouches; he used to, in his youth, but it's something he abandons in adulthood.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
In decent shape -- he's not going to run a triathalon anytime soon, but he won't be winded after running up the dungeon steps if he has to.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
Graceful, poised-- Snape is very precise and careful about his movements.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
Snape knows he's not handsome; his nose is too big, his teeth too crooked and not pearly white, his eyes beady. He's been marked by years of hardship and it's left him branded by it.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Sallow; he's not got a lot of color to him.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
Greasy, lank and black.
9. What color are his eyes?
Black and beady.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
His nose is large and hooked; he also has a number of scars (throat, elsewhere) and tattoos.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
Back and along the spine/shoulders
12. What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does he have six of the same suit?
Utilitarian. Black dominates. He doesn't really car about variety. He makes an impression with his austereness.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
His clothes are tailored, and fit perfectly. He wears them as comfortably as anything.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
Yes.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Boxers, thanks. :p
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
Smooth as silk and twice as sensual when he lets it. He's crafted his voice to be the only pretty thing about him; it can get across ideas that the rest of him fails to do so. He commands attention that he would otherwise fail to get visually with vocalization.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
Even tone, with careful inflection... until he loses his temper.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
He's carefully crafted a better accent to elevate him above his previous origins as a poor boy from Manchester. He speaks in big words. Careful enunicated. HE rarely wastes words unless he's with someone he's comfortable with.
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
English, Native. French, conversationalist. German, ditto. A couple of Slavic languages which he mangles.
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
No.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
He's a very good speaker, though he's better when he's had time to plan. But he's still a good on-the-fly speaker.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
Eloquent, unless you've made him rage and then it's all JAMES POTTER WAS A SWINE and etc
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
Effing brilliant. He's magically fantastic! He's got some street smarts from his youth in Manchester, but he has added book learning much beyond that in his years in formal education.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
He has to think on his feet or he'd be one dead spy. He's good at long term plans, but there's no denying he's quick-witted.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
Logical and practical; which is why he tends to be sort of dense about romance- it's neither.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
Extensive magical education; seven years at Hogwarts.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
He enjoys potions, Dark Arts and the Defense Against; he also has an interest (in the City, in the network technology and computers, now that he's foriced to deal with them, but good luck getting him to sit down and learn about one.)
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
Introvert.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
He likes to create the illusion of total control, but just say "James Potter" and watch him fly off the handle. He is prone to wild rages when provoked, but otherwise attempts to keep it at a 'frothy simmer of hate' under cap.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
He is naturally suspicious and usually attempts to establish himself as top dog/dominant. There are some exceptions (he tries that less with women) but he does tend toward just set himself up as in control.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
React.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
Fight, to a certain point.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
Black humor, sarcasm. HE HATES PRANKS LIKE BURNING.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
He's probably suffering some serious PTSD from years of abuse, being part of a terrorist organization, etc. There's probably others but god only knows.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
Meeting Lily
Fucking things up with Lily
Joining the Death Eaters
Failing to save Lily
Killing Albus
Seeking deathbed reconcilation with Harry Potter.
14. What does he fear?
Failure; that he will continue to watch those he could save die, that he will never fix what he broke, etc.
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
To see Voldemort die -- or at least, see Harry to the end, even if he doesn't destroy Voldemort.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
That he's a romantic sap who did everything wrong with that One Girl. That he loves passionately and deeply and totally once he loves at all. That he genuinely feels like SHIT for everything he did, because that gives people power over him via guilt (We're lookinga at YOU, Albus.)
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
Strained; his mother didn't do enough to keep him safe, and his father was a constant threat. There were physical altercations and Snape got roughed up regularly, as did his mother. He never forgave her for not leaving her husband. His father made him feel like a freak.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
None.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
None. His mother's family disowned him, and Tobias was the black sheep of the Snape family.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
The Malfoy's; for a time, the Evanses, but-- yeah, we saw how well that worked out.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Lily; he told her about magic! And...then screwed it up royally years later.
6. Does he have other close friends?
The Malfoys.
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
Terrible trouble getting close to anyone. He wa snervous about people inh is youth, now he just keeps them at arms length as a safety precaution.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
Neither.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
Single, never married,
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
No.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
Lily -- and nobody.
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
Passion. Courage. Spontenaeity. Things he lacks in himself.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
No; he did want them in the past, but life sort of snuffed that out big time.
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin... other Death Eaters... Yeah, he's got a list.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
He's probably a 1 on the Kinsey; for the very right situation, he'd have a homosexual encounter, but he's pretty solidly heterosexual otherwise.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
Nonexistant. He's almost asexual; he simply has cut off that part of his life, and channels those energies into being a raging asshole, instead.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
He's never had sex.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
Capricorn; it fits to a ridiculous degree.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
He is not particularly spiritual, though he's pretty much come to terms with the idea that he's going to hell if there is one.
3. Does this character have a personal code of morals or ethics? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it?
His whole life is finding comfortable compromise with what he believes and what must be done. He's got few specifics--he won't hurt his students directly (being a dick doesn't count) and he tries not to kill people... at the same time, he's been in position to possibly stop a murder and been unable to due to his cover, so has to live with that.
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
Intolerant, but-- good luck getting at his true belief anyway - he changes as needed as situation demands, within reason.
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
He's not real fond of Gryffindors. Or Potters.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
He was very well off in canon; in the City he has begun to scrape himself off the dole and get comfortable.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
He was a highly respected teacher in a great wizarding academy. Now, he's working to making a name for himself in City politics via good works, schmoozing the right people, and being a dick to anyone else.
3. Where does he live? House, apartment, trailer? Is his home his castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does he share it with others?
Currently, a MAC apartment; he's going to have a home of his own, soon, however, and will be in a brownstone with a business occupying the first two floors.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Books. Lab equipment. Clothing, as necessary.
5. What does he do for a living? Is he good at it? Does he enjoy it, or would he rather be doing something else?
He's currently an independent businessmen, and looking to stay that way. He'd never go back to teaching. He's doing fairly well to get himself set up with the right people.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time? Reading; he loves books and will devour pretty much anything set in front of him.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
He likes to eat well now that he's no longer poor - but it's not a major vice. He drinks alcohol, but only under controlled circumstances.
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color? Black
2. Smell? herbs.
3. Time of day? Twilight
4. Season? Winter
5. Book? The Count of Monte Cristo
6. Music? Pink Floyd (The Wall)
7. Place? Hogwarts
8. Substance? POTIONS!
9. Plant? Mandrake
10. Animal? Crow