(no subject)
So, to celebrate the fact that there's going to be a gay rights march in Washington this weekend, I've already penned a gay rights-esque chapter of The New Divide that'll be posted sometime this weekend. In the meantime, I thought I'd do another of the Emo Boy Series FAQs, this time, answering most of the questions I get about one of the gayest characters ever.
Ladies and gentlemen:
1. In the opening chapter of "Sonny", you say he's lanky, but later on in the series it's established he's short and petite. Why is that?
Ok, well. I've been writing the character of Sonny, in different stories and in different variations long before I ever got round to writing the story of "Sonny". Originally, he was a bisexual teenage boy who fell in love with a cheerleader, so...needless to say a lot of changes have been made. I like to think of the opening chapter of that story as the equivalent to a pilot episode of a TV show. It was the first time I'd really stepped outwith the Emo Boy Series since they had gotten kinda popular, and I was still playing around with the character a lot, so obviously, changes were made. For the record: he's short and petite, definitely.
2. In the story you mention that Sonny looks like his dead brother Peter, but the reader later finds out they're not biologically related. Is that some sort of blooper?
No, that's not. You need to remember that "Sonny" was told from Sonny's point of view. He had no idea he was adopted, it never even crossed his mind, so in his mind, he saw a family resemblence because he assumed it was there. It was a case of the mind seeing what it wanted to see.
3. Will you ever do a story about Sonny's early life?
No, I'm sorry. The important things have been discussed in detail, I think - his battle with anoerixa/bulimia, the bullying, the death of his brother, coming out etc. I don't think it needs to be done in a whole seperate story. That's not to say I won't go more in depth with what he's been through in the future, but no, it'll never be it's own story.
4. Why is Sonny so slutty?
Haha, well, I guess that depends on how you read the story and how you interpret his character. As far as I'm concerned, he was promiscuous for a lot of reasons - he was young, for a start, and of course quite hormonal. He enjoyed it, as well, for the most part. He used his body/sex for attention, and because it gave him power over other people when he himself felt really powerless. Also, I think it was kinda discussed later on, as his character developed, that Sonny has a lot of insecurities that manifest physically.
5. Sonny and Skylar seem like an odd couple to me, where did the idea for them come from?
Well, that was the whole point in pairing them up. Ryan was too nice for Sonny, basically. Sonny needs someone who won't let him be in charge all the time, who doesn't let Sonny walk all over him and who has darkness of their own. Someone like Ryan, who's basically all sunshine and rainbows, would never have been able to stand by Sonny when it got really difficult, because he just couldn't understand on any sort of level what Sonny had been through in the past. But Skylar has his own issues, his own history, and so he can relate to Sonny on a level that someone like Ryan couldn't. Even though Skylar is quiet in comparison to Sonny, he still knows when to put his foot down and he helps keep Sonny anchored, which is exactly what he needs. So, that's why they work well together. In my opinion anyway!
6. Sonny didn't really think about singing until he was asked to join the band, I thought that was a bit unrealistic.
I don't think so at all haha. Sonny was one of those people who was into the scene because of the way the kids looked - he liked the idea of being able to wear skin tight jeans and make up and do his hair and not be a total outcast, so that's what pulled him into that scene, but I think that's true for a lot of young people. They're drawn into a certain scene because they can identify with the image of the scene, and once they become part of that, they then start to listen to the music, and become more involved for all the right reasons. Sonny is glamourous, that's just how he is, so he wanted to be able to do his make up and his hair and that kind of thing. As he mentions in his very first story "Sonny", he was held in high regard by the other rock kids, and that was based purely on how he looked. I'm not saying it should be that way, but I wouldn't say it was inaccurate.
Also, when you watch "Life on the Murder Scene", Gerard Way talks about the formation of My Chemical Romance, and he says that he gave up singing as a child and only really returned to it as an adult. It's revealed that Sonny was musically inclined as a child - he had piano lessons - so you don't know if he sang when he was little, and maybe gave it up as he grew up only to rediscover it later.
Sonny is actually a brilliant singer, in my mind. Out of the entire Anavrin crew - Fay, Adam, Sonny, Kian and now Jasper - Sonny's probably the best vocalist. He's sang Christina Aguilera in the past etc. All the vocalists in the Anaverse are untrained, not just Sonny, but when I picture the bands and their styles, I definitely pick him out as the best singer.
7. Why does Sonny cross-dress?
I get asked this a lot! I know it's something I've never addressed in the series at all, so I'm not surprised. I don't know if anyone was genuinely shocked though, the first time I mentioned it?
Anyway, again, cross-dressing is something Sonny does for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, because he likes it and he thinks it looks good. As a young man, he used whatever he had to get what he wanted, and basically, he looks good in a dress. He has a very feminine body, he's petite and he has delicate features, so it's something that he used to his advantage.
Secondly, because it annoyed his dad. In the first story, "Sonny", it's hinted at that his dad isn't entirely happy with his sexuality, and Sonny loved to push his buttons. His mother didn't mind at all - in fact, she probably encouraged it - so it was something he did to provoke a reaction.
Plus, you need to remember, Sonny's icons are people like Brian Molko and David Bowie, so was it really that much of a shock? When he cross dresses, it's always in a provocative outfit - it's not like he wears knee length skirts and blouses! It's always mini skirts, fishnet tights, short baby doll dresses, knee high stiletto boots etc.
8. Why does Sonny let Rayden and Kian sleep together?
Because he remembers what it's like to be in love at 17. He pretty much explained his stand point to Kian and Rayden when that took place - that he knows they love each other, and it'd be a waste of his time and energy - not to mention cruel - to keep them apart. Plus, he made sure they used protection, and I think that was really mature of him. At the end of the day, he's not Kian's father, he's Kian's brother and they're best friends, so...as long as his brother is healthy and happy, Sonny's happy.
9. Sonny was really upset after Kian left, but didn't try to bring him back. Why is that?
Again, it's a case of Sonny letting Kian do what he knows Kian's going to do anyway. He was upset because he loves his brother, more than anything in the world, and he was concerned about his mental health and his well being. He doesn't like spending time away from Kian, in case Kian needs him, and they miss each other like crazy, so that's why he was so cut up about it. But he knew that he couldn't forbid Kian from leaving, couldn't force him to come home, and doing so would only put a strain on their relationship. Kian may not legally be an adult, but he's got his own career, he's smart and he's a millionaire in his own right, so there's not much Sonny could have done to stop him.
10. I think Sonny's the gayest out of the lot
Me too. He is, easily, without a shadow of a doubt, the gayest character in Anaverse, but that's because he didn't really have the same struggles the others had. He always knew he was gay, and was the youngest of the bunch of come out as well. Dave always knew he was gay, but kept it secret till his late teens, Fay's just...Fay, Adam struggled with his sexuality for years, Michael is more Adam-sexual than homosexual etc, so really, Sonny's the only one who realised he was gay at a very young age, came out at a very young age, and has been living as a gay man for the majority of his life. Also, because he did face a lot of intolerance both at home and school, he magnified the qualities people hated as a way of provoking them for his amusement. So he is camp, he does cross dress and wear make up and that sort of thing. I think he's an interesting character because he's in such sharp contrast with characters like Dave and Adam, who are living as gay men as well but in a completely different way. I think - or I hope, anyway - that allows my readers to see there are many different aspects of the gay community. Just because two people share the same sexual preference, it doesn't mean they are the same person, or that they live their lives the same way, because that's not the case.
11. I think Sonny's a gay icon!
Awh, thank you! In my mind, he is as well haha.
12. Can you think of anyone that Sonny would look like in real life?
This is the easiest question of the lot, because I have a very clear idea of who Sonny looks like. What's freaky is, as I've said, I've been writing the character of Sonny for a long time now. Then, in 2007, I discovered this German band called Tokio Hotel? And their singer, Bill Kaulitz, is EXACTLY how I picture Sonny to look. He's about 5 inches taller than Sonny would be, but everything about him from his hair, to his face, to his frame, everything is spot on Sonny. That was a strange day for me, when I realised because obviously, I'd envisioned this character in my head for so long and there he was right in front of my face. Furrrreaky.
For those who don't know, this is Bill Kaulitz:
And I don't believe anyone who says that isn't exactly how they pictured Sonny haha.
Ladies and gentlemen:
1. In the opening chapter of "Sonny", you say he's lanky, but later on in the series it's established he's short and petite. Why is that?
Ok, well. I've been writing the character of Sonny, in different stories and in different variations long before I ever got round to writing the story of "Sonny". Originally, he was a bisexual teenage boy who fell in love with a cheerleader, so...needless to say a lot of changes have been made. I like to think of the opening chapter of that story as the equivalent to a pilot episode of a TV show. It was the first time I'd really stepped outwith the Emo Boy Series since they had gotten kinda popular, and I was still playing around with the character a lot, so obviously, changes were made. For the record: he's short and petite, definitely.
2. In the story you mention that Sonny looks like his dead brother Peter, but the reader later finds out they're not biologically related. Is that some sort of blooper?
No, that's not. You need to remember that "Sonny" was told from Sonny's point of view. He had no idea he was adopted, it never even crossed his mind, so in his mind, he saw a family resemblence because he assumed it was there. It was a case of the mind seeing what it wanted to see.
3. Will you ever do a story about Sonny's early life?
No, I'm sorry. The important things have been discussed in detail, I think - his battle with anoerixa/bulimia, the bullying, the death of his brother, coming out etc. I don't think it needs to be done in a whole seperate story. That's not to say I won't go more in depth with what he's been through in the future, but no, it'll never be it's own story.
4. Why is Sonny so slutty?
Haha, well, I guess that depends on how you read the story and how you interpret his character. As far as I'm concerned, he was promiscuous for a lot of reasons - he was young, for a start, and of course quite hormonal. He enjoyed it, as well, for the most part. He used his body/sex for attention, and because it gave him power over other people when he himself felt really powerless. Also, I think it was kinda discussed later on, as his character developed, that Sonny has a lot of insecurities that manifest physically.
5. Sonny and Skylar seem like an odd couple to me, where did the idea for them come from?
Well, that was the whole point in pairing them up. Ryan was too nice for Sonny, basically. Sonny needs someone who won't let him be in charge all the time, who doesn't let Sonny walk all over him and who has darkness of their own. Someone like Ryan, who's basically all sunshine and rainbows, would never have been able to stand by Sonny when it got really difficult, because he just couldn't understand on any sort of level what Sonny had been through in the past. But Skylar has his own issues, his own history, and so he can relate to Sonny on a level that someone like Ryan couldn't. Even though Skylar is quiet in comparison to Sonny, he still knows when to put his foot down and he helps keep Sonny anchored, which is exactly what he needs. So, that's why they work well together. In my opinion anyway!
6. Sonny didn't really think about singing until he was asked to join the band, I thought that was a bit unrealistic.
I don't think so at all haha. Sonny was one of those people who was into the scene because of the way the kids looked - he liked the idea of being able to wear skin tight jeans and make up and do his hair and not be a total outcast, so that's what pulled him into that scene, but I think that's true for a lot of young people. They're drawn into a certain scene because they can identify with the image of the scene, and once they become part of that, they then start to listen to the music, and become more involved for all the right reasons. Sonny is glamourous, that's just how he is, so he wanted to be able to do his make up and his hair and that kind of thing. As he mentions in his very first story "Sonny", he was held in high regard by the other rock kids, and that was based purely on how he looked. I'm not saying it should be that way, but I wouldn't say it was inaccurate.
Also, when you watch "Life on the Murder Scene", Gerard Way talks about the formation of My Chemical Romance, and he says that he gave up singing as a child and only really returned to it as an adult. It's revealed that Sonny was musically inclined as a child - he had piano lessons - so you don't know if he sang when he was little, and maybe gave it up as he grew up only to rediscover it later.
Sonny is actually a brilliant singer, in my mind. Out of the entire Anavrin crew - Fay, Adam, Sonny, Kian and now Jasper - Sonny's probably the best vocalist. He's sang Christina Aguilera in the past etc. All the vocalists in the Anaverse are untrained, not just Sonny, but when I picture the bands and their styles, I definitely pick him out as the best singer.
7. Why does Sonny cross-dress?
I get asked this a lot! I know it's something I've never addressed in the series at all, so I'm not surprised. I don't know if anyone was genuinely shocked though, the first time I mentioned it?
Anyway, again, cross-dressing is something Sonny does for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, because he likes it and he thinks it looks good. As a young man, he used whatever he had to get what he wanted, and basically, he looks good in a dress. He has a very feminine body, he's petite and he has delicate features, so it's something that he used to his advantage.
Secondly, because it annoyed his dad. In the first story, "Sonny", it's hinted at that his dad isn't entirely happy with his sexuality, and Sonny loved to push his buttons. His mother didn't mind at all - in fact, she probably encouraged it - so it was something he did to provoke a reaction.
Plus, you need to remember, Sonny's icons are people like Brian Molko and David Bowie, so was it really that much of a shock? When he cross dresses, it's always in a provocative outfit - it's not like he wears knee length skirts and blouses! It's always mini skirts, fishnet tights, short baby doll dresses, knee high stiletto boots etc.
8. Why does Sonny let Rayden and Kian sleep together?
Because he remembers what it's like to be in love at 17. He pretty much explained his stand point to Kian and Rayden when that took place - that he knows they love each other, and it'd be a waste of his time and energy - not to mention cruel - to keep them apart. Plus, he made sure they used protection, and I think that was really mature of him. At the end of the day, he's not Kian's father, he's Kian's brother and they're best friends, so...as long as his brother is healthy and happy, Sonny's happy.
9. Sonny was really upset after Kian left, but didn't try to bring him back. Why is that?
Again, it's a case of Sonny letting Kian do what he knows Kian's going to do anyway. He was upset because he loves his brother, more than anything in the world, and he was concerned about his mental health and his well being. He doesn't like spending time away from Kian, in case Kian needs him, and they miss each other like crazy, so that's why he was so cut up about it. But he knew that he couldn't forbid Kian from leaving, couldn't force him to come home, and doing so would only put a strain on their relationship. Kian may not legally be an adult, but he's got his own career, he's smart and he's a millionaire in his own right, so there's not much Sonny could have done to stop him.
10. I think Sonny's the gayest out of the lot
Me too. He is, easily, without a shadow of a doubt, the gayest character in Anaverse, but that's because he didn't really have the same struggles the others had. He always knew he was gay, and was the youngest of the bunch of come out as well. Dave always knew he was gay, but kept it secret till his late teens, Fay's just...Fay, Adam struggled with his sexuality for years, Michael is more Adam-sexual than homosexual etc, so really, Sonny's the only one who realised he was gay at a very young age, came out at a very young age, and has been living as a gay man for the majority of his life. Also, because he did face a lot of intolerance both at home and school, he magnified the qualities people hated as a way of provoking them for his amusement. So he is camp, he does cross dress and wear make up and that sort of thing. I think he's an interesting character because he's in such sharp contrast with characters like Dave and Adam, who are living as gay men as well but in a completely different way. I think - or I hope, anyway - that allows my readers to see there are many different aspects of the gay community. Just because two people share the same sexual preference, it doesn't mean they are the same person, or that they live their lives the same way, because that's not the case.
11. I think Sonny's a gay icon!
Awh, thank you! In my mind, he is as well haha.
12. Can you think of anyone that Sonny would look like in real life?
This is the easiest question of the lot, because I have a very clear idea of who Sonny looks like. What's freaky is, as I've said, I've been writing the character of Sonny for a long time now. Then, in 2007, I discovered this German band called Tokio Hotel? And their singer, Bill Kaulitz, is EXACTLY how I picture Sonny to look. He's about 5 inches taller than Sonny would be, but everything about him from his hair, to his face, to his frame, everything is spot on Sonny. That was a strange day for me, when I realised because obviously, I'd envisioned this character in my head for so long and there he was right in front of my face. Furrrreaky.
For those who don't know, this is Bill Kaulitz:
And I don't believe anyone who says that isn't exactly how they pictured Sonny haha.