[Meme] Character Survey of Doom: Edward Elric
CURRENLY UNFINISHED, FIRST DRAFT SORRY
Edward Elric
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
SMALL AS A GRAIN OF RICE THAT'S BEEN BROKEN IN HALF--
...That is, Edward used to be quite the midget. He's grown some, so he's 5'5" now, and he has more definitive muscles. He's still pretty thin, but mostly he's just fit. He needs those muscles to cart around his automail comfortably, though, since a pair of metal limbs can get quite heavy, especially for a little guy.
2. How old is he?
Currently 16. Word of God says his birthday is in winter, and I've heard it's February. No confirmed date, though; Arakawa apparently doesn't create character birthdays.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
He stands tall! ...Well alright, not tall. But he's pretty straight-backed if he's feeling confident and in a good mood. He sleeps a lot, so it's not uncommon for him to be flopped over a desk.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
Edward is pretty healthy, mostly because he's always training or on the move; since childhood he and his brother have follows the philosophy that "to train the mind you must first train the body". He doesn't easily get sick, either. ...Though he does get hurt often enough. Mostly because he picks too many fights with strong people...
Physical disabilities are obvious if a) you shake his hand or b) you see him in just a pair of shorts/tank top- he has two automail (metal prosthetic) limbs, his right arm and left leg. However it's not a particularly terrible disability unless those limbs are removed, since the automail is fully functional. Obviously there are pros and cons to the automail- he has no feeling in the limbs besides their mobility, so he can't feel pain, but this also makes it harder to determine when there's something wrong with them. He has to keep them maintained, oiled, and fitted according to the growth and proportions of his body, so they require an experienced mechanic in the same way that most people need a doctor. They're more durable than flesh-and-blood limbs, and it's undeniable that having automail has saved him from a lot of injuries and probably death in the past, but natural limbs don't break down the same way, either.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
Edward can move... normally? When his automail is in good working condition, that is. He's usually kind of heavy-footed considering the metal limbs, and although he's gotten used to moving with them, it's still noticeable to observant people who see and hear him move- his left and right feet have different footsteps. He's often stressed or in deep thought, but proud, so he's quite straight-backed, sometimes even rigid. Eventually the idiot will give himself back problems from hunching over books 50% all the time. When his automail leg hasn't been properly maintained, he has a noticeable limp.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
HE IS VERY PRETTY. Edward honestly doesn't really pay much attention to it, though. He maintains his appearance as much as most teenage boys would, and he has a very set-in-stone look, besides the braid-to-ponytail switch according to his mood. Vaguely he knows that his looks are pretty rare and exotic, considering he, Al, and Hohenheim are the last surviving members of the Xerxes race, but it's not something he thinks about other than "oh, this is a fact, okay then." Especially since the fact that he's half-Xerxes...ian... is something he just found out recently.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Um. He's. Caucasian? His skin tone is a bit darker than most of the other Amestrians (sans the Ishbalans, obviously), and that can be attributed to the Xerxes half, again. He has no obvious scars, but there's a bit of skin on his forehead that healed badly from an old mark he got from Scar, and it opens easily and takes a long time to heal when it takes a hit.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
Pretty 8| Seriously though, see the image linked above. As a descendant of Xerxes, Edward has the golden hair of that particular race. It... looks soft? Mostly because it's pretty as hell. (Biased much.) Typically he wears it in a ponytail or a braid, depending on what's going on or his mood at the time.
9. What color are his eyes?
AGAIN SEE ABOVE AND ABOVE-ABOVE. Ed's eyes are golden like his hair, though a little darker in shade. Traditional Xerxes eye colour, like his hair. It's apparently very genetically dominant, since both he and Al ended up a lot like Hohenheim as far as features go. Though Al resembles their mother more in facial structure.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
He has a hair antenna |D It's somewhat sentient, for srs. See #4 and his Canon/Fanon (coming soon) for more rambling about the automail.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
Just look at his face, they're everywhere. He makes cranky faces several times a day. Generally he creases his eyes more than anything; often these days he speaks a lot with his eyes, particularly when he's being angry and demanding without actually yelling about it.
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?
Edward has a tendency to hide his automail, due to a mixture of natural shyness - it tends to get a lot of attention - and healthy caution. He likes the surprise on the faces of opponents who attack an arm expecting it to be wounded and instead meet metal |D So he always covers up. Generally Edward likes dark, dressy-for-men-style clothes, loose-fitted and comfortable. He's kind of shifted into the business-casual territory, and despite certain style similarities, he does have a nice variety of outfits. His favourite article of clothing is still his bright red coat because, as he says, "it gets my blood boiling". Also, more often than not, unless he's around people he's comfortable with or his supply is low/limited, he wears plain white gloves, again to conceal the automail. He's been known to wear one glove to keep the automail covered, even if he leaves his flesh hand exposed.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
As mentioned above, they're loose but not enough to impede his movement. Generally Edward has difficulty finding clothes that fit him right- his weird size aside, with the automail typically being thicker than a normal arm/leg and with metal edges sticking out here and there, loose clothes allow him to move freely without ripping his clothes to bits all the time. Because of this he picks out one size larger than what would fit him, so he often has to have his clothes tailored or modified to fit him properly. The plus side is that due to his alchemy skills, he can just modify the clothes himself, like so.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
Pretty much the same, though when he's inside and off the job, he tends to lose the red coat and gloves so he can feel more relaxed as he's working on research and such. If he's at the Rockbell house getting maintenance he's been known to wander around for days in just a tank top and/or shorts, to make it easier. Or because it's a pain to try and drag a pair of pants on and off when he has only partly-functional limbs.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Canonically he wears boxers. This is so he can get automail maintenance done more easily and with less embarrassment overall; they feel less like underwear and more like shorts. He actually wears a pair of skin-tight black shorts under the boxers.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
I reiterate: Romi Paku as Edward.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
Edward tends to speak kind of roughly; brash, with attitude, quick to respond. He gets nervous when discussing topics that he's either lacking knowledge in, or uncomfortable with, and matters of affection and whatnot make him splutter and dodge like an idiot. When he's calm and relaxed, he's actually pretty quiet and reserved, though no one could go so far as to call him shy.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
No accent or real quirks, in regards to speech patterns. As said above, he's a bit rough, and he tends to use some slang and rough phrasing when he speaks.
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
Edward only speaks Amestrian, and he's fluent. He can't speak a word of any other language, though.
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
N/A.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
Edward speaks pretty much on impulse, not putting a huge amount of thought into it unless he's really going at alchemy theory. He speaks when spoken to (usually) or when he has something on his mind (unless it's a private matter). It's extremely situational. So many of Edward's traits are situational.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
Pffft. God only knows. Edward can go from a lengthy monologue about some serious situation or a transmutation theory in a calm voice, to explosively chewing someone out over some slight insult or a mention of his height. As said above? Situational. Always situational. The complex little bastard.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
About half and half, though leaning on the book-smart half, simply because of the amount of experience he has with it. Since he was around five, he's been reading complicated books about alchemy and understanding them. That is damn impressive for a little kid. On the flipside, he's also had plenty of experience in the real world; he's been traveling all over Amestris with Al since he was 12, so he's had to learn how to take care of himself and his brother (and vice-versa, of course) while on the road.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
Bit of both. In regards to combat, he generally plays it by ear and formulates his strategy as he goes, able to come up with a plan on the spot or within minutes of pondering. When he's dealing with more important, serious, or troublesome situations, he stops and thinks it through first. In other words, he prefers to give his actions some thought first, but if there's no time, he can deal with issues as they come his way.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
Very logical, mostly due to his scientific background; he thinks through situations he enters into with more logic and realistic understanding than emotion or optimism. He's a mixture of recklessness and caution; he'll dive right into a problem if he feels it's necessary, regardless of danger, but if someone else is in danger, he won't hesitate to warn them or tell them to get the hell out. (Re: his repeated lecturing at Winry for getting herself into dangerous situations, sometimes without even knowing it. Poor girl. Ed's such a hypocrite.) He's pretty practical, but he also has a confident, optimistic streak; Arakawa considers him one of the more optimistic characters of the manga. For Ed, it's all about balancing the two- be optimistic, but use science and logic to get through any situation.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
Edward went to school during his childhood, up to age 11, so he has roughly that level of normal education. He didn't pay that much attention, though, so he's somewhat ignorant about most subjects aside from alchemy and science. He's mostly self-taught in regards to alchemy, with around five months of alchemy instruction from a master. And that's basically it.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
A L C H E M Y. Edward is not only the youngest State Alchemist ever, but he's acclaimed as an alchemy prodigy in Amestris. He claims that he's not a genius (because he "saw that thing", AKA Truth) but the fact is, he was doing alchemy with transmutation circles since his early childhood, he needed training from Izumi for only six months (and one of those months was a trial period where they learned no alchemy, so five months of training, really), and he and Al developed the theory for human transmutation in a matter of months, by the time he was age 11. He definitely has a natural affinity for alchemy.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
...Ehhh. Edward's somewhere in the middle, really; he's somewhat awkward with conversation sometimes, but while he isn't the most active socialite ever, he typically doesn't have problems talking to the average person. It's only when the attitude gets drawn out that his friendliness starts to go sour. He tends to keep to himself and his small circle of friends because he has difficulty relying on others or putting them in danger, and his life is usually pretty dangerous, but it's not like he's antisocial.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
Mood swings? Yes. He has a very short fuse and can be set off at a moment's notice, generally if you mock his height. Real anger comes out if you even remotely indicate that you're a threat to him or his family. He's a mixture of cheerful/optimistic and brooding, but most of the time when he's brooding it's because something happened recently to make him ponder unhappily over his situation. Give him some time and he'll bounce back to his usual, extremely driven self. You won't often find this guy relaxing, although he does sleep a lot to make up for it.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
He can smile and laugh and have a normal conversation with plenty of people, but he's not all sun and smiles with new people, and he's not the first to strike up a conversation, typically. Give him a few chances to size someone else up, get a first (or second, or third) impression, and he'll decide whether or not he's comfortable around them. More often than not, if the other person is normal enough and doesn't dick him around or harass him, he's fine with them.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
...Both? (Is this going to be my answer to every question?) Mostly act, though; Edward isn't the type to sit around and wait for things to happen. He's an aggressive forward-thinker, so he's always on the move, always working, always focused on what's ahead.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
Fight, usually, but that's more often than not because he doesn't have a choice. Many of the situations he's been in has involved some sort of hostage situation, or he's defending someone, or he's trying to accomplish some goal and an enemy is standing in his way. If he's attacked and it's safer to just escape or end the fight without a sure win, he has no issues with running away. His pride isn't so great that he'd risk death for a fight he doesn't think he can win, or one he doesn't have a reason to win.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
He generally finds humour in open mockery or outwitting or trapping people. He's not a comedic character, normally, but if the opportunity arises and he has time to waste on getting himself something to smirk about, he'll take it.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
Good god. Going in order:
14. What does he fear?
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
Right now he just has a couple of things he'd like to see happen- one being Al's body returned to normal, and the other is to stop the Father's plan and save Amestris on the Promised Day. He hasn't really decided what he wants after everything is over; as he's already told Al, he just wants to see his brother smile again. Eventually he'd like to have a family of his own (or rather, a family that includes more than Al and his shitty excuse for a father |D) but that's in the distant future right now.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
There's two main things he keeps hidden:
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
Alphonse. Ahaha... Edward loves his brother, so much that he would do damn near anything for Al's sake. He sacrificed his right arm to bring Al's soul back from the gate; that should tell you everything you need to know about their relationship. [tl;dr more]
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
Edward doesn't have any other close family members. What he does have is the collection of homunculus. Since the Father was born thanks to Edward's father's blood, both he and his homunculus "children" are blood relations of Edward and Al. This does not mean that Edward considers them to be siblings, however, nor does he particularly like them. Thankfully the feeling is mutual. The Father feels a certain amount of protectiveness of Edward and Alphonse, but this is only because he values them as human sacrifices, therefore the homunculus can't kill them. Edward, in turn, views them as human enough that he doesn't want to kill them either, so their relationship is... complicated. Edward doesn't even see them as blood relations, anyway. The only homunculus "sibling" he can get along with is Greed.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
Winry, first of all, and her grandmother, Pinako. After the death of their mother, Edward and Alphonse were adopted by Pinako, and they view her as a grandmother just as Winry does.
Izumi Curtiss, Edward and Al's alchemy teacher, is a beloved surrogate mother despite her rough and oft-abusive treatment. (She does it out of love, honest.) To Edward, she's just as important to him as his mother was. [tl;dr more about both eh]
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Since Al and Winry kind of fit into the family categories more than friends, despite how close he is with them, Ed's best friend is probably Ling. They're still getting a feel for each other, and Greed complicates matters some, but for the most part Edward gets along well enough with them both. Right now Ling is actually someone that he can easily confide in when he can't speak to Winry or Al about something.
6. Does he have other close friends?
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
HE'S ONLY SIXTEEN GUYS.
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Nope. Ed fails at romance. Probably due to lack of trying; he's had too much else to focus on to think about getting himself a girlfriend.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
First and latest, pretty well since childhood (though only recently has it been something he's taken more seriously, since childhood romances are just kids being kids most of the time), has been Winry. Many, many characters have noticed it and/or called him out on it, but Edward has yet to admit it, both to himself or to anyone else, for that matter. [tl;drrrrrrrr]
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
Um. Understanding and abuse? |D; [TL;DR IDK]
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
Not yet |D In regards to wanting them, it's not something Edward has given much thought just yet, since again, he's only sixteen. However, someday he would like to have kids, if only to prove that he can be a damn good father despite (or perhaps because of) his own upbringing. Really, though, he'd just really love his own kids, and being a dad in general. He's just that kind of dork. (He'll put Hughes to shame one day.)
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
Where to even begin... not really rivals, though he competes occasionally with his commanding officer, Colonel Mustang. For enemies he has the Father and his collection of homunculus, with the exception of Greed. Scar is still counted as an enemy since they have yet to make a peace between them, but Edward was forced to trust him with Winry's life, so he's lower on the enemy totem pole as the rest.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
Prrrretty straight. Not sure what it would take to convince him to like a guy that way. Not an undertaking I'd enjoy.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
I'M NOT SURE I SHOULD ANSWER THIS QUESTION.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
AHAHA.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
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?
He absoutely will not kill anything human or human-like. That includes fake humans, homunculus, replicas, whatever. [tl;dr]
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
As a State Alchemist, Edward gets an annual research fund to pay for his expenses, and judging by his behaviour, the reaction of others, and the state of his wallet, it's a hefty sum. It's enough that he can carry 100,000 cenz around in his pocket without a problem, or pay Sheska enough money to get her mother into a nice hospital for performing one job. Obviously in Luceti it doesn't matter, but he's pretty well in the green in Amestris.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
Edward started out as a comfortably-living little kid from a backwater town, then became an orphan, and has since shifted directly into the role of a State Alchemist, which is a pretty high status for a teenager. It gives him a rank in the military equivalent with "major", so he outranks a number of his peers and is on the same level with many others. He could probably have climbed higher in the ranks if he'd wanted, but he has no interest in gaining military power. The change makes him one-part egotistical, one-part humbled: he's gloated about the power and privilege it gets him, but he's also well aware of the fact that State Alchemists are often hated by the public. He doesn't let it show, but it's plausible to think that it bothers him a little sometimes.
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?
Edward lives almost constantly on the road with Alphonse, so he moves from hotel to hotel, and is sometimes stuck camping out in the wilderness and whatnot. He and Al burned down their home when Ed was 12, so he has no real home to return to. He claims that it was to show his resolve, but his father said it was to destroy his source of shame, so. :|;
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Practically nothing. He pays for alchemy supplies when he's in need of it, books, and services required (such as in the case with Sheska again), and at least once he's paid for the silence of people who might give away his position. Unless State Alchemists get health insurance, 90% of the money he spends goes to hospital bills and servicing/replacing his automail limbs.
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?
Again: State Alchemist! Which basically means he's an alchemist who does military jobs in exchange for research grants, access to classified documents and facilities, and a rank. He's good at (and enjoys) being an alchemist, but being a State Alchemist has thus far gotten him into a whole whack of trouble.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
...What hobbies... Edward is a busybody, which means he has very little to no free time that isn't spent researching, or traveling, or taking care of his State duties. If he's not working or he can't work, he's probably brooding or sleeping. He's a total workaholic, and gets bored if he can't get his work done.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color? Red or Gold
2. Smell? Oil :|
3. Time of day? He's a bit of a morning person.
4. Season? Fall. Mostly for the colours.
5. Book? [dante's inferno? rofl, brothers...]
6. Music? Brothers
7. Place? Resembool
8. Substance? Metals in general
9. Plant? Dandelions; small, yellow, and everywhere.
10. Animal? Cat
END
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Edward Elric
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
SMALL AS A GRAIN OF RICE THAT'S BEEN BROKEN IN HALF--
...That is, Edward used to be quite the midget. He's grown some, so he's 5'5" now, and he has more definitive muscles. He's still pretty thin, but mostly he's just fit. He needs those muscles to cart around his automail comfortably, though, since a pair of metal limbs can get quite heavy, especially for a little guy.
2. How old is he?
Currently 16. Word of God says his birthday is in winter, and I've heard it's February. No confirmed date, though; Arakawa apparently doesn't create character birthdays.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
He stands tall! ...Well alright, not tall. But he's pretty straight-backed if he's feeling confident and in a good mood. He sleeps a lot, so it's not uncommon for him to be flopped over a desk.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
Edward is pretty healthy, mostly because he's always training or on the move; since childhood he and his brother have follows the philosophy that "to train the mind you must first train the body". He doesn't easily get sick, either. ...Though he does get hurt often enough. Mostly because he picks too many fights with strong people...
Physical disabilities are obvious if a) you shake his hand or b) you see him in just a pair of shorts/tank top- he has two automail (metal prosthetic) limbs, his right arm and left leg. However it's not a particularly terrible disability unless those limbs are removed, since the automail is fully functional. Obviously there are pros and cons to the automail- he has no feeling in the limbs besides their mobility, so he can't feel pain, but this also makes it harder to determine when there's something wrong with them. He has to keep them maintained, oiled, and fitted according to the growth and proportions of his body, so they require an experienced mechanic in the same way that most people need a doctor. They're more durable than flesh-and-blood limbs, and it's undeniable that having automail has saved him from a lot of injuries and probably death in the past, but natural limbs don't break down the same way, either.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
Edward can move... normally? When his automail is in good working condition, that is. He's usually kind of heavy-footed considering the metal limbs, and although he's gotten used to moving with them, it's still noticeable to observant people who see and hear him move- his left and right feet have different footsteps. He's often stressed or in deep thought, but proud, so he's quite straight-backed, sometimes even rigid. Eventually the idiot will give himself back problems from hunching over books 50% all the time. When his automail leg hasn't been properly maintained, he has a noticeable limp.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
HE IS VERY PRETTY. Edward honestly doesn't really pay much attention to it, though. He maintains his appearance as much as most teenage boys would, and he has a very set-in-stone look, besides the braid-to-ponytail switch according to his mood. Vaguely he knows that his looks are pretty rare and exotic, considering he, Al, and Hohenheim are the last surviving members of the Xerxes race, but it's not something he thinks about other than "oh, this is a fact, okay then." Especially since the fact that he's half-Xerxes...ian... is something he just found out recently.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Um. He's. Caucasian? His skin tone is a bit darker than most of the other Amestrians (sans the Ishbalans, obviously), and that can be attributed to the Xerxes half, again. He has no obvious scars, but there's a bit of skin on his forehead that healed badly from an old mark he got from Scar, and it opens easily and takes a long time to heal when it takes a hit.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
Pretty 8| Seriously though, see the image linked above. As a descendant of Xerxes, Edward has the golden hair of that particular race. It... looks soft? Mostly because it's pretty as hell. (Biased much.) Typically he wears it in a ponytail or a braid, depending on what's going on or his mood at the time.
9. What color are his eyes?
AGAIN SEE ABOVE AND ABOVE-ABOVE. Ed's eyes are golden like his hair, though a little darker in shade. Traditional Xerxes eye colour, like his hair. It's apparently very genetically dominant, since both he and Al ended up a lot like Hohenheim as far as features go. Though Al resembles their mother more in facial structure.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
He has a hair antenna |D It's somewhat sentient, for srs. See #4 and his Canon/Fanon (coming soon) for more rambling about the automail.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
Just look at his face, they're everywhere. He makes cranky faces several times a day. Generally he creases his eyes more than anything; often these days he speaks a lot with his eyes, particularly when he's being angry and demanding without actually yelling about it.
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?
Edward has a tendency to hide his automail, due to a mixture of natural shyness - it tends to get a lot of attention - and healthy caution. He likes the surprise on the faces of opponents who attack an arm expecting it to be wounded and instead meet metal |D So he always covers up. Generally Edward likes dark, dressy-for-men-style clothes, loose-fitted and comfortable. He's kind of shifted into the business-casual territory, and despite certain style similarities, he does have a nice variety of outfits. His favourite article of clothing is still his bright red coat because, as he says, "it gets my blood boiling". Also, more often than not, unless he's around people he's comfortable with or his supply is low/limited, he wears plain white gloves, again to conceal the automail. He's been known to wear one glove to keep the automail covered, even if he leaves his flesh hand exposed.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
As mentioned above, they're loose but not enough to impede his movement. Generally Edward has difficulty finding clothes that fit him right- his weird size aside, with the automail typically being thicker than a normal arm/leg and with metal edges sticking out here and there, loose clothes allow him to move freely without ripping his clothes to bits all the time. Because of this he picks out one size larger than what would fit him, so he often has to have his clothes tailored or modified to fit him properly. The plus side is that due to his alchemy skills, he can just modify the clothes himself, like so.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
Pretty much the same, though when he's inside and off the job, he tends to lose the red coat and gloves so he can feel more relaxed as he's working on research and such. If he's at the Rockbell house getting maintenance he's been known to wander around for days in just a tank top and/or shorts, to make it easier. Or because it's a pain to try and drag a pair of pants on and off when he has only partly-functional limbs.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Canonically he wears boxers. This is so he can get automail maintenance done more easily and with less embarrassment overall; they feel less like underwear and more like shorts. He actually wears a pair of skin-tight black shorts under the boxers.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
I reiterate: Romi Paku as Edward.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
Edward tends to speak kind of roughly; brash, with attitude, quick to respond. He gets nervous when discussing topics that he's either lacking knowledge in, or uncomfortable with, and matters of affection and whatnot make him splutter and dodge like an idiot. When he's calm and relaxed, he's actually pretty quiet and reserved, though no one could go so far as to call him shy.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
No accent or real quirks, in regards to speech patterns. As said above, he's a bit rough, and he tends to use some slang and rough phrasing when he speaks.
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
Edward only speaks Amestrian, and he's fluent. He can't speak a word of any other language, though.
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
N/A.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
Edward speaks pretty much on impulse, not putting a huge amount of thought into it unless he's really going at alchemy theory. He speaks when spoken to (usually) or when he has something on his mind (unless it's a private matter). It's extremely situational. So many of Edward's traits are situational.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
Pffft. God only knows. Edward can go from a lengthy monologue about some serious situation or a transmutation theory in a calm voice, to explosively chewing someone out over some slight insult or a mention of his height. As said above? Situational. Always situational. The complex little bastard.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
About half and half, though leaning on the book-smart half, simply because of the amount of experience he has with it. Since he was around five, he's been reading complicated books about alchemy and understanding them. That is damn impressive for a little kid. On the flipside, he's also had plenty of experience in the real world; he's been traveling all over Amestris with Al since he was 12, so he's had to learn how to take care of himself and his brother (and vice-versa, of course) while on the road.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
Bit of both. In regards to combat, he generally plays it by ear and formulates his strategy as he goes, able to come up with a plan on the spot or within minutes of pondering. When he's dealing with more important, serious, or troublesome situations, he stops and thinks it through first. In other words, he prefers to give his actions some thought first, but if there's no time, he can deal with issues as they come his way.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
Very logical, mostly due to his scientific background; he thinks through situations he enters into with more logic and realistic understanding than emotion or optimism. He's a mixture of recklessness and caution; he'll dive right into a problem if he feels it's necessary, regardless of danger, but if someone else is in danger, he won't hesitate to warn them or tell them to get the hell out. (Re: his repeated lecturing at Winry for getting herself into dangerous situations, sometimes without even knowing it. Poor girl. Ed's such a hypocrite.) He's pretty practical, but he also has a confident, optimistic streak; Arakawa considers him one of the more optimistic characters of the manga. For Ed, it's all about balancing the two- be optimistic, but use science and logic to get through any situation.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
Edward went to school during his childhood, up to age 11, so he has roughly that level of normal education. He didn't pay that much attention, though, so he's somewhat ignorant about most subjects aside from alchemy and science. He's mostly self-taught in regards to alchemy, with around five months of alchemy instruction from a master. And that's basically it.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
A L C H E M Y. Edward is not only the youngest State Alchemist ever, but he's acclaimed as an alchemy prodigy in Amestris. He claims that he's not a genius (because he "saw that thing", AKA Truth) but the fact is, he was doing alchemy with transmutation circles since his early childhood, he needed training from Izumi for only six months (and one of those months was a trial period where they learned no alchemy, so five months of training, really), and he and Al developed the theory for human transmutation in a matter of months, by the time he was age 11. He definitely has a natural affinity for alchemy.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
...Ehhh. Edward's somewhere in the middle, really; he's somewhat awkward with conversation sometimes, but while he isn't the most active socialite ever, he typically doesn't have problems talking to the average person. It's only when the attitude gets drawn out that his friendliness starts to go sour. He tends to keep to himself and his small circle of friends because he has difficulty relying on others or putting them in danger, and his life is usually pretty dangerous, but it's not like he's antisocial.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
Mood swings? Yes. He has a very short fuse and can be set off at a moment's notice, generally if you mock his height. Real anger comes out if you even remotely indicate that you're a threat to him or his family. He's a mixture of cheerful/optimistic and brooding, but most of the time when he's brooding it's because something happened recently to make him ponder unhappily over his situation. Give him some time and he'll bounce back to his usual, extremely driven self. You won't often find this guy relaxing, although he does sleep a lot to make up for it.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
He can smile and laugh and have a normal conversation with plenty of people, but he's not all sun and smiles with new people, and he's not the first to strike up a conversation, typically. Give him a few chances to size someone else up, get a first (or second, or third) impression, and he'll decide whether or not he's comfortable around them. More often than not, if the other person is normal enough and doesn't dick him around or harass him, he's fine with them.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
...Both? (Is this going to be my answer to every question?) Mostly act, though; Edward isn't the type to sit around and wait for things to happen. He's an aggressive forward-thinker, so he's always on the move, always working, always focused on what's ahead.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
Fight, usually, but that's more often than not because he doesn't have a choice. Many of the situations he's been in has involved some sort of hostage situation, or he's defending someone, or he's trying to accomplish some goal and an enemy is standing in his way. If he's attacked and it's safer to just escape or end the fight without a sure win, he has no issues with running away. His pride isn't so great that he'd risk death for a fight he doesn't think he can win, or one he doesn't have a reason to win.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
He generally finds humour in open mockery or outwitting or trapping people. He's not a comedic character, normally, but if the opportunity arises and he has time to waste on getting himself something to smirk about, he'll take it.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
Good god. Going in order:
- his mother's death - his first real loss
- his training with Izumi - learning the insignificance of his own life; "all is one, one is all"
- the failed human transmutation - experiencing the Gate of Truth and learning to use alchemy without circles, on top of TRAUMA, losing Al, and learning how to bond a soul to an object on the fly
- meeting Roy Mustang - gaining new determination and a new mission in life
- getting automail - a firsthand experience with artificial limbs and a lot of pain
- becoming a State Alchemist - new authority, but also learning the resentment people have for his position
- the chimera-Nina experience - the horror of what alchemists can do for the sake of science, and discovering how helpless he can be
- survivng Scar's first attack - coming so close to death, and how Al felt about his acceptance of it
- stopping Winry during the Scar confrontation - realizing he can never use a gun to kill someone
- using Envy's Philosopher's Stone in a transmutation - learning how it feels to use life as an ingredient for alchemy
- surviving the explosion in Briggs - experiencing an act of real desperation to save himself because he was too soft
14. What does he fear?
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
Right now he just has a couple of things he'd like to see happen- one being Al's body returned to normal, and the other is to stop the Father's plan and save Amestris on the Promised Day. He hasn't really decided what he wants after everything is over; as he's already told Al, he just wants to see his brother smile again. Eventually he'd like to have a family of his own (or rather, a family that includes more than Al and his shitty excuse for a father |D) but that's in the distant future right now.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
There's two main things he keeps hidden:
- 1) he doesn't want to tell anyone that he has no intention of getting his limbs back, at least not until the journey is over. He goes along with Al when Al says they'll both get their bodies back, but right now he's willing to accept the idea of living with automail for the rest of his life if it ends up being a choice of Al's body or his. Knowing Al would hate that, he still has to correct himself when Al says "both of us". On his own? It's just Al.
- 2) he's still considering the option of using a Philosopher's Stone to bring Al's body back, if push comes to shove. Obviously he wouldn't create one, but if he's able to get one (and it isn't in exchange for something horrible) he's still pondering it. Ultimately canon shows that he doesn't, but he hasn't made the decision in his mind just yet because he hasn't been forced into that situation.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
Alphonse. Ahaha... Edward loves his brother, so much that he would do damn near anything for Al's sake. He sacrificed his right arm to bring Al's soul back from the gate; that should tell you everything you need to know about their relationship. [tl;dr more]
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
Edward doesn't have any other close family members. What he does have is the collection of homunculus. Since the Father was born thanks to Edward's father's blood, both he and his homunculus "children" are blood relations of Edward and Al. This does not mean that Edward considers them to be siblings, however, nor does he particularly like them. Thankfully the feeling is mutual. The Father feels a certain amount of protectiveness of Edward and Alphonse, but this is only because he values them as human sacrifices, therefore the homunculus can't kill them. Edward, in turn, views them as human enough that he doesn't want to kill them either, so their relationship is... complicated. Edward doesn't even see them as blood relations, anyway. The only homunculus "sibling" he can get along with is Greed.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
Winry, first of all, and her grandmother, Pinako. After the death of their mother, Edward and Alphonse were adopted by Pinako, and they view her as a grandmother just as Winry does.
Izumi Curtiss, Edward and Al's alchemy teacher, is a beloved surrogate mother despite her rough and oft-abusive treatment. (She does it out of love, honest.) To Edward, she's just as important to him as his mother was. [tl;dr more about both eh]
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Since Al and Winry kind of fit into the family categories more than friends, despite how close he is with them, Ed's best friend is probably Ling. They're still getting a feel for each other, and Greed complicates matters some, but for the most part Edward gets along well enough with them both. Right now Ling is actually someone that he can easily confide in when he can't speak to Winry or Al about something.
6. Does he have other close friends?
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
HE'S ONLY SIXTEEN GUYS.
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Nope. Ed fails at romance. Probably due to lack of trying; he's had too much else to focus on to think about getting himself a girlfriend.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
First and latest, pretty well since childhood (though only recently has it been something he's taken more seriously, since childhood romances are just kids being kids most of the time), has been Winry. Many, many characters have noticed it and/or called him out on it, but Edward has yet to admit it, both to himself or to anyone else, for that matter. [tl;drrrrrrrr]
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
Um. Understanding and abuse? |D; [TL;DR IDK]
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
Not yet |D In regards to wanting them, it's not something Edward has given much thought just yet, since again, he's only sixteen. However, someday he would like to have kids, if only to prove that he can be a damn good father despite (or perhaps because of) his own upbringing. Really, though, he'd just really love his own kids, and being a dad in general. He's just that kind of dork. (He'll put Hughes to shame one day.)
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
Where to even begin... not really rivals, though he competes occasionally with his commanding officer, Colonel Mustang. For enemies he has the Father and his collection of homunculus, with the exception of Greed. Scar is still counted as an enemy since they have yet to make a peace between them, but Edward was forced to trust him with Winry's life, so he's lower on the enemy totem pole as the rest.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
Prrrretty straight. Not sure what it would take to convince him to like a guy that way. Not an undertaking I'd enjoy.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
I'M NOT SURE I SHOULD ANSWER THIS QUESTION.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
AHAHA.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
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?
He absoutely will not kill anything human or human-like. That includes fake humans, homunculus, replicas, whatever. [tl;dr]
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
As a State Alchemist, Edward gets an annual research fund to pay for his expenses, and judging by his behaviour, the reaction of others, and the state of his wallet, it's a hefty sum. It's enough that he can carry 100,000 cenz around in his pocket without a problem, or pay Sheska enough money to get her mother into a nice hospital for performing one job. Obviously in Luceti it doesn't matter, but he's pretty well in the green in Amestris.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
Edward started out as a comfortably-living little kid from a backwater town, then became an orphan, and has since shifted directly into the role of a State Alchemist, which is a pretty high status for a teenager. It gives him a rank in the military equivalent with "major", so he outranks a number of his peers and is on the same level with many others. He could probably have climbed higher in the ranks if he'd wanted, but he has no interest in gaining military power. The change makes him one-part egotistical, one-part humbled: he's gloated about the power and privilege it gets him, but he's also well aware of the fact that State Alchemists are often hated by the public. He doesn't let it show, but it's plausible to think that it bothers him a little sometimes.
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?
Edward lives almost constantly on the road with Alphonse, so he moves from hotel to hotel, and is sometimes stuck camping out in the wilderness and whatnot. He and Al burned down their home when Ed was 12, so he has no real home to return to. He claims that it was to show his resolve, but his father said it was to destroy his source of shame, so. :|;
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Practically nothing. He pays for alchemy supplies when he's in need of it, books, and services required (such as in the case with Sheska again), and at least once he's paid for the silence of people who might give away his position. Unless State Alchemists get health insurance, 90% of the money he spends goes to hospital bills and servicing/replacing his automail limbs.
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?
Again: State Alchemist! Which basically means he's an alchemist who does military jobs in exchange for research grants, access to classified documents and facilities, and a rank. He's good at (and enjoys) being an alchemist, but being a State Alchemist has thus far gotten him into a whole whack of trouble.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
...What hobbies... Edward is a busybody, which means he has very little to no free time that isn't spent researching, or traveling, or taking care of his State duties. If he's not working or he can't work, he's probably brooding or sleeping. He's a total workaholic, and gets bored if he can't get his work done.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color? Red or Gold
2. Smell? Oil :|
3. Time of day? He's a bit of a morning person.
4. Season? Fall. Mostly for the colours.
5. Book? [dante's inferno? rofl, brothers...]
6. Music? Brothers
7. Place? Resembool
8. Substance? Metals in general
9. Plant? Dandelions; small, yellow, and everywhere.
10. Animal? Cat
END
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