On Raylan Givens.
I have been doing a lot of character work on Raylan Givens and it's spread out all over the place, so this is me trying keep everything under one roof so I know what I have worked out and what still needs pondering. This is not a story. Repeat. This is not a story. This is just character building work so that I can eventually write myself some Justified fic.
Raylan is here to atone and fix what is wrong, or what he left wrong. His dad, Boyd, Ava this is all about making this right. Or what he thinks is right. Also, based on a Gators shirt I recall him wearing I've made it my canon that he went to U of Florida...
I reckon if you spend all your life in Kentucky, Florida would seem pretty urban and exotic. Well, the big cities at any rate. I would say a scholarship, but it may just be that he got his paycheck from the mine, got in his beat up Ford one day and drove until the tires wore out. Of course that still doesn't.. get him into college. So, he applied b/c his mama wanted him to get a good degree, get a good job, not end up like Arlo. And Raylan got into a few schools: UoK, Tulane maybe, and Florida -- but he put it off because he didn't want to leave his mom, so instead he went to work in the mines. And he hated it. And his life wasn't going anywhere. But he got to hang out with Boyd and drink. And then one day his mom was like you have to leave, for me. So he went. And he stayed away.
Raylan... doesn't have friends. He has co-workers. People he knows. He drinks on his own, goes home on his own. Isn't really bothered to be honest. When he was married to Winona her friends came around all the time, and he'd smile, get his hat and go out and let the women do whatever it is women do. Winona tried to set him up with the husbands of her friends, but he's nobody's spinster aunt. He doesn't need match-making. Raylan doesn't need anybody to like him. He doesn't need to make small talk about sports teams. If he's got something to say, he'll say it. Otherwise why the hell are people talking to him? And now that he'd back in Kentucky, well, he still doesn't have friends. He has people who know him, which is much much worse. His daddy, his Aunt Helen, Boyd. Winona. These people look at him and they see him; that's why he left in the first fucking place. It's bad enough that they see him, he doesn't need to see them too. To see their faults and mistakes the places where they broke him open and ripped out little pieces of his soul. So, no, Raylan doesn't have friends, but let's be honest. With a family like his, that's for the best.
Raylan doesn't sleep around. Never has. In high school he would hang out with girls, god knows they liked him, but Raylan couldn't risk getting attached, who knew what might happen. With Boyd. Boyd knew everything about Raylan. He knows everything. Raylan's never had to have that conversation of, "So, there are some things about me you should probably know before this goes any further."
Boyd is complicated, but he has never made them complicated.
And then Raylan went to Florida and again, just like in Harlan he knew people, they knew him, but he wasn't really close to anybody. And the he met Winona, and Winona isn't easily spooked. And Raylan pushed at her a bit. And she would just roll her eyes and come back the next day. And she kept coming back, and it was the most confusing thing ever. It actually took him a while to realize he couldn't run her off just by telling her who he was. Is. And he thought, okay, this is the one. Except one day she stopped putting up with him. She stopped accepting him.
And the truth is... he doesn't blame her.
Ava doesn't know him. She just knew this boy she had a crush on. He has no idea what the hell he's doing with her. Part of it is her hero worship, part of it is trying to remember when things were simpler than they are now. If he can save her maybe he can make up for something, somewhere. I wouldn't call it love in the slighest, I think it's a weird co-dependency though (him saving her to save himself) which is about 50 times worse.
I'm sniffing some back in the day Raylan/Boyd pretty damn hard I must say. And then when Raylan decided to leave to go to Florida like his mama wanted, he took Boyd somewhere private to tell him, probably saved up his money to get shit faced in Lexington, you know a big night out, some hand jobs. Except when Raylan told Boyd, Boyd was like, and? When you leavin'? Fuck I thought I'd never be shot of you. And Raylan's hurt. Like genuinely hurt for a minute and then he pushes it aside, because it's not like they're playing fucking house here.
Just like the "Fire in the Hole"* short story says, Raylan was born about 100 years too late. He believes in things like honor and truth and "doing the right thing." He's got his hat and his sidearm and he'd probably wear spurs if they didn't jangle so much when he walks. Clearly his favorite movie is Tombstone featuring Val Kilmer. It's something he and Art agree on. Sometimes Raylan goes to Art's for Sunday dinner and they watch it while Art's wife Julie (?) Velma. No, Velma. I like Velma. She cooks dinner.
Thank maurheti for the link, y'all.
I think all of it is about him trying to escape his formative years and failing. I mean not failing in the traditional sense, but him trying so hard to run away and then getting fucking sucked back in despite his best attempts. And once you get back all those old behaviors and people... that's the worst fucking feeling ever. And yes, he drinks Jim Bean and enjoys it. I paid lots of attention to that (always do ;-).
When Raylan is frustrated he goes out behind his room at the 38 Motel and shoots empty PBR cans. Jim Bean and weapon required, shirt optional.
I do not see Raylan/Tim. At all. Not even the hint of it. The spark just isn't there. They like and respect each other, but there's no curiosity. Raylan is too, well, Raylan. He's got a spark with his hat, Rachel, Ava, Winona and Boyd. And Tim just... he's not so inclined. He's an Army Rangers sniper, he does not weep in his beer over some dude. Plus, Raylan is like Rudy: you love him, you think he's great, but lord you don't want any of that mess.
I adore Rachel and I adore Tim. I can totally see them sitting in the Aggressive van on some random stakeout and some how talk gets on Raylan and the hat, and Tim's like that shouldn't work. And Rachel's all, it's his head. It doesn't look right on anybody else. And Tim's like and you know this, how? And Rachel's all cause I tried it on. And Tim's like. Is there something you're trying to tell me, cause I thought him and Ava Crowder. And Rachel's all. Please, all you white boys think the same way. And Tim's like I didn't even say anything. It's not like I asked you if you wanted to do me. And it gets real quiet for a minute and then Rachel's like whatever. You don't walk like that and dress like that unless you know people want to fuck you anyway. And Tim's speechless for a minute, because wow, Rachel cursing. And Tim's like, I didn't say I wanted to fuck him. And Rachel starts laughing. "Well, I want to fuck him, so there. Now you can confess, too." And then the Chief comes in with coffee and is all "we want to fuck who?" And Rachel's like Raylan. And Art thinks this over for a minute and is all. "Nah, he's knock kneed for a reason. It might be cause he's packing something above average. I'm not doin' that." And then everybody has a moment of contemplation before they completely change the subject. <-- This is was gonna be a story, but who knows.
* On Raylan and Ray Person
Ray's always looked up to his big cousin Raylan. Raylan used to call him Pipsqueak, b/c even when he was little he would run after Raylan making noises to be included. Imagine four year told Ray in twelve year-old Raylan's cowboy boots and hat. There are like 20 odd cousins (first and second and play) and Ray is undoubtedly Raylan's favorite. Ray joined the Marines around the time that Raylan joined the US Marshals and then he got deployed to Iraq around the time that Winona left Raylan. Best year of Raylan's life. [/sarcasm]
There was totally court mandated therapy for Raylan's family. "Use your words"? That's totally some therapist shit.
*On Raylan and Brad
Brad's taller, but Raylan would totally pin him against some wall somewhere. Probably outside Ray's mama's house after a BBQ. A few (several) beers in and Brad's wearing that sleeveless tee that he favors, it's dark outside, lots of mosquitos. Raylan's in a shirt that's got holes in all kinds of random places, this is how he dresses with family, and he's got that hat on, and Brad's hips jut out at that angle that's all wrong for anybody's self-restraint. And Raylan's just standing there in front of him, drinking his beer, looking at Brad from underneath the brim of his hat, and then Brad reaches out and takes the hat and sets it on his own head.
I need a Kentucky primer. What's the major grocery store there? What's the beer of choice besides PBR? I gotta figure out what music Raylan listens to as well. This is most important. We know it's not Peter Tosh
Raylan is a romantic. He's in love with what he thinks his job is and how he thinks his life is supposed to be, except none of it has turned out how he's wanted, and he's constantly trying to come to grips with his disappointment, but at the same time he's constantly trying to make his world the way he wants it: good people, great love..Or maybe that's just me. :-/
Like I said, this is really all for my own edification: I can't write my characters until I figure out who the hell they are. Any salient points you think I should ponder, let me know.
And thanks to maurheti and sparky77 for being awesome, thoughtful sounding boards and discussion partners.
Raylan is here to atone and fix what is wrong, or what he left wrong. His dad, Boyd, Ava this is all about making this right. Or what he thinks is right. Also, based on a Gators shirt I recall him wearing I've made it my canon that he went to U of Florida...
I reckon if you spend all your life in Kentucky, Florida would seem pretty urban and exotic. Well, the big cities at any rate. I would say a scholarship, but it may just be that he got his paycheck from the mine, got in his beat up Ford one day and drove until the tires wore out. Of course that still doesn't.. get him into college. So, he applied b/c his mama wanted him to get a good degree, get a good job, not end up like Arlo. And Raylan got into a few schools: UoK, Tulane maybe, and Florida -- but he put it off because he didn't want to leave his mom, so instead he went to work in the mines. And he hated it. And his life wasn't going anywhere. But he got to hang out with Boyd and drink. And then one day his mom was like you have to leave, for me. So he went. And he stayed away.
Raylan... doesn't have friends. He has co-workers. People he knows. He drinks on his own, goes home on his own. Isn't really bothered to be honest. When he was married to Winona her friends came around all the time, and he'd smile, get his hat and go out and let the women do whatever it is women do. Winona tried to set him up with the husbands of her friends, but he's nobody's spinster aunt. He doesn't need match-making. Raylan doesn't need anybody to like him. He doesn't need to make small talk about sports teams. If he's got something to say, he'll say it. Otherwise why the hell are people talking to him? And now that he'd back in Kentucky, well, he still doesn't have friends. He has people who know him, which is much much worse. His daddy, his Aunt Helen, Boyd. Winona. These people look at him and they see him; that's why he left in the first fucking place. It's bad enough that they see him, he doesn't need to see them too. To see their faults and mistakes the places where they broke him open and ripped out little pieces of his soul. So, no, Raylan doesn't have friends, but let's be honest. With a family like his, that's for the best.
Raylan doesn't sleep around. Never has. In high school he would hang out with girls, god knows they liked him, but Raylan couldn't risk getting attached, who knew what might happen. With Boyd. Boyd knew everything about Raylan. He knows everything. Raylan's never had to have that conversation of, "So, there are some things about me you should probably know before this goes any further."
Boyd is complicated, but he has never made them complicated.
And then Raylan went to Florida and again, just like in Harlan he knew people, they knew him, but he wasn't really close to anybody. And the he met Winona, and Winona isn't easily spooked. And Raylan pushed at her a bit. And she would just roll her eyes and come back the next day. And she kept coming back, and it was the most confusing thing ever. It actually took him a while to realize he couldn't run her off just by telling her who he was. Is. And he thought, okay, this is the one. Except one day she stopped putting up with him. She stopped accepting him.
And the truth is... he doesn't blame her.
Ava doesn't know him. She just knew this boy she had a crush on. He has no idea what the hell he's doing with her. Part of it is her hero worship, part of it is trying to remember when things were simpler than they are now. If he can save her maybe he can make up for something, somewhere. I wouldn't call it love in the slighest, I think it's a weird co-dependency though (him saving her to save himself) which is about 50 times worse.
I'm sniffing some back in the day Raylan/Boyd pretty damn hard I must say. And then when Raylan decided to leave to go to Florida like his mama wanted, he took Boyd somewhere private to tell him, probably saved up his money to get shit faced in Lexington, you know a big night out, some hand jobs. Except when Raylan told Boyd, Boyd was like, and? When you leavin'? Fuck I thought I'd never be shot of you. And Raylan's hurt. Like genuinely hurt for a minute and then he pushes it aside, because it's not like they're playing fucking house here.
Just like the "Fire in the Hole"* short story says, Raylan was born about 100 years too late. He believes in things like honor and truth and "doing the right thing." He's got his hat and his sidearm and he'd probably wear spurs if they didn't jangle so much when he walks. Clearly his favorite movie is Tombstone featuring Val Kilmer. It's something he and Art agree on. Sometimes Raylan goes to Art's for Sunday dinner and they watch it while Art's wife Julie (?) Velma. No, Velma. I like Velma. She cooks dinner.
Thank maurheti for the link, y'all.
I think all of it is about him trying to escape his formative years and failing. I mean not failing in the traditional sense, but him trying so hard to run away and then getting fucking sucked back in despite his best attempts. And once you get back all those old behaviors and people... that's the worst fucking feeling ever. And yes, he drinks Jim Bean and enjoys it. I paid lots of attention to that (always do ;-).
When Raylan is frustrated he goes out behind his room at the 38 Motel and shoots empty PBR cans. Jim Bean and weapon required, shirt optional.
I do not see Raylan/Tim. At all. Not even the hint of it. The spark just isn't there. They like and respect each other, but there's no curiosity. Raylan is too, well, Raylan. He's got a spark with his hat, Rachel, Ava, Winona and Boyd. And Tim just... he's not so inclined. He's an Army Rangers sniper, he does not weep in his beer over some dude. Plus, Raylan is like Rudy: you love him, you think he's great, but lord you don't want any of that mess.
I adore Rachel and I adore Tim. I can totally see them sitting in the Aggressive van on some random stakeout and some how talk gets on Raylan and the hat, and Tim's like that shouldn't work. And Rachel's all, it's his head. It doesn't look right on anybody else. And Tim's like and you know this, how? And Rachel's all cause I tried it on. And Tim's like. Is there something you're trying to tell me, cause I thought him and Ava Crowder. And Rachel's all. Please, all you white boys think the same way. And Tim's like I didn't even say anything. It's not like I asked you if you wanted to do me. And it gets real quiet for a minute and then Rachel's like whatever. You don't walk like that and dress like that unless you know people want to fuck you anyway. And Tim's speechless for a minute, because wow, Rachel cursing. And Tim's like, I didn't say I wanted to fuck him. And Rachel starts laughing. "Well, I want to fuck him, so there. Now you can confess, too." And then the Chief comes in with coffee and is all "we want to fuck who?" And Rachel's like Raylan. And Art thinks this over for a minute and is all. "Nah, he's knock kneed for a reason. It might be cause he's packing something above average. I'm not doin' that." And then everybody has a moment of contemplation before they completely change the subject. <-- This is was gonna be a story, but who knows.
* On Raylan and Ray Person
Ray's always looked up to his big cousin Raylan. Raylan used to call him Pipsqueak, b/c even when he was little he would run after Raylan making noises to be included. Imagine four year told Ray in twelve year-old Raylan's cowboy boots and hat. There are like 20 odd cousins (first and second and play) and Ray is undoubtedly Raylan's favorite. Ray joined the Marines around the time that Raylan joined the US Marshals and then he got deployed to Iraq around the time that Winona left Raylan. Best year of Raylan's life. [/sarcasm]
There was totally court mandated therapy for Raylan's family. "Use your words"? That's totally some therapist shit.
*On Raylan and Brad
Brad's taller, but Raylan would totally pin him against some wall somewhere. Probably outside Ray's mama's house after a BBQ. A few (several) beers in and Brad's wearing that sleeveless tee that he favors, it's dark outside, lots of mosquitos. Raylan's in a shirt that's got holes in all kinds of random places, this is how he dresses with family, and he's got that hat on, and Brad's hips jut out at that angle that's all wrong for anybody's self-restraint. And Raylan's just standing there in front of him, drinking his beer, looking at Brad from underneath the brim of his hat, and then Brad reaches out and takes the hat and sets it on his own head.
I need a Kentucky primer. What's the major grocery store there? What's the beer of choice besides PBR? I gotta figure out what music Raylan listens to as well. This is most important. We know it's not Peter Tosh
Raylan is a romantic. He's in love with what he thinks his job is and how he thinks his life is supposed to be, except none of it has turned out how he's wanted, and he's constantly trying to come to grips with his disappointment, but at the same time he's constantly trying to make his world the way he wants it: good people, great love..Or maybe that's just me. :-/
Like I said, this is really all for my own edification: I can't write my characters until I figure out who the hell they are. Any salient points you think I should ponder, let me know.
And thanks to maurheti and sparky77 for being awesome, thoughtful sounding boards and discussion partners.