[OOC] Survey stolen from Zuko's journal
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
Poland is short and small-framed, but with a certain level of underlying strength. He puts on a little weight around holidays and when things are easy for him, and loses it under stress.
2. How old is he?
He counts from his baptism, currently 446 years ago (counting two years in Wonderland); however, he was alive at least a couple of decades beforehand, maybe up to a century, and just doesn't recall much about his early life. Physically, he's around 14 or 15.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
He'll fix his posture when he wants to make a good impression, and his posture is good when he feels energetic, but it can also be pretty bad when he's in a lazy mood.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
He's happy with the shape he's in, which is decent by most reasonable standards, and has no illnesses, chronic conditions, or disabilities. His health is tied most closely to his economy, which fluctuates, but is good on the whole lately.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
Very naturally. Whether he's fluid or clownish, it's always because that's just how he is at that moment.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
Poland has excellent self-esteem, and loves what he sees in the mirror (especially when he gets to dress up). He's generally the most attractive to people who are either confused about his sex or have a particular thing for girly boys; if you're looking for masculine appeal, despite his assertive nature, you're not going to find it. He's definitely cute, though! Especially when he's relaxed.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Light and clear, with the occasional fairly subtle scar from the battles of his past.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
Gold like rye, fairly straight and thin, cut at one length between his chin and shoulders.
9. What color are his eyes?
Green.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
Highland regions in the south? A wide plain covering most of him? Yeah, nope.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
He gets, like, major headaches when he's stressed out, so don't start with him, 'kays?
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?
Poland's wardrobe is insanely varied. He seems in general to prefer browns, greens, and warm tones, staying away from dark neutrals and blues for the most part. He'll wear peasant clothes, noble clothes, women's clothes, men's clothes, whatever as long as it looks good on him. He's closeted about the cross-dressing at home, but not so much here. Poland loves trying on new things, going out on a limb with new looks, and anything he decides makes him look cute and/or badass.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
Yes, indeed! Even when others don't seem comfortable with him wearing them.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
He dresses, generally, for the occasion--fancy clothes at court, plain clothes working in the fields, armor (or a uniform, later) on the battlefield, and in the future, conservative-ish suits for diplomatic meetings. In his free time? He does what he wants, bitch 8D
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
This.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
Fairly high-pitched for a guy, especially considering his age right now.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
It depends on the context. He can be really hesitant when speaking honestly about his feelings, and really confident and firm when he's happy or trying to make a strong impression. Typically, unless trying to come off as strong and mature, he speaks quickly and a bit loudly.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
We were like, I was all, they were all, he was like, she was like all totally like ohmigod...
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
Polish - native. Lithuanian - conversational. Hungarian - conversational. Czech - German - enough to call Prussia a shithead. Church!Latin - fluent. English - only because of the mansion's built in babelfish.
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
Yes. He speaks Latin with Catholics from other countries, German to call Prussia a shithead, and mansion!English when nobody understands Polish ;_;
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
He's better on the spot than you'd expect from the way he freaks out about strangers, but he's also honest and impulsive to a fault.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
He can be either, depending on the circumstances. Usually, he comes off as pretty weird and ramble-y, but he can be all regal and in control and shit when it's really important.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
Poland is smarter than he looks or acts. He's had a lot of time to learn about things like agriculture and military strategy and politics and theology, and he's actually got a pretty decent head for math and science, but he doesn't take things seriously very often, has moments of extreme illogic, and comes off overall as a ditz. He doesn't mind. Makes his enemies think they're safer than they are.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
Poland? Deliberate? Pffft. Poland is impulsive like an impulsive thing.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
Poland can do logic when he's got to, but overall, his heart and his ideals drive him more. It's good for him. They're strong, and relying on anything else in the worst times he's got ahead of him, he'd probably just break.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
He learned to read and write Latin and Polish at a fairly early age from the monks who brought Christianity to him. Aside from that, he's probably sat in on his princes' lessons, and dozed through them.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
Poland is a pretty good fighter, a badass on a horse, and quite good at agricultural pursuits. He'd like to learn more about science, honestly; a lot of things are very new fields or totally undiscovered, from his point in history.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
Not really. He's scared of strangers to the point of actually, physically hiding behind Liet, but he's also assertive and outgoing, and very social when he gets to know you.
7.Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
Speaking generally, Poland is cheerful and laid-back, with a half-hidden layer of competence and steel will to get him through the few things that his smile alone can't.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
Like I said--by freaking out and crying or trying to hide, then manning up and doing shit anyway.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
Act.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
Definitely fight.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
It's hard to gauge when Poland is and isn't joking, because he can be... quirky. He does get a lot of amusement out of pranks, or more generally, getting reactions out of people. When he's older, gallows humor will definitely come into play.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders?
Nothing diagnosable; he's a bit selfish and has trouble understanding people's feelings, but not, like, a sociopath or anything.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
So far? (Including Wonderland):
-His unification under Piast
-His conversion to Catholicism with Mieszko in 966
-His recognition as a kingdom by the Vatican
-The brief collapse of his monarchy before Casimir I
-Bolesław' the Bold/Cruel/Generous's feud with the Church and their subsequent falling out/exile
-His conflicting loyalties to several regional leaders (and horrible headaches) during the Fragmentation in the 12th and 13th centuries
-Invasion by the Golden Horde
-His ultimate reunification under Władysław I, and strengthening from there
-Jadwiga's coronation as king (as a 10-year-old girl)
-Jadwiga's arranged marriage to Jogaila, and his own to Lithuania
-Jadwiga's death, God rest her soul
-Tannenberg.
-Coming to Wonderland, being separated from his people
-Learning about his horrifying future D=
-....The Major.
-Making friends
-Being arrested by the Queen for his crimes against the English language
-Finally consummating his marriage (it only took you guys what, 26 years?)
-Bad mirror-related experiences
-Killing his mirror and dying in an effort to avenge Liet's suffering at the mirrors' hands
-Friends (America, Lawr, etc.) going home
-Liet going home
14. What does he fear?
Very little, on his own. Here, he's got reason to fear the distant future that he knows is lying in wait for him; in general, he's scared of strangers and of that fear getting in his way and making him have to be alone.
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
To be a land of plenty and freedom, with close allies and a loving relationship with his partner/husband. Independence from those who would push their will on him and his people. Also, cute dresses.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
He doesn't have any, or even anything like them. He was raised by his rulers and clergy as a small child, and has no real nurturing relationship to speak of with any older nations.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
There's nothing in canon that says he does, though one could argue that he's probably related to the other Slavic nations, or at least Czech-tan and Slovakia (the other West Slavs). He's not very close with any of them, though, and has a vague animosity with the East Slavs that will eventually boil over into his and Russia's centuries-long cycle of "no, fuck you". Suffice to say, if he has family, he's estranged from them and/or doesn't get along with them at all.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
See above.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
Hungary, definitely. They are badass and gender-atypical and sometimes drunken together, and he loves her to pieces. Liet, too, in the sense that a husband is family, and the other Baltic nations as, for the moment, moderately distant in-laws. Also, he's very close with some of his monarchs--Jadwiga was like a sister to him, and some of the early kings especially were the closest he ever had to father figures.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Lithuania. They met when their bosses arranged for a marriage union between themselves (and also their nations).
6. Does he have other close friends?
Hungary. In Eway, he's had several others, including Elaine, Nitori, Nai, Beiste, Lawr, Wolfram, sometimes Ryohei, sometimes Terezi, America, and others.
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
Poland is wary and frightened of strangers, and can be very pushy about things he cares about, and sometimes forgets to show empathy for other people. He has his problems making friends, though he's gotten a little bit better through practice lately.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
Friends, since all of his "family" that he acknowledges are non-blood relations. In theory, though, family.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
Married. GAY CATHOLIC NATION MARRIED.
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Nope.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
Poland... is pretty Lithuania-sexual, so far. He's been sexually mature for a fairly short portion of his life, so there's that. He did have a slight crush on America, but not nearly enough to even want to act on.
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
Taking Lithuania as an example, I'd say... kindness, patience, the ability to amuse him by being serious and easy to ruffle, and a willingness to humor him a lot.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
He has his people. They're like children to him! Seriously, he loves them more than he could ever say, and understands them pretty well, since they're actually part of him.
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
Aaaaaaahahahaha. Okay. Right now, mostly the Teutonic Order, with a distant, wary eye on the Golden Horde. Later in life, though, he's basically going to be the punching bag of Europe. Prussia, Russia, Austria, Sweden, and Germany are the biggest names in the let's-fuck-up-Poland's-life game.
And in Eway, there were Kura and the Major, but they're gone. Also, Pakistan (also gone), for Liet's affections.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
Lithuania-sexual. He's a solid 6, really--girls are for gossiping and dress-up.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
He's shy about it, but thinks it's an important part of a marriage, and certainly enjoys it in the context of marriage with a loving, respectful, and attentive partner. He hasn't really gone without it for the past year, so it's going to be interesting to see how he reacts to that.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
He thinks it is super hot when Liet is all... brave and good and knightly and shit. He's turned off by people who treat sex like something trivial and emotionally void. And... does cross-dressing count, if he does it outside of the bedroom as well?
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
His canon birthday is July 22nd in the Japanese and November 11 in the Polish edition of the manga. Since those are both picked for historical dates that haven't happened yet, I'd probably say that he identifies his birthday as his baptism date right now-- April 14. That would make him an Aries, or a Cancer [July 22] or a Scorpio [November 11]. The contradictory harshness and sensitivity of Cancer fits, as do the passion and dynamism of Aries and the intense will to survive and thrive of Scorpio, so... /shrugs.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
Poland is very, very Catholic. He can be a bit spiritual as well, when the mood strikes him; either way, faith plays an extremely important role 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?
Poland's morals are mostly based in his Catholicism. It's the way he was raised, and he believes strongly in its rightness. They'll also evolve through his shitty, shitty experiences as he grows up, and focus more intensely on protecting the weak and not leaving people behind than they already do. He's also passionately individualistic, and until the modern age, often ahead of his time re: social rights.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
Irrelevant in Eway; Pretty damn well off at home.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
He's a nation. His status seems almost to change with his mood; among nations, he's doing well for himself lately.
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?
5-69. Lithuania used to live there with him, but not so much right now. It's like a noble's bedroom in a 15th century Polish castle, with a stone and wood interior, lots of rugs and tapestries for insulation, and wooden furniture. He loves it as much as he can love a place that isn't really home, but it's been messy since Liet left, because he's lazy and he's felt too weird to try and fix it.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
In Eway, he doesn't.
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?
EVERYTHING. Seriously. Everything his people do. Diplomacy, trade, warfare, agriculture...
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
Fashion, Catholicism, consumption of the arts, PONIES.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
He eats largely food he's used to from home, frequently heavy, pepper-y or nutmeg-y foods. Rye, wheat, and millet feature prominently, as do peas and beans, game, beef, mushrooms, and nuts. He also eats some Lithuanian food, some modern desserts people have fed him here, and loves the Hell out of his beer, mead, and vodka :D
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color? Red and white, gold, pink
2. Smell? Baking rye bread, nutmeg,
3. Time of day? Late afternoon
4. Season? Mid-fall
5. Book? THE BIBLE.
6. Music? Bogurodzica.
7. Place? Kraków
8. Substance? ...Wodka!
9. Plant? Rye, field poppies