All About Danny
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
Danny stands at about 5'4 if he stands tall; he seems several inches shorter due to his slouch. He's underfed, but he's got enough muscle to kick some serious ass in a fight.
2. How old is he?
According to the music school files, he should be somewhere around forty. He looks no more than 21, though it's difficult to gage with how childlike and stunted his development is.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
Danny slouches his shoulders and his head hangs.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
Taking into consideration his living conditions, he's in remarkably good shape, though he's underfed. He's received no obvious or lasting injuries from all his years of fighting, aside from some nasty scarring.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
He moves very stiffly, completely tense when he walks about. There's a certain purpose behind his movements when he has an order, and when fighting he moves quickly with precise movements and lightning fast reflexes.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
He's heavily scarred, and shows far too many stress lines and wrinkles for his age, but beneath it all Danny is quite attractive. With his stunted development though, he comes across more cute and innocent than handsome.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Danny is Chinese, and his skin isn't dark, but it's not completely pale either. It's heavy with wrinkles and scars, most notably one that runs through his right eyebrow up to his hairline.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
His hair is dark brown, almost black. The style is rough and uneven, clearly cut by an uncaring non-professional.
9. What color are his eyes?
Dark brown, and they are huge. His eyes are where Danny shows his innocence, his fear, his anger, and more commonly, the emptiness he uses as a coping mechanism.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
His nails are uncut, and he's often dirty and unwashed, simply unaware of how to take care of himself; however, he has no facial hair.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
His shoulders, upper back and hands primarily, though it's fairly clear that Danny has reason to be tense all over almost all the time.
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?
Danny wears the same old rags he has for years. A ratty grey t-shirt covered with a grey sweater that's torn up and full of holes. A pair of grey pants several sizes too big for him with ragged bottoms, and a pair of old, dirty running shoes.
The most notable part of his outfit though, is the leather and metal collar he wears as part of his slavery.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
They all seem baggy and badly fitted. He is comfortable in them, though mostly because he knows of no other option.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
He wears what Bart makes him wear, which is usually the same set of clothes until they fall apart.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Again, he wears what he's given. He doesn't have a preference.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
He rarely speaks, so his voice is fairly rough with disuse.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
When he does speak, which is incredibly rarely, Danny has good reason for it. When he's afraid, or cowering, his voice is soft and whispery. When he's demanding, or angry, he allows himself to get a little louder.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
Danny speaks with a heavy Mandarin Chinese accent.
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
His mother was Chinese, but since he was taken from her so young, he likely remembers little to nothing. Raised hearing English from Bart, it became his primary language.
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
Nope.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
Danny rarely speaks. He'll either think about his words carefully to give the answer he thinks is most desired, or on very rare occasions, blurt out what he really thinks with no hesitation whatsoever.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
Danny has a very limited vocabulary, like that of a young child. He's not stupid and he is capable of learning though, if he were given time and a patient, compassionate teacher.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
Danny isn't stupid by any means, but his development was badly stunted so early on that he lacks the skills to learn by himself, or follow the same logic patterns as others his age.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
He needs orders. Danny doesn't think for himself, he waits to be told what he should think. In a fight however, he improvises with great success.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
In a word, simplistic. Danny's world is very black and white; Danny is fighting, or Danny is in his cage. Bart is angry, or Bart is indifferent (very very rarely, Bart is nice). Danny is hungry, or Danny is fed. Danny is hurting, or Danny is bandaged up.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
None whatsoever. Perhaps a few things early on from his mother, but it's nothing he's retained. Danny can read a few words from his picture book (namely: jam, kiss, love, milk, piano and queen) and he can speak to a basic, childish level with a very limited vocabulary, but that's it.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
His sole area of expertise is fighting, but it's all self taught out of necessity. He would love to learn more about pianos, though.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
An introvert, though not necessarily by nature.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
In a word: numb. Danny doesn't really have feelings; the beatings and reprogramming from Bart made him suppress them and retreat into himself as a coping mechanism. When the collar comes off though, it's as if everything he could have been feeling rushes out and turns into anger.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
If Bart is there, he's fine, if very quiet and timid. If it's anyone other than Bart? He is utterly terrified.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
React. Danny needs instructions and orders in order to act -- the easiest signal being the removal of his collar -- and he knows to pull back when he gets the order to stop.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
Flight. Without the order, and while his collar is still on, Danny won't attack unless he himself is attacked.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
Danny has absolutely no idea what humor is. He doesn't physically know how to laugh or what it means when people laugh at him ... which happens a lot.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
I suspect he's got a handful and a half from being abused and held captive for eighteen years of his life. His most obvious coping mechanism is that he shuts down his emotions and lets himself go numb. This also helps him cope with pain from injuries, to which he barely reacts.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
Obviously the moment Bart took him in. Danny doesn't remember his mother's murder at the man's hands; as far as he's concerned, Bart's the closest thing he's got to a family.
14. What does he fear?
Large bodies of water, like lakes or the ocean.
Other than that, almost everything. Particularly things that fall out of range of his very limited realm of experience.
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
Danny has none. He has a deep curiosity about pianos, but he doesn't really understand what they are or why they're important to him.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
There's nothing in Danny's life that's a secret, except for the secrets being held from him. His life is very simple and under constant observation, so he couldn't hide anything even if he wanted to.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
Danny doesn't remember his parents.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
He doesn't remember.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
Still doesn't remember.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
Bart, his "uncle". He maintains that he picked Danny up on the street when he was half dead, and saved his life. Danny is constantly told that he should be grateful for all the things Bart has given him, and whether he believes it or not, he thinks that this is the only life he could ever have. Danny has a healthy amount of fear towards the man, but Bart's psychological tricks did a good job of confusing the boy.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Doesn't have one.
6. Does he have other close friends?
Nope.
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
Danny isn't allowed to talk to anyone, let alone make friends.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
Danny has no choice in the matter, but since he has no friends, I suppose family is the default.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
Single out of necessity.
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?
He doesn't have one.
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
Danny doesn't even understand the concept of relationships as anything other than power trips. His knowledge of romance is limited to "kiss" and "love", from his picture book.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
Danny hasn't met any children that weren't himself, and the idea of procreation is an alien one to him.
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
Bart's enemies are Danny's enemies, so yes, a lot. Shortly before being brought onto the boat, Danny, Bart and the lackeys were in a pre-arranged car accident and gunned down by a gangster that they'd collected from.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
Danny has absolutely no concept of sex or sexuality whatsoever.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
It means nothing to him.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
That is a really creepy question, all things considered.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
Let's say "dog", for hilarity's sake. Whether his personality fits or not is impossible to judge, considering how his coping mechanisms make him so quiet and withdrawn.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
Again, Danny has absolutely no concept of spirituality.
3. Does this character have a personal code of morals or ethics? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it?
His morals and ethics are the ones that Bart tells him to have, and those are essentially nonexistent.
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
Danny does have a certain natural curiosity, but it's timid and hesitant.
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
As childish as he is in terms of his thought processes, the concept isn't something he would understand even if it was presented to him.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
Danny lives in absolute poverty and squalor. Not out of genuine poverty though; his uncle and Bart's cronies live the high life. That wealth just doesn't get passed on to Danny.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
He is a slave, and treated as an animal. This began from about the age of three, and completely destroyed any chance he had at living a normal life. Now, he's unaware even of the possibility of living any other way.
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?
He lives in a cage in the middle of the warehouse Bart's gang operates out of. There's enough room for a small cot, about a foot of space to move around in beside it, and then further down the cage is a punching bag for him to train with.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Danny has no money for himself. When given the opportunity for a treat from Bart, he asked for a piano. Unsurprisingly, this wish was not granted.
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?
Danny is an attack dog, trained from childhood to be compliant when collared, and viciously violent when unleashed. However, Danny is a pacifist, and if given the choice, would rather not fight.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
Not given the opportunity to develop any kinds of hobbies or self-interests, Danny spends his free time either training, sleeping, or reading his alphabet book.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
Danny is fed far less than he should have been, and is seen eating spaghetti straight from the can with his fingers; utensils are foreign objects to him. He eats what he is given without complaint.
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color? Grey
2. Smell? Blood
3. Time of day? Night
4. Season? Winter
5. Book? His alphabet book
6. Music? Mozart's Sonata #11
7. Place? The antiques warehouse
8. Substance? Concrete
9. Plant? Wisteria
10. Animal? Dog
END
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