Character Memes of DOOM - James and Cindy
James Bradford
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
James is just shy of 6’2”, but carries himself like someone much taller, and he’s fairly muscular, as those who enjoy playing sports tend to be.
2. How old is he?
James is approximately 40 years old.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
James stands up straight to take advantage of his height. He likes to be a little intimidating.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
James is in good health, and is very much in shape. He played baseball in his youth, and now is trying to get his sons into the game.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
He’s a bit of a bull in a china shop.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
James is very much aware that he’s not a traditionally handsome man. He sometimes wishes he looked more like his grandfather, though looks are the only thing about himself that he wishes resembled that man.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
James always looks as though he has a tan, no matter what the season.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
James has straight, dark brown hair. He got into the habit of wearing hats because they gave him “character,” and now he wears them to hide the fact that he’s starting to go bald.
9. What color are his eyes?
He has dark blue eyes.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
James has his father’s (and therefore his grandmother’s) mouth, which he’s rather self-conscious about.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
His neck, which is why he’s always rubbing it when he’s stressed.
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?
He prefers to dress on the casual side. He’s not really one for colors.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
James’ clothes fit very well, as he learned the value of a good tailor from his grandfather (one of the few things he’s glad the man taught him).
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
He pretty much dresses the same no matter what he’s doing. He’s not really a fan of getting dressed up.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Boxers.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
James has a deepish voice.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
His speech is pretty even, though it has a tendency to speed up when he’s nervous.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
He’s got a hint of a New England/Bostonian accent, though it’s more pronounced when he’s tired or emotional. He has a tendency to swear, though, and has a fondness for slang.
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
English/Simlish. He studied French/SimFrench in high school, but it never really stuck with him (not that he really tried, either).
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
Other than his accent becoming more pronounced when he’s in a stressful/emotional situation, no.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
He’s better at speaking off the cuff than he gives himself credit for.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
He’s somewhere in between.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
He’s fairly smart. He’s not exactly what one would consider book-smart, and he’s more street smart now than he was in his younger years.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
He would certainly prefer the time to deliberate, but he’s comfortable thinking on his feet.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
James is logical but he strives to uphold his ideals.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
James has a college degree.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
James really doesn’t have any one area of expertise. He’s very good at reading people, for the most part, which is helpful in his management positions.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
Extrovert. James is happiest around other people.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
James has a fast temper that kicks in whenever he feels threatened. Fortunately, it usually subsides as quickly as it comes on. Other than that, he’s a very easy person to like and get along with.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
He has a tendency to be suspicious in new situations, until he’s got the lay of the land, so to speak.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
James is very reactionary.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
Fight.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
James has an excellent sense of humor, if a bit crude.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
No.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
He always felt slightly burdened with the knowledge that he would be the one to carry on his family name and heritage, and worried that he would make the wrong choices. His grandparents’ passing and his father’s encouragement to do what felt right were what finally allowed him to come into his own. That he was the one who lost a large portion of the family’s savings in the Crash of ’29 also hit him hard; he felt as though he had failed in his responsibilities to his family. Oh, and this little thing called World War II that’s looming will also affect him greatly, but I can’t talk about that just yet.
14. What does he fear?
Losing Cindy, and his children not being happy.
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
He wants to be worthy of the esteem his family name affords him, and he wants to make sure his children are happy and know that he’s proud of them no matter what choices they make.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
That underneath his tough exterior, he’s actually a softie. But most of the people around him have already figured it out, and they’re smart enough to keep that knowledge to themselves.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
He’s got a positive relationship with them, despite his grandmother’s efforts to influence him to dislike his mother. His father is his hero, though he’s never told him that.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
James is the eldest of three.
Viola - James was closest to his sister, though their mutual fast tempers have caused strain on their relationship over the years.
Cyrus - James feels protective of his younger brother, as their grandfather was always hard on the younger boy. But James is also jealous of how easy Cyrus and Viola’s relationship is, and wishes he could have that with one of them.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
One of James’ best friends is his cousin Taddy. He’s very fond of his Aunt Lizzie as well. He never got along with his grandparents, Matthew or Jan, because he saw how they treated his parents and he did not like it.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
His other best friend, Sterling, is like a brother to him.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
James is part of a trio of best friends that includes Taddy and Sterling. Taddy and Sterling were friends first, and then James joined the group when they met one afternoon at Taddy’s house. They’ve been inseparable ever since.
6. Does he have other close friends?
No, Taddy and Sterling are it.
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
James’ appearance makes him somewhat intimidating to others, so he has a bit of a tough time making friends. But once they get past his exterior, they find he’s easy to get along with.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
Family, since one of his best friends is his cousin and the other is now his brother-in-law.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
James is married to Cindy. He’s only been married once.
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
No.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
James never really had a crush before Cindy. He was rather ambivalent about women before he met her.
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
He wants someone who will allow him to “be the man,” yet will call him on his BS. He’s attracted to confidant, smart women.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
James has three children, Nicholas, and twins Dorothy and Daniel. He’s a good father, but his eldest son is so different from him that he has a hard time relating to him sometimes. Daniel is more like his father, so they get along better. Dorothy is almost exactly like James, and he worries about what will happen as she gets older.
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
No.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
100% straight.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
He’s a man - he likes it. He’d like more, but he knows that his wife (nor himself, really) wants a house full of kids.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
I’ll just go with what the game says, and say his turn ons are blond hair and cologne. His turn off is charismatic (which actually makes no sense).
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
James is a Scorpio, and it’s a pretty accurate description of him.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
He’s not really either.
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?
James has a pretty strict moral code, and he strives to do what’s right. He’s always been concerned with what’s right and fair. He’s only willing to compromise it if it concerns the well-being of his family.
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
James is fairly open-minded, but he does tend to believe that his way is the right way.
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
James’ prejudices mostly stem from the time period he grew up in. They could be considered irrational, but he feels they’re perfectly justified.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
Since the market crash, James is on the poorer side, but they’re not in debt.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
He’s the eldest son of a prominent family, so his social standing is rather high.
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 the farmhouse that has been in his family for 6 generations. He shares it with his parents, wife, and children.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
James likes to buy things for other people, and spoils his wife and children with gifts.
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?
He managed a speakeasy, which he was quite good at due to his ability to read people. When the speakeasy became a gambling hall, he was miserable about taking money from people who really needed it and was relieved when Sterling offered him a job as a clerk at his family’s store. He likes his job, but if the family didn’t need his income he’s probably spend his time travelling with Cindy.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
James has always been obsessed with baseball.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
James loves to eat; he always has. He enjoys his drinks as well, and is partial to gin martinis.
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color? Black
2. Smell? Pine
3. Time of day? Evening
4. Season? Summer
5. Book? The Great Gatsby
6. Music? Jazz
7. Place? Ball field
8. Substance? Fire
9. Plant? Oak tree
10. Animal? Bear
END
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Cindy Selby Bradford
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is she heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
Cindy’s about 5’5”, and looks smaller than she is. She’s on the petite side, and is nicely proportioned.
2. How old is she?
Like her husband, Cindy’s about 40 at the current stage of the story.
3. Describe her posture. Does she carry herself well or does she slouch?
She stands up straight to take as much advantage of the height she has as possible.
4. How is her health? Is she fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
Cindy grew up on a farm, so she’s very hardy.
5. How does she move? Is she clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
Cindy is very graceful, and there’s also a certain level of sultriness in the way she moves.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does she perceive herself in the mirror?
Cindy’s pretty and she knows it, but it hasn’t made her vain. As her looks were her meal ticket for a long time, she’s very conscious of her appearance.
7. Describe her complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Cindy has fair, clear skin with a healthy, rosy glow about her.
8. Describe her hair: color, texture, style.
She’s a natural blond. Her hair has a natural wave to it, but she coaxes it into finger waves because that’s the style of the day.
9. What color are her eyes?
She has bright, dark blue eyes with a sense of mischief in them.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
As her husband puts it, “a very kissable mouth.”
11. What are her chief tension centers?
Her hands. When she’s nervous or stressed she wrings them.
12. What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does she have six of the same suit?
Cindy likes fashionable clothes, and tends towards pretty dresses that she couldn’t have growing up. She likes to wear blue, because it draws attention to her eyes. Of course, her old performing wardrobe was bright and eye-catching, because she wanted all eyes in the room on her.
13. Do her clothes fit well? Does she seem comfortable in them?
Yes. She likes to show off her figure.
14. Does she dress the same on the job as she does in her free time? If not, what are the differences?
When she worked, she wore brightly colored (and slightly revealing) costumes. In her free time, her looks are much softer.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando? Whatever it is, it’s silk.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
She’s got a soft voice that has a lyrical quality to it. When she sings, she’s a soprano.
2. How does she normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does she talk easily, or does she hesitate?
Her voice may have a soft quality, but she knows how to command attention. She’s very fluid in her speech.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
She’s got a Bostonian accent, but it’s very subtle.
4. What language/s does she speak, and with how much fluency?
English/Simlish only. She never had the chance to learn any others
5. Does she switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
No, she’s very consistent.
6. Is she a good impromptu speaker, or does she have to think about her words?
She’s very good at speaking on the fly. In fact, when she has to think about what she says too much that’s when she starts to struggle.
7. Is she eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
She’s very eloquent when she wants to be.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is she book-smart or street-smart?
Cindy is very street smart, though her traditional education is somewhat lacking.
2. Does she think on her feet, or does she need time to deliberate?
She thinks on her feet all the time, and her instincts are usually right.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is she more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
She’s far too practical for her own good, but deep in her heart she wants to believe that there’s a place for idealism.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
She’s has a formal education through about the age of 16. Everything else she knows she’s learned from trying to survive on her own.
5. What are her areas of expertise? What, if anything, is she interested in learning more about?
She’s a naturally talented singer, and she can learn a tune by hearing it played only once or twice. But she always feels a little out-of-place in houseful of college educated (or about to be) people, and reads nearly everything she gets her hands on so she feels adequate.
6. Is she an introvert or an extrovert?
Extrovert.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is she even-tempered or does she have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
She’s generally cheerful, but she knows what she wants and goes for it without fully examining the potential consequences.
8. How does she respond to new people or situations? Is she suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
She loves meeting new people, and is comfortable in most situations.
9. Is she more likely to act, or to react?
Act.
10. Which is her default: fight or flight?
Fight.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does she appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
Her sense of humor is rather dark.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does she deal with them?
No.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined her as a person?
Running away from home when she was barely 17 to try to make it on Broadway, failing, and having to go home with her proverbial tail between her legs. Once she returned home, she found they’d died in the Simlish Influenza epidemic, and she was on her own for real. She learned she had to stand on her own two feet, and that she was capable of surviving. Oh, and living through World War II and all that means (you’ll know more soon enough).
14. What does she fear?
Becoming like her mother, a broken down woman with no dreams left to dream.
15. What are her hopes or aspirations?
In her younger years, to become famous and make it big in Simmywood. Now that she’s older, she wants her children to be happy and live their dreams, and to take full advantage of having a husband who loves her deeply.
16. What is something she doesn't want anyone to find out about her?
That despite her independent nature, she’s relieved to have someone to take care of her.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with her parents.
Not good. She never got on with her father, because he had little use for daughters. Her relationship with her mother was always strained, because Mrs. Selby was always trying to force Cindy to look at the world realistically. She wishes they could see what she’s made of her life.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
Two younger sisters, who she helped to raise. She resented being forced into a mothering role, and that made her not want to have children of her own.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom she is close? Are there ones she can't stand?
No.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom she considers part of her family? What are her relationships with them?
No.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Sadly, she’s never really had a female best friend. James, her husband, would probably be the closest thing to a best friend she’s ever had.
6. Does she have other close friends?
She was growing close to Viola, her sister-in-law, but Viola’s temper tantrum hurt Cindy deeply.
7. Does she make friends easily, or does she have trouble getting along with people?
Cindy makes acquaintances easily, but not close friends. She can generally get along with anyone.
8. Which does she consider more important: family or friends?
Family.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has she been married more than once?
Married, once.
10. Is she currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
No.
11. Who was her first crush? Who is her latest?
A simmified version of Douglas Fairbanks or John Barrymore
12. What does she look for in a romantic partner?
Someone who’s not intimidated by her independent nature, and lets her be herself.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does she relate to them? If no, does she want any?
She has three children: Nicholas and twins Dorothy and Daniel. She was a bit overwhelmed by being a mother at first and was rather indifferent to Nicholas when he was a baby, but soon began to love motherhood. She’s much closer to her younger two than she is to Nick, though she dotes upon her eldest.
14. Does she have any rivals or enemies?
No.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does she fall on the Kinsey scale?
100% straight.
16. How does she feel about sex? How important is it to her?
Cindy is a very sexual creature, and she craves it. However, she knows that sex = babies, so she curbs her desires so that she doesn’t end up with a houseful of kids. She’s looking forward to when her childbearing years pass, and she can do what she wants.
17. What are her turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
Her in-game turn ons are charismatic and glasses, and her turn off is logical.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does she fit type?
Cindy is a Pisces in game, and she’s very true to type.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in her life?
She went to church every Sunday of her childhood, but I’m not sure I’d call her very religious. She went because it’s what you did during that time period.
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?
She’s always believed in following the Golden Rule and the traditional rules of good conduct, but her survival was always paramount.
4. How does she regard beliefs that differ from hers? Is she tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
She’s very open minded and tolerant.
5. What prejudices does she hold? Are they irrational or does she have a good reason for them?
She believes that women should be allowed to support themselves and work whether or not they have a husband. Radical thoughts for her time.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is she rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
Her family is currently a bit cash poor, but overall they’re doing alright as they have no debts.
2. What is her social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected her?
Cindy was born into a poor farming family. She’s married into a prominent family. The increase in status has given her a sense of security that she’s not really known in her life.
3. Where does she live? House, apartment, trailer? Is her home her castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does she share it with others?
She lives in her husband’s family home with her in-laws and children.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does she spend her money on?
She likes pretty things, and has a weakness for rhinestone jewelry.
5. What does she do for a living? Is she good at it? Does she enjoy it, or would she rather be doing something else?
Presently, she is not working. Before her marriage and for a time after it, she was employed as a jazz singer at a speakeasy.
6. What are her interests or hobbies? How does she spend her free time?
She loves music, but cannot play any instruments. She spends her free time reading, or playing with her children.
7. What are her eating habits? Does she skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
Cindy enjoys food, though she is mindful of her figure and is careful about how much she eats. She too has a weakness for gin martinis.
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is her favorite:
1. Color? Blue
2. Smell? Fancy perfume
3. Time of day? Late evening
4. Season? Summer
5. Book? Uh…
6. Music? Jazz
7. Place? The city
8. Substance? Silver
9. Plant? Wild rose
10. Animal? Sparrow
END
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