More character memery
From here. Doing it for Jafferz, as usual.
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
Tall and skinny and catlike and androgynous as hell. Not in the sort of way that makes you go "is that a boy or a girl?" but once you realise he does, in fact, talk and walk like a woman, it's actually a bit disconcerting.
2. How old is he?
47 or so in the film.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
I've never seen posture like his. He carries himself like an emperor and glides around like... like a fuckin' Dalek.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
I doubt he's as fit as an athlete, or that he'd be all that great in a physical fight. I think he does some basic yoga-type exercises, but not much. He's got a weak heart and he pants a bit heavily as he captures the Pwinzezz on his ship, so he can't be super fit. He's got crappy eyesight as well.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
See above: as graceful as can be.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
He's gorgeous and he knows it. Despite his wonky teeth and receding hairline, he's a pretty bastard.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Light brown skin. Roses!Jaffar has scars all along his back from having been whipped by the Sultan when he caught her spying on Yassamin.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
Black and silky, receded to the top of his head, skullet-length. More silver than the black it used to be.
9. What color are his eyes?
Unsettling, piercing blue.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
The whole uncanniness that he sports. He moves in a way that's not quite human, has eyes that are more djinn than human. He's like some creature from a planet of she-cats, FFS...
11. What are his chief tension centers?
What, is this some massage thing? I bet he's tense in the brain. And his poor balls are aching quite a bit before he gets to marry his Pwinzezz.
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?
Astonishingly, his clothes are very simple in the film. Historically, they would have been way more ornate. My headcanon is that he wears plain, blue robes because he's in mourning for his butchered family. My other headcanon is that he starts wearing more "normal" (i.e. more decorative) clothes once he's happily married to his Pwinzezz.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
Yes. Even when he's wearing plain things, they're tailored to perfection. And he can command their each fold and flap to move dramatically with him. No one's ever inhabited his clothes the way he has, made them a part of his... well, his entire existence is a performance, it seems.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
The same, until he meets his Pwinzezz. Then, I expect he only wears plain stuff when he's working on his clockwork things.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Long johns under his robes. If he's wearing shalwars, commando.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
Much lighter than you'd think, much softer. Not squeaky, but again feminine. Very very catlike. He... meaows. That's the only way of describing it.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
He speaks slowly, as if trying to lure you into a trap, as if to hypnotise you. And you'd be right.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
My headcanon is that Connie's ridiculous German accent=Jaffar speaking in a heavy Persian accent, while the higher-ups around him (like Ahmad and the Sultan and Yassamin) speak Arabic.
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Greek at least.
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
Probably. He's saddened that Yassamin can't speak Persian, as he's not perfect in Arabic, and would love to speak words of love her in Persian.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
He's a master magician of words. He's good at improvising and charming a room full of people, if needs be.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
Eloquent as hell. Even when he's overwhelmed by his Pwinzezz, even during hot sexings, he seems to me to be the type who can always quip something witty or hot. He's impossible that way.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
Book-smart, very much. And wily and knowledgeable. He isn't Grand Vizier for nothing.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
He's always planning. There are always several plans going on in his head, a masterplan and several backup plans.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
He's normally logical, but starts to suffer from grandiose madnesses whenever he's wooing his Pwinzezz, going to great lengths to somehow gain her favours. Idiot.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
The best education anyone in the world could have in the late 700s. He's been educated in *everything,* basically, and even by medieval Persian standards, the Barmakids were huge on learning and books. Their learning didn't just end when they became grown men; they kept studying all their lives.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
He's of an expert level in pretty much everything, but super-expert in clockwork machinery and magic. And sexy sex.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
Introvert.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
He's temperamental, but becomes a pussycat in his Yassamin's arms.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
He's polite, but cautious.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
Both. I get the feeling he's had to try and learn the whole "act, don't react" thing all his life, and never quite succeeds at it. Especially if it's something that gets him really emotional. Like his Pwinzezz.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
Fight, and cheat. With magic.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
He's horrible. Especially with the toilet humour and puns. Poor Yassamin has to endure his jokes even during sex.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
Thankfully, such wanky modern diagnoses weren't around back then. So I'll refrain from slapping any on them. It'd just get depressing.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
Above all, the horrible massacre of his family by Harun. But before that, the love his mother poured upon him (he was her favourite) and the strange relationship he had with Fadl (in Roses, that is).
14. What does he fear?
Losing his Pwinzezz.
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
His Pwinzezz.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
Some of the shit he's gone through for his Pwinzezz. Roses!Jaffar wouldn't reveal the scars on his back to just anyone. And the way he serves her would be seen as unmanly by many.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
His father was stern but wise, incredibly wise. Perhaps a little too indulgent at times, because he was good-natured and gentle. The Barmakids are described in all history books as being kind to the point of foolishness, as incredibly generous and good to everyone around them. I have no idea how they managed all the beggars, as so many people back then made it their occupation to beg, to subsist on alms. So his father would have been very giving and intelligent and kind, making sure to educate his children well. His mother, I am sure, absolutely pampered him--I don't know *why,* but I see Jaffar as the mummy's boy of all the four lads, as her favourite. Probaby because that's just so Connie.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
Three brothers and a sister at least. Fadl being the only one of them who's anywhere near his own age. And their relationship goes from the strained and incestuous (Roses) to fairly friendly and jovial (Defy Not The Stars). I don't know why, but in most of my headcanons, one of his younger brothers is an usurping twat. Especially as it was Fadl who, historically, was the one Harun was afraid would usurp him--Fadl, out of sheer kindness and friendship, let at least one rival of Harun's out of prison, which Harun thought was basically treason. But in my head, the younger brothers are the ones who are most dissatisfied and after the throne. In Roses, Mohammad is just a jolly and simple fellow and pretty harmless, and we haven't really heard from Musa yet. In DNTS, Musa is the usurper, so I wonder if he'll take on that role in other stories. He might show up if I ever end up writing a final story for Falcon. But as all the ideas I have for that are super-tragic, I haven't felt like writing it. Dunya, we haven't seen much of, but she's a HBIC, as if a sister of Jaffar's could be otherwise.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
Well, the love-hate relationship he has with Fadl in Roses just goes on and on...
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
Blrrgh, can't remember anything right now. I bet I wrote someone like that, but my brain's too fuzzy to recall it.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
His Pwinzezz, eventually. Once they come to love and know each other.
6. Does he have other close friends?
He's not really that kind of person, now is he?
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
He hardly gets along with anyone. Even the people we could just about call his friends are more like his fuckbuddies.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
Well, they are the same thing for him, pretty much. Yassamin being his wife and his BFF. Not sure how the kids'll turn out.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
He's had wives before Yassamin, in most of my stories; pre-Harun. In Roses, he had Fatima, who died in childbirth when they were both 17; after that, he had some wives and concubines he loved less but whom Harun killed. And he had a couple of kids he did really love. But he wasn't *crazy* about anyone until he met Yassamin. Unless it's a 'verse in which Abbasa existed. She's the only exception. I still haven't decided whether Abbasa existed in the Rosesverse. I kind of have this feeling she wouldn't fit into it all that well, but I do know that Harun destroyed Jaffar's family, so... hard to say. Harun would've had to have a different motive for killing Jaffar's parents and wives and kids, then...
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Only fuckbuddies. He's not really in love with anyone in the same way he's in love with Yassamin.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
Depends on the 'verse. Abbasa was the most remarkable one in several. And he's been crushing on Ze Pwinzezz as long as he's known her.
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
That she's Yassamin?
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
Two kids in both Roses and DNTS. Very much childfree in Falcon, which is a big deal in that 'verse anyway. He adores his kids and they adore him.
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
Not in the 'verses where he's fucked off from Baghdad into a happier, exiled existence with his Yassamin. Thank all the gods.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
I think he's actually straighter than what Connie's usual 50/50 bisexual aura calls for. Oddly. I mean, he's mostly Princesssexual and the affairs he's had with guys have been mostly to just sate some physical urges. I'd say he's about 70% straight, 30% gay. And genderwise, very much a 50/50 split.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
It's very important to him. So he's been so very lucky in his Yassamin being a horny little thing herself.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
Crossdressing, anal, whipping, spanking, delayed fucking gratification. Taking on a female body from time to time, in Roses. He's never really vanilla or straight, now is he...? And I don't know about weird habits. Or then I forget. I'm actually too ill and groggy to write, but for some fucking reason, I keep typing out the answers to this thingit anyway... I must be forgetting tons.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
I made him a Leo in DNTS for sheer lols, making him match all the cliches. Persians were THE nation that developed astrology in the first place and were craziest about it, but I haven't honestly bothered with it all that much as I'm not that big on astrology myself.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
Very much a mystic, very spiritual, but not in an orthodox/orthopraxist Muslim way. I wonder if he even does the five daily prayers sometimes. I bet Yassamin has to kick him into it. But I do think he finds some spiritual benefits in prayer and fasting, so he keeps on doing them as a sort of exercise.
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?
Blllrrgh. Fuckin' trust no one. But he also has this weird thing about honour and wanting to have his Princess's love for real in the movie, doesn't he? Fuck knows. I would know how he'd react in a given situation, but I can't really start describing it as some sort of system of ethics right here or anything. I mean, most people don't think of things like that all that much, now do they?
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
He doesn't really care whether other people observe proper religion or not, TBH. He tries to teach his kids the basics of good Muslim conduct, but I honestly doubt he'd explode at the kids if he caught them drinking wine (when they were teenagers or something).
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
I find it hard to think of stuff like that at the moment, as his entire bloody universe revolves around his Princess. So he's prejudiced against people who'd be prejudiced against his Pwinzezz, I'm sure...
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
I try to make him well-off, because that makes writing him easier. It's harder for anyone to pursue their desires and to realise themselves if they're piss-poor. Besides, *I'm* piss-poor, so I hardly want to wallow in that even more than I already do. Gods, no. I want them to be financially comfortable and happy.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
He was once Grand Vizier and/or the Caliph himself, so... yeah. But he mellows out a lot in the 'verses where I've allowed him to retire and to move away. Kingship doesn't really suit him in the end. He's much better off being his geeky, mystical, engineering, Princess-screwing self somewhere in happy retirement.
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?
Usually some roomy house with several bedrooms, a garden and a handful of servants.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Books, books, books. Materials to build his clockwork thingamajigs from. On things to pamper his Yassamin with.
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?
Either Prime Ministering or building clockwork creatures. He's fuckin' brilliant at it.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
Books, studying, magic, mysticism, building his toys, fucking ze Pwinzezz, fucking ze Pwinzezz, fucking ze Pwinzezz.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
He probably forgets to eat half the time and Yassamin has to bring him noms into the shabestan to remind him of this thing called eating. Poor thinglet. But when he sets down to do some cooking, he's brilliant--his dad wrote a fucking cookbook! So he must've inherited some of his skills. And as far as alcohol goes, no, I don't think he avoids it. But he doesn't overindulge either. At least in Roses (the DNTS Jaffar was a bit of an old lush at the beginning of the story).
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color?
Blue.
2. Smell?
Pwinzezzpuzzy. Jasmine, because it reminds him of her. Roses. Musk. Oudh. As to what I associate with him, have a sniff of Gucci's Oud. That's still Jaffar In A Bottle, as far as I'm concerned.
3. Time of day?
Dusk. Night. The time of lovers :q
4. Season?
Late summer. Depends on the climate he's in, though. Samarkand's quite different from Baghdad. Whenever it's a bit cooler and the roses are in bloom.
5. Book?
The sorts of things Rumi and Ibn Arabi would write.
6. Music?
The moans of his Pwinzezz.
7. Place?
Persia. Duh.
8. Substance?
Does this mean a drug or... anything tangible? Drugwise, opium, I guess, since he's used it to medicate Yassamin? Otherwise, I'm not sure. Perfume? Jade dildos? IDK?
9. Plant?
Jasmine, rose.
10. Animal?
Cheetah!
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
Tall and skinny and catlike and androgynous as hell. Not in the sort of way that makes you go "is that a boy or a girl?" but once you realise he does, in fact, talk and walk like a woman, it's actually a bit disconcerting.
2. How old is he?
47 or so in the film.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
I've never seen posture like his. He carries himself like an emperor and glides around like... like a fuckin' Dalek.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
I doubt he's as fit as an athlete, or that he'd be all that great in a physical fight. I think he does some basic yoga-type exercises, but not much. He's got a weak heart and he pants a bit heavily as he captures the Pwinzezz on his ship, so he can't be super fit. He's got crappy eyesight as well.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
See above: as graceful as can be.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
He's gorgeous and he knows it. Despite his wonky teeth and receding hairline, he's a pretty bastard.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Light brown skin. Roses!Jaffar has scars all along his back from having been whipped by the Sultan when he caught her spying on Yassamin.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
Black and silky, receded to the top of his head, skullet-length. More silver than the black it used to be.
9. What color are his eyes?
Unsettling, piercing blue.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
The whole uncanniness that he sports. He moves in a way that's not quite human, has eyes that are more djinn than human. He's like some creature from a planet of she-cats, FFS...
11. What are his chief tension centers?
What, is this some massage thing? I bet he's tense in the brain. And his poor balls are aching quite a bit before he gets to marry his Pwinzezz.
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?
Astonishingly, his clothes are very simple in the film. Historically, they would have been way more ornate. My headcanon is that he wears plain, blue robes because he's in mourning for his butchered family. My other headcanon is that he starts wearing more "normal" (i.e. more decorative) clothes once he's happily married to his Pwinzezz.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
Yes. Even when he's wearing plain things, they're tailored to perfection. And he can command their each fold and flap to move dramatically with him. No one's ever inhabited his clothes the way he has, made them a part of his... well, his entire existence is a performance, it seems.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
The same, until he meets his Pwinzezz. Then, I expect he only wears plain stuff when he's working on his clockwork things.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Long johns under his robes. If he's wearing shalwars, commando.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
Much lighter than you'd think, much softer. Not squeaky, but again feminine. Very very catlike. He... meaows. That's the only way of describing it.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
He speaks slowly, as if trying to lure you into a trap, as if to hypnotise you. And you'd be right.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
My headcanon is that Connie's ridiculous German accent=Jaffar speaking in a heavy Persian accent, while the higher-ups around him (like Ahmad and the Sultan and Yassamin) speak Arabic.
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Greek at least.
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
Probably. He's saddened that Yassamin can't speak Persian, as he's not perfect in Arabic, and would love to speak words of love her in Persian.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
He's a master magician of words. He's good at improvising and charming a room full of people, if needs be.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
Eloquent as hell. Even when he's overwhelmed by his Pwinzezz, even during hot sexings, he seems to me to be the type who can always quip something witty or hot. He's impossible that way.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
Book-smart, very much. And wily and knowledgeable. He isn't Grand Vizier for nothing.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
He's always planning. There are always several plans going on in his head, a masterplan and several backup plans.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
He's normally logical, but starts to suffer from grandiose madnesses whenever he's wooing his Pwinzezz, going to great lengths to somehow gain her favours. Idiot.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
The best education anyone in the world could have in the late 700s. He's been educated in *everything,* basically, and even by medieval Persian standards, the Barmakids were huge on learning and books. Their learning didn't just end when they became grown men; they kept studying all their lives.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
He's of an expert level in pretty much everything, but super-expert in clockwork machinery and magic. And sexy sex.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
Introvert.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
He's temperamental, but becomes a pussycat in his Yassamin's arms.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
He's polite, but cautious.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
Both. I get the feeling he's had to try and learn the whole "act, don't react" thing all his life, and never quite succeeds at it. Especially if it's something that gets him really emotional. Like his Pwinzezz.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
Fight, and cheat. With magic.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
He's horrible. Especially with the toilet humour and puns. Poor Yassamin has to endure his jokes even during sex.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
Thankfully, such wanky modern diagnoses weren't around back then. So I'll refrain from slapping any on them. It'd just get depressing.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
Above all, the horrible massacre of his family by Harun. But before that, the love his mother poured upon him (he was her favourite) and the strange relationship he had with Fadl (in Roses, that is).
14. What does he fear?
Losing his Pwinzezz.
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
His Pwinzezz.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
Some of the shit he's gone through for his Pwinzezz. Roses!Jaffar wouldn't reveal the scars on his back to just anyone. And the way he serves her would be seen as unmanly by many.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
His father was stern but wise, incredibly wise. Perhaps a little too indulgent at times, because he was good-natured and gentle. The Barmakids are described in all history books as being kind to the point of foolishness, as incredibly generous and good to everyone around them. I have no idea how they managed all the beggars, as so many people back then made it their occupation to beg, to subsist on alms. So his father would have been very giving and intelligent and kind, making sure to educate his children well. His mother, I am sure, absolutely pampered him--I don't know *why,* but I see Jaffar as the mummy's boy of all the four lads, as her favourite. Probaby because that's just so Connie.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
Three brothers and a sister at least. Fadl being the only one of them who's anywhere near his own age. And their relationship goes from the strained and incestuous (Roses) to fairly friendly and jovial (Defy Not The Stars). I don't know why, but in most of my headcanons, one of his younger brothers is an usurping twat. Especially as it was Fadl who, historically, was the one Harun was afraid would usurp him--Fadl, out of sheer kindness and friendship, let at least one rival of Harun's out of prison, which Harun thought was basically treason. But in my head, the younger brothers are the ones who are most dissatisfied and after the throne. In Roses, Mohammad is just a jolly and simple fellow and pretty harmless, and we haven't really heard from Musa yet. In DNTS, Musa is the usurper, so I wonder if he'll take on that role in other stories. He might show up if I ever end up writing a final story for Falcon. But as all the ideas I have for that are super-tragic, I haven't felt like writing it. Dunya, we haven't seen much of, but she's a HBIC, as if a sister of Jaffar's could be otherwise.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
Well, the love-hate relationship he has with Fadl in Roses just goes on and on...
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
Blrrgh, can't remember anything right now. I bet I wrote someone like that, but my brain's too fuzzy to recall it.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
His Pwinzezz, eventually. Once they come to love and know each other.
6. Does he have other close friends?
He's not really that kind of person, now is he?
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
He hardly gets along with anyone. Even the people we could just about call his friends are more like his fuckbuddies.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
Well, they are the same thing for him, pretty much. Yassamin being his wife and his BFF. Not sure how the kids'll turn out.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
He's had wives before Yassamin, in most of my stories; pre-Harun. In Roses, he had Fatima, who died in childbirth when they were both 17; after that, he had some wives and concubines he loved less but whom Harun killed. And he had a couple of kids he did really love. But he wasn't *crazy* about anyone until he met Yassamin. Unless it's a 'verse in which Abbasa existed. She's the only exception. I still haven't decided whether Abbasa existed in the Rosesverse. I kind of have this feeling she wouldn't fit into it all that well, but I do know that Harun destroyed Jaffar's family, so... hard to say. Harun would've had to have a different motive for killing Jaffar's parents and wives and kids, then...
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Only fuckbuddies. He's not really in love with anyone in the same way he's in love with Yassamin.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
Depends on the 'verse. Abbasa was the most remarkable one in several. And he's been crushing on Ze Pwinzezz as long as he's known her.
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
That she's Yassamin?
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
Two kids in both Roses and DNTS. Very much childfree in Falcon, which is a big deal in that 'verse anyway. He adores his kids and they adore him.
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
Not in the 'verses where he's fucked off from Baghdad into a happier, exiled existence with his Yassamin. Thank all the gods.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
I think he's actually straighter than what Connie's usual 50/50 bisexual aura calls for. Oddly. I mean, he's mostly Princesssexual and the affairs he's had with guys have been mostly to just sate some physical urges. I'd say he's about 70% straight, 30% gay. And genderwise, very much a 50/50 split.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
It's very important to him. So he's been so very lucky in his Yassamin being a horny little thing herself.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
Crossdressing, anal, whipping, spanking, delayed fucking gratification. Taking on a female body from time to time, in Roses. He's never really vanilla or straight, now is he...? And I don't know about weird habits. Or then I forget. I'm actually too ill and groggy to write, but for some fucking reason, I keep typing out the answers to this thingit anyway... I must be forgetting tons.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
I made him a Leo in DNTS for sheer lols, making him match all the cliches. Persians were THE nation that developed astrology in the first place and were craziest about it, but I haven't honestly bothered with it all that much as I'm not that big on astrology myself.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
Very much a mystic, very spiritual, but not in an orthodox/orthopraxist Muslim way. I wonder if he even does the five daily prayers sometimes. I bet Yassamin has to kick him into it. But I do think he finds some spiritual benefits in prayer and fasting, so he keeps on doing them as a sort of exercise.
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?
Blllrrgh. Fuckin' trust no one. But he also has this weird thing about honour and wanting to have his Princess's love for real in the movie, doesn't he? Fuck knows. I would know how he'd react in a given situation, but I can't really start describing it as some sort of system of ethics right here or anything. I mean, most people don't think of things like that all that much, now do they?
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
He doesn't really care whether other people observe proper religion or not, TBH. He tries to teach his kids the basics of good Muslim conduct, but I honestly doubt he'd explode at the kids if he caught them drinking wine (when they were teenagers or something).
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
I find it hard to think of stuff like that at the moment, as his entire bloody universe revolves around his Princess. So he's prejudiced against people who'd be prejudiced against his Pwinzezz, I'm sure...
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
I try to make him well-off, because that makes writing him easier. It's harder for anyone to pursue their desires and to realise themselves if they're piss-poor. Besides, *I'm* piss-poor, so I hardly want to wallow in that even more than I already do. Gods, no. I want them to be financially comfortable and happy.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
He was once Grand Vizier and/or the Caliph himself, so... yeah. But he mellows out a lot in the 'verses where I've allowed him to retire and to move away. Kingship doesn't really suit him in the end. He's much better off being his geeky, mystical, engineering, Princess-screwing self somewhere in happy retirement.
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?
Usually some roomy house with several bedrooms, a garden and a handful of servants.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Books, books, books. Materials to build his clockwork thingamajigs from. On things to pamper his Yassamin with.
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?
Either Prime Ministering or building clockwork creatures. He's fuckin' brilliant at it.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
Books, studying, magic, mysticism, building his toys, fucking ze Pwinzezz, fucking ze Pwinzezz, fucking ze Pwinzezz.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
He probably forgets to eat half the time and Yassamin has to bring him noms into the shabestan to remind him of this thing called eating. Poor thinglet. But when he sets down to do some cooking, he's brilliant--his dad wrote a fucking cookbook! So he must've inherited some of his skills. And as far as alcohol goes, no, I don't think he avoids it. But he doesn't overindulge either. At least in Roses (the DNTS Jaffar was a bit of an old lush at the beginning of the story).
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color?
Blue.
2. Smell?
Pwinzezzpuzzy. Jasmine, because it reminds him of her. Roses. Musk. Oudh. As to what I associate with him, have a sniff of Gucci's Oud. That's still Jaffar In A Bottle, as far as I'm concerned.
3. Time of day?
Dusk. Night. The time of lovers :q
4. Season?
Late summer. Depends on the climate he's in, though. Samarkand's quite different from Baghdad. Whenever it's a bit cooler and the roses are in bloom.
5. Book?
The sorts of things Rumi and Ibn Arabi would write.
6. Music?
The moans of his Pwinzezz.
7. Place?
Persia. Duh.
8. Substance?
Does this mean a drug or... anything tangible? Drugwise, opium, I guess, since he's used it to medicate Yassamin? Otherwise, I'm not sure. Perfume? Jade dildos? IDK?
9. Plant?
Jasmine, rose.
10. Animal?
Cheetah!