Headcanon Meme Thing.

[thewarisover]

Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Roy (Maybe).
Roy Mustang, Post-Season One.

Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?

Given the way he carries himself (and, in the case of those who communicate with him over the network in games like soul_campaign), one might find it surprising that Roy only stands at five feet and six inches (exactly 173 centimeters): average height, maybe, but certainly not the kind of height you'd expect from someone like him.

The next thing that might strike somebody is realization of how sleek Roy is. It's likely not obvious, given the fact that he's usually in uniform (read: the bulky standard grade of Amestris' armed forces) or wearing at least two layers of clothing. Dress him in something like a tanktop and fatigues, though, and he'll certainly seem lithe or wiry at best, thin at worst. A closer observation, though, will reveal that he's actually built solid, all lithe and tough muscle and not an ounce of extra fat. That's the sort of build that one can only get through a lifetime of combat training and an unreal amount of discipline.

For all intensive purposes, Roy appears to be in excellent shape. Surprising, perhaps, given the fact that he's an alchemist and alchemists don't really NEED to stay in shape but. Well. Mustang's obsessive. And one to keep up appearances. And a military man. And the sort who will not tolerate weakness in any form, most especially in himself.

2. How old is he?

Physically, canon's never very clear on his age from what I can remember, but I pin him to be somewhere between 25 and 32. I usually go with the idea that he's in his mid to late twenties, though, because that makes ossan porning just so much hotter.

Mentally and emotionally, though, are two totally different things altogether. The Ishval Campaign aged Roy like anything, and the events that take place during and after the anime (and before the movie, as I imagine), make it just that much worse. He's clean-faced and got so many more years ahead of him, but in some ways, he feels so damned old. Like his life is already over, and he's just going through the motions.

It's also good to note that while he's older beyond his years in some ways, he's... pure and so very young, in others. Take relationships, for example. Mustang's got the propensity to get ridiculously and dangerously attached to people he falls in love with, for one - he can love in the way that forgets all about his own well-being. Then there's the fact that he so very stubbornly insisted on pursuing his dream of reforming the military on the inside, no matter what. Then there are all those little moments in canon where he deliberately played stupid or lied in order to protect the people he cared about. Anyway, more on this in the proper section. XD

3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?

Straight-backed and dignified, like any military man should be. His posture and stature are the sort that just demand attention, even when he's 'relaxed'. Of course, when he's lounging around, he'll appear indolent enough to most. There's no denying, however, that he's got power in him.

...That is, of course, when he's dealing with pretty much the rest of his world. This image he projects of himself crumbles once he's alone, or in the company of the few people he'll trust enough to show his vulnerabilities to (if such people even really exist). The shoulders droop, and one might get the vaguest impression that he's trying, unconsciously, to disappear. To be a nonentity.

The scary part about this is that Mustang's not entirely aware of the fact that his projection is automatic: he just automatically goes into Soldier Mode once there are people to command/impress/relate with. Talk about conditioning from the Academy Days...

4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?

Here's the clincher: while Roy appears to be at the peak of health, he walked away from his assassination attempt on Bradley with permanent, lasting and deep-seated damage. And here's the scariest part: he's aware that he's no longer what he used to be and has become very adept at staying in command of his own body, but what he doesn't realize is that those 'kinks' are actually just the tip of the iceberg.

Roy duked it out with King Bradley in the final parts of the series, and while the whole fight was not played out in the series, it was obvious that Bradley cut him up pretty badly. Furthermore, he was forced to use his alchemy against his opponent at close quarters - Flame Alchemist though he is, Roy isn't immune to the effects of his own fire. It's not too far off to assume that he suffered both from the second hand smoke and burning from his own attacks. We can credit Roy with the fact that he's motherfucking Roy Mustang a military man who survived a grueling campaign like Ishval: he'd have a good set of instincts, and he'd know how to best avoid damage in any situation. Nevertheless, the facts remain: he was dueling, at length, against a Homonculus armed with a sword and super speed, in a burning mansion. Overall, he should have died against Bradley - were it not for Selim, he likely would have.

Following the end of that fight, Roy ended up getting shot through the eye by Archer. Ironically, had Archer used his canon, he might not have been nearly as damaged as he is now, but the half-cyborg used a handgun. Since Roy survived to the end of the series, we can assume one of three things: Roy still had enough sense in him to dodge, the entry point of the bullet was at an angle that took his eye but miraculously missed his brain, or both. It's likely both.

Roy's rehabilitation period was lengthy, extensive, and ultimately too short because he pushed himself hard in order to recover fast. Where he should have been down for at least a year, he was only out of action for six months, give or take a week. Those were months spent with him down from muscle damage, nerve damage, sword cuts damaging several vital regions, paralysis, second to third degree burns and whatever else. One may think that alchemists could help here, but the science can only go so far. For example, practitioners managed to restore his eye, but they weren't able to bring his sight in it back.

On that note, given the political climate and his desire to obliterate the ghosts of the past and start anew, it shouldn't be surprising that Roy forced himself back into action prematurely... it looked like a miraculous and speedy recovery on the outside, but it will actually cause more harm than good in the long run. All of the old injuries will inevitably resurface, especially since he has the propensity for running himself to the ground and forgetting to take care of himself in pursuit of his goals.

5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?

Off the battlefield: Relaxed and indolent, with a particular weight that just draws attention towards him when he walks into the room - he's the type who can make the air grow still and quiet just by standing in it, the sort who's just so damned comfortable in his own skin. Still, to the keen observer (and maybe those who know Mustang best), it may be possible to pick up that there's a taut and restless sort of energy just beneath the surface of that practiced calm, and, in truth, Roy is always keeping himself on the move and busy. He can't stand idleness: he doesn't know what to do with it.

On the battlefield: Roy is a textbook case of a man proving that human beings can practically flow through their movements with an unreal, breathtaking ease and fluidity that's almost eerie to watch. There are no wasted movements; everything is calculated down to a tee. Makes sense, given the fact that flame alchemy requires pinpoint precision and utmost accuracy.

It's important to note, though, that in actuality, there is no "off" and "on" the battlefield for Roy: unless he's in the privacy of his own room (and sometimes, even then), he's perpetually in War Mode. Like some Homunculus is going to get the drop on him the moment he shuts his eyes. It appears as though he's never really left the Ishval Campaign, nor the rebellion he staged against the Amestrian government: it's all over, yes, but whether he truly believes that is another thing altogether. The ease with he carries himself is an illusion: in truth, his mind's always, always working and his hands are always, always itching to do something, even when he doesn't want it to be.

6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?

Turning heads when he enters a crowd is the least that Roy can do: this is the sort of dangerous man that oozes charisma out of every pore, and has the looks, the moves and the body to show for it. In fact, it is odd how his eyepatch adds a fascinating sort of brokenness to his face that ends up drawing more stares than it does chase attention away.

This one's no pansy, no limp-wristed pretty boy. Roy's handsomeness is the clean, young, quiet and lonely brooding sort of handsome - it's incredibly masculine in spite of the smooth cheeks and slender build.

7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?

Light and clear. His face is clean; he's extremely fastidious about shaving. It might also be good to note that some may find it strange how he's not as ruddy-cheeked as his military counterparts - one may wonder if he gets enough sun. He's healthy, all right, but not exactly the sun-bronzed Amestrian war god that soldiers of his country are expected to be.

8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.

Black and tousled, cropped short and kept off of his neck at the bottom, and left to spike or fan out in all directions at the top. He's careless with his hair these days, letting the bangs grow out and fall into his eyes. It's also surprisingly soft to touch.

9. What color are his eyes?

Somewhere between a shade of cobalt blue and darker - it looks black under most shades of light, and from a distance.

10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?

The most noticeable, of course, is the eyepatch: he never leaves his room without wearing it. It isn't because he's sensitive about the way it looks - it's because he knows that other people are, and he can't have something trivial get in the way of establishing contacts or authority.

His palms are callused - especially his fingers - and worm from an extensive use of flame alchemy. The backs of his hands have slightly darkened patches and traces of burns that are oddly circular in shape, mimicking the transmutation circle that's embroidered unto his spark gloves. These exist because the circle actually heats up a little every time he uses alchemy. You can imagine, then, what happens to one's skin if you keep on snapping. And snapping. In quick succession.

There are two spots on his body which look like splotches of discolored, misshapen skin; third degree burns, one on his right side, close to his belly and one on his back, spread over his left shoulder blade and creeping close to his spine. The first was self-inflicted (Ishval, too many hundred miles away from home with a wound nearly as big as his forearm threatening to bleed him out). The first was caused by a burning beam (Bradley's Mansion). There are tinier injuries as well, on his body and his limbs: an assortment of cuts - some of them ragged, one or two, surgical - and a smattering of old bullet wounds.

A sword cut to his right thigh was what had Roy using a cane for months; call it Bradley's attempt at slicing his leg off, and, barring that, cutting open the major vein in the area to let physics to the rest of the job for him.

These are things that one will only notice if they sleep with him manage to catch him with his clothes off. Roy's careful about covering the damage he's taken for himself up.

11. What are his chief tension centers?

His right temple, and his mouth. ...Do his hands count? You know he's pissed when his mouth tightens, or when his hand twitches.

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?

Military. Outside of the fact that it's his job, Roy's been military for most of his life; it's an anchor, of sorts, something he considers integral to who he is, in spite of everything. As such, going military - fatigues (the plain, solid and single-colored kind, not the camo prints), tank tops and combat boots - helps him order his universe better somehow.

If he's not in military, he's dressed in a semi-dressy, mostly utilitarian fashion. He likely looks like a chap straight out of 1920s, all coats and collared shirts and three-piece suits and suspenders with muted colors, at best, outside of the usual browns/grays/blacks/whites. He's not fashion dumb, but doesn't particularly care about keeping up with the times.

13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?

They fit him ridiculously well. Might as well be his second skin.

14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?

If he's on-duty, it's uniform time. Beyond that, he'll always stick to civilian when he's outside. When he's at home, however, it's back to his oldest and most comfortable pair of fatigues or pants for bottoms, and a white shirt - a tank top, if it's hot.

15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?

Fatigues chafe, so that automatically strikes out commando.

...Seriously, though. I don't think Roy has a preference, when it comes to underwear. Whatever's in the drawer at the time balanced out by what sort of day it is (if it's hot, if it's cold), between boxers and briefs.

Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?

Low, quiet and deep. It is a tad rough, as well, because of all that smoking.

2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?

Measured and even and rarely above room volume; he's the farthest you can get from the shouting type. Hesitation is also rare for him - as such, any pause on his part is likely loaded with meaning, or filled with all of the things he isn't saying. Or can't say, depending on who he's talking to.

3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?

No distinct accent, actually... his voice is actually very neutral, in terms of inflections. It's also important to note that he's never too casual with anyone. If for anything, the way he talks to people might imply some sort of perceived distance between him and the ones he's speaking to, or maybe a general sense of aloofness.

One quirk that people might not notice immediately is the fact that he rarely calls people by their first name, regardless of how well he knows them; he prefers surnames and titles that he can associate with the person he's addressing instead. The most glaring examples of this are Edward Elric ('Fullmetal'), Hughes (you'd think he'd call his best friend by his first name - Hughes certainly doesn't back down from calling him 'Roy') and Riza ('Lieutenant', always and ever). This can be interpreted as something reflective of Roy's issues with intimacy - he wants to remain formal, separate and distant, in some fashion, from other people.

Another quirk that only those closest to Roy will pick up is the fact that Roy is both incredibly direct and indirect, all at the same time. He won't shy away from brutal frankness and straight out opinion when he's on duty or in some sort of position of authority, but he can be incredibly slippery and evasive when it comes to more personal issues, such as his health or emotional state. He will also deflect or outright lie, if it means sparing someone else the pain in any sticky situation (see also: how Hughes wasn't 'dead', he was 'on vacation leave'!).

4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?

ALCHEMY SCIENCE! Native speaker of the common tongue of Amestris, which can either be English, French or German depending on who you ask. I'd imagine that he'd know Latin too, and maybe a bit of ancient Xerxian as a result of his studying alchemy.

5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?

Nope. And it's likely because he only knows one language that people still bother speaking.

6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?

Incredibly, dangerously good. Having to think about what the right thing to say is in any given situation is unheard of, for Roy.

7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?

Eloquent. The only time this is going to change if he's been brought so far down that he doesn't even have the strength to keep up a facade of strength.

Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?

Brilliant and too damned sharp for his own good, but outside of alchemy, his smarts are the street smart kind of smart. He's horrible with any and all written literature outside of mathematical equations and the few theoretical texts that all alchemists worth their salt have to read. Don't expect him to change this either: when you've got a mind that moves too fast for its own good, it's hard to convince one's self that one can can anything from a frumpy old book.

2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?

Generally the type who's very capable of thinking on his feet and making things happen with minimal planning. This is not to say that Roy's impulsive and prone to just playing things by ear - just that he doesn't have to plan all that quickly, and generally knows how to roll with whatever happens to get tossed in his direction.

3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?

Cold, logical and frighteningly good at getting results through observation and deduction. Alchemy is all about finding patterns and making connections; those are two things Roy can do in his sleep. When he's on the battlefield, however, he generally leaves things to his instincts and intuition - those are things he honed to a fine, knife-like point in Ishval.

For someone who seems very grounded and pragmatic, Roy is actually hopelessly and ridiculously idealistic... he's always had the propensity to dream dreams that are too big for one man, and so big that he can't actually see him in any of them. He's practical in so far as practicality allows him to build up towards crazy, crazy things, if that makes sense.

4. What kind of education has the character had?

Basic schooling, the whatever it is that they teach Amestrian soldiers in their Academy. There's his Flame Alchemy, as well - this is something that I imagine he inherited from Mordred Hawkeye, Riza's father. The anime canon never explains, but I feel that it's one detail that never changed.

5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?

Alchemy, any and all natural sciences related either directly with or in some fashion to fire and military shenanigans. Not a lot of other things interest him, at the moment.

6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?

While he insists on visibility and knows how to carry himself well in a crowd, Roy's ultimately introverted. He doesn't actively look for company, and while he won't outright shun people for seeking him out, he'd much rather keep his own company when it boils down to it. Definitely the sort of guy who's one to hold everyone he knows at arm's length and quite healthily away from him.

7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?

Quiet and even-tempered - TOO even-tempered, in fact, like nothing can really shake him or upset him anymore. He's no stick in the mud, but he isn't exactly a burst of sunshine, and has a propensity for keeping things neutral at best, and formal and serious outside of that. A more sensitive person might be able to pick up on his melancholy, but Roy's incredibly difficult to read and very good at diverting people's attentions away from himself by giving over his ideas and the matters at hand for them to focus on.

The indolence and ease are, in general, an act that he's very good at keeping up (it'll take a very sharp mind, a lot of observation and even more digging to be able to see through it). Roy has always been driven to a fault, even if he's tired, even when he's been backed into a metaphysical corner. Everything he does is singularly focused towards achieving whatever goal he has in front of him at the moment; he lives his life in steps, with each one leading down a specific path.

Overall, it's entirely possible to view Roy more as a thinking weapon or a machine rather than a human being - he's incredibly good at outright ignoring his own sentiments on matters, and at removing the emotions from any equation. Comes with having to buckle down and fulfill some very nasty orders for the sake of the greater good.

8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?

Cautiously and carefully, although one will hardly notice it given the way he carries himself. He'll likely spend his initial conversation with a new person or his first hour in a new place observing and listening, contributing just enough to make him seem normal and attentive and not put anyone off. After taking a measure of how this person is or of what the situation is probably like, he'll adjust himself accordingly.

9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?

Act, always and ever.

10. Which is his default: fight or flight?

Fight. He's only going to back off in order to recuperate and a new and more practical way to attack the given situation.

11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?

Dry, witty, sarcastic, pointed and sharp, with the occasional dark tone indicative of somebody who has seen way too much on the battlefield. He isn't in the business of childish pranks or tasteless jokes, and prefers wordplay over anything else.

...The one exception to this might be Ed, and other children whom he feels comfortable enough with to bully. Listening to these two bicker is like watching two siblings go at it, complete with feathers and tar and rigged doors.

12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?

Reintegration Issues; this is something that a lot of veterans fresh from a battlefield suffer. It's characterized by an overwhelming feeling of uselessness, punctuated by despair. After devoting everyone one has to one's cause, being stripped of all reason to pursue it is... disconcerting, at the very least. Soldiers like Roy don't know what normal is anymore.

Obsessive-compulsive drive towards control; ever since his Edward Elric vanished and since the military in Amestris fell apart, Roy has felt like he's way out of his depth with no real end or means to recover in sight. He has always been the sort of man who remained on top of things regardless of the situation, and now that he's been faced with the reality that he ISN'T in charge and is also incapable of improving the situation at hand, he's actually quite overwhelmed by everything. There is a need for him to find some way to restore the structures holding his universe together.

Both of these disorders actually go hand-in-hand, and Roy deals with them by throwing himself into the fray and keeping himself busy all the more, even if he's already pushing himself beyond his own physical limits. Hence his drive towards gathering information. Hence his constant check-ups on the people who matter to him, who are - at least in his eyes - his responsibility.

13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?

First: being the only survivor of a firestorm (the cause of the accident remains unknown to this day). They dug him out of the ruins the day after; it was raining. He was sitting beside what might have been his mother (they couldn't tell; she was too burned up) and a sign with a horse on it - the only thing left relatively untouched by the fire. He had no real memories, and couldn't even recall his name. The records keeper at the home they sent him to settled on 'Roy' for poetic irony, and 'Mustang' for his surname because of that sign.

Second: surviving three years in a home for abandoned or homeless children that was closer to a juvenile detention center than anything else, then later deciding that enough was enough, and electing to take his chances on the open road.

Third: life on the run, which ended with him passing out - cold and wounded and wet - in one of the boxes thrown out with the rest of the trash from some rich lady's home. The 'rich lady' was actually a State Alchemist and one of the few women in the Amestrian military at that time. She took him into her home without judgment and without questions.

Fourth: discovering his knack for alchemy completely by accident, and realizing that he was adept at the one element who had taken everything from him, the one element he feared. Oddly, though, that made him throw himself into studying it all the more.

Fifth: enrolling in the Academy. Meeting Maes Hughes. Being referred to Mordred Hawkeye, the eccentric scholar with a fondness for flame. Forcing his way into Mordred's heart and becoming his one and only pupil. Burying him before he learned all that there was learn about Flame Alchemy. (The rest of the technique's secrets, he'd discover later, were painted on the skin of Riza Hawkeye's back.)

Sixth: taking the National Exam for Alchemists, and becoming the youngest to pass all the trials and inherit a title in their history. The record would only be broken once more in the future, by one Edward Elric.

Seventh: Ishval. Taking orders. Using a Philosopher's Stone. Losing his mind; getting it back by hiding in Hughes' arms. Reuniting with Riza Hawkeye, and uncovering her father's last secret.

Eighth: Receiving a letter addressed to associates of Hohenheim, the Alchemist of Light. Answering the summons only to discover a boy with one arm and one leg with a suit of talking armor that was supposed to be his brother, and the remnants of a human transmutation circle.

Ninth: Burying a friend. Attempting to dismantle the military in order to find out why it happened. Assassinating the ring leader on his end of the battlefield, but losing his eye and his charge in the process.

Tenth: Attempting to rebuild the country in Bradley's wake, by stepping forward to reveal the full extent of the corruption and evil in the military. The court martial they subjected him to was 'successful' in the sense that it achieved his goals, but the fact that all charges against him were lifted in light of the discovery of Bradley's nature was a small and bitter victory. It wasn't too long before Bradley's associates came crawling out of the shadows and made things difficult, both for Roy and for the people who had chosen to support him. It didn't take much for Roy to realize that in order for his country to survive, he needed to step out of the picture. That's exactly what he did.

14. What does he fear?

That, in spite of everything that he's had to give up and all of the effort he put into making sure Amestris stayed afloat, it won't ever be enough. That there will be other villains who will step in and rip everything apart.

He also doesn't want to think that Edward Elric is gone for good.

In soul_campaign: that the Winry Rockbell he's met there will discover that in an alternate time (his time), he killed her parents. Also: that all that he is working for will do nothing beyond give him a peace of mind, and therefore has no real purpose or no real means to help anybody.

15. What are his hopes or aspirations?

That Amestris will run just fine without him, that Riza will learn to stop defining herself as his Lieutenant and more as Riza Hawkeye, and that Edward Elric - fucking Fullmetal - will come back someday. Somehow.

16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?

That, because of his physical condition, he is running out of time. He might actually already BE out of time, as it is.

Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.

His real parents were killed in that firestorm. He's very close, however, to Brooke, the woman who took him in. She is also, perhaps, one of the reasons why he's hardly intimidated by anything, and is used to dealing with strong women who have more balls than your average man.

Watching him and Brooke talk will give anyone an idea on where he got his sense of humor. Nuff said.

2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?

No siblings. The one sister he could have had died along with his real parents.

3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?

None.

4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?

There's Brooke, of course, to whom he is not related to by blood at all. But she's been mentioned already.

Riza Hawkeye, although 'family' might actually be an inadequate word for what she is to him... she's someone who's so intimately attuned to his strengths and weaknesses, just as he is to hers, that they might as well be two halves of a single whole. She's a subordinate, a sister and a not-lover rolled into one, and perhaps the only person whom Roy truly trusts to watch his back - and shoot him between the shoulder blades, if he strays from the path that he's chosen to walk.

...And he'll never admit this last one, but Ed is practically family to him as it is. In as much as he wants to deny it, Fullmetal has become more than just a charge who he's been saddled with simply because Ed's too young to go unmonitored by their country's standards - he's closer to a little brother who already lost his way once, which then leaves Roy constantly fretting about his whereabouts and well-being and if Ed's going to end up getting lost again. The almost paternal instincts naturally extend to Alphonse as well, because you can't have one without the other. Winry is also a part of this, but Roy's feelings about her are understandably complex and sometimes colored by the sniggling feeling that he has about his own motivations for wanting to protect her.

IN SOUL CAMPAIGN

Ryotaro Dojima, although "family" can't quite cut it with this one either. It's also a sticky situation, since Roy's well aware of Dojima's own intimacy and trust issues (read: dead wife, betrayal by crazy beans partner, being forced to shoot at said partner and play a part in sealing him away for good). Still, this is one person whom Roy will stick his neck for, no matter what.

Nanako Dojima. He's had some experience dealing with little girls because of Hughes (his friend pretty much made him the godfather of his daughter), but Nanako is different from what he's used to. Furthermore, she's the only child and darling daughter of the man who is currently his Weapon. Dojima's brief absence, however, sort of forced the pair together, and Roy is genuinely fond and incredibly protective of her.

Souji Seta. He developed a rather close bond with Souji before in spite of the awkward, and the boy's disappearance hit him nearly as hard as it hit Dojima, Souji's uncle. To have him around again is quite nice even if he may not remember it, and Roy's one to treat Souji as he would his own.

The Watch. He's never going to admit it, but these guys are like the equivalent of the crew he had back home, and Roy is one to watch out for his men with his life. They're not pawns, not people he can just order around. If he ever ended up losing any one of them, he's definitely going to feel it.

...And any of the kids that he's developed close ties to. Roy is the perpetual older brother/uncle figure; he really can't help himself. There's something completely wrong about kids fighting in wars and doing shit that grown-ups can't even deal with, and Roy is one to set any wrongs that he can right, to the best of his abilities.

5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?

Maes Hughes. No words can really describe just how complicated this one is. If you thought Riza was bad, Roy's feelings towards Hughes are ten times worse, and the usual monikers (his phantom limb, his one and only, his brother/comrade/buddy/lover/other half all rolled into one) will all fall short.

(The fact that they actually HAD something before just makes things worse, but that has its own section in this meme.)

6. Does he have other close friends?

You're probably going to have to pull his teeth out to get him to admit it, but Roy counts his men among his closest friends. Of course, one could have words about the dangers of becoming too attached to one's subordinates, but Roy is Roy, after all.

There is also Armstrong - the two of them fought in a war together, and that really brings people together, especially if they have common enemies on the other side of the line and among their own kind. They also banded together to put an end to the conspirators in the upper echelons of the Amestrian military.

7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?

If we're talking 'friends' in a shallow sense, yes: he can make them with ridiculous ease. If we're talking close friends, though... Roy's not one to let people close. Call it a feeling of inadequacy on his part, and maybe - just maybe - the fear that you might get in the way of what he wants to do, and he'll eventually have to remove you.

8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?

They are one in the same to him, for better or for worse.

9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?

Single, used to be in a relationship, will likely never marry.

10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha no. He... gets around, all right, but it usually ends with the first date, which sometimes includes sleeping together.

11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?

Hughes, and Hughes knows it. So just imagine what it was like back in their Academy days.

As to his latest... well. He'll appreciate beauty when it comes his way, but it ends at the level of 'studied disinterest'.

12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?

Someone who's willing to put up with his shit. Other than that, he's one to see how it'll work out on the way.

13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?

Uuuuh no. And no, unless we're talking SC, because then the decision is Nanako's to make!

14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?

No rivals. As for enemies, he defines those as people who will get in the way of his plans, or people who will generally threaten the safety of the people he loves or is responsible for.

15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?

Somewhere between three and four. It must have a lot to do with the fact that he's one to like whoever and whatever interests him, and gender's just a convenient moniker that people use to put some structure (and limits) to their lives.

16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?

Sex is sex - it's fun, it's practical, and it's good stress relief as long as no one gets attached or starts on with those tricky things you call 'feelings'. He can live without it, but a little screwing around never hurt anyone.

17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?

Power play is a huge turn-on, with this one: he likes being in control, even if it means topping from the bottom. As for turn-offs, it really depends. He's not one for anything sick or ew-inducing (blood play, scat, the likes).

I don't think wanting to take a shower before doing it is a weird habit, but there you have it.

Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?

FMA canon doesn't actually give a birthday to Roy. If I were to typify him based on the Zodiacs, though, he'd probably be an Aquarius or Pisces on the Western side, and a Dog, Rat or Rooster on the Chinese end of things.

2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?

Neither. He doesn't deem them very important at all, although he can understand why other people might need to believe in something bigger than themselves.

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?

Roy's personal code is one that adheres strictly to the principles of alchemy (the main being that whole sense of equivalent exchange, even if it's no longer so equivalent), and to the military code of honor (love for one's country, the importance of doing one's duty, protecting noncombatants and all that). He's also got a very strong belief in the idea of a greater good, and is willing to stop at close to nothing to achieve it.

I think that Roy's code has already been broken many times in the past, because following orders during the Ishval Campaign was the only way to survive without completely breaking one's self. It is precisely BECAUSE he was pushed to that point that Roy won't settle for such a thing happening again, although in actuality? That might have just made him even colder and less human than he used to be, in some ways.

Overall, he's the best soldier you could possibly ask for, for better or for worse... he's stubbornly idealistic in his outright rejection of anything that compromises his comrades or civilian figures, and wholeheartedly believes in building a military whose people watch over their country and each other. And he doesn't compromise, which could also be a very good thing or a very, VERY bad thing.

4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?

Indifferent for so long as it doesn't harm other people, and doesn't get in his way.

5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?

He totally has a thing against Ed for being so short Nothing. Unless, of course, you count not liking people who have proven themselves to be general assholes, murderers, rapists and other criminal types as a prejudice.

Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?

Incredibly comfortable, for a man of the state and a dog of the military.

2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?

The last major change he had was when he was a kid; he shot up from being an abused orphan on the streets to the only adopted son of a Brigadier General who didn't spoil him, but certainly did her best to see to his every need.

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?

Excluding the officer's quarters in the barracks or the couch in his own office, (aka, Where He Crashes When He Can't Be Bothered To Go Home), he has an apartment in a decent part of town - decent meaning upper middle class to rich, without a single military man or woman in sight.

His unit's big (two bedrooms, sitting room, kitchen, office space/library), and isn't your typical bachelor's pad in the sense that it is immaculately clean. It also doesn't really look like it's properly lived in, even if it has a fully stocked fridge and some creature comforts.

4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?

Cigarettes, fine spirits and books, especially if they're detective stories, war stories, or historical fiction.

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?

Military man and State Alchemist, and dangerously good at both. He has to admit that he enjoys the challenge and the thrill, but doesn't like the fact that doing his job means killing other people, or putting them in otherwise compromising situations.

Even if he sometimes wants to do something else (read: not killing for a living), he doesn't know what. And Roy has a feeling that his place, indeed, is on the battlefield, even if it means dying horribly on it.

6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?

He's got a thing for the natural and mathematical sciences, with a morbid curiosity for taxonomy and forensics. Oh, and he loves chess. Loves it hardcore.

Free time? Hahahaha what free time? If he isn't sleeping or reading, he's doing his research, as is his due since he's a State Alchemist. Free time usually means alone time, so that's always about kicking back and liking being alone for him.

7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are always meticulously balanced, with all the proper food groups in place, inclusive of a mug of coffee and cigarettes. Roy, however, is notorious for skipping meals when he's absorbed in his work, or latest pet project. He will eat out by himself at least once every two weeks just because he likes the change of scenery, and he does have a fondness for booze.

There isn't much that Roy will avoid eating, outside of whatever is horrendously and obviously unhealthy. Although, he isn't a big fan of sweets.

Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:

1. Color? Dark blue, so dark it's almost black.
2. Smell? Cigarette smoke and aftershave.
3. Time of day? That odd hour, on any hemisphere, where it's evening but the sky's taking its sweet time darkening.
4. Season? The cusp between autumn and winter.
5. Book? "The Stranger", Albert Camus
6. Music? The blues.
7. Place? A bar.
8. Substance? Scotch.
9. Plant? Uuuuh. @_@
10. Animal? Dogs.

END
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