OOC: HEADCANON MEME [runenvonasgard]
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
Dean is tall, since he stands at six feet, two inches. Sadly, he's the smaller brother. He's not exactly thin, since he has a decent build of muscle on him, but he definitely leans toward the rangy side. His neck is pretty thick, though.
2. How old is he?
As of right now, he's thirty.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
Dean doesn't really slump...He's more...He has a cocksure set to his shouders and a bowlegged walk. It's obvious he's from the midwest with it. He honestly looks a little bit like a thug.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
He's physically well-toned, but he hasn't exactly taken great care of himself. He eats a lot of greasy and fattening foods, and it's doing a number on his heart. But since he doesn't figure he'll live to be old, he doesn't really care.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
Once again, he has a bowlegged walk, and he...Kind of holds his arms out funny from his sides. He's not what you'd call graceful, but there's a certainty there behind every move he makes: He's sure of himself, and it shows in how he moves about in the world.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
I'd give him an 8 or a 9. Women don't exactly find him irresistable, and there are times when he's unshaven and unkempt, but he's got a killer smile and an expressive face that tends to cause some of his female acquaintances to overlook the stuff that comes out of his mouth.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Somewhat fair, and clear-skinned. He's dark-haired, so stubble shows early on him, and he's got crow's feet and a few wrinkes, but otherwise it's clear sailing.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
His hair is light brown, and he keeps it pretty short and styled. The top which is very short it typically flipped up in a reverse cowlick that veers slightly to one side. But it's apparent if he let it grow longer, it would be pretty thick.
9. What color are his eyes?
Dark green. And yes, it's natural. No contacts for el Deano.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
There's a handprint on his left shoulder from where Cas dragged him out of Hell. He has a slightly wonky eye that you won't notice unless someone points it out. And he has a bullet wound in his back from where he was shot by one of the crazies in Gabriel's version of TV Land.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
His shoulders. When he's tense, upset, or tired, they tend to slump. He also tends to rub his face in those instances.
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?
Dean, for the most part, wears tshirts, button up shirts, jackets, and jeans when he's not posing as something for a job. Otherwise, he can be found in priests' robes, suits and ties, coveralls, SWAT uniforms...You name it, he's probably worn it at some point. He also tends to wear the backs of collars flipped up. And he seems to lean toward browns, greens, and grays as a color scheme, as opposed to brighter colors. Possibly because they're good for sneaking around in at night, and it's just ingrained habit. Also, he tends to pull or roll up the sleeves on long sleeved shirts. He always wears a watch, and until recently, also always wore the amulet Sam gave him when they were kids, and ring on his right ring finger.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
That depends. His leather jacket is still too big for him, since his father was a bigger man than him. His tshirts veer to the tight side, and so do his jeans, which are often frayed in places. His boots are broken down. He looks put together, but like he did so from Goodwill.
Which he probably did.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
That depends on the job. Oftentimes he'll pull on a suit or some other form uniform to play a part.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Boxer briefs.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
Deep and hoarse. He's aged, and it's clearly heard there. It verges on gravely at times, and when he's in a good mood, there's a note that says there are some really smartassed things to be said, just waiting on the right moment to drop out. In bad moods, his voice is tense and sharp. He does the authoritative thing quiet well.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
He's not a very fast speaker, but he is on the louder side. There's little hesitation unless it's something he doesn't want to admit to, or it's an emotionally charged moment, and he tends to sort of...Repeat himself in those moments.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
There's blue-collar roots in his dialect, and a slight twang there, as well. It's mostly erased, thanks to moving from town town as he was growing up, but on certain words it shines through, loud and clear. He tends to drop the gs at the end of words, and use the improper forms of words. When he speaks clearly and evenly, there's a smartassed tone there because...Well, he's being a smartass.
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
English. And that's it, padre.
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
Not really, no. He might be more formal or informal, but that's as far as it goes.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
Dean's got quips coming out of his ass. He's usually fast on the draw with the one-liners, but there are times where...He just doesn't quite make it. ("You're the shortbus...Shortbus.") When things are hard for him in the emotional sense, he tends to hesitate and repeat himself more, and his voice will break if he's trying to hold in tears. And sometimes he's just inspired. ("Angel or not, I will stab you in the face.")
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
That depends on your definition of eloquent. Dean's kind of crude, and makes a lot of pop culture references. While he's mostly quick on his feet with what he has to say, sometimes he misses the mark entirely. Sometimes he's able to adequately explain what he's feeling, and other times he'd rather use his fists. It all depends on his mood at the time.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
Dean is smart. He might come off as a slightly brain-damaged thug at times, but let's not forget he built an EMF meter out of an old walkman, runs credit card frauds, can make fake ids in a flash, hotwire a car, break into places and bypass alarms...So it's mostly street smarts. He's read a few books (Slaughterhouse Five), but mostly prefers to wait for the movie. And he dropped out of high school and got his GED. Mostly because he just didn't fit it.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
Very much thinks on his feet. Dean can react quickly in just about any situation, and he's the shoot first, ask questions later type. Without Sam there to act as a counter-balance, he'd probably get himself in a lot of trouble, and it's Sam that has to pull him back from time to time, because he very much wants the action now. Instant gratification is a must.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
Dean is more intuitive. He listens to his gut, which has saved his ass multiple times. Of course, he's also impulsive and reckless, and that gets him in a lot of trouble. He's a true pessimist, but somehow manages to at least project a somewhat carefree facade to those around him. Enough that in times of dire circumstances, everyone around him becomes frustrated. The weight of the world rests on his shoulders, and all he can do is crack a joke about it.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
John moved the boys around a lot when they were younger, and they bounced schools very often. For Dean, this routine was fine, and he never bothered to make connections or have aspirations beyond following in John's footsteps in finding what had killed their mother. His grades no doubt reflected that, and that he was more interested in the female portion of the campuses he ended up a part of, and he dropped out sometime after he was sixteen. He then went on to get his GED, but you don't exactly need a degree to hunt demons.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
Dean is a mechanic, bless his heart. He loves his car more than most people. He's a jack of all trades, to be honest, and it would be hard to pin down any one thing he's interested in. He's got occult lore out the wazoo, he loves porn, he can build things out of other things, hotwire a vehicle, bypass alarms, pose as just about any profession...He makes a mean moltov cocktail, and could blow your head off with his aim. He's also got some military tactics, thanks to his dad's time in the Marines, and uses them when silence is a must and hand signals are the only form of communication.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
Very much an extrovert. Dean's not remotely afraid of putting himself out there as the center of attention. He thinks he's funny, and everyone else should, too.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
If males could go on the rag, Dean would. He moodswings like crazy, though most of the time the turmoil is covered with a happy-go-lucky facade. And when it breaks, it breaks. He's not afraid to trash things and have a physical freak out over something that's bothered him to the breaking point, but talking is difficult for him. He's not the type to really share his inner feelings over things, and when he does, it's usually because he just has no other outlet anymore. When Dean is in a low period, it's obvious, because he consistantly tries to destroy himself. He'll drink too much, he'll put himself right in harm's way without a second thought.
Despite, most of the time he's laid back, even on a job. Really, only when you mess with family and 'family', and they're the ones in trouble, does he really snap out of that persona, into the one that's serious business.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
Dean is easy-going, and tries to push himself out there as the greatest thing since sliced bread. Most of the time he comes off as a dolt and a smartass, and it gets him in a lot of trouble. Only when there's reason to be suspicious will he be. He and Sam see so many different people on a daily basis, it's hard to stare at everyone like there might be something off about them. and yet despite this, he's pretty good at reading people. He'll find the shifty bastard every time, even if no one listens until it's too late.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
Both. Dean is take-charge and gung ho, and depending on the situation, he'll either be the aggressor or on the defensive. He's not the type to take much of anything lying down (unless you're a hot chick wanting to try out the reverse cowgirl)
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
Fight. He will stab that mother in the face.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
Pranks. Gallows humor. Bathroom humor. Dean has it all. He's not high-brow at all. A fart joke will probably make him snicker, and a perverted one will have him snickering hours later. He's quite the prankster (itching powder in Sam's underwear, throwing a dead fish in the back of the Ghostfacers' car), though he tends to take things too far. Always. And it's a trait that tends to drive people nuts.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
Not canonly, but there's some seriously screwed up wires in that head of his. His self-hatred becomes apparent in a lot of his actions, because he consistantly tries to destroy himself. He drinks to sleep and to deal. There's a million things wrong with him, but nothing anyone can point out. Other than a narcissistic disorder with a religious persecution complex.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
His mom's death is the prime example. He wen't from being a normal four-year-old to budding hunter in that night. Sam leaving for Stanford, because he claims it was the worst night of his life. The night Jessica died, because it changed Sam and therefore changed him. Their dad dying: He traded his life and the Colt for Dean's and Dean still feels guilty about it to a degree. The night Sam died and him selling his soul to bring him back. Going to Hell completely changed him, and hardened him considerably. Finding out what Sam had been up to the four months he was in Hell, because it drove a wedge between them, and Dean felt he couldn't trust him anymore.
14. What does he fear?
Losing Sam is a big one. No matter his faults, that's his brother. Not being able to stop the Apocalypse is another, because he feels like his giving in to Alastair and breaking the first seal is his fault, and that the ball would have never gotten rolling if he hadn't. Losing his freewill to Michael. He's nobody's angel condom.
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
Dean...Dean doesn't really have aspirations. The picket fence life isn't for him at all, and really...The only thing he's hoping to do is save Sam and himself and the world. Anything beyond that will fall into place later.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
He once tried on a girl's underwear...And kind of liked it. The things he went through in Hell, because he's consistantly afraid those he cares about will lower their already low opinion of him.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
His mother is his own idol. Memories of her are very precious to him, as witnessed by what replayed for him in Heaven. To him, she was all that was right and good in the world. His father was his hero when he was small, and when John gave an order, Dean jumped to do it, because the few times he failed to follow through (It should be noted he was a small child then.) his father's disappointment was crushing. However, now Dean has a clearer perspective on how screwed up is was of his father to lay that on him, to push Sam's care on him alone while he was still a child himself, and he figures his dad was a deadbeat. But despite that, he still loves both of his parents greatly.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
Sam is his younger brother. They butt heads frequently, but there's no one else Dean would (and has) lay his life and soul down for. Sadly, Sam is Dean's world. He grew up taking care of Sam, and even though Sam is an adult, Dean can't let that part of himself go and let Sam make his own decisions without trying to force his own thoughts on him. They spend hours a day trapped in a car together, and they know each other's habits better than their own. They've been mistaken as lovers on more than one occasion, and sometimes it bothers Dean and sometimes it amuses him.
But Sam is his cross to bear at times, because he considers looking out for him to have ended in failure, not realizing that Sam made his own decisions and has to live with them. Obviously, Dean didn't try hard enough.
And most importantly, he loves Sam more than anything else in this world. Yes, even including the Impala. Sam is his anchor and his counterbalance, and they're even soulmates, according to Heaven, since they're able to share one another's.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
Sam. Sam, Sam, Sam.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
Bobby Singer, a scrap dealer turned hunter, is the closest thing Dean has to a father anymore. Bobby's there to slap some sense into both of the boys when they're being dumb, and he's a frequent member of all of their capers. There's Ellen and Jo, who are like a mom and a sister to him. Ellen once ran Harvelle's Roadhouse, and Jo is an aspiring hunter who had a 'thing' for Dean in the past. Of course there's Pamela, the psychic, who lost her eyes to trying to summon Castiel and couldn't handle his true form. And Cas, of course, who's another member of this screwed up family. How many other people can claim a fallen angel as a bro?
In Asgard, he's found Lady, who's the huffy wife-figure to his henpecked husband. She's much younger than him, but at times can be...So much more mature. And he respects her resolve greatly. He also appreciates her help with Samara, because he's clueless about how to deal with a little girl. Samara is his surrogate daughter, and you'd better believe he'd kill for her. She's brought out sides to himself that have been dormant since Sam was tiny, and he's not sure how he feels about that. Asellus is...Well. She's Asellus. He doesn't have a classification for her. He'd like to tap it, but at the same time, she's someone he feels he can trust. She doesn't question his craziness, and she flirts back. Her owning a bar, amazingly, does not equate her with Ellen in his mind, so she's fair game. And he's trying. So hard. Hikari is his porn fantasy girl come true. She has an awesome bike, she's hot, and she pays attention to him through his bullshit.
Galatea is a MILF. And he would tap it hard. But at the same time, he knows she doesn't take him seriously, and he thinks she's funny and just fun to be around. And Clare...Well, she's the sis-in-law. He will hook her up with Cas. One day.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Sam. And it happened when Sam was born. Maybe they weren't always best friends, but there's nobody Dean would rather have around more. And Cas, of course, when Cas pulled Dean from Hell and then met with him face-to-face. They weren't always on the same side, but since Cas rebelled, Dean would consider him the closest thing outside of Sam as a best friend that he has.
6. Does he have other close friends?
No.
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
Dean makes friends easily, but he doesn't keep them. Most of it has to do with the fact that he's never in one place very long. Asgard would be the exception, rather than the rule, because he's stuck around longer than a week.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
For Dean, they're one and the same.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
Single and never been married.
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Not at all. Dean's never had a real relationship.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
His first crush was a girl in kindergarten. Latest? Sellz and Hikari. And he's looking desperate with how hard he's trying.
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
Looks are a must, since he's not too fussed about brains. Dean doesn't really look for long term things, and is a one night stand kind of guy.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
No biological children. Samara is his adopted daughter, though, to the point he wants to make sure she gets in school/tutored and has things she needs and wants. He can't bring himself to move out of the hotel, but he knows she deserves a real place to live. He's just...Not sure what to do about it. As for wanting any...Not really, since his life is so screwed up, and he'd like to not mess anyone else up that doesn't have a choice in the matter.
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
Free. Free. He hates Free with a burning passion. The angels piss him off a great deal, too, and most of Hell hates his guts. There are a few hunters out there gunning for him and Sam, too, and the Feds are always tailing his ass.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale? Heterosexual, with a 1. He has no interest in guys that way, but people often think he and Sam are an item.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
Dean loves sex. Loves it. When he wants it, he goes and finds it. He doesn't deny himself the things he wants. Pie? Going to the diner. Sex? Headed to the bar. He terms Valentine's Day as Unattached Drifter Christmas for a reason.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
Dean, sadly, is pretty vanilla. He'll try most anything once, but he's pretty old fashioned about what he does behind closed doors. Or in the back of the Impala. Or an elevator. Or...Anywhere at all, really. He doesn't like guys, though. And that's a line he will not bend.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of Chinese) sign? How well does he fit type? He's an Aquarius. It fits him pretty well, because underneath everything, Dean has a heart of gold. He's very black and white in his thinking, and he's actually very smart, if not well-educated. He has a strong sense of justice, and believes in helping people, and he can read most people like a book.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
Neither, even when confronted with proof of Heaven and angels.
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?
Dean believes in saving people and hunting things. He also values free will above most other things, though his moral code is pretty lax. He's compromised majorly in Hell, because he got off the rack to put other souls on, which caused the first seal leading to the Apocalypse to break. But all in all, he will stand up for what he thinks is right, and can be downright stubborn about it when confronted. Not following his gut makes him uneasy, and he'll dwell on it afterward for a good long while.
His father started it, and since then, Dean's augmented his father's beliefs into his own, to the shape they're in today.
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
Dean can be both indifferent and cautious when faced with others' beliefs. And at times, he can be downright skeptical and rude. He's openly mocked Cas a number of times for his faith in God, and is shocked when Sam reveals he prays every night. He doesn't see the point, because all he knows is the crap of the world, and sees very little that prayer could possibly help with.
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
He hates the supernatural. Not as much as he once did, but there's still that kneejerk reaction to kill it. And he has a very good reason, as a demon killed his mother. But as more of the past is revealed to him thanks to the angels, he realizes that his own family isn't as squeaky clean as he believed, and he's somewhat torn, thinking that maybe he's killed things that didn't deserve it.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
Broke as hell son of a bitch with a GED and six bucks to his name. He keeps himself afloat hustling pool, cards, and darts, and running credit card frauds.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
Blue collar as hell, and proud of it. He has little use for the fancy stuff in life, because it's just more crap to lug around in the car from job to job. Everything he owns can probably fit in two duffle bags.
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?
Dean lives out of cheap hotel rooms and the Impala itself at times, when he and Sam are forced to stop for the night somewhere that there's no hotel for miles around. The Impala is home, but the hotels are just to crash in. Occasionally he and Sam will squat in an abandoned or empty house, or rent a by-the-week apartment. Adn they're always either wierd, tacky, or just plain run down.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Porn. Magic fingers. Useless stuff that usually does no one any good. He, in actuality, doesn't spend a whole lot of money at all.
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?
Dean is a demon/ghost/paranormal thing hunter, and he's damn good at it. He likes to toot his own horn on this fact, and even tells Sam he's the second best. As for whether he enjoys it...He didn't for a long time, but now, realilzing he's actually helping people, he's finding his love for it once more. That's really what it's about anyway, and for a long time, he lost sight of that.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
He's a piddler. He's good at a lot of different things, though most are frowned on by the law. He spends lots of time in bars, morgues, city records warehouses/departments...But as for hobbies? Music and working on his car. Those make him happier than just about anything.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
Dean eats the worst foods imaginable. Burgers with bacon, pie, fried everything. He and Sam are mostly in and out of fast food places and diners for their meals, and he just can't be bothered to watch what he's eating, unlike Sam who tries to maintain a healthy diet. He drinks a lot (quoted as being somewhere around fifty drinks a week), and only sleeps three or four hours every couple of days.
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color? Green
2. Smell? Leather
3. Time of day? Dusk
4. Season? Fall
5. Book? The World According To Garp
6. Music? Led Zeppelin
7. Place? Lawrence, Kansas
8. Substance? Mud
9. Plant? Evergreen
10. Animal? Fox
END
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