character survey
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
Nick is described as tall and broad, mirroring his father's build. His mother was willowy, though, so he isn't entirely as wide as Arthur. He's definitely bigger than Alan, though.
2. How old is he?
Sixteen and a half.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
He stands tall, but is always vaguely leaning forward like he's going to cut someone's throat out.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
In perfect health-he's immune to sickness or decay, including age.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
Nick's body is just a case, which as a result makes his movement rather strange. His movement is excessively polished and devoid of any hesitation, as if he were a real-life stop-motion animation, each twitch carefully posed. When he stops moving he is completely still, to the point where many find him unnerving to be around.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
Quite attractive, and he's been known to use it to his advantage, though I don't think he thinks of himself in those terms. His looks are just another weapon to use.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Light complexion, but tans in the sun if he feels like it. LOL MAGIC.
8. Describe his hair: colour, texture, style.
Thick, vaguely coarse, and black black black. He keeps it long enough to be considered scruffy, mostly out of habit. Alan trimmed it for years before Nick took over, and Nick just didn't bother with it until it got into his eyes or something.
9. What colour are his eyes?
The body's eyes are bright blue. Because a demon resides inside, though, the irises have turned as black as the pupils. The effect is mildly disturbing.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
Not really!
11. What are his chief tension centres?
I'd say his shoulders, since he relies on his upper arms a lot, but truthfully he probably doesn't have any.
12. What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colours, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does he have six of the same shirt?
T-shirts and jeans. Occasionally Alan buys him stupid things like sweater vests.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
They do, and he does! He won't tolerate something he can't move comfortably in.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
I would imagine that the garage makes him wear some kind of jumpsuit to ward off the grease stains, and his high school has a uniform. Besides that, nope, t-shirts and jeans all day erryday.
You know this was coming: boxers, briefs or commando?
For ease of movement, boxers, though I'm privately tempted to say commando because it's likely Nick gives no fucks.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
Deep and slightly raspy when he's tense.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
Slowly and evenly, very dry and monotonous in tone. He doesn't hesitate, but talking at length tends to exhaust him. He keeps his sentences clipped and doesn't really bother to improve his vocabulary usage.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
He's from England, so he has a corresponding English accent. He tends to clip his t's and be lazy in pronunciation, as if all he wants is to get the words out and be done with talking.
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
Fluent in English and, uh, whatever horrible grunting/telepathy mix demons use???
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
Nope.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
He's sharp-tongued, but that doesn't mean he's a good speaker. He can crack wise, but when push comes to shove his words evaporate. He has a hard time speaking under duress.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
He's blunt in his vocabulary choices and doesn't bother to put frills on his words. He's not inarticulate but he does mumble when he's feeling lazy or when Alan's not around to chastise him.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart.
Nick is quite intelligent! He has difficulty reading-in canon, most of his teachers and peers think he's dyslexic-and not much interest in words besides. As a result he tends to drop off in more text-based classes, especially English. Foreign language is utterly lost on him. French? Non. Nick is a mostly C-student, with Bs in some sciences and As in PE.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
He hits the ground running! Actually he is not much of a planner and his ideas tend to start at 'kill everyone' and end at 'kill all the things'. This is why Alan is around!
3. Describe this character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
Logical, but very single-minded. He can be crafty if he thinks it'll get him something important, but mostly his thoughts run in a straight line, usually involving destroying whatever obstacles he may face.
4. What kind of education of education has this character had?
British public education, up to but excluding sixth form.
5. What are his areas of expertise?
Swords, knives and cars!
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
Very much an introvert. Nick simply doesn't care about people, what they think or what they have to say.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
Even-tempered most times, but that's because not much affects Nick. He does get surges of violence, though, and can be temperamental if things don't go his or Alan's way.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
Depends on whether or not he can take them in a fight; if he can deal with it with his swords or with his magic, he's relaxed. If there's a threat, however, he won't hesitate to attack first.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
React. Nick follows his brother's lead.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
Fight, all the way. He won't hesitate to kill.
11. Describe the character's sense of humour. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humour? Bathroom humour? Pranks?
He can appreciate wit, to a certain extent, but most jokes rely on an innate sense of comedic timing that Nick tends to lack.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
Not...exactly? Most of his strange behaviour traces back to his being a demon; the biggest challenge he faces in his day-to-day life is his difficulty with reading, but that's something he's used to just ploughing over.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
Uh. He isn't a person, but the whole debacle with finding that tidbit of info out would be a pretty big one!
14. What does he fear?
He doesn't. :|b
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
Keeping Alan safe and happy forever and ever and ever!
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
Most of the time, that he's a demon.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
Uh. Uh. Tough one, but let's try:
Daniel Ryves: 'Dad'. Has only fond memories and respect for the man, but he remains obliquely aware that Daniel is Alan's father, not his own. There was a period in his life that Nick honestly wished, rather often, that Daniel would return from the dead, if only so he could take care of Alan so that his brother wouldn't have to shoulder the burden of Nick and his mother alone. Losing him was a crippling blow to the family.
Olivia Ryves: Hates her, hates what she did, what she represented, hates that she never took care of him and spent every moment in his presence screaming. She was only useful when she set herself on fire. Happy she's dead.
Black Arthur/Arthur Dee: Hate hate hate hate. When Nick found out he was Black Arthur's biological son, it was a huge shock, but not as much as finding out the deal Arthur had made with him before he entered the human body. He finds the man absolutely despicable, worth less than dirt. Also happy he's dead!
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
Oh god. Alan. Alan is Nick's brother, his parent, and for a long time was his only real friend. Actually-is still his only real friend, since he hasn't taken Jamie on as a pal yet. Alan is Nick's everything, and in exchange for taking care of him Nick gives Alan his complete trust and loyalty unto death. (Alan's death, that is, since Nick will never die. And actually he'll probably stop Alan from dying, too. Don't humans want to be immortal, isn't that a thing?) Nick is described often in the books as a 'rottweiler', and it's not entirely off; Nick is Alan's dog. He goes where Alan goes, does as Alan says, and even when they fight Alan is usually the winner. If enemies try to hurt Alan, Nick gets all up in their business with the rage and the swords and the imminent death.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
Not that we know of!
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
Alan is his only family and the only one that counts, blood relation or not. >|
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
ALAN-no, okay, enough about Alan for a minute. Before Alan ever even got there, Hnikarr's life was quite satisfyingly filled by two immutable presences: Anzu and Liannan. It's presumed that the three of them go back, way back, back into the dawn of time before humans ever even thought of calling them up and giving them names and titles. How they met is unsaid and probably irrelevant, but their influence is palpable in Nick's life. They were quite probably Like That, at least in some way, but demons don't have relationships like humans do: Anzu, Hnikarr and Liannan probably only stuck together out of habit and boredom. Whether there were any true attachments, or they enjoyed each other's company is unlikely, but maybe on Anzu's part...
6. Does he have any other close friends?
No, but he has people that are his, namely the Crawford siblings. Jamie is his enterpainment, Mae is that chick that Nick respects!
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
You might as well slap a 'Does Not Play Well With Others' sign on his forehead.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
The answer is always Alan!
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
Divorced from Anzu and Liannan-I mean. Single.
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
He occasionally sleeps around, but no.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
He can't have crushes, by definition. He occasionally wants to crush people...! But that is unrelated.
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
Redheads and blondes. /cough
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
No, no, definitely no. God, Nick as a father, I pity the children. Very pretty! Yet so many issues.
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
All the magicians ever except Jamie! Black Arthur, except he's dead. Helen, except he hasn't met her yet.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey Scale?
Nick's an even 3. He most dates and sleeps with girls, but with the reveal and release of his demon nature and memories, I don't think it would occur to him to differentiate if he thought it could be pleasant or useful.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to his?
Nick doesn't like touching, but sex is fun! It's mostly something he does as stress relief.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
I don't think it'd be too much of a stretch for him to develop a cutting/violence kink. As for turn-offs: feelings and cuddling are a big no-no.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological ( of choice) sign? How well does he fit his type?
March baby, which makes him either a...Pisces, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, or an Aeries, which is somewhat fitting and slightly less sad!
2. Is the character religious, spiritual, both, or neither?How important are these elements in his life?
Nick believes in what he can see and what he knows-demons and magic-so he has no need for gods.
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?
Nick? Morals? You're funny.
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from hiss? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
He doesn't care about people in the purest sense; he doesn't care if you're a murderer, a child molester or a genius painter; he just doesn't care. He doesn't want to know more, he won't expend the energy it would take to disapprove.
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have good reason for them?
Magicians are douchebags, which in the world of TDL is often likely!
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
Quite poor, but managing thanks to his and Alan's jobs and occasional help from Goblin Market folks.
2. What is his social status Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected his?
Well, if things had been different, Nick would have been the son of the leader of the most powerful Magicians' Circle in London, but as it turned out, he ended up the second son of Some Dude who just so happened to be the ex of the wife of the leader of the most powerful Magicians' Circle in London. Which, as you can imagine, didn't go so well for everyone involved.
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?
Small house! It's a roof over his head, but he doesn't really need it. Home is wherever Alan is! Most of the time, at least.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Swords. Knives. Car parts.
5. What does he do for a living? Is he good as it? Does he enjoy it, or would he rather be doing something else?
He is a high school student, and he pretty much sucks. His part-time job is at a garage, and he enjoys it; mechanics is something that comes easily to him, but he doesn't exactly have lifelong career plans.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
Swords! Training with swords. Also knives! Also fixing broken-down cars.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
He...likes eating, more or less? It's a thing to do, it keeps his body fuelled. He tends to eat a lot, though, if only because he's crazy athletic. Alcohol doesn't affect him.
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favourite:
1. Colour? navy blue.
2. Smell? rain.
3. Time of day? night.
4. Season? winter.
5. Book? ....
6. Music? hard rock.
7. Place? the Atlantic ocean.
8. Substance? ink.
9. Plant? ash tree.
10. Animal? wolf.
END