OOC || CHARACTER SURVEY OF DOOM
Body and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
The official stats place Killua at 158 cm in height and 49 kgs in weight. About 5'2 or 5'3 and 108 lbs. I think that's a bit too much when you take height comparisons into account (Leorio is 6'4), but who am I to argue with official stats? He's pretty tall considering, though Gon's not too much shorter, so perhaps it's normal in the HxH world. He's also very lean with about as much muscle as you can pack into a kid's physique. The brat has a six-pack, I swear.
2. How old is he?
Twelve years old, probably getting close to thirteen by now if not already.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
Killua is a sloucher, but he's not so terrible that it causes problems. He just carries himself very casually, even when he's alert and in action. His hands always seem to gravitate toward those pockets, and if he's not leaning back, then he's leaning forward. When in the presence of certain adults (i.e. when Biscuit's yelling at him, when Mito is around, when his father calls for him), he straightens out.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
Killua is about as physically fit as a rhino, inhuman in strength, speed, and endurance. No illnesses or disabilities unless you count Illumi's pin, but that was outside interference.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
Killua takes moving fluidly to the next level. He slides from move to move to move in an interconnected slur that's really more like one, long, complicated move when you get down to it. He's also quiet enough when he moves that only Senritsu and her hell's ear can hear his footsteps.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
He's pretty damn attractive for a twelve year old. Rather than handsome, people would refer to him as cute or adorable, and he's quick to take advantage of that when he can. He himself has almost no care as to how he looks outside of being innocent enough to get information and doubtfully carries a mirror with him to places like Greed Island or East Goruto.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Killua has rather pale skin. Certainly not an unhealthy color, but he's never been able to attain Gon's tan despite how often the two boys are outdoors.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
White hair in a lengthy boy's cut, soft but wild. He has long bangs that help shadow his eyes, adding mystery and menace to his glares.
9. What color are his eyes?
A teal blue, though the anime itself plays with the color often.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
No.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
His shoulders are usually taut, with his arms stretched straight.
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?
Killua is usually caught in sportier wear, stuff that's loose and easy to move around in. Tank tops, shorts, sweatpants, etc. He dresses for function over form. When just hanging out though, he occasionally pulls out fancier clothing and accessories, fashionable but not feminine.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
He's pretty darn comfortable in everything he's worn except that suit. Suits aren't cool.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
No. I already listed them.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Boxers.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
His voice is far from adult, higher in pitch than an average male voice, but that's hardly surprising considering his age.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
He speaks normally, for the most part. He talks very easily. In no average situation is he ever afraid to open his mouth, even if he knows he's going to get punished for it. Anxiety will cause him to speed up both his thinking and his speaking or to simply stop speaking altogether. He's not the type to talk during a fight.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
He's very casual in his speech and speaks a few popular English phrases in the Japanese version of the anime. I try to show this by having him end or begin sentences with "y'know" and push words together like "wanna" instead of "want to" or "don'tcha" instead of "don't you."
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
He speaks whatever language they speak in Hunter x Hunter. It's an alien one, I assume, since it has its own writing system.
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
In the Japanese anime, which is the version I've seen, he'll use common English phrases in some situations. I generally assume it's because Killua is the "cool" kid, and that's the "cool" thing to do.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
Killua Zoldyck thinks about everything before he says or does it. His mind does not shut off. This, however, doesn't mean that he's slow. He just thinks at insanely high speeds.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
Killua is a special brand of in between here. He talks like a kid would talk, usually. Once a situation arises when he needs to explain something complicated and important, his vocabulary inexplicably increases, revealing he could be quite eloquent if he ever wanted to be. He just doesn't.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
Killua is a genius strategist and a fast thinker. Book-smart versus street-smart doesn't work well in describing him though. What he knows is combat and murder; in this particular category he is both book-smart and street-smart. He has the experience to analyze his opponents and come out on top. In several other areas that most people would consider common sense, he is neither book-smart nor street-smart. He spends most of the series learning about different topics with Gon.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
He thinks on his feet. In fact, during the raid on the Chimera Ant stronghold, Killua takes less than a fraction of a second to assess the entire situation and understand Gon's choices, whereas it takes professionals three and four times his age the full second to do the same.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
Killua is very practical. He runs through every question he has with a veritable logic hammer, making sure he is able to find every possible answer and outcome available. Opposite of Gon's out-of-the-box type of thinking, Killua isn't optimistic enough to assume he has other options than the ones given to him. Once Gon gives him that extra option, Killua can put together the facts quickly enough to find the necessary counter. Unfortunately, this combination of quick thinking and pessimism leads him to second guess himself a little too often.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
Homeschooled. He was taught how to kill from day one. His education stretched as far as having to earn perfect scores in dart games to being dropped into a fighting tournament and forced to remain there until he reached the 200th floor level when he was six years old.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
His expertise is murder. He's much more interested in learning about everything else ever instead.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
Killua is probably originally an extrovert. His happiness comes from the people he's with moreso than what he's doing with them. The isolation he grew up with in the Zoldyck household, however, makes it extremely difficult for him to trust or put his faith in other people, and he's always more comfortable doing a serious job on his own. He's very firm about keeping as many of his abilities secret as possible, and he puts up facades whenever he's with strangers, playing cutesy or innocent when he's really analyzing the likelihood of his being able to leave using any given escape route. Thus, he internalizes a great deal and grew fairly introverted through necessity.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
Overall, Killua is pretty even-tempered. He keeps his head in a crisis and is forever calculating. He can be melancholy at times, prone to brooding and quick to frustration. Then there are those few moments that everything changes, when everything that keeps him stable flies out the window and the careful balance he maintains between the two worlds in his head implodes in on itself. Those are the moments when someone ends up dead.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
Suspicion is his default reaction to anyone new, save those few like Mito and Kite who have Gon's ultimate blessing. He generally doesn't show it unless the person in question is already expecting Killua to size him/her up, but that doubt is always present.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
Killua acts. In his line of work, a reaction is already too late.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
Naturally, his default is to fight. Illumi's interference pushes him to flight. It's difficult to choose one over the other because a big theme within the series is Killua's fight between the two, but if I had to, I would choose fight because that's what Killua chooses.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
Killua's sense of humor is about average for a preteen boy. He gets a kick out of intelligent and/or dirty jokes, and he loves pranks, especially when he gets to test any newfound abilities in order to pull them off.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
None, except perhaps selective sociopathic tendencies? I don't think that counts.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
The entirety of Killua's training has defined him, and he will never forget those lessons even if he chooses to go against them. Specific moments in the series include running away from home, admitting he wants to be friends with Gon, promising his father that he'll never betray his friends, his and Gon's decision to stay together and help each other, when Kurapika finally depends on him for help, when Gon insists only Killua can hold the ball for him during the dodgeball game, his and Gon's loss against Knuckle and Shoot, removing the pin from his forehead, befriending Ikarugo, and saving Palm.
14. What does he fear?
Killua is afraid that he'll one day cause Gon's death, whether directly or indirectly. Really, what I think it boils down to, is that he's afraid he'll be left alone and he'll have no one to blame but himself.
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
Killua himself doesn't know what he aspires toward. He is trying to discover that. What he's decided thus far is that he wants to support Gon, by any means necessary.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
He doesn't want anyone to know just how hard he tries to be a decent person. He puts so much of himself into what he believes is important, and the reader can see it so obviously in his expressions, body language, and telling thoughts. But when asked about it by another character, Killua makes light of it. A life-changing battle that almost ends with his death is just some extra training.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
Surprisingly enough, Killua does love and respect his parents. He really does. But in the Zoldyck household, love has a completely different meaning than what is accepted by most societies. He can love his mother and yet not feel an ounce of regret as he attacks her. His mother is actually proud of him for attacking her. That is simply how the Zoldycks solve things. He does, however, feel they are too controlling, and he ran away from home because he was tired of never having a choice.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
Killua has four brothers, two older and two younger. His oldest brother, Illumi, is both a mentor and a source of terror for him. Illumi embodies everything Killua is afraid of because he had such a large part in teaching him how to kill. His second oldest brother, Milluki, is really nothing but a target for him. It's too easy to make fun of him, so Killua just doesn't stop. His second youngest brother, Alluka, is the missing Zoldyck sibling. He hasn't appeared in the story as of yet. His youngest brother, Kalluto, has very little interaction with Killua in the story, but it's easy to infer that Kalluto looked up to Killua. Killua likely has a regular older-to-younger sibling relationship with Kalluto, showing him the ropes and how to sneak away from lessons and the like.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
He seems closest to his grandfather Zeno, and in one of the musicals, when Zeno tells him he likes him, he's noticeably more content. I assume Zeno is where Killua got his sense of humor, but that's just me.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
Canaria and Gotoh, butlers to the Zoldyck Clan, are both pretty close to Killua, all things considered. He certainly treats them like he does the rest of his family, with that slightly off mixture of annoyance, understanding, and resignation.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Gon is forever Killua's best and first friend. Really, Gon ranks much higher than his own family in terms of hierarchy. They met during the first trial of the Hunters Exam, when Leorio accused Killua of cheating because he was riding his skateboard rather than running with everyone else. Gon insisted there was no rule against it. When Killua learned Gon was about the same age as him, he got off the board.
6. Does he have other close friends?
Kurapika, Leorio, Biscuit, Ikarugo, and Palm. Those are the ones who are closest. Kurapika is intelligent, and even though he and Killua don't agree on everything, it could be said they understand each other's motives better than the others. They both chose their friends over everything else. It's hard to honestly dislike Leorio, and though it's true he's the weakest of the main four, Killua finds secret solace in the fact that he's training to be a doctor. Leorio heals where Killua destroys. Biscuit is his and Gon's master, and he's learned more about nen under her tutelage than he could have ever asked for. She's one of the few girls he's learned to pay attention to, one of the few people in general he trusts wholeheartedly. Ikarugo was Killua's enemy, had even tried to kill him, but when he refuses to betray his comrades to save his life, Killua can't fault him and ends up saving his life anyway. When Ikarugo returns the favor, he rises exponentially through the hierarchy. Palm also made attempts on Killua's life and had even blackmailed Gon into a date, but when she tells Killua exactly what he needs to hear most, she too is accelerated through the hierarchy and warned that he'll never thank her again, because friends don't need to say thank you.
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
It's difficult for Killua to really make friends with people. Usually it requires an intense combat situation and some sort of bodily harm. But he acts friendly with strangers, and sometimes it can be hard to tell which people he truly trusts and which people are just acquaintances. A general rule is that if he likes you, he's not afraid to look worried around you.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
Friends are more important by far. Family is not only a sore spot for him, but it's also ridiculous for him to ever worry about them because they've all been trained as brutally and precisely as he has.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
Single.
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Does Gon count as a romantic relationship? No.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
Killua couldn't care less about the opposite gender. They're all just so whiny and annoying. He's never had a crush, or at least he's never cared enough to identify it if he has.
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
Strength. It's what Killua looks for in everyone. If you're not strong enough to keep up, you're not worth it. This doesn't only apply to physical strength. People he gets close to tend to have a strong understanding of his unyielding mental state and are willing to follow him to the dark side for what they believe in.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
No. Having kids is the last thing on his mind, and he'd fake a gag if anyone brought it up to him.
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
Haaa. Well, there's always Hisoka. The twisted magician has a canon hard-on for Gon and Killua and enjoys watching them mature into "ripe fruits." Gon is much more willing to work with him, though even he dislikes the man with a passion, but Killua both dislikes him and doesn't trust him. That leads to more headaches than it's worth.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
It may just be simpler to stick to a solid three rather than seriously attempt to decide. Killua himself shows no romantic interest in anyone, but both Palm and Gon have brought about enormous emotional reactions in him that he would have never allowed anyone else to see. In the anime, they hint that he gets a kick out of LeoPika, and his little brother Kalluto dresses as a girl. Yeah, just going with three sounds good.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
It's something funny to watch on television.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
Other than the fact that he kicks everyone else off the bed on a regular basis, there's really nothing else.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
Killua is a cancer. You have no idea how hilarious that was to type. Surprisingly, he fits the type pretty well. (In)dependency issues, incredible loyalty, closed off emotions, paradoxical, adaptive and intelligent. "Cancer needs to be needed." There is really no truer statement for Killua Zoldyck.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
Killua is neither. In his line of work, sometimes it's easier to tell himself that once someone's dead, they're just dead. People need to focus on the living.
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?
He has a unique and juxtaposed code, formed by piecing together things he's learned from his family with things he's learned while traveling with Gon. It may not be correct to call it moral or ethical, but he stands by it without fail once it begins to form. Things like "don't kill someone if there's another way to solve the problem," "friends don't need to thank each other," "murder needs meaning," and "don't fight just to run" dominate this code. The first time it becomes obvious that Killua is creating such a thing is when he and Gon are blackmailed at the Heaven's Arena. It's still developing even in the most recent chapters, with his acknowledgment that having more than one close friend in the raid means he might have to choose between them. And he does choose; he helps the weaker one, even though up until that point he'd dedicated himself entirely to supporting Gon. There's always the chance Illumi could compromise this code, Illumi or Silva. At this point, however, Killua's dug himself a grave so deep it's probably impossible for him compromise it willingly ever again.
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
Killua is largely indifferent toward other people's opinions in general (as long as the person doesn't piss him off), and other people's beliefs fall under that category as well. It's when those beliefs translate to actions that he may retaliate.
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
He's a mite sexist, but it's more out of being a boy with four other male siblings than out of genuine belief that women are any less than men. It doesn't help that his women role models are all rather insane eccentric. He tends to not pay much attention to anyone who hasn't proven themselves to him, so in the end, that shines more prominently than any actual prejudice.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
Killua is an obscenely rich little brat with a complete disregard for the amount of money he spends. Even if it's not his money.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
Killua is a wanted felon. How's that for social status? People would pay endless amounts of money just for a picture of a Zoldyck Clan member, let alone for his head. Since he left home with Gon, this status hasn't changed, but in traveling with a Hunter and becoming one himself, he's surrounded himself with the type of people who are above bounties, and the frequency with which he's met people who are impressed by rather than afraid of who he is has increased exponentially.
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?
His home estate is located at the top of a mountain, and his family owns the entire mountain. He, however, stays wherever Gon stays, whether that be in a hotel, out in the wilderness, or with a friend.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Sweets. Every kind of sugary snack imaginable. If it exists, he's bought it.
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?
Killua is a professional Hunter, and he's quite good at it. He went to great lengths to ensure he'd be able to join Gon in attaining this status, so fat chance would he ever switch it out for another profession. He's still learning, still has personality clashes, but he gets over them one hurdle at a time.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
He's not a hardcore gamer, but it's clear that he spent a lot of his free time back home playing video games. He's also a thrill seeker. Gambling, fighting, anything that can give him that feeling that he's transcending himself. He's pretty much addicted.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
He's that special type of anime character that has a black hole for a stomach. Due to his and Gon's lifestyle, they usually eat out or cook food they've found themselves over a fire. When they eat out, Killua is not above ordering expensive food just to be obnoxious.
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color? Lavender.
2. Smell?
3. Time of day? Evening.
4. Season? Fall.
5. Book?
6. Music? Alternative.
7. Place?
8. Substance? Sugar.
9. Plant?
10. Animal? Panther.
END
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1. Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
The official stats place Killua at 158 cm in height and 49 kgs in weight. About 5'2 or 5'3 and 108 lbs. I think that's a bit too much when you take height comparisons into account (Leorio is 6'4), but who am I to argue with official stats? He's pretty tall considering, though Gon's not too much shorter, so perhaps it's normal in the HxH world. He's also very lean with about as much muscle as you can pack into a kid's physique. The brat has a six-pack, I swear.
2. How old is he?
Twelve years old, probably getting close to thirteen by now if not already.
3. Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?
Killua is a sloucher, but he's not so terrible that it causes problems. He just carries himself very casually, even when he's alert and in action. His hands always seem to gravitate toward those pockets, and if he's not leaning back, then he's leaning forward. When in the presence of certain adults (i.e. when Biscuit's yelling at him, when Mito is around, when his father calls for him), he straightens out.
4. How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
Killua is about as physically fit as a rhino, inhuman in strength, speed, and endurance. No illnesses or disabilities unless you count Illumi's pin, but that was outside interference.
5. How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
Killua takes moving fluidly to the next level. He slides from move to move to move in an interconnected slur that's really more like one, long, complicated move when you get down to it. He's also quiet enough when he moves that only Senritsu and her hell's ear can hear his footsteps.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?
He's pretty damn attractive for a twelve year old. Rather than handsome, people would refer to him as cute or adorable, and he's quick to take advantage of that when he can. He himself has almost no care as to how he looks outside of being innocent enough to get information and doubtfully carries a mirror with him to places like Greed Island or East Goruto.
7. Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
Killua has rather pale skin. Certainly not an unhealthy color, but he's never been able to attain Gon's tan despite how often the two boys are outdoors.
8. Describe his hair: color, texture, style.
White hair in a lengthy boy's cut, soft but wild. He has long bangs that help shadow his eyes, adding mystery and menace to his glares.
9. What color are his eyes?
A teal blue, though the anime itself plays with the color often.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
No.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
His shoulders are usually taut, with his arms stretched straight.
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?
Killua is usually caught in sportier wear, stuff that's loose and easy to move around in. Tank tops, shorts, sweatpants, etc. He dresses for function over form. When just hanging out though, he occasionally pulls out fancier clothing and accessories, fashionable but not feminine.
13. Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?
He's pretty darn comfortable in everything he's worn except that suit. Suits aren't cool.
14. Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?
No. I already listed them.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Boxers.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
His voice is far from adult, higher in pitch than an average male voice, but that's hardly surprising considering his age.
2. How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?
He speaks normally, for the most part. He talks very easily. In no average situation is he ever afraid to open his mouth, even if he knows he's going to get punished for it. Anxiety will cause him to speed up both his thinking and his speaking or to simply stop speaking altogether. He's not the type to talk during a fight.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
He's very casual in his speech and speaks a few popular English phrases in the Japanese version of the anime. I try to show this by having him end or begin sentences with "y'know" and push words together like "wanna" instead of "want to" or "don'tcha" instead of "don't you."
4. What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?
He speaks whatever language they speak in Hunter x Hunter. It's an alien one, I assume, since it has its own writing system.
5. Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
In the Japanese anime, which is the version I've seen, he'll use common English phrases in some situations. I generally assume it's because Killua is the "cool" kid, and that's the "cool" thing to do.
6. Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
Killua Zoldyck thinks about everything before he says or does it. His mind does not shut off. This, however, doesn't mean that he's slow. He just thinks at insanely high speeds.
7. Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
Killua is a special brand of in between here. He talks like a kid would talk, usually. Once a situation arises when he needs to explain something complicated and important, his vocabulary inexplicably increases, revealing he could be quite eloquent if he ever wanted to be. He just doesn't.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?
Killua is a genius strategist and a fast thinker. Book-smart versus street-smart doesn't work well in describing him though. What he knows is combat and murder; in this particular category he is both book-smart and street-smart. He has the experience to analyze his opponents and come out on top. In several other areas that most people would consider common sense, he is neither book-smart nor street-smart. He spends most of the series learning about different topics with Gon.
2. Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?
He thinks on his feet. In fact, during the raid on the Chimera Ant stronghold, Killua takes less than a fraction of a second to assess the entire situation and understand Gon's choices, whereas it takes professionals three and four times his age the full second to do the same.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
Killua is very practical. He runs through every question he has with a veritable logic hammer, making sure he is able to find every possible answer and outcome available. Opposite of Gon's out-of-the-box type of thinking, Killua isn't optimistic enough to assume he has other options than the ones given to him. Once Gon gives him that extra option, Killua can put together the facts quickly enough to find the necessary counter. Unfortunately, this combination of quick thinking and pessimism leads him to second guess himself a little too often.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
Homeschooled. He was taught how to kill from day one. His education stretched as far as having to earn perfect scores in dart games to being dropped into a fighting tournament and forced to remain there until he reached the 200th floor level when he was six years old.
5. What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?
His expertise is murder. He's much more interested in learning about everything else ever instead.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
Killua is probably originally an extrovert. His happiness comes from the people he's with moreso than what he's doing with them. The isolation he grew up with in the Zoldyck household, however, makes it extremely difficult for him to trust or put his faith in other people, and he's always more comfortable doing a serious job on his own. He's very firm about keeping as many of his abilities secret as possible, and he puts up facades whenever he's with strangers, playing cutesy or innocent when he's really analyzing the likelihood of his being able to leave using any given escape route. Thus, he internalizes a great deal and grew fairly introverted through necessity.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
Overall, Killua is pretty even-tempered. He keeps his head in a crisis and is forever calculating. He can be melancholy at times, prone to brooding and quick to frustration. Then there are those few moments that everything changes, when everything that keeps him stable flies out the window and the careful balance he maintains between the two worlds in his head implodes in on itself. Those are the moments when someone ends up dead.
8. How does he respond to new people or situations? Is he suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
Suspicion is his default reaction to anyone new, save those few like Mito and Kite who have Gon's ultimate blessing. He generally doesn't show it unless the person in question is already expecting Killua to size him/her up, but that doubt is always present.
9. Is he more likely to act, or to react?
Killua acts. In his line of work, a reaction is already too late.
10. Which is his default: fight or flight?
Naturally, his default is to fight. Illumi's interference pushes him to flight. It's difficult to choose one over the other because a big theme within the series is Killua's fight between the two, but if I had to, I would choose fight because that's what Killua chooses.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
Killua's sense of humor is about average for a preteen boy. He gets a kick out of intelligent and/or dirty jokes, and he loves pranks, especially when he gets to test any newfound abilities in order to pull them off.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?
None, except perhaps selective sociopathic tendencies? I don't think that counts.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined him as a person?
The entirety of Killua's training has defined him, and he will never forget those lessons even if he chooses to go against them. Specific moments in the series include running away from home, admitting he wants to be friends with Gon, promising his father that he'll never betray his friends, his and Gon's decision to stay together and help each other, when Kurapika finally depends on him for help, when Gon insists only Killua can hold the ball for him during the dodgeball game, his and Gon's loss against Knuckle and Shoot, removing the pin from his forehead, befriending Ikarugo, and saving Palm.
14. What does he fear?
Killua is afraid that he'll one day cause Gon's death, whether directly or indirectly. Really, what I think it boils down to, is that he's afraid he'll be left alone and he'll have no one to blame but himself.
15. What are his hopes or aspirations?
Killua himself doesn't know what he aspires toward. He is trying to discover that. What he's decided thus far is that he wants to support Gon, by any means necessary.
16. What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
He doesn't want anyone to know just how hard he tries to be a decent person. He puts so much of himself into what he believes is important, and the reader can see it so obviously in his expressions, body language, and telling thoughts. But when asked about it by another character, Killua makes light of it. A life-changing battle that almost ends with his death is just some extra training.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
Surprisingly enough, Killua does love and respect his parents. He really does. But in the Zoldyck household, love has a completely different meaning than what is accepted by most societies. He can love his mother and yet not feel an ounce of regret as he attacks her. His mother is actually proud of him for attacking her. That is simply how the Zoldycks solve things. He does, however, feel they are too controlling, and he ran away from home because he was tired of never having a choice.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
Killua has four brothers, two older and two younger. His oldest brother, Illumi, is both a mentor and a source of terror for him. Illumi embodies everything Killua is afraid of because he had such a large part in teaching him how to kill. His second oldest brother, Milluki, is really nothing but a target for him. It's too easy to make fun of him, so Killua just doesn't stop. His second youngest brother, Alluka, is the missing Zoldyck sibling. He hasn't appeared in the story as of yet. His youngest brother, Kalluto, has very little interaction with Killua in the story, but it's easy to infer that Kalluto looked up to Killua. Killua likely has a regular older-to-younger sibling relationship with Kalluto, showing him the ropes and how to sneak away from lessons and the like.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
He seems closest to his grandfather Zeno, and in one of the musicals, when Zeno tells him he likes him, he's noticeably more content. I assume Zeno is where Killua got his sense of humor, but that's just me.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?
Canaria and Gotoh, butlers to the Zoldyck Clan, are both pretty close to Killua, all things considered. He certainly treats them like he does the rest of his family, with that slightly off mixture of annoyance, understanding, and resignation.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Gon is forever Killua's best and first friend. Really, Gon ranks much higher than his own family in terms of hierarchy. They met during the first trial of the Hunters Exam, when Leorio accused Killua of cheating because he was riding his skateboard rather than running with everyone else. Gon insisted there was no rule against it. When Killua learned Gon was about the same age as him, he got off the board.
6. Does he have other close friends?
Kurapika, Leorio, Biscuit, Ikarugo, and Palm. Those are the ones who are closest. Kurapika is intelligent, and even though he and Killua don't agree on everything, it could be said they understand each other's motives better than the others. They both chose their friends over everything else. It's hard to honestly dislike Leorio, and though it's true he's the weakest of the main four, Killua finds secret solace in the fact that he's training to be a doctor. Leorio heals where Killua destroys. Biscuit is his and Gon's master, and he's learned more about nen under her tutelage than he could have ever asked for. She's one of the few girls he's learned to pay attention to, one of the few people in general he trusts wholeheartedly. Ikarugo was Killua's enemy, had even tried to kill him, but when he refuses to betray his comrades to save his life, Killua can't fault him and ends up saving his life anyway. When Ikarugo returns the favor, he rises exponentially through the hierarchy. Palm also made attempts on Killua's life and had even blackmailed Gon into a date, but when she tells Killua exactly what he needs to hear most, she too is accelerated through the hierarchy and warned that he'll never thank her again, because friends don't need to say thank you.
7. Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?
It's difficult for Killua to really make friends with people. Usually it requires an intense combat situation and some sort of bodily harm. But he acts friendly with strangers, and sometimes it can be hard to tell which people he truly trusts and which people are just acquaintances. A general rule is that if he likes you, he's not afraid to look worried around you.
8. Which does he consider more important: family or friends?
Friends are more important by far. Family is not only a sore spot for him, but it's also ridiculous for him to ever worry about them because they've all been trained as brutally and precisely as he has.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?
Single.
10. Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Does Gon count as a romantic relationship? No.
11. Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?
Killua couldn't care less about the opposite gender. They're all just so whiny and annoying. He's never had a crush, or at least he's never cared enough to identify it if he has.
12. What does he look for in a romantic partner?
Strength. It's what Killua looks for in everyone. If you're not strong enough to keep up, you're not worth it. This doesn't only apply to physical strength. People he gets close to tend to have a strong understanding of his unyielding mental state and are willing to follow him to the dark side for what they believe in.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?
No. Having kids is the last thing on his mind, and he'd fake a gag if anyone brought it up to him.
14. Does he have any rivals or enemies?
Haaa. Well, there's always Hisoka. The twisted magician has a canon hard-on for Gon and Killua and enjoys watching them mature into "ripe fruits." Gon is much more willing to work with him, though even he dislikes the man with a passion, but Killua both dislikes him and doesn't trust him. That leads to more headaches than it's worth.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
It may just be simpler to stick to a solid three rather than seriously attempt to decide. Killua himself shows no romantic interest in anyone, but both Palm and Gon have brought about enormous emotional reactions in him that he would have never allowed anyone else to see. In the anime, they hint that he gets a kick out of LeoPika, and his little brother Kalluto dresses as a girl. Yeah, just going with three sounds good.
16. How does he feel about sex? How important is it to him?
It's something funny to watch on television.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
Other than the fact that he kicks everyone else off the bed on a regular basis, there's really nothing else.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does he fit type?
Killua is a cancer. You have no idea how hilarious that was to type. Surprisingly, he fits the type pretty well. (In)dependency issues, incredible loyalty, closed off emotions, paradoxical, adaptive and intelligent. "Cancer needs to be needed." There is really no truer statement for Killua Zoldyck.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in his life?
Killua is neither. In his line of work, sometimes it's easier to tell himself that once someone's dead, they're just dead. People need to focus on the living.
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?
He has a unique and juxtaposed code, formed by piecing together things he's learned from his family with things he's learned while traveling with Gon. It may not be correct to call it moral or ethical, but he stands by it without fail once it begins to form. Things like "don't kill someone if there's another way to solve the problem," "friends don't need to thank each other," "murder needs meaning," and "don't fight just to run" dominate this code. The first time it becomes obvious that Killua is creating such a thing is when he and Gon are blackmailed at the Heaven's Arena. It's still developing even in the most recent chapters, with his acknowledgment that having more than one close friend in the raid means he might have to choose between them. And he does choose; he helps the weaker one, even though up until that point he'd dedicated himself entirely to supporting Gon. There's always the chance Illumi could compromise this code, Illumi or Silva. At this point, however, Killua's dug himself a grave so deep it's probably impossible for him compromise it willingly ever again.
4. How does he regard beliefs that differ from his? Is he tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
Killua is largely indifferent toward other people's opinions in general (as long as the person doesn't piss him off), and other people's beliefs fall under that category as well. It's when those beliefs translate to actions that he may retaliate.
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
He's a mite sexist, but it's more out of being a boy with four other male siblings than out of genuine belief that women are any less than men. It doesn't help that his women role models are all rather insane eccentric. He tends to not pay much attention to anyone who hasn't proven themselves to him, so in the end, that shines more prominently than any actual prejudice.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is he rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
Killua is an obscenely rich little brat with a complete disregard for the amount of money he spends. Even if it's not his money.
2. What is his social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
Killua is a wanted felon. How's that for social status? People would pay endless amounts of money just for a picture of a Zoldyck Clan member, let alone for his head. Since he left home with Gon, this status hasn't changed, but in traveling with a Hunter and becoming one himself, he's surrounded himself with the type of people who are above bounties, and the frequency with which he's met people who are impressed by rather than afraid of who he is has increased exponentially.
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?
His home estate is located at the top of a mountain, and his family owns the entire mountain. He, however, stays wherever Gon stays, whether that be in a hotel, out in the wilderness, or with a friend.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does he spend his money on?
Sweets. Every kind of sugary snack imaginable. If it exists, he's bought it.
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?
Killua is a professional Hunter, and he's quite good at it. He went to great lengths to ensure he'd be able to join Gon in attaining this status, so fat chance would he ever switch it out for another profession. He's still learning, still has personality clashes, but he gets over them one hurdle at a time.
6. What are his interests or hobbies? How does he spend his free time?
He's not a hardcore gamer, but it's clear that he spent a lot of his free time back home playing video games. He's also a thrill seeker. Gambling, fighting, anything that can give him that feeling that he's transcending himself. He's pretty much addicted.
7. What are his eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
He's that special type of anime character that has a black hole for a stomach. Due to his and Gon's lifestyle, they usually eat out or cook food they've found themselves over a fire. When they eat out, Killua is not above ordering expensive food just to be obnoxious.
Associations
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is his favorite:
1. Color? Lavender.
2. Smell?
3. Time of day? Evening.
4. Season? Fall.
5. Book?
6. Music? Alternative.
7. Place?
8. Substance? Sugar.
9. Plant?
10. Animal? Panther.
END
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