It’s time for this month’s Beautiful People! Yay! This is a link-up hosted by Paperfury and Further Up and Further In where you answer questions about your characters. I participated in Beautiful People #1, #2, #3 and the villain special last year. And I’ve done Beautiful People Author Edition, Beautiful People Valentine Edition, Beautiful People #7, Beautiful People Sibling Edition, Beautiful People #9, Beautiful People: Parental Edition, Beautiful People #11, Beautiful People: Friendship Edition, Beautiful People #13: Caleb, Beautiful People #14: Writerly Resolutions and Goals and Beautiful People: Valentine’s Edition. This link-up has been just so helpful with character development.
Claes from Red Hood has never done a Beautiful People and considering I’m writing the second book of his series, I think it’s a great time for him to join! If you’d like to participate in this link-up yourself, check out either Paperfury or Further Up and Further In to see how. Here we go!
1.) What first inspired this character? Is there a person/actor you based them off?
I don’t really know. I was just brainstorming Red Hood and he introduced himself. I did base his look after Chris Zylka in the above pic, the light blonde hair, the square jaw, dark eyebrows, the kind disposition, but Claes’s eyes are blue.
2.) Describe their daily routine.
Claes gets up at sunrise to work in the silver mines near his home all day. He eats an apple or some bread, depending on the time of year for breakfast, and packs his lunch which usually consists of a sandwich or soup he made himself. After working till close to sunset, he buys his lunch at a soup vendor then heads to the silversmith forge to work on orders for people. His dream is to be a silversmith and he works until often late into the night, before he goes home then starts his routine again and his only day off is Sunday.
3.) If they joined your local high school, what clique would they fit into?
He’d be with the engineering crew. He likes crafting things with his hands and figuring out how to make things. He’d been in a smelting club or something of that sort.
4.) Write a list of things they merely tolerate. Ex: certain people, foods, circumstances in their lives…
Claes tolerates a lot. He lives with his abusive grandfather who beats him a few times a week. Claes is struggling to save up to move away from him, but it’s difficult when all of his mining earnings go to the house or buying metal, then the client earnings are the only thing that go to the saving up.
The villagers ridicule him for being an illegitimate child, half death, and having a speech impediment, and people will often refuse to ask for his services because of that. He also doesn’t get very good food either. It’s the cheapest he can get, so he endures that as well.
5.) How do they react in awkward silences?
He creates them. He doesn’t like talking because of his stutter, so if he gets nervous he’ll just not say anything, because his stutter worsens when he’s under pressure.
6.) Can they swim? If so, how did they learn?
He learned. Mor taught him how to swim in the pond not far from the village when he was eight. He enjoys swimming when he gets his day off from work.
7.) What is one major event that helped shape who they are?
When his master silversmith decided to take him up as an apprenticeship when he was twelve. Claes finally felt like an adult believed in him and that he could truly make his dream come true.
8.) What things do they value most in life?
The two things he values the most is Mor and his silversmithing. He secretly loves Mor, but he’s afraid to admit his feelings to her. Silversmithing is his passion and he wants to make it his career. He loves turning metal into beautiful things like weapons, jewelry, or tableware.
9.) Do they believe in giving other people second chances? Do they have any trust issues?
He believes in second chances. He tries to give people the benefit of the doubt even if they make fun of them. He has trust issues with adult men because of his severe abuse from his grandfather.
10.) Your character is having a rough day…what things do they do to make them happy again? Is there anyone they talk/interact with to get in a better mood?
If it’s warm enough, he likes to go swimming to calm his mind. Any other time, he likes to work in his forge, creating. It helps him focus on something besides his problems. When he can, he likes to talk to Mor and Dina, his two best friends. They’re great at making him feel better and he enjoys their company.
And that’s Claes! I love him so much. ^ ^
What do you think of Claes? Did you participate in the Beautiful People? Are you planning to? If so let me see your posts in the comments!
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