Who wants to know?

What? <.< I didn't write that title. >.>

Anyway, welcome to a peaceful sparkly den of--

Aw, screw it. This, my friends, is an asylum for all my pretty pretty babies, and also my plain-looking babies, and my unnattractive ones, and my plain but utterly sexy ones, and my adorably adorable ones. Each and every one of them is either absolutely nuts or was nuts enough to let themselves be dragged in here by someone absolutely nuts. And, much as I'd like to write the post title off as a joke, most of them are pretty tortured.

Sane version:

Hello, this livejournal is run by grammarshark (moi). It's for my original characters from various stories. Said stories and characters are (story titles in italics):

One Last Star
The icons for these folk have changed quite a bit, because they've been lucky/cursed enough to have a plotline within the journal, and I change their icons when cataclysmic things happen. But as far as the names go:
Isa (fake name: ...he has a lot of them)
Jeff Tobias (fake name: Zach Avery)
Rita Hason (fake name: Rita Halim)
Ally Halim (legal name: Allison Hason)

The Most Beautiful Thing
Greg Simons - icon: freaky green eyelike thing [he has the power to see stuff, plus he's probably the nuttiest one here in the traditional "take your meds and go to the Quiet Room" sense]
Helen Simons - icon: paint palette with painting on it [she is a painter]
Shen - icon: rapini [he cooks, and he tends to use ingredients like rapini which are fairly elegant but considered an "acquired taste"]

Half-Everything
Natana Nirali - icon: hot Indian midriff [sex pours from her every pore and she's not afraid to flaunt it]
Brian Gibbs - icon: "can't we all just get along?" plea to members of various religions [he really just wants everybody to get along]

I will probably post character profiles sometime or another, but it may take a while because, well, thats nine people, and more will doubtless come. Also, on the off chance that these get published and there have been lurkers who actually enjoyed the strange hodgepodge of stuff enough to read the books, it should be noted that the characters as they are here are not the same as in the book. In the case of the One Last Star kids, it's particularly true, because all of them are late in the third book (One Last Star ends up a trilogy.) Also, sorry to dissappoint everyone, but there is no scene in the book in which Rita finds Jeff and Isa making out on her bed. (Or is there?)

Also, please recall that all characters are copyrighted (um, not officially, but it would still be mean to steal them!)

1. Choose a few of your own characters. Five at the most.

2. Then make them answer the following questions

 

Rita is a workaholic stress-case who happens to have some compassion to her. Book Three Rita is still a workaholic stress case, but now she’s a Mommy and she doesn’t drink (Book One Rita borders on alcoholic.)

Jeff is an overly talkative cop and a bit of an asshole, albeit an outgoing and cheerful asshole. Book Three Jeff is overly talkative, outgoing, and cheerful, but he’s less of an asshole (still annoying as all fuck) and he now has one working eye.

Isa’s life has been shit. And he’s deathly lonely. That’s really all you need to know. Book Three Isa is just as compassionate and has had just as bad a life, but he has Jeff chattering to him constantly so the loneliness is cured.

Natana is sexy sex, but her body is not equipped for actual sex. She is, however, a great dancer.

Greg is bright and cheerful and loyal as a puppy, and to top it all off he is gloriously batshit.

How Old Are You?

 

Book One Rita: Early thirties

Book Three Rita: Nearly forty

 

Book One Jeff: Twenty-one, got a problem with that?

Book Three Jeff: Twenty-seven

 

Book One Isa: I am not certain…(As of 2008 he's twenty-four, but his age is based on actual events, so in 2009 he'd be twenty-five, in 2010 twenty-six, and so on. If the book ever gets published, it probably won't be until 2010 or even 2011, and that works for me because he's supposed to be closer to Rita's age than Jeff's.)

Book Three Isa: I don’t really know. Thirty? (Author says: thirty-one, but see above disclaimer. And as for why he aged seven years while Jeff aged six, Isa’s twenty-fifth birthday was in the second book.)

 

Natana: Nineteen. Been legal for over a year.

 

Greg: Eighteen

Height

Rita: 5’11”

Jeff: 5’7”, but I WILL RISE

Isa: I’ve never actually measured (5’9”-ish. He’d be six feet if he had been nourished properly.)

Natana: Six feet. *Smile*

Greg: Tall

You got any bad habits?

Rita: No. (She’s overworked. And in book one, she drinks too much coffee and lacks the patience to warm up food.)

Jeff: I have no idea what you’re talking about. Why would I have any bad habits? I mean, really. I’m not particularly sarcastic and I certainly don’t talk too much, in fact I consider myself rather quiet, don’t you?

Isa: I’ve never really had the opportunity to develop bad habits perse

Natana: I think about sex all the time. I’m not even kidding. And I break into dance or a run at random intervals, and always feel like touching people, and drape myself over people instead of sitting on chairs. Luckily, those are all very good habits.

Greg: Do I?

You a virgin?

Book One Rita: That’s none of your goddamn business

Book Three Rita: Oh, definitely. Ally came on a stork. (Ally=her daughter. Virgin=fuck no.)

 

Book One Jeff: *Smirk* Are you coming on to me?

Book Three Jeff: *Smirk* Are you coming on to me?

 

Book One Isa: What sort of question is that? I am, but it is hardly any of your concern.

Book Three Isa: No. What sort of question is that?

 

Natana: Only because I can’t have sex. *Grumble*

 

Greg: *Shyly* Uh-huh

Who's your Mate/Spouse?

Book One Rita: Like I have time for that.

Book Three Rita: None at the moment. *Glances at Isa*

 

Book One Jeff: Wouldn’t you like to know?

Book Three Jeff: *Grins big and hugs Isa, who stares at him like he’s nuts*

 

Book One Isa: None

Book Three Isa: Well, at the moment I’m not—Jeff, get off of me

Natana: None right now. Someday. Soon, maybe.

Greg: Just good friends right now.

Have any kids?

 

Book One Rita: *Glare* No

Book Three Rita: Yes. *Fond smile at Ally*

 

Book One Jeff: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Book Three Jeff: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Book One Isa: *Wistful* None of my own.

Book Three Isa: *Looks uncomfortable* Well, yes. She’s a charming girl, but—

Book Three Jeff: He won’t tell her he’s her father because apparently he’s ASHAMED. It’s sickening.

Book Three Isa: I also have Jeff. Surely he counts.

 

Natana: Can’t.

 

Greg: Nope.

Favorite Food?

Book One Rita: Pad thai

Book Two Rita: Dark chocolate

 

Book One Jeff: MEAT

Book Three Jeff: MEAT. Also, that pizza Isa makes without cheese.

Isa: It is not pizza.

Jeff: IT COUNTS

 

Book One Isa: I’m rather fond of dark chocolate, though I can’t really have it. I enjoy most foods.

Book Three Isa: *Longingly names some Kurdish dish, then adds that he enjoys most foods*

 

Natana: Biryani! And kukra no sak! And chicken tacos! And masala macchi!

 

Greg: Chinese food. Especially with chicken.

Favorite Ice Cream flavor?

Book One Rita: Why are you wasting my time with questions about ice cream?

Book Three Rita: My daughter’s favorite flavor is mint chocolate chip. We usually share, since she’s too young for much, even if it’s a kid’s scoop.

 

Jeff: Ugh, ice cream. I’m getting a toothache just thinking about it.

 

Isa: I’ve never had ice cream, actually.

 

Natana: Pistachio kulfi with cardamom.

 

Greg: I like a lot of flavors. Especially if there’s caramel.

Killed anyone?

Book One Rita: *Revolted look* No

Book Three Rita: No, but I’ve tried

 

Book One Jeff: Nope. Surprised, aren’t you?

Book Three Jeff: Unfortunately, I haven’t managed

 

Book One Isa: Never

Book One Jeff: Liar

Book One Isa: It’s true. I wouldn’t…

Book Three Isa: *Pained expression* I didn’t mean to…I didn’t realize…

 

Natana: I wish.

 

Greg: No, but people think I did.

Hate anyone?

Book One Rita: People who ask stupid questions like this. And that cop.

Book Three Rita: Those fucking agents making Isa’s life miserable. As if he doesn’t have enough misery.

 

Book One Jeff: Terrorists. *Glares at Isa*

Book Three Jeff: I’m with Rita on this.

Book One Isa: No

Book Three Isa: No

 

Natana: Homophobes piss me off. And racists. Bigots in general.

 

Greg: *Growl* My dad

Any secrets?

Book One Rita: Fuck off.

Book Three Rita: Most people don’t know who Ally’s dad is.

 

Book One Jeff: *Sweet smile*

Book Three Jeff: Not really. My identity and stuff, but some people know.

 

Book One Isa: Some.

Book Three Isa: Ally does not know I am her father.

Love anyone?

 

Book One Rita: No

Book Three Rita: Of course I love Ally

Book Three Jeff: And Isa

Book Three Rita: Shut up

 

Book One Jeff: MEAT MEAT MEAT

Book Three Jeff: Isa

Book Three Isa: *Rolls eyes*

Book Three Jeff: And Ally. She’s such a little cutie.

 

Book One Isa: Lots of people. My Brothers and Nathanial and Jeff’s dog and a few others.

Book One Jeff: Like your fellow TERRORISTS? Oh, wait, those are your ‘Brothers.’

Book Three Isa: Well, I love Ally, of course. And Jeff and Rita, I suppose. And Toby and Ishmael. And I still love all the people I’ve been separated from, or who have died.

 

Natana: Daddy

 

Greg: My sister and my friends

What is your job?

Book One Rita: Executive of Finance Management

Book Three Rita: I was a journalist. I’m on a leave of absence from the actual journalist job, but I’m owner and manager of the city newspaper, and Chief Editor of the state’s main newspaper.

 

Book One Jeff: Cop

Book Three Jeff: Not a dime or a job to my name

 

Book One Isa: I can’t have a job in this country. I used to build houses, and I’m a healer, but I never did either for money

Book Three Isa: I’ve been a firefighter and I’ve worked at some restaurants. Right now I’m taking care of Nikki.

 

Natana: I get paid for dancing. Not much, but what college student gets paid much?

 

Greg: None

Boy or girl?

Rita: Woman

Jeff: Slime. And boy.

Isa: Man

Natana: Funny story…

Greg: Boy

What do you do to relax?

 

Book One Rita: I don’t need to relax! I do drink sometimes, to help myself sleep, but relaxing is a waste of time

Book Three Rita: *Shrug* I swing sometimes

 

Book One Jeff: Are you kidding? My life is so relaxing. I get to shoot things and eat at a diner

Book Three Jeff: Annoy Rita ^_*

 

Book One Isa: I walk most days. I used to help garden.

Book Three Isa: Play piano or play with Nikki, or listen to Jeff chatter.

 

Natana: Dance. Run. I have other things in mind, most days.

 

Greg: No stress here! *g*

What song do you think would best describe yourself?

Rita: This is the stupidest question in the world

Jeff: I’ve always been partial to Play That Funky Music, White Boy

Isa: I don’t believe I know many songs in your language.

Natana: Sexy sexy sexy

Greg: I’m too crazy to fit songs

Any hidden talents or something no one else knows about you?

Rita: Talent. What bullshit. Either you work hard or you’ve got nothing.

Jeff: I think everyone knows how well I can shoot.

Isa: A few.

Natana: People know. *Wink* Oh, but I can transport people, and me, when I dance. Most people don’t know that part.

Greg: I can talk to spirits. I used to be able to see them.

What color is your hair?

Book One Rita: Dark blonde

Book Three Rita: Dyed black

 

Book One Jeff: Plain ole brown! =D

Book Three Jeff: *Grumble* Dyed blonde *grumble* I MISS MY HAIR, DAMN IT.

Isa: Black

 

Natana: Dark brown. It looks black.

What's your sexual orientation?

Rita: Straight.

Jeff: NO SUCH THING.

Isa: I prefer women…I haven’t had many (Book One: any) relationships, though.

Natana: Just boys for me, or maybe other hermaphrodites, but I’ve never actually met one.

Greg: I like everybody.

I have a couple school friends who don’t actually own a LiveJournal but who fell out of their seats at the thought of me sharing information about my stories (the thing with me is

a – I am self-conscious. This should speak for itself.

b – If I do open up enough to discuss my precious stories, I fear I shall never shut up.)

 

The natural result of this would be lurkers. The result of that was a random, “so which of your…babies…are the pretty, pretty ones?” (I have only a few friends who know why I call them my babies. Mostly the ones who know the girl I copied the idea from.)

 

So I’m going to describe appearances. Anyone got a problem with that? Don't give a crap? Splendid.

 

Rita
A tall, curvy woman in her late thirties with strong legs and naturally tan skin that’s paler than it should be because she rarely goes outside. Her eyes are a fairly average shade of blue, or a shade darker than average, but they seem a very hot striking blue because her gaze is so sharp. Her thick hair is naturally straight and dirty blonde, but currently the One Last Star kids are in disguise, so she has cut it to a little longer than her shoulders, dyed it black, and styled it into waves. She can usually be seen in a skirt suit longer than her knees, sweatpants and a t-shirt if she's working out, and a cable-knit turtleneck and once-more-longer-than-knee-length skirt for casual wear. For her disguise, she wears much shorter skirts, black tights, and boots buckled or laced up at the sides. She also tends to wear dark green and dark purple for disguise, while in her usual clothes she'd wear neutrals or grays (or, for gym, plain white t and black sweatpants.)

Pictures to reference: this actress with slightly larger breasts and darker eyes. And, you know, a pissier expression.
Consensus on looks: Hot

Jeff
Jeff has always been a scrawny kid, and now, at twenty-seven, he's still pretty thin. But he never comes of as underfed, just young. His hair, a standard brown, tends to flop in his eyes; for disguise he cut it short and dyed it blonde, and he terribly misses his regular hair. Said eyes are the most noticeable thing about his appearance. They are light and extremely brilliant green, the sort of green that floats in front of your vision after you see very bright light. At least, one of them is. The other one used to be. Now the iris is clouded, the whites red, and it's all thanks to four very painful-looking black holes.
Pictures to reference: Well, his icon should give you an idea of what his hair used to look like, and his general attitude, though it doesn't look like him per se.
Conensus on looks: Nothing special, but not unnattractive

Isa
His Middle Eastern heritage is quite obvious, given his brown and strangely flawless skin, solemn shining black eyes with strong but unremarkable brows, and black hair. A lean, very defined face makes his lips (which are quite nice) and nose (which is really just a nose) look larger than they should. He is tall, broad-shouldered, and could be quite muscular if he had a steady supply of food. If he can help it, he never wears bright colors (especially not orange), blue, or stripes, so you'll usually see him in dark colors or light gray. His clothes are very casual, jeans (usually black, because of the avoidance of blue thing) and sweaters being standard fare. He rarely raises his voice, which is husky and occasionally hoarse, with a thick accent that belies his near-perfect grammar.
Pictures to reference: I have no pictures of people who look like him, but this is his skin tone. It's unusually dark for someone from the Middle East.
Consensus on looks: Handsome in a somewhat hunted sort of way. He looks like he used to be, or could have been, more attractive than he is.

Nikki
As per the laws of nature, she's a cutie, with dark blue eyes and straight black hair that she usually wears in a headband. Her face will probably be narrow and attractive when she grows, just given her parents' appearances. She wears solid colors, preferably bright, and she doesn't like full-piece things: give her a skirt and shirt over a dress, and shorts and shirt over overalls. Since she recently learned to tie her shoelaces, she's always in sneakers so she can show off. While generally a tomboy in dress, she likes lacy strips at the top of her socks.
Pictures to reference: This cutie with a slightly less round face, no makeup, and a narrow Caucasian nose. (Note: Nikki is not Indian; she's half-white half-Kurdish.)
Consensus on looks: An oatmeal raisin cookie

Natana
The key word here is long--long lean limbs, long toned torso, long narrow nose, long thick black eyelashes, long thick black hair. Her eyebrows are straight, thick, and low, making it look as if she never quite believes what she's seeing/hearing. Though she doesn't have a unibrow, she doesn't pluck or thread, nor does she shave any part of her body except when a dance calls for it. A half-Indian, she has dark brown eyes but her skin is more tawny than brown. Her chest, while not quite flat, rarely necessitates more than a camisole. It looks more endowed than it is because she has a broad rib cage and no trace of fat on her stomach. This stomach comes into full view when she dances in skimpy lehenga cholis (cholis are tight Indian tops that can get very short), but otherwise she goes with loose men's clothes. She is sexy in an earthy way, exemplified by her throaty melodic voice.
Consensus on looks: Natana is not remotely pretty, but she's so sexual no one really knows that.

Brian
Brian is large; not fat but tall and broad. His size and square jaw make him look intimidating, but only from a distance. Generally, after talking to him for a few minutes, you forget the fact that he could probably lift you over his head with one hand. He has soft hazel eyes, skin slightly tanned from his love of the outdoors, and light brown hair that just misses being curly. Because he tends to buy from fair-trade stores or from groups fundraising for some great cause or another, most of his t-shirts advertise some charity or another.
Consensus on looks: Plain, but possessed of an awkward charm

Greg
A beanpole with pale green eyes, Greg has delicate and rather feminine features. However, he never comes across as delicate, because he radiates energy. This energy disguises the hollows under his cheeks, the paleness of his skin, the fact that his socks don't fit. He has a pale green jacket the color of his eyes which he loves, though it is very loose on him and doesn't reach his wrists. Also, his teeth are perfect.
Consensus on looks: Really quite beautiful

Helen
Two years his senior, Helen has her brother's clear skin, long neck, and straight slim nose. Their eyes are the same pale green, but on her it looks faded. She is much more fragile in appearance than her brother, just as thin if not quite as pale. Furthermore, she tries to hide her beauty with baggy layers and makeup under her eyes that accentuates the shadows. Sans makeup, those shadows are light blue rather than grey. Her hair is naturally thin, straight, silky, and a bit limp (as is Greg's) but she has dyed and curled and straightened it so many times that it is strawlike and dead. One beauty she hasn't disguised are her hands, which are skilled and look destined to play piano.
Consensus on looks: A china doll, lovely but lifeless

Shen
A slim but not skinny South Korean with a broken arm and sleek black hair. His features are narrow but not delicate, and nothing about him particularly sticks out. He has excellent speaking skills and a carefully modulated voice, but when he's trying to repress an emotion his accent comes out, and he has to speak slowly to restrain it.
Consensus on looks: The sort of person who could be viewed as very good-looking by someone with a crush on him, but otherwise looks ordinary

In case there was any confusion, all of them are white except Isa (Kurdish), Nikki (half-Kurdish, half-white), Natana (half-Indian, half-white), and Shen (South Korean.) Only Isa and Shen have accents, though Shen's isn't usually noticeable.

Questions? Comments? Criticism for wasting your time?

NOTE: ALL OF THIS IS WRITTEN FROM AUTHOR'S POINT-OF-VIEW, NOT ISA'S

By this point in the journal Isa has lived in the US for six years and adjusted considerably, so this is more for when he first showed up.

What is your character’s name? What language is this name? What is its meaning?

His name is Isa, which is technically an Arabic name, but the meaning is derived from the Hebrew word Asa, which means healer.

 

What is your character’s religion? How common is this religion? What are some rules (ie veils in Islam or dietary restrictions) associated with this religion? How closely does he follow them?

Not all Muslim women wear veils, but—Isa is a Yezidi, which is about as uncommon as it gets. They’re pretty much extinct, if you can use that term in regards to a religious group. Some rules are not eating lettuce and not wearing blue. He would like to follow these, but being dirt poor and a refugee/fugitive to boot, he can’t. When he is able to choose what he eats and wears, he does follows the rules.

 

What is your character’s ethnicity? How has this affected his life?

Isa is a Kurd, which it is safe to say affected him a whole lot during the Kurdish genocide.

 

What is your character’s level of education?

He was taught by other members of this group (another of my characters prefers the word ‘cult’) so he didn’t get typical primary school to secondary school to college education. He did, however, get a good education, focusing on math and healing and history and physiology. This ended when he was seventeen, since he was captured. He still has a fairly large desire to learn.

 

Describe your character’s political beliefs.

Isa is a socialist and a pacifist. He’s skeptical of governments and stubbornly against killing anyone, including terrorists. His firm commitment to human rights and stuff like equality probably seems naïve given how shitty his life has been, but he isn’t naïve. He doesn’t believe the world as it is right now is about to become a utopia anytime soon. But he also has, cheesy as it sounds, a deep love for humankind. And look at it this way: it’s either that or suicide.

 

What part of the world does your country come from?

The Middle East. Specifically Iraq. More specifically, Iraqi Kurdistan, though he’s a nomad so I’m sure he’s been all over Iraq.

 

What is the primary religion of this country?

Islam. Specifically Shia Islam.

 

What is the primary ethnicity of this country?

Arab.

 

How long did your character live in this country?

I don’t so much know. Like I said, he was seventeen when he was first captured, but his healing powers weren’t discovered until after that, and given the war and all he was probably used within the country to heal. I think he was transferred out (well, sold) around 2004, but neither he nor I know his exact age at the time.

 

What job did your character hold while living in this country?

The members of the group were nomadic and socialists and did not believe in paltry stuff like making a profit. Isa was brought into it as a really little child, so he he’s never held a paid job. He went around with the other members (his “Brothers”) rebuilding houses that had been destroyed during the ethnic cleansing. Isa, who has healing powers, also did a lot of healing. I’d consider both of these jobs, even if he wasn’t paid.

 

What country does your character currently live in?

The United States of Amrika. No, wait, America.

 

What is the primary religion of this country?

Again? Christianity. Don’t ask me what type of Christianity because I don’t know.

 

What is the primary ethnicity of this country?

Caucasian.

 

What circumstances brought your character to this country?

After Isa’s healing powers were discovered, he was used as a tool. He managed to escape and basically stowed away on the first ship he could find. Then he illegally went from country to country until he was out of harm’s way.

 

What are his or her three favorite changes?

1)      The lack of daily air raids.

2)      The unlikelihood of illegal house demolitions.

3)      The plentiful water and electricity.

 

What does he or she miss about his own country?

1)      The food. Isa has unfortunately found himself in a city where there is little ethnic cuisine, and certainly nothing Kurdish. And even if the cuisine were the same, the food just tastes different. Also, the only times he hasn’t eaten family style were the times in solitary confinement.

2)      The feeling of brotherhood. Isa is a very lonely person. He’s pretty reserved himself, but he craves human contact. Aside from, again, solitary confinement, he’s used to being around people. He’s also used to expressions of physical affection between men, and we all know how THAT’S perceived in the US. Since he isn’t about to go up and throw his arms around some random guy, he’s pretty isolated.

3)      The people. Specifically, his Brothers.

 

What does he or she not understand about the new country?

-         The incredible amount of food people waste. Isa never wastes food. Granted, he rarely has food to waste.

-         The way women dress. Iraq is a pretty secular place (well, was) and it isn’t like women went around fully veiled, but they didn’t go around in miniskirts and midriff-bearing tops.

-         The fact that there are no visible stars. It’s a mix of pollution and lights being on all night, but it’s totally foreign to him.

 

What is his current job?

As an illegal immigrant, he has a lack of options. He works in a diner; he's underpaid, but he's just grateful to be working. Later he becomes a firefighter, but he has to quit after a bad fire in which he heals a bunch of people, because then he has to run like heck lest someone figures out how he managed to do that.

 

What acquaintances had he made since he has arrived? How did they meet? What is their job? What about them is unique to the culture of the new country?

-         Rita Hason. They met at a bar. She is a workaholic businesswoman with a coffee addiction, which seems pretty darn American to me.

-         Jeff Tobias. Their first meeting consisted of Jeff trying to arrest Isa. As that may suggest, Jeff is a cop. He considers math a form of brainwashing, does that count?

-         Nicole. She ran into him with her car. She’s currently unemployed, though she wants to be a music teacher. As for uniquely American…well, her vegetarianism is definitely not what you’d see in the Middle East, but you see it in India, so that doesn’t count. I don’t know, really.