Expatriate Darkleer

⒈ Describe the character's height and build. Is he heavyset, thin, short, rangy?

Think of a superhero. Someone classic, like Batman or Superman. Maybe Captain America. In fact, definitely Captain America. More or less, the pinnacle of what a human body is capable of at its healthiest and most trained, all without the use of steroids so that you don't get that 'balls of flesh lumped together' image. Not this but this.

Which is still rather steroidy, if we're being realistic, but still.

That's Darkleer.

Along with his natural and rather frightening STRENGTH, Darkleer has worked his whole, long life to keep fit. If you don't keep fit in Alternia, you die, especially if you are in a high risk and high position like an Executor. (Or a former one, now.) So he has a very muscular body type. To add to this, Darkleer is also an adult troll, which means he is extremely tall. By human measurements, he is somewhat over 7 feet or so.

⒉ How old is he?

As a highblooded adult, who tend to have extraordinarily long lives granted that someone doesn't kill them first, Darkleer is currently a nice 207 sweeps old. In human years, that is a scary 448 years or so under his belt. For a blueblood like Darkleer, that honestly just puts him somewhere in his middle ages or so, relatively speaking.

⒊ Describe his posture. Does he carry himself well or does he slouch?

As a blueblooded former noble, along with being a formerly important military figure, Darkleer has had it as simple habit to hold himself straight and tall like any disciplined soldier. It is extremely rare to see him in bad posture of any kind if he's not injured.

⒋ How is his health? Is he fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?

As previously stated, Darkleer is extremely fit after sweeps of being not just a troll, who have to be rather fit so that they aren't culled anyway, but also an Archeradicator. This also means he's not suffering from any illnesses and such. Trolls are meant to go through quite a lot at the very base of themselves. Darkleer hits that requirements and shoots further past it.

⒌ How does he move? Is he clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?

There isn't a single movement that Darkleer makes which isn't careful to some degree. Even when he is in combat, he always keeps his abilities in check out of fear of doing something he might regret. While he does have considerably better control of his tremendous strength than Equius does, he still knows that if he lets his attention slip, he could destroy a wall or break a person's arm. Darkleer has made it a point to be hyperaware of all his actions and surroundings to the point that it is simply habit. He has had around 200 sweeps to practice this, after all.

Besides that, Darkleer has a certain purpose to the way he moves, whether it's long strides in an effort to get to where he wants to go the quickest or slyly making his way through shadows in an effort to get the perfect aim on a foe.

⒍ How attractive is this character physically? How does he perceive himself in the mirror?

Physically, Darkleer isn't that bad of a sight for sore eyes, so long as you're into muscular fit men with strong features. (And sharp teeth and horns and are aliens...)

And Darkleer acknowledges this! He really does. He knows that, on some level, other people might like how he looks. I mean, jeez, he's been around for 200 sweeps, he's had time to develop relationships and such. But when he looks in the mirror... After his exile, after failing to do the thing he devoted his life to...

All he sees is someone worthless.

⒎ Describe his complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?

Like most trolls, Darkleer's skin is gray. Considering both his long career in the Archeradicators and his habit of messing with robots, there are numerous scars all over his body. For the most part, they aren't often seen because Darkleer prefers wearing clothing which covers almost all of his body.

The most focused areas of damage are his arms and hands, with some burn marks and old scars. Larger ones are near his back and on his chest, from battle. A few are even slightly fresh, from when he refused to kill the Disciple.

⒏ Describe his hair: color, texture, style.

Darkleer's hair, like most troll's, is simply black and very straight. It goes down between his shoulder blades, and he doesn't do much with it unless he's working on complicated or large machinery. In cases such as those, he ties it back in a tight ponytail so it doesn't get caught on anything. It also is actually rather smooth and soft, granted that he remembers to take care of it regularly. That usually isn't a problem; Darkleer does his best to make sure every part of him is in presentable condition by simple habit, unless he's doing something far more important, such as camping out in soldier fashion.

⒐ What color are his eyes?

Like all trolls, Darkleer's schelera are yellow and his pupils are black. His irises are a bright blue like his blood.

⒑ Does the character have any other noteworthy features?

Besides all that was mentioned? Darkleer has the usual characteristics of trolls, such as a pair of long arrow-shaped horns, although they're fortunately not as long as other troll's and are rather manageable. His teeth are also very sharp.

⒒ What are his chief tension centers?

When nervous or aggravated, Darkleer tends to become tense all over. However, for the most part, it can be particularly seen in how he clenches his jaw and fists, along with his spine. If he isn't already 200% straight, then his posture adjusts to change that.

⒓ What is the character's wardrobe like?

Fashion? What is fashion? It's something that isn't particularly found important in the troll planet of Alternia. So this means Darkleer's wardrobe tends to be pretty uniform all throughout. With the exception of a few tank tops and sleeveless shirts, Darkleer's clothes are made to cover most of his body.

⒔ Do his clothes fit well? Does he seem comfortable in them?

Being a hulking example of a troll, Darkleer is more than knowledgeable of the annoyances that come with ill-fitting clothes. That's why he always makes sure his clothes are specially made, ensuring they're not too tight or too loose. If Darkleer ever looks uncomfortable, he's in either someone else's clothes or it's the situation.

⒕ Does he dress the same on the job as he does in his free time? If not, what are the differences?

As an Archeradicator, Darkleer has a set of light armor that he wears and which he both designed and forged. He actually tends to feel more relaxed in that than his 'casual' clothes, and often wears it. It is a sign he's truly at ease- or something happened to the armor- if he goes in casual clothing.

⒖ You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?

Briefs.

⒈What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?

Befitting someone of his size, Darkleer's voice is low and deep.

⒉ How does he normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does he talk easily, or does he hesitate?

As a general rule, Darkleer does his best to keep his voice as even and neutral as possible while speaking in a clear, ennunciated way. All those sweeps as a soldier and then commander have given him plenty of practice in making sure he's heard no matter what. When it comes to situations he knows and is familiar with, his words come at a relatively quick and obedient pace. However, in situations he's not so used to, such as pretty much most of his conversations with the Summoner, his words come a bit slower do to him trying to think over what he says carefully.

⒊ Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?

Darkleer has grown out of most of the tics that he used to have as a younger troll but one thing which never really left is how he puts a bit more pressure on the 'x' of any word he says, making it come out a bit sharper.

⒋ What language/s does he speak, and with how much fluency?

Alternia and English.

⒌ Does he switch languages or dialects in certain situations?

No.

⒍ Is he a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?

Darkleer always thinks about his words. That's why, in most situations, he's at least thought to some degree about what he would say, or at least the general gist of it. Sweeps of living have also given him something of a guideline to lots of situations, so that is useful.

⒎ Is he eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?

As a highblood noble, Darkleer is fairly eloquent.

⒈ How intelligent is this character? Is he book-smart or street-smart?

Both are something Darkleer has plenty of stock in. Being of noble blood, Darkleer has had plenty of access to a more 'proper' education than those of lowerblood would have been allowed. However, as a soldier who has been through more than his fair share of battle, Darkleer is also smart enough to know the sort of things that can't just be found in books.

⒉ Does he think on his feet, or does he need time to deliberate?

In a battle situation, Darkleer is more than capable of reacting on instinct and carrying himself through. In more emotional matters? He freezes up and tends to avoid answering questions. It takes time in those things, at least if any progress is to be made.

⒊ Describe the character's thought process. Is he more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?

While he calls himself a realist, Darkleer is more similar to a pessimist. In his defense, the pessimistic point of view is very often the correct view. The worst will happen at one point or another, and it's best to just accept that so that it doesn't hurt when thngs eventually come crashing down around your ears.

Despite that, or because of it, Darkleer is a very logical and practical individual. You don't get anywhere in life by just dreaming about things. You grit your teeth and learn how to get where you want to be.

⒋ What kind of education has the character had?

Darkleer has been schoolfed, like all trolls, and has also gone through the rigourous training required for Archeradicators.

⒌ What are his areas of expertise? What, if anything, is he interested in learning more about?

Darkleer is the best of the best in his time when it comes to archery and mechanical engineering. The latter has lead him to have a very good understanding of medicine and computers, considering how much he needs to know about those so that his robots are built properly.

As for other things? More robotics. They are Darkleer's not-so-secret love, and if it is something new, he will get interested in it in a heartbeat. As far as he's concerned, there's nothing else that matters which needs to be learned.

⒍ Is he an introvert or an extrovert?

Introvert.

⒎ Describe the character's temperament. Is he even-tempered or does he have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?

Darkleer really honestly tries to keep his temper in check. For the most part, he's successful. The most he ever gets on a regular basis is exasperated or annoyed, with the latter often leading to the former. However, he does have quite a few hot buttons which can cause him to lash out.

Besides, it's hard to get properly angry when you're busy obsessing over the biggest failure of your life... and when you're not sure which action is really the failure part...

He's a bit melancholy on occasion, yes, if he doesn't have something to work towards.

⒐ Is he more likely to act, or to react?

With all that has happened to him, Darkleer prefers to react at so that he can properly gauge what his 'proper place' should be.

⒑ Which is his default: fight or flight?

Right now, it depends. Anything higher than him, Darkleer will be more inclined to run than anything. Sweeps of submission have been pounded into his head, after all, and he doesn't want to go against that ever again after what happened last time. However, he is still a troll, and he won't hesitate to pick up his bowkind or ready his fists if there's something truly important to him at stake.

⒒ Describe the character's sense of humor. Does he appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?

Darkleer doesn't really have a sense of humor. The most he can manage is a dry wit. He has a few jokes he's heard over time, but he personally doesn't find them particularly funny. What other people think is another manner entirely.

⒓ Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does he deal with them?

Darkleer is rather sane for a troll. While he has the usual issues, they're nothing particularly extraordinary. So no.

⒔ What moments in this character's life have defined his as a person?

Having lived for 200 sweeps, Darklee hasn't had just one definitive moment. There have been a few.

1. The first was simply growing up. Darkleer did not always have control of his strength, and that often drove others away from him. The forced loneliness made him extremely bitter towards both himself and everyone else, driving him to become good at the thing they said he couldn't be, such as the delicate work of engineering and using bows. On the other hand, it also instilled into him a desperate need to be accepted and praised, even if it meant just becoming a tool to be used.

2. Second was gaining and losing his second matesprit. The first and, later, the third were not ones he had a particularly strong emotional attachment to, but the second was someone he truly learned to care for with a relationship of fifty sweeps or so. When she was killed by a higherblood, Darkleer was hurt and angered. Unfortunately, he could do nothing because it wasn't in his place to contradict someone higher on the spectrum than him. That made him decide that, in Alternian society, it was better to not develope such a deep personal attachment like a matesprit. That didn't mean not getting attached to no one at all. Just not a matesprit. There were a lot of issues Darkleer had with the event, and perhaps he had not dealt with them as he should have, but with no morail to help guide him, he did what he could.

3. Last but most certainly not least are the events leading up to his exile, and his exile itself. All those previous issues Darkleer has shoved to the back of his mind out of hopelessness and bitterness were drawn out again, bit by bit, although he stubbornly fought back against them to ensure that he wasn't made a weak or useless tool. However, it reached a breaking point after he killed Signless and faced his Disciple. That brief moment of weakness let her get away with her life and also robbed him of his own, in a manner of speaking. Having dedicated his everything to his station, to be robbed of it left a big imprint on himself and his sense of self worth, among many other things.

⒕ What does he fear?

Higherbloods - Darkleer has an automatic distrust and nervousness, at best, towards anyone higher on the hemospectrum than him. This is the product of both years of those rules being imprinted into his mind and also witnessing firsthand how brutal so many highbloods an be. Dying isn't a fear for him, but knowing that they can do something worse... 

⒖ What are his hopes or aspirations?

At this point what Gamzee is working towards more is learning to control himself so he does not have to worry about hurting or killing his friends ever again. In addition, Gamzee needs to relearn to be happy with himself again, but that has a lower priority than making sure he is safe for his friends to be around.

⒗ What is something he doesn't want anyone to find out about him?

Gamzee is an open book for his friends. He does not put all his issues out there right from the start, because those are for his moirail and him to deal with. But if one of his friends were to ask, he would not lie to them. After all, if you can't even trust your friends, then who can you trust?

⒈ Describe this character's relationship with his parents lusus.

While normally a lusus is supposed to stay with a little troll, raise them and teach them about the world, Gamzee's lusus spent most of his time away at sea. It is not hard to understand why --Gamzee might be land-dwelling, but his lusus is not-- but that does not take away from the fact that one of the trolls that should've been the most closely supervised, if only because of his volatile blood, was not.

Gamzee however loves his ol' Goat. He often spent hours sitting on the beach simply waiting for him to get back. And once he was back, his lusus would usually take Gamzee out to sea on his back, allowing him to play in the ocean, something that was otherwise forbidden. Because of this Gamzee is a good, if not inelegant swimmer.

That their bond was strong despite the long stretches of absence is clear from the fact that the seagoat forced himself to swim back home, even while fatally injured, just so he could die at Gamzee's side.

⒉ Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?

n/a

⒊ Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?

The only 'relative' Gamzee has is his genetic ancestor/paradoxical slime clone. It is debatable however how much Gamzee really knows about him.

⒋ Are there other, unrelated people whom he considers part of his family? What are his relationships with them?

Wataru definitely as his moiral slash substitute lusus slash substitute big brother slash best friend slash hero.

⒌ Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?

Karkat is Gamzee's best friend. Gamzee has known Karkat the longest of any one of his excellent friends. They met when Karkat set out to troll an old clown religion board back in the day. Gamzee being Gamzee took his advances as friendship rather than insult, and that has pretty much been their friendship ever sense. It might not look that way to onlookers, but Gamzee and Karkat really are best friends. Even if Karkat claims Gamzee is the worst one ever.

⒍ Does he have other close friends?

Many. Gamzee considers all the other trolls his friends. (even Vriska who scares him) In addition to that, he has also made more new friends since arriving in Vatheon.

⒎ Does he make friends easily, or does he have trouble getting along with people?

Gamzee makes friends very easily simply due to how laid back he is. His friendships might be a bit one-sided, though, in that he might consider someone his friend while they simply consider him a nuisance.

⒏ Which does he consider more important: family or friends?

Friends, but family is not really an Alternian concept to begin with.

⒐ Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has he been married more than once?

Currently single because he is only six sweeps. In addition, marriage is not something that happens in his culture.

⒑ Is he currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?

Yes.

Equius is his matesprit since very recently. Matespritship is another one of the quadrants related to positive emotions (such as moirailegience) but with added feelings of mating fondness. Or well, eventually. Both of them are only six sweeps old, so they are not exactly going at it like earth rabbits just yet. In addition to that, Equius is mostly unable to touch others due to his chaotic, high leveled strength. Meaning that as it is right now, he and Gamzee can't even hold hands yet because he would break every bone in Gamzee's hand. They make up for it with shy little kisses (which they are getting better at) and a lot of one-sided hugging and cuddling from Gamzee which they are both fond off.

They will get there, it'll just take time.

⒒ Who was his first crush? Who is his latest?

His first crush is Rapunzel. This crush slowly faded to the background as he started spending more time with Equius and realizing his feelings for him. His current 'crush' is his matesprit Equius.

⒓ What does he look for in a romantic partner?

What he really wants is someone who he can make happy. In general, he prefers people that are more balanced and calm than he is. But really, he just wants someone he can cuddle madly.

⒔ Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does he want any?

He has none, and cannot have any due to the absence of a mothergrub. Trolls also do not raise their own young.

⒕ Does he have any rivals or enemies?

The only person he really considers his enemy is himself. He is pretty much incapable of hating anyone but himself. There were some run ins between him and Dave, but Gamzee has since then distanced himself from him, and Dave has not bothered him anymore.

⒖ What is the character's sexual orientation? Whise does he fall on the Kinsey scale?

Like nearly all trolls, Gamzee is a middle of the scale bisexual, equally attracted to men and women.

⒗ How does he feel about sex? How important is it to his?

Well, seeing as he is only six sweeps, sex --or bucket filling-- is something that is still a far off thing for him. He actually does not think about it too often. Naturally, it crops up in his pan sometimes, because he is still a teenaged boy, but it is not really a subject he is very invested in.

⒘ What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?

Lets all put our imagination caps on and pretend he is an actual adult.

Gamzee is actually the most accommodating person in the bedroom ever. He doesn't really have any specific things he wants as long as he can make whoever he is with happy. Got anything in mind to try? Gamzee will. He might not be good at it, but he will try his best.

As for sensitive spots. The base of his horns are, as are his knees and thighs. He's a big sucker for kisses on the neck as well. He is chill with both feather soft touches and the presence of nails and teeth.

One thing to keep in mind when bedding Gamzee is that unless told otherwise, he takes things slow and languid. He meanders, never rushes and just sits back and admires sometimes. He's pretty vocal and if you don't like dirty talk is is best not to involve yourself with him. (or buy a gag) You will also probably end up covered in make-up kisses.