Answered the character development questions on this UnVale post for the Pet Projects cast. Here's Tristan's!
1. a) How does he see himself, b) how do others see him, and c) what is the truth?
a. Tristan sees himself as a burden. He’s been thrown away so many times that he barely values his own life. The only asset that he believes he has is his intelligence. He does not feel that he is worthy of being the L&F’s co-leader; compared to Shay and Everett, he feels that he doesn’t have the strength to protect anyone nor the right to ask them to entrust him with their safety.
b. A complete outsider might see him as cold, detached and broody. His expression and body language lend to him appearing bored or disengaged from anything around him. He also looks strange to others because he wears a scarf and beanie even during the summer. With no tail, a human may mistake him as a normal teenager going through a moody phase… until s/he sees his teeth.
A hybrid from another gang would take one look at his lanky build and peg him as a weakling.
Shay sees him as a brother figure, trusting him implicitly. She heavily depends on his street savvy and practical knowledge, and she also recognizes his hidden inner strength. She believes he has the potential to be a leader if only he would open up more and stop being so hard on himself.
Everett views him as a rival for Shay’s attention. Tristan’s resignation, overcautiousness and passive-aggressiveness exasperate him. He does not deem him worthy of his respect, often referring to him as lame, emo or a killjoy.
Veli sees both his good sides and his bad sides – how hard he works for everyone, and also his distrust and tendency to be judgmental.
Avery admires him for having both practical know-how and deep understanding of people and considers him to be a capable leader despite his lack of physical strength. However, Tristan’s habit of hiding how he feels and deflecting with sarcasm frustrates him.
c. Despite his standoffishness and struggles with trust, Tristan cares more than he expresses verbally. He is observant and responds to his found family’s needs through action and by contributing whatever knowledge he has. While he can’t do as much as others because of his asthma, his low self-worth causes more problems than the ailment itself.
2. What is his main goal?
He’s happy if he can just get through a day without causing problems for anyone. He wants to be a reliable support to Shay, the first person who treated him with true kindness.
3. What is his clothing style, and why does he wear what he wears?
His clothing style is primarily dictated by function and price. He wears his clothes until they wear out, and if he must replace something, he chooses the cheapest things that will keep him warm. He likes to layer so that his outfit works for booth colder and warmer temperatures. His scarf is a must! He uses it to cover up a scar on his neck. He also keeps a beanie in his inventory to hide his ears when he goes into the Neutral Zone. He has a preference for loose-fitting clothes.
4. What are his strengths and weaknesses?
Strengths:
Observation: He’s very good at picking up on cues and reading a room. When used for good, his powers of observation help him to identify threats and keep himself and his friends out of trouble. The dark side of his observation skills is that he tends to psychoanalyze people so that he can use their weaknesses against them and push their buttons.
Practical logic: He’s typically good at assessing situations realistically and thinking on his feet to solve problems.
Weaknesses:
Aloofness: Tristan has definite trust issues, especially where humans are concerned, and mostly keeps to himself. He’s not openly affectionate, and he uses sarcasm to deflect when he’s feeling vulnerable or unwell. Shay is the only one he confides in or, conversely, allows to confide in him.
Resignation: Deep down, he’s nearly given up on himself and views himself as a burden. Logically, he knows that he now has people who care for him, but this insecure side of his personality tends to surface when he feels he’s caused trouble for his found family.
Asthma: He can’t run or fight for long periods, and allergies or drastic temperature changes can trigger him unexpectedly.
Both Strength and Weakness:
Caution: He’s very careful to think through the effects of a decision, but when this combines with his distrustful nature, he can take it to a hurtful extreme.
5. What kind of person does he have the potential to grow into?
If he can overcome his struggles with his self-esteem and learn how to trust again, he could grow into an empathetic advisor, facilitator or teacher in the L&F.
If his found family is harmed or lost, he would blame himself. What little self-esteem he has left hinges on how well he’s able to support Shay and carry out the responsibility that she’s entrusted him with – taking care of the younger members. If he fails at that, his belief that he can’t protect anyone and that he’s unworthy of their trust is reinforced. At that point, he would give up.
