Role: Impress me or I'm gone
A short excerpt from a poem of his: 'My heart has been encased by walls tall and strong, I built them with a blinding fervour. Day and night do I feverishly toil to reinforce them, and so day by day my life fades further.'
Name: Ezekiel Maverick
Nickname: He isn't particularly fond of nicknames, as he finds them to be somewhat infantilising and humiliating. They also remind him of the constant nursing and coddling he received as a child, due to being sickly and frail
Age: Twenty four
Gender: Male
Sexuality: He doesn't spare much thought on his sexuality, and he certainly has no interest in sexual relationships, and to be honest isn't particularly keen on a romantic relationship either. Ezekiel sees little worth in such relationships, and isn't fond of the idea of trusting a specific individual unconditionally. He might convey an inkling of interest in someone if they had the potential of offering him something such as knowledge or information
Faceclaim: Young James D'arcy (I've chosen photos which I think will explain why I chose James D'arcy. In the photos he appears as a confident, distinguished, sophisticated and intelligent young man, but his eyes are dark, troubled and brooding. That describes Ezekiel well)
Backup faceclaim: I can't think of one, and I think James D'arcy is unlikely to be taken by someone else
Voice description: He tends to speak in a soft yet articulate manner. Though when explaining something, or caught in excitement, he might speak more rapidly and accidentally trip over his words; a mistake he's always swift to amend/correct. When angered, his tone becomes sharp and cold as winter's frost, and his words stab like ice
Personality: Ezekiel is fixated upon attaining knowledge and information. This goal of his is second only to protecting his family and himself. At the moment, his family are the only individuals he truly loves and cherishes. At least, that's almost correct. He loves them all, except for his youngest brother. An ominous shadow lurks within his youngest brother, and Ezekiel is acutely aware of it, and of the danger it poses to not only himself but to others. Though he's loath to admit it, Ezekiel is actually unnerved by his youngest brother, but despite this, when he has the opportunity, he watches his youngest brother with the hope of gleaning information that could be useful in explaining why his brother behaves in such a manner. If he had the knowledge/know how, and the confidence that his efforts could reap success, he would try to reform his youngest brother.
Concerning his older brother, Ezekiel regards him with respect and admiration, acknowledging his brother's virtuous traits. He genuinely loves his older brother, and isn't averse to sharing some of his concerns with him, or of spending time with him. His older brother is one of the very few he explicitly trusts.
Ezekiel views his younger brother, 'this is all a game,' as somebody who needs to be protected from the world's harshness, because he assumes that 'this is all a game' never takes anything seriously and that this carefree, irresponsible attitude could jeopardize his, and others, safety. He does, however, love his younger brother dearly, and would do anything to protect him. Often he tries to advise 'this is all a game' and talk sense into him.
Ezekiel is intelligent, perceptive, and analytical. As a child he was sickly, and though this frailty diminished as he grew older, Ezekiel still believes that any display of physical inferiority could be taken advantage of by those who wished him misfortune. Already he had been the victim of an incident in his childhood which, to him, proved that physical weakness was a dangerous, dangerous detriment, and could risk the safety/health of his loved ones. He did not want to be perceived as weak and vulnerable, and he did not want to rely upon others. Ezekiel knew that he could never be as physically strong as most, and he thought that physical strength didn't last, and that it could so easily be taken away in the form of sickness or injury, so he decided that he would gain strength in another manner. If he wielded knowledge and information, then he'd be a difficult target.
Ezekiel studies with an admirable fervour, for his need of knowledge is, to be honest, borne from desperation and fear. He's desperate to make himself untouchable to enemies. Wield information that might crush them, and they won't dare try anything.
Ezekiel is perceptive and analytical. He has a keen eye for details, and is quite skilled at deducing what these details could mean. He's analytical too, favouring a logical mindset removed from irrationality.
He is determined and persistent to a fault. At times it can be a detriment. For instance, he is prone to bouts of constant studying, where he neglects all else. Of course, such behaviour leads to exhaustion or illness. Deep down, Ezekiel is actually aware that these bouts of constant studying are foolish and risk his health, but as his pursuit of knowledge and information is borne from desperation and fear, he finds it impossible to stop.
Despite his keenness for rationality and logic, in actuality his behaviour is borne from an opposite demeanour. Ezekiel is a paranoid individual, and can't help but feel that, at times, he's a helpless deer amidst an infinite crowd of bloodthirsty, slavering hounds. He always wants to be a step above/ahead of others, so that they don't get the chance to harm him and his family. With his paranoia comes a neurotic demeanour. Ezekiel has the habit of self-deprecation, which forces him to keep striving for improvement. He also feels a considerable amount of stress almost constantly, due to the ridiculous expectations he's set upon himself.
Ezekiel, in his interactions with others, presents himself as an aloof individual who has little tolerance for idiots or bullies. This aloofness is really a facade, so that others would think it foolish to try and challenge him in any way. He is able to convey charm when he wishes, usually when it benefits him, and his humour revolves round dry wit and sarcasm. Though he presents himself as aloof and most assume he's cold-hearted due to this, Ezekiel actually has a strong sense of morality. Mostly this is due simply to his nature, but also because he wishes to be like his older brother. Ezekiel strives to be fair and just, and only uses the information he's gleaned about individuals if it's absolutely necessary.
Ezekiel has an artistic side to him. He's very fond of drawing, painting, creating poetry, and writing. His poems tend to revolve round his emotions, and nature. Drawing and painting helps him to calm down, and writing poetry helps him to express his worries and to handle them. He also loves music, and during his frugal times of relaxation often lays on his bed, listening to classical music. And though he reads to attain knowledge, he also reads as a pastime.
Ezekiel is of a reserved, introverted demeanour. Though he's fully capable of interacting, and can be charming when necessary, socialising does tend to overwhelm him and he'll need alone time after to unwind and regain mental energy
Eye colour: Pale green, with a tinge of blue depending on the light. Due to being shortsighted, he wears glasses
Hair colour: It's a rather mousy brown colour
Height: I've never been good with heights, so I'll just say he's six foot three inches
Weight: Can I just say he's significantly underweight? (I've never been good at determining weight for characters)
Ethnicity: Half Asherahn, half Russian (his mother was Russian, and he can speak Russian fluently)
Likes: Reading, drawing, painting, listening to classical music, writing poetry, playing his violin, talking to his older brother and 'this is all a game,' justice, walks in nature, studying, gaining knowledge and information, helping his brothers, alone time, tea, ruling over his land with fairness, practicing his shooting
Dislikes: Idiots, bullies, injustice, hot weather, really cold weather, having his belongings tampered with, sudden noises, showing vulnerability or helplessness, his family being threatened in any way, his youngest brother's behaviour, 'this is all a game's' carefree attitude to life, failure, being humiliated
Hobbies: Reading, studying, painting, drawing, writing poetry, playing his violin, listening to classical music, taking walks in nature, practicing his shooting
Habits: He has the tendency to bite/pinch his nails due to stress and worry. Consequently, his nails are in poor condition and he's aware that an astute individual could easily deduce that their appearance is due to a neurotic state, which could be taken advantage of. So, he wears gloves when in public.
When startled or frightened, he has the somewhat cute instinctual habit of pressing a hand against his heart and opening his eyes wide.
Sometimes, even during inconvenient times, if he's struck by a thought or an idea that warrants immediate attention, he'll sort of retreat into his mind and he'll stare into the distance, unaware of reality for a while whilst he's lost deep in thought.
When alone, he has the tendency to hum. It keeps his spirits up and can ward away stress
Backstory/background: Ezekiel was born to King Tristan of Asherah and Sveta, a Russian woman of pretty appearance and quiet, kindly demeanour. Her health was poor though. (This can explain Ezekiel's frailty as a child.)
As a child, Ezekiel was sickly and frail. Often bedridden, he would be read to for entertainment, and he developed a liking for drawing and crafts as it was really all he could do, confined to bed as he was. Naturally he didn't like being frail, and being ill nigh constantly had his parents worry for him. During particularly grave times, they wondered if he would survive to adulthood.
His older brother would visit his bedside often and play games with him and the likes, so he developed an ardent appreciation for his brother's kind nature.
When he was twelve years old, Ezekiel was abducted by a palace guard and his friends, and held for ransom. Upon hearing this horrifying news, his mother suffered a fatal heart attack and died. King Tristan, though grieved by her death, knew that he had to focus upon getting his son back.
The ransom was paid, and Ezekiel was returned, gravely ill due to the harsh conditions he'd been kept in, to the palace. For weeks he lay in bed, fevered, whilst physicians tended to him. Ezekiel fortunately recovered, but had to be told what had happened to his mother. Instead of suffering a relapse as his father had worried, Ezekiel was struck with a devastating realisation. He had been the cause of her death. His abduction had caused her death. His vulnerability had killed her.
It was at his mother's funeral that Ezekiel swore that he would no longer be helpless and weak. He acknowledged that he could never be the most physically strong, and he believed that physical strength was fleeting and unreliable, but he could create indestructible fortifications around himself and his family with knowledge and information. He swore that he would never allow any more of his loved ones to suffer or die due to his shortcomings and failures.
From then on Ezekiel studied fervently, becoming the highly intelligent man people know him as now. His frailty diminished with age, but due to the harsh conditions he'd endured during his abduction, Ezekiel's immune system was significantly weakened. Consequently, he's prone to getting ill.
His younger brothers were born, but Ezekiel didn't really have much to do with them when they were infants. He claimed that their crying was insufferable, and that he had lots of work to do anyway. He did, however, visit them if they weren't well or were injured, remembering how his older brother had visited him countless times when he was ill. However, as they grew older, Ezekiel interacted with them more, and sometimes tried to tutor 'this is all a game.' When his youngest brother started displaying disturbing behaviour, Ezekiel was alarmed, unnerved, and aggrieved, and is currently trying to find out what's happening.
Presently Ezekiel rules East Asherah, and tries to rule it with a fair and steady hand
Flaws: His feverish and constant pursuit of knowledge can negatively impact his health. The stress induced by the ridiculous expectations he's set upon himself often causes issues such as headaches or anxiety attacks. Palpitations are also a consequence, but very occasional, and only during times of extreme stress or terror.
He doesn't trust strangers, and doesn't always tell his brothers about his worries or issues, so usually he has to deal with said worries or issues alone. And this only adds to the stress he's already struggling to deal with. Also, his cold, aloof demeanour regarding strangers can cause people to dislike him and actively seek to harm him. Basically, Ezekiel doesn't have many people he can rely upon, and it's really due to his behaviour. His own behaviour is harming him, badly.
Ezekiel is a very stressed individual, and to the perceptive and astute it can be noticeable. Ezekiel suffers from headaches, anxiety attacks, and general tiredness, but he does his best to deter people from discovering this, as he's afraid it'll be taken advantage of in some way
Weapon of choice: Ezekiel is rather the skilled fencer, though he relies upon skill so as to claim a swift win. He doesn't enjoy fencing for a very long time, as he finds it tiring and hot business. He prefers to defeat his opponent with a breathtaking combination of skill and agility.
He's also skilled with a pistol, and has surprisingly good aim. Due to the enjoyment he finds in aiming at targets, he practices often, and thus has accumulated skill in using a pistol.
He also carries a knife upon his person, in case he's ever engaged in a close combat brawl. Ezekiel likes to be prepared for everything. It's a necessity for him.
His more unconventional weapons are knowledge and information, wielded like the knives of an assassin, ready to plunge into the backs of his enemies.
So, his main weapon would likely be a pistol, so that he can pick off enemies from a distance. He hasn't engaged himself in many, if any, fights, but he thinks fighting from a distance would suit him
Thoughts on the noble women: He isn't very interested in any of them, or particularly impressed by any of them. However, there are a sparse few he's slightly more hopeful about. He believes he might be able to glean some information from them.
He is, let me add, slightly intrigued by 'Trapped in a dream' and her uncanny resemblance to Queen Winona. He isn't certain if the two could somehow be related, or if it's simply a very strange coincidence.
Ezekiel is, admittedly, a trifle bemused by their seeming 'masochism.' He's aware that the trials will be harsh and brutal, and doesn't understand why any of the women are prepared to face the trials all for the slim chance of gaining a King's hand in marriage.
(If he's chosen, it might be interesting, later on in the book, to suddenly have him realise that he's actually really no different from the noble women. After all, like them, he's cast aside all concerns for his well-being, simply to achieve one goal in life. His reckless pursuit of knowledge mirrors the women's reckless pursuit for a King)
Thoughts on the trials: He believes they are ruthless, but does comprehend the logic which explains the cause for such ruthlessness. A Queen should be strong, decisive, clever and cunning, and the victor of such ruthless games would surely embody those traits
Love interest: At the moment, he isn't searching for love, and believes that he doesn't need or want love. He views it as a pointless waste of time and effort.
However, I think it would be really interesting if he did actually start developing romantic feelings for someone. His love interest would be somebody intelligent, with a thirst for knowledge. But they must be empathetic also, somebody who can coax him to open up and reveal his anguishes and talk about all that worries him.
His heart was made cold to all except his family, due to his love and care for them. But his heart can be thawed if someone could persuade him to be loved and cared for
(Sorry if that sounded cheesy, it just felt like the best way to describe it lol)
Okay with OC getting killed/injured: Injuries are fine, as I understand that tension, anguish, and drama is important. Illness is also fine, and probably somewhat inevitable for Ezekiel.
As for him being killed, I'd really prefer he wasn't. It's taken me a while to develop him into what I hope is an interesting and developed character, and I admit that if he was killed, I'd be upset. He's endeared himself to me. It's selfish, I know, but I want him to find love and have a happy ending...if a happy ending is possible in this story
Okay with your OC being betrayed/betraying: Yes, I'm fine with Ezekiel being betrayed or with him doing the betraying. However, he wouldn't want to betray his family. Even if it meant saving all else, he'd be devastated if the last resort was to betray his family.
Ezekiel would have difficulties in betraying his youngest brother too, because even though he acknowledges that his youngest brother is a bad person, Ezekiel still sees him as family, as flesh and blood. But, for the greater good, Ezekiel would more readily betray his youngest brother than other members of his family
Other: One more thing. Ezekiel would hide the symptoms of his stress from his family, due to the fear that they'd see him as incapable of ruling his region.
Hmm, I can't think of anything else, which is just as well as I don't really have time to write or amend much more lol.
I'll just say that I had a lot of fun writing this character! I tried to develop him into a flawed yet sympathetic character, where his behaviour is slowly draining his health away, but he's behaving so for compelling reasons. But he's not too far gone for a happy ending lol. If he's chosen, I hope you'll enjoy writing as him ^^