Beautiful People March Edition (Link-Up with Further Up and Further In and Paper Fury)

It's time for another Beautiful People. This month I'm going to focus on Mortimer, one of the three narrators of my Albion/Merlin Quartet (or baker;s trilogy as my writing group calls it), because his prequel story is giving me grief and refusing to be written and I need to finish some edits on the first book.

1. What first inspired this character? Is there a person/actor you based them off?

I needed a Djinni in the book, and I liked the name Mortimer (which comes in this case from the movie Arsenic and Old Lace). There wasn't a particular person or actor in my mind when I created him.

2. Describe their daily routine.

Mortimer's not much of a routine person, but his typical day involves school and hanging out with his friends and working on whatever new puzzle has been presented to them.

3. If they joined your local high school, what clique would they fit into?

As a Djinni, Mortimer would be a candidate for class clown; based on his physique, he'd be an athlete or jock; and based on his personality and inquisitiveness he'd be most likely to end up in the geek/nerd crowd.

4. Write a list of things they merely tolerate. Ex: certain people, foods, circumstances in their lives...

Brutus, one of the younger Djinn at school

5. How do they react in awkward silences?

Mortimer handles all silences the same: if he has something to say, he says it. Otherwise, he'll let it lie.

6. Can they swim? If so, how did they learn? 

I doubt it. There's very little need for Djinn to learn swimming (although this gives me a fantastic idea for something later in the series).

7. What is one major event that helped shape who they are?

That's exactly what I'm trying to work out in this prequel story. The thing about Djinn and their names in this world is that they don't receive names at birth; they choose names when a human asks them for one. Since Mortimer already has his name when the first book starts, I'm looking into what exactly made him choose that name (and most likely why he's such an atypical Djinni).

8. What things do they value most in life?

Mortimer values his friends above almost all else. His faith and his pride in being a Djinni are also very important; he believes the Djinn have become less than they were meant to be, and he's determined to see them restored.

9. Do they believe in giving other people second chances? Do they have any trust issues?

I'd say Mortimer believes in second chances, but he also believes in taking people's actions at face value. He may give you a second chance if you've mistreated him, but it won't be without some reservations. He doesn't trust the Elders in general or the people who follow them, but otherwise he can be very trusting (but also shrewd).

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?

Playing a trick on someone or working out a problem; interacting with friends, particularly Merlin and Bryn. He'll do his best to get out of an unhappy place as soon as possible.