#character interview

[6] How direct are they in conversations, do they speak in hints and riddles or bluntly say what they think?

[7] Are they a good liar, and what would they probably lie about?

[8] How open they are about their true feelings, both positive and negative?

[9] What is their love language?

[10] How quickly do they fall for someone?

[11] What are small things that make them happy?

[12] How high is their self-esteem?

[13] What kind of sense of humor do they have, if any?

[14] What does it take to make them laugh, and what does their laugh sound like?

[15] How do they act around people they don't like?

[16] Do they easily rely on others to help them out, or prefer doing everything themselves?

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[17] What is their biggest struggle that no one around them is able to understand or believe?

[18] Do they ever have to hide their identity and for what reason?

[19] If they could change one thing about their past, what would they change?

[20] When they’re sad or upset, do they need company or some time alone?

[21] When they’re sick, would they want others to visit and take care of them, or they would rather prefer not to be seen at not their best?

[22] Do they have nightmares, and if yes, when did they start and what are they usually about?

[23] What was the worst, the darkest period of their life that they have been through?

[24] How hard it is for them to not allow their emotions to cloud their judgement?

[25] Do they have fears and phobias, and if they do, do they usually keep it to themselves or talk about it openly?

[26] Do they have any physical or mental ilness, how do they handle it and how open they are about it?

[27] Do they have any scars, how did they get them and how do they feel about them?

[28] What is something that they will never be able to forgive?

[29] How do they deal with loss, stress and anger?

[30] What are their most healthy and most unhealthy coping mechanisms?

[31] How hard it is for them to own up to their mistakes and wrongdoings?

[32] Is there something they've done in the past that they deeply regret till this day?

[33] What are one of their fondest and most treasured memories?

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[34] Do they have vices they don't want others to know about?

[35] Do they like their own appearance, and what do they do, if anything, to alter it in any way?

[36] Do they own items that have sentimental value?

[37] How would they spend a lazy day when they have nothing specific to do?

[38] What do they usually do or where do they go when they need to feel comfortable and safe?

[39] What are their sleeping habits and favorite sleeping position, either alone and with someone?

[40] How picky they are with food, do they have specific dietary requirements based on their health or culture?

[41] What’s their usual morning routine?

[42] What is their idea of a perfect friendly hangout and/or romantic date?

[43] Do they enjoy flirting or being flirted with?

[44] On a party, where would you find them?

[45] For an event, would they dress like they typically do, or go all out?

[46] Would they rather dress to look attractive or to feel comfortable, and what would they never wear?

[47] Do they drink alcohol, and if they do, how much and how often?

[48] Are they, or were they at some point in their life, a part of any subculture?

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[49] Do they possess any unexpected skill or knowledge that surprises others, and otherwise, what is something anyone would assume they know or can do, but in fact they don’t?

[50] What are they really good and really bad at?

[51] How good are they with money?

[52] Do they speak any other languages aside from their own?

[53] Do they like to sing and how confident they are with their singing?

[54] Do they like giving gifts, and how good are they at picking good gifts?

[55] How long does it take for them to make a new place feel like home, and what do they need for it?

[56] How would they react to hearing a dirty joke?

[57] What was the most stupid or dangerous thing they have ever done?

[58] In the situation where they had to choose, would they rather stay loyal to their morals or to people they love?

[59] What would they want to be remembered for?

[60] If they were to commit a crime, what kind of crime would it most likely be?

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What do you consider your greatest achievement? “Getting published, becoming a famous detective, solving impossible cases, finding someone who actually puts up with me…I’ve got a lot to be proud of.”

What is your idea of perfect happiness? “Hm. I guess for me, it’s when…you don’t want anything else, because you’ve already got everything that makes you feel whole.”

What is your current state of mind? “Considerably better than it was just a year ago.”

What is your favorite occupation? “The one I’m in. Right now.”

What is your most treasured possession? “I’ve had this fedora since senior year of college, and I know how stupid it looks but like hell am I ever getting rid of it. Though any gift Tino gives is pretty close too.”

What or who is the greatest love of your life? “…Irratino. (blushes deeply)”

What is your favorite journey? “I suppose the Harvest Festival was decently fun. The one time I didn’t feel like my life was under threat.”

What is your most marked characteristic? “Every damn time someone meets me, they always notice the eyebrows. Every time. I grew my bangs out in college to hide them and everyone still noticed. I dress like a goddamn Midnight detective and people still point out the brows!”

When and where were you the happiest? “Right here. Right now. I’ve…never been this happy in my life.”

What is it that you most dislike? “Sloppy murder scenes. If you’re going to make a mystery for me to solve, at least put some effort into it.”

What is your greatest fear? “…starvation. Kept me up at night as a kid. Sometimes keeps me up at night as an adult.”

What is your greatest extravagance? “Can’t usually afford that kind of thing. But, uh…Midnight mystery tapes. Go-to Christmas present when I was a kid.”

Which living person do you most despise? “I, er…actually, hard question. I’m not sure I can hate the suspects anymore…do I actually not have a living archenemy?” (NOTE: Whether this is him having not re-encountered [SPOILER] properly yet or this being after Volume 3 killed that character, take your pick :P)

What is your greatest regret? “Back in college. When I gave up too soon. That I was so in love with the mystery boy I’d built up in my head that I couldn’t spare any for the actual Irratino…god, I’m happy now, but knowing I could’ve been happy for years before that feels like such a damn waste.”

Which talent would you most like to have? “The ability to act on stage without completely freezing up. Too many eyes on me makes me anxious.”

Where would you like to live? “…I’m torn. I’d love to live with Tino, make no mistake, but…I’d miss this stupid apartment. It’s tiny and the air conditioner keeps dying, but it’s got…good memories attached. (snort) Damnable inspector, making me sentimental over my living space…”

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? “…that period of time after college ended. That was…pretty bad. Renting out a tiny apartment, working multiple jobs just to pay rent, going weeks at a time with the power shut off because I couldn’t pay the bills…I felt like I’d wasted my education and was wasting my life.”

What is the quality you most like in a man? “Wh— bu— I— you— WHAT?!”

What is the quality you most like in a woman? “WE ARE MOVING ON.”

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? “I have a tendency to be…awful. To everyone around me. Still working on that. Still pretty sure Tino’s friends hate me…honestly can’t blame them.”

What is the trait you most deplore in others? “Pettiness. What sort of person goes to great lengths to screw someone over because—I dunno, they were mean to you in high school? Give me a goddamn break.”

What do you most value in your friends? “Reliability, I guess? I don’t have many friends. Two, maybe three if you’re counting Ink…”

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? “Sherlock Holmes.”

Who are your heroes in real life? “My abuela raised four kids, helped take care of all her grandchildren, taught me how to cook…I respect her a lot. Always will.”

Which living person do you most admire? “Tino’s obviously my first choice, but close second…I respect Midnight for getting his life back together. We sort of enabled each other’s worse parts back then…but we aren’t the people we were then.”

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? “Would’ve said trust before. Or bravery. Not sure I think that now—too much of either isn’t great, obviously, but I was entirely too biased in logic’s favor back then and determined to convince myself that all my terrible decisions were objectively correct…maybe the most overrated virtue is ‘my own judgment’.”

On what occasions do you lie? “…I am not a good liar.”

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “Insults. Sarcasm. Sarcastic insults. I call people ‘idiots’ fairly frequently, both out loud and in my head.”

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? “Maybe make myself less…hopelessly unattractive?”

What are your favorite names? “That does not make any sense.”

How would you like to die? “…peacefully and surrounded by loved ones, preferably. A far cry from how I always assumed I’d die, that being unceremoniously shanked in an alley…”

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? “There is no evidence reincarnation exists. Tino believes I would be a cat. I do like cats.”

TRANSCRIPT

VIOLET_GALAXIE asks: What’s your favorite artefact you’ve found in the Zone?

Nikita: I don't have an impressive resume in that regard. My job wasn't to collect artefacts, it was to keep those who do alive. I guess dropping my glasses that one time made for a useful trinket…

MOONPATCH asks: So, off the record, how tempted were you to try and kill/disappear Yura when he blackmailed you? Even if you decided against it, did the thought cross your mind at any point?

Nikita: Of course. That would be the easiest solution. Ah, but I’d prefer not to resort to that. I do not like violence. Regardless, I couldn’t do much after being seen by Sokolov. 

At the end of the day, threats to the family are just more practical.

DYMESTL asks: What is your relationship to the Kazarins? What made you want to work with them?

Nikita: Kolya knew the group Victor was part of first, I joined later. Had I not, that scatterbrain would bite the dust a decade earlier. 

The Kazarins are good folks. All of them. Victor was great. Maria, too. Their relationship, not so much. (She hated us. Really.) 

Well, even if both of them were still here with us, Sasha and Serozha would never grow up… normal. In the plainest sense of that word. But it’s only natural. People like us, stalkers - we’re poison to our families.

BRANDON ONTAMA asks: What's your relationship with Sanya? Any fond memories with her?

Nikita: Oh, Sashka? She ran to me whenever she and Serozha had arguments. Which was great, because I got her to check lab works for me.

Ah, and her cultural development is entirely my achievement. Books, films, documentaries. Scary to think what she’d become if she grew up watching nothing but those… animes.

REKANOCHI asks: Tell us about your daughters!

Nikita: I’m aware they exist. Two girls, apparently. But I was never stated as the father. I cannot contact them.

WALNUT: Do you know how Nadya’s doing these days?