#characterization notes

Shen Yuan/Qingqiu: beast lover, not big into plants, obsessed with Airplane (like down bad, really bad), cares for his students, thinks himself lazy but is just understimulated give the boy something to do!, don't trust with money (rich kid, doesn't have good examples of good prices), but do trust with quality (has a good eye in this), both in and out of the closet (oblivious to queer feelings, but not embarrassed enough to not act on them most of the time), please don't forget the dick jokes

Shen Jiu/Qingqiu: Snape. But like the irredeemable side of Snape. (Most of the time) Abused and continuing the cycle. Puts in effort into his cultivation, but is so jaded he keeps running into roadblocks. Doesn't trust men, doesn't trust people to believe his side of the story. Doesn't like the fact that his students are doing better than him at learning cultivation (nevermind that they are at the easier earlier stages and he is far more advanced than them). Plays 3d chess with Qinghua with the spy occasionally making it 4 or 5d chess instead. (Note, 3d chess isn't played thinking SQH is a spy. Played because An Ding is a landmine of 'lost' papers and getting the things he wants can be a challenge. Shang-shidi also just fun to mess with.)

Og SQH: (mostly a blank slate, has the most freedom in writing) sneaky, very good at his jobs, never gets caught being a spy, killed for becoming 'useless' after the destruction of Cang Qiong (possibly before) so distant from Mbj (reasons up in the air), sweet but distant

Airplane: Man of many faces. Prim and proper peak lord. Whiny clingy servant. Snarky and distant. Playing 5d chess with time travel almost at all times. Does care for his creations, just mentally distances himself for sanity's sake. Loves lotuses and snow. Mbj's his favorite character. Quiet and deadly, but doesn't fight often. (Sect members do not expect him to fight, sends him out of the way if they can) Good at his jobs, and doesn't get caught until SQQ's death. Plays his role to a t unless told to otherwise. An eginma and a regular person all in one. Flirts without much thought with friends (of which he has few)

Okay, these are less headcanons and just the way I write him.

Two anons and two Lieb characterization requests, how can I possibly say no? He's a tricky little thing, Lieb is, so this took some doing.. but I think I got him fairly right? (And, yes, have written him before and would write him again! There's a reason he's my second fave character on BoB. 💙)

Joe is a verbally strong character who seems to have some sort of response to everything. He is quick-witted with a rapier’s sting to boot: Joe has perfected the art of needling someone and will use his words as shield and sword. Not easily impressed and certainly not easily intimidated, Joe will use his words as his first line of defense.

That’s not to say that Joe’s not willing to throw hands when it comes down to it, though. Joe will pick a fight, even when the person he’s picking it with may very well get the better of him. He bites off more than he can chew, sometimes, but he will not give up. Quitting is not an option and Joe will keep pushing and challenging on the things that matter to him. Because that is the key to understanding Joe: he only commits to fights that have personal significance to him regarding things and people he cares about.

Joe, you see, cares more than he lets on. He is a character with an amazing sense of empathy and sensitivity to other people’s needs. He might not always show it and may hide behind his verbal barrage, but the truth of the matter is that Joe gives a shit about other people and sometimes hates that he does. Vulnerability is hard for him and he may not immediately come off as caring, but Joe has a habit of doing and saying the exact right thing when it’s most needed. He is an excellent listener who’s able to capture nuance and react accordingly.

Also Hima *Drew Pru in Military Uniforms in whatever that's pre-war*

Lol. Lmao.

While I do think that during the aftermatch of WW.1 he reevaluated a lot his beliefs, and did a lot of new things while he was for once away of military (or religious) structures, I don't think he changed completely, and often see him as a hypocrite. He still (in canon) joined the military for the next war—and sorry for my I-was-raised-Catholic moment—so maybe he denied the friends he had during the interwar period like Peter denied Jesus. Knew what was wrong, but reverted into being a soldier, and they're supposed to obey, not supposed to think nor to assert themselves over their superiors*; fell back into bad habits, including the cognitive dissonance (and perhaps even delusions as well). Flying planes and being inside tanks added even more distance to what was happening (based on some of the uniforms)...

Anyway, good riddance. He can chill now, is good for him (and everybody) that he is finally not some type of soldier anymore.

To justify the other links I opened: I see him as someone who hated others happiness (jealous + entitled [+ malicious]); also as vindictive, either from minor (not important) offenses, or worse if it was from actual offenses; sometimes I see power influencing nation people like GLaDO.S’ core programming: corruption—it is that Imperial Sickness or whatever? Also I would appreciate a better "more cultured" example of what I'm trying to say.