Happy STS!
How do your characters relate to the social norms of the culture(s) in which they live? Do they fit seamlessly into high society? Are they part of an economically struggling class? Are they outcasts, or misfits, or do they shift between different βversionsβ of themselves to match the people around them?
How do your characters feel about their places within or outside of society? Are they satisfied with how others view them? Do they hide parts of themselves to seem more acceptable, or for some other reason? Do they resent the norms imposed upon them, or long to fit into social roles from which theyβre excluded? Do they just not care that much?
-verkja
oh this is very nice and in-depth, I love it! (this is gonna get long)
Riot Kings
Jin and Nabi had to flee a warzone with their mother when they were very young, so in the early years, they struggled with the change and weren't very well-off or stable financially. By the time Jin joined the Fleet, their mother had a stable job, and Jin brought in more income, so Eunji (and Nabi) were able to live comfortably (though you know Eunji would rather have her son at home than money)
Within the Fleet, Jin fits in very well. Nabi's personality doesn't fit very well with the soldiers, so she's a bit of an oddball, but she's a very well-liked oddball. Jin is generally satisfied with his place and image, but also feels a pressure to do well and exceed expectations. Nabi, on the other hand, doesn't really think about how she's perceived very often. She's more focused on the feelings of those around her than what they actually think of her.
Nabi hides absolutely nothing. Her heart is on her sleeve. Jin will go out of his way to bury any uncertainty or fear, trying to fit the image of a confident leader.
Melchior's parents also immigrated to avoid conflict, and had a cozy, if frugal lifestyle. Mel was orphaned while still in elementary school, and ended up running errands for Skadi gangs at a very young age. Because of this, he's very familiar with societal/class gaps, and sought out the Riot Kings because he wanted to combat the unfairness.
To society as a whole, he's an outcast. While he fits in better with the Riot Kings, he still distanced himself from them on a personal level, mostly to make it easier to live up to the image the world and his men had of him. Now that he's with the Fleet, he's an outcast on all sides. He doesn't resent others' image of him so much as wish people would listen to reason and see things from his perspective. He does, however, resent the perspective the Riot Kings have of him since being tortured by Mercury, since many see him as a weakling and a coward at worst, or pity him at best.
When he led the Riot Kings, Melchior was careful to hide any perceived weakness, and always had a facade of confidence that bordered on cockiness; a fearless leader who was always one step ahead. By the time he's with the Fleet, he's just emotionally and physically exhausted (and trying to survive in a new environment), and doesn't bother with that particular mask unless it's necessary.
