Questionaire Answers

[yesallwomen]

1.) Describe your character’s relationship with their mother or their father, or both. Was it good? Bad? Were they spoiled rotten, ignored? Do they still get along now, or no?

This one is a doozy. In short, there is not a being that exists, or could, that Zanou'a hates more than his mother. Since his birth they've had a strained relationship: during Zanou'a's birthing, there were complications and it left his mother unable to bear children. Zanou'a was her first and only, and with Zanou being the leader of the tribe, this didn't bode well. She was left with (what she and the tribe thought) to be an unfit heir, and therefore somehow cursed by his existence. Needless to say Zanou'a wasn't treated very fondly with his family. Degraded, abused, and neglected, there's a lot of ill feelings between Zanou'a and his mother.

Since she was denied a female heir to take over the tribe when she'd pass, she tried to force Zanou'a into staying so he could right what wrongs his existence cause: by giving her a rightful female heir. They believed through prayer to Menphina, marking Zanou'a permanently with (what they believed to be) a holy mark on his forehead, as well as him giving the tribe a rightful heir, his sins would be cleansed and the tribe might escape the dark omen his birth brought.

The truth is, nothing actually horribly befell the tribe upon Zanou'a birth besides Zanou not having the ability to have anymore children, but they believed that to be bad enough. So needless to say, Zanou'a ran away at a young age, never to return. He's not seen his mother for a decade and a half, and for good reason.

As for his father, he's never met him, but any male stupid enough to sleep with his mother isn't worthy of being a part of Zanou'a's life, or at least that's how he sees it.

2.) What are your characters most prominent physical features?

His extremely pale skin, honestly. It's very delicate looking, which over all he looks pretty delicate in presence, but the colorlessness of his skin only emphasizes this, and makes other features stand out all the more. So, if anything, the prominence of his skin makes his other features (black hair, red eyes, etc) that much more prominent in association.

3.) Name one scar your character has, and tell us where it came from. If they don’t have any, is there a reason?

Zanou'a has a scar on his left hip, it's a long, thin scar that isn't very deep, or even all too noticeable since its fading over the years. He obtained this scar from a Brassblade when he was a child, still roaming the streets of Ul'dah, pilfering what goods he could to survive. While being chased in pursuit, and trying to escape, a Brassblade's sword's tip hit his hip, cutting a good line across it.

This of course lead to his capture, where he was treated (though it's generous calling it that), and eventually let go when his bail was paid for by an (at the time) unknown donor.


4.) How vain is your character? Do they find themselves attractive?

HA! Absolutely, Zanou'a is in love with himself, and he's meticulous about his appearance. He knows he's hot, and he has no shame in expressing this to anyone. He can't even be insulted by people trying to down talk his appearance, because he knows the actually facts on the topic, and anyone who disagrees is either blind, or daft.

5.) What’s your character’s ranking on the Kinsey Scale?

6. Though that's not to say he doesn't sometime waver into the 5 territory for fleeting moments. But majority of the time he is a solid 6. If not for certain circumstances in life, he'd actually be a 3, but his repulsion to women on a social and "moral" level keeps him from finding them attractive.

6.) Describe your character’s happiest memory.

Meeting Voniho Adveniho. Honestly, being taken in by the lalafellin alchemist is definitely the happiest moment of his life. Being given a home, a chance, as well as garnering a loving parental figure (something he never had before) added such positivity to his life. Nothing since then has even come close to comparing.


7.) Is there one event or happening your character would like to erase from their past? Why?

His birth. As for why, well isn't that a mystery.

8.) Day of Favorites! What’s your character’s favorite ice cream flavor? Color? Song? Flower?

Red bean. Red or Green. Idk some Eorzean bard bullshit. Amaryllis.

9.) Who does your character trust?

His faux-father because of obvious reasons, Khamu'wo (because he's too good-natured for his own good), R'iordan (ditto), R'eza (because he's confident he's too indebted to betray him), Ikar (because he's too stupid to betray him), and that's it. Even then, the trust isn't anything deep or meaningful, but that's about the deepest level Zanou'a trusts anyone.

10.) Can you define a turning point in your character’s life? Multiples are acceptable.

Running away from his tribe, getting taken in by Voniho, founding the Free Company after the calamity, when R'iordan leaves (way in the future), Voniho's death (which is also way in the future).


11.) Is there an animal you equate with your character?

A snake. Zanou'a is vain and has highly elegant tastes, which is often associated with snakes, as well as a bit of a backstabbing manipulator. He's a quick thinker, very cunning and slippery, but can be pretty ostentatious at times. Snakes are seen as tricksters, and Zanou'a can be that to a degree. He manipulates people into giving him what he wants (typically by promises he can obviously make good on, whether he does or not is another matter), and is constantly plotting and thinking of ways to benefit himself through the exploit of other people.

This isn't to say Zanou'a is completely heartless, or always a traitor either. He can give, and does often, and he does get attached to some people. Though it's a rare occurance, however his typical outlook towards other people is how to fool them into furthering his own means.


12.) How does your character feel about magitek? Or even the garleans in general.

He finds magitek absolutely fascinating. Though he's aware that the inner workings of it all is beyond him: he's far more capable with magic than technology. Regardless, he's absolutely captivated by it and almost looks at it like shiny toys he wants to own or play with. Thus Grish'a.

As for the Garleans, Zanou'a respects their assertiveness and their ability to make their foes fall to their knees before them. It's certainly an attractive feature for an Empire to have! Especially with what advancements they've made without having their own natural talent with magic. However, he isn't very fond of them coming over and asserting their dominance on his door step, so it's a neutral feeling.


13.) What does your character’s bed look like when he/she wakes up? Are the covers off on one side of the bed, are they all curled around a pillow, sprawled everywhere? In what position might they sleep?

Zanou'a doesn't move when he sleeps. He sprawls out in the center of the bed, of course under his covers, but he sleeps like a corpse. Looks like one too most the time.

14.) How does your character react to temperature changes such as extreme heat
and cold?

The cold's never bothered him anyway. No I'm sorry that was bad, anyway!!! The cold doesn't affect him really, at all. He's from way north, where it's hella cold, so by contrast heat kicks his ASS. Which sucked for him, since he lived a good portion of his life in Ul'dah. Yes, there is a somewhat practical reason as to why he doesn't wear pants often, even if dealing with heat wasn't the start of it.

15.) Is your character an early morning bird or a night owl (by their own race's perspective)?

He's a little of both, if we're to consider Keeper typical sleep schedules a mirror of other race's diurnal clocks. He's in bed by 1pm (think 1am), and up by 6-7pm (6-7am by comparison). He doesn't get much sleep, and often times he'll stay up for two days in a row with the aid of coffee (mixed with alcohol but w/e).

16.) Are there any blood relatives that your character is particularly close with, besides the immediate ones? Cousins, Uncles, Grandfathers, Aunts, et cetera. Are there any others that your character practically considers a blood relative?

He isn't close to any blood relatives. However, he is extremely close to his adoptive father Voniho, who he is forever indebted to for his unprecedented kindness. He'll often go to him for advice when he can't solve something himself. Though, the occurrence of this isn't too often, but Voniho is the person he turns to for help more than anyone else, the one person he feels he can open up to. The person he can be his most vulnerable around without being hurt for lowering his fortress-like guard.

If there is any one person that is the single most important in Zanou'a's life, it's his faux-father, hands down.

17.) What’s your character’s desk/workspace look like? Are they neat or messy?

It's actually really, really organized. Zanou'a is insanely organized with his work station, and even his room. In fact, everything has to be in order or it drives him nuts. A fact he doesn't ever let on, he'll just silently put things into place without complaint. But if something is out of order, or misplaced, it will mentally wear on him till he fixes it.

18.) Is your character a good cook? What’s their favorite recipe, whether they’re good or not? (Microwave mac-and-cheese applies.)

No, not at all. He's great at alchemy, which is similar in some regards, but he really doesn't get the science of cooking food. Besides, he never really had to, between being a stray on the streets of Ul'dah, and then being taken in by Voniho, his meals have always been cooked for him. So, he's never learned and has no desire to.

19.) What’s your character’s preferred means of travel?

His chocobo, or the Aetheryte crystals.

20.) Does your character have any irrational fears?

Being alone. He can face most other fears, but the idea of being absolutely alone leaves him terror-stricken.

21.) How does your character feel about other races, beastmen, or even the other city-states?

I'm gonna break this up to make this a bit easier!

Hyur: He finds them fascinating, even if only in a humorous way. Their practices are amusing to him, their idea of romance a little sickening to his aromantic black heart. Over all, he has no problem with them, even if the females make him think of (often times) submissive earless miqo'te women. Which leaves a bad taste in his mouth, and often inspires poor comments at them.

Elezen: He admires the pride Elezen hold for themselves. They're an elegant, willowy race of people, which fits Zanou'a's aesthetic. He also enjoys their history a lot, though his racism he could do without. Over all, he finds the males good trees to climb (if u get my meaning), and the females he can do without. But that's typical Zanou'a.

Roegadyn: A strong, masculine race that Zanou'a is highly fond of. With his association with the maelstrom, and therefore Limsa, he's very ingrained in their culture. A patriarchal race, where men are beefy as fuck and bara to all hell? HELL YES. He is all about this, not to mention the women are masculine too in appearance and demeanor. So he finds them less abhorrent for it, but he also can relate to the women in some ways, with males being in charge, where as females are in charge for Miqo'te. In other words, he finds Roe women a bit relatable, so therefore a lot easier to humanize compared to other races.

Miqo'te: For the most part, Zanou'a hates his own race. Hates their practices, and hates how they're a matriarchal society, where men are practically expendable sperm donors. Well, maybe not entirely expendable considering the lower numbers of them compared to females, but they've one purpose, and that's at the will of females to give them children.

A lot of his hang ups and problems with women derive from this sort of uneven distribute of power between the sexes, and the abuse he faced because of it. He wants nothing more than to rip the mantel off of the matriarchal society his race harbors, but he knows that's not an endeavor possible by him alone. So, instead, he does everything he can to be contrary to those traditions.

Lalafell: Zanou'a absolutely loves lalafell, he believes they are a superior race to all else. They are intelligent, cunning, and know what really matters in life: money. Zanou'a follows a lot of their traditional standards and practices, and has adapted them into his daily life and outlook on it.

As for the city-states, he likes all of them. They're rich in history, and they all have their own appeal to him. Though, Ul'dah and Limsa will always be his favorites. Ul'dah because of his history there, but Limsa because of its policies and way of life appeals to him greatly.

22.) If your character could time travel, where would they go?

The future, where he's sure all his goals will be met and he'll be truly happy. JOKES ON HIM THO!!

23.) Is your character superstitious?

Not at all, he's given up believing in anything like that, let alone even religion. He only believes in what he can see, and what is absolutely factual.

24.) What might your character’s ideal romantic partner be?

Himself. Obviously.

No but seriously, whether Zanou'a knows it or not, his ideal romantic partner would be someone who can tolerate his worst attributes and accept him despite them. Someone who can give him unconditional comfort and stability, while allowing him his alone time. Someone who allows him to make his own mistakes and grievances, but also help keep him in line and not following his every whim, someone who can be contradictory, without hating him. He needs someone he can intelligently banter with, who can handle his highs and his lows, and who is hugely nurturing and patient, but not a complete push over either.

...And who has one hell of a sex drive to keep up with the man.


25.) Describe your character’s hands. Are they small, long, calloused, smooth, stubby?

They're small and soft. He's a mage, and beyond that he's an alchemist, so he has a lot of balms and creams for skin care. So his skin is really healthy, and therefore his hands are extremely soft.

26.) Second day of favorites! Favorite comfort food, favorite vice, favorite outfit, favorite hot drink, favorite time of year, and favorite holiday.

Alcohol, sex and alcohol, Direwolf robe of casting with his battle panties and storm elite boots, coffee with whiskey, winter, All Saints Wake.

27.) Pick two songs that describe your character at two different points of their life, and explain why you chose them.

WILL COME BACK TO THIS. But Pretty When You Cry by Vast is a good one huehuehue.


28.) If your character’s life was a genre, what would it be?

lbr. Yaoi.

29.) How does your character smell? Do they wear perfume or cologne?

Sometimes he has the faint sickenly sweet smell of Morbol on him, but when he goes out, he overcompensates with too much perfume. So, his scent-based presence is a bit overpowering.

30.) How does your character feel about magic?

He uses it everyday, he is very fond of it, and relies on it hugely.

31.) How did the calamity affect their life?

The calamity didn't take much from Zanou'a, if anything, it gave him so much more. It gave him a chance to start a Free Company, and to expand upon his dreams. From the wake of chaos and destruction, he rose as a beacon of hope and prosperity for many. For him, the calamity was a hugely positive turning point for him.

32.) And finally: Write a letter to your character, from yourself.

Open up, don't be afraid to let people in, don't be afraid to love people. Everything will be fine if you let people in, you aren't protecting yourself, you're destroying yourself. You will be your own undoing.