Personality Descriptions

[Mountie]

We have a physical description topic and LiliacMajesty split this one off for us to use similairily for tidbits about the main characters personalities.  I originally posted it in the Physical Description topic.  This is when Xio Voe asked  to talk about his brothers when they were younger and I thought this summed them up nicely.

Portraits emerged.  “Remin” was a passionate young man, bold, confident, committing himself fully to everything that he did.  “Orinakin” was a champion, a crusader, quick to help, devoted to improving the life of everyone he met, resistant to the word “no.”  “Selorin” was a blend of Remin’s cleverness and dry wit, and Orinakin’s thirst for fairness and justice in the world.  “Desin” was respectful and protective when it came to his brothers, and egalitarian when it came to everyone else, at home in a crowd of overworked manual laborers but unafraid to claim his role in the throne room.  “Anosanim” was friendly, talkative, and cheerful, with a streak of Orinakin’s quickness to demonstrate concern for others.  “Talin” was quiet, stubborn, emotionally intense, occasionally cynical, the one most likely to be hostile, and determined to be independent aside from his deep and abiding dependence on Anosanim.  “Extra” was fun-loving, free-spirited, and idealistic.

[LilacMajesty]

And now we have a personality topic.  Thanks for starting this one Mountie!

[Mountie]

Thanks for splitting it off LilacMajesty.   

[SilverMoon28]

In between trying to learn a new (!!) Backstreet Boys song and debating whether or not to make new ITL fanart, I stumbled upon this thread.

Oh so many things to say!!

I'll be coming back to this often

Vani

[Mountie]

I'll be waiting.  It's a good reason to start re-read #3. 

[Mountie]

Anosanim, however, was unapologetically Anosanim, twenty-eight hours a day.  Friendly and fabulous, Anosanim was a beautiful butterfly, sociable and lovely.  He was a humble man in his own way; he tended to downplay his technical gifts, preferring to bestow praise upon other people and their accomplishments.  Affectionate, fluttering, and always interested in getting to know new people, Anosanim was the only person Remin had ever heard of sending notes of apology to his self-defense instructors after besting them in class.

[Susanne]

Anosanim, however, was unapologetically Anosanim, twenty-eight hours a day.  Friendly and fabulous, Anosanim was a beautiful butterfly, sociable and lovely.  He was a humble man in his own way; he tended to downplay his technical gifts, preferring to bestow praise upon other people and their accomplishments.  Affectionate, fluttering, and always interested in getting to know new people, Anosanim was the only person Remin had ever heard of sending notes of apology to his self-defense instructors after besting them in class.

LMAO... is so wonderful I so adore him.

[Mountie]

I agree he is completely adorable   I just read this passage and am smiling from ear to ear.

“Will the gods preserve me,” Anosanim said, dropping down at Anikira’s side.  “I thought that I might enjoy watching a bit of wrestling - - it’s a quite invigorating way to start off the day, don’t you think? - - but oh, it was absolutely dreadful!”

            “The wrestling?” Anikira asked.

            “The conversation!  Desin and T’rin were discussing death and dismemberment!  It was gruesomely shocking and disgustingly gory and horrifically bloody and horrible, simply horrible!”

            “They were comparing methods of skinning bears,” Talin explained, sitting on Anosanim’s other side.

            “Well,” Anikira said with a smile, patting Anosanim’s knee, “at least Desin has someone with whom he can discuss his particular interests.”

            “And you don’t think that it’s in the least disturbing that our brother’s interests include ripping the hide off of a bloody animal?” Anosanim asked.

            “Preparing meat is an important part of Desin’s job,” Anikira pointed out.  “If someone didn’t see to those tasks, we’d be a bit hungry right about now.”

            Anosanim shuddered.  “The gods blessed me in the timing of my birth.  Had I been born one brother earlier, I’d be the one discussing the depth of the first cut and the best angle to hold the knife.”

[Mountie]

This is a good one about Desin and Talin.  It shows them quite nicely I thought.

Talin, though, even at his most quiet and aloof, was still Desin’s younger brother.  Desin only had three little brothers, and he took that responsibility seriously.  He spent time with them, he teased them, and he reserved the right to protect them at all costs.  If something was wrong in Talin’s life, then Desin wanted to know about it, and if someone was causing Talin pain, then Desin was going to take care of it.  A bit of reciprocation usually sounded like a good idea.

            But Talin tended to resist help.  The bigger the problem, the deeper the pain, the more Talin pulled into himself and refused assistance of any kind.  Sometimes they could reach him, but most of the time, he’d only let Anosanim in.

            Desin had lost a few bets earlier in the day, but he was willing to wager that at the moment, Talin’s problem was named Hitari.  And there wasn’t a thing that Desin could do about it.

            That didn’t sit well with him, but if he interfered, it wouldn’t do any good.  Talin was too proud and too stubborn.  Telling Anosanim to interfere wouldn’t help, either; Anosanim never needed to be told to look out for Talin.

            Desin couldn’t do anything about the impending collision, and that made him feel helpless.  If there was anything that Desin disliked, it was feeling helpless.

[Mountie]

  on 

It wasn’t just the red hair that made Talin dramatic, though.  Anosanim knew better.  It was the passion in him, too often banked but right there beneath the surface.  Talin was often stoic and liked to feign general indifference, but the true Talin whom Anosanim had known even since before birth had a wide and deep passionate streak, like a heavy gash through all of that calm.

and

If Talin could be trusted to share what was on his mind, Anosanim would let the subject rise naturally.  Talin, however, couldn’t be trusted to ask for water if his feet were on fire, so Anosanim would have to do the work.

[SilverMoon28]

Oh, Talin!!!!     I love his passionate nature - how else would he be able to be the Royal Artist?

I can't believe I'm typing this live from work!!!!  But hey, the site isn't restricted (*shock*) and my colleagues *both* took the day off to avoid the staff Christmas party we have in... an hour and 20 minutes (ugh).

Vani

[Mountie]

Oh I found this in Chapter 50 and it is perfect

“But, really, when my empathy gets overwhelmed, I like to be around people who feel good.  My parents, my brothers, my aunts and uncles.”  He smiled, his fingers running across the stubble on Bade’s chin.  “You.”  Closing his eyes, he tipped his head back, exhaling on a smile.  “Having you with me as I travel is going to be an extremely welcome change.”

            Bade had always wanted to be more useful, and this sounded like a terrific chance for it.  Constantly being surrounded by strangers full of demands and problems had to be rough on Orinakin, and as he’d said, his assistants had generally pleasant auras, but Bade could be with him now, could soothe him as Selorin would.

            A soft chuckle; Orinakin’s eyes opened.  “While the comparison is apt, Selorin doesn’t have quite the same sweetly pulsing desire for me that you do.”

            Well, there was that.  “Do I feel different from Vade?  Do your brothers feel different from each other?”

            “You and Vade felt very similar, at first.  Now that I know you better, and since your emotions specifically relating to me are different, there are more distinguishing characteristics.  But at your natural core, you and Vade are very much the same.  My brothers…”  Orinakin ran his hand down Bade’s back, his expression thoughtful.  “Being near Kudorin is like being bathed in the purest of lights, but you’re aware of that.  Selorin feels like…  There’s something about him that makes it easier for me to breathe.  He feels very much like home to me.  Desin and Talin give me a good sense of calm, Talin because he’s so stoic and unflappable, Desin because he’s naturally one with his environment.  They aren’t very excitable people, so I can spend time with them without dealing with dramatic shifts in emotion.  Extra’s very loving, so I get a strong sense of affection from him, and his energy can be invigorating.  Anosanim is so warm and so kind, and so sincere in his generosity and concern for others, that being around him makes me want to be kind to people for his sake.  I wish that there were more people like him in the world.”

            “As if you need incentive to be kind to anyone.”  He hadn’t mentioned Remin.

            “Well, Remin is a contradiction,” Orinakin said.  “You may have noticed by now that he’s two distinct people?”

            To be honest, “In a sense, yes,” Bade admitted.

            “The half of Remin that is a priest is very calm and very peaceful.  It feels wonderful.  It’s very soothing to be near someone so at peace.  There’s a profound sense of harmony.”

            Remin was very at peace with his place the world.  “And his other half?”

            “The other half of Remin is intensely passionate, intensely charismatic, very proud, and acutely aware of the rising libidos of every attractive young man within three miles.  There’s a very quiet, very repressed strain of restlessness, of dissatisfaction, of need, of predatory intent, that Remin does his best to stifle.  It’s very…”  Searching for words, Orinakin ran his fingers across Bade’s collarbone.  “Remin’s incredibly calming.  But there’s a faint but constant hum of his very not calm passion and lust and power, that even he can’t entirely hide.”

[SilverMoon28]

This quote is more about Talin's art than anything else, but I think it fits into this topic, because one's personality shines through when one is creating works of art:

“I haven’t seen much of Talin’s work,” Bade said.  “But the painting that he permitted me to see, it was very, it,” he tried to think of a way to describe it.  It was comforting, at least, to know that Orinakin’s education exceeded his own, so if he made reference to something, he could trust that Orinakin would figure out what he meant.  “There was a movement, once.”  He tried to remember where it had originated.  Most art that was internationally recognized as being important came from Orina Anoris, or Ilaeia, or Jacacea, or, “Maybe it was in Jacacea.  A long time ago.  The artists focused in on the details, and worked very close in, so that the entire painting was of one enormous single petal, but there was great detail.”

            Nodding, following along, Orinakin said, “The level of detail was the only thing that mattered.  Skin wasn’t truly skin without lines, wrinkles, hair, and moles.  They wanted their art to be as true to the real thing as possible.  They tried to give their work so much detail that one could almost feel it, taste it, smell it, hear it.”

            “Talin’s painting was like that,” Bade said.  “Not exaggerated like that, but real.  Like I was looking at something that was happening right in front of me, in reality, and not just a painting of it.”

            Orinakin smiled.  “Talin’s work is always like that.”

            Bade stared at him.  “All of it?  This piece was, it was like I was there, or like - - like if it had been a painting of right now, a painting of what I’m seeing right now, it would’ve been so precise and so exact that it would be like looking at my own memory.  Like he captured reality and froze it for the world to see.”

Gorgeous, just gorgeous.

[SilverMoon28]

Here's another description of Talin, which I think is rather fitting:

If Talin could be trusted to share what was on his mind, Anosanim would let the subject rise naturally.  Talin, however, couldn’t be trusted to ask for water if his feet were on fire, so Anosanim would have to do the work.

One could say that he's Anosanim's opposite in that respect.  Anosanim tends to wear his emotions on his sleeve.

I'm gonna get so fired if I'm caught posting on the board, so I'm going to go back to my e-mails lol.

Vani

[CourtneyLee]

I love this description of Bade from chapter 4:

When Bade had challenged Kudorin’s godhood, the quiet tension in the air had seeped over Orinakin’s skin.  He’d felt the protective flash of Anoremin’s defensiveness and the knotting of Bade’s muscles.  Bade felt very alive here, felt free and open, breathing new air and absorbing new ideas.  His curiosity, his fascination, vibrated so strongly that Orinakin could feel it; the Anorians, their culture, their beliefs, their systems, surprised him and made him think, made him wonder, made him reconsider his own traditions and ways.  He’d only just arrived here and already he was changing, learning, growing, and he wanted more.

[CourtneyLee]

The way a person walks can tell a lot about them I think. From chapter 14:

Talin’s walk toward the throne had been all purposeful, stalking confidence.  Anosanim’s walk had been a lot like Bade’s mother’s walk, or the Queen of Granete’s walk; it was even more queenly than Anikira’s.  Desin’s stride had been firm and masculine, like he’d been on his way to uproot a tree somewhere.  Rini’s had looked like he’d either been about to skip or about to wriggle, like walking was too mundane for him.  Orinakin’s had been smooth, confident, and regal.

            Remin walked toward the throne like he was leading a pack of hundreds to their god.  He was majestic; he was powerful.  Bade expected to hear a crack of thunder or see bolts of lightning around his feet with each step.  His authority was almost tangible.

[Mountie]

I agree Courtney.  I see a puppy gamboling when I read that passage and Matthew described Rini's walk.

[Mountie]

I don't know if this a personality description but I thought it fit.  This is from Chapter 154 when Kudorin was finally allowed access to Xoe Voe's mind and he describes how everyone feels different to him.

            “Yes,” Anosukinom said, a wide smile displaying perfect teeth.  “And I’m slightly overwhelmed by how immense you are.”

            “Immense?”

            Sitting down and drawing one leg up, his pants still clean and dry, Anosukinom laced his fingers across his knee.  “You’re vast.  Everyone feels different, inside.  Anikira’s very settled and spacious.  Extra’s very bright and busy, full of lights and colors and shiny things and odd corners and unanswered questions.  Remin’s so complex, he’s like a maze.  Selorin’s neatly partitioned.”  His eyes closed, just for a moment, and he smiled slowly, as if cherishing something.  “I can feel you.  All of you.  And there’s so much of you.  You’re like a complete world.  Enormous and complex.  I don’t even know where to turn.”

[CourtneyLee]

Found this little gem in chapter 33 It says a lot about Bade and Vade and totally males me laugh.

Bade was worrying and Vade was apologizing for making him feel bad, when Tiko’s hostess interrupted with a respectful smile and a summons from Tiko.

            Thanking her, Bade and Vade went to Tiko’s rooms, exchanging their familiar old look on the way, the one that said, “Whatever happens, even if I have to ditch you to save my own hide, we’re still best friends.”

            Vade was, they both knew, twice as likely to sacrifice Bade to save himself as Bade was to sacrifice him.  Vade’s sense of self-preservation was stronger; Bade’s loyalty was stronger.  Vade had explained to him once, years ago, “I don’t have to get myself in trouble just out of loyalty to you.  I know you’re still going to like me no matter what I do.  Why should we both suffer?  I don’t like getting in trouble.  Come and find me once they let you out of your room, and we’ll go and fly Tiko’s kite.”

            At least Vade had the considerate habit of sneaking tarts out of the kitchen for Bade to eat once he’d been released from punishment.

[Mountie]

I am in Chapter 18 and realized I missed an important part about Remin just before the quote about Anosanim.  Since I am now so hyperaware of Remin, I am catching all the little bits.  This is Remin on Remin.

            Remin was also aware of a certain duality to his own personality.  Passion and piety.  The holy man and the hedonist.  He spent his days and nights repressing one for the sake of the other.