Character Meme - Alessandra
June 16th, 2012 11:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kgcowbelleBody and Appearance
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is she heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
She is about 5’5” and has an almost athletic build.
2. How old is she?
She is 21 years old.
3. Describe her posture. Does she carry himself well or does she slouch?
She carries herself well, though not on purpose. Her posture has never been something she was concerned with, so she just stands straight naturally.
4. How is her health? Is she fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
Her health is excellent. She doesn’t like to sit still and has studied some medicine, giving her a strong constitution compared to the other females around town.
5. How does she move? Is she clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
More graceful than clumsy, but mostly she moves in the most effective manner.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does she perceive herself in the mirror?
She is the ideal Italian Renaissance beauty – long, blonde hair and clear, pale skin – and she knows it. However, she doesn’t feel it. Growing up, she never dwelled on the concept of beauty, but when she got married she began to wonder what her husband thought about her. He never made her feel desirable and, as a consequence, she assumed that there was something ugly about her. It wasn’t until she began her relationship with Lucio that she realized how pretty she really is.
7. Describe her complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
She has light, clear skin which was inherited from her father.
8. Describe her hair: color, texture, style.
Her hair is long, blonde, and straight. She got it from her mother, or perhaps her great-grandmother, who both had the same hair color.
9. What color are her eyes?
Green.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
Not really.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
Her hands cramp sometimes when she writes a lot.
12. What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does she have six of the same suit?
Her wardrobe has varied a lot over her lifetime. When she was little, she preferred pastel colors. For her wedding, she had a dress of deep blue and, after her father died, she dressed in black for a long time. Now that she is out of mourning, she dresses in deep silks. So, in all, her style has been quite varied.
13. Do her clothes fit well? Does she seem comfortable in them?
Her clothes always fit well, as they have been specially made for her under her direction. The only dress she didn’t have a say in making was her wedding dress, which she only wore a handful of times. She dresses to suit her tastes and has never worn anything that she doesn’t like.
14. Does she dress the same on the job as he does in her free time? If not, what are the differences?
Well, she doesn’t have a job, but I suppose there is a difference between when she is entertaining with her husband and just lounging at home, reading a book. She dresses up on special occasions and fairly plainly when going about ordinary business.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Commando – underwear came much later for ladies.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
Her voice is strong and most definitely not high-pitched.
2. How does she normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does she talk easily, or does she hesitate?
She normally speaks directly and gets straight to the point. She rarely hesitates, though there are some instances in which she has been known to stammer. Namely when dealing with her husband.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
She speaks the 15th century Tuscan dialect, as Italian wasn’t itself a language yet.
4. What language/s does she speak, and with how much fluency?
She is fluent in several languages, including Latin, Greek, and English. Her mother tongue is Italian, though French is a close second for her. She was taught it by her brother, who had learned it from their mother, starting at a very young age and they often use it to hold private conversations.
5. Does she switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
Growing up, she often spoke in French with her bother to annoy their stepmother. It was eventually banned from the household, but she held no respect for the rule and used it anyway. Now that she is grown, she still uses it in private conversations with her bother. For her, it provides connection with her only sibling by blood and the mother she never knew.
6. Is she a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
It depends on who she is speaking to. With family, she is an excellent impromptu speaker and always goes straight to her point. With people that make her nervous (Carlo, Lucio) she has been known to trip over her words if she doesn’t think carefully about what she wants to say. When she talks to them, all of her words want to rush out at once and she has trouble formulating clear arguments.
7. Is she eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
As noted above, she is eloquent most of the time but some conversations make her inarticulate. Growing up, she had a hard time facing Viola, her stepmother, but she eventually learned to stand up for herself. With Carlo, her husband, she is intensely afraid that he will become upset with her and wants to placate him as much as possible while at the same time spend the least amount of time with him as she can. In the beginning of her relationship with Lucio, she was constantly tongue-tied because she didn’t know how to respond to his advances. Her conflicting emotions left her torn and she had trouble voicing that.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is she book-smart or street-smart?
She is very intelligent and most definitely book-smart, but her knowledge also falls a bit into the street-smart category for her time period, considering what she knows about contraception and whatnot which was definitely “street” knowledge in 15th c. Florence.
2. Does she think on her feet, or does she need time to deliberate?
She thinks on her feet, though not always to the best of results.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is she more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
She falls more on the logical side, tending to think situations through according to reason. She prefers to be practical, but has been known to dream.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
She, unlike most girls, was lucky enough to receive a full humanist education (in secret). She was educated by her older brother at her request, starting when she was quite young. What he learned at school, he came home and taught her. Only a handful of people (excluding her husband) know of her extensive education.
5. What are her areas of expertise? What, if anything, is she interested in learning more about?
Her whole life, Alessandra has had an interest in languages. She loves to read foreign books and even spends some time translating works.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
A little of both. She doesn’t like to stir the pot, but she stands up for herself when the need arises.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is she even-tempered or does she have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
No mood swings and generally cheerful, but definitely stressed out trying to balance her life. She has a lot of drive.
8. How does she respond to new people or situations? Is she suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
It depends on the people/situations. She was incredibly timid marrying her husband, but meeting Lucio, she warmed right up to him.
9. Is she more likely to act, or to react?
React.
10. Which is her default: fight or flight?
Flight until she is pushed too far. She has a high tolerance, but is not afraid of defending herself.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does she appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
She appreciates when people around her are humorous, but she doesn’t crack many jokes herself.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does she deal with them?
Nope.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined her as a person?
Oh boy. Well, for starters, her mother died during childbirth and spent the first few years of her life living at her cousin’s house. Never knowing her mother has left void in her life and she has always wanted to learn more about her. When her father remarried, she was brought back to the family home and her stepmother, Viola, was a constant threatening figure throughout her childhood. It was because of Viola that Alessandra had to gain an education in secret (had she approached her father, he would have been more open to the idea) and she was treated as a sort of nursemaid for her younger stepsiblings.
Another key defining point in her life was when she was married to Carlo. It took her away from the city and her family and caused her to retreat inside herself in an effort to get away from. Then came her affair with Lucio and that influenced her personality in a whole different direction.
The biggest one, I think, is when she chose to not run away with an immigrant named Riccardo. Instead of eloping just to get away from her detested stepmother and her impending arranged marriage, she chose to remain loyal to her family. I think that says a lot about her values and what she views as most important.
14. What does she fear?
For Alessandra, it’s not so much what as it is who. When she was little, she was afraid of her stepmother and step-grandmother. They intimidated her all throughout her childhood, but she eventually toughened up enough to overcome them. Then her husband came along. Married off by her father, she finds Carlo vile but can’t do anything about it. I suppose a situation that she fears is having children with him because then she knows that her fate is entirely sealed. Being childless at least offers the possibility of annulment.
15. What are her hopes or aspirations?
Though she knows it’s mostly a fantasy, she would like to be able to divorce her husband and marry Lucio. The chances of that happening? Slim to none. Her more realistic aspirations include marrying off her sisters and getting something published.
16. What is something she doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
Well, of course there’s the fact that she’s having an affair. But then, there’s something even more secret that she’s keeping to herself for the time being.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
She never knew her mother and has always wanted to learn all she could about what she was like. Her relationship with her father was rather distant. He never could bring himself to get close to her because she looked so much like her mother and a small part of him resented her for, in his opinion, causing her death. Her relationship with her stepmother was a whole different story. She hated her, though not as much Giac did, and they were often at odds.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
Alessandra and Giacomo are pretty much as close as two siblings can get. Early on, all they had was each other and they formed a strong bond. Their relationship grew as they united against Viola and they will do anything for one another. With her three younger stepsiblings, Renata, Nico, and Ghita, she plays somewhat of a mother role. She helped raise them in the nursery was sort of a mediator between the sets of children (Renee’s vs. Viola’s). Now that they are all older, she has come onto a more even level with them and now views them more as friends than anything else.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
After her mother died, she was sent to live with her cousin, Heather, and her family. She has remained close with them over the years and is great friends with her second cousin, Alberto (Heather’s son). She is also close with her aunt Caterina, who was her mother’s best friend. Caterina had promised to look after Renee’s children and she played a mothering role in her life. As for relatives she cannot stand, other than Viola and Margherita (which she has largely gotten over), there aren’t any others.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom she considers part of her family? What are her relationships with them?
I would say her nursemaid from when she was little, Sara. They weren’t friends, per se, but they she really relied on her for guidance and help. After Sara left, their relationship fell by the wayside but they’ve recently begun corresponding again.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Her best friend, I would have to say, is Giacomo. You know how they met.
6. Does she have other close friends?
She has been pretty good friends with Lucio ever since he first came to visit.
7. Does she make friends easily, or does she have trouble getting along with people?
She doesn’t have trouble getting along with people but at the same time she doesn’t have many friends. Part of the reason is because she was quite sheltered growing up and went straight from her father’s house to her husband’s way out in the countryside. Only since she has been back in town has she begun making new friends.
8. Which does she consider more important: family or friends?
Most definitely family, which are her friends.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has she been married more than once?
She is married and has been from a young age.
10. Is she currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Yes: Lucio, her brother’s best friend.
11. Who was her first crush? Who is her latest?
Despite the various offers for her hand in marriage, Alessandra didn’t know true love until she met Lucio. Riccardo was a way of escape for her, not someone for whom she felt true affection. We all know how she feels about Carlo. With Lucio she found everything she was looking for in a companion.
12. What does she look for in a romantic partner?
Mostly she wants to be accepted for who she is. She doesn’t want to have to hide her interests and she wants her partner to love her for her intelligence, not in spite of it. At the same time, she wants someone she can lean on and trust.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does she want any?
No children and no grandchildren. She wants some one day, but not at the moment and especially not with a certain someone though it’s looking like she won’t be able to avoid it for too much longer.
14. Does she have any rivals or enemies?
No.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
Straight.
16. How does she feel about sex? How important is it to him?
With her husband, she detests it and will do anything to avoid sharing his bed. With Lucio, however, it is a different story.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
I don’t remember her turn-ons and –offs from the game. No real weird bedroom habits unless you count the one time she dressed up as an ancient goddess as a sort-of joke.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does she fit type?
I don’t remember her astrological sign off the top of my head. Oops.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in her life?
Of course she is Catholic, but that does not mean that she is exactly religious. Her religion is constantly in her life, but she hasn’t been exactly following scripture lately as the church strictly forbids contraception and extramarital affairs.
3. Does this character have a personal code of morals or ethics? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it?
For the longest time, she stuck to her guns and resisted Lucio’s advances, but there came a time when she decided to let her guard down and just go for it. And she has never been happier.
4. How does she regard beliefs that differ from his? Is she tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
Curious. She regards most things from a scholarly approach.
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
None, really.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is she rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
Growing up, her family was comfortable. They kept one servant that did most of the work but everyone still pitched in around the house. She definitely married up, financially speaking.
2. What is her social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
Her family was once one of the great families of Florence and her father strived to bring glory back to their name. He wasn’t too successful, though. While their family is somewhat respected, they are nowhere near the top of the social hierarchy. Her husband isn’t titled, but he is a member of the wealthy working class.
3. Where does she live? House, apartment, trailer? Is her home his castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does she share it with others?
Her main house is her husband’s villa on the outskirts of town, but when her father died she moved into her husband’s townhouse and has stayed there ever since.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does she spend her money on?
Books!
5. What does she do for a living? Is she good at it? Does she enjoy it, or would she rather be doing something else?
Mostly she is a scholar, though she really should be running her husband’s household in the villa.
6. What are her interests or hobbies? How does she spend her free time?
She studies, but lately she has given herself the task of matchmaking for her two younger sisters.
7. What are her eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
Normal eating habits, except she has sworn off excessive amounts of alcohol after a certain reckless night and a close call.
Associations:
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is her favorite:
1. Color? Light blue
2. Smell? New books
3. Time of day? Late afternoon/early evening
4. Season? Summer
5. Book? Dante’s Devine Comedy
6. Music? None
7. Place? Her townhouse
8. Substance? Ink
9. Plant? Ivy
10. Animal? Dove
1. Describe the character's height and build. Is she heavyset, thin, short, rangy?
She is about 5’5” and has an almost athletic build.
2. How old is she?
She is 21 years old.
3. Describe her posture. Does she carry himself well or does she slouch?
She carries herself well, though not on purpose. Her posture has never been something she was concerned with, so she just stands straight naturally.
4. How is her health? Is she fit or out of shape? Any illnesses or conditions? Any physical disabilities?
Her health is excellent. She doesn’t like to sit still and has studied some medicine, giving her a strong constitution compared to the other females around town.
5. How does she move? Is she clumsy, graceful, tense, fluid?
More graceful than clumsy, but mostly she moves in the most effective manner.
6. How attractive is this character physically? How does she perceive herself in the mirror?
She is the ideal Italian Renaissance beauty – long, blonde hair and clear, pale skin – and she knows it. However, she doesn’t feel it. Growing up, she never dwelled on the concept of beauty, but when she got married she began to wonder what her husband thought about her. He never made her feel desirable and, as a consequence, she assumed that there was something ugly about her. It wasn’t until she began her relationship with Lucio that she realized how pretty she really is.
7. Describe her complexion. Dark, light, clear, scarred?
She has light, clear skin which was inherited from her father.
8. Describe her hair: color, texture, style.
Her hair is long, blonde, and straight. She got it from her mother, or perhaps her great-grandmother, who both had the same hair color.
9. What color are her eyes?
Green.
10. Does the character have any other noteworthy features?
Not really.
11. What are his chief tension centers?
Her hands cramp sometimes when she writes a lot.
12. What is the character's wardrobe like? Casual, dressy, utilitarian? Bright colors, pastels, neutrals? Is it varied, or does she have six of the same suit?
Her wardrobe has varied a lot over her lifetime. When she was little, she preferred pastel colors. For her wedding, she had a dress of deep blue and, after her father died, she dressed in black for a long time. Now that she is out of mourning, she dresses in deep silks. So, in all, her style has been quite varied.
13. Do her clothes fit well? Does she seem comfortable in them?
Her clothes always fit well, as they have been specially made for her under her direction. The only dress she didn’t have a say in making was her wedding dress, which she only wore a handful of times. She dresses to suit her tastes and has never worn anything that she doesn’t like.
14. Does she dress the same on the job as he does in her free time? If not, what are the differences?
Well, she doesn’t have a job, but I suppose there is a difference between when she is entertaining with her husband and just lounging at home, reading a book. She dresses up on special occasions and fairly plainly when going about ordinary business.
15. You knew it was coming: Boxers, briefs or commando?
Commando – underwear came much later for ladies.
Speech
1. What does this character's voice sound like? High-pitched, deep, hoarse?
Her voice is strong and most definitely not high-pitched.
2. How does she normally speak? Loud, soft, fast, evenly? Does she talk easily, or does she hesitate?
She normally speaks directly and gets straight to the point. She rarely hesitates, though there are some instances in which she has been known to stammer. Namely when dealing with her husband.
3. Does the character have a distinct accent or dialect? Any individual quirks of pronunciation? Any, like, you know, verbal tics?
She speaks the 15th century Tuscan dialect, as Italian wasn’t itself a language yet.
4. What language/s does she speak, and with how much fluency?
She is fluent in several languages, including Latin, Greek, and English. Her mother tongue is Italian, though French is a close second for her. She was taught it by her brother, who had learned it from their mother, starting at a very young age and they often use it to hold private conversations.
5. Does she switch languages or dialects in certain situations?
Growing up, she often spoke in French with her bother to annoy their stepmother. It was eventually banned from the household, but she held no respect for the rule and used it anyway. Now that she is grown, she still uses it in private conversations with her bother. For her, it provides connection with her only sibling by blood and the mother she never knew.
6. Is she a good impromptu speaker, or does he have to think about his words?
It depends on who she is speaking to. With family, she is an excellent impromptu speaker and always goes straight to her point. With people that make her nervous (Carlo, Lucio) she has been known to trip over her words if she doesn’t think carefully about what she wants to say. When she talks to them, all of her words want to rush out at once and she has trouble formulating clear arguments.
7. Is she eloquent or inarticulate? Under what circumstances might this change?
As noted above, she is eloquent most of the time but some conversations make her inarticulate. Growing up, she had a hard time facing Viola, her stepmother, but she eventually learned to stand up for herself. With Carlo, her husband, she is intensely afraid that he will become upset with her and wants to placate him as much as possible while at the same time spend the least amount of time with him as she can. In the beginning of her relationship with Lucio, she was constantly tongue-tied because she didn’t know how to respond to his advances. Her conflicting emotions left her torn and she had trouble voicing that.
Mental and Emotional
1. How intelligent is this character? Is she book-smart or street-smart?
She is very intelligent and most definitely book-smart, but her knowledge also falls a bit into the street-smart category for her time period, considering what she knows about contraception and whatnot which was definitely “street” knowledge in 15th c. Florence.
2. Does she think on her feet, or does she need time to deliberate?
She thinks on her feet, though not always to the best of results.
3. Describe the character's thought process. Is she more logical, or more intuitive? Idealistic or practical?
She falls more on the logical side, tending to think situations through according to reason. She prefers to be practical, but has been known to dream.
4. What kind of education has the character had?
She, unlike most girls, was lucky enough to receive a full humanist education (in secret). She was educated by her older brother at her request, starting when she was quite young. What he learned at school, he came home and taught her. Only a handful of people (excluding her husband) know of her extensive education.
5. What are her areas of expertise? What, if anything, is she interested in learning more about?
Her whole life, Alessandra has had an interest in languages. She loves to read foreign books and even spends some time translating works.
6. Is he an introvert or an extrovert?
A little of both. She doesn’t like to stir the pot, but she stands up for herself when the need arises.
7. Describe the character's temperament. Is she even-tempered or does she have mood swings? Cheerful or melancholy? Laid-back or driven?
No mood swings and generally cheerful, but definitely stressed out trying to balance her life. She has a lot of drive.
8. How does she respond to new people or situations? Is she suspicious, relaxed, timid, enthusiastic?
It depends on the people/situations. She was incredibly timid marrying her husband, but meeting Lucio, she warmed right up to him.
9. Is she more likely to act, or to react?
React.
10. Which is her default: fight or flight?
Flight until she is pushed too far. She has a high tolerance, but is not afraid of defending herself.
11. Describe the character's sense of humor. Does she appreciate jokes? Puns? Gallows humor? Bathroom humor? Pranks?
She appreciates when people around her are humorous, but she doesn’t crack many jokes herself.
12. Does the character have any diagnosable mental disorders? If yes, how does she deal with them?
Nope.
13. What moments in this character's life have defined her as a person?
Oh boy. Well, for starters, her mother died during childbirth and spent the first few years of her life living at her cousin’s house. Never knowing her mother has left void in her life and she has always wanted to learn more about her. When her father remarried, she was brought back to the family home and her stepmother, Viola, was a constant threatening figure throughout her childhood. It was because of Viola that Alessandra had to gain an education in secret (had she approached her father, he would have been more open to the idea) and she was treated as a sort of nursemaid for her younger stepsiblings.
Another key defining point in her life was when she was married to Carlo. It took her away from the city and her family and caused her to retreat inside herself in an effort to get away from. Then came her affair with Lucio and that influenced her personality in a whole different direction.
The biggest one, I think, is when she chose to not run away with an immigrant named Riccardo. Instead of eloping just to get away from her detested stepmother and her impending arranged marriage, she chose to remain loyal to her family. I think that says a lot about her values and what she views as most important.
14. What does she fear?
For Alessandra, it’s not so much what as it is who. When she was little, she was afraid of her stepmother and step-grandmother. They intimidated her all throughout her childhood, but she eventually toughened up enough to overcome them. Then her husband came along. Married off by her father, she finds Carlo vile but can’t do anything about it. I suppose a situation that she fears is having children with him because then she knows that her fate is entirely sealed. Being childless at least offers the possibility of annulment.
15. What are her hopes or aspirations?
Though she knows it’s mostly a fantasy, she would like to be able to divorce her husband and marry Lucio. The chances of that happening? Slim to none. Her more realistic aspirations include marrying off her sisters and getting something published.
16. What is something she doesn't want anyone to find out about him?
Well, of course there’s the fact that she’s having an affair. But then, there’s something even more secret that she’s keeping to herself for the time being.
Relationships
1. Describe this character's relationship with his parents.
She never knew her mother and has always wanted to learn all she could about what she was like. Her relationship with her father was rather distant. He never could bring himself to get close to her because she looked so much like her mother and a small part of him resented her for, in his opinion, causing her death. Her relationship with her stepmother was a whole different story. She hated her, though not as much Giac did, and they were often at odds.
2. Does the character have any siblings? What is/was their relationship like?
Alessandra and Giacomo are pretty much as close as two siblings can get. Early on, all they had was each other and they formed a strong bond. Their relationship grew as they united against Viola and they will do anything for one another. With her three younger stepsiblings, Renata, Nico, and Ghita, she plays somewhat of a mother role. She helped raise them in the nursery was sort of a mediator between the sets of children (Renee’s vs. Viola’s). Now that they are all older, she has come onto a more even level with them and now views them more as friends than anything else.
3. Are there other blood relatives to whom he is close? Are there ones he can't stand?
After her mother died, she was sent to live with her cousin, Heather, and her family. She has remained close with them over the years and is great friends with her second cousin, Alberto (Heather’s son). She is also close with her aunt Caterina, who was her mother’s best friend. Caterina had promised to look after Renee’s children and she played a mothering role in her life. As for relatives she cannot stand, other than Viola and Margherita (which she has largely gotten over), there aren’t any others.
4. Are there other, unrelated people whom she considers part of her family? What are her relationships with them?
I would say her nursemaid from when she was little, Sara. They weren’t friends, per se, but they she really relied on her for guidance and help. After Sara left, their relationship fell by the wayside but they’ve recently begun corresponding again.
5. Who is/was the character's best friend? How did they meet?
Her best friend, I would have to say, is Giacomo. You know how they met.
6. Does she have other close friends?
She has been pretty good friends with Lucio ever since he first came to visit.
7. Does she make friends easily, or does she have trouble getting along with people?
She doesn’t have trouble getting along with people but at the same time she doesn’t have many friends. Part of the reason is because she was quite sheltered growing up and went straight from her father’s house to her husband’s way out in the countryside. Only since she has been back in town has she begun making new friends.
8. Which does she consider more important: family or friends?
Most definitely family, which are her friends.
9. Is the character single, married, divorced, widowed? Has she been married more than once?
She is married and has been from a young age.
10. Is she currently in a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse?
Yes: Lucio, her brother’s best friend.
11. Who was her first crush? Who is her latest?
Despite the various offers for her hand in marriage, Alessandra didn’t know true love until she met Lucio. Riccardo was a way of escape for her, not someone for whom she felt true affection. We all know how she feels about Carlo. With Lucio she found everything she was looking for in a companion.
12. What does she look for in a romantic partner?
Mostly she wants to be accepted for who she is. She doesn’t want to have to hide her interests and she wants her partner to love her for her intelligence, not in spite of it. At the same time, she wants someone she can lean on and trust.
13. Does the character have children? Grandchildren? If yes, how does he relate to them? If no, does she want any?
No children and no grandchildren. She wants some one day, but not at the moment and especially not with a certain someone though it’s looking like she won’t be able to avoid it for too much longer.
14. Does she have any rivals or enemies?
No.
15. What is the character's sexual orientation? Where does he fall on the Kinsey scale?
Straight.
16. How does she feel about sex? How important is it to him?
With her husband, she detests it and will do anything to avoid sharing his bed. With Lucio, however, it is a different story.
17. What are his turn-ons? Turn-offs? Weird bedroom habits?
I don’t remember her turn-ons and –offs from the game. No real weird bedroom habits unless you count the one time she dressed up as an ancient goddess as a sort-of joke.
Beliefs
1. Do you know your character's astrological (zodiac of choice) sign? How well does she fit type?
I don’t remember her astrological sign off the top of my head. Oops.
2. Is this character religious, spiritual, both, or neither? How important are these elements in her life?
Of course she is Catholic, but that does not mean that she is exactly religious. Her religion is constantly in her life, but she hasn’t been exactly following scripture lately as the church strictly forbids contraception and extramarital affairs.
3. Does this character have a personal code of morals or ethics? If so, how did that begin? What would it take to compromise it?
For the longest time, she stuck to her guns and resisted Lucio’s advances, but there came a time when she decided to let her guard down and just go for it. And she has never been happier.
4. How does she regard beliefs that differ from his? Is she tolerant, intolerant, curious, indifferent?
Curious. She regards most things from a scholarly approach.
5. What prejudices does he hold? Are they irrational or does he have a good reason for them?
None, really.
Daily Life
1. What is the character's financial situation? Is she rich, poor, comfortable, in debt?
Growing up, her family was comfortable. They kept one servant that did most of the work but everyone still pitched in around the house. She definitely married up, financially speaking.
2. What is her social status? Has this changed over time, and if so, how has the change affected him?
Her family was once one of the great families of Florence and her father strived to bring glory back to their name. He wasn’t too successful, though. While their family is somewhat respected, they are nowhere near the top of the social hierarchy. Her husband isn’t titled, but he is a member of the wealthy working class.
3. Where does she live? House, apartment, trailer? Is her home his castle or just a place to crash? What condition is it in? Does she share it with others?
Her main house is her husband’s villa on the outskirts of town, but when her father died she moved into her husband’s townhouse and has stayed there ever since.
4. Besides the basic necessities, what does she spend her money on?
Books!
5. What does she do for a living? Is she good at it? Does she enjoy it, or would she rather be doing something else?
Mostly she is a scholar, though she really should be running her husband’s household in the villa.
6. What are her interests or hobbies? How does she spend her free time?
She studies, but lately she has given herself the task of matchmaking for her two younger sisters.
7. What are her eating habits? Does he skip meals, eat out, drink alcohol, avoid certain foods?
Normal eating habits, except she has sworn off excessive amounts of alcohol after a certain reckless night and a close call.
Associations:
Which of the following do you associate with the character, or which is her favorite:
1. Color? Light blue
2. Smell? New books
3. Time of day? Late afternoon/early evening
4. Season? Summer
5. Book? Dante’s Devine Comedy
6. Music? None
7. Place? Her townhouse
8. Substance? Ink
9. Plant? Ivy
10. Animal? Dove
