CHaracter Sketch 1: “Jean Paul”

I’m not much of an artist, so the word sketch here is very loose in the way it’s being used. It may not even work in the context I am using it for here, but in the end I am using it because I can’t think of another name to call it.

This is in reference for an idea for a character that I don’t have a particular story in mind for yet. It’s a character loosely based on a concept I just thought up one day. Other examples of characters I have that were made this way are Epithumia from “Downward Dog” and Joseph from “Tip Your Damn Delivery Drivers.” Sure, those characters both are in stories now that are complete. But before those stories, their characters were just “very socially sexual demon who has a not great sense of direction” and “a delivery driver who’s immune to monster viruses who kind of hates his job.”

When I make characters like this, I have a process. It starts with this random idea I had in my head.

So, for Jean Paul, it actually started as me thinking of unconventional weapons for slasher movie characters (ones that aren’t the killer.) The idea I came up with was Axe Body Spray. The stuff is pungent at best and its something I do not have great history with. Now, normally you don’t see people using Axe unless they’ve just figured out what body odor is.

Now, I steered away from that line because I am not writing a story about a middle schooler. I am writing about someone who picks it up and uses it in desperation. You know what goes really well with body spray if you’re trying to protect yourself? Fire.

Now, who would have access to fire. A smoker, right? But I didn’t really think a traditional cigarette smoker is the way to go here. No. But what else can you smoke? Weed.

So, with all my thinking I had a character who probably ran into the houses bathroom to hide from the killer and picks up a spray can of body spray to defend himself from a killer. Spray-can + Lighter = A less than safe, but still probably useful defensive weapon.

Then I needed to flesh him out. So, I set a scene with this character (not in a bathroom with a spray bottle of Axe.)

The snippet below is what I came up with. It’s not long, but it helped me develop him even more.

“Paul!” Gretchen gritted her teeth as she glared at the slender blonde who was stretched over her parents’ couch with a blunt perched between his lips. “What the hell are you doing?”

Jean Paul furrowed his brow and flicked his lighter, bringing it up to his lips to light the blunt. “The fuck does it look like I’m doin, Gretch?”
“You can’t smoke pot in here! My parents will kill me! And my brother will never let me live that down.”

Jean Paul put away the lighter and took a puff, blowing the smoke in Gretchen’s direction. “Forgive me if I need something between my lips to keep me from texting my ex.” He grumbled. “God knows I don’t have the self-control otherwise.”

Gretchen groans. “Can you at least do that outside?”

Jean Paul takes the blunt, holding it between his thumb and his pointer as he leans forward. He puts a hand on his knee as if he is about to get up. “No.” He lays back on the couch and crosses his legs, as he takes another hit.

Gretchen groans, turning to go open some windows. “I swear to god, one of these days you’re going to get me arrested.”

Jean Paul blows out smoke, looking up at the ceiling and closing his eyes. “Why did you even invite me to this little party anyway? You know how I am.”

“I guess it was my own fault then.” She turns back to where he is sitting.

“Listen, tonight is important. We’ve all been working for this scholarship. I just wanted to have a chance to just decompress before the decision is made tomorrow. Please behave.”

“I’ll be the best, most boring version of myself.” He brought an arm to his chest and bowed his head. “M’lady.” He immediately cringed. “Ewww. Never let me do that again.”

So, we now have Jean Paul (who’s name is just Paul, but he throws the Jean in front as if that makes him fancy.) He’s a gay stoner, who likes making himself at home at his best friend’s house. He’s not one for rules, which annoys Gretchen. He’s not a slacker. He just only applies himself when he feels he needs to. He would have the wisdom and quick-thinking to make a makeshift flamethrower using Gretchen’s younger brother’s Axe Body Spray.

And I also made him up an ex-boyfriend. You know. The type of guy his friends couldn’t believe he would ever dump. (He’s a firefighter, and I mean like the sexy fireman stereotype.)

Unsure if this will turn into anything, but I really like his character and may do more with him soon.