The more time the writer spends on the description of something, the more attention the reader will pay to it.
Check out this opening from Dean Koontz’ Face.
AFTER THE APPLE HAD BEEN CUT IN HALF, THE halves had been sewn together with coarse black thread.
Ten bold stitches were uniformly spaced. Each knot had been tied with a surgeon’s precision.
The variety of apple, a red delicious, might have significance. Considering that these messages had been delivered in the form of objects and images, never in words, every detail might refine the sender’s meaning, as adjectives and punctuation refined prose.
More likely, however, this apple had been selected because it wasn’t ripe. Softer flesh would have crumbled even if the needle had been used with care and if each stitch had been gently cinched.
Awaiting further examination, the apple stood on the desk in Ethan Truman’s study. The black box in which the apple had been packed also stood on the desk, bristling with shredded black tissue paper. The box had already yielded what clues it contained: none.
Koontz, Dean (2007-06-28T23:58:59.000). The Face . Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Most novels open with a human doing something. This opening has no human. We don’t know what time period this is taking place in. We have no idea what continent we are on. We could be on terraformed Mars for all we know. There are no indications of what time of the day it is. All we have is a freaky apple, described in great detail and it’s a great hook. What’s up with this apple? Why is there thread in it?
The same principle applies to the characters. Minor characters don’t get much description. It’s not needed.
Two men guarded the doors. They carried maces on their hips, and they looked like they would brain you with them if you glanced at them the wrong way.
We don’t need to know the color of their hair or what they are wearing. We just need to know that there are two burly armed dudes on the scene.
Recurring, important characters get a lot more page time, and they must have a memorable entrance. First impressions are vital and every detail is important. Since we are working on a memorable entrance right now, I thought it would be fun to show you my search tabs.
Search: snake leather boots.
Search: doublet black and gold.
Search: short beard styles.
Search: men types of hairstyles.
What do you think about this guy? Is he the villain or a friend of the hero?
If the main characters were having a meeting with this guy, I would be deeply suspicious. He may be the bad guy who would betray them later on, but he also may be helpful in a “still looking out for himself” but redemptivekinda way.
Snakeskin boots is usually an interesting person. I’ll go friend of hero. I’m biased my grandfather wore rattlesnake skin boots. He was a mischievous old farmer but could be an ornery. He’d help you out while razzing you the whole time.
My first (and second) thought is, “George needs that doublet.”
About the guy: I don’t see good guy/bad guy yet, but leaning towards “ambiguous good” (and intriguing) character.
Except I’m still seeing George in that doublet. So that may be swaying me.
I thought it was George’s doublet myself.
Nah … Gaston needs that doublet … a bit to ostentatious for George
… it would look great on Jack too.
Gaston I can see. Jack likes to be too sneaky and roguish for something that fancy. It would spoil his “I’m too cool for this fancy s**t” image. 😉
Perhaps the doublet is for Gordon?
Exactly!
Since the choices are “villain” or “friend of hero” I’m going with villain. Per your post, I think it’s too much description for a mere “friend of the hero”. Now if it had been “best friend of the hero” then it would be a tougher choice. Although honestly, I changed my mind while typing this response three or four times, lol. At first I thought that haircut choice would decide it for me. Asymmetrical, man bun or pompadour: friend. Since he’s not the hero he may need a little something for attention and these hair styles would give him that. While undercut, Caesar, and left part make someone less conspicuous and a villain usually wants to fly under the radar. In the end I’m sticking with villain, but he’ll be an interesting one I think.
Thank you for the little game. It was fun thinking it through, even if I’m wrong. 🙂
villain. snake boots say it all.
A villain with a beard and a man bun in a doublet and snakeskin boots, what an interesting image! Thank-You for the possibilities!
I loved that they called it man bun instead of just bun. Is there a man ponytail, too?
It’s a warrior’s wolf tail.
-Sokka
😂
Love it!
I had the same picture but it was a good guy – young though.
The chin strap beard gives me a villain vibe. The addition of the boots and doublet give an impression of a jackass.
Or he could just be your flamboyant bestie trying out a different style. 🤷♀️
Exactly. Chin strap beard = douche bag.Not necessarily the big bad, but certainly questionable.
yeah, this gives me more “low level flunky” or “questionable contact with necessary information” vibes rather than “mastermind villain”. Someone who has an elevated view of themselves but isn’t actually as important as they think they are.
“Someone who has an elevated view of themselves but isn’t actually as important as they think they are.”
yes, exactly!! they’re trying too hard to look like more than they are.
+1
seconded
For me – if he has the pompadour or angular fringe, definitely a bad guy in disguise. Especially in snakeskin boots with that over the top doublet. All other hairstyles lend themselves to friend or even MC energy. Actually, side part is definitely the older, wiser guide person. Because I fail to imagine someone in snakeskin wearing a side part or someone with a side part wearing those things.
Yeah, I feel like we need to know which hairstyle to decide. It makes a difference! But I’m suspicious of the man bun as well…… 🧐
Undercover occassionally morally ambiguous guy who is best friend of hero but might betray them for reasons, especially because he gets caught up in their choices and almost become a villain by the toward the end of the series only to realize what they have done and change their ways. Hmmm, perhaps I am speculating about a certain former security chief turned beast lord. 🙂
I went straight to undercover too. Insufficient data! You really can’t tell who someone is here until you’ve had some interactions with them. Appearance is unreliable. And even with more data, not everyone presents their authentic self for your consideration.
Exactly. The answers say more about the readers than they say about reality.
A friend, for sure. You should always make friends with the eccentric ones!
Regarding the description of minor vs. major characters, I do find that sometimes the description ruins my surprise. I can tell who is going to be more relevant in the story based on the fact that the author added more description to that character. In a romance, the first male character that has a lot of description is often the lead – so I miss out on developing my interest in the relationship along with the characters since I already know that’s where it’s going.
He’s going to be like Roman. A charming guy with a dark side. But you can depend on him.
I bet he’s hot 🥵!
He looks like a character that the BDH will request gets their own book .. lol 😂 boots, doublet of black and gold and beard make me think morally ambiguous rogue type
+1 Hahaha! Can you think of ANY character from HA that we wouldn’t want another book?!
Snape.
Seven books to find out.
Just saying.
Love this comment!
love this
Hmmm… that person could be friend or foe, either is equally possible imo, but he’ll look fabulous either way! LOL
One of my personal pet peeves is when the author doesn’t properly describe a main character. I tend to notice that omission right away as I picture the people in my mind’s eye when reading. Even something simple like “he was a thin, pale male with blond hair” gives me *something* to go on!
Quirky (but deadly) metrosexual friend. For some reason, David Beckham keeps popping up in my mind!
And now I’m wondering if David Beckham is a spy. That’d be a good cover.
Interesting.
Never really had dissected things that way.
Food for thought.
Rich, well dressed/groomed. Probably meticulous and enjoys having people look at his appearance while he looks a little deeper into them, hides his intelligence. Might be an ahole too, but could still be a good guy with grey morals.
The doublet and the snake boots together don’t scream hero or friend of. Also not polished enough to be a worthy bad guy. I’m thinking a person that has knowledge that may be for sale to either side for the right price.
Depends on cultural context, does everyone wear boots and doublets? If not, he’s a poser.
Even if so, these boots and the doublet are flashy. The beard and hairstyles require attention and regular maintenance. So he’s intentional about his appearance but not understated. He wants to be noticed, either because he’s vain and craves attention, or because he wants to be dismissed as a peacock. Or both?
Hero’s vain, silly, sharp-eyed clever friend, or shallow self-important villain – depends on how he acts. As always.
I love that you share this stuff with us!
+1
Could this be a Gaston outfit? Or is it not flashy enough…
The beard automatically makes him evil. For proof, I refer you to Evil Spock from the Star Trek episode “Mirror, Mirror”.
This!
😂👍
I liked Spock with a goatee!
I don’t think that’s a comprehensive list of hair styles. Where’s the mullet? The long Elvin hair? The Picard bald head? (Or Telly Savalas for the older folk.)
the search term was short mens hairstyles after all
never mind. I haven’t had enough tea this morning. smushed hair and short beard together.
Snakeskin boots might say bad guy, but w the doublet & beard I’m leaning kick ass good guy.
This discussion also makes me realize that, for authors I read a lot, I sometimes unconsciously frame a character based on what I know about all of that author’s other characters because they have types, and I can often pick out who this character will be in the story based on that.
I noticed it with an author I used to read when I was younger. Her heroes we always angsty and conflicted. Two guys showed up together. One was broody and the other was charming. I knew the conflicted guy would be the love interest.
So true
Friend of the hero. I see this person as the Doc Holliday to Wyatt Earp… the balance to the hero’s focus.
If I am mistaken, this will make a cool villain.
How old is this character? The older the person, the more change in the message, for me. Also, are those boots dusty or pristine? Ditto the outfit.
Thanks for the hairstyles link – my auteen is looking for “his” haircut style, and this could be a big help!
Depends on your definition of what a “villian” is. Aren’t all the best characters a little somewhere in between?
Pompadour or side part = villain. Man bun or angular fringe = hero. Undercut or Caesar = could go either way.
snakeskin boots scream villain to me.
but with a doublet, I’m willing to consider charming rogue as well.
Irreverent and quirky friend!
which haircut are you going with? Ceasars is definitely the villian 😉
I’m going to over think this and say snakeskin boots hint at villain, so obviously this _isn’t_ the villain 😉
As another post above mentioned: the age of the character, how worn/new the clothes are, and what kind of world we’re in really makes a difference for how I’d interpret the clothes and therefore the character.
Old guy, dusty clothes, wild westy setting: could be the down on his luck, slightly eccentric, minor comic relief neighbour who acts as a mentor for the MC.
Young guy, shiny new clothing, undergroundy setting: the sleezeball illegal casino owner running a bunch of shady businesses on the side, and something like the tertiary villain that gets his comeuppance courtesy of the second lead somewhere around two thirds in the story.
It really could go either way – but that’s the fun!
Villain, or a not-villain I still don’t like. Snakeskin boots. Just no. No, not ever.
the guy can be both xD
Well, now…I live in a Far West Texas City famous for its cowboy boots. To my experience, a good guy NEVER wears snakeskin boots. Those are reserved for narcos, sketchy salesmen and sleazy lawyers. Soooo, even if this guy were the charming scoundrel friend of the hero, if he’s wearin’ them snakeskin boots, he’s going to turn bad. 😉
But what if it was a snake he had a personal and negative relationship with? I can see a good guy having boots made out of a rattler he personally killed under dire circumstances.
Like Herakles’ famous hydra cowboy boots!
I was going to say like Michael Douglas’ crocodile boots from Romancing the Stone.
a self-important friend or frenemy. thinks he is cool. yet to be seen if he is.
The guy could be either the hero or the villain. He could be a hero that turns into a villain, or he could be a villain that turns into a hero. Or, as others mentioned, he could be undercover as either one.
After doing a lot of calculations today, my head hurts thinking about all the possibilities for this character.
With snakeskin boots and a black and gold doublet, I’d say a villain of the “Prove it, chumps” variety. Or a friend of the hero who’s known as more than a touch odd.
A flamboyant chap, whoever he is.
Anti-hero of course!! They are much more interesting.
I am with chaotisch neutral. Cheeky Bugger Looks out for number one Bit is Not evil per se.
Jeez. Autocorrect is really acting up today. I‘ll try Again: my Money is on chaotic neutral: cheeky bugger looks out for number one, but is Not evil per Se.
Well i tried
OMG,LMAO!! I was just about to google what chaotisch meant! I vote on giving it a place of relevance in our BDH vocab.
Chaotisch is a word! In German! Sorry guys I thought that was made up!
My hubbys side is German/Italian American so I wasn’t being disrespectful 😏
So is shambolic, a synonym, I’m down right discombobulated! Thank you Harpyonline😊
Both. Villain but still a friend of the hero 😉
Might be both…
Although makes me think of a better coifed version of Alan Rickman’s Sheriff of Nottingham 😄
Hmm. I don’t know! That beard says bad guy, the doublet could go either way tho it leans toward an unusual hero, and the boots speak of a sexy, possibly maverick, good guy. The hair style wasn’t specified, and it would weigh in. Any way you cut it, I want to know. I want to read further and I’m gonna keep my eye on this character because I’m very suspicious of him at this point. (It’s probably the beard style.) House Andrews intrigues me with a few pictures. I wanna know the release date of this book!! lol
Edited: I didn’t notice the boots were snakeskin. That changes things. No hero would wear snakeskin.
+1
As a new editor, posts like these are very helpful. I’m glad to know I’m on the right track. Thanks for this.
oh, he’s definitely the hero’s loyal confirmed bachelor friend. that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
well, it’s your story but you know what I meant 🙃
My first impression is poser, possibly evil or evil minion. Chinstrap beard hiding a weak chin. Flashy doublet trying to impress. Snake skin boots? what was he thinking? Come to think of it, could be badly disguised hero minion or wannabe.
with that beard, I really really hope he’s not the hero…
i thought of Teddy Jo – on the surface seen as “bad” but underneath a big ole teddy bear who wants to make money an helps when needed
The snakeskin could also be for the geeky-sidekick-trying-to-be-cool character. Like Joe Pesci’s Leo Getz character in the Lethal Weapon 2 and 3 movies. I could see him wearing snakeskin boots thinking they were really cool. Plus he’d probably have liked the extra inches the heels gave him.
This guy is someone who is working with the hero and this first meeting is some sort of meeting to agree upon the terms of service. The hero needs this character, but he also finds him mildly shallow and annoying because he appears flighty and a bit of a dandy. However, this character will later be revealed to be putting on this air deliberately in order to make people underestimate him, and as the hero realizes this he’ll come to rely on and appreciate this character more.
Wow! You really thought about that.
A dashing red herring love interest who will wind up being a close ally in future storylines after the drama around him settles down. So maybe pseudo-villain at first glance.
he sounds like an interesting fellow either way.
i actually just learned about ostrich leather boots recently, it’s amazing all the random different options out there for things
Ah, the snakeskin boots are not workman boots, they remind me of a sleazy poser. If he’s wearing the doublet with those boots, maybe a gambler, depends on the hairstyle.
Man bun, definitely a vegan, so no to the boots.
Caesar and undercut guy would not be wearing those boots, only combat boots.
Pompadour guy has vans or converse on, no facial hair, he’s too concerned with what’s on top.
That leaves angular fringe and side part, these two definitely on the boots and chin strap but the side part would be more in with a three piece suit. He’s the villain,
That’s just me tho😁
Too funny. Lots of tradies wearing man buns near me and they are all at the fish and chip shops eating hamburgers at lunch time – so no vegans LOL. That’s because they are all surfers, so long hair for surfing (and gorgeous bods to go with the hair) and man buns, high vis shirts and work boots for work hours.
Lol, in my very limited experience with men man buns(? That sounds weird🤣) they’ve been vegans.
Depends on how you write how he walks and the vibes he gives off.
Dark colors and snake skin boots…
Dark colors trigger villain vibes but your setting matters too – is this a tavern?
Is he adventuring? (ie- where and is there a cloak) bc dark patterns and fabrics also don’t show blood or stains as easily so is it a choice of economy.
Now with the snake skin boots… even in sci-fi/fantasy worlds those don’t come cheap. Cow leather is cheap.
So my take and it’s just mine, is that we’ve got a human who is wearing custom drip and can afford grooming.
… i’m hooked bc now I wanna know – what’s his hair like, what’s his voice like, how does (or does he) interact with other characters? That first couple of lines usually tells us what to expect.
For instance – Aragorn – dark threads – dark clothes – good hair = giving serious villain vibes… until…. “that is no trinket you carry”… ahhhh so the ML could have gone all stabby stabby since he knows what the other ML is carrying but didn’t… intriguing who is this guy?!?!? That now no longer gives villain but perhaps morally gray or.. good guy who’s a bad ass… ahhhhhhhh I must read to know.
Giving Jaskier vibes from the Witcher. Character is eccentric, important for plot progression, and offers comedic relief. However, he is not the main character or key to the main plot.
oh valley of plenty *sings
In disguise!!
Gaston. 😂❤️
The beard and the flashy clothes say villain, or if he’s a friend then he’s the disreputable friend who you always end up stumbling out of a bar with at some wrong-end-of-daylight hour but who has had your back in ways you don’t talk about so your spouse roundly disapproves of him and you probably have arguments about him visiting. Or he’s a new-money millionaire.
Villain.
Or friend of the hero who used to do bad things, but now is working toward redemption.
I didn’t know that hair cut was called “Ceasar”….
….my work hair style is “side part”
Also! potential lover is my answer
Hmmm… Snakeskin boots, black and gold doublet, and chinstrap beard. Regardless of hairstyle he’s trying WAY too hard.
Could be a revenge-villain who doesn’t understand why everyone laughs at him and wants to “make them all sorry.”
More likely a foil to the hero trying to puff himself up to seem as bad-ass as his friend.
maybe he’s the plucky comic relief?
Always very fun to see what you are researching. Although I’ve never come even close to guessing I’d go with the hero in undercover mode or else his sidekick.
Looking forward to the big entrance…..
based only on the chin strap beard image, I would have gone with villain, snake snake, could go either way (as a herp specialist ecologist = always the villain) but the times the books are set in, could mean that its the normal for the available resources for that place.
Evil and conflicted about it….
I skip so many descriptions – if it is a long description about a room, or a forest, or the weather, (or, especially a sex scene🙄), I’ll just keep flipping pages until the book gets back to the plot. Clothing details? Don’t care. Color of skin? Probably not important, and please don’t describe it in food terms. Maybe I miss some nuance, but nothing is more boring to me.
+1
I love reading both your post – which really gets me thinking – and the posts – which really get me laughing.
I would have KILLED for that doublet when I was young (I’m 63). I wasn’t much interested in fashion but I liked what I liked – especially texture. In my late teens I wore a long line button up vest over a lacy blousy sleeved shirt, with tights and wide knee high suede boots – and other weird things. I wasn’t a villain or particularly interested in showing off. I just didn’t care, or really notice, if others weren’t impressed. And they mustn’t have been. I’d be seriously bullied online now but I’ve always been stubborn so it probably wouldn’t have changed things.
So I’d say could be someone young working out their style. Could be someone older having settled into their style. Must have the bod to carry off the style so probably reasonably (at least) athletic (more a horseman than a swimmer – no giant shoulders). But not expecting to have to put himself out because while there is plenty of room to swing the arms, that neckline is pretty tight for someone who might need to get lungs full of air while jumping around. Unless it’s super stretchy tech – or spelled.
Can’t pick morals from presentation – ask any good con person or politician.
^this^ My off-duty style in my college years – which lasted a decade, if we’re being honest – was almost diametrically opposed to my style now (although the work clothing is pretty much the same).
And the last line above is gold.
Ha! I was actually thinking that if I saw a person dressed like this I would almost think that since they are dressed sooo very conspicously, they wouldn’t be able to get away with anything, so they must be a good guy!
In real life the people who look the most normal are the ones who do the most damage. Its only in movies and comics that ‘super villians’ dress to be noticed.
On a side note… the most interesting thing to me about this post is the realization that the visual image gives me a different vibe than the words do.
As I said, if I saw a guy with the outfit depicted by the pictures, Id think, at worst, overcompensating. Mostly I’d just think ‘Hey wheres the costume party?’ So cultural setting makes a huge difference. Assuming the culture accepts doublets as normal, I would think this person was overly flamboyant, but not necesarily evil.
However…
If I read the phrase ‘snakeskin boots’ I automatically think skeezy sleezball. Add in the phrase ‘black and gold doublet’ and Im all aboard the self centered asshole train. It wouldn’t even matter what the setting was, what the cultural dress code norms are, or what other descriptors are attached to the person. In my mind, a character who is described as wearing a black and gold doublet and snakeskin boots is definitely a villian.
Probably.
I don’t know which but they sound like at pretty interesting person!
I don’t know, but I’m picturing him with the man bun.
Chin strap beards are pretty villainous!
I’m thinking the Texas Scarlet Pimpernel, but probably because I just proofread my son’s essay about that book for his high school English class. (As foppish as Sir Percy is, I cannot see him in snakeskin boots but the shirt and hair – absolutely.)
I just had “They seek him here. They seek him there. They seek him everywhere. Those Frenchies seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven or is he in hell? That damned fool Pimpernel.” going through my head just now. I may have gotten the last sentence wrong. It’s been a long time since I saw the movie. 🙂
Speaking of men’s hair – I started watching Blossoms in Adversity and I LOVE it. Gu Zanxi is a beautiful man, and his hair is FABULOUS!! Thanks for the rec. Hua Zhi is a badass, also.
My immediate impression is someone supremely confident, a little flashy, but very comfortable within his own skin. He doesn’t read either good or bad just yet, or maybe he’s human, a bit of both.
The very first thing that came to my mind reading this was the song “Who do you love?”(The George Thurgood cover “) A rowdy friend of the main character would be my guess
Only villains wear snake skin boots
What about Jewel of the Nile? Croc granted, but close.
The quick with a joke, heart of gold, tragic past, uses humor to keep everyone at arm’s length, ride-or-die best friend of the hero.
Totally. Aramis from the 3 Muskeeters. To. A. T. Don’t forget vain. LOL.
Chin. Strap. Beard.
That’s never a good thing. He’s got a weak chin and he’s vain enough to try to draw a chin on using facial hair.
Based on the beard, the clothes are further evidence of vanity.
A villain but not the big bad. Someone who isn’t as tough as he thinks he is.
Look, there’s no way to know if the character leans evil or saintly until we know the hair color. It’s the law.
This! A golden blond chin strap beard is a completely different thing than a black as night chin strap beard!
And I cant stop giggling over the idea of a grey chin strap beard…
+111
This guy is definitely cute! But vibes of friend or foe could be either way for me.
Oooh, I think the snakeskin boots are for the rebellious good guy. I’m a beard girl, so OK by me, but think the chin-strap beard has to be rough-upped a little by wearing the cool sunglasses.
For the love of God, please, no man bun. Please, please, please.
Oh, and I may get flamed for this, but if it’s even in the idea stage can we keep the tattoos to a minimum? All the rugged heroes these days seem to have tons of ink and I have to admit, I just don’t get it.
Chin Strap Beard=Villian or sleazeball of some sort. The doublet counteracts somewhat but combined with the boots definitely questionable character.
Is it me or does Angular Fringe guy look like Zayn Malik?
Actually all 6 pics basically look like a boyband
🤣😂🤣,boyband😂🤣😂! Maybe they’re called Totally Squared🤣
Obviously, the beard is fake, and the short hair style (either undercut or angular fringe) helps draw attention to the hair instead of the more delicate face. Slender build, with the flashy doublet and boots also there to draw attention. It’s a young woman masquerading as a young man, because women can not easily move within that society in the ways she needs to enact her revenge for the trauma that has set her on this journey. Meeting and interacting with the hero, she will use him (she thinks) to help her mission, but through these interactions she will start to re-evaluate where she is and where she is going.
That’s a good one
So fun and interesting to see the searches and read BDH’s comments. I’m in the camp that reads snakeskin boots as a sign of villainy – and man buns seem a bit fussy for a masculine guy for me. But also that the character may choose this appearance to mislead. A type of spy, perhaps?
Tiapet, you and I were both posting at the same time….type of undercover spy it is! 😂
Not the chin strap beard (or any other no-mustache full-sided beard)! As someone who lives in Amish country this style evokes an instant relationship with the Amish/Mennonite community. Not bad, but it would influence my impression of the person. Are they formerly Amish and retained the style? Are they not Amish but want to give the impression of being so?
Can I just say that I am always impressed by the BDH’s creativity and imagination, shown so beautifully by the ability to imagine so much after viewing just a few pictures? Makes me proud to be a member! 😁
Also, I’m going with Villain’s foppish sidekick who ends up being the Hero’s Best Friend who is currently undercover gathering intel for the Hero! 😂
Snakeskin boots reminds me of that dude from the Winchester in Shaun of the Dead. Ole Snake Hips lol.. just a single, middle-aged man who tries to pick up women everywhere he goes. He drinks alcohol, but he’s not sloppy about it. He’s fairly intelligent but nothing to write home about. He’s not actually corrupt. But his morals are flexible and usually follow the path of least resistance 🙂
Ha! Cowboy boots, a doublet, chinstrap beard and a pompadour =
Nerd at Comic Con.
It depends on how your choices are combined with our opinions. Besides, I bet you probably meant more like renaissance boots, which would change everything.
The snake skin boots say villain to me. That doublet – it’s too beautiful for the boots, too subtle, and would make me think twice about the man in front of me wearing it with those scary boots. I like the high man bun. As for the fringe beard – very few men have the right face for a beard to make them look better, fringe beard included. I never liked them until I saw Lee Min Ho in one at the very last scene in “The Good Doctor” on VIKI. He was handsome and clean shaven during the series and the fringe beard skyrocketed him into Godlike territory. Sigh.
Anyway, if I saw a probably handsome man dressed like that, I’d be very cautious of him. I’d assume he knows martial arts or his face would look like a lumpy mask from all the other men picking on him for the way he dressed. And why dress like that if he isn’t looking for a chance to hone his skills?
He has money to buy a wardrobe like that, so he is probably well educated. If he knows magic, he could be one dangerous opponent. I’d sneak out of the inn and find another one to stay at, but I prefer comfort and don’t want to pick other peoples brains out of my dinner before eating.
The rest of you can hang around and see if you live through the encounter – even onlookers can die horrible deaths just by being near a brawl. But I’m also a coward. Have fun!
It’s either Gaston or Travis Kelce. Either one could carry it off. Of course it is someone I’ve never met, but the description would work for either.
If he has a man bun with that chin strap beard and those boots? He’s just chaos. May help, may hurt- but always in for himself! If someone puts some effort into him and his character, maybe an ally in a book or two though…
Whoever he is he is fancy
i Just Looked Up Roman’s? First appearance, friend of the Hero in book two
Both, bring them both on!
Snakeskin boots. Very nice. Though I would have gone with the Cowboy heel and not the Stockman as pictured. The Cowboy heel just makes the boot more comfortable to wear. And ride with. Slips in and out of the stirrup really nicely. All three of my boots have Cowboy heels, though back in the day when I bought them they were called Rider heels. And Stockmans were Ropers. I guess it’s been a minute.
Kevin in Albuquerque
And just for a touch of reality, Blake Shelton wears snakeskin boots. Just sayin….
My initial gut feeling, based on the boots alone, is that I don’t like the guy. A snake has been killed for the sole reason of someone wearing flashy boots. The wearer of the boots is the kind of person who thinks that looks cool. I know nothing of the hero but the wearer of the boots is going to have an uphill struggle to make me respect them.
Sounds Like an Aramis type to me. Flashy, memorable, sense of humor but loyal to the core.
One with side part, one angular fringe, and a half dozen man buns to go, please …
I think he’s fake-nice and will screw the hero over before all is said and done.
“Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
(sorry couldn’t resist…)
OMG, that’s hilarious! But he doesn’t check any of the boxed hair styles. 🤪
Patinkin’s wig was long enough to tie into a man-bun?
I’m going with friend of the hero. I like heroes (and company) who are bit edgy.
As a reptile lover, snakeskin boots shout villain to me — perhaps a male version of Cruella de Vil. I’d have a terribly hard time taking such a character seriously as a hero, unless he’s some sort of exterminator of magically evil serpents…but with that beard? uh, just no…
Good guy with bad guy tendencies? IA is notorious for making what could be considered evil into semi-good or just misunderstood and vice versa. I totally get Edge or Maggie vibes whomever they are.
could go either way. could be a sly bad guy. otherwise more likely a good guy with that sharp jaw line. the guy playing eddy haskell became a cop.
i would base this entirely on which short hairstyle you picked. – like in my mind ( im a cis gendered straight black girl and damn near 40) I always defer to a classic fade. That feels like normal dude. once you start adding in chin straps and anything with mustaches, esp longer ones I start getting suspicious.
This guy? With the snakeskin boots, the chinstrap beard, and the doublet? He’s dangerous. Whether hero or villain, he is dangerous, and in my book with that facial hair, potentially devilishly good-looking. He’s a bad boy to the bone. It remains to be seen if that bad boy has an honorable sense of morals, or is a functional sociopath who gets what he wants by knowing how people tick. I am so here for more. Just a few thoughts as another humble member of the Book Devouring Horde.
If the guy has a man bun to go with that doublet and cute beard.. friend. He’s way too cute to be a villain in my book… though I do like the bad boys! hehe
My vote is for a morally grey sidekick. 😉
why am I screaming pirate when it’s more cowboy? but still, pirate! also my next fictional crush.
It’s giving younger Linus Duncan. So morally ambiguous potential ally?
snake leather boots and a chin strap beard? totally a bad guy/mid boss vibes.
Caesar cut ugh, villain, others are fine. He is too pretty to be the villain lol. And I’d wear the doublet! Or George! Big no to those boots, but I can’t stand to wear them, so I’m biased. And no to that doublet paired with those boots. Says no taste in clothes.
I suppose the apple description is a great hook for some, but I just went, huh, wth. It did not draw me in, tho very well written.
At first glance the outfit and boots, he appears a bit cocky and full of himself. Could be friend or foe depending on the situation. The beard makes me think he either thinks of himself as a bad ass or he is hiding his face. Can’t wait to hear him talk: trash talk, sarcasm, grandiosity, plain speaking (how interesting is the anticipation). That will be the true test of impressions.
I think that the boots don’t go with the doublet.
Villain. If he’s the hero’s friend, he’ll likely overshadow him unless the hero is really something.
Clean boots =villian.
Dirty worn boots = hero’s best friend.
Easy.
I think minor villain- chin strap beard — seems like a vanity beard. To me looks ridiculous… like you have an invisible helmet
Wow, who knew so many beard styles? I think the short tailored beard could either be bad guy or a hot good guy, it could go either way (to me.)
Snakeskin boots sound villainous to me.
Interesting friend of the hero wuth interesting connections in low places… I sense a country song coming on… lol
I’m going with hero woman in disguise.
The speculation in the comments are so fun to read!
Chaotic Neutral
With that beard he’s the villain. Or Michael Douglas because of the boots.
Hope you’re doing well.
Villain. I don’t like the beard. Pretentious. The rest is too flashy.
While reading your books I’ve had thoughts of the police ever read your browsing history they’d think you were a serial killer. Poison, knives, death.
With a chin strap beard he has to be the comic relief!
I’ve no opinion on the character. But re listening to Innkeeper and the amount of description of Gertrude Hunt certainly underlines she is a character on her own. Maybe we need a book from her POV.
Chin strap beard? By itself, I’d say weak villain, because most people look awful with them.
Friend with an accent