Have this character profile questionnaire while you wait for the next update! Enjoy! ;-D
Character Profile Questionnaire - Hal:
Character: Henry "Hal" Plantagenet V.
Age: 16.
D.O.B: 16th September 1996.
Based off of: Henry V of England- born 16th September 1386.
Appearance: As a teen, he looks a lot like Tom Hiddleston's Prince Hal from the BBC TV series: "The Hollow Crown". He looks a bit like Kenneth Branagh's version when he's older - the hairstyle, mainly.
Occupation: King of Lancaster - his father's lands - and of England.
Greatest Flaw: Well, considering that this story isn't over yet, and there will most likely be sequels to this one, I'd say that Hal's greatest flaw at this point in time is his desperation to live up to his father's name, and in doing so, his shutting out those that he holds dear.
Greatest Asset: His loyalty towards his Yorkist friends, even though his father told him fiercely to stay away from them.
What do you know about this character that they do not yet know?: How good he will be as a king. How long he will reign for. How many children he will have, what they will be called, and who will succeed him.
If this character could be someone else, who would they be?: Probably Mercutio, his closest friend, or Falstaff, one of his other closest friends.
Why?: Well, because, for instance, both Falstaff and Mercutio aren't ashamed to act out of line, or to indulge in freedom. Basically, they can pretty much do what they want without worrying about getting told off, and also because they don't really mind breaking the rules, and don't care about getting told off. Hal doesn't have that freedom, and so I'd think he'd relish being able to do that publicly in front of people, rather than having to hide away.
Who does this character trust the most?: Probably his brothers, John, Thomas and Humphrey, and his wife, Kate.
Favourite music?: Rock, probably. He'd love Queen, I think.
Least favourite music?: Rap, most likely. That, or punk music.
Most devastating moment so far?: The death of his father, Henry IV, and becoming King so soon at the age of sixteen - I know it said eighteen in Chapter 34, but his birth date now aligns with him being sixteen - especially with the plans I have for him... He'll be seventeen soon anyway, and I'll rewrite some of the chapters for this to make more sense to you all, as well.
Favourite person/s?: Mercutio and Kate. Definitely.
Secret wish: That he could live life as a normal person, not as a King.
Greatest fear: That he will be a terrible king, and that everyone will hate him and force him to abdicate like Richard II had been by Henry Bolingbroke (Hal's father).
Secret/s: He was abused by his father - physically and emotionally - because he was viewed as a disappointment to his house.
Why?: Because he would act wild with his friends and get drunk, party and sleep around most of the time.
Regrets: That he could never please his father in the way that he wanted to, nor could he act like the perfect son that his father wanted him to be.
How would other people describe them?: Loud, funny, mischievous, friendly, outgoing, quick tempered, secretive, depressive.
Who depends on him?: His kingdom, quite literally! His wife, his brothers, sisters, mother- his entire family, basically.
Who does this character wish to please the most?: For his entire life, his father, and even after his father has died, Hal still wishes to please him. He also wishes to please his kingdom, his family, and especially his wife - who he feels he doesn't deserve.
If this character could choose the gender of the child they would have first, what would they pick?: A boy. Definitely a boy - not that he wouldn't mind a girl, but because he is a king, and needs an heir to cement his rule, he REALLY needs a healthy son to succeed him and to keep his house in power.
Describe his father: Henry IV, King of England (his Lancastrian lands anyway...). A cold, emotionally detached sort of man. Struggles to show affection to his family, though he does love them with all of his heart. Though Hal is reckless and embarrassing as an heir, Henry IV does hold him as his pride and joy in his heart, though he wishes secretly that he could show it more to him. His relationship with his son is also strained because Hal holds a grudge against him for divorcing his mother - though he does get on very well with his stepmother, Joan.
Describe his mother: Mary de Bohun, cares deeply for her son, despite the fact that she is no longer permanently living with his father - divorced when Hal was eight - and wishes that she could see him and his siblings more often. As shown in Chapter 19, she stays once a year for Christmas Day but has to §leave before tension builds up between her and Henry IV.
Where would he prefer to live?: In England, with Kate and their future children, but as far away from Middleham as possible. Either that, or somewhere secluded in France.
Where does he fall in birth order, and how does this affect him?: Hal is the eldest child and son of Henry IV. This means that he is his father's heir to every land and title he owns. This has ended up placing a lot of pressure on him, as he wants to be able to do the things that he wants to, but cannot because his life dictates that it cannot be so. Hal has known about his future role as King since he was a child, and though he accepts it, and other ways wants it, he also loathes it. He wants to be free, but cannot, and yet he also wants to desperately please his father and his future subjects, which has placed a lot of emotional damage on him.
What is this character's birth date? How does this character manifest traits of his astrological sign?: Hal was born on the 16th September 1996. This makes him a Virgo, which means that he is loving, susceptible, sympathetic, sensual, faithful, instinctive, charitable, over-reactive and moody. As he is born in the third class of Virgo (September 15th-23rd) he is the most sensual of the Virgos as Venus, his co-ruler, brings out this side of his nature. Remaining young and pleasure seeking is far more appealing to him than growing old gracefully. Life for him is to be lived to the fullest according to the third Virgo class.
Hal clearly shows these traits: he is loving, sympathetic, over-reactive, moody, susceptible mainly, and he definitely wants to live life to his fullest. His problem, however, is that he clearly can't live his life to the fullest in the way that he wants to because of his ascribed status which puts a lot of strain on him.
Favourite movie?: Probably 'Hot Fuzz'.
Least favourite movie/s: Probably films that are totally wrong in historical facts like 'Braveheart'.
Favourite TV show?: Probably CSI shows - action-packed with cars.
Least favourite TV show/s: Probably all those mid-1990-2000s kids shows he had to watch on TV as a kid.
Most embarrassing moment?: At the age of 14, he snuck into houses to steal items of clothing. He didn't realise until the light switch had been turned on that he'd snuck into Warwick's mansion and had in his hands a very revealing pair of undergarments. Let's just say he was in detention for a LONG time.
Proudest moment so far?: Beating his cousin, Edouard, in Sports day in every single race at the age of 16.
Greatest hope/s?: 1. That he will defy all odds and be a worthy successor to his father and prove to everyone - mainly the Yorkists and his own family - that he is worthy to rule his house. 2. When he has children, he wants to be the greatest father possible to them - he doesn't want to be like his father was to him.
Greatest ally/ies?: At this moment in time, his cousins: Harry and Tudor, and his wife.
What would they do if they had one month left to live?: Go AWOL and have a cruise around the Tropics with his wife and friends, ideally. He would write a letter of apology to all those he's wronged in the past and present and write a will to pass everything he owns onto his cousins, Harry and Tudor, who are his named heirs at the moment.
Counterpart/s?: 1. Ned: Tall, strong, athletic, a warrior, both Hal and Ned are the heirs to their fathers' lands and are very similar in temper and personality. 2. Loki: Both are the same in looks and appearance (both are played by Tom Hiddleston in TV and film) and both characters aspire to please their fathers and their loved ones as much as possible.
Siblings: Thomas, John, Humphrey, Blanche, and Philippa.
Greatest regret?: Standing by and letting his mother and father divorce - though he was only 7-8 years old at the time.
What would they change if they could?: 1. His ascribed birth rank - he wouldn't want to be the firstborn. 2. The divorce of his parents. 3. Everything about what his job as King means.
Ideal job: Footballer or rugby player.
What would they never do?: 1. Abdicate: Hal wouldn't ever want to follow in the footsteps of his father's predecessor, Richard II, nor would he ever want to not follow his duty to his family and people. 2. Divorce his wife 0 even if she doesn't give him a son. He loves her too much for that to ever happen.
What angers them the most?: When his family is hurt by others or by himself.
Favourite clothes?: A smart red shirt, hat and black trousers and boots - based off Prince Hal's appearance in the Hollow Crown (2012).
What else do they not know?: Just how much his father did love him and just exactly what he as a King of Lancaster is entitled to (SPOILER EVERYBODY!).
Greatest guilt: At the moment: what has happened to Mercutio, having been his friend for so long and being unable to help him through his psychological ordeal. In his life: allowing himself to go astray and disappoint his father for so many years. Allowing himself to not be there for his mother and his siblings.
Future quote: "I am your father now. You can count on me. I will look after you from now on."
Favourite quote: "I will always look out for you and be here when you need me. That is a promise not as your King or fellow Prince, but as your companion and friend."
Favourite food: Fish and Chips.
Least favourite food: Shepherd's Pie.
Favourite drink: Coca Cola.
Least favourite: Crusha Milkshakes.
Favourite sport/s: Football and rugby.
Least favourite sport/s: Cricket