I need help with Raphael

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

So I was talking to a good friend of mine about Raphael. It came to my realization that he is simply not growing or developing and the more I thought about it I realized his problem is that he is not getting over the bad things that happened (being attacked by a Hellbeast, the boy shooting himself, etc)

He is learning that he needs to stop going it alone and to just ask for help. He still hasnt figured out that his actions have consequences that effect others (but it will become painfully clear when his brothers and friends notice he hacked his wings off) but beyond that, I realized he needs some serious help getting out of his corner of bitter misery.

The main point of Raphael hacking his wings of is I wanted him to be as human-like as possible when he gets his powers back. HE did it because he wants to forget he is an angel and it was the only thing distinguishing himself from being human. But considering where he is now I don't see him being entrusted with his powers anytime soon and his current loss of Faith is bordering along the edge of Falling, and I don't want him to Fall.

So.... I am asking if anyone has any idea for how I can develop his character a little better. His part in the Dreamstone finale helped him realize that he didn't need powers to be able to help, and his recent conversation with Joe put him in his place about his negative view of humans (who saved his life, after all) and his friendship with Rose has helped him come out of his shell.

Raphael is my first RPC, so I know I'm still learning things, but unlike Raphael, I am very much willing to ask for help <3
  

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_silverfox/]

Hm ... I'd like Jan to meet him (He needs to meet people. *pushes Jan out of his room* Jan: *looks around nervously then goes to watch TV*), but I'm not sure how helpful he could be. Jan doesn't have a very positive world view either, nor is he likely to notice Raphael's distress unless someone spells it out for him. ... If Raphael ever needs a psychology project, though, Jan might need help getting over the loss of his thumb. (Because the guy without wings is so much less crippled than the one without a right thumb ...)

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

Actually that might work. Does Jan, even with a negative worldview, still continue on or does he wallow in misery pretty much? Because if Raphael can see another that, despite losing a thumb and all, he still got back up and continued, I think it will force Raphael to rethink his attitude.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_silverfox/]

Well ... he has retreated to the safe house for protection as well and he's pretty much convinced that Duncan will kill him the moment he catches him off holy ground ... but he is also going to practise shooting in order to be able to defend himself.

He isn't likely to just tell Raphael about being an immortal, though ... nor to admit that his missing thumb is a problem. After all Raphael might be a threat.

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

This is definately stretching my skills as an RPer, thats for sure! But I'm certainly grateful to be able to.

I think I need to look for opportunities for Raphael to GROW, so that's what I will do. I mean, how will I learn to RP well if I run every time something difficult pops up? I did, unfortunately, make some unwise choices regarding how I played Raphael and it landed me slightly stuck. But this is how ya learn, yes?

And I do think Raphy and Jan need to meet. They can compare and angst over the loss of body parts (though Raphael's was by choice...)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_silverfox/]

hey can compare and angst over the loss of body parts (though Raphael's was by choice...)
Raphael would have to get Jan to open up about that first and I'm not sure he can in the state he himself is in.

Another warning: Jan's not good with people. He might unintentionally/thoughtlessly hurt Raphael's feelings ... or even intentionally, if he gets defensive.

And something we should clear up before they meet. Jan is a doctor, has been for centuries. Would Raphael know/sense that? Would he actually already know Jan through his function?

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

Just getting something about bad decisions in the beginning of RPing out of the way before of the real post: when I started RPing first I managed to make my character a virgin who didn't know much about the birds and the bees. That was in 2003 and I've cursed and blushed and ranted a lot but I still like that character and I'm still playing her - and yes, she got rid of the virginity in those years. Her other little quirks stayed...

So now to the real topic: the only thing I can think of is that they start talking and Rose tells him her history. About the religious fanatic who killed two members of her pack and injured her father as well as the criminal nephew of the fanatic who poisoned her twin brother. About being separated from her pack for her own health but agains her will. About escaping the London pack and starting to travel.
I don't know if it would help him that others have a rough life as well and still go on.

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

Yes! I think that would definately help get a good start on his attitude. Especially coming from Rose, his friend who trusted him.

I also have a feeling he is very much going to seriously regret hacking his wings off, especially when those he cares about start to react to it.

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

Then I suppose they'll have to leave the stage of cuddling sometime in the future. Maybe when she meets him again after he hacked of his wings. She'll be devastated. And she might suspect Belial of doing it...

[cattygabriel]

WHY DOES EVERYONE HATE BELIAL. XD

He hasn't even done anything yet in the Manor! In fact, he's making everyone a nice dessert. So really, he would like to protest his innocence.

... not that it doesn't greatly amuse me, that he's just stepped inside and doesn't even have to DO anything to wreak havoc.

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

He frightened Raphael, so he must be the bad guy. AND he's a demon. So of course her first thought when she sees Raphael's wings have been hacked off will be that Belial got to him...

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

Awwww don't worry, Raphael is honest. He may be terrified of Belial but he wouldn't let someone believe something that didnt happen about him.

Haha I just got a mental image of Adam firmly reminding Belial of the rules and Raphael coming to set things right. "No no, you got it all wrong... Belial didn't break any rules. He hasn't even tried to hurt me. I cut off my own wings, by my own choice. He had nothing to do with it!"

(at which point Raphael realizes two things: that he just stuck up for a demon with the power to goo-ify him, and that the words coming out of his mouth hurt those who had cared about him. Hmmmmmm)

[cattygabriel]

I doubt the Crowns have the power to goo-ify a normal angel, let alone Raphael.

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

Raphael right now is not even at the power level of a Guardian angel. That's why he's so terrified. If a Hellbeast nearly destroyed him when he still had some powers, then now, when his powers are completely gone he is even more vulnerable. He's only now barely holding on to his faith and even that has been faltering.

[cattygabriel]

D:! *hug*

[lordofsin]

This is me saying this, not Belial. XD

I realise Raphael purrs when he is happy, and it's somewhat cute at first. However, it's practically his standard reaction to all things pleasurable. While it's nice that you have your character's physical tics down, their reaction to certain things, there probably needs to be some variety. Having him purr all the time is a bit odd. Try toning it down. He could laugh, glow, whatever; of course, since purring is part of who he is, don't take it away completely.

Also, you need to explain things like why he does the things he does. For instance, cutting off his wings; do not have him do something only as a plot point if it's out of character for him, and make sure that his thought process is, while not spelt out exactly, at least clear enough for the reader to follow what's happening. I had to e-mail you to find out why he hacked off his wings when nothing especially bad happened.

It's something I still struggle with myself, making a character's thought process clear, because you as the writer know exactly how their mind works but the reader does not.

And remember not to godmod; don't decide too many details about the other character, like their clothes or details of their bedrooms or physical state, without first checking with them. ;)

Mostly though I think you have quite a good grasp of him and you have plans for his character growth i.e. learning to trust people and accept help, that I look forward to seeing play out. <3

And if you want to crit Gabriel or Belial, you can do so here for Gabriel and here for Belial. <3

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

Godmoding...? I remember saying something about Michael's scars, but in the thread with the dinner Gabriel had mentioned them so I thought it would be okay. And the thing with the window by his bed came because in the thread where Gabriel goes to get Michael to help Raphael, he mentions seeing a humminingbird and then it goes on to say it floated in to land on his pillow. But anyway, I'll try to be more careful (oh wait, did you mean Gabriel's kitchen getting remodeled? Because that was just fic, totally AU).

I'll try to fix the purring. Sometimes I start to say he's beaming (literally) or his aura brightened, but then I remember he doesn't have his inner light. So I resorted to purring to show he was happy. And being an animal-lover I thought him having picked up a few things -like the purring, or snuggling beneath a sunbeam, hoarding chocolate, perching in a tree- would be cute. But if its starting to annoy then it isn't cute now is it XD

Yeah I realized when I devasted everyone within a five-block radius that I should have re-thought his reason for hacking off his wings. Hopefully as the dinner progresses the thought process that led to him doing that will be clearer and I can always edit that beginning post with a flashback or something if need be :3

Yeah, I'm still learning the basics of Role-Playing... It is very different from writing a novel - you know by my fiction how I tend to take a plot and stretch it out over how many chapters, and holes that were opened towards the beginning don't make sense until chapters later when they finally close. Role-playing is a very different thought process and its excersizing a part of my writing skills that I've never had to use before. I find it fun, though I feel kinda bad when I screw up... But at least you guys are nice about it when you correct me, so no complaints there! <3

Anyway, thank you for your crit, it is greatly appreciated! <3

[lordofsin]

(XD You can decide whatever you want in your own fic, dear <3 )

If he was completely stripped of his inner light and the Divine Presence, without a halo, he'd be practically Fallen. He should have some Presence, at least, and so be fully capable of glowing. ;) Don't cut out the purring completely, though, it's already part of who he is. I know Gabriel has a couple of catlike qualities; he curls up like a cat in chairs sometimes, he can be aloof depending on mood etc.

:D

It is, because you're interacting with other characters and you don't always know how they'll react. ;) I was new to RP last year too and everyone was really nice. <3

<3

[norseloki.livejournal.com]

Brie, kindly remember you do not just set the rules. Right now we have no definition of "Falling" or the causes and effects.

[lordofsin]

I was under the impression Falling meant, you know, this complete separation from God and His Presence, and since so far all the angel players have been following a similar idea in their fic and RP, I thought it was part of canon. I apologise. :(

Still, I can't quite picture an angel still in Grace having no Presence...

[norseloki.livejournal.com]

Well, as you yourself said - you can do whatever you want in your fic ;)

If committing a deadly sin requires, according to Christian canon, knowledge and consent - you need to know you are committing it and you need to WANT to commit it, I would assume that Falling for an angel requires that bit of exercise of will as well. Definitely a ppoint we should clear up.

[lordofsin]

XD

That would be the cause, yes, with separation from God as a consequence. Should I make a post for all the angel players, asking for a consensus on this?

[angelofawesome.livejournal.com]

All I have to say is that the nice thing about Michael and Aziraphale and their relationships with Raphael is that when he does things that are kinda off, they'll tell him xDDD So pay attention what they're saying. Like that one thread when Belial showed up, Michael was standing RIGHT THERE and Raphael still ran away, and while Michael was like "WTF is he doing?", so was I xD; I can understand Raphael being afraid of Belial while he's so weak, but why didn't he go to Michael? Michael's his boss, his brother and the resident demon-smiter, so there was no place safer, so it struck him and me as odd.

But still, you're a joy to play with and Raphael is so cute I want to pinch his cheeks about as much as I want to smack him upside the head <3 And it's very clear and wonderful that Raphael is starting to learn and grow <3 <3

[norseloki.livejournal.com]

Then AGAIN, Michael popped into a thread there, thereby ruining the course we'd set out for it before, so confusion on part of the players is, in that case, quite understandable... Which also prompted the introduction of the "full" tag to mark threads into which, for the moment, no additional players should pop into but well - we didn't have that at the time.

So I *think* Raphael's panicking and flying off in that case is at least partially an attempt of saving our previously planned meeting between Raphael and Jarod. Which worked.

[norseloki.livejournal.com]

I gave you most of my thoughts on the topic in email, so not going to repeat myself here beyond saying that in my opinion there's no need to rush things. Not *that* much time has passed in-game after all. Having Rapahel go from depressive to perfectly happy and content within two weeks would have been kind of frightening.

While I agree with the point on making his thoughts more clear, I'd like to send a little note to everyone here regarding the overplaying of certain character traits and habits:

Most of you do that with one thing or another. While in one situation or another that may be a bit annoying to read, it's not unusual for this kind of roleplaying. We aren't writing every minute of our characters' lives, only bits and pieces, a glimpse here, a glimpse there. We don't have a long, continuous story with lots of scenes thrown in for the fun or additional info, etc.etc.
We just show these little tidbit scenes here that are bound to be important one way or another, so very often the characters also get boiled down to their essence. It's something that generally happens often in roleplaying, more often in games like this one where you DON'T account for every moment of the character's life, as you would in pen and paper. I certainly have the highest respect for those players who can do from the start without overplaying a certain trait or group of traits in a character without making the character seem to lack cohesion. They're few and far between. I personally see it as the "normal" thing to happen with any inexperienced player, and in my experience, it's something that disappears all on its own as the players gain experience and confidence. Also if you go back through the threads, - and I'm not talking of Raphael here, but of the characters in general - you will probably notice that the more threads are connected into a logical whole, the less the characters' most distinctive traits are overplayed. We'll get a new plot when I've finished with my current Mammoth Project, and I should hope that one will give everyone ample opportunity for playing other than isolated threads.