8 Character Facts Tag - Andrew Thornton

_{Better late than never, well done Para lkasjdkla}

Tagged by ! Thanks hun, hope you enjoy!

- Post these rules. 
- Unveil 8 random facts about your character. 
- Tag 8 other Deviants and one of their characters.



1 I'd felt for quite some time that Andy's character had become rather stagnant. It had plateaued, and I wasn't sure where I wanted to take him. I realised I had a penchant for drawing his eyes sans pupils sometimes, until it had become my preferred look for him. Almost like he was blind.

... <8D

If you feel a character is too boring or perfect, try taking something from them, right? So... I took his sight. Sorry. <8D;; This should explain the blank eyes I've been drawing him with though! _hahaha...;;;

Most of it anyway. Andy isn't entirely blind, but partially sighted (and will constantly remind other characters of that). But, as a front-line fighter, he needs a way of coping with this handicap: 

2 Nanotechnology is a big plot device in RAID (the story from which Andrew originates), and are used by several of the main protagonists and antagonists as a type of offensive or defensive weapon technology. They are injected into the bloodstream, and are a finite resource: they will run out after prolonged use. To easily indicate what type of Nanomachine a person is in possession of, the Nanos change the user's eye colour - because sci-fi bullshit and I love it. <3 They also glow when activated.

Andrew possesses two types of Nanomachines: Tech and Weapon. The Tech Nanos allow Andrew to interface with technology with no need for a direct connection. Basically, he can psychically control technology. This is also how he "sees": he can access nearby cameras, for example, and "see" through the camera's lens. In the plot, he will quickly be given a camera of his own to carry around and use as his eyes whenever necessary. Since every character in the story (aside from the main four, including Andy) carries an implanted computer chip on their person, Andy can always tell when someone's coming by "scanning" the area. This is another way he can parse his surroundings, almost like radar.
_{There are many other intricacies I've figured out about how his sight works but oh god I babble;;;}  



^ Andy with his Tech Nanos in use. He can currently see in full focus, probably through a nearby camera.

As mentioned before, though, the Tech Nanos are a finite resource: they will eventually run out. If Andrew isn't immediately able to inject himself with more Nanos, that's it. His vision reverts back to normal - he's blind again. Uh. Partially sighted.

Furthermore, Andrew is also limited by how much information he's able to absorb in one go. For example, activating his Tech Nanos in a busy, bustling city is an information overload for him (particularly at the start of the plot while he's still relatively untrained in how to filter such a huge influx of information). This can spark a nasty migraine - which makes it very difficult for him to see!


_{oh god old old super old}

His Weapon Nanos look like this! This image explains them in full, but as an added note: these Nanos are special compared to most kinds, as they are Infinite! They don't run out, ever. The enemy faction are very jealous and are still trying to figure out how this was done. Perks of having a scientist dad, I suppose.

3 Alex is now his adopted brother!! Which makes me really happy! They've always been bros, but this extra familial link has given them an even closer bond which has only served to further develop both characters, and I thoroughly enjoy writing it. This also explains Andy's new surname!

4 That collar isn't just an edgy fashion choice. He wears it for a reason: to cover up the Nano Plug on the back of his neck. Alex wears his collar for the same reason! If they're seen with weird-ass looking machines implanted into their necks in public, they're going to be stared at. And quickly arrested. 
_{Nanos can't be injected into just anyone. They're injected through a specific syringe, into this specifically designed Plug, which activates them moments before they enter the bloodstream. If Nanos are injected into a person any other way, they'll be inactivated (Dead) and thus unusable. They will eventually, and uneventfully, pass out of the user's bloodstream! BORING WORLDBUILDING BLAH BLAH BLAH}

5 I've had this character since I was about 9-10 years old. It still feels weird that he's now younger than me. 17 seemed so old back then omg;;;

6 The more he's developed, the less "pronounced" his personality has become haha. I don't think I ever really knew what kind of personality I wanted to give him 100%; previously he was a rather bland nice guy leader-hero type. Now, he's not even the leader of the group anymore - that role is better filled by their strategist, Celcia. And the main character is now Alex, with Andy playing the protagonist role. (The reader sees the world through Alex's eyes; Andy advances most of the plot, thus he's the protagonist.) Andy is better described as the front-line soldier, I suppose.

I feel still have some more work to do in terms of making his personality interesting, but I think he's definitely heading in a direction that I find fun to work with. His backstory includes some rather harsh experiences, including loss, war survival, and enduring military training and conditioning that aimed to sap him of most of his personality and free will - to make him into the greatest soldier possible, and render him utterly dependent on his superiors' commands. A big part of Andrew's character growth, his inner conflict and personal goal, is to regain the humanity he lost during these trials.

So now, he's very quiet, stoic, introspective, and very much a logical thinker - but he's not incapable of being happy, or even funny! Especially with Alex around. <3
(Plus his new-found grumpiness has actually given him far better potential for comedic scenes, especially when he plays off his perennially positive older brother haha xD)

7 He used to have a love interest. Now I struggle to imagine him in a romantic relationship with anyone! Not until his character developers over the course of the plot at least. He's definitely asexual though.

8 Allowing myself to indulge in my nerdy love of music for a moment: I have a tendency to assign instruments and/or a specific sound of music to each of my characters. <; Every story has its own playlist, and I have genres I prefer to keep to for each project; I find it infinitely helpful, and a great source of inspiration, to collect a "soundtrack" for each story. RAID's sound is typically: punk rock for the protagonists, and industrial metal for the antagonists! Andy's music, however, is often a combination of the two! But my personal favourite sound for him is glitch. Tracks like these are particularly to my taste. ovo;; Pretty much anything by Modem haha. <;;

I TALKED A LOT THANK YOU IF YOU READ ANY OF THAT PPFFFFF;;;

I TAG YOU POOR PEOPLE:
- Theodore!
- Q!
- Corryn! (Tag backsies are allowed, right??)
- Trevor you totally saw that one coming didn't you
- Cephateero!
- Ceil I MISS THAT BUTT
_{I don't have 8 friends I
fuck
uhm}
- Iskai!
(shit I hope this is okay) Rani!

_{omg the main reason I procrastinated on this is because I couldn't think of anything to say and now I've TEXT WALLED EVERYWHERE thank you for reading aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa}