In the confusion and the aftermath
You are my signal fire
name: Alexander Cameron
known as: Alex, Midget, Fearless leader
gender: Male
age: Twenty-five
status: Single, asexual
race: Caucasian human
setting: Post-apocalyptic
family: Desmond (father); Sasha (sister)
theme song: "Signal Fire", Snow Patrol
animal equivalent: English shepherd
one word: Brother
Physical
Standing at only about 5'1, Alex is very notably short, a fact which is often the butt of many a joke. If Hitler invaded tomorrow, Alex would probably find himself in a fairly stable position, as white skin, blonde hair, and very blue eyes are all the go, making him look a little younger and more harmless than in actuality. It's not entirely deceiving, however - Alex is not built for fighting at all, as his build is too slim to pack much power behind his attacks. He's fairly quick and nimble, being nice and close to the centre of gravity and all, but he lacks experience and skill, and can be downright clumsy on occasion. His clothing is a mismatched jumble of stuff he's picked up on the way; generally consists of very battered sneakers, cargo pants, a non-holey shirt, and a brown jacket that's just a little too big.
Mental
At first glance he seems innocuous, a nice guy. And, in a way, he is. Alex's initially reclusive and wary nature can make him appear shy to strangers, and more often than not he will fall back on quiet politeness. He generally seems to be quite placid, if alert, with a wry sense of humour and a slightly distant air.
However, when you get closer and he opens up a little more, you'll find it's not entirely the case. There are a number of things that can spark extremely strong, even violent, reactions from the man. He has a deeply protective streak that is normally focussed around one person, but can overlap onto others. This protectiveness is what then defines much of his behaviour. In calmer times it will bring out the decisive, determined Alex that makes safety and security his primary objective, overlayed by a gentle and watchful temperament. A threat to his charge throws him to the opposite end of the scale, bringing to the fore ferocity and a complete disregard for the well-being of himself and anyone else he regards as irrelevant.
Alex is not entirely sane. A traumatic background has imbedded a deep suspicion of all males into him, as well as a strong dislike of most weaponry. In contrast he sees it as his duty to protect females, especially those who display more timid temperaments, and can be unintentionally sexist. He isn't so much protective as overprotective, and in a way is as dependant on his charge as they are on him. Alex is prone to dissociative issues - he has difficulty identifying with emotions and social expectations on occasion - and when put under extreme stress may detach from current reality somewhat.
On the whole, however, he is able to function just fine. He is capable of remaining calm and rational, and while his childhood education was stilted and broken, he's actually quite intelligent. Those he can bring himself to trust will see the weary Alex, the emotionally crippled and easily confused but trying his damned hardest to keep going Alex. That's one thing you can guarantee - even when lost and baffled and fumbling in the dark over what to do, he will try his hardest for you. And that's all you can ask, really.
Author's Note
As is fairly obvious, Alex is one of my most comprehensive - and dearest - characters. Created in a succession of roleplays, he really found his place in a post-apocalyptic RP called Aftermaths, in which he was the struggling leader of a haphazard band of survivors (a position he himself had no idea how he ended up in). He started off as a rather dorky but ultimately sweet character, and gradually morphed into a rather darker version. He's still a bit hopeless, and can still be a bit sweet, but there's no denying Alex is messed up; then again, so are most people wandering around a destroyed city trying to avoid rogue soldiers and crazies. But I love him all the same.
While Alex's fundamental home is that death-stricken wasteland, the general character can be transplanted into other scenarios quite successfully, so if he sounds appealing, don't hesitate to ask.
Related Work
Art
AF Characters - Scayethe
Poker - Scayethe
Sketchiness - Cat
Us At the Park - Absolicious
Alex and Paige - Absolicious
