These are the two central characters of my new project Rini & Butler. The piece really only focuses on the interactions between these two and their development and so there will probably only be brief character sketching of side characters.

Irene Boggan

Irene Boggan hates her name and the world. When she was young, people made fun of her old-sounding name and her surname, ultimately leading to her adopting the name “Rini”. Her parents were murdered when she was only seven-years-old [how is undetermined at the moment]. The system failed her, and she fled to the streets, becoming a runaway that relied on other homeless children. After being deceived one too many times, Rini eventually disconnects from the other runaways, living a life of solitude until it’s interrupted by a robot with a “hero-complex”.

• scratches her head a lot because of dermatology issue as a result of not washing and caring for her hair
• is quick and decisive in movements, very fast and agile
• has very limited education and so poor arithmetic and literacy skills
• is quick to laugh, especially when she is unable to compose her emotions
• tries hard not to but can have bursts of anger and violence when she is overwhelmed
• refuses to accept the murder of her family, instead believes they abandoned her
• doesn’t like anyone getting close to her because they all leave in the end
• has a lot of scarring all over her body from self-harm and serious injuries inflicted during conflicts
• though she hates being told what to do, she yearns for a role model or parental figure, wanting someone to take the reins because she’s exhausted
• she loves to watch the sun and moon set and rise as she feels that they are a reliable constant in her life
• likes salty foods, particularly chips
• doesn’t feel remorseful from stealing from supermarkets but won’t steal from individuals
• won’t admit it but she gets cold easily and often experiences episodes of severe anxiety and sadness during long, cold nights. These often manifest as crying and numbness. She feels lonelier in the cold
• hates the glare of the sun but loves its warmth
• loves rain and storms but will usually run wild in them or in dry areas to keep herself warm and prevent the feelings she associates with the cold

AB34918S5

AB34918S5, also named Aquila by his owner, is a relatively new robot, a top-of-the-line Service 5. Indifferent to his work, he served his owner Klaudia McLorraine without question, until he saw a battered and abandoned Rini curled up next to a dumpster in the industrial area. AB34918S5 decides that his code/law means that he must protect Rini from harm, as Klaudia does not need protecting from anything as a healthy and wealthy woman with several robots. Though Rini resists his attempts to help at first, she renames him Butler and opens up to him.

• though he claims to abide by the law to the fullest extent, he cannot help but wonder if he is subconsciously altering it to enable him to bend it for Rini’s sake
• often approaches Rini with a textbook theory which results in unexpected reactions which he adapts to, finding it more appropriate to think about her an individual
• picks up traits from Rini after long-term exposure, such as witted remarks
• his expressions are normally programmed responses to situations, but he starts to mimic Rini’s rather than program, eventually developing his own understanding of what to express and when
• doesn’t make unnecessary movements, calculating the most efficient ways of moving around or completing tasks
• repeats phrases in the beginning, like ‘I am not capable’ when Rini questions his ability to feel different emotions
• never uses contractions
• though he has a British accent, he can switch at any time, this was just set by his previous owners
• has an underlying fascination with the growth of things, animals and plants more-so than with humans

What do they look like?

So far, only Butler has an established appearance, and even then it’s vague. I have an image of both of them in mind but have been vague to increase the relatability. Rini could almost be anyone. The only feature so far discussed is her height and her brown, loose-curled hair and later the state of her malnourished and scarred body will be introduced. Butler is of a deep grey, with lines of white and black, black hair and eyes that are normally blue and white but often shift. Though he is designed to almost look perfectly human, the idea is that society still wants robots recognised as robots, not so close that people mistake them for being humans.

The image I have of Rini might not make it into the novel because of how I’m writing her, but I see her fairly clearly in my mind. Copper skin, thick, strong bones that make her look less like skin-and-bones. Her frame is small but there is a notable broadness to it that will become more apparent when she is fed properly. Her hair is like a walnut and caramel mix, dark but with almost golden-brown streaks in the sun, giving life to the curls that become more like waves when its long. Face is slightly round, but she has sharp features, which enhances the feline reputation she has. Her nose is broad and her eyes large and slanted. Her lips are thick and very expressive, more-so than her eyes. Her eyes are a much deeper brown, looking like rich amber in the sunlight.

In my head, she’s leaping off of something, or just jumping as she cascades down the mountainside, a cheeky grin on her as she whoops and the wind flies through the curled holes in her hair, shaking it like bush. Her eyes don’t need to be blue or green to be bright, she brings enough life to them that the brown seems to be glowing. There appears to be a slight dimple in her left cheek.

So, that’s my first “sketch” work for Rini & Butler. I’m still writing up/finishing/finalising my publishing proposal for this piece. It’s due tomorrow night and so I will have to finish it off after my internship hours.