The Three Faces of Christopher
Mar. 7th, 2005 12:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jeriendhalYes, I am obsessed with the guy.
The description given of Christopher in Night Music doesn’t go very far in establishing his personality or appearance, which is unfortunate. Essentially his Vessel is described as being that of a young man, with a smiling, happy expression, and occasionally carrying a bag from which he pulls out and endless supply of toys. In other words, something like a happy-go-lucky teenaged Santa. Which is all fine and well, but if there’s one thing that marks Superiors from the rank file, is that they can be flexible. In Christopher’s case this quite vital, given that the age range of humans in his Word can go from toddlers to late teenagers, and we can assume he endeavors to fit into the situation.
1. The Child - This is perhaps Christopher’s favorite form, both on Earth and in Heaven. Ranging anywhere from five to eight years old in appearance, the Child is a fountain of energy on the playground, encouraging others to play together and have fun, or when the situation calls for it, to solemnly sit beside a lonely and outcast youngster, offering to be their friend. Male or female, the Child is usually found in rough and ready play clothes (or rags, if manifesting in an area of poverty), with skinned knees and an eager smile.
This is also the form Christopher uses most often when confronting the occasional hardnosed behaviors of his fellow Archangels, allowing him to point out their follies in a form that makes them sometimes reluctant to engage in an extended argument with him.
2. The Teen - Less often used than the Child, the Teen appears when Christopher needs to speak with young adult, who are no longer children, but not yet fully mature. This is gray area in many societies, where a thirteen year-old might have a hardened heart of a streetwalker, and a nineteen year-old might still be found in his room at his parent’s house reading comic books. The Teen’s default appearance of a young man or woman around fifteen or sixteen, dressed in a t-shirt and jeans (or skirt, or chador, whichever is called for). Not quite as energetic as the Child, the Teen manages to speak thoughtfully about what might be concerning the young adult in front of him, without sounding like a nerd. He’s the concerned sidekick, not necessarily the center of attention in a group, but the one who often comes up with thoughtful suggestions that others follow.
This is perhaps the form Christopher prefers most often when speaking in the Seraphim Council, reminding the others of the nature of his Word, without appearing childish himself.
3. The Authority Figure - When there’s a problem to be dealt with, it’s the Authority Figure that most often appears, such as when a Servitor of Children summons Christopher to aid in a battle against demons, or to rescue numerous children from a disaster. The Authority Figure most often appears as a male police officer or fireman, someone instantly recognizable as to be trusted in an emergency. Generally terse, the Authority figure rarely speaks except to bark out orders or instructions, as he attempts to get any civilians out of harm’s way, and disappears as soon as the danger has passed.
In Heaven, the Authority Figure is actually Christopher’s Celestial form, that of a large brown bear. He rarely assumes it unless combat is in the offing, or one of his servitors has made sufficiently grievous error that they need a very stern talking to. In either case, he will revert to one of his more comforting forms as soon as he is able.
Oh, and the guy with the toys? Pay no attention to him, he’s just there to convince the Horde that Christopher is a frivolous idiot. Give the kid some credit now.
The description given of Christopher in Night Music doesn’t go very far in establishing his personality or appearance, which is unfortunate. Essentially his Vessel is described as being that of a young man, with a smiling, happy expression, and occasionally carrying a bag from which he pulls out and endless supply of toys. In other words, something like a happy-go-lucky teenaged Santa. Which is all fine and well, but if there’s one thing that marks Superiors from the rank file, is that they can be flexible. In Christopher’s case this quite vital, given that the age range of humans in his Word can go from toddlers to late teenagers, and we can assume he endeavors to fit into the situation.
1. The Child - This is perhaps Christopher’s favorite form, both on Earth and in Heaven. Ranging anywhere from five to eight years old in appearance, the Child is a fountain of energy on the playground, encouraging others to play together and have fun, or when the situation calls for it, to solemnly sit beside a lonely and outcast youngster, offering to be their friend. Male or female, the Child is usually found in rough and ready play clothes (or rags, if manifesting in an area of poverty), with skinned knees and an eager smile.
This is also the form Christopher uses most often when confronting the occasional hardnosed behaviors of his fellow Archangels, allowing him to point out their follies in a form that makes them sometimes reluctant to engage in an extended argument with him.
2. The Teen - Less often used than the Child, the Teen appears when Christopher needs to speak with young adult, who are no longer children, but not yet fully mature. This is gray area in many societies, where a thirteen year-old might have a hardened heart of a streetwalker, and a nineteen year-old might still be found in his room at his parent’s house reading comic books. The Teen’s default appearance of a young man or woman around fifteen or sixteen, dressed in a t-shirt and jeans (or skirt, or chador, whichever is called for). Not quite as energetic as the Child, the Teen manages to speak thoughtfully about what might be concerning the young adult in front of him, without sounding like a nerd. He’s the concerned sidekick, not necessarily the center of attention in a group, but the one who often comes up with thoughtful suggestions that others follow.
This is perhaps the form Christopher prefers most often when speaking in the Seraphim Council, reminding the others of the nature of his Word, without appearing childish himself.
3. The Authority Figure - When there’s a problem to be dealt with, it’s the Authority Figure that most often appears, such as when a Servitor of Children summons Christopher to aid in a battle against demons, or to rescue numerous children from a disaster. The Authority Figure most often appears as a male police officer or fireman, someone instantly recognizable as to be trusted in an emergency. Generally terse, the Authority figure rarely speaks except to bark out orders or instructions, as he attempts to get any civilians out of harm’s way, and disappears as soon as the danger has passed.
In Heaven, the Authority Figure is actually Christopher’s Celestial form, that of a large brown bear. He rarely assumes it unless combat is in the offing, or one of his servitors has made sufficiently grievous error that they need a very stern talking to. In either case, he will revert to one of his more comforting forms as soon as he is able.
Oh, and the guy with the toys? Pay no attention to him, he’s just there to convince the Horde that Christopher is a frivolous idiot. Give the kid some credit now.
