Undertow — Philip Character Quiz
Philip, Son of Julian
© 2004 Jack Gulick and Arref Mak
1) How do you feel about the fact that your parent is extremely powerful compared to yourself and, even moreso, compared to shadow dwellers? Have you adopted their attitudes or rebelled against them?Powerful? Probably true, but you play the players, not the cards. Anything can beat the best if you remember that. Not that he doesn't realize that their power includes skills are reading and using people he's vastly inferior at, but he at least knows the basics. And is perhaps even tempted to try the real game, if only in a duffer's way.
He's drifting toward becoming tired of Shadows, too, them being all too easy to manipulate. It wasn't fun any more. And that's important.
--arref/julian:
Julian never seemed to encourage or discourage Philip's pursuits in shadow. Philip has enough Psyche to guess that Julian may not approve of Philip's interest in gambling, gals, and money--but expressing an opinion seemed to be beyond Julian's intentions.Philip does not have much clue as to what constitutes 'fun' in Julian's dictionary.
jack:
No, I wouldn't think so. And Philip would hardly trumpet his behavior, or make a big deal of it. Not, at least, after an early effort to do just that failed to crack his father's façade.
2) How do you feel about the fact that Amber is denied to you, at least "until you're ready?"
Just what is "ready", after all? How does one become ready without really knowing for what? One learns by trying and, at least at first, losing, not by playing at pale imitations.
Not that he's ever seen a hint that his opinion here matters. That much has been made amply clear.
--arref/julian:
His father's answers to this line of inquiry has been most often, "There are other considerations beyond losing and trying. Sometimes 'ready' is only waiting for the environ to change."jack:
This he understands, which does not mean he accepts it. When the environ needs change, sometimes you must change it, not just wait. Patience is one thing, but to let the best time pass because you're too busy being patient to notice a chance... There's no value to that.3) If your Amber parent could be different than they were, what one thing would you most like to change about them?
Listen more. I mean, not just sit there and let words happen near them, but actually listen and consider and, perhaps occasionally, even change just a bit in response.
--arref/julian:
This is a good match answer for Julian's typical impassive responses.--jack:
I can see the two of them sitting, saying nothing beyond short, nearly contentless sentences, then Philip breaking first and storming off. Or, at least, I'm sure that happened in the past. Philip considers himself more mature and capable now.4) What would you most like to do with your Amber parent, in an ideal world?
Just one true, open conversation without agenda would be nice, but this is "ideal world", not "fairyland". No, instead, he'd like to be invited to the table, to be allowed to be part of the game, not just a hidden reserve. Let him try, at least, and fail, if he must, on his own decisions.
--arref/julian:
Julian seems to like this answer, even though it doesn't alter "the facts." Whatever that means.--jack:
And, without an explanation, that's exactly the sort of response that would end a discussion, likely with both of them thinking the other was being unreasonable. If anyone knows what Julian is thinking.
Then, perhaps, a conversation about just what went wrong. Even with secrets and agendas, that would be nice.
--arref/julian:
Obviously this hasn't happened....yet.5) Do you respect or fear your Amber parent?
Respect. One had to respect it, even as you dislike it. In the end, it's all about knowing more than everyone else involved, and they did.
arref/julian:
Julian can be testy without the forms of respect given. Whether there is substance to that respect---is up to Philip.6) What do you want most from your Amber parent?
Respect in return. Maybe not as an equal, but at least as something worth more than benign neglect.
--arref/julian:
Benign neglect almost seems to be a specialty of Julian's--except to add insult to injury, Julian is quite focused and passionate in his own manner about his duties to Arden and Amber.This aspect would sort of 'twist the knife' on the years of Philip's distance from his homeland and father.
--jack:
Yeah... Building himself into an unconscious double for many of the traits he most dislikes fits this man's son all too well.--arref/julian:
Keep in mind that Julian has a good handle on logic and emotion--perhaps to the extent that Philip never quite saw the connection between his mother and Julian.Julian armors his reactions to many things.
--jack:
I can see one strong element here... a trait Philip dislikes most about his father is his cold, removed manner. And yet Philip went out into shadow and mastered high-stakes gambling, a skill that requires creating a cold, removed manner. I'm sure Philip hasn't made that connection yet, because it's far too close to him.* * *
other writings: Background, Quiz, Undertow log, Ebb Tide diary