Eccentric characters

[Jo Raskoph]

Let's compile a list of oddities that can give a character that certain something that sets them apart … both as a resource for the future and a way to get our brains going.

A character could …

*  be interested in something nobody else would be
This can range from an overwhelming fascination with the postal system to an instant and irrational attraction to people who have speech problems.
Could be they always take note of what shoes someone is wearing.

* be obsessive about something random
This could be their whole house is a disaster, but god forbid someone rearrange the fridge, because there's a system in place there, or could be they only ever get mac Donalds at that one specific restaurant on the other side of town and would make up excuses to go to another chain if it can't be that one.

*  hold a strange belief
This could be someone who's convinced all IKEA employees have Swedish heritage or that the neighbours’ cat is trying to get them killed.

* have an unconscious tick
This could be someone who always starts to hum when thinking about their lover (<3) or someone who always plays with their hair (looking at you James Potter) or someone who says "ha?" after every third sentence.

* have an emotional attachment to an inanimate object
This could be a teddy that still lives on their bed or a broken appliance that can only be used with extreme caution/extensive instruction but that they won't ever replace.

* have a ridiculous fear
This could be someone who can't stay in a room with an even room number or someone who won’t eat green veggies because they think they are allergic or someone who won’t get an e-mail address out of fear of the government spying on them.

* have an insecurity about something minor
This could be someone who will never show their toes or someone who is convinced everyone is staring at them because their ears are not the same shape.

Please add your own, the weirder the better.

[Margaret]

They could:

- Be obsessed with a particular celebrity, determined to meet them, etc.

- Be a big fan of a particular book, TV show, film, quote it constantly and find regular parallels with real life - "he isn't to be trusted because he looks just like villain in favourite TV show when he's pulling off an evil plan."

- Be a conspiracy theorist.

- Have a fidget item, for example they might have a small ball they constantly toss up and catch or a pen they twirl around in their hand or something like that. 

- Do something like playing patience, building card houses (Poirot), colouring, doodling, making jigsaws when they want to think.

- Be fascinated by a particular period of history to the point of wishing they lived in it.

- Believe they are the reincarnation of somebody famous or just a particular type of person - "I was a slave in Ancient Egypt," "I travelled to America with Columbus."

- Be fascinated by astrology or tarot cards.

- Have a fascination with a particular aspect of mythology or folklore, perhaps believing in fairies or werewolves.

- Be very superstitious.