Voice:
Speak plainly, with few words wasted
Humour is dry, often self‑directed
Fear shows through hesitation, not shouting
Hope is expressed cautiously, almost apologetically
Behavior:
Practical, wary, slow to trust
Movements deliberate, shaped by scarcity
Carry the weight of loss without announcing it
Backstories:
Short, sharp, and grounded
Defined by what they’ve endured, not what they boast
Tone:
Functional first, symbolic second
Described with tactile detail: weight, wear, smell, history
Beauty found in patina, repair, and repurposing
Examples of stylistic cues:
“A knife honed thin by years of fear.”
“A radio that speaks only in static and memory.”
“A coat stitched from three others, each with its own ghosts.”
Avoid:
Overly ornate descriptions
High fantasy flourish
Clean, untouched objects