Mathias Christensen | Kingdom of Denmark

[Denmark]

The Character

Country Name: Kongeriget Danmark

Human Name: Mathias Christensen (During the Viking Age, he simply called himself Ásbjǫrn when revealing his true identity as a nation was inconvenient.)

Gender: Male

Appearance:


The embodiment of Denmark stands at about 5'11"- insufferably close to the 6'0" mark for him, and insufferably shorter than those he'd much rather be taller than. His eyes are a very bright shade of blue, almost like lightly-tinted ice- his hair, unlike a few of his siblings, is normally a very distinctively golden shade rather than a muted blond, though in winter months his hair pales as noticeably as his skin does. Denmark has a heavy, muscular frame, and while the world-influencing power of his country has faded over the centuries, his physical power hasn't- he's just as muscular as he used to be in his teenage years. He's a little bit pudgy around the edges in places, but that's a difference in his frame that Denmark would rather nobody notice.

The nation bears little in the form of permanent scars or markings. He was battered the most while he was at his strongest, and so he healed so quickly that all of his battle wounds over the centuries haven't left a mark. The only scars Denmark has are very disfiguringly obvious, however, marring his back due to years of turmoil and civil war during the twelfth century.


Personality: Mathias is an odd study in contrasts- representing the country ranked the happiest in the world, yet also stereotyped as once being full of the Vikings, even other's perceptions of the Dane can't seem to settle on something. He's friendly, and yet he has an off-putting aura. He's easygoing, but and yet he's serious. Mathias himself can never seem to decide exactly what sort of persona he exudes, which leads to a lot of hypocrisy within his own psyche.

Denmark has a lot of good intentions, but doesn't necessarily go about them in the best way. His protective instincts of his family turn into smothering possessiveness, and in a way the Dane's started to feel over the years that he's really the spike that drove the Nordics apart- they didn't just drift from him. He tore them apart from within. That self-defeating perspective is another oddity that's become prevalent- especially considering Denmark's ego.

Really, Denmark's still an adolescent at heart, never seeming to have matured past his teenage years. For every moment where he shows the wisdom and maturity expected of somebody who's been around as long as he has, there are a hundred more where he's considered to be an absolute idiot. Really, it's quite easy for Denmark to snap from immature cheer to immature fury, and so he doesn't mind the jokes or the needling. He'd rather be a lovable idiot than the power-hungry beast that he sees himself as in retrospect.

Despite his own fear of certain aspects of himself, Denmark's still healthily convinced that he's awesome- not quite as vehement about it as Prussia, as Denmark has realized his time as a world superpower has come and gone- but it's hard to get the man down when he's happy. He's very affectionate and caring- to an aggravating point for most, especially those who he's treated awfully in the past- though all of his apparent ignorance and optimism is tempered by distinctive doses of knowledge and cynicism.

Denmark is the epitome of two-faced. Laughter and a light slap on the back can quickly turn into a darkened scowl and a lit cigarette, though Denmark's quite capable of deciding just who sees which face- despite the fact he can't necessarily control his temper, he does know exactly how to control his disposition. Equally manipulative and worried, Denmark's paved the road to hell with his good intentions, and it's only recently that he's looked back and realized just where the destination was.

Over the last few centuries he's very obviously tried to change parts of who he is- his attitude about certain topics, the way he treats certain people, and how he approaches situations- but in a way this has only rendered the man more unstable. He's not as likely to snap into a rage, but when he does, it's concentrated and furious. He still keeps up addictive habits, because Denmark's always been one for cheap thrills. Fighting and raiding have been substituted with alcohol and tobacco, caring little for how he satisfies his urges so much as they're satisfied.

Denmark's not one to care how to get to a goal, and if he's determined enough he'll absolutely disregard others to achieve it. Despite not being a lone wolf, he has a very solitary mentality in certain regards, which shows in some of his more awkward attempts to present himself as a father figure and a good older brother. Denmark fights with who he is to be what he wants to be on a regular basis, and all he ends up doing is betraying both sides of himself.

The ugly duckling may have turned into a swan, but Denmark knows that swans can hide the most vicious aggression behind their fine feathers. He's in an odd limbo of trying to be a more honorable man in everyone's eyes and proving to others that he isn't just an idiotic savage, and simply giving up the ghost and just accepting his vices as they are.

He tries to be a better person- but he isn't sure what 'better' really means.

Weapon: Mathias fights with a massive battleaxe that he's been using since the days of Canute the Great as his weapon of choice- while he's most skilled with axes, however, Mathias is still very proficient with other weapons used back in his more violent days, from swords to spears to knives.

Likes:
✓ FAMILY: Denmark treasures the concept of family- of having that distinct bond of kinship and familiarity that can never really be obtained otherwise. Despite how dysfunctional his family really is, they're still his- Denmark will fight to the death to protect his brothers, and no matter how misguided his attempts may be now (and definitely were in the past), he'll try to keep their Scandinavian group together as one- including newer additions to the family.

✓ DRINKING: One could argue that Denmark really just enjoys drinking due to an addiction, but he finds the act symbolic and worthy of being savored. Drinking is celebrating- celebrating victory, celebrating the life of a fallen comrade, or celebrating another year left alive, he enjoys alcohol because of what it symbolizes- not necessarily the consequences that come afterwards.

✓ THE SEA: Mathias has always been fond of the sea- of fishing, of sailing, of escaping. Particularly in modern times, he'll often escape on a boat, away from the constantly-changing cities and towns of his country to relish in a bit of isolation. Mathias is especially fond of the sea because he feels it's a kingdom in its own that can never be conquered- a world that he'll never truly know, a nice bit of mystery in the life of someone who's lived for thousands of years. It has nothing to do with mermaids. Stop that.

✓ STORIES: Being a very talkative man, one with a powerful imagination, and always being immersed in a culture of stories being passed down orally, Denmark's fond of stories. Whether it's the stories he's memorized from Hans Christian Andersen or tales of Norse gods and heroes, Denmark is eager to pass down tales he's learned- and even more eager to listen to new ones. A tale is one of the few things Denmark will genuinely devote all of his attention to, remembering every variation he hears and every nuance in the orator's voice. He may not remember every lesson he's heard about monsters snatching misbehaving children or every saga of a hero outwitting a beast, but he does tell everything he does know from the heart.

✓ NOSTALGIA: While not necessarily always clinging to the past, Mathias is one who seeks bits of comfort and familiarity from ages past even in modern times. He's not old-fashioned or just stuck in the past- Denmark actually adapts to revolutionary technology and revolutionary ideas alike very easily. His fondness for old weapons, old stories, and old experiences is obvious in the anachronistic bits of his home. Mathias still has an old sailboat that he takes out by himself despite it being an outdated vessel, and he regularly maintains and sharpens his weapons- especially his axes- with techniques and finesse that died out hundreds of years ago. He enjoys finding bits of land untouched by modernization and walking through the oldest streets of Copenhagen, and he attaches a lot of sentiment to times long past.

Dislikes:
✗ LOSING: Mathias hates the very idea of being second-best. This has always been most sorely displayed in his rivalry with Berwald, but the Dane's slight inferiority complex has only grown. He was once a fierce and terrifying empire, and yet it had all crumbled before many other European superpowers emerged. He's lost so many things, and he hates the tearing feeling that loss brings. He hates losing his power. He hates losing a war, he hates losing an argument, he hates losing a bet, but most importantly, Mathias hates losing the things and people he loves- and that's happened far too much for him to tolerate it any longer.

✗ FORMALITY: Mathias is blunt. He's the kind of man who gets straight to the point of a conversation and who, for all of his joking and cheer, would rather shake hands and figure things out than delay business and negotiations with pomp and circumstance. He's always had a bit of distaste for ceremony and fanciness, and while he enjoys regalia in and of itself- fine food, fine clothing, fine jewelry- he hates the haughtiness of those who often demand so much formality in the first place. He's never tolerated using an aura of fanciness and wealth as a bargaining tool or an intimidation tactic. After all, the king of the Franks learned that quite painfully when he asked a Danish chief to kiss his foot.

✗ LONELINESS: Denmark has never been the type of man who can live alone with the thoughts inside his head. He thrives on interactions with others- on human contact and company. It's not that Denmark is afraid of being alone in a room for a few hours. It's the profound feeling of being cut off from those he cares about- being forgotten, being avoided, being shunned and definitively left to fend for oneself. When left to himself and his own thoughts Denmark often finds his thoughts wander to darker places than he'd prefer them to be, and that's why he's so insistent about keeping everybody together and visiting others as much as he can. After all- if truly being alone feels that terrible to him, he doesn't want to know how it feels to others.

✗ WASTEFULNESS: There's a reason Denmark considers himself such a pioneer in saving the environment. He's always hated wastefulness, even if to an overly petty degree- Denmark is a man who'll drink from a bottle until the very last drop is gone, and a man who won't let someone leave the table until their plate is spotless. It's equally a sign of slight stinginess, a desire to make people grateful for everything they have, and one of his controlling urges vented in a more 'productive' manner. This even applies to wasted time- as carefree as he is, Denmark is never late to meetings, and he's never late in leaving, either.

✗ TAKING ORDERS: In his youth, Denmark had no authority figure to rein him in, and when the Danes began to congregate into groups, power was decided by a man's own strength and ability- being as bullheaded as he often is, Denmark's never been good at accepting that somebody else can dictate his own actions without proving it in some show of force. As his temper's mellowed he's grown better about obeying in general- especially if ordered by his monarch- but there are a few certain people that to this day Denmark would rather die than obey a command from.

Strengths:
✓ BRAVE: Denmark is fearless- he will be the first to fight a threat or take a risk, and while some of it can be attributed to other characteristics, his bravery is distinct. Denmark will lead a troop into battle. Denmark will be the first to try and beat something unbeatable, and he'll do it without a single regret. Of course, even the bravest of resolves will likely end up crumbling in the mansion, but Mathias can't really be blamed for it.

✓ OUTGOING: Denmark certainly isn't a shy nation, and he's astoundingly gregarious- he'll often be one of the first to introduce himself to another, and despite his less-than-desirable habits and tendencies, he's very kind and amiable to others, going out of his way to calm the nerves of those who are particularly skittish or jumpy. Even under stressful situations, Denmark can often manage to at least act friendly, loosening a tense atmosphere and keeping his own nerves in check as well..

✓ EXPERIENCED: Despite his general demeanor and attitude towards most subjects, Mathias is still a man who's seen and been through many things that other nations haven't. He raised himself, he was already an adult when the Black Plague hit- he may not necessarily use his knowledge of past experiences to make more logical decisions, but the experience is there nonetheless. He's a terrifyingly proficient fighter because he's been brawling for centuries, and Denmark's survival skills are nigh-unmatched. Given, none of his experiences have likely prepared him for a mansion full of alien monsters, but it certainly doesn't hurt to have a lot under his belt.

✓ CLEVER: While not exactly renowned for being a walking encyclopedia, or even utilizing his knowledge often at all, Denmark is far smarter than others give him credit for. He's an innovator and one who thinks outside the box- he'll approach a problem with different solutions until he's absolutely run out of options, no matter how stupid or far-fetched they may seem. Denmark will try anything if it has even a vague chance of succeeding, and while his escapades often lead to him looking like an ass and being the butt of jokes around the dinner table for the next few years due to his sheer shamelessness, he has to be given credit- Denmark will be willing to try many methods more straight-laced nations wouldn't dare wander near, because he knows how to pull them off.

✓ COMPASSIONATE: Denmark has a bizarre double standard in his morals- despite his episodes of mercilessness and outright cruelty, he's very sympathetic towards others in need. For all of his outbursts and his flaring temper, Denmark is one who will go out of his way to comfort somebody in distress. He may not be a selfless thinker, but he does try to be selfless in his actions, particularly knowing what he's done in the past. Mathias will not leave a man behind, and he will not allow harm to come to somebody who he feels doesn't deserve it. This is just as powerful of a moral urge towards strangers as it is to those he treasures the most, and he's just as likely to risk injury for somebody he met a few hours ago (given they don't agitate him) as he is for an ally.

Weaknesses:
✗ VIOLENT: Denmark has always had a short fuse. He's easily provoked, easily aggravated, and easily annoyed, and he has a propensity towards fighting to settle even the pettiest of grudges. His temper doesn't gradually boil over- it just snaps, and Denmark can go from laughing and joking to strangling someone in mere seconds, perhaps the most terrifying thing about the Dane overall. He's tried to learn how to control himself over the centuries, but Denmark can't change who he is at his very core as a hothead hungering for the opportunity to fight. He's much less likely to viciously beat someone as he was several centuries ago, but a black eye and a few broken teeth aren't uncommon at all before Denmark calms himself down.

✗ IMPULSIVE: Denmark is one to act first and think later. He already has a volatile temperament, and his attitude of his own judgment being the best judgment he's got certainly doesn't help with this problem. He'll listen to his gut without a second thought, no matter what kind of danger it leads him into, and the Dane will tolerate protests from absolutely nobody if his impulse is strong enough. The more aggravated he is, the worse this problem gets- a relaxed Denmark can probably be coaxed out of an impulsive action with a bit of discussion and reasoning, but if aggravated he's absolutely unstoppable.

✗ CONTROLLING: Overprotective at best and manipulative at worst, Denmark has a tendency to control others if their current actions don't satisfy them- it's not necessarily a malicious action (though there were certainly times where Denmark was deliberate in his mind games), though it's an infamous aspect of the Dane. If Denmark doesn't get a satisfactory result out of something, he'll often utilize underhanded manipulation, and using veiled threats and psychological warfare against another nation or an average human is something he's not above using at all when properly motivated, a rather nasty component of the raiding mindset he once had.

✗ STUBBORN: Denmark's stubbornness is just as rampant as his impulsiveness- though the two are very different weaknesses. While his impulsiveness is his tendency to go through with an idea as soon as he's thought of it, Denmark's stubbornness is his outright refusal to listen to suggestions that he thinks are wrong. Denmark will keep going on a path for hours if he has so much as an inkling that he's right- he's often gone to battle while wounded solely because he wanted to prove that he could fight even with normally grievous injuries. He's self-destructive in his stubbornness, and that's what makes it a weakness rather than a strength- some stubborn people know when to stop being stubborn. Denmark never has known when to call it quits, and he never will.

✗ EGOCENTRIC: Denmark's not necessarily a selfish man- but he always considers things from his perspective. He applies his own moral judgments to situations, rather than the morals of others- or, hell, the morals of the law. Mathias will unintentionally think of how something will affect him long before it'll affect anybody else, though due to how overprotective he is of his family, they are a rare exception- everybody else is basically damned when it comes to Denmark's usual considerations, but he'll always try to take the other Nordics into account- even if he does so a bit late.

Sample Post:

He didn't know what to do.

A taunt or an insult flung at this thing didn't faze it, and Denmark was certain that was why he found himself backed into a corner, axe halfway across the room and his own face caked in red. This thing didn't feel fear. He couldn't scare it off. He couldn't provoke it into a foolish attack or negotiate with it, it just stared and waited. And that was the most despicable thing about it.

"Y'going to finish this?"

No answer. The Dane offered the creature a sneer and a dismissive spit, noting that it was tinged red and only reminding him more of the taste of metal drowning his throat. His head hurt. Everything hurt and he was tired as hell, but he wasn't going to die doing nothing. A Viking lived by his deeds and he died by his deeds, and no matter how dead that sentiment may have been to others, Mathias knew he would never forget it. He was forgetting how to move his fingers and how to blink and how to breathe, but he wasn't going to forget to go down fighting.

It didn't move. That looming, pathetically misshapen body, those sunken, dead eyes- some might have cowered. Some might have screamed. Hell, Denmark could think of a few who would beg this creature for mercy. Was that what it wanted? Did it want to see him scream and cry in his last moments?

He wouldn't give it that satisfaction.

"C'mere. Or are y'going to fall over if you try walking, with that fucking joke of a head y'have?"

Mathias was starting to wonder why he was even talking to a creature that obviously either didn't want to humor him or actually couldn't humor his words. But he wanted the last word, and by every god he knew, he'd get it. He took three steps- more like two and a half, because he felt his left leg just numbly drag against the wood of the floor like a slab of meat- and he watched it take three of its own. He numbly reached out for his axe despite the impossible distance between him and his weapon, and he saw it take two more steps.

"Thought y'were going to copy me. Hej, can't even do that right?"

He knew that thing wasn't going to change its ungodly expression, and all Mathias could do was laugh. He'd laugh and spit in its face until the very end, avoiding the thoughts lingering at the back of his head. He wasn't going to worry. Because they would be safe. They would all be safe the longer he kept this thing busy, even if it ended with him in three pieces and finally off to see which afterlife was there to greet him. He waited- two seconds, two minutes, two hours, time wasn't a thing anymore, his head hurt and he couldn't count- and he was still drawing breaths.

It didn't move. God-dammit, it didn't move. He could feel a knot of rage choking his throat- or was that blood, or was it both?- and that was when the Dane finally forced himself up from his half-slumped position against the wall, staring the god-damned thing right in the eye.

"Don't need an axe t'fight you. C'mon."

Did you read the rules?:
★ Freedom
★ Eyebrows
★ Rose
★ Maple
★ Tomato
★ Knife

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The Player

Name: Greasy-squishy-fishy-wishy.

Timezone: GMT -6:00

(if you actually read through all that you are an honorary wiking)

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