WRITING

Character Bad Habits

Day 23 Preptober writing prompt challenge

Day 23: What is your main characters worst habit?

Question from the Preptober 31 Day Challenge from the Character Collective.

Knot That Hot

I’m not sure if I should ask the characters directly or ask them for each other's bad habits. I think it’d be more interesting to ask Jack for Mario’s and Mario for Jack’s.

Oh, and I think already know what Mario’s is and that’s disgusting, dude. I instantly had an image of it and I think they both know, and they both agree what Mario’s worst habit is. It will be interesting to see what Jack’s is. You know what, let’s do it on both sides. Let’s ask them both what they think their worst habit is and then ask them what they think their partner’s worst habit is because, you know, let’s have fun. I’m pretty sure I know what Mario’s is so let’s start with him.

Mario

Me: Mario, what is your worst habit?

Mario: Oh, you got it. I’m not going to say sorry for it. What can I say? My toenails grow quickly.

Me: You know I hate feet, man. They’re just gross and nasty.

Mario: *laughing* Oh, I know you hate feet and it entertains me greatly.

Me: Awesome. Jack, do you agree? Is that Mario’s worst habit?

Jack: Mario has a lot, a lot, of bad habits. But now that you’ve mentioned that one, I’m fixated on it. And yes, it’s disgusting. But it’s not just the toenail cutting. I mean, that makes sense. It’s a grooming issue, it’s a safety issue. But the worst part is that you have to dodge them flying through the air.

Mario: Hey, I only ever do it in my trailer.

Jack: And after hearing this, I think everybody else will now be very grateful that you don’t invite them in.

Mario: *laughing* *shrugs* That’s my space, I’ll do what I want.

Jack: *eye roll* *points at me* You know what happened to me? Once, he…

I hold my hands up in surrender to stop him because I just know where this is going and I don’t want to go there. I got an image of a plate of food and I really don’t need the rest of the story to put that together.

Me: Thank you very much. I’m sufficiently grossed out.

Jack

Me: Let’s move on me. Jack, What’s your worst habit?

Jack: I guess, I take long showers.

Mario cracks up laughing. Jack sits forward and turns his whole body towards Mario.

Jack: What? You always tell me I’m taking too long.

Mario: Oh, baby.

Me: Mario, what do you say then? What’s Jack’s worst habit?

Mario: Dental floss.

Jack: Do you think dental floss isn’t a good habit?

Mario: Using it is fine, baby. Hanging it over the faucet is not. I mean why do you even do that? Are you drying it out to reuse it? Are you saving it? Are you knitting them together? Why do you do that?

Jack: What are you talking about, I don’t do that. That’s you.

Mario: It is?

Jack: *exasperated* Yes. And I agree, it’s a bad habit. Stop it. And why do you do that?

Mario: *shrugs* Wanted to see how long it would take you to say something.

Me: You two have the weirdest dynamic.

Mario: Thank you.

Jack: Wait. I’ve read your books. That’s not a compliment.

Me: It wasn’t meant as one, dude. Anyway. Mario, seriously, worst habit. None?

Mario: What can I say? I have good taste. He’s perfect.

Jack: Nawwww, thank you.

Mario: *suddenly sits up* But he does do this super annoying thing with stone fruit or fruit with seeds.

Jack: What do you mean?

Mario: The thing you do when you suck them clean, and then gather all the seeds together like you’re squirrel building a nest.

Jack: That’s what bothers you? That I don’t like to waste food.

Mario: Oh, that’s not about wasting food. That’s about you being OCD and anal retentive.

Jack: I’m not OCD.

Mario and I look at each other. We’re going to let that one go.

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