No Likable Characters

 Picture this, dear Reader: You are on a review-site (Goodreads, IMDB. Whatever, it doesn't matter) and while you are there, you decide to check out the reviews of something you watched/read/played recently and, in some of the less enthusiastic reviews, you find the above statement or a variation thereof. 

This statement has always bothered me, because I seldom feel that its valid as criticism. Note that I said seldom, not never, there are definitely times when the creator(s) of a work intended a character to be liked by the audience and failed at making them so.That said, if a character isn't likable, nine times out of ten, its because they were not meant to be. 

And yet, a lot of people seem to treat is as such, considering likability to be tantamount when talking about characters in a work of fiction.

Why is that? Personally, I think its because people tend to equate 'likable' with 'interesting'. Now, to be fair, the two tend to go hand in hand, even for me. I know that, if I find a character to be likable, its a fair assumption  that I find them interesting as well. 

However, just because two things are connected does not mean they are synonymous. And so, I shall explain (or at least attempt) how the two of them differ, in my opinion. 

Basically, to me, a character being likable means that I like that character, as a person. They have my sympathy and I would not mind socializing with them in real-life.

None of the above need apply to a character that I simply find engaging in the role given to them by the narrative. Some of my favorite characters in fiction are horrible people, even outright monsters. However, they are compelling monsters and ultimately, that's what counts: The Worst crime a fictional character can be guilty of is not mass-murder, enslavement or any other real-life atrocity. No, its to be boring.

Chapter 76

 On the ship carrying Risha and Merees, the Captain had just finished showing the two women and Kyros the route of the ship's voyage.

"And there you have it" he said. "Barring any incidents and if the Gods smile on us, we should reach our destination in four months."

Merees leaned forward, taking a closer look at the map spread out over the table the four of them had gathered around.

Not that I would presume to tell you how to do your job, Captain" she began."However, I can't help but notice that this is a huge detour. Surely, you would save time if you were to anchor here and then have a caravan take your cargo the rest of the way?"

"Aye" the Captain replied, with a touch of bitterness in his voice. "That's how we used to do it. Unfortunately, that option is no longer available to us."

"Why is that?"

"That is Guancan territory and recently, Guanaca came under Vinolian control. Unfortunately, the country whose flag this ship sails under and Vinoli are not on good terms."

Seeing expression of shock and bafflement that his words had caused to appear on Merees' face, the Captain hastened to explain the circumstances around her homeland's take-over of Guanaca, as far as he knew it.

Merees listened to the Captain, her brow furrowed with vexation. 

"How did the Vinolian army managed to take Guanaca?" She asked, once he had finished filling her in. "I thought that the desert-kingdom was supposed to be impenetrable?" The Answer to her question came to her almost as soon as she had asked it. "Of course! They must have inside-help."

The Captain nodded.

"Rumor has it that it was someone close to the late King Bashar, who betrayed the city to the Vinolians."

"Is that so? Well, whoever that person was I'm sure they had their reasons."

"Aye, everyone does. Though whatever reasons they might have had does not alter the fact that our journey will be longer and certainly more arduous than it has ever been."

"True, not to mention its because of that person that Guanaca is now in the hands of A..."

Merees did not finish her sentence. Risha, who had not said anything their meeting suddenly got up and, still not saying a word, left the state-room, slamming the door behind her.

"Well, well" the Captain said, scratching his head. "What got into her all of a sudden?"

"A bout of sea-sickness, perhaps" Merees said. "I had better see to her. Excuse me, gentlemen."

*****

Risha was standing by the ship's railing, staring out at the horizon, when Merees joined her.

"Something the matter, hon?" The Dragon asked.

"It was me", the lynx replied, her voice hoarse. "I'm the person who allowed the Vinolian army to enter Guanaca."

I knew it, Merees thought to herself. She placed a sympathetic hand on her lover's trembling shoulder.

"I knew perfectly well that by doing so, I had essentially handed Guanaca over to Argath, but at the time, I did not care: All I could think of was that this was my chance to regain my freedom and have Bashar at my mercy, to finally make him pay for all the indignities he had made me suffer."

"I'm not judging you, Risha" Merees said. "Nor should anyone else. Everyone would have made the same choice in your situation and if not? Well,  in that case, they might as well remain slaves."

"Freedom is not a gift, it is the right of every  Vinolian citizen..." Risha said, speaking in a small voice but loud enough for Merees to hear.

"...Should anyone infringe on that right, do not ask for its return, but reclaim it", Merees finished. "My father always said that was the most important part of the Vinolian constitution."

"Something tells me that the constitution has been greatly rewritten in the past five years" Risha sighed.

"Doesn't matter. Once Argath has been overthrown, we can restore it to how it used to be."

If we win, Risha was about to say, but kept those words to herself. No point in getting bogged down by negativity, after all. No, better to assume the best while preparing for the worst.

She moved closer to Merees and the two of them stood there, close together, feeling the sea-breeze and listening to the sound of the waves splashing against a hull. 

"Do you think the Captain figured out why I left so abruptly?" Risha asked, after a few minutes silence.

"Don't worry, I made up an excuse for you.Say, something wet just hit my head."

"Me too."

Lynx and dragon both looked up and saw that sky, which had previously been blue, had suddenly turned grey. The Captain came out on deck, followed by Kyros.

"Storm's coming!" He bellowed. "All passengers, get off the deck! Now!!"

Later, Risha and Merees huddled together, while the rain-drops spattered against their cabin's porthole and the ever-higher waves played catch with their ship.

"Mer?" Risha moaned.

"Yes, hon."

"What excuse did you give to the Captain?"

"I told him you were sea-sick."

"I see. Can you pass me the chamber-pot under the bed?"

"Why? Don't tell me..."

"Yes, I'm afraid so."

*****

In his chamber, Jeraddin was woken by the sun shining through the blinds and striking him in the face. With a yawn, the male lynx sat up and let out a grunt of pain. He ached all over and for a moment, Jeraddin wondered if he had slept in an uncomfortable position. Then, he saw the ledger lying on the bed beside him and the memories of last night came flooding back.

Getting out of bed, Jeraddin proceeded to his private bathroom (his house was one of those in the Vinolian capital that were equipped with indoor plumbing). Upon entering, he noticed his reflection, covered in scratches from last night's brawl, in the doors of the medicine cabinet and winced.

I can't let Flora see me like this, he thought, and opened the cabinet to see if it contained anything that could be of help. Rummaging around its contents, the General soon found a bottle with the following label:

Healing Salve

-For minor wounds and aches. Apply to the afflicted area and wait ten minutes.

Jeraddin uncorked the bottle and began to follow the instructions...

Somewhat later, Jeraddin, now dressed in a bathrobe, the scratches on his face fully faded, was having breakfast in the kitchen.

"Tough night, Sir?" Flora asked, as she poured more coffee into Jeraddin's cup.

Jeraddin swallowed his porridge and nodded.

"Indeed, but well worth it. You can take my word for that."

"May I ask if you will come in late this evening as well?"

Jeraddin thought for a moment, then shook his head:

"No, today unless something comes up, I shall stay home. Maybe catch up on my reading."

In that moment, the sound of someone knocking on the front door could be heard. Flora went out to answer and returned with two members of the city-watch. Jeraddin greeted them and asked how he might be of service?

The Two watchmen exchanged awkward looks.

"It's like this, General...." One of them began. "We need you to come with us."

"Someone's pressed charges against you" added his colleague.

"What?" Flora took a step forward, brandishing the ladle she had used to stir the porridge, menacingly. "Who dares?"

"Peace, Flora" Jeraddin said, holding up a paw. The Housekeeper lowered her arm and stepped back.

"I am at your disposal" he told the guards. "Before we go though, permit me to go upstairs and change into more suitable attire. Don't worry, I will not give you the slip."