Long rambling reference sheet to myself

[mylensisonyou]

This is a bunch of rambling and references, since my only headphones are crap and I can't always play something with audio. Nice to write out rambling thoughts, and not have to canon review


Insight into Hal revealed by his living situation:

7 story brick apartment building directly under an overpass.
Works for Channel 8, KMCP News
Currently reading: Best Comic Book Villains Ever
Copy of Metroman Weekly
Twin-size bed folds into wall, did it even have sheets?
Shelves of cinderblocks and wood.
Books and papers (possibly charactersheets) all over them.
Poster of Roxanne directly in front of his bed. There's a piece of paper taped next to her face, saying "Good night Hal <3"
At least 20 boxes of pizzas, in three separate piles, along with an open box of donuts and at least two coffee cups.
Two different baskets full of laundry.
*maybe* two days worth hanging, drying, in his room.
There's only one room. "Bathroom" sink, toilet, and (hopefully!) shower are to one side. Bookshelf, couch, and tv are in the middle. Bed, Roxanne poster, and a few other items on the far side.









I found a script of the movie,
somewhere, to use as a reference, since having something to read is helpful too. They do not have all the words right, but I'm not correcting everything, just the things that are off enough to annoy me.



Roxanne's speech for context:
-Happy Metro Man day, Metro City.
It's a beautiful day downtown where
we're here to honor a beautiful man.
Metro Man.
His heart is an ocean that's inside
a bigger ocean.
For years he's been watching us
with his super-vision.
Saving us with his super strength,
and caring for us with his super heart.
Now it's our turn to give something back.

This is Roxanne Ritchi reporting live, from
the dedication of the Metro Man Museum.


-Wow, okay, the stuff they make you read on the air? That's unfreaking believable, it's crazy!

actions: Mocking the ridiculous speech she made, with the positivity, worshipfulness, and word choices.

-I wrote that piece myself, Hal.

actions: Startled, since he didn't mean to mock her! Immediately backtracks

-What I was trying to say was, I can't believe that in our modern society
they let like actual art get onto the news.

actions: to change it into a compliment

-Nice save, Hal.

-What are we, like, lets' just get a coffee or something.

actions: "What are we even talking about, this doesn't matter, let's just get a coffee or something, and follow through the standard initial mating rituals, okay?"
He doesn't want to compliment her stupid news and apparent crush on Metroman, he wants to interact with her and have her chatting with him.

-Come on, it's time to get in the Metro Man day spirit.

actions: This is almost exactly the wrong thing to say, to Hal's mind, and he rolls his eyes dramatically, scowling... And pops up with a flaw he can so easily point out in worshipping the superhero.

-Whoa, If I were Metro Man Megamind wouldn't be kidnapping you all the time. That's the first thing.

actions: A sensible retort, as what is the powerful superhero doing that she does get kidnapped so much anyway?

-That's sweet of you.

actions: She says, patronizingly shrugging it off and continuing.

-And I'd be watching you, like a dingo watches a human baby.

actions: He's a little too honest and intense here. She makes another "uhuh" sort of noise, very polite and standoffish body language, and he catches afterwards that it's weird.

-Mmm.

-Okay, that sounded, that sounded a little weird.

-Little bit, yeah.

-And you're making your face, and that's making me feel weird.

Making him feel weird, she's making him feel weird.
Making.
He continues to feel defined by his circumstances.

-Not love, we're not in love. I'm not saying I love you. Okay, I love you, whatever. I'm not saying I'm in love with you. I'm saying...Roxanne? Roxaroo?




Hal doesn't speak again for a while. The next time is the City Hall announcement.

Before canon, Hal Stewart had not achieved anything of note. He lived in a cramped, messy apartment, surrounded by empty take-out containers and a few videogames.
He works as a cameraman in a city accustomed to the campy battles between its resident superhero and supervillain. And so he too could take some of their theatrics it in stride, casually chewing gum while he filmed Megamind's announcement at city hall. A vague, vacant, unconcerned smile is on his face, unlike the various confused, surprised and angry expressions of the other people in the crowd.




End of Roxanne's piece, context:
-Coming up next. Are you ready to be a slave army? What you need to know.

-Aaannd wrap that up and give it to a child on Christmas, 'cause we're done.

Action: Bright and fake-cheery and seemingly proud of the accomplishment! To cheer her up, since they can be done with work and go have fun.

-Okay, see you tomorrow, Hal.

Action: he intercepts her before ascending, and tries to make her notice.

-Wait, Roxie. I'm having a party at my house. Coming off the hook, or whatever. You should come on over.

Action: He wants her to come over, doesn't know what would get her to, so he tries to raise various possibly points of interest.

I got a DJ rented a bouncy house. Made a gallon of dip. It's gonna be sick.

Action: Dreamworks smirk to convince her.

-Oh, I don't know, Hal. I don't really fell like being around a bunch of people.

Action: He almost certainly never intended to invite anyone else, and this is an easy refusal to contradict! He practically leaps at the chance to do so.

-No, no, no. That's why it'll just be, like you and me.

Action: A too-intense stare, and he doesn't notice her increasing unease.

-Wow, that uh, that's certainly very tempting.

-But, I did hire a wedding photographer. That's just in case, we were like
something crazy happened. And you'd want a picture of it. Like maybe
we should have this for like ever, like a memory, you know.

Increasingly intense stare
he wants it as a memory
in case they don't get any further
but at least he can imagine they did
which is at least something positive?
he's not expecting any success, not really,
so the ability to fantasize works for him.

-Um, I'm gonna pass. I have some work here I need to do. Okay, bye.

Action: Passively accepts the mic she hands him, glancing down at it before trying to confirm that the plans are going through.
If she doesn't explicitly say "no," he doesn't hear one.
Is that because he refuses to, or genuinely doesn't hear the subtle message?

-So Thursday? Soft, Thursday.

-Goodnight, Hal.

-It's a soft yes, on Thursday.

Action: maintains a fake smile as she turns and he descends the stair, until he thinks he's out of sight. Then it disappears suddenly, and he bashes his body against the van in frustration.

What's, wrong with me? Rented a bouncy house? Chicks don't like bouncy houses, they like clowns!

Action: He punches the van, winces, and clutches at his hand.

Ow, ohhhh... Stupid van! You broke my finger!

Action: He gets into the van and drives off erratically, scraping at least one streetlight.



Invading the hideout:
He's still chewing that gum with the vague, goofy smile as Roxanne finds the secret hideout. Then she goes in.

camera panning along the wall
"Roxanne?" he slouches and grumbles, a bit worried/annoyed "Oh no, not again..."




And then for reasons that escape me now, I studied the scene with "Bernard", Roxanne, and Hal very closesly and wrote up the dialogue.



Very lazily looking around the edge of the building, not wanting to get in danger.
But doing so consistently, at least, asking in the pipes.

"Ow!" and he rocks from side to side on the ground, holding his nose, as the superpower burst hits him through the pipe.




"What's going on?!" he gasps as he sits up, looking around vaguely.

"I think a bee flew up my nose." he answers honestly, getting to his feet, and then switches to braggart mode. "I was... just about to make my front assault... to rescue you... but..." he glances up and to the side for a split second, and he raises his eyebrow as he attempt to convince her of an awe-inspiring story, "like fifty ninjas decided to attack me. So I had to... beat them all up, and... I did, and they were all like crying and stuff."

Sees Bernard. Eyebrows raised as he considers.. and then frowning in a chellenging tone. "Who are you?"

"Partner?!" he asks indignantly, in a frowning confusion

Eyebrows back up, and he gestures a pointing finger. "Well look, 'partner,' I'm her partner. She doesn't know what she's saying, she's been through a traumatic experience."

Eyebrow-raised confusion at Roxanne's remark of taking him home, but no contest. He constinues to stare at Bernard... glaringly, and consideringly at Roxanne, until the alarm for both of them of the hug.

"That was weird for everybody." Hal helpfully informs Roxanne. "Because you accidentally hugged him instead of me.” He glances back at Bernard but allows her to lead him back to the van.



“Good bye, I’ll leave the door unlocked, in case you want to check on me later.” He offers a vague wave with his free hand, slouching and sighing in relief when he thinks she’s gone, and leaning his head back to better try reducing the pain and swelling.

Makes multiple grunts of pain when he walks into, and tumbles over the invisible car. "Oh, ow, ohhh..." He sits up, staring around bewildered by the fall. "What? What just happened? Could this day get any more funtastic?"



Home life:
cheap crappy stained couch
book shelf made of cinderblocks and wood, TV stand of speakers and wood.
Multiple stacks of empty pizza boxes.

Arms crossed, he sits on his fold-in bed, holding his head back to get his nose to stop doing whatever it is. When they crush him in, he starts making complaining noises.
Upon seeing the intruders, "Is this a robbery?" he fearly asks. "Because the lady across the hall has way better stuff than me."

Truly the stuff of heroes

And then a wonderful metamorphosis.




-Rise, my glorious creation. Rise, and come to Papa.

-What's going on?

Action: Hal looses himself from the wall, staring down at his arms.

-Easy my child.

-Who are you?

Action: Staring with intense confusion at Space-Dad.

-I sent you to this planet to teach you about justice, honor, and nobility. I am your father.

Action: He recognizes these forms vaguely, but it all seems very dreamlike and sudden.

-So you're like, my space Dad?

-Yeah, I'm like your space Dad.

-And you are, what?

-I'm your space, Step-Mom. I, I had some work done recently.

Action: He stares at Space-Mom blankly, and either doesn't see through the pathetic costume or he's never seen Minion and so just places 'her' as being an alien... or perhaps just another bit of ridiculousness in this dreamlike situation.

-Is this some kind of dream?

-This is a dream come true. You've been blessed with unfathomamble
power.

Action: Increased confusion

-What kind of power?

-Unfathamomble. It's un, without Fathom.

Action: He just accepts that something lacking fathom makes it impressive, and goes to looking awed and restarts background music.

-Whoa

-Yeah, we've come to guide you on your path to be Metrocity's new hero. And battle the super genius, of Megamind.

Action: Space-dad grabs a nearby Metroman magazine, rips off the top, and holds it so Hal can see the body under his head. Hal doesn't pay attention to the suit or heroic pose---he glances down to where a rescued Roxanne is depicted, and he smiles dopily and fondly.

-I know this is a lot to take in. It may take months for you to come to grips with..

Action: All this time, Hal thought Roxanne was with Metroman because she loved the hero so much. Now he can be the hero, and thus get the girl? He smiles, rises into the air as it sinks in, and he rushes out the window in his excitement.

-No frickin' way!

-I wasn't finished yet!

Action: Hal caused a dozen car pile-up, and responds to it by bursting up through one of the cars and dancing around.

-I'm gonna be a hero! I'm gonna be a hero..!



We're gonna need a training montage

-Aaannd, action!

-Someone help me.

-I'm okay.

Action: Hal announces to any concerned observers as he flails, punching accidentally into the fake computers behind him and falling over. He pulls himself out, shooting laser beams repeatedly and erratically into the air until one hits the Megamind mannequin.
At this point he leaps out and over to it, punching it repeatedly, pulling off each limb, and thoroughly melting its head with a wide grin.

-Zap, zap, zap!



-The flames of my evil burn bright. Now you say something cool back at him.

Action: Hal pays no attention to the witty banter exchange, instead giving himself a midair wedgie.

-Look, it doesn't even hurt. Don't even feel it.

Action: He sounds pleasantly surprised. Suggests he's had plenty of experience with wedgies in his life, and this is a nice change.



-No no no, stomach down, hands up. Like Metroman!

Action: Hal gives his usual eyeroll at being compared to Metroman, but attempts to change his position. Initially he had been flying like he was driving a car---or sitting on a couch to play a game. But in this position he flails erratically and crashes them into a sign.



Action: In the video game training session, they imitate Donkey Kong and maybe another reference I'm not catching, with the gun at the base?
This is the bit of changes that he does fairly well with, given how over-powered he is. It's easy to take hits without harm---baring his chest to better demonstrate his invulnerability---and shoot it with laser eyes. Fly up to the next level, punch away a car, casually leap over the flaming barrels and flying up at each break.



The genuinely happy expression as he figures out flying, and Space-dad compliments him on it. After a dive to demonstrate good form, he lets out a "whoo hoo!" and rushes them off impuslively---but without public destruction.




-Hal, I think you're ready for this.

Action: Hal takes in the uniform, its size and the one-piece nature of it. His eyes widen, and his voice goes a little whispery with wonder.
-Do I have a son?

-No, Hal, you make me laugh. It stretches, it's for you.

Action: Hal frowns at being laughed at, looks over in confusion for a moment.. then his eyes widen and he smiles a little, only for the confusion rapidly returns.

-Hey, what's the 'T' stand for?

Action: He frowns and slouches, with something of his old lethargy filling him.

-Titan.

Action: He mishears the name, looks annoyed and incredulously asks,

-Tighten? What's that suppose to mean?

Action: Confusion and some irritation.

-It was the only name I could trademark.

-Oh.

Action: This is a disappointment, as it sounds like the effect of the tight uniform on his body. Not even slightly a cool name, since he mishears it.

-Do you have someone special in your life, Hal?

-No not yet, but...

Action: He's still slouching, unsmiling, and vacant-eyed for a moment. But at this question he leans forward with his head on his hand, smiles, and stares ahead.

There's this really, really good looking one I've got my eye on, currently.

Action: The camera focuses on his eye, and helpful shows us what he's staring at with his supervision. It is none other than Roxanne. To the absently listening Megamind, it just sounds pleasant. In truth, it is more than a slight invasion of privacy, as Hal apparently makes good on his word to watch her all the time.

-That's very good. Romance is very inspiring.

-That's what I hear.

Action: Hal agreeably responds.

-All you have to do, is save her. And she'll be yours.

-Who want's Churro's?

-I do!

-I do, yeah, I do!

-Churros all around!

-Thanks, Space Step-Mom.

As a reminder to myself not to too easily shrug him off as a creeper, keep in mind that that aspect of him mostly only shows up regarding Roxanne. Outside of that, in this conversation? He sounds enthusiastic about having a churro, and genuinely thanking Space Step-Mom rather than merely doing so politely. He doesn't lunge for it, or break it apart in enthusiasm. He sits almost demurely, and accepts it when it's handed to him

-On the count of three, unsheathe your Churro. One, two, three! To Titan!

Action: They all salute the skyline with their churros.

Tomorrow, you will fight Megamind. And the City will know your name.



Gray sweatshirt, gray sweat pants with yellow shorts over top, red and orange headband, and a miniature superhero outfit tucked into the front of his shirt like a bib



But let's not neglect his first disappointing interaction with Roxanne as a "superhero". He won't actually have experienced it, but it's still relevant.

How he sees the interaction: Flirt with her. Give her flowers. She'll be intrigued and wooed. When that doesn't work, he takes her for a flight... and when she's still confused and angry? He remembers Space-Dad's advice and tries to go directly to rescuing her a few times to start their hero-damsel bond. By dropping her from above traffic and grabbing her near the ground.

Now, this might sound insane and callous. But keep in mind that part of Metroman's introduction was when he took babies from their parents and juggled them as part of the museum opening. The idea that the superhero can take liberties with such displays of force is reasonable in their world---when the people involved are okay with it. The hero-worshipping crowd was fine with it. Roxanne even tolerated Megamind's kidnappings with amused annoyance... since it was within the reliable, boring rules for the game. Titan's conduct is something completely new and confusing.


-Titan. What's a Titan?

-My super ears are burning. I usually just hear criminals. You haven't been naughty, have you? I'm totally messing with you. I'm totally messing with you. The names Titan.

-Titan?

-Your very own heroic guardian of pure awesome. What's your name? Just kidding, I know everything about you. Oh, oh! And I brought some flowers, didn't know what you liked, so I just grabbed you know, all of them. Okay, you don't like flowers. Okay, uh, uh, forget the flowers.

-What do you want?

-Thought maybe we could go for a little
flight around town.

-Get to know each other first.

-WHOA!

-It's supposed to be very thrilling for you.

-Just what do you think you're doing?

Oh are we moving too fast? You're probably right. I should just rescue you a few times before we get all romantic.
Whoops!
Saved that, You are lucky to
have such a great hero here.

-Don't you ever...!

Action: She shoves away, and out of her arms. He's frightened, still not truly used to having superpowers, and cries for someone to save her.

-Somebody do something!! Oh right, right, Duh! I gotcha, I gotcha!

-That was a close one, you almost died! But I saved you.

-Ahhh, building!

-AHHHH!

-Gotcha! Whoo, I'm sorry. What were you saying? I couldn't hear you over the sound of me saving your life.

-Put me down, right now!

-Okay, all right, all right, hold on.

Action: his tone is clearly "you're being so unreasonable, but I'll go along with it and try to make you a little happier."

-Are you crazy?!

-I suppose I'm, a little crazy... about you.

-Who are you? Really.

-Oooh, oooh, right. Well prepare to have your mind blown, little lady.

-Tada!

-Hal?

-Yeah, isn't this great?

-Now there's nothing keeping us apart.

-No, it's not great.

-Aww, our first fight. This is so us, we're like an old married couple.

Action: He's so interested in how their behavior vaguely resembles romantic plots from comic books that he doesn't hear what she's actually saying until she's clearly exclaiming it at him in fear and anger.

-There is no us, okay. There will never be an us.

-But... I have powers. I have a cape, I'm the good guy.

-You are a good guy, Hal. But you don't understand we need to
find out why...

-Right now, this isn't right.

-You're supposed to be with me!

Action: Wrong genre savvy, Hal.

-I'm trying to warn you, Hal.

-It's Tighten. It's TIGHTEN, not Hal.




In this conversation is the first time we see her clearly and directly reject him rather than specific invitations to spending time together. It may be thanks to her growing close to "Bernard" and the difference being clear, or due to how terrified and angry she is in this conversation.

The point is, this is the first time he realizes that she's rejecting him. He truly thought that all that was keeping them apart was that she was too fond of heroes to be interested Not-Scary Hal.

Hal's body language is very pushy, continually pressing into her space, chasing her around even as she backs away for a sense of safety.


"You're making a face, and that's making me feel weird."
and
"Ow! Aaah! Stupid van! You broke my finger!"
I'm tempted to say that he blames all his problems on others, after these two remarks. But he also complained to himself,
"What's wrong with me?!"


"I think a bee flew up my nose. I was just about to make my frontal assault to rescue you, but like, fifty ninjas tried to attack me. So, I uh, had to beat them all up and I, I did and they were all like, crying and stuff..."


Later than canon point, but relevant to characterization:

"I only took the gig to get the girl"
As long as he believes a relationship between him and Roxanne might work out, he is willing to do the hero thing. Albeit badly, with too much environmental damage.

"You should stop comparing me to Metro Man."
A repeated source of resentment as the few people he interacts with think more highly of Metro Man than himself. Roxanne worships and supposedly loves the older hero... Space-Dad repeatedly encourages him to be more like Metro Man... And the revealed Megamind complains about Hal not playing according to the rules or having the same weakness.

"You see the good in everybody, even when it's not there."

"Bet you think it's really funny? Let's all laugh at the really cool guy, huh?"
Relevant to the wedgie point, I suspect he's been an unpopular, picked-on dork for most or all of his life. He so readily accepts an answer of no to spending time together, takes the mic back, and fakes friendly confidence when he thinks it makes a difference.

This one's for Space-stepmom. You lied to her!"
He may not recognize the difference between stories and reality when it comes to romance, or have much of any ability to recognize when his crush is unrequited, but at least he respects the importance of fidelity...?