A  M E S S  I N  P R O G R E S S  -  M Y  N A N O W R I M O  2 0 0 2  N O V E L

C H A R A C T E R S
Primary Characters

Anya Jenkins (our heroine)
Co-owner and manager of The Magic Box, a metaphysical book and supply store. Around 26, she was recently engaged, but her fiancée got cold feet at the wedding rehearsal and backed out. That was six months ago. Since then, he's decided he'd like to get back together, just not get married and doesn't seem to understand why Anya isn't thrilled with this.

Anya's about 5'6" with medium brown hair and blonde highlights that are growing out. The highlights were suggested by her ex-fiancée and she never liked them. She is quick, intelligent and often somewhat frank, a trait that's gotten her into hot water in the past. She spent a good deal of time not being herself to fit into her relationship and while she still has some feelings for her ex, she's coming to realize she needs to worry about herself first, not remake herself for other people.

Rupert Giles (our hero)
Co-owner of The Magic Box. He left town about a year ago, selling about forty-percent of the business to Anya. Around 30, he cited family concerns as the reason for leaving, and while there were some, Anya's engagement had a fair amount to do with it. He didn't really have any intention of returning, but a construction accident that has seriously damaged the shop forced him to make an appearance.

Rupert is about 5'11" with thick dark wavy hair (think Anthony Stewart Head in the Taster's Choice Commercials). He is intelligent, scholarly and usually fairly quiet, although that facades hides a quick wit and rather passionate nature. He fell for Anya when she was just a shop employee, but as she was seeing someone, his personal code of ethics prevented him from poaching on another man's turf. When she became engaged, he decided he couldn't deal with it and allowed family interests to pull him away. Selling part of the shop to Anya was, in some ways, a gesture of his affection and respect for her. (Note: Need to figure out what family business Rupert is engaged in; he's got to be getting income from somewhere.)

Xander Harris (the ex-fiancée)
Xander comes from a somewhat dysfunctional family, but has, by all appearances, risen above that. Unfortunately, appearances are somewhat deceiving because he's still the same bundle of fears and anxieties he was in school, just wrapped in a glossier package. About 27, he's proving pretty successful in construction contracting and really thought he had his life together until the night of his wedding rehearsal.

Watching his parents fight two nights before his wedding, Xander freaked out and all his fears that he was going to be making the same mistakes his father did came to the fore. He called the wedding off, but later felt he'd acted too hastily. Not wanting to lose Anya (who's desperately different from his rather passive mother), he's been trying to win her back and growing rather frustrated when he can't.


Secondary Characters

Willow Rosenberg
One of Xander's oldest friends, she's had a crush on him since she was about five. Realizing he wasn't going to pay her any attention, she's tried to move on with her life and has been through several relationships. She's never been terribly fond of Anya, but put up with her since she was Xander's girl and honestly wished she would make Xander happy when the engagement was announced. Has also had something of a crush for Rupert as well and managed to go out with him once or twice, though nothing came of it. Was really glad when Xander called off the wedding and hasn't been encouraging him to go after Anya again. Still, given a choice, she'll take Xander's side. Brainy, but nerdy, she's somewhat passive when going after what she wants.

Buffy Summers
Long-time object of Xander's affection, though she never returned it (there's a faint hint that he was "settling" with Anya). Actually gets along with Anya quite well and came down solidly on Anya's side in the debacle following the wedding-that-wasn't. Runs her own business, so interacts with Anya on both a social and business level. Good friend to Xander, but worried that he's not dealing with certain issues. Also a friend of Rupert's. Recently announced her own engagement which has been met with a decidedly mixed reaction by her friends. About 26/27, she's blonde, cute and perky. Bright, but some lazy intellectually.

William Duval
Reformed "bad-boy" and Buffy's fiancée, he now helps her with her business. "Bad-boy" may be overstating it slightly, but he's been somewhat wild in the past, though now seems to be settling down comfortably. Terribly good looking and poetic, he is the cool guy who always seems to get the golden girl. About 29, he's actually a bit of a geek behind the pose, a fact Buffy finds adorable. Xander hates him with a passion.

updated 10/22/2002