Reginald Lattermire is another character idea born out of a single imagined scene. I wrote the scene and added a second scene to save the character’s personality and aesthetic. Check out the first post in this series to learn more about how I save ideas: "Saving character ideas: Villain."
I call Reginald an antihero because his methods are cruel, but his impact is, generally, positive. Though he isn’t vulgar or hotheaded, he is purposefully offensive. He verbally slaps people in the face. At times, we all need a slap in the face to get us to look at ourselves and our lives with greater clarity, but it hurts even when it’s a metaphor. Wisdom rarely comes in a pretty package, so we reject it. It takes humility and patience to accept wisdom when comes with an insult.
Reginald Lattermire's Worst Applicant
“Normally, we call people within one to two weeks to let them know if they got the job. Normally…” Reginald Lattermire said. The scrawny, freckled man pushed his spectacles higher on his nose. “…but I can just tell you now that it’s not going to work out.”
Jim furrowed his brow, sitting stiffly before the imperious, mahogany desk. “Can I ask why?”
“You can, and you just did. Should you have? Probably not, but, since you did, listen up! You are…” Reginald leaned forward. “…quite literally, the worst applicant I have ever interviewed. I don’t know how you got this far in the hiring process. The fact that you did makes me want to fire everyone in HR. The fact that I had to see your face makes me lose a little more of my meager hope in humanity.”
“Oh,” was all Jim could mutter, taken aback by the insult.
“Here’s a free token of wisdom for you, on the house.” Reginald slapped his desk and then pointed a stern finger at Jim. “You should go home and not leave your house again until the place is spotless. It’s a long shot, but you just might find your lost personality, values, and passion somewhere in the mess. Now, if you don’t mind…” He flicked his hand toward the door.
He didn’t wait for the young man to be out before picking up the phone and opening the channel to his secretary. “Sandy, what’s next on my agenda?”
“You’re supposed to talk to the director of HR in five minutes.”
“Cancel it. I need to go to my happy place after that interview.” He leaned back in his chair, putting his feet up on the corner of the desk, and closed his eyes. The phone rang. He opened one eye and stared menacingly at the device. Right before the call ended, he snatched it off the receiver. “This is Reginald Lattermire... Oh, it’s you… No, no. I just told a guy that he’s a worthless human being; I’m having a great day.”
Months later, Jim attended a career fair. He met Ivan Corvak, a former employee of Reginald’s. As they were talking, Ivan suddenly blurted “It’s him!” and took off.
“Jim Donaldson!” a called from behind. Jim turned. Reginald was walking up to him, smiling.
“I’m surprised you remember me,” Jim said and shook the smaller man’s extended hand.
“How could I not? You scarred me for life,” Reginald joked. “Until I met you, I never realized what depths of patheticness humanity had to offer. I trust you’ve changed?”
Jim didn’t show his offense. “Yeah, I cleaned up my place, and I have a girlfriend now.” He pointed to where Marcella was browsing a bookshelf.
Reginald didn’t so much as glance that way. “Have you been lying to her?”
“No!” Jim declared, defensively. “Are you serious?”
“Is she mental?”
“No! Why would you ask that?”
“If you’ve been honest with her about the kind of person you are, and she’s still dating you…” Reginald held his palms up by his shoulders. “It’s a fair question. Think about it.” He looked right and left. “Now, where’d Ivan Corvak go?”
“He just saw you and ran.”
“Ah! Classic Ivan!” Reginald said with a grin and resumed walking. “I’ll track him down.”
