What to call a handsome guy?

ECathers · Mar 21, 2013

As I'm going over my WIP, I realized that I had my nearly 17yr old MC refer to a guy as a "dashing young man". Now the dashing I don't have a problem with, since 1) they're at a Ren Faire and dashing fits the mood 2) she's got a big vocabulary.

But "young man"? I can't imagine a teenager calling an older guy (by about 5 years) that. I don't want to call him a "hottie" or a "hunk" since those aren't words my particular MC would use. Also I don't want to use language that might be dated in a few years.

Suggestions would be appreciated. I'm especially looking for something that would keep the Ren Faire mood.

Stiger05 · Mar 21, 2013

Gent? Fellow?

Or how about just "dashing"?

auriel · Mar 21, 2013

I always use "guy" when FMC is referring to boys her age. Don't know if that would work for your situation.

I could see "dashing young man" being used in kind of a sarcastic tone, like she's mimicking something her mother would say or something, or used for affect - if maybe she's a theatrical type or bookish sort of girl - but only in dialogue, not in prose.

Maybe "fellow"? Or just remove the young man part altogether, if you can rework the area to make it clear she's talking about the boy.

KateSmash · Mar 21, 2013

Dashing can't exist without rogue, IMHO. *cough* And I have it on good authority that 17 year old girls who are the type to hang out at renn faires really go in for the while roguish appearance and personality. /mini auto biography

Um ... Provided he's the roguish type, of course.

Rhoda Nightingale · Mar 21, 2013

I used that out loud once, at 17. Got me weird looks. (Not my first, or last, experience with getting weird looks. But I've learned to filter my words better now.) (Sometimes.)

Since you're at a Renn Fair, what's he wearing? What's his character like? Sort of building on the Rogue thing KateSmash brought up. Hell, ask a LARPer--it's been a while since I was into that kind of thing (never did get the hang of the vernacular), but I'm sure there are plenty of context-specific terms you could find.

ECathers · Mar 21, 2013

Hmmm... Rogue is a good one, actually. Maybe I'll go with that. I'd sort of like to point out that he's what she thinks of as just slightly a little old for her but very attractive. I don't want to give him too much attention in the story. He's only got a bit part - he sells her an item from a booth then later on helps hide her from the antagonists. Though I have a feeling he may come back in the sequel.

Good point on what he's wearing. He's dressed in crimson, but I hadn't described his clothes much. Will go back and do that. I think I'll play up the highwayman/rogue thing and dress him 16th century.

As for personality, he's super courtly/polite despite the potential roguish dress.

His purpose in the story (besides just helping her get away from the baddies) is to point out that despite the fact that the MC (as a 1st person narrator) has been telling us how unattractive she is, good looking guys don't tend to agree with her on that.

Patrick.S · Mar 21, 2013

Beefcake?

ECathers · Mar 21, 2013

Beefcake lol. And btw, yes she is DEFINITELY the bookish type. She's not much of a SCA'er (only for lack of opportunity). She has played Dungeons & Dragons quite a bit and having been raised Wiccan is very familiar with folks being referred to as Lord and Lady.

I had considered calling him a "lordling" but that felt wrong since he is older than her.

Rhoda Nightingale · Mar 21, 2013

"Chap?"

SpinningWheel · Mar 21, 2013

ECathers said:
Beefcake lol. And btw, yes she is DEFINITELY the bookish type. She's not much of a SCA'er (only for lack of opportunity). She has played Dungeons & Dragons quite a bit and having been raised Wiccan is very familiar with folks being referred to as Lord and Lady.

I had considered calling him a "lordling" but that felt wrong since he is older than her.

Lordling is fine, it is used in a disparaging way of grown-up lords, it doesn't have to mean someone is young.

ECathers · Mar 21, 2013

Thanks folks, decided to go with "dashing rogue" and later "gentleman."

Cella · Mar 21, 2013

Well I know you don't call him Cray, that's for sure...

:Sun:

blacbird · Mar 21, 2013

Ed.

caw

ECathers · Mar 21, 2013

Cray and Ed. LOL. Actually his name is Gavin of Nordenhalle (after the SCA shire where they live). The more I think about it the more I'm sure I'll have to bring him back later. Especially now that he's a dashing rogue.

GypsyKing · Mar 21, 2013

Well it's a Ren Faire, right? I'd go with whatever he's dressed as. Dashing bandit, dashing knight, dashing young peasant.

Personally I would say something along the lines of "dashing, dark-haired Gaulish warrior arrayed in what I think is meant to be 9th Century garb but with several historically inaccurate revisions. Oh, but the hand-embroidered Ionian motifs on his cloak made me drool. So did his eyes. His embroidery and those eyes."

Robert L.B. · Mar 21, 2013

Food metaphors seem popular these days.

Pammie Simon · Mar 21, 2013

Robert L.B. said:
Food metaphors seem popular these days.

Who hasn't compared a hottie to a barbecued turkey leg??

colebooks · Jul 13, 2013

charming, gorgeous, I even use the term fox or foxy to refer to a guy I think is attractive.

What to call a handsome guy?

ECathers

Amuck! Amuck! Amuck!

Stiger05

auriel

KateSmash

this was a triumph

Rhoda Nightingale

Vampire Junkie

ECathers

Amuck! Amuck! Amuck!

Patrick.S

ECathers

Amuck! Amuck! Amuck!

Rhoda Nightingale

Vampire Junkie

SpinningWheel

ECathers

Amuck! Amuck! Amuck!

Cella

Cella

blacbird

ECathers

Amuck! Amuck! Amuck!

GypsyKing

Mischief is an art

Robert L.B.

Tao of Wonka

Pammie Simon

Pammie

colebooks

figuring it all out