Cloak, wolf pelt and blades: Rankin Inlet sword expert takes Proust Questionnaire

Tristan Logan Quasa Duffy-Taparti is not afraid to be called a nerd. To him, that’s a good thing.

“I own more swords than I ever cared to count,” Duffy-Taparti says matter-of-factly, while wearing a green cloak and wolf pelt.

He walks around the streets of Rankin Inlet in his medieval outfit, making friends and “embracing the nerd.” He has been doing it for so long that it would be more of a shock for locals if he didn’t carry a sword replica on his way to the grocery store.

Recently, Rankin Inlet’s most visible sword expert, artist, Dungeons and Dragons master and owner of a genuine Samurai sword answered the Proust Questionnaire.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

My perfect life or my perfect happiness, I suppose, is just when I am happy effortlessly.

What is your greatest fear?

A lack of self-control — inability to control or enact my own will.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Currently, probably my LARP [live action role-playing] gear.

I am wearing a $200 breastplate, this sword is $200, my rings are about $300 together, my cloak is another $200 and that wolf pelt is $400.

I can wear more than I make in a month.

But all of my things are gonna be here by the end of the day, so it’s more like an investment.

What traits do you most dislike in yourself?

Sometimes I’ll say my apathy, when I just can’t bring myself to care.

I guess it’s like that ADHD moment where you feel like you can’t do things that you know you should be doing.

What is the trait you most dislike in others?

Ignorance and disrespect.

When someone just dismisses others, other people’s differences or other people’s experiences, I immediately do not find any interest in that person.

Which living person do you most admire?

My mom. She raised me and I admire her dearly. But there are many people. I know everybody has faults, and I know everybody has things that they’re really good at. I can admire what they’re good at and admire if they persevere beyond things that they’re not.

What is your current state of mind?

I’m in a happy place.

On what occasions do you lie?

I do my best not to lie unless I have to avoid discomfort.

But I could also say that as a dungeon master for D&D [Dungeons & Dragons] I lie all the time, given that I tend to play characters who are duplicitous and act as people who often lie.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

I could lose another 20 pounds or so.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

“Hey, check this out.”

It will probably be one up there when I show something to a friend of mine.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I know being able to find motivation easier would be nice.

Where would you most like to live?

Anywhere I’m comfortable. I’m perfectly fine here.

What is your motto?

I rather be quiet than stupid.

How would you like to die?

I don’t know if that’s how I’d like to die, but I’ve always imagined that I’m probably gonna die doing something stupid for somebody else.

Nunatsiaq News is borrowing the old Proust Questionnaire parlour game to get to know people who are in the news. If you know someone in your community who our readers should get to know by taking this questionnaire, let us know by email: editors@nunatsiaq.com.