Winston 'Homer' Holbrook
October 11th 1998 — 17
Coffee and smoking - it's the excuse he gives for everything to do with his physical self. A 5'4" stature and the terrible lateness of puberty, all attributed from too much coffee and even more second-hand smoke. His parents had the unfortunate habit of consuming both three pots of coffee and two packs of cigarettes, each, only quitting cold turkey once Homer hit his freshman year. The coffee happened to stick, even if they restricted themselves to one pot a morning, even more so for the kid who happened to induce more as he grew up (lattes, machiattos, frappes, you god damn name it). Imagining how terrible their breaths smelled keeps Homer from ever accepting a stick or downing more than one mug a day - he still thinks having drank a shit ton as a kid gave him perpetual donkey breath. Another likely cause for Homer's habits; he always has a piece of gum or a mint on him, as well as in his mouth.
Regardless of his shortcomings, pun intended, Homer filled out well. Two years in his stint at a public school, his father convinced him he needed to try out at least one sport. After waiting too long, he pushed Homer into football, which aided in his stout form and lead to his utter hatred for the Super Bowl. Once both parents realized Homer's passions laid in things less 'masculine' they adjusted accordingly. Right before his arrival at Blackwell, they filled his bags and suitcases with a number of clothing that better fit his personality. Hipster. All of it. And bluntly so. Homer has never been the loud and proud soul, but these small gifts are more than appreciated. As long as they give him the appropriate allowance to buy his own attire. He supposes they expect him to be sporting a manbun the next they meet up. Otherwise, he's got striking features, a sharp jaw line - almost blocky - with blue eyes and brownish, black hair. He carries himself with an average gait, but moves rather deliberately, yet flowing from one step to another. Along with his singing voice, Homer has a smooth alto with a slight raspy quality - it's like sweet, maple snow from Canada because that's where his parents are from, though he has a distinct Maine accent, having lived there most of his life.
Teachers consider Homer wholesome, a dynamic boy of many talents, with a huge issue in regards to attention-span. It's hard to keep Homer interested, especially when he has his mind is set on projects and ideas that lean on his passions. When Homer focuses, it's like a laser beam straight to his end goal. Getting him off of that goal proves a near fruitless task. Like trying to wrench out a stripped screw, there's nothing to grasp onto. In a class setting, when Homer hops from working on a piece, he doesn't just hop out of his mind set, he jumps from one task to another to another, until he's finished. For a teacher, it's absolutely frustrating and insulting to have a kid so focused on his own hobby (arguable, since it's what he's there for) rather than the processes of a cell as it goes through the Krebs Cycle.
But, if Blackwell has a reputation for anything, it's the base intellect of its average student body. Homer is no exception, and it's proven in his ability to pass through a semester by the seat of his pants, with only his wit to aid him. All with the age old excuse, "I work better under pressure," when in reality, he gets too focused on his own work that he tends to procrastinate on various other things of equal importance.
Homer's enthusiastic, and a bit eccentric in regards to how he interacts with other people. He's less wary of his personal space and more wary of his projects, priceless musical renditions and flash drives organized in a haphazard manner - and the menagerie of instruments piled up in his measly closet. All of his identity goes into objects and passions, rather than his own personality. Music renditions, as well as movie favorites, tend to sum up who Homer is - or wants to be. It's easier for him to point and say, "That's me," rather than give into introspection.
Overall, Homer's quiet, introverted, if a bit reclusive - he tends to feature mostly manic states regular of a workaholic with little time to spare. If a topic covers his variety of interests, Homer can't shut up, but he's never one to launch into tirades of his latest and greatest achievements. Perhaps modesty is the lack of confidence to engage in conversations to do with passionate achievements - or maybe that's an excuse to have some semblance of pride in what he does. Either way, the only instances Homer ever interacts with someone is if their interests align or if he's forced into said situation.
Blackwell has a reputation to uphold, which makes acceptance a hell of a pain. They also have funds to pay; Blackwell tuition trumps an exceedingly fair amount of private schools across America. Getting in requires either having daddy bribe his prince/princess all the way to graduation, or the student, in question, needs to have a talent that surpasses their peers. Adding a scholarship onto that means adding another two or three layers of talent. A modern Picasso. Or Mozart. Even better: the second coming of John Williams (even if he's still alive).
With spades of luck, Homer beat out a boy from California who could apparently play ten instruments at once. That's a lie, but he was apparently an esteemed, young musician. Unfortunately, that was only runner up, so Homer had to go another year of simple public school without a prestigious art school like Blackwell to put on his 'list of achievements' for college. Until the actual winner had decided to attend Blackwell's rival school, of which Homer couldn't recall the name of. Being the runner up for the scholarship, they had to give it to him. Though, he didn't exactly appreciate riding into his future on the wings of luck, Homer didn't have the gall to look his gift horse in the mouth.
Years prior, his parents hadn't exactly appreciated his talents behind the usual 'he's my kid; I have to be proud' mentality. His father even went insofar as to attempt to shift Homer's interests from music to sports to academics. While they helped cultivate a more well rounded individual, despite the fact that Homer himself is completely average in said subject, they kept him from truly embracing himself for quite awhile.
It eventually came down to a stint in which he secretly applied to Blackwell for his junior and senior years, as well as earning his way into just barely getting a full ride. Until, of course, he did. It proved just how serious Homer was about his aspirations and how much work he put into cultivating his talent. Playing music, writing scores, dissecting pieces and their stories. Wanting to shape the entertainment industry in a way that music can dominate emotions as fervently as a great piece of acting.
Everything eventually lines up. Supposedly, that involved the approval of his parents, even if it took a giant leap of faith to get there.
For the most part, Homer keeps things moderately simplistic, for the most part. His
dorm features mostly white and black - clean cut colors with sharp edges to them. There's an obvious overlay, perhaps in time between first decorating the room and populating it with various trinkets and more homey furniture.
Half the room is shaded in a rustic, warm brown with old, worn shelves and cases that house numerous mementos and items of interest.
In a corner, Homer keeps most of his equipment, as well as the entire wall encased in sound dampening panels. If one walks into the room, it's facing the furthest back corner - obvious by the neatly stacked piles of instrument cases and recording instruments. The only messiness accounted for being the number of sheet music, smudged and scratched and scattered across a tiny desk, as well as the lone stand and his instruments.
Sound Manipulation
↳ The ability to manipulate sound. Homer is limited to mostly sound mimicry, being able to understand sounds beyond the simple vibrations and decibel levels gives him a better handle on how something should sound. As well, he has a form of rhythm intuition limited to his regular ability to hear; Homer can pinpoint the direct location, as well as what the sound is, and then be able to mimic it perfectly after having heard it.
⋄ Art through the Ages and Expression
⋄ Track and Field
⋄ Art Club
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