"I'm just a boy with big dreams and around 99 problems but nothing can stop me from fighting the sun!"
Moritz (明淑 Myeong-Suk) Gang // Ritz // Lucifer's Skinniest Concubine // Love of your life
Age: 21 // Gender: Male
Occupation: Waits tables for Pink Barrel (@Rebecca's Hole) // Taking up B.A. in Visual & Performing Arts (@SVU)
Sexual/Romantic Orientation:HOMOsexual
Time of occupancy in Redwoods: 4 Months in
Appearance:
Ritz has facial features sculpted by god himself, cheekbones reaching for the heavens with a jawline sharper than a razor blade and deep-brown eyes that pierce through even the densest souls. His exceptionally smooth light-brown skin free of blemish shows that he puts effort in maintaining his looks because he believes that even though people rarely admit it; appearances play a huge part on impressions. Ritz stands at about 5 feet and 9 inches which is something he wishes he could still improve on. Even though he's well aware that at his age a growth spurt isn't happening anytime soon, thus he hacks it with thick insoles so plot twist, he will appear about 5'11 inches tall. While being fairly skinny, Ritz actually eats a heap ton and always has the munchies, his body has a fast metabolism so his weight has never been a concern but his eating habit can get pretty intense. The young man has a few muscles here and there, he can carry his weight and also has surprisingly great stamina. Although he's naturally a lighter haired brunette he's come to embrace a darker dye for his hair, as it gives him a more striking appeal standing among the bright-haired people of the west. He usually styles his crown in a fashionable "it looks like I slept on this" side part that actually takes a bit of time to make up.
And though Ritz likes looking handsome, he's big on socializing and attending to people so he also knows that pretty things can be quite hard to approach that's why there is an inviting smile plastered on his face by default. You'd also probably catch him making faces that either brightens up a room or completely destroys it. He likes dressing up in street casual wear, either in layers or over-sized shirts and hoodies. He loves bringing out the dress coats when he needs to be formal and he enjoys occasionally getting up in colorful patterned button-downs. Ritz would honestly wear anything: dresses? mascot costumes? body paint? a single leaf of paper? nothing is out of the question... unless it's something disrespectful, well okay so maybe not just anything. He has a small surgical scar just an inch above his right ear bruised by a wood shrapnel from an incident in high school.
Because of his family's background, Ritz has always tried to be a person his family could rely on and the practice has completely bled into his life. Ritz is heavy on attempting to succeed in something, until proven impossible, by then he'd get crafty and find a way to at least break even. One thing he has come to build up even back in his childhood was self-sufficiency; meaning being independent and able to stand his own ground which sometimes may seem like over-confidence and naivety to some people but his repertoire speaks for itself.
"Intrusively Enthusiastic" are the two words that fit together to describe Ritz perfectly. He likes doting on people, it doesn't matter their age, he'll act like a long lost mother to people in need and sometimes it can get a little out of hand. Maybe it's his perpetual need to be validated by everyone or maybe it's just a habit he can't quite get rid of, even if he'd been told off many times. He loves being adored and in turn is also very vocal when it comes to supporting people, for him it's a tool to help drown out the nagging feeling of being alone and allows him to bring smile to people's faces even if it may be unwarranted. Do you need a pipe fixed? call Ritz! need help on your paperwork? definitely hit up Ritz. Want someone to read you a bedtime story in full performance and high throttle? Ritz is your guy. Just needing for a perpetual presence lurking at your peripheral? you know the drill, ring Ritz up! The guy just loves attention and feeling needed, it's almost a curse.
So then, is he a Yes man? uhm absolutely and it gets him in trouble sometimes thanks to his impulsiveness but don't worry he always finds ways to spin things around for the better... well, of course it doesn't work everytime. The pull and thrill of unplanned things may actually be Ritz' one downfall and it's something he desperately tries to repress. Call it luck but the big reason Ritz hasn't gotten into big terribly horrible accidents yet is because of his younger sister and his ex boyfriend, they've always been the two paranoid people in his life who would steer his big driven ass to safety but they're pretty far away now so Ritz might be in trouble. Truth be told, Ritz actually depend heavily on the synergy of the people in his life even if he doesn't want to admit it.
Another big part of Ritz' personality is his investment in the arts, especially with media that are heavy on storytelling. His creative instinct comes naturally and though he can't quite paint like the greats, he does his best with learning the technicalities to produce distinctive work. However his main focus and definitely his life's biggest passion is building lore; giving life and form to stories no matter the intention and method. To Ritz, life fulfillment is to continuously bring out the magic of a tale in every piece of art he makes, be it an illustration, a photograph, a dish, a film, a poem, a song, a dance routine or a whole stage production.
Habits:
-He's always carrying some kind of snack, be it a candy, rice cake, Bert's bakes or something homemade that he has pre-packed. -Ritz has a habit of bluffing for fun. -Is very into myths and paranormal stories, he especially loves the ones that circulate around Silvervale and is actually planning on making an investigative web show based on them. -Hates being idle and always makes sure he's at least making progress with something productive, a big multi-tasker. But he exclusively reserves weekend nights to just chill out, unless something gravely needs to get done. He's been big into DIYs and Crafting lately. Do note that he will drop everything if someone calls him for help. -Likes confined spaces, he actually set up a cute little fort in his room that he uses as a workstation. He also really oddly enjoys situations where people are cramped in small spaces. -Makes faces to break awkward silences or to just fuck around and catch someone off guard with a laugh, he also does this shrill scream/shrieking sound out of the blue to achieve the same effect. -Does a weird thing of ending every conversation with "Do you need help with anything (/else)?" -When he suddenly thinks up of an idea for a story, he makes a voice memo on his phone no matter where he is or whatever he was doing beforehand. So sometimes he'd stop mid-conversation to record an idea.
Background:
Ritz was born out of wedlock between Eleanor (Youngsik) Gang and Kyunghee Jeong, the former was born and raised in LA while the latter originated from Gangnam, South Korea. Eleanor was a mechanic and worked as a seafarer, and chanced upon Kyunghee and her affluent family during their course on Asian shore.
Their relationship was a slow burn because of the man's work, it started off with dedicated courtship which was momentarily hindered by Kyunghee's family unwilling to give away their daughter due to prior arrangements. During this time, Ritz was conceived and as Kyunghee was unable to persuade her family, she decided to run off with Eleanor to L.A. where they eventually started a life together under his family's blessing and support. Eleanor continued working and Kyunghee found a job as a pre-school teacher, they were living a stable life enough to bring in another child to the family.
Ritz grew into a healthy bright toddler despite initially exhibiting a very quite demeanor. A year and a half after Ritz was born, Gwendolyn came into the picture and now with two kids, their family grew more intimate. Even though Eleanor wasn't around for the first 6 years of Ritz' life, they kept a very close relationship through correspondence via calls and mails. Eleanor and Kyunghee was very invested in keeping their family's close ties, no matter what the cost. Ritz and Gwen lived blissfully and grew up as very loving children even if they were quite sheltered under their parent's care. The kids never really experienced much of the customs from their Korean heritage because of their mother's disdain for it. Though they did get to experience some food and stories from their paternal grandparents, until they passed that is. Ritz initially used his initials for his english name, MG when he started going to school. Eleanor inherited his parent's house from which they stuck around, come 8 years into Ritz' life, his mother showed symptoms of an onset Degenerative disease. Kyunghee was diagnosed with Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1, a degenerative disease that affects the locomotive of those with the illness joined with cognitive impairments.
It was a fatal blow to their peaceful life, at his mid 40s, Eleanor had to retire early to take care of his wife and kids hands on. For the first two years since being diagnosed, Kyunghee could still function to help around the house but her memory started to degrade and she started having episodes of muscular tensing. She started receiving treatment and physical therapy for this, for the latter half of those two years, the local hospital was good enough for her. But then more symptoms kicked in and it became much harder for Kyunghee to move around, her body was starting to deteriorate slowly and painfully. As recommended by Kyunghee's physician, the family looked to Minneapolis for better facilities. She got care under a more focused treatment, which ultimately also cost them a fortune, they tried to get help from government healthcare but it wasn't enough. They had to sell their former house and moved into a smaller apartment in Minneapolis, it was a hard move for the kids, especially since they'd have to enroll in a new school and having no prior experience outside their sheltered life, it was a struggle for both Gang kids moving into a new environment.
Although they had enough money to go by, Eleanor had to work short contractual jobs in order to sustain Kyunghee's treatment. During their 3 year stay in Minneapolis, her battle with the illness proved not much of an improvement, as her condition started getting worse. Gwen and Ritz started to come out of their shell, learning to adapt into their new environment at a public school. Their parents of course tried their best to make the next two years in Minneapolis as smooth as possible, ups and downs were inevitable. This was around the time Ritz found his passion in illustrating and photography, fueled with inspiration from his city and the inevitable escapism forming in his head. Ritz turned into a street wise kid, helping his father with household chores while growing into a splendid artist, winning awards at inter-school competitions with his paintings. The local newspaper also took a shine to his photographs sent in by his school and learning of his mother's condition, gave him a feature in their columns. They also helped him out with some cash by buying his photographs under the guise of using them for the paper. At the age of 12, Ritz was building quite a name for himself even if it was under such tragic circumstances.
The emotional turmoil eventually came into the scene once Kyunghee became partially paralyzed, going from crutches to a wheelchair. The kids were inconsolable for the first few weeks, fearing the state their mother was in, it took a lot from Eleanor's strength and resolve to see his family this way. With Kyunghee as she was, there was no light of any improvement so Eleanor decided to move his family out into a more sustainable place with more affordable facilities once Ritz has graduated middle school. They were referred to a non-profit facility in Louisiana, but the city the facility was in was too much of a financial cost to live in so they decided to move to the city right next to it, a quaint yet wonderful strange city named Silvervale.
At the age of 13, Ritz was matured enough to support his father's actions, her younger sister on the other hand was a harder sell. Of course they both were afraid of moving into another city and reintroducing themselves to a new environment but it was for the better. Ritz consoled his sister with promises of better days, and the prospect of new adventures. The kids are learning at an early age that home isn't just the physical comfort of a space. They rented a 2 Bedroom apartment at a very cheap price at Redwood, owned by a funny french baker named Bert. Kyunghee stayed at the facility and eventually came into a more stable condition, albeit still not much different but with the comfort of being used to her symptoms. Gwen continued middle school at the city where Kyunghee was staying in, it was a better arrangement as they get to visit her on the way home to Silvervale. Eleanor continued working contractual jobs while Ritz had to stop school for a year and decided to work as an errand boy for Bert's bakery, this was also when he started learning how to cook while he also continued to pursue his passion for the arts. He attended a local youth music workshop at the university every weekend, learning various instruments almost every month though not exactly mastering them. He had a certain hunger for learning artistic skills that he just needs to keep on feeding. At one point he also joined the community choir and then the marching band, he never really stayed put though. With the permission of Bert, Ritz also opened a small booth at the bakery selling hand made crafts and postcards that captured the strange landmarks of Silvervale. Eleanor was so happy to see his son thriving, he also built a friendly relationship with Bert and his then wife, Marissa. His kids never really needed a sitter but that's what he considered the couple. A year in Silvervale went by gracefully and the Gang family had a wonderful time, they even made friends and have come to learn tales about the city.
But then came another turn in their family's story when the facility taking care of Kyunghee closed down due to lack of funds, she was referred to another place at the rurals of Portland where a different approach to the treatment was being used. At this point, Eleanor knew there wasn't much hope for Kyunghee to improve her condition, it broke his heart but she loved her to the point of seeing everything through. It was a harder move this time around as they've grown quite a liking to the charming city, even Ritz thought maybe he could just stay behind but they were a family that stuck together and this move isn't any different than the ones before. Come Gwen's elementary graduation, they head out after with the promise of visiting or maybe even coming back one day. The rurals of Portland was a new landscape for them, they've always lived in the city, seeing great pastures and farms after farms was refreshing. It was idyllic, and Kyunghee confessed if she were to leave soon, she'd like it to happen here. The couple decided this was the last move they're going to make, this is where they settle down no matter how Kyunghee's condition changes. They got a nice house right by the outskirts of town, right next to a farm and they had enough plot to actually start making a small farm of their own. The town square wasn't that far ahead and the school was just a 15 minute walk away. The facility for Kyunghee was pretty close, so this time she could actually stay at their new home, provided they get her a caretaker so she can be closely watched.
Ritz and Gwen started high school together, it was a nice prospect coming into a new environment together. It was a lot harder this time though as high school kids can be very cruel and they experienced their first bouts with bullying and discrimination. Gwen and Ritz were easy targets, being new to the town and not really knowing a lot of people, plus it wasn't exactly the most progressive place. Of course, this only gave Ritz more reason to persevere, he's exactly the type of person to thrive under pressure and had that "I'll show them all" mentality written on his forehead. Ritz came into a huge habit of doting on his family, cooking food, making sure their rooms are clean, doing the laundry and being an all around pleasant kid. It was both the pressure of under taking Kyunghee's maternal role and his constant need of approval from everyone, it didn't really bother him, he actually felt fulfillment from it. Academically, Gwen did much better than his older brother though she became somewhat of a recluse from the crowd. Ritz though getting above par with academics could never compete with her sister in this regard but where his sister faltered, he succeeded. Eleanor continued working contractual jobs, sometimes being designated outside of town for a few weeks. He depended heavily on his kid's being independent at such a young age, it's not like any of them had a choice about it so they made do, even strengthening their understanding and love for each other.
Ritz turned into somewhat of a hypersocial enigma, eventually getting into the student body, joining the drama club and the track team. This was when MG picked up the name Moritz, from one of his favorite characters in theatre. In school, they acted like normal teenagers and sometimes gets into a little bit of trouble. At home, the two were very different people, becoming young mature individuals who helped out in the house and cares for their sick mom. There was only one place where the two felt most at ease and able to really let themselves loose, it wasn't actually a place, it was when they're with one person: Clarke. Clarke was their next door neigbor, the kid from the farm, he was a frail and quiet kid that grew a liking to the Gang kids. When Clarke, Ritz and Gwen are together, they're just teenagers having a laugh and putting on random stage plays with farm animals as an audience. For some reason, it was easy being with Clarke because there were no pretensions of any sort. 2 years into their stay and Kyunghee became fully paralyzed, a few months after and she started contracting heart attacks and then one fatal episode eventually got her. Of course weren't ready to say goodbye but they knew it was coming, still it didn't feel any better even if they've been preparing for it. It was a a quick but solemn funeral, they didn't really have many relatives and they've only made a few friends in town.
The grieving was slow and went creeping on the house, it was strange, death does that. Eleanor was sorry for his kids and mad at the world for having given them such a tough time, he started drinking. Ritz became quite, reclusive even while Gwen was inconsolable, crying every night to sleep but Clarke was there through all of it, his family also became good friends with theirs so they at least had the company. Their house became eerily quiet, they barely talked like they used to and they just exchanged glances like they were avoiding to talk about their loss. It stayed that way for months, but Eleanor decided it was up to him to put a stop to the grieving, he owes it to his kids at least. He put his foot down and talked it out with the two, Ritz still remembers it as the longest night of his life, they were crying into each other, remembering memories of Kyunghee fondly this time. That was the time Ritz learned that talking it out really did wonders for people, it was also the same time he decided to come out about his sexuality, everything came out that night. The three of them promised that no matter what happens they'll stay a family, even if the two kids will move out one day. They decided to live fully to honor Kyunghee from then on.
Eleanor had saved enough money to start up a mechanic station, he opened up their garage, bought his own equipment and became the town's unofficially designated mechanic. He was good at fixing things, so his business did well, at this point also gaining more friends in town. Gwen and Clarke started learning how to properly socialize with people under Ritz' guidance, they were thriving again and things started looking up. Inevitably Clarke and Ritz started dating before they even realized they were, they were an odd couple but it worked; Clarke grounded Ritz whenever he flew too close to the sun and Ritz taught Clarke how to believe in himself. High School was tricky but the Gang kids were craftier so it went by as smooth as butter. Since coveting production roles in high school, Ritz has come to realize that performing and producing might actually be his forte while Gwen decided that she'd like to be an agriculturist having grown an interest in the field. Both graduated with honors, Gwen wanted to take a gap year while Ritz was too eager to start university right ahead. Ritz decided to apply for a scholarship at Silvervale University which he's grown an intense liking to for their reputation with the arts, and he did promise to go back so it was two birds with one stone. He got in with a grant, although it was harder for him to let go of his dad and Gwen than they were of him, always the worrywart for his family. It was around this time that Clarke and Ritz started growing out of their relationship too, it just happened out of nowhere and completely took Ritz by surprise, they broke up a day before Ritz moved out.
Silvervale sounded perfect to Ritz, thankfully it's still the strange funny town it's always been. Ritz dreams of eventually making it big either on stage or the big screen someday, and hopes to really get a dig into the bones of the performing and visual arts; it's the whole reason he's taking his degree. Now living in Redwood for four months and coming to terms with work and uni, Ritz keeps on thriving. Though plenty has actually changed in Silvervale and his insatiable thirst/lowkey impulsiveness for adventure is growling.
Extra:
FAMILY:
Eleanor (Youngsik) Gang (60) Ritz has a great relationship with his dad, they're each other's biggest supporters. Since that one night their family turned grieving for Kyunghee, Eleanor and Ritz has promised to always have each other's backs no matter what, since then they've never shied away from being open with one another. Eleanor can get a bit negligent of himself and Ritz always worries for him, despite his son wanting him to retire, he keeps working at his shop, Ritz believes he got his persistence and headstrong attitude from Eleanor.
Gwendolyn (Gyuri) Gang (19 turning 20) Gwen and Ritz were inseparable as kids even if they were complete polar opposites. Gwen was the calmer, more regressive sibling while Ritz was the aggressive and personable one. They had this symbiotic relationship that allowed the both of them to grow into well-adjusted individuals as they helped each other out by learning from each other's success and failures. Gwen always plays up that Ritz inherited the maternal instinct between the two of them, which is actually very true to begin with. She does lowkey worry about her brother when he's alone and separated from her and their dad, she knows him the best out of anyone and though he doesn't admit it is afraid of being left out.
Kyunghee Jeong (deceased, died at 52) Ritz loved his mother, and as Eleanor was quite absent for the first 6 years of his life, Kyunghee was full on the one who helped Ritz develop his early senses. Even in her first years of battling Ataxia, she always put her kids first and tried her best to let them have as normal of a childhood as they could. She loved telling stories to Ritz, of days when she used to travel the world and her grand childhood. She was a frustrated writer and was probably Ritz' introduction for his love of storytelling, he hopes to one day make her proud by making it big or at least leaving some impression in the media industry.
OTHERS:
Clarke Gabriel Griffith (20) Ritz' bestfriend turned first ex-boyfriend turned "what even are we anymore actually?". Because of his deep ties with the Gang family, his breakup with Ritz is a bit of a complication, he still hangs around with Gwen and Eleanor because they're actually really good friends. Because of their conflicting interest and aspirations, the ex couple decided to break up and try out other things, they still aren't sure of what to make of each other at the moment. Ritz' still lowkey actually feels affection for the guy.
Junhoe
Cecil
Jonah
Nikolai
Jolie
Aulora Pepper
Moritz He is THE ONE, I love this man to bits and he's totes amazeballs. I stan him so hard, ugh his P O W E R
At first glance, one would mistake his resting glare face for a stoic man but he's actually just an eccentric french baker with a very welcoming and attentive attitude. Bert would usually be found manning his bakery if he wasn't setting up a party or taking care of Viv. He can also be quite the talker if given a chance.
Bert's little angel, she's a bright kid who hangs around the lounge area of Redwood after school, usually playing with toys in front of the tv. Unlike his dad, she has an ever present grin on her face. Viv can be quite precocious and likes talking with adults, she claims she can't stand other kids because they make a mess of things and are just so rowdy. She can also be seen lounging at the bakery with a lump of dough in front of her.
Fishy and Fierce while serving you looks and drinks, THE Drag Queen of Silvervale. Owns the chillest bar in Rebecca's Hole: The Pink Barrel, known for their promise of being inclusive and welcoming to anyone who wants a calm and refreshing drinking experience... ON THE WEEKDAYS, because on the weekends, it's an entire party and THEN SOME. Glitz is a hell of a good listener and probably also has the best memory out of anyone you'll ever meet so if you need an ear, you know the one to come to. They will cut a bitch if provoke, however. -Identifies as gender fluid and goes by he/she/them pronouns.
Hannah "Han" Ingrid Tucket (Location: Silvervale University) Occupation: Student @ SVU, Majoring in Mass Communications / Community Radio Host || Age: 24
A.k.a "Lady Hit" by her listeners, a girl of many words, she can literally talk for hours on end and has a very good sense of working people into and out of things which is a very helpful skill in her choice of a career. If your good enough friends with her, you can probably call her up to get rid of a dead body but don't expect much in terms of emotional support, that's a whole 'nother level. A decent enough friend when put to the task. She has lots of connections and she'd be willing to do errands for a little something in return.
Mayor Emilia "MM" W. Griffith (Location: Plaza) Occupation: Mayor of Silvervale || Age: 38
The hardworking, self-sacrificing, slightly paranoiac, occasionally high-strung mayor of Silvervale. Daughter of a business mogul and one of the nation's leading Philanthropists. They say she can get pretty intimidating when she's off on serious business but no one's actually seen her act this way, or at least no one talks about it. Emilia is a model leader, and is beloved by almost everyone in Silvervale because she does her best to keep her city in check, always making sure her citizens are happy and seems to have invested her entire networth to the city. Of course, she also sometimes have her shortcomings but she's always hands on when it comes to serving her people. Who doesn't love Emilia?
Officer Shelley Isaacs (Location: Plaza) Occupation: Major Inspector of Silvervale's local police force || Age: Early 30s
Officer Isaacs is one of the more dedicated police officers in the local force and she probably has the most intuitive mind out of anyone in Silvervale, well she claims to be anyway. She has 3 kids, a loving husband and a trademark soccer mom grit which it turns out, translates well in police work. Though not necessarily the most chatty type and can seem quite intimidating with her tall stature, she tries to accommodate Silvervale's citizens to the best of her abilities. If you have something that needs solving, don't be shy to come by the station and look for Shelley Isaacs. Oh and she loves her caffeine, she's practically addicted to it.
Danika "Nika" Varma (Location: Marketplace) Occupation: Owner of Morning Star (Antiquities & Gift Shop) || Age: *undisclosed*
Nika is a bit of an oddball with a fascination for strange trinkets and supernatural musings. Most people would dismiss Nika for her strange habits but she's actually a really savvy businesswoman with a very keen passion for the trade and collection of antiquities and exotic art. She's quite friendly if you can get pass her difficulty to focus on a conversation. She makes good tea and would probably have whatever it is your looking for that you can't find elsewhere, limited to objects of course.
Jeffrey "Big Jeff" Davis (Location: The Cauldron) Occupation: Head Cook/Founder of The Cauldron || Age: Late 40s
Goofy, loud and as hearty as his meals. Jeff serves comfort foods with a signature delight that you won't find elsewhere. His family has run The Cauldron for more than a 100 years now and it's the best place to go to if you need a little pick me up while filling your stomach, or if you're too drunk to find your apartment keys and need to sober up for a bit.
Casper Santino Espinoza (Location: Tinker Base) Occupation: Takes every odd job he can get / Taking a Master's degree in Entrepreneurship @SVU|| Age: 26
Tino is a fixture in the mall, and he goes around jobs faster than you can say indecisive, one month he's a barista then come next week he's folding clothes at Urban Outfitters. It's not that he's bad at doing his work, it's that he just wants to try everything he can get his hands on and he doesn't even need the money because he's living off a trust fund. The odd thing is how he has time to take a job while taking his masters degree. He's quite and observant and probably knows more than he should about Silvervale and it's mallgoers.
??? (Location: Roams around Silvervale) Occupation: ??? || Age: ???
does anyone even remember what he looks like? his appearance feels like a fleeting image
A strange demented man who roams around the streets of Silvervale, rumours are he actually lives in the backwoods and is in cohorts with the boogeyman. HE PROBABLY NEEDS HELP.
Jolie Smith, otherwise known under the pen name Chris Steller, is a social enigma. Due to her horrid anxiety disorder and quite severe agoraphobia Jolie rarely has the guts to leave the apartment building, and thus she does not take much care in her appearance. Her dark brown hair rests at about her mid-back and often goes for days without being washed due to Jolie's discomfort in being in the communal bathroom with other people. She prefers it up out of her face when waist deep in deadlines and papers. Even though she is almost afraid of the bathroom, Jolie cannot stand being filthy and often scrubs herself raw when she works herself up to shower so, at the very least, she smells nice.
Despite her general grubbiness from being a recluse, Jolie has rather attractive genes. Her face is long and narrow, almost elegant, topped with a perfectly straight, pointed nose and sharp cheekbones. Dark eyes stand out among thick but straight eyelashes, and due to her workaholic nature, dark circles surround them. A strange gauntness encompasses her due to her forgetfulness, giving her body an almost skeletal look from some angles. Beneath her usual attire of sweats or comfortable jeans or PJs are a few forgotten about tattoos and old, now-healed piercing holes.
There is always work to be done, chores to be finished, and sleep to be had in the life of Jolie Rose Smith. To call her married to her work would be an understatement; Jolie is not married to writing, she is writing. Her popular books on the psychology of the human mind and the habits those with certain mental illnesses take on are like her children, and she takes years even to ensure they are each perfect in their own right. Jolie is a workaholic, a perfectionist, and always strives to become better in her craft than she has been before.
Her strive for perfection is often halted, however, by her intense agoraphobia. Gained after a bad illness in her youth, Jolie has only been outside a handful of times in the past year and a half. She is technically a recluse, most often sticking to her own apartment thanks to the safety she has found there. This horrible illness, coupled with her extreme introverted nature and blunt way of speaking, often leaves Jolie in a friendless rut which she very much wants to break out of. Though she fears the craziness of the world outside her apartment, she also craves it and wants to be better someday, which is why she often has a therapist visit her at least twice a month.
To those she is close with, Jolie is quiet yet clever. She is quite good at reading into people's expressions and has a strange wittiness about her that stems from her love of writing and reading comedy. Jolie loves listening to others but dislikes talking herself, and she much prefers smaller groups as opposed to crowds. She is most comfortable around her therapy dog Da Vinci, who is often by her side when she is not in the apartment. Despite her easily thinking the worst of any given situation, Jolie wishes for a future in which she can stand on her own without the constant nagging of her own inner monologue, and this is one of the main reasons why she has decided to move into a very communal apartment complex.
ʜᴀʙɪᴛs ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Jolie is a recluse, but she does not have many of the same habits as a recluse. For starters, she is incredibly anal about cleanliness, to that point that she mops and scrubs down her living space every day once she has some free time from her writings. Speaking of, Jolie's work often carries her way into the night. Those outside her bedroom door may be able to hear the frantic typing and hushed mumblings of her insomnia if they are up late enough, and they will most certainly hear her stomping around in the kitchen in the middle of the night if she finds herself caught on a word. Besides that, Jolie has a dog named Da Vinci whom she loves very much, but may ask for help in walking him during hard mental health days.
ʙᴀᴄᴋɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Jolie Smith is the eldest of three and the most forgotten about. Born to loving parents in St. Francisville, Lousiana, Jolie grew up surrounded by history and nature. Her family ran a funeral home within the downtown area and was often busy with the affairs of the dead, so Jolie grew up learning about all that made the human body work. This original knowledge eventually spawned a new interest in her: what made the human body tick? This curiosity turned into a journey towards knowledge, but, as most journeys go, a hiccup sort of slowed her momentum.
In her freshman year of high school, Jolie was struck down with the flu. This illness left her bedridden for nearly a full year due to her horrible constitution. This lack of interaction and increased alone time grew from a simple flu into something more, and after healing the first illness she was left with another; anxiety.
This strange anxiety turned into a panic disorder turned into agoraphobia by the time she was a senior in college. She managed to graduate with a bachelors degree in psychology but found her panic disorder scared her away from attending a graduate school. Jolie lived in her parents' house for an extra four years before moving into her own place somewhere off the skirts of New Orleans. She suffered in silence, alone and afraid until her first book on the psychology of repeated habits was published. As it did well, Jolie managed to hire a therapist who was willing to pay her house visits, and she eventually saved up and bought a therapy dog whom she would later name Leonardo Da Vinci Jr.
Her move to Redwood was long and arduous. Fear of sharing a living space nearly pushed her to remain in her small, cluttered, one-bedroom apartment, but help from her therapist and Da Vinci urged her to finally claiming a space within the cute and wonderfully odd apartment complex.
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Julia Smith (24): The middle child of the Smiths and perhaps the most outwardly successful daughter considering her age. She owns her own bakery and shipping business in New Orleans and has been seen on a number of travel food blogs and television shows. She is unmarried and seems happier that way. Julia is sweet, maternal, and extremely proactive in her life. She often sends Jolie sweets and recipes for her to try out.
Johanna "Jo" Smith (18): The youngest child of the Smiths and the only one who still lives at home. She goes to a local high school and is currently in her senior year. Jo is currently trapped in her teen angst phase, but that does not stop her from sending Jolie letters and texts. She is snarky, quiet, and intuitive.
Carol Ann Smith (79): Jolie's mother and biggest fan. She is a retired florist who now aids in helping her husband run the Smith Family Funeral Home. She is incredibly stoic, but loving and fair as a mother, and she has a strange look on the idea of death. She doesn't understand technology very well, but she often sends Jolie and Julia gifts from home.
Anthony Smith (80): Jolie's father and owner of the Smith Family Funeral Home. He is a personable man who cherishes family over everything else in his life. He is hardworking, honest, and a bit of a worrywart when it comes to basic things in his kids' lives. He often writes to Jolie and is always the first to receive her new books.
Beth Gardner (57): Jolie's therapist and former partner in research. Beth is a very reasonable woman who works with those plagued by anxiety disorders and mental phobias. She met Jolie first through work, acting as a research assistant for her first book, and then the two fell into a more formal relationship when Jolie decided to take initiative with her agoraphobia. She often texts, emails, and visits Jolie whenever she has a chance to in order to gauge her condition.
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Jᴜɴʜᴏᴇ Pᴀʀᴋ ● Cᴇᴄɪʟ Mᴀʏɴᴀʀᴅ ● Jᴏɴᴀʜ Zʜᴜ ● He's a, well, a surprisingly nice guy. I accidentally ran in to him while I was psyching myself up to take Da Vinci for his nightly walk and he offered to help me with the little guy whenever I need it. I was certainly shocked! But I managed to fght through my little panic attack and give him my number so we can stay in contact. It really puts my mind at ease, you know, having someone in the building who can help me when I'm unable to care for poor Da Vinci. I leave him cookies (Julia's recipe, of course) and tea whenever I get a chance, just as a thank you.
Appearance: Pepper is small and slim, with a slightly gaunt facial structure and pale complexion. Jet-black hair flows down to her shoulders when she's not on call and stays bundled up when she is. A notable feature of hers is her heterochromia iridium; manifesting with the left eye being a light green hue and the right one being a moderate oceanic blue. In terms of dress wear, Pepper isn't all that thrifty and prefers to wear casual clothes even in formal situations mostly due to the instilled, stringent requirements of her job. She believes that the term 'dressing for success' is more about how you act than the clothes you wear.
Personality: Pepper is a quiet, soft-spoken young woman with big determination and an even bigger heart. Suffering from a severe stutter and a light limp didn't phase her from earning her EMT certificate and working toward where she is today. Beneath a borderline mute, shy individual underlies a caring, sweet person who has always made it a habit to place herself before others- because their lives depended on it. However, it is not without difficulty from both parties that will determine whether or not Pepper will make a new friend. Pepper suffers from both the insecurity of her stutter being heard as well as an increased display of social isolationism because of this subconscious fear. She also fears fighting, loud noises, spiders and failure. Regardless, she tries to compensate by being naturally optimistic, albeit socially awkward.
Background: Born to a loving middle-class family in the small town of Longmont, Colorado, Pepper's birth was fairly traumatic. Delivered at 27 weeks early at one-pound thirteen ounces, the infant's prognosis was grim: A grade-three brain bleed, moderate scoliosis, flat feet, a left hip difference of one inch, and a 50/50 risk of developing cerebral palsy. Miraculously, the young girl pulled through and a pair of fearful parents kept the girl in a bubble (not literally that'd be weird) for most of her toddling years. When she reached the age of comprehension, Pepper was taught the values of discipline, respect, and integrity. With an increasing demand for her academic success from her parents, Pepper placed her social life aside the further she advanced through grade school, and when she reached the age of eighteen, she graduated her High School with a 3.5 GPA. Pepper had her career already planned from the age of five, being frequently told stories by her father about his service in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. Wanting to follow in her father's footsteps, the aspiring Naval servicewoman went to MEPS a few months later- only to hit the quintile of Permanent Disqualifiers (PDQ)'s. Upset but not deterred, Pepper had a backup: working in the emergency medical services.
Not only a few months later at the start of the new year was Pepper attending community college; the protective grasp of her parents slowly wearing away as she became more independent and self-sufficient. The next two years were grueling and brutal; met with many energy drinks and sleepless nights as she worked diligently toward obtaining her Paramedic certification. At 21 with a year of experience under her belt as a Paramedic, her dream was reached. However, now the newly certified and moderately experienced EMT-P wanted to get away from her parents entirely; to explore the world free of constraints. Reluctantly, they agreed to send her to Silverdale, New Orleans where she currently resides within an apartment complex; employed by the Silverdale City Medical Center.
Psychological Profile
Information disclosed from the office of Dr. Jacob Kaufmann, Redwood Mental Health Center.
"Miss Thompson is an adventurous, committed, intelligent and wonderful client who can light up a room with a smile. The girl's parents raised her right, but their authoritative, fear-based method leaves me in a bit of disagreement with her recounting. She has significant trouble with her stutter, and often feels insecure about making friends because of how [they] might react. I have prescribed her Sertraline for her anxiety, and I have noticed a troubling start of warning signs commonly associated with Uncomplicated Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder. She often suffers from night-terrors, depressive bouts, mood swings and catatonic lapses. As I have been told by her, these are likely to occur after a long day of work, yet that is no reason to dismiss the severity of this developing condition. Our next visit is scheduled within two months from now, and the next appointment will determine if a more aggressive regimen of treatments is needed if her condition worsens. I have recommended her to try and find some company when she is not on the job; making friends would indeed be beneficial for her mental health."
Hobbies and Passtimes
Pepper enjoys music, reading, writing, and studying up on medical procedures and terminology. Very rarely, she also might be seen painting or relaxing with a glass of wine (though the latter is not recommended unless you want an intoxicated, stuttering mess.) She also enjoys long park walks can occasionally be seen stargazing in the park if the opportunity presents itself.
Social relations
(This section will be dynamically updated following character interactions in the Roleplay. Mention to be added!)
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain"
~ General Information ~ || ASH || 30 || Female || Photographer/Painter || Bisexual - Time Spent at Redwood: 1 month
~ Appearance ~ Cerulean eyes stared intensely at the canvas before her as hands steadily glided the brush along to add the fine last minute details to the painting, losing their normal clumsiness due to her focus. Upbeat music rang out through her headphones, wrapping her in her own world as she set out to finish the piece with no interruptions. She gently nodded her head to the beat making sure not to go too crazy since it was very likely something would go wrong if she did. Copper hair spilled into her vision, a quick puff of air from her lips doing nothing to sway the locks from their current position which caused a sigh of frustration from the petite 5'10 woman as she should have known better than to leave it free-flowing. The brush was set aside next to the easel as to deal with the layered shoulder length mess that should have been handled from the beginning. She moved over to the small workbench covered in a variety of supplies and cubbies, snagging one of the hair clips snugly gripping onto the edge of the wooden table before pushing her hair back to secure it. It went completely unnoticed to her that bright green paint was now smeared not only in her hair but across the porcelain skin of her forehead. She took a moment to appreciate the masterpiece she had made with her own two hands and though she wanted to continue, she decided to take the hair incident as a sign and quickly wiped the paintbrush onto her apron being careful to avoid her bluejeans in the process. The brush dipped into a dab of black paint on her pallet, the letters ASH being placed into the dry corner to mark it as her own.
Full rose-colored lips curved into a dazzling smile that lit up the delicate features of her face, earbuds were yanked out and the apron quickly discarded on its hook that hung on the back of her bedroom door. Aria moved to open the door handle, thinking of grabbing a cup of tea and relaxing with a good book when the paint on her hands caught her attention. That wasn't good, the last thing she needed was to track paint everywhere...again...and with that in mind, Aria carefully took her clean fingers to open the door and headed to the community bathroom since she would probably need a mirror if her hands were anything to go by. She made her way out of the apartment and over to the only door not clearly marked with room numbers/letters, giving a light knock before trying the handle and making her way in when no response was to be found. It took no time for her to head over to the sink as she set to work to remove the paint. Aria flicked her fingers into the sink, slightly attempting to dry them and her eyes flicked up from under long dark lashes to the mirror before taking in her appearance. The splash of color on her forehead made her chuckle and roll her eyes at her own blunder since it trailed perfectly into her hair which meant a shower later whether she had planned to or not. A quick wipe removed at least the traces of it on her skin though she tilted her head to make sure she hadn't missed any. The rounded cheeks and button nose had been spared the paints wrath and nothing along the small jawline or chin. She nodded in satisfaction, no paint appearing on her baggy black shirt or secretly hiding anywhere else as far as she could tell.
This is how she preferred to look, no make-up or fancy frills and just a casual comfort. Aria, of course, knew how to doll up and wow but she liked to reserve those times for special occasions or when she wanted to impress. There was no point in doing so normally when it might be unexpectedly covered in paint or even dirt if she was laying down with her camera to catch that perfect shot. In her eyes, it didn't matter much on looks as to her, it was personality and the inside that counted. You could look amazing but if the inside doesn't reflect the outside then what was the point? She shook her head, pushing those thoughts away as a cup of tea was calling and if she was lucky, maybe a good book or a nice conversation with roommates if they caught her out and about in the living area. With that, she made her way out of the bathroom, closing the door softly behind her.
Aria is a kindhearted, outspoken, optimistic woman that marches to the beat of her own drum and isn't afraid to do so. She believes in being herself even if people's opinion of her might not be a good one because of it. She wants people who like her for the way she is and doesn't feel like anyone should make you change who you are meant to be. The ones that know her are very aware of how stubborn she can be when her mind is set on something and she won't let anyone get in her if she believes it is right or will help someone in need. She always tries to find the good in everyone which sometimes can get her into trouble. This isn't to say she is naive and won't give her trust to anyone but she wants to understand what they think and why they do what they do. If you do earn her trust and friendship than you will never meet anyone more caring and open.
Aria will always tell you what she thinks and not exactly what you would like to hear. She doesn't do this to be mean or cruel but because she knows nothing good ever comes from a lie. In some ways, Aria can be very mature and in others, she acts kind of childish but she knows how and when to be serious even though she would rather not be. It is much or fun to be laughing and smiling than having to be serious or straight-faced.
~ Habits ~ Aria, though skilled with a paintbrush or camera is completely clumsy when it comes to other aspects of her life. The reason for this is that she is unfocused as her mind races to the next best idea. It is a lot more helpful then you would think for creativity but not so much for other things. She means well but when you have burnt food because she forgot it was left in the oven then it becomes a problem or hazard. Let's not count the times she has hurt herself be dropping or tripping over items. This, of course, is not her only quirk as if she is shy, embarrassed or intently thinking, you can often find her biting her lip or playing with the tips of her hair. She has been found more then once, humming or singing if she is in a good mood or if she is in the shower. There are probably many more but those are at least the obvious one or at least what has been pointed out.
~ Background ~ Aria's life had been simple till that night. She went to local schools through her young life and got good grades. She had done a few stupid things as most teens do while they learn themselves and try out the new but nothing too extreme. Her parents were always patient and kind even with her blunders, it probably came naturally to them as they were both teachers. It had been the reason for their meeting and the start of a loving relationship. Aria might be a bit bias but she had never seen a pair more in love. No one would have thought they would have the fate they did.
They had all been out to the movies, heading home with excited talk of what they had all seen together. It was just a split second. A screech of tires, the justling, cries, pain, and the darkness fading in. Aria's head felt heavy, a ringing in her ears and an unfocused gaze when her eyes opened to the harsh light that just made her want to close them again. The air smelled sterile, the bed though somewhat comfy was not her own and the clothes felt strange as it took her fogged brain a moment to take in that she was in a hospital bed. What happened? She didn't know. Why were her parents not waiting next to her? Was it past visiting hours? Were they hurt too? Panic flooded in, the sound of screeching tires stuck on her mind and she went to stand though she found her muscles weak and some of her limbs broken. A nurse rushed to her side, placing her back into the bed as she called for a doctor though Aria could only feel frustrated with the action. She didn't want a doctor. She wanted to see her parents and know if they were okay. They had waited on her, making sure she was comfortable now that she was awake. It had come to her knowledge that she had been out of it for a small amount of time. Her parents, that had been her first and only question. It had been like the world stopped when she found out she had survived alone. She didn't get a chance to say goodbye or even see it coming. Never again would she see them smile or do something to make her roll her eyes or pout in protest. Never would she hear their voices or do something to make them laugh. They wouldn't see her graduate. They wouldn't be there for her future as she had always imagined.
Aria sucked in a breath she didn't know she had been holding and cried. No shame in who saw or heard her agony as her tears poured down her face. She felt utterly alone. The only one left was a distant relative she had never heard of, in a place far from home. Silvervale wasn't all bad but it wasn't home. She finished up her last few months in homeschooling. She knew it was hard to be around her as she seemed to be walking corpse. She had gone to counseling and it had helped her see the possibilities and positives in her life. It dulled the pain a little and it was suggested that she try something creative to escape too. She had found that in photography. She captured beautiful scenes or shared moments of others. She would make up stories about her unknown muses. It wasn't long before no only did she want to just capture but create. She switched her focus of being a teacher like her parents before her and started down the path of photography and art. It had finally brought a bit of joy and she wanted to share it with everyone. She wanted to be a great artist and it gave her a passion to focus on.
Out of college, she slowly built a name for herself under the name ASH as she wasn't one to like attention or didn't know how to deal with it without being a stuttering mess. Aria found herself never sticking to one place long but Silvervale was the place she always came back to as it now was more home to her than anywhere else she roamed. It was why she had chosen Redwood as she needed to be one her own two feet quickly as a hotel didn't sound pleasant and she didn't want to burden anyone.
~ Extra ~ - Has a tattoo on her wrist of two small crows flying which she got for her parents - Has light scars littered in random spots due to the car crash which she is actually a bit self-conscious about - Has a slight fear of cars and is more up for walking if possible - She knows how to play the piano but does not do so often - Loves the rain and thunderstorms - Doesn't really like the darkness which is why she has a digital clock on her nightstand to have a bit of light - Loves sweets which is surprising with how small she is. She does like to do some running here and there but she still doesn't know where she puts it
~First Impressions~ *1-2 Paragraphs long detailing how your character views the other tenants*
Moritz Gang Adorable and friendly are the first words that come to mind. He always seemed like a nice guy when they waved or share a quick smile in the hallways as each went their separate ways but now, she would be happy to get to know him more. She feels like they could be easy friends and someone she could depend on. If anything, just his warm aura and openness would be enough for her to want and know more.
Jolie Smith
Pepper Thompson
Aulora Wise
Josiah Marshall For barely a second, she had been a little nervous and intimidated of him as she had felt like an intruder but that was before she was met with a kind and warm personality which had set her at ease in almost an instant. They became easy friends as they found a routine in the apartment with little struggle. She adores the way he is with his daughter, Sadie, on the phone or by the stories he tells and always makes sure that she is not in the way of their relationship. The plants around the apartment make it feel lively and is glad at least one of them is good about keeping things alive as she doesn't have a green thumb much like the reasons for her cooking which Aria is happy he doesn't hold against her. She wouldn't call it a crush (though most everyone else would probably call it one) but there is an attraction or the possibility of it leading to a crush as personality is key for her in a romantic relationship and Josiah does things often that makes her heart flutter. She has always said, it is what is on the inside that counts and looks are just a bonus if you have them.
Rosie Burton
Joey Hughes
Junhoe Park
Cecil Maynard
Renata De Leon
Jonah Zhu
Eddie Desai
Victoria Bouvelard
Robin St.Michel
Itzel Maria Sanchez Itzel was sweet in her eyes and always seemed nice to everyone but for some reason was just awkward around her making her curious about what she had done to upset the other woman. It was just quick 'hello' when they saw each other but it seemed strange or there was a nervous energy hanging in the air. That was before suddenly, one day, Itzel came up to her and started up a full on conversation which lead to her saying that Aria's work was admired and that she had been inspired. It had made Aria blush and stutter as she is not one to be able to take compliments easily. She is willing to dish them out but she does not know what to say when someone does it to her. It was flattering and it was nice to know that she hadn't done anything wrong to Itzel. They continued to talk and quickly became friends as Itzel has a bright outlook and demeanor.
{"When you fight yourself to discover the real you, there is only one winner."}
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Name:
» Aulora Michelle Wise
» Lora » Wise
Age:
» 24 years old
Gender:
» Cis Female
Occupation:
» Theatre/Dance Graduate Student » Server
Sexual/Romantic Orientation:
» Bisexual
Time of occupancy in Redwoods:
» 3 months
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Appearance:
» Aulora is a beautiful young woman of Nigerian and Italian descent. She has a slim, statuesque build and seemingly flawless, chocolate-colored skin. Dark, thick locks of hair cascade down her back and curls around her youthful face. She has a prominent nose and full lips that always look poised to speak something important, but her most compelling features are her piercing brown eyes that can change from affection to aversion in an instant without notice. Weighing in at a little over one hundred sixty pounds and standing at five feet, ten inches tall in flats with all the grace and poise of a queen, Aulora probably could have been a model if she wasn't so infatuated with the theatre. Aulora carries herself elegantly with good posture, long confident strides, and her head held high. Due to this and her love of high heels, she often looks taller than she really is.
When it comes to her fashion sense, Aulora always dresses to impress and loves making statements and setting trends. Her style can best be lumped in with urban-chic or street wear fashion. She has a talent for putting an interesting twist on what she wears, mixing high-end and low-end effortlessly. She does love striking makeup, though only when she wants to make a scene; her everyday glam consists of nude and brown shades of eye shadow, lipstick, and blush. As far as jewelry goes, Aulora is always iced out. With her flashy necklaces, rings, and bracelets, she can make the most basic and minimalist outfits look like they belong in a fashion editorial.
» Ever since the day she was born, Aulora Wise has been an adventurous free-spirit, something that she without a doubt inherited from her mom; Aulora's mother was the epitome of a free spirit. She was child of the 60s and 70s; she made her own clothes, dated men on her own terms, always spoke her mind and had a mess of thick, Italian-American hair, which she never wanted to tame. Aulora vividly remembers going through puberty and her mother telling her that she didn’t have to shave her legs or wear a bra if she didn’t want to. She was taught that makeup, clothing and all other objects of vanity should be tools to make her happy, not anyone else. She was shown that women can too be bold and adventurous. Aulora took her mother's advice to heart over the years, so it’s no surprise that she ended up being a free spirit herself.
There is a certain confidence in the way that Aulora walks and talks; she has a way of commanding attention the moment she steps foot into a room and making strong first impressions. She has never been one to shy away from any platform or spotlight, and will always speak her mind without hesitation or timidity. This can easily be seen when she's performing in burlesque shows or auditioning for a lead role in an upcoming production. Also thanks to her mother's superb parenting, Aulora has grown to be a very self-reliant and independent young woman. She knows how to deal with things on her own, and rarely calls on the help of her family members or peers.
There are a few downsides to Aulora's persona, the main one being her impulsiveness and carelessness. While being adventurous, Aulora also has a history of making decisions without thinking them completely through, which probably should result in her regretting them later on. The thing with Aulora, however, is that she doesn't regret much of anything. In fact, one of the many philosophies she lives by is that there are no regrets in life, just lessons. Therefore, she'll usually apologize if she does someone dirty, but the apology may not always be sincere. Aulora also has a problem with relationship commitment; she feels as though she functions better when she only has to worry about herself. She doesn't ever plan on having kids, and even the idea of marriage is laughable to her.
Habits:
» One habit that Aulora desperately wishes to get rid of is her strong case of Resting Bitch Face; despite her genuine, friendly nature, the young woman often "scares" or intimidates those who don't know her too well with her mean mug. Another habit that she is working on would be her unconscious tendency to use foul language or profanity when engaged in regular conversation. Like her mother, Aulora has the mouth of a sailor; when paired with her careless and uninhibited nature, this can definitely be a recipe for disaster in certain situations. Aulora is also a bit of a cleanliness freak; when she isn't working or doing something related to school, she can often be found straightening things around her room or apartment. She also takes two, and sometimes even three, showers a day: one in the morning, and one before bed. A habit that may also annoy some of her neighbors would be how late she stays up every night; thanks to her busy schedule, Aulora will keep her lights burning until at least two o'clock in the morning.
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Background:
» Aulora Wise spent the first ten years of her life in a sketchy neighborhood in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. She was raised by a single mother who worked as a high school art teacher; she didn't bring in much money, but she made just enough to afford them a two-bedroom apartment and keep food on the table. Since Aulora's father was an anonymous sperm donor and her mother rarely brought men home, she never had a father figure around the house; not that she needed one. Aulora always believed that all she ever needed in this world was her mother, therefore she never tried to find out more about who her father was or why he'd made the choice to help impregnate random women.
Growing up, Aulora was always taught to be herself in every aspect. Her mother had no problem when her nine year old daughter decided that she wanted to dye all of her hair bright pink and wear rainbow pattern socks to school everyday. No, she encouraged it. Aulora had such a tight bond with her mother that she knew she could tell her everything from who was bullying her in school all the way up to when she was sixteen and had sex for the first time. Even after the two of them relocated to Manhattan and Aulora decided that she was in love with Broadway, her mother was one hundred percent on board. She took Aulora to as many Broadway shows as she could during her teen years, during which time Aulora made the decision to pursue a career in theatre and dance.
Theater geek. That was what most people referred to Aulora as in high school, but she didn't give a damn. In fact, the only things that Aulora was worried about at that time were her small group of friends, dance, theatre, and her goals. Her hard work paid off; she was given an almost full-ride scholarship to NYU where she would move on to double major in theatre and dance. Aulora was devastated when she realized that a good portion of her friends were moving to other states for college, but she perked up as soon as she caught sight of the NYU Frederick Loewe Theatre. She graduated four years later with two bachelors degrees and a heart set on acting.
Burlesque dancing was not exactly what Aulora had planned on doing for the first couple of years following her graduation. She'd found the job on accident, but ended up enjoying it more than she initially thought she would. By day, Aulora would spend her time auditioning for upcoming productions or movies, and by night she'd ditch the scripts and ballet slippers for feather boas and corsets. Aulora thought that this job would be temporary; she figured that she'd land one of her dream roles and become a big Broadway star like she'd always imagined. However, when twenty-four year old Aulora Wise was still spending her nights dancing in a club, she decided that it was time for a change.
After quitting her job, Aulora packed up all of her things and moved down to a town right outside of New Orleans; she'd gotten into the graduate program at Silvervale University, and decided to attend since it wouldn't cost her much. The apartment building she moved into was pretty decent; she got a position serving tables at a cafe in the mall so that she could pay rent and support herself through college. At this point in her life, Aulora isn't completely sure about what she wants to do or who she wants to be. Maybe after she gets her Master's degree, she'll move back to New York and give Broadway another try. Maybe she'll end up teaching in a high school for the rest of her life like her mother. Who knows?
Extra:
» Aulora never learned how to drive; she's always been so used to just taking the subway or catching a cab. » She has a black cat named Jupiter and believes that she brings her good luck » There are at least fifteen dream catchers hanging around her apartment » She always keeps incense or candles burning around the apartment; as soon as you walk in you'll be hit with the strong scent of cinnamon or mint.
{"When you fight yourself to discover the real you, there is only one winner."}
"I honestly don't know what to say about Jolie. I mean, she seems like an alright person, but we haven't really said much to each other outside of 'good morning' or 'how's your day been?' I can say, however, that she doesn't get out much. In fact, I don't even think she's left the apartment complex since she's been living here... how odd."
» Pᴇᴘᴘᴇʀ Tʜᴏᴍᴘꜱᴏɴ
"Pepper is one of my roommates, but I don't know much about her other than the fact that she's a paramedic. The girl doesn't talk... like, at all. Our conversations are mostly one-sided since I don't know much sign language, but she doesn't seem to mind. Pepper is a good, patient listener, and I really like that about her. Maybe one day we'll grow to be good friends."
Aᴘᴀʀᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ 3B » Mᴏʀɪᴛᴢ Gᴀɴɢ
"Ritz is a character, that's for sure. In the three months that I've been here, he's probably one of the few people that I've spent a great deal of my time with since he's also working on the Tinker Town production. I like hanging with Ritz; our jam sessions are legendary, and he's always down to hit up Rebecca's Hole or go to the mall with me."
» Jᴏꜱᴇᴘʜ Hᴜɢʜᴇꜱ » Vɪᴄᴛᴏʀɪᴀ Bᴏᴜᴠᴇʟᴀʀᴅ
"I love the fact that she's so uninhibited and eccentric; she sort of reminds me of myself in that aspect. Anyway, I've bumped into her a couple of times in the lobby, but the most we've ever said to each other is 'hello.' I'm sure we'll have a conversation one of these days..."
Aᴘᴀʀᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ 4A » Rᴇɴᴀᴛᴀ Dᴇ Lᴇᴏɴ » Eᴅᴡᴀʀᴅ Dᴇꜱᴀɪ
Aᴘᴀʀᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ 4B » Aʀɪᴀ Hᴏʟʙʀᴏᴏᴋ » Jᴏꜱɪᴀʜ Mᴀʀꜱʜᴀʟʟ
"If I'm keeping it real, Josiah is definitely one of the best looking professors at SVU. Hell, he's probably the best looking guy in this fucking building. Like, if he wasn't thirteen years older than me or if he didn't happen to have a daughter my age, I'd totally shoot my shot."
Occupation: Historian/ Professor at Silvervale University
Sexual/Romantic Orientation: Demisexual
Time of occupancy in Redwoods: Three and a half months
Appearance:
At first impressions Josiah is man bearing a somewhat firm and elegant aura yet past that, you see an easy going and carefree fellow. He stands about 6'3, and a body excellently sculpted, dabbled with some body art here and there, which shows how much he disciplined and care for his physical fitness. Appearance wise, Josiah is quite charming. His long dark hair meticulously cared for, his facial structure though sharp and fierce, would always have a kindly and approachable look mostly attributed by his striking dark eyes and boyish smile.
Jo usually prefers wearing smart casual outfits; generally consisting of simple buttoned ups shirts, plain or printed and sleeves usually rolled up to his elbows. His shirts are neatly tucked into his khaki trousers and suspenders. As for footwear, he has a preference for branded loafers. At home he puts little effort in what he wears, and is usually seen in tank tops or tight fitted t-shirts, and at times over gray sweaters, and a pair of tracksuit bottoms and white sneakers.
Personality:
Amiable | Carefree | Oblivious | Intelligent
Josiah is a rather interesting fellow. He has the look of a classic man's man, someone who takes time and effort in building his life and career in the rather quaint little town of Silvervale. The way he walks and talks, shows a man of pure refinement and cultivation. Though Jo may seem like a bland and serious person, his personality would betray him otherwise and people are instead introduced to a warm, jovial, maverick of a man. He's the type who can make good company out of strangers, and they usually see him as an approachable and open fellow. His carefree and curious character even for his age, had developed him a fondness for adventures and so he's more at his element when outside his home, visiting shops, local landmarks and jogging across town early in the morning.
Although Jo is a good humoured man in terms of socialisation, he is rather slow at getting certain social cues and at time's he would miss a few points or advances particularly in the romantic department. By nature he can be quite insensitive, that he has a hard time acknowledging people's feelings or anything relating to that matter and would rather see things in a logical point of view. Some people can't stand that part of his attitude as he may come off quite unintentionally rude. So Jo makes a habit of apologising if he ever thinks he's being callous.
Habits:
Jo fancies himself a collector, many of which are plants and bonsai trees of various genus. He'd horde most of them in one corner of the apartment, but are mostly scattered around the place. He gives a strict and considerable amount of effort in caring for his plants, and would be normally seen in his spare afternoons grooming them. That is to say Josiah likes to keep too many things in his possession and has a tendency to hoard them. On lazy evenings he'd meet up with friends at the Hole, or Cauldron and on weekends he'd just stay at home, tend to his plants, doing lesson plans and help around the apartment. Aside from that he'd visit coffee shops or libraries to study, or kill time. He's also a regular at the local bar strip so people there most likely always recognize him.
Background:
Josiah is a native of Colorado, and spent most of his life growing up in a small town in Denver. Although he was a bright kid who always kept his grades just above average, Jo led a rowdy, easy going life during his younger years, unpertrubed by any type of responsibility. Like some kids his age he had a fascination for ancient history, from dinasours to the rise and fall holy roman empire. Jo never missed out on anything that needs to be learned about it, from reading in his little corner of the school library to watching rental shows or documentaries. But by his teens, his smartness alone didnt save him from school. At one point he got expelled for selling marijuana in the school grounds, added to his inactivity to attend classes. His parents were distraught by the news and his father, a strict and cold man, ultimately pulled him out of schooling and instead made him work on the family's trucking business.
During that time Jo was dating his long time girlfriend since middle school, Tanya Rodriguez. After the incident, at seventeen they ran away together which Jo fondly remembers as a peaceful drive under the sunset that summer of 1997, Gin Blossoms tuned in on his dad's 1994 Wrangler S. But their romantic big city dream proved to be too much of a responsibility after they had a child together, a daughter they named Sadie. Months later Tanya eventually decided to come back home for their child's sake adding to the issue that Josiah almost never come home. He was so invested with his work, peers and studies that he barely gave any attention to Tanya and Sadie. Jo however stayed and made a life for himself, and with diligence and luck he managed to finish his studies on his own.
Years later he reconnected with Tanya and their daughter who was now 12 at that time. Tanya had long since remarried, but Jo has always stayed for Sadie from then on out. After finishing his masters he worked as a history consultant, a researcher and a writer, and fresh off from PhD he started working as an instructor in prominent Universities.
Josiah moved to Silvervale just a few months ago, aside from work reasons he was interested in the history and culture of the town, which he hoped he'll find time to know more about.
Extra: - Family: Tanya Rodriguez-Benson, 37 | Long time higschool sweetheart and ex girlfriend. Though their relationship soured after Sadie was born, Josiah and Tanya ended up being good friends since their recconection. He considers her his "first and last, probably his only one so far." which they would joke about it at times.
Sadie Coleen Rodriguez Marshall, 20| Smart, spunky and ever so sweet and loving daughter. Sadie first consciously met Josiah at 12. They shared a lighthearted and supportive relationship. Most of the time Sadie would take a few hours drive to visit her dad in his apartment in Redwood, just to check on him or bring him over some Chinese food. She studies at Texas State.
- Spends his free early mornings jogging around the town. - He likes his coffee black and strong. - Drives a classic 1990 Infiniti Q45 - Is a lightweight drinker, is good at being inconspicuous about it. - Collects plants/bonsai trees. His apartment would slightly resemble an interior version of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Appearance Average height, average build, only slightly underweight, average everything else. Though Rosie wouldn't believe it if anyone bothered to tell her, she is an attractive young woman. Her long, brown tresses are always lighter than usual due to the amount of time she spends outside walking to and from school. Often completely down or tied back in a bun, Rosie tends to avoid washing her thick hair unless she absolutely has to (or if some kind of paint gets in it. Even then...eh?) Her skin is nearly a ghostly pale, but she always gets a few freckles on her face and shoulders during the hot Louisiana summers. Rosie's brown eyes always look a little dreamy under her curly lashes, but that's mainly due to a lack of sleep every night which certainly shows in the dark circles under her eyes.
Some might say that Rosie has mastered the style of looking both casual and cute. Her main goal at all times to feel comfy and unburdened, which involves plenty of t-shirts, baggy pants, and overalls. Due to the fact that she is rather skinny, most clothes fit her very loosely, so most of the things she wears either need to have elastic or require a belt. She'll often be sporting a pair of boots or nice leather sandals, and wears a minimal amount of jewelry. --- Personality Creative || Intelligent || Laid back || Compassionate || Stubborn || Independent || Hardworking
Moving away from home is arguably the best thing to ever happen to Rosie. Once an introverted, withdrawn teenager in her hometown of Effing Nowhere, Louisiana, she certainly blossomed after her arrival in Silvervale. It was the people back home that made Rosie want to hide away inside a shell; their good-natured but small-minded behavior never made her feel safe. It was only when she got away from the small town life that she began to find herself, and what she discovered was this: she is an incredibly independent, opinionated, and strong woman. Though her talent in the arts had a helping hand, her stubbornness, drive, and ambition were the biggest factors in securing a spot at Silvervale University. She loves to learn new things and see new perspectives and thus, Rosie thrives in academic environments.
Though seemingly quiet and moody at first, she does love to talk and meet new people. Rosie simply must feel out a person before she can feel comfortable enough to show them the witty, funny, and wildly caring person that she is. At times she can be brutally honest, always with love, but has never been one to hold back what she thinks or feels. It's a rarity that she is ever in an actual bad mood, but if she is, a usually chatty girl becomes dark and broody until the mood passes over. Rosie is hardly critical of others, but very much so of herself. Simple mistakes can cost her quite a bit of time blaming herself and questioning all her life choices. It's one of those things she's working on fixing. But still, Rosie has a huge heart and cares very deeply about the people in her life. She'll do what it takes to make others feel comfortable and safe, making her a good person to befriend if genuine love is what you're asking for. ---
Habits Rosie is an insomniac, and spends the majority of her time awake drawing or painting for herself or for school-related reasons. Her projects are always done on time because she has too much time on her hands, though she wishes this weren't the case. Associated with her insomnia is a somewhat bad smoking habit. This shouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone who has met her family as it is mainly made up of chain smokers. Although she doesn't do it to the extreme of two or three packs a day, Rosie does habitually have a cigarette outside every couple of hours.
Background Rosie was born in a little town called Reuben, Mississippi to parents who already had four other children. Her father was a construction worker who often traveled out of town for work, and her mother was a nurse who slept most of the day and worked all night. From a young age, Rosie learned to be self-reliant and self-sufficient due to the absence of parental guidance. She and her siblings were left to not only take care of themselves, but find ways of entertainment to pass the time. Her two older brothers often played ball and ran around town with the other kids while her eldest sibling, her beautiful sister, busied herself with gossip and attention from boys. Rosie on the other hand was completely uninterested in playing with the other kids, and definitely wasn't all the intrigued by attention from boys. Reuben as a whole was completely boring, and it didn't help that her lacking presence in a playful setting made her the target of bullying by kids in town. Her daily routine usually consisted of biking over to her Grandma Lou's house to take advantage of the typical "grandma's house" storage consisting of crayons, paint, and plenty of coloring books. Grandma Lou, a former artist herself, was thrilled by her granddaughter's budding interest in art. Needless to say, it was only a matter of time before Rosie became the favorite grandchild. It was also only a matter of time before Grandma Lou became the only person Rosie trusted.
Her real passion began after receiving her first sketchbook as a present on her 10th birthday, from Grandma Lou of course. Much to her parents chagrin, Rosie spent most of her time outside of school holed up in her room drawing, drawing, drawing. It was the only way to escape from the world she detested so much. Though her grades in school were nearly perfect, her favor with school mates was failing hard. Rosie hardly had any friends save for very few likeminded people. Tensions often ran high with her mother and father, still hardly ever around to bother to get to know her. Unlike her siblings who either got married and had kids or went right into full time jobs, Rosie wanted to expand her knowledge and perfect her skill. She wanted to be an artist, an illustrator, and it was the complete opposite of what her parents wanted. Her grandmother was the only person she confided in because her parents had no interest in learning that their youngest had no intentions of living the typical, Reuben way of life. Towards the end of her high school career, she applied to several out of state art schools, paying for a lot of it with her own expenses she had saved up from working after school.
One blessed day she received a letter from Silvervale University informing her of her acceptance. Her parents were unhappy with the news and refused to pay for it. No one in her family had ever moved out of Reuben, but thankfully for Rosie, her Grandma Lou was there to save the day. Though old and retired, she offered to help Rosie pay for her to attend Silvervale with her savings. Since moving to Silvervale, the only person from home Rosie has kept in contact with is her grandmother, though she occasionally goes home for the holidays. She is now in her last year of school, and moved into Redwood not too long before the start of the fall semester.
Extra: Rosie has a lovely little, er, not so little orange tabby named Ziggy. He loves eating, sleeping, meowing for attention and treats, and sleeping some more.
"Every day begins with an act of courage and hope: getting out of bed." - Mason Cooley ━━━━━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━━━━━
Nicknames:
Joey - by close friends and family. Joe - by friends and people who don't know him well. Matt - by his mother.
Age:
33
Gender:
Male
Occupation:
Full-time child psychologist Part-time psychology professor at Silvervale University
Sexual/Romantic Orientation:
Homosexual
Time of occupancy in Redwoods:
1 month
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Appearance:
Joey has a youthful air about him that makes him seem younger than he is. He doesn't have a baby face, though, he was just blessed with the appearance of youthful beauty. His face is more square, his jaw strong, with barely there facial hair darkening it. He likes the look of a five o'clock shadow against his pale skin. He sunburns easily, so he doesn't often try to get a tan. He also has freckles and a few moles dotting his face, not a lot, but a few that stand out, traveling along his cheeks and down his neck. His short hair is dark, a deep brown, that he styles in a way that it sweeps to the side, sometimes a lock falling onto his forehead. His eyes are a green with hints of hazel speckled through them; they're surrounded by long, dark lashes, and set under thick eyebrows. Set in front of them is a pair of black glasses, making his eyes look bigger than they really are.
He doesn't often work out, though he tries to be somewhat active. He likes walking, he enjoyed hiking when he tried it out, and maybe jogging if he's really feeling it. He's not one for hitting the gym, though. His body is still plenty lean, though. His fast metabolism allows his 6'1 frame to stay slim, appearing pretty fit, though maybe there's a little belly there when he sits down. He would never admit to it, though.
He usually dresses professionally. It's rare to see him in a graphic t-shirt and jeans. His wardrobe consists mainly of slacks, khakis, sweater vests, dress shirts, suit coats, ties, polo shirts, bow-ties, sweaters, plain t-shirts, dress shoes, and boxer-briefs. Where Joey expresses himself, though, is through his socks. Often, when he sits down, his pants legs will ride up to reveal his socks. They could vary from a bright color, to even having cartoon characters on them. He loves weird socks.
Joey doesn't let his OCD define him. He tries very hard to be something more than his disorder. Between medication and psychotherapy, it has gotten better, but naturally, it isn't cured. As a result, he still suffers from compulsive tendencies, but he isn't quiet about it. Not being diagnosed with OCD until much later in life, the confusion and embarrassment caused anxiety and depression to bloom inside of Joey's mind. He has been getting proper treatment for years, now, so he is a completely different person than he was years ago. Though, Joey has always been a very friendly, and helpful person. He loves putting a smile on somebody's face, whether he manages that by cracking a lame joke, or making a stupid face. He'll willingly act goofy just to make somebody laugh. He always smiles at a stranger, no matter his own personal mood. Sometimes, people just need a little kindness in their life, even if it's just a smile from a stranger. He also believes that everything doesn't have to be so serious, and enjoys humor sprinkled in almost everything.
He has always been sensitive. Sometimes, he can't tell when somebody is being playful and joking, and may take someone's words to heart. He tries to hide the hurt, not wanting to cause a fuss, though if it keeps bothering him, he'll seek the person out to talk to. He does not bottle things up. He tries to deal with his emotions first, by himself. But, if that isn't working, he goes to the source of his emotions to have a calm discussion. He rarely raises his voice or gets angry. He forgives easily - sometimes too easily - and gives out multiple second chances. Unless it's to his students. He used to be a student himself. He knows how they function.
He has always gotten clumsy and stutter-y when his nerves get the best of him. When his anxiety peaks, he has butter fingers, often dropping his glasses, or knocking papers onto the floor. This results in him getting flustered, and he gets red-faced very easily, and he starts to stutter, unable to form a proper sentence. It makes him embarrassed, especially if he's in front of his class. Though, he's learning to handle it better; once he begins to get flustered, he has learned a few tricks to function through enough that he doesn't feel too foolish.
Joey struggles to adapt to change. He is a man of routine, even if his OCD may shove itself in the way, and he likes some things a certain way. He is getting better at dealing with unexpected delays, or a change in plans, but it still sends his heart racing, or makes his palms sweaty. He likes a steady, set schedule. He doesn't like erase marks in his planner.
When Joey didn't know he was suffering from OCD, and it was a lot worse, he was very ashamed and embarrassed about it. After he got help, and began to go to psychotherapy, he realized what path in life he wanted to take. Along that path, he learned to become very open about his own disorder and illnesses. He is not ashamed of who he is, though he may get embarrassed and sheepish at times. He's very apologetic when it hinders somebody else, and tries his best to make sure it won't.
Joey is pretty non-judgmental. He's a very accepting person, who will embrace almost anything about anybody. He tries his best to listen to all sides on a disagreement, and will throw his hat into the ring if he feels a need to voice his opinion. He loves a healthy debate, and hearing the sides of opposing opinions. Joey is a talkative fellow, but he listens as much as he talks. He respects just about everybody, and wants to help as many people as he can. He has a strong desire to pass on his knowledge to others, which is why he became a professor. He adores children, and it's why he loves working with them. After what he went through in his childhood, he wants to help as many kids as he can.
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Habits:
Joey has a tendency to mess with his glasses a lot. Be it adjusting them, rubbing the ear piece, or taking them off to clean for the fifth time in a two minute span, his fingers are always being drawn back to his glasses. If he isn't messing with his glasses, he's probably licking and chewing on his lips. He also has to have an exact amount of change in his pocket. He can't have a cent less, or a cent more. If he uses cash at a store, he will refuse to take the coin change. He has to have an exact 99 cents in his pocket, even when he's at home and in sweats. Another thing that he has to do, or risk having a attack, is open and close his bedroom door twenty times at bedtime. No matter the time he's going to his bedroom, if he's about to settle down for sleep, he has to do it. If he's interrupted during it, he has to start over.
He will get up between five to eight times a night, double checking the lock on the apartment door. He'll unlock it, then lock it back. He has also found that, when he's a romantic relationship that has crossed the physical line, he has to kiss his partner fourteen times in a row when first seeing him. Just little pecks, fourteen times, when upon seeing them the first time that day. Or, it'll bother him until he does it. If they part ways, and meet up later that day, he has to do it again. He also has the habit of repeatedly straightening his papers on his desk. He has to have his space neat and clean, or he'll get twitchy and can't concentrate. He really doesn't like to see his student's desks messy, but he can handle that better, since it isn't his desk. He just tries to not look at the desk.
Background:
Joey was raised in a well-known part of New Orleans: the French Quarter. His parents were well off enough to be able to afford a place right on Royal Street. People always say only children turn out to be strange; well, Joey was not the exception to that rule. If anything, he was very strange. Joey never liked to play with other kids his age, because they would always mix up the toys after he organized them by color and size. He was not a social child growing up, his parents concerned, but assuming he would grow out of it.
Joey continued to grow, and while he grew out of his shoes, he didn't grow out of his bad attitude. His parents were hoping the problem would work itself out. Naturally, it didn't. In middle school, his parents were forced to take action. Joey's grades began to drop, since he couldn't finish a test because he couldn't fill in the circles on the scantrons just right. After a lot of stress and countless doctor visits, Joey was diagnosed with OCD. It seemed to spiral from there. Finding the right medication and therapist for Joey was hard. He became a different kid a lot from reactions to the medicine and frustration at not liking the therapists.
In high school, he began having panic attacks and struggled to get out of bed. Anxiety and depression. His parents were determined to get him the help he needed. So, they moved around Louisiana, until they settled in Silvervale, drawn back to their city. In Silvervale, they found a therapist that Joey latched onto, and slowly, they got his medication correct. Joey became a whole new person. Of course, he wasn't cured, but he was so much better. His grades soared, and he became sociable and friendly, unlike before. He started to shove his nose in any Psych related books he could get his hands on. One author in particular, Chris Steller, stood out to him. Especially since the man's first book was on repeated habits. Joey loves that book, and holds it close to his heart. After another couple years, he graduated alongside his class at the age of seventeen.
Joey went to the University of New Orleans. He majored in psychology with the desire to help children, so they didn't have to go through such stress like he had. He minored in teaching, hoping to inspire others to help those around them. His parents moved back to the French Quarter, and everything seemed to be going smoothly. During college, Joey discovered his desire for men rather than women. It had always been there, but with everything going on, he had never pursued it. Now, he had the chance. He met a man his age that was majoring in literature. Chidi Adisa was a transfer student from Africa. He was amazingly kind and patient, and Joey was falling for the man quickly.
Though, not all of Joey's OCD tendencies were gone, and Chidi's patience only lasted for so long. The man was hooked to his studies, and couldn't handle both his school work and Joey. He left Joey, explaining to him that getting his degree was more important, and that Joey would find somebody who was meant for him. Joey was devastated. There were three weeks between them and their one year anniversary. Now that anniversary would never come. Joey nearly lost himself in his depression, barely passing that semester of school. Once his mother got wind of what was happening, she phoned Joey's therapist in Silvervale, who personally came to him.
It didn't immediately heal him, of course, but it gave him the boost he needed. Slowly, he got better, though he hadn't tried dating again. He was too afraid of scaring yet another person off. He got lost in his studies, quickly raising to the top of his class. He earned his degree in teaching, and after another five years, earned his Ph.D. He graduated with honors, at the top of his class, and found himself going back to Silvervale. He reconnected with his therapist, and settled down in Silvervale, earning a place as a child psychologist. Four years passed when he saw the local university advertising for a part-time Psychology professor.
He had no experience in teaching, yet the university was desperate. Their current Psychology professor had too heavy of a load, and was threatening to leave. Because of Joey's high education and experience as a psychologist, they gave him the job. He struggled a lot at first, but he slowly got the hang of it. Balancing his two jobs was hard, but after three years of being a professor, and a continuing child therapist, he has gotten the hang of it.
Unfortunately, a month ago, Joey's apartment building burnt down. He lost everything, nearly sending him into a panic, but he had to pull through. He couldn't lose his jobs from a breakdown. He did have to take some time off, to find a new place, get new things. He ended up stumbling across the ad for Redwood Apartments. He immediately applied, needing a place as soon as possible. He was thrilled when he was accepted. He moved all his fresh, new things in, and is still settling down. He is still reeling some from the lost of his old apartment, losing a few sentimental things, but he is learning to adapt to change better.
Extra:
An important NPC to Joey that lives in Silvervale is his therapist, Lucas Alma.
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Joey's relationships
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2A Junhoe Park "I've bumped into Junhoe a couple times now... one time, I actually bumped into him. He was so concerned and sweet - he seems like a really good person." Joey hasn't had much interaction with Junhoe, but the couple times he has had interaction, Junhoe was always very kind and respectful. Joey's impression of him is that he's a really good and nice guy that Joey wouldn't mind getting to know better. Cecil Maynard "[color=EEEB34][/color]" Jonah Zhu "Oh, ha... I ran into this man once, an early morning... he had a really cute dog, and um... face, too. I couldn't help but immediately drop to my knees - to pet his dog!! Oh-oh my god, uh, he seems... really nice, and his... dog is really cute." The only time Joey has really had an interaction with Jonah is one time when he ran into him outside the apartment building. One morning Joey was up early, he went for a rare walk to clear his head, and he spotted the other man walking his dog. Joey has a weakness for pets, so he immediately took a liking to the beautiful husky. Then he noticed the husky's owner. He got so nervous, he forgot completely to ask for the man's name, and excused him quite quickly afterward. He still feels like an idiot for that.
2B Nikolai Tchaikovsky "[color=EEEB34][/color]" Robin St. Michel "[color=EEEB34][/color]"
3A Jolie Smith "My second week here, I ran into Jolie on the roof. She was talking to herself, I admit, I was a little concerned... but, after talking to her, Jolie said she was trying to figure some stuff out regarding OCD... and then I found she is very knowledgeable in psychology... I enjoy those moments I find her on the roof and we can pass time talking." Joey loves the times he runs into Jolie. He knew they would be great friends when their first exchange was about OCD. He has found himself on the roof quite a few times already, talking to the woman about everything psychology, exchanging knowledge and experience within the subject. He has admitted Chris Steller is one of his favorite authors, and the man who inspired him to truly dive into psychology, yet Jolie didn't seem very interested in that particular topic. Nonetheless, Joey enjoys the times when he runs into Jolie, and can have a deep talk with her. Aulora Wise "[color=EEEB34][/color]" Pepper Thompson "[color=EEEB34][/color]"
3B Moritz Gang "Ritz is... haha... he's a really sweet guy. Ever since I stepped into that apartment, he has made me feel welcomed and comfortable. He also feeds me so... I can't complain about him. It's only been a month, but I already consider him a really good friend. I feel like I can talk to him about... anything, to be honest." Joey has liked Ritz since the moment he met him. His kind and accepting nature made Joey feel right at home that first day he stepped foot in the apartment. He hasn't had many issues with Ritz during his first month at Redwood. He has noticed that it seems like Ritz is slightly impulsive, but nothing extreme has come from it yet. He enjoys the moments he stumbles into the kitchen for coffee, and finds homemade wrapped goodies on the counter made by Ritz himself. In all honesty, Joey cannot imagine a better or cuter roommate thus far. Joey hasn't admitted yet that he always hears puttin' on the ritz! in his head whenever he addresses Ritz. Joseph Hughes "[color=EEEB34][/color]" Victoria Bouvelard "Victoria is a sweetheart... when I moved in, I immediately noticed her own struggle with OCD... she seems really honest, too, because when I asked, she told me. I think it has made us closer, though. She's sort of becoming the sister I've always wanted, though I don't know if she feels quite that close to me yet. Either way, she seems like a smart young woman with a good head on her shoulders." Joey took an immediate liking to Victoria when he met her. There was something about her that drew him in, and it didn't take long for him to catch on to the fact she had OCD. He actually admires her for the way she speaks up and doesn't seemingly care what others think of her. Though she seems quite opinionated, to the point she will argue, but Joey has learned how to handle that part of her. That part of her doesn't change his positive opinion of her in the slightest.
4A Renata De Leon "[color=EEEB34][/color]" Edward Desai "[color=EEEB34][/color]"
4C Rosie Burton "[color=EEEB34][/color]" Hae-Seong Cho "[color=EEEB34][/color]"
It wasn't very hard for Joey to find a job after he graduated with his Ph.D. After three years of gaining experience, a good reputation, and saving money, Joey opened up his own private practice, Flower Child Counseling. It had been a dream of his since he had started college. He had a specific image in his head of what his practice would look like. He wanted it to not only look like a home, but feel like a home, as well. He looked long and hard before finding this piece of property. He made sure it was easily accessible and perfect for what he wanted. Originally meant to be a home, he transformed it into his practice.
The dining room was turned into an office for his secretary, and a waiting room for the parents to sit and relax. The kitchen was used like a break room for his secretary and himself. The living room was turned into a play area for the kids; there was a TV, toys, comfortable chairs, and a reading corner. The backyard was set up like a playground. The upstairs had Joey's office, in a guest bedroom. The master bedroom was scattered with different toys and comfortable sitting places, meant for the kids to feel better when being in there with Joey and talking. The other bedroom was used as a storage room of sorts, not often touched. Overall, Joey was happy with what he turned this place into. He managed to make his appointments work around his college schedule, and can be found either in his office at the university, or his office at his practice. He had four years to perfect his schedule, after all.
Occupation: Musician || Singer || Dancer Photography professor at Silvervale University.
Time of occupancy in Redwoods: 2 weeks
Appearance:
Junhoe has this face that is often said to be quite handsome, especially back in Korea. His body is very fit and athletic from being part of a dance club/guild/troupe and going to the gym at least 3-4 times a week, that also makes him quite muscular. He's quite noticeable because of her rather fair skin, his hair seems to just do what it wants, from nice and straight, to a messy bedhead type of deal, and he has dyed his hair a few times, but nothing out of the ordinary, it was often just brown or brownish red. His distinct facial features would be his button nose, and cute little smile and his emotion heavy eyes. Junhoe stands at 178 Cm or 5'10" which is quite tall for men in South Korea, and weighing around 145 lbs, Junhoe's height and weight are just a two of the things that make people like him, and since he lives quite a busy lifestyle, Junhoe will continue to as fit as he is today.
When it comes to fashion, Junhoe is often seen with a white shirt, he loves his white shirts. But other than that, his outfit is standard male Korean fashion that he switches up every now and then. For someone who has a an obvious love for white shirts, Junhoe loves wearing black as well, whether this be beanies all the way to his collection of boots (most of them are Timberland). And back in Korea he was also quite known in his school for his fashion sense during non-uniform days. There will be times where he'll use his glasses, those thin and round frame ones that he actually likes wearing, but since his lifestyle is a bit too active with sports and stuff he doesn't really want to break it by dancing or working out, so he's often wearing contacts.
Habits | Quirks | Oddities:
Junhoe's habits are some things that transfer all the way from South Korea, like how he bows multiple times to anyone he meets as a form of respect, some of his bow even go the full 90 degrees when it comes to it; most often to older people or as he would call his Sunbaenims. One his other habits that often people question is his head tilting, often caught in different situations like, one where he's called out to do a challenge and he'll unconsciously tilt his head real fast, same goes for when he's confident, or where he's just smiling, or maybe times where he's confused, or others when he's disappointed, and some where he's sad. He also picks at his face when he's in his own little world or spaced out, like just pulling at his cheeks at times. When he's jealous, he'll bulge his tongue out, only happens when he's jealous which is already rare. And who could forget his constant hair touching when he's nervous, it does get excessive when he's really nervous.
Junhoe does play games a lot, video games to be exact, even with his very active lifestyle, he still finds time to do these things. In contrast to that, Junhoe has a passion for dancing, and singing, and these two often come at the exact same time. When Junhoe is dancing, he'll start singing and sometimes vice versa, but most of the time when he's singing, he'll stay still unless he already has the choreography for that song.
When Junhoe was young he was already a responsible kid and was already quite known for being exactly that, people often thinking that whatever he does in his life will happen exactly the way he wants to. He continued to grow up to be a reliable and hardworking, making that one of his most favourable features to everyone he has met. He was always polite and never really showed disrespect to anyone, always talking formally and showing no authority to those of his superiors. Always someone so genuine and lovable, someone willing to do anything for a friend.
Junhoe's politeness and over all genuineness give him this aura to everyone around him, making that the instant vibe people get when they're face with him, he's always on about "Ah! You're stronger than me, you're just not showing it!" or "If I could get through it, you can get through it much easier!" And sometimes even just a simple "You can do it!" He really is that person that will always try his absolute hardest to lift up people's spirits, always.
Though, Junhoe's genuine and polite personality does have it's own contrast, he's always so self-conscious about what people think about him that there are times he forgets to do things his way or the fun way. He fears that being judged so much means that's a bad thing, he thinks that every judgement laid upon him is something negative, never positive unless proven otherwise. Junhoe's hardworking capabilities is an understatement, just that word already makes it an understatement. Because he fears being judged by people for not doing something extra or adding something else to do, he fully overworks himself to accomplish that, often resulting in dehydration, stress and body pains, he even collapses or passed out completely if it's too much.
Even though Junhoe is an introvert, people often laugh at him for being so goofy, but he never really shows this side when alone, he only ever shows this side to the people he cares about, friends, and family.
"You make me begin."
History:
Junhoe grew up in Busan, South korea and spent about 12-13 years of his life living with both his parents and his older brother. The reason it wasn't longer was because his parents separated when he was 13, his mother took his brother and his father took Junhoe. Sure it wasn't something great to happen but Junhoe stayed as strong as he could, making it really his strongest personality trait. His brother and him comforted their corresponding parents, and a year later Junhoe father's decided that they'll be moving to New York.
When they moved, Junhoe was upset that he would barely get to see his brother and mother, but he kept that to himself since he was already viewed as almost the strongest individual in the family. So Junhoe was going to grow up in New York, specifically Manhattan, and since he was going to be living there for who knows how long, he needed to start going to school there and most importantly, get an English name; which settled to be Alex in about 3 days, but no one really ever calls him that. Junhoe's group of friends were actually quite a good influence for him, in New York and Busan, and it was because of that group of friends that he discovered most of his talents. Hell, even his friends didn't know Junhoe was good at so many things, Dancing, Atheltics (Specifically Track and Field), Singing and Photography.
Funnily enough, Junhoe earned a nickname in his school as he grew up Master of all trades, because of his ability to do a lot; And by a lot, he did a lot. Junhoe had high grades, was 3rd in command of the dance troupe, was in the track team for about 2-3 years, was part of the acoustic club because of his singing voice, and lead photographer of the school. As Junhoe was headed to college, he had 1 scholarship for NYU and 2 from Julliard School, for all completely different things, the Julliard School scholarships were for Dance and Singing, and NYU scholarship was for photography, which was what he chose.
Junhoe graduated with flying colours while still balancing singing and dancing, was part of the top 20 of the batch with a few bumps along the way. Major in photography was something Junhoe didn't think he'd do, especially back in South Korea, but there he was. Junhoe's graduation was a special moment for the Park family, since that was first time in a long while their family was together. His parents were on good terms now but still not together, his brother had never been prouder, and Junhoe... Well, he was just glad to see everyone together. This family time was more than he thought, since his mother and brother got him a Toyota Camry 2.5 SE XV70, and his father, well his dad got him socks, his father actually got him a the world's thinnest gaming laptop by ASUS.
After college, he still stayed with his father in the suburban house they had in Manhattan while he was looking for a place of work. Until one day, he was offered a job at a magazine for his photography style and skills, Junhoe was excited at first, but after a few months it was the same thing over and over again. He became decently known for that job but no one really knew his face since he refused to have his face on the magazine since he said, "only take pictures, my name is fine." After a year of working there, Junhoe grew tired of the same style that magazine offered, he brought out his resume and sent it all over the country hoping for a new lead.
He was offered a new role as a photography professor in Oregon, and he took that because he was so sick of taking the same pictures of people being fake just to be on the cover of the magazine. He quit his job and it was like South Korea all over again, leaving everyone he knew in New York, even his father. He shrugged it off even if he was depressed about it but he kept it all inside. He was able to afford an apartment, it wasn't bad, the reviews said it was great so why not. Junhoe packed his stuff and moved from New York to Oregon, hoping that everything there would be a new start.
Extra: ⋗ Junhoe has a 4 different cameras. ⋗ Big fan of Coffee. ⋗ Junhoe has a really large shoe rack, most it came from his dancing. ⋗ Junhoe owns a Cocker Spaniel Golden Retriever mix named "Frog."
Many think of Cecil as intimidating when they first meet him, and he certainly looks that way, just a bit over 6’0” and weighing in at around 180 pounds, give or take. He’s not athletic (damn these love handles!), per se, but he isn’t fat, either. Really, the best way to describe Cecil’s physical appearance would be the term ‘dad bod’, toeing the line between chubby and muscular. Most of the time, his expression is set in a pensive scowl, dark, soulful eyes narrowed in what seems like contempt, but once you strike up a conversation with him, you’ll find that he’s the type of person who smiles easily and sincerely. Never judge a book by its cover, and all that.
On the whole, Cecil can look a little… grungy. His dark hair is often carelessly mussed, and on occasions where looking presentable is a necessity, he just slicks it all back with a dollop of pomade. Furthermore, there always seems to be the beginnings of a beard forming on his lower face, blurring the angular lines of his features. You’ll almost never seen him clean-shaven, mostly because he thinks it’s too much of a hassle to do so everyday, but underneath that stubble, a sharp, well-defined jaw is hidden. Upon closer inspection, one will also find a light smattering of freckles across the bridge of his nose and cheekbones.
Even now, he still dresses as he did in his youth. It’s mostly t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers, though he does have a nice suit jacket he busts out for special occasions. When it gets chilly, he resorts to heavy flannels and sweaters. While he isn’t one to accessorise, Cecil can often be seen wearing a knotted bracelet around his left wrist, made from intertwining strings in a rainbow of colors — a gift from his daughter.
ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟɪᴛʏ ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Cecil doesn’t ask for much in life — as long as he’s got his guitar, a cigarette, and his cat, Wolfgang, he’s satisfied. Truly, he’s the kind of guy who knows how to find joy in the smallest things. You see, he firmly believes that you only have one life, and you’ve got to live it, otherwise what’s the point? There’s no such thing as mistakes in his mind, only learning curves and stories you can one day share with your grandkids. Cecil often states that no one should take life too seriously because in the end, everyone ends up in the same place.
The first thing most people see when meeting him is his spirit. Cecil has always been an energetic one, full of life and personality, though he has mellowed out a little with age. As far as he's concerned, life's too short to sit around let shit just happen, it’s all about the now, and how you handle the people and things that surround you. If he likes something, chances are he’ll let you know it, and if he doesn’t, well, he’s never been shy about voicing his opinion in that matter as well. Try as he might, he’s never really had the best poker face in the world, and it tends to give him away more than not.
While he may not realise it himself, he has picked up quite a few traits from his mother, one of which is self-reliance. He’s very independent, and hates asking for help, even when he needs it. It must also be said that Cecil’s ego can sometimes get the better of him. He has no issues justifying his own reasons for saying or doing what he wants, but can be quick to dismiss others when they try and do the same. Some may find him rather exhausting to deal with in that regard, though it’s not something he’s consciously aware of. When faced with conflict, he often finds himself playing mediator to varying degrees of success, mostly because he can’t stand negativity.
ʜᴀʙɪᴛs ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Cecil plays a lot of music. While he can’t exactly haul a grand piano up into Redwood, it’s almost as if he’s physically joined to his guitar. More often than not, you’ll find him fiddling with it, composing his own pieces. He’s very much influenced by jazz and classical guitarists, though he often incorporates folk elements into his work as well. Cecil’s music isn’t something he shares with everyone, but for those who show genuine interest, he’s more than happy to talk about it.
Cecil is a smoker, and has been for the past decade or so, though he’s not the type to start jonesing for a cigarette after a mere hour or two. What started as a way of dealing with the stresses of work has turned into more of a social habit, and hey, it’s a great conversation starter, too.
ʙᴀᴄᴋɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
If you were alive in the 70s, chances are you’d have heard of Analog. With the release of their hit single ‘Hot Heaven’, this five-piece band from the UK were suddenly found themselves catapulted into the stratosphere of worldwide fame, seemingly overnight. To say that they settled right into the hedonistic lifestyle of rock’n’roll stardom… well, that would be quite the understatement. Cecil was the result of a drunken liaison between Keith “Patch” Nichols, the lead guitarist of Analog, and Joanna, one of their countless, starry-eyed fans. Nine months after Analog’s sold-out show in Omaha, Cecil was finally brought into the world, beet-faced and bloody.
For much of his childhood, Cecil was raised by his grandparents. They were conservative, churchgoing folk, and disapproved of their daughter’s recklessness. Much like his father, Cecil was drawn to music, and showed a natural talent for it, at first plinking away at the piano with unusual finesse for a child his age, then picked up guitar a few years later. His mother was delighted by Cecil’s interest, and encouraged him to keep at it. His grandparents were less thrilled, clamping down on these tendencies as much as they could. Still, Cecil remained resolute, and soon, he even started playing some hymns for their local church.
Cecil’s first and only encounter with his father happened when he was eight years old. Up until then, everything he knew about the man had been what his mother told him. He often thought about what kind of person he was, and what he would say to him if they ever met. With Cecil in tow, Joanna drove five hours to where Analog would be performing later that night. The show was nothing like he’d ever seen — all the people, lights, and pyrotechnics, but what fascinated him the most was the man with the red guitar.
After the show, what went down backstage was something a lot less magical. A long shouting match ensued after Joanna demanded that Patch play his part as a father, or pay child support, at the very least. There was no question that Cecil was his son; their resemblance was unmistakable, but Patch refused to believe it. It was only after Cecil went off on a tirade in defense of his mother and threatened to kick him in the shins that Patch finally relented. Perhaps Patch sensed that things would soon get messy if he didn’t, or maybe his conscience got the better of him. Either way, that was that. Patch never wanted to be a father, never tried to involve himself in Cecil’s life, just did what he could to avoid a scandal.
From that day onwards, Cecil stopped thinking of his father as someone to be admired, to aspire to be. Everything went back to normal when they returned to Omaha, apart from the cheques they now received in the mail every month. Joanna soon got married to a lanky, bespectacled accountant by the name of Steve, and Cecil just sort of… did his own thing. The rest of his childhood and adolescence went by rather uneventfully. He’d always been a happy, well-adjusted kid who had no problem making friends, and his musical talent earned him quite the reputation among the school populace. He and his friends even started a band in their sophomore year.
Then, he graduated, went to college, got a 9-to-5 job, and did what everyone else his age was supposed to do. For years, fear of ending up like his father – the man who never spared him a second thought – dissuaded Cecil from chasing his dreams. He wanted to become a musician, to create art that would be remembered for decades, centuries to come. But with Cecil’s marriage to his high school sweetheart, and the birth of their daughter a year later, he was content to let his aspirations take the backseat, at least for the moment.
While the first few years were idyllic, it seemed their marriage was not built to last. Eventually, living with each other became more of a chore than a pleasure. Cecil hated his job, and often came home reeking of alcohol after a night out with his coworkers. His wife grew antsy, suspecting him of having an extramarital affair. Too many times, they would get into arguments that lasted late into the night, arguments that ended up waking their daughter. They tried to make things work, but marriage counselling didn’t help, and neither did talking things out. It all came to an unceremonious end when one night, his wife announced that she was leaving, and taking their daughter with her.
The divorce was finalized six months later. His wife was the one who got custody of their daughter, while Cecil was left with the scraps — visitation rights. The next couple of months resulted in something of a downward spiral for Cecil, but eventually, he realised that he needed to get it together. So, he quit his job, and with the money he’d saved up, moved to Silvervale, a quaint, little town just two hours away from where he lived. He’d heard of its reputation as a nesting ground for creative souls, and thought it would be a nice change of pace. Call it a midlife crisis, but his subsequent move into Redwood Apartments was the next natural step.
Now, Cecil earns his keep doing what he loves, playing at local bars, clubs, and hopes that he’ll be able to make it big someday. Even if he doesn’t, well, at least can say he gave it that old college try, right?
ᴇxᴛʀᴀ ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Has a twelve-year-old daughter named Ruby whom he visits on the weekends. She lives with her mother (and Cecil’s ex-wife), Sarah, in the next town over.
Occasional Model, Beauty YouTuber, Part-Time graduate school student in the Nutrition M.D. program
| Time Spent At Redwood |
One month
| In-Depth Appearance |
The first thing you notice about Rena is her long, straight, silky black hair, which she keeps top-notch by caring for it with high-end products and frequent salon visits. The highlight of her face are a pair of dark brown eyes that always seem to have a playful spark in them, underneath a pair of perfectly plucked and arched black eyebrows. She has a small nose, and under them a pair of soft, luscious lips. A fun fact about Rena is that when she smiles and shows the world her perfect, pearly-white teeth, an adorable set of dimples form on her cheeks. She stands at an average 5’6”, with an hourglass shaped body that has a 34C breasts and noticeable hips.
Rena’s style can be described as girly and comfortable. The young woman loves short, flowy dresses and skirts above all, but also frequently wears shorts, jeans and sweaters. Although she’s a fan of heels, she wears sandals and flats for comfort. Another fun fact: Renata never leaves her house without one of her signature designer bags (that always matches her shoes), earrings, a watch that can be either gold, silver or rose gold, and the Pandora charm bracelet that was given to her by her parents when she turned eighteen.
Although a makeup enthusiast, Rena tends to wear just the right amount of it to enhance her natural beauty without looking overdone. Her usual look consists of powder, blush, highlighter, eyeliner, mascara and lip gloss in usually pink, nude or red shades. Another thing she loves is to keep her nails neatly salon-done (colors depend on her mood) and smell good. She carries a travel-sized perfume container in her bag, and leaves a trail of coconut scent wherever she goes.
Renata has always been a social person. Even in school, she was the one girl that everyone liked in the class. Always sweet and friendly, Rena had a way to make people feel comfortable around her. When she walks into a room, she does so with an air of confidence, that can be seen as admirable or arrogant depending on your point of view, but always with the effect of catching everyone’s eye. She has a very eloquent and clear way of expressing herself, but also has a quick sense of humor and enjoys to have fun. Around men she’s interested in, Rena can be very flirtatious, but that’s as far as it goes, as she’s not the type to sleep around (she’s a virgin and plans to keep it that way until finding ‘the one’). With Rena as a friend, you can be sure she will be loyal, trustworthy, honest, affectionate, caring and always there when you need her. To her, friends and family are the most important things, so she makes a point to go above and beyond for them. As a lover, Rena could be described as passionate, intense, but very sweet, caring and loving, but so far there hasn’t been a man that has been deemed worthy of uncovering this side of her.
However, the Hispanic woman isn’t without faults. Renata can often be very judgmental, because in her eyes first impressions mean the world. She's also very stubborn, and once she makes up her mind on something you can be sure she will stop at nothing to get it, even if it is at other people’s cost. Though patient, she turns impulsive when driven to the edge, saying hurtful things in order to defend herself against being hurt. Rena can also be perceived by others as snobby and snotty, often because of the importance she gives to her appearance and the way she expresses herself.
Hobbies
In her spare time, Renata likes to take jogs on the beachside, discover new restaurants, read romance novels, go shopping, grab some coffee at the small and local shop and go out with friends.
| Backstory |
Renata Gabriela was born on October 10 of 1993 to Carlos De León and Rosalba Marín, a married Hispanic couple native and that resided in Bogotá, Colombia. Renata’s birth was one celebrated by many, especially the father that had always dreamed of a little girl. Four years later, Carlos Gabriel Jr. was born, and the De León-Marín family was deemed complete.The family lived in a middle-class home for most of the kids’ life, in a home that was always full of love and in which they were always taught to be respectful, polite, hard-working,dream big and to always fight to achieve all their dreams. As a child, Renata watched as her parents worked hard to save up money. Though they were always considered a medium class family, Rena never understood why they chose to save the money and not spend it in something fun, like family trips and such like so many of her classmates did. It was only when Rena was ten that the reason became clear: her father had finally achieved his dream of successfully gaining ownership of his first Ferrari dealership, and from then on the family’s finances had not stopped booming. The De Leon-Marin family could now afford all the things they always dreamed of, and soon enough there was enough to have a trust fun for both kids, money for them to attend college and the financial stability they had worked so hard for.
Although some people in their teen years would stop putting an effort in their education if they were now wealthy, that was never Renata’s case. She’d always been a good student, and never stopped pursuing her dreams of being the first person to earn a college degree in her family. She applied for colleges not only in Colombia, but in the US also, since another one of her goals was to one day live in the United States. Like her parents before here, Rena achieved both these goals with her hard work, persistence and dedication.
When Renata was accepted in college at the US, her father decided it was also the perfect opportunity to move his dealership business to said country. He opened up a successful shop in Ann Arbor, and eventually expanded to the point where he currently owns all the Ferrari dealerships in the state. Though she chose to live on-campus, Renata worked at the main dealership up until her college graduation. At 21, she was allowed access to the trust fund her father had set up for her, and with that money she chose to follow more of her dreams: take a year to travel the world and rent an apartment. At twenty-two, she decided to quit her job at the dealership to pursue graduate studies right after she’d returned from her last trip. And so, now 23 years of age, Renata is at the final lap of completing her master’s degree in Nutrition. Apart from the trust fund, Rena makes a living from her YouTube channel.
| Family |
Carlos Gabriel De León | Father | Owner of a few Ferrari dealerships, though his main office is in Ann Arbor. | FC: John Leguizamo
Rosalba Marín | Mother | Her husband’s secretary at the main office | FC: Sofia Vergara
Renata is a makeup enthusiast that’s recently hit 500,000 subscribers in her YouTube channel called ‘RenaBeauty’, where she does makeup tutorials, product reviews, get ready with me’s, and the occasional entertainment video (Q&A’s, vlogs, story times, etc.). She also likes to promote a healthy lifestyle in her social media accounts.
"Well, I’m really into shopping, makeup, visiting the beauty salon and collecting perfumes. I freaking LOVE selfies, and I live for margaritas! The beach is my happy place, as is listening to pop music in both English and Spanish. I also have this obsession with the smell of coconuts, so you bet I have coconut everything!
When it comes to stuff I don’t like, I really hate olives. Like, who made such an abomination! Then there’s that disgusting stink of cigarette smoke- or any kind of smoke, really! I don’t understand how people find it cool to be poisoning their bodies with tobacco or other substances… Yuck! And people who stink and are unkempt? Double YUCK! And the last thing: country and hard rock? Pass!"
| | Appearance | | Jonah takes after his mother's stature and his father's good looks. He stands at 6'3 carrying a well toned muscled body that he has worked for over the years. His broad shoulders use to be covered by his black locks of hair until he cut his hair short to get his mother to stop complaining about how shaggy it made him look. His eyes, just like his mothers, are a deep brown that lightened up just the slightest under the sun. His jaw, like his father's, is strong and covered in a well-trimmed beard Jonah is rather proud of. His left hand is covered in geometrical tattoos that he likes to show off at meetings and during his morning jogs around the town.
Jonah likes to keep up with the latest trend and fashion. He often heads to the local boutiques to fill his closet with the most recent items of fashion. Although he does enjoy to dress up in formal and expensive pieces of clothing Jonah tends to dress in red flannels, ripped black jeans and a leather jacket. Half of his closet is filled with various flannels, leather jackets, and leather boots. The other half are very expensive coats, suits, ties, and button up shirts from Italian brands.
Jonah's accent would be the typicaly known as the "BBC" accent. Although he has this type of accent there are a few phrases he says with a but of MLE, or Multi-Cultural, accent. He grew up in a private school where most talked in a MLE accent but his mother always made sure he talked in the RP accent, like she was raised to talk. Every now and then some slang of MLE will slip out and his mother isn't here to correct him.
Jonah is a man who is not afraid to speak his mind and would not apologize for it. He can be blunt sometimes and maybe too honest, but Jonah always means good by it. Although it does come out as rude to some people who are not very familiar with him. While his looks may scream upright rich asshole, his personality is quite the opposite. He is a kind-hearted and outgoing man that values his time alone in his room playing one of is many instruments. He is polite and patient with everyone he meets, and he strongly believes in second impressions. Jonah warms up to people quite quickly and becomes a loyal friend to those who would have him. To his friends, he is a kind and curious man that doesn't shy away from an adventure. During social gatherings, Jonah mingles here and there but never sticks to a certain group for long. A few shots of alcohol would be able to loosen up his tongue and demeanor, but getting Jonah to drink a lot can be proven to be difficult. If he is convinced to drink Jonah becomes a loud and very blunt person who will not turn his back from any challenge presented his way. Once sober, he will apologize and try to make up for what he could have done or said.
There are very few people who Jonah considers a good friend, but to those few Jonah is a man who is loyal and giving. He would do anything to help a friend in need, be it moral or financial support. His friends would describe has a man who is determined to finish what he starts and get things done on time, which can leave the man stressed out and in need of a break, which Jonah rarely takes.
| | Habits | |
Jonah tends to overwork himself a lot. For him, there is no stopping until the job is finished or until the person he is helping if finally well off or content with their position. Some may see it as a good habit to have, Jonah, knows better as this habit has sent him to the hospital two times already. The first was when he first established his business in the town and had to remodel the inside of the small music store. He didn't rest until everything was finished and passed out from exhaustion. The second time, the second time Jonah would rather not talk about.
Jonah is a smoker. He has been trying to quit for some time now, but the feeling he gets everytime the smoke fills his lungs make all the stress and worries fade away temporarily. He has tried a few other drugs here and there, but nothing beats good old nicotine. Although he was recently introduced to a certain strain of weed that may reduce the number of cigarettes he smokes daily.
When Jonah is too stressed he finds some sort of escape in cleaning and tuning the instruments in his studio and home. He is usually found caring for them after a long stressful week with a cigarette between his lips.
| | Background | |
Jonah Zhu is the first born child of the Zhu-Ainsworth superfamily. Hua Zhu-Ainsworth is three years younger than her brother. The father, Chang Zhu is a Chinese doctor/businessman. The Zhu family has five private hospitals in Shangai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Wuhan, and most recently, London. His mother, Emily Ainsworth, is one of the best lawyers based in the UK and has a growing law firm. Emily and Chang met on a rainy day in an old pub in downtown London. They continued to meet for two weeks straight until one night they decided to head to Emily's place. A month later the couple eloped in Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings with just a couple of friends present and one of Emily's closest aunts. Eight months after the wedding Jonah was worn. A healthy baby weighing just 3 kilograms(6 lbs).
The Zhu-Ainsworth family lived in Kensington, an upper-class part of London where Victorian styled buildings lined the streets and tourists often came to stroll around. The house was built during the mid-1880s in the style of Queen Ann with stained glass, molded brick, and high ceilings. A grand piano sat in the middle of one of the many lounge areas and chandeliers with crystals that made light dance hung from each room ceiling. Jonah's father was usually away during the week, and his mother had taken up work at home to care for him, with a little help from Marie. Marie, a French woman, and Jonah's nanny cared for him and his sister until he was sent away to attend The Oratory School.
Oratory was an all-boys boarding school a few ways away from home and his sister, Hua. While he visited every weekend to see his little sister and parents, he felt homesick throughout his first two years of boarding school. At 15 Jonah began to notice his attraction to his fellow classmates. Jonah convinced himself that it was just a phase and he just needed a girlfriend, so he did. Angela was her name, and they stayed together until Jonah turned 17. It was a bad breakup and she began to spread rumors about him being gay to her friends, and their friends' boyfriends, who attended Oratory, spread them inside the school. Jonah didn't deny them and nor did he accept them, he only wanted to finish his last years of school in peace. Unfortunately, that was not the case for him, as boys began to bully Jonah and the few friends he had left him. He didn't let people push him around, which resulted in many fights and beatings. Two friends stuck with Jonah, supporting him and making the rest of his years in Oratory bearable.
Jonah graduated from The Oratory School for boys with flying grades and with the help of his mother, an alumni, continued his way to the University of Oxford where he studied law and-- much to his parents' distaste-- music. While in Oxford Jonah studied, partied, and slept around like any other college student. This time, having more liberty to experiment with the kind of men he liked without having to worry too much about bigots. While he did have to keep his sexual orientation a secret, it was a lot easier to go out and date other men. Jonah never took any relationship during uni any serious as he was concentration on his law and music degree. It took him five years to finally graduate and move on.
After university Jonah moved back to his family home in Kensington where he spent most of his time with his little sister and parents. He thought Hua how to play the violin and piano while also learning how to cook various dishes with the help of Marie. He put his law degree to work by working under his mother's law firm and often on cases regarding his father's private hospital. Hua and Jonah were close, and he supported her when she decided to start a modeling career despite their parents, disapproval. It didn't take Hua long for her to become one of the top models in London, and Jonah couldn't have been more proud of his little sister.
Jonah came out to his parents one night after his mother kept nagging him to get a girlfriend. He had never been one to get upset quickly, but her persistant nagging had caused him to reach a point where he burted out the words "I'm bloody gay!" As soon as those words left his lips, Emily Ainsworth gasped and stopped talking as she watched her son brak down in tears. She quickly embraced him and told him she loved him. The very next day Jonah came out to his father and sister, both doing the same things his mother did.
After four years of working in his mother's law firm, Jonah decided that he needed a change of scenery. He had never been an impulsive person but seeing as Hua was his parents focus he spun the globe in his father's studio and decided to go where ever his finger landed. At 27 years old Jonah Zhu-Ainsworth left London and headed to the small city of Whitefish, Montana with all his savings in an account and his passport.
After one year living in Whitefish Jonah met a man called Dave, a doctor in the local clinic. They had met after Jonah had been careless with the knife as he chopped a few veggies for a stew. The cut was rather large and deep, so Dave stitched Jonah up, fingers lingering on his palm just enough for the Londoner to notice. They went on a few dates for three months before Jonah moved into Dave's little apartment located over a bakery. They stayed together for four years. They adopted a husky and named her Ai. Despite the rare arguments they had, Jonah was sure Dave was the man he would be with forever, that was until he picked up Dave's phone one night and a woman's voice called out for his Dave, begging him to go fuck her as he did a week ago. Jonah hung up, packed his stuff and took Ai with him that very night.
For the next year, Jonah traveled from Montana through various states until he found himself in Lusiana, Silvervale. He decided to settle there in an apartment complex called Redwood Apartments. He bought a place in downtown Silvervale where he planned to build a music shop on the bottom floor and a music studio on the top. The perfect distraction from Dave and the four years he wasted on that man.
| | Family | | - Emily Ainsworth - One of the best lawyers based in the UK and owner of DP Law Firm - Chang Zhu - Director of Olympus Private Medical Center in London and Shanghai. - Hua Zhu Ainsworth - One of the top European models
| | Extra | | - Ai is a two-year-old black and white Husky that loves Jonah with all her heart! - Jonah loves to cook, be it for himself or other people. He cannot bake though! - He can sing and dance like an superstar but he can be too shy to do it in front of people. - Every morning he goes out on a jog around town with Ai right on his heels. - Is planning to open up a music shop, he has already purchase the place and the inside is under construction.
2A
𝖢𝖾𝖼𝗂𝗅 𝖬𝖺𝗒𝗇𝖺𝗋𝖽
Jonah knows he plays, and he knows he smokes too. That's two things he has a in common but the man is full of energy. He also has a cat, one that Ai has tried to make friends with but has yet succeeded.
𝖯𝖺𝗋𝗄 𝖩𝗎𝗇-𝖧𝗈𝖾
Jonah first saw Junhoe, he immediately loved his sense of fashion and how polite the man was. They quickly became friends when the younger man began to help him around the kitchen. He still doesn't know much the younger man but he considers him a friend already.
2B
𝖭𝗂𝗄𝗈𝗅𝖺𝗂 𝖳𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗂𝗄𝗈𝗏𝗌𝗄𝗒
After seeing Nikolai around the building a few times he finally got the courage to speak with the man. They got to know eachother and later found themselves as friends. Now Niko is determined to get Jonah drunk while Jonah tries to keep Niko out of trouble from all the pranks and tricks.
3A
𝖠𝗎𝗅𝗈𝗋𝖺 𝖶𝗂𝗌𝖾
Jonah first thought there was a model living amognst them when he first saw the woman. She looked so pretty and like she could rip you apart with one look, which is why Jonah hasn't really talked to her whenever they bump into eachother in the halls.
𝖩𝗈𝗅𝗂𝖾 𝖲𝗆𝗂𝗍𝗁
Jonah found Jolie one day acting a bit strange while holding tightly to the leash of her dog. She looked like she was having trouble stepping out of the door and the poor dog looked so excited to go for a walk so Jonah offered to take him. Ai need a friend too and she was happy to have another dog along. After that they exchanged numbers to keep in touch. Ever since, she leave cookies or tea for him, which he greatly appreciates.
𝖯𝖾𝗉𝗉𝖾𝗋 𝖳𝗁𝗈𝗆𝗉𝗌𝗈𝗇
Pepper is a girl that Jonah could easily befriend, but he hasn't been able to say a word to her. He heard her name once, and has tried to approach the younger woman in a friendly conversation but he has yet to do so.
3B
𝖬𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗓 𝖦𝖺𝗇𝗀
From what Jonah has seen, the younger man is an energetic and fashion forward. While he hasn't spoken to Moritz, he knows his name from overheard conversations around the halls. He would love to sit down and talk to the younger man one of these days.
𝖩𝗈𝗌𝖾𝗉𝗁 𝖧𝗎𝗀𝗁𝖾𝗌
Jonah is a sucker for the 5 o'clock shawdow and strong jaws. He's also a big sucker for men in glasses and oh boy, does Jonah have a big crush on the man from apartment 3B. Now if he would just have the courage to talk to the man other than smile like an idiot while Ai steals all the attention.
3D
--
4A
𝖱𝖾𝗇𝖺𝗍𝖺 𝖣𝖾 𝖫𝖾𝗈𝗇
Jonah had seen Renata walk around before in the halls. There was something about her that looked familiar but he couldn't quite place it until one day he saw one of her videos in the recommended section on YouTube(Yes, he does watch make up videos when he is bored). He watched a few of her videos, impressed by her popularity and skill. He has yet to talk to her in person though. He might be a little jelous of her confidence.
𝖤𝖽𝗐𝖺𝗋𝖽 𝖣𝖾𝗌𝖺𝗂
Jonah once saw this man eat something out of a movie. He still doesn't know what to think about him. Just... Who would think to put that much sugar on something?!
4B
𝖠𝗋𝗂𝖺 𝖲. 𝖧𝗈𝗅𝖻𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗄
Jonah has exchanged a few hellos when the both have ran into each other in the halls. He loves her hair and he thinks she looks really friendly. Jonah would love to have a casual conversation with her.
𝖩𝗈𝗌𝗂𝖺𝗁 𝖬𝖺𝗋𝗌𝗁𝖺𝗅𝗅
Josiah looks really cool, and Jonah might have had a tiny crush on him the first week he moved in. Now he just enjoys watching the man in the halls, but would rather engage in a conversation with the man than anything else.
4C
𝖱𝗈𝗌𝗂𝖾 𝖡𝗎𝗋𝗍𝗈𝗇
𝖧𝖺𝖾-𝖲𝖾𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝖢𝗁𝗈
Hae-Seong loves Ai and Ai loves getting lots of Pat'sand kisses from him! Jonah is just glad to see another fashion forward person in the apartment that he can talk high fashion with. He also enjoys how they both can just talk about it without being judged too much about it. 4D
--
Stings and Things is a store currently under construction at the heart of downtown Silvervale. It is tucked in between two old brick buidings. It's front window and door are a bright aqua color with old wood and brick walls on the front. There are lights decorating the small hall a person has to walk to get to the front door. Outside, there are a few potted plants that look like some around about to die. It seems like the owner doesn't have a green thumb. An old fire escape sit on the upper left corner of the store front. "String & Things" is written out at the front in neat handwriting over the door.
The inside of the store is dim and moody, giving the place a home-like feel to it. There are old records lining the walls along with old instruments and pieces of art work. The wall by the cash register is covered with artwork and photography featuring various artists from around Silvervale. The back of the store is stacked with instruments that are for sale. It almost looks like a mess, but Mr. Zhu swears there is a system there. Those instruments include your typical guitars, violins, pianos, and many others. There are also some less likely instruments from various cultures. While some of them are not for sale, some are showed case in enclosed cases that customers can see and take pictures of. There are some special events on the top floor when the owner of the store plays old instruments, the most popular being ancient Chinese instruments like the Guzheng or the Sheng.
The second floor is where most of Mr. Zhu's fund went. It has a complete studio for practice, recording, and small gigs.
Aᴜʟᴏʀᴀ Wɪsᴇ -wip- Victoria appreciates Aulora’s self assured attitude, as well as her confidence. Someday, she plans on starting up a conversation with her, though it always seems to slip her mind.
Pᴇᴘᴘᴇʀ Tʜᴏᴍᴘsᴏɴ -tba-
3ʙ
Mᴏʀɪᴛᴢ Gᴀɴɢ -wip- “Ritz? Well, he’s a great guy, one of the few that don’t get on my nerves. The first time we met was fairly awkward, as I guess he thought I didn’t like him. We eventually grew closer, and I consider him a good friend now. Sure, he occasionally moves shit around after I do, but hey, it’s expected. He often makes me laugh with his habits, especially the face one.” While at first not liking the new kid much, Tori grew over it. They both began to grow closer over crafting and art, and have lengthy conversations about nothing but. Tori is fascinated by his paranormal stories, though she’ll waste no time in picking out 5e flaws in them afterwards, being the cynical person she is.
Jᴏsᴇᴘʜ Hᴜɢʜᴇs -wip- “Joey is one of the sweetest people I know. It’s impossible not to like him. He has problems with OCD as well, and we’re able to talk about it often. I also know he won’t leave a huge mess anywhere, which is a huge relief. Honestly? I consider him to be another brother to me, but one I actually get along with.” Joey was one of the few Victoria immediately took a liking to. He was such a kind person, and easy to talk to, even with a blunt personality like her’s.
|| Appearance || It took most of Itzel's childhood and young adult years for her to start loving her hair. Tthe he dense and bouncy coils of hair she has now were often burned and mistreated as she grew up. She would damage her hair and straighten it as often as she could-- and when she was unable to, she would often wear it up in a bun to hide the "unruly" mane, as she called it. Growing up in a household where everyone but her had straight hair Itzel never got used to her curls. While her mother tried to show her how to care for them, Itzel never listened and continued to damage her hair to look more like her mother. It wasn't until her first year in college that Itzel finally began, to love her curls. It took a bit to get the hang of caring for them finally but ever since she has coiled them around her head. Other times she likes to go to the salon and get box braids or dreadlocks, but that happens once or twice a year. Cornrow braids are her favorite type of braids, but Itzel tried to limit those since coiling her hair and letting it bounce around sounds so much better for her.
With her coiled afro being at full volume, Itzel stands at 5'11 with it. When her locks are braided, her stature lowers just 3 or four inches. While Itzel tries to keep herself in shape by running now and then, the amount of work she has made her unable to keep up with that routine. So she is left with a little chub around her midsection, thighs, and arms that Itzel doesn't mind having. Her sun-kissed skin is just a bit darker than her mother's. During her teens, Itzel was lucky enough to have very light acne, so the only scar she has on her face was on a nose. It was the result of some chicken box scar she got from her older brother.
Itzel's fashion is described as grandma-like by her mother and siblings. Yes, her closet does consist of thrifted items and stuff found in yard sales, that doesn't mean that's the only thing she has! She has lots of loose cute dresses with floral prints and other colorful colors! .... that tend to stay at the back of her closet forgotten. While she does wear dresses sometimes, they are often maxi dresses (or skirts) that are earthy or pastel colors. When she's not wearing those, she tends to wear loose pants with crop tops or shorts with loose shirts that let her move around. She is always wearing a golden bracelet with her name carved into it and a silver ring with a 15 and a heart covered in tiny diamonds.
Itzel has been struggling with bipolar II disorder for years now, but she doesn't it get in her way of living her life. Since moving back from San Antonio, her mental health has increased even if her days seem to grow busier by the week. She still keeps her chin up with a smile painted of her lips. Her mother has always told her that tomorrow would be brighter no matter how cloudy today looks, and Itzel takes that to heart. It sounds more poetic in Spanish. Anyway, Itzel still struggles to leave the apartment or even bed sometimes. Other days she can't stop working. She feels horrible about it later on, but she has started seeing a psychiatrist who tells her it's okay to take days off to relax or sleep in late. Her brothers could manage without her anyway.
Growing up with three brothers can make anyone's skin thick and tough, and Itzel is no exception to that. She can take and return a punch. She's not afraid to speak her mind even when she knows people won't like it. Itzel is fast to brush away insults directed towards her when her mental health isn't affecting her. When she is going through a depressive episode, she tends to shy away from any sort of socialization or interaction with the outside world. She becomes compassionate and lacks any motivation to speak with anyone, even her mother. She has recently started taking new meds that will hopefully help her control these episodes.
Itzel is blunt. She doesn't beat around the bush. She doesn't see anything wrong with it and just tells herself she is honest. Her mother has told her she needs to improve that about herself, and Itzel tries, but she still has problems with her bluntness. Sometimes it gets her in trouble, but she is sure that being honest is better than lying or hiding facts from people. Besides, conversations are faster when people go straight to the point.
Dancing and creating is a big part of Itzel's life, she shows her passion through actions and small gestures. She has trouble expressing what she feels in words from time to time so being creative or dancing let's her release some of those feelings. Whether she is feeling like the happiest woman in the world or the most miserable she has specific actions that let those around her that know her how she is feeling. Words were never her strong suit, hence her bluntness. Despite that, she still dances when she is happy, excited or even nervous. She needs to dance and often goes out to local clubs to dance, her favorite being a small club called El Sombrodudo. She loves Fridays especially when they play nothing but banda.
Itzel takes pride in her culture. Disrespect her culture, and you will get a piece of her mind. Ask genuinely, and she will be happy to tell you everything she knows. Her biggest pet peeve is when people call Cinco de Mayo a big Mexican holiday or the Mexican Independence Day. They are not, and she will call you Brad until she gets over it. Which is never.
|| Habits ||
Itzel tends to listen to different types of music when she is feeling certain things. For example, she listens to Mana when she is content and happy or feels relaxed. When norteñas or corridos start playing she is either lonely, in love, or sad that she wasn't able to get a contract at the shop. Depends on the song really. Aha... Itzel does tend to bite her nails when her stress level rise and talks to herself in Spanish. Actually, she curses a lot in Spanish. Spanish was her first language, so sometimes she forgets how to say things in English and has to think about the translation for a good minutes before she remembers it. There are times where she will ask the person she is talking to, no matter who they are, how Spanish word here is said in English.
When Itzel's mood is on the high levels she likes to hum or sing to herself is Spanish or English, but most of the time it'll be song from either Selena or cumbias. When her mood is on the low, she tends to eat a lot. Be it chips, cake, or anything in the fridge. Eating helps her calm her nerves and stops her from drinking too. She's a bad drinker, a total lightweight. Am not! Her drunk state could vary from a happy drunk to a horny one or even one that does nothing and cries. When the tears start, get ready for sad songs in Spanish and nothing more. Her go-to sad song when drunk is Tragos de Amargo Licor.
|| Background ||
Itzel and her brothers were raised by Karla Sanchez Castillo in Silvervale. They all lived in a tiny apartment with only two rooms. Itzel shared rooms with her two younger brothers while her mother slept in the living room and the oldest slept in the smaller bedroom. Karla was a single mother who immigrated from Mexico to the US when she was 15. At 16 she became pregnant with Luis and she wasn't able to finish high school or even think about college. At 18 she had another child with a different man who left shortly after he found she was pregnant. From that Itzel was born. At 18 Itzel's mother had to care for them and raise them alone. The only help her mother got was from some friends and her boss. Karla was able to afford a tiny apartment at the outskirts of the city. When Itzel was five her mother had twins with a man who promised to marry her. While that never happened, he did leave her with enough money to care for the twins for a few years. Karla instead started a business that flourished much like her product. Itzel's mother was able to quit her dead-end job and start a flower shop, one of the few in the city.
Itzel and Luis helped around the shop and learned how to care for flowers and plants alike. They also learned to make arrangements, which Itzel loved to do! Slowly but surely their business grew and grew to what seemed like a dream. Happy with the success they had, Itzel's older brother began to pursue his musician career after attending SVU. He played like local bars and clubs and formed a Mexican band that grew popular within the city and other parts of the country. Soon enough he was traveling around the country to play in LA, Vegas, New York, Florida and got to go to Mexico and perform with his band. While Itzel missed her brother she was proud of him and his success. He was also able to send money their way to help renovate the shop and start a savings account.
Itzel took another route and went to SUV to study business. Unfortunately, she wasn't very book smart, and she gave up after two years of attending the university. She took a year off and applied to go to San Antonio, thinking that the distance from her family and the unfamiliar scene would help motivate her. Unfortunately, she didn't make it more than two years and moved back to Silvervale to her family. After that he dedicated herself to the flower shop, determined to make her mother proud one way or another.
Due to the success of the flower shop, Itzel's mother was able to buy a house under her eldest's name. Three bedrooms, one for her and the other two for her twin sons. Itzel, on the other hand, took this opportunity to move out to Redwood Apartments, a place she had been eyeing for a while. It was close to the shop and a short drive to her mother's new house so everything worked out. She did have to deal with a heartbroken Karla for a few weeks, but her mother enjoyed the bigger space and kitchen in her new home. Besides, Luis would be back in a few weeks to visit them and stay for a month or two on a short break.
Her father recently contacts her asking her if they could meet. Itzel doesn't know what to think or do. She is not sure if she wants to meet him.
|| Family/NPCs ||
Karla Sanchez Castillo (46) - Itzel's mother, a hard working and caring woman who will do anything for her children. Luis Antonio Sanchez (28)- Itzel's older brother and lead singer and guitarist for Los de Plata Alejandro Sanchez (21) - Itzel's younger brother, the oldest of the twins - SVU psychologist student and part-timer at the flower shop Angel Sanchez (21) - Itzel's younger brother, the youngest of the twins - SVU medical student and part-timer at the flower shop Alejandro on the right and Angel on the left
|| Extra ||
- Itzel can play the accordion and the drums. - She can dance and will out dance anyone. She dances everything. Except for ballet. - She isn't a singer, but she doesn't really care. - Once broke her heels from dancing zapateado a little too hard.
Karla Sanchez Castillo, owner of the La Real flower shop, is often seen inside helping out the customers and showing around the shop. The owner is known for her friendly demeanor and knowledge of various plants and flowers. Her daughter, Itzel, is the second owner of the shop and is often seen helping around the shop early in the mornings. Itzel is the one who is in charge of doing the large orders for weddings or funerals while the younger brothers, Alejandro and Angel, are left to tend to the store after their classes.
Name: Simon Mcconnell Age: 30 Gender: Male Occupation: -Boxer (formerly) -Works part time as a bouncer at the bar strip/ hauler at the marketplace. Sexual/Romantic Orientation: Busexual (not aware) Time of occupancy in Redwoods: 2 weeks
Appearance: Simon has a physical likeness of an olympian. Standing at around 5'11 with a stocky build, he is reasonably strong enough to knock out a grown man twice his mass, given his occupation as a heavyweight boxer and bouncer. At face value Simon has the usual rugged charm of a native born Irishman, with a cut on the upper left side of his top lip that he got from a bar fight and an accent that he can never get rid off despite living in the states for more than a decade already. Generally speaking he is considered quite good looking by standards. He has brown coloured eyes, dark coloured hair and a tanned complexion. On some occasions he'd sport a beard if the weather isn't too hot or a bother to grow it out, otherwise he'd trim it clean. He prefers wearing basic clothing, usually composing of plain fitted shirts, flannels and denim jackets paired with washed out jeans.
Personality: Simon is a man of few words. Unless he has something valuable to say, most of the time he is quiet and thoughtful. Often this is rooted from his shy and introverted trait, although that doesn't mean he is hard to socialise with. Simon values the importance of companionship and will most likely never back down on social gatherings, even if he has to meekly and awkwardly interact with his peers. Although he admits he's not good at giving sage advices, he tries his hardest to help out a friend in need, or an old lady to cross the street, but when comes the time that he is the one in need , Simon would rather carry his own burdens alone, as he's used to doing so. Most of the time he doesn't always get his problems through and in spite that, he will never ask for help. If things are too much for him to handle, he'll just run off somewhere, anywhere with a punching bag, or a substitute for it and just beat the frustration out of his system. Though he is a kind hearted man, Simon at times can be aggressive when provoked to a fight, specially if the people he cares about are being put down, and once the action starts he is very difficult to be calmed down. He is what he is, a fighter at heart.
Habits: Simon doesnt leave for work until 6 pm and in the mean time he does his other job as a hauler slash delivery man at the marketplace. Once he finishes work, he spends his remaining time at a run of the mill gym, either training or casually box. He would also frequent a cheap pub where he'd grab a few beers. He doesn't drink while working, aside that it's pretty much not allowed, it's very hard to get any sense out of him when drunk. On that note, he's somewhat of a heavy drinker and is extra cheery when drunk. He'll be very outgoing and passionate to the point that he'll randomly give out free bear hugs to anyone who might need it and will start out songs that he'd randomly sing. Adding to that his accent gets deeper and jumbled the more he speaks.
Background: Simon was born in Ireland, and lived most of his life there with his parents and three siblings. They practically lived a very simple life, his father being an honest fisherman, and his mother, a stay at home wife who takes care of their children at home full time. He has one younger brother, and an older sister. Their relationship as a family is very close knit, even though every now and again he'd have arguments with his siblings over petty things but generally they are a happy and loving family. When he was 14 they immigrated to the US. His father always fancied living the American dream eversince he first set foot there during his travels. Since then they've planned ahead how they'll live the rest of their lives in America although most of the time the experience wasnt so great, at least to Simon.
At school he was a typical shy and quiet heavy set boy, and got bullied a lot during middle school. Every so often they would poke fun of his weight and accent. That's why he'd rather spend his time by himself, and grew to love it more than having company. Although most of the time he does get tired of all the teasing. His father saw him upset one day and asked him what's wrong. Simon brought up the issues he's having in school, and he remembers telling him how "there are plenty of means to get the frustration out of his mind, without necessarily hurting anybody.". At his birthday his father gifted him a pair of boxing gloves, which to this day is the most prized possession. He developed a love for combat sports and at first joining the school's wrestling team, later in life he turned his passion into a career.
Simon never went to college, thinking that he has no need of it. So after high school, he employed himself with his father on the fishing industry. His job was sailing with the boys and hauling boxes after boxes of seafood. But in his heart Simon never felt right living this way for the rest of his young life. His true passion for sports still burned brightly and his father knew and felt it in him. With the support of his father, Simon left the fishing industry to pursue his dream. After a year of honing and training he got his very first boxing contract. He fought his way up, earned him recognition and keep. Everything seemed to be looking up for him, until one bad event struck the family. The boat his father was sailing on got lost in the storm one evening. After weeks, months of searching they never found him or his remains. To say the least his family was extremely devastated. Things were never the same again after the tragedy. Because of this Simon had to halt his growing career to take care of his family.
Today, he is staying in Silvervale to work with an elderly relative in his business as a favor. He owns a fruit stall at the market place. He also works as a bouncer in the evenings to get some extra money so he can send it off to his family.
Extra:
-Percy Mcconnell. His father, who went missing/died after a storm hit their boat. He is very supportive of his son, and is considered to be a firm disciplinarian, yet a loving father and husband.
-Deborah Mcconnell. His mother. Caring and loving. Simon looks up to her mother, a very bright and fun loving woman. She has a spunky and fiery spirit that is never restricted by her age.
-Sid Mcconnell. Younger Brother. His best friend, and partner in crime.
-Samantha Mcconnel. Older sister. Growing up, they were rivals. He describes her as strong and straightforward, yet is always there whenever he needs her.
Please message me the following: (I’ll just use this to assess your character and their chemistry with the rest of the town and the other characters) -A 1-2 paragraphs long write up on what your character's daily routine in the apartment/ how would they spend a day in their room" -A trait/habit your roommates might find annoying/hard to deal with about you*
