Benji Graham
"I hate it when people waste my time, but the one who wastes it most is me." -
Attempted Murder; "Dear Apathy"
Name: Benjamin Cecil Graham
Nickname: Benj or Benji
Birth Date: June 3rd, 1993
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Bisexual
Relationship Status: Single
Occupation: College dropout who waits tables part time while trying to launch his career as a musician
Apartment Number: 2B
In Depth Appearance: 5'11" and skinny, Benji was never the athletic type. More the stay-indoors-play-video-games-and-troll-people-on-the-internet type as evidenced by his pale I-have-never-seen-the-sun complexion (he dislikes spending time outdoors due to being especially susceptible to sunburn, but thoroughly takes advantage of overcast and rainy days). Suffice it to say almost anyone could beat him in a fight (unless it was a battle of wits, in which case he would totally slay). His thoughtful brown eyes give character to his otherwise ordinary face, and he tends to be very expressive and dramatic. He's got a couple of tattoos, including a
raven on his chest, the
Tree of Gondor on his back, and an
anatomical heart on the inside of his left forearm. Both ears are pierced and he has a small silver nose ring. His dark brown hair is thick and unwieldy, the fact that he cuts it himself just makes it look all the more scruffy and wild.
It's important to note that Benji
is fairly meticulous about his appearance, though does his best to pretend that he doesn't care (in fact he cares quite a bit about making others think he doesn't care). In spite of being a nerd to the core, Benji likes to think of himself as a rock star, and definitely tries to dress the part. Not over-the-top punk or glam, more edgy-with-a-hint-of-grunge with the occasional fandom T-shirt. He doesn't much like fancy or name-brand clothes, preferring to do most of his shopping at thrift stores (or Hot Topic, don't judge).
1. Would die without his morning cup pot of coffee
2. Unconsciously sings and talks to himself
3. Tells the same bad puns over and over
4. Can't stand it when people touch his belongings
5. Weeaboo trash
Hobbies: 1. Playing guitar/songwriting
2. Drawing comics
3. Cooking ethnic foods (usually Asian)
4. Going to local shows and concerts (and playing at local shows and concerts)
5. Learning languages (Japanese, Korean…)
Likes: 1. Music and making music
2. People
3. Trying/learning new things
4. Video Games
5. Manga/Anime
Dislikes: 1. Conflict
2. Driving/riding in cars
3. Being alone
4. Mornings
5. People who steal pens
Fears: 1. Failing as a musician
2. Being late/missing out on opportunities
3. Losing touch with his friends
Personality: ♦ Outgoing ♦ Impatient ♦ Funny ♦ Forgetful ♦
Since his transition from introvert to extrovert during his short time in college, Benji has been the person that everyone is friends with. Not that everyone wants to be friends with, but the sort of person you feel like you can count on to give you a ride home, hold your hair while you vomit, or help you hide a body immediately after introducing yourself. He's always got a joke, a story, or bizarre philosophical interjection for any occasion. The sort of person everyone likes and trusts because, even though he's kind of weird, he's got a good heart and a genuine love for everyone he meets, whether they're a random stranger or lifelong friend. He has the ability to make everyone feel at ease, always trying to keep the peace.
While Benji's comical personality might seem a bit flakey on the surface, deep down he is a very emotional individual who experiences drastic mood swings that may be a symptom of undiagnosed bipolar disorder (it runs in the family). However, his natural tendency to never impose on other people keeps him from always expressing what he truly feels, for fear of being a burden or appearing weak. During his low points, Benj tries extra hard to be a people pleaser--always finding some consolation in his ability to brighten someone else's day, even when his own is shrouded in gloom. The greatest downside to this escapist mentality is that no one realizes just how needy he is, and his refusal to open up even to his close friends has caused his past relationships to be rocky and end badly. He wants to be strong and reliable all the time, and someday he'll have to learn the hard way that it's just impossible to be that person 24/7.
In addition to all that deep stuff, Benj is astoundingly disorganized and painfully forgetful. He may always have the best intentions but remembering things like birthdays, important dates, the day of the week, and even holidays are far from his strong suit. No amount of planners, calendars, or alerts on his phone can completely cover his horrible tendency to simply forget. It's made him more than a little paranoid to the point that a simple phone call will send his stress levels through the roof because more often than not it's his supervisor wondering why he didn't show up to work, again. Luckily for Benj, he's too good of an employee to can for being late every now and again.
D E F I N I N G M Y P A S T
Benji grew up in a loving household that was probably not strict enough. His hippie parents home-schooled him up through his sophomore year, but due to financial circumstances he was forced to go to public school for his last two years of high school. Still an introvert at the time, and not one who was used to keeping a schedule, it was living hell for him. His homework, while exceptionally correct, was always turned in late and he never seemed to be able to finish timed tests. Even though his grades suffered drastically, one good thing did come out of the whole experience.
At the beginning of his senior year, Benji hooked up with a handful of band geeks and found himself thrown head-over-heels into the music scene. He'd taken acoustic guitar lessons for a few years, practicing intermittently, and while not especially talented at least he'd found someplace he could belong. By the time graduation rolled around his band had become school-wide famous. The teachers tsked their tongues at him, shaking their heads and saying that he would never amount to anything, being such a poor student as he was. But Benj had found his calling, and after his high school band broke up he continued to pursue his dream as a musician. In college he forsook his studies to form a punk rock band called "Attempted Murder" consisting of himself as the lead guitarist, his best friend from high school on drums, and a college girl who was both their vocalist and bass player.
While he's sure his parents had harbored higher hopes for their son, they had always been loving and supportive of his choices. He doesn't hesitate to talk up his folks to anyone who will listen, because everyone knows it's much easier to pursue your passions with your parents' approval.
Extra: Sleeping, the best activity of them all.
Anything Else: He really really loves dogs Currently acting as a freeloading son-of-a-gun to his roommates.
