βββββββββββββββββββββββββββΊ reputation
Aleks fills an understated but constant role in the lives and activities of his friends. He arrived in Beverly Hills by way of his second home, London, in his freshman year. While it was far from unusual to see the child of a Russian oligarch floating around California, Aleks nonetheless made a splash when he arrived, a young, aloof foreigner who looked and dressed like the ghost of James Dean, with all the intense focus and ambition that some of his more easy-going peers lacked. America had quite the culture shock in store for him, even compared to London instead of Russia, but he quickly made himself indispensable to the upper crust of the school thanks to his reliable personality and variety of talents. His female classmates found it easier β and cheaper β to bring along Aleks as a stand-in bodyguard for the evening at clubs or bars; a Russian accent and a cold, implacable stare were as good for warding off fuckboys as a pair of fists. For his male friends, he proved to be a reliable wingman, erudite and charming enough to fit into any double date scenario even if he never followed through on his end of the date, able to hold conversation without stealing it from his compatriot.
It also helps to have a friend who is used to hopping through time zones; itβs rumored that Aleks never actually sleeps for very long, or at least sleeps with one eye on his phone. If someone sends him a text asking for help in the middle of the night, they will receive not a response over iMessage but a fully-formed, alert-looking Aleks in the flesh. Heβs given rides (or, maybe more accurately, getaways) to drunk or belligerent friends at all hours of the night, even on days where school might only be a few painfully short hours away. Drunken car crash? Aleks is there with a AAA card to swear he was in the vehicle with you. Need an alibi for your whereabouts and donβt know who would back your story? Text Aleks with your story and he will fill it in with a novelistβs detail.
Always willing to let some of the more flamboyant and needy personalities in his life take center stage, Aleks reliably fills a niche in the lives of all around him without ever demanding too much in return. Maybe he is just a generous soul who doesnβt like to bother his friends; maybe he has just found the extra hours of the day to solve his own problems in addition to those around him; maybe heβs just not interested. The Russian is a puzzle, one that some of his friends may find irresistible to solve.
βΊ noteworthy appearance traits
Amazing hair; occasional mysterious facial scrapes or wounds; black, thorny circlular tattoo on the back of his right hand; twin diamond stud piercings; usually wearing a leather jacket or a well-worn pink hoodie.
βΊ ride
Lotus Elise Cup 260Top Speed: 151 mph
Championship Gold, of course.
Bought and shipped by way of his familyβs address in the UK.
βΊ current dilemma
Aleks, usually calm and composed in the face of any of his or his friendsβ dilemmas, has been growing increasingly restless in the last few months. Secretly, he is growing tired of America and has become unable to find good enough reasons to justify staying past his graduation, especially with the potential breakup of the Gearheads.
βΊ warning
If someone want to discuss the details of your relationships with Aleks, they can β and often will - do so. But donβt ask about the girls or boys he steps out with when they go on group dates. They never last, and trying to push for juicy details beyond his usual, brusque explanation that βIt didnβt work out.β leads to snappy replies and colder stares than usual.
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββ- One thing Aleks is enamored with is American movies, especially their depictions of Russians. He will regale people with impersonations of movie Russians on command; he does a better Ivan Drago than Ivan Drago, and his John Wick crime boss impersonation (ββ¦with a pencil. A fucking pencil!β) is getting better all the time.
- Aleks hates being photographed. His Instagram is full of locales heβs been to, foods heβs tried, and people heβs with, but when he is included in group pictures or pairs of selfies, he will try and blend into the background or hide his face behind a prop as effectively as he can. His best disguise ever is managing to hide his entire face behind a hibachi grill fire in a group selfie earlier this year.
- Seriously. His friends have never been seen sleeping. Likeβ¦he must at some point, right?
βΊ hobbies
- Driving. Aleks prefers track-ready vehicles.
- Following fashion
- Dance
- Self-defense and physical training
- DJing (?)
βΊ dreams
Aleks doesnβt talk much about his dreams, but he has taken a shine to the idea of DJing over the last year, and he may choose to pursue it professionally after school. Other than that, his future is up in the air - he hedges on whether or not he will even remain in America after the end of the road trip, maybe because it's something he's uncharacteristically uncertain about.
βΊ fears
Certainly not any human being alive. Probably bears. Bears are fucking tanks with fur. Other than that, not having a vehicle for his own interests and ambitions - wasting his privilege and wealth.
βΊ likes/dislikes
β Going to museums. History. Good stuff!
β Skincare technology fascinates him. Sun lotion has been so helpful since he came to America.
β Surprising friends with hidden talents.
β Going to zoos. Fuck big animals.
β Mathematics.
β Much of America feels like big, empty space to him.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββΊ occupation
Recently met the requirements to become an Uber driver in California.
βΊ family
- Osip Belikov, father. Originally an industrial magnate in the 1990s, much of his wealth remained intact after the 2008 financial crisis, and in the decade since he's made increasing Western investments, first in European fashion. His son's curiosity about moving to America prompted a look at the tech sector there, which has proven good for the family net worth.
- Juliana Belikova, mother, half-Brazilian. Former swimsuit model. She drives even faster than Aleks. He will never admit that.
βΊ brief history
Aleks was born in Russia, but didn't spend most of his life there. He grew up in London around the fashion circuit, an interest that will probably prove to be lifelong. For a time he dreamed of being a model like his mother, but the lifestyle proved to be too intensive for someone with such varied interests, and he gave up after a series of childhood modeling gigs. He also realized that his options in the United Kingdom were fairly limited, especially with growing tensions between his home nation and the nation where he spent so much of his life. That, plus a cultural fascination with the American dream (and American high school experience) caused him to relocate at the age of fourteen. He tried New York first, but he didn't agree with the culture.
California was sunnier, something which wreaked havoc on his skin for a time, but he also found it more inviting, the rich kids were nicer...and there were more chances for him to learn to drive. It was that fixation, the feeling of owning a car and pushing it to its limit, that first caused him to fall in with the Gearheads and become their go-to problem solver and secret keeper. In four years, this role has never chafed him or caused any sort of discomfort; he actually seemed to relish the idea of being needed so much to do such a variety of things for friends.
The only times he ever seemed to grow upset or implacable were the rare occasions when his own private life - usually messy breakups which he failed to contain - hit the group's radar and became a source for gossip.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββΊ extra information
Steakhouse fare.