H U G O D A R L I N G
S N O W ◼ J A N U R A R Y 1 S T ( 17 ) ◼ M A L E
"Love isn’t grand gestures; it’s the little things, like remembering who takes their tea with sugar and who doesn’t."
Standing at a balanced 5'10", the boyish-faced, slim-bodied Hugo is the kind of handsome, or pretty, that turns heads and lingers in memory, a face carved from some elusive dream. His skin is a rich, warm brown that seems to glow, smooth and unmarred, as if he’s been spared the wear of time. Hugo's short, curly hair falls effortlessly into place, the kind that looks styled even when it isn’t, while thick eyebrows arch over a pair of mystical eyes that appear otherworldly—eyes that shimmer with a kaleidoscope of shifting hues, like the aurora borealis caught in a perpetual dance. Full lips, a button nose, and long, thick lashes curl around those mesmerizing eyes full of witchlight, softening his striking features just enough to make him seem approachable, though always tinged with a hint of melancholy and wistfulness.
The Darling house was always immaculate, but it rarely felt like a home. Lavish furnishings filled the rooms, polished and pristine, but the air was cold, weighed down by the absence of warmth and connection. His parents, consumed by their careers and social obligations, treated their children more like trophies than individuals. The staff managed the household’s needs, but not the emotional ones, leaving the eldest child to shoulder responsibilities far beyond his years. With two younger siblings and an ailing grandmother to look after, he quickly became the glue holding the family together.
Late at night, while his siblings slept, he would sit by his grandmother’s bedside, learning to interpret her faint gestures and murmured requests. She spoke in fragmented memories, her mind drifting between the present and the past, and he listened with quiet patience, filling the gaps with stories to soothe her. His siblings depended on him for the affection and guidance their parents withheld, and he tried to be everything for them—nurturing yet firm, playful yet dependable. Every meal prepared, every scraped knee tended, and every bedtime story told was an act of love, even as it eroded his own sense of childhood.
Grief came slowly, as though it was creeping toward him in the shadows before finally settling in the wake of his grandmother’s death. Her passing left an empty chair at the dining table and a void in his chest, one he didn’t dare show to his siblings. He buried his feelings beneath his calm demeanor, refusing to let them see his pain. Instead, he became even more protective, his care for them intensifying as the weight of their shared loss brought them closer. But the strain began to show in moments of solitude, where his wistful gazes lingered longer, and his quiet sighs spoke of exhaustion too heavy for words.
The discovery of his magic was as unexpected as it was unsettling. One frigid evening, during an argument with his parents over their continued absence, the air in the room grew unnaturally cold, frost forming on the windows and his breath curling visibly before him. It was the first time he had allowed his emotions to surface so forcefully, and the manifestation of his powers startled everyone, including himself. Within days, his parents—more concerned with appearances than understanding—arranged for his departure to the Merryweather Institute, a decision made with alarming efficiency and little regard for his feelings.
At Merryweather, Hugo found himself in an unfamiliar world of others like him. For the first time, he wasn’t solely responsible for anyone but himself, yet he carried the habits of a caretaker like a second skin. His longing for home was complicated—he missed his siblings but not the house that had never felt like his own. As he adjusted to life at the institute he began to wonder if this was his chance to explore who he could be beyond the roles he had always been forced to play.
Hugo has always had a quiet, nurturing, almost motherly presence that draws people to him, though he would never call himself particularly kind. There’s a natural ease in the way he cares for others, often stepping into a caretaker role without being asked, like straightening a friend’s collar or offering a soothing word to someone overwhelmed. He’s the one who notices when someone is too quiet, offers a blanket without being asked, or leaves a cup of tea at your elbow before you even realize you need it. He exudes a steady, grounded energy, the kind that makes people feel safe, even if he carries his own burdens with demure resignation.
Though he rarely speaks of his own struggles, Hugo often looks at the world with a distant, almost mournful gaze, as if he’s lived a hundred lives and carries their collective wisdom in his heart. It’s not uncommon for him to gently insist on what he knows is best for others, even if they don’t agree, and he’ll persist with a soft-spoken resolve that few can argue against.
Beneath Hugo’s serene exterior lies a mind that’s sharp and observant, one that sees the hidden angles in conversations and relationships. While manipulation isn’t in his nature to wield maliciously, he does know how to nudge people toward the outcomes he believes are best for them. His methods are subtle—a well-timed comment, a slight shift in tone—but always delivered with an air of care and consideration that keeps others from feeling coerced. His maturity makes him feel older than his years, and his stubbornness, while occasionally frustrating, is born from a deep conviction to protect and nurture those he holds close. Hugo’s warmth is real, his concern genuine, but there’s a delicate strength in him that doesn’t bend easily, a trait that’s earned him both admiration and exasperation in equal measure.
A B I L I T I E S / S K I L L S:
Hugo can play the piano and enjoys reading classic literature and transcribing old sheet music. He seemingly reads non-stop, for what was once a form of cathartic escapism, became a tool—for knowledge is power. And so, he knows a little bit about everything. Though he is lacking on the physical fitness spectrum, he makes up for it with his photographic memory, intelligence, environmental awareness, and observational skills.
C H A R A C T E R N O T E S:
I'm totally open to romance with this character, so long as it makes sense and occurs relatively organically. Instalove is a pet peeve of mine, unless its just really cute, then like, whatever, we can hand wave it away lol
