[OOC] 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛

[Sewer Rat]

O

[Sewer Rat]

M

[Sewer Rat]

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[Sewer Rat]

DUDE, THAT WAS AWESOME> Also, do I have to send you the whole letter to you??

[TakemetoChurch]

Oh cool!

[Congee]

I'll just, leave this right here.

Babs Zimmerman

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Barbara "Babs" Jean Rosario E. Zimmerman

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What's your name?

Oh boy here we go. It's Barbara Jean Rosario Evans Zimmerman. You follow? Good, I don't wanna have to repeat myself, it's mouthful. How I got the name, well, according to my mom I was named after her favorite singer back in the day, Barbara Streisand was it? Whatever. The other two, I have no idea. They probably just thought of putting it there to torment people with my ridiculously long ass name. But yeah I'd rather have people call me Babs. Better just stick with that.

How old are you?

Thirteen and I'm almost half a year closer to starting high school. I'm really excited for it, which means I'm closer to hanging out with the older guys. Being a kid sucks. Sometimes. Anyway higschool looks way more fun. With parties, dates with older boys and driving a car. Middle school is like living on a petting zoo compared. Have you seen 16 Candles? Best movie ever. Put it on your checklist.

What do you look like?

Is this a trick question? I'm like, sitting right here. Ugh, whatever. Anyway, I don't mean to brag but, I have some people tell me that I look pretty. I don't know, it feels kinda weird saying that out loud. Okay, as you can see I have a medium length brown hair, and uh, yeah. Brown eyes. Light, tannish skin and a bit freckle-y since I do sports. I'm a member of the local kid's baseball league since I was 7. But, I'm not as sporty looking when it comes to dressing up. I like normal girl stuff too. Skirts, dresses, make up. Really. It's just that, a loose jersey shirt and shorts are more comfortable to wear while running under the hot summer sun. And sometimes, in other parts of the day.

Do you have any hobbies?

Me and my dad are baseball fans, since, jeez since forever I guess. I have pictures of me swinging bats as early as like, three. It's become a weekly tradition to us, like every Sundays, me and dad would practice in the back yard every after lunch. We still do it now, even after dad got into an accident at work last year. They had to cut half his left leg.

I do like reading on some degree. Seventeen mags mostly though books are alright. If it means getting that extra credit then sure. Yeah, you'll never see me snugged under a tree, reading Virginia Wolf or whatever. I consider a hobby where I am able to move every part of my body. Like dancing for example. And yes I do dance. Pat Benatar, Tiffany, Debbie Gibson, Madonna, I just... they're my heroes. Dunno if I can live through the day without listening to their songs on a regular basis. I've been practicing some moves myself, alone in my room when nobody's looking which, honestly I don't know why I'm telling you this because it's kinda sad and embarrassing. Anyway it's nothing, I just get bored at home enough to start dancing to Madonna on my walkman.

This isnt officially a hobby for me yet but, I feel like I'm gonna do a lot of driving for the fun of it when I get older. My mom's teaching me some of the basics now in our old pick up. It's kinda scary at first but, once you familiarize with it it's not half that difficult. I want to go on road trips, see the sights and stuff, you know like, Easy Rider minus the drugs and the bad parts from the movie and instead of motorcycles it's an open jeep. Get the picture?

What are some things that you especially dislike?

People who cant seem to mind their own business. My Aunt Helen is the perfect example for this. She's very old school, a retired nun, and was a disciplinary officer in a strict catholic all girls school so just imagine the judgement I get from that stuck up old lady. At reunions she just cant shut up about how I'm not "ladylike" enough and would constantly nag me and my mom about it. "Barbara, thats not how a lady sits! Barbara watch your language! Barbara a proper lady does not stay up as late as 7!" like Aunt Helen, seriously, just put a lid on it.

I know this is pretty much obvious but I hate it when I'm at the shit end of the stick. I mean who doesn't. School is a really tough world for some kids and we all do what it takes to keep us away from that shit end. So you bully your way out just so you can prove yourself and people can leave you alone and even win you popular friends in the process. That doesn't mean I like what I did. I sorta hate it now when I think of it.

What are your goals for the future? Both immediate and long-term.

Uh. Hmmm. Give me a second. Well, I'll probably get out of this backwater middleschool and off to a better highschool. Maybe in the city even. A road trip to L.A sounds good. I'd rub shoulders with the stars, even get into a talent agency if my dancing's good enough or finally watching a live front row seat Dodgers game. Just thinking about it gets me excited.

And after that, I'm not really sure. Whatever come's I guess. Surprise me, life.

What's your home life like? Specifically, what is your relationship like with your parents?

My parents are okay. I know they're good to me but that doesnt mean I have to like and agree with them all the time. Let's start with my dad, he's a cool dude. Works at manufacturing quite a long drive from home. Last year he got into an accident,
lost his left leg and nowadays he just stays at home, and sets up a repair shop. Tv's, toasters, trucks, you name it. He can fix it right up in a jiff.

Mom's ok, although she and I bicker more often than she with dad. I don't think I ever seen those two argue at all. Well, she's like Aunt Helen but milder, and unlike her, mom is more accepting with what I do, more encouraging even but when she disagrees on something, she's now like, half a Helen.

I don't have any siblings, and honestly I'm not sure how to feel about it. Sometimes I do enjoy the peace and quiet at home, compared to some of my friends who have siblings and are not so happy with the company. But in certain times it makes me wish to have one. Would be nice to have someone watch a movie at home with, just talk about random stuff when both of you are still wide awake in the evening, or just gush about this new movie, or album you've been so invested in.

What's your favorite animal, and why?

Dogs are cool. The big ones that looks like a mini horse. They're loyal companions and they're so just so adorable and majestic. Back in second grade our neighbour had a dog once, and the reason why I befriended their cootie ridden son is because I get to play with Dixon. We also have cat at home, Mumu. A bit of a snob but she's huggable and fluffy.

How about your favorite color?

What are we in third grade? Alright fine, it's yellow. Because, it's the color of the sun? And I like sunny happy weathers. And a sunny weather is the best time to go to the beach. Which reminds me, I also like blue.

What are your grades like?

More like, average. I get B-'s sometimes a B, although not as often as a C. A's are rare, but it's my most common grade in Gym class. There isn't a lot to drive me into studying, I mostly do it because I just have to. And I'm definitely not on the smart kid scale although I've never failed a subject before, D was the lowest I got. And guess what it's Math. Nobody likes Math. For extra curricular, I take sports. Baseball of course. If I'm good enough I may even apply a scholarship for college with it, though that's not entirely what I want at the moment.

Do you believe in magic?

Do you get paid enough to ask such dumb questions? I hope so.

[banjoanjo]

@DeadBeatWalking

Aaron Schofield

Aaron Schofield

What's your name?

“Aaron Schofield.”

“…Sorry, were you expecting more? I’m not the kind of person that looks for name meanings or family trees and stuff. Aaron’s just Aaron. It's from some Bible story if I remember correctly but...we don't even go to church that much? I don’t think there’s anything fancy to find about a name that three guys in my grade have.”

How old are you?

“12. Technically not a teenager yet, like everyone keeps telling at me. My birthday’s in June if you’re wondering.”

What do you look like?

“But aren’t you right in front of—oh okay…”

“Um, I’m tall. That’s a big thing. 5 foot 3, last time I checked. Skinny. Brown hair, dark eyes. Not really anything that stands out. Henry got the flashy blond hair from my dad and auntie so I guess there wasn’t much left for me. What else, uh…I look sporty. That comes with the ‘tall’ thing. Usually you don’t even have to play anything to look fit if your body is basically a flag pole but I do so it…works. Dad and Henry said girls like tall guys a lot but they don't talk to me and I don't talk to them so it's sorta...”

“I walk a lot. One look at my legs can tell you where I’ve been. I swear my knees are rock magnets cos they’re always scraping against something. Might be safer to keep the bandaids permanently glued on. There are a lot of other scratches on my legs too, cos trees are annoying and I always get too hot to bother wearing long pants when I go out. They’re really tiny scratches so they don’t even matter that much.”

Do you have any hobbies?

“It used to be basketball but now...I walk. A lot. By the lake, around the forest. The summerhouses, the rocks. There’s a lot to look at out there. Have you ever tried just looking? Staring and examining something until you want to pass out, learning all the cracks and holes, the insides and outs. Boring, right? Yeah, I might sound like one of those loony art types but concentrating on one thing is really interesting. Anything can be interesting if you want to look further.”

“It’s nice to be out there, like I’m on a one-man trek into the unknown. Not to say I don’t like being in the house but…yeah, I don’t. I like the quiet and the alone-ness out there. I can read and draw without anyone around to complain about college tuition when they think Henry can’t hear or try to find me so they can apologize for forgetting to take me to my game. It makes me feel better that way.”

“Heh, no, I don’t get scared. Safest town in Colorado, right? So I don’t get worried. My parents don’t get worried either. I…don’t know if they know where I go, actually. Don’t tell them, please, just in case. Maybe…sometimes…this might sound crazy but…I don’t think I’d be scared even if something was out there. Like, after all these years of walking around, I found something like E.T.! Wouldn’t that be so cool? It’s a bit much to hope for, I know.”

“Maybe…I’m waiting for something to take me away.”

What are some things that you especially dislike?

“Stuffy rooms. The thermostat is always too high. Yelling voices. And peas. They’re mushy and gross. There’s a lot of things in the world, I can’t just check my opinion like that on the spot. Come back tomorrow?”

“No. No, I don’t dislike my family. Can you not ask me something like that so suddenly? Where did that even come from?”

What are your goals for the future? Both immediate and long-term.

“There’s this hill out west I want to look around. There’s always something interesting if you look far enough. Also a whole pile of books I need to finish. I’m really behind on my reading for Book Club.”

“Long term? That’s a big question. I’m only in middle school. Even my brother said he doesn’t know. He made me promise not to tell mom and dad, all serious-like. I don’t know what he’s worried about. He can get into whatever university he wants. Maybe I should try for that too. Not sure which one, or what major I’d even take but, eh, I dunno.”

“I don’t think it matters where I go. As long as I get out there, I think I’ll be happy. Or, well…anywhere where they aren’t.”

What's your home life like? Specifically, what is your relationship like with your parents?

“Fine. It’s fine. Kind of a strange question to ask, really. Not everyone has a tragic backstory. Nothing to complain about when there’s…nothing, y’know?”

“If you’re dying to know, leave me alone and ask my brother, Henry. I bet he has a lot more to say about our parents than I ever would. N-not that that’s bad or anything. It’s just the truth. No really, it’s fine. I know it could be a lot worse. I could get beaten or starved or poor or in a split household like Jessica Baker’s parents. I can’t complain.”

“Huh? Neglected? No, no, they talk to me. They try to, at least? I dunno, it’s weird. I know they’re itching to get back to Henry so what’s the point of sticking around? They’ll probably forget about what I said the next day. Not that I say much.”

“Henry is…he’s nice. Maybe he feels bad for me. He shouldn’t. He earned all of this fair and square.”

“…C-can we talk about something else now?”

What's your favorite animal, and why?

“Agh, I’m bad at these questions. Uhhhhh…otters. Mom bought me this really cute plush one when I was a baby, before I can even remember. I’ve had it ever since. I know it's kinda girly but...”

“Is that a good reason for it being a favorite? I’ll think up a better answer if you need.”

How about your favorite color?

“I don't think boys my age are supposed to have that sort of answer ready. Mine's is green. Or orange. Or blue. Urgh, I’m really bad at these. It’s whatever I see in when I walk so it’s never really one color.”

“I’ll try to cut it down to one if it’s that important but…well, I don’t want to be rude but does it matter that much? All the pretty stuff is made up of crazy mixes of colors. And that’s not even considering the way light changes everything after you wait a while. Does it make sense to pick just one?”

What are your grades like?

“They’re fine too. B’s and sometimes A’s. The English teacher is always saying I need to write more though. Apparently, I don’t explain enough, write out the feelings. It all sounds a bit dumb to me, but please don’t tell him I said that. Always A’s in Gym. I’ve never had problems with running for long games or ‘hand-eye coordination’ or whatever. Overall they’re passable. Nothing like Henry’s but…”

“I need to keep my expectations reasonable. I’m never gonna be like him.”

“…Uh, yeah. My parents would try to do that serious talk thing if I let my grades drop. Or not. It doesn’t really matter. All I need to do is put the work in and everything will stay the same.”

Do you believe in magic?

“No offense, of course, but…why would I do that? I’m not a five-year-old.”

[Lovejoy]

This looks so cool! If I wasn't running an RP right now I would've applied in a heartbeat. Best of luck and I'm looking forward to following along!

[Sewer Rat]

So did you come up with this stuff?

[Cherry Blossom]

@DeadBeatWalking

[Little Bill]

Hey ya'll! Digging the sheets. I should let you know that with the deficit of male characters, there is a higher need for male applications -- if your character wouldn't work as a boy, or if it's simply something you're not interested in writing, you can still roll the dice. That being said, organizing the team by the Five Man Band trope, we have a Leader, a Lancer, and a Chick, and two are girls. Figured ya'll would appreciate the transparency now more than later. That being said, if you're iffy about making a male sheet, don't make one for the sake of this disclaimer. I don't want anybody making sheets they don't fully enjoy writing, because that's a good way to get people to drop.

Anyway, deadline is still tonight, but probably in the middle of the night. I'll add a few hours to the clock in repentance for dropping this bomb on you.

[banjoanjo]

I'm willing to turn 'Erin' into 'Aaron' if needed for the cast.

[Little Bill]

So, accepted applicants have been made aware, and accordingly, the IC goes up tonight. Selecting party members was no easy task. If the rest of you are still interested in being a part of this story, PM me and let me know as many small-town roles you'd be into, and I'll let you know what would fit with the plot I've set up. Otherwise, thank you for applying, for your interest in The Book Club, and for being more understanding about the limited spaces than other applicants.



There's always one.

[Little Bill]

NPC Skeleton

^{[color=npc's color]Name ▮ age ▮ occupation ▮ [color=pc's color]name's[/color] relationship▮Three, Descriptive, Adjectives.[/color]}

brief description of character? knock yourself out.

[Little Bill]

[Peridot]

"My man." Mr. George hollered, giving Cardozo a friendly finger-gun.

@DeadbeatWalking