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: being a Paramedic.
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 Paramedic wanted to get away from her parents entirely; to explore the world free of constraints. Reluctantly, they agreed to send her to Redwood, CA where she currently resides within an apartment complex; employed by the Redwood City Fire Department.
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!)
Hiii, could you send me the write ups for Pepper before you add her to the character tabs :-) thank youu :D
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REDWOOD APARTMENTS BLK 3 LOT 6, Rebecca Ln., Silvervale, Oregon
Looking for an affordable accomodation? Something in the center of the city within walking distance to the Mall, the prolific Silvervale University, the plaza and pretty much every function? The Redwood Apartment by Rebecca's Hole is perfect for you. Home to the best buns in town as the first floor houses Bert's Bakes and Coffee so you get to wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread.
-Inquire on-site or reach through bert_bakes@yahoomail.com
Aside from the tacky flyer, the pitch is irresistible. "A tacky fyler doesn't always mean a tacky place", you think to yourself.
The RP will start on the 13th of February 2019 a day before the 14th when the annual "Tinker Throwing" at Silver Swamp is held. The Tinker Throwing ceremony kicks off Silvervale's annual foundation fair which lasts for 1 week, other activities this year are as follows: The Silver Egg hunt, Name The Plaza, "Tinker Town -The tale of Silvervale" performed at the University Theatre, Local Band/Artist performances at the Plaza, Tinker Fair at Tinker Base, and lastly "The Send-off March and Bonfire". There's a free tour of the city by some native historians for those who are interested in knowing more about the myths and lore of Silvervale. Oh, and attendance in the university is loose during the fair, so there's that too.
Tinker Throwing (Day 1, Feb.14, 2019/Thursday) -Bring a silver trinket to throw into the Silver Swamp, 1 trinket = 1 wish, your trinket can be anything made of silver and most people go with coins, silverware or medallions while some have thrown in wheels, chastity belts, armor and even daggers. Don't worry about the Swamp, officials will clean it up afterwards, do mind that you can't retrieve things you've thrown in as it will belong to the city.
Silver Egg Hunt (Day 1-7 Feb.14-20, 2019) -It's like an Easter Egg hunt but with eggs made out of silver: 10 silver eggs are scattered within Silvervale, and 10 lucky people will get random freebies(loot bags, coupouns, gadgets, or a whopping 50,000 Dollars) upon returning the eggs to the mayor's booth by the plaza.
Name the Plaza (Day 2-5 Feb.15-18, 2019) -Citizens are welcome to send in name suggestions for the City Plaza, come Feb.17, a voting will commence for people to vote which name shall be used. The winner will have a small bust of them erected by the Plaza pointer.
"Tinker Town -The Tale of Silvervale" (Day 5-6 Feb. 18-19,2019) -A theatrical play about the history of Silvervale, detailing the story its first inhabitants up to its foundation as a legitimate city. Managed, written and directed by the students of SVU. The play runs for 2 hours and 30 minutes.
"Tinker Fair at Tinker Base" (Day 1-5 Feb. 14-20,2019) -A fair for local artists, inventors and connoisseurs to showcase their products at the mall, great deals abound! #supportlocal
"The Send-off March and Bonfire" (Day 7, Feb. 20, 2019) -A marching band and willing participants will walk around the city chanting the names of the executed citizens from Silvervale's past, a ceremonial mostly superstitious rite for the governing body of the city. Free lunch and snacks for people joining. The Send-off Bonfire will be lit at the end of the 7th day to close off the festivities of the Foundation fair, everyone is welcome to attend and mingle at the University Quadrangle. A buffet from the local restaurants and establishments is laid out for everyone to enjoy.
Local Band/Artist performances at the Plaza(Day 3-6) -"Last day of registration is on Feb.15" Free City Tour (Day1-7) -It's a free comprehensive tour of Silvervale, lasts for 3-5 hours, it's the FULL Experience.
A notice on the Apartment bulletin says: February 13: Welcoming celebration for the foundation fair for beloved tenants, a small party on the rooftop: with barbecue, buns, booze, karaoke, fireworks and good company.
-Party starts at 8 P.M., RSVP by this bulletin or you won't get your food nor get to bring a plus one.-
I was more or less stalking the interest check. Debating on joining or not since slice of life is out of my norm but this seemed too adorable and fun not to try. I will work on a character and see if I can get in if spots aren’t filled. If they are filled or I’m not chosen then I wish you guys luck! Maybe I will stick around as a reader if it comes to it ^-^
D'aww thank you and SURE THING, I think there are still plenty of spots left (13 as of this post) :3 Looking forward to your character :D
I'll probs go for a free spirited, history professor. Not sure yet.
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.
JOLLIE SOUNDS GREAT, she's in! :)
@rougeLily I'll be messaging you in a little bit about the information you had asked for, Just curious did you want us to pick our apartment number or do you pick it for us?
{"One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. "} Name: Atsuko Mari Hartley Nickname: AyEmAitch, Ay, Koko Date of Birth: March 26, 1994 Age: 23 Gender: Female Sexuality: Bisexual Relationship Status: Single, Looking to mingle Occupation: Cafe Server Apt Number: ?
Appearance Atsuko has always been a petite girl ever since she was young. she stands at five foot four inches, and weighs a good one hundred and twenty pounds. if it had not been for her constant dancing and playing sports when she was much younger, then she may have been a little chubby. however, she has managed to maintain her slim and toned build. Currently, Atsuko's hair is 14 inches long and drops to just below her shoulder blades in a mix of soft curls and waves. after previously experimenting and dying her hair, she prefers to keep it black as she has such a fair complexion. she either styles it in a low ponytails or keeps it out, depending on her mood. like many other japanese, Atsuko has the typical, dark brown eyes. the lightest her eyes will ever be is in the sun, though she doesn't think much about the color as it's boring. she's always envied those with hazel eyes. her lips, however, are naturally a dark pink/red color and tend to stand out more usual. Atsuko does not have either any tattoos or piercings, other than the two in her ears - which she tends to accessorizes with cute earrings. her usual clothing attire consists of mainly light colors such as baby blue, white, pink and light red. she tends to wear cute outfits, also depending on her mood if she feels like it.
Personality: Atsuko is a smart, care-free and down to earth girl. she has a soft and warm exterior. however, she can can be very friendly or snarky when she chooses to, but usually that depends on what mood she's in. she can be very closed up at times as she tries her best to not let anyone besides her best friends get close to her to keep herself from getting hurt emotionally and physically. at times she has this energy inside her that oftentimes thrusts her into the spotlight - but that isn't always where she wants to be; she would rather prefer to stay low-key.
Luckily, Atsuko knows how to relax, and is perfectly capable of switching from a passionate, driven idealist to that imaginative and enthusiastic free spirit on the dance floor, often with a suddenness that can surprise even her closest friends. being in the mix also gives her a chance to connect emotionally with others as she believes everyone should take time to recognize and express their feelings. however, she needs to be quite cautious. if she relies too much on her intuition, assume, or anticipate too much about a friend's thoughts, she can misread the signals and frustrate plans that a more straightforward approach would have made simple.
But everyone also has their bad side. when in an emotional wreck, Atsuko can become very reckless; not considering anyone's thoughts and feelings. the first thing on her mind will be spoken, no matter how bad it is. once she's let it all out, she'll resort to blocking herself from everyone and reality. give her a couple days and she'll be back to normal.
History: Atsuko Mari Hartley was born in Urawa, Japan on the twenty-sixth of March to a lovely young couple, Minami Watanabe and Leonard Hartley. They had met, when her father Leonard Hartley came to Japan to study japanese cuisine and hard started working at her mother Minami Watanabe's family restaurant, They soon fell in love with each other and married. They took over Minami's family restaurant and worked hard to raise money for their small family. Though as Atsuko grew up, she stayed with her mother's parents most of time due to her parents being too busy running the restaurant to earn money; they looked after her well and treated her as if she was their daughter too. however, at the age of nine years old, they both passed away due to a random attack from a stranger in the middle of the streets. the two had simply refused to give up their special belongings which led to their death. till now, the murderer has not yet been caught, and the case has been dropped. it caused a great burden on the whole of the Hartley family.
after the loss of Atsuko’s grandparents, things became a lot more difficult for her parents; she rarely attended school and helped out in the restaurant instead. because of this, she lacked incredibly with her studies though managed to skate-through quickly. but it didn't help much that her grades were low and she herself wasn't as intelligent as her parents had thought. it shocked her father the most as he had wanted her to grow up with perfect grades in order for her to be successful. so, he decided that it would be best to move to the family. packed up their bags and the three of them left for america.
As soon as Atsuko and her family moved to Silvervale, Louisiana. They moved in with her father's parents and she attended private high school. Her lack of studying from the previous school had caused her a lot of struggle with her classes and now it seems like she rarely puts in any form of effort to achieve high. With encouragement from her parents and grandparents, She worked hard to catch up in school and graduate with high marks. After she graduated high school, She became more independent from her parents. Sure, she would go to her parents and grandparents every once and while if she needed anything she couldn't get herself. But usually, She could afford anything she needed from working in a cafe close to the apartment where she lived.
Habits | Oddities | Quirks; Tends to bite my lips or chew on something, when I'm lost in thought Rocking back and forth. I'm not always aware that I'm doing it, it's just a tic. Sometimes it's kind of soothing. Whistle/Hum interchangeably when amused by something vague/trivial Either not looking at a person when I am talking/listening or staring them down as I am doing so. Usually can't remember people names, but remembers their faces so usually gives them nicknames
Hobbies: Reading books from the library and leaving notes in the books for others Traveling around the city to try different places to eat She is a night owl, so she love to party Dancing
Likes: Loud music Chaotic spaces Baking Her friends Being creative Dancing All things spicy
Dislikes: Guys who don't text or call the next day Early mornings when she hasn't slept at all People who bully others Wasting food Drinks with long names Horror movies, Which is odd because she likes horror tv shows Stick-in-the-muds
Misc: She likes to bake things and leave them in her neighbors mailbox for them to enjoy. She doesn't sign her name though or leave anything that could be said that she made them. She doesn't know if they really eat it, but if they do she hopes they enjoy it. She has a fear of thunderstorms, usually tries to use music to drown out the sounds of thunder. She doesn't like to be crowded or in tight dark spaces.
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.
"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
RP Noob, teach me the ways, please :D
yo, cysts, I'm making an rp, git it:
https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/174479-redwood-apartments/ooc
<div style="white-space:pre-wrap;">RP Noob, teach me the ways, please :D<br><br>yo, cysts, I'm making an rp, git it:<br><br><a href="https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/174479-redwood-apartments/ooc" title="https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/174479-redwood-apartments/ooc">roleplayerguild.com/topics/174479-red…</a></div>
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