#intro:lyanna

[thetcsteofink]

LYANNA BEHL ( SHE/HER ) is a CIS FEMALE, TWENTY-NINE year old PSYCHOTHERAPIST who has been living in Moorbrooke for HER WHOLE LIFE. They were born on JANUARY 14 and right now, they are currently residing in MAPLE COURT. It has been said that they look suspiciously like SUMMER BISHIL and if they had to choose a song to describe themselves, they would choose THE KIDS AREN'T ALRIGHT by THE OFFSPRING.

TW: Abuse, Drugs, Alcohol, Grooming, Sexual Assault, Suicidal Thoughts, Self Harm

Lyanna Behl was born in Moorbrooke on January 14th, 1993. Her mother was Mexican and her father was Indian. She had an older half brother named Matthias, whose father had mysteriously died soon after Matthias was born. Funnily enough, Lyanna’s dear father also mysteriously died soon after she was born as well. Therefore, unfortunately, Lyanna never knew her father. Sadly, she never learned a lot about him either, but as an adult, she figured he was a kind man who simply fell for the wrong woman.

Lyanna and Matthias’ mother was neglectful. Sure the woman was able to at the very least provide such basic necessities but otherwise wouldn’t give them the time of day. Her bread and butter was drugs and alcohol. She sold and used excessively. Often, their mother would be aggravated if the children even dared cry over wanting some affection or care. So, as they got older, Matthias ended up taking care of Lyanna, and it wouldn’t stop being his job for many years. Sometimes, there would be physical abuse and more often than not, verbal.

Due to such a rough childhood and being exposed to drugs and alcohol at an early age, Lyanna started her drug and drinking journey at ten. Her brother, always the level headed and mature one, often tried to stop her. It worked for a while until Lyanna learned how to hide her activities from her brother. This was just all a way to act out and numb her depression. She was deeply unhappy with her life. Her brother was the only light in her world but it’s true, that it just wasn’t enough sometimes. If her own mother didn’t care then why should she?

Lyanna fell into the wrong crowd of depressed individuals with family issues and no one really understanding them. Her new friends knew people around town, usually older kids or even young adults that had no qualms selling drugs or buying alcohol to kids that had barely reached double digits. Meeting such interesting people that seemed to captivate a young Lyanna made her want to be as cool and well-liked as everyone else. Not to mention, there was so much she could relate to with everybody. She had found her people, but it was a toxic group. 

The group’s drug dealer, a young man of seventeen, was someone who everyone wanted to fuck or be. What’s crazy about that was that Lyanna was just eleven and nervous with her dumb crush on probably the worst person in the world. He would hang out with her and her friends and they would feel wanted and cool by association. He always had a charismatic way about him, spoke to them like they were his age and cool to hang. He also had a way to make Lyanna and her friends come back for more drugs and alcohol. It was hard to say no to someone like that.

Rebelling became normal for her. She would pick fights in school, get detention often, or suspended, and got into all sorts of trouble. She was only thirteen at this point. Her grades started slipping, not because she wasn’t smart or didn’t care to pay attention, but she simply was so careless about her homework, which was always a massive part of every student’s grades. Coupled with her mother who neglected to show up to meetings with the dean of discipline or answered the phone from the school’s admin rudely and carelessly when talking about Lyanna, nothing seemed to matter. Matthias was the golden child anyway, a good boy, A student, clean and trying his best to live his regular life. Unfortunately, Lyanna’s antics often got in the way of such a life just because he was always who came to her aid whenever something happened. 

Lyanna began to commit small-town crimes, such as theft from stores, vandalization, obtaining fake IDs, growing weed herself, etc. At about twelve, Lyanna was arrested for shoplifting some eyeliner. Arrested, but not sent to juvie just because it was petty theft. As she grew into rougher teen years, pushing her brother away became more and more prominent. She grew tired of having him as an angel on her shoulder. At this point, she knew everything she was doing wasn’t right, even the destruction to her own body with drugs and alcohol and she simply didn’t care. The fights she got into with Matthias were ugly, screaming, exhaustive. He wanted her to be okay, and she was too far gone. And yet, Matthias never let her burn the bridge. In a way they were all each other had.

At fourteen she ended up sleeping with the dealer who was twenty at the time. There was no pressure but there was nervousness, though he insisted everything was fine and that she was oh so beautiful and special. For some time, Lyanna didn’t even know that she’d been groomed and raped, as he was an adult and she a minor. Grooming wasn’t particularly a well-known term, either, during 2006. This relationship she had with the dealer continued for two more years. More often than not, he would always make sure she wasn’t sober with him. Sometimes she would pass out, not even knowing where she was, and he wasn’t always there whenever she woke up.

A new misery seemed to take over. This wasn’t ‘fun’ anymore. Her depression couldn’t be pushed away through mindless sex with, what? Her boyfriend? They never made anything official. And the rose-tinted glasses of their ‘romance’ faded away after dealing with him for so long. Numbing with drugs or alcohol wasn’t working. If anything it made things worse. It was so bad that Matthias asked, once again, like all the other times, what was going on, and she told him everything. With Matthias’ help, the drug dealer went behind bars. She was able to testify against him. She also agreed to get some help, whatever that entailed.

Lyanna went to rehab at seventeen in order to get clean and also talk to some therapist. She had the nicest woman. She looked like her mom, who had gone missing at some point in the past couple years (her brother was now her guardian), but nicer, sweet, kinder, and warmer. It took a little bit for her to open up, but eventually she did. Everything spilled out. Lyanna was able to show that yes, she did cut herself. And has as of late wondered about dying. She was diagnosed with general anxiety, severe depression, borderline personality disorder, and was being treated for it, along with substance abuse. 

Her therapist was a lifeline, along with Matthias. She took her medications as directed and did several activities and exercises whilst in rehab. She had gotten clean, and never again thereafter did she touch alcohol or another unprescribed drug. Lyanna also found that...  psychology was actually very interesting. Even in high school she had enjoyed biology and found the nervous system to be the most enticing of them all. While therapist definitely are not friends with their patients, Lyanna felt that they had gotten along so well after a time. Even after rehab she continued to see this therapist and work on herself.

Lyanna got her GED at nineteen after working retail for a time. She applied to school and did extraordinarily well. She was inspired by her own therapist and decided this was what she wanted to do. She wanted to help others. After graduating, she applied to graduate school for psychology. Six years of intense schooling and she got her doctorate.

Her first job was part time at a clinic, where she continues to be. She also took up a few hours at the university, as students definitely have rough times. Lyanna really managed to turn herself around. Still a firecracker whenever she gets riled up, she is only now more relaxed, happier, and warmer. Although she has difficulty with romantic relationships, she’s had a few casual hookups since the drug dealer. Her relationship with her brother has never been better. He is sincerely her best friend. Luckily, her friends from school, who were also victims of such grooming and toxic behavior grew up. Though not all of them are clean, one of them, her best friend, is especially doing well and on the road to recovery. They always talk and hang out when they can, and while Lyanna isn’t her therapist, she’s proud of the strides her friend has made.

One of the major new things she’s got going on is that she is trying to learn violin. She’s always loved music, and with her clearer head, Lyanna’s invested on violin lessons and thoroughly enjoys it. Sometimes, Lyanna does have bad days but she tries to force herself to push through them. She’s been sober for over a decade and her medications really help to stabilize her into a functioning adult in order for her to help others.

WANTED CONNECTIONS

• MATTHIAS [DIFFERENT LAST NAME]. Their mother was Mexican, so Matthias is Mexican (either all or half). He is 31 years old, going on 32. Quite frankly these two have so much history. So many ups and downs but all love and protection. While Matthias has always been amazing at trying to protect Lyanna, sometimes he should take a page from his book as he has a tendency to also go towards toxic people to sleep with or date. In a way, now it’s Lyanna’s turn to protect him, considering now that she’s not riddled with drama and toxic relationships/behaviors herself, she can pay attention to what her brother’s up to.

• HER BEST FRIEND. She has no name, but this is her ride or die. They’ve been through their own ups and downs since being pre-teens. Have a similar background when it comes to them doing drugs and alcohol at a young age and being groomed by this nameless drug dealer. Lyanna’s best friend is currently recovering and is making strides though it’s possible she may relapse or not. Lyanna and this friend have also shared their first kisses together, just because they were curious and hey, in a way, her best friend is why Lyanna even realized she was bi at all. 

• AN EX. definitely not the nameless drug dealer. This ex would’ve been her first real relationship after the fact. I believe these two met in college when she was nineteen or twenty. Lyanna most likely broke it off. Traumatized over her first and only relationship, she felt she was damaged goods and was fearful of receiving unconditional affection and love from someone who she herself also loved. She grew attached as well but on the topics of sex, Lyanna was always hesitant. Emotionally she was a wreck, both happy and scared to be with someone, so yes she did break it off after a year. To this day she still thinks of this ex.

• PATIENTS. Lyanna definitely needs patients. I will take alllll the patients and bets are that your character(s) need therapy. That’s what she’s here for! Also family therapies for fucked up sibling relationships or parent-offspring relationships too. Or couples therapy. She’s your gal.

• COLLEAGUES. I would love Lyanna to have some friends from work. Others therapists! They could get together for lunch and stuff and if they’re similar in age, sleepovers watching Friends reruns.

• FRIENDS. My girlie needs pals! That’s all. But that’s easy and open ended.