withclawsinyourback

[withclawsinyourback]

Sylvie shook her head and looked out the sliding glass doors to the balcony with a sour face. There was an uncomfortable silence, and Rick knew what that meant. The answer to the question was obvious, and he didn’t even know why he asked in the first place. She knew he shouldn’t be asking, and that she shouldn’t indulge him. She knew that it would have been better if she left him in the dark-- she had enough on her hands with one emotionally shot parent, and telling her father was not the way to keep him sane. Still, he was the only person she could talk to about her mother, and it hurt being the only person to know how badly Lucy was doing.  “I mean... what are you asking, exactly?” Sylvie asked with a sigh. She couldn’t bear to let everything out all at once. She didn’t want to be that emotional.

withclawsinyourback​:

He drank that night, like he did a lot of the times she was doing badly. It hurt, it really hurt. After all, that was why he tried to avoid her most of the time, and because he also knew how bad the urge to intervene could be. It drove Rick crazy that he still even considered it even though he got hurt every time he had in the past, time and time again. If he didn’t know any better, he would have thought she could care less if he was there for her, or maybe even wish he wasn’t— but he knew that some part of her did want that, just not the part of her that was sick, which seemed to be the bigger part most of the time. When it wasn’t, those were the times Rick wanted to help the most, before she slipped away, too far for him to have a chance. She always did, in the end, though. Hence, why he drank. When he finished the half of the bottle that was left from before, he pushed himself away from the table, but continued to sit for a little while. His chest was warm, in the familiar way that whiskey always burned, and the air conditioning felt cold against his lips as he took a deep breath in. He held it for a second, then exhaled and stood up, making his way to the couch to numb his thoughts with a movie until he fell asleep. Rinse and repeat for the next few days until the girls were back with him.

When his daughters showed up on Friday evening, Rick pulled Sylvie aside while Althea put away her things. “Hey, um… I just… I just wanted to ask how your, um, how your mother’s doing.”

[withclawsinyourback]

withclawsinyourback​:

He drank that night, like he did a lot of the times she was doing badly. It hurt, it really hurt. After all, that was why he tried to avoid her most of the time, and because he also knew how bad the urge to intervene could be. It drove Rick crazy that he still even considered it even though he got hurt every time he had in the past, time and time again. If he didn’t know any better, he would have thought she could care less if he was there for her, or maybe even wish he wasn’t— but he knew that some part of her did want that, just not the part of her that was sick, which seemed to be the bigger part most of the time. When it wasn’t, those were the times Rick wanted to help the most, before she slipped away, too far for him to have a chance. She always did, in the end, though. Hence, why he drank. When he finished the half of the bottle that was left from before, he pushed himself away from the table, but continued to sit for a little while. His chest was warm, in the familiar way that whiskey always burned, and the air conditioning felt cold against his lips as he took a deep breath in. He held it for a second, then exhaled and stood up, making his way to the couch to numb his thoughts with a movie until he fell asleep. Rinse and repeat for the next few days until the girls were back with him.

When his daughters showed up on Friday evening, Rick pulled Sylvie aside while Althea put away her things. “Hey, um... I just... I just wanted to ask how your, um, how your mother’s doing.”

[withclawsinyourback]

withclawsinyourback​:

Lucy nodded, though she eyed him warily, waiting for a comment with dread. But Rick just turned around and left. 

He drank that night, like he did a lot of the times she was doing badly. It hurt, it really hurt. After all, that was why he tried to avoid her most of the time, and because he also knew how bad the urge to intervene could be. It drove Rick crazy that he still even considered it even though he got hurt every time he had in the past, time and time again. If he didn’t know any better, he would have thought she could care less if he was there for her, or maybe even wish he wasn’t— but he knew that some part of her did want that, just not the part of her that was sick, which seemed to be the bigger part most of the time. When it wasn’t, those were the times Rick wanted to help the most, before she slipped away, too far for him to have a chance. She always did, in the end, though. Hence, why he drank. When he finished the half of the bottle that was left from before, he pushed himself away from the table, but continued to sit for a little while. His chest was warm, in the familiar way that whiskey always burned, and the air conditioning felt cold against his lips as he took a deep breath in. He held it for a second, then exhaled and stood up, making his way to the couch to numb his thoughts with a movie until he fell asleep. Rinse and repeat for the next few days until the girls were back with him.

[withclawsinyourback]

withclawsinyourback​:

Rick hadn’t seen Lucy in almost six months— swift hand offs, neither of them getting out of the car, and then Sylvie started driving on her own, but Sylvie had called Rick at seven in the morning before she had to go to school to ask him to bring part of a school project she had left at his place. He rang the doorbell and waited for a few seconds until he saw a slight shadow approaching the door through its thick panes. He adjusted the roll of poster under her arm and stepped back as the door opened, seeing Lucy for the first time in forever. He froze for a moment, stiff and open mouthed before he thrust the poster in front of him. “Sylvie left this at my place.”

She was all angles in her dress, and her blazer hung off her shoulders like she was a hanger. He swore he could almost see her hip bones poking through the dress that was likely supposed to be form fitting. Rick felt a lump in his throat and a pit in his stomach. She hardly looked like herself. This was, without a doubt, the worst he’d ever seen her. He sensed a flicker in Lucy’s facial expression as she caught his gaze. His breath caught in his throat before he was able to force words out, and his eyes immediately flit passed her, to the inside of the house. “Sorry,” he said clearing his throat. “Um, can you give this to her?”  

Lucy nodded, though she eyed him warily, waiting for a comment with dread. But Rick just turned around and left.

[withclawsinyourback]

Rick hadn’t seen Lucy in almost six months— swift hand offs, neither of them getting out of the car, and then Sylvie started driving on her own, but Sylvie had called Rick at seven in the morning before she had to go to school to ask him to bring part of a school project she had left at his place. He rang the doorbell and waited for a few seconds until he saw a slight shadow approaching the door through its thick panes. He adjusted the roll of poster under her arm and stepped back as the door opened, seeing Lucy for the first time in forever. He froze for a moment, stiff and open mouthed before he thrust the poster in front of him. “Sylvie left this at my place.”

[withclawsinyourback]

Rick

General Information

Full name: Roderick Victor Gallagher Nickname: Rick Age: --  Nationality:  Religion: City of birth: Clyde Hill, Washington The current place for living: Seattle, Washington Job title: Corporate Lawyer Employing company: --  Income: $180,000 Is he or she married? No Mother tongue: English Birthday: December 20, 1979 Does he or she own a home? Yes What does the character like? - blue, red, ice cream, summer, reading, alcohol, rock/alternative rock, jazz, movies, dancing, cooking, pie What does the character dislike? - being pushed away, musicals, 

Background

How would you describe the childhood of the character? - rocky; unstable father, close with his mother, only child, spent a lot of time alone, a bit spoiled, well-mannered when around the people who cared the most, otherwise playful and impish to others How would you describe the teenage years of the character? - angsty, difficulty with his mother’s cancer, angry, impulsive, drug/alcohol abuse, competitive How would you describe the adulthood of the character? - sad, helpless, hopeless, bitter, angry, flat, successful, corporate, soft

Role and Involvement of Character - ex-husband to Lucy, father of Althea and Sylvie, keeps tabs on Lucy from afar, relies on Sylvie for that, has his own struggles

What’s the role of the character in the story? - above How is the character introduced? - college party What’s the first time he is mentioned in the story? - college party

Relationships

Sisters or brothers: none Wife or husband: Lucy Children: Sylvie and Althea Grandparents: -- Grandchildren: -- Other important persons: mother (dead), Dorian Relationships with other characters of the story: Lucy: Sylvie: Althea: Jeremy: Dorian:

Physical Characteristics:

Addictions: alcohol, previously cocaine Bad Habits: drinking, caring and going back to Lucy, disregarding harm to get what he wants Color of Eyes: green The color of Hair: brown The color of Skin: light Dialect: -- Does the character drink regularly? - yes Does the character have any disabilities? - no Does the character prefer any proverbs? - tbd

Does the character smoke? - infrequently Good Habits: - chores, cooking, focused on work, takes care of others Height: 6′0″ Hobbies: - tbd Is he/she wearing Glasses? no Is the character healthy or does he have any diseases? - healthy, maybe liver damage Type of Face: long  Weight: 175lbs What’s the style of the character? (modern, outmoded): modern

Mental Characteristics

Education: Law School Intelligent or not? yes Fears: death of loved ones Life Goals (next 5 years): -- Life Goals (next 25 years): -- Self-perception: weak, helpless, unhappy, spent, discarded, failure Assumed external perception: serious, angry, sulky Self-Confidence: poor Rational Or Emotional: emotional, sometimes rational How could you upset this character? - shutting him out, not being able to help or do anything

Emotional Characteristics

What are emotional strengths of the character? - can keep going no matter what, for the most part; keeps trying despite loss of hope What are emotional weaknesses of the character? - helplessness leads to self-destruction, angry, vengeful Is the character an introvert or an extrovert? - introvert How does the character cope with fury and rage? - yells, drinks, slams doors, impulsive … with unhappiness? - drinking, self-pitying, quiet, shutting down … with rivalry? - swell in confidence, accepts the challenge, determined … with new situations? - ready to take it on, alert … with trouble? - responsible

What’s his or her meaning of life? - unsure What would the character like to change in his/her life? - Lucy, his preoccupation with her What things motivate the character? - daughters What situations scares the character? - Lucy’s illness What makes this character happy? - his daughters, the rain Is the character often biased? - yes Does the character prefer to give or to take? - give Is the character rather nice or rude? - either

[withclawsinyourback]

lucy

General Information

Full name Lucy Eleanora Griffith Nickname: Lucy Age: -- Nationality: American Religion: Athiest City of birth: Mystic, Connecticut The current place for living: Seattle, Washington Job title: Psychiatrist Employing company: -- Income: $280,000 Is he or she married? Divorced Mother tongue: English Birthday: September 13, 1981 Does he or she own a home? Yes What does the character like? - athletics, purple, the beach, forests, rain, dresses, reading, coffee, sweats, graphic T’s, cardigans, Nike, fruit, trees/flowers (lilies), pressed flowers/plants, sleeping, indie music, jewelry, dogs, learning, the dark/nighttime, Fall weather, pastries (croissants), chocolates

What does the character dislike? - guilt, crowds, honesty, parties, holidays, snow, eating, yellow, dry weather

Background

How would you describe the childhood of the character? - high expectations, more so from herself than others; rigid and finicky, responsible, competitive; loved and protected by her twin older brothers; socially awkward, anxious, well mannered How would you describe the teenage years of the character? - same as above, but less socially awkward; perfectionist, highly motivated, success-oriented, dedicated to running and athletics, skittish, naive; she was generally sucked into academics and athletics; became anxious by love shown to her by her family because of her attitude towards perfection; wanted more independence How would you describe the adulthood of the character? - chronically depressed, pushed loved ones away, consumed by her illness, workaholic, snarky, defensive, disappointing and disappointed

Role and Involvement of Character

What’s the role of the character in the story? Hurting herself and others; self-involved How is the character introduced? - tbd What’s the first time she is mentioned in the story? - The very beginning

Relationships

Sisters or brothers: Jeremy & Scott Wife or husband: Roderick Children: Sylvie & Althea Grandparents: -- Grandchildren: -- Other important persons:  Relationships with other characters of the story: Roderick: ex-husband; still in love, pushed away, dismissive, combative, defensive, accusations, anxious, guilty Sylvie: her oldest daughter; guilty, lashing out, parented by her daughter, concerning, dismissive, negligent, anxious, defensive Althea: youngest daughter, babied, influential in bad habits, kept in the dark, complacent Jeremy: older brother, twin to Scott; babies Lucy, gives her too many chances, pushed away, hovery,  [Character 5]

Physical Characteristics:

Addictions: A/N, exercise Bad Habits: A/N, spacing out, overexercising, chewing her lips Color of Eyes: light brown The color of Hair: dark brown The color of Skin: light Dialect: -- Does the character drink regularly? No Does the character have any disabilities? A/N Does the character prefer any proverbs? No Does the character smoke? No Good Habits: cleaning, general chores Height: 5′8″ Hobbies: running Is he/she wearing Glasses? Is the character healthy or does he have any diseases? A/N + complications Type of Face: pointy Weight: -- What’s the style of the character? (modern, outmoded): a bit modern in the science sense

Mental Characteristics

Education: MD Intelligent or not? Intelligent Fears: gaining weight,  Life Goals (next 5 years): none Life Goals (next 25 years): none Self-perception: ugly, mean, bitter, sad, worthless, a burden Assumed external perception: mean, selfish, self-absorbed, condescending, bitter, a burden Self-Confidence: POOR Rational Or Emotional: both How could you upset this character? telling her you care

Emotional Characteristics

What are emotional strengths of the character? - can separated emotions from work, level-headed in stressful situations not related to herself, good at divulging information from others What are emotional weaknesses of the character? - numb, closed off, cognitive dissonance, defensive, lashes out, pushes others away Is the character an introvert or an extrovert? introvert How does the character cope with fury and rage? - takes it out on herself and others; verbally or with a cold shoulder; shut up in her room, isolated, screaming, crying, hurting herself, restricting … with unhappiness? - hurting herself, isolation, crying, focus on weight, increased lack of appetite, sleeping … with rivalry? - waits for the other to fail or make mistakes, quietly competitive, works even harder or acts unbothered … with new situations? - quiet, skittish, contemplative, observational or withdrawn … with trouble? - withdrawn, spiraling, or level headed when it isn’t directly related to her What’s his or her meaning of life? - none What would the character like to change in his/her life? - her ED or her relationships What things motivate the character? - her daughters What situations scares the character? - gaining weight, harm to her family What makes this character happy? - her daughters, being outside Is the character often biased? - yes Does the character prefer to give or to take? - take Is the character rather nice or rude? - can be rather cold, but generally nice