Post by rogerhawkins on Jul 29, 2012 21:22:40 GMT -6
ROGERWYATTHAWKINS
Shine a light through an open door
Full Name>>Roger Wyatt Hawkins
Nicknames>> None that he will currently allow anyone he knows to call him. Previously Wilco from his friends in the police force (a play on his name's position in radio terminology), and anything his darling Elizabeth chose to call him.
Age>> 1972; 40
Staff or Student>> Staff - Barnhand
Gender>> Male
Sexuality>> Heterosexual
Play By>> Robert Beatty
Alias>> Summer
Turn away 'cause I need you more
Personality>>
The first word that comes to mind when talking about Roger is almost certainly grumpy. A crusty, grouchy man, he's had a fair few hard blows in his life and that shows in the hard, bitter person he has become. As liable to respond to questions with grunts and shrugs as actual words (and, even then, he will use as few words as he possibly can), Roger could never, ever be called friendly. In fact, he actively dislikes most people, and has absolutely no patience whatsoever when he is forced to interact with them. Possessing a distinctly short fuse, it's incredibly easy to get on Roger's bad side, and though he is only actively goading if he has a bone to pick with someone (which, to be fair, is pretty often), he is frequently incredibly infuriating even when he's not trying to be. Even when he's trying to be polite, which isn't very often, he is still very much to the point and terse in his words.
With a sharp edge to his tongue, if he is goaded into speaking his is invariably bitingly sarcastic, bitterness and a deep and abiding anger at the world in his every word. Sharing little of himself with other people, he is a deeply private person, and trying to find out anything about him is generally a completely impossible task. In fact, trying to get anything out of Roger beyond the tersest possible answers he can give and a great deal of deflection requires gargantuan effort.
With a distinctly callous, prickly exterior, most people believe that Roger in fact possesses no heart whatsoever, and takes delight in being snappy and short-tempered. In fact, Roger does possess a softer side, but it rarely comes out except around animals. Having long gotten on with animals better than people, Roger can coax even the most recalcitrant horse or dog to be his friend. Perhaps it's because he talks little and observes much, but he has a distinct way with animals, and it has often been noted that he is an entirely different person around them: soft-spoken, endlessly patient, and eternally kind. And animals - be they cats, parakeets or horses - respond to him very well, perhaps realising that he far prefers - and understands far better - their company to that of his own species.
It is in regards to animals that his fellow humans can get the most out of him, for while he will never be anything but terse and gruff, there is a happiness and a fondness in his self when he is around animals that he replicates nowhere else. Quite able to be snappy in one instant to someone asking him a question (which he will invariably regard as a completely stupid one) and then the next moment to be soothing a fractious pony with gentle hands and innate understanding. Still, if one is looking to have anything even marginally approaching conversation, then animals are the way to do it.
Perhaps surprisingly, Roger has a distinctly protective streak in him, and not only towards animals under his care (of which there are a variety, for he picks up lost causes like some people eat hot dinners). Possessing a deep and abiding hatred of bullies, he will stand up for those he feels needs it, and does care, in his own way. Of course, as this is Roger, this way involves no platitudes and little softness, instead manifesting itself in slightly less grumpiness, and a desire to defend. He tries to avoid having people worm their way under his skin, and much of his prickly nature comes from a desire to not be hurt (though he was never particularly warm and open even at the best of times). It was partly this aspect of him that led to him joining the first the police, and then the ATF. He also possesses a strong, moral core, with a firm personal view of wrong and right, and a desire - however futile and however deeply hidden - to see the world a better place.
Once a softer, more openly caring man, who expressed optimism to change the world instead of hiding it deep within him, Roger has strengthened his armour until he almost seems composed of dichotomies: he is grumpy and short-tempered, angry and dislikes most people, yet if you can manage to slide beneath that armour and activate the strongly moral, strongly protective core that he does a very good job of hiding, then he is one of the most loyal, deeply caring people around. Though, to be fair, his brand of caring is fairly gruff and entirely unsentimental. Rarely allowing himself to become attached to humans, however, that side of him is generally only shown around animals of any species other than his own, and as such he is invariably terse, grumpy and entirely unfriendly.
Hard working, and with a strong professional aspect to him, he will work himself to the bone on any task, not letting up until he has completed something to his high standards. It is this dedication that served him well in his time as a police officer, and continues to serve him well in his current jobs as a barn hand, for however antisocial he might be, he works very hard and is good at what he does, thus proving an asset to many barns.
Likes>>
+ Animals. Any species, any temperament, any background... You can pretty much count on Roger getting along with most of them.
+ Nature. As well as domestic animals, he likes the wild side of nature as well, and can be counted upon to know a great deal about anything from mushrooms to terns and most things in between. When he's not working, he enjoys wildlife watching.
+ Solitude.
+ Star-gazing. Armed with the same well-used telescope that he uses to watch wildlife, he can often be found trekking out to a dark hill to watch the stars.
+ Cooking. Perhaps surprisingly, this man can dish up a wide variety of excellent meals, though it's a talent he keeps very close to his chest.
Dislikes>>
- Those who are cruel, especially those who abuse animals, but also those who are abusive towards people.
- People who are not prepared to work or try hard and who expect to be handed everything, especially if they squander education or opportunities.
- Actually, most people, really. They usually manage to annoy him in some way
- Alcohol. He knows quite well that he's a mean drunk, and has been sober now for three years - and proud of it.
- Chocolate. Never has liked it, never will.
Fears>>
- Caring too much for anyone.
- Forgetting anything about Elizabeth or Jonathon.
Hopes>>
+ To do his best by the animals he takes care of.
+ That there is some form of afterlife where he will one day be reunited with his family.
Secrets>> Most of his past, primarily the death of his wife and son.
It’s the way I’m feeling I just can’t deny
Appearance>> An intimidating man when he's not grumpy, Roger has always had a commanding presence even as a young boy, and growing older has only given him gravitas to add to that. He is, in fact, rather forbidding, his angular face striking even as it is harsh, and the perfect control he has over every limb in his body meaning that he never uses an ounce of energy that he does not mean to, that he can move with surprising grace and silence for a man of his large frame (for he is taller than average, and has a robust frame to go with that height), and that he is very practiced in the art of looming over people. His poise, and practice, usually hides the fact that his right arm is exceedingly stiff and lacks much of the mobility it once had, thanks to a knife wound that did some serious damage to tendons and muscles several years ago.
Roger might be handsome if he only smiled once in a while, for he keeps himself ridiculously neat and tidy, his hair and beard trimmed within an inch of its life and only daring to put a strand out of place in times of extreme duress. As it is, though, he manages 'dark and brooding' rather than 'classically handsome', and has upon more than once occasion utterly terrified people simply by giving them a piercing, level stare. His eyes are as dark, serious and sombre, his hair silvering elegantly, and his skin has the weather-beaten appearance of one who spends most of his life outside.
Markings>>
Large, knotted scar on his right shoulder, stretching from just atop his collar bone (visible if he wears uncollared shirts) to his armpit; similarly large and knotted scar at the base of his ridcage, long slashing scar diagonally across his ribcage; multitude of smaller scars across his body.
But I’ve gotta let it go
Medical History>> Most significantly, an extended hospital stay when he was 37 recovering from several stab wounds, which left him with the aforementioned dramatic scars.
Criminal History>> Despite some less-than-legal aspects of his youth, he managed to avoid being caught.
Full History>>
Family:
Wife - Elizabeth King, deceased.
Son - Jonathon Hawkins-King, deceased.
Born in Denver, Roger ended up in the foster system before he was a month old, and as such has no idea who his parents are; nor, frankly, does he particularly care. If they couldn't be bothered with him, then he fails to see why he should be bothered about them. Growing up in a variety of group homes gave him the first of several chips upon his shoulder, for though non of them were absolutely terrible, there were more than a few unpleasant moments, and many more impersonal ones.
Never having anywhere permanent to settle, he fell in with - in the words of the system - a 'bad crowd' when he was about 11, running the streets of Denver with them and engaging in a multitude of misdemeanours. Bounced from group home to group home and spending his free hours with the gangs, Roger grew up battered and fighting - literally and metaphorically - standing his ground against anyone and everyone, including many of his compatriots and friends, for he refused to get into drugs, and took the time to get good grades, which brought him grief from those his own age. Knowing from a very young age that he had no desire to die young in a gang war, he let himself learn - how to observe, how to fight, when to speak up and when to hold his tongue, how to avoid trouble, how to cause it - and then as soon as he could, got himself out.
This 'soon as he could' proved to be when he was 15, and the home at which he was living - which, prior to this point, had been one of the most uncaring about what its residents were doing - gained an enthusiastic employee who wanted little more than to see 'his kids make good', as he was fond of saying. Taking advantage of this, and of his previous good grades in school, Roger got himself his GED, and then a job working at a stable, where he gained a good reputation (and discovered that his skill with animals extended beyond dogs and cats. He also learned to ride), which served him in good stead when he applied to join the police force when he was 21. Why the police force? Possessing a strong core of morality even in the less salubrious moments of his life, he also possessed a desire to change what he'd experienced in his time running on the streets.
His application being accepted - somewhat to his astonishment, and incredible relief that he'd managed to avoid a juvenile record - he soon found himself in training and then an official member of law enforcement. He soon found that this really was his niche, for it allowed him to 'do good' - in those days, his optimism wasn't blackened with cynicism, his morality not shrouded in disappointment, and his caring not hidden behind bitterness. Working contently and successfully with the force for years, Roger was a happy man, doing something he felt was worthwhile, and, to add to his cup, he had been three years in the force when he met Elizabeth King, a successful criminal attorney.
It wasn't quite love at first sight for both of them, but it wasn't far off, and the pair were soon completely enamoured of each other. Sickeningly so, according to most of their friends, but rather adorable. A loving, careful courtship soon turned into a loving, happy relationship, and two years after they first met they were married.
Shortly afterwards, Roger found himself part of a K-9 unit, his affinity with animals having been discovered by his superiors, and paired with the intelligent, energetic Sayonara after a ten-week training course. Setting up a house with Elizabeth also meant that the pair began taking in a multitude of animals, Roger also volunteering at the local independently-run animal shelter and the stables where he had worked previously.
Seven years later, and their family was expanded by one, when Jonathon Hawkins-King was born. Never happier, Roger sometimes felt that live was too good to be true and, indeed, he was correct, for tragedy befall the family when Elizabeth and Jonathon - age 5 - were killed in a hit-and-run, the culprit never being found. Roger, now 35, was utterly devastated, his world collapsing around him, and he spiraled into an angry depression. With nothing left to him but work, and more than slight suicidal tendencies, he threw himself into his job, not knowing what else to do with himself.
He will admit that the first to years after Elizabeth and Jonathon's deaths are something of a blank to him, for he turned to alcohol as well as his work, and spent much of his time drunk or working ridiculously long hours, both of which were attempts to not think about what he had lost. Caring nothing for his own life, he entered into dangerous situations with reckless abandon, and it was this that eventually brought him up to a sharp halt.
He can't even remember why he and Harriet - the police dog he was now working with, an animal as dear to him as Sayonara had been - were involved in the particular case, or why they ended up in a messy fight between the police and some gun-runners, but whatever the reasons, the result was the same: Harriet killed and Roger in hospital in critical condition with stab wounds to his shoulder and chest. Coming out of a coma a week later, he realised two things: one, that he didn't really want to die, and two, that he couldn't carry on in this way.
Thus began the slow process of Roger pulling himself back together, in amongst his additional mourning for Harriet. His first act once his slow recovery was complete was to quit the police force, for despite the satisfaction the job had given him over the years, it was too tied up with memories of Elizabeth, and he no longer felt that he fit: he no longer believed he could make the world a better place, and he wanted time to escape and lick his wounds somewhere no-one knew him. Selling his house was his next step, and he then took to the roads of America in a beat-up jeep, taking odd jobs where he found them and living fairly hand to mouth.
He found, soon enough, that he could find the most solace working with animals, and so he began to tailor his life to that, working jobs in barns, veterinary clinics and animal shelters, though shortly the first option became the most common. Building something of a reputation as a man who could do almost anything with horses, he never stayed too long in one place, moving from job to job across the US, and slowly piecing himself back together. Grief still cuts at him deeply, he still feels like he lost most everything in life that mattered to him in one fell swoop, but he no longer drinks and can sometimes think of Elizabeth and Jonathon without biting pain. He still cares greatly for animals, having a revolving menagerie that he takes in and then passes on to better homes, except for the few that he believes will be best with him.
It is with this life, therefore, that he comes to Blue Ridge, applying for a job as a barnhand, and having no plans to stay for particularly long, believing instead that this will merely be another stop on a road that is mostly without colour.
We found love in a hopeless place
Pet Name>> Doreen
Registered Name>> None
Age>> 6
Species>> Canine
Breed>> Mixed-breed/Mongrel
Registry>> None
Personality>> A nervous, skittish dog, Doreen is suspicious of people and wary of any changes in her life. Always ready to run away or snap defensively, she really only trusts Roger - and that trust has been hard-earned - and expects blows from anyone else she meets. She is gaining in confidence, however, and loves long walks, preferably ones where she doesn't have to meet people and be scared of them, and is a very active dog.
History>> Picked up by the SPCA shortly after her birth, Doreen was adopted as a puppy, a move that proved to be disastrous. Unable to deal with an energetic, active dog, her owners became abusive, keeping her confined and starving her in order to reduce her energy levels and, when that didn't work, hitting and kicking her. Eventually her owners were reported to the SPCA when she was 5, and she was removed, and brought to the shelter where Roger was volunteering.
Seeing how deeply damaged she was, Roger took her into his home, both he and his supervisors believing she would have a greater chance of recovery if under personal attention. It was difficult for both of them, to begin with, Doreen's diet needing to be carefully monitered, and the poor girl being vicious in her terror that she was going to be beaten. Eventually Roger began to break through to her, and now she follows him around with dedication, feeling far safer at his heels than anywhere else. As she is becoming more confident about life, she is regaining her joy in being outside and being active, the years of confinement having made her adore open spaces and the opportunity to run.
Appearance>> HERE
Pet Name>> Sir Samuel
Registered Name>> None
Age>> 4
Species>> Feline
Breed>> Mixed-breed
Registry>> None
Personality>> An aloof, distant cat, Samuel needs little from people but a warm bed, food and occasionally some stroking, and views humanity as good for little other than attending to his needs. Content to be fussed over only if he initiates contact, he will whip out sharp claws if anyone approaches him, and will frequently spend days away from home, returning in the early hours of the morning demanding to be let in and fed. Distinctly individual, he will never curl up with anyone, and has a very superior, almost sarcastic, glint in his eye most of the time.
History>> Another rescue animal (as all of Roger's little menagerie are), little is known about Samuel's history. He was, quite literally, dropped off on Roger's doorstep with a broken leg when he was 3. Taking him to the vet, Roger had his leg treated, and from then on Samuel has been a part of Roger's life, as he was unwilling to put the cat up for adoption anywhere, suspecting that his non-affectionate nature would lead to him being unlikely to find a home. Roger, however, is quite content to let the young cat live as independent a life as he wants, and so has brought him to Blue Ridge.
Appearance>> HERE
Pet Name>>Lulu
Registered Name>> None
Age>> 3 years
Species>> Mexican Red-legged Tarantula (Brachypelma emilia)
Breed>> NA
Registry>> None
Personality>> A docile, relaxed tarantula, Lulu likes nothing more than sunning herself in peace and quiet. Surprisingly accepting of human handling, she's a perfect exhibition for 'not all spiders are terrifying', as she will slowly move across offered body parts with careful interest, before settling somewhere warm and lying there contently until she is moved. Fond of eating, she takes to her meals with enthusiasm, and if Roger isn't careful will eat far too much with no thought of the consequences to herself.
History>> Bought for a young teenage boy as something that was 'cool', Lulu (then called Mistress of Death) was exciting only for a short while, and when her owner moved onto a new interest, she found herself unwanted. Luckily for her, Roger happened to be living in the flat across from the family in question, and offered to take the tarantula in, not liking to hear of any animals out of a home. That was two years ago, and since then Lulu has followed Roger in his moves across country, by the far the most docile and easy to manage of his animals.
Appearance>> HERE
