Post by Lori on Apr 8, 2016 20:25:27 GMT -5
BASICS
Full Name:
Spencer Davis Chapman
Nicknames:
Spence, Chap
Age&Birthday:
He turned 19 on March 18
Job:
Student&Retail Worker
SCHOOL
Class:
Part-time Freshman at Metric College
Major:
Business
Grades:
Mediocre. He doesn't always have the time to focus on his schoolwork that he'd like. The fact that he barely participates in class doesn't help much either.
Friends:
-
Rivals:
-
Orientation:
Asexual. He's seen what that does with his sister. No thanks.
Status:
Single. He really doesn't have the time.
APPEARANCE
Body:
Spencer stands tall at almost 6'. He's considered underweight for someone his height but is surprisingly well-fit. He doesn't necessarily work out but between lifting heavy items around a store and helping with his nephew, Spencer is very well-toned. No one would guess it when his arms aren't exposed. The blond hairs throughout his body that mimic his hair are almost never visible, including the few hairs that pop up on his chin every so often.
Eye Color:
Blue, but born with green
Hair:
Blond. He normally 'brushes' his hair by moving his fingers through it every morning. Half the time he will use a moose or gel of sorts, which keeps it from looking flat or volume-less. The only downside is that it grows. Fast.
Style:
Clean-cut and simple. Spencer doesn't like to spend a lot of money on clothes, but whatever he has he tries to look good, if not presentable. If he's wearing a shirt that's ripped or stained he'll throw a jacket over it. When he's not working or at school one might consider him to have more of a sporty look.
Ethnicity:
Caucasian with some German, Scottish and French mixed in there from his mother's side. He's not entirely sure of his father's ancestry.
Playby:
Alexander Ludwig
PERSONALITY
Positives:
Family-Oriented; Hard-Working; Protective; Caring; Good-Natured; Multitasker; Humble; Reliable; Independent; Open-minded
Negatives:
Clumsy; Follower; Asocial; Doesn't speak his mind; Quiet; Hard-Working; Submissive; Frugal; Self-conscious; Multitasker
Likes:
The color blue; Oranges; Earning money; His sister; Getting hair cuts; Sleeping; Smoking; Autumn; Dogs; Peanut butter and jelly; Turkey; Playing with his nephew; My Little Pony
Dislikes:
Spending a lot of money; Missing work/school; Getting sick; Swimming; Hot days; Playboys; Long, messy hair; His mother; Living paycheck to paycheck; Heights; Huge crowds; 'Unique' names
HISTORY
Family:
Brianna Sherman, Bus Driver/Waitress/Camp Counselor - Spencer used to have a very good relationship with his mother. He knew how hard she worked and respected her for it. Sure, she never let Spencer or his sister forget when she did get something for them they really wanted, but Spencer never saw it as in-your-face. Brianna often worked two jobs at a time. During the school year, sometimes during the summer as well, she'd drive kids off to school and in the summer she'd work as a camp counselor; at night she would waitress at a bar. It wasn't much, but it was all Brianna could manage. When you're a single parent with two kids and no child support you work with what you got. And she thought she had two very good kids to work with. That is, until Anya ended up pregnant. Brianna refused to see her daughter go through the same things she did. And she could barely afford the two kids she had, let alone a grandkid. So Anya would have to leave. What Brianna didn't expect was for Spencer to take his sister's side. Brianna thought in kicking him out along with her, it would teach him a lesson. Especially since Spencer was never one to speak up in the first place. But somehow Spencer held his ground and actually fought Brianna for his education. It took some time and back and forth's but eventually Brianna and Spencer came to an agreement. The last she heard of either of her kids they were with Anya's boyfriend. She'd thought about going over a few times to check up on them, but it was a moot point. She hasn't heard from either of her kids since.
Aniya "Anya" Chapman, Medical Biller - Anya, like her brother, was a good kid. She did her homework, got decent grades, and never really got in trouble. She looked up to Spencer and relied on him a lot, especially since he was really the only example of a man she ever had in her life. Admittedly, the most questionable things Anya did were see some fishy guys. She went after mostly 'bad boy' types, but got around it by never admitting that she dated. She'd say she thought a guy was cute or she liked him, but never fully let on how serious she got in relationships. That was probably why it was such a shock when she admitted she was pregnant. She went to Spencer first because she knew he would tell it to her straight. Spencer didn't know what else to do but be there for her, even when Anya told their mom. The worst moment of her life was when she and Spencer left home. Anya felt guilty because she put them in that situation, and Spencer didn't ask for any of that. She distanced herself slightly from her brother after that, but they were still always there for each other. She was still dating her boyfriend at the time, who was in denial about how hard it would really be to have a baby. For a 'bad boy' he wasn't too terrible. At least, until she gave birth. Like a lot of guys, he went back to his normal life and refused to do anything; he didn't see Anya as attractive anymore and he felt trapped by their relationship. They broke up when their son Tristan was a couple of months old. Fortunately for Anya she always had a good relationship with his mother and stays in contact with her. Anya never went back to high school since leaving home, but has since obtained her GED and is currently completing a course to become a medical biller. She's hoping that some time in the future when funds are better she can go to college, even to get an associate's degree. But for now, her son is her biggest priority and she looked up to Spencer more than ever.
Tristan Franco - A hyper little two and a half year old who gets into everything. Everything. He is open to touching, playing with and eating just about anything (except string beans). He has a mess of curly blond locks on his head and has the same green eyes that Spencer was born with. He's most comfortable with Spencer, Anya and his paternal grandmother but has some inkling of who his father is. When Tristan is not happy, everyone hears. So sleep for the Chapman siblings becomes just as much a luxury as money. Tristan was born shortly before Anya's sixteenth birthday.
Backstory:
Spencer was born on March 18 to his mother Brianna and her boyfriend. Spencer never really knew much about his dad, since apparently his parents were together only a short time before Spencer was conceived. Spencer's father wasn't around much during his young years, so Spencer couldn't even put a face to the image of 'dad' let alone a name. It was amazing that two years later the couple had Anya. The boyfriend was around Brianna during that pregnancy even less than with Spencer, if that was possible. He walked out when Anya was only a few months old. The situation never bothered Spencer, even though he never had a father figure after that. He only recalled ever asking Brianna about his father when it came time to write about his heritage or work on a family tree. He doesn't even remember the whole story, or how true it is.
Spencer didn't grow up with a lot but that was ok. He didn't need much. He just wanted to do well in school and listen to his mother. He pretty much succeeded. Spencer didn't worry much about the other kids or fitting in. He was never super athletic so he couldn't play sports; he didn't fit in with the drama geeks; he wasn't a skater; he wasn't smart so he couldn't be a nerd; he wasn't into computers or science fiction; there weren't ever really any clubs he wanted to get involved with. Spencer was just, well ordinary. So unlike a lot of kids who were really into something, Spencer never found that one thing he wanted to do. And that was ok. He always figured, he'd find it later. Aside from having to grow up with one parent, Spencer had a pretty uneventful childhood. It was never bad, but it was never amazing either.
When Spencer was seventeen his main focus was like most other high school juniors - where to go to college. And while he was dealing with that, his sister was dealing with a major crisis. Spencer would never expect his sister of all people to end up pregnant. She, like him, was a good kid. What could she possibly do to get pregnant? So when Anya told him, Spencer had to actually see for himself. Oh; that was how someone got pregnant. Spencer never had a girlfriend before, let alone even a crush, so the situation was mind blowing to him, to say the least. For Anya, it was a different story. She had no idea how Brianna would react. Most pregnant teens probably worried what their parents would think of them, or if they'd get sent away or something. Spencer kept a cool head through it all and promised to be there for Anya. And good to his word, he was by his sister's side when she told Brianna. At first Brianna, much like Spencer, was stunned. She let it sink in before asking basic questions. How far along was she? How did this happen? What did the boyfriend say? Was she planning on keeping the baby? Spencer would never forget Anya's response to the last question. She looked down slightly and confessed in the most quiet voice, "I don't know..." The next words out of Brianna's mouth were, "get out."
Anya immediately packed up her things but Spencer wouldn't let her leave. For the first time, he confronted his mother and asked what the hell she was doing. After everything she did for them, after everything she taught the, this was how she was going to leave them? Brianna said that Anya made her bed and she had to lie in it; that she had to understand all of her decisions had consequences. Spencer didn't believe that it meant she had to lose her family. Determined to stick by his sister, Spencer insisted that if Anya leaves he does as well. Brianna was even more shocked by Spencer's defiance. And Spencer really thought that it would be the eye-opener for Brianna. Except that it wasn't. She told Spencer to his face, "I have no son." Spencer questioned what he would do about school and what this would mean for them as well as the baby. Brianna said he'd have to figure it out on his own. Spencer continued talking back to her, since he had nothing else to lose at that point. In a long and heated argument, things were said. But ultimately they managed to come to an agreement. Brianna would pay for Spencer to complete his senior year and give him half the money from an account she was saving for his and Anya's college education. Both could do with the money what they wanted. And then the kids were gone.
Fortunately Anya had a decent relationship with her boyfriend's mother. Even though her boyfriend wasn't too happy with it, Spencer and Anya moved in during the pregnancy. It was an hour away and the commute to school was difficult for Spencer. It would've been better, at least he'd thought, if Anya went with him. But she couldn't afford to go to school pregnant. She didn't know if she could keep up or what the other kids would say or do. So she dropped out. Spencer took numerous buses to school and, during his senior year, earned a job at the mall where the boyfriend's mother would drop him off and pick him up for his shifts. Things remained that way - hectic, busy, time-consuming and tiring - until his nephew Tristan was born. Things became more hectic with a newborn in the house, as sleep soon became a luxury. And having the baby there physically was more than likely what led to the breakup of Anya and her boyfriend. By that time, Spencer was looking to colleges. He had already gotten accepted to Metric with a scholarship. However, money was extremely tight. Even with the scholarship Spencer wasn't sure if his part time job and the money they had in the bank would cover his education plus an apartment. Originally, when he applied to the school, he had thought it would be a great setup. It would be a six or seven hour drive from where they lived so they would save on plane fair and maybe Spencer could visit home once a month or so. But there was no way they could afford it now.
Unbeknownst to Spencer, Anya not only got in contact with the school but looked at apartments online in Salem. She went with her boyfriend's mother at one point to look around. After everything Spencer did, this was the very least Anya could do for him; make sure he completed his education. She insisted he go on the final interview and see if they would still have him. Spencer abided by her request. The meeting went well; better than Spencer could have ever imagined. And Metric was a great school - the percentage of graduates that went on to finding jobs within the first couple of years had nothing against the other schools Spencer had looked at. Spencer never considered himself an artsy person, let alone an art student, but it was always the atmosphere and the future after Metric that appealed to him. Spencer decided that, if he would still attend, he would become a student of the Business school. It seemed like he'd be more likely to get a job with a business degree than an arts degree and a job, especially a full time one as soon as possible upon graduation was what he and his sister needed the most. The college agreed to let Spencer keep his scholarship and attend part time on one condition. No one there seemed to believe that Spencer wanted to be a business student. They weren't quite sure what to think of him, but it wasn't business. So, by his junior year, he'd have to declare a major in a field that he'd want, where he could see himself working. Spencer agreed to it without much thought. He would probably still come up with a minor that could get him a decent job.
With his future at Metric secure, he, Anya and Tristan relocated the five hours away to Salem. The apartment they found to live in was cheap enough, although Anya applied for government assistance. The apartment is small and only has one bedroom which she and Tristan share; Spencer sleeps on a pull-out couch in the living room. It isn't much, but it's what they have and they make it work. As soon as they moved Spencer applied for as many part time jobs as he could; he quickly secured a job at the super market, which would work with his class schedule. The majority of the money Spencer makes goes into the bank or pays utilities. Tristan goes to his dad's on the weekends sometimes which helps, although Spencer remains the prominent male figure in his life. Sometimes while he's in class and Anya's training or busy Spencer will drop Tristan off at Metric's daycare. Between school, work and helping his sister Spencer doesn't have a lot of time for much else. Dating or friends. But he has no regrets. He'd do anything for his sister and nephew. And, if anyone has the patience to put up with Spencer, he would do anything for any friend he makes as well. Spencer may have grown up ordinary, but he's definitely not an ordinary college student. Most kids probably learn corny stuff like 'follow your dreams' or 'believe in yourself' or some crap like that. Spencer doesn't believe that. What he does believe is that he should never open up his mouth and talk back again. That's what got him to where he is. So if keeping quiet will not make things any worse, if it'll keep things as decent as they can be no matter what, then he'll keep quiet. He will never make the same mistake again.
OOC
¬Spencer is a Brony. Yeah, he watched My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. He doesn't care if the target audience is girls; he was flipping channels one day trying to find something for Tristan to watch and just thought, 'oh, these are cute. And they're talking about friendship. Nice.' It stuck.
¬He has not had any contact with his father since he was a toddler. He doesn't even know the guy's name.
¬He chose Tristan's middle name. He also had multiple options for girls' names since Anya and her ex couldn't agree on any. Kason was also a choice for a name.
¬Once in a while, though it's a rare occurrence, if Spencer's stressed enough he won't turn down a cigarette. He hadn't exactly learned any other way to deal with stress or anxiety and there always seems to be someone around campus or on the streets with a smoke. So he'll take what he can get.
¬Spencer works at one of the supermarkets near Metric; he stocks shelves and works as a cashier. He lifts multiple packs of soda and water numerous times a day, which is the so-called 'workout' that gives him his upper body strength. Prior to graduating high school and moving to Salem he worked at JC Penny in his local mall; there wasn't quite as much heavy lifting but it all adds up.
¬He has a mild allergic reaction to hazel nuts.
¬Spence isn't who you'd really expect is it? Yeah. Don't judge a book by its cover.
Tristan Franco
Tristan Reese FrancoFull Name
Age
2 1/2, born on May 7
Appearance
He shares his uncle's blue/green eyes and blond hair. Everything else he got from his parents. His curls are from Anya and his slightly darker skin tone is from his father.
Likes
Eating; Touching things; Ponies; Coloring; The Lion Guard; Attention; Balls; Toy Story; Mac and cheese; Cheerios; Blankets; Throwing things
Dislikes
Naps; Baths; Being left alone with his dad; Bright lights; Being dragged off; His car seat; Turtle necks; Gloves
Personality
Tristan is basically a little trouble maker. He doesn't like being on his own or being forced to do things. He's extremely active and hyper so sitting still isn't really a concept for him. Loud; Active; Messy; Jumpy; Easily entertained; Giggly; Outgoing.