InsaneJournal

General Info

Mother: Gabrielle Coleman [d. 1981]
Father: Julian Higgs
Sibling(s): Addison Higgs [15], Mia Higgs [11]
Spouse: None
Children: None
Other(s): Lilith Higgs nee Selwyn [Evil Step-Mother]

Height: 1.9 m [6ft 2in]
Build: Tall, wirey muscle tone
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Black
Manner of Dress: Terence is not one who is overly concerned with maintaining a poss image. He prefers what's comfortable, be it muggle or wizard. Granted, more than not it's Muggle. Jeans, t-shirts, hoodies.
Distinguishing Features: When it comes to his natural appearance, it's his eyes that stand out the most. It isn't because their pretty. Honestly it's because they're big and expressive ... much to his irritation.
Other: He has a tatoo that runs up the side of his neck. It really doesn't have any meaningful story behind it. He simply got it because he felt like it at the time.

personality

likes: muggle clothing, being on his own, breaking the rules, making money off his own skills.
dislikes: bright colours, loud mouths, pretentious pureblood douche bags ideals, his step-mother, being told what to care about



strengths: intelligent, observant, business-minded, charms, herbology, independent
weaknesses: finds it hard to put much emotion into anything, doesn't trust easily, lack of empathy.



☝ Adaptable

Having been dropped into an unknown household at the age of seven and left to his own devices, Terence learned to adapt early on in his life. He learned how to survive on his own. With the growing dislike between himself and his step-mother, he's been bounced around from family property to family property and he's had to re-adapt each time. Hogwarts was another example of learning to adapt. He had no previous experiences with such a social environment. This was probably the hardest change for him to adapt to.

☝ Athletic

Terence has always been athletic. Sports and activities were a way for him to take his mind off of his home life. He enjoys burning off any extra energy. While he does enjoy playing sports, he doesn't take them seriously and he doesn't care if he wins or losses ... which was a bit of a problem when it came to the Slytherin Quidditch team. Unlike some of his other classmates, he wasn't bothered enough to spend the extra time learning ways to cheat without being caught. He was in it for himself, not the team.

☝ Calm

One of Terence's most useful skills is the sense of calm he keeps wrapped around himself. He used to let the anger build up around him, particularly when it came to his step-mother and her snide comments and poor treatment of him. This, however, only landed him in more trouble. He has, however, since learned to control this. Rather then embracing strong emotions he pushes them out. Being active helps with this. Having learned this skill, he may not react the way he should to certain situations, but he is rarely anything but calm and it takes a lot to break that cycle. Any confrontation is usually faced with an almost bored replied.

☝ Independent

Once again, this is a direct affect of his home life. When it comes to being independent, he really had no choice in the matter. Learning to survive on his own made up the majority of his early years and that skill didn't flicker away when he arrived at Hogwarts. Terence is one to do things himself rather than seek help, whether that be school work or extra curricular activities. It's the reason he chose to become a seeker rather than any other position on the pitch. Seekers are the most independent role on the pitch, separated from the process of goal scoring.

☝ Observant

Terence is quite used to remaining in the background and, to be frank, he prefers it that way. It is much easier to be observant of ones surroundings when the spotlight isn't there to blind you. Watching people and being observant of their movements has helped avoid unnecessary confrontations with his family as well, as staying out of trouble at school ... particularly when it comes to his little contraband side business. If the Weasley Twins weren't getting what you needed, it was likely Terence was already filling the gap. Being observant was one of the skills that allowed for that.

☟ Calculating

Perhaps it is expected that a Slytherin be calculating, but with Terence it's a much bigger part of his personality than simply a result of having ambition. His lack of trust and poor family life have built up this side of him far more than his own ambition could have. No matter the situation, he usually has three of four possible outcomes already calculated before he acts. This doesn't exactly open him up to people and he takes no measure to hide the fact that his calculations are designed to provide the best possible outcome for himself.

☟ Cynical

Terence is the very definition of cynical. When it comes to believing that people are motivated by self-interest, he's the expert. His family connections are proof enough for him. There is no such thing as acts of kindness. People act because they expect a particular response. His lack of trust in people prevents him from making any real connections.

☟ Self-Indulgent

Given his lack of connection with other individuals, Terence tends to think solely of what he wants. While others were learning how to connect with others, Terence was learning how to get what he wanted without relying on other people. His self-indulgent nature is not a personal choice but something that stems from his lack of proper upbringing. It is another aspect that prevents him from making close connections with others.

☟ Secretive

Because he shows no interest in opening up to people, Terence is often thought of as secretive. He is unwilling to share his thoughts and never explains his actions. He never has any intention of disclosing information. He does not think it is necessary. When it comes to contraband items, he doesn't feel that the individual paying for the items should need to know how he acquired it or got it into Hogwarts. All they really need to know is that he did and they're able to benefit from it. He doesn't trust others and others have a hard time trusting him until he proves that he can deliver.

☟ Disobedient

It's hard to be obedient when one spends half of their time being disobedient. It isn't so much that Terence is disobedient because he wishes to be. He simply does not look at the rules the same way others might. He doesn't hold them as a behavioural standard. If they do not fit into his life or if they hinder him, he side steps them. There is no personal satisfaction when he breaks a rule. It's simply what needed to be done and, therefore, he did it.

☞ Invisible

Lacking what you would call strong emotional reactions, Terence has one of those personalities that make him invisible to those around him. While this can be considered a negative aspect to most, Terence has learned to use it to his advantage. It's much harder to draw attention to yourself when people's eyes tend to glance over you.

☞ Neutral

Terence is neutral in every sense of the word. When it came to the war, he didn't care about either side. He showed no interest in Voldemort's ideals nor did he share the ideals of the order. He didn't care how it turned out so long as he wasn't dragged into it. As for the obvious house rivalries, Terence didn't care. If you knew about his side business, you knew that he didn't give a shit which house you were in so long as you had the money necessary to get what you wanted.

☞ Solitary

While he did make a few connections at Hogwarts, they aren't what you would call close friends. Terence prefers to be on his own and any connections he had made stemmed through his acquiring contraband and he viewed them as a business transaction, even when it came to the regulars. He likes to rely on himself and he doesn't need close personal connections to do that.

history

Timeline: Please describe at least five important events in your character’s life and how they have impacted their growth.



(November 13 / 1974) - Terence was not born into the picture perfect family. His father wasn't even aware of his birth. Julian Higgs was a pureblood wizard with expectations. Of course, those expectations did not involve a one-night stand with a random muggle. Gabrielle, for her part, loved her son. She would not, however, get to spend a lot of time in her sons life.

(February 22 / 1981) - Just over three months after his sixth birthday, Gabrielle passed away. She'd been diagnosed with late stage pancreatic cancer only six months prior to her death. Her health deteriorated rapidly and with no other family to take him in, Terence ended up a ward of the state. On his birth certificate Gabrielle had indicated Julian Higgs as Terence's biological father. After a paternity test and a variety of other legal processes, Terence found himself dropped off at an unknown house, with an unknown father and a disapproving pregnant Step-Mother.

(August 1 / 1981) - It was never Lilith's attention to take in some pathetic love child of her husband, especially so close to the arrival of her own child. She was positive that her child would be a boy. With a son, Julian would no longer need Terence and that was one less problem hanging around her house. Unfortunately, Lilith bore a daughter, which only solidified Terence as Julian's heir. This only increased the dislike festering in Lilith for her husbands' bastard child. Claiming it was too stressful to have to look after Terence and a new baby, she implored that her husband send him to one of the other family homes. Julian, not having much interest in either child, allowed it. Hiring a governess for Terence, he was sent to the family property in Wales where he would spend the next few years.

(April 26 / 1985) - Unwilling to accept someone elses' child as her husbands heir, Lilith attempted a second pregnancy. Much to her chagrin, she gave birth to another daughter, leaving Terence as Julian's heir. This did nothing for the relationship between Terence and Lilith. He remained as cut off from the family as he could get and still remain on the family tree. His presence was tolerated only because Julian needed an heir and Lilith had failed to provide him with one.

(September 1 / 1985) - Hogwarts was a big change for Terence. He was accustomed to being around a select few. The large student population was overwhelming and Terence pulled further into himself. He had no interest in interacting with the other children and kept a comfortable distance from them. The only interactions that he had with them was shared classes and moving past them in the dorms.

(September / 1987) - By his third year at Hogwarts, Julian not only had a vast knowledge of the corridors, staircases, and unused rooms within the castle, but had a budding interest in providing prohibited contraband to those who were willing to pay for it. With little money flowing from his family, Terence used this as a means to acquire his own flow of cash. It was a small operation at first, but it would only continue to grow. By the time he was in his seventh year, if the Weasley twins weren't providing you with what you needed, he was.

(June / 1992) - Graduation didn't mean much to Terence outside of the fact that it was just another change in scenery. He had no real plans for a career. He knew he was to inherit his father's holdings, but he didn't even really care about that. His grades were good enough for a Ministry position, but he wasn't motivated to follow through on it. Remaining at the home in Scotland, Terence picked up a job as a barkeep at the local tavern. It wasn't much and it certainly wasn't fancy, but it suited him just fine. Besides, he could still make a deal or two on the side.

(December 2nd / 1995) - His governess passed away. Being the only paternal figure in his life, her loss affected him deeply. It was like loosing his mother all over again. He half expected to be shuffled to some new home. Since his Father had very little interest in his life and his step-mother preferred to pretend that he didn't exist, they made no fuss over it and left him to his own devices. He found himself alone again, telling himself that was how he preferred it.

(January 24 / 1996) - Stumbling home from a night off that involved probably more alcohol than was necessary and a tryst with a face he couldn't put a name too, Terence passed out and woke up on the Island.

baggage

Please list 6-10 pieces of emotional baggage, describe their impact on your character’s life, and provide us with an idea of how they might be resolved in game. Examples include fears, sins, regrets, unrealized dreams, unlearned lessons, latent desires, unsettled grudges and personal losses.

Abandonment Issues | It isn't really fair for him to associate the death of his mother or the death of his Governess as abandonment. Neither one of them willingly left him alone. This does not, however, negate the anger he feels for them leaving. His mother in particular. At six he was left alone to face the scorn and dislike that stemmed from his Step-Mother. She pushed him away. His Father allowed him to be pushed to the side, further aggravating his sense of abandonment. He does not make emotional connections because he doesn't see the point in it. Those he cares about and those who should care for him never live up to expectations. They always leave.

Dealing with this will probably be one of the hardest things for Terence to do. He's held on to his resentment and fear for most of his life and it will be a hard cycle to break. If he could make connections and learn to trust at least one individual he might be able to let go of some of the anger and distrust. It's basically experience and interaction.

Grudge Against his Father | Terence holds a lot of anger and dislike toward his Father. When he should have been caring for his son, he was no where to be found. He allowed Lilith to treat him like he was a nuisance and had willingly shipped him away when she requested it. The man has shown very little interest in his son's life and Terence is resentful for it. Terence was sent away while his half-sisters were embraced. There is jealousy under the surface, even if he keeps it locked away.

In order to resolve this baggage, Terence will need to let his anger with his father go, as well as the jealousy he feels toward his sisters. He basically needs to accept the fact that his Father plays a nonexistent role in his own happiness and realize that with or without a responsible father, he can still live his life in whatever way makes him happy.

Self-Worth Issues | These issues stem from his time in his Father's household and the treatment he received from his Step-Mother. It was clear early on that he was not wanted by his step-mother. He was a nuisance and a burden to her. He was not her child and, therefore, did not deserve a place in their home. Nothing was good enough for her and the dislike she had for him never waned. This has led him to believe that he has no worth while skills and he's accepted this fact and very rarely puts much effort into what he does. His ambition has tapered off over the years, as he assumes nothing much will ever come from it. It's why he was alright with staying at some rundown tavern.

In order to deal with this baggage, Terence needs to find something he is good at and that other people can appreciate. Selling contraband isn't going to work out for him this time around as he's limited to what can be found on the Island. Basically, he needs to develop a useful skill set.

Fear of Thunder | There is no deep meaning behind this particular fear. He's been afraid of thunder since he was a child. The sound of it makes him extremely anxious. Sleep will not come if the storm is brewing overnight.

This is a fear you just learn to accept and move on. Understanding the science behind it has not helped him, so perhaps exposure to it will make him more accustomed. Perhaps there can be a week of bad thunderstorms on the island?

Emotional Connection | With a distinct lack of emotional connections in his life, Terence has come to claim that he does not need them nor does he want them. Deep down, however, he craves it. The only emotional connection he has had are the maternal figures in his life, each one leaving in turn. No matter his stoic outer appearance and mistrust of people, he craves an emotional connection that will make him feel something other than distrust and acceptance of his limited existence.

This one is rather straightforward. By moving through his emotional constipation and developing a meaningful connection with another person, he can begin to fill the whole inside of him and move past it.

Lack of Ambition | The only form of ambition Terence has is an ambition to not have any ambitions. Rather than having unrealized dreams, he simply is missing out on having any dreams or goals. Nothing is expected of him and, therefore, he expects nothing of himself. It is difficult for him to bother with putting much effort into creating goals because he doesn't feel it would be worth it when any achievement he made would remain unrecognized.

It'd be nice for him to have some sort of responsibility other than just taking care of himself. Given the structure of the island and the job assignment, that could help. Furthermore, over time perhaps other people will expect more from him than what he's normally willing to give.

rewards

Please list the items which, along with their wand, would motivate your character to open future pieces of luggage. These can consist of any object that possesses practical or sentimental value, such as a photo album, a favourite book, collected love letters from their significant other, and anything else you deem appropriate. Including their wand, list as many items as baggage items.

Wand

Picture of him and his mother - For obvious reasons, this picture is extremely important to him. It was taken before her diagnosis during a time when he can actually remember smiling freely.

A worn copy of Peter Pan - It's a bit of a childish read, but the book has more sentimental value than anything. When he was sent away to live with only his governess, this was the book that she often read to him at night. The sound of her voice as she read often soothing the ache he felt from the loss of his mother.

His favourite pair of trainers - It seems a ridiculous thing to cherish, but physical activity has always been an outlet for him. When his mind is too cluttered, he works it off, whether that be by running, boxing, or various workout practices.

His Mother's Necklace - Terence doesn't have much left of his mother. When she passed her belongings were not permitted to be moved to his Father's home and a lot of it was sold or donated. He did, however, manage to keep her favourite necklace. He can't remember a time when she hadn't been wearing it.

His broom - His Firebolt is important to him not because he has some strong connection to Quidditch. It's important to him because it offers him a bit of freedom. Terence has always enjoyed flying. Being in the air, surrounded by the wind, is something that has always been able to clear his head. It's an easy escape.

OOC/IC

Name: Dani
Age: 28
Timezone: NOT EST. Whatever timezone Lisa is in. Mountain?

Email: d.alkenbrack@gmail.com
AIM: foreverspock

At some point every day.

Please answer the following questions in character.

What was the last lie you told?

Am I suppose to be keeping track?

What do you think about the most: the past, the present or the future? Why?

The past and it's none of your damn business.

How do you feel about socks?

I feel that they're socks.

Would you rather be gossiped about or never talked about?

Don't care either way.

If you were the opposite sex for a day, what would you look like and what would you do?

A female version of myself? How the hell would I know? I'd probably just go back to sleep.