Benjamine McKnight- Ben [ I wani hug that gator]

Nickname: Ben, Benny, student prez Age: 18

—Intro— High school is like an ecosystem, a living, breathing entity where some people are at the top, others at the bottom, and most fall somewhere in between. Benjamine McKnight, however, stands at the very top—arguably the most popular and well-known student at St. Hammond’s High School. A natural-born leader and president of the student council, taking charge always seems to come easily to her.

—Backstory— Born into a wealthy, privileged family of lawyers and politicians, the McKnight name is well known in Volcadara. It carries weight, and with that legacy on her shoulders, Ben is expected to act and appear with class and dignity, never disrespecting the title she is heir to. Her parents hold her to the highest standards — a demand she has consistently met and upheld throughout her life. With perfect grades, outstanding performance both in and out of school, and a leadership role in the student council, her life has always been driven by high expectations.

She is the queen of the school—highly intelligent and effortlessly charismatic. She has a knack for reading situations and guiding them smoothly. Even if she makes a mistake, she recovers with baffling grace and moves on without breaking a sweat. Calm, composed, and confident—a kind and capable person who strives to do the right thing. She follows her family’s footsteps and meets their expectations, leading and serving as a role model for others. Perfection is the standard she sets for herself; she refuses to settle for anything less. Her reputation and image demand excellence. Nothing less will do, and while many might crack under such pressure, she has always lived up to that standard.

However, her perfection comes with an Achilles' heel—a secret that would ruin her and her family’s name. A secret that no one knows besides her, an ex-boyfriend, and her immediate family.

Mental illness

Ben has antisocial personality disorder, including sociopathic and psychotic tendencies. She has struggled with this her entire life; she knows that if anyone knew, it would destroy her and bring scandal and shame to her family. It would make people see her differently; it would undo everything she has spent her entire life trying to build. So, she hides her illness using prescription antipsychotic pills and discreet professional help through therapy—parts of her life she keeps under wraps and never lets others near.

— Past Relationship — Benjamine was once in a relationship with someone named Amias. a Childhood friend she would start dating at beginning of highschool. They were seen as the classic nerd and jock pair. Amias, a Parasaurolophus-like Ben, was known for being an athletic jock and a charismatic hothead. Ben kept him in check—or so people thought. In reality, their relationship was highly problematic—a mix of mutual benefit and toxicity. Ben kept him out of trouble, letting him get away with anything; Amias was her enforcer, doing the dirty work she couldn’t or wouldn’t do because of her reputation and physical limitations, like intimidating students and safeguarding her image. Amias kept Ben on top, and Ben kept him free from repercussions, enabling his worst flaws and shaping his horrible personality. Their relationship was unhealthy and damaging. Over the summer, before the start of her senior year of highschool she would break up with him privately. Afterwards, she would move on, yet the fallout of their relationship still leaves scars on her mental health, which is already under constant pressure from her life, responsibilities, and reputation.

— further info — Ben is a rule follower; she trusts authority and does what she’s told; she’s against rebellious behavior. She can be a teacher's pet, a know-it-all, Textbook Savvy, and Smarmy. She’s generally kind and capable, someone who is willing to stand up for herself and others, but when faced with authority or personal consequences, can be more timid in voicing her opinions. She loves photography and enjoys the finer things in life, like good art and luxurious food. she also has a taste for drama and movies

— Species specifics — Ben is a herbivore; she can’t eat meat or fish and prefers vegetables, fruits, and vegan food. She has enhanced strength, night vision, an excellent sense of smell, quick reflexes, and powerful instincts guiding her. She’s incredibly fast and agile. She’s cold-blooded, hates the cold, and loves warmth. Her body absorbs heat like a sponge, which can make her melt instantly. Ben is an anthropomorphic Parasaurolophus dinosaur. She has a snout, tail, manicured claws, and a cranial crest. She features pale blue scales across most of her body, with darker navy blue on her upper snout, extending up to her cranial crest, which transitions from solid blue into lines. She also has dark muted blue patches on her shoulders, upper arms, and thighs. Her tail is pale blue, long, thick, and prehensile, with small dark navy spikes lining the top. Her tail is semi-long and capable of gripping, crushing, swatting, constricting, binding, and striking. She has no ears but has ear holes more similar to a reptile’s. Her tongue is long, thick, and prehensile, able to wrap, coil, and curl.

She has shoulder-length brown hair that is well groomed and maintained, with eyes that have white scleras, purple irises, and dark purple diamond slit pupils. Her scales are clean and unmarked, complementing a lithe, agile body and well-maintained physique. She stands at 6”0” with a modest weight, semi-muscular thighs, a slim waist, medium to large breasts, and a large ass.

She wears a yellow turtleneck sweater with a pattern that depicts two red hollow rectangles sandwiched between two red lines, along with a brown jacket, dark grey jeans, and dark brown loafers.