Simon Brooks

Appearance: Simon Brooks has an unmistakably approachable appearance, carrying the kind of warmth that makes him look more like an absent-minded college student than someone with a guarded personality. His face is soft and youthful, framed by a scattering of freckles that dust across the bridge of his nose and cheeks, giving him a permanently sun-kissed look. A faint blush often lingers across his face as well, making him appear bashful even when he isn't particularly embarrassed. His smile is bright, uneven, and a little awkward, usually curling into a nervous grin rather than a confident one. It's the smile of someone trying his best to reassure both himself and everyone around him that everything is fine. His sandy blond hair is cut to a medium length, falling in loose, feathered layers around his head. The front parts naturally split into a gentle middle part, with soft bangs sweeping away from his face while slightly curling toward his temples. The ends flip outward just enough to give it a casually messy appearance, as though he rarely spends much time styling it. The warm golden-brown color complements his fair complexion, while his thick eyebrows mirror the same shade, making his expressions remarkably easy to read. Round wire-frame glasses rest comfortably on his nose, slightly oversized for his face and giving him an undeniably academic appearance. They magnify his expressive eyes just enough that every nervous glance, uncertain blink, or spark of excitement becomes even more obvious. Whether he's rambling about his favorite band, talking passionately about birds, or panicking over a stressful situation, his emotions are almost impossible to hide behind those lenses. His clothing leans toward simple, comfortable, and somewhat vintage-inspired fashion. He wears a fitted brown sweater vest layered neatly over a long-sleeved gray shirt, the sleeves extending slightly past his wrists so the cuffs bunch around his hands. Around his neck sits an oversized crimson bow tie, adding a playful splash of color that instantly becomes the centerpiece of his outfit. It gives him a slightly old-fashioned charm, almost as if he'd wandered out of a music recital or a cozy bookstore rather than dressing according to modern trends. Below the waist, Simon wears dark charcoal jeans secured with a thick black belt and a rectangular silver buckle. His pants are practical and unassuming, complementing the modest aesthetic of the rest of his outfit without drawing attention away from it. On his feet are black sneakers with thick white soles and bold white accents, balancing comfort with a touch of youthful style. Given his mild scoliosis and suspected fallen arches, he naturally favors supportive footwear, though he doesn't openly talk about it. Although Simon isn't especially tall or physically imposing, his body language gives away far more about him than his appearance alone. His posture tends to slump slightly, the subtle curve in his spine becoming more noticeable whenever he's tired or anxious. His shoulders are often drawn inward, unconsciously making himself appear smaller in unfamiliar situations. However, the moment he begins talking about something he's passionate about, all restraint seems to disappear. His hands are perhaps the most expressive part of him. Rarely staying still for more than a few seconds, they constantly move as he speaks, illustrating stories through animated gestures, emphasizing every point with sweeping motions, finger taps, or awkward little flourishes that seem to have minds of their own. Ironically, despite all their movement, they're almost always startlingly cold to the touch. Friends who shake his hand or brush against him often comment on it, usually earning an embarrassed laugh and a quiet apology from Simon, who has long since accepted it as one of his many odd little quirks.

Personality: At first glance, Simon Brooks often leaves the impression of being distant, awkward, or even mildly unfriendly. He doesn't approach new people easily, rarely initiates conversations, and has a habit of keeping emotional walls firmly in place until he feels someone can genuinely be trusted. However, this guarded exterior isn't born from arrogance or disinterest—it stems from the exact opposite. Simon becomes deeply, almost painfully attached to the people he cares about, and because he fears losing them, he instinctively keeps others at arm's length. Forming new relationships feels risky to him, so maintaining emotional distance initially feels safer, even if it unintentionally makes him appear cold. Once someone earns his trust, however, Simon transforms completely. He is extraordinarily loyal, compassionate, and attentive, often placing the happiness and comfort of those he loves far above his own. He struggles immensely with setting boundaries, making him a chronic people pleaser who finds it incredibly difficult to refuse requests, even when they inconvenience or exhaust him. He hates disappointing others and often agrees to things he'd rather avoid simply because saying "no" fills him with guilt. This tendency frequently leaves him emotionally drained, though he rarely voices his frustration, believing his own discomfort is less important than someone else's satisfaction. Anxiety quietly governs much of Simon's everyday life. Even in calm situations, there's a restless energy about him. He constantly fidgets, taps his fingers, shifts his weight, adjusts his glasses, or absentmindedly wrings his hands together. When conversations become tense or unpredictable, his mind begins racing faster than he can process it. Rather than thinking logically, he spirals into panic, becoming overwhelmed by worst-case scenarios until rational thought is drowned out by fear. In moments of crisis, his instinct is rarely to confront the problem head-on—instead, he withdraws or runs, hoping distance will somehow make everything easier to manage. Despite his anxious nature, Simon is remarkably intelligent, especially when discussing subjects that genuinely interest him. Music, particularly new wave bands like Oingo Boingo, can keep him talking for hours. Birds fascinate him even more, especially corvids. Ravens occupy a special place in his heart, and he has an almost encyclopedic enthusiasm for them, happily sharing obscure facts with anyone willing to listen. His interests tend to become intense areas of focus, and when he's excited, his usual nervousness gives way to animated storytelling accompanied by wildly expressive hand gestures that seem incapable of staying still. His French-American upbringing also shaped much of his identity. Fluent in English and nearly fluent in French, with a small grasp of Japanese, he enjoys learning languages and dreams of traveling. Japan has long been one of his biggest aspirations, planned as the destination after a trip to Hawaii. He also possesses several unexpected domestic skills, such as crocheting, though he rarely practices it anymore. He dislikes sweet foods, claiming sugary desserts make him feel nauseous, much to the confusion of people who assume everyone enjoys candy or cake. Equally unfortunate is his severe allergy to cats—a painful irony considering how much he adores animals in general. Around the people he loves most, Simon becomes noticeably softer. His girlfriend, Stella, is one of the few people capable of grounding him completely whenever his anxiety begins to spiral out of control. Her presence has an almost immediate calming effect, helping him slow his thoughts and regain his composure. He treasures sentimental gifts, especially the blue turtleneck embroidered with a Stella Octangula that his best friend Max gave him—a piece of clothing made even more meaningful by Stella's habit of teasing him with a grin, pointing to the embroidered symbol and joking, "Hey, that's me~." Beneath his everyday worries lies a far more frightening struggle that Simon doesn't understand himself. Living with Dissociative Identity Disorder, he unknowingly shares his mind with a single alter: a ruthless king whose personality couldn't be more different from his own. Simon has no awareness of the condition and instead believes the strange lapses in memory, intrusive experiences, and moments that feel beyond his control are evidence that he's simply losing his sanity. This misunderstanding leaves him carrying an immense burden of fear and self-doubt, convinced there's something fundamentally wrong with him that no one else could possibly understand. Ultimately, Simon is a gentle soul defined by contradiction. He's timid yet deeply caring, intelligent yet easily overwhelmed, selfless to a fault while quietly neglecting his own needs. Though fear often causes him to retreat from hardship, his devotion to the people he loves is unwavering. Beneath his nervous smiles, expressive hands, and awkward first impressions is someone who wants nothing more than to protect those closest to him—even if he rarely believes he's strong enough to do so.

Fun Facts: -Simon’s favorite genre of music is new wave, and his favorite band is Oingo Boingo. -He has a mild case of scoliosis. It’s also believed he has fallen arches in his feet. -His hands are abnormally cold. -He isn’t a fan of sweet food. He says it makes him feel sick. -He LOVES cats, but much to his disappointment, he’s terribly allergic to them. -He knows how to crochet, though he hardly ever puts the skill to use. -He is multilingual, with fluent English, almost fluent French, and a tiny bit of Japanese. -He planned to go to Japan after Hawaii. -He owns a blue turtleneck with a Stella Octangula embroidered into it, gifted to him by his best friend Max. (Simon’s girlfriend, Stella Octangula used to playfully tease him about it, pointing at the shape and saying “Hey, that’s me~.”) -Is autistic with Dissociative Identity Disorder (D.I.D.). His one and only alter is a ruthless king. (He doesn’t know he has D.I.D. He thinks he’s genuinely insane.) -His favorite animal is any kind of corvid, but specifically, a raven. (He really wants to own one as a pet. He’s also a big fat nerd towards any kind of bird or whale. Autism will do that to you.) -Is Heteroflexible, Androsexual, and is Cis-Male. Uses He/Him pronouns. (Androsexual refers to being attracted to masculinity, regardless of whether the person identifies as a cisgender man, a trans man, non-binary, or another gender expression. Heteroflexible describes someone who is primarily heterosexual, but has occasional, situational, or rare attractions to other genders.) -Has an amazing singing voice, and is very into music. (He even owns a ukulele with a floral pattern on it. It was a gift from Stella). -He is 27 years old. -His birthday is December 12th. -His lucky number (and favorite number) is 12. -He knows how to drive a boat really well and even owns one! (His boat’s name is “The Whale”.) -Usually when writing letters to those close to him, he signs his name as “The Whale”.