emotional resonance cascade @goosemods

[bubblewrapped]

GENERAL

NAME: Lucas Otto Kowalski
NICKNAMES: Creepy or Cowardly Kowalski, but, please don't.
AGE/DOB: 16 / Jan 18th / Capricorn
BLOOD STATUS: Muggleborn
GENDER/PRONOUNS: he/him
SEXUALITY: demiromantic pansexual, about a 5 on the old Kinsey Scale. In a relationship/collaborative nervous breakdown with Sebastien Lacroix.
HOMETOWN: Atlanta, GA

CONCEPT: Former fraidy cat has a bad feeling about this - does it anyway.

PHYSICAL

APPEARANCE:
The first thing most folks notice about Lucas is that dark cloud of hair – soft, well cared for curls. He wears them just a bit too long and they flop into his face, too often hiding his bright blue eyes (some would argue his second best feature, after the hair). He’s bespectacled, having traded in the contacts after psyching himself out over the summer reading about fungal keratitis, and a bit gawky. At the tail end of an ugly duckling phase, he’s not quite to handsome, yet, but it seems like he might be getting there. At the moment, he’s solidly in the “weirdly cute at some angles” ballpark.

Tall, long-limbed and even thinner than last year, there’d be an elegance to Lucas’ willowy build if not for the fact that he knots himself up. What grace he may have is lost in his awkwardness. Slouching and timid, Lucas tends to hide in his shoulders and curl in on himself in public, relaxing only when in the company of close friends.

Lucas’ sense of style begins and ends with t-shirts and jeans; weird graphic tees make up the bulk of his wardrobe, rounded out by neutral or dark toned sweaters and hoodies. There's not a lot of color to be found therein, either; save his shoes. He tends to exclusively wear converse sneakers, and does so until they are absolutely beat to hell, but he likes the colorful ones. His uniform always sits awkwardly on him, and he’s not good about staying put together. Dress code infractions tend to be minor but rampant, and by the end of the school day he always looks like a hooligan.

Lucas' accent is something of a mish-mash, with elements from northern Michigan (where his parents are from) and Atlanta, Georgia. Only faintly twangy, he sounds southern to northerners and northern to southerners.

Lucas "Fashion" Board: (X)

HEIGHT: 6'1"

PB: Matt Bennett

PERSONALITY

LIKES: Antiques & curiosities, insects, weird fiction, gothic horror, Stephen King, pulp adventure and fantasy, "funeral home aesthetic" houses, science fiction, 80s fantasy films, creepy-pasta internet stories, lengthy PC RPG epics, charms, hexes & jinxes, big cities, rain on hot pavement smell, fleece blankets, ginger-flavored drinks

DISLIKES: The dark, the woods, the things people leave in library books before returning them, other people's blood (why does he even think about this?), having to shake hands with strangers, (participating in) sports, danger, not having a plan, not taking precautions, modern slasher films (TOO VIOLENT), most stand-up comedians

PERSONALITY:

Lucas Kowalski is a kid who looks like he’s having a bad day. You can see it in his tight and timid posture and hear it when he speaks – soft and flat, making everything sound almost somber. It gives him an air of anxious sadness that’s not actually all that appropriate – despite his gloomy disposition, Lucas is not prone to melancholy. He does possess a morbid sense of humor and an outlook that errs pessimistic, but he’s cheerful about it – in a weird, Addams Family kind of way. He’s an odd one, and seems mostly fine with that. It’s everything else that gives him trouble.

Social grace is not among Lucas’ strengths. Eccentric to begin with, he’s also introspective to the point of distraction and terribly shy, besides. He doesn’t make it easy to get to know him, and first impressions tend to involve the words weird and quiet (maybe the hair gets mentioned, too). Getting through to him is a challenge that, unsurprisingly, few people have seen as worth the effort. So, Lucas has always been a bit of a loner. It’s not a label he’s ever actively desired, but he’s used to it – he’s accustomed to receiving unsure looks or being ignored outright. Kindness and, god forbid, genuine interest, are jarring to him. Push him and he retreats, either literally or into himself.

A textbook introvert, Lucas finds social interaction outside of (and sometimes even within) his small circle draining. He doesn’t dislike people – he can generally find something to like about anyone, even if he doesn’t voice those opinions – but he keeps himself on the sidelines, dislikes large gatherings, is uncomfortable with physical contact and reaches his social limit very quickly. It’s easy to tell when he’s maxed out, because his reticence takes an abrupt turn for the surly. He becomes brusque, irritable and downright cranky. Thankfully, the journal system at Gooseberry creates a wall that allows Lucas to open up a bit more. He’s far more talkative when he can write his thoughts out, and is even a bit of a gossip and a shit when the anonymous posts roll around.

But Lucas isn’t entirely unpleasant. In years past, absolutely, he was rotten, but he’s learned to accommodate others. He’s a bit more mindful of when he’s being rude or too weird, and more willing to be patient and even kind. It’s still a struggle to keep his mind from wandering, but he’s less likely to completely drop out of a conversation and much better about listening and participating.

Calling him imaginative might be the understatement of the century. Lucas a creative thinker and an excellent storyteller who effortlessly loses himself in vivid daydreams and twisting trails of thought. He’s rarely bored, but this penchant for wandering thoughts spills over into the rest of his life with negative repercussions. In conversation, he has a bad habit of straying from the topic at hand to pursue whatever tangentially related thought fancies him at that moment. He has difficulty speaking candidly – often stammering and muttering through when things get serious – and prefers to hide in jokes and fantasy.

Lies of omission are probably his chief sin. Lucas is guarded and purposefully obfuscating in social situations because it gives him a sense of control. Discerning his opinion is a challenge; whenever possible, he speaks ambiguously. If you’re trying to get an honest answer out of him and you aren’t a friend, the best thing to do is corner him and apply some pressure. When Lucas feels like he has no control, he’s surprisingly frank about his feelings. As a result, Lucas is sometimes tonally inconsistent – making dark jokes inappropriately or being oddly serious when the situation doesn’t call for it. It’s only in the company of his closest friends does he loosen up and freely share his thoughts.

Beyond all that, Lucas’ imagination takes him to some pretty dark, strange places. This goes beyond his preoccupation with the macabre. Lucas is a worrier who always manages to think first of the worst possible outcome in every scenario, and then subsequently lets himself be controlled by his fear. It holds him back too frequently. He’s got a reputation for cowardice, and while it’s not unearned, it’s a flaw he’s aware of and actively working on – it just took being thrust into a life-or-death situation for him to try and improve himself.

Although shy and introverted, there is little Lucas values more in his life than his friendships. Once a bullied social pariah, the warm reception from Gooseberry’s student body has overwhelmed him. Lucas responds to kindness with loyalty, and is so free with it that it borders on naive. He’s fiercely protective of his friends, to the detriment of his own safety, and he worries over and mothers them to an almost absurd degree – are you eating enough? Did you study? Remember to wear a jacket. Any slight against one of Lucas’ loved ones is a slight against Lucas, and he is far more willing than most to retaliate in an underhanded way.

Lucas’ self-confidence is unbalanced. In some ways, he’s downright cocky: he’s a gifted wizard, particularly in the field of Charms, and beyond that magic comes as naturally to him as breathing. Not only is he aware of this, he’s a bit of a show off, and far less cautious than he should be. He’s also extremely confident in his intellect; ask him a factual question or give him a puzzle, and he rarely doubts his answers and solutions. But, when it comes to his personality and his body, Lucas is kind of miserable. He struggles with feelings of worthlessness, seeing himself as a burden – due to cowardice, social shortcomings and his asthma. He’s extremely sensitive about his appearance, even as he’s starting to come into his looks, although it’s an issue he’d never, ever speak of to others.

TL;DR
[ - ] Complains about movies during movies.
[ - ] Is a shitbird.
[ - ] The world’s worst and most inconsistent vegetarian.
[ ? ] Quotes Shakespeare a lot, but, like, not quite enough that it’s annoying, yet?
[ ? ] Belongs to a cowboy LARP group?????
[ ? ] Willing to put himself in mortal peril to help friends.
[ + ] Nice hair.
[ + ] Always on hand for an improv Azurcrest mock funeral.

SKILLS

LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English and enough Hebrew to disappoint his grandparents. He occasionally throws around some Polish terms that he's picked up from family, but doesn't actually speak a lick of it.

PATRONUS: Lucas cannot yet cast a patronus charm, but he's working on it. When (not if) he is able to, it will be a cat, specifically a Scottish Fold, representing the dark, mystery and magic.

SKILLS:

Charms: While he's passionate about magic, in general, Lucas' best field is doubtlessly Charms. He picks up new spells like they're nothing, reading ahead in class for fun.

Dueling: Although he's only just begun attending the Fencing side of Dueling and Fencing Club, Lucas is a talented duelist with a repertoire of charms, hexes and jinxes that could be considered advanced for his age.

Font Of Useless Knowledge: It's frankly disturbing how much information is encased in this child's brain. From pop culture to entomology to real estate, he's a walking Wikipedia in offline mode. You can always count on him to be able to recall some minute thing everyone learned in freshman year Transfiguration. He's a bit of a jack of all trades with regard to knowledge: able to regurgitate a little information about a lot of esoteric fields, but not really an expert at anything. Except Charms. He's really good at Charms.

Speed Reading: Lucas is very good at polishing off books quickly and retaining the information he's found therein.

Wheezing: Okay, not a skill. Lucas is asthmatic. He takes medication daily to manage symptoms and carries an inhaler in the event that there's a flare up. He is triggered most commonly by air pollution, cigarette smoke, exercise and stress, but his symptoms are fairly well managed. Still, he's not going to be excelling at any athletic feats, and when it comes to physical activity, he's not above using it as an excuse to sit out.

HISTORY

FAMILY MEMBERS:

➥Alice Kowalski-Porter, PhD mother, muggle, 46. CDC Dept of Infectious Disease Researcher.
Lucas' mother is a terrifyingly brilliant, charmingly odd woman employed by the CDC in the department of infectious diseases as an Entomologist. She is also an adjunct professor at Georgia Tech, "for funsies," where she teaches two intro bio science courses a year. In her free time, she also does stand up comedy. She has had some trouble wrapping her head around her son being a wizard, but is, generally more concerned with what a nervous, introverted person he is. She is the reason the house is full of preserved bugs and other curiosities, as she collects them.
➥Ernest Kowalski, MD. father, muggle, 39. CDC Dept of Infectious Disease Researcher.
Dr. Ernie Kowalski is an internist and infectious disease specialist. A notorious prankster with a fondness for mind altering substances and a sense of humor so dry it's nearly impossible to tell when he's joking. Ernie has finally begun to accept that maybe this magic school business is legitimate. He's vocally proud of the fact that his son is gifted, even if he doesn't quite understand the gifts, themselves.
➥Gaja Kowalski. grandmother, muggle. Lucas' Babcia.
Gaja Kowalski (née Stolarz) is a spry 82-year-old Polish immigrant who recently moved from Michigan to Georgia to be closer to her youngest son's family. She's currently living in a retirement village not too far from Lucas' parents' house. Lucas thinks his grandma is actually pretty cool and loves to listen to her stories, so he visits fairly often. Gaja claims one of her older sisters - who died in the war - was a witch, which is why she wasn't at all surprised to hear about her grandson's talents.

HISTORY:

EARLY LIFE
Is it odd or troubling that the son of two infectious disease researchers would spend much of his early childhood laid up? Lucas was prone to every childhood malady imaginable - ear and sinus infections, strep throat, colds and conjunctivitis and allergies. He had an asthma diagnosis before he was school aged, and his tonsils and appendix out before he hit puberty. All pretty typical childhood hurdles and nothing too serious, but it kept Lucas inside and in bed.

Aside from an unusual number of sick days, Lucas' childhood was calm and comfortable. Despite their busy schedules, Mr. and Mrs. Kowalski were attentive, doting parents, and Lucas wanted for nothing. He did, however, grow up more well acquainted with books, video games and television than with other children. And his mother and father had a lax, free range parenting style that encouraged their son's preference for escapism. His imagination ran wild, but his reticence grew perhaps beyond the scope of what is healthy.

Once he got there, school was an immediate problem. Lucas was an oddball. A distracted, introverted daydreamer, disinterested in academics, terrible at socializing and disliked by his peers. His eccentric family dealt in disease. His house was reputedly "full of dead bugs" and other curiosities his mother collected. There was no hope for social redemption. Thankfully, Creepy Kowalski did not spend much time in nomaj schools before his magical abilities manifested.

Lucas' parents noticed these odd new skills immediately and although at first they sought to explain everything away, no amount of logical reasoning could stop the furniture from floating and the owls from dropping off bizarre letters. Eventually, mom and dad pulled their heads out of the sand and took a sincere look at these strange new schools scouting their son.

This was all fine by Lucas. The prospect of being something supernatural was incredibly awesome to a kid who had spent his young life curled up in bed, feeling crappy, reading weird fiction and watching Science Channel marathons about super volcanoes, asteroid impacts and other terrible ways for the world to end. This would be his big chance. He was more than ready to finally step up and realize his destiny as the plucky hero from one of his RPGs. Lucas Kowalski was GOING ON TO GREAT THINGS.

THE UNDERNOSE INSTITUTE OF MAGIC
So, Lucas left his nomaj private school for The Undernose Institute of Magic, the local public day school for witches and wizards in Atlanta. Classrooms were overcrowded and the teachers overworked, but, academically, the move was a godsend for Lucas. Going from mundane to magical curricula was a bit of a bumpy ride at first, but Lucas caught up with surprising speed and was soon flourishing – far better than his performance at his old school. Socially, things didn't go so well. That personality 180 he had been hoping for never came. Instead, Lucas remained shy, distracted and easily frightened. Making friends continued to prove nearly impossible; being a reticent, eccentric muggleborn was more likely to attract bullies than buddies.

But it wasn't like he was unaccustomed to being a social pariah, and Lucas got by. The world of magic, itself, proved a sufficient distraction from his woes, though not necessarily in a good way. It was new and exciting, but also full of an overwhelming number of terrifying things. In short order, Lucas learned that he was not cut out for the Fantasy Hero lifestyle he so wanted. Even as he fell in love with the oddities of the world of witches and wizards, he became increasingly frightened of its dangers. Every once in a while, he’d try to run with more rambunctious kids, but could never keep up. He developed a reputation for being a wet blanket. The teachers called him sensitive. Everyone else called him a wuss.

In many ways, the only improvement Undernose had over his nomaj school was magic. But, let’s be real, magic is awesome. 100% worth it. At home, Lucas seemed at least a little happier. And although his parents didn’t necessarily understand the report card, all they saw were Straight A’s and teachers notes exclaiming what a promising and gifted student Lucas was, so they were pleased, too.

As other kids started to hit puberty, Lucas failed to grow out of his awkward, cowardly weenie stage (even as he sprouted up like a beanstalk, physically). As a result, he started to attract the attention of bullies. And yet, oddly, no bully ever seemed particularly interested in making Lucas’ life miserable for long. Cowardly Kowalski, it was whispered, was quite skilled at jinxes and hexes and was unafraid of employing them in ridding himself of tormentors. His modus operandi was to tamper with his own things, so that when a potential bully came looking for trouble, they got it returned, stamped in triplicate. Eventually even the teachers were talking, but no one could ever prove what was going on.

TO GOOSEBERRY
It became evident as Lucas was approaching high school age that he was gifted. His Charms teacher at Undernose eventually sat down with his parents to discuss their son’s talent and potential, and how an overcrowded public school like Undernose was not the place to get him the attention he deserved. Alice and Ernie received a number of pamphlets, but special emphasis was placed upon Gooseberry, because it seemed especially appropriate for “a sensitive child like Lucas.” Alice, wanting her son to get out there, grow his talents (no matter how odd) and really experience life, was instantly charmed by the idea of a magical camping school in the mountains. Ernie was a harder sell, but he eventually relented, as well.

The idea that he was “special” enough to leave Undernose for an even stranger and more prestigious school was appealing to Lucas, whose self-confidence was largely tied up in his academic performance at that point. It also rekindled the hope that it might somehow awaken some secret heroic courage hidden deep inside. The part of him that longed for adventure zeroed in on Gooseberry and could not let go, and he sent in an application.

Maybe Lucas should’ve thought a little harder about what camping school would entail. Camping, for one, is not a great pass time for a kid afraid of his own shadow. But Lucas was sorted into Azurcrest, and for the first time in his life he found himself surrounded by friends – artists, dreamers and smiling faces. This was a mixed blessing. It took Lucas a while to grow accustomed to the aggressive affection of his housemates, but he did get used to it. In the end, having friends made up for every mosquito bite, snow trek and too-long hiking trip.

SOPHOMORE YEAR
By the time he’d started his sophomore year, Lucas was much more easily identifiable as an Azurcrest, though he remained dreamy and taciturn. He spent his second year at Gooseberry finding his footing, both academically and socially, and mothering his friends – worrying over every little thing and grousing about danger, always complaining but never refusing to get involved in sophomore shenanigans. A strong proponent of the oft joked about sophomore hivemind, Lucas’ firmest friendships cemented themselves that year.

Which is why, when the supernatural dangers in the woods started to escalate, it hit him hard. Lucas withdrew, becoming more anxious and fearful for everyone’s safety. As his friends marched fearlessly into the forest to try and stop what was happening, Lucas’ insecurities kept him in the cabin; his inaction convinced him he was a burden. By mid-May, with things taking a turn for the dangerous, he decided not to return to Gooseberry after the year’s end.

But then there was the hellish night spent wandering the liminal deep woods. Lucas didn’t understand why he had been brought to the Ornery Oak to help rescue kidnapped students, but he followed through, anyway – despite his fear. It brought something out of Lucas: the courage he was always looking for. Driven to rescue and protect his friends, Lucas put himself in harm’s way and pushed forward when all seemed lost. After escaping the nightmare, he’d resolved to return no matter what – so long as the school reopened, Lucas would be there. The ordeal didn’t change him, precisely. It just made him aware of what he had inside, already.


SUMMER
At home, Lucas did what he could to keep himself busy. Idle moments meant wandering thoughts, and wandering thoughts brought him back to the forest. Nights were particularly problematic, and he struggled to sleep, but he could thankfully keep himself occupied during the day. He got a summer job at a nomaj library, earned his apparition license and spent his free time visiting friends. The library work, however brief, helped him find distance from what had happened at Gooseberry and pushed him out of his comfort zone, socially. Although still awkward and introverted, he picked up at least one (1) social skill.

Lucas did an adequate job of hiding his trauma from his parents, who couldn’t quite understand what had happened at Gooseberry. Instead, they saw that Lucas had become braver and more sociable – he had new hobbies, friends and a boyfriend he was spending his time with. So, when word came that the school was reopening, there was no concern about whether or not he’d be returning. Not long after, Lucas received word that he’d been selected as teaching assistant to Mr. Calderon-Boot. It was the most ecstatic his parents had ever seen him.

He returns to Gooseberry for his junior year still shy and a bit of a fraidy cat, but also infinitely more confident and ready to take on new challenges.

SCHOOL

YEAR: Junior
HOUSE: Azurcrest
SORTING:
Ebonhide took one look at Lucas and figured this was in the bag. Ribbonfin thought the same. Lucas only half-listened to their words. Coppertale had a few things to say about the potential for Lucas to flourish in a competitive house, but that didn't seem to interest him either.

When Azurcrest promised fun and friends and a place where his dreamy personality might find kindred spirits, Lucas came alive. They had an animated and lengthy back and forth about how Lucas might become a real hero, might learn to leave behind his fears and finally live a little.

It took about 45 seconds for Lucas to decide on Azurcrest, but a full three minutes before he finally left the cave.

WAND: Willow, River Monster Spine, 9", whippy. Highly responsive in Lucas' hands, but taciturn when wielded by others, Lucas' wand seems to enjoy trying out spells that should be better left to more experienced wizards. As with many willow wood wand users, Lucas has had some luck with non-verbal magic.
FAMILIAR: Danny is a sentient ball of fluff that might also be a cat. She's named for Danny Torrance, of The Shining and, more specifically, Doctor Sleep (which Lucas read in August and probably cried over excessively but he will take that secret to the grave). Danny entered Lucas' life by chance this summer, a stray in a Free Kittens box outside of a magical school supply store. Danny's magicness is not in question - she is far, far too clever not to be. She's a little bit like a puppy in temperament; a perfect addition to an Azurcrest cabin. Lucas is allergic to cats, but he'll suck it up and take the medication for it, because he adores her.

CLASSES:

CORE: Charms, Hermeticism, History of Magic, Potions, Transfiguration
ELECTIVE: Astronomy, Wizard Lit, Defense Against the Dark Arts

ADVANCED STUDY: Animagus Studies (Scottish Fold cat). Lucas' gift may be for Charms, but he's always taken to wandwork like a fish to water and has something of a need to challenge himself when it comes to magic. You don't really get much more challenging than becoming an Animagus (without venturing into Occulmency, which Lucas isn't quite ready to tackle).
SENIOR PROJECT: The safe option, which he is half-heartedly working on, is a paper on the history of spell deprecation as new spells have been developed. In his spare time, he's also been working on several more clandestine projects: he frequently pesters Mr. Calderon-Boot about the anonymity charm developed and utilized at the masquerade last year and has been devouring anything he can about the journal system and the woods around Gooseberry. He's fascinated (and terrified by) the alien nature of the magic the forest entities utilize, and his pipe dream goal is to develop a charm that would protect a person from the misdirecting magic at work in the woods.
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE:
Lucas is gifted and magic comes to him easily, but he can be a somewhat difficult student to teach. Quiet and prone to distraction, you can tell when you're not holding his interest. He's improved worlds since he first came to Gooseberry, and is leaps and bounds ahead of where he was at the start of his sophomore year, but he still struggles to pay attention to things that aren't immediately interesting to him.

When he's passionate, Lucas is really passionate, and it shows. He flourishes and really comes alive in his best classes - Charms and DADA. It's in Charms class that the more lively aspects of Lucas' personality really come out. He's also quite good at Transfiguration. Hermeticism gives him some difficulty, but he's dedicated. Wizard Lit, History of Magic and Astronomy, being a little more non-magical in nature, give him some trouble. While he doesn't necessarily require tutoring, specifically, he often needs his friends to remind him to focus up and study for those classes.

Overall, starting his junior year with a bit less fear and a bit more drive, Lucas stands to academically shine.

EXTRACURRICULARS:

Charms TA: You will never see Lucas Kowalski more animated than when he's speaking at length about the intricacies of Charms. He takes his position as teaching assistant to Mr. Calderon-Boot very seriously, helping out however he is able, and is an enthusiastic tutor in the subject - although at times his patience is wanting. It's obvious that this position is hugely important to him and a major contributing factor to his sudden boost in self-confidence.

Gaming: Lucas has always participated in Gaming club, preferring video games to board games. However, he joined Casey's D&D campaign when spots opened up. He's new to tabletop RPGs, but he's imaginative and a bit of a storyteller, so he really gets into the roleplaying aspects.

Event Committee: Still not terribly reliable. Still mostly there to hang up stuff that needs to go somewhere other people can't reach.

Dueling & Fencing: Lucas spent the last two years only showing up for the dueling meetings, which he's quite good at. However, this year, he's trying out fencing, as well.

OOC

NAME: Jenny
EMAIL: t i n y k i t t y f e e t at g m a i l
CDJ: 10billionghosts
OTHER PREFERRED CONTACT:
TIME ZONE: EST

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY
8:00	B R E A K F A S T
8:30
9:00	Potions	History of Magic	Transfiguration		Charms
9:30
10:00	Defense Against the Dark Arts	Wizard Literature		Animagus Studies
10:30
11:00			Hermeticism		Wizard Literature
11:30
12:00	L U N C H
12:30
13:00			Astronomy		Transfiguration
13:30
14:00		Charms		Potions
14:30
15:00	Hermeticism	Defense Against the Dark Arts		History of Magic
15:30
16:00
16:30
17:00
17:30
18:00	D I N N E R
18:30
19:00	Event Committee	Gaming Club	Duelling & Fencing Club
19:30
20:00
00:00		Astronomy
00:30