Aaron James Baker Introduction
Full Name: Aaron James Baker
Pronouns and Gender: He/Him, Cismale
Age and Birthday: 33 years old, May 2nd
Birthplace: New York, New York
Sexuality: Biromantic Bisexual
Status: Single
Occupation: Aurora Bay High School English Teacher
Education: B.A. from Brown University, MSt and PHD from Oxford University
Residence: Seabrook Quarter
Time in Aurora Bay: 2 Months
Faceclaim: Josh O’Connor
TW: Injury, Cheating
It was a brilliantly sunny day when Aaron was born. Maybe it was a sign of things to come. The Lower East Side was his playground, and Aaron grew up living a happy life. His parents had been college sweethearts meeting at Columbia, his mother from New York, and his father born and raised in London. They instilled in Aaron, at a very young age, that love was indeed all you needed. His mother was a museum curator and his father was a college professor, which is why he grew up with an insatiable need for knowledge. When he was three, they gave Aaron a baby sister, Celia, his best friend in the world. It was many years of bliss—years filled with dirt-cheap movies, Hanukkah celebrations, record stores, and homemade matzoh ball soup. Years of discovering Shakespeare and pop music and discovering that maybe Arthur liked boys as much as he liked girls. Years of music, laughter, and joy filled the Baker household. Aaron wanted for nothing back then. He thinks back on this time in his life with bittersweet fondness, knowing he was lucky to grow up in a place that felt so warm.
He also developed a dear love for the game of tennis, which felt like it was his calling. He started it off in middle school, and from there, it felt like his racket was an extension of his arm. He threw himself into the sport, training and practicing whenever he could. When he was 18, he moved up north to Rhode Island to attend Brown University, particularly to play for their team. And while he did well academically, his attention was often reserved for tennis. In his sophomore year, however, things took a turn. Aaron suffered an extreme ligament injury in his knee, and that took him out of consideration for playing professional tennis. He was devastated, but it was time to figure out something new. It just so happened that this something new was a deep love for English Literature. Coupled with throwing himself into hobbies, including photography and gardening, Arthur figured out a new way to live and thrive. He finished school with promise and passion, and though he missed the sport he had once adored, he moved on.
For a few years after graduating, Aaron worked as a substitute teacher in schools around Providence, but then he decided his next step would be graduate school. He applied to a variety of schools but felt particularly tethered to the idea of going to school abroad, connecting with his heritage by way of his father. He was lucky enough to be accepted into Oxford’s Master’s program in Literature, and so he picked up and moved. After two rigorous years, he applied and got into their PhD program, staying for at least another four years. It was during this time that he met James Randolph, a professor in Economics. Though not explicitly forbidden, his relationship with Dr. Randolph was frowned upon. Randolph was ten years his senior, and though their paths didn't cross academically or professionally, the power imbalance from the standpoint of both age and professor/student relationship was evident. While their relationship started passionate and thrilling for Aaron, he soon found himself shrinking himself to appease the older man. Over the years before James, Aaron had his fair share of flings; men and women were constant but fleeting, and he didn’t place too much stock into forming long-lasting relationships. He was married to his work, and though he was taught that love was so important, he found love in other things: his friends, his books, and his drive to teach about literature that mattered. But he met James and everything seemed to change.
He fell, and he fell hard. Aaron was besotted. This was what he had been waiting for, at least he thought. It was perfect: every time he looked at James, he could swear he heard choirs singing like angels were in his ears. This was the love his parents had gone on and on about… it had to be. He felt infatuated and believed that he was adored in return. This was the dream. But soon, that dream was five years long. Aaron was officially Dr. Baker and had graduated easily, but something felt like it was missing. He thought he felt the proposal coming on… it had been years, and he had been so patient and attentive, even when James had his moods. Even when James took a sabbatical, and started to travel much more. Even when things felt lonely. Aaron was supposed to be at a friend’s birthday celebration, but he decided to head out early for the evening, not feeling particularly well. When he got home, he discovered a waking nightmare: James and an undergrad student. He methodically packed up, absolutely crushed by James’ cold and cruel nonchalance at what had transpired.
Aaron needed to leave Oxford… he needed to get out. He had just turned 32 and felt deeply lost. Sure, he had achieved so much in ten years, but what did he have to show for it? He decided to return home, receiving the love and care of his parents. He turned back to teaching, at a high school level this go around, and while he still felt deeply hurt, he began to stitch up the wounds. After about a year and a half, it felt like it was time for a new start. He had never spent any time on the West Coast, so he started looking for teaching gigs and stumbled upon Aurora Bay. It felt like a sign. He packed up, leaving his family and home behind, and found a coastal city welcoming and waiting for him. He couldn’t wait to see what was in store.
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