gold rush

Adrian Ellis. Adi. 40. Previous New Yorker. Living in Thistlefield. Web designer/developer and owner of a small tech company.

[adiellistech]

CHARACTER INFORMATION

Full name: Adrian Charles Ellis 

Nickname: Adi

Pronouns and gender: he/him, cis man

Age: 40

Birth place: Chicago (grew up in New York)

Length of stay in Thistlefield: Four years (visited grandparents as a child)

Occupation: Web designer/developer and owns a tech company.

Work place: Office just out of town and working from home. 

Family: Younger sister (WC)

Three personality traits: Optimistic, know-it-all, caring

PERSONALITY

Adi is an attractive but modest guy, he is optimistic and likes to be helpful to those around him. Although he comes across pretty confident, he is actually rather shy and reserved and talks a lot to cover it. At times, he can be immature, a know-it-all and a little spoilt because of his wealthy upbringing. But he is caring, gentle and a good friend.

BIOGRAPHY

Adrian who likes to be known as Adi was born in Chicago, though for a long time he considered New York to be his home after moving there when he was just six years old. His parents were both lawyers who had high expectations and worked long hours. Although he didn’t want for much, he didn’t spend too much time with his parents and he was sent to boarding school at a very young age.

Adi has always been incredibly smart and he enjoyed the challenge of boarding school. However, at times he could be a little too smart for his own good and his opinions often got him into trouble. He was known to argue with teachers over something he’d read or a documentary he’d seen, just eager to share what he’d learnt. He excelled throughout school, with most things in life coming pretty easy to him. He read about everything and anything and he liked to show off his wide range of knowledge, telling anyone who would listen and always having something to say about most situations. This is something he still does in adult life, he often corrects people and can come across a little annoying but he means well and he’s a kind natured guy who goes out of his way to help people.

His parents had money and he had plenty of opportunities, he played several instruments and took advanced classes. He even spent his summers helping at the law firm. Though his real passion was computers and gaming. He would spend hours taking apart old machines and playing around with a range of software. He was smart and could teach himself how to edit, creating programs and code. He enjoyed getting to express himself and finding something he was good at for himself.

However, his parents weren’t too happy with his choice to pursue IT and programming at college, they wanted him to become a doctor or lawyer and that only pushed him further away from them. Instead of applying for college, Adi took his trust fund and decided to take a gap year which turned into four years. Many would consider him to be a spoilt rich boy who rebelled against his parents, and maybe in a way he was but Adi was happy. He travelled, he went backpacking and he saw the world for himself as a young man. The places he experienced were a big influence on him and it brought him out of his shell.

Though at the age of 22, Adi knew he had to make some kind of plans for his future. He had the grades and experience to go to any university that he wanted and he decided to return to New York and applied to Cornell. His parents agreed to help him financially, glad their son was finally going back into education, even if working with computers hadn’t been their first choice for him. Though he thrived, he enjoyed the hard work and learning new things and being able to put his arguments and opinion into what he loved. He grew in confidence and made a best friend who encouraged him to be him. They’re still friends today.

After university, Adi worked for a tech company in New York for a few years and completed his Masters degree. However, it always felt like something was missing. The job paid well and he didn’t hate it but he felt like he wasn’t really moving forward. Growing up, he’d enjoyed visiting his grandparents in Scotland. It was relaxed there, they left him to do his own thing. He’d spend hours reading outside and playing video games all day. His sister had moved to Scotland in her teens after being kicked out of private school and attended high school in Thistlefield. Almost five years ago, Adi decided it was time for him to settle there too and to move away from his parents. Taking his trust fund, he bought a company and he is doing what he loves.

He lives in a nice home in Thistlefield and his tech company is a small commute from the town. He’s still a little dork at times but he is rather confident in who he is and hoping one day he’ll find the right person to share his life with him.

[ofembcrs]

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑: open (0/4) 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: thistlefrost market

HAVING FINISHED CONSULTS EARLY THAT MORNING, Nic had every intention of heading down to the festival before lunch. That plan was stopped in its tracks but none other than a laundry list of charts. Charting appointments took roughly an hour per patient on a good day, however, with a thirty kilo dog on his lap it took ages. By the time he was finished, his neck had a cramp the size of a small horse, he was starving, and the commotion in the streets drifting up to his loft announced that he had missed his self-imposed deadline. Hastily shrugging into a coat and collecting his dog's leash, Nic started down the stairs.

At the first whiff of fresh air, Douglas darted out onto the pavement below, paying no heed to whatever or whoever might be passing by. ❛ Shit, sorry about that, he’s been cooped up all afternoon. ❜ The apology was out before he reached the last step, kicking the door shut behind him before turning to the person his dog had effectively blindsided. 

❛ Let me get you something – a pie, on me. ❜

[adiellistech]

Although American, Scotland had always been a second home to Adi. He'd always loved his summers visiting his grandparents and exactly why he had found himself moving here in his thirties. The festival was definitely a reminder of his childhood, the atmosphere bringing back happy memories.

He'd left the office early, the perks of owning his own tech company and drove back to the little town which was a small commute. Pulling on a large coat and scarf, he stepped out of his car. He hadn't expected to bump straight into anyone or his dog for that matter and he let out a laugh as he steadied himself. "Sorry. No, don't worry. I think that was me. I got out of my car, taking no notice of anything around me. The little guy is okay. He's just excited, aren't you, bud," he said to the dog. "I won't say no to some festival food. I'm starving."

[prairienina]

[cassionthepar]

"A library?" Cass paused for a moment, thinking on what his fellow witch had said. "you might be a cliche." He joked, holding up his hot chocolate. He was doing his best to shut out the magic in the air around them, something had changed... he didn't want to bring it up though. "Is that what's really brought you out tonight?"

[adiellistech]

Caleb gave a laugh, nodding. "Like yeah, guess I am a bit of a cliche. They arty guy who says deep things and likes books?" he joked about himself. "But yeah, this town actually has a library that runs." He laughed. "Are you onto me, huh? Yes and no."

[cassionthepar]

Cass relaxed on the bench, glancing up at the night sky. He was starting to let go of the past, although thinking about the fall of the meteors also reminded him of everything else he lost that night. "Poetic... is it weird to say it makes me feel insignificant?" he sighed, nodding. "Yeah... just getting out of the house a bit. Go for a walk. My dad used to bring me out here for these hot chocolates and the recipe has never changed."

[adiellistech]

Caleb laughed at himself. He was generally an upbeat guy, though on clear nights like this he really did feel in a good mood. He could feel his connection to everything around him. "I mean, I'm really not poetic but if I sound it. That's a plus? I guess I was never bad at writing, I do write. I actually work in the library," he rambled on before pausing. "Hey, no. I don't want you to feel that." He smiled at his next words. "I feel that. I often just feel like going for a walk. And memories like that are nice to have."

[cassionthepar]

Cass looked up at the sky, his mother was a member of the Stellara coven, despite him always abstaining from coven practise. He found the whole thing a little too sociable for him. "Feel the sky?" he smiled slightly, amused by Caleb. "have you been smoking?" he folded his arms, blowing on his hot chocolate. "I'm kidding, it is beautiful."

[adiellistech]

Caleb laughed at himself, realising how he had sounded as the other repeated his question back to him. "Yeah, yeah. I sound a little bit like I have been yeah." He nodded. "No, no. Just admiring a beautiful sky and how nature makes me feel. I'm that guy." He nodded to his drink. "Felt like a hot drink too on a chilly night?"

[adiellistech]

Caleb flopped onto a bench, coffee in one hand, phone in his other. "Shit, would you look a that sky tonight. So freaking clear. Amazing. I swear when it's open like that, you can just feel everything," he rambled on to the person beside him.

@verdantstarters

[jcksonfields]

watching Adi, JD nodded. He wasn't the one who was ever alone really. Not that he had to be surrounded by people, he just had a lot of friends and energy and was an extrovert. "I see. Hey one should like their own company. So nothing wrong with that. Though you should definitely get out as much as you can. Breathe that fresh air!" JD replied and took a deep inhale, before exhaling and smiling. Taking a sip of his drink, he nodded along." Exactly. Helps me get my frustration out on something!"

[adiellistech]

Adi nodded, picking up his drink. Over the years, he'd grown more confident in who he was and he wasn't bothered about admitting he was an introvert. "Yeah, I feel like there's more pressure to fit in when you're younger. But I'm old now, I don't care about impressing anyone. If I want to stay in, I stay in," he laughed. "Something that isn't going to get your arrested?" he joked.

[brooksienewman]

Kellan had, as a rule, decided to lounge for most of the colder months, but he hadn't quite adjusted to not working extensively. Instead, he'd decided to go on occasional walks, to explore the haunts of his childhood from a new perspective.

He was take aback only for a moment when the person in front of him spoke, but he immediately broke into a smile. "Sure, I'll hike with you a bit of the way, but you might have to leave an old man behind," he joked.

[adiellistech]

Adi knew it was harder to find motivation to go out in the colder months but he tried to keep it up. Wrapping up warm and keeping hydrated was the key. He laughed, nodding. "Don't worry. I'm old too. We'll take it steady. How has your morning been so far?"

[steelknivesx]

Hanna had been spending most mornings running. The marathon was growing closer and closer and she was nearly ready. But the weather was getting colder and she was getting less excited about getting out. So she'd opted for a long walk instead, with a coffee in her hand. Her eyes lit up when she saw Adi. "Oh... hey." She looked up towards the trail. "Yeah i was just heading that way, the company would be nice. It's nice to see you again... i didn't know if i'd run into you again."

[adiellistech]

Adi's eyes almost lit up as he approached the girl, he'd known her a long time. She'd been friends with his sister growing up and he'd hung out with them too on his summer and winter visits to town. Though they were no longer kids anymore. "Hey, you," he smiled, stepping towards her. "It's nice to see you too. I'm glad you did run into me. I'm about. If you would like to see me, whenever, you know?"

[adiellistech]

Out in Merrock (hiking) Open (0/8)

The sun was out and Adi didn't want to waste the day indoors. It wouldn't be too much longer until winter fully hit so he decided to get an early start. He'd spent his younger years travelling and one thing he really enjoyed about Merrock. He had a beautiful hiking trail right on his doorstep.

Fixing his bag on his back, he looked up as he saw someone approaching. “Good morning. I was just about to go for a hike,” he said, pointing in the direction of the trail. “You interested?”

[joshlane]

"Especially if they've lived elsewhere. The amount of people that I've talked to who lived in the city, who had no idea how peaceful things can be in the country… it blows their mind," he smiled at the thought. Josh had traveled before, vacationed in different spots, but nothing compared to the place that he called home.

"Have any aches and pains when it rains?" he asked, wincing at the thought, "I have an old motorcycle injury -- just banged up a little bit, nothing bad -- on my right ankle, and I swear, sometimes I can feel when it's going to rain. That's old age," something that he liked to joke about, none the less. "Dragon," he laughed, shaking his head, "there's a thought. At least beef is sort of… I don't want to say tame, since it's still beef? But. Good on you! You tried something most people won't touch."

[adiellistech]

"I'm not really a city guy. I like travelling and I like seeing other places. But it's too busy for me." He nodded. "I can also go see different places but I like having somewhere to come back to."

Adi laughed. "Oh, the achy parts are the first to feel bad weather. I swear. My neck always aches.," he told him. "Yeah, Dragon was a little too experimental for me," he joked with a laugh. "It honestly tasted a bit beefy. Salty and chewy. I travelled, trying food is part of that. I enjoy it."

[darpow]

"Your ramblings make more sense than a lot of people trying to string together coherent thought, for what it's worth," he teased, a grin on his face. "Not very often. I'm glad we get these Galas and Masquerades and fancy events, becuase there are some pieces in my cloest that I otherwise wouldn't get to touch. And I do like shopping," at least for one of a kind pieces he wouldn't be wearing any other time. "I can tell you one thing. Chicago and Merrock? Polar opposites. Especially as far as people are concerned."

[adiellistech]

"I am going to take that vague compliment," he laughed with him. "Oh, I think if you were really creative. You could find a reason for them," he teased lightly. "Could you see yourself ever leaving here? I feel like, I'm almost 40 now and I'm pretty settled."

[aminarocks]

"Eh, I'm not super interested in bringing people back, that would be a lot to explain to the person, after all." They shrugged. "It's nice to an extent, but then in the winter months you're sort of...inside of a van. But I own a business, and I can have some space there."

[adiellistech]

"Yeah, I wouldn't want the responsibility of that," he nodded along with her. "A confused person who shouldn't be there." He paused, thinking. "Oh yeah, I can imagine that gets cold. I know if you sit in a car in the winter. Yeah? What do you do?"

[jcksonfields]

Watching one of the tvs, JD turned his attention back to the man beside him. "Yeah I feel ya. Sometimes being around like minded people is what you need. But yeah I totally get watching it alone too, Then I wouldn't have to worry about yelling at the game and the subsequent looks I'd get." JD laughed then took a sip. Wiping his lips, he then added. "Yeah chilling in general is one of my favorite pastimes."

[adiellistech]

Adi let out a content sigh, hand on his glass and his attention half on the TV. "Yeah, I'll admit. I like my own company. It's not often I go out but sometimes I feel it," he told him. "Nah, yelling at the game is part of it. I feel like we encourage each other to do that," he laughed. "Yeah, I play some video games, watch a movie. I enjoy that."

[darpow]

"I don't want to wax poetic and talk about how it feels so magical because we simply don't know who's behind it, but it's sort of true," he lifted one shoulder, looking around. "Especially when we're at events like this, where everything does feel a little more fantasy than reality," but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing, either. "I think it's the people, right?" he asked, looking over at Adrian. "If you were in a town with different people, than this might not feel as nice. But the people here are genuinely good."

[adiellistech]

"I mean, I am fully just rambling at this point but I think I made it sound nice," he laughed, shaking his head. "How often do you get to dress up and not be judged for it? I don't mind a little fantasy," he told him. "The people is definitely one of the reasons I came back here."

[joshlane]

"I can understand why," he smiled at the thought. "I've heard people say the same -- that they came here to visit for vacation, or to see family, and just never ended up going home. You know, a real Hotel California. You can check out any time you like…" not that he thought the song had been written about Merrock, but damn if it couldn't apply, sometimes.

"Those days where you wake up feeling great are the ones that you have to watch out for," he chuckled, the sound vibrating in his chest, "because those are the ones that kick your ass at the end of the day," when you least expected it, you ended up feeling the most tired and sore. "Tongue of what, is the question?" he asked, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully, as though trying to imagine what sort of tongue someone would be eating.

[adiellistech]

Adi laughed along with him as they spoke about Merrock. "Oh it's the appeal of living in a small town in the middle of nowhere for sure. Surrounded by mountains and forests, just a small community, the routine. I can see how people are pulled in by the beauty and the charm of Merrock," he nodded.

“I know what you mean. I’ve had those days. My body lies to me about being twenty five again. And then bam, pain," he continued to joke. Though he really did ache more than he used to. He wrinkled his nose slightly as he asked about the tongue. “Tongue of what? That’s a good question. Maybe tongue of cow, or maybe dragon, or tongue of something even worse." He laughed. "No, kidding. It was beef tongue, it was chewy but not the worst thing I've ever had. I can admit that."