A B O U T V E R O N I C A
“Growing up is losing some illusions, in order to acquire others.” — Virginia Woolf
In this post you will find all information regarding Veronica's characterization!
Clarification: Her personality is basically the same as @imightbebeautiful 's with the exception of her priorities and her attitude towards Westerberg. If it wasn't evident by now, this blog's Ronnie never joined the Heathers. It's essentially an AU. Search for ! down below (13th paragraph) to see what's different.
Ｆａｃｅ Ｃｌａｉｍ: Lorna Courtney (Heathers 2025 Off-Broadway Revival)
Ｗｒｉｔｉｎｇ Ｖｏｉｃｅ: Mainly Lorna Courtney's Veronica but I often take bits and pieces from Barrett Wilbert Weed's and Winona Ryder's (Movie) interpretations as well as my own understanding of the character.
The year was 1972, Veronica Sawyer was born in a hospital at Columbus, Ohio, the city where her parents met. However, her time there did not last but a year before the Sawyers moved to the far west side of the state due to an excellent job opportunity Mr. Sawyer accepted. It provided financial security to the family, who found a home in the small, peaceful town of Sherwood.
Growing up, Veronica's home life was characterized by happiness and security. As their only child, her parents loved her dearly. They prioritized her well-being above everything else. As one might conclude, Veronica's relationship with her parents is, and has always been, good and healthy. They share inside jokes, partake in different activities together, and genuinely enjoy spending time as a family.
Despite this, if there is one flaw in their relationship, it would be Veronica's hesitation to confide in them about her struggles and most personal matters. This has a reason to be, it roots in what might be her parents only mistake raising her.
Veronica had always been praised for her academic success, independence, and was told she had a bright future ahead of her. But that was during elementary school, things have changed. Now, as a teenager, Veronica's small world has become increasingly divided and hostile.
The once tight-knit student body fractured, with cliques and social hierarchies tearing her peers apart. A fight of all against all. Veronica found herself struggling with a sense of isolation and loneliness, unable to fully confide in her well-meaning parents given their disinterest in her school life. The two believe she must have everything under control since she “hasn't expressed the contrary” and “has always been so independent.” If Veronica were to ask for help, they would offer it in a heartbeat, though their failure to comprehend the true issues she goes through would prove it pointless.
Despite having an overall strong support system at home, Veronica's emotional and mental stability began to take a turn the moment she entered middle school due to its inimical environment. Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) began to manifest, which, to this day, she still tries to attribute to simple stress. Her overall attitude while at school doesn't compare to herself at home. There, she is unconsciously more alert, jumpier, is prone to physical aches, and her irritability increases. In contrast, once back home and away from the student body, she allows herself to truly relax.
It was around 8th grade when, due to the constant criticism, mockery, and outright cruelty directed towards her and others, she stopped believing she was capable of standing up for herself. She went from an outspoken girl to a passive and quieter teen who would rather not get involved in anything unless strictly necessary, opting to blend in the background, where it was mostly safe. Things like putting low effort in her looks and refusing to partake in any extracurricular activities were part of her strategy to keep a low profile.
Deep down, however, she knew there is no true safety, she gets confirmation of it every day she still gets picked up on, despite her efforts to remain invisible. Even her best friend, Martha Dunnstock, the kindest person she knows and the only one who stayed by her side through the years, was and still is constantly harassed for things as vain and insignificant as her weight, style, and hobbies.
She often wished she could be like her friend. Unafraid to be her authentic self, but her fears were stronger. A more selfish part of her also desired the positive attention that comes with popularity. To be looked up to, admired, respected, known... instead of discarded and bothered. More than anything, she longs to be truly seen and understood from an impartial perspective. Far from what her loved ones believe her to be, the label stapled to her forehead by the school, yet she is convinced she can only achieve this desire once she leaves Sherwood. The truth is, she didn’t want to be a nobody, even if she willingly put herself in that box, even if she told herself, “It’s better this way,” every day.
The only exception to her unspoken rules were helping others or defending Martha. No matter how disappointed she felt with herself and everyone else at school, she never truly stopped believing things did not have to be that way. Even if her efforts to lend a helping hand were in vain since most times they were met with ingratitude. It wasn’t like her to turn a blind eye, although she did internally cuss at ungrateful assholes.
As unnoticeable and quiet as she was at school, her mind was far from an anechoic chamber. That's where her diary came in, or better said, her diaries. She's been writing one since 10 years old when she received it as a Christmas gift. The joyous hobby gradually became an outlet for her true, unfiltered thoughts and emotions as she grew up.
Now, at 17 years old, her 20th copy ran out of pages and thus she obtained a new one just in time for the first day of senior year.
Veronica had been reflecting about wanting a change this last year of high school. After almost 6 years of tolerating, the thought of taking back the reins of her own life kept on appearing in her head. By the end of summer, she had made up her mind. She would go after any opportunities that presented themselves. After all, the only road towards change was through action... ! But she chickened out when an actual opportunity arose.
September 1st, 1989, she encountered the most powerful clique, “The Heathers”, in a bathroom at school. They needed help, and Veronica had the skills to offer it to them. However, she second guessed herself. Along with the jocks, the three girls were known to be the most outright cruel students to those they deem lesser than. Those like Veronica. Would she really make herself an easy target for the slim chance of them accepting her boon? No, she would not. It was a sweet enough fantasy. A world where she's not bothered or harassed, a world where she's protected by the Heathers. But it was time to face reality.
And so, Veronica decided she would not interfere. She stayed as still and quiet as humanly possible inside that bathroom's stall until she heard them walk away along with Ms. Fleming, who gave them week's detention. Not like they actually attended it. That whole first week Veronica saw them leave school along with everyone else; work of Chandler's parents, she assumed.
For the next two weeks, life went as usual. Nothing new, the same routine. In fact, everything seemed to be getting worse. It frustrated her. She had made herself a promise and so far she had done nothing to fulfill it. So on the third week, she had enough. This place will not accept her, nothing will change, but she could. Even if alone, even if there was no multitude to praise her efforts. She took action for herself, although minimal and unimportant for now. It was all for her future. A future where she was free, far away from Westerberg High School and Sherwood, Ohio.
Ｈｅａｄｃａｎｏｎｓ ＆ Ａｄｄｉｔｉｏｎａｌ Ｉｎｆｏ：(new info contains a !)
She got her first diary at age 10. It was a Christmas gift from one of her aunts, who probably bought it last minute, and had no idea of the impact said gift would have in Veronica's life.
Always carries a pen and a pocket notebook with her in case of “writing emergencies.”
On the topic of family, Veronica's extended family is actually quite big on both sides. She's closer to her mom's. Thing is, they all live back in Columbus. The three of them go visit as often as possible but most times they can only go during the holidays. Veronica welcomes the change of scenery, excited to leave Sherwood and dreading having to go back. She especially enjoys spending time with her cousins, who she considers the siblings she never had.
She loves all of her cousins dearly but gets particularly well with two of them: Mallory and Darren. Currently, Mallory is 18 years old while Darren is 20. Veronica has always looked up to them. Their family jokingly calls them the three musketeers. Although they don't see each other often, when they do, it's as if they did on a daily basis.
! Another very important family member is her cat JFK. Her father chose the name. She mostly calls him "Jeff" or "Jeffy". She got him when she was 11, so he's currently 6 years old.
Has no particular opinion on the nicknames people often use for her; “Ronnie” and “V/Vee,” for example. She does dislike "Ronica", however. ! Also "scarf girl", how she's referred to by many at school. Simply because it baffles her how no one seems to remember her name or pretend not to.
By age 4 she could already write and read at a basic level. At one point in elementary school the faculty suggested to skip her two grades because classes seemed way too easy for her. Her parents decided against it since she had already made good friends, was happy, comfortable, and they were afraid the change could have a negative impact on her.
She isn't ashamed of showing affection to her parents in front of others or them showing affection to her.
Before she took on writing as a hobby, there was reading. Her taste in genres has changed over the years which has led her to read all kinds of things. Currently, she's been broadening her historical fiction collection, specifically stories set in France. This is driven by her fantasies of living there in the future. Also the reason she's taking French.
! Thanks to her newly acquired job at the public library during the weekends she gets even more access to books than she did before which is big plus on her book (pun fully intended)
She recently joined a conversational French club after wanting to do so since sophomore year.
! One of the more surprising things about her job and the club is that she has become acquainted with the more elderly population of Sherwood. Also some college students from Remington.
Her favorite subject is English and her least favorite is Math, in which she always gets an A-.
Plans to study journalism at an out-of-state college.
! As of late, she's been drowning herself with responsibilities. Whether it be excessively studying when she already knows the material, helping as much as possible at the conversational French club, or doing over-time at the library.
! She also spends less time at school. She arrives, takes her classes, bothers the guidance counselor about college applications for the 100th time, and goes back home.
She doesn't really have a set handwriting. She mostly writes in cursive since it's faster, but other than that, it's pretty inconsistent. Because of this, no one can identify her handwriting.
Forging stuff came naturally to her. It mostly started with faking her parents' signatures when she forgot to give them an important document to sign for school. One day, she came to the realization that she was quite good at it and began to practice faking other's handwriting just because she could, and so it evolved to the particular skill we know of.
Unfussy eater. Adores trying new food and isn't afraid of what most would find disgusting. For example, one of her favorite plates is grilled oysters with lots of herbs. She loves the added flavor they give to dishes. Still, nothing beats her mom's spaghetti, no matter how basic of a choice it is.
Very expressive. Mannerisms, tone of voice, and especially on her facial expressions. She's worked on her poker face over the years with little success.
Always wears a wristwatch because of her anxiety. It provides her a sense of security and control.
Will often fidget with some piece of her clothing but she's more prone to do so when her anxiety is on the rise. ! Mainly with her scarf which she wears quite often especially now that the weather is chillier.
Wears matching rings on her middle fingers. There's a reason behind it, one she's never told anyone.
Listens to the radio (news, talk shows) more than she listens to music. A habit she got from her father. She enjoys staying up to date with whatever is happening in the world since it reminds her there's indeed one beyond Sherwood.
Another thing she inherited from him was his lame sense of humor.
When she gets a partner or crush she fluctuates between unashamed, cringe worthy levels of flirtatiousness, and uncontained sheepishness.
Is bisexual, allosexual, no particular preference. Realized she was attracted to girls too in the 7th grade but kept denying it to herself until a summer camp she went to in 1986. There, she got closer to a classmate named Jennifer Allen, and after everything that happened, she obviously couldn't keep lying to herself.
☁️credits to @/cursed-carmine for the dividers☁️
