— BASICS
NAME: Esmeralda Avila NICKNAMES: Esme FACECLAIM: Diane Guerrero AGE: August 28, 1989. 34 GENDER & SEXUALITY: Cisfemale. Heterosexual. HOMETOWN: Brunswick, Maine AFFILIATION: Government / Democrat JOB POSITION: Crisis Manager EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, internship in government. RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single for years. CHILDREN: None.
— PERSONALITY
POSITIVE TRAITS: Passionate, loyal, hard working, genuine, patient, kind hearted NEGATIVE TRAITS: Meticulous, self critical, cautious, passive (in social life), noncommittal
— BIOGRAPHY
TRIGGER WARNING: PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL ABUSE.
Born an only child, Esmeralda was always doted on by her mother as a child. She remembers flower picking, beach trips, late night story telling underneath the covers with flashlights. All her memories, at a young age, were void of one thing. Her father. And all was well for the first five years.
Her father, having left her mother before finding out she was pregnant with Esme, came back into the picture just after her fifth birthday. Esme was confused but she welcomed it. After reading stories of other kids having fathers, she was so excited that she finally had one. But she soon realized that he wasn't like the fathers in the story books. He didn't smile at her and hug her affectionately. He didn't ask her how her day was going or engaged with her in any positive way. Instead, he took, and took, and took.
At first, it was just her cleaning up his plate after he was finished eating. Then, it was making him coffee, cooking him breakfast, getting his shoes for him because he couldn't be asked to get up out of his chair to find them himself. But if she didn't do it correctly, he'd shout at her. He'd throw the plates of food at the wall or on the ground at her feet. He'd tell her how useless she was. He'd demand that she do exactly as he said, over and over again until she was perfect. Then, he used her against her mother. She was eight when she saw him hit her for the first time. Nine when the screams were no longer muffled.
If Esme was good, her father would be calm. If she was good, her mother would be happy, she'd continue telling her stories and taking her on outings. By ten, Esme came to the realization that no matter what she did, neither her mother nor her father were ever happy. And after a while, she wondered if this was how all relationships were like. If how they acted towards one another was really love.
Esmeralda was fifteen before her mother and her fled the only home she ever knew and moved to New York City. While she hated to be torn away from all she knew, Esme wanted her mother to be happy and she'd rather be with her mother than her father.
Life changed drastically, extremely quick. It got calmer, safer. Better. Her mother, while more docile and quiet than before her father came back into the picture, began to smile more. Which, in turn, made Esme happy.
Throughout her schooling, all the way up until college, Esmeralda focused on herself. She, occasionally, would have a boyfriend but it didn't last long. A month, maybe two. That was until she met Hans. She was struck in the heart and had full body tingles the moment she laid eyes on him. A part of her didn't think he'd ever want her, out of all people. But the luck swayed her way, and they were together for two years.
Those two years were the best, and worst, of her life.
Hans taught her to not be afraid of love. He showed her that even through hardships, people could fight for one another. That yes, there were good times -- great times -- but nothing good lasts forever. There had to be bad times. He wasn't like her father. He never raised a hand to her. But there, underneath the skin and all along her heart, there were scars that he'd left behind. So many that she'd lost count.
Esme never wanted to leave the relationship. She loved him so much that it hurt her entire body to even think of leaving him. But he had become something she didn't recognized. Or maybe, he was that all along and she had been to naive to see it?
After the break up, she threw herself into her work and avoided him, and all places he might venture. She became a Crisis Manager, enjoying fixing other people's problems. If she saw him, she knew that she'd be drawn to him again. That she'd cry to him, beg him to take her back. She'd apologize, she'd tell him that she could make it up to him for... whatever she had done. But, rationally, she knew it wasn't healthy. That she should want more for herself.
And most of the time, she does.
Other times... she still wonders what her life would be like if they'd both chosen to stick it out.
— WANTED CONNECTIONS / PLOTS
JUST FRIENDS OR ONLY FUCK BUDDIES? - Esme doesn't do relationships. She hasn't in a long time. Mostly because she still isn't over her ex but that's besides the point. This person started out as a friend, and then one night, after many hours of drinking, a mistake was made. Or was it a mistake? The two of them go back and forth on what they should or shouldn't do. Sometimes she gives in to another night, and another, and another... other times, she refuses.
A DEAL OR TWO - This person definitely took advantage of Esme when she was having a low day. They saw her, realized she might need something to help ease her pain, and offered her drugs. It took a bit of convincing, but she conceded. And while she regrets it, she'll still send them a text every now and then asking if they want to "hang out".
CRISIS AVERTED - As a Crisis Manager, it is Esme's job to ensure that the Democratic party appears in the best light possible. Either she's worked behind the scenes to ensure your scandal never surfaced, or she spun a story where your little incident made the front page news instead them of focusing on her clients slight problem. (This could either be a plot for someone in her party and they get along, or one where she makes an enemy out of someone outside her party.)
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT - Other than her ex, Hans, you are the only one that got close to her closely kept secrets. It could have been genuine, or you could have done it due to an ulterior motive. She may have mentioned something about her father, something incoherent at the time which led you to asking more questions. She was being vulnerable, only to close back up when she realized what she was doing. She's kept you at a distance and shut off from her emotions ever since. (This could be a close friend or a potential fwb type situation since she hasn't had a real relationship in 6+ years.)
will add more later or if you have a potential connection idea, let me know! :)
