SPOTTED: ESRA DURMAZ in new york city! heard the THIRTY-THREE year old works as a PR/MEDIA CONSULTANT. word on the streets is that they can be RESILIENT, SHREWD, but they can also be CYNICAL, STANDOFFISH.
𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐒.
name. Esra Durmaz nicknames. None birthday. September 18th zodiac sign. Virgo siblings. Aslan Durmaz, Miray Durmaz time in nyc. 3 years occupation. PR/Media Consultant character inspiration: Kate Sharma (Bridgerton), Gerri Kellman (Succession), Jessica Pearson (Suits), Megara (Hercules)
𝐁𝐈𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐘.
Volatility embedded itself into every cornerstone of Esra's life from the very beginning. Born the middle child, a first daughter when her parents longed for a second son, she existed as merely another disappointment in the long string of perceived slights that "fate" tossed at them. A household that suffered from too many mouths to feed and debts raised nearly as high as the voices arguing about them in the middle of the night.
Unhappiness practically spilled out from the very foundation. Her father's unwieldy temper, barreling into the house at all hours and forcing his family to either flee or cower in fear. Her mother's pervasive bitterness over her lot in marriage and life. Returning to their home meant confronting either a red face or pursed lips, so the three Durmaz children kept away as often as possible. Neighbors would spectate as they ran through the streets, climbed trees, sat along bridges overlooking the river. Yet evening always arrived with haste and their reprieve never spared them long enough.
Unfortunately, not all avenues of escapism could delay the pressing nature of reality when it came crashing down at barely ten years old, cutting what remained of her childhood off at the knees.
It was unreasonably foolish to believe that borrowing from the Turkish crime syndicate wouldn’t land them in absolute ruin. Their parents took anyway, greedily and without thought, until the months rolled over and they failed time and again to match the egregious interest rate. In their final act upon coming around, the gang demanded blood payment in the form of the eldest and only boy; a child soldier in exchange for a clean slate.
Once again, their parents took the deal. Her older brother, Aslan, hero in every universe and the closest friend she'd ever known, was carted off despite her protests. Esra watched them load him into a vehicle as she held Miray tighter in fear that they, too, might also be exchanged one day to lighten the household burdens. From that moment onward, she vowed to do everything in her limited power to keep them together.
Five years later and few lessons were learned despite the loss of a son and brother. Their parents slid back into considerable debt and borrowed once more from the syndicate to stay afloat, a move that would finally cost them everything. Returning from a night at the movies with Miray, it became apparent something was horrifically wrong when they approached the stillness of their house. No lights, no movement, and the front door was already unlocked when she pushed on it.
Opting to enter first, she barely had to walk a few meters before coming upon the bodies of their parents. To this day, Esra cannot be certain whether Miray heeded her screams to stay outside and not witness the carnage for herself, but she fled to join the youngest Durmaz mere seconds later. Barely fifteen with the entire world suddenly pressing on her shoulders, including the fate of her sister’s life, their options narrowed in the span of seconds: orphanage, separation, death. So they chose to run instead.
The girls spent the better part of a year and a half living like phantoms across the greater expanse of Turkey and then eventually migrating into Europe. Haunting the shadows of train stations and border towns, living in cheap hostels under borrowed names. They became experts in lying, stealing, and disappearing without a trace whenever it suited them. And it did, often.
One night, sat in a small bakery in some coastal European town, Aslan miraculously found them. He’d been searching almost as intensely as they’d been running and the long desired reunion overwhelmed them all. Together at last. It brought an exhale of long desired relief and then another sharp pang of fear, because if he put the pieces together... so could everyone else.
The syndicate had no intention of releasing him, which meant three on the run were even more conspicuous than two. More dangerous, more costly. For a second time, perhaps even more agonizing than the first, the Durmaz children involuntarily separated. Only now there was a fighting chance for Esra and Miray to escape their circumstances while Aslan coordinated forged documents and hidden money to help them start over. Gratitude arrived via coded system, when they contacted him once per year with a single message: we're alive.
Eventually Miray fell in with her own organized crime collective and Esra mourned the loss of yet another sibling, even if she was still sleeping in the adjoining hotel bed. Not that her own morals also weren’t varying shades of grey, but she’d chosen a more steady climb out of their pit of desperation. For over a decade, brick by brick, piece by piece, until she emerged into the long sought after light.
A media career, which began as nothing more than low level coffee runs in small offices, eventually flourished well before they made the jump to New York City. Esra quickly learned how to maneuver her way through the PR arena, establishing both her brand and name in various circles due to a tireless work ethic. All that time spent on the run in their youth taught her to be discreet, unfazed, and consistent, traits which served her well and garnered trust amongst the city’s elite. Success never felt so sweet— or earned. Ambition became her only goal and vice, all that mattered was getting ahead by any means necessary and remaining one step ahead of the curve to ward off the backslide. Her own makeshift survival mechanism.
Now having reunited again with Aslan, befriending several members of different crime organizations, and finally entering a relationship where she feels safe, Esra questions whether being selfish and planting roots for the first time means she’s taking her eye off of the ball.
𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒.
Massive cinephile, has an extensive knowledge of movies after spending much of her childhood sneaking into theaters. Don’t ask her about television shows, she doesn’t have the time to watch them.
Used to borrow and steal books as a child. There was once an era when her stack had been taller than Miray.
Her first priority will always be her siblings. Make no mistake about that.
Dresses well enough and taught herself the sort of poise that makes it difficult to recognize she hasn’t always been (independently) wealthy.
Has no desire to join a gang, despite having been approached repeatedly with offers. She will voluntarily step in to assist her family and her friends who are involved, but feels organized crime has already taken enough from her.
Deep, deep trust issues for obvious reasons. Struggles immensely to let people in and keeps her inner circle small.
Doesn’t like being touched without permission unless you’re in said inner circle. She might be the least violent Durmaz, but she will deck you.
If you raise your voice at her, she’s leaving. Hard line.
Tends to allow herself to fall into the "fixer" role in work, friendships, her relationship, etc. Call it middle child syndrome or the result of how many years she spent ensuring hers and Miray's survival.
Absolute workaholic. Her career is the one thing that has always belonged to her alone, she can't help but obsess over it night and day.
Despite her stoic, no nonsense exterior and generally avoidant tendencies, she is secretly very lovergirl coded. Wants the life altering romance and happily ever after, even if her cynicism says it doesn't really exist.
Is pretty obviously in love with Troy Windsor and will probably take another 2 years to let him know.
