[ bright vachirawit, cismale, he/him ] - was that REN MANIWAN i saw by the lighthouse today? i heard that the TWENTY-SEVEN year old who has been in nightrest for SEVENTEEN YEARS and works as a VET TECHNICIAN AT TWO DOGS VETERINARY has a reputation of being KIND-HEARTED, but also RETICENT. they reside in FOG GATE & people in town usually associate them with NERVOUSNESS MASKED BY KIND EYES AND A KIND SMILE, THE SOUND OF KEYBOARD KEYS CLICKING LATE AT NIGHT, & CAT HAIRS ALL OVER HIS SWEATER. let’s hope the killer doesn’t go after them next. [ jia ]
STATISTICS.
NAME: 'Ren' Renrawin Maniwan
GOES BY: Ren
AGE: 27 years old
BIRTHDAY: October 5th, 1995
ZODIAC CHART: Libra sun, aquarius moon, leo rising
GENDER & PRONOUNS: Cismale, he/him
FACE CLAIM: Bright Vachirawit
OCCUPATION: Vet technician at Two Dogs Veterinary
PLACE OF BIRTH: Chicago, Illinois
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Fog gate
SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Bisexual
HEIGHT: 6′0″ (183 cm)
BACKGROUND.
Ren was born in Chicago, Illinois to a middle-class family. An only child, he was showered with love and attention growing up. An outsider would think his family was perfect, but it was far from it. His parents grew out of love, but remained married for Ren's sake, up until his dad cheated on his mom, ending their marriage when he was nine years old. After a rough custody battle, Ren's mom won full custody, taking her son and moving to Nightrest so she can be near her own family.
Nightrest was vastly different than Chicago, but given that Ren moved when he was kid, he had adapted quickly, and it didn't make much of a difference. He was a sweet, calm kid, preferring to keep to himself and be around his friends and in his comfort zone. He kept in contact with his father, seeing him during summers and visits. He did good enough at school, but he wasn't a straight A student or anything. He spent the majority of his time gaming, building his own keyboards and such.
For college, he had moved to West Lafayette, Indiana, picking a university in the city where his father—with his new family—now resided. He had wanted to get to know his father better, spend more time with him beyond phone calls and infrequent visits. It wasn't great, especially when he felt out of place meeting and getting to know his step-mother and step-siblings. Seeing his father with his second family had brought on a pang of sadness in Ren's heart, despite his understanding of the situation. His dad asked him to move to Indiana for good after graduation, but he had picked to go back to Nightrest instead, preferring to stay with his mother and it's where he fit better.
PERSONALITY.
He's a kind-hearted, friendly and sweet boy. Depending on the situation, he might get nervous and shy. He's more of an introvert than an extrovert, but if need be, he can put himself out there. His social battery just gets drained pretty quickly and he'll need a week to recharge. He's a big gamer, and most of his money goes on his games and gaming set up. He's a big animal lover, obviously since he works at the vet. He's got two cats that he's adopted as strays, a tabby cat called Luna and an American curl called Ash. Because of his shy nature, he tends to be reticent and escapist with his emotions, dismissive of anything that makes him uncomfortable.
WANTED CONNECTIONS.
Ride-or-die
Gamer friends!
Ex (1/2): a high school ex who would have also been his first everything, and an ex after her came back from college
Sibling like relationship
Childhood friends
Neighbors and coworkers
He's a good influence on them
Bad influence
An accidental hook up because he got too drunk lmao, would probably be too shy about it
Family friends
Roommate potentially?
Someone who likes to make him nervous for fun
He usually gets up early to feed stray cats, so if anyone enjoys doing that with him
It was about protecting herself. Because deep down, maybe Azra didn't like herself as much as she portrayed, and cutting things off, ruining them, or accepting something superficial as she had done with Ren countless times already, was her way out. She knows she should be considerate, that it's obvious what happened with Adee affected him, and maybe even what's happening now is hurting him too. But why should her own feelings come second? Why should she accept less than what she wants because he isn't ready? "It's fine. I was just stopping by." Her eyes glance down at the fur-ridden shirt, purposely keeping some kind of distance between them. Azra had a plan, and even if it was poorly made one out of her own insecurities and anger, she would go through with it. "I don't want it anymore," she says, referring to the shirt, and also indirectly referring to what they had. She didn't want to walk inside, didn't want to linger or make this any harder than it already was. Her face was blank, but Azra was well aware of what was running through her mind. That she was breaking her own heart before she could even give it to him. She doesn't hate him, but right now, she also doesn't want to be near him, stepping inside and making sure to keep herself grounded and collected. "I think we should end…. whatever this is." It hurt so much, but what was she really ending? A friends-with-benefits situation? She'd done that plenty of times, yet back then, it was easy to say she was bored or that she didn't care as justification. Now, the words couldn't leave her lips, and Azra still couldn't bring herself to be mean. "I don't want it anymore," she repeats her same words, but this time, it's entirely too clear as to what she's referring to.
"Oh, okay," he says, looking down at the bag, then puts it down. He doesn't care about it in the slightest when there's something bigger and unclear happening right now between them. Azra's a loud individual—loud in the way she expresses every emotion she feels, and loud with her thoughts. Right now, her detached, quiet demeanor feels loud too, yet her thoughts aren't. There's something going on in her head that she's not saying. Not yet anyway. He walks with her, wanting to close the distance between them, but he doesn't, because it's clear as daylight Azra doesn't want him near her, and that alone hurts. If it wasn't the way she looked at him, like he's a stranger, then it's this. And the bomb is dropped—she wants to end things. "Oh." He blinks a little, taken aback by her words, the expression on his face falling, not bothering to hide that this saddens me. Naturally, being the overthinker that he is, Ren goes quiet and into his own head, thinking back on the last time they hung out, if he had done or said something wrong, anything that rubbed her the wrong way. He doesn't think he did. So he goes back even farther in time. He doesn't remember anything particularly alarming, so maybe there was something that happened and he didn't notice. "Oh," he says again, clearing his throat before his brows furrow a bit, trying to articulate the jumble of thoughts into words. He's trying to slow down his brain, but he's already wondering the of why of it all, and if that means Azra will no longer want to see him at all, if that means he's losing her too, something he's not sure he can handle. "Why? I mean, did I do something wrong?"
Ley: yeah, i agree
Ley: for what it's worth, i don't really think anybody should be listening to rory at all
Ley: and i mean that as both her music AND her pointing fingers and starting fights in the chat for no reason
Ley: me? i'm okay. kind of. i honestly really thought the murders were over and done with but i guess not
Ley: just makes me really worried about everyone, more than usual. you better keep yourself safe, okay?
Ren: i don't think anyone actually takes her seriously, it's not just her
Ren: the murders have started again and everyone's being so cool and collected
Ren: [UNSENT] was adee not the killer then? or is there a new one?
Ren: yeah... you keep yourself safe too, aleyna. please
Maybe if her feelings for Ren weren't so genuine, she would have been fine with the casual sex, and the way she was something fun and exciting to him. Azra can still remember when she agreed to things in the first place, when she'd gone along with something that would never feel real all while a sharp pang hit her heart. It was fun until she went home and she felt so hollow, ignoring Ren and his presence everywhere in public. She couldn't get jealous, she couldn't get angry, because she'd agreed to nothing more. Getting rid of what reminded her of him was the first step. And then she realized she didn't have much of his belongings in her possession, the ultimate sign that they really were nothing. That outside of what happened in the bedroom, they weren't anything special. It had been gnawing at her since she agreed, but none of this was what she wanted. She didn't want to be friends with benefits with him, because it was clear she wanted so much more. And he didn't. Secretly, she feels nervous standing outside his door, and each second before he opens it feels entirely too long. "Hi," she says, tone as neutral as she could possibly be, all while twiddling the strings of the bag in between her fingers. Maybe it was better to just get this over with quickly, that way she could move on and not say more than she needed to. After a moment, Azra extends her hand, putting the small gift bag she'd found lying around her storage closet between the two. "Here's your shirt back. I had it cleaned when I got the rest of my laundry done." She can't quite meet his eyes, finding the chipped paint on the side of his door more interesting than his expression for her own sake. "You were right, it's not my style."
It doesn't take long for Azra to show up after he's arrived home from work. He had just finished refilling the water bowls for his cats when he hears the door, rushing to open it. "Hey," he says, smiling, glad to see her. Her presence has been so good, it made everything a little more bearable and lighter. With the deaths starting again, he's been irritable and on edge, anxious again when they were supposedly promised to be safe again. What the hell is going on in this town? "Sorry, I haven't yet changed my shirt. It's got Ash's fur all over it." There's a sheepish expression as he looks down at it before starts to reach down to kiss her cheek, only for her to extend her hand, putting the bag between them. "Why are you returning it? Didn't we agree it's yours now?" The smile on his lips gradually starts to disappear as he catches on Azra's change in demeanor, the way she doesn't look at him, and the way her tone sounds unusually detached. His brows furrow in concern. "Are you okay? What's wrong?" he asks, then shakes his head. "Wait, come in first. Sorry," he adds, moving to let her in. Maybe it's the fact that he's already anxious, but Azra's visit doesn't seem to be something that'll bode well. He doesn't want to jump to conclusions, but he can't it when she looks nervous and avoidant. They've been hanging out for a while, have seen her what she's like when she's happy, when she's upset, when she's angry, so he likes to believe he knows her enough to predict the current situation.
Ren: hey aleyna
Ren: [UNSENT] people are dying again and it's happening again and everyone's making it out to be like some sort of joke
Ren: i'm fine, yeah, i just find people's attitude in the chat a little weird
Ren: are you alright?
She knows better, and at this point, Azra can't really fool herself into thinking there was something more here. She can still remember the sinking feeling of realizing that what was happening between them was exactly what she had feared. That Ren liked her for the superficial reasons that every other guy did, and that he didn't want something more than what a girl like her could offer. She knows that he's going through something, but isn't she dealing with her own trauma too? But Azra is so desperate right now, to cling onto something good happening to her, something good happening to her after months of pure unhappiness that she's biting her tongue on everything she doesn't like, at least in front of him. She toys with the edges of the shirt she wears as he speaks, eyes focused on him and trying to understand this game he is playing. "You're telling me that you don't have any weapons? Four of you and nobody thought to sneak a shiv into these freaky ass woods? That doesn't sound realistic," she points out rolling her eyes. "I don't know, can't you pick off a piece of wood or something and knock the bitch out?" This game does not sound fun, or at least Ren's description isn't helping much. When she can pull his attention away from the game, Azra takes the chance because she is sure he played a little when she'd been sleeping anyway. "Of course, I did," she boasts proudly with a smirk because clearly she'd take precedence over some game he could play anytime. Azra wraps one of her arms around his neck, feeling the warmth of his body and letting out a sigh. "You should know… I'm not wearing anything under this," she says lowly, taking his hand and moving it under her t-shirt, right on top of her bare waist, before bringing her lips to his.
"We can have flashlights to temporarily blind the killer during a chase. So, it slows them down. Or like, there are pallets, which are obstacles which we can drop to slow down the killer too," he clarifies. "But unfortunately, I can't sneak in a weapon. Or else I'd have killed the plague and the clown right away—they're killers, too. The plague and the clown have made me irrationally rage before. Though there's this new killer, the skull merchant, she's actually worse. I don't understand what the developers thought creating her," he rambles on, rolling his eyes a little at the thought, getting a little too invested in this entire thing, only realizing after he's said all that. "Sorry, that was a lot of info dump." He chuckles a little, clearing his throat before he brushes his lips against hers. "I was definitely going to win this... Now my team will come for my neck," he jokes. He doesn't care that he's lost the game, not when Azra's sitting in his lap and has her arms around him. His body grows hot all over, his hand moving to trace her bare skin, kissing her back. He gets off his chair, picking her up as he does and laying her down gently on his bed, not breaking the kiss, which is equal parts gentle and passionate. "Can you stay here today?" he asks after a few moments. "Unless... I mean, you have plans, of course. Then forget I asked," he's quick to amend, reaching to brush a loose strand of her hair back. He doesn't have to be at the vet clinic today and doesn't have plans, so he's free the entire day, and he wants to spend it with her.
"I liked the fucking - video where they're supposed to vote out the fucking, vegan or whatever - and she's real pissy and accusatory and everyone just fucking hates her. That was pretty hilarious." Nowadays - her only source to watch YouTube is her shitty, cracked beyond repair phone that overheats if she opens most apps. "If you hate the sensation of losing all feeling and being unable to fucking - move your body, then yeah it's terrifying. I honestly just felt like I was in a fucking, sensory deprivation tank with shadow people watching over me. I think that's how alien abductions go." Not much phased June - there wasn't much left that could; she's seen too much. "It will be." Her tone's - determined, which is almost concerning. "It felt fucking - nice. I even got my ankle monitor taken off, same day - instant fucking freedom. Could get drunk without hearing my parole officer trying to contact me through the fucking thing. How's Mei?" It's - rare of Juniper to ask about others, but rarer for her to ask the people she's concerned about, herself. But Mei is ... Mei, and is one of the few people June actually likes more than a slight toleration.
"Wait, I haven't seen that. It seems funny. People get pissy sometimes in these videos and I can't even tell you why. So videos are painfully scripted and you can tell." Though it remains something funny to watch and something good to do when he wants to pass the time. He scrunches his nose at June's words. "Yeah, no, I'll pass on that. I've lived twenty-seven years without having one and I'd like to keep it like that." He chuckles lightly. They seem to be talking about it so casually, though he's never seen anything truly affect them. June's tone about the heist makes him blink a little, because if he thought it was a joke two seconds ago, he's doubting it now. "Don't get yourself in trouble, June... If you need help, ask me, okay?" He can't help but grow concerned. "Oh? Well congrats on taking it off. Must feel freeing." He smiles. "Mei's doing well, especially that she's out of the hospital." He won't tell June that despite that, Ren's still worried about her, because what Mei went through that night is indescribable, and she hasn't been bringing it up or talking about it at all, which kinda reminds him of what he's doing.
"Valid," Fey immediately agreed. She loved spending time with Azra too. Ren's next words made a smirk form on her lips, just because they sounded so soft, especially because she understands a lot of people look at Azra's presence similarly to how they look at her own. Abrasive. Strong. Sometimes too much but it really isn't their fault majority of the townspeople can't handle a secure woman's personality. Opinions were always valid until people start to not agree with them. "Nah, I'm not worried about that. She can handle herself and you're smart enough to know hurting her will just hurt you too," Fey pointed out. "But you and I both know she's amazing," she murmured. "Is this just like... a fuck buddies situation or...? Who else are you sleeping with?" Questions she probably shouldn't ask, knew she didn't really have the right to, but that never stopped her. Fey needed to get this information for her best friend. "You gonna ask her to be your girlfriend or what?"
Ren smiles a little when Fey says Azra can handle herself, nodding at her in agreement. She is one of the boldest and strongest people he knows. Her directness had shocked him at first, not used to someone being so forward with what they need and with their interest, but he quickly grew to like that about her. "She is amazing." Fey's questions makes him pause, clearing his throat at the directness of it. Fey is another bold person he knows. It's not surprising at all they're best friends. He didn't mind if this entire chat was going to get back to Azra; however, if there was anything she wanted to know, he'd rather she ask him. How does he even answer this? "It's just her," he answers. "I'm not with anyone else." Because even though they agreed on something casual and open, Ren isn't interested in anyone else, nor is he the type to sleep around. He coughs at her next question. "—You're asking the deep stuff." What did Azra tell her? "Um." He pauses, rubbing the nape of his neck. "We both agreed to keep things... as they are right now. I mean, I like her a lot." He clears his throat. How does he explain to her what's going inside of his head? That he's been going through so much? "I don't know if she wants more than what we are right now." Even though the signs have pointed to a yes, Ren's a bit slow and daft when it comes to matters like this. How he sees it, Azra agreed to things and didn't outright express wanting something official and serious. "But also... um, I don't know if I'd be what she wants or needs and I want to be that."
"It's not bad, it's just not... good?" Mei phrases, as if it makes it sound any better. He worked hard on this awful, burnt pizza so she doesn't want to completely crush his hopes. "You could open one, I just wouldn't recommend you being the one to make the food, that's all," she retorts with a grin. "They were so dry in the beginning, Ren! I used to always get the measurements mixed up, and I don't baked flour is meant to taste good." Though, she'd gotten significantly better at least. "Can we get Hawaiian pizza? I'm craving some pineapple."
Ren grins at her attempt to phrase it better. "Not good, bad... potato potahto." He had been looking forward to the pizza, and he's a little too hungry, but it's not a big deal. At least now they can have some actual good pizza. "I can't afford a chef, unfortunately, and it doesn't seem like my skills will get the place anywhere," he says, chuckling. "Honestly, I barely remember, because the recent times have been great. Though now I'm craving something sweet. After pizza, we're going to need something sweet." He grins. "Hawaiian it is." With that, he orders what they want and moves to discard the pizza.
a snort escapes mouth, hoodie almost wanting to say something a bit too heinous. with eyes constantly checking the news channels whenever he leaves it on for background noise, heart rate spiking whenever there's something out of the norm. something to be concerned about. none so far, but yet … the uneasy feeling liners. hasn't really gone away since the first murder, bodies buried and cold but hoodie still remembers. "i mean, i'd like to think it wouldn't --- but it's moreso just to be entertaining, even if it doesn't. don't want to think about death all day every day, you know?" though it's hard to do now. seems like every day, someone drops. "hopefully. but god likes to spite me, so i probably jinxed it. sorry buddy." he's not, actually, because who the fuck knows.
This entire year has been filled with tragedies. After the wave of murders, everyone naturally thought this would be the end of it. And then it started again. Would it happen a third time? The mere idea of it frightens Ren, because he's still reeling from what happened that it doesn't feel like it's over. "It's an insensitive prank. There's a lot of other pranks to do." He doesn't see reason for anyone to do it, but Nightrest is Nightrest, there must be someone nonchalant who thinks it's a fun joke to pull that sort of prank. His brows furrow a little at Hoodie's words, before a light smile forms, because it seems like the other's joking. "You jinxed the entire town just like that?"
"Of course. As you should be, it's expected." she said holding back a grin. "Don't you worry about anything at all though. I got everything ready to go. All the paint needed, I already tried some swatches for your skin tone, although I do have to test that one out on you in a minute." Apple moves around the room looking for the pallet where she tried a few different shades of his color. Coming back up to him, she raised the pallet besides him and squinted her eyes to get a better look at which one matched. "That's too bad, but I bet you could sell it on ebay for a pretty buck, then." she stood back for a moment glancing him over, "You seem to have a nice and soft build overtop your clothes, but I can always enhance if you'd like." Apple figured that he was squeamish enough without her adding on more by continuing to talk so she walked over to the little station she had set up for herself, and took a seat on the stool behind her canvas. "How about if we go slow? Start with your top, then we can move on down as I finish each part? You can keep your drawers on for the rest of the painting."
He can't tell if he finds this odd because he has the tendency to get nervous or if it simply is just odd. Either way, it didn't matter because he can't properly register what Apple's saying. If she's trying to comfort her and ease his nerves, make the whole thing seem simpler than he's making it out to be, then it is unfortunately not working. Whatever she says, the point remains—she wants to paint on him naked and talking about his body like it's a piece of canvas. He appreciates that she's willing to take it slow with him, make sure he feels comfortable enough, but he's not sure he'll ever adapt if he actually goes with it. "I'm..." A pause. "Okay, pause a little," he says lightly, chuckling a little nervously. He feels a little bad she's prepared this entire set-up and the color palette only for him to be saying the next words. "I think... Maybe I'm not artistic enough or something, but I don't know, I'm finding it odd just taking off my clothes so you paint on me." Do friends regularly strip naked so one of them paints on the other? He finds that hard to believe. "I'm not exactly comfortable with that," he admits. Apple might be someone close to him, but that whole project she has in mind doesn't work with him. He shakes his head a little, as if to compose his thoughts into words. "I'm sorry you had to prepare this entire thing. I don't mean to sound so... dismissive or anything. Um, I can help you in any way you want if you want to paint something else? Or any other project?"
She starts to hate the way she softens with his words because that isn't what this is. They aren't a couple. And this isn't anything more than something sexual. Feeling something more would be stupid, and she'd only hurt herself more than she was already doing. But Azra can't help but smile, nudging his shoulder. "I'll keep it. It's not my style, but I can wear it when I go to bed." Another thing Azra hates is that she genuinely likes to hear Ren ramble off about something she doesn't care about, how he seemed so invested in his game and it was cute. Because she normally hates when people talk too much. "So... what do you have to do to win? Kill the nurse? Does your character have like, a glock or something to take her out?" she asks, still not getting the point of it all. Why would he want to play these stupid horror games when they'd already lived through one? She continues to tease, because it's enticing to wonder if he was strong enough to stay composed with all of her disruptions. "I want you to win," she clarifies, adjusting her body to straddle him, kissing his jaw in between each word she says. "But where's the fun if I don't make it a little hard for you?" Azra adds, one of her hands trailing down his chest.
"Okay, it's yours now," he says with a grin, a little relaxed now that he didn't make a fool out of himself. Despite the label they put on their relationship, that it was sexual, the lines were clearly blurring. Their relationship didn't feel purely sexual for him when there were clear feelings involved; however, he's not in the right headspace to be a good boyfriend to her and be what she wants, and if they were to become exclusive and official, he wanted to do this right. He wanted to be what she deserved. He can't even talk to Adee about her, when she had hurt her and almost killed her too. Granted, he hadn't been able to talk about Adee with any of the people he's close to, because she has traumatized every single one of them one way or the other, so it's something he's bottling in and letting in fester inside of him. "I have to escape this map by repairing five generators with my team while also escaping a killer who's chasing all four of us. The nurse is a menace because she can warp. It's a pain in my ass." He chuckles. "No, I don't have a glock. I have nothing actually to take her out, I have perks that can help me survive, but that's about it. The killers are actually way too overpowered, it's crazy," he continues, going off on a tangent. Once he's asking about this, he can't stop. Sorry, Azra. When she continues to tease, his attention deviates from the game again on the feel of her lips and hands on his skin, his eyelids feeling a little heavy as his body grows a little hotter. "Seeing how this is going... I'll probably end up losing," he lets out. "You're making it impossible actually," he says, though there's a smile curving up his lips. It's a few seconds before he gets downed again. "Shit. I lost," he says, chuckling but letting go of his mouse and keyboard to wrap his arms around her waist, turning his face so their lips brush. "You distracted me."
"No - I've only ever used YouTube to watch fucking - Family Guy clips and car crash compilations." And those old anime music videos where the music's either Evanescence or nightcored Linkin Park - but that's embarrassing. "It mostly just gave me sleep paralysis afterwards - but it was actually fucking peaceful, honestly." All of her bedmates were kickers in their sleep - like if the seven dwarves were cramped into one big bed instead of several, except the bed was a full-sized mattress, and there were only three of them. Sometimes four, if Keefer and his girlfriend were on good terms that night. "No - it's fucking, fine. I'm planning a mega-heist using my connections on the inside." She's going to pawn some stolen shit and pay the fee - of course. June raises a dismissive hand - because Switzerland doesn't get it, a small roll of her eyes. "I'm fine - like I said, shit heals. Maybe I'll get a cool scar on my lip out of it - but that's it. I'm not fussing." Remembers going to bed with a frozen pack of peas on her face - and waking up with the bag empty, peas nowhere in sight. Fucking roommates. "It's nice," She settles on, eventually - tone a little softer, not her usual aggression. "Even with - all the stupid shit that happened - at least it's normal stupid shit. I like waking up and not dealing with murder in the morning - or afternoon, or whatever."
"I've lost hours of my life on YouTube, going down the rabbit hole. I'd start with some Minecraft video and end up with those Guess-the-Flavor videos," he says this, when he's watched three straight hours of YouTube last night before going to sleep. "Sleep paralysis was peaceful? That's not what I hear." He's luckily never had it, but he's heard it's a scary experience. Though he supposes after living the horrors of the past few months, does anything scare the townspeople anymore? Ren thinks June is joking about a literal heist, so he just smiles. "Let me know if the heist is successful." He totally doesn't know they're being serious about this. He nods quietly at their words, because it's exactly how he feels. He's heard about a lot of crazy stuff that happened during the party, but he'd take this over Catherine Graves's face on the news any day. "You can say that again. It felt normal for a little bit." Because even though Adee was caught, things don't feel normal to Ren. "I wasn't sure I'd be up for a party, but I'm glad I went." It was partially because it was for Mei, and partially because he needed to get mind numbingly drunk.
