Full Name: Rose Carter Age/Birthday: 21 Class/Occupation: student/barista Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts Relationships: Sarah Carter, Lucy Hart/Elizabeth Carter, Cass Carter (sisters), Mike Moretti (best friend), Liam Thompson (sister’s partner), Sonny Moretti (unknown sister’s fiancé) Why are they participating in (premise/event)? Rose’s participation is unwitting. She neither realizes that there is a mob-war raging nor that she has a sister on either side, little less one on both. Rose was simply a girl who grew up in Boston and went to school in New York City and that, she has yet to learn, was perhaps her fatal mistake. Her parents died bloody and she was a fool to think she might do anything else. What was their childhood like? Rose was the youngest of four girls. When she was born, Sara was nine, Elizabeth was six, and Cassandra was two. The undisputed baby of the Carter family, Rose grew up with a loving father and four doting mothers. She of course went through the stages of wishing to be older, to be more sophisticated and capable like her older sisters, but Rose never really got the chance to be babied like many in her position. Those were some of happiest years of her entire life. When she, herself, was nine, her parents were shot and killed in a subway of Boston. The girls were all at home, gathered in their little apartment, waiting for the good news that would never come. They were fortunate, in that Sarah was already 18, so that they weren’t split up or put into the foster system, but they even Rose realized they were a tremendous burden on their barely adult sister – not that she ever complained. From the night of her parents’ murder, Rose began to have terrible nightmares, filled with blood and angst and death. To this day, they have not fully subsided, though most nights now, she sleeps without a tremor. In those days, however, she was afraid to go to sleep and usually awoke screaming. Fortunately, her sister Cass was always there to console her, to talk her through it, to reassure her that while her parents were still gone, the rest of them weren’t. Sometimes the dreams were different. Sometimes, all she wanted was to stay there, with them, to be dead like they were, to never leave the twilight netherworlds where they could still be together. Those dreams, even she knew, were by far the worst: especially when, afterall, every morning she still woke up to find them gone all over again. One night, though, that wasn’t entirely true. Elizabeth had taken the suffering worst and, one day, she ran away. Though they searched long and diligently for her – still holding out some vague hope that perhaps one day they’ll find her – they have not heard from her at all since that night. What were they like as a child? Rose has always been extremely intelligent and this was even obvious when she was still quite small. As long as they were both alive, her mother would sit and read to her, every night. Rose devoured every book presented – they weren’t little childish stories – she read Little Women, Tom Sawyer, Socrates, Aeschylus, Anna Sewell. After her mother died, Rose did not stop reading. Rather, if anything, she gave herself almost entirely over to the world of fiction, discovering new worlds and possibilities, stories that always ended happily, where even orphans can learn to succeed and even, in some cases, rediscover the things they’d lost. Compassionate from day one, Rose was nevertheless rigid in being right, being good. It’s what her parents would want and it’s what Sarah needed – she had enough on her plate. Rose knew she was loved and she threw herself all the more desperately into loving her two remaining family members. Nothing in the world could amount to the significance she put on what was left: protecting it, nurturing it. She built her entire world around them and swore to never allow anything to ever come between. Fastidious and quiet, Rose always had an air of sadness about her, to other children. As a result, she was avoided and mocked, but Rose grew not to care: she knew what mattered most and that was what remained of her family. As she grew older, Rose began to see opportunities slipping through her fingers. She learned to mask what she was feeling and wear a smile – and she learned to genuinely smile. Instead of constantly grieving her losses, she learned to instead cherish what she still had, to see how great her own fortune was and promised herself that she would never stop appreciating what she still had. Whatever she did, she’d always remember that tomorrow she might not still have it and she had to cherish it as long as she did. An odd kind of hope began to surge in her as well as a kind of sorrow for those less fortunate. Rose became the kind of girl who would look out for those in bad straights and do what she could to set them straight, to help them. She knew what it was to ache and she didn’t want to see others go through that. At the same time, however, there was a part of her – for all her empathy – that was forever closed off to strangers. She’d borne losses she didn’t think she could ever survive again and had built sturdy armor around herself: her heart wasn’t free or easy to find a permanent place in. Instead, she learned to push people away when they got too close. As she got older, her resolve lessened but was never forgotten – a terrible loss, and certainly one borne so young and at so impressionable an age – never really is. And now? Rose has, unfortunately, made plans her security. Predictability and certainty are her guards. If it can be plotted and quantified, it can make sense and be admitted. Rose became sure because she felt that was what was needed of her – the way to be less of a burden on her overworked sisters. She has not stopped or hesitated. Yet, early on she felt the pressure – though never placed on her – to be upbeat for her sisters. Sarah would always come home so exhausted from work and searching fruitlessly for Elizabeth that Rose felt she had to do her part. A tidy, orderly home was one answer; a hot meal was another, and she kept up these methods. Nevertheless, she soon found the most successful method of cheering her was a bright smile and a warm hug. Rose learned to be happy, to be upbeat. Afterall she had the greatest gift of all: she had two sisters who loved her beyond everything and three other family members who had as well, even if they were no longer there to share in it. Rose is a bit OCD. Time has helped her overcome this, but to the extent where she will still tidy up after someone when they’ve moved on because she’s been distracted the whole time. Order leads to an ordered mind, she’ll say, and there is nothing more rewarding than a well-ordered mind. What she really means, however, is there is nothing safer. Since she was nine years old, Rose has been constructing safety methods. She lives day-by-day with the terror that tomorrow something dire will happen. Afterall, for the Carters it wasn’t a one-time tragedy: they eventually lost one of their sisters, as well. What’s to stop any of that from happening again? Rose has a horror of being alone, of being deserted (not that she believes Sarah or Cass would ever willingly leave her). But she also has a sense that, if she isn’t strong enough, it is somehow inevitable. Her solution is to be always vigilant, to pick up on the details that others miss, to keep a strong mind prepared for any eventuality and that way maybe, just maybe, next time she can make a difference. Despite these things, Rose is still the baby of the family: she has still been the most sheltered from the realities of the harshness of their life. Vaguely, she’s aware that her exposure has been more limited, but she doesn’t necessarily understand quite the extent of it – certainly she’s ignorant to the awful deals Sarah has been forced to make and attributes loneliness and the same fears to which she is, herself, subject to Sarah’s desperation to have them back. Nonetheless, she can’t bring herself to be insensitive to Sarah’s needs and desires and finds herself torn. What are their plans for the future, if any? Rose believes in remaining flexible, but also in planning for any eventualities: that way, all your bases are covered. Plans B-Z are just as valuable as Plan A, maybe even more so. In any case, because of this, Rose doesn’t carve anything in stone. For instance, she’s not even sure where the end of the year will find her. Sarah has been pleading with herself and Cass to return to Boston. She’d personally prefer Sarah join them in NYC – away from the memories – but then again, if Elizabeth is out there looking for them, still, wouldn’t she go back to their old home? She understands where Sarah is coming from and she doesn’t like the idea of leaving her alone, especially with that. Rose is tempted to return for her sake, even if it’s the middle of her senior year. What motivates them? Rose’s motivations are interlocking joints. Mostly, she operates on a love made desperate by loss. She knows just how easily those she loves could slip through her fingers and she knows how helpless she was to stop it in any of the three cases she’s already experienced. She is terrified of being put in that position again and yearns to at least have a chance to fight for the things she loves and wants. Desperation pushes and pulls her in every direction till she feels strained and bruised but Rose is stubborn as the days are long: she won’t give up. Truthfully, little of these things make logical sense – when her mind is usually so sharply logical – but the deepest parts of ourselves rarely do. She knows well enough the results of inaction and doesn’t plan to ever let something slip away unguarded or unchecked again. Talents/Skills: Rose is nothing if not amazingly well-versed with literature, a bizarre assortment of pop culture references, and junk food. While these might be questionable capacities, she is not just personable but intelligent. In fact, the girl has been known to cry herself to sleep over receiving a B- in her classes. She has read an astonishing number of classics. This unabashed bookworm is dauntless and fun-loving. She is always up for laughter and is very good at making people smile, even if her broad sense of humor can go from dark and sarcastic to light and ridiculous in a confusing heartbeat. Both an excellent listener and happy to help those around her, Rose is always reliable. It isn’t hard to find her, either. Just check your local library or the nearest quiet corner and you’ll find her curled up with a cup of hot tea and her latest book. Her habits have not only given her excellent study habits, but have ensured that she is very knowledgeable on a rather vast range of topics. She has great problem-solving skills and is good at not only finding some agreeable compromise for everyone involved, but also at extrapolating a lot from a little. She’s quick to volunteer to help and she’s always happy to do. Quirks/Habits: Rose tends to flick her pen or pencil against the table when she’s thinking. In addition, she often presses her lips together, bites her lower lip, frowns in thought or runs her hands through her hair. Additionally, she has very expression brown eyes that often betray her. She neither knows that she perhaps should nor knows how to disguise what’s going through her head, when it comes to shielding her eyes. Hobbies: Rose’s number one hobby is unquestionably reading. It’s a fairly obsessive thing, if truth be told. She also relishes tea and can almost always be spotted curled up in some peaceful place with a piping hot cup of fresh tea and a new book (she seems to go through them at an astonishing rate and, thus, almost always has a different book on her person). Though she’s not at all good at it, Rose likes to try her hand at cooking and, thankfully, her mother had taught her something of the art of baking, which she expanded upon after her passing, an accomplishment she likes to try her hand at. She spends a lot of time watching movies, good or bad…but especially really, really horrible, movies with her sisters and can recite lines to the most random assortment of them. She enjoys people-watching and she and Cass keeps up a running commentary on the people around them, knowing and loving each and every one of their quirks. She loves art, architecture, books, movies, music, eccentricities, marshmallows, tv shows, fashion, laughter, cupcakes, baking, knitting, scarves, water, junk food, landscapes, getting things done, studying, school, that sense of accomplishment, organization, quick quips, banter, teasing, really bad puns/jokes, word-smithing, rainy days, cute umbrellas, cute boys, hiding from cute boys, libraries, quiet, woods, trees, finding the perfect study spot, working out a compromise that suits everyone, helping people, being of use to her sisters, fun people, dreaming of far-off places, a hot cup of tea, trying new recipes, making lists, being right, knowing what’s going on, her simple life, NYU, NYC, fireplaces, sleeping in late, mornings, getting enough sleep, looking out the window, playing cards, history, learning foreign languages, giggling for no good reason, quirky people, trying on new outfits, picking out the right jewelry, trying new hairstyles, hot showers, a nice soaking bath, dancing around the house for no reason at all, blasting her music, not being lost, a good attitude, a can-do attitude, long walks with nowhere to go and nothing to do, her iPod, dancing in the rain, smiling at people as she passes, making people smile, daydreaming, sly comments, photography, her camera, dark rooms, real film, drawing, charcoal, new books, old books, massive and winding used bookstores, getting lost in the little nooks and crannies of such bookstores, apples, eating out, take out, fresh flowers, running jokes, inside jokes, a little healthy insanity, travel, accents, dimples, kind eyes, a hardy handshake, honest eyes, kind words, bright smiles, justice, learning something new, pizza, ice cream, a good cry every once in awhile, staying up late with her sisters for no good reason, chips, fries, driving, ice skating on the pond, singing to the radio, making up her own lyrics to random songs, not eating deviled eggs, scrambled and fried eggs, omelettes, bacon cheeseburgers, hanging out with friends, scrabble, card tricks, chess, cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, animals, climbing trees and reading in their branches for hours, a good old rational debate, kind words, running, being kissed in the rain. Best Quality: A smarter or kinder young girl you’d be hard-pressed to find. This young woman is about as compassionate, generous, and helpful as they come. She does her best to always be of use and is quite a busy little thing. Nonetheless, she will always take time out of her hectic schedule to be there for someone. Nothing is more important than the people in her life. She will always see the good in people and encourage it and loves nothing more than to make those around her smile. She is always ready with a smile and just loves to see others do the same. Worst Flaw: Rose is a stubborn person, she is proud, and these are two traits that do not often go well hand-in-hand. When her dander is up, she has quite the temper and this has been known to put her in quite the pickle. Admittedly, bringing out the more feisty side of her is not often easy, but it’s definitely there if you’re not careful. When she’s angry, she can be a bit judgmental, which never ends well. Seeing things mostly in black and white isn’t especially helpful, either. Rose might mean well, but sometimes all these weaknesses get the better of her, forcing her to be rash, jump to conclusions and, ultimately, to hurt people in ways she inevitably regrets. Sometimes meaning well just isn’t enough. Personality: Rose is a dreamer, long and short. In fact, the girl has the tendency to get so caught up in her thoughts and daydreams that, occasionally, she misses wonderful moments in her real life and doesn't even realize it. Gregarious and fun-loving, Rose is a caring individual. Intelligent and well-read, she is always ready with a smile and, if you're lucky (or un-), a sly comment to boot. Rose has a plethora of interests, including (but not limited to) reading, photography, movies, drawing, and attempts at cooking (with mixed results). Fun, effervescent, and effusive, Rose is friendly and a people person. Though quirky and sometimes gaining odd looks as a result, Rose doesn't mind and, in fact, only derives more joviality from the fact. Rose's worst fault is probably her tendency to hide all her emotions under the show of being perky and happy. While she genuinely is peppy all the time, even when she's down, Rose tends to behave as if everything's alright. This is not to say that Rose lets herself get walked all over, which she does not, but Rose's choice of armor is jollity. Rose is a warm and loving person. Genuinely caring about people can hurt, but Rose is one to help people out, if she can. In all truth, she does not necessarily always pick up on when people need help, what with her head up in the clouds, and her romantic dreams of a world where her family might somehow – impossibly – finally be reunited, but if she does, she will be there with tissues, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, and a possible solution, if one can be produced. Though it is not always obvious from her vivacious antics, Rose knows what it's like to be hurt and one thing she cannot stand is to see others hurt. Though she can be stubborn, she is also quite compassionate and can err on the side of sensitive. She is, however, unwilling to back down from her principles and will stick to her guns if the occasion calls for it. True, she can also be a bit naïve, but in other ways she has a kind of wisdom beyond her years, being able to see where the good in everyone lies, which she is always trying her best to bring out in them, having faith in everyone around her. She certainly believes in giving out second chances. There is, however, one line that is unforgivable if crossed: if you ever hurt her sisters, Rose will never forget it and she will make sure you never do; certainly you will never be allowed within ten miles of them, again, if she can help it. When actually incited to anger, the usually kind and sensible girl can be rash and incredibly blunt. At that point, she will let you know exactly what she thinks of you and, unfortunately, sometimes even blurt out things she later wishes she could take back. Nonetheless, she is capable of admitting when she’s wrong…but on the other hand, even if she regrets saying it out loud, if she believes she was right, she will never take it back because, well, that would be dishonest. Unfortunately, she hasn’t quite mastered the art of the little white lie. Rose does, afterall, tend to see things in black and white and doesn’t always see the shades of grey that border in between. Generally speaking, she’s a happy and upbeat person who doesn’t seem to have a care in the world. Don’t take this for a moment to mean she’s a truly flighty person. She’s extremely dutiful and certainly has a mind of her own. Rose is unrelentingly loyal towards and protective of her small, close-knit group of friends and she would never in a thousand years allow anything to happen to them, if she could prevent it. She is, afterall, a rather brave girl in her own way and she’s not afraid to fight for what she believes in. She might be a wallflower, for the most part, but don’t believe for a second that she doesn’t have confidence. Talk to her once and you’ll figure out that’s not the case. She can be a little OCD about a lot of things and she’s very quick to make lists and make decisions based on pro/con lists, as she does have a tendency to be indecisive, especially when it comes to big life decisions and wants to always be sure she’s on absolutely the best possible path. Still, even so, she’s very quick to laugh at herself and acknowledge when she’s tripped up, if what she’s done impacts someone else. On the other hand, she would rather hide what’s wrong, so as not to bother others and she always tries to fix her own problems. She doesn’t want to be a burden and she also believes in herself, but sometimes everyone needs help. She needs to learn that, sometimes, it’s ok to be in over your head. Truth be told, she has no idea just how vulnerable she really is in all the wrong ways. Short/Long Term Goals: Though she’d never admit it, Rose doesn’t know exactly what she wants, not really. She loves drawing and photography and, well, art, architecture, history, writing, culture, languages…the humanities. But having a general, vague sense of what you love isn’t always enough. Not when you’re a planner like Rose and, frankly, not knowing what she’s going to do is terrifying because that makes writing up lists extremely difficult and, without lists how can she plan and if she can’t plan…how will she survive? She’s told everyone that she knows exactly what she’s after: english. She says she’s shooting for being a journalist or a professor or something like that…but saying those things and knowing them are two different things. She could tell you some things she wants to see in her future: a bohemian existence of travel and art and love and friendship and some really good wine…but getting there is easier said than done. Until then, she will keep up the masquerade that she knows exactly what she’s doing, but the truth isn’t always that simple. Romantic History: For many years, Rose had no earthly idea of just how pretty or attractive she was. Through much of high school, she sailed by more or less oblivious to the fact that boys were being nice to her for these kinds of reasons and taking any attentions at face value: they must be nice boys. Truthfully, she had very little in the way of romantic experience, most of her life having been focused on her raltionship with her sisters and, otherwise, on bookwormish nature. She had crushes here and there, of course, but she wrote most of them off for good reason: they were nothing more. She’d go on one or two hang-outs with a boy and a friend group, but nothing really progressed from there. It wasn’t till college that things changed. As these things generally go, there was one boy in particular, Ryan Parker. He was intelligent, kind, and he liked her too. Late night studying, shared new experiences…they all led to the usual route and before Rose even knew it, they were dating, steadily. It wasn’t until he said those three little words, sophomore year, that she realized the danger she was in. Suddenly, she started to think about her future, her situation, about him in those things. She realized the path she was heading down and she started to think about her sisters. Sarah or Cass living on their own, if the others all moved on. She thought of all the losses they’d endured and how they’d only been able to weather the storms together – and she thought about what would happen if someday they needed her, and she wasn’t there. The horror was crippling. Without assigning much of a reason, Rose broke things off with Ryan. From then on, she shunted those kinds of feelings to the side, avoiding and ignoring them, refusing to let them enter her brain. She needed to stay on the path she was on: she couldn’t afford to think like a regular young woman. She was a Carter and tragedy followed them, wherever they went. She needed to remember that. Struggles: Rose can be extremely stubborn and, because she’s so quick to believe she is better off with just her sisters and herself, she hesitates to let others in or let others help her. This propensity has caused her difficulty in the past and threatens to cause her more in the future, especially as she unwittingly steps into the middle of a crime war. Being willing to make sacrifices for the greater good isn’t all it takes in life. Sometimes, the humility to know you can’t beat everything yourself is a big part of getting by and that’s something Rose has yet to learn. Portrayal: Emma Watson
yousharknotpass
turnnoffyourmind
kaledo-art
andulkaphoto
jacobvanloon
theartofmadeline
jbbartram-illu
janainaart
