Name: Silas Henry Rochester Age: Thirty-Eight Residence: All Over Kismet, Frequents Downtown Birthday: May. 21. 1986, Gemini Gender: Cis Man, He/Him/His Occupation: Music Merchandiser at Vinyl Fantasy and Musician Relationship Status: Single Town Activities: Mindful Madness, Open Mic, Trivia Nights Hobbies & Interests: Playing Instruments (Guitar, Piano Drums), Writing Music, Singing, Thrifting, Making Clothing, Travelling Pets: Standard Poodle Named Melor Vehicle: Yellow 1969 Volkswagen T1
TW: Parental Estrangement
Silas Rochester grew up in Kismet, where the walls of his home were lined with crosses, bibles sat out on nearly every table, and each Sunday morning began with hymns. Music was woven within him and his faith long before it ever became his passion. When he was just a boy, his father left the home, a result of his parent’s rocky relationship. They stayed together as long as they could, both because of their son, and fear of sin; no matter how much they tried, it wasn’t enough. This was Silas’s first taste of loss, leaving him with a hole he could never quite fill. This loss brought him closer to his mother, and therefore God and the church. He prayed daily, begging for his father’s return. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to Silas, that day would never come. In time, Silas expected to feel better about his father leaving, but instead, he began to feel worse.
The departure of his father left Silas with a hole that he never felt he could fill. He spent all of his time in school work or in the church with his mother, talking to his pastors or other members of the church. Silas's mother was his rock, and he was her's. During this time, Silas and his mother found therapy through the church. Every Sunday after church, he found solace in their pastor, a man not much older than Silas's father. Silas was given many jobs to keep him busy, but none stuck, except one. When Silas expressed his dislike for the previous jobs, his pastor offered him a position in the choir. This offer was something Silas could not pass up, and choir became his full time job outside of school. He was the first to show up every Sunday, and the first to learn every song.
As Silas aged, he experimented with many different hobbies, but the one thing he never let go of was his love for music. One day while exploring the attic of his home, he came across his father's old box of vinyls and a dusty guitar. Teaching himself how to play became his comfort, a way to connect to his father, and something to patch up the hole that he left. After learning the basics, he began playing for his church, and soon after was taught how to play piano and drums. Music for Silas was his friend, his therapy, and his deliverance. When he was happy, sad, angry, he had music. Every day after school, Silas could be found in his room, experimenting with his guitar, plucking along with songs.
At around thirteen years old, Silas wrote his first song. It wasn't perfect, but it was his, the one thing he had ultimate control over. His father leaving was the catalyst to his creativity. Music was everything for him, more than ever before. He'd often play his songs for his church, and eventually began playing hymns and original music in the centre of Kismet. The melodies brought him a connection with the community, and with himself. He was no longer sad, but he continued to carry a deep anger within him.
By the time Silas was in his mid twenties, he'd written hundreds of songs. At this point, he'd begun to pull away from the church, and his faith. The anger he carried never once left—it grew. An anger at his father, at the church, and at God. He never understood what he'd done at such a young age to feel this way, and the resentment within him was like a fire he could never put out. He no longer played music for his church, instead picking up solo gigs at local bars. A name was being made for himself, and with this, he found a new purpose.
At twenty five, Silas moved out of his mother's home, and purchased a small apartment. Living alone was everything Silas never knew he needed. He continued to pull away from his faith, now no longer going to church at all, but his relationship with his mother was as strong as ever. Every Saturday he played gigs, and occasionally throughout the week he would play guitar on the streets. He was writing music almost daily, and always brushing up his instrumental skills. Within a few years of playing gigs in bars, he was getting requests from venues in other cities; this is when he began to travel. It started with travelling all over Oregon, Washington, California, even as far as New York. This was his life.
Silas never intended to get into any sort of long term relationship, being busy with travel and his music career, but, things all changed one night in New York. On Silas's thirty second birthday, he finished up a small gig and decided to attend a charity event at a local boutique, where he met Blake West. Despite his reluctance to begin any sort of relationship, their connection bloomed into a six-year relationship. No matter how much he kept moving, always chasing his childhood dreams, he kept time for Blake and her child. For Silas, this was his found family, something he never expected to have. It was some of the best years for him. Blake wanted something more serious, and at the time, it wasn't something Silas could provide. Though things ended, it's a time Silas still holds great respect for.
Today, Silas works at Vinyl Fantasy, but still travels as often as he can. He bought an old Volkswagen T1 and fixed it up. The streets of Kismet have become his home, where he lives in his van—not because he has to, but because he wants to. He doesn't like to stay in one place too long, often parking in random areas of Kismet just to change up the scenery. He tends to go on small trips by himself, but there is something about Kismet Harbor that always pulls him back. Over time, he repaired his relationship with his faith, and though he's pulled back, he continues to believe.
