PART 1: THE BASICS
What is your full name?
“It is Ebenezer Forester, though most everyone calls me Benny, really.”
Where and when were you born?
“The eighteenth of March, in 1880. I was delivered about half an hour after my twin sister in my parents’ bedroom, if you’d believe. Yes, if it weren’t for our father’s medical knowledge I don’t think it would have happened without incident.”
Who are/were your parents? (Know their names, occupations, personalities, etc.)
“My father is Doctor Forester, best known for servicing St Maur and the other nearby towns for the best part of thirty years - though Zachariah, the eldest, he’s taken over now. Mother… well, you will have seen her at Church, naturally. She is always in the front pew. No, really, I’m sure you’ve seen her.”
Do you have any siblings? What are/were they like?
“Well, there is Zachariah, he’s my older brother. Kind fellow, warm hands. Takes after dad. And then there’s my twin Leah. She’s the quiet sort, but whip-crack intelligent, I tell you. Then there’s Samuel, my younger brother. He’s getting into medicine too, so, obviously, I am the black sheep. And finally there’s Sissy. Well, that’s what I call her, anyway. She’s… having a rough time of it at the moment…
“I do hope she’ll be alright, with time…”
Where do you live now, and with whom? Describe the place and the person/people.
“Oh Fairford House, still. Though I do not inhabit the room I was born in, obviously. That would be queer, wouldn’t it? I can only imagine how odd it may be in the future, when Zachariah takes up our parents’ room… Christ and I’ll have to find somewhere else, I’m sure, lest I become a hanger-on. A strange, lurking uncle to his children. How odd…”
“Hm? Oh! Yes, Fairford House. It’s beside the river, to the east of Tynthesfield and south of the sea. It’s nice, yes. Good windows, and warm- that’s key, isn’t it, on days like these? And uh, I live with the family, of course. We have some staff rooming in the attic. Our groom has a little space in the stables, which is good because my mare Clever can be quite demanding, and our carriage horses, too.
What is your occupation?
“I’m still studying, really, it’s uh… too soon to call. But uh, not medicine. I leave that to my brothers. I like… numbers…”
Write a bit about your physical appearance. (You might want to consider factors such as: height, weight, race, hair and eye color, style of dress, and any tattoos, scars, or distinguishing marks.)
“Well, gosh, what should I say? I suppose, if this were a novel or the like, as Leah reads, I might say…
“The young man, were it not for his enjoyment of fine suits, his spectacles, or the ever-present energy which suffused his form, was in fact rather ordinary. He was neither tall, nor short. His face, though generally pleasing, was absent of any particular characteristics which would make one extremely memorable. Being a man of leisure, and owing to his ancestors their frame, his figure was neither slim nor fat, though it could be noted that his calves were always slightly too-large - apparently I had an aunt who was similar. I uh… no, he was of eastern descent, which could be seen in his colouring and face, from his black hair to his brown eyes, and lashes which fanned only outwards without curl. What else, what else… oh, I have a couple of scars here, on my hand - see? - I fell whilst rock climbing when young. And my back has several pock-scars. But don’t worry, I shan’t force you to see them.”
To which social class do you belong?
“Middling.”
Do you have any allergies, diseases, or other physical weaknesses?
“Other than my eyes, I wouldn’t say so. Some have commented that I am unable to concentrate, but that’s poppycock. I just… need the right thing to concentrate on.”
Are you right- or left-handed?
“Right. I mean, isn’t everyone? Back at school there was a boy who tried to be left handed, but the teachers saw to that. You smudge the ink, otherwise, you know.”
What does your voice sound like?
“Well I won’t be booking out the Royal Albert Hall anytime soon! Haha, no, but I really feel it’s unremarkable. I am prone to getting a bit loud, though, so if you hear someone speaking loudly in town, that will be me.”
What words and/or phrases do you use very frequently?
“I have been trying to cut back on blaspheming, but it’s not going all too well. I often make jokes, and frequently say far too much far too quickly. I think, if I had to have a favourite word, it would be ‘truly’, not because I use it very often but simply because it is truly versatile. I don’t think I’ve really answered your question at all there, have I?”
What do you have in your pockets?
“Currently… Let’s see here. My cigarette case, and matches, of course. That… is a piece of paper which just says ‘Samuel’ on it, I don’t know why I have that. Oh, this is a button that fell off of my waistcoat- I must give that to the maid. This is some money, oh- and one more. And… three pretty rocks, one feather, and that - I think - used to be a flower. It’s just sort of dried up now, isn’t it? When did this jacket last get cleaned? Oh, and another couple of halfpennys. I think that’s it.”
Do you have any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?
“I don’t shut up, that’s one. I move a lot. I apparently make a sound in my throat when I take my first draw of a new smoke. I’m loud - like I said earlier. Uh, I also frequently forget to, or just plain ignore etiquette. I like to play tricks - not harmful ones! Just, tricks. Fun little things. Oh, and I’m absolutely bloody awful at replying to letters. Completely dreadful at it. My handwriting is rubbish, anyway, but- yes. Bad at letters.”
