OLIVER STONE ... NOLA TASK 001.
What would deeply hurt your character’s feelings?
Everything hurts Oliver’s feelings. He’s a very sensitive being. Only small criticism or minor inconvenience can completely throw him off and deeply hurt his heart. It’s both a curse and a blessing. But, if anyone really wanted to hurt his feelings to the point of no return, being cruel to him about his mental health and struggles mentally are the tip of the iceberg for him.
How does your character feel about their parents?
Oliver loves his parents with his entire heart and soul. He was lucky enough to grow up with endlessly supportive parents who love him unconditionally. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for them and that feeling is returned.
When did your character feel completely loved and accepted?
Whenever he’s with his family. But, a specific occasion where Oliver felt completely and totally loved and accepted was probably his wedding day. There was never a time where Oliver felt more loved. The day was perfect from start to finish.
What would have to happen to make your character speak out, or, defend a stranger, in public?
Any kind of injustice against another person. Oliver hates ignorance as he’s been a victim of blatant ignorance his entire life. At the smallest sign of prejudice against another human, Oliver will step in almost instantly.
What do they lie about?
What goes on inside his head. Oliver has struggled with his mental health ever since he was very young and sometimes the thoughts that plow through him are alarming and filled with unscathed sorrow. He hasn’t figured out how to open up about these thoughts and feelings in a coherent way despite having studied their human brain and psychology most of his adult life.
Does your character need friends?
YES. Without friends, Oliver would crumble. He’s the kind of person who needs people around him all the time or else he’ll feel out of place and upset. Oliver is very dependent on others. They often cure how easily lonely and bored he comes when on his own. Welcomed solitude has never been something he’s good at and that will probably never changed.
Where were they born?
Here in New Orleans! His parents still own the home he grew up in and Oliver made sure to live close by once he settled down with Eli and their children.
What physical thing does your character fear most?
This is a pretty obscure physical fear, but Oliver is afraid of losing his hair. If he sees even a few strands of hair come out of his head, he completely spirals. Most of his family were blessed with full heads of hair but Oliver didn’t quite obtain that luxury. His hair is fine, it’s just not as full as the other men in his family which fueled his fear big time.
If your character could choose to spend the day with one person (dead or alive), who would they choose?
His late grandfather. Oliver would want to spend time with him again and let him know how he’s doing. He’d also like to tell him that he ended up marrying Eli, especially since his grandfather always liked him.
What is their defining strength?
Kindness. No matter what, Oliver’s kindness will always shine through. He could be going through the worst of the worst and he’d still find the time to be kind to others and the ones that he loves. Sometimes it’s borderline selfless how kind he can be, but he never regrets it.
What makes them happy?
People. Helping others. His husband and their two children. Basically any kind of genuine and heartfelt interactions makes Oliver so happy. He loves having an impact on people and others having an impact on him. People mean the world to Oliver. Helping them especially brings him so much happiness which is why he’s a psychologist.
Are they able to work for someone else?
Not really. Oliver, despite his issues with depending on others, is very independent in regards to his passions and drive. When it comes to work and creativity, he needs to figure that out on his own. He needs to walk to the beat of his own drum or he might drown in his sorrow. He doesn’t enjoy being conventional and never has. So, the idea of working for someone else makes his skin crawl.
Does your character have a positive or negative image of themselves?
In between, but sometimes it leans more negative. You’d think that someone like Oliver might simply adore themselves, but it’s quite the opposite most days. Oliver deeply feels that he might be too much. A firework of a human. Some days he loves that about himself and then others he feels completely isolated, alone within his own thinking and behavior. When insecure, he has a tendency to overcompensate and become way too much to handle, which becomes obvious in moments of sudden insecurity.
Who, or what, would your character die for?
Oliver would die for the people he loves, especially his family. If there’s anything that means the most to Oliver, it’s loving and being loved in return. He cares so much for the people in his life and would do anything for them. Anything. He means that with everything inside him.
Does your character have a plan for tomorrow? Next week? Next year?
Not really. Oliver is a kind of get up and go kind of person. He enjoys being nonchalant and unconventional. It gives him purpose, despite the insecurity it brings from time to time. Not knowing what comes next keeps him going and he needs that kind of random process in order to survive and feel okay.
Is your character resilient enough to change?
Yes and no. While Oliver is a deeply sensitive person, he’s learned to be okay with change. In fact, he craves it. Change is another thing that keeps him going. While he struggles with the idea of changing internally, growing up, and re-figuring parts of his over the top personality, other lifestyle changes keep him grounded.
