Character Profile: Clark Destella
[The Psych Quartet]
Love Interest/Antagonist • 19 • Aquarius • INTP • Base
{dark and brooding//orphan//the saddest boi you’ll ever meet//catches feelings too quickly//a ghost of his own past//controversial af//anxious puppy}
[Character Tag]
Clark is a social outcast, feared by many because of his dark demeanor and his lack of ties to anybody or anything. This status is only cemented by his reaction to a recent tragedy, which renders him a bit of an emotional wildcard. Shockingly, Neil bonds with him over unexpected commonality and sees a much different person underneath the gloom, someone who has been abandoned and suffered immeasurable trauma. Clark is a skilled Psych, and bounces between acting as Neil's rival and his friend. Straightforward, private, and driven, Clark possesses a kind of intrigue that Neil can't help but feel drawn to. But when his ideology becomes too radical for Neil, he questions to what extent Clark can be trusted.
Sigh. Where to start with this walking disaster. Clark is a very troubled and recently orphaned Psych whom Neil first meets in Jayce’s office after he’s been caught brawling with a peer in the cafeteria. His father died years ago and his mother, who was the best friend and rival of Neil’s mother Celeste, has just died in the same accident that took Celeste’s life.
Needless to say, Clark’s not doing well.
Despite how closed off and sulky he is, Neil finds an unlikely companion in Clark. After all, they’re both going through an incredibly exposed and sensationalized personal loss, and there aren’t many people who can relate to that on such a specific level. Not only that, but it turns out Clark is also into photography, Neil’s one piece of Before that seems to carry into his life at Harmonium.
Clark raises a bandaged hand and scratches the back of his neck. “Yeah, but I get it. That’s what I wanted to talk about, actually. To be fully honest, I’m feeling really confused and angry about everything, and that moment made me realize that you’re the only person who might know what it’s like to be in this position.”
Neil breathes again. Clark’s not upset, he’s not going to throw a table at Neil’s head. He’s looking for a friend.
“Lots of Psychs lose parents like this, but it’s never such a public affair. It sucks.”
Surprisingly in touch with his emotions but with some rather dire abandonment issues, Clark finds himself attached to Neil almost immediately. Clark has an illicit task from a higher up with twisted ideas about his future; Clark’s proximity to Neil begins as a means to an end, but when he accidentally falls for Neil, he finds himself worse off than he was before Neil dropped into Harmonium.
The relationship between Clark and Neil is a subversion of the classic enemies to lovers. When Clark reveals some less-than-palatable ideologies about Elemental Psychs, Neil realizes he’s taking a large step in the wrong direction and does a quick 180. Not only that, but it seems that there may have been some involvement between Alex and Clark in the past as well. As a result, Clark quickly shuts himself off the any relationship with Neil and vows that he’ll regret what he’s done (which is a bit dramatic, but that’s sort of how he operates).
Clark’s anxiety manifests particularly in his fingers; he’s often found picking at his own nail beds (when they aren’t already wrapped in pale bandages). Despite this shaky demeanor, he contains hidden depths that shock Neil. As a Base, Clark doesn’t have access to any of the elements, but he still knows how to warp and (in some cases) abuse energy for his benefit.
Warily, Neil takes the hand. Clark pulls him up—he’s much stronger than he looks. Their hands stay intertwined for one second, two, and Clark pulls away. He ducks his head but it’s impossible to miss the blush that creeps into his cheeks.
“That was...impressive,” Neil says.
Clark looks up and nods. “Same to you, especially for someone who just got her. Watching you kick Pierce’s ass was the highlight of my week.”
In his desperation, Clark turns to drastic sources of hope. As Clark’s psyche unravels, Neil wonders if it’s possible that he could be involved in the sinister string of disappearances on campus. And he’ll stop at nothing to find out.
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