when you're downie, have a brownie

teddy van der beek | 20 | music major

[richardmaddendaily]

Leo West + voice mail

[teddy-vanderbeek]

tagging: @juliettecaulfield​

It was a little bizarre to think that he, Theodore Van der Beek, had a girlfriend.  It wasn’t that he’d never been interested in people, because he had been, he’d just never had the courage to ever tell anyone he liked them.  He’d had flings, sure, but it felt like his first real relationship had been meant for him and Juliette.  They just seemed to fit.  Losing one of his closest friends in such a tragic way, at such a young age, had been tough, and at first, it seemed like Juliette would be a nice distraction, a good summer fling to try to get him to move on out of his grief.  After a while though, he realized that he liked her more than you like someone for a summer fling, and they’d continued their relationship as they moved back to the city.  It felt like they’d been living a happy little bubble, and he was hesitant to break that bubble, but his mom had insisted that he begin to make introductions.  And what better time to make introductions than at the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive Gala?  

It felt like he’d apologized a million times for putting Juliette through introduction after introduction, but heck, they were living together now, even if they weren’t sharing a bedroom.  Was it a little fast?  Sure, but it just made sense.  If they’d be spending most of their time at each other’s places anyways, which he assumed they would have, it didn’t make sense for her to have to pay rent.

Granted, he wasn’t sure his parents knew that she was living with him, but he wasn’t about to tell them.

He’d just finished another particularly long round of introductions with some of his mother’s politician friends, and he smiled at Juliette as the conversation broke up and the older couple excused themselves.  “You look really beautiful tonight, have I mentioned that already?”  Teddy stopped himself from apologizing again, and gestured to their now empty table.  “Do you want to take a break and have a seat for a little bit?  My cheeks hurt from so much smiling.  I can get us some drinks.  Or some food!  Whatever you’d like.  I’m sure it can’t be comfortable to stand in those shoes for too long without a break.”

[teddy-vanderbeek]

tagging: @cassie-johnston​

There was something about being around Cassie that made Teddy feel like he could fully and truly be himself.  With mostly everyone else, he felt like he had to pretend, or to be this version of himself that people expected, rather than showing up as he truly was.  It was nice not to feel as though he had to hide behind a mask.  Sometimes, he and Cassie could sit in comfortable silence for ages and just feel settled.  Their shared love of musicals and theatre had brought many an opportunity for them to grow even closer, and tonight was no exception,  Though he’d personally seen Funny Girl many times, with all of the buzz around Lea Michele as Fanny Brice, he knew that he had to take Cassie to see it

After the show, they’d had plans to grab some food, and after double checking that Cassie still wanted to go eat, he debated somewhere a little more lowkey before suggesting one of his favourite restaurants in Midtown Manhattan.  As soon as they stepped foot into the restaurant, the maitre d’ immediately assured them that he’d prepare Teddy’s usual table, despite Teddy protesting that it wasn’t necessary and that any table would do.  It was a little embarrassing sometimes, to be fawned over just for having the last name that he did.  Not to mention unnecessary.  Just because his dad was known to lose his temper with the wait staff didn’t mean that Teddy ever did.  Not that the name didn’t come with its perks, and they were seated within five minutes, along with complimentary sparkling wine and ceviche for the “long wait”

It wasn’t until he poured himself and Cassie a glass of wine that he finally settled in enough to ask, “Alright, what did you think?  Of the musical, I mean.”

[teddy-vanderbeek]

Character’s full name: Theodore Ambrose Van der Beek the Third Reason for name and/or meaning of name: The name Theodore has been passed down from three generations of Van der Beeks but he has no idea who made it so special in the first place Character’s nickname: Teddy Birth date: May 3rd, 2002 Star Sign: Taurus

Physical appearance Faceclaim: Jonathan Daviss Gender: Cis-male Height: 6′4 Build: Tall and lanky Eye color: Brown Glasses or contacts?: He often wears glasses whenever he’s working on homework or music Distinguishing marks/scars: No marks or scars, but he would love to get a tattoo, even if it would send his parents into a tailspin Hair color: Black Type of hair: Curly Hairstyle: He usually has it cropped short Clothing style: Teddy is nothing if not well dressed, from monogramed cufflinks to polo shirts and Italian loafers, though he usually has something that’s stopping him from looking too pristine, whether that be his shirt being slightly untucked or his tie hanging a little too loose Make up: He likes painting his nails

Personality Good personality traits: Caring, Humble, Passionate, Reliable, Relaxed Bad personality traits: Noncommittal, Self-Deprecating, Passive, Shy, Spacey  Mood character is most often in: Teddy is often lost in his own thoughts but generally in a good mood Sense of humor: Tends to be self-deprecating Articulation: Teddy tends to be more soft-spoken unless he gets really excited Character’s greatest joy in life: When he’s able to freely play his music uninhibited, without any score, it’s the only time he feels he can truly express himself Character’s greatest fear: Losing the people that he cares about Character is most at ease when: He’s alone Most ill at ease when: He has to go to fancy gatherings and be the perfect Senator’s son Enraged when: He doesn’t usually get mad, but he hates reading stuff about himself online Depressed or sad when: His father looks at him with the disappointment only a father can Priorities: Make his parents proud Life philosophy:  “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything” - Plato Greatest strength: His ability to care Greatest vulnerability or weakness: How his head can get lost in the clouds

Goals Drives and motivations: His passion for music is really a driving factor for him.  At first, it was so that he could appease his fathers wants and wishes, but as soon as he picked up his first guitar, he knew he found something that he could excel at.  He loves learning about new instruments, picking them up and seeing what makes them tick Immediate goals: To graduate Long term goals: To get into the music industry without using his father’s name to do it

Childhood Hometown: Upper East Side, New York City Type of childhood: Teddy’s parents were never home much when he was growing up, with his father running with the big dogs in the music industry and his mother’s political career that amped up before he was even born.  He never wanted for anything, but sometimes, he thinks that he would have traded all the money in the world for a little more affection from either of them. Pets: A cockatoo named Darrell Dream job: He’d love to write and record scores for movie soundtracks

Present Current location: New York City, New York Currently living with: Juliette Sexuality: Bisexual Occupation/education: A student, studying musical theory, composition, and history Mode of transportation: He has a driver, and doesn’t actually have his driver’s license - his parents would never let him learn

Family Parent one:  Theodore Van der Beek the Second Relationship with them: Strained.  Theodore was overjoyed to have a son come into the world, but Teddy was not exactly the son that he asked for.  He was always too soft, too passive, too timid, and after a while, Theodore stopped trying and started ignoring him all together, unless they were out and at a social function.  He wants more for Teddy than Teddy wants for himself, and Teddy can’t understand why he doesn’t just want him to be happy. Parent two: Amelia Corinne Van der Beek (nee Bamford) Relationship with them: Relatively good.  Teddy knows that his mother loves him, but there’s a part of him that feels like he can never live up to her expectations.  He doesn’t get to see her much, as she’s always busy with her work, and when he does, he feels like he has to put on a show of the perfect nuclear family.  No matter what, he feels like he will never quite be good enough. Other important family members: The fleet of Nannies that looked after him when he was younger

Favorites Color: Red Music: Instrumental and classical  Food: Foie gras and filet mignon with lobster tail Film: The Shawshank Redemption Drink: A Shirley Temple Form of entertainment: Going to see musicals with Cassie Most prized possession: His first guitar

Habits Hobbies: Playing music, reading music, and watching movies with great soundtracks Plays a sport? Racquetball occasionally with his father at the country club How he would spend a rainy day: Either inside watching the storm or sitting outside in the rain Spending habits: Teddy has never known what it is like to not be able to spend money on whatever he wants, and so he usually is very quick to use his money Smoking/drinking/drugs?: He drinks on occasion, mostly when he feels uncomfortable in a social setting Nervous tics: He is usually drumming with his fingers on his thigh, on a table, or in the air, but it gets a lot worse when he’s nervous Usual body posture: Hunched over to make himself not seem so tall

Traits Optimist or pessimist?  Optimist Introvert or extrovert? Introvert Daredevil or cautious? Cautious Logical or emotional? Emotional Leader or follower? Follower Disorderly and messy or methodical and neat? Very tidy and neat Prefers working or relaxing? Working Confident or unsure of himself/herself? Unsure of himself Animal lover? He loves animals

Self-perception How do they feels about themselves?: Teddy has a mixed sense of self-esteem.  Feeling like he’ll never be able to meet expectations paired with having everything handed to him his whole life gave him a warped sense of the world, and himself One word the character would use to describe themselves: Lanky What does the character consider their best trait?: His passion What does the character consider their worst trait?: He wishes he could speak up more What does the character consider their best physical characteristic?: He’s not really sure What does the character consider their worst physical characteristic?: He wishes he wasn’t quite so tall How does the character think others perceive them?: He hopes that nobody thinks about him ever What would the character most like to change about himself/herself: He would like to be a bit louder and prouder

Relationships with others Opinion of other people in general: Teddy wants to see the good in people, and New York feels magical with how many people are there, co-existing and just generally living their lives Does the character hide their true opinions and emotions from others? He’s not very good at speaking his mind and advocating for himself Most important person in character’s life: Probably his Mom, but also his former guard and he’s taking the loss pretty hard Best friend/s: Cassie Dating experience: Pretty non-existent until Juliette comes along Romancing: Teddy is a big old romantic at heart, watch out Juliette he’ll be taking you to drive ins to watch black and white movies any day now