TENANT FILES — WYLIE HENDERSON.
Is that QUINTESSA SWINDELL? Oh, no, that’s WYLIE HENDERSON, a TWENTY FIVE year old EX CHILD & DANCE STAR / CURRENT PUPPETEER who uses THEY/HE pronouns. They currently live in PALMERAS, PARAMISO IN VINA DEL MAR, and the character they identify with most is JONATHAN BYERS FROM STRANGER THINGS. Hopefully they find their own little paradise here in el país de los poetas! ( james, 25, they/them, est, n/a )
...content warnings for... general child exploitation & mom-agers, divorce, ( very minor ) internalized homophobia, and consistent mentions of depression & anxiety.
profile.
full name — willow lou henderson.
nickname(s) — wylie, vastly preferred over willow. wylie e. coyote on rare occasions ( dad's nickname, figures ).
date of birth & age — feburary 28th, 1999. twenty5.
gender / pronouns — non binary & gender non - conforming, they/he.
sexuality — queer...? working on it. not straight.
occupation — amateur puppeteer / former child star / former dancer.
astrology — pisces sun, leo moon, aquarius ascending.
interests — claymation. really, really bad movies. mismatched stuffed animals. homemade puppets and dolls. ribbon instead of lace. secondhand leather. over ear headphones. hand - rolled cigarettes. incense. those weird twisty candles. swallowing down his anxieties, no matter how nauseating. mystery boxes. loud music. changing their hair often. graphic eyeliner. chunky glitter. "vintage" messenger bags. staying out of the spotlight.
aversions — 2022 cow print. re - watching old works of theirs; reality shows. their mother. existing in only his own bubble and being completely unaware of the world around him. fast fashion. cheap fabrics. therapy speak. actually talking to their therapist. the industry. nostalgia - bait. being stuck feeling the same way for the rest of their life. dolphins. fuck dolphins. littering.
next in queue — are we still friends? by tyler the creator; my kind of woman by mac demarco; change by djo.
notable features — their ever - changing facial jewelry, slivers of gold folded over lip and nose; wide deep - set eyes that once held innocence; the music constantly emitting from their headphones - volume at the max.
general disposition — languid and curious, seems to hold himself back - seems to always be in thought.
last known location — weaving in and out of local craft stores in comically large sunglasses, curls fighting off the hoodie that's atop their head.
pinterest & parallels — adele ( blue is the warmest color ), nick o'leary ( nick and norah's infinite playlist ), sidney prescott ( scream ), quentin coldwater ( the magicians ), jonathan byers ( stranger things ).
brief history.
child exploitation in direct reference to childhood stardom & mom-agers are a consistent theme within this section.
born in boise, idaho to a mother who always wanted something more in life, and a father who was happy sitting in the same town, working the same job he always had. a mother who had settled once, and wouldn't let her child do the same. as soon as wylie was babbling on their own - their mother would be bringing them to audition and audition, spending their savings on flights into new york or los angeles or wherever there'd be a casting director and a role to land. eventually his mother's dreams were answered when wylie was cast as the youngest child in a full house - esque sitcom at just 9 months, where they stayed in that same role until the series' finale several years later.
during those years - wylie's free time was spent in "homeschooling" and commercial auditions, showing up on talk shows alongside his mother as the adorable little kid who captured america's heart. the only thing that was pursued out of wylie's own interest was dance - something their mother made sure to capitalize on once the sitcom had ended. after the seventh season finale, wylie just about to turn eight - it was announced that they would be joining a reality show about children dance competitions. dance moms, if you will.
the years spent on dance moms ( or dance moms adjacent ) were rough - every little move wylie made would be scrutinized, examined - not only by his mother, but by his choreographer, his manager, the viewers who tuned in weekly. there was a notable decline in wylie's happiness - something that seemed to only be noted by their father, but when he brought it up to his wife - he was dismissed. nights at home - or rather, the hotel rooms that wylie found himself staying in more often than not in between competitions and filming - became screaming matches between his parents as they argued on and off about what was best for wylie, for their family.
divorce tw; one morning before a dance competition, wylie's father took a flight back home and never looked back. while his mother hadn't seem bothered at all - gleeful, in fact, that she had won - anxiety pooled in wylie's stomach; and when they got up on that stage to perform with the rest of the girls, wylie floundered in front of them all - the judges, the cameras, fucking abby lee miller. the dressing room scene after the performance became one of the most watched clips on youtube - wylie's mother going head to head with abby lee miller and being praised for defending her child - when behind closed doors, she'd been just as upset.
divorce tw; wylie soon exited dance moms after that, around 13 - and for a short while, returned home to boise as his parents settled their divorce and custody agreements. ultimately - wylie's mother wound up with sole custody, despite his own wishes to stay with his dad. as soon as it all passed - they were packing up to move to la, in pursuit of "better things". those involved - a multitude of music videos to dance background for, brief appearances in any kid tv show that'd take them - the lead in a disney, straight to tv original movie, hundreds of auditions - one after the other, with little to no rest. a small stunt on america's got talent - where it was quickly discovered that while wylie could dance and even act - he was not a singer.
for the longest time - it felt like wylie was at the whim of their mother. fame was cool, sometimes - sure - but they couldn't tell if it was something they wanted, or just something their mother needed. she'd given up a lot when she'd gotten pregnant with wylie - a modelling gig that fell short after the fact, acting dreams never fulfilled besides a small, indie film that nobody's seen. wylie was just - her doll. something to dress up, to do what she couldn't. the only time wylie actually felt genuine - joy - at his job, was when they were cast alongside mallory jade watson.
brief internalized homophobia ( not disgust, but awe ); the two of them connected - immediately - and for the first time in a long time, wylie was excited to work, to give it their all. talking to mallory - acting alongside her - felt easy, natural. some said it was wylie's best work - that it'd been like he hadn't been acting at all. they were just glad to have a friend - so genuine in the word that it made their chest ache with how - grateful? - they were. it was like being seen for the first time in a very long time. and then mallory confessed - and the illusion shattered. they didn't mean to laugh - but it slipped out so nervously at the thought of them being together. it wasn't that wylie didn't want it - but he didn't know that he could want it, that he could have it - that they could be queer in any capacity.
so they rejected mallory with nothing more but a laugh, and just like that - their friendship ended; but with their ending - opened a whole new world of possibilities. with so little of their life being in their own control - wylie had barely given their sexuality a thought; he rarely dated, rarely hooked up - there'd always been a disconnect between him and the idea of girlhood, but they'd always chalked that up to their own unhappiness with - everything. the second looks they'd spare pretty girls down the street became think points late at night - their childhood crushes re - examined, the butterflies they'd always chalked up to pure anxiety. and that scared them! so they bottled it all back up - and tried not to think about it again.
but it became - so hard not to. it was like seeing things that weren't there before - both out in the world, and in himself. they took up another acting project that would soon become their last - and wound up dating their cis guy costar as an act of comphet. their chemistry both on and off camera was so terrible that their movie wound up flopping terribly - reviews mentioning the "stiff, robotic - like chemistry between costars". wylie took it as their cue to finally quit acting, and to step out of the spotlight; much to their mother's distress.
to further his mother's ( well deserved ) distress - wylie both came out and promptly cut contact with her before moving back to their hometown, and back in with their dad, and his family, as they figured out their next moves. as much as he loved his dad - the family he had made for himself after the divorce hadn't felt like wylie's. but he supported them, and always had - and always would. it was somewhere to rest, as they had their lawyers threaten his mom with every law under the sun about withholding all the funds he earned over the years - all the money that they rightfully earned. news of this leaked, one way or another - and it became a brief headline in the celebrity gossip world; putting further attention on wylie that he clearly did not want
the last straw was when wylie's mother tried to persuade them back into acting - a pitch for his own reality tv show - sign the contract and he'd get all the profits he'd earned over the years, even though it was her who was securing him all those roles, and her who rightfully deserved the money - they laughed in her face. they laughed, and then they packed up their bags - and they moved down to valparaiso, somewhere where they thought they wouldn't be recognized for their frankly, d - list work.
facts & temperaments.
wylie doesn't consider willow to be their dead name - but with its attachment to all of their life's works, they vastly prefer their nickname and will only refer to himself as wylie. has found comfort in identifying as non binary, and if they had to describe himself to anyone it'd likely be "femme" ( to reflect quintessa swindell's own perception of himself ).
anxiety tw; has a lot of residual anxiety from the years spent in the spotlight, and hates drawing more attention to them than necessary. despite that, he doesn't let it get in the way of his self expression - whether it's clothing, or hair, or new piercings. they like to add a "diy" touch to everything they wear, whether it's a small bit of embroidery, or a charm sewn inside their sleeve, or ribbons instead of laces.
has been in valpo for only a short amount of time! is really new to the region, and despite his shy nature, makes an earnest attempt to go out and experience new things while they're here. wants to live life to the fullest, now that he can.
has taken up puppeteering within the last few months, and they really like it! they range from foam, felt, and fur hand - puppets in true muppet fashion, to marionette dolls they've created from separate doll parts. their crafts take up most of their home, and there's just. jars of puppet parts strewn about. it can be a little unsettling, but wylie doesn't seem to mind.
an introvert who struggles, sometimes, when it comes to interacting with others. can be awkward at times, surprisingly charming at others. his comfort levels vary throughout the day, and sometimes he just needs to take a break. finds solace in music, and always has - even if they're a shit singer. usually when they get overwhelmed, they just pull their headphones over their ears and tune out the world for a little bit.
likes to keep their hands busy! rolls their own cigarettes because if he's going to have a bad habit, he's going to commit to the bit and be a little pretentious about it.
depression, anxiety tw; currently in therapy, which feels overdo after years of, well - everything. they cancel a lot, but they're trying! it's hard to advocate for himself, but he's under antidepressants and anxiety medication and they're doing better these days compared to all the years before. #healing
anxiety tw; gets joy in the little things - loves mystery boxes for the reason that it's a small, contained surprise. they have. so many little figurines it's not even funny. it's like micro - dosing not having control over the results, and needing control is something wylie struggles a lot with. it's not so that wylie needs to control others, they really, really don't want that - but they need predictability. they need to know how something is going. they hate big surprises, or being caught off guard - it just stresses them out.
so speaking of surprises. he has no idea that mallory's in valpo and it's like only a matter of time until they run into each other and wylie wouldn't know how to react, or what to say, or what to do. there's so much that he could - but he's not sure if any of it would matter.
has a tendency to just let things - be. would rather miscommunication than addressing an issue head on; is very avoidant. like, will literally run from his problems rather than face them. flight or fight baby!
despite being on the shier side - wylie does want to make friends! it's just hard sometimes - but they've dealt with worse, and it can be isolating to know nobody in a new place. of course they want to stay inside all day, but more often than not he'll be spotted somewhere in the region. has a love - hate relationship with clubs; loves dancing, and loud music - hates crowds, or even the smallest possibility of being recognized. fame was not for them!
he has his head up in the clouds more often than not - they can be a little absent - minded, or generally not all there - lost in thought, etc. a bit of a dreamer, and an overthinker, there's just sooo much to think about. like all the time. it's hard to not be in their head.
is braver / funnier / a little more outgoing in text, so it's a little funny seeing them in person and watching them fidget with anything dangling and generally - not be as confident over text. all bark, no bite. also a lover and not a fighter! is really exploring their sexuality with no qualms - it's the deeper connections that they struggle with.
has taken up film photography, if only because they like standing around in a dark room and watching the photos develop in real time. also just - capturing moments by their own accord feels important - like making memories they actually want to keep.
but they hope to do something with their puppeteering! they've always hated being in the spotlight, but it's different when there's puppets doing it for you. they want to perform for kids, or the elderly, or like anyone who'll enjoy puppets dancing and interacting with each other. even just having their puppets used would be enough for him. they love doing behind the cameras / behind the scenes work.
but that's all! 3x wylie is a new muse, is subject to change, etc. etc. but they feel kind of solid in my brain so we'll see <3
potential connections.
one hundred sleepless nights! — i like to imagine that wylie's a bit of an insomniac, and has taken up the ( bad ) habit of going for nightly strolls; perhaps this muse also has the very same habit, and they've stumbled across each other late at night, when everyone else is supposed to be asleep. and they connected! whether platonic or something more, they meet up almost weekly and just - walk, and talk, and it takes a lot of pressure off wylie to be someone. because for the duration of that walk - their pasts don't matter, they're just enjoying the night air and each other's company. it's cute! it's soft! it's perfect for friends or more!
can i get a sign? — this is an unfortunate fan connection. just people who recognize wylie from their short filmography, or their stunt on dance moms, or literally just the most random of commercials. it's not something he really likes - thinking about, but it's unavoidable. whether they become friends or not is UTP! but wylie will probably be wary - maybe disappoint them with their off - screen personality that directly contrasts how they acted on camera.
oh, you hate joy? whimsy? — this leans on more of the antagonistic side - i personally think it'd be funny if it's craft related, like they keep stealing the last jar of buttons from one another at the craft store and it's like bro? wtf? but just general antagonism - while wylie tries to avoid negative interactions, sometimes you have to give into your spite. maybe that's the whimsy all along, a healthy dose of dislike. people who do NAWT get along!!
hollywood? more like holly would— man. i don't know about the title. this is a miscellaneous connection that could go any number of ways, they're just other celebrities! people who wylie's worked with in the past, or just generally knows from the industry. maybe even - gasp - friendships that they formed over the course of the years? or even people they've notoriously had a hard time getting along with! he doesn't really like referencing his time in the industry - so it'd also be funny if wylie tried to pretend not to know them, or recognize them - or they got the wrong person, and the other person was like wtf? we literally had lunch like two months ago and then you moved down here? and wylie's like haha oh yeah.
H O T T O G O YOU CAN TAKE ME HOT TO GO!! — this is a queer specific hookup connection! sexuality is a hot topic that's on wylie's brain right now, and they're still trying to figure a lot of things out - which means they need a lot of like, um. help. and practice. and stuff. yeah. it'll be fun! it'd also be fun if they had a consistent partner, and if eventually one of them started to catch feelings, and it makes everything much harder - or easier? - than it's supposed to be? [insert the :D to D: gif] they're fine with sexual attraction - it's the romance that wylie needs to take their time to develop.
i'm listening to #emo rn so there's no happy lyrics to copy — THIS IS A PLATONIC CONNECTION!! WYLIE'S NEW IN TOWN!! THEY NEED SOME FRIENDS TO GUIDE THEM AROUND!! either locals who've been in valpo their entire lives, or people who've lived there for long enough that they know what they're talking about. wylie's hopeless, and a bit anxious, in a new place - but also excited! they're trying so hard to make friends, even if they can barely make eye contact. please let wylie make strong, deep bonds with others :pray:
not another found family — speaking of friends, these will be the people wylie becomes closest to, who they rely on a lot - especially to keep things real with him! they can be kind of clueless, or have their head up in the clouds often - these are people who ground him, who keep him on some kind of reality plane. ride or dies! i especially think it would be fun to see this develop in real - time since wylie's so new to valpo, i love watching friendships deepen over time. it's fun!
LITERALLY ANYTHING I'LL TAKE ANYTHING I CAN'T THINK ANYMORE!! once again i love any kind of connection and i'll do, like, anything. like i really will. i don't usually even write wcs bc i like taking others' i just like points!! GIVE ME EVERYTHING!!