Devon Wentsworth

[Devon Wentsworth]

The Basics

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Name: Devon Wentsworth.
Nicknames: Dev, Devi, Wint.
Age: 5th November 1982 (30).
Orientation: Bi-curious.
Desired Rank/ Job: Art teacher.
Powers: Shape-shifting; Devon has the ability to shift into the form of any mustelid at will. After years of training he has this ability well under control, but the small size and hyper-flexibility of the animals he can shift into has been laid to blame for him suffering with fairly weak joints and he often suffers pain in them, especially in the colder months. He manages this with physiotherapy and pain medication, but after a particularly long period in animal form he is often in a great deal of joint pain for several hours afterwards. When Devon is under extreme stress there is a chance that the shift will trigger involuntarily, leading to a temporary loss of control (fleeing in terror or attacking, for example) and strong pain when he shifts back to his real form. Thankfully, however, this is a rare occurrence. He is currently learning how to shift his clothes with him so he doesn't end up naked after his change, but as he hasn't refined this yet it sometimes ends up with unpredictable results (t-shirt back to front, for example).
Play By: Jeff Davis

The Details

Hair Color: Dark brown/ black.
Eye Color: Grey.
Any Piercings? Left earlobe.
Any Tattoos? None, although he has been considering getting one for many years.
Any Scars? Small one on his right calf from his bike crashing into a tree when he was ten.

General Appearance: Standing at around 5ft 11 and being very slender, Devon was always labelled as a lanky kid and it isn't something he's grown out of. His hair tends to change on a whim; sometimes he will let it grow out to shaggy curls but then he will inevitably get bored of it and get it cut to neat spikes. His grey eyes are framed by long lashes and he has a near-permanent bright smile dancing on his fairly thin lips. Devon realises he is not in any way ugly but he isn't vain and rarely spends longer than a few minutes tidying himself up before going out. He is, however, always clean shaven.

While teaching Devon is most often seen in an old band t-shirt and jeans, clothing he doesn't mind getting messy if the class ends up a little off-canvas. Away from the classroom it isn't that much different, though the band shirts are often replaced by a neat shirt and casual jacket over black jeans. Devon does enjoy dressing up in more formal wear when the occasion calls for it, but he does have a love for customised trainers and will always wear them in any situation if he thinks he can get away with it.

Personality: Fun loving and quick to laugh, Devon adores life and is always looking for his next source of amusement and has a highly competitive and curious streak. Known by many for his cheeky and mischievous attitude, Devon outwardly denies the fact that he is thirty and probably should be starting the whole process of 'growing up' now. This can endear him to some of his students, and he is certainly not above forming friendships with those he teaches, but there are some who find his energy and inability to act seriously tiresome and annoying. He is always looking for the next party or fun activity to be joining in with, even if he probably shouldn't (truth or dare, anyone?).

Despite this, Devon is a good listener and is very happy to spend hours sat with someone, listening to their problems and offering a reassuring shoulder to cry on. Deeply sociable and with a love of people, Devon tends to form friendships very easily and is a good person to have in your corner. He is fiercely loyal to those he cares about and will always go out of his way to help those who ask for his assistance, although he does have issues with forming romantic relationships. One of the few things in life he outwardly detests is bullies, and he will always help out victims as much as he can – even if it means sneakily bending the rules in some way.

Even with his slowly increasing joint problems Devon enjoys being physically active and gets out and about as much as possible. He loves rock climbing and swimming in particular, though in winter his sometimes slightly reduced mobility means he can't be as active as he would like and it can make him a little testy. The only time Devon ever seems completely at a loss publicly is if he ends up trapped in some way (in a locked room/ stuck lift etc.). In those situations he is prone to fairly severe anxiety attacks. Very few know just how different the bubbly and outgoing extrovert can be when he is completely alone...

Your Vices

Likes: Anything creative, his big brother, physical activity, drumming, socialising, mischief, parties, helping people, teaching, nature, surrealism, urban art, rock music, cooking, crime and medical dramas, fantasy TV and movies, photography, muscle cars, Guitar Hero/ Rock Band.
Dislikes: Bullies, close-minded people, being bored, being alone, tightly enclosed spaces, being in pain, blank canvases, laziness, silence, gore movies, heavy rain, household chores, fast food, American candy.
Strengths: Very creative and a talented artist, athletic when he's not in pain, intelligent, fairly talented drummer, cooking and baking (friend-makers!), can speak basic conversational German and French, easy to befriend and incredibly loyal.
Weaknesses: Can be a bit impatient, constant energy can be tiresome to others, impulsive, can get a touch over-competitive, a little too reliant on his big brother, rubbish at relationships (tends to go for one-night stands for reasons explained below).
Fears: Being alone, being disliked, hurting someone emotionally or physically, feeling trapped, falling out of touch with Cade.
Secret: Whilst Devon is massively sociable and desperately afraid of being alone, he is equally afraid of being in a relationship in case he ends up hurting the other person. It has happened before (he got bored to the point of deep unhappiness and ended it with her) and the feeling of guilt was horrific and something he never wants to go through, or put another person through, ever again. It's a vicious cycle, and one that he does want to seek real help in breaking. Nothing terrifies him more than the thought of dying alone.

Family Ties

Father: Jacob Wentsworth, died following a stroke when Devon was eleven.
Mother: Lorraine Wentsworth, 71, living in England.
Siblings: Cade Wentsworth, 34. Big brother and best friend, living in England.
Any Other Important People: Jessica Laine, high school art teacher. Still keeps in semi-regular contact.
Ben Collier & Kris Hamilton, college band mates. Still keeps in semi-regular contact.
Devon aims to get a pet very soon.

History

Born as the youngest son to a fairly wealthy and successful banking family in Leeds, England, Devon was never want for anything in his youth. He was a very happy and adventurous youngster, playful and boisterous and often getting into trouble for getting into situations he shouldn't – like the time when he was four and climbed onto his wardrobe and jumped onto his bed, breaking his arm on the awkward landing. Due to their parents busy work lives sitters were often hired to look after the two brothers, but it often ended up being Cade who did most of the actual watching and corralling of his high-spirited younger brother. Despite how often the boys ended up bickering they were incredibly close and virtually inseparable, and God help anyone who made one or the other cry.

When Devon was twelve and began high school it marked a massive turning point in his life. In primary school his cheeky antics had earned him many friends, but he suddenly found himself in a place of cliques and popularity contests where his impulsive behaviour made him feel a clown instead of a hero. With Cade in a different year group and unable to help him, Devon's trusting and open nature made him a prime target for bullies and he often found himself getting mocked and with people taking advantage of him. One of the worst times in his school life (and something he still sometimes has nightmares about) was when a group of Year 9 students locked him in one of the supply cupboards in the gymnasium after getting him to go in to get the ropes for the climbing wall. Devon was found in there by a teacher three hours later, crying and trembling in a corner.

However the turning moment of Devon's life came a year later, when he was thirteen and in his second year of high school. The bullying had calmed a little by this point (thanks in part to Cade finding out about it and 'handling' some of the offenders), but Devon was still occasionally the target of those who thought they could get away with it. One afternoon after classes had finished Devon was in the quiet park near school waiting for Cade so they could walk home together. One of the older students had a realistic looking toy knife and pulled it out at Devon to try to steal his bag. Devon panicked and became quickly terrified, and this triggered his first ever shape-shift. The older boy fled as a panicking badger charged at him, and Devon grabbed the boy's leg and tore into it before he was able to regain some control and somehow force a shift back. Cade appeared in time to see the end of the attack and his baby brother screaming and fleeing, and had just enough sense of mind to grab his brothers clothes and kick the bleeding lad in the crotch before running to catch up with Devon. The two made it home safely, but Devon's agony from the change forced their parents to take him to the hospital. 34 hours later, the recruiter came...

Life dramatically changed for the Wentsworth family. Lorraine and Cade were still trying to come to terms with what had happened, and Devon kept flicking from fear of what he was to outright denial that anything had happened. When the man from Kocher Haute École arrived and told them all in no uncertain terms that Devon was being relocated to a school in Switzerland, Lorraine and Cade decided to pack up and move with him. All three were pleasantly surprised by the change and under Kocher Haute École's schooling Devon quickly rediscovered the playful and care-free side of himself that had dwindled during his time in the high school in England. He learned how to control and channel his ability, although he did still often get in trouble for misbehaving. To this day he swears that he was only exploring the summer camp outbuildings in stoat form to check for rats that might have gotten in. He didn't know the girls were getting changed in that particular building, honest!

When Devon graduated from Kocher Haute École he already knew exactly what he wanted to do. Throughout his life art had been his escape, his way of dealing with the times of grief and unhappiness such as when his father passed away and when he was being bullied. He had been inspired by his teachers (in particular Miss Laine in high school, whose enthusiasm and impressive chest proved to be a winning combination for class attendance figures), and he wanted to be able to give that passion and escape back to those who, like him, had found their school years to be anything but the best years of their lives. With Kocher's blessing Devon moved back to England, his mother and brother following, and he attended the Leeds College of Art and gained a BA (Hons) degree in Interdisciplinary Art & Design. He then moved to the University of Reading to top up his degree with a MA in Secondary Teaching (Art Speciality). Throughout all these years of education Devon worked part time in a bar to pay for his courses, as well as selling his own pieces in local art galleries and playing small gigs in pubs with his band mates at the weekend as a drummer and backing vocalist.

After he had finally finished with University life Devon easily got a job as an art teacher in a high school in Reading. Devon worked there for three years and made many friends, but there was always something missing. He missed the buzz of Kocher Haute École, the energy and sense of the fantastical in the air. After taking a short Art Therapy course Devon applied for a position in Kocher but they did not have any art vacancies open. However, they put Devon in touch with someone from a similar school in America called the Hammel Institute who happened to be looking for a suitably qualified arts teacher. After a few phone interviews back and forth and references from Kocher, the universities and the high school he had worked in for three years Devon was offered the job, but it took a full week of persuading from Lorraine and Cade before he actually accepted. It would be the biggest move he had ever made, and for the first time ever he would be completely alone with no way to easily run to Cade or his mum if he needed their company or advice. The people at the Hammel Institute helped him secure a green card and find a temporary apartment while he got settled, and that was that. Devon was off to the airport. That was four days ago...

Roleplay Example

As Devon humped the last of the boxes into the living room he let out a huge sigh of relief. He had only been able to ship the essentials for now, everything else would be coming later, and yet the stream of boxes from van to apartment had seemed unending. He had tipped the driver generously (or so he thought, he hadn't quite wrapped his head around the different money yet), and after seeing him off with a wave he sat on one of the boxes to look around what would be his temporary home. The walls were too clean for a start. The fairly new-built apartment building was so unlike his grungy little loft flat back home; it had proper lighting and the lift worked and everything. Devon knew it would only be temporary, a place to store himself and his stuff until he found somewhere he actually wanted to live, and he was rather glad of that. It was too cookie-cutter, too neat and tidy, and his contract said he wasn't allowed to redecorate. Once he was settled into the town and his new job he would be looking for somewhere more suited to his rather eccentric tastes.

Standing again, Devon wandered over to the window and gazed out of it, leaning on the narrow sill. The town was beautiful, of that there was no denying. Trees lined the streets and it had a rather old-world charm, something that had been completely lacking in the big cities of England where he had spent most of his life. The air smelled completely different, crisp and clean and with the fresh aroma of conifer trees, a whole planet away from smoke and exhaust fumes. Already he felt a little better about the move and he used his brand new mobile phone to take a picture of the idyllic view out of what would be his new bedroom, captioning it with 'My new home' before sending it to Cade. Already he was beginning to feel the loss of his big brother's presence; he knew it would fade with time but it would take some getting used to the fact that he simply couldn't jump into his car and drive around for a brew any more.

Devon slid his phone back into the pocket of his jeans and opened the box that was nearest to him. He had gotten impatient and frustrated while packing so everything had ended up being randomly piled into boxes, so he was unsurprised when he was greeted with a tinned pencil set snuggled up with his Dominic Howard signed drumsticks on top of a few shirts and a single black and white Converse shoe. Hopefully its partner would be in one of the other boxes somewhere.

After twenty minutes of emptying boxes out onto the kitchen counter Devon was beginning to bore of the task and was itching to get out and explore. The other shoe had been found (it was in with some kitchenware and his camera) so after changing out of his travelling clothes and into some that smelled a bit less of plane, he headed out of the apartment building and made his way down the street into the town. Hopefully there would be a little store somewhere close. He couldn't stand the thought of going for much longer without a decent cup of tea...

What About You?

Name: Splatticus, Splat or Sam. Whichever you prefer.
Age: 25
Experience: About 8 years on and off
How Did You Find Us? RPG-D
Ready To Play? Let's get this party rockin'!

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