Post by ELI DANIEL ACKERMAN on Feb 7, 2010 12:12:52 GMT -5
FIRSTMIDDLELAST
a new bell to ring, a new song to sing
A READINESS OF THINGS I DO
name -- elijah daniel ackerman
nickname -- eli
gender -- male
age -- seventeen
birthday -- eighth of april
grade -- senior
clique -- dragonflies
orientation -- heterosexual
hometown -- detroit, michigan
your blood, your bones, your voice
AND YOUR GHOST
hair color -- brown
eye color -- blue
height -- 5'11"
weight -- 146
build -- slim-fit
distinguishing features? -- there's always his voice. the boy has a beautiful voice. he never tried to be a singer, but there's no doubt he would be good at it.
overall -- Eli's eyes are probably the most amazing of his features. They are a shade of blue-grey somewhere between dark and light, the shade between a darker cornflower blue and a lighter stormy grey color, a shade of grey-cyan or grayish-steel blue. No other color comes even close to consuming the empty eyes, in a way they could be described as cloudy instead of blue. Not a single emotion can be reflected within them except for one. The calm, or nothing, that can be seen matches his personality well, almost never expressing anything but tranquility. The single emotion that can be seen is intensified fury, the feeling when Eli loses control to his temper. In this situation it's quite obvious as to what is happening. The shade of blue is fiery. It can be described as frightening, scary that someone so calm could express such hatred. Otherwise, the eyes are just pools of cloud, nothing more to see. This is another feature of his he likes, the look of peace and composure that strays from his eyes becoming what would be a window into his soul and emotions.
Eli's feelings towards his hair range from when he doesn't really care about what it looks like to becoming extremely fussy about it, his mother has been known to complain once in a while about how much time he spends on his hair. Most often he tries to make it look decent, and even more often he succeeds. It is usually kept quite nice without needing much effort. There are a few stubborn locks that tend to stray and get in his eyes, which he doesn't mind the slightest; all his life he had the same problem, by now he's gotten used to it. His hair, unlike his mother’s, didn't turn out as a lighter blonde, or in some cases more reddish. It turned out as the same color as his father’s darker, a shade of brown. He likes this, sort of his only connection with his father, though he never spoke a word of it to his mother. His hair isn't short, but it isn't considered long. It’s grown to a medium length, reaching just past his ears with some exposure, in his opinion the perfect style for an older teenager.
Eli is average height on the dot according to the charts, he had always been the same way. He stands at about 5'11”. Despite the height, though, he only weighs about one hundred and fourty six pounds. It makes him seem sickly and quite weak. Thin limbs and figure don't help the thought much either, one would assume that you could count his ribs. However weak he appears, his build is extremely misleading. Eli is actually quite strong and able-bodied, the near-obsession with running causing a slim-fit appearance. He is built for endurance rather than strength, and proves this much with his speed. Only at the times when he needs to does he show how capable he really is, which is more often than expected due to that temper of his. Eli likes to know he can defend himself when he has to, and how surprised everyone seems when they find he isn't so sickly.
Eli's father's family has the trait of darker hair and darker eyes. He doesn't really resemble this much in his physical features, though, only his hair. If you were to put the two side by side no one would guess it was a father and son, though Eli has only really seen his father in a picture. His mother's side of the family, however, is equally un-resembled in Eli's appearance. They were known to have lighter colored hair, sometimes even red. Their eye color ranged from blue to hazel. He seemed to have gained only his mother’s eyes and complection, which she often told him he should be thankful about. Eli’s father was ghostly pale, and Eli, while not being able to tan a great amount, finds that in the summer he bronzes enough to lose the dead-of-winter look.
Eli likes to think that he’s on the more fashionable side of the population’s good vs. bad clothing scale. And judging by what walks through the doors of his school day in and day out, he is. Not because he wears particularly attractive clothes, more because he makes what he wears look attractive, as he’s not an unattractive boy. Perhaps it’s safe to say that he has no real label based on style, as boys hardly ever do, except for ‘gross’ or ‘disgusting’, both of which Eli has been able to avoid, though with some aspects of his standard attire one could call his choice of style vintage. Arguably, despite the fact that converse hightops were big in the fifties, choice of shoe isn’t enough to label him, and though the shoes match his choice of car, a car doesn’t have to match an outfit.
i was a hero early in the morning
I AIN'T NO HERO IN THE NIGHT
likes -- "I can, will, and have drooled over a car before, and often put myself into dangerous situations to do so. Examples include walking across a busy street in a trance-like-state, walking into poles, spontaneously turning away from a now-ex girlfriend's "serious" conversation... Because I love cars. It takes me forever to walk through a parking lot, because I'm always stopping to admire a paint job or something. However, should the car I'm driving break down somewhere, I couldn't do shit to fix it. I can drive cars like nobody's business, I'm friends with the pedals, but the engine is a mere acquaintance. But I like driving fast cars, which may make me seem like a cool guy. I hate to destroy that image of myself, but... I'm a comic book nerd. Two crates full of them hidden in my closet for those fateful days where I remained bored. While packing for my journey to a new town, these two crates were the first things in the trunk of my car. I like the sun, and warm weather, and the season of summer, but you can count on me spending at least a little bit of the day inside reading through some of the old comic books. This is kind of contradictory to my number one passion in life: running. I run at least ten miles every day. Why, you ask? Allow me to explain. There are very few things in this world that 1. I am totally awesome at, and 2. I'm awesome enough to brag about. Running is one of these things, if not the only thing, that fits in both categories. Can you run a mile in three minutes and twenty three seconds? Funny, cause I can. That's what my feet are usually doing, but I'm also a bit of a dancer. Not ballet or anything like that, the fast-paced stuff, like salsa dancing. I don't mind ballet, though, watching it, I mean. It makes a good photo if you catch it at the right moment. That's what was second in my car; my camera. I worked hours slaving away at the local coffee shop to pay for it. Top of the line, hummingbird quick shutter speed, it's probably my only hobby. However, I connect it to other things. Such as flirting. I see a cute girl, grab my camera, tell her she'd look great on film, take a picture of her, and say she looks fantastic, but she's even more stunning in person. Okay, I've used that line more than once, I'm a bit of a flirt. But, hey, it can be a useful skill to have sometimes. A fun skill, too. Of course, one of the only reasons I frequently get to practice this skill is Duncan. Sadly enough, Duncan, my trusty border collie, was third into my car. I love dogs, and from what I can tell, they love me. They're kind of idiotic animals, yes, but they've got the best sense of gut-feeling out of any creature I've ever seen, and I can really respect that. Right after Duncan was my collection of CDs/records. I have nothing to play them with, but so long as I still have them, I'm content. Music is probably my second passion in life. I haven't been gifted with the ability to make music, so I settle for listening to it."It" sounds very general, but in this case it's supposed to be general: I'll listen to almost anything. Classical puts me to sleep, and country tends to circle around the same thing (significant others, or someone who wants an attractive special someone to be their significant other...), so those are my two exceptions. Otherwise, my ears are wide open, I'll hear it all. What else do I like? Here's a quick little list: The sky: it's such a huge inspiration, and there's always something to look at. Night: the best time of a 24-hour schedule. Fire: I'm a bit of a pyromaniac... Making people (especially girls and kids) laugh. Trouble: if it doesn't find me I go looking. This is a subconscious habit. Except I know about it, and do nothing to stop it. Because, frankly, I don't want to :]."
dislikes -- "Bad drivers piss me off more than anything in this entire world. There's a difference between drifting on purpose, me, and doing something irresponsible and dangerous by accident, anyone else who doesn't know what they're doing when they get into the driver's seat. What I do? It's fun, exhilarating, and halfway safe. Except when it snows, but I don't really like the snow either. Or the entire season of winter, for that matter. Too many people stay inside, and it's too quiet. Silence, I hate silence, I always feel like I should be the one to say something, and end up filling in with something moronic. For some strange reason, there will forever be an awkward silence when a cat is in the same room as me. I tell that to people, they think I'm crazy, but it happens! And I don't like cats, too independent, too stalkerish. That little trait emerged from when I was a kid, and the neighbor's grungy cats ate a garden snake that had somehow gotten into the building. Right in the middle of the lobby, it was repulsive. But then again, I disliked snakes since then, too. The cats would eat a snake, of all things, but they wouldn't go near the mice that always got into the cereal (which I also don't like, cereal, not mice.). That apartment was whack... And because I lived in that apartment building, I've always hated giant houses, and mansions, and generally oversized property. Of course, I ended up living in one with Dan, but I still strongly disliked it. I refuse to talk about someone behind their back, even if they're the type to talk about me. Gossip is a girl thing, and I will not partake in it. And secrets, too. I don't like them, mainly because I can't keep any except my own, which makes me feel selfish, also which I don't like, but now I'm getting generic... I dislike rabbits' ears. I don't know why, and never have, I just don't. Seafood makes me sick, especially shrimp, and I randomly have always hated flying fish."
fears -- "Drowning, above all things. God, even the word freaks me out. I don't think I have to explain myself, but... 1. I was never a great swimmer, and 2. Imagine this: you're caught, underwater, it's dark, you can't see, you can't breath, and you're fighting for breath, consciousness, and life simaltaniously. Spiders creep me out, as they would any sane person. And snakes, ever since the cats and the apartment building and the... yeah... I'm not really scared of the dark, but more what I can't see in it. I guess you could count stickers, because they really do creep me out... Or was that too weird to say? God, why do I always say weird stuff..."
habits -- "I take steps two at a time, going up and down. I always take my left shoe off first, and put on the right first. Always. When I'm super bored, I find someone to make an observation of, and list off as many synonyms as I can. I also tend to make a mental note of what two people would be a good couple, strangers or not. Oh, here's a weird one: I'm terrified of stickers. I won't even wear a nametag that doesn't clip on. If I'm about to write something I have to tap my pen/cil three times. Sometimes I do so in a three-beat rhythm even if I'm not writing something. I snap when I walk, tap my foot without music and refuse to drive somewhere without something playing in the background. Not to mention any volume level has to be at an odd number when I'm around. But perhaps my most annoying quirk is that I can't have two foods touching while I'm eating. Trust me, the list goes on..."
secrets -- "I kinda rebooted my whole life with this whole move to a small town thing, so I really don't have many secrets. I suppose I'm keeping my past on the down low, does that count as a secret? I don't know who my dad is, sure, I hate my stepdad, not really a secret but whatever, sometimes I feel the need to sleep in my neighbor's toolshed because of said stepdad, I guess I can share that. Not good enough? Alright. Fine. I, Elijah Daniel Ackerman, have seen the widely-acclaimed 'The Notebook.' Twice. Still not good enough? I loved it both times."
overall -- Anger: a strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence aroused by a wrong; wrath; ire. Eli isn't, well, let's say he isn't the most controlled person in the world. He has a rather wide range of emotions, some less common than others. Anger or annoyance fall into this category. Eli has a long list of things that could change his mood in a turn for the worst. Not always a good thing, is it? This temper of his is both uncontrolled and unpredictable. He has a very small amount of control in this situation, and usually anger takes him over. Judgment disappears, and Eli finds himself blinded with rage, and quite revenge-obsessed. Vengeance has been known to push him in directions he would never have expected, and will test his mind for control. Thanks to his temper, Eli is cautious to blame anyone but himself, knowing that a fault of another will just lead to a sense of anger. Of that long list concerning the pet peeves and such, teachers and professors are two things he disrespects. The occasional time someone tries to push him around can put him on a surprisingly short fuse. He could easily be with some of his closest friends and want to kick something. Being somewhat unpredictable, he could also be with someone he strongly dislikes and be perfectly smug. This temper surprisingly shapes a lot of him personality.
Tranquil: free from commotion or tumult; peaceful; quiet; calm. That wide range of emotions ranges into the calm, cool, easy-going part of Eli. The better part, as he likes to say. Conscientiously, no one has ever disagreed. For the majority of time, Eli isn't very angry, and has a light airy personality. If you were to meet him while he was just speaking with friends in this chill and easy-going type of mood, you would have never guessed he had any means of a temper. Most of the time he's always perfectly decent to be around. Decent, meaning friendly and thoughtful of anyone remotely his friend, or even someone he has never met and wants to make a good impression on. But, having that wide spread of emotions, he can go from zero to boiling point in a millisecond. And back down again. Almost entirely, however, his mood is his mood, and that's it. There are as mention before the bridges to cause considerable changes. When Eli is feeling calm and content he has more power over his characteristics. And luckily for everyone, he's almost always at peace.
Decisive: characterized by or displaying no or little hesitation; resolute; determined. One thing that most would say about Eli is that he's street smart, not school smart. The truth is, he's both, actually quite intelligent and understanding. He both reads and processes information quickly, which is understandable considering Eli is quick minded when it comes to making decisions. It would seem he feels as if he has little time to pause, and therefore doesn't dwell on the subject for ages. To say so metaphorically, he doesn't look before he leaps, and is most confident in what he says. Instead, he thinks things through quite meticulously, even every day conversations. Under pressure his mind goes into over time, completing the full thought process about what is to happen in record time. Having the trait of guilt and making himself feel responsible for most everything that goes wrong, Eli doesn't always feel as determined. But he can recover easily and be equally as headstrong as he always was. He takes risks a lot, enjoying the adrenaline. Usually he hasn't a care in the world as to what he does. Unfortunately, he feels the need to quit whatever he's doing when he finds it inconveniences another whom he cares about. A bit of a people pleaser, he is.
Outgoing: interested in and responsive to others; friendly; sociable. Eli finds comfort in other people around him. He was given an eye for photography, and find natural smiles the most interesting to capture, which he can accomplish by being outgoing and friendly. His decisive traits not only make him a people pleaser, but they tend to make him bolder, too. More willing to meet new people and create great friends. Assuming, of course, that he's not embarrassed or taken off guard, two things that could happen rather easily. Don't be fooled by his tendency to be effortlessly fazed, as he has a good sense of resilience, and regains his composure quickly. Eli, as said previously, is bolder than he looks, quite chivalrous really. Another benefit of being so quiet-yet-bold makes him less worried about what others think of him, also contributing to his sense of humor, or on occasion, lack of. His sense of wit isn't always found communitively funny, and much of the time he uses it to avoid awkward situations, which are, much of the time, what gets him fazed or caught off-guard. Overall, Eli's valiance combined with his out-going characteristics and sense of humor make him a rather likable person and easy to get along with, his boldness giving him the confidence to pull it off.
found eighteen reasons i can't
PICK UP ON THE PHONE
mother -- shannon wells-barkham. 35. accountant.
father -- elijah ackerman. 37. some big businessman.
siblings -- none.
pets -- duncan. 21 (dog years). border collie.
other -- daniel barkham. 38. lawyer.
history -- Shannon Wells, Eli's mother came from a family with seven children. She was right in the middle of them all, with three younger and three older siblings. Though neither of her parents were particularly rich, they managed to support them all up until the oldest was ready for college. Though expensive, and requiring many sacrifices, the three oldest made it through without any problem. Once Eli's mother was eighteen she made a decision to not make her parents forfeit their money, and would stay around for a bit more to help out the family. She got a job as a waitress and, while donating a portion of her paycheck to her family when needed, she began a long-term piggybank.
His father, the original Eli Ackerman, on the other hand, came from a high class family with more money than needed to be successful. If they wanted to they could send each one of Eli's mother's siblings to college and have enough left over to buy a decent sized house and new furniture. Unlike the other family, they had only one child. He had gone to a private school all his life, and by high school he despised the harsh teachings with a passion. He became what would be considered a complete rebel in the private academies, but average in the public-school world. Due to grades that stooped at 'low' levels he attended a college that his parents didn't approve of, one that was much lower than their standards. He ended up going to the same college as Eli's mother's oldest brother. The two became great friends, and once the brother invited him to stay with him back at home one summer.
That summer, Eli’s parents fell in love. His father was only twenty-one, and his mother just turned eighteen, so their siblings and parents figured it wouldn’t go anywhere. And it didn’t. After the summer ended the two split… until Eli’s father got word that the pregnancy test came back positive. After much contemplation, a message was returned asking for the girl’s hand in marriage. Eli’s father didn’t tell his to-be bride about her brother’s, his friend’s, reaction to the test, as it had obviously affected his decision.
But that fact became obvious when his father never showed at the day of the ceremony. Eli was born a matter of months later, and despite his grandparents’ wishes, named after his runaway father: Elijah. For he wasn’t at all a bad man, knowing that his mother had been short on both education and money, he had pulled a few strings with people he knew and gotten her interviews, and the jobs were enough to get her and her newborn child a house of their own, while her own parents attempted to push the rest of their children towards the future.
Eli’s first many years were spent in a crummy neighborhood, where there were three heavy-duty locks on the steel doors that were used daily. As the only parental figure, Eli grew rather attached to his mother, as even at a young age he understood the trouble she had gone through to keep him. The lack of luxury proved to keep the two close, and made Eli very independent and aware of himself. Even when they had to break into that long-term piggy bank, they found comfort in the small, simple things. Though sometimes the boy got curious, and would ask about his father. His mother was calm and fair in answering, and after a moment would respectively say “He was a good man caught in a bad situation.”
Of course, the events of the world got in the way of his life, and until he was in his teenaged years, his small family was suffering from the hunger and the cold and the effects of the new world. Fortunately, they found a very timely savior. Eli was fourteen when Dan arrived in his life. It was an arrival he didn’t look forward to, despite the situation he was in. As a fairly attractive woman, Eli often knew his mother went on dates, and thankfully she didn't let the events of the world sabotage her social life. However, the news that those dates weren’t with separate men came as a bit of a surprise, as did the new ring on her finger, the size of the gem was a hint at how much money the fiancée had in the bank. And for a second Eli considered whether this was about love or money. But time told it was about love.
Love for each other, and not really Eli.
And so, before he knew, Dan had moved the small family to their current residence: a small town called Summerset and the high school that resided there. It's been two months since then, and Eli still hasn't found his place in the social scene. Sure, he's found people who have given him a place in the social scene. He lives the high life, with the nice car, luxury, big house, and crazy nightlife. But really all of it is new and uncomfortable, having lived all his life in the not-so-great social class. To the day, he remains lost.
i keep my head up high i know my plans
I DON'T SLEEP TIL IT'S LIGHT
alias -- quinn
age -- seventeen
other characters? -- none other than mr. eli.
experience -- too long... five years?
other -- nada.
it's gotta last to build up your eyes
AND A LIFETIME OF RED SKIES
this here application was made by quinn, who is rather impressed with herself for making it. and therefore, it should not be stolen. however, if you ask her nicely she'll probably be so flattered by the idea that someone wanted to use it that she'll surely hand it over. lyrics by wolf parade.
