Application;

[websterknox]

GENERAL

NAME: Webster Knox
NICKNAMES: Web
AGE/DOB: 17, April 4th 1997
BLOOD STATUS: Half-blood (pure-blood mom, muggle-born dad).
GENDER/PRONOUNS: Male, he/him
SEXUALITY: Straight, but is comfortable telling his male friends that he loves them
HOMETOWN: Braddock, Pennsylvania.

CONCEPT: Reclusive, well-mannered musician trying to break out of his shell

PHYSICAL

APPEARANCE: Webster will comport himself to the style of clothes he's wearing. When he dresses up he has excellent manners and posture. When he dresses casually he starts to slouch and has a tendency to spill things. A similar pattern can be seen in his hair – it's always swept across in front, but depending on the occasion it's either nicely combed or wildly pushed to the side.

Webster doesn't like to spend money on himself, and that certainly extends to his clothes. Every fall his parents buy him new pairs of pants and every spring -- much to their dismay -- he cuts them into jean (or corduroy) shorts. His two favorite pieces of clothes are hand-me-downs: his dad's jean jacket and his mom's old Beauxbatons sweatshirt.

Whenever Webster gets new shoes he immediately gets them a little dirty so he won't be precious and careful with them.

HEIGHT: 5'10"

PB: Freddie Highmore

PERSONALITY

LIKES: waking up a minute before his alarm, finding non-magical solutions to problems, finishing all the food on his plate, playing cards after dinner, promptly writing thank you notes, music you can't help but dance to, dancing, building things, proving people wrong (but he won't rub it in their face), spending a whole day reading a book, striking up polite conversation with strangers, being in control of a situation, using his hands, most things water related (drinking it, swimming in it, boating on it), playing his music, learning how things work, having a project to devote to, people-watching, AUDREY HEPBURN MOVIES.

DISLIKES: confrontation, drama, passive-aggression, American football, being the center of attention, making big decisions, when people think they can just touch your clothes or pet your animals without asking, hypothetical questions or would-you-rathers, when his grandparents fix his hair, people who feign expertise or are overconfident, hypocritical behavior (his own, included), when people don't appreciate what they have (himself, included), being vulnerable (which he privately often is).

PERSONALITY:

Webster's dad is a blue-collar muggle and his mom is a witch from wealthy Spanish family. And while his parents come from very different backgrounds, there is overlap in the middle of their venn diagrams -- shared values which were impressed on Webster. Hard work. Manners. Respect. Humility. Emphasis on family. Structure. Responsibility.

At the same time, Webster's diverse background has led to a unique set of skills and experiences. He's spent time in Pittsburg's steel factories and he's been classically trained in multiple instruments. He knows how to change a car engine and can capably ride his mom's family's Abraxan winged horses.

Thanks to the traits his parents have instilled in him, Webster makes good first impressions on strangers and adults. They will say things like, "Aren't you a well-raised young man!" which pleases his parents to no end. Days later, those same strangers may suddenly remember meeting Webster and find themselves thinking, "I hope he has fun."

Growing up Webster was happy, but didn't necessarily have much fun. He liked his structured, quiet, loving, simple-yet-refined childhood, but it lacked excitement. That's one of the reasons he immediately befriended Lilika -- she injected adventure, spontaneity, and fun into his life!

With Lilika's encouragement, Webster has recently started trying to say "yes" to adventures. He's now doing things for the story. He wants to collect experiences and memories. It's not always easy for him, but he wants to take part in everything he's missed out on! When Lilika transferred to Gooseberry and told him to come the next year, he took a deep breath and decided to join her. She couldn't stop talking about all this craziness that went down her first year there, and it sounds like the type of adventure Webster is seeking.

It's easy to get close to Webster; it's hard to get very close. He believes strongly in the idea of best friends and is fiercely loyal to those closest to him. He won't advocate enough for himself but will do anything for the people he loves.

He doesn't tell people that he's highly aware of the real world that awaits him at the end of the year, and it terrifies him. He knows he doesn't set enough goals and doesn't like that about himself. He knows he's not ambitious enough and doesn't like that either. He knows he's been passive for much of his life -- following the path his parents or Lilika have set for him -- and that scares him, too. Webster has his passions (namely: music) but isn't confident enough yet that he can turn that into a career. He doesn't tell people that he's afraid to confront the privilege that comes with being a wizard -- feelings that always bubble up when he thinks about his muggle relatives.

Right now though, he wants to savor every last moment of his senior year.

SKILLS

LANGUAGES SPOKEN: Fluent in English and Spanish (Castilian), proficient in French

PATRONUS: Webster cannot cast a Patronus and he's okay with it.

SKILLS:

• Musician Webster was classically trained in piano and guitar as a kid. He's since taught himself the drums, saxophone, and violin. He loves composing music and performing. Lilika convinced him to form a band. (He's not a good singer, though.)
  
  
• Various Mechanical Skills His dad taught Webster basic skills in plumbing, auto repair, and carpentry
  
  
• Cooking He makes an excellent paella and chocolate lava cake.
  
  
• Poetry Webster has recently gotten into writing love poems -- all in Spanish -- but nobody is allowed to read them. He particularly likes the romantic poetry of Pablo Neruda.
  
  

HISTORY

FAMILY MEMBERS:

• GEORGE KNOX Dad. Muggle. Steelworker turned Quaker leader. No frill, no fuss, no excuses. Has three loves: his family, his God, his Triumph motorcycle that he's always fixing up.
  
• SOFIA MARTINEZ-KNOX Mom. Pureblood. Represented Beauxbatons in Triwizard Tournament (didn't win). Works in Muggle Liaison Office. Never met someone she couldn't impress.
  
  
• JULIAN & IATANA MARTINEZ Maternal grandparents. Purebloods. Diplomat and film actress respectively. Spanish aristocrats. Have a house for every season
  
  
• TONY BUTTONS Cousin. Muggle. Same age as Webster. Burly fellow who works in the Pittsburgh steel factories. As simple as he is strong, he's very protective of his slender cousin.
  

HISTORY:

Webster Knox is an only child -- as was always the plan -- because George and Sofia wanted to devote themselves entirely to raising one child properly.

So from an early age, Webster was bombarded with lessons. George would take him to see the steel factories and learn the value of a hard day's work. Then they'd go to a Quaker meeting and learn the importance of one's personal relationship with God. If there was time, they'd build or repair something so Webster would understand how things work and the satisfaction that comes with solving your own problems.

Sofia brought refinement and worldliness. Manners, conversation, geography, history, Spanish language skills, horseback riding. These were all imparted onto Webster.

Their parenting approach was a mix of pragmatism and exceptionalism. They wanted their son to have all the skills, but if he showed particular interest in one thing in particular, they'd encourage mastery. Of course, like with all children, his interests would shift quickly. So one year they were training him to be a skilled swimmer, the next a master cook, and the next an animal savant.

Webster's best friends growing up were Tony Buttons (his muggle cousin) and Lilika Ignacz (fellow Azurcrest and the witch daughter of her dad's co-worker). He loved hanging out with them because it made him feel like a kid, which was decidedly not the case when he was with his parents or grandparents. While Webster would never instigate any of the trouble and excitement they got into, he relished it and happily tagged along.

But Lilika and her family moved away, Tony started working, and when beginning in the sixth grade, Webster was sent to study at Beauxbatons (where everyone in Sofia's family went). There, Webster did well in his classes -- he was never a problem student and never a star pupil, happy instead to keep his head down and pass under the radar. While his Spanish was perfect, his French was only proficient. He could understand everything but was more comfortable keeping quiet not talking.

He'd spend much of his time alone, walking the beautiful campus, observing his peers, being privately depressed, and writing to Lilika about his thoughts. The biggest thing to come of his time at Beauxbatons was that he saw his Spanish grandparents more. They introduced him to classical music and Webster started playing multiple instruments and learning about all different genres. Lilika encouraged him to start a band at school, which he did, bringing him a little bit out of his shell and introducing him to his first set of friends.

During the summers he'd return to Braddock, PA to be with his parents and would always make a trip to visit Lilika wherever she was. He was always happiest when they were together, so before his senior year, he decided to transfer to Gooseberry to be with her. Seeing how important it was to him (and liking the idea of having him closer to home), they agreed. Webster's grades met Gooseberry's standards and his now-exceptional music skills helped him stand out. He's excited for a new school, new classmates, and a chance to reinvent himself. Oh, and as for whatever weird thing happened last year? Webster is excited for more of that … or at least he thinks he is.

SCHOOL

YEAR: Senior
HOUSE: Azurcrest
SORTING: Webster's sorting was a three emblem affair (the Fox took one look at Webster, yawned, and went to sleep). The Bear argued that Webster's dedication, hard work, and no-nonsense past made him a good fit in Ebonhide. The Trout said Webster's reconciliatory and conflict-averse nature made him a natural Ribbonfin.

Ultimately, Webster's sorting had less to do with who he's been and more about who he's becoming. Webster's new carpe diem, make-the-most-of-every-opportunity attitude led him to join Azurcrest. The Bear and Trout conceded defeat and then woke up the Fox to judge to next student.

WAND: 10" Cypress wand with Horned Serpent horn core. Webster flicks it very musically, using the same motion he might when playing the drums. Coincidentally, on occasion he has grabbed a drum stick instead of his wand before heading out for the day, which was problematic.

FAMILIAR: A small black cat named Boot, who is typically full of energy and then will fall asleep in the most ridiculous of positions. If you can't find him, he’s probably climbed into or is attacking an unattended shoe -- an activity that never stops being entertaining to him.

CLASSES:

• Potions
  
• Charms
  
• History of Magic
  
• Outdoor Education
  
• Astronomy
  
• Artificing
  
• Aesthetic Magic
  

ADVANCED STUDY: Music: Webster's grandparents saw to it that he received a classical music education -- even if grew up in Braddock, PA, their grandson was still going to fit into noble Spanish society. Webster was a natural, and during his lonely days at Beauxbatons, he would spend countless hours in the music rooms without leaving -- at this point he was playing all sorts of instruments and genres. It's been said that watching him play music you'd be forgiven if you thought he was possessed... which, honestly, might be the case.

SENIOR PROJECT: Webster is researching the ways that magic and music can be combined to improve health and well-being. It's well documented that music can affect one's brain chemistry, and Webster wants to enchant musical instruments to magnify these effects -- extra happiness, extra catharsis, extra nostalgia, extra memory recall, etc.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: Webster does fairly well in school, not because he's passionate about or gifted in a lot of the subjects, but because he doesn't want to disappoint his parents. He finds lecture classes to be more difficult -- his mind will wander -- and much prefers getting to be interactive and hands-on. Music and artificing are his favorite subjects.

EXTRACURRICULARS:

• Azurcrest Mascot
  
• Boating Club
  
• Outdoor Exploration

OOC

NAME: Ben
EMAIL: see player contact page
CDJ: N/A
OTHER PREFERRED CONTACT: N/A
TIME ZONE: Pacific Standard Time