Robin Harding

 

Protagonist

 

Male

 

18

 

Lean, fairly muscular, with more upper body strength. Has slightly larger hands than normal.

 

Peachy, with hints of olive. No freckles.

 

Deep hazel, with amber flecks

 

None

 

Jaw length, naturally very wavy. Usually tousled and unkempt.

 

Dark brown hair with warm undertones.

 

5'11"

 

145 lbs

 

A slightly weak chin and thick eyebrows. Very sweet smile.

 

Climbing trees, listening, comforting others, writing

 

People with power--more specifically, those who abuse it. His past has made him distrustful of authority figures, since they often turned a blind eye to his struggles when they could have stepped in and helped.

 

He tends to self-victimise and believe that he has no influence over his situations. Bottles up his feelings until they explode, often hurting those around him who didn't know he had been upset. Gets very passive aggressive when he feels someone is trying to make him do something or is trying to indirectly get people to see he is upset without stating his issue explicitly. Not usually physically violent, but he has been pushed to that point a couple of times.

 

Writing, climbing trees, reading, going on long walks in nature by himself, thinking.

 

Robin is quiet, sweet, good-natured, and thoughtful. He doesn't have a lot of confidence in himself or his abilities, and tends to believe that his presence and thoughts don't matter very much. He prefers to keep to himself, having often been disappointed and hurt when his attempts to connect with others were shut down. He has a bittersweet sadness in his eyes, but he is eager to make positive experiences, and loves to laugh.

He has a tendency to take himself a bit too seriously, and needs someone who can tease him lightly when he starts to withdraw too much and get in his own head. Although he's usually very reserved, once he's made a connection with someone, he loosens up a lot, and becomes much more expressive.

Robin is very affectionate with those closest to him, and especially loves giving and receiving hugs. He flushes and stumbles over his words when he's nervous, and doesn't know how to speak up for himself. However, if any of his friends are being threatened or hurt, Robin proves himself to be a fiercely loyal friend, and can suddenly speak clearly and sometimes coldly, although these confrontations always leave him feeling shaken up and drained.

Robin is extremely uncomfortable with conflict, wanting nothing more than to keep the peace--hence his quiet and passive nature. However, it's exactly this passiveness and reluctance to voice his hurt that leads him to build up resentment and bitterness, especially if someone is hurting him repeatedly (even if it's unconsciously). He kind of hopes the behaviour will just go away if he's nice about it, but he mainly puts off saying anything because he feels arrogant voicing his thoughts, and he fears causing more conflict. Ironically, pushing aside the conflict causes it to fester, and he ends up exploding.

Once Robin trusts someone (which doesn't take too long), he opens up rather easily and will be quite vulnerable. He is extremely empathetic, quickly able to read the emotions in a room and is a very non-judgemental person. It's these things that often helps others to open up to him. He is genuinely interested in others, and wants to know them, though he wishes others would do the same and show an interest in him. He is humble, patient, and accepts people as they are.

In other words, he's a sweet sweet baby cinnamon roll who is too pure for this world. We must take care of him 😭😣❤

 

His need to be seen and acknowledged as important, valuable, and needed. His need to be connected with the people he cares about. His need to feel internal and external peace.

 

Nervous: bites his lip, stammers, swallows, twists his fingers together
Angry/frustrated: paces, grabs fistfuls of his hair, rubs his face, breathes heavily
Thoughtful: bites the inside of his cheek, taps a pencil against his lips
Sad: looks at his feet, rubs his arms

 

Robin was born at 36 weeks and was very small—only around 5 pounds. Robin was small for his age up until he hit puberty.

 

Fickle Game - Amber Run
hurts 2 hate somebody - Chase Atlantic
Afraid - The Neighbourhood
Youth - Troye Sivan
Clean Eyes (The Midnight Remix) - SYML
everything sucks - Vaultboy
Boy in the Bubble - Alec Benjamin
8 Letters - Why Don't We
The Cut That Always Bleeds - Conan Gray
Wonder - Shawn Mendes
i'm so tired - Lauv
Face It - NF
BITE - Troye Sivan

 

Two photographs of his parents, whom he never knew.

 

Depends on the universe.

 

Agnostic, leaning towards Christianity

 

Works at his father's grocery shop

 

Forest green

 

Bacon

 

Graduated high school.

 

September 5th, 1936.

 

Robin was born in London and left in front of Saint Thomas's Orphanage for Boys and Girls when he was only a few weeks old, wrapped in a blue blanket. Inside the folds were two photographs and a piece of paper containing his name and birthday. He was small for his age, having been born slightly premature, and stayed in that orphanage until he was five, when the bombings in London began. One day, Robin was late to the shelter (which was some distance from the actual orphanage), and he witnessed a bomb destroying the building. He had nightmares about that bombing until he was well into his teens, and often even as an adult. When it was safe again, the orphans were relocated to another building where the orphanage was reinstituted. When Robin was seven, he met Jimmy Sparrow, and they quickly became fast friends. When Robin was nine, he met Amelia West, and she was soon friends with the two boys. They knew that adoptions were more unlikely, and they planned to run away together when they were old enough. Robin was regularly bullied by an older orphan named Billy, but he refused to tell on him, scared of Billy's threats to make things worse, and he was further convinced that if somebody actually cared that he was being bullied, it would be stopped. Robin was bullied from the ages of five to fourteen by the same boy, and sometimes by others, and he began to grow angry with Jimmy and Amelia every time they suggested he go to Father John or one of the nuns. Even when Billy locked him in the cellar closet when he was eleven, leaving Robin to scream overnight before somebody found him, he wouldn't tell anybody. There was an element of pride in him for having borne all this for this long, and he felt it would be useless to give it up. He also had a secret fear that it would be solved too quickly and too easily, making his years of suffering meaningless. Robin eventually burst when he was fourteen and fought back hard, breaking Billy's nose. After Billy took his anger out on Robin's friend Karie and left her badly injured, he reported Billy's behaviour to Father John and Billy was sent away. He and Jimmy were adopted when they were 15, by an older couple who had lost their only son in the second world war.

 

None

 

Aesthetic: https://www.pinterest.com/hodgesmiriam/robin-aesthetic/

---

Robin gives the best hugs. His clothes are warm from sunlight, and he smells like fresh air and books and tea. His arms are strong, but gentle, and he murmurs comforting words as he holds you to his chest.

---

(Robin listening/comforting)

Karie: leans her head back and lets out a deep sigh

Robin: stares at the wall, zoned out and exhausted

after a few minutes he feels something touch his shoulder

Robin: Hm? looks over

Karie: is asleep and her head has drooped to the side against his shoulder

Robin: eyes widen
something warm blooms in his chest as he watches her breathe
smiles gently
leans his head back and closes his eyes contentedly
in a few moments, he too is asleep

Around 9:20 pm

Karie: slight movement
twitches involuntarily
breathing quickens considerably
grows tense and shifts in her sleep

Robin: shifts

Karie: twitches again as if recoiling

Robin: eyes fluttering
wakes up

Karie: lets out a soft involuntary sound of pain

Robin: looks over blearily at Karie

there's a bit of a wet spot on his shoulder

Robin: furrows his brow
blinks

Karie: suddenly jerks upright, gasping

Robin: alarmed Karie?
voice hoarse
You alright?

Karie: pushes herself away quickly, eyes wide

Robin: now fully awake, his heart beating fast
Karie--wh-what's... are you…

Karie: comes fully out of it
breathing shakily
I - I -

Robin: staring at her in concern

Karie: Dr-dream - just a dream -

Robin: searching her face

Karie: L-like usual

Robin: A dream? Like usual?

Karie: She looks badly shaken

Robin: very alarmed
Karie, you don't look well, are you sure--?

Karie: sniffs and drags a sleeve over her eyes
I - I'm fine now…

Robin: gently, suddenly feeling quite upset Karie? What... what's wrong?

Karie: swallows hard It's not - It's not supposed to be real -

Robin: draws closer What isn't?

Karie: I - The dreams…

Robin: suddenly remembers a conversation years ago by a library window
Oh.
tentatively What... what happens?

Karie: pushes the hair out of her face and takes another deep shaky breath
turns her head to him a little
....
can feel a huge lump in her throat after he asks

Robin: looking at her anxiously

Karie: her expression changes and she forces it down
I - I see my dad again

Robin: Oh... I'm sorry...
Losing him was hard?

Karie: the lump comes back even stronger
swallows hard
shakes head No - he didn't care

Robin: perplexed
I'm not sure I understand…

Karie: musters the courage to continue
He - he used to beat me when he was really angry…

Robin: blood goes cold

Karie: If mum tried to stop him, he beat her too

Robin: horrified
whispers Karie... I…

Karie: He never let me go beyond the front yard of the house - so I didn't have much room to get away from him
now that it's coming out she can't stop herself
That - that was why I climbed
I was running away from him

Robin: stomach is filled with dread as he puts the pieces together
doesn't know what to say

Karie: And one day I fell - after that I couldn't - I couldn't see more than vague blurs
Mum tried to help me - she - she figured out getting the book....
And learning how the dotted writing worked
But dad - dad hated me even more because I couldn't see -

Robin: chest feels tight

Karie: One day I - I don't remember - I might've broken something by accident
and he took the cane -
she's starting to shake
He hit me - he hit me everywhere - he slammed the cane into my eyes and - and there was nothing but horrible burning and blackness
It's all black now -

Robin: wordlessly gathers Karie into his arms
squeezes her gently and rubs her back
can barely keep his own tears at bay
his throat is constricted

Karie: Mum - mum got - mum had enough and she - she s-started to fight him
sobs start escaping
He was so angry!

Robin: doesn't know what else to do except hold her

Karie: And he - there was a loud crunching noise - and it - it was quiet -
sobbing harder

Robin: stops
everything feels strange all of a sudden

Karie: He killed her - he killed mum - right there

Robin: pulls back slightly to look at her face
absolutely horrified

Karie: He - he - unable to speak anymore through her crying

Robin: pulls her back into a hug and rests his cheek on her head

Karie: wraps her arms around him in return, shaking with sobs

Robin: rocking slightly
his chest aches

Karie: hugging him tightly
eventually begins to calm down

Robin: still holding her

soon quiet again

Robin: looks down at her

her arms have relaxed around him and she's starting to breathe peacefully again

Robin: carefully adjusts her to a more comfortable position
wonders what to do next

A minute or so later, there's a knock on the door

Robin: furrows his brow
under his breath Back already?
gently moves Karie so she is lying on the couch
quietly makes his way to the door and opens it

Mr Foster: Ah, Robin. Hullo, there.

Robin: surprised Mr Foster!
relief suddenly floods through him
Oh, thank God you're here.

Mr Foster: I believe Karie said she'd be here at the Thompson's? She hasn't come home yet
And it's rather late as it is

Robin: Yes--of course--
She's sleeping on the couch…

Mr Foster: Ahh... mind if I step in?

Robin: opens the door wider
steps aside

Mr Foster: comes in and makes his way to the living room
sees Karie on the sofa
comes over and bends down beside her

Robin: a short distance away
watches, his heart pounding

Mr Foster: appears to take note of her face and glances back at Robin with a questioning and concerned expression

Robin: doesn't know where to start

Mr Foster: sigh I'll take her home
quickly but gently lifts Karie off the couch

Robin: looks at him gratefully

Karie: stirs a little but makes no other movement otherwise

Mr Foster: Thank you, Robin. Have a good night.

Robin: You too, sir--I hope... well... I hope you both sleep well.

Mr Foster: nods
he leaves

Robin: stands in the foyer, eyes glazed
his arms tremble slightly

---

(Robin opening up)

dusk

Robin is sitting on an old bench by a large pond, chewing on the end of a pencil and frowning thoughtfully, his black journal lying open on his lap

Robin: stares at the lake
Hmmm...
bends over and scribbles something

soft rustling in the trees
low humming

Robin: startled
turns
Hullo?

Elanor emerges
sees him

Robin: Oh!
taken aback
Elanor! Erm, hello—what are you doing here?

Elanor: Oh, just out for a walk
Hullo there
comes over

Robin: I... I see. laughs a little

Elanor: plops down beside him
It's a nice day out
looks up at the sky

Robin: sticks his pencil into his book and closes it Yeh, it is.
looks out at the pond
takes a deep breath
I like coming out here.

Elanor: Nice, quiet, and peaceful

Robin: nods It's a nice change from the bustle of daily life. musing

Elanor: What're you writing?

Robin: flushes
Oh, nothing—it's just—I haven't even finished—

Elanor: Oh, come on. It can't be that bad

Robin: No—really—

Elanor: smiles a bit
takes a peek

holding the book closed
blushing furiously

Elanor: Oh you're no fun
Really?
..........
plucks the book out of his hand and opens it

Robin: It-it's... no, it's just... I stammering
freezes
falls open to an empty page except for a small poem, with lots of crossed out lines

"Memories
of climbing trees
and looking at
our swinging feet

Taking in
The summer breeze
And talking about
How we see
The world and all
Its tragedies

You turn to me
And suddenly
I cannot breathe
You're seventeen

You make my heart
Beat out of me"

Robin: stomach twists H-hey!

Elanor: looks over the lines a few times
Woah…

Robin: snatches the book back
Th-that's—my—I didn't... flustered

Elanor: Robin - that's really good!

Robin: Wha—really?

Elanor: genuinely I didn't know you could write like that!

Robin: Oh, well... th-thank you... I suppose...
confused

Elanor: long have you been doing stuff like that?

Robin: puts his book and pencil into his satchel, his face pink
Erm... well... since I was maybe ten?

Elanor: Ten??
Blimey…

Robin: sits up again
laughs nervously I wasn't good—I'm not good now either, but—

Elanor: Don't say that! Seriously - that was a really well written poem

Robin: quietly Yeh, but it doesn't do the experience justice…

Elanor: You mean it's about something that happened?
surprised

Robin: laughs weakly Oh, you heard that...
rubs his neck
Er... yeah...
It is…

Elanor: Sounds like it's about someone special too

Robin: can't help but smile
softly Yes. Yes, it is.

Elanor: grins
She got a name?

Robin: face goes hot
Ohhh... I dunno...
leans back

Elanor: Don't tell me it's a Barbara, I think most Barbaras are nutters

Robin: laughs
No... no…

Elanor: Sooooooooo a Jenny?

Robin: looks over at her with a half-embarrassed, half-amused smile
You really want to know, huh?

Elanor: leans back on her wrists and gives him a sidelong grin
You think I'll judge you or something?

Robin: Erm—well—I dunno... will you?
suddenly looks a little vulnerable

Elanor: What on earth for?
I've been sweet on people before, it's nothing to be ashamed of

Robin: I... er...
Yes, well...
relents
Alright—but I've told this to no one, so don't... er... tell anybody, okay?

Elanor: zips her lips

Robin: stomach flips over in nervousness
It's Karie.
can hardly believe he's saying it out loud

Elanor: Oh, the blind girl!
Who moved in
And who was your friend

Robin: blows out a breath
Yeah. Her.

Elanor: Well that explains a lot grinning

Robin: turns to her
Wh—what d'you mean?

Elanor: The way you look at her sometimes

Robin: embarrassed Am I that obvious?

Elanor: Do you want the honest answer?

Robin: grimaces
Yes?

Elanor: Ladies and Gentlemen
The million pound question has been answered

Robin: I mean—I suppose... I don't try to hide it, but...

Elanor: Buuut it's still clear as day

Robin: sighs Oh my.
I just... hope... she feels... the same.
seems to struggle getting that out

Elanor: Well, only way to find out is to let it happen, no?

Robin: nervous Oh, I—I-I dunno... I like where we are right now, actually...

Elanor: That's going to get real tiring real fast

Robin: turns to her What does that mean?

Elanor: I mean if she feels the same but if you stay the way you are, then it'll eventually become nothing. Nothing lasts forever
So if you don't do anything, then eventually she might drift away
and then you'll never know

Robin: So... you're saying I should tell her?
slightly incredulous

Elanor: I think you should decide what you want to do next
Just don't take too long to do it

Robin: inhales deeply
exhales deeply
looks over at her
Thank you.
smiles

Elanor: smiles back

Robin: sighs and stands up, slinging his satchel over his shoulder But... it's getting late. I should be heading home.
stands up

Elanor: Yeh, I'd best be going too.

Robin: It was nice talking.

Elanor: nods Yeah it was
Good luck! goes off

Robin: waves
goes the other way around

---

(Robin at his worst)

Robin: slams his bedroom door behind him, breathing raggedly
still in shock
anger, fear, jealousy, sadness burning inside
a knock on the door

Jimmy: Mate, what's going on?

Robin: Go away!
standing in the middle of his room, trembling

Jimmy: opens the door Whoa, Robin... what happened?
comes in

Robin: furious Billy! Billy happened!

Jimmy: confused I thought we went over this. He's not the same—

Robin: Oh, don't give me that!

Jimmy: startled

Robin: pacing He has it out for me... he always has... how could you all believe otherwise?

Jimmy: ...you all?? approaches Robin I think you need to take a deep breath and think for a minute... what makes you think he's after you? Have you even seen him since that day in the shop?

Robin: You know he's been walking Karie all over town, right?

Jimmy: eyes widen What? No, but—

Robin: Well he has! You know how many times I've actually had a conversation with Karie since he showed up? None.

Jimmy: That's why you're so angry? disbelief You could have walked over to her house any day of the week!

Robin: No—no, I couldn't have. I tried. She was gone. Off walking around with Billy... Billy of all people! He's mental! He beat her to a pulp! red spots in his cheeks
eyes glinting

Jimmy: Mate, that doesn't... I mean, that's a bit strange, but that doesn't mean anything... we've all been a bit busier and Billy's been walking all over the neighbourhood doing good work. They were bound to cross paths at some point...

Robin: stops and stares Jimmy in the eye, chest rising and falling She kissed him.

Jimmy: mouth drops open a bit Wh—what?
On... on the mouth? dubious

Robin: No. swallows

Jimmy: Oh, well... scratches head I mean... alright, yeh, that's a bit strange, but... you haven't even talked with either of them. What if you're reading into this too much?

Robin: What other explanation is there?? They just happen to start spending all this time together, and I'm completely forgotten... there's no way he actually... he must have some sort of reason... and I know it's not good.

Jimmy: shakes his head Robin, get out of your head. Go find one of them, and clear this up, alright? Billy is different. No—stop. He is. I can tell. A'right? So stop this—this going around in circles in your mind. You're makin' yourself mental. Go find Karie or Billy and get another side of the story, alright? Stop this.

Robin: angrier You don't understand. Fine. You want me to find him? I'll find him. dangerous edge to his voice

Jimmy: grabs Robin's shoulders and forces him to sit on his bed Cool down first.

Robin: eyes blazing

Jimmy: withdraws his hands I'm going to take a shower. You stay here and calm down. Find one of them tomorrow.

Robin: glares

Jimmy: turns and walks out of Robin's room, closing the door behind him

Robin: sitting on the edge of his bed
hands on his knees, clenched so hard his knuckles are white
jaw clenched
a stab of pain goes through his heart as he recalls seeing Karie kiss Billy
stands up
walks out the room
goes down the stairs and walks through the front door
crosses the street and starts walking in the direction he had seen Billy walking earlier
not far off, he sees someone sitting on the edge of the sidewalk
blood pumping once he realises it is Billy
rapidly approaching
soon he is standing a few feet away from him, glaring

Billy: turns his head
raises eyebrows Oh, Robin.
sees how agitated he is
stands up Is everything alright?

Robin: angry thoughts crowding his mind
blurts What's going on between you and Karie?

Billy: What in—what?

Robin: heat rising to his face You heard what I said.

Billy: I—I don't... what is this about?

Robin: shoves Billy in the chest

Billy: staggers back a bit, alarmed

Robin: voice rising Just say it! You're trying to make me miserable—just like you've always done! resentment and fury vibrating in his voice

Billy: What—no, I swear—

Robin: LIAR!

Billy: Robin, really, I have no idea what you're going on about—if this is about what happened at the orphanage, I'm sorry—

Robin: No you're not! I don't believe that for a second! You've spent your whole life being a ruthless bastard, and you think that one apology will convince me that you've changed??

Billy: dismayed I... I don't... know, I just...

Robin: I saw Karie kiss you. voice breaks a little, but his eyes are blazing

Billy: eyes widen I-is that what this is about? I can explain...

Robin: drawing closer What the hell do you think you're doing with her?

Billy: backing away Nothing! I mean—I... I thought she was... I didn't know...

Robin: advancing steadily on Billy The last time you saw Karie, you were beating her black and blue! And now you think you can just—what, waltz into our lives and cozy up to her?

Billy: What?
straightens up
What is wrong with you? angry and disturbed I know what I did to you was awful, but I'm doing everything I can to make up for it!

Robin: Yeah, by taking Karie!

Billy: loudly She kissed me! I don't control her!

Robin: AAGGH! punches Billy in the face

Billy: stumbles backward, shocked
massaging his jaw What the hell??

Robin: blood rushing in his ears, poison coursing through his veins
tackles Billy to the ground

Billy: back hits the cement hard
wind knocked out of him

Robin: pulls up and punches Billy across the face again

Billy: rolls and pins Robin underneath him, furious
Y-you're mental! gasping

Robin: tries to punch him again, but Billy blocks it and hits him hard in the head

Karie: coming around the block

scuffling and rolling around

Billy: manages to stand up and move away from Robin for a moment

eyes widen in horror
What-
comes running

Robin: gets to his feet and starts pummeling Billy again

Billy: shoving Robin back
reaches them
both are breathing hard
clothes torn

You two- stop! tries to get between them

Billy's mouth is bleeding and Robin's temple is busted open

Robin: staggers and shoves hard

Robin! Get off of- yelps
disoriented by the sudden movement
falls backward and lands hard on her back on the pavement

both boys' eyes widen Karie!

Robin: runs over to help her up Karie—I-I'm sorry, I didn't—

Agh- rubs her nicked elbow
registers what just happened and feels hot anger rise up in her face
Get OFF! smacks his arm back and scrambles to her feet

Robin: freezes

Are you two CHILDREN!?

Billy: eyes drop to the ground

Robin: backs away a little
completely taken aback
I... no...

turning to Billy We had a conversation TWENTY MINUTES AGO! Did it just bounce off your head!?

Billy: opens his mouth to say something
closes it
ashamed

whirls around to face Robin And YOU!

Robin: flinches

Why can't you at least FIND some way to have a DECENT CONVERSATION if you still have some problems!?

stung

Or are you just THAT STUCK IN THE PAST
stands there, breathing hard

Robin: world feels as though it's been pulled out from under his feet

looks furious

can't think of anything to say

Just - RRGGH! clenching and unclenching her fists
smacks Robin in the face
still bursting with fury and gives him an extra, weaker bat across the chest to follow up
standing in between them both

Robin: stunned

I thought things could be different. I suppose that was just TOO naïve.
I hope you're happy with yourselves!!

both look mortified

shoves roughly past Billy and storms off

silence

Billy: sits on the edge of the sidewalk again, dabbing his lip on his shirt sleeve

Robin: still standing there

Billy: ...I'm sorry. quietly

Robin: starts
turns towards him
Wh... what?

Billy: I didn't know it was like that...

Robin: sighs and sits on the edge of the sidewalk a few feet from Billy No... I... I'm the one who should be sorry.
voice hoarse
You made your apology... I just didn't accept it.
silence

Billy: She doesn't feel that way about me.

Robin: turns to look at him
confused
Then...?

Billy: It was a friendly peck. Nothing more.
sounds upset

Robin: frowns But you...

Billy: Yeah. Not really sure why. Maybe it's her kindness. I hadn't ever imagined I would get her forgiveness. I don't know what I was thinking but... I just wanted to spend more time with her. looks at Robin You know, don't you?

Robin: swallows and nods

Billy: Yeh. That.
But quickly you don't have anything to worry about. I asked her out and she said no. Said she didn't have those kinds of feelings for me.

Robin: You... you just asked her out? surprised

Billy: Yeah, but like I said, she's not—

Robin: No, but... how did you... I mean... didn't it take a lot of... guts?

Billy: Course.

Robin: Weren't you afraid she would say no?

Billy: Yes. And she did. But I was willing to take the risk. You don't meet a girl like her every day.

Robin: ...

Billy: I had an opportunity and took it. She said no. But at least I have an answer.

Robin: looks at his feet

Billy: turns to Robin suddenly, eyebrows raised
You haven't told her.

Robin: ...no.

Billy: Well, there's your problem.

Robin: chews on the inside of his cheek
silence

Billy: Robin... I really am sorry. For everything I did to hurt you.

Robin: looks at him
thinks of the years of bullying he experienced
thinks of Jimmy and Amelia and Karie
sees Billy's face

Billy: sincere

Robin: takes a deep breath, collecting all the anger and resentment in his chest
blows it out
I forgive you.

---