WELCOME!

Here is some basic information on my two fictional characters, Torin and Kage. In the future, I hope to have a website dedicated to this story, most likely told through a combination of written word, manga, and images (perhaps even animation, we'll see.) It is still very much under construction, but I have not (and will not) drop it.


THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY:

It begins in a small town in the northeastern US, in a public high school. The senior class is buzzing with excitement in their last year of high school; all, that is, except Kage Kirkwood. He keeps to himself, staying distant from his classmates. Most of the school has given up on him. After all, who wants to be around someone who only speaks to say something rude?
A new student arrives at the beginning of the year, a friendly, good-humored boy named Torin Zalman. He notices Kage right away, and decides to make it his mission to make the sullen boy lighten up. It becomes a fight to win Kage's trust, overcoming belligerent football players, the views of their peers, expectations of their small-town society, and most of all- their own personal demons.


MAIN CHARACTERS:

Torin Alexis Zalman

~Gender: Male
~Birthday: Mar. 16, Pisces
~Beginning Age: 17
~Height: 5' 7"
~Weight: 135-140 lbs
~Orientation: Gay

~Occupation(s): High school senior, student of the martial art Aikido, beginner 'traceur' (one who practices Parkour).

~Interests: Photography, drawing, filmmaking, video games, physical activities like skate/snowboarding, technology & computers.

~Physical Description: Emerald-green eyes, poofy medium-length brown hair, athletic build. Slightly feminine features with Irish/European ancestry. Tends to dress casual; plain or printed t-shirts, light blue high-top sneakers, and often his favorite green jacket with the sleeves rolled up.

~Personality: Friendly, protective, optimistic, not easily angered. Creative, expressive, empathetic, aware, open-minded. Has a well-developed sense of humor and isn't afraid to laugh at himself. Articulate, but sometimes speaks very bluntly. Values honesty. Enthusiastic but easy-going. 'Carpe diem' is his mantra. Doesn't like to give up when his mind's set on something. Puts others before himself, sometimes too much. Tends to wear his heart on his sleeve.

~Background: Both parents passed away when Torin was seven. Lives with his uncle Mike.

~Name Info:
Torin (Gaelic origin) - chief; thunder
Alexis (Greek origin) - defender
Zalman (Hebrew origin) - peace
*Pronunciation: TOR-in uh-LEK-sis ZAHL-mehn

~~~~~~~

Kazushige "Kage" Kirkwood

~Gender: Male
~Birthday: Nov. 12, Scorpio
~Beginning Age: 18
~Height: 5' 9.5"
~Weight: 130-140 lbs
~Orientation: Isn't sure...

~Occupation(s): High school senior, part-time office janitor.

~Interests: Psychology & Sociology, reading books, filming (unexplored).

~Physical Description: Grey eyes, black hair almost always over his face, thin build- somewhat underweight. Visible, but not overpowering, Asian ancestry. Tends to wear rather nondescript, darker neutral colors and clothing which covers a lot of skin. Is interested in alternative-style clothing, but doesn't want to stand out too much.

~Personality: Seems self-possessed, quiet, reserved. Can be charismatic, but is very good at scaring (or pissing) people off with biting sarcasm and half-veiled insults. Distrustful, perfectionistic, slightly neurotic. Angry and disgusted, especially with himself. Self-destructive at times. Lonely, but denies it. His trust is hard-won, but once earned, he is very loyal. Around Torin, he's more able to be himself, so appears more awkward and easily embarrassed.

~Background: His mother is deceased, and he holds strong contempt for his father, who has, by mutual decision, no active parental role in Kage's life. He lived with his maternal aunt most of his childhood, but emancipated himself at sixteen years old. He now rents a small house, where he lives alone.

~Name Info:
*Note: Kage despises his father, and therefore the name his father gave him. He introduces himself and writes his name as 'Kage.' His surname was previously Tanaka, but on his eighteenth birthday, he legally changed it to Kirkwood, the middle name his mother had given him.*
Kazushige - (Japanese origin) - harmonious and heavy
Kage - (Japanese word) - shadow
Kirkwood - (English origin) - church wood
*Pronunciation: kah-ZOO-sh'ge "KA-geh" KERK-wood

~~~~~~~


MINOR CHARACTERS:

Jessica Desmond
A bright and headstrong red-haired girl, Jess quickly makes friends with Torin at school.

Travis Wachowski
A well-known, but generally disliked, football player, and bully. He has a problem with Kage in particular, since Kage doesn't seem afraid of him.

Mike Jennings
Torin's uncle on his mother's side, Mike drives freight trucks for a living, and is away from home for weeks at a time. He and Torin are very close.

Gracie and Timmy Small
Two children whom Torin regularly babysits. The Smalls are good friends of Torin and his uncle Mike. Gracie is seven and Timmy is four.


More info soon!
Last Update: Aug. 22, 2009