carlsbenjamins | Recent Entries

OUT of CHARACTER
Name: Kirk
Other characters: Edward Nygma and HK-47

IN CHARACTER
Name: Steve Carlsberg
Fandom: Welcome to Night Vale
Canon point/AU: Panem AU so current, I suppose. Running with parallels, he's close to Cecil's age at 34 (but he's a Scorpio so y'know, his birthday is soon).
Journal:

carlsbenjamins
PB: Howard Charles
History:

Once upon a time, a young and passionate Capitolite couple were blessed with a bouncing baby boy, who they bequeathed with the name Steve. Okay, so Steve is a bit ordinary sounding, and it's probably a nickname, but Steve is the name that Steve has gone by for as long as he can remember. And for as long as he could recall going by the name Steve, he also remembered a great environment of learning around him. Learning was not just defining words and understanding one's body, it was also observing everything around you. A moment could hold so much importance, and that importance would become history, which if documented could go on to tell lessons to many generations. There weren't a lot of history books that pre-dated the establishment of the Districts to be found, but Steve's father would tell him bed time stories of his great-grandfather and other generations of the Carlsberg family before that. Later, Carlsberg would come to inherit the secret library of transcribed historical accounts from the citizens of the districts, with experiences unblemished by the government's biased regulations of what could be told of Panem's history.

His mother emphasized the vitality of never taking what he had for granted, especially when those in the Districts were less fortunate than he was. He never truly understood the gravity of this until his first trip with them out to visit a district. A curious way to vacation perhaps in the eyes of the other Capitolites, but they would go out and visit each district, where they would learn about the lives and jobs of the people there, until he had visited each one. He learned a lot from the other children, from how they would behave around him for where his family was from. Some were afraid, or taught to be afraid, and wouldn't speak out, while others weren't afraid to speak the truth, because their lives were already at a point where they couldn't become any worse. The further away from the Capitol, he learned, the less favorable the treatment became. As he was also a rather scholarly child, he learned that some of the children didn't have as nice of a school as he did, or that they didn't learn the same things he did, which showed him the value of life as a Capitolite.

It didn't take long for his scholarly interests to form their way into a career path, and even as he was still a student, he began tutoring others, helping with the academics in the districts that his family would visit wherever he could. This led into a career as a teacher in the Capitol, where he climbed up the ladder until he had a seat on the Board of Directors there. With one stone, he took out two birds and opened up small, for-profit tutoring clinics: 1. catering to the ego of Capitolites who wanted to ensure a good education for their children to take over their high positions in Panem society, and 2. using profits to fund the education systems of the less fortunate Districts' educational systems.

Carlsberg used his wealth of knowledge and diligence to research and be resourceful to push for change wherever he could. He was never quiet about his sentiments regarding the treatment of those who were not of the Capitol. He engaged in social functions actively-- a useful way to gain support and information--, and often would play to the thought that making things better for the citizens of the districts would help underscore that the Capitol supported and looked out for all the people of Panem, that they were the backbone of the country who helped the Capitol to live so comfortably in the first place. He made sure to emphasize the importance of these improvements without overstating and saying that their lives were more valuable, because in his eyes, all lives were equally valuable unless proven otherwise.

He led a life as a very desirable and eligible bachelor for a very long time, his love life more a serious of short romances that usually ended on a mutually understood note of "It was really just a very long fling" than a passionate "The One" sort of romance. This changed for him one night at a school function where he met Cecil's sister and his niece Janice. What started as a conversation about academics became more and he knew that this was his family. While he and Cecil never got along for their many differing opinions, Steve didn't let this get in the way of his decision to propose to the man's sister and enjoy a happy life with her. He always housed concern for Cecil, who he thought sometimes took his work too seriously, but after the District 3 incident, his concern grew even more. This drove his decision to vy for a job as an escort when he found out that the man's punishment involved both becoming an Avox and a Tribute. While his desire had been to become as close as he could to the situation and his application was approved, much to his chagrin he was placed in association with District 11 instead of 3, probably because they took into account Carlsberg's familial connection.

He was ready to move full swing into making a change though, no matter where he was placed. As far as he was concerned, he would strive to be involved with as many tributes as possible-- he could feel that the call for all hands on deck was near, and he would prepare in whatever ways he could.

Presentation:

To meet Carlsberg for the first time is to meet a giant teddy bear. He is a man of very large stature, and perhaps to see him at a distance, his presence could be considered a looming one (and sometimes it is, if the circumstances demand it). As someone who works with children and his peers equally, he knows that having a welcoming attitude will more likely make people feel inclined to be open with him. He doesn't roll over under the weight of another person's desires though, as when he needs to assert himself he has both his brain and body on his side. His size is merely an accessory to his confidence though, and would never threaten someone with physical violence lightly, if ever (unless absolutely necessary).

He maintains a genial nature towards acquaintances, friends, co-workers, and business associates as a default, because as an honest man he wishes no ill will against anyone. He may have problems with a person's actions or opinions, but believes that most people, at the core, are not wrong so much as they may not know any better. This fuels his desire to educate and emphasis the importance of understanding and empathy, that reflecting on how what one does will affect others, both small scale and large. He also knows that by treating everyone as an equal--not segregating others based on their personalities or outlooks-- that it ensures a secure level of trust between both parties.

As previously touched upon, Carlsberg is an assertive force. He very much works to be an entity of change when change needs to happen, but also recognizes the opposing forces and finds ways to work through them, be it pacing, slowly chipping away at the obstacle, or making a bold and well-worded argument to rally support. He is not afraid to take a problem into his own hands and solve it if no one else around him feels up to the task. Delaying leaves matters in a stagnant state, or sometimes they degrade into an even worse situation, and even if he pulls all the weight, resolution provides a sense of ease and accomplishment for all parties involved. On the other side of this, sometimes his assertion turns to stubbornness, and he becomes unwilling to step down from an issue. In times like these, it is important that he is reminded of the risks of "causing trouble" in the eyes of the Capitol's government.

As a very active and assertive presence, he strives to be very involved in the communities he's in: the more immediately surrounding ones with a very physical presence, and the more distance ones with an implied, almost spiritual one (sending out words of support and good thoughts whenever he sends supplies someone's way). Very often does he like to present to fellow Capitolites the idea of "This is what the districts do for us- what do we do for them?" for them to consider, and in more of a broad spectrum and not just showing support for one tribute or another when competing in the arenas. He tries to not only actively provide a helping hand to others, but also plant the seed of thought in others to assist those around them.

Motivations:

While he maintains an active relationship with his community, above unity he values individuality, both in the people surrounding him as well as himself. He is a person who if plunked down in an isolated environment where he had to care for himself, he would function just fine this way. He is a self-sufficient person and does not need a very active social life to feel like an accomplished individual, because who he is at the end of the day is not dependent on the thoughts or actions of another. He knows that while he feels this way however, others do need support to feel like they can achieve more, so in a social environment he does maintain that air and mentality. At the end of the day though, he likes to wind down with a cup of hot chocolate, sit in a comfortable chair, and read a book before retiring. Sometimes this will include his wife and stepdaughter, all cuddled together, where he reads aloud until they all start yawning together, perhaps falling asleep in a pile of warmth and cocoa.

Because he recognizes the harshness of Panem's reality, and the segregation of rights and commodities between the Capitol and the Districts, he is a firm believer in justice, hoping to see a day where all of Panem's citizen will have equality in his lifetime. He knows that seeing such adversity means that when that time comes it will be all the more valuable, but also believes that the country has lived too long under the hands of people like President Snow, who believe they hold the lives of every last citizen in their hands to play with however they please. A life should be in the hands of the person living it, a belief he teaches to those he knows will listen, even if it must be done so quietly until the citizens are stronger than the government. He has seen, almost firsthand, what blindly running into action can do to a person and the morale of those a person is fighting for, and knows that in order to act he must be fully prepared first.

Through the deep levels of fear and control that are woven into the Capitol at the hands of Snow, he does have a quietly kept suspicion of Peacekeepers and citizens in certain political positions. He still judges these people as individuals based on their actions alone, but is more acutely aware of negative or suspicious activity, which can get in the way of having clear perceptions regarding them. While a secret agent of the rebellion himself, he is very cautious around others with the same position as him, for the chance that they could be an agent on Snow's behalf trying to infiltrate and feed information to the enemy.

Honesty is perhaps the virtue he holds in the highest of regards. If someone were a truly horrible person, he would be more accepting that it's their nature if they were to openly admit this to others than someone who pretends and manipulates others. He has a critical eye for dishonesty, though if someone is of a way that their deception is very honest in appearance, it's not in his power to say otherwise. Due to his strong fight for justice, the truth is a big part of that, and there's a level of expectation that people will have a sense of honor in their actions. He would more likely surround himself with a group of honest criminals than a herd of harmless liars, because you know what to expect from the latter.

To describe Carlsberg's outside versus inside, this analogy comes to mind: Carlsberg is a vodka-filled chocolate. He has a pleasant outer shell that almost everyone can enjoy without discrimination, but the inside is a bit more intense, and can only be considered an enjoyable trait by select people. His feelings can be very strong about things he's passionate about, be these positive or negative intensities. Not everyone can handle someone at their strongest expressions of an emotion, and so he tries to keep his more intense feelings close to the chest and consider them personal. Strong emotions are just that though, and sometimes they can burst forth uncontrollably.

Continuing with this train of thought, he has a lot of contained frustrations at the state of Panem as a whole. He is not personally a victim, but he still feels affected by his presence. With the knowledge that at any moment the government could consider his actions--or anyone's for that matter-- unfavorable and as a by-product target someone close to him, there remains a feeling of being trapped within an illusion. He knows that he has more liberties than others, but the lack of liberation for all still weighs him down heavily, hence why he fights to do whatever he can to make Panem ultimately a better place.

Setting: He's all up in it.

SAMPLES
First Person Thread:
For Capitols OCs and AUs: Somehow you ended up privy to a private post just gushing about how much they just LOVE the new games, how they think they are the best thing since sliced bread. Then the poster (Your friend? Some random person from a party who decided they wanted to send you their private thoughts? A rival trying to pin you into an uncomfortable spot?) namesdrops you for your opinion on the new format, versus the quaint, old-fashion style of the game.

Everyone on the broadcast is just waiting for your input.

[Considering who called him out, he's certain this is some sort of test on where he lies politically and to see where his allegiances are. An attempt at catching him twisted up in façades and lies, but Carlsberg had learned very well to maintain truths while manipulating the angles these truths were coming from. He didn't have to lie to say the things that people wanted to hear.

He doesn't even break a sweat when all attention is on him.]

The new format has a lot of benefits for our nation. The old system of pulling from our citizens, I feel, hindered our potential to grow by cutting short the lives of those who could have pioneered something great for our future. [An opinion that should be of no surprise to anyone considering his career.] These new tributes that we're bringing in to our world to fight for us also house opportunities far greater than I think anyone has considered deeply beyond their participation in The Hunger Games. Some are brilliant inventors and strategists, others are great leaders, while others have hands for healing and great senses of compassion. These people could help our country become stronger by being more than tributes- by becoming citizens that are just as much a part of our world as we are.

[He is thinking mostly in terms of supporting the rebellion effort, true, but that doesn't make his words any less honest in any regard.]

Being a tribute should not be the only coat that they wear here, because it was never the only coat that the children of Panem wore. [He sits on that statement for a moment, before breaking out into a bashful smile and laughing a bit.]

Oh, but you must have been asking my opinion about the entertainment value. My mistake. From the one-sided perspective of a viewer, I would have to agree. The new spin has been interesting to watch. [Never will he ever say that he loves the games, but he feels a great sense of relief knowing that those that die now do not pass on forever.]

Prose: You have been set in a room in front of the Gamemakers to be judged on a score of one to twelve, with one being the lowest and twelve being the highest. The Gamemakers sit safely behind a force field and watch, and you are provided with an array of weapons and targets, though no gun to be seen.

If you are someone from Panem, then you are very unlucky. You know what's going on but... you were told all the tributes were from a foreign land now. So why are you in front of the Gamemakers fighting for your life now? Are you a criminal, a traitor, deeply in debt? Or do you even know why you were shoved in to this room?

There is no fear for his own life, gazing up through the force field at the Gamemakers within their safe little nest where they watched like hawks ready to pick upon their prey. He worries for his wife and daughter, for every person he's connected to, for every district family that he assisted. Would they all be punished? Or did they feel the need to punish them by putting him in this situation?

This wasn't an interrogation, and there was no form of torture present. Either they knew that he wouldn't yield any information or they had whatever they wanted already and were tying up the loose ends. His eyes are met with clinical, unfeeling, or smug expressions, and it makes his insides burn to see firsthand what every tribute has been met with. Cattle being tested on the grade of its meat, and giving the public a perspective on when to expect their slaughter.

He moves his gaze over all the tools and targets provided, giving the items a considering look, before looking back towards his audience. He puts on smile, knowing that in all those empty or biased stares that making them feel something was just as important as a peacocking of physical prowess.

"Come on gentleman, look at me," and he gestures very obviously to his clearly capable figure, "you know I fight better with words as a weapon than my hands."

Perhaps a bit of jesting would work in his favor.

What is your character scored: I would guess 8 should he ever wind up in an arena. Very often when he visits the less advanced districts he will provide assistance by taking up manual labor jobs in the day and teaching classes in the evening. I would imagine from his network in the community that he'd also have quite a bit of crowd support unless he was framed for something truly heinous, and even in those circumstances, he would find ways to cater towards the viewers because he's been a viewer for so long.

Additional information: Hunger Games AU and OC: What is your reasoning for the capitol to include your canon doppelganger if they app in? What district is your character from? How do they feel about home?
Definitely a threat or warning I would imagine. He is from the Capitol, but from his upbringing he feels more like a person of Panem and all districts, not just one place specifically. He feels that there is room for the country to improve and grow, not that it is without saving and should be forsaken.

panem's #1 dad

this mug lovingly houses his hot cocoa topped with marshmallows and whip cream

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