Parker Owens || Witch

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✧ Focus: Parker is very focused when she has her wits about her. Perhaps more so than most people due to having to constantly block out the thoughts of others.
✧ Leader: When the occasion calls for it, Parker naturally steps into leadership roles. She tends to be good at rallying people and encouraging them to work together.
✧ Hardworking: Growing up with a single mom who worked two jobs, Parker developed a strong work ethic. She puts her best effort into everything she does.

Negatives (At Least 3):
✦ Indulgent: Parker loves her vices, and she leans on them heavily. Particularly alcohol and sedatives, occasionally some weed.
✦ Dramatic: Parker doesn’t feel anything lightly. Everything’s magnified. If she’s sad she’s inconsolable. If she’s happy she’s ecstatic. This is a bit much for most people in large doses.
✦ Over-extends: Used to always being a little anxious or uncomfortable, Parker tends to push through illness and depletion when she shouldn’t. When she burns out, she really burns out.

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Parents:
Mother: Patricia Anne “Tricia” Casey (deceased)
Father: John Parker “J.P.” Owens (estranged)
Siblings: None that she knows of
Other Family: Maternal and paternal grandparents; various uncles, aunts, and cousins
Important Others: Nobody currently
History:

On September 9, 1992 Patricia Anne Casey married John Parker Owens. The marriage was not their idea. As members of a strict coven, Tricia and John had a duty to put the needs of the coven before their own desires. Both Tricia’s and John’s parents were thrilled with the match. Each came from a long line of powerful witches, and the Casey and Owens families had been close for decades.

While Tricia and John were friendly prior to being matched, it never would have occurred to them to date (let alone get married). They got to know each other prior to their marriage, making an effort to spend time together and find common ground. It wasn’t ideal. They struggled to find similar interests outside of magic. John had a hot temper and a tendency to be condescending, which Tricia didn’t appreciate. Tricia droned on and on about things that didn’t interest John and then got upset when he didn’t remember all the details of her stories. Even before the wedding, these two had trouble connecting, arguing more than conversing. But neither wanted to disappoint their family. So, they got married and learned to love each other.

Despite their clashing personalities, Tricia and John found they were both very passionate. They challenged one another and excited one another, even though they drove each other crazy. They fell into a pattern of fighting and making up that may not have been healthy, but it gave them something to connect on for certain. It came as no surprise when Tricia got pregnant. It was the natural progression of things, the expected thing to do, so Tricia and John were happy about it. The pregnancy gave them something else to bond over and they discovered a tender, fun side of their dynamic that had been missing. They enjoyed setting up a baby room, picking out paint colors and furniture, baby proofing the house, picking out toys.

Parker was born in Oregon to Tricia Casey and Parker Owens on June 13, 1994. A healthy baby girl. Parker’s birth was celebrated by both the Casey and Owens families as well as the coven. The first year of Parker’s life was peaceful. John and Tricia were devoted parents, excited and tired, bonding over their shared responsibility (and the fear that they now had a tiny human to look after with no idea what they were doing). They spent many late nights so over-tired they couldn’t stop laughing as they tried to rock Parker to sleep, and they had nights when Parker was feverish and sick and they were both beside themselves over what to do.

As Parker grew she was the delight of her parents and grandparents, a pretty little ball of joy with her mother’s hair and her father’s eyes. But the problems that had plagued her parents’ marriage began to resurface as their tiredness ground their nerves. They fought over how warm a bottle should be, over how to burp Parker, how to hold her when she was gassy. Tricia could never manage to get the pack-and-play open and John would be exasperated at having to step in every time. John believed in letting Parker learn hard lessons by prodding things she shouldn’t or toddling where she shouldn’t. Tricia kept a closer eye on her and tried to prevent these accidents before they happened. This led to explosive arguments between John and Tricia, with Tricia accusing John of being lazy or irresponsible and John insisting Tricia was smothering Parker and preventing her from learning.

Ultimately, John took to leaving the house when these fights got too bad, which made Tricia resent him for taking off and leaving her alone with a baby (sometimes for days at a time). She was certain he was seeing other women, though accusing him only triggered more fights. When Tricia caught the whiff of perfume on one of John’s shirts, she went berserk, throwing things and screaming. When she threw a vase at John, hitting him square in the head, John lost his temper and struck her. This crossed a line for Tricia and she realized how dangerous this situation could become.

It wouldn’t be the last time things got physically violent.

As John’s behavior escalated, Tricia became withdrawn, walking on eggshells, limiting her involvement with the coven in the process. This was alarming to the other members, and she and John were encouraged by their parents to work out their issues. Things were getting messy and this was bad form.

It took months of planning and talking herself into leaving. After another fight when John took off, Tricia took Parker and a few bags of essentials and fled. For the first year of her life on the run, Tricia moved often. She never stayed in the same place for more than a few nights, and she always used a different name. She paid for things in cash, and she made herself forgettable. Ultimately, she took Parker as far away as possible without leaving the country, landing them in Tampa, Florida. Tricia changed their last name to Linde in an attempt to remain hidden from John, or anyone else who might come looking for them. She cut herself off from everyone she knew in Oregon, even her parents and her siblings, thinking it was the only sure way to keep herself and Parker safe. John would surely be furious that she’d taken Parker (and the legal trouble of it all would be a mess).

Parker was four years old when her mother took her to Florida. She has very little memory of her childhood. The smell of autumn leaves and rain. The pattern on a hardwood floor that looked like a butterfly. Her father’s fluffy beard and how it felt under her fingers when he blew a raspberry on her hand. Abstract, disconnected aspects out of context.

Tricia decided to limit their practice of magic so as not to attract the attention of other witches (and possibly have word get back to the coven if they happened upon the wrong witch with the right connections). She also feared being tracked through magical means by using their abilities. Tricia took extra precautions to ward her house, herself, and Parker.

These precautions were justified. Back in Oregon John was beside himself with worry. His first thought was that something had happened, that perhaps his wife and child had been taken by some enemy of his or the coven. Then he found items missing – clothing, toiletries, diapers. Some late night emergency, like the death of a long-distance relative? Once those fears proved to be unfounded he was beyond furious. How could she leave him like that, and take his child? John went to his parents for help, who then went to the coven. John tried both magic and legal means to track down his family.

Growing up, Parker wasn’t raised practicing magic, aside from some practices instilled by her mother. Her nightly bedtime routine included pouring lines of salt along her bedroom doorway and windowsill, turning on a nightlight in the hall, covering the bathroom mirror, and hanging a locket on her window that smelled icky (due to the protective herbs inside). There was also a nightly protection song (or spell) they sang every night, and another every morning. In the morning she and Tricia would sweep up the salt, and yell “Goodbye to the bad stuff!” and then thank the earth for receiving them. These things were so routine for Parker she wouldn’t learn they were strange until later in childhood.

Tricia was always working. She was a checkout clerk at the drugstore during the day and a waitress at a diner at night, often leaving Tricia with their neighbor, Louise. She was a kind, plump woman who smelled like vanilla and maple. She’d lost her son two years before, and Tricia had been “a great comfort” to her (though she never told Parker how or why). Louise was the first friend Tricia made in town, a sweet woman who sensed Tricia’s caution and was very warm and kind. Tricia eventually confided in Louise that she’d fled her abusive husband for the safety of their daughter. Louise had then revealed her son had died overseas. The two women had bonded over a maternal protective instinct. Tricia knew Parker would be safe with Louise and Louise was glad to have a child to love and care for in her life. She baked cookies and let Parker roll the dough and sift the flour. She read aloud from books and did all the voices, encouraging Parker to do the same.

Parker was a good student. She enjoyed learning and she asked thoughtful, frequent questions. She was a very social kid, eager to talk to other children and make lots of friends. “A pleasure to have in class” “a social butterfly” “kind to everyone” and similar notes were frequently jotted on quizzes and report cards. Louise and Tricia took turns helping Parker with homework and class projects. Parker had a vivid imagination and a creative streak. She was also very good at taking the lead in class projects and educational games. A natural leader, and someone other children were glad to follow.

As Parker became friendly with other children, attending sleepovers and birthday parties, she began to understand that she was a bit odd. Some of the habits that were commonplace in her household were strange to others, as were some of the customs Tricia had taught her. One teacher observed Parker frequently picked up trash and litter during outdoor recess. She cried if someone picked a dandelion. When Parker slept over at other people’s houses she always took her shoes off before coming inside and she insisted on putting a carved quartz figurine in the window before going to sleep. These things concerned some of the adults in Parker’s life, but Tricia always defended Parker, saying she was a conscientious kid. When Tricia started refusing sleepover invitations Parker didn’t understand why.

At age thirteen, Parker began to realize she was indeed “odd.” She’d hear what she assumed was someone speaking and reply, only to find no one had said anything. This came and went so fleetingly she didn’t think to pursue it. She didn’t need anything else making her seem weird to other kids.

Parker thrived during her early high school years. She joined the drama club and loved performing. She made friends across various social groups with her outgoing personality and open nature. Parker and Tricia came to their first major disagreement when a boy asked Parker to go out with him. Tricia forbade Parker from dating, much to Parker’s dismay. The only way she could date was if she could make it a group hangout with another couple or a group of friends. Unknown to Parker, Tricia was aware that her own slights toward the coven did not need to pass on to her daughter. Should John ever find them, she hoped Parker would have a chance to thrive in that world (though she hoped instead she’d have a simple, “normal” life). If she ended up with some non-magical random human her chances of being accepted in her father’s life got even slimmer.

By the time Parker was fifteen her strange affliction became very apparent. She’d hear what she thought were “voices” of people around her, only to find they hadn’t said anything aloud. When she replied to an unasked question or commented on an unsaid thought it would alarm the people around her. This started happening more and more frequently and Parker was afraid to tell anyone, not wanting to come off as crazy or alienate her friends.

During a particularly stressful mid-term exam week at school, Parker was bombarded with “voices” she couldn’t drown out. She had to be sent home with what the nurse could only explain as hysteria due to stress. Parker was crying and incoherent. Once she got home things eased, but she told her mother what was happening, what had been happening for years. Tricia was not surprised to hear this. She knew this day was inevitable. By necessity, Tricia had to explain that Parker had a special ability and that she could learn to control it. Parker had questions. Why did she have this ability? Where had it come from? Were there other people who had this ability too? Her mother told her as little as possible. She said many people in her estranged family had abilities, and it was something typical for them. Then Parker had questions about her father, her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Questions her mother did not want to answer. This caused tension between the two all through Parker’s high school years. Parker couldn’t stand the mystery surrounding her past and she felt like a huge chunk of her identity was being kept from her. This caused her to act out, going to parties and sneaking out, getting into trouble. At seventeen, unknown to Tricia, Parker started dating a twenty-two-year-old man named Aaron, whom she’d met at a party. Parker’s rebellious behavior compounded the tension between herself and Tricia.

By this point, John had left Oregon. He’d started following a trail that turned out to be false, and then another. Too ashamed to return home without his daughter in tow, he continued searching.

After graduating high school, Parker decided to move in with her boyfriend, Aaron. Much like her mother had done years ago, Parker left in the middle of the night, leaving a note telling her mother she was okay. Tricia was furious and eventually tracked down Parker. She discovered Parker’s relationship with Aaron, and insisted she couldn’t date this man. This frustrated Parker, who insisted she was an adult and could do what she wanted. Ultimately, Parker cut ties altogether with Tricia, as she was unwilling to break up with Aaron and she couldn’t understand why Tricia was so distraught over the idea of Parker dating.

Parker got a job at a tanning salon and enrolled in cosmetology school. It took her a little under two years to complete the program. By then she and Aaron had broken up. Parker got a job at a hair salon and moved into a better apartment with two friends.

She had a fun life for a few years, partying with friends, working at the salon, making decent money. During this time she got a tattoo of a blue butterfly on her inner left wrist. It was a way to pay tribute to her childhood, the abstract memory of the butterfly type pattern on a hardwood floor. However, this hole inside her kept nagging at her and her telepathy got the best of her here and there, as she wasn’t good at blocking it out if she was stressed or upset. She was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and prescribed a sedative. She had a tendency to lean on medication or alcohol or weed to dull her telepathy so she could function. This began to concern her friends, who worried for her safety. Parker had to slow down on her partying in order to keep her job and her roommates, which often meant she was rundown and depleted from trying to manage her telepathy.

Things started to get difficult once she slowed down on her vices. She got tired and sick a lot and some days she had to isolate herself because she couldn’t block out the telepathy. She became less social, stopped dating altogether, and preferred low-key hangouts to bars and parties. This caused tension between Parker and her roommates due to clashing lifestyles. Parker moved into a smaller apartment alone and she had to live paycheck to paycheck without a roommate to split the rent with. Sometimes living in an apartment proved difficult, with so many people in the building all the time. At times Parker felt like she was losing her mind, unable to separate her own thoughts from those of other people. With no one to scold her, she went back to her trusty vices: alcohol, sedatives, and pot. This helped greatly with her telepathy and her social life (though earned her a reputation for being “sloppy” and “messy”).

Unexpectedly, Parker got a phone call from her mother, not recognizing the number the first time she picked up (hungover and half asleep). When Tricia started talking Parker hung up. Tricia continued calling until Parker shut her phone off. She eventually changed her number and continued on with her life.

Eventually, Tricia tracked down the salon where Parker worked, surprising her. Parker was furious at her mother for showing up like that… until she saw how frail and gaunt her mother looked. Stepping outside with Parker, Tricia revealed she was sick. She’d been battling cancer, and she didn’t know how it was going to go. Parker was angry. Angry at her mother for getting sick, for not reaching out sooner, for keeping secrets. Angry at herself for being so stubborn. She agreed to have lunch with Tricia the following weekend. Tricia died before that lunch could occur.

After arrangements were made and goodbyes were said Parker became heavily depressed. It took her a few months to go to her mother’s house – her house now – and go through her things. When she did she found journals and letters. She’d written Parker letters about witchcraft, and what she’d need to know about her bloodline (though still she didn’t spell out enough). In her writings she apologized for keeping so many secrets, but assured Parker this was for her own safety and that she should never try to contact her extended family.

Parker ignored that. Even in death her mother was going to keep her secrets? Scouring Tricia’s things, she pieced together enough information to learn that her family was from Oregon. She traveled there, thinking she should at least tell them her mother died, and hoping to reconnect with the family that had been kept from her all this time.




Alias: Rubes
How did you find us?: An old RP ad/friends.
Experience: 12+ years of RP experience; ProBoards rusty.
Other Characters: None (yet).
RP Sample:

Being new to town had its perks. Nobody knew Parker, which allowed her to feel like a fly on the wall. Watching people, observing little snippets of their lives, trying to imagine who they were outside of those moments. She liked to make up personalities and backstories for people she saw out and about and sometimes she’d introduce herself and try to find out if she’d been right. Margie in 2B at the motel, for example. She was a tall brunette with tattoo sleeves who spent a lot of time on her phone. Parker had seen her coming and going from the motel she herself had checked into. She’d pegged Margie as an artist blowing through town. After actually introducing herself, Parker had learned Margie was actually a tattoo artist in the process of moving apartments. At least she’d gotten the artist part right.

Exploring the town was also a small adventure. Restaurants, bars, stores, and random interesting nooks and crannies she’d just barely begun to check out. She’d found a few places she liked to hang out in when she was too restless to stay home, but too tired to explore. Parker was trying not to get too comfortable in any one place, or she’d stop exploring altogether. Of course, that sort of meant she was never entirely comfortable anywhere.

Living out of a motel room was a less fun part of her new girl status. All her clothes were crammed into a duffle bag and perpetually wrinkled. She didn’t have any real friends to talk to, which meant she was striking up conversations with random strangers almost compulsively. That trait hadn’t endeared her to many people so far. So, she often found herself alone in her motel room most nights.

This night was no different.

Parker sat on the be watching the TV with the iffy picture quality. Law & Order was on. She got up and went over to the table that had become her storage spot for snacks. There wasn’t much to choose from. A sleeve of crackers, a jar of peanut butter, and a bag of trail mix.

“Slim pickins,” she muttered.

She went over to the mini fridge, but she already knew all she had in there was half a 16oz bottle of soda. Sure enough, nothing new had materialized since the last time she’d opened the fridge.

Resigned, Parker pulled on her sneakers and gathered her stuff: keys, phone, purse. She went out to her hunk-of-junk Toyota and prepared to drive around until she found a store open at this late time of night.

Surprisingly, she didn’t need to drive too far. There was a gas station/convenience store with a sign lit up to announce it was open. Parker pulled in and headed inside to browse around. She hadn’t thought much about what she was wearing, figuring she’d pop in really quick and pop out. She wore an oversized Ramones T-shirt over black leggings and her long blond hair was pulled up in a lazy, messy ponytail. Not a horrible outfit, but nothing super fashionable either.

A soft bee-boop sounded when she opened the door. She walked into the brightly lit convenience store and grabbed a red basket. A skinny clerk sat in a chair behind the counter scrolling through his phone.

“Hey,” he greeted.

Parker smiled.

“Hi. How’s it going?”

He shrugged, never taking his eyes off his phone. Parker walked over to the counter.

“What’re you playing Candy Crush or something?”

“Yeah,” he replied.

He didn’t invite further conversation, so Parker moved on to start browsing the aisles. She’d never been to this store before, so she wasn’t sure where anything was. Not that she was looking for anything in particular. She went down a candy aisle and grabbed a pack of peanut butter cups, then stood looking at everything else.

She should get something substantial, she told herself. Bread, milk, jelly to go with the peanut butter at the very least. Abruptly, she turned and stepped out of the aisle, only to bump into somebody else.

“Ooh, shit. Sorry, sorry,” she said.


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