i'm only happy when it rains

♛ Spotted on the Upper East Side…

Name: Dan Humphrey Pronouns: He/Him Age: 19 years old Hometown: Upper East Side, NY Occupation: Sophomore at NYU / Podcaster Social Status: Outsider Faceclaim: Jack Quaid

Who Is Dan?

“No, I go to your school. Identical uniforms, isn’t that kind of a tip-off?”

Dan Humphrey. Who knew that I would ever wake up into a world where your name was relevant on the Upper East Side? Your sister is one thing, Jenny had ambitions but you? You were dragged into the spotlight. You were a nobody, a blimp on the radar. You were too busy judging from your high horse to want to be a part of this world. You wore your sarcasm like armor and still do. Of course, I’m sure once you get past your prickly exterior, there’s an interesting and intelligent person underneath. I can be charming when I want to be, Dan but I’m still undecided when it comes to you. Your loyalties lie with a select few and your principles (gross) and morals are still in tact. Tortured artist to tortured artist, I can’t wait to see you in action. XOXO —Gossip Girl

A Little Extra

Dan Humphrey was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth and that would have been fine if he ended up going to a normal school. If he’d been allowed to make normal friends. St Jude’s was anything but a normal school. No, St Jude’s was full to the brim with snobby, ungrateful and downright shameless Upper East Siders. Kids who spent more on their sneakers than Dan would need to go to college ten times over. Kids who either pretended he literally didn’t exist or pushed him in the hallways for not being one of them. It might have made him bitter. Judgemental. Quick to distrust and dislike anyone who was blasted on ‘Gossip Girl’. Dan liked being apart from the crowd- from that crowd- and instead spent his time focusing on the future. On his scholarship to somewhere like NYU where he’d study literature. Where he’d pen his first great novel and finally connect with fellow intellectuals who cared about the world.

Growing up, Dan had it pretty good. Sure, his and Jenny’s mom left to ‘find herself’ but Rufus Humphrey does a stand up job. Dan loves and respects his dad even if he must mock him for still thinking he’s cool. Dan has always taken being a big brother seriously as well. He wants to look out for his little sister, make sure she’s okay and that she can always depend on him. Is he trying to make up for the fact that their mom hasn’t visited in, well, a while? Sure. Does he try too hard? Definitely. He tries not to ‘parent’ her but sometimes he just can’t help himself especially with some of the crap that Jenny’s pulled with her Upper East Side ‘friends’. While Jenny always had a romanticized view of the so-called ‘scandalous elite’, Dan always saw right through their BS. Unless, of course, it was Serena van der Woodsen who in his eyes could do no wrong. Things took a sharp turn for Dan when he ended up entangled in none other than Nate Archibald’s life. Next thing he knows, he’s the one splashed over Gossip Girl. Next thing he knows, people know his name (at least for a minute). He’s still not really used to that one but there’s no turning back now.

What Does Gossip Girl Have On Them?

Dan was roped into the ‘Gossip Girl’ takedown before he could even start to refuse. Sure, his heart stings might have been pulled by how miserable GG had made Nate after his father’s arrest but he still didn’t want to be involved. It wasn’t his idea. But when Jesse Walker asked him to please help them expose GG, he ended up agreeing. Blair Waldorf throwing a birthday party for Dan Humphrey was so O-M-G, W-T-F, that it just had to flush out the real GG who had since been starved of followers sending gossip in thanks to the ‘takedown team’ (or whatever). You know what? A secret? The party wasn’t half bad. Thankfully, GG did end up disappearing but they never did find out who they were. Hopefully GG isn’t going to blame him for being involved with it all…

Connections

Jenny Humphrey - the little sister! Dan’s always been protective over her and still doesn’t really trust her new Upper East Side besties (the hypocrisy, he knows). He would never let anyone hurt her.

Serena van der Woodsen - oh, Serena van der Woodsen… Only the biggest, worst and most withstanding crush of his life.

Vanessa Abrams - childhood bestie. Vanessa had moved away for a while which had, frankly, sucked. He’s so grateful to have them back in his life again.

Nate Archibald - okay, so Nate ‘the golden boy’ Archibald was not someone Dan ever really wanted to know. And then the Fairchild Ball happened and Nate’s dad was arrested in front of everyone. Nate’s dad punched Nate in the face in front of everyone. Then Dan found out that Nate was squatting in his home alone after his mom split and the house was seized. Long story short, Dan brought home Nate Archibald and hasn’t turned his back on him since.