There Are Greater Worlds

Full Name: Leo Marcel Zuria Date of Birth: January 28, 2003 Sexuality/Romantic Preference: Panromantic, Pansexual Major: Mortuary Science Extracurriculars: Queer Alliance, Band (Trombone) Song: Fine On The Outside - Priscilla Ahn

Biography: (Content Warning for Transphobia, Bullying, Depression) Leo was born in Bilbao, Spain and was given a name he tries very hard to no longer hear. His mother and father both being politicians, it was a well to do household with a seemingly perfect family. From Leo's earliest days expectations of him were high. All of the Zuria children were polite, brilliant, and proper and had no option to be anything else. Leo was always a well behaved kid, but he never really seemed to fit in. He was brilliant, but hyperactive. Passionate, but a little overzealous about all his interests. The only person Leo ever felt truly understood him was his older sister; Bibine. Bibine was his best friend in the world, his partner in crime, the person who truly got him out of his shell. When Leo was ten his family moved from Spain to Washington DC, and his entire world suddenly became entirely different. Where he was a bit of an outsider before, he now was a complete pariah. He was nearly entirely unable to make friends or connect with others. At best he was alone, but at worst other kids tormented him relentlessly. He took an interest in mortuary science when he was a freshman in high school and his family briefly returned to Spain for a funeral. Death practices fascinated him. However, the rest of his family saw it as incredibly macabre, and heavily encourage him to find a different career path. That was not the only part of Leo that he was encouraged to hide away. As he grew more and more uncomfortable in his body, every attempt he ever made to think about transitioning was shut down by his conservative family. It was made clear to him that if he was any amount of openly queer, he would be disowned. Leo's acceptance to GSU was the best thing to happen to him. Being thousands of miles from his family gave Leo the courage it took to come out and begin his transition. Since attending GSU he has lived almost entirely as his authentic self, though his home situation is much different. He has been unable to go home, or truly see his family for quite some time, he always makes whatever excuse he can to stay at the school. With his parents both in important political positions, this is a scandal that would effect far more than just him, and he's still unsure how to go about it. He'd be lying if he said Michael's death hadn't come to him as somewhat of a relief. The two of them never got along, and he knew the kind of person Michael was. He feared that one phone call home to the Zuria family would ruin his life.

Connections: -Familial: Leo is not out to his family, and does not have a great relationship with his parents. He has not spoken to his two siblings in years but, he really wishes he could. I'd really be open to any familial connection.

-Unrequited Crush: Leo is so very bad at expressing his feelings. He has a tendency to stew in things for much longer than he needs to. If Leo has feelings for a person, he won't say it. He will stew on it until it makes him and everyone around him miserable.

-Academic Rival: Leo prides himself on making it as far as he has mostly on his own, which means he is very serious about keeping it that way. His school work is incredibly important to him and being at the top of his class is mandatory. So I would love to see someone around to challenge him.