#liminal:intro

basics,

faceclaim.   bae suzy

full name.   park min-ji

nicknames.  minnie

age.   25 years old

gender, pronouns.   cis woman, she/her

sexuality.   bisexual

relationship status.   in a relationship

time in centralia.   25 years

more in depth,

triggers:  mentions of religion

›   was born and raised in centralia  &  doesn’t know anything different

›   the parks are fiercely religious family. they truly believe that the fires are a sign from god that the ‘end of days’ are coming and they passed on those views to their children  (minnie is the middle child of 3 kids)

›   the outward image of their family is very important to minnie’s parents and to the townspeople, their family are picture perfect. but as cliché as it is, behind closed doors was a whole different story

›   hasn’t strayed too far from the path her parents wanted for her. she went from high school straight into teaching at the local church;  she honestly really enjoys it. minnie also volunteers frequently

›   an absolute sweetheart. she tries to see the good in everyone and that sometimes comes around to bite her in the butt but she’s also the type of person to give 3, 4, 5 chances.... so yknow....  * cringe emoji *

›   bakes the best brownies and gives the best hugs

connection ideas,

her lover!!!! 🥺

a best friend she’s known since childhood / she’s known for a long time

maybe a penpal she had that ended up being in centralia??

enemies, frenemies, someone who picks on her / takes advantage of her kindness

someone who’s protective of her; probably fought someone who was making her uncomfortable<3

a newer person in town who she showed around and became friends with

backstory

tw death, suicide, and grief

sora is known all around town as the luckiest unluckiest boy. or more so, that’s what they call themself to make themself feel better about the...not so great aspects of their past. their father was a fisherman, boating and fishing lived far back into sora’s family tree. when they were younger, they used to go with their father, wanting nothing more than to be with him at all times. to be brave, and strong, just like he was. both him and his brother idolized him.

until one day, after a midsummer festival, their dad said they felt a calling to the sea. that they needed to go fishing right then, despite whatever storm warnings there were for that evening. their mother could only protest so much before letting him go. sora remembers every detail of that night- it was the first time something close to him would be ripped away. the sound of the festival dying down behind them, their litle brother held close to their side as their parents argued in front of them, the slow footsteps back to the house, dragging tired feet as sora looked behind him and caught one final glimpse of their father.

it was weeks later that they found remnants of his boat, washed away to shore. sora doesn’t remember the following days, barely even remembers the following years as they took on the role of caretaker for their little brother as their mother confined herself to her room. it was when sora got home the day they turned 18 and found a note written on the kitchen table that they realized just what had happened. that someone else would be ripped away from them too. sora’s life didn’t change despite the loss. they hopped from job to job to take care of his brother, despite not being any good at any of the jobs he did (he’s notoriously clumsy), the townspeople wound tend to give him a little extra sympathy, considering everyone knows their story.

one summer day, for his little brother’s birthday, he told sora he was going with some friends to surf. that there was no reason to fear the ocean. that he would only be gone a few days, that it would just be a fun road trip with friends. sora should have known to say no, but they didn’t. they wanted their brother to be happy. the third and final person to be ripped from sora’s grasp.

now sora continues to live for themself. job hopping all around town. it’s almost a town joke now, how often sora escapes death and potentially awful accidents. bad things happen all around him, but they never touch him.

moving to the island was hard for them, obviously. leaving behind their childhood home, the only place where they still had a connection to their family, the only place memories lived, meant they had to be dragged out of centralia kicking and screaming. now they’re surrounded by ghosts, forced to face their fear of the ocean- hands of the dead grasping at their ankles the second they step foot in the waves.

personality

the moores grew up in saint claude , new orleans . it isn’t the worst neighborhood in all of new orleans , but as far as low-income neighborhoods go , it’s pretty damn close . 

they were not a well - off family . mama was a schoolteacher for a while , and an artist , but as more and more kids came along ... well , the cost of childcare outweighed the benefits of her working as well . that’s how laurel ( mama ) became a stay - at - home parent while oliver worked long days as a public defender so they could get by .

oliver was absolutely miserable . he hated his job , his responsibilities , felt like he'd taken them on too soon , and like he was trapped in this job . as much as laurel tried to keep it from the kids , there was very little she could do to hide their arguments and fights over the bills, over the mundanity of their life , over the size of their family - ‘ real rough shit for the kiddos to be pickin' up on . ’ 

eventually , oliver couldn't take anymore . he packed his shit and left after work one night , leaving laurel and the kids high and dry . fortunately they were older , some of them anyway . they could fend for themselves long enough that laurel could get a job that got her out of the house . jo ( josiah , jude’s twin brother ) also got a job under the table at fourteen to try and start contributing to their family . 

the moore kids were a pretty tight knit group when they were younger. there was a lot of love between them and their mother . they could always rely on: ' we may not have much , but we have each other . ’ family dinners were a nightly thing , at least for all the kids - even when mama couldn't make it - jo insisted . 

they lived in a big house that was very much falling apart . no valuables were left on the first floor bc every time there was a hurricane there was a high probability it would flood a little . beauty waited for them five or six blocks over where money lived and they would go stare at all the pretty colored buildings that looked like they’d not weathered a day and marvel at their modern  structure .  

you might think jude to be a supportive daughter and sister , one that would mimic her sibling’s actions to keep the family together . this is only half - true because she could only ever meet her family half - way .

she is grateful that jo shows up in all the ways she can’t or refuses to . he is the dad they each needed , but jude still feels broken - hearted by the man that left them behind in his dust . he doesn’t say it to anyone , though . it’s a secret she intends to take to the grave as to never make her brother feel like giving his whole life to their family was not absolutely worthwhile . this is the only time jude can remember she has thought about someone else’s needs before her own .

josiah made space for jude and jude was so consumed in taking up as much space as possible that she never offered her brother the same courtesy , but she still trusts him with all her secrets nonetheless . if she can get him to agree to be buried together in the same coffin , jude would make the decision to never part from him despite the amount of time she has spent apart from him in today’s reality . every time they reunite it feels like no time has passed . things pick up right where they left off and josiah lets jude be jude . 

she is always loud and taking up space . manspreads . snores . props feet up on table to lean back in chair and then falls backward and takes the tablecloth and everything on it with her . she is screaming chaos incarnate . 

a little more about her: 

a little unhinged , a little wide - eyed and bushy tailed

loves being outside and connected with nature so she applied to be a park ranger

aka no one in the parks will ever know peace

causes problems on purpose and not in a cute way just thinks explosions and murder are fun

an expert in things that are not particularly useful

snarls and growls at things

will fight everything including god

good-hearted and well intentioned, but socially clueless: will tell their girlfriend that her dress makes her look rectangular, and be confused why it isn’t taken as a compliment, and then buy her a chameleon to make up for it because women like chameleons, right?

practical sense but can’t read the room

levelheaded and good at what they do, but never in a way that makes sense to anyone else

will call you an idiot to your face if you question their know-how no matter how important you are

no impulse control: thoughts take longer to load than

there’s nothing in their head but bullshit

Zach grew up with loving parents who always raised their kid with their values and point of view about life. Homeschooled most of his life with a strong focus on arts and biology; because his parents always told him the most wonderful scenes belonged to nature--- always cruel and beautiful, and that he should always follow those steps.

He grew up in a big old victorian manor full of rooms and windows; the garden was also vast and healthy; but the house was far enough from the main town to hear the pleads of help from the visitors that entered the house but never came out. Zach was so young and never thought anything ill of it; he would even enjoy very luxurious and meaty meals the day after; but as so, Zachary grew up in a house full ghosts... both metaphorical and literal, and quick learned to make friends and peace with the spirits that roamed his home.

He was seven when the police finally found the Coltraines and in a rain of bullets, they fell in front of doe eyes who followed his mother’s body falling in slow motion. She looked peaceful and even relieved as one last sigh left her lips. Even she, who always lived lavishly, desired for all the horror to end.

They raised a child that was never really fit for social norms, specially in places like foster homes where sanguine games would scare children and caretakers alike, but a vast knowledge about flowers and animals would also leave them speechless.

Nonetheless, he was bullied heavily, until a calm and gentle child eventually exploded. The details of the situation were never released to the public, but afterwards, Zachary was sent to a place where he could be under constant observation.

He turns eighteen and the State fails in court to prove insanity. Zachary had become a model citizen and hadn’t hurt a fly since that unique incident years ago.   SO HE IS RELEASED.

He goes back home even against all recommendation. That home is the only thing he knows and so, he finds it, practically untouched by the tragedy in Centralia. Gardens are quick to revive under his careful hand and little animals quickly find refuge in his home. Ah, quite the fairytale castle, don’t you think?   But late at night, crying and whispering welcomes him home as well.   They hug him in asphyxiating attention begging of him to let their bodies go, to let them rest in peace at last.   But Zach plays deaf most of the times, for he fears solitude and the ghosts and ghouls that plague his home bring him memories of golden days.

So come on in to Coltraine Manor where flowers never wither and animals always play. Feel free to join in a perpetual garden party and if you are lucky, you will soon too, become a rose in the pot.

FUN FACTS

He likes to rescue birds from pet stores so he has A LOT and they are usually flying around in and out of his house.

Tbh think of this house like a fairy tale setting with pretty flowers and small animals hanging around bc of his garden.

But inside, if you pay cloooose attention, you can see the fainted dark smudges on the wall of blood that never came out and the bedrooms have a weird eerie vibe even when they have been repainted and redecorated.

He also has imitations of paintings and sculptures to decor the house, but there are no family pictures.

He has a collection of horror and snuff movies he usually plays while baking cookies or making flower crowns.

Zach usually has petals tangled in his hair or stuck to his clothes and he has a permanent flowery scent.

His mother used to call him “My little prince” so he kinda stuck with that and is always attracted to royal-ish stuff, he even has a crown tattoo on his upper back, under the nape.

He tries to keep himself fit to match the anatomy ideals of the great artists and he also has a weird habit of posing or moving in any way that could reference a famous piece of art, but he does this unconsciously. When he is happy his movements become very theatrical bc he is extra af and so were his parents.

Pinterest board HERE

Important facts to consider:

While in the foster homes, Zach always did his best to escape and always ran into the woods where his parents liked to go camping.

He was lost even up to a week one time and he spent so much time in the wild and that’s what taught him so much about nature.

Has uncanny climbing abilities and is able to recognize animal footprints and fur.

Will rarely invite you home and if he does, I’d be very wary if I were you.

The killer gene is starting to tickle him.

Doesn’t remember much about what his parents did or why they were killed and someone mentioning it or pushing on the matter could cause him to react violently or in an unpredictable way.

Stays super fit to meet the artistic standards of the Renaissance art.

Rumors say that his parents’ victims were missing some organs or pieces of flesh… make your own assumptions.

Has good vision at night.

DO NOT TRUST HIM. If you see him in the middle of the football field or near the entrance of the woods very late at night, do not approach, do not call his name, stay quiet and move very slowly backwards never turning your back to him. Keep your hands wherever he can see them so he doesn’t feel threatened and never expose your neck. Don’t make fake wolf or puma calls, HE WILL COME. Don’t neglect your pets, he will get really mad and you will never see it again.     DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE HIM.

Needed connections/plots:

Neighbors (can be either comfortable or uncomfortable with him around)

Friends

Best friend

Unrequited love/Silly crush (could go either direction)

Someone to teach him about life

School tutor. He knows A LOT about art, biology and PE but sucks at p much else.

People who don’t trust him

Enemies of any kind (maybe they lost someone at Zach’s parents’ hands)

Someone who knows who his parents are.

Maybe he babysits someone’s pet bc he is good with animals.

Someone with common interests.

The facts:

They were born in Philadelphia and grew up there as well, their family wasn’t generally poor or rich to speak of, very normal and middle-class. They had one of each sibling, both older, making them the baby.

They fell in love with Centralia on a middle-school field trip to witness the smoke rising from certain areas of the town. Upon walking through the cemetery, she developed a fascination with everything to do with death and what comes after.

Graduating high school near the top of the class and studying anthropology/archaeology in college, they built their own career from scratch after compiling some local information in Philly. They moved to Centralia after that, quickly snagging a job with the cemetery she fell in love with. Now they help people in town re-connect with family plots and they make sure any unattended graves are left offerings every so often.

Their attitude is very sassy and at times seems grumpy, but they’re also very personable and caring in nature. She tends to gravitate towards people of a similar disposition and doesn’t tolerate overly perky attitudes very well. Once they’re your friend, there’s no getting rid of them.

She dresses in a very comfortable way, preferring baggy clothing instead of things that are tight-fitting or curve-showing. They are very sensitive about it and are not afraid to stand up for themselves if someone were to point out that she’s “frumpy”. They like it that way.

They like to wander the cemetery at night, and it never really scares them, it’s only the really old buildings in town that somehow survived the fires that bother them in the least. They won’t go in those buildings.

basics,

faceclaim.   riz ahmed

full name.   devaj ali

nicknames.  dev

age.   39 years old

gender, pronouns.   cis man, he/him

sexuality.   bisexual

relationship status.   single  (open to starting a relationship)

time in centralia.   22 years

more in depth,

triggers:  brief mentions of parental death

›   both parents died in a freak accident when devaj and his younger sister, dania, were very young and they were put into a foster home together

›   the adoption center wanted to separate them but 17 year old devaj was having none of it; he was afraid they would never see each other again so he packed up their things and went on the run. the duo hitchhiked as far as they could and eventually stumbled upon centralia

›   by the time they found centralia, they were incredibly tired and decided to stay put. he thought it was a good idea so with the little money he had left, devaj bought them a little mobile home and they settled in

›   he hadn’t listened to the warnings people gave him when they first arrived and over the years, he started to hate the town. but at least he and dania are together .. right?

›   hates living in centralia  💀  but he hasn’t been able to save up enough money to move out so he and his sister are pretty much stuck here

›   devaj adores his little sister to bits. no one in the world means more to him than her  -  he will not hesitate to fight some bitches if they cross her!!!!!!!!!

›   grumpy towards everyone but soft for the right person... you know the type

›   he’s a very talented artist!!! he knows how hard it is to get by so he decided to open up a $5 tattoo parlor where literally every tattoo he does is only $5!! he loves his work so much

connection ideas,

the first friend he made when he got into town

his roommate  (dw he moved out of the mobile home by now)

first lover!!!!!!!! first kiss!!!! person who took his virginity!!!

exes on good or bad terms

regular clients who visit his tattoo parlor

enemies, ex-friends because of a misunderstanding, frenemies

neighbours :D

blind date that ended well or ended horribly

one night stand  (perhaps they have a kid together? perhaps he doesn’t know? *eyes*)

friends with benefits / casual hookups with no strings attached