PALMER, DAX THEODORE

[d]

* dax t. palmer ,

* start with basics ,
[ I'M SWIMMING IN THE SMOKE OF BRIDGES I HAVE BURNED ]

FULL NAME Dax Theodore Palmer.

NICKNAMES His old nickname was DT, but no one calls him that anymore. He despised it then, and he despises it now.

DATE OF BIRTH 16th August 1992.

AGE Eighteen.

GRADE/YEAR Senior. (Held back a year from graduation due to failing his Senior year.)

ELEMENT Water.

SEXUALITY Heterosexual.

MARITAL STATUS Single.

* into the mirror ,
[ AGAINST MY WILL I STAND BESIDE MY OWN REFLECTION ]

CELEBRITY CLAIM Luke Pasqualino.

EYE COLOUR Brown.

HAIR COLOUR Dark brown, almost black.

HEIGHT & WEIGHT 6'0, 140 pounds.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES Dax has a scar on his hand, but rarely tells the story of how he came to receive it. He has a tattoo of two magpies on his left shoulder, and a tattoo of a pirate ship on his hip.

CLOTHING STYLE Dax's style is quite casual and loose fitting, although he will occasionally indulge in the odd skinny jeans. He mostly wears t-shirts, often adorned with slogans or logos, and accompanies it with a hoodie. It's almost impossible to see Dax out of his hoodies, as he considers them the most comfortable. He isn't someone who worries a lot about their appearance.

* deeper than skin ,
[ TAKE EVERYTHING FROM THE INSIDE & THROW IT ALL AWAY ]

POSITIVE TRAITS

• Charismatic. Dax could talk his way out of almost anything if given half the chance to do so.
  
• Sociable. He easily makes friends with people around him, and is naturally drawn to people.
  
• Joker. Dax enjoys jokes and quick-witted and dry remarks.
  
• Carefree. He is the kind of person who enjoys life and doesn't allow himself to be governed by potential consequences.
  

NEGATIVE TRAITS

• Intransigent. Dax makes up his mind and rarely changes it, he is not one to be easily swayed.
  
• Oblivious. Sometimes his jokes can be hurtful and kick up issues with people when he meant no real harm.
  
• Impetuous. Dax's carefree nature makes him prone to bad decisions that come back to haunt him.
  
• Argumentative. When Dax thinks he's right, he will fight for his beliefs.
  

LIKES

• Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland. This is Dax's hometown, so naturally he adores it. He doesn't get to visit it much, but he misses the atmosphere.
  
• Water. Naturally, being a water elemental, Dax lives swimming, he likes showers, he likes baths. He just adores anything waterbased.
  
• His fish and terrapin. Dax owns several fish, of a variety of breeds, and also keeps a terrapin called Captain Merlin, which he's owned for a long time.
  
• Art. Above everything else Dax loves to draw and paint, and he spends a lot of his free time doing it.
  
• Sleeping. Dax likes to sleep, he will sleep when he's supposed to be doing work, he will sleep when he's supposed to be learning, he will sleep whenever he wants if he needs to, and finds little trouble in sleeping where ever he is.
  
• Books. Despite everything, Dax loves to read. He will totally immerse himself in a book and do nothing but read it until he's finished.
  
• Coffee. Dax drinks a great deal of coffee, and finds he can't seem to get through the day without it. He takes it with lots of milk.
  
• Comic books. Dax is a great DC fan and he loves comic books - plus, he finds he can immerse himself in them and somewhat relate.
  
• The Academy. Dax tries to get along with everyone in the academy and tries to avoid conflicts. He loves being there.
  

DISLIKES

• Detention Hall. Somewhat of a regular for Dax, not always because he's sleeping during class though.
  
• Being bored. Dax always likes to keep busy, and doesn't like being left with nothing to do.
  
• His element. Not necessarily all the time, but Dax finds himself wishing he was born with something other than a water element... sometimes.
  
• Hypocripsy. Dax hates people who can't practice what they preach.
  
• Inferiority complex. Dax strongly dislikes people who think they're better than anyone else.
  
• Fighting. This is something of a surprise to people who know Dax, even though he's against fighting he is often found snapping at people.
  
• Practical subjects. Dax is someone who enjoys writing and creativity flow, and enjoys art - maths and science are beyond him.
  
• Seafood or fish (food). Naturally, Dax refuses to eat anything that once lived in water. It just feels wrong. He prefers it to all be alive.
  
• Small talk. Dax hates having to try push a conversation, and he equally hates people who tries to do it to him. If they have nothing to talk about, then they obviously aren't compatible, simple.
  
• Being proven wrong. It's a hard thing for Dax to accept he's in the wrong in a situation, he's often a hard person to crack. He will believe himself right even when he knows, deep down, that he is wrong.
  

STRENGTHS

• Loyal. If you make friends with Dax, he will stick by you no matter what.
  
• Optimistic. Dax is always looking on the bright side, even if all seems dark.
  
• Intelligent. Despite everything, Dax is actually quite intelligent, he just rarely shows it.
  

WEAKNESSES

• Procrastinates. Dax is lazy, and that's why he hasn't yet managed to graduate. He doesn't devote himself like he ought to.
  
• Short temper. Dax is easily wound up and he can quite quickly lose his temper if provoked.
  
• Indifference. If something doesn't interest Dax or appear to help the people close to him, he doesn't see the point.
  
• Painfully slow at anything practical - maths and science, not quite his thing.
  

FEARS

• Failure, which is something he's already managed to achieve at the Academy.
  
• Being betrayed by the people who he trusts.
  
• Never being able to live in the 'real' world because of his elemental abilities.
  

BEST MEMORY When Dax was twelve his father wanted to find something to keep his son occupied and insisted he took up swimming in a competitive fashion. Dax excelled and won regional after regional. His father occupied him to international competitions, where Dax also excelled. His best memories involve him sitting on a beach in Spain with his father. It was relatively the only time his father showed interest in Dax.

WORST MEMORY Dax gave up competitive swimming after one of his competitors died in the water after having a seizure. Dax blames himself for not being able to save him. The memory still haunts him, and Dax, unable to control a power he didn't fully understand at the time, could only water in horror as the boy drowned before his eyes. This has caused an occasional deep hatred for his power, and lost him his bond with his father.

LONG-TERM GOAL Dax wants to graduate and be happy - he's seen his parents and doesn't want something like that. His long term goal would be graduate and become 'normal', he currently wants to reject his elemental powers and return to normal life as an artist. He wants to make it in the field of comic book art.

* past reflections ,
[ SOMETIMES I REMEMBER THE DARKNESS OF MY PAST ]

MOTHER Annabella 'Annie' Katherine Chambers (née Johnson) (40), Domestic House Cleaner. (Water) (NB: Dax rarely calls her mum, and she prefers to be called Annie.)

FATHER Jack Edward Palmer, (45), Unemployed. (Water) (NB: Dax will occasionally call Jack 'dad', but usually refers to him as Jack.)

SIBLINGS N/A.

OTHER Alistair Raoul Chambers, (40), Step father, Bailiff. (Mortal.)
Theodore 'Theo' Kingsley Palmer, (81), Grandfather. (Water) (NB: Like his parents, Dax has grown up referring to his Grandfather by his real name.)

HISTORY
Dax was born to Jack and Annie on 16th August 1992, a healthy, happy baby. He was born a week late, which his mother stated was 'no surprise, because Dax is always late, he was probably sleeping still'. His parents had a rocky relationship even before Dax came into their lives. He was, as he is constantly reminded by his father, a mistake. Dax, however, has grown to ignore his father's harsh words. His father, an ex-Olympic swimmer, was banned from sports after attacking a competitor when Dax was just two. His mother was left to raise him almost entirely alone, the only help offered in the form of his paternal grandfather, Theodore, of whom he was given his middle name due to. Theodore took Dax as his own son, raising him almost entirely, although Annie had the occasional input. Dax grew up in Ireland, spending a lot of time with his grandfather, and, equally, a lot of time in the many pubs his grandfather would visit. The most regular being The Blue Dragon, where Dax was something of a underage regular. It was also the site of Dax's first alcoholic drink, which he consumed at the age of thirteen.

When he was young Dax began to get into trouble, hanging around with older kids and generally causing chaos through out their small town. His father, tired of hearing complaints, and tired of giving his son a clip around the ear, decided to give him something to focus on. He insisted Dax take up swimming, knowing his son would excell at it. Dax showed a great deal of skill within swimming, and for a while achieved something of hometown fame as he rose through the leagues and went international. His short-lived career (and short-lived bond with his father) ended when his young competitor had a seizure in the water and died in front of Dax.

When Dax was young his grandfather showed him his collection of comics, and Dax threw himself into reading them all. His grandfather knew the comics were worth a lot of money, but allowed Dax to read them anyway. It didn't take Dax long to decide what his future career would be (after going through phases of wanting to be a nurse, a vet, a pilot and the kind of Narnia, of course). Dax took up art, finding a second hidden talent - one he found considerably less dangerous than swimming. His father never approved, calling him a 'pansy', amongst other names to describe his sons work. However, Dax won competitions with his work, even if, at school, he seemed to be failing and falling behind. His teachers were constantly worried about Dax's progress.

Dax was never short of love, however, Theodore and his mother adored him dearly, even though their family didn't have a lot of money. His mother had taken up a job as a cleaner not long after he was born, his father bringing no money into the house. She chose to be a cleaner, as her elemental abilities with water meant it was a job she could complete easily. Dax struggled at school, falling in with the wrong kind of people when he was young. However, he received just adaquate marks, and was often in trouble. His teachers referred to him as 'cheeky', and often complained Dax was taking strange animals home (i.e, the class fish, frogs he found, tadpoles, etc).

Dax has a long scar on his hand, and he rarely indulges people in how it happened, mostly because he is frightfully disappointed with himself. He was thirteen when he acquired it. He was with several of the older boys he'd made friends with, who convinced him to break into a car. Dax broke the window, opening the car from the inside, as he reached inside the owner came running out, screaming angrily. Dax and his friends started to run, but as Dax left he tripped and the owner's dog was set upon him. Trying to defend himself Dax threw his hands in front of his face and his hand was savaged by the animal. The man, seeing Dax was nothing but a child, called his dog off. Dax got up from the ground and run off, bleeding heavily. His mother returned home to find him bleeding, and instantly took him to the hospital. Dax was then cautioned for attempting carjacking, driving a wedge between his mother and himself. Not long later Dax was found breaking and entering, where he was arrested on sight and given an ASBO. Dax completed his community service, however the court ruled him a liability and gave him an extended time on his ASBO.

His mother decided, knowing Dax's elemental gift would surface when he was fourteen, to move the family to Canada, in preparation for the Academy and to get away from the darkness that Ireland had brought upon her family. His father, however, was reluctant to live Ireland, and said he would stay behind. His mother decided this would be best, wanting to rid herself of Jack's influence. However, after returning home from her last day of work she found Jack drunk outside their house, having ripped up the plane tickets and unpacked all their belongings, throwing them out of the window. Annie found him sobbing wildly into one of Dax's hoodies. Worried for her sons safety, she enquired to his whereabouts. Finding that Jack had made Dax run off, she banned Jack from the house and immediately proceeded with a divorce from her neglectful husband. The move never went ahead, and Dax received his letter when he turned fourteen. The only thing to do was fly Dax out and stay in Ireland, as Annie couldn't afford anymore plane tickets and had to stay in Ireland for the divorce. Dax was sent out alone to Canada.

Dax found solice in the Academy, finding people like himself and began to grow into his element more, enjoying the influence it was having on him. He would return to Ireland during the summer, and at the age of sixteen got his first tattoo from one of the guys he had once been involved in a gang with. He got his two magpies on his shoulder, which he had drawn himself. It was there to always remind him to have joy in his life. Dax's ASBO was still in effect, but he found himself growing increasingly lax about it. He would stay out beyond his curfew, and was arrested for disorderly behaviour when he got into a fight. His mother was furious with him, and he once again suffered community service over the summer. Dax met his mother's new boyfriend, who she would eventually marry. Dax never quite saw eye to eye with Ali, but has openly admitted to his father he prefers Ali over him. Dax rarely sees or speaks to his father, having argued with him the last weekend he was supposed to stay at his. Dax is now eighteen, having been held back a year at the Academy.

* puppet on a string ,
[ SOMETHING INSIDE ME THAT PULLS BENEATH THE SURFACE ]

YOUR NAME Zigg.

YOUR AGE I am indeed over thirteen. I'm twenty.

RP EXPERIENCE Ten years.

HOW'D YOU FIND US? Through an advertisement.

SECRET WORD Correct.

RP SAMPLE

Dax threw his old, beaten bag down onto the armchair, glancing at the cat curled on the sofa. Under his arm he had a plastic tank, and he placed it down on the table by the side of the armchair, bending down.
"Wonder where everyone is, ah, Cap'n," he said to his terrapin. He straightened up, heading out toward the garden. His mother couldn't be far away, it was a Saturday, so he assumed she would be at home. He was a bit upset to not come home to a welcome party - usually Theodore and his mother were all ready for the return of Dax. Not today, and that concerned him. He stepped out into the garden, surprised at the warmth of the sun - Ireland wasn't always this nice, he thought.

"Dax!" He turned on his heel and saw his long-suffering greying mother running toward him, a pair of garden shears in her left hand.
"Whoa, whoa, watch it!" Dax smirked, holding his hands out to make sure she didn't accidentally end up stabbing him. His mother wrapped her arms around her son and hugged him tightly. Dax looked over her head, significantly taller than his mum, and was able to see the work she'd done on the garden. She'd put in a pond for him, he noted. He gave her a kiss on the head and smiled.
"Right, I'll make us a cuppa and you can tell me all about term," Annie Chambers smiled. "Oh sweetie, you-" she paused when there was a knock on the door. Dax stepped back into the house and gestured to his mum that he'd get the door. He enjoyed being at home - normal life sometimes escaped him when he was at the Academy.

Dax crossed the small house in a small few strides, pausing briefly to peer into Captain Merlin's tank and then continuing to the door. He paused when he saw the silhouette standing outside. It looked strangely like his-
"Dad?" Dax growled as he opened the door and saw the fatigued face of his father swim into view. He leaned against the doorframe and narrowed his eyes. "Did you get the wrong house?" he asked, darkly. His father looked a little hurt by Dax's joke, but only let it show across his face momentarily, and instead burst into a smile.

"I'm here to see my favourite son!" He replied. Dax raised an eyebrow and pushed his hands into his hoodie pockets.
"I'm your only son," he reminded his father.
"Oh right, yes, of course," Jack smiled. "But you're back - it's great. Look at you. You're so taller. Taller than me. Bet that's helped you so much with your swimming, are you-"
"I'm not going to join your little league or whatever it is you want me to do," Dax replied. "Annie and I don't want your involvement. We don't need it. Just...don't worry about us, Jack. Ali's filling your shoes pretty well. They were pretty lousy shoes to fill," Dax pointed out, and with that he slammed the door in his dad's face.

"What was that, dear?" His mum asked, a cup of coffee in her hand as she made her way back into the living room from the kitchen.
Dax looked up and shook his head, "some tramp," he said. "C'mon, Annie, let me tell you about how I soaked these Freshmen..."

[TAYLOR THE CANADIAN]

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* accepted ,

WELCOME___TO THE ACADEMY !

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