FULL NAME: Patrice An Tang
NICKNAMES: Pat, Pat-Pat by his sister, Tang, whatever. He prefers Patrice but is pretty easy-going.
AGE/DOB: 17 | August 11th (Leo)
YEAR: Junior
BLOOD STATUS: Halfblood
GENDER/PRONOUNS: Male | he/him/his
SEXUALITY: Equal-opportunity kisser and never says never (unless you're too young or smell weird).
HOMETOWN: Born New York City, NY, currently resides in Bleakcross, NY.
Bleakcross is a small, insular wizarding town that prides itself on traditionalism. The population is small, though they do have a tiny K-12 school. Surprisingly, most students fulfill their entire education there, as generally when people live in Bleakcross, the goal is to remain pretty untouched by Muggle things. Everyone knows everyone, and everyone has opinions on everyone. Accessible via an ancient oak tree in Peekskill, NY, a Muggle city.
APPEARANCE:In Muggle society, Patrice sticks out like a sore thumb - his fashion sense is antiquated and often distinctly wizardy in nature, making him look like a cosplayer or just one of those people who gets way into pretending he's from the 1910s. By wizarding standards, though, he's not that out there. His clothes aren't necessarily overly fashionable, but they are sensible, durable, and of good make. Quite a few are hand-me-downs, or second hand items given new life by his great great aunt. He favors neutral tones and subtle, classy prints; pants and shirts are definitely a go-to, often with vests and ties, and robes are only for formal occasions (but are often used in those cases). Patrice keeps his hair just how he likes it, but doesn't overly groom or mind his appearance too much. He did just wake up like this. He knows it's enviable. It's ok to stare a bit. -3~
HEIGHT: 6'1"
BUILD: Deceptively muscular.
PB: Xu Kai
INSPO: Pinterest Patrice would confidently describe himself as radiant. A strong, happy personality that's just pretty much good in all dimensions. He's smart, he's loyal, he's honest, he's cheerful - really, what more could you want? He's pretty sure his life is following the path of a storybook hero, what with the dead parents and his eventual job as an auror, and his great personality definitely makes him fit the part, right?? Obviously, Patrice's good qualities are somewhat diminished by his confidence that often crosses into egotism, but that's just a minor detail. Being a hero means you sometimes have to step on some toes, and he's ready and willing.
All this confidence and bluster isn't just a front, and it's not entirely unfounded either, but whether that makes it more or less tolerable is definitely up for debate. Patrice
is smart, blessed with a natural intelligence that means he picks up things quickly and remembers things easily. School is a breeze for him, and always has been. Unfortunately, that means he doesn't always appreciate when others are having trouble - can't you just remember that? Why doesn't this make sense to you? It's so straightforward! He's the least ideal study buddy because he doesn't really need to study, so he doesn't. He mostly just wants you to come do something else with him. He's definitely a bad influence in this way, and often encourages others to push themselves as far as
he can go in almost every situation. Do you REALLY have to study? Is it REALLY that bad to just kiss that person you shouldn't be kissing? Can't you have just ONE more drink? He's the devil on your shoulder with all the intentions of an angel. He loves fun, and just wants people to partake of it as much as he does.
Though a poor studier, Patrice doesn't mind putting in the work to become exceptional at something; putting in the work to become passable is what he's terrible at. If he doesn't show promise at an activity or study right away, he wants nothing to do with it, because he so rarely comes across something that he can't just sort of do acceptably well on his own. He's also hesitant to add work for himself when unnecessary, so the application of his hard work is further limited to things he thinks are important or practical. This sort of leaves him in this strange, in between space of being both motivated and lazy.
An extrovert through and through, Patrice doesn't necessarily crave attention as much as he craves proximity. A moment's acknowledgement is generally enough to sate him for a while, but afterwards he needs to hang around, lean on his friends, steal some of their food, look at their books. He'd admit himself that this is probably one of the clearest impacts of losing his parents young, but he figures it's a pretty mild vice. People like feeling wanted and needed, and he's definitely making his friends feel wanted and needed! This need for others can occasionally turn to jealousy, even with friends. He dislikes when others' attention is taken away from him for too long, especially when it means they're too busy to just be around him. Things rarely come of this beyond grumbling and lots of sour faces, luckily, and people are quick to come back into his good graces after temporarily abandoning him.
In general, he's not particularly sensitive, and trusts his own opinions of himself more than what others might say. Close friends could put a dent in his ego, but otherwise he's confident and rarely has his feelings hurt. Even when jealous of whatever person or thing is taking up his friends' time, it rarely makes him wonder if the reason he's not getting attention is because of him or his actions. He's also not a brown-noser and doesn't need validation, but he
does like some praise now and then. A little more now than then. But he'll take what he can get.
One of the big things that probably makes him acceptable to some people, despite his ego and effortless success, is the fact that he's incredibly loyal and incredibly generous with friends. He'll back you up if you need it, even if you're the one that that screwed up, and he'll happily give you the shirt off his own back if it means sparing you some sort of pain. He's also generally confident it other's competence and intelligence, unless that's burned him too many times with a particular person, which at least makes him seem a little less like someone who thinks he's so far above others. This is often why he can't understand why others have to study so much, and why he expects them to be able to keep up with him.
In general, though, Patrice can be pretty variable in his treatment of others. While overly generous with friends, he's middling with people he's fine with or doesn't know, and is particularly uncharitable, both in his opinions and materially, with people he doesn't like. Regardless of what he thinks of someone, though, he's equally likely to run over them if they let him. He's the kind of person to take your things as he's in the middle of asking you, even if he wouldn't extend the same courtesy to anyone but his closest friends, and he's particularly bad when it comes to taking food.
When it comes to dating and flirting, Patrice is mostly going with the flow. He's not afraid of or opposed to the commitment that comes with dating, but he hasn't proven to be particularly well-suited to it thus far. His attentions wander, he can get bored quite easily, and he's relatively casual about most things. He can be a little hesitant to graduate people from acquaintance to friend, but once he does they'll surely stay that way.
FUN FACTS:Likes: Boxing, duelling, going to parties, being in physical contact with people, praise, eating, cool auror stuff
Dislikes: Muggle Tech, having to do things manually, his friends being too busy for him, not being at least ok at something immediately
- Uses magic for almost everything, even the most mundane of tasks. This doesn't mean he can't do anything without it, but he's got a clear preference for magic over manual. He definitely does not own an umbrella.
- Actual garbage disposal - are you going to finish that? Wait too long to eat and he'll likely help himself.
LANGUAGES: English & Cantonese
HOBBIES: Boxing, duelling, eating, practicing wandless magic, singing in the shower loudly, complaining about people not paying attention to him, attending study groups just to be around his friends
SKILLS:
[BOXING]: He's the guy you want on your team if you're getting into a brawl. Patrice doesn't fight for fighting's sake, but he's been boxing recreationally for a while and can throw a mean punch. It's one of the few Muggle-y activities he's ever partaken of (and the only one his aunt actually let him).
[DUELLING]: He's not the best in the school, but he sure acts like he is. Still, he takes losing surprisingly well, and is a quick study when it comes to his opponents. Patrice greatly enjoys watching duelling too, and not just to gain insight on people.
[WANDLESS MAGIC]: Patrice's not great at it, but he's surprisingly adept for someone his age. He's constantly practicing. And, unfortunately, that means constantly screwing up. Nothing he can do is (intentionally) dangerous, but he's good at making it look like you might have a weakass poltergeist on your hands. Or an invisible cat.
[SOAP MAKING]: He used to help Li Min with her business up until he came to Peckenpaugh. It's a weird skill, but it makes for great gifts. He can do most of it by hand if needed, but generally relies on magic.
FAMILY:LEOTA TANG | Mother | Deceased, Former Auror
Leota was a talented seer and Auror who dedicated her life to helping those around her. Her violent death, strong maternal instincts, and close bond with her seer tools meant that, after her death, her ghost took up residence in her crystal ball. Patrice loves her and often asks her for advice, and invites his roommates to do the same as well. She's only managed to speak softly once or twice, so she generally just communicates via images inside of the crystal. Typically Patrice does leave her crystal ball in a soundproof box, though, because mind your own business, mom.
PORTER TANG | Father | Deceased, Former Auror
Also a talented seer and Auror, Porter died in the same tragic incident as Leota. Around the same time Leota started showing up in her old crystal ball, one of the family's ouija boards started talking a lot too. When asked, the entity claimed to be Porter. But, honestly, there's no way to verify. Cybil is in possession of this board, and has a very good relationship with whatever is hanging out in there. He gives really good boy advice.
CYBIL TANG | Sister | Freshmen at Peckenpaugh
Precocious and just as intelligent as her brother, CYBIL is likely to go far, and Patrice is proud of her for that. They get along suspiciously well, and often conspire together when necessary. She's only half convinced whatever is talking to her through the ouija board is actually their father. Generally sweet and easy-going.
LI MIN LI | Great Great Aunt | Artisanal Soap Maker, Previously an Obliviator
Li Min is a very, very traditional witch that doesn't have time for new-fangled crap like cell phones and wearing pants. She's so old that she looks like she probably can't care for two children, but the second you make eye contact with her you can tell that she's sharp as a whip and can definitely give Patrice and Cybil a run for their money. The epitome of 'speak softly but carry a large stick,' Patrice and Cybil behave even more when they're at home to avoid reprimand. A well-respected member of Bleakcross. Her son's daughter's daughter is Leota; they'd spoken about three times by owl during Leota's life before Patrice and Cybil were thrust on her, but that's fine.
BACKGROUND:The first few years of Patrice and Cybil's lives were boring, really, despite having two aurors as parents. They played in the park, blew bubbles, ate dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets. Patrice was bright and friendly, so he took to school well, and had a dozen friends and a dozen things to keep him busy between after school clubs and playing with friends (especially playing at being aurors). Each parent would occasionally leave for a week or two on end, but otherwise? Nothing exciting, really.
One morning when Patrice was seven, however, Leota had a vision. And she knew things were about to change. She discussed things with Porter, left a very detailed letter with the nanny and information about contacting her Great Aunt, and went off to work as usual. Of course, Leota and Porter never came back - they died, and while the circumstances of their death were hazy and referred to as an "accident," one thing was very clear: it had been violent. There were no bodies to bury.
The letter left by Leota, who had accurately predicted her and her husband's deaths, meant that the handling of the children was surprisingly streamlined. They gathered up their things. They left for their Great Great Aunt's in Bleakcross. They cried, of course, but children adapt. Especially when, a few weeks after their death, Patrice became aware of something strange in his mother's crystal ball. And something odd about an old ouija board. It was soon determined that Leota and, potentially, Porter, were possessing these objects... and life went on, with two sort-of-around, dead parents. Well,
maybe two parents. Who knows what's in that ouija board.
The "presence" of his parents and the loving but no-nonsense attitude of his Great Great Aunt meant that Patrice (and Cybil) grew up surprisingly well-adjusted for their early life trauma. Patrice was back to his intelligent and charming self fairly quickly, so he excelled in his new school both socially and academically. He helped his aunt with her soap making business. He made friends. He even managed to convince his aunt to let him take up boxing in nearby Peekskill for a bit of added entertainment. Even so, Bleakcross wasn't big enough for him. It was too comfortable, too easy, and not a great place to establish himself as someone who was going to go further. Though Li Min was hesitant to let him leave, especially because his education outside of Bleakcross would likely be less traditional, she relented after enough pestering. Patrice explored quite a few options for high school, but settled on Peckenpaugh at the suggestion of his aunt, who has an old friend in Elflock Falls.
Patrice set off for West Virginia ready to make a name for himself, and was followed this year by Cybil, who's mostly here just to get out of Bleakcross. Man, that place is
boring.
WAND: Acacia, 13", thestral hair.
FAMILIAR: Baby, a grey rat. He's very good at walking on a leash.
CAREER GOALS: Auror. There are no other options here.
PART-TIME JOB: Nah.
CLASSES: Naturally curious and intelligent, Patrice excels without even trying which is probably annoying to some of his more competitive classmates. He's not competitive himself unless needled, but he also has enough faith in his abilities that he never gets
too riled. The one class he struggles in is Muggle Tech, mostly because he's never really been exposed to any of it until coming to Peckenpaugh. He's not overly invested, and often becomes agitated when he struggles and when others try to help. Otherwise, he makes success look infuriatingly easy.
CHARMS (H, TA): Patrice is distressingly good at charms since he does almost everything with magic. He could probably sleep through this class and still do well, but he obediently attends, and obediently listens.
Technically there's always room to improve.
POTIONS: Useful, but not particularly interesting to Patrice. He doodles a lot in the margins in this class.
TRANSFIGURATION (H): Transfiguration is one of the more difficult magics to perfect when it comes to wandless magic, so Patrice does his best to improve here overall in hopes of being able to master it wandless one day.
DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS (H): With intentions to become an auror in the future, taking this class is a no-brainer. Patrice is incredibly attentive here. (Can
successfully cast a Patronus.)
OUTDOOR MAGIC: Staying fit is important, especially for a hero-in-training! Patrice still hits the gym, though.
DIVINATION (H): Patrice calls this is birthright. He has a preference for witch's runes above other methods of divination, and is pretty attentive during class.
OCCLUMENCY & LEGILIMENCY: This is probably the class that requires the most work from Patrice outside of Muggle Tech, but he still doesn't seem to struggle that much in it. Probably because he's actually invested in it.
EXTRA-CURRICULARS: ARITHLETES: Patrice's got a lot in his brain, and figures he should use those smarts for good/crushing other schools. He's likely the laziest member of the club.
DUELLING & WANDWORK: No self-respecting future auror WOULDN'T be in duelling and wandwork, and Patrice likes the challenge of figuring out his opponents.
MUGGLE MAGIC: Sleight of hand seems useful, even if this is a super nerd club. He often won't show up at all.
SORTING?: Summer summer summer! Patrice doesn't belong in some sadsack season house like winter or autumn, and while Mothgarden seemed like it might be kind of cool, heroes burn bright and it seems like Wildgluchers do too.
NAME: Rin
EMAIL: See
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TIMEZONE: CST
no subject
POSITION: Charms TA
WHY THIS SPOT?: Patrice is highly skilled at Charms, and honestly, it's probably good for him to learn how to teach people things as opposed to just constantly wondering why everyone isn't as good at stuff as he is. He actually shows interest in this class and works on it more than a lot of his other courses, so it's clearly important to him.
IDEAS?: I'm hoping to kind of have a fun balance of 'has no idea how to teach people things' but 'knows things really well so should be able to show people how to do lots of things' situation. Hoping for a few goofy 'oh yeah, your TA got bored trying to teach things during a study session and set up a fun distraction instead' IC/OOCs or implied things through the journal.