Charles Rowland (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hellandbackpack) wrote2025-10-27 03:22 am
hellandbackpack) wrote2025-10-27 03:22 am
Unfinished Library Info
CHARLES ROWLAND
Pronouns:
He/Him
age:
51 years, 16 physically/mentally
dob:
20 May, 1973 ♉Taurus♉
Staus:
👻Dead👻 (It's fine!)
Canon:
Dead Boy Detectives
Canonpoint:
The end of 1x3, 'The Case of the Devlin House.'
History:
appearance
5'7" . Athletic . Brown Eyes . Black Hair
Outfits: Full . Casual . Death
Charles is a half-Indian boy with short black curly hair he wears with notches cut into the sideburns, dark brown eyes, and a medium warm sort of skintone. His bone structure and the almost pointed ears give him an almost fox-like air especially when he smiles, which is often. He typically wears a red polo and bracers, and dark pressed trousers with white socks and brown leather penny loafers. He layers a burgundy Harrington jacket and a black wool overcoat with multiple pins on the lapels and patches stitched onto the shoulders, with a burgundy pocket square. As for accessories he has leather gloves, a single gold star earring in his left ear and a gold chain necklace.
Outfits: Full . Casual . Death
Charles is a half-Indian boy with short black curly hair he wears with notches cut into the sideburns, dark brown eyes, and a medium warm sort of skintone. His bone structure and the almost pointed ears give him an almost fox-like air especially when he smiles, which is often. He typically wears a red polo and bracers, and dark pressed trousers with white socks and brown leather penny loafers. He layers a burgundy Harrington jacket and a black wool overcoat with multiple pins on the lapels and patches stitched onto the shoulders, with a burgundy pocket square. As for accessories he has leather gloves, a single gold star earring in his left ear and a gold chain necklace.
PERSONALITY
click for full write up
Charles, at first glance, is an absolute spitfire of a teen. He's lively, impulsive, impossibly charming, and absolutely impossible to ignore. He might be a ghost, but that hasn't stopped him from living the (after)life he wants, reaching out to take control of his destiny with both hands. His warmth and brashness make him the perfect contrast to Edwin's calm restraint, making them nearly perfect as investigative partners and best friends both. He's passionately inquisitive about the world around him, and seems in some way unable to be quiet or still. he needs to be moving, he needs to be talking, he needs to be making the most of the chance he's got. He's the sort of boy who wades right into the middle of danger with a grin, not because he's never known fear, but because he's never learned that fear should be able to stop him.
He'll laugh and joke his way through his fear, but it's never to make light of it- it's a way for him to feel in control of it, rather than it controlling him. This allows him to show incredible bravery, to the point of recklessness at times, running towards chaos because he can't stand to feel helpless. This is never more true than when he's coming to the defense of those who cannot defend themselves, or even more so should he be coming to Edwin's defense. He is deeply protective and loyal to those he loves, and he loves so very easily if given half a chance. His bravery extends to his independence, and his instinct to challenge authority, especially should it be unjust, a clear byproduct of his unfortunate early life and how he died, failed in every way by every authority figure in his life, he now is determined to make sure that no one else is failed like he was. Tragedy in life could have made him bitter, cruel, but instead he just lives and loves all the more fiercely as if in defiance of the cruelty. Chooses kindness, . All he wants, though he'll never admit it, is to matter. To be enough.
Another thing vital to him is connections. Charles is not a boy well-suited to solitude, and Edwin has, since he died, been the heart of his world. He is his most comfortable with the other teen, teasing, affectionate, fiercely loyal and protective. He does his best to be his partner's bridge to the world, grounding the often stoic boy with his own warmth and mischief. He's never had good examples of loving relationships to learn from, so he doesn't quite realize just how deeply his love for Edwin actually goes, simply assuming that... this is how a person loves their best friend, their other half, their person. With others, Charles is typically approaching any interaction as a chance to make another friend. He's outgoing, charming, flirts in an almost habitual way at times. Does his best to make others smile and laugh no matter if the timing might sometimes be terrible. Personable, but at times he can come across as overconfident. However friendly he is, Charles isn't one to suffer people treating him as lesser for things like what he is, or his supposed age. And he's not one to allow others to be treated that way either, will always step in, reckless, mouthy and irreverent to whoever the offender is, no matter how important or powerful they might be. He is, despite his laissez-faire attitude at times, so very sincere in how he cares for others, and it shines through in everything he does, more than he might realize or intend.
This does not mean he's not without his flaws and failings. Dead or no, Charles is as human as anyone else despite his larger than life persona. Despite encouraging others towards understanding their own emotions, he so often avoids his own. Hides his uncertainties and painful feelings behind a mask of confidence and humor, which leaves him unable to process them. This sometimes ties into his impulsive behaviors, where he avoids painful revelations by acting without thinking things through, as if he could somehow outrun the reality of his own mind and heart. And unfortunately, this feeds into how he seems almost unable to be still, quiet, as if he might just fade away if he can't move, can't do. And with how responsible he feels for protecting Edwin, for defending those around him, any failure to do so feels like a moral failing. Like he's failing at his purpose. Like those around him will see him fail and decide that he's not good enough. That he's just like his father. That they'd be better off if they left him behind. And that, to a boy so desperate for love and understanding is a harrowing prospect. So, he winds up overcompensating. Smiling too bright. Laughing a bit too loud. Taking a risk he shouldn't, as if he can prove his worth if he can just endure so others don't have to. He tries his best, his heart is clearly in the right place, but sometimes, that's not quite enough to avoid turmoil.
In the end, Charles is like a flame in a lantern that refuses to go out in defiance of the encroaching dark. He's loud, loyal, and just a little bit lost. While he might be physically dead, he's so very alive in spirit and heart, full of stubborn, almost defiant hope, turning death, which could have been a quiet, miserable prison, into an adventure, one he intends to share every step of with Edwin. He is a ghost who's never stopped living. He'll face down demons, witches, eternity itself with a smile on his lips and a quip on his tongue, because if he stops to think about what's gone, he might never start back up again.
He'll laugh and joke his way through his fear, but it's never to make light of it- it's a way for him to feel in control of it, rather than it controlling him. This allows him to show incredible bravery, to the point of recklessness at times, running towards chaos because he can't stand to feel helpless. This is never more true than when he's coming to the defense of those who cannot defend themselves, or even more so should he be coming to Edwin's defense. He is deeply protective and loyal to those he loves, and he loves so very easily if given half a chance. His bravery extends to his independence, and his instinct to challenge authority, especially should it be unjust, a clear byproduct of his unfortunate early life and how he died, failed in every way by every authority figure in his life, he now is determined to make sure that no one else is failed like he was. Tragedy in life could have made him bitter, cruel, but instead he just lives and loves all the more fiercely as if in defiance of the cruelty. Chooses kindness, . All he wants, though he'll never admit it, is to matter. To be enough.
Another thing vital to him is connections. Charles is not a boy well-suited to solitude, and Edwin has, since he died, been the heart of his world. He is his most comfortable with the other teen, teasing, affectionate, fiercely loyal and protective. He does his best to be his partner's bridge to the world, grounding the often stoic boy with his own warmth and mischief. He's never had good examples of loving relationships to learn from, so he doesn't quite realize just how deeply his love for Edwin actually goes, simply assuming that... this is how a person loves their best friend, their other half, their person. With others, Charles is typically approaching any interaction as a chance to make another friend. He's outgoing, charming, flirts in an almost habitual way at times. Does his best to make others smile and laugh no matter if the timing might sometimes be terrible. Personable, but at times he can come across as overconfident. However friendly he is, Charles isn't one to suffer people treating him as lesser for things like what he is, or his supposed age. And he's not one to allow others to be treated that way either, will always step in, reckless, mouthy and irreverent to whoever the offender is, no matter how important or powerful they might be. He is, despite his laissez-faire attitude at times, so very sincere in how he cares for others, and it shines through in everything he does, more than he might realize or intend.
This does not mean he's not without his flaws and failings. Dead or no, Charles is as human as anyone else despite his larger than life persona. Despite encouraging others towards understanding their own emotions, he so often avoids his own. Hides his uncertainties and painful feelings behind a mask of confidence and humor, which leaves him unable to process them. This sometimes ties into his impulsive behaviors, where he avoids painful revelations by acting without thinking things through, as if he could somehow outrun the reality of his own mind and heart. And unfortunately, this feeds into how he seems almost unable to be still, quiet, as if he might just fade away if he can't move, can't do. And with how responsible he feels for protecting Edwin, for defending those around him, any failure to do so feels like a moral failing. Like he's failing at his purpose. Like those around him will see him fail and decide that he's not good enough. That he's just like his father. That they'd be better off if they left him behind. And that, to a boy so desperate for love and understanding is a harrowing prospect. So, he winds up overcompensating. Smiling too bright. Laughing a bit too loud. Taking a risk he shouldn't, as if he can prove his worth if he can just endure so others don't have to. He tries his best, his heart is clearly in the right place, but sometimes, that's not quite enough to avoid turmoil.
In the end, Charles is like a flame in a lantern that refuses to go out in defiance of the encroaching dark. He's loud, loyal, and just a little bit lost. While he might be physically dead, he's so very alive in spirit and heart, full of stubborn, almost defiant hope, turning death, which could have been a quiet, miserable prison, into an adventure, one he intends to share every step of with Edwin. He is a ghost who's never stopped living. He'll face down demons, witches, eternity itself with a smile on his lips and a quip on his tongue, because if he stops to think about what's gone, he might never start back up again.
CANON ABILITIES
🏏Canon Skills🏏
💥Basic Hand-to-Hand Combat💥
🥸Disguises🥸
🏏Sports🏏
🔍Investigation🔍
🔓Lock Picking🔓
💣Minor explosives💣
🎒Navigation of his backpack's complex pocket dimension🎒
🥸Disguises🥸
🏏Sports🏏
🔍Investigation🔍
🔓Lock Picking🔓
💣Minor explosives💣
🎒Navigation of his backpack's complex pocket dimension🎒
👻Ghost Traits👻
🟢Intangibility🟢 Charles can pass through anything and everything, aside from iron or magically warded things.
🟢Invisibility🟢 Charles cannot be visibly perceived by other human beings, unless they have had near death experiences or are involved in magic in some way.
🟢Orb Form🟢 Can condense down into a form akin to a ball of light, by force, by being harmed enough, or willingly
🟢Catoptric teleportation🟢 Charles is able to teleport using mirrors. This seems to be able to be stymied by covering the mirror.
🟢Shape🟢 Ghosts have some control over their physical shape, able to change what outfits they wear, or their general appearance. If they do not do this, they seem to default to their appearance and condition upon their death.
🟢Possession🟢 Charles can possess a person, though it's shown to be difficult to hold onto the more magically adept a person is, and also because he doesn't have much practice.
🟢Minor magic🟢 Charles is no spellcaster, but he's got enough to assist Edwin in preparing and casting rituals, and is likely the one who applied the runes and enchantments to his cricket bat, even if it was likely with careful copying of pre-existing enchantments from books.
🔴Electrical Fields🔴 Ghosts can cause devices to malfunction if near them for too long, and can have issues with magnets. The older and more 'analog' a device is, the less likely it is to be damaged by their presence.
🔴Hauntings🔴 Ghosts can manifest hauntings, either purposefully or if emotionally fraught- these can reflect either something about the person, or how they died. In Charles' case this includes things like cold spots, seeing one's breath, damp footprints and the like alongside typical things like echoes, flickering lights, radios, etc.
🔴Death Loop🔴 Spirits can be caught in a 'death loop' recreating their last moments, and other spirits can be caught in the cycle accidentally by interacting with the spirits already involved.
🔴Iron🔴 Iron can burn ghosts and force them to be solid and vulnerable while in contact with them.
🔴Magic🔴 Ghosts are vulnerable to the effects of magic, they can be repelled, banished and even destroyed through rituals and spells.
🔴Cat Scratches🔴 Cat scratches are one of the few things that can harm a ghost, with it being described as a burning feeling.
🟢Invisibility🟢 Charles cannot be visibly perceived by other human beings, unless they have had near death experiences or are involved in magic in some way.
🟢Orb Form🟢 Can condense down into a form akin to a ball of light, by force, by being harmed enough, or willingly
🟢Catoptric teleportation🟢 Charles is able to teleport using mirrors. This seems to be able to be stymied by covering the mirror.
🟢Shape🟢 Ghosts have some control over their physical shape, able to change what outfits they wear, or their general appearance. If they do not do this, they seem to default to their appearance and condition upon their death.
🟢Possession🟢 Charles can possess a person, though it's shown to be difficult to hold onto the more magically adept a person is, and also because he doesn't have much practice.
🟢Minor magic🟢 Charles is no spellcaster, but he's got enough to assist Edwin in preparing and casting rituals, and is likely the one who applied the runes and enchantments to his cricket bat, even if it was likely with careful copying of pre-existing enchantments from books.
🔴Electrical Fields🔴 Ghosts can cause devices to malfunction if near them for too long, and can have issues with magnets. The older and more 'analog' a device is, the less likely it is to be damaged by their presence.
🔴Hauntings🔴 Ghosts can manifest hauntings, either purposefully or if emotionally fraught- these can reflect either something about the person, or how they died. In Charles' case this includes things like cold spots, seeing one's breath, damp footprints and the like alongside typical things like echoes, flickering lights, radios, etc.
🔴Death Loop🔴 Spirits can be caught in a 'death loop' recreating their last moments, and other spirits can be caught in the cycle accidentally by interacting with the spirits already involved.
🔴Iron🔴 Iron can burn ghosts and force them to be solid and vulnerable while in contact with them.
🔴Magic🔴 Ghosts are vulnerable to the effects of magic, they can be repelled, banished and even destroyed through rituals and spells.
🔴Cat Scratches🔴 Cat scratches are one of the few things that can harm a ghost, with it being described as a burning feeling.
🎒Bag of Tricks🎒
Charles owns a magic backpack that is said to have an infinite amount of space inside of it. It's assumed that there are a variety of sections/pockets inside, there is some sort of stasis magic that ensures live animals/plants/etc that are placed in the bag are removed in the same condition they were placed inside, no matter how long they've been in there. Ghosts and humans are shown to be able to hide in the bag with no ill effects, and presumably anything that can be dragged/moved in by Charles could also be placed inside. It took Charles years to learn to operate the bag, without coming to harm- it is apparently known to bite limbs of, or devour unwary users who don't know the trick to managing it.
*For the game, the inside of the bag is finite, with the following items inside of it when he arrives, and I will alter/adjust the list as he gains/loses things.*
- General Stuff: Odds and ends, entirely mundane, usually not especially useful, sometimes sentimental. Things like old toys, spray paint, an old Walkman and cassettes, a spyglass, vinyls, small ornaments, decorations, maybe some small tools that they might've gotten in an investigation or he just picked up somewhere. If you shook together a garage sale, a thrift shop, and an antique shop, that's the kinda stuff you're gonna find in there.
-Enchanted Cricket Bat: While it doesn't stay in the bag often, sometimes Charles keeps his cricket bat here. It is your typical bat, though he's enchanted it to have a few effects- being able to be wielded like a boomerang and returning to Charles' hand from impossible angles, being able to strike things normally not affected by physical impact such as fellow ghosts, as well as the ability to store it in what amounts to hammerspace, under his jacket for example.
- Magic Supplies: Stuff he uses, or he holds for Edwin for spell work. Paints and tarps for runes, components for spells like herbs, crystals, amulets, etc. This includes a few magic artifacts- a couple pairs of Disguise glasses, as well as a pair that as far as I can tell are used to identify/see magic depending on the lenses flipped in. There is a subsection of this space that he uses as a Restricted Section- cursed books/artifacts, dangerous books or spell components and the like go in here and it has been warded with Edwin's help to keep any Bad from leaking out into the rest of the bag's space.
- The Bookshelf: Normally, Charles had lots of random books, about a variety of topics- spellbooks, reference manuals, history books, fairy tales, the range was vast. HOWEVER due to how the Unfinished Library works, the only books he has still in this section are things like incomplete manuscripts, diaries, or journals he or Edwin have been writing in.
- Armory: Fireworks, moltovs, some bombs, at least one magical sword, maybe a knife or two. The bombs are pretty mild as far as bombs go, about a 5x5 foot blast radius, maybe enough to bust a hole in a brick wall. I doubt he has more than 2-3 of those, probably 5-10 moltovs, an inadvisable amount of smaller fireworks, and like... maybe 10-15 of the bigger mortar-style ones. Obviously once he's used up the consumables he's gotta get more elsewhere or he's out of luck.
- A Jar of Bees: Just a bunch of pissed off bees. 🐝
- The Lantern: Don't worry about it. ❤️🔥
*For the game, the inside of the bag is finite, with the following items inside of it when he arrives, and I will alter/adjust the list as he gains/loses things.*
- General Stuff: Odds and ends, entirely mundane, usually not especially useful, sometimes sentimental. Things like old toys, spray paint, an old Walkman and cassettes, a spyglass, vinyls, small ornaments, decorations, maybe some small tools that they might've gotten in an investigation or he just picked up somewhere. If you shook together a garage sale, a thrift shop, and an antique shop, that's the kinda stuff you're gonna find in there.
-Enchanted Cricket Bat: While it doesn't stay in the bag often, sometimes Charles keeps his cricket bat here. It is your typical bat, though he's enchanted it to have a few effects- being able to be wielded like a boomerang and returning to Charles' hand from impossible angles, being able to strike things normally not affected by physical impact such as fellow ghosts, as well as the ability to store it in what amounts to hammerspace, under his jacket for example.
- Magic Supplies: Stuff he uses, or he holds for Edwin for spell work. Paints and tarps for runes, components for spells like herbs, crystals, amulets, etc. This includes a few magic artifacts- a couple pairs of Disguise glasses, as well as a pair that as far as I can tell are used to identify/see magic depending on the lenses flipped in. There is a subsection of this space that he uses as a Restricted Section- cursed books/artifacts, dangerous books or spell components and the like go in here and it has been warded with Edwin's help to keep any Bad from leaking out into the rest of the bag's space.
- The Bookshelf: Normally, Charles had lots of random books, about a variety of topics- spellbooks, reference manuals, history books, fairy tales, the range was vast. HOWEVER due to how the Unfinished Library works, the only books he has still in this section are things like incomplete manuscripts, diaries, or journals he or Edwin have been writing in.
- Armory: Fireworks, moltovs, some bombs, at least one magical sword, maybe a knife or two. The bombs are pretty mild as far as bombs go, about a 5x5 foot blast radius, maybe enough to bust a hole in a brick wall. I doubt he has more than 2-3 of those, probably 5-10 moltovs, an inadvisable amount of smaller fireworks, and like... maybe 10-15 of the bigger mortar-style ones. Obviously once he's used up the consumables he's gotta get more elsewhere or he's out of luck.
- A Jar of Bees: Just a bunch of pissed off bees. 🐝
- The Lantern: Don't worry about it. ❤️🔥
SKILLS
❖ Library Sciences ❖
[100] Partial Ordinal System (POS): Ability to learn the organizing system the library uses and navigate the stacks and card catalogue through that understanding.
[###] Name: Details
❖ Data Management ❖
[120] Unmute: Adds voice function to journal.
❖ Editorial Skills ❖
[###] Name: Details