BASIC / PHYSICAL:
1. Full name: Maxwell Hanse
2. Notable meaning(s): None.
3. Do they like it?: He likes his first name. His last, picked for travel documents, works just fine.
4. Weight / build / healthy or not?: 205lbs, 6'1, extremely athletic and in excellent health.
5. Notable physical flaws, marks, abnormalities (even just perceived): He broke his nose in his late teens. It healed with a weird bump on the bridge. No one else seems to notice. He has a small scar from a .22 below his left scapula. Light freckling.
6. Taste in clothes: He favors a balance of comfort and function. Most of his work schedule allows for life spent barefoot in sweatpants, which is dandy. Otherwise, he defaults to jeans and comfortable shoes varying from sneakers to leather topped loafers with a bendy tread. Boots feel like bricks on the feet. He likes baseball caps, because it means he doesn't have to mess with his hair. Simple tees are his go-to. He won't complain if and when he has to clean up for classy events, however.
7. How they smile (Under what circumstances does it vary?): Max always looks genuine, and smiles like a simple, happy sort with few cares. It's bright, authentic, toothy. He has slight dimples. The expression reaches his eyes, most days.
8. "Tell" for lying: None. As a kid, he sometimes had a habit of shifting his weight or looking left when concocting a convincing falsehood. He's since corrected that.
9. Posture: Well effaced, broad shouldered, balanced, in correct alignment, but somehow casual.
10. Volume of speech: A deep 'inside voice,' with the exception of laughter. His laughter is loud and boyish.
11. Most expressive parts of the body: Max's body is his livelihood and instrument, so the whole of it is rather expressive, but he has an extremely animated face.
12. Eye contact & comfort level: Depends on company and intent. With friends or people who have caught his interest, he makes generous eye contact and isn't the sort to distract himself with his phone or other stimuli. With strangers or someone he's trying to game, he tends to read them, take into account whether the individual is alpha or beta-minded, gender, culture, the context of the interaction, and what he wants from them, then adjusts accordingly. He treats eye contact like a useful sociological tool, despite not having the higher education to identify that that's what he's doing.
13. Etiquette (holding doors open, use of language in different scenarios, handshakes): Strong, sincere handshake. He holds doors for both men and women, speaks more simply and with local colloquialisms when chatting with 'blue collar' sorts, and straightens up with posher crowds. He presents as necessary. With friends, he's considerate and easy going. His table manners aren't great. Emily Post's Guide to Etiquette isn't in his library. His reading skills are poor. He does his best to avoid drawing attention to this.
14. How close do they stand to others in a small or large group? Do they walk through a crowd or around? Other common behaviors in social settings: If he's comfortable in the crowd and hasn't identified any potential threats, he'll cozy up to a small group and engage fully. He doesn't like to have his back angled to doors or other major points of egress that he can't observe. He'll balance listening and interacting, enjoys attention but doesn't want too much of it. The less he knows the group, the more likely he is to default to comic aloofness. He'll walk around, or through the edge of a crowd.
15. Nonverbal communication (talking with hands, crossing arms, hands in pockets, hyper expressive face, etc): His hands and facial expressions are as integral a part of his communication as speech.
16. Common nonverbal greeting (ignore, high five, wave, polite nod, etc): Raised hand, smile, a hug if particularly familiar with the other party.
17. How do they indicate nonverbally? (Point, nod, clear throat, raise hand, etc): Pointing is unsubtle and tends to draw attention from parties other than the intended. He'll nod, tip his head or move his eyes meaningfully.


PERSONALITY:
1. Good habits: Takes time to de-stress regularly, has a well curated work-life balance. He still plays when he has the chance and shows no sign of growing out of the habit. He keeps a clean house, purges things that no longer serve him or don't make him happy, limits sentimentality, eats well 95% of the time, but doesn't deprive himself of treats when he craves them. Highly diligent about sexual health and transparency in his flings. Sleeps 8-9hrs nightly (gets cranky if he's deprived). Values and cares for his possessions. Tries to fix things before replacing them.
2. Bad habits: Almost never picks up his phone, can take days to answer texts. Tends to distance people who try to get too close to him before he feels ready, and ghosts them, even if they're good people. Processes his emotions physically instead of actually analyzing, or working through them. Trust issues like gangbusters. It's unintentional and he'd feel terribly if confronted, but he often assesses new people by whether or not they're useful to him. Has a 'gift' for finding seedy connections in any new place he visits. Thinks in terms of scarcity and sometimes still acts accordingly. Chews his cuticles.
3. Drugs / alcohol / smoking (& associated reasons): Drinks socially. Had a history with coke in his teens and early 20s, and briefly with heroin. No longer uses.
4. What do they do too much, or too little of?: Too much leisure time and activities, too little focus on continued learning and self improvement.
5. Best thing in life (present): His daughter (previously thought to be his best friend's unrelated child) has been staying with him for half a year to learn the ropes of being a shifter. He thought it'd be awful. It's been one of the best experiences of his life.
6. Worst thing (present): He's no longer a normal shifter himself. His nature has been changing in ways he doesn't understand. Trying to work this out and keep the effects under wraps while being a good teacher and mentor to his (still secret daughter) charge is a mess. He's regularly concerned that he's messing up.
7. Significant early traumas or core wounds: This is a novella. Summation: destitute orphan who lived in a slum with his 'siblings' until 19, saved up enough money as a drug runner to cheat his employers and escape with his younger sister. Is constantly watching his back waiting for the other shoe to drop, or a whole host of things that might go wrong, and have in the past.
8. Notable, seemingly insignificant memories: He and the kids found and shared a stuffed hippopotamus when he was six or seven. It was the gang's shared security blanket. They took turns keeping it for the day, or the hour, and would sometimes forfeit turns if one of the kids had a particularly terrible day and needed the comfort. The hippo lasted a few months before rot and grime deteriorated it past use. It was a good memory, though. He still likes hippos.
9. Deepest fears: Someone from his old life will find or recognize him if he stops being vigilant. That everything he's gained for himself and the people he cares for might be taken away. That he could be injured, and unable to physically handle all aspects of his life on his own. Starving. Wanting and not having.
10. Daredevil or cautious: Daredevil, as long as it's not ridiculous.
11. Is this subjective to having company or being alone?: He'd rather take risks in groups and enjoy the collective rush. He's less likely to be risky on his own.
12. Spirituality / Religion: He believes there's more to life and the spirit than we understand, but doesn't adhere to, or buy into organized religion as a legitimate authority.
13. What makes them laugh?: Honest mistakes taken well, good-humored self-deprecation or humility, light hearted sarcasm, horrible dad jokes told that way intentionally, gag pranks, irreverent observations of human nature.
14. What doesn't?: Slapstick. Hurt-humor. Noir. Cruel sarcasm. ill-intent. Jump scares. Absurdism.
15. What embarrasses them?: Very little. Being called out for his poor education. Forgetting a word in English for longer than a beat or two. He got catfished by a local NOLA guy on Tinder in the spring. It was hilarious, but also slightly embarrassing that he didn't realize it sooner.
16. Common emotional reactions (whoops when excited, snorting when amused, etc): He bounces, pigeon-toed, when he's excited or jazzed up. Has an entire vocabulary of groans ranging from humor, to sarcasm, to mock-embarrassment, etc, that often takes the place of speech.
17. Nervous / anxious tics: He starts checking his environment more when nervous. Eye contact decreases. He'll rub the back of his neck or pop the joint of his right thumb inside his right hand.
18. Deflection / coping behaviors: Humor is the primary. He becomes 'carefree Max' in overdrive when he doesn't feel carefree. If he's feeling too compromised, he'll disappear until he mellows.
19. Comfort gestures & self touches: Scratches his solar plexus or crosses his arms and works a thumb over the inside of his elbow to self soothe.
20. Other comfort methods / modalities (safe spaces, comfort food, activities, etc): Naps. Much the better if there's someone he trusts involved. Max needs connection to feel safe and psychologically grounded. If he can't find that, he'll indulge in a sexual fling as a bandaid, or vanish. He climbs trees and will hang out on a bough for hours zoned out to music if he can't properly get away. He'll get lost and wander the city until he finds something new to interest him.
21. Worst thing that could happen to them: Losing Roxi, Annie and/or Lauren.
22. Would it 'break' them? If no, what would, or what else would?: He's thought about it, and is unsure. He'd never be the same, but he has survived so much he'd like to think he could keep going. The world is vicious. He treats this as a sort of clinical knowledge, but hopes his tolerance is never tested.
23. What would they give their life for?: Above.
24. Personality flaws: His trust issues are a significant failing. For the especially intuitive or empathic, he might seem vapid or shallow as a result.
25. What are they reluctant to tell people, or have known?: Anything about where he came from, or who he was before 20.
26. How do they feel about themselves: He knows he's a survivor, and a fighter, and takes appropriate pride in that. He's physically capable, is engaged in his work enough to find it mostly rewarding, and doesn't want for much. It's emotionally unsatisfying, but he's not necessarily looking for that. His personal esteem isn't particularly high, beyond that.
27. Selfish or selfless (if both, under which circumstances?): Self-sacrificing when it comes to Roxi, Annie and Lauren, but not to the point of genuine self harm. Otherwise, his continued survival is typically his priority. He has few squabbles about meeting that need. As long as that's secure, he's generous.
28. How do they want to project themselves, vs. how do they actually project?: The general opinion of him as a carefree happy sort suits, so he's continued to cultivate it in recent years.
29. What would they make a public scene about?: Significant risk to his or the safety of the other performers (unmaintained rigging, etc). Gross levels of rudeness or aggression against friends of coworkers.
30. What, if anything, would drive them to violence? To what degree?: Self defense. Threats to Annie's safety, on the moon or otherwise. Has, in the recent past, gotten into a short brawl with an unapologetic man who lifted his female friend's skirt with a pool queue in a bar.
31. False beliefs & hypocrisies, if any: He's trying to help raise a healthy, well rounded young woman but wouldn't consider himself a healthy role model for her. Has a questionably healthy relationship with her mother, and relations to women in general. He's aware, and worried about all of this.


SKILLS / VOCATION / LEISURE:
1. Extremely skilled at: Learning how to fix things, small mechanics, wiring, handiwork, jury-rigging, extended sprints, climbing,
2. Extremely unskilled at: Reading and written language skills, history, geography,
3. Favorite hobbies, sports, pastimes:
4. Do they work to support hobbies, or use hobbies to fill time between work?: Work is to support leisure time, hobbies, and necessary spending.
5. As a child, what career did they want as an adult? If they aren't doing that, why?: Like so many, being an astronaut looked pretty awesome. You have to be really smart for that, and go to a good college.
6. Financial situation. Are they comfortable with this?: He has a modest savings and checking account that mostly sits unmaintained, but he doesn't withdraw from it much. Otherwise, check to check. He'd like more and is working on it.
7. Spending habits: He's a quick saver, not because he budgets well but because he doesn't like to spend. Extremely frugal to the point of paranoia. He'll wear his clothes into the ground or stitch them up endlessly before he'll buy new ones. The same goes for other personal belongings.
8. Ideally how would they spend a stormy day?: Napping. Curled up watching Netflix with Annie. Slip n' Slides if it's warm outside. Practicing in the aerial tent.
9. Ideally, how would they spent a long weekend?: Off for an adventure! Maybe south to the coast.
10. Taste in music:
11. Taste in art: He doesn't really 'get' most modern art. Picazzo was just weird, he doesn't think that's beautiful.
12. If any, which hobbies, leisure activities (etc) are of little interest, or repel them?:


RELATIONS:
1. Family situation: Other than Roxi, his family is found / chosen, and small.
2. Favorite family member: Roxi.
3. Least favorite: N/A
4. Would they consider themselves a 'good' child/sibling, etc?: He thinks so. He certainly tries.
5. Do they have a role model? Whom, and why: He really liked loved Han Solo, and the last of the first trilogy came out the year he was born. The movies were so popular a few shitty copies ever made it into Soweto. He watched them as frequently as he could, with subtitles, but learned a bit of English from them as well. Han was a scrapper who didn't self-disclose much, but he had a loyal best friend, always got out of trouble, could go anywhere he wanted without restraint, and even ended up with a girl way too good for him. In short, he was the coolest dude Max had ever seen. He wanted to be Han. Less a role model and more an idol, the character guided a lot of his early decision making and tailored much of his teenage personality.
6. Friend situation: Max makes pals easily. He's gregarious, can talk to anyone and comes off as open and carefree. Truthfully, he can count on one hand with fingers to spare the people who really know him. He's a bit of a Dante's Inferno of friend-making. Each level of provides a slightly clearer peak of the horror of the bottom of it all, but hardly anyone makes it there. He's not a trauma-elitist, he just doesn't think it's necessary. The past doesn't define you if no one knows about it, and he'd rather people continue to treat him like the projection he makes of himself. It's easier for him to believe that way, too.
7. Would they consider themselves a 'good' friend?: Very! Self-disclosure isn't everything.
8. Strengths as a friend: He's there for his friends and better acquaintances with few reservations, provided they're not asking him to get in unreasonable levels of trouble or hide any bodies. He'll only do that with the scarce few - not because he disagrees, but because he's watching out for himself. He's on pointe with humor for enjoyment and cheering, but does know when to stop, listen and empathize.
9. Shortcomings:
10. Primary platonic Love Language (verbal, acts of service, physical touch, gifting, quality time): Acts of Service. He does his best to be entirely self-reliant and expects others to be (mostly) the same. If he starts doing things for a person or making an effort to help them out, they mean a lot to him.
11. Primary romantic Love Language: Physical/Service. Physicality is a primary means of expression and connection for him, so this is a big deal. He'll gladly have a sexual relationship with a woman who undertands that he doesn't want a relationiship with very little lead up, or without knowing her well if there's an attraction. If (huge if) romantic feelings crept in over time, the method would change gradually. After he stopped emotionally panicking. Service aspects are the same as above.
12. Sexuality / romantic identity: Heterosexual. Currently non-romantic, by design.
13. Opinion on relationships: Dangerous. He loves some people, but doesn't let them close enough to ruin him. Relationships make people look more valuable than they are. The heart is a stupid, irrational organ. Wherever possible, it shouldn't be used to direct life. It makes mistakes, makes you vulnerable, and opens you to damage.
14. Opinion on sex: As long as two people are consenting adults paying attention to their health and with clear communication and expectations, sex is one of, if not his favorite thing.
15. Have they been in love? Details: Yes No. He thought (and feared) he might love Lauren Whitacre in '08. They were great friends, started sleeping together on a drunken fluke (he doesn't cross that line now for this reason) and continued to do so for several months. He never mentioned how he was feeling.
16. If it ended, who called it quits and why: Lauren got pregnant, lied and told him that she'd also been sleeping with her patrol partner to let him off the hook raising a child, having decided that he simply wasn't suited for it, based on what she knew of him. They put the brakes on whatever they were doing promptly after that. It hurt, admittedly, but at the time he decided it'd spared him far worse.
17. Top three things they'd look for in a partner: Book smarts. Sense of humor.
18. "Dealbreakers" (physical, ethical, habits, personality, etc):
19. Dating habits / history (serial monogamist, 'bad luck' streak, primarily single, etc. Why?): Happily and historically single.
20. In flirting, do they make the first move?: He's a shameless flirt. Women. Men. Babies. Dogs. Yes, he initiates. He's only interested in it going somewhere with women. He has a big soft spot for women who pony up and beat him to it, though.
21. Turn ons, turn offs, kinks (any associated reasons or experiences?): Strong preference for brunettes.
22. Best / worst standout romantic or sexual experience(s)?:
23. Additional notes: