OC index home

light dark

Mark

My main character along with Lazaro, with whom he is always paired. Mark is kind hearted, sensitive, and timid.

Personality

A conflict avoidant people pleaser. Inadvertently grins in uncomfortable social senarios, and will give a little nervous laugh when he doesn't know what to say or how to challenge something he disagrees with, unfortunately encouraging more of the same situations. Loses his ability to form cohearent sentances during an argument. He can't stand up for himself, or even those he cares about. A coward really. All he wants is for people to like him, and feels like he's going to throw up when he thinks hes upset someone.

Because of this, he's nervous around new people, preoccupied with appealing to them, this is especially true with interviewers and authority.

He's very generous and compassionate, willing to give and do things that inconvience him in order to help others, whether he knows them or not. Always assumes the best intentions, and hates when others assume the worst. A bit naive despite his age, and while he knows some people do have bad intentions, he genuinely wants to believe people are good at heart and will always give the benefit of the doubt, as well as second chances. As such, he's very easy to forgive. He would forgive his father in a heartbeat if he were to ever verbally apologize.

Effeminate in mannerisms, but not flamboyant. He's tried very hard to hide this, especially as a teenager and young adult, but has never managed to do so successfully, always clockable by homophobes and fellow gays alike. He's generally quiet about his sexuality but no longer trying to work against it. Despite becoming comfortable enough to wear more femine clothes, he still has repressed conflicting feelings about his gender, which he writes off as just being gay, not realizing or wanting to consider the idea that he may be nonbinary.

His voice is soft and gentle, but not high, coming deeper within his chest, but often rising in inflection at the end of his sentances, giving a feminine and unconfident air. Likewise, he tends towards tentative phrases such as "I think maybe...", "just", "I'm not sure but..." even when he is sure, and unintentionally lowers the volume of his voice or mumbles when he actually is unsure.

Physical Traits

• short and fat, with a sturdy strength underneith
• broad shoulders And wide hips, giving him both masculine strength and a motherly look
• round face with a large upturned nose, and rosy lips that have a defined cupid's bow
• round eyes that can be amber brown to yellow, shaded by thick expressive eyebrows
• loose curly hair that can be short to long and fluffy, peanut butter colored
• ruddy complexion, cheeks and chest are often splotchy red even when not embarassed or hot
• hairy. all over. may have extra tufts as a werewolf, likes having his face clean shaven
• strong masculine forearms and square meaty hands, befitting of both a man and a hard working farmer mother
• likes comfortable casual clothes, fond of loose flowy blouses, wears reds, pinks, blues, and whites
• may have sun spots on his chest and shoulders, picking scabs on his arms, and stretch marks in the usual places

See some outfits for Mark in my Mark and Lazaro dress up game, which is where this full body reference is from.

Story Roles

In much of my art Mark is just a regular human in modern day with his personality as described above, but some art will depict him in the following settings:

Magic Apocalypse Story

Mark is a werewolf living with his human friend, Opal, in an abandoned house they found. During full moons he has found a few abandoned werewolf children and takes care of them until they are able to contact their families. He desprately wants children, and this instinct carries over to his wolf form, which is very protective of the pups. He secretly hopes the families never find the kids so that they can be his, but feels intense guilt over this desire and does not act on it. He grows and makes food for both his family and the nearby community, occasionally helping out with manual labor as needed, having high strength and stamina. His trusting and genrous nature lead him to take in two strangers who show up at his house late at night looking for shelter, despite Opal's reluctance.

Star Trek AU

In my Star Trek AU he's the ships doctor, but he's orginally from our era, having accidentally entered the future via a space-time anomoly he encountered during a walk in the woods as a young adult. Is this just an excuse to give him internalized homophobia and repressed gender feelings in an otherwise progressive setting? Why, how observant. He's been in the future for 20 years now and has largely gotten over these hung ups, but he can't fully shake off the scars of his upbringing, having spent his first 20 years deeply entrenched there.

Being fascinated by the opportunity of space travel available to relatively normal people, Mark signed up for Starfleet shortly after finding himself in the future, choosing a medical path, to which he is most suited. By the story's date, having been in the future for 20 years and a doctor, Mark is more confident than he is in other settings, having gained expertice in his career, though he can still be shy and nervous.

Mark's life is objectively way better than it would have been in our current day, and he recognizes this, yet he can't help but feel homesick, missing the mundane things of a life he will never experience again. The culture in the future is simply different, often more progressive, which often leaves him feeling out of touch and embarassed.

Relationships

Lazaro

Mark and Lazaro are opposites, initially more likely to irritate one another than inspire fondness. Lazaro is bitter, judgemental, and cold, which intimidates Mark, making him act very nervous, and frustrating Mark when Lazaro gives him very little grace. Mark, however, remains kind and forgiving, trying to excuse Lazaros asshole behavior as him having a bad day (everyday...). Eventually Lazaro softens slightly, and lets his hard brittle guard down a little around Mark, slowly growing more and more comfortable around him.

Lazaro is very frustrated by Mark's uh. Lack of spine, but as they get closer, he encourages Mark to stand up for himself and to not take shit. In turn, Mark encourages Lazaro to be less hard on himself (which also leads to him being less hard on others). They are ultimately a good influence on each other, even though they dislike each other at first.

They end up as lovers/husbands/boyfriends in every rendition and will grow old together.

This is all rather vague since the specifics can very from setting to setting. In my previous magic apocalypse story, Lazaro is a mage who absolutely sucks at controlling his magic, though it is very strong. Mark tries to tell him its okay to not be good at something and to be gentler on himself. Lazaro is not as hostile to Mark at first in this setting, having came with Gabrielle to Marks house in a desperate journy for shelter. Mark, being trusting and always willing to help, lets them in despite Opal's reluctance. He's closed off and secretive, but not outright rude since they are providing shelter.

In my Star Trek AU Lazaro is a Vulcan, and you guessed it, he can't controll his emotions, yes real orginal, I know. He's on a primarily human ship and particularly cold and standoffish. Mark being from our current day, not growing up with stereotypes about Vulcans, is one of the few who treats Lazaro as a person. They bond over being outsiders to the culture on the ship, feeling like outcasts from their orginal cultures, and yet longing for the homes they can never return to.

Opal

Opal and Mark are good friends, they met in college if they went to college in that setting. Opal can always make Mark genuinely laugh and she takes pride in that. They don't have a whole lot in common, but they enjoy each others company and just chilling together. Being more "up to date" if you will, she enjoys showing him internet culture things that confuse him. Mark is not much older than Opal, but is simply not online much. In modern human settings, they often share a shitty appartment together as young adults.

Mark appreciates Opals non judgemental acceptance, and may confide in her or ask things he would normally be to embarrassed of to bring up. She taught him what cis and nonbinary mean.

In the magic apocalypse story they share a house, so sometimes they are mistaken as a couple, especially considering they share a room and even bed. They are close and comfortable around each other, but it is entirely nonsexual and nonromantic. They are both rather messy and disorganized, leading to a cluttered home, and a bedroom floor covered in clothes.

Opal does not like Lazaro very much, and Mark is sometimes left feeling like he has to choose either Lazaro or Opal, which he hates because he can't stand conflict and wants both of them to like each other, wanting to spend time with both of them together.

Joe (dad)

Mark was never masculine enough for his dads standards, no matter how hard he tried. He was often berated which would make him cry, which would get him yelled at more. Despite the consequences, he never could shut down his sensitive nature. This paired with bulling at school, led him to become a very reserved and quiet teen, reluctant to say or do anything incase it attracted criticism or ridicule.

Given his dad's homophobic sentiments, Mark was always terrified his dad would find out, not knowing how he would react, only that it would be bad.

Love languages

Giving

Mark's primary love language is acts of service, such as making food for somone or helping them move heavy things; he likes to feel needed, feeling useless if he can't help in anyway. Of course he also likes to spend quality time with his loved ones and showing them physical affection. He's not very good at giving gifts, as he's afraid he would be getting something the person won't like.

Receiving

He likes receiving words of affirmation the most, they mean a lot to him and work up strong sappy emotions. He saves cards and messages, often riding a confidence boost after getting heartfelt words. Receiving quality time and physical affection is also highly appreciated. He doesn't like receiving acts of service, much prefering to do them instead, feeling bad/uncomfortable when others return the favor, and usually rejecting offers to help him. He can similarly be a little uncomfortable with gifts of expensive nature and the obligation of giving a gift in return, but a well thought out gift can strike up sentimental feelings in him like words of affirmation can.

Other Tidbits

• he likes flowers and gardening, having a fondness for tiny flowers like baby's breath (background) and the tiny blue flowers that grow along sidewalks, he is sometimes represented by little flowers
• Lazaro sees Marks aura as orange
• sometimes represented by the color red or baby blue
• clothing colors Mark and Lazaro share are: burgandy, ivory, and baby blue
• grew up in a conservative rural area, feels comforted by the scenery, but uncomfortable around the people
• would drive a shitty little red car, especially as a young adult
• took wrestling in highschool but did not like it, if need be he can still pin someone easy
• was probably also a boy scout, but not for very long
• face and ears will turn so red that they will be almost purple if he is ever truely enraged, but this is extremely unlikely
• Mark's angry voice is scary since he almost never raises his voice (he can be firm if in a caretaker role, but rarely actually yells)
• looks like his dad. sorry. (I am grinning evily, evidentally not sorry)
• gets hot easily (unlike Lazaro who gets cold easily)
• very ticklish, a fact only discovered by Lazaro, who delights in taking advantage of this. can be tickled almost anywhere, but his neck is especially sensitive
• sappy when drunk, which is not often. will be more open with his feelings and tell everyone he loves them, may get weepy about it, also more physically affectionate than he normally would be in public, such as leaning into Lazaro and caressing him
• likes being at home, does not feel relaxed or comfortable anywhere else, rather hobbit like
• loves to cook and bake for his loved ones!!! Eat his food or he'll cry (ok, he likely won't cry but his feelings might get a little hurt)
• a bit of a mother hen, but you probably figured that one out
• intelligent and scientifically minded, which comes in handy in his medical career in my Star Trek AU, but other settings rarely utilize this about him

Songs

These are not necessarily songs that this particular OC would listen to, just ones from my own collection that I feel has their vibes. My collection is primarily rock, where as my characters tastes would be different character to character. Lyrics are copy pasted frmm those lyric sites, sorry for any inaccuracies. Each song as a whole will usually be applicable to the character, but extra pertinent lines will be italicized. Note that I may interpet the song very differently from what the band intended.

The Unforgiven - Metallica

Lyrics for The Unforgiven

New blood joins this earth and quickly he's subdued
Through constant pained disgrace
The young boy learns their rules
With time, the child draws in
This whipping boy done wrong
Deprived of all his thoughts
The young man struggles on and on, he's known
Ooh, a vow onto his own, that never from this day
His will they'll take away, yeah

What I've felt, what I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be, never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt, what I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free, never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

They dedicate their lives to running all of his
He tries to please them all, this bitter man he is
Throughout his life the same, he's battled constantly
This fight he cannot win
A tired man they see no longer cares
The old man then prepares to die regretfully
That old man here is me, yeah

What I've felt, what I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be, never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt, what I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free, never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

What I've felt, what I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be, never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt, what I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free, never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

Never free, never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
You labeled me, I'll label you
So I dub thee unforgiven
Never free, never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
You labeled me, I'll label you
So I dub thee unforgiven
Never free, never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

a reflection of how Mark grew up, in a heavily homophobic environment, where he was never free to be his true self, and how this started from a very young age with consequences if he didn't stifle himself

if I could only choose one song for Mark, this would be it, considering nearly the whole song is italicised (technically, if we italicized repeated sections)

this is also sort of a look of how he would be if he never learned to accept himself and live his own life

Lying from You - Linkin Park

Lyrics for Lying from You

When I pretend everything is what I want it to be
I look exactly like what you had always wanted to see
When I pretend, I can forget about the criminal I am
Stealin' second after second just 'cause I know I can, but

I can't pretend this is the way it'll stay
I'm just trying to bend the truth
I can't pretend I'm who you want me to be
So I'm lying my way from

You (no, no turning back now)
I wanna be pushed aside, so let me go (no, no turning back now)
Let me take back my life, I'd rather be all alone (no turning back now)
Anywhere on my own, 'cause I can see (no, no turning back now)
The very worst part of you is me

I remember what they taught to me
Remember condescending talk of who I oughta be
Remember listenin' to all of that and this again
So I pretended up a person who was fittin' in

And now, you think this person really is me
And I'm trying to bend the truth
But the more I push, the more I'm pullin' away
'Cause I'm lying my way from

You (no, no turning back now)
I wanna be pushed aside, so let me go (no, no turning back now)
Let me take back my life, I'd rather be all alone (no turning back now)
Anywhere on my own, 'cause I can see (no, no turning back now)
The very worst part of you is me

This isn't what I wanted to be
I never thought that what I said would have you runnin' from me
Like this, this isn't what I wanted to be
I never thought that what I said would have you runnin' from me
Like this (This) this isn't what I wanted to be
I never thought that what I said would have you runnin' from me
Like this (This) this isn't what I wanted to be
I never thought that what I said would have you runnin' from me
Like this

You (no, no turning back now)
I wanna be pushed aside, so let me go (no, no turning back now)
Let me take back my life, I'd rather be all alone (no turning back now)
Anywhere on my own, 'cause I can see (no, no turning back now)
The very worst part of you
The very worst part of you is me

again more internalized homophobia, Mark trying to be the man his dad wanted him to be

would fit Mark even better if it said "the very worst part of me is you" instead, as Mark would hate to be anything like his dad

Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lyrics for Simple Man

Mama told me when I was young
Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say
And if you do this, it'll help you some sunny day, ah yeah

Oh, take your time, don't live too fast
Troubles will come and they will pass
You'll find a woman, yeah, and you'll find love
And don't forget, son, there is someone up above

And be a simple kind of man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby, be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me, son, if you can?

Forget your lust for the rich man's gold
All that you need is in your soul
And you can do this, oh, baby, if you try
All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied

And be a simple kind of man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby, be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me, son, if you can?
Oh, yes, I will

Boy, don't you worry, you'll find yourself
Follow your heart and nothing else
And you can do this, oh, baby, if you try
All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied

And be a simple kind of man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby, be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me, son, if you can?

Baby, be a simple, be a simple man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby, be a simple kind of man

Mark has always been kind hearted and more interested in a simple peaceful life (again hobbit like)

forgive me for the Lynyrd Skynyrd, but it is reflective of Mark's background after all

Somebody to Love - Queen

Lyrics for Somebody to Love

Can anybody? Find me Somebody to love?

Each morning I get up I die a little
Can barely stand on my feet
Take a look at yourself in the mirror and cry
Take a look in the mirror and I cry
Lord, what you're doing to me?
I have spent all my years in believin' you
But I just can't get no relief, Lord

Somebody (Somebody)
Ooh, somebody (Somebody)
Can anybody find me
Somebody to love?

I work hard (He works hard) every day of my life
I work 'till I ache my bones
At the end (At the end of the day) I take home
My hard-earned pay all on my own
(Goes home, goes home on his own)
I get down (Down) on my knees (Knees) and I start to pray (Praise the Lord)
'Till the tears run down from my eyes, Lord

Somebody (Somebody)
Ooh, somebody (Please)
Can anybody find me
Somebody to love?

He works hard) everyday (Everyday)
I try and I try and I try
But everybody wants to put me down
They say I'm going crazy
They say I got a lot of water in my brain
I got no common sense
(He's got) I got nobody left to believe
(No, no, no, no)

Ooh, somebody
Ooh (Somebody)
Anybody find me
Somebody to love
Can anybody find me
Someone to love?

Got no feel, I got no rhythm
I just keep losing my beat (You just keep losing and losing)
I'm okay, I'm alright (He's alright, he's alright)
I ain't gonna face no defeat (Yeah, yeah)
I just gotta get out of this prison cell
(One day) Someday I'm gonna be free, Lord

(cut out outro because it was long and repetitive)

Mark longing for love, especially in a homophobic environment, bonus points for actual gay background behind the song

Cover Me - Bruce Springsteen

Lyrics for Cover Me

The times are tough now, just getting tougher
This old world is rough, it's just getting rougher
Cover me, come on baby, cover me

Well I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me

Promise me baby you won't let them find us
Hold me in your arms, let's let our love blind us
Cover me, shut the door and cover me

Well I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me

Outside's the rain, the driving snow
I can hear the wild wind blowing
Turn out the light, bolt the door
I ain't going out there no more

This whole world is out there just trying to score
I've seen enough; I don't want to see any more
Cover me, come on and cover me

Well I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me

Outside's the rain, the driving snow
I can hear the wild wind blowing
Turn out the light, bolt the door
I ain't going out there no more

Well I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
Well I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
Well I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me

Mark wanting a romantic partner who will protect and comfort him, wanting to be safe, comfortable, and loved

Lazaro also has this song, particularly for the hiding from a harsh world vibes

Ain't Even Done With the Night - John Mellencamp

Lyrics for Ain't Even Done With the Night

Well our hearts, beat like thunder
I don't know why they don't explode
You got your hands, in my back pockets
And Sam Cooke's singin' on the radio

You say that I'm the boy
Who can make it all come true
Well I'm tellin' ya that I don't know
If I know what to do

You say that's all right, hold tight
Well I don't even know if I'm doin' this right
Well all right, hold tight
We can stay out all day, we can run around all night
Well all night, all night
Well it's time to go home
And I ain't even done with the night

Well I don't know, no good come-ons
And I don't know no cool lines
I feel the heat, of your frustration
I know it's burnin' you up deep down inside

You say that I'm the boy
Who can make it all come true
Well I'm tellin' ya that I don't know
If I know what to do

You say that's all right, hold tight
Well I don't even know if I'm doin' this right
Well all right, hold tight
We can stay out all day, we can run around all night
Well all night, all night
Well it's time to go home
And I ain't even done with the night

Ain't even done with the night, hold tight
Well I don't even know if I'm doin' this right
Well all right, hold tight
We can stay out all day, or we can run around all night
Well all night, all night
Well it's time to go home
And I ain't even done with the night

No, I ain't even done with the night
No, no, ain't even done with the night
No, I ain't even done with the night
No, no, ain't even, ain't even done with the night
No, no, I ain't even done with the night
No, I ain't even done with the night

early on in his romantic relationship with Lazaro, feeling unsure and inexperienced

very sweet and tender vibes which suit Mark well

Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton

Lyrics for Wonderful Tonight

It's late in the evening, she's wondering what clothes to wear
She puts on her makeup and brushes her long, blond hair
And then she asks me, "Do I look all right?"
And I say, "Yes, you look wonderful tonight"

We go to a party and everyone turns to see
This beautiful lady that's walking around with me
And then she asks me, "Do you feel all right?"
And I say, "Yes, I feel wonderful tonight"

I feel wonderful because I see the love light in your eyes
And the wonder of it all is that you just don't realize
How much I love you

It's time to go home now and I've got an aching head
So I give her the car keys and she helps me to bed
And then I tell her, as I turn out the light
I say, "My darling, you were wonderful tonight
Oh, my darling, you were wonderful tonight"

more tender love, this time about an established relationship with his love

Mark admiring and taking comfort in the presence of Lazaro, who he feels is more charming and attractive than himself

Gallery

WIP - theres gonna be a gallery here

OC index home