MORE DETAILS ON DENNIS
So,I wanted to give (for anyone who is RPing with Dennis, or just interested) a bit more info about Dennis, specifically:
1. His attitude about his asthma
2. Gertie
3. His feelings about being short
4.. His shyness and how it manifest itself
5. What type of man he is attracted to
6. His flat.
7. Being a vegitarian
So....
Dennis doesn't normally have a "victim" mentality when it comes to his asthma (or anything). Recent events have been a temporary abberation. Normally, he considers it just a fact of life, something he has to deal with, like other people have to deal with being colorblind, allergic to strawberries and such. It is only because of recent events that it is now the central focus of his life, though that is decreasing. And, Dennis would want it noted, that aside from the past year, his attacks have decreased as he has gotten older.
Gertie: Gertie was/is a friend of his Mum's. She left and moved to the States to pursue a career as an actress. She had a marginal success: Commercials, small to medium supporting roles (mostly on television). Facing reality, and finding that she liked it, she moved to making hand loomed, and hand knotted rugs. She is no-nonsense, and brusque. Unlike Dennis and Colin's parents, she is not "touchy feely" of the comfort type. Her hugs are firm, and convey the message "you are stronger than you think you are." Dennis likes her, more to the point, he respects her.
Being short doesn't bother Dennis, he quite likes it most of the time. He only has a problem with people who automatically presume that he wants to (or should want to) be taller. Or people, who though larger in size are smaller in heart and self-confidence and feel the need to make themselves feel better by bullying someone else.
Some people come across as shy, when really they just have no interest in other people. This is not the case with Dennis. He does well in one on one encounters. It is when there are more than he and another person that he becomes quiet. This is for a number of reasons: A). Dennis is inclined to listen and learn, being a firm believer in the adage it is better to remain silent and be suspected a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt , B) He geuninely finds other people more interesting than himself and it will not occur to him to contribute to a converstaion unless asked, C) he doesn't think he is more interesting than anyone else.
Attraction:
Dennis has known he is gay for a few years now. While he has never acted on it in any fashion, he is attracted to a certain type: I.e. at least 3 years older, 5 is better, 10 is fantastic, he'd even go so far as 20 years older. He likes people with character and life experience. He also has a subconcious desire (yet to be acknowledged) to have someone else take charge.
His flat: He lives at Hammerside (Dean's building). The flat is beautifully finished with new fixtures, wood floors and such by Dean. Dennis has furnished it to his tastes (very different from Hogwarts and what he grew up with). If you were to walk into Dennis' sitting/living area, you would see a low back, armless sectional. It is upolstered in vegatable dyed fabric, and is filled with Hypo-allergenic cushions. It is very comfortable to sit on. There is a cocktail table with a small storage area underneath (it has a door). The table also has leaves so that it can be expande. This is his preferred eating surface when he is alone. A Red Entertainment center/armoire houses his TV, DVD player, DVD's CD's and steroeo. There are 4 floor cushions scattered around the table and a rug that Gertie made him which incorporates all the colors of the Sonoma landscape at sunset.
The dining area contains a l-shaped banquette with storage underneath, an oval table and two chairs. The bedroom is dominated by both a king sized platform bed which sits in the middle of the room so that he can access the other main feature of the room: floor to ceiling recessed bookshelves. (The bed, shelves, armoire, cocktail table and banquette were all built by Roger). There are black and white photographs leaning against the wall, this is deliberate. He likes the look. They are Muggle and of nature, no people in the pictures.
The kitchen contains (along with the appliances that Dean installed) a iron pot rack from which Deep Blue cookware hangs, and a standing Muggle mixer.
The flat is tidy, as years of working in a homeless shelter and soup kitchen have made him wary of any great messes. He is very good about cleaning up after himself.
And, lastly, being a vegitaritan. He isn't yet. He is getting closer to being one though. He has cut out almost all beef, and within the next couple of years will be a semi-vegitarian: A piece of fish once or twice a week, and he will still use eggs and dairy for baking and such, but no meat.