Toris Laurinaitis - Complete

[liet]

Name: Toris Laurinaitis
Nicknames: Liet, none he'll deliberately respond to
Age: Twenty-three
Date of Birth: February 16th
Gender: Male
Occupation: Coffee shop barista/Bartender/University Student
Heritage: Stoat
Seed Rank: Light Seed
Birthplace: Vilnius, Lithuania

Appearance:

Toris is an average-sized, pleasant faced young man. There isn't much about him that he believes sets him apart from other people, and deliberately keeps himself plain to avoid attention. He has bright, friendly dark green eyes and a head of brown hair that he tends to wear long. Whenever he is working, he tends to keep it tied back in a ponytail just to keep it out of the way. Whether it's that long because he's indifferent to it or can't afford a proper haircut is anyone's guess.

His body is very lean, with only a light spread of muscle. Toris isn't a well-fed individual on the average, and his childhood left him underdeveloped in some ways, so people have the habit of sometimes mistaking him for a late blooming girl if they don't get a good look at his face. He's got a thin face, with a distinctly masculine quality to it, though Toris would consider himself more plain than handsome. He's completely indifferent to his appearance in general, so comments from people regarding his looks tend to sail right over his head.

When it comes to clothes, Toris just keeps the bare essentials. He has his outfits for work and clothes for school. His casual attire is hardly the most fashionable, since brand names tend to cost more. One of his favorite shirts has become rather thin from being worn so much, and Toris has worn his preferred pair of jeans down to the point where the knees are exposed. Luckily this seems to be the current trend in fashion, so he doesn't have to work as hard to blend in with crowds. For the winter months, Toris has a heavy coat and scarf, along with boots that have been well used. He doesn't carry a cellphone with him -- he doesn't even own one.


Distinguishing Features: Several scars upon his back from defending his family from predators. The Lithuanian countryside was rich with predators that find stoats tasty prey, so he learned to fight viciously when needed. Toris could never get himself pierced or tattooed; but he admires people who have the gumption to do so.
Sexual Orientation: Bisexual; though who has time for that?

Likes:

• Working -- Keeping busy with work is something that Toris has learned to genuinely enjoy. It's something that fills his time, distracting him from his thoughts, and the routine of it gives him motivation to maintain a steady pace in his life. Even if it does tend to cost him sleep.
  
• Martial Arts -- It might seem an odd thing for Toris to like, but this is something he has found he enjoys. He isn't any sort of advanced belt yet has just enough skills to defend himself if needed. The Lithuanian also loves watching martial art-related movies, whether they're American or Japanese.
  
• Literature -- Toris enjoys reading. Being abroad, he's been exposed to more books than he would have been able to enjoy otherwise. When there is any downtime at work and he's caught up on all of his cleaning, he'll often be found with a book open to study or just to enjoy on his own.
  
• Nature -- Being outdoors is where Toris prefers to be. He likes going out into forests or parks, just because it's so much more peaceful than the bustle of the city. It also helps that he is free to run around in his animal form there, exploring or hunting for a snack as he pleases.
  
• Basketball -- When it comes to most sports, Toris isn't all that interested in following most. He does have an interest in basketball as one of the few sports he'll participate in regularly. It's a game that is popular back home and with all of his siblings would often play to give them all something to do. While he's by no means a professional level player he has skills enough to contribute to a team.

Dislikes:

• Bullies -- This goes back to his childhood, and having to defend his siblings from would-be predators. Toris dislikes those who seek to prey upon the weak, or target those who are unable to defend themselves. Bullies are a surefire way to trigger his temper.
  
• Wasteful Spending -- Toris lives well under his means. His dorm room has little furniture and no decoration because these are comforts that the Lithuanian feels he can do without. He's puzzled with people who go around spending their money on luxuries like fancy cellphones, music players, or fast cars. Those casual expenditures could feed his family back home. And when people complain about not having the next "big thing" in technology, it irritates him that they'll consider that as being deprived in their life.
  
• Politics -- This is always a topic that gets people heated. He can understand people sticking firm to their beliefs. Sometimes they seem to use it as an excuse to say or do ugly things to others. Toris tries to avoid that back and forth argument since it always seems circular and pointless.
  
• Starving -- He's lean. Very lean. Even in his animal form, Toris never quite developed the way that other people his age did. He's only just now really fleshing out due to the access of easy, cheap foods available to him. And while he can get by eating very little, he still remembers the hunger pains of his childhood. Those memories are what keeps him constantly going on behalf of his family. Letters from home have recently indicated an upward turn in fortune for his siblings now that more of them are working. Toris's paranoia just keeps him fueled to keep dishing all over his money overseas still anyway.
  
• Cold/Snow -- Winter is something Toris associates with hardship. Snow, as well as the freezing temperatures that come with it, remind him of things he'd rather leave in the past. On days like that he'll avoid going out as much as possible just to prevent too much exposure.

Interests/Hobbies:

• Chess -- This is one of the downtime activities that Toris really enjoys. When he has free time to spare, he'll sit for hours playing the game with anyone he can convince to share it with him. Being engaged in a strategy puzzle like this gives his mind something neutral to focus on, and he takes delight in getting to try predicting the moves of his opponent.
  
• Nature Walks/Hiking -- Being a fan of the outdoors, Toris likes to go out walking in places where most people don't tread. He likes to go hiking into new areas to explore his surroundings, to see if he can discover things that other people might miss. There was a waterfall, for example, that Toris found a few months back, and he'll go there because he can swim and catch fish in the water flowing around it.
  
• Camping -- If the weather isn't too cold, he likes staying out overnight. One of the few investments he has made for himself is some camping equipment that he'll take with him for camping trips. Toris likes nestling in the warmth of a sleeping bag under the stars. If he's feeling particularly stressed then he'll use this as a means to clear his head.
  
• Fishing -- Whether it's with actual fishing equipment, or if he's diving into shallow waters to catch them with his teeth, Toris enjoys the peaceful calm that comes with this activity. It pleases him when he gets a nice, solid catch to take home.

Aspirations:

• Graduating -- If he can graduate from his university, then Toris hopes to continue his education to gain a degree. He's strongly considered a future in law. While this is going to set him up for several more years of advanced education, Toris hopes that he'll be able to settle into a successful career.
  
• Gaining a Career -- Working odd jobs just to get by isn't cutting it for Toris any longer. He wants to have a career that he can take pride in, with one job that he does at a regular schedule, and pays him a comfortable salary to live on. His real interest is a future in law, criminal or otherwise, where Toris thinks he could do well defending people that are innocent. Though defending people that are actually guilty would be much harder, so that is a conundrum he's trying to work through.
  
• Settling Down -- Toris doesn't intend to have a family the same size as his own. He'd be content with one or two children to raise in a family. This hasn't been a priority for him due to his hectic life schedule, and socializing to find a potential mate has been difficult since he barely has time to stop. Toris does imagine finding a house to live in with his spouse, having children to raise and to love, and securing that aspect of personal happiness to round out his life.

Fears:

• Failing At School -- With his busy schedule, Toris finds it a juggling act just to maintain his grades at school, especially with the amount of work they give him to do. Whenever his grade slips he can even suffer mild panic attacks at the idea that it might cause him to lose his scholarship and be forced to return home. He'll work twice as hard the next time -- even to his own detriment -- just to make sure that his education isn't compromised.
  
• Failing As A Provider -- Getting fired from one of his jobs is another source of anxiety for him. Despite the reassurances of his siblings in their letters that they are doing comfortably now, Toris is programmed to be their provider. This has become so much a part of his identity that the Lithuanian can't even fathom what he'd do if he was suddenly freed from that burden. So the thought of losing a job and compromising his income for them is a real fear. Toris has to maintain a delicate balance to make sure his employers have nothing bad to say about his performance at work so he can avoid getting fired.
  
• Snow/Ice -- Due to the loss of his younger brother from an accident, it has left him mildly traumatized. His sibling had been walking home from fetching eggs from a local farm, got upon some ice without realizing it, and fell through. It was Toris that found him after extensive searching. He naturally felt responsible for that death since he'd taken the burden of caring for his siblings upon his shoulders. He can't put that memory behind him, so whenever there is snow and ice he tries to avoid it due to the idea that it might cause some additional misfortune.

Personality:

Toris is a pleasant yet reserved individual. His outwardly friendly demeanor is entirely genuine; he prefers peace to conflict and friends to foes. Aside from this amiable attitude stranges in passing will often find Toris unextraordinary. Those who are exposed to the Lithuanian for a longer amount of time can find key points within the subtle nature of the young man.

Loyal - Once he develops respect for someone, his loyalty comes with it. Toris won't say one bad word about a person whom he regards in high esteem, even if they slight him. And he'll defend them against others if he has to.

Charismatic - When it comes to tense situations, there's something in Toris that calms people. He can act as a mediator if needed to diffuse tension in a room. This natural ability has allowed the Lithuanian creature to avoid confrontations with many larger, more savage creatures. Taming a beast is better than fighting it.

Even-Tempered - It takes a considerable amount to trigger Toris's temper. He is easygoing, and willing to dismiss insults or behavior that might aggravate others. However, there are a few acts that can strike straight to his temper to bring it out. Witnessing someone helpless being hurt, for example, or cruelty that's inexcusable.

Iron Willed - Toris is by no means a doormat even if he does give the impression he'd agree to anything. He has his pride like any other creature, and will not allow it to be slighted beyond a point. When his mind has been solidified on something then he remains firm -- especially when it comes to his moral code of living. There are values that Toris holds dear. He won't let anyone shake him from them or turn him into someone he is not.

Hard Working - A job well done is something he considers an accomplishment. Toris takes ownership of any task he has to do, and does his best to get it done well. He likes pleasing other people with good service, or putting them at ease by going the extra mile. This isn't something that he does for praise, since he is far too humble for that, but mostly due to his own high standards that he sets for himself.

Strong Moral Code - His Roman Catholic upbringing instilled in Toris deep-seated values that he honors even without the direct influence of the religion in his life anymore. He tries to keep an open mind when it comes to certain issues that counter his faith; so long as it isn't harmful to him or to others than Toris is okay with it. On the other hand, he abhores things like violence, abuse of others and dishonesty. It is a simple matter of treat others as one wishes to be treated. Toris extends this courtesy to everyone with the naive hope that they will do the same.

Honest - Lying is practically painful for Toris. He is uncomfortable with deception, even if it is a "little white lie". He's always lived his life with transparency, avoiding secrets when possible to spare himself the discomfort of having to maintain it.

Gullible - It is easy to convince Toris of things. He trusts people at face value, so it is not hard for him to get led along. Being duped is a consistent event for him. Toris has lost money, valuables and other things because of how easily others talk him into parting with them. His good nature is easy for less honest people to take advantage of.

Anxious - His brain is wired for the "worst-case scenario". Toris tends to overthink things to the point where he works himself into heavy anxiety, even panic attacks. It's difficult for him not to expect the worst could happen if there is any chance that something might go wrong. This leads him to depression at times since he gets caught up in that loop of negative thinking.

Humble - Toris is always surprised by praise. He never seeks it out, nor does he expect it from others. His achievements are things he doesn't make a fuss over. When it comes to giving credit for things, Toris is more likely to put others in the spotlight than himself. He's completely comfortable not being the center of attention. He can be self-deprecating when faced with too much praise.

Family:

• Milda -- Mother
  
• Jurgis -- Father
  
• Darijus -- Younger Brother
  
• Aldona -- Younger Sister
  
• Rasa -- Younger Sister (Deceased; carried off by a bird of prey)
  
• Mykolas -- Younger Brother
  
• Linas -- Younger Brother
  
• Vilhelmas -- Younger Brother (Deceased; fell through ice one winter)
  
• Kotryna -- Younger Sister

Brief History:

Toris was born the oldest of eight children. His parents are devout Roman Catholics who believed that procreation was not only a blessing from God but also a right that should be regularly exercised. No matter the fact that they weren't wealthy enough to support their numerous progeny. At a young age, Toris learned about living in poverty and the reality of consistent starvation. It took the loss of two siblings to make Toris decide that he needed to actively seek ways to support his family since he was the eldest. He became a stand-in caretaker for his siblings, along with taking odd jobs to make enough income to keep food on the table -- a more practical approach than his father's insistence that constant prayer and sacrifice would gain them God's blessing.

The constant lack of support from his parents during his teenage years caused Toris to pull away from his stronger childhood faith. Exposure to the outside world grounded him, giving him the balance he needed to find a peaceful balance between his faith and the desire to be a successful member of society. He began to spend more time away from his home when he could. Toris just couldn't bring himself to leave it completely while his siblings were still too young to care for themselves. Once his other brothers and sisters could manage without him, he made up his mind that he needed to do something better than just scrimping pennies from one job to the next. He worked doubly hard to earn enough money to pay for an education for himself in the hopes that he could one day get a career that could comfortably support his family.

Once he had begun his education, his work was superior enough that Toris was eventually offered the opportunity to study abroad through his school. Reassuring his family that he would continue to work and send them money regularly, the young Lithuanian made the trip to continue his education away from the burdensome presence of his family's constant needs. True to his word, Toris found as much work as he could to send money back home. He got a job of a coffee shop barista near the university campus to provide extra income. When that proved not to be enough, Toris also became employed at a nightclub nearby as a bartender on the weekends. It's hectic trying to balance his education along with his employment, and his social life has certainly suffered.

While his parents have impressed upon him the importance of marriage, and a few of his siblings have already settled with their own mates, Toris hasn't had any time to seek such things. His end goal is his education; his current priority is in seeing that achieved. Getting caught up in the complexities of seeking out a partner in that aspect of his future isn't even a blip on his radar, though there are many that approach him with interest. Toris greets these individuals with gratitude for their interest and a polite decline every time. He has yet to encounter a suitor that uses an aggressive approach, for which he is thankful.

OOC

Name/Alias; Hat
Age; 32
Favorite Pairings; RusLiet, PolLiet, AmLiet
Do you want to be Cbox, Thread, or Both?: Both
Did you read the rules?

I can't hold back
Though you know I wish I could
No there ain't no rest for the wicked
Until we close our eyes for good

All in all, being outsourced to Alfred wasn't a bad deal. The young nation was rambunctious, so much of the time it was enough just for Toris to keep up with his ever changing moods and impulsive whims. That was a breath of fresh air. Alfred's consistently cheerful demeanor put Toris at ease within the first couple of days. He even seemed embarrassed with how diligent the Lithuanian was in setting about the household chores, encouraging Toris to take a break just to enjoy the day, or to show him some invention, or to pull Toris off somewhere. The constant knot of tension in his muscles could finally uncoil, little by little, as the first week passed without any sign of ill intent. The daytimes were full of life, noise and stimulation for his senses that let Toris get settled into the fact that this was his new way of living.

The nights were more difficult. His tension would creep back in with the fall of darkness. Every twitching shadow or creak in the house caused him restless nights of little sleep. The bed felt too empty on these nights. Toris couldn't adapt himself to the lack of someone beside him, gripping too tightly to his limbs. How often he would chide, a whisper in the darkness, asking for a little space so that he could sleep. Predictably, that hold would tighten in the past, until Toris had no choice but to fall asleep even with that discomfort. It was strange now not to have the pressure of warmth or the scent of vodka riding on breaths puffing in his ear. The smallest sounds seemed to swell that much louder in these empty evenings.

The rest of it he loved. Sweeping the floors, taking the messages (Alfred's telephone was always ringing!), making sure that there was breakfast on the table in the morning and dinner waiting at night. There was comfort in this familiar routine in a new environment. Toris took the most delight in going out to handle the gardening. Watering the flowers on sunny days was a treat that he indulged in. The warmth of the afternoons felt nice seeping in through the spring clothes Alfred had given him when he'd arrived. Even the presence of the sunflowers (Twist of pain in the heart. You always wanted to live here.) stopped being a source of discomfort after a few weeks.

It was no different today, really, except for the nagging feeling in the back of his mind that something was amiss. He had not seen Alfred at the usual hour. Either work was too hectic or else the American had gone out without contacting Toris to let him know. He filled the time getting the house dusted, taking care not to knock over any of Alfred's precious collections of bizarre things. When the doorbell rang it caught Toris by surprise. He wiped a hand off on his apron, featherduster gripped tightly in the other, and hurried to answer it since Alfred had given him permission to do so. "Hello. Mister Jones is not in rig--"

Standing at the door was the most unexpected figure of all.

[Reed]

Oh wow, Toris is such a cutie-patootie >w< I really enjoyed reading your app--plus seeing you named his dad Jurgis made me giggle a little. xD Anyway, I don't see anything wrong here, so I will tell you to finish setting up your account and start posting as Liet in the forum and cbox!