Alexander 'Alex' Braun - District Five (Completed)

[Prenten]

~Alexander ‘_Alex’ Braun~
Age 19
male
District Five

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Appearance:

Alex has always been called a “pretty-boy” – for better, and for worse. At an average height of 5’11”, he’s always been a little jealous of the human monsters that slug away on the power plants with him. However, Alex is sturdy, with reaching arms, lengthy legs and wide-set shoulders. His waist is slim - like the rest of him - making well-fitting pants a difficult prospect sometimes but lending him the benefit of being quick and well-balanced on his feet. He is long and lithe and athletic, generating much of his strength from his back and his legs. He hates being called ‘lanky’ though.

Alex isn’t overtly muscular like many of his coworkers, leading to teasing and self-consciousness. It’s also how he got the scar that cuts through his left eyebrow and pressed nose – the subject sparked a brawl with a rather stout greenhorn on the Rig, ending with a barrel tossed into Alex’s face, breaking his nose.
His face and eyebrows seem to sit in an angry disposition always, regardless of his mood. His eyes are deep, dark brown and intense, maybe even aggressive. It probably doesn’t help that Alex doesn’t smile much, so as to hide the bright-white chipped teeth from the aforementioned barrel that assaulted his face. One half of his right canine tooth is completely missing.
His face, though, does do a significant amount of ‘talking’ for him. Much of the day, Alex’s gaze is steely, unchanging. But emotions like irritation, inquisitiveness, and amusement are quickly recognizable when compared to his normal complexion. His eyebrows rise and fall often, sometimes only the right one, if he’s curious. His eyes sliver in annoyance, his mouth curls into a half-smile if he’s entertained.

Despite this, Alex knows he has a charming visage and he keeps himself well-groomed. Inspired by an old movie character he saw once, his light-brown hair is always kept short around the sides, and longer on the top. Sometimes swept straight back, sometimes pulled upwards – he calls it his “Wardaddy” look; whatever that means.
Alex experiments with his facial hair too, occasionally sporting his thick brown fuzz in a moustache, goatee, or chinstrap. He refuses to grow a full beard like his father though, wary of the spot on his left side that grows patchy, seemingly only to defy him. But most days, he’s clean-shaven – easier to keep washed, y’know.

Alex’s body is dotted in small, circular, almost unnoticeable scars from a particularly vicious bout with chicken pox he contracted when he was fourteen. The brutal illness nearly killed him and originally left him covered in the blemishes. Fortunately, time, and sun exposure washed them away leaving only a few on the lighter-toned parts of his underarms, thighs and chest. His hands though, are calloused and worn, covered in burns and scars and wounds from the days at his job. You’d almost think he does it to himself…

Personality:

To call Alex quiet, or reserved would be an understatement. He also wouldn’t use those particular words. He’d call himself careful. Alex is an intellectual; thoughtful, astute, and incredibly sharp. His subordinates know he sees everything; his superiors recognize his ability to analyze and understand. When Alex does speak, every word is purposeful, carefully considered and direct. This, combined with an awareness of his intelligence, can sometimes get him into trouble. Alex is often perceived as arrogant, and gruff. Many folks believe he is too serious, especially considering his position in life. As such, Alex’s friend group is small and held tightly to his heart. Most people push him away – his romantic life is one of heartbreak, creating his “steel-wall” exterior.

Behind that wall though, Alex is about as soft as they come. Always one to internalize his emotions, he often broods over arguments or worries about actions and events most would consider insignificant. Alex is also capable of deep, intense love. However, he is terrified to do so, seeing it as a weakness to be exploited in an otherwise unstoppable man.

With his friends, Alex is often relaxed, only adding comment to conversations where he sees fit. Only in a comfortable atmosphere, with a select few people will Alex open up and reveal his mind’s designs. But he cares deeply for his friends, sparing no expense – monetary or otherwise – to aid, abet (sometimes), and generally encourage them.

Alex is often seen in the District’s bars and at social functions despite the fact that he hates large gatherings. They make him anxious, like he’s going to vomit. Occasionally he suffers from panic attacks, again, something he views as a debilitating handicap to his persona of iron will. But, he makes the most of it, laughing, drinking and conversing, if only to create a network of acquaintances within the District. For Alex loves information – he loves to know things. Anything and everything – from the latest in District politics or what’s in the new Peacekeeper shipments, to the most incriminating gossip on his father’s competitors or where the rig’s will be moving next – Alex yearns to know. Even if it gets him killed.

History:

Alex is the only child to Erin and Dietrich Braun, a well-known couple from District Five with several connections in the Capitol and throughout Panem. However, do not mistake the phrase “well-known” for “well-liked”. The Brauns are not well liked.


Alex attributes this to his last name’s legacy: the prosperous Braun family, owners of one of the District’s largest oil rigs, the Federal Resource, and confidants of many a Capitol policy-maker. The original Brauns, Alex’s great-grandparents, are best known for siding with the Capitol during the Rebellion 72 years ago. At the time, the Brauns controlled not only the Federal Resource but also a major electrical distribution plant that provided many districts with power. To demonstrate their loyalty, Dietrich’s grandfather ordered the plant shut down, depriving the rebels of heat and light. But when Dietrich’s uncle, Reinhardt Braun, sided with the rebels and detonated a Capitol-owned oil rig, the Northern Passage, the distribution plant and much of the Federal Resource’s revenue was confiscated by Panem’s government as punishment.

In order to restore his family’s name (and stave off Capitol confiscation of the Federal Resource) Dietrich courted many influential figures in District Five once he rose to the head of the family, marrying a popular socialite, Erin, and earning the ire of most of the District’s populace. This, combined with the family’s past relationship with the Capitol, cemented Alex’s future as a target for abuse, deceit and manipulation and probably contributed immensely to his steely disposition. This made Alex’s childhood incredibly difficult, as he was often either alienated out of spite, or manipulated for his money. He also quickly learned that when you’re scrapping in the mud and dirt, you couldn’t buy your way out of shit. He prefers not to fight these days though, and talks little of his childhood. Repressed memories and such.

Nowadays, the Brauns are not nearly as affluent as they once were. With a colossal hydro-electric dam separating the Pacific Ocean from the District’s main river and a sizable solar plant newly built, oil is not exactly in demand. But, Alex nonetheless is better off than most people.

And he hates it.

Despite not really needing to work, and his family having several safety-nets from political allies, Alex enlisted in the District’s Power Corps. He spends five days a week rotating between Capitol-owned oil rigs, the solar plant, the dam and other facilities, working for next-to-nothing. Although technically a minor supervisor, Alex quite often spends much of his time on the decks of the facilities, working with the greenhorns – his subordinates – getting dirty. Not once has he worked on the Federal Reserve, though.

Alex finished school when he was eighteen, and originally wished to pursue higher education with aims at becoming a bureaucrat in the district. But a fight with his father over Dietrich’s desire to see Alex inherit the Federal Reserve cemented Alex’s decision to opt for a more blue-collar way of life. Concerning his mother, Alex maintains a strong, loving relationship with her despite the fact she constantly denounces his work. He would admit that he gets his intelligence from her even if public opinion believes she’s a ditz. Just as he would grudgingly admit his cunning stems from his father.

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Alex is complicated, conflicted individual with a simple yet still troubling past. He never wished to be in the position he’s in. Yet here he is.

Here I am.

[ghosty]

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