Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2013 2:28:28 GMT -8
KAREEMMOUNIERSELIM
<<Played by Copper>>
Shine a light through an open door
Full Name>>Kareem Mounier Selim
Nicknames>>None
Age>> February 2nd 1993; 20
Staff or Student>> Staff, Assistant Barn Hand for the White Oak Barn (picked purely because on the job list it didn't have any assistant barn hands, but if you'd prefer to put him somewhere else then please do!)
House>> N/A
Gender>> Male
Sexuality>> Heterosexual (and a complete romantic)
Face Claim>> Sammy Sheik
Turn away 'cause I need you more
Personality>>
Kareem is an observant, serious man, who carefully watches situations before making judgements, and seems to always have time to come to those judgements no matter how frantic the circumstances might be. Possessing a great reservoir of calm, he deals with crises well and rarely allows himself to get riled up or angered, approaching most any circumstance with a cool eye and a relaxed, calming demeanour. Quite empathetic, he listens far more than he speaks, and is quite good at reading body language - be it of people, horses or animals - and working out what makes those around him, whatever their species, tick.
He is hardly the easiest person to get to know, however, for while he can be warmly receptive and always wants to help others, he is wary of sharing much about himself, and very good at preventing people from doing so and changing the subject without it seeming obvious. He's not unfriendly, persay, just guarded and very private, so while he will certainly not shirk away from conversation, he is never going to be the centre of the party, either. In many ways, he finds animals easier to deal with than people, for he has little understanding of malice, and gives of himself far more easily to a horse than to any person.
In large groups he will prefer to observe and remain at the edge rather than make himself obvious. He can be far too eager to go along with others, for he dislikes conflict and unless it is something he feels strongly about, he will prefer to keep the peace, smile and nod, and then quietly slip away. When it is something he feels strongly about, however, then… well, he has a temper that burns hot and fast, and he will dig his heels in and fight to his very last if he has to. His streak of determination is a mile wide, and once he's set his heart on something he is not going to give up. While he isn't flashy or obvious in his determined approach to life, he quietly works away until he gets what he wants, or talks people around slowly so that he ends up getting where he wants to be with those around him not quite knowing how he managed to do so.
Ever willing to help, he can in fact be too helpful, easily convinced into doing things that are actually other people's jobs without complaint. Definitely something of a pushover, unless someone manages to really rile him up by impinging upon one of his strongly held principles, then he doesn't need much convincing to lend a hand, and frequently finds himself in situations that he isn't either entirely happy with, or quite sure how he ended up there. Protective and caring, Kareem is ever one to take on lost causes and to take on horses, people, ducks or pretty much anything that has a pulse under his wing, a trait that began with his younger sister and has now expanded. Cruelty is a sure-fire way to get his mostly hidden temper to flare up, and he can be vicious when he's angry, his normal cool demeanour replaced with a lashing tongue and no fear of getting physical if he needs to.
Certainly kind and most definitely empathetic, Kareem still isn't the easiest guy to get to know, for he is frequently lacking in a sense of humour and puts of multitudes of barriers around himself. While very willing to give, he is a great deal less willing to accept, and can in fact be very prickly and accepting help, for he has a great deal of pride. He is very determined to stand on his own feet and achieve things through his own merits, and isn't good at accepting the fact that help is not a bad thing. This is where his determination gets him into trouble, for he will bang his head against the proverbial brick wall long after it is sensible to do so. It could definitely be said that he likes challenges a little too much, and often he could really do with sitting back, taking a deep breath and considering the bigger picture.
Not as academic as his parents could have wished, Kareem is far better with hands-on things than with the intangible. His parents dreams of him becoming some high-powered doctor or lawyer are dreams that he is very glad to have escaped, for school never came easily to him. While he hates to disappoint people, he is also quite set on going his own way, two things that can conflict with each other. He sets high standards for himself and dislikes not reaching them immensely.
Though not the most talkative of people, when he does talk he doesn't mince his words, and he is very straight-forward and forthright in his opinions. He is equally straight-forward in how he deals with people, determined to give everyone a fair and equal hearing when he first meets them, and basing his opinions on what he thinks of people rather than on what others tell him. He might make judgements quickly, but they are always his own, and while someone might dislike the answers he gives them (for he does not soften his opinions) they can at least be certain that he means what he says.
Likes>>
- His family: first and foremost, Kareem is devoted to his family, especially his younger sister Yasmin.
- Horses: perhaps it doesn't need to be said, but horses give Kareem a place to set his feet and offer acceptance, and they are far, far easier and nicer than people, as far as he's concerned. Empathetic and understanding, he gets along with many of the species, and is always up for trying something new if it relates to horses.
- Coffee: one of those people who drinks far too much of it, Kareem never goes a day without the stuff.
- Storms: as long as he's not riding a horse through one, he loves watching lightning arc through the sky and seeing wind whipping through the trees.
- Swimming: a child of a coastal town, if Kareem has any free time he often uses it to swim.
Dislikes>>
- Prejudice: disliking others based on stereotypes, hearsay or things that harm no one has never made sense to Kareem, and he has often enough been a victim of prejudice that he is determined to take everyone he meets only on what he sees and experiences of them, rather than on what others say.
- Cruelty: one of those things that gets his temper going, if Kareem encounters cruelty towards anyone then he does not hesitate to get involved, and he will always stand up for the bullied and the disenfranchised.
- Surprises: he is definitely not a fan of these, as he prefers to have time to prepare for things.
- Sharing: while never opposed to being a sympathetic ear for others (in fact he's quite good at it, and is always willing to help) he is really bad at sharing anything about himself.
- Parties: he has never really seen the point of large groups of people and lots of loud music, as the latter makes it difficult to get to know the former.
Fears>>
- Disappointing people.
- Failure.
Hopes>>
- To own a horse of his own one day, and then work with it and gain a close relationship.
- To live his life feeling that he is making a worthwhile contribution to the world.
- To find someone he loves who loves him in return.
Secrets>>
- When he was 17, he had a stunningly brief and experimental sexual relationship with a boy in one of his classes. This pretty much cemented his identification as heterosexual, but he feels rather terrible for his part leading the other boy on (he didn't set out to be malicious, but on his part he was mostly merely curious and he thinks that the other boy was a great deal more invested than he was), and isn't entirely sure how his family might react.
- He threatened (only verbally, though it was something of a close run thing) some boys from Yasmin's school who were making lewd comments and threatening gestures towards his sister; even she isn't sure why they've steered clear of her since.
- He is very secretly, and very guiltily, slightly glad that his father's accident meant that him working with horses and not going to university was no longer a contested topic in his family.
It’s the way I’m feeling I just can’t deny
Appearance>> Tall and lanky, when Kareem was a teenager there were several periods in his life when his limbs looked far too long for his body, but now he has stopped growing he is well proportioned and quite elegant. Possessing a great deal of muscle control, he rarely makes unnecessary movements. While not hugely bulky, he is certainly muscular, years of an active lifestyle leaving him fit and well able to pull his own weight whatever the circumstances.
His skin is a warm shade of caramel, while his eyes are a dark brown that is only just lighter than his black hair. He keeps his hair cropped fairly short, and inevitably possesses some traces of stubble across his jaw, not quite enough to truly be facial hair, but enough to be noticeable and to highlight the lines of cheeks and jaw. He also has a nice smile, one that is present not just on his lips but in his eyes as well.
Clothing wise, practicality and cost are usually the first things on his mind, and he is rarely without his trusty pair of boots (tremendously comfortable and suitable for anything, as far as he is concerned) or his long-owned brown jacket.
Markings>> None that are instantly obvious, though he has the usual collection of small scars on legs and arms from walking into things or scraping himself against things.
But I’ve gotta let it go
Medical History>> Nothing remarkable beyond the normal childhood illnesses and separate instances of a broken arm and a broken collarbone gained falling off horses.
Criminal History>> None
Full History>>
Family:
Father - Ali Youssef Selim, primary school teacher in California.
Mother - Amirah Akil Mounier, nurse in California.
Younger sister - Yasmin Akil Selim, 15, studying in California.
Ali Youssef Selim and Amirah Akil Mounier came from very different backgrounds, he from an Islamic merchant family, she from a Coptic Christian family of horse breeders, but when they met entirely by chance at Alexandria University, it wasn't quite love at first sight - but it was pretty close. Both their families were entirely against their relationship, however, so they kept it remarkably secret, and made plans for their future. They both wished to leave the country, and so as the end of their degrees came in sight - Ali's in teaching and Amirah's in nursing
- they made plans to emigrate, setting their sights on the United States.
They left only a few weeks after they both graduated, got married in California, and only then informed their families. Needless to say, there has not been much contact with them since, their parents resolutely writing off their youngest children as entirely lost causes. This bothered Ali and Amirah not at all, however, for their relationship with their families had always been fractious, and so they set up a life for themselves in Fort Bragg, Ali teaching at a primary school and Amirah nursing at a nearby hospital.
Though there were certainly struggles in being entirely alone in a new country, they did enjoy their life, and were incredibly happy when their small family was increased by the arrival of their son, Kareem Mounier Salim. Even from a young age, he was a determined, fairly serious child, not prone to backing down easily, but the three of them were close.
Indeed, Kareem had a happy childhood, and he remembers it fondly, though school was often difficult. He often encountered bullying for coming from a recently immigrated family, for having a 'funny name', for for being quiet and eager to study, for his determination to not give in and let others boss him around. As such, he was certainly a solitary child, with few friends, but he was close to his parents, and together they formed a tight-knit group.
When Kareem was seven, their family was expanded again by the arrival of his sister, Yasmin, and from the day of her birth Kareem has been devoted to his sister. As a seven year old he would spend hours studying her quietly, giving her the attention she wanted, and as they both grew he became her protector and her mutual confidant. He tells Yasmin things he tells no-one else, and she in turn looks up to and adores him.
When Kareem was ten, the terrorist attacks of 9/11 made being of Middle Eastern origin rather more difficult, and Kareem could only be glad that his family - and him - were not practicing Muslims, or he suspected that things probably would have been even more difficult. As it was, he grew more solitary and distant from people, and began to gain far too good an understanding of the dangers and cruelty of fear and prejudice.
It was also at this time that he discovered horses, his school class being taken on a group trip to a nearby stables. Much like his parent's first meeting, it was almost love at first sight. As they were not particularly wealthy, riding lessons for Karim were out of the question, so instead he offered himself up as a barn hand. The owner of the stables was not particularly keen on taking on a ten year old, but she liked his direct manner and his calm way of viewing situations, and in him recognised something of her younger self, and so a deal was worked out whereby he worked and was paid in rides.
This turned out to be everything he could have wished for, and Kareem found a home for himself amongst straw, pitchforks and horses. They didn't care what the colour of his skin was or the fact that he could speak Arabic as fluently as he could English - they only cared that he didn't move too fast and wasn't harsh or cruel. It wasn't long before it became clear that he did have a way with horses, green as he was, and he eagerly spent all the time he could down at the stables, as happy mucking out or cleaning tack as he was actually in the saddle. While his stable management skills progressed faster than his riding skills, due to the fact he did a great deal more grooming or mucking out than riding, he kept at both aspects of the horse world and soon wasn't a bad little rider. His determination certainly helped, as did his empathic understanding of what made horses tick. He rode both Western and English styles, and eagerly threw himself into everything from trail riding to show jumping.
At this time his parents began to put academic expectations and pressure to do well upon him. He'd always been a diligent student (even if not an enthusiastic one, studying more because he knew his parents wanted to than for any other reason_ and that certainly hadn't changed, but Ali and Amirah dreamed of him being a lawyer, or a doctor. They wanted their son to be financially secure, they wanted him to have a glowing future, they wanted him to have a profession where he could show all those who were against people like them.
And Kareem, because he loved - still loves - his parents, and because he wished to please them, went along with their plans, studying hard and becoming increasingly adept at scheduling his time at the stables around an increased load of school work. While his parents urged him to cut down on the riding, Kareem steadfastly refused to be budged on that, and in his quiet way spent as much time as he could with horses. It was certainly a lot of work, but while Kareem is not the most academic of souls, he he positively thrived on the challenges and so his grades remained decent (if not as good as his parents could have wished) and his riding improved.
By the time he was sixteen, people were asking him for help in schooling their horses, and while he never owned a horse he certainly had plenty of opportunity to ride them, even managing to get to competitions a few times. He was also becoming quite sure of the fact that he wanted his future to revolve around horses, and that he did not want to follow his parents plans for his life. He didn't know how to bring this up, though, for his parents were so keen on his 'big future', and he was fairly sure that they wouldn't consider a life spent with horses a suitable career.
Bringing this up provoked the huge family argument that he'd been suspecting, and while Yasmin loyally - if quietly, because she didn't really think that yelling would help - supported her brother, it was only when Kareem pointed out this his parents were doing the exact same sort of planning that their parents had done that had led them to leave the country, and did they want him to do the same, that his parents realised that the happiness of their son was in fact more important to them than their ambitions. While tensions ran high for a few months, Kareem was certain enough of his course that they began to come around to accept it, and knowing their son well enough to realise that he wouldn't make a decision lightly, they even began to be encouraging.
Shortly after this, misfortune struck the family when Ali was involved in a car accident, ending up in hospital with injuries severe enough to leave him in a coma. Now almost eighteen, Kareem finished what remained of his last year of school (and said a regretful mental goodbye to dreams of university, for much of the family capital was swept up in medical bills) with the family in precarious financial straits, and then began to work full time at the stables, pulling in some much needed cash. He also took up a part-time job at a local garage for supplemental income. Luckily, Ali did regain consciousness, but the road to recovery was slow and he was left with lingering problems of coordination and continuing medical bills.
As such, Amirah and Kareem were the breadwinners of the family, and while Kareem could wish that he wasn't having to work two jobs and partially put his future plans on hold, he could only be glad that his father was still alive. The next two years slipped away quickly, with Yasmin growing bright and vivacious, Amirah and Ali still entirely in love as ever, and Kareem enjoying his time at the stables far more than any time he spent in the garage. In some ways, their financial difficulties meant that him not going to university was a far less contested issue than it might have been otherwise, for which he is almost - though very guiltily - glad.
The owner of the stables where he worked - that same one who had appreciated the fire in his eyes when he had approached her as a ten year old - was by this point both fond and proud of Kareem, for he was a hard worker and a good horseperson, and so she kept an eye out for opportunities that might help him. It was her, therefore, who brought the job at Blue Ridge to his attention, pointing out that not only did it pay more, but that he was likely to be able to learn from other staff members, and might get a leg-up either into training or riding professionally. Kareem thought it over carefully, for it did mean being away from his family, but his parents firmly told him that he'd spent more than enough time looking after them, and that it was time to live his own life. He took the job, moved to Blue Ridge, and now wonders what the future will hold...
