Charlie Swan

[charlie]

| CHARACTER NAME |


| Love you too, kid. Whatever had changed, that hasn't. |

BASICS

| NAME: Charlie Swan
| AGE: 45
| BIRTHDAY: November 13th
| GENDER: Male
| SEXUALITY: Straight
| MEMBER GROUP: Human
| FACE CLAIM: Billy Burke


APPEARANCE

| EYE COLOUR: Chocolate Brown
| HAIR: Brown with small streaks of grey
| HEIGHT: 5'11
| WEIGHT: 210
| TATTOOS AND PIERCINGS: None

| GENERAL APPEARANCE: Charlie Swan has a very gruff appearance about him, with a voice to match. He's physically fit; it comes with the job as police chief, although Forks doesn't provide too many problems for him to work out. Charlie has deep brown eyes, and curly brown hair that's been receding more and more as time goes on. Still plenty to cover his head, but it's significantly less near his forehead. Chief Swan has a unique manner about him that can easily come off as awkward; when it comes down to it, emotions aren't easily expressed, and appearance wise he can come off as a bit rough. That's not too say that he's all rough and tough, however. On the contrary, Charlie's somewhat personable, and when he smiles it's been said that he looks years younger, as he did at his best, when he married Renée.

As far as clothing goes, Charlie isn't one to put too much thought into it. Monday to Friday, he can easily be found in his police uniform, complete with boots and a gun belt; the latter of which hasn't seen use in quite a while. When he's not working, it's all about comfort. Charlie, when choosing his attire, views it as nothing more than a necessity, and goes with whatever happens to be comfortable, often jeans and a cotton shirt. He's not fond of suits at all, and will only wear those on the special occasions where required, the most recent being the wedding of his daughter Bella and Edward Cullen. Charlie also has a bit of a mustache growing, and his hair is cut short enough that the curls aren't quite so prominent.


PERSONALITY

| STRENGTHS: being a father, being a cop, staying proud and strong
| WEAKNESSES Bella, seeing Bella in pain, Renee, cooking
| HABITS: He watches sports a lot and tends to think of himself before other people

| OVERALL PERSONALITY: Charlie has a very unique personality of his own. He's really not all that expressive, and unless it's about current events or a sports game, conversation with him can easily turn awkward. Charlie's not one to hover, and he'd much rather go off into another room than make needless small talk; emotions tend to embarrass him. He's actually fairly personable, however, and Charlie knows who just about everyone is in the small town of Forks. Charlie was even pretty romantic in the past, and he was rather quick to jump into marriage with Renée, having run off to Vegas with her. Charlie didn't ever really seem to have gotten over her, even after all the years since she left him.

Charlie is overall, a protector. He wants nothing bad to happen to those under his watch as Chief, and especially his daughter Bella. Safety is his utmost concern, and Charlie's more than willing to go out of his way if he can make something less hazardous; things like waking early to secure snow chains on his daughter's truck before heading to the station. Naturally, Charlie knows well enough how to shoot a gun, as it's on his person constantly while on the job, but for years Charlie had taken care to empty it completely of bullets while Bella was there to visit, yet another safety precaution. Not one to cry easily, Charlie has never been one for sappy movies or moments. Also, cooking has never been his specialty, and Charlie was incredibly grateful when Bella had decided to move in; the best of his abilities were fried eggs and bacon, leaving even pasta a struggle.

Quite the introvert, Charlie can make it on his own, if necessary. He loves the idea of having Bella nearby, but he still managed several years without another in the house. Charlie is resilient, and has bounced back from several disappointments, namely Reneé's leaving as well as Bella's years later. Charlie loves to watch sports on the television, and he's constantly planning trips to go fishing, a 'usual spot' in mind and all. Be it with the others from the police station or with his best friend Billy, when the weekend rolls around it wouldn't be Charlie without a fishing trip every now and then. Charlie has never been one to overthink things, unless it's of immense importance. Even then, it's a rarity, as he'd much rather keep things simple; Charlie is truly a man of few words.


HISTORY

| MOTHER: Marie Swan, 76, dead
| FATHER: William Swan, 78, dead
| SIBLINGS: None
| SPOUSE: none. Used to be Renee Swan, 45, alive
| CHILDREN: Bella Swan, 18, alive
| PETS: None

| HISTORY: There was once a time, way back when, when Charlie was a rather happy, romantic guy. He'd fallen for a gorgeous girl by the name of Renée Dwyer, with her beautiful brown hair and eyes to match. They'd run off to Vegas and married, and it wasn't all that long before Charlie was graced with the presence of the only other girl he'd fallen for just as fast-- his daughter, Isabella. She was gorgeous, but then, how could a father possibly think otherwise? Much to his dismay, however, Charlie had only been able to spend an incredibly short six months with her, before both Renée and Bella took off to Arizona.

That brief moment alone was one of the most heart-wrenching experiences of his life. "Just let me go, Charlie." They were simple words, but it didn't make them hurt any less; they seemed to cut deeply into his chest with every syllable. "It didn't work out, okay? I really, really hate Forks!"

There was no arguing with her; her mind was already made. Renée would be moving shortly to Arizona, a sunny state that seemed absolutely nothing like his hometown of Forks; it was just what she wanted. Charlie, however, wouldn't dream of leaving the peaceful, friendly town where he'd been for so long, it would kill him. All the townspeople, whom he had grown to know by name, the trees, yews and maples and Sitka spruces, even the rain. He loved it all, and Charlie just couldn't part with the small town atmosphere, and certainly not for such a place like Arizona. Regardless, it wasn't just the location that had Renée leaving, he knew that much. It was crushing, but he was well aware regardless.

Charlie wasn't willing in the least to part for good with his little girl, however. She was still a big part of her life, even if she were to live with Renée for the majority of the year. It wasn't much, but for the next fourteen years Bella was to spend a month in the summer with him in Forks; easily the highlight of his year. The rest of his days had been spend it a rather mundane way. He'd go in early to work each morning, patrol the town that never seemed to give him any trouble, and return home once more to the empty house. The only reminders left for him of the girls whom were always such a huge part of his life seemed to be the empty rooms and the pictures that lined the fireplace; there was his wedding picture, and all the many school pictures of Bella, up to the most current. Charlie would cook his barely edible food before heading off to bed before repeating the same routine, unless it were the weekend. If that were the case, there was the chance of a fishing trip, but little else.

After her fourteenth birthday, however, Bella decided that she too had had enough of the quiet, rainy town, and refused to visit. Charlie, however, wasn't about to just sit back without seeing her, and he took the trip out to California to vacation with her instead. It was always great seeing her, but the visit itself to the sunny state did little more than to reassure him he'd made the right choice in staying in Forks. Places like that were definitely not to his liking. It continued like this, with Charlie the one to make the trip, for the next three years. Although he wasn't fond of it, Charlie was more than willing to go as far as necessary to be near Bella, his little girl.

It was after that third year of vacationing that Bella had decided, for whatever reason, that she would be returning to live with him in the dreary town of Forks. It was a shock, granted; Bella had made it perfectly clear that she despised the place, but he was quick to welcome her back anyway. He'd made preparations, having even found a car for her, real cheap. Billy Black had no use for his beat up old Chevy, what with his inability to drive, and it was definitely a great car. Looked as if it would stand through anything. Bella had complained at first, having wanted to pool her own money to get a car, but Charlie insisted. He couldn't be sure she really liked it, at least not until she saw the thing. And at the sight of it, Bella seemed ecstatic; much more than he'd hoped for. It was almost embarrassing, how excited she seemed to be.

All seemed well for the weeks to come. Bella had settled in, at least acquainting herself with a few other kids from school; at least, that was what he'd gathered from their brief dinner conversations, anyway. Things had been going good, at least until about three weeks after Bella had moved in. He should've expected it, really, with Bella being how she was, but it still made him pretty nervous at the very thought. Charlie had heard the news sooner then most via his police radios, and it made his heart skip a beat. A kid had been hit by a van, in the parking lot of Fork's high.

Sure enough, he arrived to see Bella with a neck brace around her neck as a precaution, being loaded carefully into an ambulance. He was nearly in a state of panic at the realization that it was actually Bella who could've been hurt, but she seemed to think she was perfectly fine. Charlie, however, turned to the nearest EMT to decide for himself, before joining the police escort to the hospital itself. Turns out Bella was actually fine after all, and was released just a short while later to go home without even a concussion.

Things returned to their relatively calm state afterwards, with Bella somehow managing to avoid any more traumatic incidents. Sure, she'd took it well, but it kept Charlie on his toes. Life went on, anyway, and things didn't seem too much different from before the accident. Bella took a trip to Seattle with some friends, and it was certainly nice to see she was getting to know some friends. Later, she'd even started heading out to La Push, to see Billy's kid, Jacob. Shortly after, they'd even started to visit the house, which was definitely nice for the both of them; like old times, really. Charlie hadn't talked to Billy much since the last time he'd had the audacity to talk badly of the Cullens, who'd never gave him the least bit of trouble.

Seeing him again, however, it was great; he even let it slip that Jake had drove him all the way out there, without his permit. After all, it wasn't like Billy could just drive himself out there. They'd ate dinner and watched the game together, and it was definitely nice seeing the both of them again. Billy and Jake left after the game, however, but promised to return for the next one. Bella tried to slink away to her room, but Charlie wasn't quite finished yet. He'd had plans himself for Saturday, to go fishing with the other guys from the station, but Charlie was well aware of the other events to happen in town; namely the school dance. He questioned Bella, but she reminded him that she couldn't dance, a completely reasonable excuse, knowing Bella, and he didn't push the matter any more.

A few more weeks had passed before Charlie had first heard word of the boy whom Bella was apparently very close with. He didn't like that he didn't know sooner, but then, at least she'd told him. Bella claimed they'd be playing baseball, along with the other Cullens; that alone was enough to put him in a fit of laughter. Bella and sports was never a good combination. He met Edward shortly after, and try as he might, he couldn't quite find a flaw to the boy. Instead, with a hard gaze in his direction, Charlie settled for a simple warning, “You take care of my girl, all right?” She'd seemed happy enough, and so long as he didn't hurt her the gun could stay on the hook, anyway. They'd left for their baseball game in a monstrous red jeep, which almost left Charlie stunned at the sight. He choked out to wear their seatbelts before they went off to their game, leaving Charlie on his own in the house once more.

He shouldn't have trusted this boy, not for a minute. That much was clear, when Bella returned in tears. Charlie couldn't for the life of him figure out where this sudden change had come from, the complete opposite of her previous mood, before she'd left. Bella screamed to leave her alone before storming up the stairs, evidently packing her bags, as he'd quickly learned. Charlie followed to her door, pounding on it in his confusion. He was concerned; what had happened? She'd better be okay, that was all that really mattered to him. Bella said through the door that she'd broke up with him, before opening it and pushing past him with her bag. Charlie pushed further, still confused, questioning as to what happened; he thought she'd liked him.

Bella took a stab at his heart with her next reply. She said that was the problem, and she didn't want to set any roots in this town. She didn't want to be trapped in this apparently stupid, boring town like her mother. Said she didn't want to make the same mistake, and that she hated it there. All of her words seemed to ring through to him like those of her mother, so many years ago. It was like he had to relive the same scene again, the same one that he'd never quite gotten over. His hand dropped from her arm, his previous attempt at holding her back. Shocked, hurt... there weren't words to describe the pain he was feeling at that moment. At the very least, Bella shouldn't leave at night, but there was no stopping her. "Just let me go, Charlie." they were the same words her mother had said to him when she left, and just as angry. "It didn't work out, okay? I really, really hate Forks!"

As if it weren't hard enough to live through once, they were the same words her mother had said to him so many years ago. Bella stormed out the door into the night, leaving Charlie crushed and alone on the doorstep once more. He'd lost the only girl, the only family he'd had left in his life. Granted, she wouldn't have been there forever, but why did it have to end that way? It was horrible, devastating even. All that he'd loved was gone in a flash, and Charlie had no choice but to retire back inside his house to mope about for the remainder of the evening. Clearly, he didn't sleep well that night, nor the ones to follow.

Turns out, however, that Bella hadn't lasted very long in Phoenix before a fit of clumsiness befell her. Horrible news to Charlie, and he would have flown out there in an instant to see her if he could have. Bella had fell down two flights of stairs and out a window, a feat that only Bella could seem to pull off and still survive alright. She came out with a broken leg, blood loss, four broken ribs, and a few cracks in her skull. Not a good thing, to say the least, but she was alright, which was all that really mattered. Believe it or not, Bella even came home a short while later, back to Forks. Charlie couldn't be completely sure why, but he wasn't about to question her lest she change her mind. He was glad to have her back.

Bella seemed quick to go back with Edward, whereas Charlie wasn't nearly as quick to forgive him. None of that would've happened were it not for him, anyway. If nothing else, Bella now had a curfew and some visiting hours in place, for her own good. Alice helped out quite a bit with Bella and her needs while injured, something that he was forever grateful for, and Bella seemed persistent to actually stay with Edward, despite it all. Charlie had seen well enough how unlikely it would be to change her mind once it was made, and besides, Bella was surprisingly good about it all and he let her off on “parole” for good behavior, and she and Edward went to the Prom together.

When Bella's eighteenth birthday rolled around, Charlie was well prepared with the gifts from himself as well as Renée, a camera and a scrapbook. Bella hadn't stayed around too long after Charlie returned home from the station for the day, just long enough to snap a picture and head off with Edward for festivities with the Cullens. Charlie couldn't complain; she'd eaten anyway, as he'd been sure to bring in pizza so she wouldn't have to cook, and there happened to be a game that night between the Mariners and the Sox. Later that night, the game was still going on when Bella returned. She seemed in an alright mood, considering how the Cullens had apparently gone all out; Bella never was too fond of festivities, at least not when she was the center of attention. The only difference he noticed in her was the bandage wrapped around her arm, and when Charlie questioned her about it, she simply replied that she'd tripped, and it was nothing. Charlie shook his head; it wasn't a surprise, but it was never exactly pleasant to see her injured. She went up to bed shortly after, and Charlie returned his attention to the game.

It was only three days later, however, that things seemed to turn bad. Charlie had come home only to find a note from Bella, stating that she was out for a walk with Edward, on the trail through the woods. But she hadn't returned for hours, and needless to say it worried him. After unsuccessfully trying to get a hold of the Cullens, who had apparently moved away, a search party was gathered, fairly large considering the town's small population, and the search began; Billy even sent some kids from La Push over, who he claimed knew the woods better than they would. Sure enough, it was one of them, Sam, who found Bella, and Charlie couldn't be more grateful to all those who had helped out. Bella seemed unharmed, physically anyway, but she seemed upset anyway. She didn't want to talk about it, and Charlie didn't press her any further.

It was upsetting, to think that they would leave without any notice, and Bella certainly hadn't took it well; those down in La Push, however, seemed overjoyed with the news, and Charlie couldn't help but get annoyed at that fact. He hadn't liked Edward much, really, since Bella last left because of him, but it was a growing feeling now, once he was gone. Bella had become ridiculously depressed. At first, Charlie wanted to believe it would pass, but she'd become little more than a shell, a fragment of who she used to be. She didn't want to show it, he knew, but Bella had been trying so hard, for about four entire months after the Cullens left, to act normal. Trying hard to seem alive. It was hard to watch, to sit by and see her like this, and it honestly hurt Charlie more than he'd admit. Nights were even worse, harder to bear; Bella had a lot of nightmares, and she wasn't exactly quiet when they came.

A total of four months passed them by in this manner, and Charlie simply couldn't stand to just sit back and watch anymore. He had to do something, even if it hurt; wasn't exactly painless as is anyway. Slamming his fist down on the table one morning, Charlie had made up his mind. “That's it, Bella,” he'd shouted, “I'm sending you home.” It took her a few minutes to fully understand what he'd meant; he couldn't do it anymore, and perhaps Renée would have more luck getting Bella back to, well, herself. Bella's face fell; she didn't seem to realize what was wrong, or that anything was wrong at all. Charlie actually had to explain it to her, how she had been for the past few months. Moping wasn't even accurate, that was more action and expression than she'd shown, by far. She was just... lifeless. Bella made it clear, however, that she had no intentions of leaving, either. Before he could continue she rushed out the door to school, claiming she'd make plans with Jessica, to head to Port Angeles and catch a movie. And although he hadn't though she would, Bella did, that night.


OUT OF CHARACTER

| YOUR NAME/ALIAS: Tessa
| YOUR AGE: 15
| CONTACT DETAILS: [e-mail]
| ROLEPLAY EXPERIENCE: 3 years
| OTHER CHARACTERS: Fred Andrews

| ROLEPLAY EXAMPLE: Do I really need to?
[/size]

[Isabella Marie Cullen]

accepted