Mark Aaron Reynolds

MARK AARON REYNOLDS

Full Name:      Mark Aaron Reynolds Nicknames:      Marky, MIA (because he has a habit of "vanishing" when he gets into trouble) Date of Birth:      June 16, 1959 Hometown:      Long Beach, Suburb of L.A., California Education:      Former Gryffindor - Class of 1977 Parents' Names:      Jack and Sharon Reynolds Other Family:      Daniel Reynolds (younger brother), Emily Reynolds (younger sister), his litter of nieces and nephew Blood Status:      Half-blood Occupation:      Ministry of Magic: Department of Magical Games & Sports ~ Athletic Director :: Spring 1979 to Present Wand Type:      Holly, 13 1/2" - Hippogriff Talon (best for Charm work)

APPEARANCE

Hair:
     Mark's hair is usually kept short around his ears, a deep dirty blonde in color and layered. He enjoys keeping his bangs around his eyes - the whole "hair flip" does wonders on the ladies in his hometown, especially when he hits the beach. He's done it for so long that it's practically a bad habit now.
Eyes:
     They are blue, like his siblings - brilliant, piercing, and unyielding. They are like windows into his soul usually lit with laughter or sparking in mischief. They have been known to change to a deeper blue-gray when he is upset or angry, though.
Height:
     6'1"
Style:
     Mark's wardrobe consists mostly of loose fitted clothing and generally comfortable. He usually goes for swim trunks in the summer months first thing in the morning to hit the waves before even thinking about completing the rest of his day. However, when Mark wants to clean up, he can definitely clean up well (especially with being a "Ministry Man" and all that jazz). Donning a nice suit jacket with either a button-down or t-shirt, he adds the flare with either whistle worthy slacks or stylish jeans - finishing off the look with well-polished dress shoes or his trademark Converse.
Etc.:
     Mark is one seriously good looking individual and he knows this. Dressing to impress, he hardly goes out looking like a slob. But one can tell he has his lazy moments since reaching puberty, the five o'clock shadow present on his features most of the time. He hardly allows himself to keep a cleanly shaven face unless he's going out on the town for the night or will be spending the evening in the company of a pretty lady. Though there are some women who prefer the light scruff and he is definitely not complaining.

PERSONALITY

Erised:
     Take care of his family, become a professional basketball player or surfer (yes, he hasn't given this up, regardless of working for the Ministry), and helping his siblings with their own career goals; wouldn't mind starting his own family one day
Dementor:
     The day his grandfather died when he was 13
Patronus:
     First day he went surfing out on the beaches of California
Boggart:
     Losing his family
Likes:
     Surfing, sports, girls, watching Quidditch, telling jokes, playing pranks, his family, tormenting his siblings out of love, foreign films, comic books, flying, skateboarding, ghost stories, coffee, hanging out with friends, taking naps, Dueling Club, sex, challenges, the Beatles, rock and roll, rhythm & blues (R&B), the Beach Boys, doodling, snow cones, road trips, cooking, food
Dislikes:
     Bullies, people messing with his siblings, when his siblings are upset, fast girls - he likes a challenge, Potions, sitting still for too long unless playing a game, skanky women, aggression, Slytherins who take house rivalries to all new extremes, sore losers, anything that prevents him from hitting the beaches, "beach bunnies", fickleness, lovey dovey couples, PDA - but tolerates it for the sake of his friends, his mother swinging a broom at him, Death Eaters
Basic Personality:
     Mark is a pretty laid back individual with an even better sense of humor. He's all about fun and games and doesn't really mind so much if the other is offended so long as he gets a good laugh out of the deal. When it comes to being the social butterfly, you can count on Mark to be the life of the party. He doesn't exactly stick with one clique, but he floats in and out of people's lives like the wind. Perhaps that's why he's so damn good at getting to know people and being the constant "go-to" person when there is gossip afloat. After all, not many suspect Mark Reynolds of being anything than just a sweet, funny, and sarcastic "Mr. Popular."

   Call out his name and, depending on who you are, he'll answer to it with a smile or a glare. Makes you wonder where you stand, doesn't it? Make sure your first impression is good, otherwise you're going to have one helluva time trying to convince him you're not who you made yourself out to be during the first encounter.

   Mark loves life. Plain and simple. He feels that every minute wasted on someone fighting or someone killing someone else or someone hating someone else should be stopped at all cost. After all, you only get one chance at living. Why waste that one chance you're given? Which is why Mark is all up for doing crazy, dangerous, reckless, amazing, jaw-dropping activities/stunts. Be it bungee jumping, racing his bike off the bypass bridge to land on top of a diesel truck's cargo crate and then landing back on the highway or skateboarding through oncoming traffic, Mark does all of these things with a smile on his face. People think he's nuts for doing things like that, but it gives him a rush out of this world that he can not let go of.

   Because Mark is a growing young man with all sorts of crazy hormones, he can't help but find himself lusting after girls so that he can satiate his growing urges. Granted, he's not addicted to it and can very well do without it and does so quite often. But, until he finds that one special girl of his dreams and that he wants to spend the rest of his "forever" with, Mark doesn't view sex as some special bond. Because of this, Mark likes to hang out with girls but will not sleep with a girl he considers a good friend and doesn't plan on starting a relationship with beyond that friendship. He does have his morals, and he definitely cherishes his friends as much as he cherishes his family and his own life.

   Mark, though he's constantly smiling, the moment that his smile does disappear, you can bet your life that something serious is about to go down and either a few options are left open to you: Run like hell...beg for forgiveness...or prepare yourself for some serious pain. Those are the only options left open to you, and the only advice someone could give you at that point is to make your choice as quickly as possible lest Mark make the choice for you.

   But, if you're looking for a drinking partner, a round of basketball (or other sports) or someone to just sit back and play some music with (if not playing arcade games or hitting the surf), then Mark's definitely your kinda guy.

BIOGRAPHY

   Mark A. Reynolds, born on June 16, 1959 to Jack and Sharon Reynolds, is the first born of the Reynolds siblings - Daniel and Emily his world practically. The odd one of the bunch, Mark hailed from Gryffindor while he was in school at Hogwarts - a fact which still surprises his mother to this day - whereas his siblings were properly sorted into their mother's house, Ravenclaw. Growing up in Long Beach in the Suburbs of L.A., California, Mark instantly grew to love the waves and the feeling of rushing headlong into white foam and sunny skies. Surfing and anything to do with being outside was such a plus for Mark. He could never get enough as a child. It was only an added plus that his home was right by the beaches.

   His mother, Sharon, made sure that Mark and the rest of his siblings knew about the magical world, broom riding, and various other tricks of the "trade." She also made sure that her children were properly acclimated into muggle society so as to not draw too much attention to themselves. Mark was able to pick up on this quite easily, though he recalled Dan having trouble hiding his abilities from time to time - especially when they were still attending muggle schools in California. However, like a good older brother, Mark always covered for Dan and ensured he didn't get punished. But Mark never minded it so much. He felt it was his duty as the eldest to take the brunt of all their parents' "blows."

   Like the rest of the Reynolds children, they all could cook. However, Mark's skills at baking were only slightly better than Daniel's. And the boys both enjoyed being active in sports and other various outdoor activities when it was allowed. Mark had to learn early on that while he may have been a Half-Blood and that his father was a muggle, it didn't mean that the rest of his family on his father's side would readily accept the heritage in which his mother's blood bore. But that never stopped Mark from getting along with that side of the family - they loved and adored the Reynolds trio and the few that knew of their birth and what it entailed fawned over them even more. Though hobbies range between similarities and differences, Emily's love for acting out-shined the brothers' love for it. They enjoyed theatre, but hadn't really starred in anything on the stage like Emily had. Instead, they would help with her lines and get her prepped for performances during her early moments of "stage fright."

   Mark's favorite muggle family member was his grandfather, Frank Reynolds, who passed just a year before Mark attended Hogwarts. It was while Mark was playing chess with his grandfather - Daniel seated quietly and watching and the old man teaching him the means and strategies of the game. Collapsing and dying from a heart attack, Mark could never allow himself to play chess in any form except but once a year - on the anniversary of Frank Reynolds's death in memento of his passing. No time before or after then. Because of this tragedy, both Daniel and Mark are able to see Thestrals and are two of the only few at Hogwarts who actually can. It's a memory that he only seems to be able to bring up with Dan and only Dan.

   Needless to say, when Mark got sorted into Gryffindor house, it took his mother by surprise since she, herself, hailed from Ravenclaw. It still was a mystery to her even more so when his two younger siblings got sorted into her respected house. But the Sorting Hat was never wrong, and so Sharon simply left it at that. Doubts aside, Mark truly had the qualities of a worthy Gryffindor. Second year was a blast since Daniel was also attending Hogwarts and, again, the two of them were thick as thieves and terrorizing the school as the Reynolds Boys often did in their younger days at muggle school. The following year, Mark even charmed a camera to follow his brother around the castle and take pictures, earning Daniel a sound scolding from McGonogall since he thought the young Ravenclaw was the source of the magic, though completely harmless. He still has the photos.

   Like Daniel, Mark started accumulating members of his own fan club during his fifth year. This was the same year that he became Prefect for his House and was totally confused as to how he'd achieved such high recognition. Who in the world in the faculty thought he would be a good prefect was beyond him? He'd seen the detention hall enough getting caught in the midst of his pranking as it stood. But the badge was sitting there in the letter the summer before his fifth year. The patrol duty was boring, monotonous and an over all drag - getting in the way of his studies. Potions was kicking his butt hard enough and staying up late to patrol the halls was just cutting into his sleep schedule. However, it was also the same year that he gave Melissa Jones - a fellow Gryffindor in the same year as his brother - her first detention. She had found it necessary to kick a male student in his "junk" for calling Lily Evans a "mudblood." While he praised her for her efforts, he gave her detention nonetheless. Disciplinary actions were necessary - she couldn't very well go around hitting everyone she had a problem with, could she?

   Mark turned down the offer to become Prefect again his following year. He just couldn't handle it, not with having studied himself sick for his O.W.L.'s as he had. He would have one more year of freedom and while he contemplated joining the Quidditch team, decided against it. As much as he loved the game, he loved to watch it more and wanted to cheer his brother on from the stands when he could. His fan club was large enough, rivaling that of James Potter and his Marauders, without him having to be a part of the blasted school team.

   No, instead, Mark would spend the next year without any incidents. He needed a reprieve and his Seventh year was hard enough trying to get through his N.E.W.T.'s in one piece. Now that it was all over, the eldest Reynolds was looking forward to summer break and relaxing in the sun. Careers could be thought of and discussed at a later date. At least that's what he thought the game plan was. After much discussion with his mother and father, he decided to apply for an internship at the Ministry of Magic - specifically the Magical Games & Sports Department. If he was going to work and be a "Ministry Man," then he may as well focus on doing something that he thoroughly enjoyed. Now Mark's main objective was to enjoy what remained of his summer before beginning his internship and then working full-time - opting to stay close to Hogwarts in case either of his siblings needed him.

   The First Wizarding War happened before anyone had even realized it. People knew that it was coming. They were waiting for it. But despite all of that, Mark did his best to encourage his brother and sister as best he could during their last years at Hogwarts until graduation. However, the war still came and there was nothing anyone could do about. It was time. No one had been spared their share of casualties. The Reynolds family was no different. Not only did they lose the entire Yi family, Derek being close with them, but Mark lost his uncle Carl Taylor and his younger cousin Nathan Mitchell.

   Losing people in the battle should have been expected. But nevertheless, it hit Mark pretty hard. Harder than he had anticipated. There was a time when he had even closed himself off from people and just drowned himself in work. Dan and his sister did their best to reach out to him, but with their own busy lifestyles - including his own - Mark found it a suitable enough of an excuse to keep himself away from them. But thanks to a bit of "tough love" from his best friend, Izzy, Mark was able to get over the overall shock of what had occurred and moved on from it. Though it's only been a few weeks, he's slowly starting to come back around to the person that he used to be before the war.      

PLAYER INFORMATION

Name:
     Soph
RP Experience:
     Yeah, okay...
Comments:
     2/4-6