Character Profile - Iris

Full Name: Iris James

Nickname: Iris

1. Age: 20
2. Gender: Female
3. Date of Birth: 1st October 1992
4. Ethnicity: White, British
5. Occupation: Unemployed, has previously worked in retail.
6. Hair color/style: Long, straight, dark brown hair.
7. Eye color: Green
8. Accent (if any): Southern accent.
9. Height: 5ft 6"
10. Weight: ~ Slim
11. Tattoos: None
12. Piercings: Nose, ears, helix
13. Birthmarks: Freckles
14. Disfigurements: None.
15. Scars: Self harm scars - wrists, arms, legs, stomach.

Personality Overview:

1. Fears: The world outside the hospital. Lack of control. Losing Lucy.
2. Childhood:  A happy childhood, good relationship with parents and siblings. Intelligent child with a thirst for knowledge and an optimistic future ahead.               
3. Adolesence: Things began to unravel for Iris at about age 15. She had severe mood swings and became very depressed. Was involved with adolescent mental health services but found them to be fruitless.
4. Adulthood: Iris struggles with her mental health, and is admitted to the psychiatric hospital in Chelsmford, Essex, for 28 days at a time. She is self-destructive, impulsive, introverted, isolates herself.

Fashion Sense

1. How do they usually dress? Good dress sense, lace up boots and hats. Indie, if you will. 
2. What do they wear to sleep? Usually nothing, but patients are checked on throughout the night, so she wears long pyjamas. 
3.  Do they wear jewelry? Only earrings, but Iris makes friendship bracelets for Lucy and herself by pulling strands of cotton from her clothes. 
4. Is there anything about their appearance they wish they could change? Iris is quite confident in herself as she is.
5. What do they smell like? Why (do they wear the scent or does it occur naturally)? Tobacco smoke, coconut shampoo. 
6. Do they have an accurate mental picture of their appearance (how they see themselves versus how the world sees them)? Yes.
7. Favorites, habits, likes and dislikes: Likes reading, writing, drawing, Lucy. Dislikes people getting in her way. People who don't understand. Change.
8. What are some of your character’s hobbies? What do they do with their time? Smokes in the mornings, plays Shithead with Chris, winds Philip up, tries to have fun within the hospital. 
9. Favorite color: Black

Favourites

1.  Books or Favorite music artists: Will read anything. Quite specific, narrow music taste. 
2. Movies or TV shows: Classic films overplayed on television, her only access to films. 
3. Political stance? Are they active in politics or do they not care? Iris is not as detached from the real world as Lucy, as she only spends 28 days in the hospital at a time. She votes Labour.
4. What are some of their pet peeves? Doctor speak, ignorant people, the social conformities of the modern world.
5. What sort of gifts do they like? Flowers, something personal.
6. What is their favorite time of day? Morning smoking time with Lucy.
7. Favorite weather? Season? Likes winter, it's so beautiful and the snow feels like starting again.
8. Where do they like to spend their time? Anywhere Lucy is. Somewhere magical. In the hospital.
9. Favorite food? Favorite drink? Hot drinks, soft drinks, or alcohol? Has become hooked on decaffeinated coffee. Not fussy with food.
10. Favorite animal? Black panther.
11. Do they have any pets? Do they want any? Doesn't have any. Pictures herself as a crazy cat lady but isn't sure she can be relied on enough to take care of them.
12. What relaxes them? When Lucy makes Iris concentrate on breathing at the same time. 
13. Do they have any bad habits? Self-harm, bruising. Over-thinking. Smoking.
14. What are they allergic to? Nothing.

Resources and abilities:

1. If they have an income, where does it come from? Has worked in retail. Has savings from deaths of elderly relatives.
2. Do they have a job? Do they like it? How do they feel about their co-workers? No job at present, has worked in retail. Detests working with customers, hates being talked down to and treated badly. Only gets on well with a few co-workers. Only likes the sense of routine that a job brings.
3. Why do they have their resources? How long have they had them, and how have they served the character over time? (Ex. Contacts, money, political power, fame, etc.) Power within the hospital comes from her relationships with Chris and Lucy, and her ability to manipulate Philip. Outside the hospital, she is of average stature. 
4. Where does your character live? Why did they choose it, and how did they acquire it? How do they handle intruders (graciously? violently?)? In a psychiatric hospital in Chelmsford, Essex. Temporary. Lives in a fairly affluent area, in a one bedroom flat, half an hour's drive from the hospital.
5. What are some of your character’s more notable merits and flaws (including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.)? How did they develop? How has this helped or hindered them in the past? Merits: Educated and intelligent. Flaws: Needs a strong sense of structure to function. Short temper. Overthinks. Takes things out on herself. Quick to fall in love.
6. How are they with technology? There is limited use of technology in the hospital, as patients don't have access to the chargers for their devices. 
7. Are they specially qualified in any particular field? Would they be considered at the top of the field? Can draw well. 
8. Have they ever been publically acknowledged for anything? (Ex. Nobel Prize) No.
9. Is there anything they’ve deliberately sought to improve at? Regulating moods.
10. Do they speak more than one language? A moderate knowledge of French and Latin.

Relationships and history:

1. What is their family history like? How does it affect them? How do they feel about their family? How does their family feel about them? Parents are divorced. Fairly close with her mother but doesn't feel she can confide in her fully about her mental health, or her relationships. Elderly grandmother with dementia. Mother remarried and has a three year old. 
2. What were they like as a child? What was their favorite toy? Favorite game? Playmates? Enjoyed reading and writing as a child, bike riding, A very intelligent child. Chose friends selectively. 
3. What did they want to be when they grew up? A writer.
4. Describe their best and worst memories from childhood. Best: Christmas with all the family together. Worst: A fall from a rope swing she claims started everything mental  health wise. Lying with broken ribs for hours until being found. 
5. Where (and when) did they grow up? How did they view it as a child, and did that change as they matured? How do they feel about the place now? A real 90's child. The beginning of technology. Grew up in London and then the nicer parts of Essex. Not too far from the hospital.
6. Do they, or have they in the past, had a mentor? What was their relationship with this person, and how has it changed since then? Followed the influences of those she was reading about in novels. Was a loner through teenage years. Introspective. Mentored herself through her own mind and need for perfection.
7. What sort of education have they had? Do they want more? Good education. Dropped out of university in first year, not stable enough to power through it. Does want to study more. A real thirst for knowledge.
8. Who was their idol growing up? Who was the first person they fantasized about? Rarely heard of musicians and authors. Looked up to teachers through fantasy, was enthralled by their superior knowledge.
9. Who is their closest friend, and why? What do they like to do with this person? Chris is Iris' closest friend in the hospital. They share a mutual love of rebellion, and a dark sense of humour. Outside the hospital, Iris finds it hard to maintain friendships. She has a few friends scattered across the country but nobody she feels she could call on in a time of need.
10. Do they have any rivals? Who and why? Kevin, the new patient, through pure irritation. The management.
11. Have they ever been betrayed? By who, and how did it affect them? Yes many times. Lovers, friends. This is why she prefers a quieter life without too many of those inconveniences.

Sex and Romance

1. What is their sexual orientation? Do they ever question it? More drawn to women. Never questioned, considered in the grand scheme of mental health to be insignificant. 
2. When did they lose their virginity? Who to? Where? What was it like? Experimenting with a friend from school. 
3. What’s the strangest thing they’ve ever done in bed? Iris is pretty straight-laced. Dressing up, but only in lingerie. Nothing extravagant. 
4. Is there anything in particular that they won’t do? Willing to try anything once.
5. What are they attracted to in a partner?Intelligence, strength through adversity. Courage through hardship. An infectious laugh. 
6. If applicable: who is their current partner, and what attracted the character to them? How did they meet? How long have they been together? What kind of a relationship is it? Do they have any plans for the future? 
7. Lucy. Met during her first admission, Lucy was a long term patient already. They have been on and off, as Iris has left the hospital and returned. Iris wants to take care of Lucy, she's small and vulnerable and in pain, and Iris can't resist wanting to 'fix' her, if you will. Iris sees great strength of character in Lucy, and feeds off her personality and devilish sense of humour. The future is difficult, as Lucy doesn't see a future full stop, but Iris would love to be with Lucy long term. 
8. What would be their perfect date? Time alone! Something romantic, with time to be just the two of them without all the constraints of the hospital. A coastal walk?
9. Describe one of the character’s past relationships and what was significant about it. Iris had a long-ish but rocky relationship with a girl named Sian she met in sixth form. Sian couldn't deal with Iris' instability well.
10. Have they ever hurt someone they loved? Not intentionally. but probably yes.
11. Do they fall in love easily? Yes, when it's the right person.

Future:

1. What are their dreams? What do they want to do someday? Iris dreams of a future with Lucy but knows deep down that it will never happen.
2. Are there places they want to go? Where and why? Iris would like to travel the world, and find a place she fits in.
3. If these don’t apply already: do they want to get married? Have kids? Iris has always seen herself getting married and having children, but worries about her mental state and her suitability as a responsible parent.
4. Would they ever consider adopting a child? Why or why not? Yes, feels there are a great number of children out there who need a home. 
5. Do they have any prominent sensory associations? (Ex. the smell of their mother’s perfume, the sound of ice cracking under their feet as a child, etc.) In the hospital, Lucy's laugh, the rattle of her drip stand. 
6. Who do they want to meet? Somebody with the answers.
7. What about them is heroic? She would put the needs of someone she loves before her own.
8. What would the character be like in their old age? A little eccentric, but intelligent and strengthened through her experiences.
9. Stuck in a waiting room. Which magazine do they pick up? Nothing, she would prefer to observe the other people in the room.

Morality:

1. What is one thing in their past they’re ashamed of? One thing they’re proud of? Ashamed that she feels she cannot function in the outside world. Proud of her control over Philip and a lot of the patients, but this fades without Chris by her side.
2. Describe one fight they’ve had in the past (physical or otherwise).  A placid patient, not very violent really.
3. What is one thing they feel strongly about? The right to die. Patient code.
4. One trait they admire? Courage to go with your gut feeling.
5. What disturbs them? The thought of leaving Lucy and the unpredictability of the world.
6. Are they a leader or a follower? Why? A follower.
7. What do they feel responsible for? (Ex. I owe it to the world to do this.) Most things. Quite paranoid.
8. Do they believe that a person can redeem themselves from mistakes of the past? Yes, with time.
9. What scares them? The unknown. Lucy.
10. How do they feel about death? Have they been significantly affected by it? Feels closer to death than some due to suicidal feelings and a deeper knowledge. Stuck in a whirlwind debate with herself over euthanasia and the right to do, and whether that should be applied to mental health. Can't make up her mind when it comes to Lucy, between what she knows is right, and what she knows Lucy needs.
11. Do they believe in an afterlife? Believes death will be euphoric, or at least this is what she tells Lucy. Sceptical about an afterlife, rather wants the end to be the end, instead of a never ending kaleidoscope of colours fading in and out of patterns. 
12. Do they have any habits that reflect their beliefs? (Ex. regular prayer, vegetarianism, etc.) Patient code, underlying theme. Self-harm, but this is more of a coping mechanism.  
13. Do they respect the beliefs of others? Yes, believes in the patient code and values Lucy's beliefs over her own.. 
14. Would they be more likely to act for the good of one or the good of many? The good of many.
15. Are they manipulative? More strong-minded. Can appear intimidating at first meeting, within the hospital.
16. Is the character religious? What are their views, and why or why not? Has no religious beliefs.
17. How would they like to die? In a romantic fashion.

Chapter Four - Plan

Chapter Three - Plan

Character profile - Lucy

Full Name: Lucy Ellen Darlington

Nickname: Lucy 

1. Age: 20
2. Gender: Female
3. Date of Birth: 18th April 1992
4. Ethnicity: White, British
5. Occupation: Unemployed
6. Hair color/style: Shoulder length, mousy brown hair, falls in curls when wet
7. Eye color: Brown
8. Accent (if any): Southern accent.
9. Height: 4ft 11"
10. Weight: ~ 80lbs - Anorexic
11. Tattoos: None
12. Piercings: Ears
13. Birthmarks: None
14. Disfigurements: Physically underdeveloped 
15. Scars: Wrists, legs - self harm

Personality Overview:

1. Fears: Food. Diminishing freedom. The world outside the hospital. 
2. Childhood:  A happy childhood until age 8 or 9. Outgoing and always laughing. Primary school jibes drove her to begin dieting at a very young age, bringing on a very serious eating disorder.                                       
3. Adolesence: A very troubled time. Lucy battled a growing sense of self-hatred, and became quite ill. She covered her dwindling weight with baggy clothes but always felt disgusting. Her weight dropped very low and she was admitted several times to a paedriatric eating disorder clinic. At this point her spirits were still relatively high.
4. Adulthood: On reaching 18 years of age, Lucy was transferred from the paedriatric clinic to the hospital in Chelmsford. She remains an in-patient for a number of years. She meets Iris. Over time, Lucy becomes increasingly mentally unstable. Her weight drops significantly, and she is given a feeding tube and one-to-one supervision.

Fashion Sense

1. How do they usually dress? Skimpy, floaty clothes in warm weather. As she becomes increasingly ill, she wears more and more clothes as she gets cold so easily.
2. What do they wear to sleep? Pyjamas
3.  Do they wear jewelry? Jewellery not permitted in the hospital.
4. Is there anything about their appearance they wish they could change? Everything.
5. What do they smell like? Why (do they wear the scent or does it occur naturally)? Intoxicating mixture of perfume and tobacco smoke
6. Do they have an accurate mental picture of their appearance (how they see themselves versus how the world sees them)? A very distorted mental picture. She believes that she is fat an disgusting, even though she is worryingly underweight. 
7. Favorites, habits, likes and dislikes: Likes smoking, a sense of escape. Dislikes disloyalty. 
8. What are some of your character’s hobbies? What do they do with their time? Causing mischief around the hospital, winding Philip up, unnerving new patients, eats with the EDU girls, feels part of a special sort of society. Spends time with Iris, her one escape from her encompassing eating disorder.
9. Favorite color: Yellow

Favourites

1.  Books or Favorite music artists: Any book that offers her an escape. Likes 80's music.
2. Movies or TV shows: Classic films overplayed on television, her only access to films. 
3. Political stance? Are they active in politics or do they not care? Lucy is very detached from the outside world, so has no real political stance. 
4. What are some of their pet peeves? When people don't follow her way of thinking
5. What sort of gifts do they like? Something personal, handmade, a letter, a poem, friendship bracelet etc.
6. What is their favorite time of day? Midnight.
7. Favorite weather? Season? Thunder and lightning, rain. Likes summer as she doesn't get so cold all the time,
8. Where do they like to spend their time? In the hospital, has no choice.
9. Favorite food? Favorite drink? Hot drinks, soft drinks, or alcohol? Tea. Aversion to food in general.
10. Favorite animal? Insects.
11. Do they have any pets? Do they want any? No.
12. What relaxes them? A sense of order and control. Iris. 
13. Do they have any bad habits? Will scrape food under her fingernails to avoid eating it. Smokes quite heavily.
14. What are they allergic to? Nothing.

Resources and abilities:

1. If they have an income, where does it come from? None. 
2. Do they have a job? Do they like it? How do they feel about their co-workers? No job. 
3. Why do they have their resources? How long have they had them, and how have they served the character over time? (Ex. Contacts, money, political power, fame, etc.) Within the hospital, the sheer amount of time that Lucy has been an inpatient gives her a certain level of power. Her contacts are the EDU girls, who all support and protect each other. The staff have a bit of a soft spot for her, and don't mind bending the rules slightly for her.
4. Where does your character live? Why did they choose it, and how did they acquire it? How do they handle intruders (graciously? violently?)? In a psychiatric hospital in Chelmsford, Essex. Didn't choose to live there. Doesn't react well to new patients, especially if they are ignorant of the workings of the hospital.
5. What are some of your character’s more notable merits and flaws (including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.)? How did they develop? How has this helped or hindered them in the past? Merits: mischievous attitude, playful nature, intelligent, cracking smile. Flaws: tunnel vision, difficulty empathising with others, looks out for herself.
6. How are they with technology? There is limited use of technology in the hospital, as patients don't have access to the chargers for their devices. 
7. Are they specially qualified in any particular field? Would they be considered at the top of the field? Has beautiful handwriting.
8. Have they ever been publically acknowledged for anything? (Ex. Nobel Prize) No.
9. Is there anything they’ve deliberately sought to improve at? Self-image, unsuccessfully.
10. Do they speak more than one language? A very basic knowledge of French.

Relationships and history:

1. What is their family history like? How does it affect them? How do they feel about their family? How does their family feel about them? Quite distant from parents, as has been hospitalised for so long and has a history of taking frustration out on them. They visit every other week, they moved to live a couple of hours away. Lucy misses her parents, and feels disconnected from them. She is an only child.
2. What were they like as a child? What was their favorite toy? Favorite game? Playmates? Full of energy, sporty, always laughing. Free-spirited. Enjoyed swimming.
3. What did they want to be when they grew up? In the circus.
4. Describe their best and worst memories from childhood. Best: Sitting on grandfather's lap, down at the lake, chocolate eclairs gluing her teeth together. Worst: Being pushed over in the playground and spat on, and called fat by a group of girls towering over her. 
5. Where (and when) did they grow up? How did they view it as a child, and did that change as they matured? How do they feel about the place now? Grew up listening to 80's music, on the outskirts of Hertfordshire. Well-off family, nice neighbourhood. 
6. Do they, or have they in the past, had a mentor? What was their relationship with this person, and how has it changed since then? Really looked up to her grandfather, who is no longer alive. He was a very wise man, and was Lucy's go-to person as she had no siblings and grew increasingly distant from her mother as she got ill. Her mother hated to see her destroying herself.
7. What sort of education have they had? Do they want more? Her education was interrupted by ill health and various stays in eating disorder unit. She would have loved to have completed her education, and came away with only 5 GCSEs.
8. Who was their idol growing up? Who was the first person they fantasized about? Her grandfather. 
9. Who is their closest friend, and why? What do they like to do with this person? Her grandfather was her closest friend, until he passed away. Iris is Lucy's person in the hospital, and she gets on very well with Chris, as well.
10. Do they have any rivals? Who and why? Kevin, the new patient. Anyone who gets in her way when she is determined to do something.
11. Have they ever been betrayed? By who, and how did it affect them? Lucy felt betrayed by Iris at the pond. She felt she had lost the closest person to her. 

Sex and Romance

1. What is their sexual orientation? Do they ever question it? Sexually fluid. Would partake in a relationship with anyone, regardless of gender, who she intellectually connected with.
2. When did they lose their virginity? Who to? Where? What was it like? In her troublesome teens, Lucy slept with a number of boys, thriving off the attention. It made her feel more appealing. 
3. What’s the strangest thing they’ve ever done in bed? Slept with multiple boys in one night, during her teens.
4. Is there anything in particular that they won’t do? Will not have sex in a room with a mirror, or with the lights on. Very body conscious.
5. What are they attracted to in a partner? Intelligence, wit, a kindred spirit.
6. If applicable: who is their current partner, and what attracted the character to them? How did they meet? How long have they been together? What kind of a relationship is it? Do they have any plans for the future? Iris. Met during Iris' first admission, Lucy was already an inpatient. They have been on and off, as Iris has left the hospital and returned. Lucy is attracted to Iris as Iris has a far more stable life, and can vaguely see a future for herself. She is attracted to her confidence, her intelligence and their shared interests and mindsets. Lucy looks at Iris and sees a kindred spirit, whose body is everything she wishes hers could be (even though Lucy is v. thin). Smooth skin, flat tummy, lustrous hair.
7. What would be their perfect date? Building a fort out of blankets, sheets and pillows in the forest and huddling together, sheltering from the wind.
8. Describe one of the character’s past relationships and what was significant about it. Lucy has never had a serious relationship, other than with Iris. 
9. Have they ever hurt someone they loved? She wouldn't hurt somebody she loved.
10. Do they fall in love easily? Yes.

Future:

1. What are their dreams? What do they want to do someday? Lucy would love to be happy someday. 
2. Are there places they want to go? Where and why? Anywhere where the thoughts don't follow.
3. If these don’t apply already: do they want to get married? Have kids? Lucy doesn't really see herself having a future. She doubts she will marry, and isn't even sure she would be able to have children; she doesn't have periods, she's too underweight. 
4. Would they ever consider adopting a child? Why or why not? Doesn't feel she can look after herself, let alone a child. 
5. Do they have any prominent sensory associations? (Ex. the smell of their mother’s perfume, the sound of ice cracking under their feet as a child, etc.)
6. Who do they want to meet? Nobody in particular.
7. What about them is heroic? She has held onto her sense of humour through her illness.
8. What would the character be like in their old age? Wise and witty.
9. Stuck in a waiting room. Which magazine do they pick up? A newspaper.

Morality:

1. What is one thing in their past they’re ashamed of? One thing they’re proud of? Ashamed of her promiscuous teens. Proud of her control over Philip and the other staff.
2. Describe one fight they’ve had in the past (physical or otherwise).  She has had to be restrained in the past to prevent her from hurting herself.
3. What is one thing they feel strongly about? The right to die.
4. One trait they admire? Strength through adversity.
5. What disturbs them? Looking in a mirror, being forced to eat. 
6. Are they a leader or a follower? Why? A wanderer.
7. What do they feel responsible for? (Ex. I owe it to the world to do this.) In some respects, keeping the spirits of the hospital up.
8. Do they believe that a person can redeem themselves from mistakes of the past? Yes, but isn't sure that she can redeem herself.
9. What scares them? The world outside the hospital, being trapped, being forced to live when she feels her quality of life is next to none.
10. How do they feel about death? Have they been significantly affected by it? Affected by grandfather's death. Has a relationship with death, as she lives her life on the knife's edge. She is not afraid of death, she views it was a lifeline, the ultimate escape.
11. Do they believe in an afterlife? Until she met Iris, she hoped there wasn't an afterlife. She wants death to be the end, even if it means sacrificing a reunion with her grandfather. 
12. Do they have any habits that reflect their beliefs? (Ex. regular prayer, vegetarianism, etc.) Tries to exercise surreptitiously, to burn calories. Would happily wipe food into her hair or under her fingernails to avoid eating it.  
13. Do they respect the beliefs of others? Yes, but values her own beliefs above those of others. 
14. Would they be more likely to act for the good of one or the good of many? The good of one.
15. Are they manipulative? Not really, only in a playful manner, with Philip etc. 
16. Is the character religious? What are their views, and why or why not? Has no religious beliefs.
17. How would they like to die? Quickly and painlessly. 

Iris' song

To Lucy,

Chapter Three

Bones

I traced a finger over the bones protruding through the pale canvas of her skin.

 

Bruises

Daisy Chains

I sat by her bedside in the hospital and tied daisy chains around her wrists until her scars disappeared.

Lucy's dinosaur spine

Laughter

Lucy and Iris in happier times.

You know when you get two people, and they just cannot be serious when they're together. They just giggle at everything. Just like how Dawn and Adrienne are in this clip, from 00:50 onwards, that's how Iris and Lucy are, when things are good. The sort of friendship where other people feel excluded and get jealous of the closeness.

Lucy's Song

Every word of this is Lucy. Lucy speaking to Iris. And that look that Kate gives Keir at the end, that's how Lucy looks at Iris.

The Making of Iris and Lucy

This is the place where Iris and Lucy ran too when they escaped my head.

This is the place where I begin to understand them more.

This is the making of Iris and Lucy.