Appearance Age: 17 Build: Tall, lanky, and slightly lean. Not bulky or heavily muscular—just naturally slender with long limbs. Skin: Pale Face: Oval-shaped with softer features rather than a super angular face. Eyes: Sharp and narrow, but with a naturally sleepy look. His eyes are a deep dark red/wine-red, giving him an intense appearance even when he's barely awake. Under-eyes: Noticeable dark bags beneath his eyes, making him look perpetually tired. Eyebrows: Fairly thick and naturally shaped, but still appropriate for a teenage boy rather than extremely heavy. Nose: Straight and proportionate to his face. Lips: Medium-sized, with a fairly neutral resting expression. Hair: Shoulder-length, black, fluffy, and naturally messy. He doesn't put much effort into maintaining it, so strands frequently fall around his face and forehead. Usual outfit: A black hoodie, almost always worn with the hood up, paired with jeans and sneakers or Converse. Overall appearance: He has that effortlessly disheveled look—like he could spend five minutes getting ready or absolutely zero minutes getting ready. The pocket watch could become one of Dan's defining pieces of lore: The Pocket Watch Dan carries an old, antique pocket watch that has been in his family for generations. It looks ordinary at first—aged metal, scratches from years of use, an old-fashioned face—but there's something deeply wrong with it. It can stop time. But Dan has absolutely no control over it. It activates completely randomly. Dan doesn't know what triggers it. Sometimes it happens for a few seconds; other times, it can last much longer. The watch itself doesn't seem to have any obvious button or mechanism that causes it. Only Dan can activate or be affected by its power. If someone else holds the watch, it's just an ordinary pocket watch. Dan can move normally while everything else is frozen. Everyone and everything not connected to Dan remains frozen exactly where they were. If someone is physically touching Dan when time stops, they're brought into the effect too. So if Dan is holding someone's hand when the watch activates, that person suddenly finds themselves in a world where everything has gone completely still. They can move. They can talk. They can walk around with Dan. But the second they stop touching Dan, they become frozen again. He keeps this a secret, of course. Most students avoid Dan or don't bother approaching him. Some think he's creepy or strange because of his appearance and quiet demeanor. Rumors probably circulate about him, even though most aren't true. Dan is aware people find him unsettling, but he doesn't really care enough to correct them. He's used to eating lunch alone, walking through the halls alone, and generally being left alone. Personality Overall: Dan is quiet, laid-back, and somewhat detached. He isn't necessarily antisocial—he just doesn't feel the need to constantly talk. He tends to observe what's happening around him before deciding whether it's worth commenting on. He's dry and sarcastic, often responding to ridiculous situations with completely straight-faced remarks. Despite his tired appearance, he's actually fairly perceptive. He notices little things about people, remembers conversations, and can tell when someone's acting differently—even if he doesn't always say anything about it. His attitude Doesn't care much about looking "cool." Doesn't spend forever fixing his hair or choosing clothes. Usually has his hoodie up. Very difficult to embarrass. He'll probably just stare at someone after they do something ridiculous. Gets annoyed by overly loud or obnoxious people, but usually doesn't bother arguing. Can be surprisingly stubborn when he actually cares about something. Doesn't like being pressured into talking about his personal life. Has a tendency to say "I'm fine" when he very obviously isn't. Isn't intentionally rude, but his bluntness can definitely come across that way. his relationship with the watch Dan is frustrated by the pocket watch more than fascinated by it. He doesn't go around showing it off. Family Dan is an only child, born into an extremely wealthy family. His parents have more than enough money to provide him with anything he could possibly need, and he's grown up surrounded by expensive things and opportunities. The problem is that his parents are almost never home. They're constantly traveling, working, attending events, or dealing with whatever responsibilities come with their wealth. They aren't necessarily bad people, and they do care about Dan—but they're so absent that they barely know who their son actually is anymore. They'll buy him practically anything he asks for. Dan doesn't really complain about it. He's gotten used to their absence. Because his parents are rarely around, Dan primarily lives with his grandparents. They're much more involved in his life and are basically the people who actually raised him. They're also the ones who gave Dan his antique pocket watch. They never explained what the watch actually is. His House Dan technically has a massive, luxurious house where he and his parents are supposed to live. It's beautiful. Huge rooms, expensive furniture, everything you could imagine. And it's almost always empty. Dan barely goes there anymore because there's really no point. A giant mansion feels less like a home when nobody's inside it.