9. A NEW FRIEND: CHARACTER BUILD

1 April 2025

Alison Rocket Ross

Aaron (35) Landscaper needs a friend. Let’s give him one.

This is a continuing series and I won’t stop until we’ve got ourselves a full script. I’m writing entirely in real time through this platform. The only work being done outside of here is gear-turning in my little writer’s brain.

The Elusive Complementary Character

I say “elusive” because I am currently at a loss. Who could we bring in that Aaron would trust enough to share this secret with? It would have to be someone from trivia night, but even that seems a little far-fetched. This person would have to be persistent and curious.

Female energy for sure. Off the top of my head, I’m thinking her name could be Brooke. Probably a little younger. More like someone who is just starting their career and trying to make friends in a new city. Don’t want to go too young though cause that’s gross when Aaron is 35.

Brooke being around 28 would help us. Aaron probably wouldn’t even look twice at her. She’s still just a little too young for him to get any big ideas. Maybe they met three or four years ago and he still sees her as someone too young to pursue.

Remember, this is not a rom-com. We do not have to make these two fall in love.

What is Brooke’s Story?

She should be in computer sciences of some sort. With a masters degree. A nerd. I’d say she likes to cosplay and go to sci-fi conventions. Makes a ton of money, but has always just been a little too much for most people. Most of her friends are sci-fi nerds (don’t get offended, I’m a huge sci-fi nerd) that she either met online or still live back in Minneapolis.

She is quite extroverted and asked to join Aaron’s trivia team when she noticed they only had three members. At that time, she had just moved to Austin and didn’t know a soul. But she knew she was good at trivia. And it just so happened to be a sci-fi night. (She loves Nathan Fillion, we could work in some comic relief regarding that). Aaron’s trivia team welcomed her with open arms. They’re a group of misfits for the most part.

So, let’s say Brooke had a solid childhood. Her parents are still together, but never got married out of protest of the institution. They’re big into politics and philosophy. Both had high powered jobs, maybe lawyers or doctors or something like that. So Brooke was often left home alone with her older sister. Her older sister didn’t care too much about her and was always out with friends, so Brooke took to the television. Watched endless hours of sci-fi and horror films. She liked the futuristic tech.

Her parents, having the means, continued to buy her whatever she needed to explore technology. A laptop, desktop, multiple monitors, all of it. She’s crazy smart and started researching coding when she was little. Didn’t fully get the hang of it until she took a coding class at her prestigious high school. Then she was hooked. Went on to college, then grad school, and landed a tech job.

She is an extrovert, but often blows it with new friends by being too intense. Her people skills need some work. It’s like she’s too smart to feel the room and when people defy logic, she gets confused. Just can’t wrap her head around certain choices. She, herself, tries to be as logical as possible. Fails often.

Why does she like Aaron?

She perceives Aaron’s quietness as confidence. To her, he’s a mysterious badass who represents everything she wants to be. She knows she’s bad with people. She thinks Aaron’s good with people. No one has a bad word to say about him.

He’s also fit and handsome enough. He seems to follow logical programming, and he does, to an extent. He makes safe, rational choices. Only speaks when it’s necessary. And he is great at trivia.

His stories about his hikes and outdoor adventures appeal to her as if they’re mystical quests. She’s not much of an outdoor person, but she lives vicariously through him and has been waiting for him to invite her on one of his escapades. He hasn’t so far, but she’s convinced with a little time she’ll be able to crack him.

How does Aaron feel about Brooke?

Aaron enjoys her company. He loves that she talks so often and admires her passion when she goes on rants or tells them about certain episodes of her television shows. Talking with Brooke is like watching a great movie. He’s entirely entertained by her.

She’s a little messy, which can sometimes annoy him. Always spilling her drinks or buttoning her shirt wrong or her messy hair. But he has grown to accept her and all her eccentricities.

He hasn’t yet thought of her in a romantic way at all. Is completely clueless that she’s in love with him. He doesn’t offer to take her on outdoor adventures because that’s his alone time and he honestly doesn’t think she’d be interested in it.

But does he trust her? About as much as he can. He keeps her at arm’s length. Rarely sees her outside of trivia nights. Sometimes they meet up for coffee or a drink, but for the most part he keeps to himself.

Ok, good. We’re on our way.

Brooke would be the person who notices something is off with Aaron after he finds the skull. And she’s just the right person to press the issue until she gets it out of him.

We’re well on our way.

Next time we can look at Brooke’s role in this story. We’ll still have to develop her a little more. Find her motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. But it feels right so far. And I’m excited to write with her voice!

That’s all for now!

-Rocket