Marcus Oddwood

Marcus Oleander Oddwood 
^{[also known as Marcus, Mr. Oddwood]}
gender: male [he/him]
age: 36
birthdate: July 18th
place of residence: Oddwood’s, Maplebark Woods
occupation: shepherd

status: alive, adopted by Marlene

     In a colorful building among the golden trees, is the home of a father and his dear kids. Marcus would be the man you’d find once you explored the amber-colored woods. A shepherd who usually keeps to himself, he’s usually seen tending his sheep in the yard behind the house.

     It’s true that Marcus tends to be quiet, and he does often feel awkward when interacting with strangers and acquaintances. But once you get to know him a little more, you may find that he can be quite the gentle giant! He’s a man with a calming deposition, someone quite peaceful to be around. He’s a tender and mild person, and it shows from the way he speaks and acts. Though besides his mellow nature, he’s a man who’s also observant to those around him. A bit of a critical thinker at times, Marcus is someone who often analyzes imformation in his mind, from people to many different topics, even though he sometimes takes his interpretations with a grain of salt. Marcus can be perceptive, and surprisingly really understanding of others. Some might even feel like he just “gets'' them. People who are familiar with Marcus would know he’s nice to have around, and perhaps even comforting. 

     However, Marcus may at times, bite more than he can chew. While he’s a man who wants to help others, he may overestimate himself and take on more responsibilities than he can handle, not being the best at setting his own limits. And Marcus is a guy who's also overly self-reliant. He can get very hesitant to show his own vulnerability, even to those closest to him. Firstly, Marcus is a man who has jaded views when it comes to people. He tries not to show it, but truth is, Marcus tends to believe in… the worst of most people. Marcus wishes he didn’t, but there’s no denying that people hurt not only their surroundings, but other people too. With every disappointment adding up to another, his skepticism for others has built up overtime, which is why he struggles to start bonds. Who knows what people could do, so it’s best to steer away from them. Though he doesn’t see a single person this way, there’s still some… feeling of detachment when it comes to his loved ones. He cares and he very much will do anything he can for them, but this has often led him to hide his own insecurities and problems. Throughout his life, Marcus has often felt pressured to be “strong”, well-composed for his loved ones. He has to be resilient, he has to be able to handle anything. If not, how else would he be supportive for his loved ones? Ironically, this only makes him even more distant to those he was close to. With how he suppresses his emotions, he ends up being easily ticked off, which can lead him to burst over the last straw, or shuts himself away from his loved ones due to how overwhelmed he is.

     Though while it sounds contradictory, Marcus is actually a whole lot altruistic at heart really. He’s actually someone who is very considerate of the needs of others, even strangers. He knows that the world isn’t all sweet, and believes that almost all people don’t deserve what they went through. He simply wishes that things weren’t so cruel. Marcus genuinely wants to help those around him, and you might find that he often goes the extra mile to do so. Marcus is also an insightful man, who’s often times open-minded and can even be far from judgemental. A very good listener, he’s a friend when you simply need to let it all out, and a shoulder to cry on. He’s willing to take his time and be near his loved ones, whatever they need. And while he’s not someone to go around giving advice, Marcus has a good choice when he does speak, and maybe even a helpful suggestion or two if he was asked. His loved ones know that Marcus is genuinely comforting, and he certainly doesn’t shy away from showing affection to them either. Though Marcus himself is aware of his flaws, he might even sees himself as a “terrible person” at times if he’ll be honest. And he does feel ashamed for slipping into his old habits at times. He very much apologizes and tries to make up for it whenever he does. The good news, as time went on, he did start to find ways to cope with his emotions better. Found himself a few outlets here and there, and while rarely, he has managed to open up to his loved ones once in while! Though he still keeps so much of himself in private, Marcus has gotten better at maintaining his connections. He’s found loved ones that do care as much for Marcus’s well-being, even if they honestly don’t always know what’s going on behind his mind. Now in recent times, he’s opened his home to some children too! Parenting is tricky and while he knows he’s not perfect, he will always try his best to be a nurturing father. Marcus only hopes he could give all the love and aid he can to each and every kid in this household, just like the ones he’s received in all his recent years.