EJ Long

Personality

Outgoing, charismatic, and a trademark flirt, EJ is incredibly different from her younger variant, Jessica. Despite encountering some serious hardships throughout her life, she’s developed a fun and relaxed attitude that allows her to glide almost effortlessly through social situations. Conversation comes easily to her, and this combined with her natural charisma and tendency to flirt often draws the interest and attention of those around her. 

When it comes to those she views in a more familial light, such as Jessica, EJ tends to take on a protective and supportive sisterly or even motherly role, showering the dismayed teenager with all sorts of embarrassing nicknames, affection, and advice. Thankfully, even Jessica finds her easy to talk to. 

Despite having overcome most of her childhood trauma and mental instability, EJ is prone to some strange obsessions and violent tendencies; she is specifically infatuated with knives, though she mostly just hoards them rather than using them for violent or dangerous means. 

Background

While she harbors a now vastly different attitude, EJ was notably reserved and quiet in her youth. She was raised by her single mother, who initially adored her child but quickly became unsettled by her appearance and behaviors after one of the girl’s only friends tragically died in a construction accident. Believing that EJ might have intentionally killed her friend, her mother grew paranoid and mentally unstable, leading to long-term mistreatment and neglect. Alongside this, EJ was bullied by her peers and had few friends aside from a boy, Kiel, who she met on a wooded path on the way to school. While she slowly derived comfort and support from her only friendship, her mother’s psychosis developed to the extent that she ultimately attempted to kill her daughter while she was sleeping, resulting in a traumatizing chase and an accidental house fire. With her mother perishing in the flames, EJ was rescued and taken in by Kiel’s family. 

During her adolescence, Kiel and EJ began dating, but suffered a rift in their relationship when Kiel sought to enlist in the armed forces following graduation. Terrified of losing him, EJ’s aversion caused heated arguments and eventually a temporary breakup, during which she began seeing a member of their mutual friend group. This only spurred further drama and distance between the two, which continued until graduation and Kiel’s leave for the army. Unfortunately, despite everything that had occurred, EJ was bitter enough to enlist herself out of spite, and followed her childhood friend straight into war. She internally hoped this might prompt Kiel to empathize with her situation, but instead, their personal drama was only fueled and they refused to speak to one another while in training. Despite this, EJ managed to thrive, finding a unique comfort and independence in her new position that she had been unable to achieve growing up. She gained an emotional maturity that had her nearly forgetting her former dilemma surrounding Kiel, and she instead focused on her current circumstances and fulfilling the duties presented to her. 

Unfortunately, EJ was forced to look back on her mistakes when Kiel suffered a grievous injury in battle, and she spent his remaining moments attempting to comfort and tend to him to the best of her ability. When she finally returned home, she was emotionally drained and exhausted, and she fell into a deep depression soon after. 

EJ was presented with a glimmer of hope when Jessica randomly stumbled into her dimension through an unexplained portal, confused but intrigued by the concept of having discovered an alternate version of herself. Caught up in this exciting new prospect, EJ decided to leave everything she knew behind in the hopes of finding a new reason to live somewhere fresh and untouched by her past.

Extra

-She has a pet shark. His name is Sharky, because apparently creativity isn’t her strong suit.

-She takes antidepressants, but at this point it’s uncertain if she truly needs them.

-She carries a distinct switchblade on her at all times, and has supposedly given it a name. She won't tell anyone what it is.

-She’s known to be somewhat promiscuous, and often meets new hookups in clubs and at parties. She seems to have little interest in committed relationships.

-Shortly after moving to Jessica’s dimension, she made the strange and impulsive decision to be immortalized by The CJ. It’s unknown as to exactly why she chose to do this, and she won’t really give a straight answer when asked.