- Joined
- Sep 8, 2019
- Messages
- 108
- Points
- 28
Character Name
Doris Hoffman
I Agree
Yes
Has this character appeared in a previous lore?
No
Age
70
Blood Type
A-
Personality
Doris is a sweet lady. A lot of this comes from her upbringing, where she was told women were supposed to be sweet caretakers and homemakers. However, while Doris may maintain this concept of her feminine responsibility, she has evolved quite a bit over the course or her life. Doris has become tough as nails and unafraid to fight for what she believes in or denigrate somebody who treats her or her loved ones unfairly. Sharp as a tack and tough as nails, she prides herself on taking shit from nobody. But if you do happen to be somebody she loves and cares for, she reverts back to the lessons of her youth, caring for them with the utmost love in a way that's often shown through things such as laundry, cooking, and cleaning.
Character Motivations
Although experiencing lots of pain through her life, Doris managed to create a comfortable existence for herself in her old age. She thoroughly enjoyed her friends and her bridge games and was more than happy to live out the rest of her days in their company, watching her programs and anxiously anticipating the very few times she was able to see her grandchildren. However, recent events have totally upturned her comfortable existence, propelling her into a chaotic life. Doris wants nothing more than to go back into a place of comfort, where she can enjoy the company of people she loves and simply watch her programs and play her card games until it's her time to pass.
Physical Appearance
Doris is a short, plump woman standing at 5'4" and weighing 215 pounds. Her skin is very wrinkled and her white hair is cut at shoulder length. She has beautiful green eyes, but they're tired and droopy much like the rest of her. She has a sweet voice, however it always sounds somewhat hoarse from too many years of smoking cigarettes in her youth.
Character Image Link
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net...3801987.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130316224820
Mechanical Occupation
Unemployed
In-Character Occupation
Retired Secretary
Biography
Doris was born to lower middle class parents in a suburb just out of New York City. Her family was Catholic and quite conservative in nature. Growing up, Doris was enamored with life in the big city and upon graduating high school, left home to live in Manhattan with some of her former schoolmates. Her parents were deeply disturbed by this decision, as well as the changing times around them. Doris found work in a time more women were starting to join the workforce, another decision that deeply upset her parents. She was a secretary at a large financial consulting firm. Alcohol and sexual banter was common in the workplace and while it was certainly a large culture shock from her Catholic youth, Doris learned how to navigate the environment quite effectively. Eventually, four years into her work, she was promoted to office manager where she oversaw all the secretaries.
She was quite good at her job and genuinely enjoyed the exciting and rapidly shifting of New York City in the 60s. Doris found herself quite involved in the feminist movement, marching and demanding better rights for women. She also integrated well into the culture of Greenwich Village in her time off, and while she didn't classify herself as a hippie she certainly spent a lot of time with them. It was at a party in the Village where she met a struggling young artist named Mark who she would go on to date. Unfortunately, 10 months into their courtship Mark got drafted to Vietnam. He proposed before he left and the two got married quickly after. He promised her an amazing honeymoon once he returned.
It wasn't until he was gone nearly a month that Doris realized she was pregnant with his child. She wrote him to say as much and Mark wrote back an exceptionally sweet letter, expressing his utmost excitement to return home as a father. The letter notably didn't answer any of her questions about his experience overseas but focused solely on how absolutely ecstatic he was for fatherhood. Three days after the letter came, she was informed that he had been killed in action.
Doris fell into a deep depression at the loss of her husband. Her firm gave her time to grieve, allowing her the time off work in a show of support and solidarity against the deeply unpopular war. Doris gradually pulled herself up out of her depression through motivation to be well for her son and through the love and support of her friends and coworkers. Mark's mother also proved to be an invaluable source of comfort for her. When her son was born, she wanted to name him after his father but knowing she didn't want to be reminded of that pain every time she called his name, settled on the name Michael.
Unfortunately, she adamantly demanded a lengthy maternity leave to care for her newborn son and, after already taking so much time off to grieve during her pregnancy, her employer refused and she left her beloved job. She never once regretted that decision. Doris begrudgingly moved into her parent's house, unable to support herself in Manhattan as a single, unemployed mother. She constantly fought with her parents, miserable in the conservative, deeply religious environment in which she was raised. When she told her parents she didn't want to baptize Michael, they went and did it behind her back.
Ultimately, Doris managed to find secretarial work at another company and again started at the bottom. She continued participating in the culture of NYC and the feminist movement as much as she could, but she was deeply committed to her son and any time for herself and her own desires quickly dwindled until they diminished altogether alongside her youth.
Doris was deeply protective of her son, often in an overbearing way. She knew what it was like to experience loss and was desperately afraid of losing her own boy. In doing so, she ultimately pushed him away. Michael grew up resentful of his mother and grieving for a father he had never known. Doris, hard working and quick witted as she was, rapidly progressed in her professional life as well. This culminated in her often being away working and, when she was home, only have time to focus on ensuring her son's success. She showed her love through constant cooking and cleaning and doting, but often failed to express it in more meaningful actions or deeper conversations beyond just empty compliments and overly sweet sentiment.
This combined with the fact Michael was a naturally hot-headed person eager to pick a fight and hold a grudge led him to leave home at 18. He seldom called and almost never visited, a trend that would continue throughout his life. This caused Doris immense happiness. As she aged she also began to feel less sexually objectified and desired by men, something she was also unfamiliar with. This new reality caused her to look to food to comfort, figuring she wouldn't be desirable anyways. Doris ate her feelings, her loneliness, and her mourning for a life that never really was everything she wanted it to be. She started working less hard at her job and ultimately entered a very unhappy portion of her life.
It was during this time that she met Jonathan. Jonathan showed her an attention she hadn't had for years and never thought she would experience again. He was older than she was and he was deeply charming. She was reluctant that any man could still find her sexually attractive, but sure enough Jonathan showed her a kind of lust she thought she would never experience again. He had been visiting New York on an extended vacation and ultimately asked Doris to return with him to his home in Lexington, Kentucky. Michael had moved to Austin, Texas anyways and Doris was contemplating moving closer to him anyways, so she accepted and left her New York existence behind. When Jonathan proposed a month later, Doris accepted.
She was blinded by the concept of being in love again. So blinded, she couldn't see who Jonathan really was. As soon as they were married, he stopped trying to hide it. His charm was a façade covering a dark and cruel personality fueled by alcoholism. It didn't start all at once. He'd drink too much and would insult her, calling her horrible names and saying awful things. But the next day, once he was sobered up, he would be charming old Jonathan again, doting on her and buying her jewelry that made her feel young and beautiful again. She got more deeply ensnared in his trap. It wasn't until six months into their marriage where she talked back to him that Doris saw the full extent of his wrath. Jonathan beat her hard, and through this beating Doris remembered who she was. She remembered that she was the woman who left her Catholic childhood behind to start a life she wanted to live. She was the woman who raised a child alone in New York City. She was the woman who didn't take shit from anyone.
Doris left in the middle of the night, going to a woman's shelter for help. She stayed there for a little while trying to figure out what to do next, terrified Jonathan would come after her. Finally, she found work sewing custom sweaters in Louisville, far enough away she hopefully wouldn't have to worry about Jonathan finding her. She continued this for some time until the sewing began to hurt her wrists too much and she retired. Every Christmas she saw Michael and his children and Doris lived for these visits. She wanted to see them much more, but she could see how Michael barely tolerated her presence, even if her grandbabies loved having her around.
Doris eventually moved into a retirement home, paying for it from her savings. She became close friends with a lot of the other women there, became an avid bridge player, and started watching a lot of light hearted sitcoms. While the home was cheap and uncomfortable, she found great comfort within it and the company she kept there. When the outbreak hit, a bus offered to drive all the retirees to Muldraugh. Doris, not one to give up her own independence, still kept and maintained a car. She went to meet them there, hoping this all would be sorted out very quickly. After all, she was participating in a bridge tournament next week.
Would you like your character to start with any items?
No
Would you like to be placed in a random group at the start of the lore?
Yes
Is your character a member of a group application?
No
Group Members
N/A
Doris Hoffman
I Agree
Yes
Has this character appeared in a previous lore?
No
Age
70
Blood Type
A-
Personality
Doris is a sweet lady. A lot of this comes from her upbringing, where she was told women were supposed to be sweet caretakers and homemakers. However, while Doris may maintain this concept of her feminine responsibility, she has evolved quite a bit over the course or her life. Doris has become tough as nails and unafraid to fight for what she believes in or denigrate somebody who treats her or her loved ones unfairly. Sharp as a tack and tough as nails, she prides herself on taking shit from nobody. But if you do happen to be somebody she loves and cares for, she reverts back to the lessons of her youth, caring for them with the utmost love in a way that's often shown through things such as laundry, cooking, and cleaning.
Character Motivations
Although experiencing lots of pain through her life, Doris managed to create a comfortable existence for herself in her old age. She thoroughly enjoyed her friends and her bridge games and was more than happy to live out the rest of her days in their company, watching her programs and anxiously anticipating the very few times she was able to see her grandchildren. However, recent events have totally upturned her comfortable existence, propelling her into a chaotic life. Doris wants nothing more than to go back into a place of comfort, where she can enjoy the company of people she loves and simply watch her programs and play her card games until it's her time to pass.
Physical Appearance
Doris is a short, plump woman standing at 5'4" and weighing 215 pounds. Her skin is very wrinkled and her white hair is cut at shoulder length. She has beautiful green eyes, but they're tired and droopy much like the rest of her. She has a sweet voice, however it always sounds somewhat hoarse from too many years of smoking cigarettes in her youth.
Character Image Link
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net...3801987.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130316224820
Mechanical Occupation
Unemployed
In-Character Occupation
Retired Secretary
Biography
Doris was born to lower middle class parents in a suburb just out of New York City. Her family was Catholic and quite conservative in nature. Growing up, Doris was enamored with life in the big city and upon graduating high school, left home to live in Manhattan with some of her former schoolmates. Her parents were deeply disturbed by this decision, as well as the changing times around them. Doris found work in a time more women were starting to join the workforce, another decision that deeply upset her parents. She was a secretary at a large financial consulting firm. Alcohol and sexual banter was common in the workplace and while it was certainly a large culture shock from her Catholic youth, Doris learned how to navigate the environment quite effectively. Eventually, four years into her work, she was promoted to office manager where she oversaw all the secretaries.
She was quite good at her job and genuinely enjoyed the exciting and rapidly shifting of New York City in the 60s. Doris found herself quite involved in the feminist movement, marching and demanding better rights for women. She also integrated well into the culture of Greenwich Village in her time off, and while she didn't classify herself as a hippie she certainly spent a lot of time with them. It was at a party in the Village where she met a struggling young artist named Mark who she would go on to date. Unfortunately, 10 months into their courtship Mark got drafted to Vietnam. He proposed before he left and the two got married quickly after. He promised her an amazing honeymoon once he returned.
It wasn't until he was gone nearly a month that Doris realized she was pregnant with his child. She wrote him to say as much and Mark wrote back an exceptionally sweet letter, expressing his utmost excitement to return home as a father. The letter notably didn't answer any of her questions about his experience overseas but focused solely on how absolutely ecstatic he was for fatherhood. Three days after the letter came, she was informed that he had been killed in action.
Doris fell into a deep depression at the loss of her husband. Her firm gave her time to grieve, allowing her the time off work in a show of support and solidarity against the deeply unpopular war. Doris gradually pulled herself up out of her depression through motivation to be well for her son and through the love and support of her friends and coworkers. Mark's mother also proved to be an invaluable source of comfort for her. When her son was born, she wanted to name him after his father but knowing she didn't want to be reminded of that pain every time she called his name, settled on the name Michael.
Unfortunately, she adamantly demanded a lengthy maternity leave to care for her newborn son and, after already taking so much time off to grieve during her pregnancy, her employer refused and she left her beloved job. She never once regretted that decision. Doris begrudgingly moved into her parent's house, unable to support herself in Manhattan as a single, unemployed mother. She constantly fought with her parents, miserable in the conservative, deeply religious environment in which she was raised. When she told her parents she didn't want to baptize Michael, they went and did it behind her back.
Ultimately, Doris managed to find secretarial work at another company and again started at the bottom. She continued participating in the culture of NYC and the feminist movement as much as she could, but she was deeply committed to her son and any time for herself and her own desires quickly dwindled until they diminished altogether alongside her youth.
Doris was deeply protective of her son, often in an overbearing way. She knew what it was like to experience loss and was desperately afraid of losing her own boy. In doing so, she ultimately pushed him away. Michael grew up resentful of his mother and grieving for a father he had never known. Doris, hard working and quick witted as she was, rapidly progressed in her professional life as well. This culminated in her often being away working and, when she was home, only have time to focus on ensuring her son's success. She showed her love through constant cooking and cleaning and doting, but often failed to express it in more meaningful actions or deeper conversations beyond just empty compliments and overly sweet sentiment.
This combined with the fact Michael was a naturally hot-headed person eager to pick a fight and hold a grudge led him to leave home at 18. He seldom called and almost never visited, a trend that would continue throughout his life. This caused Doris immense happiness. As she aged she also began to feel less sexually objectified and desired by men, something she was also unfamiliar with. This new reality caused her to look to food to comfort, figuring she wouldn't be desirable anyways. Doris ate her feelings, her loneliness, and her mourning for a life that never really was everything she wanted it to be. She started working less hard at her job and ultimately entered a very unhappy portion of her life.
It was during this time that she met Jonathan. Jonathan showed her an attention she hadn't had for years and never thought she would experience again. He was older than she was and he was deeply charming. She was reluctant that any man could still find her sexually attractive, but sure enough Jonathan showed her a kind of lust she thought she would never experience again. He had been visiting New York on an extended vacation and ultimately asked Doris to return with him to his home in Lexington, Kentucky. Michael had moved to Austin, Texas anyways and Doris was contemplating moving closer to him anyways, so she accepted and left her New York existence behind. When Jonathan proposed a month later, Doris accepted.
She was blinded by the concept of being in love again. So blinded, she couldn't see who Jonathan really was. As soon as they were married, he stopped trying to hide it. His charm was a façade covering a dark and cruel personality fueled by alcoholism. It didn't start all at once. He'd drink too much and would insult her, calling her horrible names and saying awful things. But the next day, once he was sobered up, he would be charming old Jonathan again, doting on her and buying her jewelry that made her feel young and beautiful again. She got more deeply ensnared in his trap. It wasn't until six months into their marriage where she talked back to him that Doris saw the full extent of his wrath. Jonathan beat her hard, and through this beating Doris remembered who she was. She remembered that she was the woman who left her Catholic childhood behind to start a life she wanted to live. She was the woman who raised a child alone in New York City. She was the woman who didn't take shit from anyone.
Doris left in the middle of the night, going to a woman's shelter for help. She stayed there for a little while trying to figure out what to do next, terrified Jonathan would come after her. Finally, she found work sewing custom sweaters in Louisville, far enough away she hopefully wouldn't have to worry about Jonathan finding her. She continued this for some time until the sewing began to hurt her wrists too much and she retired. Every Christmas she saw Michael and his children and Doris lived for these visits. She wanted to see them much more, but she could see how Michael barely tolerated her presence, even if her grandbabies loved having her around.
Doris eventually moved into a retirement home, paying for it from her savings. She became close friends with a lot of the other women there, became an avid bridge player, and started watching a lot of light hearted sitcoms. While the home was cheap and uncomfortable, she found great comfort within it and the company she kept there. When the outbreak hit, a bus offered to drive all the retirees to Muldraugh. Doris, not one to give up her own independence, still kept and maintained a car. She went to meet them there, hoping this all would be sorted out very quickly. After all, she was participating in a bridge tournament next week.
Would you like your character to start with any items?
No
Would you like to be placed in a random group at the start of the lore?
Yes
Is your character a member of a group application?
No
Group Members
N/A
