Description:
― hair: brunette, wavy, wind-swept, cause it's easier to deal with that way.
― body: Medium built with muscle tone. He works out now since he's determined to not look like a donut in his uniform.
― skin: He doesn't have that deep olive tone of his mother's Greek bloodline, but instead carries his the light tones of a Spanish native. At least the Cuban side of him keeps him deeply tanned without burning to a crisp in the sun. He has very faint scars, some not so much, down the left side of his body; mostly down his leg, arm, a large one around his ribs, and the few scars are hidden within his beard and hairline. All due to the car wreck he had several years ago.
― clothing style: He's comfortable in dark tones, tees with blazers and dark blue jeans, Vans rather than dress shoes. But, always a soldier, he's looks just as comfortable in any uniform he dawns.
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 242 lbs
Personality: Calm, composed, clever, creative, collective, comfortable...but can be a bit sporadic, a live wire when out and about within his natural environment with his trusty camera. That's his Cuban side slipping out of place. It's a rare occurrence, but one that can be easily spotted when any spicy music is of earshot or a dramatic scene before he calls forth his camera. Silas is one who blends into a crowd but doesn't hide behind anyone when the spotlight's on him. He's content both ways but prefers to be the one behind the camera rather than before it.
Likes/Dislikes:
Beer: He has a passion for exotic brewed beers. He'll span the globe for an original or unique flavored beer. Don't get him wrong, he enjoys a nice wine every now and then; but prefers the hearty, robust aromas and taste of a well designed, long-standing, out of this world, ancient home-brewed beer.
Culture: His passion for the exotic runs throughout everything in his life, from food, music, fashion, cars, languages...everything. He prefers new experiences and views of his world. Can speak several languages (Spanish, Greek, Mandarin, Korean, Tagalog. Learning Japanese and Italian.)
Music: With Cuban and Greek blood flowing through him, Silas is very keen on The Arts, on passionate moments, beauty seen and unseen, and sound... And even though he's devoted his life to the grotesque world of forensic science, he keeps it balanced with his love of glorious sound and visual beauty. Music of all kinds that speaks within him, that moves his hips and brings a smile to his feet - that's another passion of his that is somewhat difficult for such a reserved person to contain. (Yet, he does try to, and would never admit to even his closest friends.) Can play Acoustic Spanish Guitar.
Nature: Rural or Urban, as long as his camera appeals to it, so does he. But, one thing he cannot manage to capture is the emotion of fear, anger, hatred, and neglect. Silas has a soft spot for injustice - can't stand to see a person suffering, being abused, mistreated... And he's bypassed many photojournalist jobs to avoid shooting such scenes. He can't handle it; he grows furiously angry, heartbrokenly mad, and would probably jump to the rescue and land himself in jail if he's not careful. His weakness for the underdog awakens the one flaw he hates about himself - his temper.
Negative Trait:
He carries that Cuban passion and Greek temper - not a good combination for both fuels the other. Silas has enough control within himself to hold back from those he love and respect, to contain his emotions when it's vitally necessary. But, when it comes to strangers or the innocent in trouble, or when his family and friends are threatened, there's no need for control in his eyes. That's when he becomes reckless and dangerous. But still, Silas tries his best to not go overboard, knowing that will only make matters worse.
Silas Rampersad lived a strict Marine Brat life when his family relocated to Aurora when he was 10. Life was well with his sweet but hard-as-nails mom, his older and younger sisters, and his war-hardened father who always pounded him about following in his Marine boot steps like his older sister Danielle. Silas finally broke down and joined the Navy instead – just to piss his dad off. He only made him happier to have a son who serves.
Graduating Aurora High School a year and a half early with 2 years of college credits, Silas quickly became a Chief Warrant Officer under the CBRNE Defense Department (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Defense), which sparked his interest in Biochemistry and Forensic Science. After five years of serving, and finishing college with a Bachelor's degree in Forensics, he left with ambitions to work for the FBI in Flagstaff, Arizona.
That opportunity never came.
Silas and a few of his Navy brothers had planned to backpack through Asia. It was a photo goldmine for Silas and a chance for his best friend, Young Woo, to visit his homelands he was slowly learning more about. It was an adventure for the sheer fun of brotherhood and personal rediscovery. So, with the savings that they all collected, contacts through Silas' younger sister, Felicia, and online friends around China and Hong Kong Young Woo had always kept up with; the five-men team set out to span the globe together. They spent 10 months running around Asia with all they had on their backs. On their return home from the airport, the roads were icy due to a freak arctic storm that slammed the region. A semi-truck had lost control in front of them and began to fishtail, slamming their rental car into the bridge's guard rail that wrapped around the mountainside. Silas was driving.
He thought he could clear the back of the trailer before it hit, but he couldn't stop the car it time. The truck caused an eight-car collision, literally burying their car in a pile of out of control vehicles. It took the rescue crew hours to pull them out of the vehicle - they barely realized their little car was even there.
Silas made it out of the hospital after eight months of care and rehabilitation for his broken left leg, left arm, minor skull fractures down the left side of his face, and several internal injuries. But his friends did not survive, for the passenger side of the vehicle was mauled by the guard rail and mountainside and the various cars that pilled behind them crushed the back end of their car.
It was a miracle that Silas survived… That's what people say. Silas didn't think so. He fell into a rather serious depression, ignoring everything he's ever cared about because the heavy guilt of losing his Navy brothers tore him apart. He dropped his dreams for the FBI because he just didn't care anymore. His family moved him from Arizona into his parents' home back in Aurora, so they could keep an eye on him. His sisters did all they could to keep him socializing and get out of the house, but there were times that it was physically painful for him to leave and enjoy life. He felt like he didn't deserve any of it.
One day, Silas's parents received a call about his sister Felicia that changed everything - and perhaps saved his life.
His youngest sister, Felicia, suffered major burns over 48% of her body and minor injuries when a pressure valve collapse on one of the large containment chambers at the chemical plant she was working at. She went through decontamination, several surgeries, and skin grafts, as well as rehabilitation for the damage she'd sustained. Her husband, Derrick, was with her 24/7 assisting and training on how to care for her, renovating their home to be handicap accessible, and just being by her side. They have a five-year-old son, Braydon, who has only seen his mother once since the accident. Derrick's parents are dead. Silas and Felicia's parents were the only people able to care for their son, but they were up in age and not quite physically able to keep up with a child all the time.
Silas began to assist his parents in watching his nephew until the renovations to his sister's home were done. Because of his nephew, Silas needed to snag a job to care for the extra bills that come with caring for a child. His parents' home was also mighty small, so when he gained a position in the city on their Police Department's Forensics Team, he didn't hesitate to take it. Soon, he moved to a nice apartment close by, which gave him and Bray enough space to chill.
Silas and his parents have cared for Bray for four years so far, while his sister recuperated. Everything was going great for them, and Felicia was soon set to return home at the end of this year. The sudden disappearances began, forcing Silas's hours at work heightened, especially when the Chief gave him a raise along with a new position – assisting the Aurora's Sheriff's Department with the odd cases that were quickly piling up as of late. He truly didn't care to change positions; he was quite comfortable in his laboratory, dealing with various oddities within evidence to find clues to the bigger picture. But when Braydon and his babysitter didn't return home one night after baseball practice, with no call to him or his parents about any change in plans, Silas decided it was best to get involved; the sooner, the better.
Parents: Augusto Rampersad and Carlotta Morales
Siblings: Danielle Rebeka Marie Rampersad (33) - Marine Sergeant/Intelligence & Communications
Felicia Marie Consuelo Rampersad-Hines (29) - Chemical Engineering
Married to Derrick Alexander Hines (32) - Aerospace Engineer
Son - Braydon Augustus Hines (9)
