[IG][P] Carlton Lassiter of blue/brown Xylith

[Carlton Lassiter]

Age: 40
Gender: Male
Rank: Weyrling
Fandom: Psych
Canon Pull Point: Between episodes 3x15 "Tuesday the 17th" and 3x16 "An Evening with Mr. Yang"

Appearance:



Carlton is a tall, lanky fellow. He's thin with a decent amount of muscle – he has to be in shape for his job as Head Detective. Carlton is obviously used to being in a position of authority; his shoulders are usually squared, head held high, and he moves with confidence – quickly, focused on where he's going and what he's got to get done. Almost everything Carlton does has a purpose to it. Aimless wandering and small twitches don't suit him.

Carlton is pale with dark hair. His hair is cut short, meant to be kept out of his eyes and out of his way which has the unfortunate side effect of highlighting his large-ish ears that angle out away from his head. His hair is starting to go gray around the temples, in his sideburns, facial hair, and body hair. His eyes are bright blue, and there are often bags under his eyes from sleepless nights. His nose is like a small beak, curved out and down over the firm line of his mouth.

Carlton, in his home territory, almost always dresses formally. Suit and tie or khakis and a polo shirt – comfort always comes after presentation, and there's a very real sense that it's what he's all about. Despite his expressive face that easily conveys whatever he's feeling at the time, he always pushes it to the side and maintains careful control.

Personality: Upon meeting Carlton, many people are likely to notice the frown on his face and the grumpiness that seems to hang over him like a rain cloud. He seems to be overly serious and severely lacking when it comes to a sense of humor, and most people will, likely, be put off by him. He's very direct and very intolerant of people who aren't. In fact, he seems to be plainly intolerant of most people, often giving gruff responses or snapping harshly. He expects things to be done properly and on time, and he's not at all shy about taking charge and doing what he has to in order to overcome the obstacles in his way.

That being said, Carlton is a man of many insecurities, and if one looks closely, they can see the cracks in his mask. He desperately wants to be liked, and he hates himself for wanting the approval of others. His amount self-loathing is incredible. He never forgets his mistakes and never forgives them, and the fact that he wants desperately to be wanted makes him feel awful for being at all needy and dependent on others while at the same time making him despair because, deep down, he feels like there's not a chance in hell anyone would ever want him. He pretends otherwise – he flirts with people he's interested in, he organizes and attends social events despite his lack of popularity, and he tries to be likable. It's very hard for him, and he often doesn't succeed, driving people away when he's trying to make friends.

It doesn't help that Carlton is very strict and severe. Once he knows the rules, he adheres to them and expects everyone else to as well. He doesn't allow himself many interests – he's a cop first and a person second. If he can be practicing at the firing range or working overtime on cases that need his attention, he'd be itching to be sitting at home alone doing nothing productive with his time. He's interested in history, the Wild West, firearms, and fishing, but it's like he's poured the entirety of his energies into just those areas and it can make him a dull companion if people don't force him out of his shell.

In spite of his controlling, careful personality, that's what Carlton likes in the people he spends time with. Yes, he enjoys being the person in power, but he prefers the company of people who challenge him. He's extremely competitive and enjoys competition. He sees it as a way to better himself, to perform his best, and if it edges every now and then into childish games territory, he doesn't mind. In spite of all other appearances, he is capable of fun. It just takes special people for him to let his guard down and really be himself. He's too afraid of being hurt – he's a paranoid pessimist on the best of days and on the worst he genuinely believes that everyone is out to ruin his happiness. So he errs on the side of caution, keeping to himself and pushing others away. Friendships for him are almost accidents, people who slipped past his defenses without his noticing.

Getting Carlton to let go is damn near impossible. He's too proud to embarrass himself willingly or let his guard down around someone he doesn't think deserves it. When pushed too hard or when he isn't treated with respect, he often responds with anger and threats of violence. If he feels like he's in a position of power, he'll even manhandle people away for private conversations where he makes it known that he is in charge, and he will be obeyed.

However, the other side of the coin is a fiercely determined, protective, intelligent man who cares more deeply about the people around him than he lets on. He's a cop for a reason – justice must be served to keep people safe. He may be oblivious at times, and he doesn't show his care for others often. He may appear severe, intense, grouchy, unpleasant, and too uptight for his own good. But anything Carlton is a part of, he puts all of himself in, and, given time to earn his trust and respect, a good man is waiting to show his true colors.

History: Carlton was born the middle of three children in an Irish Catholic family. Both of his parents weren't very active in his young life – Carlton's father wasn't around, and his mother had to work often and late to fill in the gaps he left. As such, she didn't have a lot of time to do the raising, so Carlton was often left on his own, with his younger sister and older brother.

He attended a Catholic school where he was often in trouble with the nuns who taught him to be strict with himself and with others. He became quite serious, most of his humor and fun being pushed down until the weekends when his mother dropped Carlton off at a tourist trap known as Old Sonora, a town replicating the Old West. It wasn't long before he became good friends with the owner and family friend who looked after him on the weekends, "Sheriff" Hank. Hank instilled in him a love of the past, a respect for law enforcement, and an adoration of horses – all of which he still carries with him.

As Carlton grew older, he began to get restless, having very little direction and no one to turn to for help. His older brother left as soon as he was old enough, taking his truck and getting out of town to head off on wild adventures, aimlessly rambling. The frustration led Carlton down some dangerous paths. A fight with a group of his peers landed him an encounter with Detective John Fenich (who would later be the Chief of Police) who realized that Carlton wasn't a bad kid. He just needed someone to point the way. Stepping in as another father figure alongside Hank, Fenich convinced Carlton to consider the police academy. Carlton completed a college undergraduate program while majoring in Criminology and enrolled in the police academy in Santa Barbara after. He graduated second in his class and began to work as a uniformed cop serving the city that had raised him. After several years of experience, he earned a Master's Degree of Criminal Justice.

While still in college, Carlton met a Pre-Law student named Victoria Parker. They dated each other throughout college, and he proposed to her shortly after graduation. They were married a few years after he became a full-fledged officer. Carlton was madly in love with her, blind to their problems until Victoria eventually suggested a separation. She began dating another man not long after he moved out.

Carlton, already a workaholic thanks to his desired promotion to Detective and his dream goal of eventually taking over as police chief for Fenich, drowned himself in his work. He took late hours, too many cases, and spent hours going over evidence with a fine-toothed comb. He proved himself to be damn good at what he chose to do with his life (earning him a promotion to Head Detective), and he did everything he could to continue being a good husband.

After failed attempts at marriage counseling and everything else Victoria offered for him to try that he did whole-heartedly, he eventually began having a secret affair with his partner, Lucinda Barry. It was cut short by the arrival of Shawn Spencer into his life.

Spencer, a so-called psychic (though Carlton didn't believe him for a minute) discovered that Lucinda and Carlton were having an affair, and Lucinda transferred elsewhere once it was revealed. Carlton was assigned a Junior Detective to train – Juliet O'Hara. Unfortunately for him, he was also forced to work on a regular basis with Spencer and his partner in crime, Burton Guster. Where Carlton stuck to the rules, they went out of their way to do everything but, and they somehow managed to get results faster than he could while using the strict police protocol to which he adhered.

Annoyances they were – all of them in their own way – but they somehow became constants in his life. For the next three years, he was stuck with them. Recently, after being framed for the murder of a prisoner in police custody, Spencer and Guster helped clear his name. After a showdown with a dirty cop in which both he and Spencer's lives were threatened and nearly lost, he came to appreciate them in his own way, though he remained convinced that there was no place for shenanigans during a police investigation. He had also seen O'Hara develop into a good cop and detective, and he had become quite fond of her as a partner.

The night before he dropped out of the world, Carlton had a meeting with his estranged wife. He was hoping for a reconciliation and had been ready to jump back into their marriage. Instead, Victoria served him divorce papers which he, reluctantly, signed. He then proceeded to get drunk out of his mind as the only three people he had come to think of as sort-of friends were out of town and out of reach.



Color: Green
Sex: Female
{Fighter}

Appearance:



Sonora is a bizarre creature to behold. As thick bodied as her Bronze mother, she tends more to the chubby side of things instead of the stereotypical agile build of other Greens. Her legs are short, giving her an awkward, waddling gait on the ground. Her paws are small and dainty, with chubby little toes and soft claws that aren't quite as long as they should be. Her wings are thin and short, allowing her to make quick turns and make up for her bulk in the air. Her tail is extremely long, perfectly for wrapping around wrists and necks when she feels extra affectionate. Or for sticking in peoples eyes and smacking Lassie with while he's trying to sleep. Either or.

Sonora's face is a bit more lovely then her body. Her face is dainty, with round cheeks and a small muzzle that nevertheless manages to hide her fangs from sight. Her eyes are small compared to the rest of her face, and have a dark rim that almost resembles eyeliner. Her eye ridges, however, are heavy, thick and low hung. She isn't the most attractive firelizard in the world, but she certainly carries herself like she is.

Personality: Daddy's little princess is what this little beauty fancies herself as. Spoiled and vain straight out of the egg, this Green knows what she wants. What she wants is, of course, everything. That shiny thing that Lassie found? She must have it! She won't stop whining until she gets it. She expects the best food, the comfiest places to sleep and the most love of all the flits in the world. Despite this, she isn't prone to hoarding things when she could share. She wants all the things, but she also wants to share them with her owner. Pretty prizes will be brought to her master for inspection, and she will be always watching after his moods. She is an affectionate creature, sneaking a little 'kiss'-lick on Lassie's nose whenever he isn't paying enough attention to ward her off. She absolutely adores her master, and she expects the same back. Luckily for Carlton, she can quite literally read his mind and won't require shows of affection.

This Green is unfortunately easy to fool. Her fair mates will always be making off with her food and prizes, as this green is neither the sharpest tool in the shed nor the most jaded. She regards the world with optimistic innocence. Every flit is a potential friend, and every human is a potential food giver. Carlton would be wise to keep her nearby, so that his firelizard is not eaten by an opportunistic wher. She is oblivious to the dislike of others, and ignores it when she realizes that she is not wanted. The silly people obviously don't know that they need her around! She does her very best to help those around her, even though her attempts at 'helping' are mostly just bringing her food or showing them pretty trinkets. She is easily upset by those around her being troubled, and will work herself into a tizzy if she can't make them happy.

Once she matures, her vanity will come back in full force. Most of her time will be spent grooming, and she will make her distaste of getting dirty clear. Perhaps the only sure way to dispose of her temporarily will be to go somewhere dirty, as the mere thought of marring her hide with mud will send her screeching to the safety of Lassie's cot. She will even try to clean her owner and fair mates, likely to the annoyance of the former. Social to the end, this little firelizard will turn into quite the flirt, especially if the male she has her eye on is willing to play to her ego. She is at her happiness when around other firelizards, though she is quite happy to curl up with her owner. Amusingly enough, she seems to think dragons are just huge, smart firelizards and is quite willing to include them in her fair. In fact, she seems to adore dragons even more then firelizards. They're great napping spots.

Despite her willingness to help and attachment to her master, training this green will be a monumental task. She isn't particularly intelligent and often gets confused if things aren't explained to her clearly, and she's convinced that she knows what is best. She will even 'sass' Lassie a bit, responding to orders with little grumbles and whines before eventually listening. It will be easy enough to train her to be polite around others, but tricks may take a long time indeed. She is not food or toy motivated, making training her even more difficult. However, Sonora has a surprising competitive streak. Training her alongside another firelizard will not only help her figure out what the humans are trying to say but serve as one of her very few forms of motivation.



Color: Blue/Brown
Sex: Male
Age: Hatchling

Appearance: Coming from the largest egg of his clutch, it’s no wonder that Xylith will grow to the largest – color proportionate. At adulthood, this little boy will grow to 23 meters. Most of his lineage seems to come from his mother – from a more stocky form, to his coloring; Xylith seems to take after Riklith’s image. His form is stocky for a blue, with strong shoulders that taper off into powerful wings and a shorter neck. With a small under bite and shorter head knobs, however, Xylith’s image ties up neatly and doesn’t leave him looking a bit strange.

His hide, as a whole, is a deep rich blue; it varies in depth and tones in certain spots, with darker areas and lighter areas that give it more dimensions. The secondary color comes in the form of a full body sienna freckling pattern – in some areas; these freckles are more concentrated and larger, looking almost like spots; especially around his shoulders and the crown of his sharp head. Yet in some areas, these freckles are nothing more than pinpoints and speckles, scattered especially over his ankles and muzzle bridge.

Personality: Xylith is as varied as his hide – there’s the base of what most people see, and there are the depth you have to be close to view.

It’s almost painfully obvious, right from the get-go, how Xylith puts himself second. It’s almost achingly sweet how self-sacrificing he is, putting any other before himself. In practice, if someone else wants to go before hand, he’ll allow them. He’ll give up food to a pleading pair of facets. An overly-trusting personality already, Carlton will have to watch and make sure Xylith doesn’t get himself trampled or taken advantage of for such a sacrificing manner.

As a whole, this blue boy can be innately sweet. It combines well with his natural bluntness, and when he delivers a compliment or praise its easy to tell it was fully meant. An optimist in the truest sense without being ridiculously so, Xylith looks for some good in any situation – anything to make a bad thing have some speck of goodness. He’s supportive, giving advice and reassurances where they’re needed, though he wont pull punches if he disagrees with whatever is going on.

When it comes to Carlton, there is nothing but pure love and devotion to his rider. He’s taken it as his personal mission to know he’ll always love Carlton, and try and patch up the cracks others have done to his rider before they were finally brought together. Xylith’s innate sense of where to push and where to pull back seems tailor-made in handling his rider. Knowing when to push and encouraging Carlton, but knowing when to withdraw to not upset him. He loves his pessimistic, grumpy rider and would never dream of changing him, but wants to help make him happier.