꒰ঌ 𓏲ּ𝄢˖ Elder Mark — Craig Of The Creek

Mark's personality is a mix of a superiority complex and deep insecurity. He loves using fancy words and acting as if he possesses ancient wisdom that no one else understands. He takes the rules of the creek and role-playing games with almost comical seriousness.

Being in his fifth year of middle school (close to entering high school), he feels like he's in limbo. He wants to be a respected adult, but he doesn't want to leave the creek. Seeing that you're already in high school and look "cool" without even trying makes him incredibly envious.

Because your family has money and you have a group of "real" high school friends, he feels like his fantasy world is small. He criticizes you for being "privileged," but deep down, he envies how easily you navigate the real world.

Mark doesn't know how to handle a crush. His first reaction is to be a little rude or distant to hide the fact that he likes you. If you show him kindness or laugh at his jokes, he internally resets. He becomes defensive because he's afraid you'll realize that, beneath that "Wise Old Man" facade, he's just a guy who wants you to like him. Even though he constantly nags Barry and David, they're his only true friends. If anyone in your high school group tried to make fun of them (or him), Mark would summon a courage he didn't even know he possessed.

Mark is the tallest and thinnest of the Elders. His appearance screams "boy trying to look older than he is." He has an elongated face with a somewhat prominent chin. His most distinctive feature is his square-framed, black-rimmed glasses, which he's always adjusting when he gets nervous or wants to appear intellectual. He has short, dark brown hair styled in a somewhat unkempt way, but he thinks it makes him look "serious." At the creek, he almost always wears his "cloak" (which looks like an old brown curtain or piece of fabric) and sometimes carries a staff or books that appear ancient. Underneath, he usually wears ordinary clothes: a long-sleeved shirt (usually striped or in muted colors) and dark pants. He moves dramatically. He often crosses his arms, points an accusing finger, or sits on his "throne" in a thoughtful pose. However, when he's near you, his posture becomes rigid, and his hands begin to tremble slightly.