Henry Elsner

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***I was certain my love was still alive. I heard the colors of his voice in the radio, I swear.'* -Nancy referring to Henry**

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## General Information

### Relationships

Nancy Elsner (former friend, wife)Frances Elsner (mother)

Junior (father)

Patty Rosalind (neighbor, friend)

Ray Barnett (acquaintance)

## COMMUNICATIONS-Specific Details

### Form of communciation

Typewriter/letters

Henry was a character who appeared in Case 1 (COMMUNICATIONS) in the song BLACK & WHITE. He was married to Nancy Elsner and worked full-time as a journalist. He is portrayed by Dex

## Appearance

Henry has brown hair, green eyes, and a light skin complexion. He wears a gray suit with a pink tie covered in white polka dots.

## Lore/Background

Henry was born to Frances Elsner, a 19 year old girl in 1923. Henry was verbally abused by Frances, with her often telling Henry that she wanted him to die and that when that day happens, she'll be happy. Sometimes Frances even physically abused Henry, throwing alcohol bottles at him when she was drunk or rubbing cigarettes onto his skin, making it leave burns, she would sometimes slap Henry as well. Despite his mother treating him poorly, she was clingy towards him, since he was the only person she had. Henry was an outcast at school, mainly from his mother tearing his friendships apart. He meets a girl who was also an outcast named Nancy O'Connell. The two became friends, with Henry being fascinated with her chromesthesia (synesthesia), thinking that Nancy had magical powers. Eventually Frances finds out and tries to tear apart their friendship by not letting Henry go out of the house unless it was for school. Despite this, Henry and Nancy see each other in secret, with their friendship growing stronger through the years. Henry and Nancy were there for each other during one's ups and downs.

## Personality

Henry is described as a shy, friendly, and down to earth guy. He loved to do writing and had a passion for it. Despite having a happy life with Nancy once he cut ties with Frances, he often has flashbacks and nightmares relating to his abusive childhood, however this wasn't present in the original story.

## Role in COMMUNICATIONS CASE ONE

In the original story, Henry becomes friends with Nancy which lasts for many years. When the two are older, Nancy suggests the two to marry since they could both get away from their toxic households along with the fact that living together would be perfect for them. Henry says yes and tells Frances about moving out. Frances gets upset about this and tries to manipulate Henry into staying with her. He feels bad but doesn't stay and eventually gets married to Nancy with them moving to Chicago and becoming friends with most of the neighbors (mainly Patty Rosalind). Everything seems good until Nancy realises that Henry could leave her as easy as Frances and began having panic attacks and frequent depressive episodes, with her begging Henry not to leave her. This goes on for months with Henry being reminded of Frances and eventually deciding to leave Nancy. The day before, he quits his job as a journalist and packs up his things. A day passes and Henry gets out of bed at night when Nancy is sleeping. He grabs his suitcase and goes downstairs, he feels bad for leaving Nancy and types a letter with his reasoning for it. Afterwards, he decides to get a glass of water, with Nancy eventually catching him since she woke up with him being gone. Nancy grabs a knife from the kitchen drawer and slashes Henry's throat. His body is dragged to the basement where he stays until months later, Patty Rosalind discovers Henry and Nancy's bodies.

In the revised story, Henry becomes friends with Nancy which lasts for many years. When the two are older, Nancy suggests the two to marry since they could both get away from their toxic households along with the fact that living together would be perfect for them. Henry says yes and tells Frances about moving out. Frances gets upset about this and tries to manipulate Henry into staying with her. He feels bad but doesn't stay and eventually gets married to Nancy. Everything is great with Nancy and Henry moving to Chicago and moving into a house. The two becoming friends with most of the neighbors (mainly Patty Rosalind). Henry meets a person named Ray Barnett who lives in the neighborhood. Ray tried talking to Henry while he walks to work but Henry avoids them due to their cigarette smoking which reminded him of Frances. Henry also began having many flashbacks and nightmares relating to Frances' abuse. Eventually one day, Frances called Nancy asking if she can stay in touch with Henry, which Nancy asked Henry about. Despite being disturbed by it, he agrees since not only does he want to mend his relationship with Frances, he thinks this would help his flashbacks and nightmares go away, along with Nancy and Frances finally getting along as mother and daughter in-law. Things go well for the next few months until Frances began telling Nancy and Henry lies, telling Henry that Nancy said she will hurt herself or Henry if he leaves her. He doesn't believe her but the thought scares him, he along with Nancy hold their tongues for weeks until they talk things out and conclude that what Frances was saying is bogus. Henry eventually snaps, calls Frances, and gives her a piece of his mind. The whole neighborhood hears this, including Ray. A week passes and Henry wakes up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water. While doing so, Ray slowly walks up to him and slashes his throat with his vision fading as he smelled cigarette smoke linger throughout the kitchen. Henry bleeds out and dies with Ray dragging his body into the basement and playing Nancy's radio. Henry gets discovered by Nancy the next day and a whole case on his murder begins. Many weeks pass with no suspect and the police eventually leaves the case "Unsolved".