Cassandra Aldric

Cassandra Aldric
Portrayed By	Maggie Gyllenhaal
Gender	Female
Date of Birth	July 16th, 1979
Age	28
Zodiac Sign	Cancer
Aliases	Cass, Cassie, only her father calls her Cassandra
Place of Birth	Buffalo, NY, USA
Current Location	New York City, NY, USA
Occupation	Owner of Enlightenment Books
Known Relatives	Dr. Aldric (Father), Mrs. Aldric (Mother)
Significant Other	Lachlan Deatley
Known Abilities	None
First Appearance	Self-Help and Mid-Life Crisis

Cassandra Aldric is the newest owner of Enlightenment Books in the East Village. It's a bookstore that specializes in the esoteric and the occult. And, yes, indeed, it does carry Activating Evolution by Chandra Suresh.

History

Born in Buffalo, New York, Cassandra Aldric was always a good student, if a little eccentric in her friends and her activities. Her family moved a lot because of her father's work. As a child she went from Buffalo to New York City and then finally they settled in Hartsdale, where Cass spent most of her teenage years. After high school she went to a state college for psychology, which she excelled in. Once she graduated, she found herself at a loss. She didn't really want to be a therapist, but she wasn't sure what she wanted to do next. After a short break where she tried to figure out her footing, she finally decided to follow in the footsteps of her father, a prominent doctor. Unbeknownst to her, after a few unsuccessful years as a private practice doctor, he joined up as a lower level doctor for the Company after their move to New York. He worked his way up and is now a fairly prominent doctor and researcher at the Hartsdale facility.

She applied to med school and was accepted at Columbia University in New York City. However, once there, she wasn't all that happy with the med school environment. It was too serious and to rigid for her tastes. Everything was too high stress and everyone took themselves far too seriously. After two years, and to the great disappointment of her father, she dropped out.

One again, Cass was at a loss of what to do. Her father refused to pay for another degree unless it was for her to go back to medical school. Needing rent money, she started working for a small occult bookshop in the East Village by the name of Enlightenment Books. Thomas, the owner, wasn't looking to hire anyone, but he took a liking to Cass and let her stay on. He was getting older and didn't have any family and was starting to have a difficult time with the physical labor needed to keep a bookstore run. After three years of working in the bookshop with Thomas, she came into the shop one day to find him dead on the floor. Though she called 911 and tried to resuscitate him, it was no use. He was announced DOA of natural causes.

The bigger surprise for Cass was when she was called by Thomas' lawyer and was told that the store and all of his money was left to her. It was by no means a lot of savings, but she no longer had to pinch pennies or scrounge thrift stores for her clothes.

Timeline

To view Cass' past timeline, go here!

August 2007

• August 21st: McAlister comes by Bat Country again for more information about her training. Once home to tend to a sick Scotsman, she gets insight into one of Lachlan's phobias.
• August 24th: Back from Spain, Elena and Eric stop by Enlightenment for a catch up of what has been going on lately. It includes telling the two of Cass and Lachlan's engagement, gifts from Spain, finding out about Gene's illness, as well as Elena finding out where Peter has been lately. Later, during a particularly gripping episode of One Life to Live, she text messages Nathan excitedly.
• August 29th: When Elena needs a place to stay, Cass gives her the spare key to her apartment. Unfortunately, Lachlan scars the girl for life when he (unaware that she was going to be staying) steps out of the bathroom naked after a shower.

Relationships

Family

++ Family

Family

Dr Aldric - Cass' father. He's the reason why she went to med school. He's been a Company man her entire life, but she had no idea until she started asking questions about the Evolved. When her friends were kidnapped, he's the one she went to to try and negotiate their release. While she doesn't quite trust him like she did before, he's her father and she loves him. She'll always be Daddy's little girl.

Mrs. Aldric - Cass' mother. Though she does love her mother, she's really more her father's child.

Friends

++ Friends

Friends

Lachlan Deatley - Cass met Lachlan at a bar where he had the Squaring the Circle necklace laid out. With the intention of helping Ramon, she lured the Scot back to her store and then attempted to steal it. So began their odd relationship. After meeting again, the two exchanged numbers and the day after, he awkwardly asked her out. Somehow, their dates always managed to stumble upon a lot of violence. Despite that, she developed a real fondness for him and his obvious affection for her. Their relationship hit a large snag when she learned he was cheating on her. They started to rebuild, but then a night of drinking and Eliana's gas made him slip up again. Only puppy dog eyes and how shaken up at the idea of losing her saved their semi-relationship. After Jaden's benefit, the two finally seemed to put things aside and start working again. Their relationship faced another test when Elena's powers caused Cass and Nathan to kiss. The two worked through it, however Lachlan ended up in jail for punching Nathan in the face. Obviously, there is work to be done. Despite their obvious differences, Cass finds Lachlan extraordinarily comforting and really cares about him. In fact, she loves him, made all the more clear by her agreeing to marry him.

Nima Jones - The two have been friends for years. Similar in attitudes and temperaments, they have a Trash TV night and she's one of the few people that Cass feels comfortable openly talking about personal problems.

Ramon Gomez - Their friendship is one that may not make sense to onlookers - a devout Catholic and an Occult Bookshop owner. However, Cass' friendship with Ramon is very important to her. They look out for each other and, while he does try to protect her, he also doesn't think that she's breakable. From the first time they met, Cass has been involved in the search for the man who killed his wife by doing research for him. They didn't talk for awhile after Jaden's benefit fiasco, but they've since picked up their friendship again and are determined to find the Alchemist.

Lee Jones - Merely being Nima's twin brother makes him a part of her life. But, as he's a separate identity from Nima, so is his relationship with Cass. Cass loves to tease him and rib him about his whiny nature.

Benjamin Winters - Nervous and shy, Cass enjoys Benjamins company. He's come into the store a couple times and looks like he just needs someone to pull him out of his shell. While she doesn't see the accountant very often (and has no idea of his Company affiliation) she considers him a friend.

Eliana Pasternack - There the night that she met Lachlan, the two bonded over Eliana's writing aspirations. When she was kidnapped by the Company, Cass tried to negotiate with her father for her release (along with Hiro's and Jane's). Later, after she thought Jack was cheating on her, she accidentally gassed Lachlan and the two ended up sleeping together. . They talked and sort of made up after that, but she hasn't seen much of the pink haired girl lately.

Nathan Petrelli - Peter's brother. The two met in a bar after they both had some relationship trouble and ended up getting drunker than they already were together. Since he had no place to stay, she offered him her couch. The two passed out and ended up on the floor (though nothing happened between them). Lachlan found them like that the next day and a fight occurred. It was resolved, for the most part, and when both Peter and Cass were in the hospital, he stopped by her room. She likes Nathan and can't help but see the good and caring side of him. She kind of sees him as a wounded bird that she'd like to help. The only time the two managed to meet without one or both of them being on drugs or alcohol, they were accidentally drugged by Elena and kissed. While Cass doesn't blame Nathan for it and still considers him a friend, she's embarrassed by it.

Niki Sanders - The two actually met during a bank robbery when Niki smashed a robber accosting Cass into a wall. The two later met up in a broken down subway and then when Niki wandered into Enlightenment looking for a job (not knowing Cass owned the store). Cass hired her part time. She just recently met Niki's alterego, Jessica, while involved in a tunnel explosion of craziness that has left her very confused. As Jessica, she told Cass that she quit the store. After she found Cass to apologize for what happened, the two came to understandings.

Hiro Nakamura - There when Cass first learned about the Evolved, he explained that the Isaac Mendez painting she had in her store could be dangerous. She willing joined his band of Avengers against the Company in order to help get people out of holding, offering to be their information collector. While she doesn't know Hiro very well, she respects him and considers him a friend. A man who shares her ideals.

Alyssa McAlister - Ali and Cass met at Enlightenment Books and quickly developed a friendship and a working relationship. Currently, Cass is helping Ali control her powers to persuade as well as picking out theme music for their spy-movie like lives.

Heidi Petrelli - The wife of Nathan, Cass first met Heidi while trying to get incriminating footage of Elena in a chicken suit. Heidi gave her a colorful cat beanie baby and the two became friends. They both have a penchant for meddling in order to help friends (whether they want it or not).

Anti-Heroes

++ Anti-Heroes

Anti-Heroes

Elena Gomez - After meeting on the run to help people during the scene of a bus crash, the girls became fast friends and allies in their goals of helping Evolved people. And their distrust of the Company. Cass thinks of Elena much like a little sister and will go to great lengths to protect her. When Cass first had the idea to open up a clinic to help Evolved, Elena's the one she bounced the idea off of. The two share information regularly and Cass tries to make sure the girl doesn't work herself to death.

Jack Derex - Irish and sometimes rude, the two don't always see eye to eye. In fact, they have had heated arguments on more than one occasion. However, he's saved her from a tight situation more than once and Cass is always grateful for that. Not only that, he's proven himself a good friend and one of the few people other than Nima who Cass felt comfortable talking about Lachlan's indiscretions with. He has seen more of Cass than most anyone but Lachlan when he accidentally walked in on a surprise outfit she was wearing for Lachlan. When you can remain friends through that, you know it's a steady relationship.

Eric Walker - Honestly, Cass knows very little about Eric and only really hangs out with him when Elena's around. He seems like a good kid, though.

Jaden Cain - In Cass' mind, this man is pure crack. And totally insane. But in a fun way. His willingness to give Cass space for her clinic and fund it might help with this diagnosis. While he has a short attention span and has this weird idea that he's going to make her wear a super hero costume, she likes his company. Did we mention he's crazy?

Gene Kensington - Though she knows very little about Gene, she already has a fondness for him. He proved himself as a good friend to Elena for driving her to Cass' apartment and he's working on an extraordinarily complex machine to help the Anti's out. He's a little paranoid, though.

Employees

++ Employees

Employees

Alyssa Christianson - Alyssa is a happy-go-lucky woman who Cass hired to help out at the store. She's also recruited her to help with her attempt to find and help Evolved people with their power. Even if Alyssa comes off as wacky, so does Cass at times and so the woman knows that just because someone may act off-kilter doesn't mean that they shouldn't be taken seriously.

Rose Madison - This fast talking music maker helps out around the store, too. Cass likes her take no crap attitude.

Peter Petrelli - Though she'd heard about Peter the first day she found out about Evolved, she only met him much later down the line. The two started something like a friendship after he absorbed a power that shook up her bookstore. He came later to apologize and the two talked about plans for the future. Cass trusts Peter easily, perhaps recognizing a similar desire to do the right thing, and continued to do so even after his having admitted to perhaps entering into a contract with the Company. She's started to help train him in controlling and strengthening his powers and has given her apartment as a safety spot when Peter needed some place to regrow a hand. When Niki quit, she hired him at the store. She considers Peter a very close friend and wants to make sure that he's prepared should Sylar try to attack him again.

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++ ??

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Elle Bishop - Elle kidnapped her friend, electrocuted Cass and helped bring about a ruining of her store. Then, she kidnapped and tortured Elena. Despite having disliked the woman, she has proven herself as wanting forgiveness and given gifts. While Cass was in the hospital, they decided to try as fresh a start as they could.

Mohinder Suresh - Cass' father set up a meeting between Cass and Mohinder when he learned that she was becoming interested in the Evolved. The two started a tenuous friendship, though she didn't trust him because of his involvement in the Company. When it was found out that the rescue was betrayed, she blamed Mohinder and stormed out of his lab. The next time they talked was when they learned that Megan was kidnapped by the Company. He betrayed both she and Lachlan by memory wiping them. If only she could remember.

Enemies

++ Enemies

Enemies

Jessica - Jessica knocked Cass out, eviscerated Peter, and stole her Mendez painting. It's complicated because she still thinks Niki is good person.

Quotes

• Ramon: "I think Miss Aldric's made of too tough stuff to be afraid of a look on someone's face." Cass: "I don't know about tough stuff, but I'm not exactly…squishy."
• "Hey! I didn't mean that much love! I didn't ask you to give me that kind of love!"
• "Where do you think you have the right to just grab my butt? That's rude! And inconsiderate! And not very gentlemanly! The least you could have done is asked!" - While under the influence of Eliana's drugs
• "It's not your fault, Mr. Nakamura. You didn't tell me to stock Activating Evolution. And you didn't give me the painting. But if you /can/ help me from getting killed, I'd be really grateful." - to Hiro after he tells her about New York Apocalypse
• "I like your hair." - to Mohinder when she first meets him
• "What are your feelings on alien abductions, the apocalypse of 2012, and government conspiracies?" - to Niki when she interviews her for a job.
• "So what do we do now, Jack? Become embittered and vow to never trust another man/woman/dog again?" - While discussing being cheated on with Jack
• "Is…is this something you can regenerate? Or do we need to find your hand? Somewhere?" - to Peter after his hand was cut off
• Lachlan: "Di'ye no' read m'letter?" Cass: "I did. It was rather….forceful. Pus-filled has two ls. And 'asses' has two Ss in the middle and one at the end." - about Lachlan's angry letter to the zoo.
• "No, Father, I know. I do. Yes. You know, I think Jesus was pretty awesome, but…no, I kinda like my sin-filled ways. Um, right." - to a priest on the phone, after trying to donate Occult books to his church
• Jack: What happened? Cass: "They had a /huge/ fight over the water fountain out front. I think the ninjas wanted it for a koi pond or something. But the pirates, they claimed it /centuries/ ago. As an /ancient burial ground/ for mutineers. Now they're fighting over the land rights. I think the ninjas are winning because they have stealth on their side. Tell him, Lachlan. You were telling me about the latest pirate attack a second ago." - Cass on morphine
• Jack: "Baby? Didn't know we were on such good—BOOBIES! It's… With the buttcheeks. And the ladybits." Cass: "Don't talk about my buttcheeks! As if they're something you're familiar with!" Jack: "OHGOD! It was an accident! I don't know your buttcheeks, I swear!" Cass: "Stop saying buttcheeks! That…it's /not helping/." - Cass and Jack after he accidentally sees her in lingerie
• "Right. Fierce pillow wielding lady. I'm sure there'll be poems and songs about your valiant fight against her. Alas. Poor Lachlan. We lost him to the vicious cushion filled with feathers. We shall always remember this place as where he fell." - After Cass attacks Lachlan with a pillow.

Trivia

• Her first onscreen words were: "Son of a!" in Self Help and Mid-life Crisis to Benjamin.
• Cass is a speed reader. It's how she gets through all those books in her store in such a short amount of time.
• Has two tattoos. One on her upper arm like so (…um. Hi Benji). Don't mind the other one.
• Is terrified of heights.
• For some reason Cass is both a weirdness and trouble magnet. Since her first appearance, here are the things that have happened to her: She's been in a bank robbery, on the sidewalk when a bus plowed into traffic, hugged a carjacker, been involved in a coffee shop stick up, had a dog die on her desk at Enlightenment, been in Club DnA during a shoot out, has had her store robbed, been robbed at gunpoint when masked men broke into her apartment, was in a tunnel when it exploded, and was on a sidewalk when a car bomb went off. This is why she should not be allowed in scenes with more than three people any more.
• Cass' engagement ring is an ugly thing made of duct tape that Lachlan made on the spot.
• In The Dark Future, Cass is a mom!

Everything Ever

From working at Enlightenment Books, many of her customers have done various personality, astrological and numerological profiles of her over the years. Here are a smattering of what has been found:

Western: Cancer

Eastern: Earth Sheep

Myers-Briggs:

ENFJ

++ ENFJ

Idealist Portrait of the Teacher (ENFJ)

Even more than the other Idealists, Teachers have a natural talent for leading students or trainees toward learning, or as Idealists like to think of it, they are capable of calling forth each learner's potentials. Teachers (around two percent of the population) are able - effortlessly, it seems, and almost endlessly-to dream up fascinating learning activities for their students to engage in. In some Teachers, this ability to fire the imagination can amount to a kind of genius which other types find hard to emulate. But perhaps their greatest strength lies in their belief in their students. Teachers look for the best in their students, and communicate clearly that each one has untold potential, and this confidence can inspire their students to grow and develop more than they ever thought possible.

In whatever field they choose, Teachers consider people their highest priority, and they instinctively communicate personal concern and a willingness to become involved. Warmly outgoing, and perhaps the most expressive of all the types, Teachers are remarkably good with language, especially when communicating in speech, face to face. And they do not hesitate to speak out and let their feelings be known. Bubbling with enthusiasm, Teachers will voice their passions with dramatic flourish, and can, with practice, become charismatic public speakers. This verbal ability gives Teachers a good deal of influence in groups, and they are often asked to take a leadership role.

Teachers like things settled and organized, and will schedule their work hours and social engagements well ahead of time-and they are absolutely trustworthy in honoring these commitments. Valuing as they do interpersonal cooperation and harmonious relations, Teachers are extraordinarily tolerant of others, are easy to get along with, and are usually popular wherever they are.

Teachers are highly sensitive to others, which is to say their intuition tends to be well developed. Certainly their insight into themselves and others is unparalleled. Without a doubt, they know what is going on inside themselves, and they can read other people with uncanny accuracy. Teachers also identify with others quite easily, and will actually find themselves picking up the characteristics, emotions, and beliefs of those around them. Because they slip almost unconsciously into other people's skin in this way, Teachers feel closely connected with those around them, and thus show a sincere interest in the joys and problems of their employees, colleagues, students, clients, and loved ones.

Mikhail Gorbachev, Oprah Winfrey, Pope John Paul II, Ralph Nader, John Wooden, and Margaret Mead are examples of Teacher Idealists.

Playing Card by Birthdate:

Queen of Clubs

++ Queen of Clubs

Clubs

Curious, communicative, creative. Courts are the suit of communication, ideas, People belonging to the Clubs suit believe in the power of intentions and ideas. They may be in love with words, they may search for the truth and for meaning. They rarely hold a grudge because they are able to rise above emotions and actions and find explanations or excuses for others' actions. On the negative side, they can use words as weapons, and they can finagle their way out of a jam with their clever minds by stretching the truth.

Queens

Queens are the matriarchs. They are receptive, intelligent, intuitive, creative, strong, and dramatic. They are good at organizing and executing, but they can sometimes over-dramatize their lives.

Birthday Meaning:

The 16th

++ The 16th

It's probably no surprise to you that your life is full of surprises! Unusual strangers are drawn to you like magic and it sometimes feels as if you have known them all your life. Don't worry if people don't always understand your career or lifestyle choices. Just make up your mind today to stop putting things off until tomorrow!

July16th

++ July 16th

Your personal ruling planets are Moon and Neptune.

You are a rare human being and express the higher possibilities of nature, empathy and compassion. Your refined and sensitive thoughts may find expression through artistic or musical channels - not only as an egotistical activity - but as a means of uplifting those less fortunate than yourself.

You often feel at odds with yourself and wonder what destiny holds for you. The teen years may leave you disillusioned with relationships as you tend to give more than you receive. This may stem from an avoidance of clear self study and coming to terms with escapist tendencies. Don't run away from the world. Face the difficulties as well as the successes with a sense of adventure.

Floor Count

For some reason, people love to fall asleep on Cass' floor and make friends with her carpet. Current Carpet Friends:

• 1 Lachlan: After a drunken fight with Nathan, Lachlan broke into Cass' apartment for an ice pack and passed out on the couch. When Cass came home, she pushed him onto the floor where he stayed for the night.
• 2 Jaden: Jaden dropped by Cass' during a Scrabble night with Lachlan. For reasons unknown he fell asleep curled up with Bonnie on the floor.
• 3 Nathan: Nathan and Cass met at the Fly By Night, where they drank a lot and then went back to her place so they could continue the trend. They passed out on the couch and then ended up on the floor.
• 4 Cass: Yes. That is right. Cass is part of her own floor count, unfortunately. See above.

Soundtrack

Mushaboom by Feist
Keep the Car Running by Arcade Fire
If I Ever Leave This World Alive by Flogging Molly
Open Book by Cake
This is Not a Test by She & Him

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Fyo, or Dosty, is Cass' bike. As she has proven, taxis, subways, sidewalks and cars are all liable to be carjacked, held hostage, blown up, and generally get her in trouble. So her solution is that she bought herself a bike. In her mind, it is impossible to blow up or be held hostage on and it's also very hard for someone to try and bike-jack it. She named it after Russian author, philosopher, psychologist and father of existentialism, Fyodor Dostoevsky.