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Name: Desdemona Christianson

Nickname: Dessie, Dess, or DC

Age: 16

Birthday: October 31st.... Halloween

Sign: Scorpio

Gemstone: Opal

Blood Type: AB+

Fav. Food: Mac and Cheese

Hated Food: Steak... it has bad memories attached to it

School: Runaway so no although she will get her GED

Hobbies:

Street Fighting/Bare-knuckle boxing- At first Dessie picked up fighting as a way to feel more in control of her life, even when she got the tar beat out of her, but over time she learned how to fight properly with the help of a coach and friends. Now she sees it as a type of exercise, both mentally and physically, as well as a way to release stress. She has also learned that she has her own moral code that she follows… she will not fight someone who is grossly weaker than her although someone larger and stronger is fair game, once the opponent is down the fight is done, and once the opponent no longer wants to fight, the fight is done regardless of what the ‘ref’ or other ‘organizers’ of the fight say. Rarely does she fight outside of one of the back alley rings but it does happen and she has even found that training or sparing with other fighters is fun as well. She is not the best but she does win about half of her fights, providing her with a secondary income to supplement her busking.

Guitar- Dessie was taught to play the guitar by her mother and was gifted her guitar shortly before she died. She first learned to play folk and bluegrass types of music at her mother’s knee, The Charlie Daniels Band was one of the many the two enjoyed together. Due to an ‘argument’ she lost that guitar and now plays one that she picked up in a pawn shop. She plays as remembrance as well as a way to make money and loves to just listen as the music bring enjoyment to everyone. And while folk and bluegrass are her staples she has branched out to songs from country and classical, even a few pop songs. She has even written two or three instrumental pieces but tends to favor well known work over original since her personal songs aren’t that good. Whenever she has the spare money she tries to by music books to learn more songs and enjoys sharing her store of music with other buskers in the various citys and towns she had played in.

Drawing/Creating Comics- Drawing and creating stories was a form of escapism for Dessie. She loves to create worlds where the good guys always won and where heart ache had a reason behind it. Her work has never gone beyond sketches in a sketchbook but they provided a good way of resting her mind when it seems that even the world had turned against her. When there was no fight to be had or no song in her heart Dessie would sit and draw the world around her as she wished it was; the man at the hotdog cart was secretly a millionaire who passed out money and free hotdogs to the starving kids in the neighborhood while the teacher who dozed on the park bench as a stray dog stole his lunch was so tired because at night he was a superhero who kept the city safe.

Much of her art is for herself and few ever see it but occasionally, when it seemed that the colorful pages and interesting plot were needed she would share her made up world with the other strays that she met. Trying to provide some comfort in the harsh reality that Dessie knew the world to be.

Virtues:

Protector of the Small- It is one thing to fight someone your size and strength but it is something completely different to pick on someone smaller then you. When Dessie sees something like that she can’t help but step in and stop it. There is no reason for someone bigger to be hurting someone smaller or unable to protect themselves. Dessie doesn’t see herself as a protector but rather an equalizer… if an adult is about to hit a child she will take that punch then punch the adult right back. A pack of kids tormenting a cat will likely get a few smacks to the head while the kitten gets some milk. This has resulted in quite a few black eyes, broken bones, and even detained once before the reason behind the fight was confirmed. Dessie knows she can’t and won’t win every fight, protect every child, save every cat… but she will do her damndest anyway. She can take the abuse while those she fights for can’t, even when it ends up with a busted lip for Dessie.

Steadfast- When Dessie decides to do something or learn something she is unwavering in her resolve to do it, from learning to fight to playing the guitar to leaving home at 16 and never looking back. Not only is she steadfast in her decisions but she is unwavering in her friendships as well… when given. Dessie sticks by her friends even if it puts her in danger like it did when she stuck up for a fellow runaway when he got cornered by a group of older boys. She might have gotten beat up pretty badly but at least the boys wouldn’t be messing with her friend again.

This trait is also the leading reason she picks up random school books when money allows. One of her mother’s dreams was for her to graduate college and although she never finished high school Dessie is determined to get her GED and eventually get her Associates… although both need to wait until she reaches 18 so she can avoid being forced to return to her father, something she goes to great lengths to avoid.

Patient- Although Dessie has a temper she has learned to control it and has found an inner patience that is not evident at first. It is difficult to provoke her and even harder to push her into doing something faster than she wants to. Part of this is Dessie has found that most things take time and patience to learn properly and the other half is that the serene and calm façade often annoy others which she finds secretly amusing. This patience has come in handy when dealing with other skittish runaways, sitting hours on end to earn enough change playing the guitar to eat dinner, or waiting for just the right moment to attack during a fight.

Street Smart- Even without a high school diploma under her belt Dessie’s knuckles don’t drag the ground. She learns fast and finds that common sense is a very good thing when you have to live on the streets. You learn what gang tag means what, which spot is patrolled by cops, when to skip town, and when to hunker down and stick around for a while. Such knowledge has come in handy several times like when she broke up a fight between a kid and this gang, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out it was time to move on and fast… or the time in L.A. where a squabble between two dealers meant the imminent arrival of cops and the scattering of the locals.

Knowing where the best money to be made while busking or who runs the underground fights were essential when Dessie finally struck out on her own since her meager savings didn’t go far. Learning who she could trust and who to confide it to some trial and error… and quite a few black eyes, but through everything she has picked up quite a few skills. Some good, like the ability to spot a cop, even one undercover… some not so good, like the distrusting unasked for kindness. Too many people see a pretty girl on the streets and want something that Dessie won’t give them. Getting nabbed by the cops is the least of her worries.

Flaws:

Aloof- If one had no friends one can't get hurt. This is a lesson that Dessie learned from a young age and she does her best to stick by it. She doesn't make friends easy and does her best to not show interest in things around her, this makes her appear cold and aloof. Even those she ‘saves’ when they get in trouble have a hard time becoming one of Dessie’s inner circle. She normally leaves them to their own devises after she does her best to save them, what happens after is up to them. Because of this Dessie doesn't have more than a handful of friends and had difficulties talking to and making new ones. Those that have proven that they don’t want anything from her, are willing to help her without a form of payment, or are just stubborn enough to stay by her side even with the cold shoulder become her friends… not that she really warms up that much more to them either, it just means that she is more open about herself and is more likely to be kinder. Those that aren’t one of the lucky few are watched and judged silently, this means she isn't likely to ask questions because she won't believe the answers given to her by someone she doesn't trust nor would she double check something she finally accepted as true until it the real truth was forced upon her.

Caustic Wit- Dessie is smart... it was the only way she was able to make it this far, but sometimes her brain gets in the way in the form of a sharp tongue. Never one to put up with stupidity Dessie rarely keeps her opinions to herself nor are they likely to be kind or tactful in any way. It keeps the majority of people away and the less she has to worry about. She can’t be caught if she doesn’t have any ties and a sharp tongue cuts ties just as fast as a quick fist. Most of the time her comments are used to get a reaction from others, they are aimed to get them to back off or to cause the most damage. Rarely is her own mental balance challenged to the point where she lashes out with words and fists... but it does happen. Normally her family and her past are off limits and those limits will be protected, first with her words then her fists.

Don't Touch- Everyone has scars, Dessie has both mental and physical. Due to her father she can't stand others touching her more than a mere brush of the fingers when passing food or the occasional hand shake or hand up. Too many times an offered hand turned into a striking one and a kind smile hid a perverse nature. Dessie never understood why her mother put up with the ‘bedroom’ games from her father but Dessie is damn sure she will never put up with it even if it means meeting a kind hand with a raised fist. A hug takes extreme control and trust on Dessie's part to keep from decking the huger. Any more than a casual glancing touch normally is met with Dessie's fist or biting tongue, the only time when this is placed to the side is during a fight at which time she has no reservations in doing her best to beat the tar out of the toucher/opponent.

It’s My Body- Most people have a sense of self preservation that Dessie does not. She knows what it is and does her best to stay out of avoidable situations like a drug deal gone bad or getting hit by a train but when she steps into a fight all thought of protecting herself goes out the window. She doesn’t care if she gets a black eye or a cracked rib. A broken hand is more of a hindrance but only because it made hitting people harder. Disregarded for her own safety is what made her a decent fighter and one of the reasons she has no qualms stepping in to help someone who was getting beat on by someone bigger. So far she has been pretty lucky in the sense of no major bones were broken and by being a fighter in the underground she knows a few doctors who will patch her up no questions asked but luck might not always be on her side.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Eyes: almond shaped ice blue eyes.

Hair: Something like this but maybe a bit longer and can be spiked if desired. Platinum blond faded to white at the tips. Looking at this color chart I think 28 or 613 should work just fine as the main color

Face: A bit pixie-ish with a light scar cutting through the very end of her left eyebrow,a reminder of a fight. Her nose has been broken but there is no real noticeable malformation from it since it was set stright.

Body/Height: Tall for her age, around 6 feet. She is well proportioned but a little on the slim side... but with some steady feeding she will begin to fill out a bit.

Clothes: scruffy and well used. She is homeless but she is not dirty, her clothes however are worn. Most of her jeans have holes in them, her shirts are dull from washing and she normally wears a old, long coat that has been cleaned to a light brown. Something like this but brown, worn, and maybe a few patches as well as maybe a few worn sewn on patches.

Personal History

Father: Frank
Mother: Sarah

Dessie was born and raised in a small, poor town in the middle of no where. She was named Desdemona in the hope she would live up to her name... her mom knew it was from a famous play, just not how it ended. Her father worked in the local factory, was paid minimum wage, and liked to drink... alot. Her mother was a stay at home maid... she cooked, cleaned, cared for Dessie as best she could, and was her husbands slave in every way.

When she was 12 her mom died in a car accident leaving her father Dessie's only care taker... one that was not terribly caring. After years of abuse, stretching back to before her mother's death, Dessie finally left her home shortly after her 15th birthday when her father told her to 'get out and never come back'. Since then she has been traveling the country making a living fighting in back alley street fighting, busking with a guitar she picked up in a pawn shop in NYC, and doing odd jobs under the table like waiting tables and cutting grass.

just dropping this off but thanks to luforce's horrible hobby i noticed this and thought of your quest - it might give you design ideas. Vesuvia

both ^^ im waiting on official critique/stamp which is why its been quiet

although im up for unofficial critique too XD

ok Im pretty sure i covered all questions... athough maybe not nessisaryly in the section you were thinking. Ive added 'Street Smart' but need to add the coresponding Flaw but forgot what it was... Ill add it tonight. I tried to leave 'Dont touch' clear and yet abiguous as to the reasoning behind it since I know the reason is a pretty touchy subject so kinda need to keep it 'cant say it but you know what i mean'

i didnt really think the scorpions were that powerfull but ill ask around. untill then i didnt really tweak either first or second stage much, just added a few words. as for her final attack i didn't realise that i didn't mention that any reaction was up to the target... the list was for refrence. so added that, and hope it was clear this time ^^' it might still be op but ill ask around as well to double check

ive talked to several people and the all agree that the powered side is not op and unless the mod overrules it, it should be ok to play it that way.

ive added the fourth flaw and would love it if you read through everything or atleast the extra virtue and flaw XD

atleast help me out with my affect and effect ~^.^~

o.O i thought i tweaked the amount on the second one already ^.^' and i didn't know that the break down on the amount was more knight like XD it doesnt matter either way so i pulled it out ^^

These changes look good, so here's a stamp! I don't have any idea for a challenge but good luck coming up with one (and winning her!)