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All About Gaz


Strengths:
Accepting - Gaz was accepted without question by their father's Imp family and that has rubbed off on them. Gaz believes that accepting someone for who they are, regardless of race or attitude, is one of the key things in being a good person and a good friend.
Trusting - Another key ingredient to friendship and being a good person, Gaz wants to be able to trust others and be granted the same by those who they wish to be close to.
Optimistic - Gaz wants to believe that there is always a good side to things despite how bad they might seem. This was largely influenced by their mother, who always had a smile on her face even in the worst of times. Gaz also uses this optimism to support their father and offer him comfort.
Understanding - Yet another key factor to being a good person and friend; Gaz wants to be understood and understand others, for more reasons than just to be nice. Perhaps understanding how others feel will help them understand the desparity between their father and their mother's family.
Peaceful - Gaz was a quiet and low-key baby and that followed them into their early childhood. However, this particular trait is being tipped slightly by the recent development of their defensiveness and competitive side. Gaz will need to find a way back to this so they can move forward with life.
Loving - Gaz is, and always was, a bundle of love. No one is sure if this was inherited from their Imp side or merely influenced by the loving environment their parents had created and the close bond that their father's family has, but one thing is certain; Gaz loves to love and be loved. They will usually be the first to offer a hug to those who want and need it.
Empathic - Always a sensitive child, Gaz wants to attune themselves to other peoples' emotions. This helps to both understand the feelings of others and prevent them from hurting others' feelings by accident.

Weaknesses:
Insecure - Ever since the scrutinizing incident and after hearing the truth about their mother's family, Gaz has been feeling unsure of themselves. Their smile often hides the fear that they will be judged by others for their race mix, worried that this will keep them from finding friends and their place in the world.
Indecisive - Gaz often finds themselves in a position where they can't make a decision. If there is even a hint of uncertainty, Gaz will spend as much time as necessary to be absolutely sure that their choice is the best choice.
Brooding - Gaz has unresolved issues towards both the grief of losing their mother and the shameful feelings about their racial mix. Though they try to be optimistic, this is often a mask for the darker emotions that plague the child. They use that optimism, as well as other distractions, to keep those thoughts repressed and hide their insecurities until it becomes overwhelming and moments of silence will lead to a spiral that borders depression. The brooding feeds the insecurity and the insecurity leads to more brooding, thus creating a vicious cycle that is hard to break from. This will most likely require therapy if they are not addressed and confronted.
Defensive - A more recent development due to the knowledge that their mixed race is looked down upon, Gaz doesn't like to hear negative things spoken about themselves, their mother or their father; family as a whole. They will be quick to jump to the defense against the naysayers, though this is sometimes done without eloquence or control. The same will actually apply if they ever heard or saw someone being hurt, mistreated or talked down to. Gaz is growing to hate bullies.
Competitive - Along with the defensiveness developed a need to prove themselves worthy to all races of Above and Below, which will often lead to them becoming competitive about nearly anything if they feel they are going to be judged terribly if they don't excel. This can also lead to being a sore 'loser.'
Emotional/Moody - The combination of Gaz's emotional sensitivity and repressed emotions can sometimes spill over and make them rather moody and unpredictable with their emotional responses. It can be hard to tel if they will snap in anger, cry or not respond at all when they are in this state. This is affected also by the emotions of others around them, especially if they're negative.

Likes: Friends! Family! Fish dishes (yum!), Sweets (any kind as long as it's yummy!), bodies of water, music, SHINIES! and pretty things(bonus if they're also shiny), learning, harmony....and birds.

Dislikes: Dirty water, sour food, overheating, off-key sounds, dull objects that should be shiny, being alone, feeling left out, conflict, the weight of their fur when it's wet (has to get most of the water off quickly or it drives them nuts), insults about their family

Hobbies: Beach combing, swimming, deep diving, collecting sea shells/shiny found things, singing, reading, crafts with found things, climbing trees/stable things

Personality: Gaz has always been a sweet, loving child with a penchant for hugs. Normally quiet in the beginning of any social situation but always approaches people with a soft smile and ears to listen, ready to make a friend. They often can be found singing or humming to themselves during quiet moments or while they're working on something or reading, because music is as much a part of them as their heart. That smile often acts as a mask for their brooding, pensive side which pops up when it's quiet or they're alone (which is also why they sing to themselves as a distraction from their darker thoughts.) Sensitivities regarding their family situation, while normally kept under control, can sometimes flare up and make them become defensive, particularly when a bad remark is made about their parentage by a particularly snobbish or xenophobic being. Gaz will not hesitate to defend themselves or their family's name but their anger can often shut out their rationale if it's bad enough. The shame placed upon them by their mother's race is a particularly sensitive subject and a major factor in their competitive side in an effort to prove themselves a worthy creature to those of the Above and the Below. They are never without the pearl pendant they wear, as the pearl was their mother's courting gift from their father and was given to them before their mother passed away.

A Brief History:
Gaz's Naiad mother, Azuria, came from a family with more traditional values, believing that she should marry another of their kind once she was of age. Her heart, however, was swept away by a sweet, charismatic and super-cuddly Imp named Gareed. The Naiads did not approve of the two in contact with one another but Azuria often snuck away to see the Imp, who would lavish her with affection, compliments and gifts. What started simply as a close friendship soon evolved into a budding romance between the two, affirmed when Gareed followed the Naiad tradition of leaving a large pearl that he had combed for her when she wasn't looking. Azuria knew immediately who it was from and it made her heart soar but her family was disgusted. They threatened to disown and shun her if she continued to pursue her romance with the Imp, trying to sway her by telling her that he was most likely just being overly affectionate because of his nature; that he wasn't serious. Azuria almost believed them but had to know for herself, asking Gareed if his intentions were true or if he was just playing. The Imp was hurt but confirmed that he had every intention to make her his bride. When he had heard that her family would disown her for accepting his proposal he nearly called it off entirely, not wanting her to lose her family connection. Azuria said that it didn't matter as long as they were together; that they he was her family now and they could make one of their own together. Once they had married, they moved to Below into a home of their own. Gareed joined the cartel his family was involved with and, after a time, the two discussed starting their family.

A stone imbued with love, the pair soon had themselves a baby to add to their family; a beautiful hybrid that they couldn't wait to watch grow. That happiness didn't last very long. Azuria became ill from a weakened heart but did not let Gareed know, instead hiding it so she could focus on being the best mother she could to their child. When Gaz was still very young, the illness became more than Asuria could stand and it soon became clear that she didn't have long. Gareed tried to convince her to seek medical help or to submerge herself in the hopes of possibly fixing it, desperate to keep his love alive, but she refused. She didn't want to spend a single moment away from him and their child, even if it would save her. In her final moments, Gareed sat with her while Gaz snuggled with her while she lay in bed. As young as they were, Gaz knew something was wrong with their mother. Azuria had made the pearl that Gareed had given her into a pendant and gave it to Gaz, telling her child that she would always be with them if it was worn. A few moments later, Azuria was gone. Gareed, now a grieving widower with a young child, left the home he had made with his wife and moved back into his family warren, taking Gaz with him where his loving kin could help him raise them with all the love he had grown with. The memory of watching the life slip away from their mother never left Gaz's mind, knowing they would never see her again, and they always wear the pearl to honor her memory.

After an unfortunate incident when a more xenophobic Naiad noticed the hybrid child while they were out and about, and had slung a rather rude comment towards them, Gaz eventually grew curious enough to ask their father why they never saw the Naiads of Azuria's family. Though Gareed didn't want to break the child's heart, he didn't want to hide the truth from them. He explained everything to Gaz, the child not understanding why it was such an important thing for the Naiads to be so closed-minded about marrying other races....but what they did understand was that what was said was a terrible thing. Gaz wanted to know more so they could understand why this was such a problem and Gareed, wanting to give the child he had with the love of his life everything they needed, knew the best place they could be educated. Gaz was soon sent to the Academy and told they would be living in the dorms while Gareed tried to get his life together and somehow move on, not wanting his child to see him when he finally would break down from the weight of his grief.

Gaz wants to learn everything that they can about their lineage, both Imp and Naiad so that they may understand the rift between their mother's family and themselves. They're still unsure what they wish to ultimately do with the rest of their lives but they hope they will discover it while they better themselves at the Academy with others.

Heyooo quest crit incoming!!

First post:
Everything looks good here!

Second post:
Typically with quests, we do need to have explanations accompanying Strength and Weakness traits-- i.e., what makes Gaz both Optimistic and Brooding? It just lets us see how the traits interact with each other. ; D

If you could fill those out with a brief explanation, it'll help us see Gaz fully!

Everything else in this post looks good so far! Poor Azuria..

Third post:

Your prompt looks A++!!

Yaruka

The additions look good to me! I'm going to go ahead and call this quest APPROVED!